Family and Education

bap. 1 Oct. 1571, 1st s. of Roger Pye of the Mynde by Bridget, da. of Thomas or Walter Kirle of Walford, Herefs. educ. Oxf.; New Inn; M. Temple 1590, called 1597. m. (1) 22 July 1602, Joan (bur. 10 Sept. 1625), da. of William Rudhall of Rudhall, Herefs., 7s. 7da.; (2) Hester (d.c.1643), da. of John Ireland and wid. of Ellis Crispe, alderman of London. suc. fa. 31 Mar. 1590. Kntd. 1621.

Offices Held

Assoc. bencher, M. Temple 1616/17, Lent reader 1617, assistant Autumn reader 1618, treasurer 1626-7; Welsh judge from 1617; attorney of court of wards 1621; ?high steward, Leominster 1623-d.; chief justice of session, S. Wales 1631, 1633.

Biography

The Pyes were an old Herefordshire family. Pye himself, a lawyer, bought a good deal of local land, and made improvements to his family seat, the Mynde, including the installation of a new water supply. His return for Scarborough in 1597 was probably due to Lord Howard of Effingham—newly created Earl of Nottingham—high steward of the borough, though no connexion between them has been established. In the Stuart period he was favoured by Buckingham, whom he may have served as legal adviser, and Pye became a regular Parliament man. He died on 26 Dec. 1635, being buried at Much Dewchurch on 9 Jan. 1636.

W. R. Williams, Parl. Hist. Herefs. 45-6; G. E. Aylmer, King’s Servants, 308-9; Her and Gen. v. 130-8; Weaver, Vis. Herfs. 92; OR, i. 462; M.T. Recs. ii. 613, 621, 629, 675, 711; Hutchinson, Notable Middle Templars, 200-1.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N.M.S.

Notes