Cuthbert Buckle facts for kids

Sir Cuthbert Buckle (who was also known as Buckell or Buckley) lived from about 1533 to 1594. He was an important English merchant from Westmorland and became the Lord Mayor of London in the 1500s.

Life Story

Early Life and Family

Cuthbert Buckle was born in Stainmore, near Brough-under-Stainmore, in Westmorland. His father was Christopher Buckle.

He became a member of the Worshipful Company of Vintners, which was a group for wine merchants in London. In January 1564, he married Joan Davye at St Mary Woolnoth church in London. He was even a churchwarden there in 1568-1569. In the same year he married, 1564, Buckle asked for his house, "at the Bisshoppeshead," to be one of the forty taverns allowed to sell wine in London.

In 1570, he was a witness for the will of a famous person, Alderman Sir William Harpur. Even though he lived in London, Buckle remembered his roots in Westmorland. In 1576, he gave a nice reading desk to the church in Brough-under-Stainmore. It had his name on it as a gift.

His first wife, Joan, passed away on June 3, 1577. They had one son, John Buckle, who was born on March 14, 1567.

Cuthbert Buckle married again to Elizabeth Marston. She was the niece of Alice Bradbridge, a silk merchant. Elizabeth was also a widow with two sons from her first marriage, George and John Utley. Buckle worked as the Treasurer of St Thomas's Hospital from 1579 to 1581. Sadly, his son John Buckle died in June 1581 and was buried at St Mary-at-Hill church.

Becoming an Alderman and Sheriff

In 1580, Cuthbert Buckle was asked to be one of the Sheriffs of London, but he paid a fine of £200 to avoid it. However, in 1582, he was elected as an alderman for Farrington Ward Without. He then served almost a full term as Sheriff that year, working with William Rowe.

In August 1584, as an alderman, he helped investigate people who might be secretly practicing the Roman Catholic faith. He even detained Edward Hartley, a servant of Cecily Stonor, who had hosted Edmund Campion's printing press.

In 1585, he helped inspect the city's water pipes. Later, he and Henry Billingsley helped settle a complaint for the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers. In 1586, he was part of a group that visited the Stationers' Hall to check on the quality of bookbinding. They set rules for how books should be sewn and who could work in bookbinding.

From 1586 to 1594, he was an alderman for the Bridge Ward. In 1588, he helped the City win a large debt case. In 1589, Buckle leased lead mines and land in Marske, Swaledale. He then leased them out to other merchants.

During 1589, Buckle helped assess taxes for London. He also helped the Vintners' Company contribute to national defense during the time of the Spanish Armada in 1588. In 1591, Alderman Buckle gave a copy of the King's Bible to Queen's College, Oxford.

In April 1593, the Privy Council wrote to Sir Richard Martin, Cuthbert Buckle, and others. They were commissioners looking into the Dutch Church Libel, which was a serious public issue.

Becoming Lord Mayor

Cuthbert Buckle was chosen as Lord Mayor of London in 1593. He was also made a knight in mid-1594, so he became Sir Cuthbert Buckle. From 1593 to 1594, he was also the President of St Thomas' Hospital.

He took his oath at the Tower because the plague was very bad at that time. His time as Mayor, which started in October 1593, was marked by a terrible plague epidemic. Many people died. Because of the plague, the Privy Council told him to order all the theatres in London to close on February 3, 1594.

A big event during Buckle's time as Mayor was the discovery of a plot against Queen Elizabeth. Her doctor, Dr. Roderigo Lopes, was accused of planning to harm the Queen for money from other countries. Lopes and his associates were found guilty of treason at the London Guildhall in February 1594. Sir Cuthbert Buckle was among the important people who heard the case.

In May 1594, Buckle wrote a letter about problems he had with his Sheriffs, who were trying to take control of city offices that were not theirs to choose.

Richard Robinson, a writer, dedicated a religious book to Sir Cuthbert Buckle in 1594. This book talked about spreading the Gospel.

Death and Burial

Sir Cuthbert Buckle died on July 1, 1594. He likely died from the plague, as he wrote in his will that he was "diseased in body." He was buried on July 29 at St Mary-at-Hill church in Billingsgate Ward. He had a grand funeral, like a nobleman, which was a very costly display. Sir Richard Martin completed his term as Mayor.

Family Symbol (Heraldry)

Sir Cuthbert Buckle had a family coat of arms. It was a black shield with a silver chevron (a V-shape) and three silver wreaths. His crest was a silver half-ounce (a type of wild cat) coming out of a small crown. These symbols were confirmed as his family's ancient arms in 1579.

What He Left Behind (Legacy)

Sir Cuthbert Buckle was very generous to the poor people in London and to those in prison. He also gave gifts to the town of Brough, Westmorland, both during his life and in his will.

South Stainmore Chapel and School

In his will, Sir Cuthbert Buckle left money to support a schoolmaster in Stainmore. This teacher would teach children "to read, write, cypher and cast account" (meaning to do math). This part of Brough was far from the main town, so children couldn't easily go to school there. A schoolhouse was built in South Stainmore that was also used for church services. Even though his will was challenged, the gift was confirmed. By 1608, the building became a chapel dedicated to St Stephen, where school classes could be held.

Gift to the Vintners' Company

Buckle's will also included a gift of his lands and properties in the parishes of St Mary-at-Hill and St Dunstan-in-the-East to the Vintners' Company. From the money they earned from these properties, the Company was supposed to pay certain amounts each year to specific people and to the poor people of St Sepulchre, St Mary-at-Hill, and St Leonard, Eastcheap. However, it seems the Vintners' Company never actually took ownership of these properties or made the payments.

Children and Descendants

Sir Cuthbert Buckle first married Joan Davye in 1564. Their son was:

• John Buckle, who died before his father.

He then married Elizabeth Marston. She had two sons from her first marriage:

• George Utley, a merchant in London.
• John Utley.

Sir Cuthbert and Dame Elizabeth had one son:

• (Sir) Christopher Buckle, born in 1586. He married Catherine Barnham and started his family in Banstead, Surrey. His family lived there for many generations.

Dame Elizabeth

Sir Cuthbert's wife, Dame Elizabeth, died shortly after him in October 1594. She was buried near her husband in November. Since she was the only person in charge of her husband's will, and their son Christopher was still a child, there were some issues about his inheritance.

Some information about his family's later generations can be found in the "Buckle Papers," a collection of family records.

The Russian Embassy of 1600-1601

In his will, Buckle mentioned his large house in Mark Lane, which was likely his main home in London. After his death, in 1600, this house was used as a temporary home for the Russian embassy. This group of visitors from Russia, led by Grigory Ivanovich Mikulin, arrived in September 1600 and met Queen Elizabeth in October.