Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton
Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, KG, styled Lord Wriothesley before 1624, was an English statesman, a staunch supporter of King Charles II who after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 rose to the position of Lord High Treasurer, which term began with the assumption of power by the Clarendon Ministry. He "was remarkable for his freedom from any taint of corruption and for his efforts in the interests of economy and financial order", a noble if not a completely objective view of his work as the keeper of the nation's finances. He died before the impeachment of Lord Clarendon, after which the Cabal Ministry took over government.
Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, wearing his Garter Star and holding his Staff of Office as Lord High Treasurer. Portrait by School of Sir Peter Lely
Rachel de Massue, first wife of Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, portrait c.1638 by van Dyck
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, was an English statesman, lawyer, diplomat and historian who served as chief advisor to Charles I during the First English Civil War, and Lord Chancellor to Charles II from 1660 to 1667.
Portrait by Peter Lely
Edward Hyde in 1626, aged 17, by Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen
Edward Hyde by William Dobson, circa 1643
Hyde's daughter Anne, James and their two daughters, Lady Mary and Lady Anne; these links brought power and enemies