Appendix V: Lawyer Members

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010
Available from Cambridge University Press

Lawyer Members of the House of Commons

GI Gray’s Inn

IT Inner Temple

LI Lincoln’s Inn

MT Middle Temple

The Parliament of 1604-10

Barristers

Bacon, Sir Francis (GI)

Barker, Richard (GI)

Barker, Robert(IT)

Baxter, John (MT)

Bowyer, Sir Edmund(LI)

Bowyer, Robert (MT) (1605-10 only)

Boys, John (MT)

Brocke, William (IT)

Bromley, Edward (IT) (to Feb. 1610)

Brooke, Christopher (LI)

Brooke, Thomas (IT)

Carew, Sir George II (MT)

Cheke, Thomas I (LI)

Crewe, Thomas (GI)

Delabere, Richard (LI) (unseated 13 Apr. 1604)

Digges, Richard (LI)

Doddridge, John (MT)

Durdent, Thomas (LI) (1604-7 only)

Dyott, Anthony (IT)

Eure, Francis (GI)

Fanshawe, Thomas I (IT) (called 1606)

Ferne, John (IT) (d.1609)

Finch, Heneage (IT)

Fleetwood, Henry (GI)

Fleming, Sir Thomas I (LI) (1604 only)

Fuller, Nicholas (GI)

Gamull, Thomas (IT) (1606-10 only)

Hadde, Matthew (LI)

Hakewill, William (LI)

Hare, John (IT)

Harris, Thomas (LI) (unseated 13 Apr. 1604)

Heigham, Sir John (LI)

Hesketh, Sir Thomas (GI) (1604 only)

Hetley, Thomas (GI)

Hext, Edward (MT)

Hicks, Michael (LI)

Hitcham, Robert (GI)

Hobart, Sir Henry (LI)

Holt, William (GI)

Hoskins, John (MT)

Hyde, Lawrence I (MT)

Hyde, Nicholas (MT)

Irby, Anthony(LI)

Jenkins, Sir Henry (LI)

Jones, William I (LI)

Kirton, James II (MT)

Lawton, Thomas (IT) (1604-6 only)

Lewknor, Sir Edward I (MT)

Ley, Sir James (LI)

Malet, Thomas (MT)

Martin, Richard (MT)

More, John I (LI)

Montagu, Sir Henry (MT)

Moore, Francis (MT)

Mutton, Peter (LI)

Napper, Sir Robert (MT)

Noye, William(LI)

Overbury, Nicholas (MT)

Oxburgh, Thomas (LI)

Owen, Sir Roger (LI) (1606-10 only)

Parkinson, Christopher (GI)

Peard, George(LI)

Pembridge, Anthony (IT) (1605-10 only)

Phelips, Sir Edward (MT)

Ravenscroft, William (LI)

Salter, Edward (GI) (elected Feb. 1610; no longer practising)

Shurley, John (MT)

Snygge, George (MT) (1604 only)

South, Thomas (MT)

Stone, Christopher (MT)

Stoughton, Adrian (IT)

Tanfield, Lawrence (IT) (1604-5 only)

Tate, Francis (MT)

Tooker, Giles (LI)

Trevor, Thomas (IT)

Unton, Thomas (GI) (called 1608)

Vyvyan, Francis (MT)

Washington, Laurence (GI)

Wentworth, Thomas (LI)

Whitelocke, James (MT) (1610 only)

Wilbraham, Sir Roger (GI)

Winch, Humphrey (LI) (1604-6 only)

Wiseman, William (LI)

Wylde, George I (IT)

Yelverton, Henry (GI)

Trainee barristers

Percival, Richard (LI)

Civil lawyers

Bennet, Sir John

Byrd, William (1610 only)

Caesar, Sir Julius (also a barrister)

Crompton, Sir Thomas (d.1609)

Cromwell, Henry (BCL, but no evidence that he practised)

Dunne, Sir Daniel

Herbert, Sir John

James, Francis

Jones, John

Moutlowe, Henry

Parkins, Sir Christopher

?Plomer, John

Steward, Nicholas

Wilson, Thomas (elected 1605; never practised)

Minor common lawyers

Antrobus, Thomas (LI) clerk of the outlawries; owned law books

Boden, John Clement’s Inn educated. Legal training presumed (estate steward; recorder Shaftesbury)

Bowyer, John (GI) described as a ‘professor of laws’; d.1605

Bullingham, Francis GI trained, notary public in Lincoln

Cole, Edward notary public

Damet, Thomas (GI) town clerk and attorney of Great Yarmouth

Davys, Matthew Barnard’s Inn trained attorney

Duncombe, Edward IT trained, attorney in Common Pleas and Requests

Lawley, George New Inn trained?; attorney and former town clerk of Much Wenlock

Peard, George (LI) counsel to Barnstaple

?Wright, Richard City solicitor in late 1590s

The Parliament of 1614

Barristers

Amherst, Richard (GI)

Ashley, Francis (MT)

Bacon, Sir Francis (GI)

Barker, Robert (IT)

Bawtree, Leonard (LI)

Berkeley, Francis (LI)

Bowyer, Sir Edmund (LI)

Brakin, Francis (GI)

Brooke, Christopher (LI)

Browne, George (MT)

Byng, Henry (GI)

Cheke, Thomas I (LI)

Chiborne, Charles (LI)

Conyers, William (MT)

Courtman, William (LI)

Crewe, Ranulphe (LI)

Crewe, Thomas (GI)

Danvers, Charles (MT)

Digges, Richard (LI)

Doubleday, Edmund (MT)

Dyott, Anthony (IT) (from May)

Finch, Henry (GI)

Fleming, Philip (LI)

Fuller, Nicholas (GI)

Gardener, Sir Robert (LI)

Gee, William (LI)

Glanville, John (LI)

Gwyn, Rice (IT)

Hakewill, William (LI)

Henden, Edward (GI)

Hitcham, Robert (GI)

Hitchcock, Thomas (LI)

Hoskins, John (MT)

Hyde, Nicholas (MT)

Irby, Anthony (LI)

Ireland, Thomas (GI)

Jones, William I (LI)

Ley, Sir James (LI)

Littleton, Edward (IT) (identification uncertain)

Lloyd, Ellis (LI)

Lowe, Richard (LI)

Malet, Thomas (MT)

Montagu, Sir Henry (MT)

Montagu, Sidney (MT)

Morley, Edward (IT)

Moore, Francis (MT)

Mosley, Edward (GI)

Owen, Sir Roger (LI)

Oxburgh, Thomas (LI)

Prowde, Lewis (LI)

Ryves, John (MT)

St. Aubyn, Thomas (MT)

Salter, Edward (GI) (elected April 1621; no longer practising)

Searle, John (LI)

Smythe, Edward (MT)

Stoughton, Adrian (IT)

Straunge, Robert (LI) (called while Parliament was in session)

Tooker, Giles (LI)

Townshend, Sir Henry (LI)

Towse, William (IT)

Tufton, Richard (LI)

Turnor, Arthur (MT)

Vyvyan, Francis (MT)

Warre, Thomas (MT)

Wentworth, Thomas (LI)

Were, Humphrey (IT)

Whitby, Edward (IT)

Whitelocke, James (MT) (also had a civil law degree)

Wilbraham, Sir Roger (GI)

Williamson, Sir Richard (GI) (not certain that he was ever called)

Willoughby, Sir William (GI)

Wolverston, Robert (GI) (not certain that he was ever called)

Woodward, Thomas (LI)

Yelverton, Henry (GI)

Trainee barristers

Charnock, Roger (GI)

Croke, Henry (IT)

Hastings, George (GI)

Ley, Henry (LI)

Shelley, Henry II (GI)

Civil lawyers

Bennet, Sir John

Caesar, Sir Charles

Caesar, Sir Julius (also a barrister)

Dade, Henry

Dunne, Sir Daniel

Newman, George

Minor common lawyers

Cage, William attorney; returned 27 April

Courtman, William (LI) assistant clerk of assize

Davys, Matthew I Barnard’s Inn trained attorney

Duncombe, Edward attorney in Common Pleas and Requests

Gregory, William town clerk of Nottingham

Langston, Anthony attorney

Southworth, Thomas (GI) attorney?

The Parliament of 1621

Barristers

Amherst, Richard (GI)

Ashley, Francis (MT)

Bailiffe, John (MT)

Bedingfield, Thomas (GI)

Berkeley, Francis (LI)

Berkeley, Robert (MT)

Borlase, Henry (MT)

Brooke, Christopher (LI)

Carvile, John (MT)

Clench, Thomas (LI)

Clerke, Henry (MT)

Coke, Sir Edward (IT)

Conyers, William (MT)

Crewe, Thomas (GI)

Davies, Sir John (MT)

Denny, William (GI)

Digges, Richard (LI)

Dyott, Richard (IT)

Earle, Christopher (MT)

Eure, Sampson (GI)

Finch, Heneage (IT)

Finch, John II (GI)

Fleming, Philip (LI) (elected 6 Dec.)

Foxton, Richard (MT) (unseated 22 Mar.)

Glanville, John (LI)

Hakewill, William (LI)

Hawarde, John (IT)

Heath, Robert (IT)

Herbert, Edward (IT)

Hockmore, William (MT)

Irby, Anthony (LI)

Kynaston, Sir Francis (LI) (seems never to have practised)

Levinge, Timothy (IT)

Lewis, Robert (GI)

Malet, Thomas (MT)

Mosley, Edward (GI)

Nichols, Francis (MT)

Noye, William (LI)

Osborne, Edward (IT)

Overbury, Walter (MT)

Pye, Walter I (MT)

Richardson, Thomas (LI)

Rolle, Henry (IT)

Rudyard, Sir Benjamin (MT)

Saunders, John (MT)

Savage, William (MT)

Sheppard, Thomas (LI) (expelled Feb.)

Sherfield, Henry (LI)

Shute, Robert (GI) (died one week into the session)

Shuter, John (IT)

Smith, John (MT)

Sotwell, William (LI)

Spencer, Edward (LI)

Strode, John (MT)

Taylor, Richard (LI)

Walter, Sir John (IT)

Warre, Roger (MT)

Wentworth, Thomas (LI) (from 9 Feb.)

Weston, Richard (IT)

Whatman, Thomas (IT)

Whitby, Edward (IT)

Wrightington (GI)

Wylde, John (IT)

Barristers elected who never sat

Coventry, Sir Thomas (IT) (disabled from sitting before entry)

James Thurbarne (GI) (elected but not returned)

Sir James Ley (LI) (disabled from sitting before entry)

Trainee barristers

Lassells, George (GI)

Manaton, Ambrose (LI)

Civil lawyers

Bennet, Sir John (expelled 23 Apr.)

Caesar, Sir Julius

Gooch, Barnaby

Purefoy, Michael

Zouche, Richard

Minor common lawyers

Cradock, Matthew (IT) clerk of assize Oxf. circuit and recorder of Stafford

Greene, Giles (MT) clerk in King’s Bench

Griffith, John III attorney

Jarvis, Arthur attorney in the Exchequer

Kent, John Barnard’s Inn trained attorney

May, Thomas dep. clerk in Star Chamber; both a civil and common lawyer

Nyell, William town clerk of Dartmouth

Pelham, Henry (GI) legal adviser and dep. recorder of Grantham, recorder Lincoln, and ancient, GI. Called but record lost?

Ross, Richard scrivener, Norwich; served as an under-sheriff

Shilleto, George (GI) entered Commons Apr. 1621; attorney in Star Chamber

Southworth, Thomas (GI) attorney?

Tisdall, Richard attorney

The Parliament of 1624

Barristers

Ayscough, Edward (LI or GI) (identity uncertain)

Bankes, Sir John (GI)

Bowyer, Sir Edmund (LI)

Brakin, Francis (GI)

Breres, Edmund (GI)

Brooke, Christopher (LI)

Bysshe, Edward (LI) (returned 24 Mar.)

Carvile, John (MT)

Clarke, James II (IT)

Coke, Sir Edward (IT)

Cresheld, Richard (LI)

Crewe, John (GI) (returned May)

Crewe, Thomas (GI)

Denne, Thomas (IT)

Denny, William (GI)

Digges, Richard (LI)

Duck, Nicholas (LI)

Dyott, Richard (IT)

Estcott, Richard (LI)

Finch, Francis (IT)

Finch, Heneage (IT)

Finch, John I (IT)

Fleming, Philip (LI)

Glanville, John (LI)

Hakewill, William (LI) (returned May 1624)

Hawarde, John (IT)

Heath, Robert (MT)

Herrys, Christopher (LI)

Hitcham, Robert (GI)

Hyde, Lawrence II (MT)

Jones, Charles (LI)

Levinge, Timothy (IT)

Ley, Henry (LI)

Lewis, Robert (GI)

Lowther, John I (IT)

Lucy, Francis (LI)

Mosley, Edward (GI)

Mutton, Peter (LI)

Myngaye, Francis (IT) (unseated 2 Mar.)

Nichols, Francis (MT)

Noye, William (LI)

Oakeley, Richard (MT)

Owen, Thomas (LI)

Pepper, Christopher (GI)

Pye, Walter I (MT)

Pyne, Arthur (LI)

Rivett, Nicholas (GI)

Rolle, Henry (IT)

Rudyard, Sir Benjamin (MT)

Saunders, John (MT)

Savage, William (MT)

Selden, John (IT) (returned March)

Sherfield, Henry (LI)

Sherland, Christopher (GI)

Shuter, John (IT)

Sotwell, William (LI)

Spencer, Edward (LI)

Taylor, Richard (LI)

Thelwall, Sir Eubule (GI)

Trevor, Thomas (IT)

Walter, Sir John (IT)

Wandesford, John (GI)

Warre, Roger (MT)

Were, Humphrey (IT)

Whatman, Thomas (IT)

Whistler, John (GI)

Whitaker, William (MT)

Whitby, Edward (IT)

Whitfield, Ralph (GI)

Wightwick, John (IT)

Woodward, Thomas (LI)

Wylde, John I (IT)

Barristers elected who never sat

Herbert, Edward (IT) (returned Jan. 1625)

Trainee barristers

Roberts, Edward (GI)

Wynn, Henry (IT)

Civil lawyers

Duck, Arthur

Gooch, Barnaby

Zouche, Richard

Minor common lawyers

Ireland, George (GI) practised alongside his barrister father

Kent, John Barnard’s Inn trained attorney

Nyell, William town clerk of Dartmouth

Southworth, Thomas (GI) trained lawyer; presumably an attorney

The Parliament of 1625

Barristers

Ashley, Francis (MT)

Brooke, Christopher (LI)

Bysshe, Edward (LI)

Carvile, John (MT)

Clerke, Henry (MT)

Coke, Sir Edward (IT)

Cresheld, Richard (LI)

Crewe, John (GI)

Crewe, Thomas (GI)

Denny, William (GI)

Digges, Richard (LI)

Duck, Nicholas (LI)

Dyott, Richard (IT)

Estcott, Richard (LI)

Finch, Francis (IT)

Finch, Heneage (IT)

Fleming, Philip (LI)

Glanville, John (LI)

Heath, Robert (IT)

Herbert, Edward (IT)

Herrys, Christopher (LI)

Hitcham, Robert (GI)

Hyde, Nicholas (MT)

Jones, Charles (LI)

Keeling, John (IT)

Lane, Thomas (IT)

Ley, Henry (LI)

Littleton, Edward II (IT)

Lowther, John I (IT)

Lucy, Francis (LI)

Malet, Thomas (MT)

Owen, Thomas (LI)

Pepys, Talbot (MT)

Pye, Walter I (MT)

Pyne, Arthur (LI)

Rolle, Henry (IT)

Rudyard, Sir Benjamin (MT)

Saunders, John (MT)

Sherfield, Henry (LI)

Sherland, Christopher (GI)

Shuter, John (IT)

Spencer, Edward (LI)

Strode, John (MT)

Taylor, Richard (LI)

Towse, William (IT)

Vernon, George (IT)

Whitaker, William (MT)

Whitby, Edward (IT)

Whistler, John (GI)

Wylde, John (IT)

Trainee barristers

Pyne, John (MT)

Roberts, Edward (GI)

Wynn, Henry (IT)

Civil lawyers

Marten, Sir Henry

Paule, Sir George

Minor common lawyers

Cradock, Matthew (IT) clerk of assize Oxford circuit and former recorder of Stafford

Greaves, Robert town clerk of Nottingham; legal training presumed

Langston, Anthony attorney

Greene, Giles (MT) clerk in King’s Bench; entered Commons in August sitting

Martyn alias Orme, John attorney in Common Pleas and three times under-sheriff of Nottinghamshire

The Parliament of 1626

Barristers

Bankes, John (GI)

Bedingfield, Thomas (GI)

Brooke, Christopher (LI)

Bysshe, Edward (LI)

Carvile, John (MT)

Clarke, James II (IT)

Clerke, Henry (MT)

Crewe, John (GI)

Croke, Unton (IT)

Digges, Richard (LI)

Dyott, Richard (IT)

Earle, Christopher (MT)

Estcott, Richard (LI)

Finch, Francis (IT)

Finch, Heneage (IT)

Finch, John II (GI)

Fleming, Philip (LI)

George, John (MT)

Glanville, John (LI)

Heath, Robert (IT) (unseated 10 Feb.)

Herbert, Edward (IT)

Herrys, Christopher (LI)

Hitcham, Robert (GI)

Hobart, Nathaniel (MT) (elected Feb.)

Jones, Charles (LI)

Jordan, Nicholas (IT)

Keeling, John (IT)

Ley, Henry (LI)

Littleton, Edward II (IT)

Long, Robert (LI) (elected 17 Mar.)

Lowther, John I (IT)

Lucy, Francis (LI)

Malet, Thomas (MT)

Mason, Robert I (LI)

Mason, William (GI)

Newbery, Humphrey (LI)

Noye, William (LI)

Overbury, Walter (MT)

Owen, Thomas (LI)

Pye, Walter I (MT)

Pyne, Arthur (LI)

Rolle, Henry (IT)

Rudyard, Sir Benjamin (MT)

Saunders, John (MT)

Selden, John (IT)

Sherfield, Henry (LI)

Sherland, Christopher (GI)

Shilton, Richard (IT)

Shuter, John (IT)

Smalman, Francis II (IT)

Spencer, Edward (LI)

Spelman, John (GI)

Taylor, Richard (LI)

Thelwall, Sir Eubule (GI)

Tichborne, Benjamin (MT)

Towse, William (IT)

Vernon, George (IT)

Whatman, Thomas (IT)

Whitaker, William (MT)

Whitby, Edward (IT)

Whistler, John (GI)

Wylde, John (IT)

Trainee barristers

Drewe, John (MT)

Armyne, Evers (GI)

?Horner, Thomas (LI) (identity uncertain)

Pyne, John (MT)

Roberts, Edward (GI)

Vaughan, Edward (IT)

Whitelocke, Bulstrode (MT)

Civil lawyers

Eden, Thomas II

Marten, Sir Henry

Mason, Robert II (unseated 10 Mar.; never actually sat)

Minor common lawyers

Blake, William scrivener

Griffith, John III (LI) attorney

Jane, Joseph seems to have been trained as a lawyer

Langston, Anthony attorney

Lowther, Richard (GI) evidently practised as counsellor-at-law

Monson, John no formal training known, but Wood says he was ‘as good a lawyer as any’; became a DCL at Oxford in 1642

Peake, Peter (GI) became town clerk of Sandwich and an ancient of GI

Puxton, John Barnard’s Inn trained; served as under-sheriff Wilts 1623; probably a lawyer

Standish, Thomas (GI) prothonotary in duchy of Lancaster’s Common Bench

The Parliament of 1628-9

Barristers

Baber, John (LI)

Ball, Peter (MT)

Bankes, John (GI)

Bysshe, Edward (LI)

Coke, Sir Edward (IT) (inactive 1629)

Cresheld, Richard (LI)

Crewe, John (GI)

Croke, Henry (IT)

Digges, Richard (LI)

Dyott, Richard (IT)

Earle, Christopher (MT)

Estcott, Richard (LI)

Finch, Francis (IT)

Finch, John II (GI)

Fleming, Philip (LI)

George, John (MT)

Glanville, John (LI)

Grimston, Harbottle (LI) (sat 1629 only)

Herbert, Edward (IT)

Herrys, Christopher (LI) (d. 1 July 28)

Hoskins, John (MT)

Hyde, Lawrence II (MT)

Jones, Charles (LI)

Lane, Thomas (IT)

Levinge, Timothy (IT)

Lewknor, Christopher (MT)

Littleton, Edward II (IT)

Long, Robert (LI)

Lowther, John I (IT)

Lowther, John II (IT)

Lucy, Francis (LI)

Mason, Robert I (LI)

Noye, William (LI)

Owen, Thomas (LI)

Petty, Maximilian (LI)

Pye, Walter I (MT)

Pyne, Hugh (LI) (d. Nov. 1628)

Radcliffe, George (GI) (elected aft. 11 Apr. 1628)

Rolle, Henry (IT)

Rudyard, Sir Benjamin (MT)

Saunders, John (MT)

Selden, John (IT)

Sherfield, Henry (LI)

Shilton, Richard (IT)

Taylor, Richard (LI)

Thelwall, Sir Eubule (GI)

Tichborne, Benjamin (MT)

Tufton, Richard (LI)

Whitby, Edward (IT)

Whistler, John (GI)

Wylde, George II (IT)

Wylde, John (IT)

Trainee barristers

?Horner, Thomas (identity uncertain)

Pyne, John (MT)

Vaughan, John (IT)

Walter, William (IT) (elected mid May 1628)

Civil lawyers

Eden, Thomas II

Marten, Sir Henry

Paule, Sir George (registrar of Ely diocese & the Canterbury high commission)

Minor common lawyers

Cradock, Matthew (IT) clerk of assize, Oxford circuit and former recorder of Stafford

Debney, Robert scrivener

Greene, Giles (MT) clerk in King’s Bench

Lowther, Richard (GI) evidently practised as counsellor-at-law

Griffith, John III (LI) attorney

Peake, Peter (GI) became town clerk of Sandwich and an ancient of GI

Rolfe, William (IT) scrivener

Ref Volumes: 1604-1629

Author: Andrew Thrush

End Notes