THE second son of Robert Rich, first Earl of Warwick, by Lady Penelope Devereux, daughter of Walter, Earl of Essex. He went to France and Holland in his youth, and returning to England appeared at Court, where he attracted the notice and favour of George, Duke of Buckingham, who was then all-powerful with King James the First. It appears to have been through Buckingham’s intervention that he married the rich heiress of Sir John Cope of Kensington, of which place Rich shortly bore the title of Baron. He also held offices at Court about the King’s person, and that of Henry Prince of Wales; was made Earl of Holland, Knight of the Garter, Privy Councillor, and sent Ambassador to negotiate the marriage of Prince Charles, first in Spain and afterwards in France. On the latter occasion it was rumoured that his beauty and courtliness made a deep impression on the heart of his future Queen, Henrietta Maria. Clarendon says of him that ‘he was of a lovely and winning presence, and genteel conversation.’ He also accompanied the Duke of Buckingham to Holland on a diplomatic mission. On the first breaking out of an insurrection of the Scots, he was made General of the Horse, and though not in arms at the commencement of the Civil War, when evil days fell on the King, Lord Holland joined him with many other loyal noblemen, and on his being appointed General of the Royal army, numbers flocked to ask commissions from him. In 1648, after many fluctuations of fortune, he was pursued and taken prisoner near St. Neot’s in Huntingdonshire, whence he was conveyed to Warwick House, and finally to the Tower, and a High Court of Justice was appointed to sit for the trial of the Earl of Holland, the Duke of Hamilton, and other Peers. He was in ill-health at the time, and when examined answered little, ‘as a man who would rather receive his life from their favour than from the strength of his defence.’ He was condemned, however, in spite of the influence of his brother, the Earl of Warwick, and the exertions of the Presbyterian party. There was not a large majority against him, but Cromwell, it would appear, disliked him extremely, and accordingly on the 9th of March 1649, Lord Holland suffered death immediately after the Duke of Hamilton.
Spent by long sickness, he addressed but few words to the people, recommending them with his last breath to uphold the King’s government and the established religion.
He left four sons and five daughters. Robert, the eldest, succeeded to his father’s honours, and likewise to the Earldom of Warwick on the death of his uncle in 1672.
No. 2. FRANCIS NEWPORT, FIRST EARL OF BRADFORD.
Blue dress. Long wig.
DIED 1708, AGED 88.
After Dahl.