LONDON 1628 — N. WALES 1649

Sir Richard Wynn of Gwydir

The patriarch of the modern Wynns was Sir John Wynn of Gwydir (1553-1627). Of his ten sons and two daughters, Richard attained the greatest distinction. He was the eldest surviving son and heir to Sir John. (First-born son John had died aged 30 in Lucca, Italy, on his Grand Tour.)

Richard (1588-1649) was educated at Lincoln's Inn (1606-8), then entered the service of the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Suffolk.

He was knighted by James VI & I in 1616.

"From this time forth, except for occasional trips to Wales, Wynn's associations were chiefly with the court, and he was nimble enough to switch to the patronage of the new Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Pembroke, upon the fall of Suffolk," in July 1618."⁴³⁹

In December 1618 he married Ann Darcy, daughter of Sir Francis Darcy.

He had been appointed Gentleman of the Privvy Chamber of Prince Charles (later Charles I) in 1617, and it was in this capacity that he joined the small support party which followed Prince Charles to Madrid, in his romantic but unsuccessful attempt to woo the Infanta of Spain in 1623.

The following year Prince Charles married Princess Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV of France. He succeeded his father in 1625, and Wynn was "deputed to carry the King's robes at the Coronation ."⁴⁴⁰

King Charles I was crowned by John Williams, the Lord Keeper, who also preached the Coronation sermon.