Biography of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester 1642-1711

Paternal Family Tree: Hyde

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Denman 1581-1661

In 1629 [his father] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 19] and Anne Ayloffe were married. She died six months later.

In 1634 [his father] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 24] and [his mother] Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon [aged 16] were married.

In March 1642 Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester was born to [his father] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 33] and [his mother] Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon [aged 24].

In 1660 [his brother] Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Clarendon and [his sister-in-law] Theodosia Capell were married. She died a year later. He the son of [his father] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 50] and [his mother] Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon [aged 42].

After 18th June 1660 Jane Needham [aged 15] was courted by many. She, allegedly, had only two lovers: Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu [aged 21] and Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 18].

On 3rd September 1660 [his brother-in-law] James, Duke of York [aged 26] and [his sister] Anne Hyde [aged 23] were married in secret. She by marriage Duchess York. She gave birth to their son [his nephew] Charles Stewart seven weeks later. She the daughter of [his father] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 51] and [his mother] Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon [aged 43]. He the son of King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England [aged 50].

In 1665 Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 22] and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington [aged 52] and Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington [aged 51]. He the son of Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 55] and Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon [aged 47].

On 6th January 1667 Margaret Brooke Lady Denham [aged 27] died. She was rumoured to have been poisoned by her husband John Denham [aged 52] by giving her a poisoned cup of chocolate. In any case rumour named several other possible poisoners, including her former lover [his brother-in-law] James [aged 33], his wife Anne Hyde [aged 29] and his sister-in-law, Lady Rochester [aged 21].

On 8th August 1667 [his mother] Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon [aged 50] died. She was buried in the Hyde Vault, Crypt, Westminster Abbey.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

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Samuel Pepys' Diary. 19th November 1667. Thence with W. Hewer [aged 25] and our messenger, Marlow, home by coach, and so late at letters, and then home to supper, and my wife to read and then to bed. This night I wrote to my father, in answer to a new match which is proposed (the executor of Ensum, my sister's former servant) for my sister [aged 26], that I will continue my mind of giving her £500, if he likes of the match. My father did also this week, by Shepley, return me up a 'Guinny, which, it seems, upon searching the ground, they have found since I was there. I was told this day that Lory Hide [aged 25]¹, second son of my Chancellor [aged 58], did some time since in the House say, that if he thought his father was guilty but of one of the things then said against him, he would be the first that should call for judgement against him: which Mr. Waller [aged 61], the poet, did say was spoke like the old Roman, like Brutus, for its greatness and worthiness.

Note 1. Laurence Hyde, second son of Chancellor Clarendon (1614-1711). He held many important offices, and was First Lord of the Treasury, 1679-84; created Earl of Rochester in 1681, and K.G. 1685.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 6th February 1668. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, and among other things Sir H. Cholmly [aged 35] comes to me about a little business, and there tells me how the Parliament, which is to meet again to-day, are likely to fall heavy on the business of the Duke of Buckingham's [aged 40] pardon; and I shall be glad of it: and that the King [aged 37] hath put out of the Court the two Hides, my [his father] Chancellor's [aged 58] two sons [Note. [his brother] Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Clarendon and Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 25]], and also the Bishops of Rochester [aged 43] and Winchester [aged 69], the latter of whom should have preached before him yesterday, being Ash Wednesday, and had his sermon ready, but was put by; which is great news.

On 19th October 1670 [his brother] Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Clarendon and [his sister-in-law] Flower Backhouse Countess Clarendon were married. She being the sole heir of her father William Backhouse brought Swallowfield House, Berkshire to the marriage which Henry had rebuilt. He the son of Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 61] and Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon.

On 31st March 1671 [his sister] Anne Hyde Duchess of York [aged 34] died.

In June 1672 [his son] Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Rochester 4th Earl Clarendon was born to Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 30] and [his wife] Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester [aged 26]. He married 8th March 1692 Jane Leveson-Gower Countess Rochester and Clarendon, daughter of William Leveson-Gower 4th Baronet and Jane Granville Baroness Gower, and had issue.

On 9th December 1674 [his father] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 65] died at Rouen, France [Map]. His son [his brother] Henry succeeded 2nd Earl Clarendon, 2nd Baron Hyde of Hindon in Wiltshire 1660. [his sister-in-law] Flower Backhouse Countess Clarendon by marriage Countess Clarendon.

Around 1677 [his daughter] Henrietta Hyde Countess Dalkeith was born to Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 34] and [his wife] Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester [aged 31] at Hindon, Wiltshire. She married 2nd January 1694 James Scott, son of James Scott 1st Duke Monmouth 1st Duke Buccleuch and Anne Scott Duchess Monmouth and Buccleuch, and had issue.

John Evelyn's Diary. 26th November 1679. I met the [his brother] Earl of Clarendon with the rest of my fellow executors of the Will of my late Lady Viscountess Mordaunt, namely, Mr. Laurence Hyde [aged 37], one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and lately Plenipotentiary-Ambassador at Nimeguen; Andrew Newport [aged 59]; and Sir Charles Wheeler [aged 59]; to examine and audit and dispose of this year's account of the estate of this excellent Lady, according to the direction of her Will.

In 1682 [his son-in-law] James Butler 2nd Duke Ormonde [aged 16] and Anne Hyde were married. She the daughter of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 39] and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester [aged 36]. He the son of Thomas Butler 6th Earl Ossory and Emilia Nassau Beverweert Countess Ossory [aged 46]. They were sixth cousins.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th August 1682. Supped at Lord Clarendon's, with Lord Hyde [aged 40], his brother, now the great favorite, who invited himself to dine at my house the Tuesday following.

On 29th November 1682 Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 40] was created 1st Earl Rochester. [his wife] Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester [aged 36] by marriage Countess Rochester.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

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John Evelyn's Diary. 7th December 1682. Went to congratulate Lord Hyde [aged 40] (the great favorite) newly made Earl of Rochester, and lately marrying his eldest daughter to the Earl of Ossory [aged 17].

John Evelyn's Diary. 26th September 1684. The King [aged 54] being return'd from Winchester [Map], there was a numerous Court at White-hall. At this time the Earle of Rochester [aged 42] was remov'd from the Treasury to the Presidentship of the Council; Lord Godolphin [aged 39] was made first Commissioner of the Treasury in his place; Lord Middleton [aged 34] (a Scot) made Secretary of State, in ye room of Lord Godolphin. These alterations being very unexpected and mysterious, gave greate occasion of discourse. There was now an Ambassador from ye King of Siam in ye East Indies to his Majesty.

In 1685 Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 42] was appointed 492nd Knight of the Garter by [his former brother-in-law] King James II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 51].

In 1685 William Williams 1st Baronet [aged 51] was elected MP Montgomeryshire. His return was cancelled on petition, on the grounds that the contributory boroughs had no opportunity of voting. The prosecution resumed, and he was fined £10,000. He was also fined £20,000 after similar action was instigated by the Earl of Peterborough [aged 63]. Supporters worked on his behalf, including the Earl of Rochester [aged 42]; subsequently, £8,000 was accepted as full payment for the former fine, and Peterborough accepted a token payment for the latter after persuasion from James, now king.

In 1685 Godfrey Kneller [aged 38]. Portrait of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 42].

In 1685 [his daughter] Anne Hyde died.

Popish Plot

John Evelyn's Diary. 28th January 1685. I was invited to my Lord Arundel of Wardour [aged 52], (now newly released of his 6 yeares confinement in ye Tower [Map] on suspicion of the Plot call'd Oates's Plot), where after dinner the same Mr. Pordage entertain'd us with his voice, that excellent and stupendous artist Sign' Jo. Baptist playing to it on the harpsichord. My daughter Mary [aged 20] being with us, she also sung to the greate satisfaction of both the masters, and a world of people of quality present. She did so also at my Lord Rochester's [aged 42] the evening following, where we had the French Boy so fam'd for his singing, and indeede he had a delicate voice, and had ben well taught. I also heard Mrs. Packer (daughter to my old friend) sing before his Ma* and the Duke, privately, that stupendous basse Gosling accompanying her, but hers was so loud as tooke away much of the sweetnesse. Certainly never woman had a stronger or better eare, could she possibly have govern'd it. She would do rarely in a large church among the nunns.

John Evelyn's Diary. 17th February 1685. This morning his [his former brother-in-law] Ma* [aged 51] restor'd the staffe and key to Lord Arlington [aged 67], Chamberlaine; to Mr. Savell [aged 43], Vice-chamberlaine; to Lords Newport [aged 64] and Malnard [aged 62], Treasurer and Comptroler of the Household; Lord Godolphin [aged 39] made Chamberlaine to ye Queene [aged 26]; Lord Peterborow [aged 63] Groome of ye Stole in place of the Earle of Bath [aged 56]; the Treasurer's staff to the Earle of Rochester [aged 42]; and his brother the Earle of Clarendon Lord Privie Seale in place of the Marquis of Halifax [aged 51], who was made President of the Council; the Secretarys of State remaining as before.

John Evelyn's Diary. 19th December 1685. My Lord Treasurer [aged 43] made me dine with him, where I became acquainted with Monsr Barillon, the French Ambassador, a learned and crafty advocate.

Around 1686 Willem Wissing [aged 30]. Portrait of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 43] wearing his Garter Robes including the Garter Collar and holding his white Lord Treasurer Staff of Office.

John Evelyn's Diary. 12th May 1686. I refus'd to put the Privy Seale to Dr Walker's [aged 70] licence for printing and publishing divers Popish books, of which I complain'd both to my Lord of Canterbury [aged 69] (with whom I went to advise in the Council Chamber), and to my Lord Treasurer [aged 44] that evening at his lodgings. My Lord of Canterbury's advice was, that I should follow my owne conscience therein; Mr. Treasurer's, that if in conscience I could dispense with it, for any other hazard he believ'd there was none. Notwithstanding this 1 persisted in my refusal.

Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans

Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.

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John Evelyn's Diary. 24th June 1686. My Lord Treasurer [aged 44] settled my greate buisinesse with Mr. Pretyman, to which I hope God will at last give a prosperous issue.

On 12th April 1687 [his wife] Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester [aged 41] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 21st February 1689. Divers Bishops and Noblemen are not at all satisfied with this so sudden assumption of the Crown, without any previous sending, and offering some conditions to the absent King; or on his not returning, or not assenting to those conditions, to have proclaimed him Regent; but the major part of both Houses prevailed to make them King and Queen immediately, and a crown was tempting. This was opposed and spoken against with such vehemence by Lord Clarendon (her own uncle), that it put him by all preferment, which must doubtless have been as great as could have been given him. My Lord of Rochester [aged 46], his brother, overshot himself, by the same carriage and stiffness, which their friends thought they might have well spared when they saw how it was like to be overruled, and that it had been sufficient to have declared their dissent with less passion, acquiescing in due time.

On 8th March 1692 Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Rochester 4th Earl Clarendon [aged 19] and Jane Leveson-Gower Countess Rochester and Clarendon were married. He the son of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 50] and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester.

On 2nd January 1694 [his son-in-law] James Scott [aged 19] and Henrietta Hyde Countess Dalkeith [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Countess Dalkeith. She the daughter of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 51] and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester. He the son of James Scott 1st Duke Monmouth 1st Duke Buccleuch and Anne Scott Duchess Monmouth and Buccleuch [aged 42].

John Evelyn's Diary. 8th December 1700. Great alterations of officers at Court, and elsewhere, - Lord Chief Justice Treby died; he was a learned man in his profession, of which we have now few, never fewer; the Chancery requiring so little skill in deep law-learning, if the practicer can talk eloquently in that Court; so that probably few care to study the law to any purpose. Lord Marlborough [aged 50] Master of the Ordnance, in place of Lord Romney [aged 59] made Groom of the Stole. The Earl of Rochester [aged 58] goes Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

On 17th February 1704 [his son-in-law] Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway [aged 24] and Mary Hyde were married. She the daughter of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 61] and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester. They were fourth cousin once removed.

In 1709 [his daughter] Mary Hyde died.

On 31st October 1709 [his brother] Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Clarendon died. His son [his nephew] Edward [aged 47] succeeded 3rd Earl Clarendon, 3rd Baron Hyde of Hindon in Wiltshire 1660.

On 2nd May 1711 Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester [aged 69] died. His son Henry [aged 38] succeeded 2nd Earl Rochester. Jane Leveson-Gower Countess Rochester and Clarendon by marriage Countess Rochester.

Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet

Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.

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[his daughter] Anne Hyde was born to Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester. She married 1682 her sixth cousin James Butler 2nd Duke Ormonde, son of Thomas Butler 6th Earl Ossory and Emilia Nassau Beverweert Countess Ossory.

[his daughter] Mary Hyde was born to Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester and Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester. She married 17th February 1704 her fourth cousin once removed Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway, son of Edward Seymour 4th Baronet and Letitia Popham Baroness Seymour, and had issue.

Biography of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester 1642-1711

Ancestors of Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester 1642-1711