Sir John COKE [12579]

  General Notes:

Extracts from Anthony Danvers book and comments:
Sir John Coke entered the service of Lord Burghley, Queen Elizabeth's Secretary of State, where he became friendly with Fulke Greville, a distant relation, the son of the Earl of Warwick. John Coke lodged with Greville in Essex House in the Strand. Greville employed Coke to collect information for him in Europe and between 1593 and 1597, John Coke travelled extensively on the Continent. Correspondence reveals that he spent some time in Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Hungary, Sienna, Venice and Paris. In 1598, Greville was appointed Treasurer of the Navy with Coke as his Deputy Treasurer. Coke took the responsibility of financing the provisioning and manning of the ships of the Queen's Navy, which were engaged in expeditions against Spain, Ireland, and France. . . . . . . . .
. . . .In November 1622, Coke became one of the Masters of Requests; in September 1624 he was knighted; and in September 1625 he was appointed one of the two Principal Secretaries of State, in succession to Sir Albert Moreton, deceased, and became a Privy Councillor. He continued to be a Principal Commissioner for the Navy. In the autumn of 1625, he was employed at Plymouth in fitting out the expedition to Cadiz under the Earl of Essex, and in the summer of 1628 at Portsmouth in fitting out the second expedition which the Duke of Buckingham was to have led to Rochelle. He attended Charles I as Secretary of State in the two progresses into Scotland in 1633 and 1639.
It was whilst Principal Commissioner for the Navy that he received the following two letters from two illustrious members of the Danvers family.
1627, September 7. Cornbury Park (Oxfordshire). Henry Danvers, Earl of Danby, K.GK, Governor of Guernsey to Sir John Coke. I am posting into Hampshire to advise and direct those captains ready to embark at Portsmouth, the Castle being made safe by these soldiers, no enemy will attempt those islands, and from Dunkirkers and common men-of-war the country is able to defend itself. Such pains and patience at these years of mine may well merit thanks and respect even in their eyes that sit in authority, only able to censure such as are better than they. . . . . .
. . . . .Later in the year Sir John Danvers, brother to the above Henry Danvers, and who was later to sign the death warrant of Charles I, wrote to Sir John Coke the following letter:
1627, November 14. His house at Chelsea. Sir John Danvers to Sir John Coke. From this bearer, Mr. Bogans (a merchant resident at Rouen in Normandy), I find there is credible intelligence amongst some merchants that the Duke of Medina his not long since stay of French shipping was not so much on behalf of the State of Spain as on the request of themselves, to come or return strong in number to safeguard great riches wherewith they are on the point to come laden from Spain to the ports of France. It may possibly be a service to His Majesty upon the opportunity of his fleet returned from the expedition for the Isle of Rhe to send and make prize of that fleet of French goods. (Indorsed by Sir John Coke,)
When Sir John Coke purchased Melbourne Hall and Rectory in 1628, he started a dynasty which is still resident at Melbourne after eleven generations. Sir John Coke rebuilt Melbourne Hall and much of his work remains on the north side of the house. His great-grandson, Thomas Coke, laid out Melbourne Hall Gardens and added to the house. It was left to Thomas's son, George Lewis Coke, to finish the house and add the classical east front overlooking the Gardens. Since this time, there have been very few changes to either the Hall or the Gardens.
It was whilst he was Secretary of State that he received the following desperate letter from his cousin William Danvers at Swithland Hall hoping Sir John might intercede on his behalf.
1635, December 18. Leicester. William Danvers to Sir John Coke, Whitehall. My Lord of Stamford tells me that I am certified to the Council Board, by an inquisition taken by Mr. Savage and Mr. Window, for decay of tillage and depopulation. I have rested 30 acres for three years, 10 acres in a field, but I have made neither hedge nor ditch in the field, neither have I decayed the farm or tenement, there is as many houses, as many people, as many farms in our town as ever there was; neither is there any in our town that is indigent or beggarly. I wonder I should be thus dealt withal. I pray you to let me know what you would have me to do. I desire but to answer for myself. Your loving cousin.

John married Mary POWELL [12580] [MRIN: 4224], daughter of John POWELL [12581] and Unknown. (Mary POWELL [12580] died in Mar 1624.)