Sir Peter Leycester | |
|---|---|
 Sir Peter Leycester in 1665 | |
| Born | 3 March 1614 Nether Tabley,Cheshire, England |
| Died | 11 October 1678 Nether Tabley |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | Brasenose College, Oxford Gray's Inn |
| Occupation(s) | Antiquarian,Historian |
| Title | Baronet |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Gerard |
| Children | Robert, Byron I, Elinour, Elizabeth, Thomas, Byron II |
| Parent(s) | Peter Leycester Elizabeth Mainwaring |
Sir Peter Leycester, 1st Baronet (also known asSir Peter Leicester) (3 March 1614 – 11 October 1678) was an Englishantiquarian andhistorian. He was involved in theEnglish Civil War on theroyalist side and was subsequently made abaronet. He later compiled one of the earliest histories of the county ofCheshire and as a result of this became involved in a controversy with the Mainwaring family. He developed a library in his home atTabley Old Hall and made improvements to the house and estate, including building a private chapel in the grounds of the house. He was an active and conscientious justice of the peace and used his position on the Bench to expound his staunchly conservative and Royalist political views.
Peter Leycester was born at Nether Tabley, nearKnutsford,Cheshire, England, the eldest son of Peter Leycester (1588–1647) and Elizabeth Mainwaring, a daughter of Sir Randle Mainwaring ofOver Peover, Cheshire. He enteredBrasenose College, Oxford in 1629 as agentleman commoner but did not take a degree. In 1632 he was admitted toGray's Inn. When theCivil War started he was appointed as one of the king'scommissioners of array for Cheshire. He was inOxford in June 1646 when the city surrendered toThomas Fairfax. Consequently, he was excluded from other responsibilities and had time to develop his interest in antiquarian research. Among the subjects he studied was the pedigree of the Mainwaring family. In 1649 he purchased a transcript of the section of theDomesday book relating to Cheshire. In 1655 he had a period of imprisonment, but following theRestoration he was released and returned to the bench as ajustice of the peace. In this capacity, according to a modern historian, he haranguedgrand juries with warnings on the constant dangers of sedition and revolution, and the need to maintain a vigilant watch on allRoman Catholics, especiallyJesuits, as well as republicans,Puritans and anyone else who threatened the existing social order.[2] He was created abaronet in 1660 as a reward for his loyalty to theroyalist cause.[3]
His major historical work appeared in 1673, its full title beingHistorical antiquities in two books; the first treating in general of Great Britain and Ireland; the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire, and chiefly of theBucklow hundred. Whereunto is annexed a transcript of Domesday-Book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire; it is usually referred to with the shorter title ofHistorical antiquities. In the book, Leycester presented a discussion relating to the legitimacy of Amicia, the wife of Ralph Mainwaring, as to whether or not she was the lawful daughter of Earl Hugh Cyveliok.[4] This led to a dispute with Sir Thomas Mainwaring of Peover, one of her descendants, who in 1673 published aDefence of Amicia. Leycester replied later that year withAn Answer to the Book of Sir Thomas Manwaringe. After this there followed a paper war of 15 pamphlets. In 1675 the justices itinerant at Chesterassizes declared in favour of Amicia's legitimacy.[3]
Leycester made a large collection of books and manuscripts in his library at Tabley, compiling a catalogue of 1,332 books in 1672. He produced a musical treatise entitledProlegomena historica de musica P. L. and a theological dissertationOn the soul of man. On his estate, he made major improvements, including building a private chapel in his garden between 1675 and 1678.[3] Leycester also assembled a manuscript titled Lessons for the Lyra Viol. It consists of over 100 works for solo lyra viol. Many of the works appear in other collections. One work has an associated date of 1670. The preface to this manuscript includes pages discussing the history of music.[citation needed]
In 1642 he married Elizabeth Gerard, the third daughter of Gilbert, 2ndBaron Gerard of Gerards Bromley and his first wife Elizabeth Dutton, atDutton, Cheshire. They had three sons and three daughters. He died at his home in 1678 and was buried atGreat Budworth, Cheshire.[3] His memorial is in the north chapel ofSt Mary and All Saints Church, Great Budworth.[5] He was succeeded in the baronetage by his eldest son, Sir Robert Leicester (1643–84).[6]
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| Baronetage of England | ||
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| New creation | Baronet (of Nether Tabley) 1660–1678 | Succeeded by Robert Leicester |
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