William Noy facts for kids
William Noy (born in 1577, died on August 9, 1634) was an important English jurist. A jurist is someone who studies and writes about law. He was known for his deep knowledge of the law during a time of big changes in England.
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Who Was William Noy?
William Noy was born on his family's land called Pendrea, in a place called St Buryan in Cornwall, England. He grew up in the countryside before moving on to study.
Early Life and Education
William Noy started studying at Exeter College, Oxford, which is a famous university. However, he left without finishing his degree. In 1594, he joined Lincoln's Inn, which is one of the main places in London where people train to become lawyers. This was a very important step for anyone wanting a career in law during that period.
A Career in Law and Politics
From 1603 until he died, William Noy was almost always chosen to be a member of Parliament. Parliament is like a country's main law-making group. He always represented areas from his home county of Cornwall. For many years, he often disagreed with the "court party," which was the group of people who supported the King. Even though he had different political ideas, everyone respected how much he knew about the law. He was often asked to be part of important government groups.
The Shift in His Views
A few years before he died, William Noy changed his mind about politics. He decided to support the King's side. In October 1631, he was made Attorney-general. The Attorney-general is the chief legal advisor to the government.
The Ship Money Controversy
It was William Noy's idea to bring back a special tax called "ship money". This tax was usually only collected from towns on the coast to help pay for the navy during wartime. However, Noy advised the King to collect it from all towns, even those far from the sea, and during peacetime. This made many people very angry because they felt it was unfair and against their rights. This argument over ship money was one of the big reasons that led to the English Civil War a few years later.
His Legacy
William Noy suffered from a painful illness involving kidney stones. He died in great pain and was buried at New Brentford church. Even after his death, his legal writings were very important. His main books include On the Grounds and Maxims of the Laws of this Kingdom (published in 1641) and The Compleat Lawyer (published in 1661). These books helped shape legal thinking for many years.
