William Noy.

William Noy (1577 – 9 August 1634) was an English jurist.

He was born on the family estate of Pendrea in St Buryan, Cornwall. He left Exeter College, Oxford, without taking a degree, and entered Lincoln's Inn in 1594. From 1603 until his death he was elected, with one exception, to each parliament, sitting invariably for a constituency of his native county. For several years his sympathies were in antagonism to the court party, yet every commission that was appointed numbered Noy among its members, and even those who were opposed to him in politics acknowledged his learning.

A few years before his death he changed political allegiance, went over to the side of the court, and in October 1631 he was created Attorney-general, but was never knighted. It was through his advice that the impost of ship money was levied, resulting in a controversy that helped trigger the English Civil War. Noy suffered from stones, and died in great pain; he was buried at New Brentford church.

His principal works are On the Grounds and Maxims of the Laws of this Kingdom (1641) and The Compleat Lawyer (1661).

Further reading

Parliament of England
PrecededbyJohn Gray John AstellMember of Parliament for Grampound 1604–1611 With: Sir Francis BarnhamSucceededbyJohn Hampden Robert Carey
PrecededbySir Robert Killigrew Henry BulstrodeMember of Parliament for Helston 1621–1622 With: St Thomas StaffordSucceededbyThomas Carey Francis Carew
PrecededbyJonathan Rashleigh John TreffryMember of Parliament for Fowey 1624–1625 With: Sir Robert CokeSucceededbyJohn Payne Francis Godolphin
PrecededbyWilliam Parkhurst Francis GodolphinMember of Parliament for St Ives 1626 With: Edward SavageSucceededbyJonathan Rashleigh Arthur Basset
PrecededbyFrancis Godolphin Francis CarewMember of Parliament for Helston 1628–1629 With: Sidney GodolphinParliament suspended until 1640
Legal offices
PrecededbySir Robert HeathAttorney General 1631–1634SucceededbySir John Bankes