Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey

Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey, 16 December 1582 – 24 October 1642, was an English peer, naval officer, soldier and courtier.

Personal details

Robert Bertie was the son of Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby (b. 12 October 1555 – d. 25 June 1601) and Mary de Vere, daughter of John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford, and Margery Golding. Queen Elizabeth I was his godmother, and two of her favourite earls (Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex), whose Christian name he bore, were his godfathers.

Career

The long Continental wars throughout the peaceful reign of King James I had been treated by the English nobility as schools of arms, as a few campaigns were considered a graceful finish to a gentleman's education.

He succeeded his father as Baron Willoughby de Eresby in 1601. Noted as "lord Willobie", he performed in The Coleorton Masque in February 1618. He was later created Earl of Lindsey on 22 November 1626 and took his title from the northern of the three parts of Lincolnshire, the old Kingdom of Lindsey.

Kalmar War In February 1612, at the request of a Danish ambassador Jonas Charisius, there were plans to raise an army under Robert Bertie and Sir Edward Cecil to fight against Sweden in the Kalmar War. Richard Preston would command a regiment of Scottish troops and Irish troops would be led by the Earl of Clanrickard. It was said that the ambassador's cause was advocated by Anne of Denmark and, as the conditions offered were poor, he would have to press men and mariners. Willoughby sold land to raise funds. He was allowed to levy men by sound of drum in London. Willoughby's force went to Denmark but arrived after a truce was arranged by James Spens and Robert Anstruther.

The entrepreneur

The Lindsey Level in The Fens, between the River Glen and The Haven, at Boston, Lincolnshire, was named after the first Earl Lindsey as he was the principal adventurer in its drainage. The drainage work was declared complete in 1638 but the project was neglected with the onset of the Civil War so that the land fell back into its old state. When it was drained again, more than a hundred years later, it was called the Black Sluice Level. There is more information under the article Twenty, Lincolnshire.

The English Civil War

As soon as Lord Lindsey had begun to fear that the disputes between the King, Charles I and Parliament must end in war, he had begun to exercise and train his tenantry in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, of whom he had formed a regiment of infantry.

First Siege of Hull

Lord Lindsey accompanied the King in April 1642 as part of a party who tried to negotiate a handover of the magazine at Hull for the King's military use. This handover was turned down by the pro-Parliamentary governor, Sir John Hotham, who expelled the party, causing it to withdraw with the King to York. Early in July, the King returned from York with a force of 3,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry, intent on besieging the city, now garrisoned by reinforcing Parliamentary troops commanded by Sir John Meldrum, returning to York while leaving Lord Lindsey in command through the siege. Meldrum ordered some effective sorties out of the city, the last of which, on 27 July, blew up the arsenal Lindsey's troops had set up at Anlaby, west of Hull. Lindsey's force, whose cavalry were unsupported by the infantry who had withdrawn to Beverley, gave up the siege after this loss of their munitions and retreated back to York, lifting the siege. Lindsey is buried in St Michael and All Angels Church, Edenham, Lincolnshire.

Lord Lindsey should not be confused with Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, who also fought for the King at the Battle of Edgehill.

Marriage and issue In 1605, Lindsey married Elizabeth Montagu (d. 30 November 1654, daughter of Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton). They had thirteen children: Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey (1608–1666) Hon. Sir Roger Bertie (d. 15 October 1654), married Ursula Lawley, daughter of Sir Edward Lawley Hon. Robert Bertie (1 January 1619 – 1708), married firstly Alice Barnard, secondly Elizabeth Bennet, and thirdly Mary Halsey Hon. Sir Peregrine Bertie, married Anne Hardeby Capt. Hon. Francis Bertie (d. 1641), killed in Ireland Capt. Hon. Henry Bertie (d. 1643), killed at the First Battle of Newbury Hon. Vere Bertie, died unmarried Hon. Edward Bertie (17 October 1624 – 25 December 1686) Lady Katherine Bertie, married about 1631 Sir William Paston, 1st Baronet, one son, Robert Paston, 1st Earl of Yarmouth Lady Elizabeth Bertie (d. 28 February 1684), married in 1661 Sir Miles Stapleton Lady Anne Bertie (d. 1660), died unmarried Lady Mary Bertie, married firstly Rev. John Hewett (d. 1658), and secondly Sir Abraham Shipman Lady Sophia Bertie, married Sir Richard Chaworth

The office of Lord Great Chamberlain descended through to him following the death of his cousin Henry de Vere, 18th Earl of Oxford, as being the closest heir male.