Gabriel Pleydell

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Family crest with two black birds
Coat of arms of the Pleydell family of Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire[a]

Gabriel Pleydell (fl. 1519 – c.1591) of Midg Hall

Knighthood of the Shire
in 1559.

Pleydell's political and personal life is marked by legal controversy. Almost always a defendant in court, known allegations include the forced expulsion of residents from a

country manor, forcible entry into and seizure of goods from a private property, unlawfully protecting convicts from justice, forging documents for his own benefit, and illegal hunting. He was alleged to be one of the ringleaders of a plot to exile Queen Mary of England, and is perhaps best known for his contentious claim of parliamentary privilege after he was found guilty of this offence in 1555, an action which caused serious disagreement between the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Legal accusations for most of his political career and imprisonment in Fleet Prison and the Tower of London
helped "confirm for Gabriel Pleydell a niche in parliamentary history", according to a modern historian. He died between 19 December 1590 and 3 February 1591.

Early life and family

Pleydell was born by 1519.

Member for Cricklade in 1593.[6] The Pleydell family were thought to descend from Thomas de Coleshill, a knight who was awarded lordship of the eponymous parish on 2 March 1275 by King Edward I.[5] Gabriel came of age by 1540, holding land once owned by Sir Anthony Hungerford at Eysey (near the parish of Cricklade).[3]

Pleydell's father, William, had been given a 95-year lease of the Midgehall estate in

sublease of the Midgehall estate.[6][3] William died in 1555,[5] leaving Midgehall's full lease to his wife, Agnes. When she died in 1567,[7] Gabriel unsuccessfully challenged his mother's will (an action which estranged his younger brother, John)[6] despite inheriting tenancy of the estate. Pleydell's father originally intended two of his elder sons—Virgil and Tobias—to succeed ownership before Gabriel. Virgil died around 1559[9] and by 1567 Tobias had been resident in Chipping Faringdon for 11 years, prompting him to relinquish his inheritance.[3]

Marriage and children

Mural monument to Sir Charles Pleydell, Gabriel's grandson, in St Mary's Church, Lydiard Tregoze

He married Anne Stockes, a daughter of Henry Stockes of Sussex,[e] by whom he had two surviving children:

Other descendants

Gabriel is the principal ancestor of the Pleydells of Milborne St Andrew, later removed to Whatcombe, both in Dorset.[16] Contained within this lineage was Edmund Morton Pleydell,[10] a Member of Parliament for Dorchester from 1722 to 1723 and for Dorset from 1727 until 1747.[17] His own father, Edmund Pleydell,[10] similarly served as a Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett from December 1710 until 1715.[18]

Parliamentary career

Drawing of an aerial view of Westminster
Victorian depiction of the 16th-century Palace of Westminster, where Parliament met

Pleydell's initial entrance to the

dissolution of Parliament. They were replaced in October by Henry Poole and John Throckmorton.[22]

His 1555 election for

William Fleetwood in 1558 after a parliamentary hiatus following the death of Queen Mary.[27]

Pleydell returned as a Member for Wootton Bassett in 1563. His appointment was made possible by the patronage of former Member for Marlborough

Knighthood of the Shire in 1559, which doubtless assisted his bid for parliamentary selection.[4] Wootton Bassett's other seat was occupied by Matthew Poyntz, with whom Pleydell served until 1567.[k] Replacing Christopher Dysmars and Humphrey Moseley from the 1559 session, they were succeeded in 1571 by Henry Knyvet and John Winchcombe.[31]

Legal affairs

Plaintiff and early defendant

Pleydell's parliamentary tenure was plagued by legal controversy. Usually a

King Edward VI, he brought a charge in the Star Chamber against several men who forced his expulsion from the manor house at Withington, Gloucestershire that he was leasing.[3] The second was a case brought to the Court of Chancery between 1558 and 1579, with Gabriel accusing his brother Tobias (known in the court documents as "Toby") in a dispute over the Midgehall estate.[32] The same Court also heard a dispute initiated by Pleydell against Sir John St. John, his son's father-in-law, at an unknown date; Gabriel claimed that Midgehall had certain pasture rights in the Flaxlands area, then under St. John's ownership.[7]

The first serious allegation against Pleydell in the Star Chamber concerned the forced expulsion of an occupant of the manor house at

East Grafton, Wiltshire, in late 1553. He was accused of assisting John Berwick in the original infringement and composing an amenable jury in Marlborough to avoid conviction. Both were found innocent of breaching the peace and claimed to have acted at the reasonable request of their employer, Anne Seymour; undue interference with judicial proceedings was ruled out.[3] Around the same time, Pleydell was sued for forcible entry and illegal seizure of property at Little Bedwyn (with similar offences at Collingbourne Ducis) but claimed to be acting on the failure of the plaintiff to punctually pay rent.[3]

Involvement in the Dudley conspiracy

Pleydell was a

House of Lords in support of his immunity.[3]

Lawyers

Serjeants-at-Law and Master of the Rolls Sir Nicholas Hare that Pleydell's privilege had not been infringed and the charges would persist.[3][35] The Commons, dissatisfied with the ruling, refused to allow further action against Pleydell and may have blocked other suits accusing him until its dissolution three days later.[3] Pleydell was released from prison on 28 December 1555, after paying an additional bond of £500 to the crown. His freedom was conditional on returning to the Star Chamber to pay another £45 on the first day of its next term, which he did.[3] At his release Pleydell told the Privy Council that he was punished for "speaking his conscience ... in a bill concerning the commonwealth",[38] an opinion he subsequently echoed abroad.[4] The Star Chamber considered his comments slanderous; it is unclear whether judicial action was taken regarding them.[38]

Protection of felons

In 1557 Pleydell was charged in the chamber by former associate John Berwick, who accused him of protecting two felons from punishment. The men (one convicted of murder and the other of abetting a theft) were Pleydell's servants in his capacity as chief ranger and keeper of Savernake Forest.

John Hooper, in July. Their duty was to examine witnesses and evidence on both sides of the argument, and they presented a list of 240 articles concerning the servants' activities. Pleydell's efforts were seen by the court as an attempt to undermine the integrity of the Queen's justices and, perhaps, to incite rebellion among his supporters.[38] This, in addition to breaching a commitment to meet regularly with the Privy Council under recognizance after his imprisonment, led to his indictment by Attorney-General Edward Griffin during the Michaelmas term. Pleydell was incarcerated in the Tower of London, forfeiting his two £500 bonds. He was released for good behaviour on 19 December, and left for the home of cloth merchant Thomas Garrard (a kinsman of the William Garrard with whom Pleydell served as Member for Wootton Bassett)[39] after posting a £1,000 bond.[38]

Forgery

Sir William Cordell
(probably pictured) expressed "great and vehement suspicion" of Pleydell.

Multiple allegations of forgery were brought against Pleydell in the Court of Chancery. Although the circumstances of many are unknown, a significant suit was initiated by Member for Chippenham

Sir Nicholas Arnold, Walter Haddon, Thomas Norton and Master of the Rolls Sir William Cordell to investigate Newdigate's suspicions. Cordell's involvement as an official of the judiciary may indicate that Pleydell had again claimed parliamentary privilege against Newdigate's allegations, since the case was heard in the Court of Chancery while he was a sitting Member for Wootton Bassett.[42] The committee expressed "great and vehement suspicion"[6] of Pleydell in a report which he read and answered. On 10 April the House ordered that copies of committee documents should be given to Pleydell and Newdigate and that Pleydell's evidence would be kept by the Commons, and no further mention of the affair is evident.[6]

The later career of Sir Andrew Baynton, with whom Pleydell had served as Member for Marlborough, was overshadowed by financial difficulty. In a perceived attempt to gain court favour and reduce his debts, Baynton entrusted Thomas Seymour with his lands (presumably temporarily). When Seymour was executed for treason in 1549, the lands fell into the possession of the crown. Queen Mary negotiated their sale to several members of the Wiltshire gentry, including

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as "scoundrels"[43] and by R. J. W. Swales as "unscrupulous adventurers")[44] directed Baynton's money and estates to themselves, contrary to his intended entailment of the assets to his brother Edward.[43][45] Sharington has consequently been described by Wall as "corrupt" and Pleydell as "notorious";[43][l] according to Bindoff, the action "confirm[s] for Gabriel Pleydell a niche in parliamentary history, detract[ing] still further from his reputation".[38]

Pleydell's signature, taken from the 1566 document that released to Edward Baynton the titles attached to his late brother's property[46][m]

Pleydell released any titles inherited from the acquired estates, which included the manors of the Clench and Stanley hamlets, to Edward Baynton (Andrew's brother) on 19 July 1566 and the Privy Council therefore rejected allegations of forgery against him.[48][49] Edward had long been suspicious of Pleydell and Sharington, and brought an unsuccessful forgery charge against them to a prerogative court as early as July 1560. He also ordered an attack on Pleydell's servants after his acquisition of the Bremhill and Bromham properties.[50]

Pleydell, his patron Sir John Thynne and others were indicted in 1564 and he returned to Fleet Prison charged with illegal hunting in Selwood Forest. Pleydell was given leave under escort to attend impending "great suits"[6] against him (probably related to the Baynton family's forgery litigation). He was again accused of similar offences years later, and the prosecution called Pleydell and his accomplices "persons of long time acquainted with such lewd devices and practices".[6]

Later controversy

Other suits were brought against Pleydell in later life. In 1587 he was to appear before the Privy Council for

Towcester, Northamptonshire for the Kynvet proceedings, possibly related to a family tie with the Saunders of nearby Syresham. In July 1590 a clerk of the Privy Council registered Pleydell as having returned indefinitely to the estate in Midgehall.[6]

Death and bequests

Exterior of St Mary's Church, Lydiard Tregoze, Pleydell's burial place

Pleydell, "sick in body",

executrix; she paid the document's overseers, Richard Danvers and Gabriel's nephew Robert Wells, 20 shillings for their services.[6]

References

Notes

  1. ^ Escutcheon: "Argent a bend gules guttée d'eau, between two Cornish choughs proper a chief chequy or and sable".[1]
  2. ^ While Burke lists Agnes' father as Robert, Bindoff and Hasler have speculated that his forename may have been John.[3][4]
  3. Dissolution of the Monasteries led to the dismantling of the Abbey in 1536. Pleydell's father continued to fulfill his tenancy under Seymour despite this change in ownership.[7]
  4. ^ A 'benevolence' was an unofficial, forced tax introduced by Thomas Wolsey for wealthy landowners and the clergy; historically, it is otherwise known as the 'Amicable Grant'.[8]
  5. ^ Burke writes 'Stockes' as the surname's proper spelling;[10] whereas Bindoff suggests 'Stocks' (pronounced 'Stokes').[3]
  6. ^ Periodic parliamentary and tax records give the name 'Bayly' or 'Bayley'; Hasler considers 'Bayliffe' to be an acceptable alternative.[13]
  7. ^ Bindoff and Hasler disagree on the proximity of the Midgehall estate to the town of Wootton Bassett; the former placing it one mile north, the latter, one mile south.[3][4] A map from 1773 places Midgehall to the east of the settlement.[7]
  8. ^ Established in 1447, Wootton Bassett has been described "as a classic example of a 'rotten borough'":[19] a seat in which a minute electorate appointed a member of parliament, perhaps swayed by personal interests or bribery.[19]
  9. ^ In the House of Commons of England, each enfranchised borough constituency typically elected two members or "burgesses". This also applied to its successor, the House of Commons of Great Britain.[20] Multi-member constituencies were abolished for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom with the passing of the Representation of the People Act 1948.[21]
  10. ^ Before the passing of the 1832 Reform Act, many members represented "pocket boroughs".[25] These contained burgage tenements, the holders of which were given suffrage. Wealthy landowners who were seeking election for themselves or an associate would purchase said tenements and convey them for the duration of an election to a reliable nominee, who could then vote for the candidate. Thus by purchasing the majority of the burgages one could acquire the right to nominate the members of parliament.[26]
  11. John Hippisley was originally elected to Poyntz's seat in 1562, before the Parliament had actually assembled. He instead sat for Wells after a writ was ordered.[30]
  12. ^ Wall mistakenly references Sir William Sharington as the forger, Henry's older brother.[43] Though he had a reputation for embezzlement and conspiracy, William died in 1553; the will in question was produced three days before Baynton's death in 1564.[45]
  13. ^ Gabriel's son, Oliver, and his son-in-law, William Bayly (a lawyer of the Middle Temple), were also signatories. The settlement was witnessed by several Wiltshire gentlemen, including Richard Mompesson.[47]
  14. retail price index (RPI) percentage between the two years.[51] Pleydell suggested that selling the livestock was a viable option in his will.[6]

Citations

  1. ^ Burke & Burke 1844, p. 415
  2. ^ "PLEYDELL, Gabriel (by 1519-90/91), of Midgehall in Lydiard Tregoze, Wilts. - History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Bindoff 1982c, p. 111
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hasler 1981b, p. 225
  5. ^ a b c Burke 1863, p. 1200
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hasler 1981b, p. 226
  7. ^ a b c d e "Parishes: Lydiard Tregoze". British History Online. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  8. ^ Fletcher & MacCulloch 2015, p. 22
  9. ^ "Will of Virgil Pleydell of Hampton Turvill, Wiltshire". The National Archives. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d Burke 1863, p. 1201
  11. ^ Henning 1983, p. 252
  12. ^ Bindoff 1982a, p. 29
  13. ^ a b c Hasler 1981a, p. 407
  14. ^ Parliaments of England 1878, p. 454
  15. ^ Martin 1904, p. 423
  16. ^ Burke 1853, p. 390
  17. ^ Mitchison 1966, p. 221
  18. ^ Hayton, Cruickshanks & Handley 2002, p. 161
  19. ^ a b Rossiter, Johnston & Pattie 1999, p. 19
  20. ^ Lundberg 2007, p. 52
  21. ^ "A Brief Chronology of the House of Commons" (PDF). House of Commons Information Office. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  22. ^ Bindoff 1982a, p. 233
  23. ^ Loades 1996, p. 189
  24. ^ The Critical Review 1802, p. 68
  25. ^ Rossiter, Johnston & Pattie 1999, pp. 31–32
  26. ^ "The Burgesses". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  27. ^ Bindoff 1982a, p. 228
  28. ^ "Custodes Rotulorum 1544–1646". Institute of Historical Research. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  29. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27421. Retrieved 16 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  30. ^ Hasler 1981a, p. 277
  31. ^ a b Hasler 1981a, p. 278
  32. ^ "Pledell v Pledell. Plaintiffs: Gabriel Pledell (otherwise Gabriel Pleydell)". The National Archives. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  33. ^ Pollard, Albert Frederick "Dudley, Sir Henry". Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  34. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15626. Retrieved 20 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  35. ^ a b Baker 2003, p. 85
  36. ^ Bindoff 1982b, p. 579
  37. ^ Bindoff 1982b, p. 525
  38. ^ a b c d e f g Bindoff 1982c, p. 112
  39. ^ Bindoff 1982b, p. 191
  40. ^ a b Wilson 1983, p. 32
  41. ^ Elton 1989, p. 122
  42. ^ Hasler 1981b, pp. 225–26
  43. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/71877. Retrieved 21 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  44. ^ Swales 1964, p. 29
  45. ^ a b Hasler 1981a, p. 409
  46. ^ Wiltshire Notes and Queries 1902, pp. 176–77
  47. ^ Wiltshire Notes and Queries 1902, p. 177
  48. ^ Hasler 1981a, p. 410
  49. ^ Wiltshire Notes and Queries 1902, p. 176
  50. ^ Swales 1964, p. 28
  51. ^ "Measuring Worth – Purchase Power of the Pound". MeasuringWorth. Archived from the original on 17 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.

Bibliography

Parliament of England
Preceded by Member for Wootton Bassett
March 1553
With: William Garrard 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Marlborough
1555
With: Sir Andrew Baynton 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Wootton Bassett
1563–1567
With: Matthew Poyntz 		Succeeded by
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