Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey

Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey, KG, PC (1608 – 25 July 1666), was an English soldier, courtier, and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1624 and 1626. He was created Baron Willoughby de Eresby by writ of acceleration in 1640 and inherited the peerage of Earl of Lindsey in 1642. He fought in the Royalist army in the English Civil War.

Early life Bertie was born in Grimsthorpe Castle, Grimsthorpe, the eldest son of Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey, and his wife Elizabeth Montagu, daughter of Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton. After a brief term at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1623, Bertie then served as Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1624 and Stamford from 1625 to 1626, when, upon his father's elevation to an earldom, he assumed the style of Lord Willoughby de Eresby.

At some point during his early life, he was also Captain of a cavalry troop in the Low Countries. He rose in favour with King Charles I and was appointed a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, High Steward of Boston, and Steward, Warden and Chief Ranger of Waltham Forest in 1634.

In 1639, Willoughby raised The King's Life Guard of Foot, composed of four companies, for service in the First Bishops' War

English Civil War Both Lord Willoughby and his father supported the King and raised a regiment of cavalry in Lincolnshire on his behalf. Lord Willoughby commanded the Life Guards at Edgehill, where his father was mortally wounded by a shot through the thigh. Willoughby surrendered to the Parliamentarians in order to attend his father, whom he now succeeded as Earl of Lindsey and Lord Great Chamberlain. He was imprisoned in Warwick Castle, where he wrote a defiant declaration and justification of his loyalty to the King. He was not released until a prisoner exchange in July 1643, whereupon he rejoined the King at Oxford and was appointed a Privy Counsellor in December. As colonel of the King's Life Guards of Foot and subsequently lieutenant-general of the Life Guards "and all the foot", he fought at the First Battle of Newbury, Cropredy Bridge, Lostwithiel, Second Battle of Newbury, They had eight children:

Robert Bertie, 3rd Earl of Lindsey (1630–1701) Hon. Peregrine Bertie (ca. 1634–1701) Hon. Richard Bertie (ca. 1635 – 19 January 1685/6) Hon. Vere Bertie (d. 13 February 1680) Hon. Charles Bertie (ca. 1640–1711) Lady Elizabeth Bertie (d. 1683), married the 3rd Viscount Campden and had issue Lady Bridget Bertie (1629 – 7 January 1704), married the 1st Duke of Leeds and had issue Lady Catherine Bertie, married Robert Dormer

Martha died in July 1641, and Bertie married secondly, sometime between 1646 and 1653, Bridget Wray, Baroness Norris, daughter of Edward Wray and Elizabeth Norris. This second marriage produced four children: James Bertie, 1st Earl of Abingdon (1653–1699) Hon. Edward Bertie Hon. Henry Bertie (ca.1656–1734) Lady Mary Bertie (1655–1709), married Charles Dormer, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, no issue