PETRE, Robert (1599-1638)

Probably named after his godfather Sir Robert Cecil^‡ (later 1st earl of Salisbury), Robert Petre was second in line to inherit his grandfather’s newly created barony after 1604, when his elder brother John died. Although his father, the 2nd Lord Petre (William Petre^*) was an enthusiastic patron of the Jesuit order, Robert was educated by a Protestant tutor, William Smith, at the Petres’ family seat of Ingatestone, in Essex. In 1611, he and his younger brother William followed Smith to Oxford when the latter took up a fellowship at Exeter College (generously endowed by Sir William Petre^‡ under Elizabeth). Smith subsequently became sub-warden of Wadham College, newly founded by the Petres’ great-aunt, but his former pupils formally entered Exeter College in February 1613. William subsequently moved to Wadham as a fellow-commoner,7 CP; JOHN PETRE; Kelly, 61, 126-7. but Robert doubtless left the university before he turned 16, to avoid being tendered the oath of allegiance.

In 1620 the 21-year old Petre married Mary, daughter of Anthony Maria Browne^*, 2nd Viscount Montagu, a Sussex recusant and leading patron of the Catholic secular clergy. However, this match failed to defuse rivalries within the English Catholic community, as the Brownes never became intimate members of the Petre circle, unlike Petre’s mother, a daughter of the Jesuit patron Edward Somerset^*, 4th earl of Worcester.8 C142/574/117; Kelly, 133-4, 183-5; M.C. Questier, Catholicism and Community, 442-5. In 1623 the 2nd Lord Petre yielded possession of Ingatestone Hall to Robert who, along with his wife, entertained a succession of Jesuits both there and in London; they also acquired several Catholic devotional works for their library. In January 1626, shortly after Charles I ordered the recusancy laws to be enforced, Petre and his wife, together with his father and brother William, were indicted at the Essex quarter sessions. However, three years later, shortly after the dissolution of the 1628-9 Parliament, the king instructed Attorney General Sir Robert Heath^‡ to suspend proceedings against Lord Petre (and, presumably, the rest of his family).9 Kelly, 50-1, 140, 153-4, 205-6; Essex RO, Q/SR 264/108; 266/117.

English Catholicism was at this time riven by a dispute over the plans of Richard Smith, Catholic bishop of Chalcedon (and a former chaplain to Viscount Montagu) to increase his authority over all missionaries operating in England. Those in regular orders, particularly the Jesuits, viewed this as an infringement of their autonomy, and in 1628 Lord Petre and other lay patrons sent a remonstrance to Rome. Three years later, Robert and his brother William joined their father in signing a further protestation. In 1635, during an interview with Gregorio Panzani, papal envoy to the Caroline court, the Petres admitted to having organized this second petition. Moreover, Petre himself delivered a fresh petition against Smith to Panzani.10 Kelly, 161, 168; Questier, 474-8.

Petre had little chance to demonstrate his mettle as head of the family, as he outlived his father by only 17 months. He died on 28 Oct. 1638, having never sat in Parliament or held local office. In his will, drafted two months before his death, he appointed his brother William and his brother-in-law William Sheldon as his executors. Eight days before his death he settled many of the estates not already assigned to his wife’s jointure upon trustees headed by his cousin Edward Somerset^†, Lord Herbert of Raglan (later 2nd marquess of Worcester). The purpose of this trust was ostensibly to raise portions for his younger children, but Catholics often used such devices to make secret bequests. Petre’s will was proved by his brother William on 4 Dec. 1638. As Catholics, none of his trustees were able to sue for the wardship of the 11-year-old heir, William Petre^†, 4th Lord Petre. However, they doubtless provided the £10,000 Spencer Compton^*, 2nd earl of Northampton used to make the purchase. Northampton appointed a Protestant tutor for his new ward, but after his death in 1643, William was raised by Lord Herbert.11 Kelly, 190-1; PROB 11/178, f. 628; 11/179, ff. 165-6; C142/574/117.