ISO BERKSHIRE BERKHAMPSTED i.e. "Berkhampsted, co. Hertford," Marquessate {H.R.H. William Augustus), see "Cumberland," Dukedom of, cr. 1726; extinct 1765. BERKSHIRE EARLDOM. I. Francis (Norris), Lord Norris of Rycote, who had sue. his grandfather in that dignity in 1 600, and been L 1 62 1 sum. to Pari, therein from 17 Oct. 1601 to 5 Apr. 16 14, to was, on 28 Jan. 1 620/1, cr. VISCOUNT THAME and 1624. EARL OF BERKSHIRE,(^) both of which titles became extinct 29 Jan. 1623/4, on his death, s.p.tn. legit. See fuller account under "Norris of Rycote," Barony by Writ, cr. 1572. II. 1626. I. The Hon. Thomas Howard, of Charlton, Wilts, 2nd s. of Thomas, ist Earl of Suffolk, by his 2nd wife, Catharine, ist da. and coh. of Sir Henry Knyvett, of Charlton, afsd., was b. about 1590, and ed. at Cambridge; K.B. 6 Jan. 1604/5; M.P. for Lancaster 1605-11, for Wilts 1614, and for Cricklade 1620-22. Master of the Horse to Charles, Prince of Wales, 16 14. On 22 Jan. 162 1/2 (being designed to be the heir to his mother in her Wiltshire estates), he was cr. BARON HOWARD OF CHARLETON, Wilts, and VISCOUNT ANDOVER, CO. Southampton. Nom. K.G. 1 5 May and inst. 1 3 Dec. 1 625. On 7 Feb. 1 625/6, he was cr. EARL OF BERKSHIRE,^) all these honours being conferred in the lifetime of his father. C") Joint Lord Lieut, of Oxon 1628-32, and sole 1632-42; and was cr. M.A. of Oxford Univ. 31 Aug. i636.() About 1638 he Jz^c, on his mother's death, to her estate at Charlton, £5?c. P.C. 1 639, and 1 660. One of the Commissioners to treat with the Scots at Ripon, Sep. i640.('^) He was imprisoned in the Tower by the Pari. party, but was released in 1643, as "a man that could do them no harm anywhere. "(") He was Governor to the Prince of Wales 1643-46, but did not accompany him to France. Gent, of the Bedchamber 1661-69. He ?K., 26 May 1614, Elizabeth, ist da. and coh. of William (Cecil), 2nd Earl of Exeter, by his 2nd wife, Elizabeth, da. of Sir William Drury. He d. 16, and was bur. 20 July 1669, at Westm. Abbey. His widow was bur. there 24 Aug. 1672. (=•) In the patent of 1621 it is '■'■Comes Berkshire" while in that of 1626 it is "Comes Berk'" or "Berk;e"= Berks. () For a list of the 8 Earls cr. at this date (of whom Berkshire was ranked 2nd), see note sub Thomas, Earl of Cleveland [1625]. (■=) For a list of Peers cr, M.A. on this occasion, see note sub Henry, Earl of Sunderland [June 1643]. ('^)For a list of these 16 "popular" Peers, see note sub Robert, Earl of Essex [1604]. if) Clarendon, who speaks contemptuously of him as one whose "affection for the Crown was good; his interest and reputation less than anything but his under- standing." V.G.
