Strafford
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Strafford. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
Thomas Wentworth, Earl of (1593-1641), an English statesman. He was a native of London. He was educated at Cambridge and in the law courts of London. He entered English politics in 1614 as a member of Parliament for Yorkshire. He was a man of undoubted ability. He made a reputation at first by taking a stand stoutly against the disposition of the Stuart kings to override the rules of Parliament and exercise arbitrary authority. He even permitted himself to be thrown into the debtors' prison of Marshalsea rather than pay his share of a contribution demanded illegally by King Charles. Later, however, we find him successively a baron, a viscount, and an earl, the successor of the infamous Burlingame, the king's right hand man in the exercise of authority not permitted by the laws of England. When the Civil War came on, the final test of strength between the people and royalty, Thomas Wentworth, or Strafford as he was now called, was impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. This course proving too dilatory, he was condemned to death by a parliamentary vote or bill of attainder. In spite of his promise of protection, the selfish king not only failed to interfere, but actually gave his written consent. Strafford was executed on Tower Hill, May 11, 1641. Aside from his fatal error in espousing the cause of excessive royal power, Strafford was an enlightened administrator. While lord-lieutenant of Ireland, he sought, indeed, to render Charles as absolute "as any prince in the whole world could be," but he also introduced the cultivation of flax. He brought spinners from France and Holland, thus giving Ireland a start in the linen industry. Robert Browning's powerful tragedy of Strafford is a literary study of this eminent man. It is a fine piece of reading, but it lacks stage qualities. It is not seen and heard to advantage. A painting known as Strafford Going to Execution represents the unfortunate earl kneeling beneath the prison window of Archbishop Laud. The prelate extends his aged hands through the bars in benediction while the guards wait.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
THOMAS WENT- WORTH, EARL OF, an English statesman, the eldest son of Sir William Wentworth; born in London, April 13, 1593; educated at Cambridge. After leaving the university he received the honor of knighthood. He sat in Parliament for Yorkshire for a number of years, and when Charles I. asserted that the Commons enjoyed no rights but by royal permission, he was strongly opposed by Sir Thomas Wentworth. In this struggle his abilities were recognized and high terms offered him by the court, which he accepted, and in 1628 was successively created Baron Wentworth, privy-councillor, and President of the North. Archbishop Laud selected him to proceed to Ireland as lord deputy in 1632. Here he greatly improved the state of the country, both as regarded law, revenue, and trade; but to accomplish his ends he did not scruple to use the strongest and most arbitrary measures. For these services he was created Earl of Strafford. When the Long Parliament met, the very first movement of the party opposed to arbitrary power was to impeach Strafford of high treason, with which charge Pym appeared at the bar of the House of Lords in 1640. His defense, however, was so strong that the original impeachment was deserted for a bill of attainder. The bill passed the Commons by a great majority, and was feebly supported by the House of Lords. The king endeavored to secure his safety, but yielded to the advice of his counsellors, backed by a letter from Strafford himself, who urged him, for his own safety, to ratify the bill. Strafford was accordingly beheaded on Tower Hill May 12, 1641.