Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/234

 Fitzwilliam had attended before his execution, and at whose trial he was one of the witnesses for the defence. She expresses the deepest reverence for his character, and the utmost value for his counsel. After the revolution she strove in vain to convince him that he 'might honestly submit to the present government.' Fitzwilliam's replies to her arguments show the conscientious and unselfish character of the man, and also give some insight into his life. He begs her to use her influence, not for himself, but for his parishioners, 'to get some person presented to my living, upon my resignation, in whom I may confide without any, the least capitulation, direct or indirect, beforehand. He whom I design is one Mr. Jekyl, minister of the new chapel, Westminster, and a favourite of the present government.' Anticipating that he would not be able to comply, he adds: 'I beg of your honour three things: first, that you would have the same good opinion of my integrity, and of my zealous addiction to your service, as ever you had; secondly, that you would permit me, in entire trust and confidence, to make over all my worldly goods to you; for I fear some men's heats may drive affairs so far as to bring all remnants of it into a premunire; thirdly, that I may have some room in your house, if any can be spared, to set up my books in, and have recourse to them if, on refusal, we may be permitted to stay in town.' If Lady Russell cannot grant these last requests, he intimates that he will apply to one of her sisters, Lady Gainsborough or Lady Alington. He died in 1699, having appointed 'my ever dear friend, and now my truly honoured father,' Dr. Ken, his sole executor under his will, with a life interest in 500l., which he bequeathed to the library of Magdalen College. He also left books and manuscripts to the Bodleian Library. The only publication of Fitzwilliam extant is 'A Sermon preached at Cotenham, near Cambridge, on 9 Sept. 1683, being the day set apart for Public Thanksgiving for deliverance of His Sacred Majesty and Government from the late Treasonable Conspiracy,' that is, the Rye House plot, for his supposed complicity in which Lord William Russell lost his life. Fitzwilliam, however, thoroughly believed in his innocence, and testified to that effect at the trial. On the anniversaries of the arrest, the trial, and the execution of her husband, Fitzwilliam always sent letters of comfort and advice to Lady Russell. Fitzwilliam was one of the few nonjurors who are mentioned with unqualified praise by Lord Macaulay. He groups him with the saintly John Kettlewell, and thinks they are deserving of 'special mention, less on account of their abilities and learning than on account of their rare integrity, and of their not less rare candour.'

[Letters of Rachel, Lady Russell, 3rd edition, 1792, and a new edition by 'J. R.,' 1853; Some Account of the Life of Rachel Wriothesley, Lady Russell, by the editor of Madame du Deffand's Letters, 3rd edition, 1820; Lathbury's Hist. of the Nonjurors; Life of Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, by a Layman, 1851; State Trials, xii. 792; Bloxam's Register of Magdalen College, Oxford; private information from the Dean of Wells (Dr. Plumptre).]  FITZWILLIAM, RALPH (1256?–1316), baron, was the son of William Fitzralph of Grimthorpe in Yorkshire, and of his wife Joan, daughter of Thomas de Greystock (, Baronage, i. 740). He was probably born in 1256, as he is described in 24 Edward I as forty years old and more (Calendarium Genealogicum, p. 515). In 1277 he served on behalf of his uncle, William de Greystock, in the Welsh war, and again on his own account in 1282, and in 1287 against the same enemy (Parl. Writs, i. 615). In 1291 he was first summoned to serve against the Scots, and in 1295 was first summoned to parliament. In July 1297 he was appointed captain of the royal garrisons in Northumberland (, Doc. Scotland, ii. 195), and for his services against the Scots thanked in November, in which month he was also appointed one of the captains of the Scottish marches. In 1298 he was put at the head of the troops levied in Yorkshire. He was constantly serving against Scotland and in parliament. In 1300 he was at the siege of Carlaverock. In 1301 he signed as 'lord of Grimthorpe' the letter of the barons at the Lincoln parliament to the pope. He was also employed as a representative of the East Riding before the exchequer in 1300, and as the king's agent empowered to 'use all friendly ways' to exact a purveyance of grain from the Yorkshire monasteries in 1302. In 1304 he was commissioned with John de Barton to act as a justice to execute the statute of 'trailbaston' in Yorkshire (, ii. 235); but in the commissions of 'trailbaston' in 1305 his name does not appear (Fœdera, i. 970). In the reign of Edward II he attached himself to the baronial opposition. In 1309 he was appointed a justice to receive in Northumberland complaints of prises taken contrary to the statute of Stamford. In 1313 he was among the adherents of Thomas of Lancaster who received a pardon for their complicity in the death of Gaveston (ib. ii. 231). In the same year he was made 'custos' of Cumber-