William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre
Encyclopedia
William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre (24 June 1575 – 5 May 1637) was educated at Oxford
, was elected MP for Essex
, knighted in 1603 and acceded to the Barony in 1613. However, due to his uncompromising recusant
he was dismissed from the county Magistracy and was deprived of all of his other public offices.
From its position on the Harwich
road, and proximity to London, Ingatestone Hall
was a constant meeting place and refuge for those disaffected to the Protestant religion or to the reigning sovereign. For example:
Secret guests may often have used the hiding place discovered at the Hall in 1855. It is very probable that some of the inns had similar places of concealment for these visitors, whom it would not always be safe to hide the Hall, for example the attic in the White Hart, the huge chimney block of the Eagle, behind the present billiard room, the present great cupboards of the Crown. Many of the houses about Fryerning Hall by the old chimneystacks, and for example Furze Hall might reveal similar ones if thoroughly explored.
It does not appear that the 2nd Baron got in to any trouble about the Papists who frequented Ingatestone. Possibly, by this time the Hall was used as a dower house
, or a residence for the sons, as the 3rd Baron is described in 1638 by William Riley, Blue Mantle, as dying at West Thorndon, and being buried in an old vault appropriated to his family in the chancel of the Parish Church of Ingatestone.
Peter married Katherine Somerset (died 1624), second daughter of Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester
in a double ceremony with her sister Elizabeth who married Sir Henry Guilford. Edmund Spenser
celebrated the event in his poem, Prothalamion
.
William, 2nd Baron, died in May 1637, and is buried in the same vault. The tomb, which he erected in the north chapel in memory of his parents, bears also, his own effigy and that of his wife and children, but the tablet over his head is still waiting for an inscription.
His daughter Elizabeth Petre (1597–1656) married William Sheldon of Beoley, Worcestershire
. His son George Petre (1580–1627) married Regina Edmondstone. The offspring of George and Regina married into a Swedish line to become the Westerskolds. Their great great granddaughter, Regina Westerskold married Peter von Estenberg in 1722.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, was elected MP for Essex
Essex (UK Parliament constituency)
Essex was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1290 until 1832. It elected two MPs, traditionally referred to as Knights of the Shire, to the House of Commons...
, knighted in 1603 and acceded to the Barony in 1613. However, due to his uncompromising recusant
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 was dismissed from the county Magistracy and was deprived of all of his other public offices.
From its position on the Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
road, and proximity to London, Ingatestone Hall
Ingatestone Hall
Ingatestone Hall is a sixteenth century manor house in Essex, England. It was built by Sir William Petre, and his descendants live in the House to this day.Queen Elizabeth I of England spent several nights at the hall on her royal progress of 1561....
was a constant meeting place and refuge for those disaffected to the Protestant religion or to the reigning sovereign. For example:
13th July 1627. My Lord Petre’s son going over sea to Flanders with many letters, and two barrels of treasure, gold and silver, in a pink, is brought back and committed, and here it is said, that at his father’s house at Ingatestone in Essex divers great Papists had been in consultation about a fortnight and departed thence but on Saturday last.
Secret guests may often have used the hiding place discovered at the Hall in 1855. It is very probable that some of the inns had similar places of concealment for these visitors, whom it would not always be safe to hide the Hall, for example the attic in the White Hart, the huge chimney block of the Eagle, behind the present billiard room, the present great cupboards of the Crown. Many of the houses about Fryerning Hall by the old chimneystacks, and for example Furze Hall might reveal similar ones if thoroughly explored.
It does not appear that the 2nd Baron got in to any trouble about the Papists who frequented Ingatestone. Possibly, by this time the Hall was used as a dower house
Dower house
On an estate, a dower house is usually a moderately large house available for use by the widow of the estate-owner. The widow, often known as the "dowager" usually moves into the dower house from the larger family house on the death of her husband if the heir is married, and upon his marriage if he...
, or a residence for the sons, as the 3rd Baron is described in 1638 by William Riley, Blue Mantle, as dying at West Thorndon, and being buried in an old vault appropriated to his family in the chancel of the Parish Church of Ingatestone.
Peter married Katherine Somerset (died 1624), second daughter of Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester
Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester
Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester, KG, Earl Marshal was an English aristocrat. He was an important advisor to King James I, serving as Lord Privy Seal....
in a double ceremony with her sister Elizabeth who married Sir Henry Guilford. Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
celebrated the event in his poem, Prothalamion
Prothalamion
Prothalamion, the commonly used name of , is a poem by Edmund Spenser , one of the important poets of the Tudor Period in England. Published in 1596 , it is a nuptial song that he composed that year on the occasion of the twin marriage of the daughters of the Earl of Worcester; Elizabeth Somerset...
.
William, 2nd Baron, died in May 1637, and is buried in the same vault. The tomb, which he erected in the north chapel in memory of his parents, bears also, his own effigy and that of his wife and children, but the tablet over his head is still waiting for an inscription.
His daughter Elizabeth Petre (1597–1656) married William Sheldon of Beoley, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
. His son George Petre (1580–1627) married Regina Edmondstone. The offspring of George and Regina married into a Swedish line to become the Westerskolds. Their great great granddaughter, Regina Westerskold married Peter von Estenberg in 1722.