Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland

He was elected a Member of Parliament for Leicester in 1610 and was re-elected in 1614, having failed to be elected for the prestigious county seat of Norfolk. He was appointed joint Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire for 1628–1632 and sole Lieutenant of that county for 1632–1643. He was also joint Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex for 1628–1642 and sole Lieutenant for 1642–1643.[1]

He served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1617 to 1632, Master of the Horse in 1628, Constable of Windsor Castle from 1628 to 1648 and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1628 until his death.[1]

The 1st Earl of Holland

After his initial campaign service at Julich, Rich saw further active service in the Netherlands in 1621, and as commander in chief of the unsuccessful English relief force at the Siege of La Rochelle in 1627. In peacetime, he was governor of Harwich in 1628, appointed General of Horse in 1639 and Captain-General and commander-in-chief of the militia in the North of England in 1641. However, after the outbreak of the First English Civil War in 1642 he initially sided with Parliament but saw no active service with them. In 1643 he defected to the Royalists, leaving Westminster for Oxford where they received him 'with indifference'. He promptly returned to Westminster where the House of Lords refused to admit him.[1]

After the king surrendered with the end of the first Civil War in 1646, Holland took part in mediations between the king and Parliament to seek a compromise settlement. When these failed, he openly re-sided with the king who appointed him General of the royalist army when Civil War resumed in 1648, against the parliamentary New Model Army.[1]

On Sunday 9 July 1648, the Earl and his army of approximately 400 men entered St Neots in Huntingdonshire. The Earl's men were hungry and weary, following their escape from Kingston upon Thames, where the Parliamentary forces had completely overwhelmed them. Of his original army of 500, the Earl escaped with about 100 cavalry and was immediately followed by a small party of Puritan and Parliamentary cavalry. After much hesitation concerning which direction they should flee to, the Earl decided on Northampton, whither the group made their way via St Albans and Dunstable. At the outskirts of Bedford the group turned eastward towards the town of St Neots. At Kingston, the Earl was joined by the young George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, his young brother Francis Villiers and Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough. They were also joined by Colonel John Dalbier, an experienced German soldier who was hated by the Roundheads, having previously served with them under the Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex until he defected to the Royalist side.

The field officers of Holland's force sought only rest and safety. Colonel Dalbier called a council of war, at which many officers voted to disperse into the surrounding countryside. Others suggested they should continue northwards. Colonel Dalbier advised on the strategic position of St Neots and the fact that the joint remnants of the forces of Buckingham and Holland had increased sufficiently since the retreat from the Roundheads at Kingston. He suggested they should meet and engage their pursuers. He further added that, by obtaining a victory, the fortunes of war could be turned in their favour. Due to his vast experience as a soldier, his words were listened to with respect. He further offered to guard them through the night in case of a surprise attack, or to meet a soldier's death in the defence of the town. A vote was taken and Dalbier's plan was adopted.

The Earl of Holland, who it was said "had better faculty at public address than he had with a sword", joined Buckingham and Peterborough in addressing the principal residents and townsfolk of St Neots. The Duke of Buckingham spoke at length, claiming "they did not wish to continue a bloody war, but wanted only a settled government under Royal King Charles". Assurances were also given that their Royalist troop would not riot or damage the townfolks' property. On the latter promise it is recorded that they were faithful to their word.

Fatigued by their battle and consequent retreat from Kingston, the field officers eagerly sought rest. True to his word, Colonel Dalbier kept watch over them. The small group of Puritan horsemen who had pursued them had, upon reaching Hertford, met with Colonel Adrian Scrope and his Roundhead troops from their detachment at Colchester.

At two o’clock on Monday morning, 10 July 100 Dragoons from the Parliamentary forces arrived ahead of the main army at Eaton Ford. Dalbier was at once informed, and immediately gave the alarm: "To horse, to horse!" The Dragoons, equipped with musket and sword, crossed St Neots' Bridge before the Royalists were fully prepared. The Battle of St Neots had begun.

The few Royalists guarding the bridge quickly fell back from the superior numbers before them. The ensuing battle was now fought on the main square and streets of the town. The remaining Royalists were now fully prepared for combat. The main army of Roundheads had also arrived, and a further wave of Puritans crossed the bridge into town. The battle was fierce, with the Puritans gaining ground.

Colonel Dalbier died during the early stages of the battle. Other prominent Royalists, including Buckingham's younger brother Francis Villiers, and Kenelm Digby (son of the scientific writer of the same name), were also killed during the battle. Other officers and men drowned whilst attempting to escape by crossing the River Ouse. The young Duke of Buckingham, being overwhelmed by the speed of these events, escaped with 60 horsemen to Huntingdon, with the intention of continuing towards Lincolnshire. Upon realising the Roundheads were in hot pursuit, he changed plans, and via an evasive route returned to London from where he later escaped to France.

The Earl of Holland with his personal guard fought their way to the inn at which he had stayed the previous night. The gates had been closed and locked, but were quickly opened to admit him, and immediately closed again as he entered. The Parliamentarians soon battered them down and entered the inn. The door of the Earl's room was burst open to reveal him facing them, sword in hand. It is recorded that he offered surrender of himself, his army and the town of St Neots, on condition that his life was spared.

The Puritans seized the Earl and took him before Colonel Scroope, who ordered him to be shackled and imprisoned under guard. The remaining Royalist prisoners were locked in St Neots parish church overnight, then taken to Hitchin the following morning. The Earl and five other field officers were taken to Warwick Castle, which had remained a parliamentary stronghold throughout the war. They remained prisoners for the next six months, until their trial for high treason. In London it was said "His Lordship may spend time as well as he can and have leisure to repent his juvenile folly."

Peterborough also escaped disguised as a gentleman merchant, but was later recognised and arrested. Friends aided their escape again whilst en route to London for trial. He then stayed at various safe houses, financed by his mother, until he managed to flee the country.

The second rising of the English Civil War had culminated in the Battle of Preston during August 1648, with the Roundheads marching 250 miles in 26 days through foul weather and conditions, to defeat and ensure the Royalists would never re-form as an army.

• Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Holland, 5th Earl of Warwick (c. 1619 – 16 April 1675), eldest son and heir, who married firstly Lady Anne Montagu, his second cousin, daughter of Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester; secondly, in 1641, Elizabeth Ingram, a daughter of Sir Arthur Ingram the younger of Temple Newsam, Yorkshire and his first wife Eleanor Slingsby. Upton, in the reference, is incorrect in naming the bride as daughter of Sir Arthur Ingram the elder.[4]
• Charles Rich (d. c. April 1645);
• Henry Rich (d. 1669);
• Cope Rich (christened 3 May 1635; buried 7 August 1676), whose grandson was Edward Rich, 5th Earl of Holland, 8th Earl of Warwick (1695–1759).

• Lady Dorothy Rich (27 September 1616 – c. December 1617);
• Lady Frances Rich (c. 1617 – 12 November 1672), married William Paget, 5th Baron Paget in 1632, and had issue;
• Lady Isabella Rich (christened 6 October 1623), married Sir James Thynne (d. 1670), died childless;
• Lady Susannah Rich (c. 1628 – 1649) (Countess of Suffolk), who on 1 December 1646[5] married (as his first wife) James Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk (1618/20 – 1689) and had surviving issue: one daughter Lady Essex Howard through whom in 1784 the barony of Howard de Walden passed to her descendant John Griffin, 1st Baron Braybrooke, 4th Baron Howard de Walden (1719-1797), but fell into abeyance 1797. The barony of Braybrooke passed by special remainder to a relative; the Barony of Howard de Walden passed through Howard and then Hervey descent (via the 3rd Earl's granddaughter (by his second wife), Elizabeth Felton, Countess of Bristol ).
• Lady Diana Rich (d. 1658);
• Lady Mary Rich (c. 1636 – 8 February 1666), who in 1657 married (as his first wife) John Campbell of Glenorchy (from 1681 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland), son of Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, 4th Baronet, by whom she had issue. Lady Mary Rich was never Countess of Breadalbane and Holland, as she died before the title was gained by her husband (he was made a peer in 1677, and was given the earldom in 1681).