Henry Parker, 11th Baron Morley facts for kids

Henry Parker, 11th Baron Morley (born January 1533 – died 22 October 1577) was an important English nobleman. He was known as the Lord of Morley, Hingham, and Hockering in Norfolk.

Henry Parker became Baron Morley after his grandfather passed away in 1556. This happened because his father, Sir Henry Parker, had died before his own father. So, the title went directly to young Henry.

Early Life and Honors

Henry Parker was born in January 1533. He came from a well-known family. His father was Sir Henry Parker, and his mother was Grace Newport.

When Queen Mary I was crowned on 6 October 1553, Henry Parker received a special honor. He was made a Knight of the Bath. This was a high award given to important people by the monarch.

Public Service and Royal Connections

In 1560, Henry Parker took on a significant role. He became the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. A Lord Lieutenant was the Queen's personal representative in a county. It was a very important job.

The next year, in 1561, he had the honor of hosting Queen Elizabeth I at his main home. This home was called Allington Morley, located in Great Hallingbury, Essex. Entertaining the Queen was a sign of great respect and influence.

Life Abroad

In 1569, Henry Parker faced a difficult decision. He chose not to sign the Act of Uniformity 1558. This law was about religious practices in England. Because of his strong personal beliefs, which differed from the Queen's, he left England the following year without her permission.

He first lived in Brussels and later moved to Madrid, Spain. While in Madrid, King Philip II of Spain gave him a gift of 600 ducats in 1574. Henry Parker passed away in Madrid on 22 October 1577.

Family Life

Henry Parker married Lady Elizabeth Stanley. Her father was Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby. Lady Elizabeth was also a Lady of Honour at the Queen's court. She shared her husband's strong religious beliefs. In 1574, she was arrested in London for attending a religious service that was not allowed by the Queen's laws at the time. By 1576, she had joined her husband living abroad.

Henry and Elizabeth had a son and two daughters:

• Edward Parker: He became the 12th Baron Morley after his father.
• Mary: She married Sir Edward Leventhorpe. Their son became the first of the Leventhorpe Baronets.
• Anne: She married Sir Henry Brouncker. Their son became the first Viscount Brouncker.