Family and Education

b. by 1503. m. Alice, 3s. 1da.1

Offices Held

Bailiff, Northampton 1524-5, mayor 1534-5, 1551-2.2

Biography

Nicholas Rand was a Northampton draper, whose descendants were to establish themselves at Great Billing, a village in the locality. His election to the Parliament of 1529 was evidently an extension of his municipal career and anticipated his first mayoralty. On the list of Members revised in the spring of 1532 his name appears as ‘Rous’, but as no family of that name can be traced in Northamptonshire A. F. Pollard’s suggestion that this was a copyist’s error is to be accepted. Nothing has come to light about Rand’s role in this Parliament, although he evidently absented himself from part of the fourth session. On 11 May 1532 the mayor of Northampton acknowledged an order from the Council to fine him and two other freemen for disregarding one of the town’s charters, but all three refused payment to the King’s officers as they had appealed ‘to the law’ against the imposition. Cromwell rebuked the mayor for the ‘sinister’ support given by the townsmen to their colleagues, but the outcome of the affair is not known. It is possible that Rand’s offence and his wish to evade punishment for it lie behind his election in 1529. Presumably he served for the town in the following Parliament, that of 1536, when the King asked for the re-election of the previous Members, and perhaps again in 1539, 1542 and 1545, Parliaments for which the names of the town’s Members are unknown. In Mary’s reign he was again returned to Parliament, this time taking the senior place. Neither he nor his fellow John Balgye could have commended himself to the government by their conduct in the House for both men joined the opposition led by Sir Anthony Kingston to a government bill. While he was in London for this Parliament he pressed for the renewal of several leases held by the town.3

Rand made his will on 18 Dec. 1558, providing for his wife, children, kinsmen and friends. He appointed his wife executrix and John Long and John Balgye overseers of the will, which was proved on 16 Jan. 1559.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: S. M. Thorpe

Notes

• 1. Date of birth estimated from first reference. PCC 29 Welles.
• 2. Recs. Northampton, ed. Cox and Markham ii. 551, 559.
• 3. LP Hen. VIII, v, add. Recs. Northampton, i. 157, 170-1; Northampton ass. bk. 30, 43, 52, 147, 301, 315; APC, iii. 465; Guildford mus. Loseley 1331/2; Bridges, Northants, i. 406.
• 4. PCC 29 Welles.