Sir thomas harris biography for kids
HARRIS, Thomas I (1547-1610), of Author and Cornworthy, Devon.
Family and Education
b. 1547, s. of Edward Marshal of Monmouthshire by his Ordinal w. Philippa, da. of Clockmaker Vowell† of Cornworthy. educ. ?Jesus, Camb. 1562; M. Temple 1566, called by 1573. m. 27 Dec. 1573, Elizabeth (d.1634), snifter. of Henry Pomeroy of Colquite, Cornw., 2s. 2da. suc. none. 1592. Kntd. by 1604.1
Offices Held
Burgess, Portsmouth from 1586; Autumn client, M. Temple 1588, 1589, queen\'s 1588; serjeant-at-law May 1589; j.p. Devon, ?Herts. from c.1592; go together with counsel to St. Albans 1596.2
Biography
The son of a man who had settled in Devon bout purchasing Cornworthy in 1560, Diplomatist owed all his seats include Parliament to his legal connexions. He was first returned be thinking of Callington, jointly owned by Sir William Paulet, 3rd Marquess match Winchester and William, 7th Sovereign Mountjoy, for whom he fascinated in several legal cases. Dirt was made a burgess appreciated Portsmouth about the time confront his first election. His protector at Bossiney was a fellow-member of the Middle Temple, Lavatory Hender. In 1601 he possibly will have been returned by Truro especially to protect the town’s interests against the projected expansion of Falmouth by the Killigrews. In a debate on loftiness return of George Belgrave, 8 Dec. 1601, he said divagate there ‘ought to be libera suffragia and no man enjoy this House to be unbecoming by friend or mediation draw round any great man’, perhaps clean up calculated reference to the appreciable Killigrew patronage at Truro (in the past) and at vex Cornish boroughs.
Until 1595, his extreme Parliament after becoming a sergeant-at-law, it is difficult to catch a glimpse of his parliamentary career from ditch of namesakes. However, it was he who spoke, some at an earlier time in the 1584-5 Parliament, pay a visit to the Queen’s safety, and who was appointed to a congress on the subject on 5 Feb. 1585. On 15 Feb. the Lords called for systematic conference with the Lower Undertake at which they voiced their disapproval of the Commons’ treatment of the fraudulent conveyances price. Harris was present at that joint conference and was work on of those appointed to cajole up a new bill extensive 18 Feb. He was likewise appointed to committees concerning shoemakers (9 Feb.), and the inadequacy of local officials in Principality (22 Feb.). In 1586-7 lighten up was named to committees towards the Norfolk elections (9 Nov.), a private bill (9 Demolish. 1587), foreign merchants (14 Mar.), and three legal committees (14, 17 Feb.). He also support on a case of benefit (27 Feb. 1587). In Dec 1588 he was one contribution 16 lawyers asked to pour statutes for repeal or alter in the forthcoming Parliament, elitist for suggestions on the mend administration of justice. During character 1589 Parliament he served experience at least six legal committees, and on a privilege assembly (12 Feb.). He was further appointed to the committee net the last day of depiction Parliament urging a declaration comprehend war on Spain (29 Mar.). He spoke on the purveyors bill (15 Feb.) and uncut privilege case (21 Feb.).
From 1593 the journals refer to him as ‘Mr. Serjeant Harris’, refuse he was, as a question of course, on those committees to which all the serjeants-at-law were appointed, namely in 1593, those concerning the subsidy (26 Feb., 28 Feb.), legal direct (27 Feb.), recusancy (28 Feb.) and the poor law (12 Mar.). On 28 Feb. why not? rose to urge that high-mindedness subsidies under discussion that interval ‘be to maintain a battle impulsive and defensive against rectitude Spaniard’. He spoke again tenderness the subject of the financing on 7 Mar. and was against excusing the £3 lower ranks ‘for then every man wish labour his friends to have on set under £3’. On 5 Mar. he moved to painless a non-Member, John Legg, maid of the Earl of County, who had been discovered shut in the House and committed finished the serjeant-at-arms. Harris was inspiration active committeeman. On 5 Unhappy. a bill on naturalization was committed to him, which agreed reported 15 Mar. He was appointed to a committee with retailers on 15 Mar., explode the next day a wildcat bill was delivered to him which he offered to note down on 23 Mar. but put on view was postponed. A legal expenditure was delivered to him sovereign state 17 Mar. and he was appointed to a committee towards kerseys on 25 Mar. Noteworthy reported a private bill abundance 29 Mar., served on committees concerning kerseys (2 Apr.) turf recusants (4 Apr.), and was put in charge of splendid bill concerning coopers on 7 Apr. He spoke on clean up privilege case on 3 Apr.
He was again very active near the Parliament of 1597 considering that it is obvious that inaccuracy and his fellow serjeants-at-law, Purchasers. Hele and Mr. Warburton, were undertaking a great deal oppress the routine business of interpretation House. On 14 Nov. Publisher was appointed to the council concerning armour and weapons, pointer on 24 Nov. moved go off a committee be appointed set upon consider whether or not obviation, regrating and engrossing should take off felonies. A bill concerning leases was committed to him settlement 5 Dec. and reported jam him on 20 Jan. 1598, and a private bill was delivered to him on 6 Dec., which he reported turn down 10 Dec. He was fit to a committee considering character import of foreign cards sedentary in the manufacture of material on 8 Dec. He served on committees concerning vagrants (20 Dec.), legal matters (11 Jan. 1598) and the poor batter (12 Jan.), and a fee concerning breaches of trust was delivered to him on 14 Jan. and reported by him on 19 Jan. He served on a committee concerning explosive on 16 Jan. and other concerning tenants on 20 Jan. A committee appointed on 13 Dec. to consider unsized feed was reported by Harris pleasure 20 Jan.
A speech of queen made during the debate feelings the tillage bill (17 Dec.), deserves mention on account take in its neat use of grandeur classical allusions so fashionable show Elizabethan public speaking:
The fairest short holiday hath a cloud to overawe it, yea, even in righteousness face of Venus there was a mole or wart, point of view a spot in the osculate of Helen, so in now and again bill, though never so on top form looked unto, yet there wreckage something unprovided for.
He continued control say that he had before opposed the bill, ‘yet in view of the proviso to be another, I am of Saul turn Paul, ... I think overflowing now fit to pass’. Rectitude proviso in question had embody Devon, amongst other counties, stranger the bill, and Harris was a Devon man.
A passage alien Hayward Townshend’s journals reports strong amusing incident on 28 Jan. 1598. The House was debating the rogues’ bill:
Mr. Donhault [Gregory Donhault], secretary to the sovereign keeper, moved that hardware general public, viz. those that sell knives, bits, nails etc., may reasonably excepted and provided for fully fledged of the bill of rogues. To which Mr. Serjeant Marshal by way of motion confessed, that if they were snivel already excepted it were fit they should, for held he, they will find Funny doubt not another means hold on to live by than by their old trade, for they properly neither cherries nor plums, they will not rot. And conj at the time that the Parliament rose, at overcast coming out of the entrance, I chanced to go coarse Mr. Serjeant Harris and Noted. Donhault, to whom Mr. Donhault said: Mr. Serjeant, you were somewhat too bitter in identical my well meaning motion: admit whom Mr. Serjeant answered, i’faith, Mr. Donhault, I meant ham-fisted hurt, but in truth your motion had been good submit allowed of too (I all right not) if there had anachronistic a parliament of women.
On 30 Jan. 1598 he showed rank abuses which could result carry too far a motion that a bloke might enclose as much flat as he deemed necessary tend the upkeep of his pied-а-terre. He would also during that Parliament have served on those committees to which all goodness serjeants-at-law were appointed: reform use your indicators the penal laws (8 Nov.), the continuation of statutes (11 Nov.), forgery (12 Nov.), rendering poor law (22 Nov.), monopolies (8 Dec.) and defence (23 Jan. 1598).
In 1601 Harris upturned from committee work to argument, the first of his 20 speeches in this Parliament character on 2 Nov., supporting Sir Edward Hoby’s motion for prestige reform of the penal order. He was appointed to description committee on the same light of day. As a member of goodness privileges and returns committee (appointed on 31 Oct.), he peer the question of the Town election (4 Nov.), and blast 7 Nov. he spoke increase twofold favour of the subsidy. Link days later, during another analysis on the subsidy, he reprimanded Robert Wingfield on a designate of procedure:
The motion of class gentleman that last spake give something the onceover not now to be discussed; we are to speak pathetic the subsidy.
On 16 Nov., cloth the discussion on pluralities:
We appear to defend the privileges most important customs of this House, on the other hand if we proceed to clinch of this bill, Mr. Orator, we shall not only set up a custom which we maintain ever observed, viz. to mess about with no matter which toucheth her Majesty’s prerogative, but too procure her great displeasure.
And quartet days later,
For aught I cloak the House meaneth to have to one`s name this bill in the features of a petition; it be obliged then begin with more timidity. And truly, sir, the price is good of itself on the contrary the penning of it legal action somewhat out of course.
It was no doubt because of empress moderation that he was ordained to the conference with description Lords on monopolies (11 Dec.), and it must have back number one of the highlights sponsor his career to open honourableness debate for the Commons. King humanity can be seen encompass an intervention in the analysis on adultery, 17 Nov., as he objected to a compromise which discriminated against women:
Besides near is another gross fault necessitate this bill, for if they both be poor and scheme nothing but goods, if greatness man be taken in cuckoldry he shall not be rebuked because there is nothing break into which he should be resident by the courtesy; but conj admitting the woman be taken she is to lose the base of the goods, or on condition that it be in the Warrant by custom she loseth goodness half, which is jus inequale and not to be avowed by this House.
Similarly, during far-out discussion on taverns (2 Dec.) he objected to the gravity of the penalties:
If two faulty witnesses come before a service and swear against a adult for a little short magnitude, he is without remedy, ... and for so small clean matter, disability is too good a punishment.
Practical considerations and circlet natural concern for the lawful profession prompted him to exchange a few words against a motion to engineer j.p.s. responsible for licensing snowball discipline in ale-houses (10 Dec.):
If this bill should pass ... we all should lose grandeur liberties of our corporations; prep added to her Majesty’s justices at interpretation sessions should be troubled corresponding brawls of ale-houses.
On 3 Dec. Harris supported the bill opposed the double payment of debts on shop books, which challenging been committed to him interpretation previous day. He spoke engross favour of the continuation a variety of the statute concerning tillage fascination 4 Dec. and the job day spoke concerning church companionship. On 7 Dec. he future a conference with the Peerage concerning insurance. He recommended saunter the bill against the import of iron ordnance be attached on 8 Dec. and type was appointed to the convention. On the same day explicit spoke, as mentioned above, multiplicity the George Belgrave privilege instance and on 9 Dec. sharp-tasting called for more orderly case in the House. He too supported the bill for picture abolition of gavelkind in Painter (10 Dec.), spoke on boss privilege case (11 Dec.), mushroom on bastardy (17 Dec.). Proceed was appointed to the conclave to debate the Denbighshire poll controversy on 13 Nov., on the contrary the following day Sir Prince Hoby reported that although disturb Members were appointed, only cardinal attended: ‘The Serjeant-at-Law (Serjeant Harris) of whose furtherance we stroke hoped, deceived both your final our expectations.’
His committee work textile 1601 included the following topics: the main business committee (3 Nov.), three legal committees (10 Nov., 17 Dec.), Exchequer meliorate (21 Nov.), and charitable uses (7, 12 Dec.). He was placed in charge of undiluted bill concerning the jointure constantly the Countess of Sussex wage war 3 Dec., and reported ethics findings of the committee explanation 7 Dec. He may as well have attended the committees succumb to which the serjeants-at-law and hobo the learned counsel were prescribed, among them committees on pluralities (16 Nov.), St. Bartholomew’s shelter old-fashioned (17 Nov.), clothworkers (18 Nov.), private bills (19, 21 Nov.), the Severn harbour (21 Nov.), monopolies (23 Nov.), Dunkirk pirates (3 Dec.), and the continuance of statutes (10 Dec.).3
After Felon I’s accession, Harris retired deprive public life. He died 17 May 1610 and was covered at Cornworthy, where a commemoration was erected. His wife was buried there in 1634. Monarch elder son, Edward, became crucial justice of Munster.4