Lincolnshire

The Members for Lincolnshire in this period were a mixture of courtiers and country gentlemen. Sir William Cecil, just appointed secretary, was elected to the senior seat in the first two Parliaments of the reign, choosing, however, to represent Northamptonshire in 1563. He was replaced by another courtier, Thomas Heneage, who had lands in Lincolnshire, and Essex, and represented both counties in Parliament; he was again returned for Lincolnshire in 1571 and 1572. Cecil’s heir Sir Thomas was elected senior knight of the shire in 1584 and 1586. The hereditary champion of England, Sir Edward Dymoke of Scrivelsby, was four times knight of the shire for Lincolnshire (1584, 1586, 1589, 1593) and, unlike many county Members, was active in the business of the House. His mad uncle Sir Henry Clinton, later 2nd Earl of Lincoln, had the senior seat in 1571. Other Lincolnshire knights of the shire were Sir Richard Thymbleby (1559), a sheep farmer; Richard Bertie (1563), very much under the thumb of his wife the widowed Duchess of Suffolk; two members of the St. Poll family, Thomas (1572) and George (1589, 1593); Sir Thomas Monson, of South Carlton, just arrived at county status (1597); William Pelham of Brocklesby (1597); and, in 1601, John Sheffield, a younger son of the 3rd Baron Sheffield and married to a judge’s daughter. His junior colleague (Sir) William Wray of Glentworth, was son of Christopher Wray the Speaker.