BERTIE, PEREGRINE [SSNE 4441]
- Surname
- BERTIE
- First name
- PEREGRINE
- Title/rank
- LORD WILLOUGHBY
- Nationality
- ENGLISH
- Region
- CLEVES AND BERWICK
- Social status
- NOBILITY
Text source
Lord Willoughby was born in Cleves, and was naturalised as an Englishman. was the English ambassador to Denmark in 1585. He succeeded to the barony of Eresby in 1580 and was sent to Denmark to discuss commercial relations with England in 1582. In 1585 he petitioned Frederick II to help Henry of Navarre and the following year he became governor of Bergen-op-Zoom. In 1586 he helped surprise Axel. In 1587 he succeeded Norris in command of the cavalry and assisted Leicester in releiving Slyss and then succeeded him as commander of English forces in the Low Countries. In 1588 he defended Bergen-op-Zoom against Spaniards. In 1589 he returned to England and was also nominated to command an army sent to help Henry of Navarre at Dieppe. He returned to England in 1590 and was governor of Berwick and warden of East March 1598-1601. A letter dated 3 January 1612 from King Christian IV requests the recruitment of 1500 men which Willoughby was to lead in battle against Sweden. By March 1612, some 6000 troops were reported to be mustering as an Anglo-Scottish force for Danish service under the command of Lord Willoughby and Lord Dingwall
Historical Manuscripts Commission 66: Ancaster;(p.354); G. M. Bell, A Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives 1509-1688 (London, 1990); DNB
Service record
- ENGLAND, DENMARK-NORWAY
- Arrived 1582-07-08
- Departed 1582-11-01
- Capacity AMBASSADOR, purpose DIPLOMACY
- Arrived 1585-06-28
- Departed 1586-03-01
- Capacity AMBASSADOR, purpose DIPLOMACY
- THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, BERGEN OP ZOOM, ANGLO-DUTCH
- Arrived 1586-03-02
- Departed 1589-12-31
- Capacity GOVERNOR, purpose MILITARY
- DENMARK-NORWAY, DENMARK-NORWAY, ENGLISH AUXILLIARY ARMY
- Arrived 1612-11-30, as COLONEL
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY