Page:The Boynton family and the family seat of Burton Agnes.djvu/38

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(XIX)SIR MATTHEW BOYNTON, KT. AND BART., second son of Sir Francis Boynton (XVIII), was christened at Barmston, 26th January, 1591,^[1] knighted at Whitehall, 9th May, 1618,^[2] and in 1619 was enrolled a Baronet.^[3] He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1628,^[4] and received a deputation dated at Westminster that year for preserving the game in the North and East Ridings. He was M.P. for Scarborough^[5] in 1640, and was again High Sheriff in 1643,^[4] which office he continued to hold the following year, was M.P. for Hedon in the reign of Charles I (1620-3), and was a Commissioner of Sewers in 1645.^[5]

Sir Matthew resided much at Roxby and sometimes at Highgate. He was one of the Parliament chiefly entrusted, and who in 1637 on the dissatisfaction with the proceedings of Laud embarked with Cromwell for New England, but an order in Council prevented their voyage.^[6] The next year, though we find him abroad, the same authority implies a reason. On a picture, said to be by Vandyke, at Burton Agnes, representing Sir Matthew, his second wife and three children, is this motto—

Nescio virtus stare loco
anno Domini 1639,
peregrinationis
secundo.^[7]

In January, 1642, he routed a party of 600 men at Guisbrough, killed many and took a considerable number prisoners, whereof their commander Slingsby was one, and 200 arms.^[8] He contrived the seizure of Sir John Hotham, who was taken

1. Barmston Parish Register.
2. Metcalfe's Book of Knights, 173.
3. The receipt from Sir Matthew Boynton for £1,100 for the degree of Baronet is dated 30th November, 1618-19, and the enrolment is dated 4th June, 1619.
4. Langdale. Drake.
5. Church of Englandman’s Vade mecum, 14
6. Rushworth, quoted in MS, Acc. at B.A.
7. MS, Acc. at B.A. This motto is not visible in the picture at the present time.
8. Whitelock’s Mem. of the English Affairs, p. 63.