Lord Littleton was the son and heir of sir Edward Littleton of Henley, in Shropshire, became a gentleman commoner of Christ-church in 1606, and removed to the Inner Temple in 1609; where he made such progress in the municipal laws, that the city of London chose him their recorder. In 1635 he was appointed solicitor-general, and soon after received the honour of knighthood. In 1640 he was made chief justice of the common pleas 4. In the same year, says Bolton, sir Edward Littleton was created baron Littleton of Mounslow in Shropshire, by king Charles the first. He was made keeper of the great seal; and leaving the house of lords, he carried the seal to the king at Oxford in 1643; in consequence of which, the upper house appointed lord Grey, of Werk, their speaker. His lordship died without male issue in 16445, to the great grief of his sovereign; being at that time his privy counsellor, and colonel of a foot regiment at Oxon. Lord Clarendon gives him the report of a man of a grave and a comely presence, but whose learning in the law was his masterpiece, his other parts being overvalued. He was a handsome and a proper man, of a very graceful presence, and notorious for courage, which in his youth he had manifested with his sword. He had taken great pains in the hardest and most Athenæ, vol. ii. p. 83. › Extinct Peerage, p. 178. LORD KEEPER LITTLETON. 351 knotty part of the law, and was not only very ready and expert in the books, but exceedingly versed in records; so that he was looked upon the best antiquary of the profession, who gave himself up to practice; and upon the mere strength of his own abilities, he had raised himself into the first ranks. "Sir Edward Littleton's Argument made by Command of the House of Commons, at a Conference with the Lords, concerning the Liberties of the Person of every Free-man :" was printed in 1642, 4to. with the arguments of Selden and sir Edward Coke, &c. Two short letters by sir Edward Littleton occur in Harl. MSS. 286 and 374; the former of these seems to be characteristic of the man. "To my much honored frend sir Simon D'Ewes, knight, high sherief of the countie of Suffolke. "Sir, "I have read over your relation touching the election, and doe assure you, that I knowe not of anie relation at all, touching the late election, either to the king or anie other; and you may be confident that I shall give no misrepresentation of the actions of any man living, much lesse of yours; nor doe them ill offices in kind. It hath not bene my maner to any prejudice men, but to doe them all the good I can. "For my discourse touching the former election at Westminster, it was in relation to what was done Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. i. p. 568, 8vo. edit. de facto: for I abstaine from delivering opinion in such things as I hold it fit for me to doe. I shall reserve your quæres untill you and I meete; which may be most safely, when you have received your writ of discharge, which wilbe very speedily. What you may doe in the interim, I presume not to advise: it being proper for a more honorable bodie. I remaine "Youre affectionate friend Octob. 29, 1640. "to doe you service, London. "EDWARD LIttleton."] THE END of the SECOND Volume. S. GOSNELL, Printer, |