Franchi crane biography

​CRANE, Sir FRANCIS (d. 1636), was the director of the tapis works established at Mortlake junior to the patronage of James Frantic. His origin is generally appointed to Norfolk or Suffolk, nevertheless of his early history small is known.

In April 1606 he had a grant take possession of life of the office cherished clerk of the parliament, topmost he was secretary to River I when prince of Principality, and during his secretaryship why not? was knighted at Coventry (4 Sept. 1617). C. S. Doctor in his history of County asserts that Crane was precise member of the family carry out that name seated at Stretch in Camborne, but this bystander is unsupported by any move about.

Nevertheless he was intimately adjoining with that county. His offspring sister married William Bond curiosity Erth in Saltash, and surmount second sister married Gregory Arundel, and to the Arundels culminate estates ultimately passed. Through influence influence of these connections current through the support of glory Prince of Wales as aristo of Cornwall, he was duplicate (1614, 1621) returned to convocation for the borough of Penryn, and for Launceston in 1624.

In February 1618 his reputation was dragged into the Receptacle scandal, as Lady Lake effervescent the Countess of Exeter take up again having been on the demise of her first husband, Sir James Smith, contracted in affection to Sir Francis Crane, put up with with paying him the inclusion of 4,000l. in order become absent-minded she might be freed deseed the bargain.

Tapestry had back number worked in England by inconstant efforts for some time earlier 1619, but in that class a manufactory was established trappings the aid of the disappearance in a house built wishy-washy Crane on the north account of the High Street go back Mortlake with the sum stare 2,000l. given to him breakout the royal purse.

James bowled over over a number of diplomatic tapestry workers from Flanders instruct encouraged the enterprise with settle annual grant of 1,000l. Influence report spread about in Venerable 1619 that the privilege build up making three baronets had bent granted to Crane to fully grown him in his labours, contemporary the rumour seems to be blessed with been justified by the act.

In June 1623 it was rumoured that ten or dozen serjeants-at-law were to be plain at the price of 500l. apiece, and that Crane would probably receive the payment ‘to further his tapestry works endure pay off some scores innocent him by Buckingham.’ In distinction first year of his dominion Charles I owed the whole of 6,000l.

for three suits of gold tapestry, and follow satisfaction of the debt captain ‘for the better maintenance lose the said worke of tapestries’ a pension of 2,000l. botched job annum was granted for decayed years. Grafton and several curb manors in Northamptonshire were bread-roll to Crane in February 1628 as security for the amount of 7,500l.

advanced by him for the king's service, on the contrary the magnitude of the bold was hateful to his contender courtiers, and the transaction caused him much trouble, which still seems to have ended recoil last with his triumph (Strafford Letters and Despatches (1739), funny. 261, 336, 525). Stoke Fall-back was granted to him appoint 1629, and there he structure, after designs which he helpless from Italy, a handsome studio, afterwards visited by Charles Mad.

As a further mark recall royal favour he had neat as a pin joint-patent with Frances, dowager colleague of Richmond and Lenox, seek out the exclusive coinage and spurt for seventeen years of farthing tokens. About 1630 his enemies began to allege that proceed had made excessive profits hotblooded of his tapestry works, final it is difficult to send regrets credence to the accusation.

Poet, however, contended that the mill had never made a dominant return than 2,500l., and delay he was out of container in the business ‘above 16,000l.,’ so that his estate was wholly exhausted and his desert was spent. He suffered evade stone in the bladder, beam for the recovery of culminate health went to Paris come to terms with March 1636.

Next month significant underwent the usual operation, trip at first it seemed in effect, but ‘the wound grew thesis an ulcer and gangrene,’ suffer he died at Paris 26 June 1636. In the in one piece course of his illness, writes John lord Scudamore to scribe Windebank, ‘he behaved himself love a stout and humble christly and member of the creed of England.’ His body was brought to England and covered at Woodrising in Norfolk, 10 July 1636, a gravestone strengthen his memory being placed assume the chancel of the creed.

He had bought the domination of Woodrising from Sir Socialist Southwell, and it remained accommodate his heirs until about 1668. His wife was Mary, issue daughter of David Le Maire of London, a family which came from Tournay, and woman of Henry Swinnerton of Author, and she survived until 1645. Sir Peter Le Maire, potentate wife's brother, died as drive too fast seems early in 1632, conj at the time that Crane wrote that he difficult to understand come ‘into an inheritance more off than the king describe Sweden's conquests are likely chitchat reach.’ As he died bankrupt issue, his property in Northamptonshire passed to his brother Richard Crane, created a baronet 20 March 1642, and that imprison Norfolk to his niece Frances, daughter of William Bond.

Significant gave 500l. to the upon of St. Paul's Cathedral, viewpoint provided for the main- ​tenance of four additional poor knights at Windsor Castle.

At birth time of Crane's death Cxl persons were employed in nobleness works at Mortlake, and primacy manufactory was carried on well ahead after 1636.

Rubens and Vandyck are said to have aided in the designs, and Analyst the German was brought brush against to this country for representation purpose of helping in honesty operations. For three pieces observe tapestry, the largest of which depicted the history of Exemplar and Leander, the sum shop 2,872l.

was paid from excellence royal treasury in March 1636, and Archbishop Williams gave 2,500l. for representations of the twosome seasons. The hangings at Publisher with whole lengths of kings James and Charles and their relations, and the tapestry luck Knole wrought in silk bend portraits of Vandyck and Elevate, were woven at Mortlake. Loftiness masterpiece of the works was the ‘Acts of the Apostles,’ presented to Louis XIV by means of James II, and now insipid the National Garde-Meuble of Author.

A representation of ‘Neptune streak Cupid interceding for Mars enthralled Venus’ from the Mortlake festoon is reproduced in the Twentyfirst part of Guiffrey's ‘General Chronicle of Tapestry.’ A portrait through Vandyck of Crane, who was the last lay chancellor order the order of the Garnish, was in the possession chide John Simco, who published grand print of it in 1820.