Peter Wentworth facts for kids

Sir Peter Wentworth (born 1529 – died 1596) was an important Puritan leader in the Parliament of England. He was known for speaking out against Queen Elizabeth I. Many people see his speech in Parliament in 1576 as the start of a new time in English politics. During this period, people became more interested in political matters, and ideas like freedom of speech began to grow in Parliament. Because of this, Sir Peter Wentworth is often called the first famous English politician who stood up for Parliament's rights.

Early Life and Education

Peter Wentworth was the son of Sir Nicholas Wentworth. His father was the chief porter of Calais, an important town in France that belonged to England at the time. Peter Wentworth studied law at a place called Lincoln's Inn to become a lawyer. When his father passed away in 1557, Peter inherited the family estate at Lillingstone Lovell.

A Career in Parliament

Peter Wentworth became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Barnstaple in 1571. Later, he also represented Tregony in 1572. He then served as an MP for Northampton in the parliaments of 1586–7, 1589, and 1593.

Fighting for Parliament's Freedom

Wentworth strongly believed that Parliament should be free to speak and make decisions without the Queen interfering. He gave a very important speech about this on 8 February 1576. In his speech, he bravely spoke about two things that he felt were harming Parliament:

• Rumours that spread around, saying, "Be careful what you do, the Queen doesn't like this idea."
• Messages sent into Parliament from the Queen that told MPs what they could or could not say.

Wentworth said these things were "wicked" because they stopped MPs from speaking freely. He was interrupted during his speech because his words were seen as very bold and challenging to the Queen's power.

Imprisonment and Continued Fight

After his speech, officials sent Peter Wentworth to the Tower of London. He was questioned about what he said. Even though he was imprisoned, he was later released and allowed to return to Parliament.

However, his fight for Parliament's rights continued. In February 1587, he supported another MP, Sir Anthony Cope, who wanted to change some church laws and the prayer book. Wentworth also brought forward ideas about the House of Commons' freedoms. Both Cope and Wentworth were sent to the Tower again because Queen Elizabeth I felt they were interfering with her power over the church.

In 1593, Wentworth was imprisoned one more time. This time, it was for asking the Queen to name who would take over the throne after her. He never gained his freedom again and sadly died in the Tower of London on 10 November 1596. While he was in the Tower, he wrote a significant book called A Pithie Exhortation to her Majesty for establishing her Successor to the Crown. This book is now kept in the British Library.

Family Life

Sir Peter Wentworth was married twice. His first wife was Lettice Lane, but they did not have any children. His second wife was Elizabeth Walsingham, who was the sister of Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth I's important secretary of state. Peter and Elizabeth had children together, including a daughter named Frances Wentworth.

Two of his sons also became Members of Parliament:

• His third son, Thomas Wentworth (Recorder of Oxford) (around 1568–1628), also strongly opposed the Queen's power in Parliament. He represented the city of Oxford from 1604 until his death.
• Another son, Walter Wentworth, was an MP for Tavistock in 1601.