ROGER MANNERS, fifth Earl of Rutland (1576-1612), born 6 Oct. 1576, was son of John, fourth earl of Rutland, and nephew of Edward, third earl. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Charleton of Apley Castle, Shropshire. He was educated for a time at Queens' College, Cambridge, and had a man and a boy to look after him. On 21 Feb. 1587-8 he succeeded as fifth Earl of Rutland on the death of his father, and, passing through London on his way to Cambridge, he had an interview with Queen Elizabeth, who spoke kindly to him and said that 'she knew his father for an honest man.'

In 1590 his tutor, John Jegon, removed to Corpus Christi College, and among other of his pupils, Rutland went with him; Burghley wrote approving of the change, and also of his going down to Belvoir for the hunting season. Jegon took great care of him, writing many letters to his mother. On 20 Feb. 1595 he became M.A. Burghley approved of his making a foreign tour, though he wrote that the young earl knew very little about his estate, and in September 1595 he received leave to travel abroad. For his guidance a manuscript of 'Profitable Instructions' (now Harl. MS. 6205, p. 428) was drawn up, which was printed, with two similar essays, in 1633, and was then assigned to Robert Devereux, second earl of Essex. Bacon was more probably the author.¹ His old tutor Jegon warned him against the character of the French.

Rutland sailed early in 1596 from Plymouth, and passed by way of Paris to Switzerland and Italy. In North Italy he had a dangerous illness.² He seems to have been fond of learned men, and met Caspar Waser at Zurich.³ On 2 Feb. 1597-8 he was admitted member of Gray's Inn. As he had announced some time before his intention of joining Essex in his Irish expedition, he was made a colonel of foot in 1599. Essex knighted him 30 May 1599, but he passed only a short time in Ireland, as he was in England in June 1599, in some disgrace with the court. On 10 July 1599, he was incorporated M.A. at Oxford. Wood describes him as 'an eminent traveller and good soldier.' He passed a short time on service with the Dutch in company with the Earl of Northumberland, and 14 June 1600 became constable of Nottingham Castle and steward of Sherwood Forest.

On 8 Feb. 1600-1 he took part in Essex's plot, and was one of those who were captured at Essex House. His uncle Roger, an old servant of the queen, who had three nephews implicated, lamented that they had ever been born. In the Tower, Rutland soon came to his senses, wrote very penitently, was examined and rated by the council, and was fined £30,000.⁴

His fortunes recovered under James I, who stayed at Belvoir in his progress southwards, witnessing the performance of Ben Jonson's 'Metamorphosed Gypsies,' and made him a K.B. at his coronation. On 9 June 1603 Rutland received the keepership of Birkwood Park, Yorkshire, and Clipstone Castle, Northamptonshire, and from June to August 1603 was engaged on a mission to Christian IV, king of Denmark, to present him with the order of the Garter, and to represent James at the christening of his son.⁵ On 20 Sept. 1603 he became lord-lieutenant of Lincolnshire, and the same year high steward of Grantham. In 1609 he received also the stewardships of Long Bennington and Mansfield.

His constitution seems to have been worn out prematurely, and he died on 26 June 1612. He was buried at Bottesford, Leicestershire. He is noted as being engaged in two duels when the subject attracted attention in 1613.⁶ Rutland married, early in 1599, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Sidney, who died without issue in 1615. The title passed to a brother, Francis, sixth earl of Rutland. Many of Rutland's letters are preserved at Belvoir, Hatfield, and Longleat.



1. cf. Spedding, Bacon, ix. 4 sq.
2. cf. Birch, Elizabeth, i. 428, ii. 26.
3. Zurich Letters, Parker Soc., ii. 326.
4. £30,000 in 1601 had roughly the same purchasing power as £6.78 million in 2020. Source: Measuring Worth.
5. Hist. MSS. Comm. 7th Rep. App. p. 527.
6. Spedding, Bacon, xi. 396.

Source:

Archbold, W. A. J. "Roger Manners, fifth Earl of Rutland."
The Dictionary of National Biography. Vol XXXVI. Sidney Lee, Ed.
New York: Macmillan and Co., 1893. 55-56.

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Other Local Resources:

• Queen Elizabeth I
  
• Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland
  
• Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland
  
• Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland
  
• Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland
  

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Web Links:

• Genealogy - ThePeerage.com
  

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