Henry Elsynge (parliamentary official) facts for kids
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Henry Elsynge (born around 1577, died 1635) was an important government official in England. He worked for the Parliament during the time of King James I and King Charles I. He helped keep important historical documents safe and later became a senior clerk for the House of Lords.
He is famous for writing a book called The Manner of Holding Parliaments in England. This book explained how Parliament worked. Sometimes, people call him Henry Elsynge the elder to tell him apart from his son, who was also named Henry Elsynge and became a clerk for the House of Commons.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Henry Elsynge was likely born in 1577. He was baptised on August 21st of that year in London. His parents were Henry Elsynge and Frances Browne. Both his father and his mother's father were "Merchant Taylors," which meant they were part of a guild for tailors and cloth merchants.
After his father died in 1582, his mother Frances married Henry Knyvett. Henry Knyvett was the older half-brother of Robert Bowyer. Robert Bowyer later became a mentor and work partner to Henry Elsynge.
Henry Elsynge went to St Albans School. Then he studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, starting in 1597. He left Cambridge without a degree. He then went to the Middle Temple in 1597 to study law. He became a lawyer in 1605.
In 1600, Henry Elsynge married Blanche Highgate. She was the niece of Robert Bowyer. They had two sons. Their older son, also named Henry Elsynge (1606–1656), later became the Clerk of the House of Commons. Blanche died in 1612. Henry then married Jane Hardy, and they had four sons and one daughter.
Henry Elsynge's Career in Parliament
In 1604, Henry Elsynge and Robert Bowyer were both given the job of Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London. This job involved looking after old government documents. Robert Bowyer's father had held this job before them. Elsynge lived near the Tower of London. He spent his days studying old parliamentary records. These records were often hard to read, written in old Latin and French.
Robert Bowyer became the Clerk of the Parliaments in 1610. This was a very important job as the senior clerk for the House of Lords. Elsynge soon joined him as his assistant. They continued to be joint Keepers of the Records until 1612. Elsynge's future was secured when he was promised the clerkship after Bowyer. Around 1615, he moved to Westminster, where Parliament is located.
Elsynge officially became the Clerk of the Parliaments on March 21, 1621, after Robert Bowyer passed away. As clerk, he worked directly in the House of Lords. He wrote down the official records of the king's highest court. He also helped create a new place to store Parliament's records in the old Jewel Tower. He held this important job until a few months before he died. He stopped working in the House of Lords after King Charles I closed Parliament in 1629. After this, he mostly lived at his home in Oxfordshire.
Later Life and Death
Henry Elsynge wrote his will on October 13, 1635. He likely passed away in November of that year. His half-brother, Thomas Knyvett, took over his role as Clerk of the Parliaments.
Henry Elsynge's Writings
Henry Elsynge is best known today as a historian and expert on Parliament. His work as Keeper of the Records and his experience keeping the House of Lords' records helped him write his most famous book. This book was called The Manner of Holding Parliaments in England. It was not finished when he died. The first part of it was published in 1660. Different parts of his writings have been published over time.
Elsynge and Bowyer also took official notes as Clerks of the Parliaments. These notes were later published in a book called Notes of the Debates in the House of Lords Officially Taken by Robert Bowyer and Henry Elsing 1621, 1625, 1628.
Images for kids
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The title page of the 1768 edition of Elsynge's The Manner of Holding Parliaments in England, edited by Thomas Tyrwhitt
