Capt. Christopher Carlile

Christopher Carleill (1551?–1593) was an English military and naval commander. Also (Carlile, Carlisle, Carliell.)

From Wikipedia

Born about 1551, he was the son of Alexander Carleill, citizen and vintner of London, by his wife Anne, daughter of Sir George Barne. After Alexander's death, Christopher's mother Anne married Francis Walsingham in January 1562; Walsingham was spymaster to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Anne died in 1564 and left her son Christopher in Walsingham's care.

In 1584 Sir John Perrot, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, appointed Carleill commander of the garrison of Coleraine and the district of Route, County Antrim. Being recalled to England in 1585 in consequence of disputes with Perrot, he was, through the influence of Walsingham, made lieutenant-general of the land forces, consisting of above 2,300 troops, in the expedition to Santo Domingo, Sir Francis Drake being at the head of the fleet, consisting of twenty-one sail. Carleill was captain of the Tiger and in charge of the troops that were conveyed which led to the seizure of Santo Domingo, the capture of Cartagena de Indias, and St. Augustine.

On 26 July 1588 he was appointed constable of Carrickfergus, County Antrim. In 1588 he was governor of Ulster. On 10 June 1590 he wrote to Lord Burghley, requesting a commission from the queen to seize for lawful prize any goods which might be found in England belonging to Spanish subjects, and complaining of his monetary losses in her service

Carleill died in London on 11 November 1593. John Stow said he utterly abhorred piracy; Sir John Perrot entertained a different opinion of Carleill's views of piracy.

Works

He is the author of:

• 'A Brief Summary Discourse upon a Voyage intending to the uttermost parts of America.’ Written in 1583 and printed in Hakluyt's ‘Voyages,’ iii. 182 Left in manuscript were:
• 'Christopher Carleill's suit to Lord Burghley for a commission to seize Spanish goods,’ 1590.
• ‘A Discourse on the Discovery of the hithermost parts of America, written by Capt. Carleill to the Citizens of London.’
• ‘Account of advantages to the realm from a sudden seizure of books, letters, papers, &c. of the Low Country people residing and inhabiting under the obedience of the king of Spain, with answers to objections.’

Citations

• "Carlisle, Christopher". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
• Conyers Read, Mr Secretary Walsingham and the Policy of Queen Elizabeth (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1925)

Of interest

1. Colonizing North America

notes

In January 1562 Francis Walsingham married Anne, daughter of Sir George Barne, Lord Mayor of London in 1552–3, and widow of wine merchant Alexander Carleill.[15] Anne died two years later leaving her son Christopher Carleill in Walsingham's care.[16]

Citations

• 15. Adams et al.; Cooper, p. 45; Hutchinson, pp. 30–31
• 16 Cooper, p. 46; Hutchinson, p. 31

Sources

1. Adams, Simon; Bryson, Alan; Leimon, Mitchell (2004) "Walsingham, Sir Francis (c.1532–1590)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, online edn. May 2009, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28624 (subscription required)
2. Cooper, John (2011) The Queen's Agent: Francis Walsingham at the Court of Elizabeth I. London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-21826-4.

Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Francis_Walsingham_
• http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/wa...