John Puckering

Sir John Puckering (1544 in Flamborough, Yorkshire – 30 April 1596) was a lawyer, politician, Speaker of the English House of Commons, and Lord Keeper from 1592 until his death.^[1]

Early life

Puckering was born in 1544 in Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire, and was the second son of William Puckering.^[2] He entered Lincoln's Inn on 10 April 1559^[3] and he was called to the bar on 15 January 1567. After some years' practice, he became a governor in 1575, and in 1577 became an elected reader in Lent.^[2] He became a sergeant at law in 1580.^[4]

Work in Parliament

Puckering became a member of parliament in 1581.^[5] On 23 November 1585, Parliament met and elected Puckering, who was returned for Bedford, as Speaker of the House of Commons.^[2] During this Parliament, a bill against Jesuits was brought up for discussion.^[6] Dr William Parry, who was later executed for high treason, said the bill was "cruel, bloody and desperate". Puckering ordered him into the custody of the sergeant-at-arms for his use of language, and after some discussion, Parry apologised and retook his seat.^[7] Puckering's skill with dispute solving and speeches was recognised, and he was elected as the Speaker in the next parliament, which opened on 15 October 1586 when he represented Gatton, Surrey.^[8] This was the parliament that decided the fate of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Puckering was heavily involved with the decision.^[9]

On 1 March 1587, shortly following Mary's execution, a Member of Parliament named Wentworth asked Puckering to answer some questions regarding the liberties of the House. Puckering refused, but showed one of the questions to Sir Thomas Heneage of the Privy Council. Wentworth, and four other members of parliament who seconded his motion were imprisoned in the Tower of London for an unknown length of time. The following year, Puckering was knighted^[10] and according to some sources was made Queen's Sergeant, though other sources claim he had been made sergeant two years before.^[2]

Queen's Sergeant

Puckering took part in several trials as Queen's Sergeant. He was successfully leader for the crown in the trial of Philip, Earl of Arundel, who was accused of high treason. He joined in the commission with Judge Clarke, in July 1590 in the trial of John Udall who had published libel about the queen.^[8] His final trial was that of Sir John Perrot, the lord deputy of Ireland.^[11] On 28 May 1592, Puckering was made the Lord Keeper.^[12]

Lord Keeper

Puckering was Lord Keeper for four years, but only presided over one Parliament. During this period, he lived at Russell House near Ivy Bridge, and then York House, both on the Strand.^[13] He also owned a country house in Kew, where he entertained the queen on 13 December 1595.^[14]

Some of Puckering's papers as Sergeant and Lord Keeper were printed by John Strype. These include interrogations of Catholic recusants like John Whitfield in 1593, who was involved with Francis Dacre in a plot for a Spanish invasion of Scotland, and the allowance of bread for the students of Christchurch College, Oxford.^[15]

Puckering died on 30 April 1596 of apoplexy, at his home, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.^[16]

Family

Tomb of Thomas Puckering by Nicholas Stone 1639, St Mary's, Warwick, engraving by Wencelas Hollar

Puckering married Jane Chowne,^[17] daughter of Nicholas Chowne^[18] of Fairlawn, near Wrotham, Kent, and Aldenham, Herts., from his second marriage to Elizabeth Lloyd, widow of Evan Lloyd, a brewer.

They had several children; their son, Thomas was made a baronet in 1612 but died without issue. Thomas's epitaph records his involvement in the education of Henry, Prince of Wales.^[19] John's daughters included Catherine, who married Adam Newton, the tutor of Prince Henry. After Puckering's death, his widow Jane married William Combe,^[20] who with his nephew John Combe, sold land at Stratford to William Shakespeare in 1602. Jane was buried at St. Mary’s, Warwick, on 15 July 1611.

Notes

Bibliography

• Campbell, John (1869). The Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of England. J. Murray. 
• Chauncy, Henry (1826). The Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire. Oxford University. 
• Foss, Edward (1857). The judges of England, from the time of the Conquest. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. 
• Manning, James Alexander (1851). The Lives of the Speakers of the House of Commons. G. Willis. 
• Paley Baildon, William (1896). The Records of the Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn. H.S. Cartwright. 

v t e Speakers of the House of Commons House of Commons of England 14th century Hungerford De la Mare Pickering Guildesborough Waldegrave Pickering Bussy Cheney Doreward Savage Redford 15th century Esturmy Tiptoft Chaucer Stourton Hungerford Chaucer Redman Beauchamp Flower Hunt Chaucer Baynard Russell Walton Vernon Tyrell Alington Bowes Burley Tresham Say Popham Oldhall Thorpe Charlton Wenlock Tresham Green Strangeways Wood Catesby Lovell Mordaunt Fitzwilliam Empson Drury Englefield 16th century Dudley Sheffield Nevill More Audley Wingfield Rich Hare Moyle Baker Dyer Pollard Broke Higham Cordell Gargrave Williams Onslow Wray Bell Popham Puckering Snagge Coke Yelverton 17th century Croke Phelips Crewe Richardson Crewe Finch Finch Glanville Lenthall Pelham Rous (Barebones Parliament) Widdrington (2nd Protectorate Parliament) Chute (3rd Protectorate Parliament) Long (3rd Protectorate Parliament) Bampfield (3rd Protectorate Parliament) Grimston Turnour Charlton Seymour Sawyer Gregory Williams Trevor Powle Foley Littleton 18th century Harley Smith House of Commons of Great Britain 18th century Smith R. Onslow Bromley Hanmer Compton A. Onslow Cust Norton Cornwall Grenville Addington House of Commons of the United Kingdom 19th century Addington Mitford Abbot Manners-Sutton Abercromby Shaw-Lefevre Denison Brand Peel Gully 20th century Lowther Whitley FitzRoy Brown Morrison Hylton-Foster King Lloyd Thomas Weatherill Boothroyd 21st century Martin Bercow