William Boswell
Encyclopedia
Sir William Boswell was an English diplomat, a resident ambassador to the Netherlands
.
. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge
, of which he was elected fellow in 1606. He subsequently entered the diplomatic service, and was appointed secretary to Sir Dudley Carleton
, then ambassador at The Hague
. Boswell eventually succeeded Carleton, being knighted in 1633.
A large share of Sir William's attention while ambassador was taken up with the controversy between the Gomarists and the Remonstrants
(Arminians). He continued the policy of Sir Dudley Carleton, and supported the rigidly Calvinist Gomarists against the Remonstrants. This was for political reasons, and otherwise Boswell was an ally of William Laud
. He took a close interest in the émigré English churches in the Netherlands, and in 1633-4 helped John Paget
intrigue against John Davenport
. Charles I
ordered Boswell to back Edward Misselden
, influential in the Merchant Adventurers, against John Forbes
. In 1638 Boswell had a prosecution brought against John Canne
.
When the First English Civil War
broke out, Boswell's efforts were directed towards preserving the neutrality of the Dutch. Despite the efforts of Walter Strickland
, who was sent over by Oliver Cromwell
to counteract his influence, he was quite successful in his mission.
Sir William was also a man of letters and a scholar, as is shown in his correspondence with John de Laet, which touches upon subjects ranging from Oriental literature and the compilation of an Arab dictionary to Edward VI's treatise 'De Primatu Papae,' and Sir Simon d'Ewes's Saxon vocabulary. Another correspondent was the Laudian Stephen Goffe
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Life
William Boswell was a native of SuffolkSuffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus 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...
, of which he was elected fellow in 1606. He subsequently entered the diplomatic service, and was appointed secretary to Sir Dudley Carleton
Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester
Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester was an English art collector, diplomat and Secretary of State.-Early life:He was the second son of Antony Carleton of Brightwell Baldwin, Oxfordshire, and of Jocosa, daughter of John Goodwin of Winchendon, Buckinghamshire...
, then ambassador at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Boswell eventually succeeded Carleton, being knighted in 1633.
A large share of Sir William's attention while ambassador was taken up with the controversy between the Gomarists and the Remonstrants
Remonstrants
The Remonstrants are the Dutch Protestants who, after the death of Jacobus Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name. In 1610 they presented to the States of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of disagreement from Calvinism.-History:The five...
(Arminians). He continued the policy of Sir Dudley Carleton, and supported the rigidly Calvinist Gomarists against the Remonstrants. This was for political reasons, and otherwise Boswell was an ally of William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
. He took a close interest in the émigré English churches in the Netherlands, and in 1633-4 helped John Paget
John Paget
John Paget was an English nonconforming clergyman, who became pastor at the English Reformed Church, Amsterdam.-Life:He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, proceeding B.A. in 1595, and M.A. in 1598. After having held some other benefices, he was appointed in 1598 rector of Nantwich....
intrigue against John Davenport
John Davenport (clergyman)
John Davenport was an English puritan clergyman and co-founder of the American colony of New Haven.-Early life:Born in Manchester, Warwickshire, England to a wealthy family, Davenport was educated at Oxford University...
. Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
ordered Boswell to back Edward Misselden
Edward Misselden
Edward Misselden was an English merchant, and leading member of the writers in the Mercantilist group of economic thought. He argued that international movements of specie and fluctuations in the exchange rate depended upon the international trade flows and not the manipulations of the bankers,...
, influential in the Merchant Adventurers, against John Forbes
John Forbes (preacher)
-Life:He was born about 1568, was educated at the university of St. Andrews, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1583, and was ordained minister of Alford, Aberdeenshire in 1593. When the proceedings of the synods of Aberdeen and Moray against George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly were interfered...
. In 1638 Boswell had a prosecution brought against John Canne
John Canne
-Life:The London separatist congregation of John Hubbard, who had moved with them to Ireland around 1621, on Hubbard’s death came back to London and chose Canne as minister. After a year or two he went to Amsterdam, and there became the successor of Henry Ainsworth as pastor of the congregation of...
.
When the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
broke out, Boswell's efforts were directed towards preserving the neutrality of the Dutch. Despite the efforts of Walter Strickland
Walter Strickland
Walter Strickland was an English politician and diplomat who held high office during the Protectorate.-Life:Strickland was the younger son of Walter Strickland of Boynton. His elder brother, William, was knighted in 1630 and created a baronet in 1641, and was a Member of Parliament from 1640 to 1660...
, who was sent over by 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....
to counteract his influence, he was quite successful in his mission.
Sir William was also a man of letters and a scholar, as is shown in his correspondence with John de Laet, which touches upon subjects ranging from Oriental literature and the compilation of an Arab dictionary to Edward VI's treatise 'De Primatu Papae,' and Sir Simon d'Ewes's Saxon vocabulary. Another correspondent was the Laudian Stephen Goffe
Stephen Goffe
Stephen Goffe was a Royalist agent of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and later an Oratorian priest.-Life:He was educated at Merton College, Oxford, becoming M.A. in 1627...
.