HUSSEY, Thomas I (c.1520-by 1576), of the Middle Temple, London.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Family and Education

b. c.1520, yr. s. of Sir John Hussey of Sleaford, Lincs. by his 2nd w. Anne, da. of George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent. educ. M. Temple.2

Offices Held

Biography

In 1537 Hussey’s father was executed for his part in the Pilgrimage of Grace, and his lands forfeited. Hussey’s eldest half-brother was restored in blood by Edward VI, but he himself and his other brothers and sisters did not receive this favour until 1563. Hussey’s sister Bridget married first (Sir) Richard Morison, secondly the end Earl of Rutland, and lastly, in 1566, the end Earl of Bedford, who was already connected with the family. Hussey, like Bridget, was a convinced protestant, which makes it likely that it was on his behalf that Bedford used his influence at St. Ives in 1559, rather than on behalf of a younger Thomas Hussey of Caythorpe, Lincolnshire, who was arraigned for taking part in the northern rebellion ten years later. In 1571 and 1572 it was obviously Bridget’s brother who sat, for his namesake was in prison under sentence of death, and although Bedford was sufficiently interested in him to secure his release, his patronage is hardly likely to have extended to obtaining him a seat in Parliament.3

Hussey’s legal and religious interests are reflected in his work in the Commons. In 1571 he (unless this was John Hussey I) served on a committee concerned with corrupt presentations (25 May). He was named to a committee concerning priests disguised as servants (1 May 1571), and in 1572 he was one of a number of lawyers on the committee for ‘the bill against recoveries suffered by tenants for term of life’ (31 May). He intervened on a point of privilege 11 June 1572, but his major contribution to debate was on 23 May that year in the debate on Mary Queen of Scots,

An enemy to England, an adulterous woman, a homicide, a traitor to the Queen, a subvertor of the state, an underminer of titles. [Parliament had been summoned hastily] and the same to be called for very necessary considerations ... it should [not] pass without doing ... anything. He hath hitherto forborne to speak, expecting [a] bill whereof to treat. He is now urged to speak and to yield to the greatest reasons. ... He would have the Queen’s Majesty take example by the contention between York and Lancaster, between two kings as this is between two queens. ... Great have been the victories which the Queen’s Majesty have had in spite of the Pope. He would have her as well to use victory as to get victory, else the gotten victory in vain. Let the Queen therefore, while she hath such an enemy in hand, execute her lest hereafter herself come to be executed by her.4

The date of Hussey’s death is not known, but Bedford was asking for the nomination of a new burgess on 12 Jan. 1576.5

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N. M. Fuidge

Notes

  • 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.
  • 2. Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. lii), 527.
  • 3. CP, vii. 15-18; CSP Dom. 1547-80, pp. 368, 409, 473; Add. 1566-79, pp. 95, 130, 305, 367, 380; APC, viii. 180.
  • 4. D’Ewes, 180, 188; CJ, i. 87, 92, 99; Trinity, Dublin, Thos. Cromwell’s jnl., ff. 37, 61.
  • 5. Weymouth Docs. ed. Moule, 97.