William Fleetwood (judge) facts for kids

William Fleetwood (born around 1535, died 1594) was an important English lawyer and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (a person elected to represent an area in the government) for different places like Marlborough and Lancaster. He also represented the City of London many times. His most important job was being the Recorder of London from 1571 to 1591. A Recorder was a top legal official and judge for the city. He was also a lawyer from the Middle Temple, which is one of the four main legal societies in London. Later in his career, he became a Queen's Serjeant, a very senior lawyer who advised the Queen.

William Fleetwood's Early Life and Education

William Fleetwood was born around 1535. His father was Robert Fleetwood. He went to Brasenose College, Oxford, for his education, but he didn't finish with a degree. He then studied law at the Middle Temple. This is where he became a lawyer.

In 1557, he became a "freeman" of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. This was a powerful group of merchants in London. He also held other legal roles for this company.

Fleetwood's Career in Law and Politics

In 1558, William Fleetwood was first elected to the House of Commons. This is where laws were made. He represented Marlborough. Later, he was a Member of Parliament for Lancaster in 1559 and 1563.

In 1559, he helped visit different church areas as a commissioner. In 1568, he became a "double reader" at the Middle Temple. This meant he gave important lectures on law.

Becoming Recorder of London

In 1571, William Fleetwood got a very important job: Recorder of London. He held this position for 20 years. As Recorder, he was a key judge and legal advisor for the City of London. In the same year, he also helped look into customs laws. In 1572, he was elected to Parliament again, this time representing the City of London.

As Recorder, he was known for making sure laws were followed strictly. He worked hard to deal with people who were homeless or those who secretly practiced the old Catholic religion when it was not allowed.

Later Career and Achievements

In 1580, he became a Serjeant-at-law. This was a special rank for very experienced lawyers. In 1583, he helped look into problems with printing. He also came up with a plan to help poor people in London. His plan also aimed to prevent the plague by keeping open spaces in the city.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament for London again in 1584, 1586, and 1588. In 1588, he advised on how to deal with certain religious groups. In 1589, he looked into the right of criminals to find safety in St. Paul's churchyard. In 1591, he received a pension and then stepped down from his role as Recorder.

In 1592, he was made a Queen's Serjeant, a very high legal position. William Fleetwood passed away on February 28, 1594, at his home in London. He was buried at his estate in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.

William Fleetwood's Personal Life

William Fleetwood was a very dedicated judge. He hoped for even higher positions in his career. He was known for his cleverness and good speaking skills.

He married a woman named Mariana Barley. They had a large family with six sons and two daughters. His oldest son, Sir William, inherited his estate. Another son, Sir Thomas, also became a lawyer. His daughters married important people as well.

William Fleetwood's Written Works

William Fleetwood wrote several books and papers during his life:

• An Oration made at Guildhall... (1571): A speech he gave about problems in the city.
• Annalium... (1579, 1597): A legal book listing important titles in alphabetical order.
• A Table to the Reports of Edmund Plowden (1578, 1579, 1599): A guide to another lawyer's legal reports.
• The Office of a Justice of the Peace (1658): A book about the duties of a local judge, published after he died.
• He also wrote verses for other authors' books.

Manuscripts and Other Writings

Many of Fleetwood's writings were never officially published and remained as manuscripts (handwritten documents). These included notes on law and several volumes of legal reports.

He also wrote an unpublished work called Itinerarium ad Windsor. In this work, he imagined a conversation with important figures like the Earl of Leicester about who should become queen after Elizabeth I.