Roger Alford (died 1580) was an English landowner and politician who was secretary to

Sir William Cecil William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 15204 August 1598) was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (1550–1553 and 1558–1572) and Lord High Treasurer from 1 ...

and sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

in 1557 and 1559. Alford was the eldest son of Robert Alford and Anne Brydges.Alford Association
/ref> In about 1549, he entered into political life as secretary to

, afterwards Lord Burleigh, who was made Secretary of State by Queen Elizabeth immediately after her accession in 1558. He was employed as a

Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer The Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer was an office in the English Exchequer. The Tellers of the Exchequer received any money to be paid into the Exchequer, noted the amount in a book, and sent a copy of the entry, called a Teller's Bill, to t ...

in 1553. In 1557, Alford was elected

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

for

Bletchingley Bletchingley (historically "Blechingley") is a village in Surrey, England. It is on the A25 road to the east of Redhill, Surrey, Redhill and to the west of Godstone, has a conservation area with Middle Ages, medieval buildings and is mostly on a ...

. He was elected MP for Preston in 1559. Alford retired to Hitcham, Buckinghamshire, which had come to him through his marriage. He died there in 1580 and was buried in Hitcham Church. His monumental inscription reads as follows.

Arms:—Gules, six pears, three and three. "Here lieth buried Roger Alford of London, and late of Hitcham, Esquire, who married Elizabeth Clark, widow, and daughter of Thomas Ramsay, Esquire. He died the 16th of July, 1580."

The following Latin Verses in memory of Roger Alford were written by William Cager, Student of Christ Church, Oxford.

:"In obitu Rogeri Alfordi :"Rogerus tumulo Alfordus sepelitur in isto: :Quid? tantam cohibet tantula terra virum! :Non jacet hic totus, passim bona fama vagatur :Libers, nec modica contineatur humo. :Altera para meliorque sui jam vivit in astris, :Sic tantum corpus jam brevis urna capit."

In English, this translates to:

:"In the death of Roger Alfordi :"Roger is buried in this tomb Alfordus: :What? Such a small country! :It is not the latter, completely lies, a good report that is spread in all directions :Free will, and not even a little is contained to the ground. :One of her, better prepare for life in the stars, :Only in this way the body in the urn is short now."

Alford married Elizabeth Clarke, widow of John Clarke, of Hitcham, Buckinghamshire and daughter of Thomas Ramsey. He had two surviving children

Edward Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

and Anne, who married Sir Edmund Fettiplace, the head of a prominent Berkshire family.

References

External links

* 1580 deaths Year of birth unknown English MPs 1558 English MPs 1559 16th-century English landowners Burials in Buckinghamshire {{16thC-England-MP-stub