TATE, William (1559-1617), of Delapré, Northants.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. 1559, 1st s. of Bartholomew Tate of Delapré by his 2nd w. and bro. of Francis. educ. Magdalen Hall, Oxf. 1576; Staple Inn; I. Temple 1579. m. 1597, Elizabeth (d.1617), da. and coh. of Edward, 11th Lord Zouche of Harringworth, 4s. 3da. suc. fa. 1601. Kntd. 1606.

Offices Held

J.p. Northants. and Warws. from c.1601; dep. lt. or commr. musters, Northants. by 1601, sheriff 1603-4.

Biography

His father’s longevity prevented Tate from playing a prominent part in county life during Elizabeth’s reign. His seat at Corfe Castle was no doubt provided by his father’s connexion with the Hattons. He himself continued to act for them in the redemption of the estate from the lord chancellor’s debt. His own position was enhanced by his marriage. His father-in-law did all he could to promote Tate’s interests, evidently persuading Burghley to forward his career.

Under James I Tate was prominent in county affairs and was evidently an efficient administrator. His outlook on the world was pessimistic. When he made his will two months before his death, he found it a place ‘continually inclining to the worst’ and was anxious to ‘shake hands’ with it so that he might dedicate himself ‘soul and body to a celestial contemplation of the incomprehensible happiness of that succeeding life promised to all such as by a lively faith in Christ Jesus alone expect a glorification’. He felt assured that he would ‘become partaker of those unspeakable joys prepared and reserved for the elect servants and saints of the eternal and everlasting God.’ He made careful preparation for the upbringing of his children, hoping that his father-in-law with the assistance of other relatives and servants, would execute the will and obtain his son’s wardship. If Zouche could not undertake the office he asked his friends Robert, Baron Spencer, and Sir Edward Montagu II to do so. He died 14 Oct. 1617 at Delapré, leaving a considerable estate in Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

CP; Vis. Northants. ed. Metcalfe, pp. 198-9; HMC Buccleuch, iii. passim; HMC Hatfield, xi. 437; xv. 291; xvii. 490, 496, 563; CSP Dom. 1611-18, p. 386; HMC Montagu, passim; PCC 124 Weldon; C142/365/149.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: S. M. Thorpe

Notes