The 10th Earl of Northumberland was the eldest surviving son of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, and Lady Dorothy Perrot nee Deveraux, daughter of the 1st Earl of Essex and Lettice Knollys.
He was a prominent courtier during Charles I's reign, and was created a Knight of the Garter (1635), Admiral of the Ship Money Fleet (1637) and Lord High Admiral (1638). In 1640, he spoke against Charles I's adherence to the Divine Right of Kings, and Charles stripped him of his commission in 1642.
During the Civil War, he was allied to Parliament, but he switched loyalties when antagonism toward the King hardened. In 1648 and 1649, he led Charles' defence, and strongly opposed any suggestion of an execution; he continued to persuade the king to come to a constitutional agreement with Parliament, but to no avail.
After Charles was executed in January 1649, he withdrew from public life; although he was loyal to the Commonwealth, he was not trusted by Cromwell or the military leaders.
Despite being restored to favour in 1660, he continued to believe in a limited monarchy, and opposed the questioning of those who were responsible for Charles' execution, tensing relations with the new king, Charles II. He was distrusted and disliked by the Earl of Clarendon, one of the king's closest politicians, but was restored to a few honorary posts, such as Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and Lord High Constable at the king's coronation in 1661. Failing to restore his full favour with the court, he retired to Petworth House, West Sussex, and died there in 1668. His wife survived him by 37 years, dying in 1705.
He was a prominent courtier during Charles I's reign, and was created a Knight of the Garter (1635), Admiral of the Ship Money Fleet (1637) and Lord High Admiral (1638). In 1640, he spoke against Charles I's adherence to the Divine Right of Kings, and Charles stripped him of his commission in 1642.
During the Civil War, he was allied to Parliament, but he switched loyalties when antagonism toward the King hardened. In 1648 and 1649, he led Charles' defence, and strongly opposed any suggestion of an execution; he continued to persuade the king to come to a constitutional agreement with Parliament, but to no avail.
After Charles was executed in January 1649, he withdrew from public life; although he was loyal to the Commonwealth, he was not trusted by Cromwell or the military leaders.
Despite being restored to favour in 1660, he continued to believe in a limited monarchy, and opposed the questioning of those who were responsible for Charles' execution, tensing relations with the new king, Charles II. He was distrusted and disliked by the Earl of Clarendon, one of the king's closest politicians, but was restored to a few honorary posts, such as Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and Lord High Constable at the king's coronation in 1661. Failing to restore his full favour with the court, he retired to Petworth House, West Sussex, and died there in 1668. His wife survived him by 37 years, dying in 1705.
The 10th Earl of Northumberland was the eldest surviving son of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, and Lady Dorothy Perrot nee Deveraux, daughter of the 1st Earl of Essex and Lettice Knollys.
He was a prominent courtier during Charles I's reign, and was created a Knight of the Garter (1635), Admiral of the Ship Money Fleet (1637) and Lord High Admiral (1638). In 1640, he spoke against Charles I's adherence to the Divine Right of Kings, and Charles stripped him of his commission in 1642.
During the Civil War, he was allied to Parliament, but he switched loyalties when antagonism toward the King hardened. In 1648 and 1649, he led Charles' defence, and strongly opposed any suggestion of an execution; he continued to persuade the king to come to a constitutional agreement with Parliament, but to no avail.
After Charles was executed in January 1649, he withdrew from public life; although he was loyal to the Commonwealth, he was not trusted by Cromwell or the military leaders.
Despite being restored to favour in 1660, he continued to believe in a limited monarchy, and opposed the questioning of those who were responsible for Charles' execution, tensing relations with the new king, Charles II. He was distrusted and disliked by the Earl of Clarendon, one of the king's closest politicians, but was restored to a few honorary posts, such as Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and Lord High Constable at the king's coronation in 1661. Failing to restore his full favour with the court, he retired to Petworth House, West Sussex, and died there in 1668. His wife survived him by 37 years, dying in 1705.
He was a prominent courtier during Charles I's reign, and was created a Knight of the Garter (1635), Admiral of the Ship Money Fleet (1637) and Lord High Admiral (1638). In 1640, he spoke against Charles I's adherence to the Divine Right of Kings, and Charles stripped him of his commission in 1642.
During the Civil War, he was allied to Parliament, but he switched loyalties when antagonism toward the King hardened. In 1648 and 1649, he led Charles' defence, and strongly opposed any suggestion of an execution; he continued to persuade the king to come to a constitutional agreement with Parliament, but to no avail.
After Charles was executed in January 1649, he withdrew from public life; although he was loyal to the Commonwealth, he was not trusted by Cromwell or the military leaders.
Despite being restored to favour in 1660, he continued to believe in a limited monarchy, and opposed the questioning of those who were responsible for Charles' execution, tensing relations with the new king, Charles II. He was distrusted and disliked by the Earl of Clarendon, one of the king's closest politicians, but was restored to a few honorary posts, such as Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and Lord High Constable at the king's coronation in 1661. Failing to restore his full favour with the court, he retired to Petworth House, West Sussex, and died there in 1668. His wife survived him by 37 years, dying in 1705.
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