Basil Feilding, 2nd Earl of Denbigh
1608–1675
Parliamentary commander in the West Midlands; ambassador to Venice.
Biography
Of Queens' Cambridge, Feilding served as ambassador to Venice (1634-39) before the war and brought a continental polish unusual among the Puritan peers. He took the parliamentary side on his father's death in battle on the royalist side (April 1643) and was made commander-in-chief of the parliamentary forces in the West Midlands (1643-44) — replaced by Major-General Browne after a series of indecisive engagements. A moderate lay assessor at the Assembly, he opposed the regicide, withdrew at Pride's Purge, and survived the Restoration in private life. Died in 1675.
Lay Assessor — House of Lords
Parliament seated lay assessors from both Houses to sit with the divines and represent its interest. Ten peers were named from the House of Lords as lay assessors; like the Commons assessors they had voice in the Assembly but were not voting members, and they attended as their other duties allowed.