Thomas Belasyse, 1st Viscount Fauconberg
Encyclopedia
Thomas Belasyse, 1st Viscount Fauconberg (1577–1653), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons and was raised to the peerage in 1627. He was a supported of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
.
Before the Civil War, Belasyse and his family had a long running confrontation with William Wentworth
, a close advisor to King Charles I, primarily over local government issues in Yorkshire. This confrontation did not shake Belasyse's support for the monarchy and before and during the Civil War, he and his son Henry, were ardent supporters of the Royalist cause. Charles honoured Belasye in appreciation, but towards the end of the First Civil Belasye was forced to flee abroad. While he was in exile his estates were sequestered by Parliament because he was a known "delinquent", and on his return to England and as he refused to swear to the oath of abjuration
he convicted of recusancy.
in the early 1590s. He had Roman Catholic leanings, and married into a known recusant family, but stayed within the laws of the time and attended Anglican Church services. He entered Parliament in 1597 when he was elected to represent Thirsk
, a seat his father had held, in the second from last Elizabethan parliament. He was knighted by James I and served as a justice of the peace in the North Riding
. He remained active in national politics and represented Thirsk
again in the 1614, 1621, and 1624 parliaments of James I.
During the early years of the reign of Charles I the Belasyse family sided with Sir John Savile
, the custos rotulorum
of the West Riding, against Sir Thomas Wentworth
. The Savile's allied themselves with the Duke of Buckingham
and it may have been through this political connection that on 25 May 1627 that Belasyse was raised to the peerage as Lord Fauconberg of Yarm.
After the assassination of Buckingham, Wentworth's influence at court grew and with it his power, while that of his political opponents Yorkshire waned. After Wentworths's appointment as president of the council of the north in 1628, Fauconberg and his son Henry were briefly imprisoned and they opposed the style of government that Wentworth's influence at court helped to foster.
With the impeachment and execution of Wentworth, now 1st Earl of Strafford, in 1641 Fauconberg political fortunes waxed. Like many of the gentry and nobility with Roman Catholic leanings he supported Charles I in his struggle with Parliament. During the summer of 1642, in the months before the war started while Charles resided in York, Fauconberg and his sons Henry and John
were prominent supporters. His elder son Henry a Knight of the Shire signed a treaty of neutrality
with Thomas Fairfax
, (but its terms were rejected by Parliament) and John his other son commanded a regiment of Foot. Fauconberg's loyalty to Charles was rewarded on 31 January 1643 he was granted the title of Viscount Fauconberg of Henknowle, county Durham (his second son, John
, was made Baron Belasys of Worlaby in 1645).
Fauconberg supported William Cavendish, Marquis of Newcastle, followed the fortunes of that nobleman in the siege of York, which held out three months against powerful Scottish and Parliamentary armies. When the Royalists garrison of York and a relieving army under the command of Prince Rupert lost the Battle of Marston Moor
on 2 July 1644, Newcastle and Fauconberg escaped into exile, embarking at Scarborough, for Hamburg
. While he was abroad his estates were sequestered for his delinquency, which he compounded
by paying a fine of £5012 18s. He returned to the North Riding in 1649 but refused to swear the Oath of Abjuration
and was convicted of recusancy
. He died on 18 April 1653, and was buried in the parish church of Coxwold
, in the county of York.
. His eldest son Henry
predeceased him in 1647, his eldest son, Thomas
, Fauconberg's grandson, inherited the title. Unlike his grandfather and father Thomas supported the Parliamentary cause
, and later married Mary, a daughter of Oliver Cromwell
. Fauconberg's second son John was raised to the peerage by Charles II as Baron Savile
of Pontefract.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Before the Civil War, Belasyse and his family had a long running confrontation with William Wentworth
William Wentworth
William Charles Wentworth was an Australian poet, explorer, journalist and politician, and one of the leading figures of early colonial New South Wales...
, a close advisor to King Charles I, primarily over local government issues in Yorkshire. This confrontation did not shake Belasyse's support for the monarchy and before and during the Civil War, he and his son Henry, were ardent supporters of the Royalist cause. Charles honoured Belasye in appreciation, but towards the end of the First Civil Belasye was forced to flee abroad. While he was in exile his estates were sequestered by Parliament because he was a known "delinquent", and on his return to England and as he refused to swear to the oath of abjuration
Oath of Abjuration
The Act of Abjuration or Plakkaat van Verlatinghe, signed on 26 July 1581, was the formal declaration of independence of the Dutch Low Countries from the Spanish king, Philip II...
he convicted of recusancy.
Biography
Belasyse was educated at Jesus College, CambridgeJesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
in the early 1590s. He had Roman Catholic leanings, and married into a known recusant family, but stayed within the laws of the time and attended Anglican Church services. He entered Parliament in 1597 when he was elected to represent Thirsk
Thirsk (UK Parliament constituency)
Thirsk was a parliamentary borough in Yorkshire, represented in the English and later British House of Commons in 1295, and again from 1547. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832, and by one member from 1832 to 1885, when the constituency was abolished and absorbed into the new...
, a seat his father had held, in the second from last Elizabethan parliament. He was knighted by James I and served as a justice of the peace in the North Riding
North Riding
North Riding may mean:* North Riding of Yorkshire, England* North Riding of Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England* North Tipperary, Republic of Ireland...
. He remained active in national politics and represented Thirsk
Thirsk (UK Parliament constituency)
Thirsk was a parliamentary borough in Yorkshire, represented in the English and later British House of Commons in 1295, and again from 1547. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832, and by one member from 1832 to 1885, when the constituency was abolished and absorbed into the new...
again in the 1614, 1621, and 1624 parliaments of James I.
During the early years of the reign of Charles I the Belasyse family sided with Sir John Savile
John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pontefract
John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pontefract was an English politician; M.P. for Lincoln, 1586: sheriff of Lincolnshire, 1590; knight of the shire for Yorkshire, 1597, 1614, 1624, and 1626; custos rotulorum of West Riding of Yorkshire; ejected from office in 1615, but reappointed in 1626...
, the custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum is the keeper of an English county's records and, by virtue of that office, the highest civil officer in the county...
of the West Riding, against Sir Thomas Wentworth
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1639 he instituted a harsh rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland...
. The Savile's allied themselves with the Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
and it may have been through this political connection that on 25 May 1627 that Belasyse was raised to the peerage as Lord Fauconberg of Yarm.
After the assassination of Buckingham, Wentworth's influence at court grew and with it his power, while that of his political opponents Yorkshire waned. After Wentworths's appointment as president of the council of the north in 1628, Fauconberg and his son Henry were briefly imprisoned and they opposed the style of government that Wentworth's influence at court helped to foster.
With the impeachment and execution of Wentworth, now 1st Earl of Strafford, in 1641 Fauconberg political fortunes waxed. Like many of the gentry and nobility with Roman Catholic leanings he supported Charles I in his struggle with Parliament. During the summer of 1642, in the months before the war started while Charles resided in York, Fauconberg and his sons Henry and John
John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse
John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse PC was an English nobleman, soldier and Member of Parliament, notable for his role during and after the English Civil War.-Early life:...
were prominent supporters. His elder son Henry a Knight of the Shire signed a treaty of neutrality
Treaty of Neutrality (Yorkshire)
The Treaty of Neutrality signed on 29 September 1642 by Lord Fairfax for Parliament and Henry Bellasis for the Royalists, the two Knights of the Shire who represented Yorkshire in Parliament, with the support and agreement of other gentlemen of the county, in the hope of avoiding civil war in...
with Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
, (but its terms were rejected by Parliament) and John his other son commanded a regiment of Foot. Fauconberg's loyalty to Charles was rewarded on 31 January 1643 he was granted the title of Viscount Fauconberg of Henknowle, county Durham (his second son, John
John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse
John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse PC was an English nobleman, soldier and Member of Parliament, notable for his role during and after the English Civil War.-Early life:...
, was made Baron Belasys of Worlaby in 1645).
Fauconberg supported William Cavendish, Marquis of Newcastle, followed the fortunes of that nobleman in the siege of York, which held out three months against powerful Scottish and Parliamentary armies. When the Royalists garrison of York and a relieving army under the command of Prince Rupert lost the Battle of Marston Moor
Battle of Marston Moor
The Battle of Marston Moor was fought on 2 July 1644, during the First English Civil War of 1642–1646. The combined forces of the Scottish Covenanters under the Earl of Leven and the English Parliamentarians under Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester defeated the Royalists commanded by Prince...
on 2 July 1644, Newcastle and Fauconberg escaped into exile, embarking at Scarborough, for Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. While he was abroad his estates were sequestered for his delinquency, which he compounded
Committee for Compounding with Delinquents
In 1643, near the start of the English Civil War, Parliament set up two committees the Sequestration Committee which confiscated the estates of the Royalists who fought against Parliament, and the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents which allowed Royalists whose estates had been...
by paying a fine of £5012 18s. He returned to the North Riding in 1649 but refused to swear the Oath of Abjuration
Oath of Abjuration
The Act of Abjuration or Plakkaat van Verlatinghe, signed on 26 July 1581, was the formal declaration of independence of the Dutch Low Countries from the Spanish king, Philip II...
and was convicted of recusancy
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
. He died on 18 April 1653, and was buried in the parish church of Coxwold
Coxwold
Coxwold is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated 18 miles north of York and is where the Rev. Laurence Sterne wrote A Sentimental Journey....
, in the county of York.
Family
Fauconberg married Barbara Cholmley, the daughter of Sir Henry Cholmley of Roxby in Whitby Strand, a family noted for its recusancyRecusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
. His eldest son Henry
Henry Belasyse
Henry Belasyse , also known as Henry Bellasis was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1625 and 1642....
predeceased him in 1647, his eldest son, Thomas
Thomas Belasyse, 1st Earl Fauconberg
Thomas Belasyse, 1st Earl Fauconberg PC was an English peer. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War drawing close to Oliver Cromwell and married Cromwell's third daughter Mary...
, Fauconberg's grandson, inherited the title. Unlike his grandfather and father Thomas supported the Parliamentary cause
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
, and later married Mary, a daughter of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
. Fauconberg's second son John was raised to the peerage by Charles II as Baron Savile
Baron Savile
Baron Savile, of Rufford in the County of Nottingham, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.It was created in 1888 for the diplomat Sir John Savile. He was the eldest of the five illegitimate children of John Lumley-Savile, 8th Earl of Scarbrough, and the grandson of John Lumley-Savile,...
of Pontefract.
Further reading
- Dictionary of National BiographyDictionary of National BiographyThe Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
Volume: 4 "Thomas Belasyse" p. 142 - Dictionary of National BiographyDictionary of National BiographyThe Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
Volume: 4 "John Belasyse" p. 142