Edward Littleton (died 1610)
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Sir Edward Littleton (ca. 1555 – 1610)
Background
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Littleton's father was Edward Littleton (died 1574) of Pillaton Hall, near Penkridge. His mother was Alice Cockayne (1535–1602), the daughter of Francis Cockayne of Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire.[1]
The Littletons had been based at Pillaton since the early years of the century. Littleton's grandfather, Sir Edward Littleton, had skilfully and aggressively expanded the estates of his family during the turbulent years of the English Reformation and had represented Staffordshire in five parliaments. His father had consolidated the family's holdings but had been content mainly to live the life of a country gentleman.
Landowner
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Littleton succeeded to the family estates in 1574, on the death of his father. He had married Margaret Devereux only recently, the marriage settlement dated 23 March 1573.[2] Littleton inherited 16,000 acres in the Penkridge area and another 600 elsewhere in Staffordshire, 1,400 acres in Warwickshire, 900 acres in Shropshire and 940 acres in Worcestershire.[2] His mother survived until 1602 and her jointure, a third of the estate, was, he later claimed, a major drain on his wealth, as was the property held in tail by his siblings.[3] His mother's jointure was certainly large: it included all of the Warwickshire and Shropshire estates, as well as lands in Staffordhire. However, the death of his father-in-law, Sir William Devereux, in 1579 probably eased matters considerably, as Devereux left considerable legacies to his daughters.[4] Certainly Littleton was sufficiently prominent and wealthy to serve two terms as High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1581 and 1593. His subsidy assessment rose from only £5 in 1576 to £20 in 1590 and he could afford to settle an allowance of £100 on his eldest son, also Edward, at his marriage in 1599.[2] By any standards, he was actually a large and wealthy landowner, of considerable regional importance.
Whatever the calls on his wealth, Littleton was able to find the money to make strategic investments when the opportunity arose. One of the most important sources of the Littletons' wealth were the
Many of the Littleton's estates were still held by
Political career
The Paget connection
In the decade following his succession, Littleton seems to have been in the political camp of his overlord,
Littleton had supported Paget locally but had never sympathised with his religious views and seems not to have been harmed by Paget's demise.
The Devereux faction in Staffordshire
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Lettice_Knollys1.jpg/220px-Lettice_Knollys1.jpg)
From the late 1580s, Edward Littleton and most of his relatives were closely allied to
Essex is still often portrayed primarily as a
A group of Staffordshire landowners formed a local Essex faction – mainly members of the Littleton, Bagot, Chetwynd, Trew and Aston families. However, the alliance was not confined to the Littletons of Pillaton, who were a cadet branch of the family. The
In the 1590s Edward Littleton's duties to Essex included promoting his cause in parliamentary elections. The county seats had been controlled by the Harcourt family of Ellenhall and Ranton Abbey, part of a group of Catholic sympathisers that included for a time the Astons. With the death of Simon Harcourt in 1577, their grip slackened, and into the power vacuum moved the Dudleys. Edward Sutton took a seat in 1584 while still only 17 years of age. He did not stand in 1586, after he succeeded to his father's barony. From this point, however, Essex began to take a real interest. The members elected in 1588, Walter Harcourt and Thomas Gerard, were both in 1591 recruited into the army Essex led to aid Henry IV of France and knighted by Essex at Rouen.
The 1593 election
Attempts by Essex to dictate the course of the 1593 election proved demoralising, partly because of the insistent tone of his instructions to Sir Edward Littleton, Sir Edward Aston and Richard Bagot, his agents on the ground. On 2 January 1593 Essex wrote urging them to secure the election of his step-father Christopher Blount.[14] A week later he wrote again, this time asking them to support Gerard as second member.[15] He added in a postscript:
- "I should think my credit little in my own country, if it should not afford so small a matter as this, especially the men being so fit."
However, Sir William Harcourt had also given notice of his intention to stand for election, and he too could be counted a supporter of Essex. Then Gerard accepted a nomination in his native Lancashire, putting his weight behind Harcourt. However, Essex did not revise his instructions, leaving Bagot and Littleton, who were afraid of offending their patron, perplexed as how to proceed.[16] As Essex had made this a test of authority, were they to pursue his express wishes, or were they to secure the best result for him? Littleton wrote to Bagot in exasperation:
- "If Sir Thomas release us (as by his letter it seemeth he hath) and willeth that those procured for him should give their voices for Sir Walter Harcourt, and he would accept of it as to himself, I know not what more is to be required at our hands."[13]
Blount and Harcourt were duly elected for Staffordshire, despite the confusion, while Gerard was returned as one of the Lancashire members.
The 1597 election scandal
The 1597 election ended in a simple, transparent fraud that deprived Littleton of the seat. This time the election turned into a direct contest between the Devereux faction and the Dudleys, probably encouraged by Essex's absence on the abortive
The Dudley faction began with a vigorous
Littleton filed a complaint to the Star Chamber against Dudley, Whorwood and Sutton. Dudley was called before the Privy Council twice in the next year, probably on this matter, although it is likely that Littleton dropped the case against the Dudleys and proceeded with Whorwood's. The feuding continued outside court, with two Worcestershire Littletons indicted by the Council in July 1598 for attacking John Sutton. The outcome of Littleton's Star Chamber action is not known. The parliament was wound up in very quickly, in February 1598, so Littleton was never able to sit as an MP, and the Dudleys were protected by parliamentary privilege until it was over.
The Essex rebellion
After disgracing himself over the
Littleton's part in the events seems to have been particularly farcical, whichever version of events one accepts. An intelligence report to Cecil,
Littleton's own version,
After his interrogation, Littleton's case was processed quickly: it seems that
- "As I have great cause to bemoan the bitterness of my fortune so ignorantly and suddenly to be thrown into so disloyal an action, so do I acknowledge her Majesty' commiseration and your Honour's in the fine imposed upon me, accounting the same not as a compensation for my offence (having learned of your Honour that between loyalty and disloyalty there is no pecuniary proportion) but as a remembrance to posterity of her Majesty's mercy. Far be it from me to seek any further mitigation, yet humbly crave I pardon to unfold my estate which may move your Lordships to give me some convenient 'stalment. My living is divided into three parts, of which my mother has one, my brethren and sisters another, and the third, which amounteth not to two hundred pounds per annum, must suffice for the maintenance of myself and thirteen children. The more time I have by instalment, the better I shall be able to satisfy the fine. —London, this 13 June 1601."[3]
Essex himself and Christopher Blount, his step-father and Staffordshire MP, were executed, together with other leaders. John Littleton was accused of storing arms at Prestwood, indicted, escaped execution, but died in prison in July. Edward Littlewood was lucky to escape with his life, although he lost his position on the Staffordshire bench,[2] as well as facing a steep fine. His mother's death in 1602 must have improved his financial position, and he was restored to the bench in June of that year. This makes it likely that his explanations were considered at least plausible and that the more lurid accusations against him were discredited.
Member of Parliament
With the accession of
The Devereux faction, essentially the Puritan minority among the local gentry, were able to reorganise and to pursue a coherent policy, informed by previous mistakes. In order not to split the vote, they put up only one candidate, Edward Littleton of Pillaton. They conceded the other seat to the Paget faction.[21] Paget's nominee was Sir Robert Stanford of Perry Hall, Staffordshire. A Protestant head of a Catholic family,[2] like Paget himself, Stanford was widely acceptable to the recusant gentry and to the much larger number of conforming Catholics. The Catholic basis of Stanford's nomination was recognised by Littleton, who later commented: "the common speech is that the assembly at Stafford on Thursday was rather to choose a pope then a knight for the Parliament because they were all of that tribe." Walter Bagot, the sheriff, was informed by his legal adviser that "if Sir Edward Littleton and Sir Robert Stanford carry off the election [it] will be well enough liked of and is least trouble."
However, the informal plan for a balanced ticket of Littleton and Stanford ran into the enmity of Sir Walter Harcourt, an Essex supporter who had sat for the county twice.[2] Formerly a good friend, Harcourt was deeply in debt and had convinced himself that Littleton was conspiring with his creditors. He launched a campaign of disruption, including an attempt to get Littleton outlawed. Bagot kept Littleton fully informed of Harcourt's manoeuvres. He interceded unsuccessfully with Harcourt to desist and subsequently he was forced to drop his suits by increasing debts. Littleton thanked Bagot by sending him two horses – clearly a favourite Littleton touch. As a result, he was returned unopposed alongside Stanford, probably on 15 March.
Littleton was made a member of eight committees. One of these handled the restoration of the earls of Essex, Southampton and Arundel, all executed after the Essex rebellion. In April he was also appointed to a conference with the House of Lords about a proposed Union with Scotland. He served at the trinity quarter sessions in Stafford during June and then went back to Parliament, where he was appointed to a committee on poaching.
However, after a vigorous start, Littleton's involvement in parliamentary work quickly tailed off. He is not mentioned in parliamentary records after 1604. This may be due partly to involvement in his property disputes. He was fined by the Star Chamber in 1609 for disturbances during his feud with Wakering. However, faltering health was another likely factor.
The parliament lasted for seven years, outliving both Stanford and Littleton. Stanford was replaced by Sir John Egerton on his death in 1607.[21] In 1610 the local magnates sent a certificate to Parliament averring that Littleton was dying.[2] A by-election was ordered on 19 October. On 15 November, Francis Trentham was elected to replace Litteton as knight of the shire for Staffordshire.[21]
Death
Sir Edward Littleton died on 17 December 1610. He was interred at the church of St Michael and All Angels in Penkridge on the following day. Subsequently, a large and imposing tomb was built for himself and for his wife, Margaret Devereux, who survived until 1627.
Margaret Devereux proved his will on 14 February 1611.
Marriage and family
Edward Littleton married Margaret Devereux.[1] She was the daughter of Sir William Devereux of Merevale Hall, Warwickshire, and Jane Scudamore. Sir William's father was Walter Devereux, 1st Viscount Hereford, who was the great-grandfather of the Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. Hence Essex was Margaret Devereux's first cousin once removed. Devereux was used by the Littletons for several generations as a given name for younger sons.
Littleton and Margaret had 14 children, many of whom did not survive childhood. The fifth child, and third son, Edward Littleton, succeeded him in his estates. All of the children, six sons and eight daughters, were represented on the front of their tomb in St. Michael's church, Penkridge, which also bears the effigies of the successor Edward and his wife, Mary Fisher, on an upper tier.
References
- ^ a b c "FamilySearch Community Trees, retrieved 21 March 2012". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The History of Parliament: Members 1604–1629 – LITTLETON, Sir Edward I (c.1548–1610) (Author: Ben Coates)
- ^ a b Cecil Papers, 1–15 June 1601
- ^ The History of Parliament: Members 1558–1603 – Devereux, Sir william (c.1525–79) (Author: W.J.J.)
- ^ a b c Victoria County History: Staffordshire: Volume 5, chapter 16, Penkridge, section 2, Manors
- ^ The History of Parliament: Members 1558–1603 – Downing, Edmund (Author: P. W. Hasler)
- ^ The History of Parliament: Members 1558–1603 – Morley, John I (d.1587) (Author: W.J.J.)
- ^ The History of Parliament: Members 1558–1603 – Crompton, Thomas I (c.1558–1609) (Author: P. W. Hasler)
- ^ Victoria County History: Staffordshire: Volume 3, 34: The College of St. Michael, Penkridge.
- ^ ISBN 0521434858.
- ISBN 0753818337.
- ^ The History of Parliament: Members 1558–1603 – Dudley, alias Sutton, Edward (1567–1643) (Author: J.E.M.)
- ^ a b c The History of Parliament: Constituencies 1558–1603 – Staffordshire
- ^ Digital image of copy at Folger Shakespeare Library
- ^ Digital image of copy at Folger Shakespeare Library
- ^ Jeremy Crick (2007): A contested election This gives a slightly different interpretation of the switch in candidates.
- ^ Cecil Papers, 11–15 February 1601
- ^ Cecil Papers, 1–10 February 1601
- ^ Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, 1598–1601, page 577.
- ^ Cecil Papers, 21–28 February 1601
- ^ a b c The History of Parliament: Constituencies 1604–1629 – Staffordshire (Author: Ben Coates)
See also
- History of Penkridge
- Littleton Baronets