Lennard succeeded in 1630 to extensive estates in Essex, Sussex, Norfolk, and Ireland, and less important properties in Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Suffolk and Berkshire. In 1634 he made a claim to the estates of the Dacres of Gilsland which was not settled until a compromise in 1650 resulted in the acquisition of several lordships in Cumberland and Westmorland. Since he was a minor the estates fell into the hands of the court of wards. His guardian, Sir Francis Barnham‡, had to pay £5,000 a year to the crown as well as 4,000 marks for the composition of his marriage. This, together with cost of litigation, severely depleted his wealth, both real and personal. Dacre’s financial difficulties appear to have been compounded by difficulties in obtaining his wife’s marriage portion.
Dacre attained his majority shortly after the dissolution of the Short Parliament in May 1640. His name does not appear on the presence lists for that Parliament. It seems likely therefore that his first attendance at the House of Lords was at the opening of the Long Parliament on 3 Nov. 1640, and he was certainly present on 6 Nov. when he was named to the committee for privileges. A supporter of Parliament in the Civil War, he would oppose the trial of Charles I, taking a similar political trajectory to that of his guardian, his uncle Sir Thomas Parker‡ (who had married his father’s sister, Philadelphia, and whose relationship with Lennard continued to be close) his stepfather Chaloner Chute‡ (c. 1595-1659) and his brother-in-law, also named Chaloner Chute‡ (1631-66).
Dacre sat in Barebone’s Parliament in 1654, but left England to travel abroad in 1655. His decision may have been motivated by disaffection to the Protectorate but at least one of his contemporaries thought he was escaping marital difficulties.
Dacre was absent when the Convention resumed on 6 Nov. 1660, first attending on the 21st. He was present on 20 days of this part of the session, 36 per cent of the total. On 13 Dec. 1660 he entered a protest against the passage of the bill to vacate the fines of Sir Edward Powell. He also had a personal interest in the issue since his brother-in-law Chute had purchased part of the estates in question, though he may have shared the broader concerns about security of tenure of many other protestors against the bill. During the Convention he was named to four committees.
Dacre was present on the opening day of the new Parliament, 8 May 1661. In the first part of the session, before the adjournment in July 1661, he was present on 40 days, 62.5 per cent of the total and was named to two committees. On 20 May he was listed as present and as having missed a call of the House. On 25 May he was granted a week’s leave of absence, but was in attendance until 30 May and then absent until 17 June. On 11 July he was listed as being ‘supposed to go out of the House before the vote’ on the claim of Aubrey de Vere, 20th earl of Oxford to the great chamberlaincy. He last attended on 17 July.
Dacre was absent when the session resumed on 20 Nov. 1661, first sitting on 5 Dec. 1661, After sitting on 6 Dec., he was then absent until 22 Jan. 1662. On 31 Dec. he obtained a pardon for any ‘evil deeds done or attempted to be done’ before 29 Dec. 1660.
Dacre died at his lodgings in St Martin’s Lane on 12 May 1662 and was buried at Chevening in Kent. He bequeathed £3,000 to each of his daughters for their portions as well as generous legacies to his servants. His debts at his death were reputed to have been in the region of £18,000 and his personal estate worth a mere £8,449. Subsequent litigation estimated his estate at £3,500 (his executors) and £6,000 (parties to the lawsuit). Perhaps significantly, in view of the rumours about his marriage, the will made no reference to his wife at all and appointed his brother Thomas Lennard, his cousin Robert Barnham‡ and his uncle Parker as his executors. Dacre’s widow, his children and his executors all became involved in litigation over the distribution of the estate.