Francis Hastings (died 1610) facts for kids
Sir Francis Hastings (born around 1546, died 1610) was an important English politician. He was known for being a Puritan, which was a group of Protestants who wanted to make the Church of England simpler.
Francis Hastings was a very skilled and hardworking Member of Parliament (MP). He was good at working in committees and believed that religion was important in politics. He was also a writer and very intelligent. Hastings was loyal to the King or Queen, but he also stood up for what he believed was right. He worked hard as an MP and was always trusted with important jobs. Even though he came from a noble family, he enjoyed the challenges of Parliament and tried to create a fair balance of power.
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Early Life and Family
Francis Hastings was the fifth and youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Huntingdon. His mother was Catherine, who was the daughter of Henry, 1st Baron Montagu. His older brothers were Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon.
Francis went to Magdalen College, Oxford, for his education. Later, he studied law at Grays Inn and became a lawyer in 1574.
Starting His Political Career
Even while he was a lawyer, Francis Hastings began his public service. He was made a Justice of the Peace in Leicestershire, where his father lived. This meant he helped keep law and order in the county. He lived in a place called Market Bosworth at this time.
He was chosen to be the High Sheriff of Leicestershire from 1571 to 1572. This was an important role in the county. Soon after, he was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicestershire. He served as an MP for Leicestershire several times (1571, 1584–1587, and 1597–1598).
Moving to Somerset
In 1581, Francis Hastings traded his land in Market Bosworth for some land in Somerset. This land belonged to his older brother. There, he built a large house called North Cadbury Court in North Cadbury, Somerset.
A few years later, he became an MP for Somerset (1588–1593 and 1604–1611). He also served as an MP for Bridgwater in 1601. He was made a knight around 1589, which meant he was called "Sir Francis Hastings."
Family Life and Beliefs
In 1569, he married Lady Maud Vernon. She was the daughter of Sir Ralph Longford. Sadly, she passed away in 1596. After her death, he moved back to the Midlands.
However, he soon married again and returned to the west country. His second wife, Mary Watkins, owned land in Holwell. Sir Francis Hastings was a strong and dedicated Puritan. He wrote books about his Protestant beliefs, like Discourse of Predestination (1598). He wanted to show King James that Protestants were always ready to protect England. He also believed that Catholics could still be loyal to the King.
His Work in Parliament
Some people thought his writings were too extreme. They worried he was trying to divide Protestants. But Hastings believed it was important for everyone to work together. He was very religious and promoted the Bible as "The word of Truth." He thought that public life should be honest and pure.
Hastings saw Parliament as a good place to discuss religious ideas. He always respected the King or Queen's authority. Even though he was not chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Commons, he was always a very important member. He helped other MPs and worked to make the House of Commons stronger. For example, he protected members from being put in prison for debt.
Debates and Challenges
In 1604, he tried to write a bill that would define Puritans in a way that also included Catholics. This was not the usual legal definition, so he asked for advice from the Lord Chancellor. Hastings believed that the King should be honored in Parliament.
He also had disagreements with Archbishop Bancroft about church practices. Hastings thought the House of Commons could ask the church to change some of its ceremonies to be more Puritan. But when Bancroft agreed to some compromises, Hastings decided to drop the issue.
Hastings was good at finding common ground. He supported a Catholic noble, Lord William Howard, keeping his title. At the same time, he pushed for a bill against people who refused to attend Church of England services. He sometimes got into trouble with the King. For example, when he suggested a new tax, the King was not happy, and Hastings had to apologize.
Loyalty and Difficult Times
Sir Francis was a skilled politician who wanted to please the King. He was called to the King's council to explain why some ministers in Northamptonshire refused to follow new church rules. He was even removed from some of his county jobs because of complaints from Somerset.
However, he was still needed in Parliament. After the Gunpowder Plot on November 5, 1605, he quickly wrote to an important official, Cecil. He urged them to take strong action against Jesuits, who were Catholic priests. This showed his loyalty and his desire for order. The King's council recognized his importance.
Sir Francis was also good at guiding other MPs. He believed that more Puritans were needed to work in churches. He thought the real danger to England came from Catholic countries like France and Spain. He wanted to make sure that Jesuits were not allowed to teach in England. He also strongly supported attending church on the Sabbath (Sunday).
However, the King's Speaker forced a bill he supported to be dropped. Hastings was very upset because he believed in religious tolerance. As the head of the Committee of Privileges, he had a lot of power. But he still had to apologize to King James.
By 1607, Hastings was getting older and tired. He was frustrated that Parliament would not give the King more money. In 1610, the King demanded the right to collect taxes whenever he wanted. Hastings was very worried about this, as he believed it would take away power from the House of Commons. He felt that the King would then have too much power over everyone's property.
Images for kids
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North Cadbury Court, a large house built by Sir Francis Hastings.
