John Lambe (Dean of the Arches) facts for kids

Sir John Lambe (around 1566 – 1647) was an English legal expert. He worked closely with William Laud, who was a very important leader in the Church of England. Lambe helped Laud carry out his plans for the church.

Early Life and Career

John Lambe was likely born around 1566. He went to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he earned his first degree in 1587 and a master's degree in 1590. During this time, he even traveled to Rome.

After returning to England, he worked as an assistant teacher. He also studied two types of law: civil law (laws of the country) and canon law (laws of the church).

In 1600, he bought the job of registrar for the diocese of Ely. A registrar is like a chief clerk who keeps official records. In 1602, he joined the College of Advocates, a group of expert lawyers. Around the same time, he became a co-registrar and then chancellor for the diocese of Peterborough. A chancellor is a high-ranking official, often in charge of legal matters for a church area.

In 1615, Thomas Dove, who was the bishop of Peterborough, made Lambe his main legal helper. The next year, Lambe earned a higher law degree from Cambridge.

Supporting the King and Church

By 1617, John Lambe was known as a skilled church lawyer. He was asked for advice on important cases. He strongly supported the royal prerogative, which meant he believed the king had special powers.

Lambe was very strict with a group called the Puritans in Northamptonshire. Puritans were Protestants who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. Lambe made them attend church every Sunday and observe holy days. He also made them give money to the church. He punished recusants (people who refused to attend Church of England services) and often changed their punishments into fines. He sometimes held his courts at inconvenient times or places, fining those who didn't show up.

In 1621, the people of Northampton complained to Parliament about Lambe. However, the king stepped in and stopped the complaints. The king even made Lambe a knight on July 26 at Castle Ashby, so he became Sir John Lambe.

In 1623, John Williams, who was now the bishop of Lincoln, chose Lambe as his legal helper. But in 1626, Williams disagreed with Lambe about punishing some people who met for religious services outside the official church. Lambe secretly told the king's advisors, the privy council, about Williams. No immediate action was taken against the bishop, but Lambe's information was kept for later use.

A Top Church Judge

From 1629, Sir John Lambe was a member of the high commission court. This was a special court that dealt with church matters and often punished people who didn't follow church rules. He was one of William Laud's most active supporters during this time.

In 1633, he became the dean of the arches in the court of Canterbury. This was a very important position, making him a top judge in the church's main court. In 1635, he was given more legal duties in Leicestershire and Buckinghamshire. In 1637, he was put in charge of church law in Leicester during a time when Bishop Williams was suspended. On January 26, 1640, he was even appointed chancellor and keeper of the great seal for Queen Henrietta Maria, the king's wife.

Facing Challenges

When the Long Parliament began to meet, people started to complain about Sir John Lambe. The people of Waddesdon, for example, said he made them pay for two organs and an organist. In February 1641, Lambe was called to appear before a committee in Parliament. He didn't show up at first and was later brought in, looking unwell. He formally apologized and was released on bail.

At the same time, he faced other legal problems. The widow of a churchwarden from Colchester sued him. Lambe had punished her husband in 1635 for not putting a rail around the church altar. Another person, Walter Walker, also sued Lambe for unfairly taking away his job. Parliament found Lambe guilty in both cases and ordered him to pay money to the widow and to Walker. There was even talk of putting Lambe on trial along with Laud.

Sir John Lambe then fled to Oxford. His property was sequestrated, meaning it was taken away by the government. He died in early 1647.

Family Life

Sir John Lambe had two daughters. Both were considered very beautiful. One of them married Robert Sibthorpe. The other daughter, Barbara, became the second wife of Basil Feilding, who later became the Earl of Denbigh.