Henry Clinton, 2nd Earl of Lincoln


Henry Clinton, 2nd Earl of Lincoln, KB was an English peer, styled Baron Clinton from 1572 to 1585. Known for repeated accusations of extortion, abduction and arson, among other things, Henry was likely among the most feared and hated noblemen in England during his time as Earl of Lincoln.

Life

The eldest son of the 1st Earl of Lincoln, by second wife Ursula, daughter of William, 7th Baron Stourton, Henry Clinton was appointed a Knight of the Bath in 1553. He was returned to the House of Commons, representing the constituency of Lincolnshire in 1571, having been commissioned a Captain of Horse in the Royal Guards in 1569. He also served as Vice-Admiral of Lincolnshire and of Yorkshire.
He inherited the earldom and barony from his father in 1585. By his father's will, which Henry initially contested, he inherited Tattershall Castle; his wife Elizabeth had a life interest in the family property at Sempringham, and subsequently, Lincoln feuded with the poet Tailboys Dymoke, son of his brother-in-law Robert Dymoke, over some obnoxious verses.
In his time, Clinton was one of the most brutal, feared and hated feudal lords in Britain. Several records speak of the Earl launching attacks against barons near him, sometimes sending properly equipped troops. The Earl is frequently credited with sabotage, extortion, abduction and arson and at one point expanded his castle walls into the nearby churchyard. The Earl was often away from his seat at Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire, often staying at London due to his frequent entanglements with the law.'
In April 1601, when he was supposed to host Queen Elizabeth I at his mansion in Chelsea, Clinton, perhaps due to realizing that he could not offer a great enough feast due to his financial situation, simply left Chelsea without informing the Queen's party. His actions caused great uproar from the Queen's close advisors, as can be seen in letters sent to the Earl, as they had knocked on both gates of the mansion and despite being able to see Clinton's servants looking out at them from the windows, had not been let in.' Clinton later attributed the incident to a "misunderstanding".
The significant depopulation of Lincolnshire in 1607 may be attributable to the Earl's actions.
He died at Sempringham, being succeeded by his son Thomas, 3rd Earl of Lincoln.

Family

Clinton married firstly in 1557 Lady Catherine Hastings, daughter of the 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, and Hon Catherine Pole, and had:
Lord Lincoln married secondly after 20 October 1586 Elizabeth Morrison, daughter of Sir Richard Morrison, of Cassiobury, Hertfordshire, and had: