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 1584 - 1656 (71 years)
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| Name |
Robert Berkeley |
| Birth |
26 Jul 1584 |
Spetchley, Hertfordshire, England  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
1656 |
| Notes |
- justice of the King's Bench in the reign of «b»King Charles I«/b». He was a staunch Royalist, and was one of the judges at the Ship Money trials, where several Members of Parliament, including «b»John Hampden«/b», were fined or imprisoned for refusing to pay the illegal tax. «b»Sir Robert«/b» stated that "«i»Rex was Lex«/i»", that the «b»King«/b» was "«i»a living breathing law«/i»". The divine right of Kings was just about to become an unfashionable idea in England - the English Civil War was upon us. The judgement was overturned, and the Judge himself was arrested when presiding in Court. He was reputedly dragged from the Bench by the Usher of the Black Rod, and thrown in the Tower of London. Whilst on bail awaiting trial, there was a chronic shortage of Judges, so he was allowed to practice until his own trial. He was fined an astonishing £10,000 and deprived of ever holding public office. He went into retirement on his estate at Spetchley near Worcester. In 1651 his house was requisitioned by «b»Cromwell«/b» prior to the battle of Worcester. His town house in Worcester, now known as Charles' House, was used by «b»King Charles II«/b» to make his escape prior to his famous night spent sleeping in the branches of an oak tree. «b»Sir Robert«/b»'s house at Spetchley was subsequently burned down by a retreating band of Scottish Presbyterians. «b»Sir Robert«/b» ended his days living in the stable block - all that remained of his manor house - and died there in 1656. His descendants still live at Spetchley Park, whose gardens are open to the public.
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/BERKELEY1.htm#Robert%20BERKELEY2
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| Person ID |
I27892 |
Glenn Cook Family |
| Last Modified |
30 Nov 2006 |
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