Keywords: Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland (29 September 1602 – 13 October 1668) was an English military leader[1] and a prominent supporter of constitutional monarchy. Algernon Percy was the third, but eldest surviving, son of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, the so-called 'Wizard Earl.' His mother was Lady Dorothy Perrott, daughter of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex and sister of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, one of Elizabeth I's favourites who was executed for treason in 1601. In 1605, the 9th Earl was accused of either participation or complicity in the Gunpowder Plot, and as a result, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London until 1621. The 9th Earl exerted influence on young Algernon's education in spite of his imprisonment, and Algernon frequently stayed with the 9th Earl in the Tower for 4 or 5 days at a time. On the model of King James I's Basilikon Doron, the 9th Earl wrote an essay of advice to his son in 1609. His sister, Lucy Percy Hay, dowager countess of Carlisle, and his younger brother, Henry Percy, were members of the household of Charles I's queen, Henrietta Maria. Another sister, Dorothy, was married to Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester. In 1615, Algernon was sent to study at St John's College, Cambridge, and in 1616 he was admitted to the Middle Temple in London.[2] He received his MA in 1616 and was made a Knight of the Bath, meaning he was now Sir Algernon Percy. In 1618, Algernon and his tutor, Edward Douse, began a six-year tour of continental Europe, visiting the Netherlands, Italy, and France. Algernon returned to England in 1624 and joined his father, recently released from the Tower, at court. In 1629, Algernon married Anne Cecil, daughter of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, "in spite of his father's deep disapproval, who said that 'the blood of a Percy would not mix with the blood of a Cecil if you poured it on a dish" (Percy family history). (The 9th Earl blamed the 2nd Earl of Salisbury for his imprisonment in the Tower.) The marriage, however, produced five daughters. Upon the death of the 9th Earl in 1632, Algernon Percy became the 10th Earl of Northumberland. Northumberland withdrew from public life following the execution of Charles I. In May 1649, he was relieved of responsibility for the king's children and no longer had any official duties. Northumberland was briefly placed under house arrest in 1655 after John Thurloe accused him of encouraging his northern tenants to participate in the Penruddock uprising. Northumberland refused requests from both Oliver Cromwell and Richard Cromwell to sit in the upper house of their parliaments. With the coming of the Restoration in 1660, Northumberland attempted to re-enter politics by organizing the Suffolk House cabal, which included Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, Denzil Holles, Oliver St John, and William Pierrepont, and which hoped to force on Charles II the terms offered to Charles I at Newport. This cabal collapsed when General Monck chose to support the Convention Parliament in April 1660. With Charles II's return to England in May 1660, Northumberland rushed to curry favour with the new king. He did however oppose the bill to execute the regicides responsible for Charles I's death. Charles II appointed Northumberland to his Privy Council in late May 1660, and Northumberland was named Lord Lieutenant of Sussex in August and Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland in September. His return to politics was completed with his service as Lord High Constable of England at Charles II's coronation in April 1661. Northumberland gained a reputation as a diligent enforcer of the Clarendon Code and as an efficient organizer of the militias. During the period of Restoration politics, Northumberland's closest ally at court was Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, while Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon remained a constant enemy, a rivalry which climaxed with Northumberland voting in favour of Clarendon's impeachment in 1667. Northumberland died at Petworth on 13 October 1668 and was buried there in September 1668. His son Joceline succeeded him as 11th Earl of Northumberland. Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland (29 September 1602 – 13 October 1668) was an English military leader[1] and a prominent supporter of constitutional monarchy. Algernon Percy was the third, but eldest surviving, son of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, the so-called 'Wizard Earl.' His mother was Lady Dorothy Perrott, daughter of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex and sister of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, one of Elizabeth I's favourites who was executed for treason in 1601. In 1605, the 9th Earl was accused of either participation or complicity in the Gunpowder Plot, and as a result, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London until 1621. The 9th Earl exerted influence on young Algernon's education in spite of his imprisonment, and Algernon frequently stayed with the 9th Earl in the Tower for 4 or 5 days at a time. On the model of King James I's Basilikon Doron, the 9th Earl wrote an essay of advice to his son in 1609. His sister, Lucy Percy Hay, dowager countess of Carlisle, and his younger brother, Henry Percy, were members of the household of Charles I's queen, Henrietta Maria. Another sister, Dorothy, was married to Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester. In 1615, Algernon was sent to study at St John's College, Cambridge, and in 1616 he was admitted to the Middle Temple in London.[2] He received his MA in 1616 and was made a Knight of the Bath, meaning he was now Sir Algernon Percy. In 1618, Algernon and his tutor, Edward Douse, began a six-year tour of continental Europe, visiting the Netherlands, Italy, and France. Algernon returned to England in 1624 and joined his father, recently released from the Tower, at court. In 1629, Algernon married Anne Cecil, daughter of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, "in spite of his father's deep disapproval, who said that 'the blood of a Percy would not mix with the blood of a Cecil if you poured it on a dish" (Percy family history). (The 9th Earl blamed the 2nd Earl of Salisbury for his imprisonment in the Tower.) The marriage, however, produced five daughters. Upon the death of the 9th Earl in 1632, Algernon Percy became the 10th Earl of Northumberland. Northumberland withdrew from public life following the execution of Charles I. In May 1649, he was relieved of responsibility for the king's children and no longer had any official duties. Northumberland was briefly placed under house arrest in 1655 after John Thurloe accused him of encouraging his northern tenants to participate in the Penruddock uprising. Northumberland refused requests from both Oliver Cromwell and Richard Cromwell to sit in the upper house of their parliaments. With the coming of the Restoration in 1660, Northumberland attempted to re-enter politics by organizing the Suffolk House cabal, which included Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, Denzil Holles, Oliver St John, and William Pierrepont, and which hoped to force on Charles II the terms offered to Charles I at Newport. This cabal collapsed when General Monck chose to support the Convention Parliament in April 1660. With Charles II's return to England in May 1660, Northumberland rushed to curry favour with the new king. He did however oppose the bill to execute the regicides responsible for Charles I's death. Charles II appointed Northumberland to his Privy Council in late May 1660, and Northumberland was named Lord Lieutenant of Sussex in August and Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland in September. His return to politics was completed with his service as Lord High Constable of England at Charles II's coronation in April 1661. Northumberland gained a reputation as a diligent enforcer of the Clarendon Code and as an efficient organizer of the militias. During the period of Restoration politics, Northumberland's closest ally at court was Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, while Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon remained a constant enemy, a rivalry which climaxed with Northumberland voting in favour of Clarendon's impeachment in 1667. Northumberland died at Petworth on 13 October 1668 and was buried there in September 1668. His son Joceline succeeded him as 11th Earl of Northumberland. |