Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford
1593–1641
Senior Puritan peer; would-be Lord Treasurer; died before the Assembly opened.
Biography
Of Magdalen Oxford, then a long political career managing the fen drainage projects of the Bedford Level Company (the Great Level of the Fens, the project that drained much of East Anglia). Bedford was the senior Puritan peer and the political manager of the early Long Parliament — Charles I tried to detach him by offering him the Treasurership in early 1641, the so-called 'Bridge appointments' scheme, but the deal collapsed when Strafford's attainder hardened the parliamentary side. Bedford died of smallpox on 9 May 1641, just twelve days before Strafford's execution and two years before the Westminster Assembly first sat — but his name appears in early plans for the gathering.
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.