Misc. Notes
v1 p387 Sir Christopher Hatton, who, by his singular merit, first raised his family to the honour it now enjoys. He was chancellor in the reign of Elizabeth. It is singular of this personage, that altho’ he had never followed the profession of the law, he was promoted to this high office. He was a great favourite with his mistress; and it is recorded of him, that notwithstanding the expectations of the lawyers, his decisions, as chancellor, were never found deficient, either in equity or judgment. It was the artful eloquence of this man which prevailed on Mary, queen of Scots, to wave the claims of royal dignity, and submit to trial. He became first one of the queen’s gentlemen-pensioners, then gentleman of the privy chamber, and next captain of the guard; from which office he was advanced to be vice-chamberlain, one of the privy council; and at length lord chancellor; being likewise made a knight of the garter, and installed 23 May 1588. His preferment at court was to be one of the 50 pensioners; whence he was advanced to the privy chamber, captain of the guard, and vice-chamberlain; and his great improvement under Lord Burleigh, placed him in that grave assembly (the wisest convention in Europe chancellor, and knight of the garter. None nobler, none less aspiring: none more busy, yet none more punctual in his hours and orders. Corpulent he was; quick were his dispatches, but weighty; many his orders and consistent; numerous were the addresses to him, and easy the access. Seldom were his orders reversed in chancery, and seldomer his advice opposed in council. So just he was, that his sentence was law with the subject; so wise, that his opinion was oracle with his sovereign. So exact was Queen Elizabeth, that she called upon him for an old debt, though it broke his heart; so loving, that she carried him a cordial-broth with her own hand, though it could not revive him.
42939Vol 9 Image176of1356 Sir Christopher Hatton, lord chancellor
17387Vol 9 Image179of1356 Pg 162 Sir Christopher Hatton (1605-1670) eldest surviving s/o Sir Christopher Hatton, KB., a cousin of Sir Christopher Hatton (1540?-1591), lord chancellor
Vol 22 Image592of1511 Pg 584 Sir Christopher Hatton, lord chancellor; gentleman-commoner, St Mary Hall, Oxford, c. 1555
Christopher Hatton: High Steward of the University 1588
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