Description: Sir John Holles was created baron Houghton by King James I on 9 July 1615, and on 2 November 1623 Earl of Clare. John Holles must when a child have shown great precocity in learning, for when he had barely attained his thirteenth year he was sent by his father to Cambridge, 'and on the Master of the College posing him in grammar and Greek, he received such unexpected satisfaction to every question that he caught the boy up in his arms, and kissing him, said to those who were by: 'This child, if he lives, will prove a singular honour and ornament to this kingdom.' From the University he was sent to Gray's Inn, that by the study of the law he might fit himself for the service of the Commonwealth, and there he remained for some years. He then served as a volunteer in the war in the Netherlands under his kinsman Sir Francis Vere, and was also in the famous sea fight against the Spanish Armada. He had the honour to be chosen by Queen Elizabeth one of the company of Gentlemen Pensioners. But when he attained the age of twenty-six years this fair inheritance devolved upon him, together with the care of several brothers and sisters. His two brothers were sent to the University, and from there the elder, Sir George, and afterwards the younger brother, Thomas, joined the army in the Netherlands. Though Holles proved himself in many respects well qualified to advance the fortunes of the family, he was of a restless, adventurous disposition, and owing to his quarrelsome nature was often embroiled, even with some of the most eminent of his contemporaries. Four months after he inherited the estate he married Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanhope, of Shelford, in Nottinghamshire. By her he had six sons, only two of whom came to maturity, and four daughters. This marriage, although it brought him all the happiness that could be hoped for in a wife, led to deep and lasting animosity with his great neighbour Gilbert, Earl of Shrewsbury, the son of his grandfather's especial friend. It was on the occasion of the christening of his second son, Denzil Holles (afterwards Lord Holles of Ifield), at Haughton, that a duel occurred between Sir John Holles and Gervase Markham, when the neighbourhood was raised in arms. It appears to have been in some measure owing to the many powerful enemies who were incensed by his conduct that Holles spent a great part of several years after his marriage in travel and military adventure. He served under the Lord Deputy Sir William Fitzwilliam, in Ireland, where he so greatly distinguished himself against the rebels that he received the honour of knighthood. For about two other years he was in Hungary fighting against the Turks, and travelling in France and Italy. His last military expedition was made under the Earl of Essex to the Terceras in 1597. On the death of Queen Elizabeth, Holles retired to the country, for though he was one of the first to wait upon King James on his coming into England he was disappointed by not being more favourably received. Some years afterwards, on Prince Henry being created Prince of Wales, Holles was appointed comptroller of his household, and this office he retained during the Prince's life, who, indeed, expressed great affection for him, and paid a visit of some duration at Haughton, where a great entertainment was provided for his amusement. But, with the death of the Prince all his favour at court came to an end. Indeed Holles is reported to have said to his friends: 'There were two sorts of men King James had never kindness for, those whose hawks and dogs ran as well as his own, and those who were able to speak as much reason as himself.' A few years later he was indicted in the Star Chamber, several allegations being made against him - among others that he had had private conference with two Jesuits at their execution, and though in the opinion of those who heard him he made an excellent defence, he was committed to the Fleet prison, where he remained for some weeks; in the end, however, emerging from captivity as Baron Haughton, of Haughton. For this dignity he paid to the favourite, the Duke of Buckingham, ten thousand pounds, and on his advancement to the Earldom of Clare a further five thousand. His friendship with the Earl of Somerset led him to question the justice of the sentence on Weston for the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. On the morning of the execution at Tyburn Sir John Holles, Sir John Wentworth, and others came mounted on horseback, and, as it was said, 'in a ruffling and facing manner' presumed to question Weston as to whether he really was guilty of the murder of Overbury, and when they could not work upon Weston, Sir John Holles indignantly turned about his horse and said he was sorry of such a conclusion. For this offence Holles was fined £1,000. Holles and Sir Walter Raleigh had while at court, and as fellow-soldiers, formed a firm attachment for each other, and during the long years of Raleigh's imprisonment, Holles, with other friends, had striven hard to save his life. He had some influence with Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, and thought he discovered in him a disposition to appeal to the King to pardon Raleigh, if Sir Walter would entreat Gondomar to do it. But on this being named to Raleigh he paused a moment, and then said: 'I am, yet, neither so old nor so-infirm, but I could be content to live, and therefore, this would I do, if I was sure it would do my business, but if it fail, then I lose both my life and my honour, and both these I will not part with.' Since his trial at Winchester for his supposed complicity with Sir Griffin Markham and others in the attempt to place Arabella Stuart on the throne, Raleigh has lain thirteen years in the Tower, and now, as related by Carlyle, 'at eight o'clock on the morning of the 29th of October, 1618, in Palace Yard, Sir Walter Raleigh, a tall grey-headed man, is making his last appearance on any stage ... he has come here to die by the headsman's axe. Sir John Holles was present. The Earl of Arundel and others in a window. Raleigh delivering his death speech, raising his voice that the spectators in the windows may hear him, they say, 'Nay, we will come down to you, Sir Walter.' He has smoked his last pipe of tobacco by candlelight, drunk a cup of sack; saying 'Good liquor if a man might tarry by it.' With a stern sympathy John Holles, the tawny deep-eyed Earl of Arundel, and the assembled thousands listen to him. And the speech ended, 'Would you wish to go down and warm yourself a little?' said the sympathetic sheriff. 'Nay, good friend, let us be swift; in a quarter of an hour my ague-fit will be upon me, and they will say I tremble for fear.' On the accession of Charles I it was intended by the King that the two sons of the Earl of Clare (as Holles was then called) should be created Knights of the Bath; but this honour was declined by both. Nor did the Earl's younger son, Denzil, desire to take part in the Masque which was then preparing. In 1629 Clare was again prosecuted in the Star Chamber. This time for his complicity in the circulation of a paper of advice on the establishment of absolute monarchy in England. Afterwards this prosecution was abandoned, Clare being dismissed with a reprimand, but on his refusing to acknowledge his fault he was put out of the commission of the peace for Nottinghamshire. Whilst the Earl was in this disgrace the King made a progress into the north, along with Prince Rupert and the Prince Elector, who were then staying in England, and he remained for several days at Rufford Abbey, hunting in Sherwood Forest. The Earl being then at Haughton, only four miles away, wrote to the Prince Elector entreating him to use his influence to bring about a right understanding in the King's mind regarding him, which the Prince did, and shortly afterwards the Earl came to Rufford, and kissed the King's hand, who promised him forgiveness' but forgot his promise. In the latter part of his life the Earl lived principally at Haughton, and at his house in Nottingham. His daughter, the Lady Arabella, who married Sir Thomas Wentworth (afterwards Earl of Strafford), is said to have been 'exceeding comely and beautiful, and yet much more lovely in the endowments of her mind', and to her 'high breeding' her portrait by Vandyke bears testimony. She died young, her death causing a breach between the Earl of Clare and her husband, Lady Clare (though mistakenly), believing that her daughter's death was owing to Sir Thomas wishing her to take a journey when in an unfit state of health. The death of the Earl of Clare took place at Clare Palace, Nottingham, on October 4, 1637. On the previous Sunday, after attending prayers at St. Mary's Church, he stepped aside with Lady Clare, and laying the end of his staff on the ground, said, 'In this place will I be buried.' (information from www.nottshistory.org.uk)