Hundred of Forehoe: Of the Wodehouses of Kimberley

OF THE WODEHOUSES OF KIMBERLEY.

That there have been several families of ancient extraction, of this sirname, (fn. 1) I readily agree with Mr. Collins in his Baronettage, (fn. 2) as also that they have been denominated according to the custom of former ages, from their possessions. The pedigrees indeed of this family (I may say all that I have seen) deduce them from Bertram of Wodehouse Tower in Yorkshire, who, it is said, compounded with the Conqueror, and enjoyed his lands and inheritance, but as the pedigree in verse tells us, this is supported by no evidence, which makes me think it as great an errour, as that general one, of making this family of Yorkshire extraction. That Bertram was ancestor of the family of Wodehouse in that county, I take to be true, but am as sure that this family is not descended from that, because the names of the owners of that estate are widely different; in King John's time, the Pipe Roll of the 10th of that King tells us, that Adam de Wodehuse, chaplain, held a bovate of land in Wodehuse in Yorkshire shire, that he was son of Robert, who was son of Hugh, none of which names occur in this family at that time, for Sir Richard de Wodehouse was cotemporary with this Adam, who was son of Henry, the son of George; neither is there any occasion for us to go out of the county of Norfolk,, nor indeed far from their present seat, to find lands and possessions from whence they might be, and indeed I believe they were called; the Wodehouses being sirnamed, as I am apt to think from a tenement and lands now in Windham, called Wodehouse, lying in Silfield,, which in 30th Elizabeth, at the death of George Morley, Esq. descended to Sir Richard Morley, his son and heir, and then contained a capital tenement, 28 acres of wood, pasture, &c.; and what confirms me in this is, that even in the 52d Henry III. A° 1267, the Escheat Roll says, that Petronilla de Wodehouse died seized of Wodehouse, and a mill in Tilney,, towards which part of the county the family then removed, namely to Rydon.

That they were gentlemen of good rank, in and before the time of King John, Peacham in his Blazonry informs us, p. 164, which appeared to him by the ancient grants and evidences of the family, which he had seen, and from which the pedigree was collected; but when the family removed from their old seat at Kimberley to this at Downham, many of them being left neglected there, became rotten, and were devoured by vermin, for which reason I cannot assert several things, which might have been proved by them, which I shall therefore omit, and content myself with the following account, which stands supported on sufficient authority.

To omit Sir Bertram de Wodehouse of whom the Wodehouses pedigree in verse, taken from an old roll in the custody of Sir Philip Wodehouse, rightly says,

I leave unskan'd their Northwest Ancestrie Unevidenc'd, tho' in the Pedigree, Hom that Sir BertramLord of Wodehouse Tower, Compounded with the Norman Conqueror.

I shall begin with

1. Sir Constantine de Wodehouse, who married Isabell, daughter and heir of Botetort, in the beginning of Henry the First's time, whose arms is thus blazoned in old English verse, as are the arms of all the matches of the family, down to Sir Thomas Wodehouse's time.

This does bear in field of A Saltyr engrail'd, a sheild that's old.

He was succeeded by

2. Sir George de Wodehouse, who flourished in the time of Henry I. whom he accompanied into Normandy, and was at the burning of Baieur, and taking of Caen, castle, of whom is this,

His King he followed to the Plain, When burnt, and is ta'en.

He married Winifride, daughter and heir of Lary,
TheRampant Lyon bore, From ancient times, within a Field of

3. Sir Henry, his son and heir, married Beatrir, daughter of Lord Say::

Four Quarters plain, of and Belonged to from Times of Yore.

4. Sir Richard, his son and heir, is omitted in most, if not all the pedigrees, but is rightly mentioned in both the rolls; he married an Aspall,, and lived in King John's time:

Aspall, does bear, within an Field, 3 Cheyrons for, her Paternal Sheild.

5. Sir William Wodehouse, his son and heir, lived at Flitcham in Norfolk,, the monastery of which place he is said to have founded, and made a cell to Walsingham;; he was the first of the family that purchased lands in Kimberley, but no manor there, though he was lord of manors in Norfolk; and indeed by what I can see, he was the first that removed from Windham, side; he married Petronilla,, daughter and heir of Clervaur;
In Field of a Saltyr stand, The Shield that always was Command.

It is plain that he died before 1267, 52d Henry III. for in that year Petromilla de Wodehouse,, his wife, died seized of the tenement, Wodehouse,, and lands, and woods thereto belonging, lying in Windham.

This William did, a Monastery found for the Religious, in Time of the renown'd Henry the third, 'tis certain he did own, Manors in Norfolk, as by Records is shown, Poinings and Bermston's mich in Flitcham lay, Where th' Abby was, he puchased in Yet did his Program of the eldest Line, At Rydon, Congham, Grimston, long remain.

6. Francis Wodehouse, Esq. son of Sir William, married the daughter and coheir of Sir John Pecche:

Arg. a Fess between two Chev'rons Is the Paternal Shield the Pecche's had.

Of this Sir Francis I find no other memorial, he being in a short time succeeded by

7. Sir Bertram de Wodehouse, his son and heir, he

Attended that brave King, Edward the first Into the North, when he the Scots disperst, Slem twenty Thousand, Edenborough shook, Dunbar and Barwick, where they Homage took.

He married Muriel,, daughter and heir of Felton,, by whom he had Felton's in Great Massingham,, and Felton's or Hemgrave' in Fordham, in Cambridgeshire,, besides several other manors, and a vast estate:

Hamo Lord Felton, in a Roby Field, Two Lions passant Ermine, crowned Gold.

8. Sir William de Wodehouse, his son and heir, was sheriff of London in 1329. (fn. 3) He was a man of great valour, and as such was retained by the Black Prince, whom he attended into Spain:

His Son, Sir William was, 'twas he was sent, Captain to Spain when thither went, Edmund of Langley, Beauchamp, and the Flower, Of England Knights, under great Lancaster, And Edward the Black Prince, they bravely fought, And help't Don Pedro gainst a Bastard Sprout.

He married the daughter and heir of Humfry Luttrell::

Lutt'rell she gives, sir Martlets 'twirt a Bend, of Sable set, within a Golden Ground. (fn. 4)

He had two brothers,

9. Robert de Wodehouse, was chaplain to Edward II. and in 1318, was made Baron of the Exchequer, by patent dated Oct. 14, 12th Edward II. (fn. 5) In the second year of Edward III. the King presented him to the archdeaconry of Richmond, to which he was ad-' mitted by his proxy, Sept. 14,1328 ; (fn. 6) his will was proved Feb. 3, 1345, in which he ordered his body to be buried in the quire of the Austin monks at Stanford: in 1329, he was Treasurer of the Exchequer. (fn. 7)

b. John de Wodehouse, was Steward of the Household to Richard de wentworth Bishop of London, and Lord Chancellor, at the time of his death in 1339, (fn. 8) and in 1357, he was Chamberlain of Chester. (fn. 9)

9. Sir Richard de Wodehouse, son of Sir William, was of Rydon in norfolk, and by virtue of his lands and tenements held of Rising-Castle, was obliged to repair, and maintain a tower of that castle, to which he also paid a sum of money yearly, for castle-guard, according to the old rhymes:

His son Sir Richard was, who'tis sid maintain'd A Castle-Gaurd,where the great Montealt reigned, (fn. 10) At Rising-Chase, Le'Strange another held, That Wodehouse Tomer this, this Strange's yet is called, (His Uncle Robert, being high-Treasuror, of England, one who had sometime before, Bin Richmond's Dean, and Thaplain to the king, So pious and discreet his Life has bin.)
He married Alice, daughter and coheir of Sir John northwood of northwood-Barningham in Dorfolk:

Northwood both bear for Arms. in Ermine field, heroiquely, St. Georges cross ingrail'd.
He was succeeded by his son,

10. Sir Thomas de Wodehouse, who married Alice, sister and heir of John Estmond, or Emond, of Tranworth, son of Roger Emond of Granworth, Esq. who married Maud, daughter and heir of Sir Baldmin Botourt of granworth, Knt.

Estmond she bears Ermine shield, St. Andrew's Sable, and ingrail'd.

11. Sir Edward de Wodehouse, son of Sir Thomas, married a daughter and coheir of erpingham:
The Erpingham's bear, Argent, a scutcheon An orle of martlets, in a field of Green.

And agreeable to this, the old verses tell us,
—That he
Married an Erpingham, An heir, and Litcham brought to the familye, which still remains in their posteritye.

He owned lands in himberly in 1378. I have not met with any account of his sons or daughters besides,

12. Sir John Wodehouse, Knt. who was a younger son, being afterwards in favour with Henry IV. by whom he was knighted; he came and settled at himberley, having married margaret, daughter and sole heir of Sir Thomas fastolf of himberley, Knt. and removed from the fastolfs seat, which was at the west end of the town, built a new seat in the east part, (fn. 11) with the tower called Wodehouse's, Tower, thereto belonging: of him the pedigree says,
Sir, John, he was, a younger Progenye, Of Grimston, Rydon house, the first at Kimberlye, who being watched to fastolf's heir, he had Enlarged his Elbow Room,'twas he who made The Moated-Hall, and Tower within the park, At the East-End of the tomn, of more remark, Then the old one in the West, dispark'd long since, Row, erchanged for Anglethorp: (fn. 12) Re serbed a Prince, who after probed a king, Henry the fourth, As great by wit, as by his Royal Birth.

By deed dated 20th Jan. 2d Henry IV. upon his son's marriage with Furneaur, he entailed his house, which he had new built, called Wodehouse's Tomer, and the new park called Wodehouse's park, together with his manors of kimberley, Torston, Thurton, Litcham-Market, Feltwell, &c. on them and their heirs; in 1404, he was constable of Rising-Castle; (fn. 13) his wife's arms are thus blazoned in verse,
Fastolff gibes Or, and Azure quarterlye, Upon a Bend of Gules, White Scallops three.

But it is an errour, and should be Troslets three, and indeed they are wrong drawn in the pedigrees, several original seals of the fastolfs in my own custody show me so, together with the arms of Sir John fastolf, which still remain carved in stone over a window of his house at Tastor by Yarmouth, where they are Troslets also. He was succeeded by

13. John Wodehouse, Esq. who, in his father's lifetime, was Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Henry IV.; and in 1400, married Alice, daughter and heir of Furneaur:

Furneaux that sprung from a French Familye, bare Black, a Pale of Silver Lozengee.

On the decease of Henry IV. his son, King Henry V. chose him Esquire of his own body; (fn. 14) in 1414, he was admitted one of the Chamberlains of the Erchequer, for life. (fn. 15) In 1415, he attended the King's person, to the battle of Agincourt in France, where he won great renown, by his valiant prowess, spiriting up the English that were inclined to stand:
Panting for breath, his murrian in his hand; Woodhouse comes in, as back the English beare, My lords (quoth he) what now inforc'd to stand, When smiling fortune off'reth us so faire, The French lie yonder like to wreakes of sand, And you by this our glory but impaire:
Or now, or never, your first fight maintaine,
Chatillyon and the Constable are slaine. (fn. 16) Hand over head, pell-mell upon them ronne, If you will prove the masters of the day, Ferrers and Greystock have so bravely done, That I envie their glory, and dare say, From all the English, they the gole have woone, Either let's share, or they'll beare all away.
This spoke, his ax about his head he flings,
And hasts away, as though his heeles had wings. The incitation of this youthful knight, (fn. 17) Besides amends for this retrayte to make, Doth re-enforce their courage with their might: A second charge, with speed to undertake; Never before were they so mad to fight, When valiant Fanhope, thus the lords bespake, &c. (fn. 18)

After the battle inclined to the English, many of the French nobles fled, and got into an old fort, where by reason of the straitness of passage, it was difficult to overcome them;
An aged rampire, with huge ruines heapt, Which serv'd for shot 'gainst those that should assayle. Whose narrow entrance, they with cross-bows kept, Whose sharpened quarres came in show'rs like hayle: Quoth the brave King, first let the field be swept, And with the rest, we well enough shall deale;
Which though some heard, yet they shut up their eare,
It relish'd not with many souldiers there. Most men seemed willing, yet not any one, Would put hiinselfe, this great exployt upon.
Which Woodhouse hearing, meerily thus spake, (One that right well knew, both his worth and wit) A dangerous thing it is to undertake, A fort, where souldiers be defending it, Perhaps they sleepe, and if they should awake, With stones, or with their shafts, they may us hitt,
And in our conquest, whilst so well we fare,
It were meere folly; but I see none dare. Which Gam o'erhearing (being neere at hand) Not dare, quoth be, and angerly doth frowne, I tell the Woodhouse, some in presence stand, Dare propp the sunne, if it were falling downe, Dare graspe the bolt, of thunder in his hand, And through a cannon leape into a towne;
I tell thee, a resolved man may doe,
Things, that thy thoughts never yet mounted to. I know that resolution may do much, Woodhouse replyes, but who could act my thought, With his proud head, the pole might easely tuch, And Gam quoth he, though bravely thou hast fought, Yet not the fame thou hast attained too, such, But that behind, as great is to be bought,
And yonder 'tis, then Gam, come up with me,
Were soone the King our courages shall see. Agreed, quoth Gam, and up their troopes they call, Hand over head, and on the French they ran, And to the fight couragiously they fall, When on both sides, the slaughter soone began, Fortune a while, indifferent is to all, These what they may, and those do what they can,
Woodhouse and Gam, upon each other vye,
By armes their manhood, desperatly to try. To clime the fort, the light arm'd English strive, And some by trees there growing to ascend, The French with flints, let at the English drive, Themselves with shields, the Englishmen defend, And faine the fort downe with their hands would rive, Thus either side their utmost power extend,
Till valiant Gam (fn. 19) sore wounded, drawne aside,
By his own souldiers, shortly after dy'de. Then take they up, the bodies of the slaine, Which for their targets, our's before them boare, And with a fresh assault come on againe, Scarse in the field yet, such a fight was there, Crosse-bowes, and long-bowes, as it are amaine, Until the French their massacre, that fear, Of the fierce English, a cessation crave,
Offiring to yeeld, so they their lives would save. (fn. 20)

For this gallant action, the King granted him an annuity of 10 marks a year, out of his manor of Thettord, (fn. 21) and made him Streward of all the Dominion of the Dutchy of Lancaster in Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire, with a salary of 10l, per annum, and as a perpetua augmentation of honour, assigned him the crest of a hand, stretche d from a cloud, holding a club, and this motto, Frappe Forte, strike strong, or rather beat down the fort; (fn. 22) and the savage or wild man, holding a club, which was the ancient crest of the family, (fn. 23) was now omitted, and two of them placed as supporters to the arms, which had a further augmentation of honour added in the shield, viz. on the chevron, gutte de sang, as they are born to this day. The ancient coat, before this addition, being only, sab. a chevron or between three cinquefoils erm.; and the year following, as a further reward for his eminent valour, he gave him, by the name of his beloved esquire, the priory of Welles in Norfolk, which was dissloved, being an alien belonging to Taen in Normandy, with all the revenues,manors, services, advowsons, &c. (except the rectories of Welles, and Beytun) that belonged to it, any where in England to be held by him and his heirs in capite, by the rent of a rose, payable on Midsummer-day, in lieu of all services whatever. (fn. 24) It appears, that immediately after this honourable addition to his arms, he got his seal made accordingly, for in 1415, being feoffee for the manors of helling and Salthouse, he sealed with his new seal, gutté de sang being on the chevron, &c. In 1418, (fn. 25) he, the Bishop of Norwich, and Sir Thomas Erpingham, were the three commissioners, whom the Lords of the Council sent to persuade the gentlemen of the county to go into France, to serve the King with arms and equipage, agreeable to their quality, who returned answer, that they had no success, because the stoutest men were already in the army, and those that remained excused themselves by their poverty, or bodily infirmities. He served no less than four times in parliament for the county of Borfolk, viz. in 1409, 11th Henry IV. when John Wincer, Esq. was his partner; in 2d Henry V. when John Inglesthorp was his partner; in 1414, Sir Edmund Gid hall was his partner, with whom he served again, in 1416: (fn. 26) he continued in favour with the princes he served during his whole life; Peacham says, he was one of Henry IV. executors, and certain I am that he was also executor to Henry V. (fn. 27) of whom he obtained license to found a chantry priest, to sing for the souls of that prince and his queen, and of his beloved esquire, John Wodehouse, and his wife, their ancestors and posterity, either in the cathedral church at Nor Wich or in the charnel chapel thereto belonging. I have seen a pair of beads which were given by Queen Catherine, wife of Henry V. to the wife of this John; they are now in the hands of Armine Wodehouse, Esq. and are very large, all of coral, except each tenth bead, which are wrought gold, there being seventy in all, there is also a cross of gold hanging to them; and in those days, were used at their devotion. I also saw the hilt of a large old sword, adorned with silver, and a long knife or poniard, of the same workmanship, which are still preserved in the family, and are, without doubt, those used by this John in the Agincourt battle, the form and make of them agreeing exactly to the time. He died at Rydon, in 1430; his will is dated there Jan. 15, by which he ordered his body to be buried in the lower chapel of the charnel, by the cathedral at Norwich, and ordered that after mass said over his body in the cathedral, they should carry his bier into the charnel, and there perform such services for him as he enjoined, for which he gave the Principal, or Master, Custos of the upper charnel chapel, 6s. 8d. and 2 small silver dishes gilt, and 2 silver candlesticks; and to each of the priests of the charnel, 3s. 4d. to the chaplain of the lower charnel chapel, in which he was buried, 6s. 8d.; (fn. 28) and afterwards this chaplain became his chantry priest, and sung for him till the Dissolution.

Of him, the pedigree in verse gives us the following account,
Sir John, had John Esquice, but Esquire, Of the Body to that King, the World, admire, Henry the fifth, he served him when but young, With Pointer and with Bardolph, (fn. 29) his Companion; Him he attended in his Wars in France, Where he his Worth and Glory did advance, 'Twas he brave Gam in Honour did out bye, Whom he had first provoked by Frony, The Ford he took at famous Agincourt, And won that martial motto Frappe Fort, (fn. 30) And Crest, a Hand and Club stretched from a Cloud, Cho' antiently the Crest to them allow'd Had bin a Savage, or wild Wodehouse, (fn. 31) with A ragged Club all set upon a Wreath, Supporters now he hath, an honour given King's Favorites, two Woodmen clad in Green, In his Black Field, three Cinquefoils Ermine stood, A Golden Chev'ron now charged with Drops of Blood, This John was he, who join'd with Exeter, And Gloster Duke was ioynte Erecutor, To that brave King, and certainly 'twas he, For whom the King erects a Chantrye At Norwich, near the great Cathedral where, He and his Queen, with his beloved Esquire, John Wodehouse, should be prayed for, while alive, After their Deaths long Time did this survive.

14. Henry de Wodehouse, Esq. was 34 years old at his father's death, as oppears from the writ issued to the escheator of Norfolk, requiring him to take fealty and relief for the manor of Welles, &c. and to give him possession. (fn. 31) King Henry V. was his godfather, by whom he was recommended to Henry VI.; at his father's death he lived at Bocking Ash in Suffolk, and in 1449, was lord of Well manor in Geyton, and this year had a charter of freewarren in all his lands, woods, and demeans in Norfolk, and dying the next year without issue, his estate went to his brother John, of whom we read thus,
His eldest Son was Henry, christne'd so, By that brabe King, who commended him to His Son, nert King, who granted him a free Charter, to keep his GAme and Veneere, (fn. 33) Throughout his Royalties; he left no Son, And therefore him succeeds his Brother John.

15. John Wodehouse, Esq. his brother, succeeded him, who, when the commissioners were appointed to summons all persons of best note, and tender them an oath for the keeping the peace, and observing the King's laws for themselves and retainers, was returned as one of the principal gentlemen of Norfolk; and because he would not take the honour of knighthood, was fined accordingly; he married Constance, eldest daughter and coheir of Thomas Beddynge, Esq. of Ichilingham in Suffolk, first, relict of Henry Pooley, Esq. and after that, of John aleyne, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, whose widow she was when he married her. (fn. 34)

This Geddynge gabe Gules a Cyebron placed, D'Ermine 'tmirt 3 Gold Eagle;s Heads erased.

I find him sometimes called John Wodehouse of London, Esq. where he also had a house; he died at kimberley in 1465, as the writ of Diem clausit Extremum shows us; of him is only this,
—ye in king Harry's time, for not receiving Knighthood paid his fine.

He and his wife lie buried in the altar rails in kimberleg chancel' close by the north wall; on the stone is his effigies in armour, with this in a label from his mouth,
Credo quod Redemtor meus vivit.

She stands in a praying posture, with this from her mouth, Et in Carne mea videbo Deum Salvatorem meum.

The arms are lost, but this inscription on a brass plate remains, Hic iacet Johannes Wodehous, et Constancia Hror eius, quorum animabus propicietur Deus Amen.

16. Sir Edwabd Wodehouse, his son and heir, was knighted at Grafton field, according to the following account,
His Son Sir Edward Dubb'd Grafton-Field, By Tewkesbury, where the Enemy did Yield; Edward The fourth, had in his second Year, Sent him a privy Mandate to prepare, In attend him in his Wars, which he obeyth, And brought with him two hundred men array'd, And all Equipt, at his own charge compleat, Then brabely fought, and made the foe cetreat. This little Vavasour, (fn. 35) was once so stout, That he by force of Arms did dare to rout The men of Well, (fn. 36) Cenants of Westminster, His Plea was Harry's Gift to his Ancester, And some say since, but they put in a Barr, His Title voided was, by Lancaster.

The pedigree says, that in 1461, by order of Edward IV. under his privy seal, he levied in Norfolk, of his followers, tenants, and gentlemen of quality, no less than 200, and armed them at his own charge, and attended the King in bis journey into Scotland, being accompanied in his own retinue, with 2 dukes, 7 earls, 31 barons, and 59 knights; I find him alive in 1473, but cannot say exactly when he died, though he and his second wife are buried in kimberley church, and had this over them on a brass plate, which is lately lost,
Here lyeth Syr Edward Wodehouse Khyght, and Same Jane hys Wyffe, all good Christien men that rede this same, of your Charity, to pray for the Souls of them and all Christien Souls.

He married two wives; first, the daughter of sir John Cirrell, by whom he had no issue, secondly Jane, daughter and heir of Edmund Swathyng of Letton, Esq. by whom he had issue,
1. This Tirrell gives within Argent Field, Two Thev'rons Azure, a Bordure Gules ingrail'd.

2. Swathyng did bear a noble ancient Shield, A Silver Bend, within an Azure field.

17. Sir Thomas Wodehouse, Knt. his son and heir, was created knight of the Bath at the marriage of Prince Arthur, eldest son to King Henry VII. with the Infanta of Spain, and was sent ambassadour into france, where he married a lady of Piccardy for his first wife, but by her had no issue, and for his second wife he had Thomazine. daughter of Sir Roger Townesend of Rayntham, Knt.
Townsend he bears three Silver Scalloys'rwirt, A Thev'ron Ermine, in field Azure firt.

He was deeply engaged for John de la Pole Earl of Suff. in great sums, which the Duke left unpaid, and being sued in 1486, upon th t account, he had the King's pardon, with restitution to his lands and goods; he died in 1487
Sir Thomas was Sir Edward's Son, "twas he Was at the Marriage Solemnitye, Of Arthur Prince, created RathanKnight, An honour which great nobles ne're did slight. Souldier and Courtier both, he libed sohigh, When he was sent to France in Embasy, That hedid Mortgage many of his Ladys, And so the Litcham Manor, was in Townsend's wands Long forfeited: return'd he him defies, And challenges: The Man of Law replies, Peace Sir, my Penknife shall your Sword rebate, J'le hold my hold, butif you please let's treate, And compromise, take you your Lands againe, And with them for your Wife my Thomasine, So then agreed, this Judge and knight was he, Who was the Rayse of Raynham's Familye.

18. Sir Roger Wodehouse, Knt. who, by reason of his small stature, was called Little Sir Roger, was knighted by Edward VI. (fn. 37) in 1548, and is often (fn. 38) called knight of the carpet; (fn. 39) he, at the beginning of ket's rebellion, taking his household servants with him, and three carts, two laden with beer, and a third with provision, followed the rebels, designing to have endeavoured to persuade them to desist from their wicked enterprise, imagining that they being his near neighbours, and knowing his former good usage to them, would have had respect to his kindness, and have minded his persuasions; but on the contrary, they seized him, stripped him of his apparel, took his horses and all he had from him, cruelly tugged and cast him into a ditch of one mottivr'd of nether-Eartham, by welsdon-Bridge, and had there slain him, had not his servant courageously defended him from their insults; however he could not free him from their hands, but they carried him with them, and imprisoned him in Surrey-house,, on Mousehold-will by Norwich. (fn. 40) of him is this, His Son Sir Roger was that Little Hight, (fn. 41) who what he wants in Bulk, makes up in Springht. (fn. 42) Which caused him to resist the Rebel Rout, To Kett and his Com'rades, who wer a bout To maim him, but's man Edgerlythe Stout, Wim, rescued, whilst couragiously he fought, This Serbant's baliant Art and loyaltye, We recompenced with forty Pounds in Fee, Which at his Day they enjoy, and still inherit, And to the mouse stillkeeptheir honest Spirit. (fn. 43) This Little Knight Hem at the Roblest Bame In Falconry, he was of so much Fame, That the good Norfolk Duke, him Master call, And with his presence often grac'd his wall.

He had two wives; Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir Rob. Ratcliff, Knt. and Elizabeth, daughter of John Drury, whose arms are thus blazoned,

1. This Ratcliff bears as doth the Sussex Earl, A Diamond Bend ingrail'd in Field of Pearl.

2. This Drury bears an Argent Field, and more, On a chief Vert rwo mullets pietced Or.

He was buried in kimberley church, Feb. 10, 1560, as the parish register informs me. (fn. 44)

19. Thomas Wodehouse, Esq. eldest son of Sir Roger, notwithstanding what is said in the Baronetage, was never knighted: in 1st Philip and Mary he was high-sheriff of Porfolk and Suffath, which office he served again 5th Elizabeth; (fn. 45) in the 4th and 5th Philip and Mary and 1st Elizabeth he was Burgh in Parliament for the Henry, of Scpts in Muselborough, (fn. 46) he was in favour with Henry VIII. whom he faithfully served to his death, afterwards being retained in the service of Edward VI. he was one of those valiant gentlemen that went against the Scots, (fn. 47) being Standard-bearer in the battle of Muselborough, in which he was slain, on Saturday, 10th Sept. 1547, his father Sir Roger being then alive,

This Thomas ne're was Knight, but yet was one That deserbed to be, and had been, if not slam, In noble Serbice, gainst the Scots, where he Was Stamdard-Bearer. wjp, tp gratofoe. The king his midow gave, the special Brace, Of Lady-Hood, in Little and in Place.

She was Margaret, daughter of Sir John Shelton of Shelton, Knt.

The Shelton's Coat both fair and ancient was, In Azure Field isset, a Golden Cross.

r.. His second brother, Sir William, was Vice Admiral of the English fleet, (fn. 48) being knighted for his valiant acts done in the aforesaid battle of Muselburgh;; and after his return became a man of much repute in his country; in 1st and 2d Philip and Mary, he was elected knight, of the shire, with Dic. Lestrange, and 4th and 5th Philip and Mary, with Sir Peury Bedingfield; he served also for the county A° 1st Elizabeth, with Dic. Lestrange aforesaid, and again in the 5th of that Queen, with Sir Edmard Warner, Knt. (fn. 49)

20. Sir Roger Woohouse, Knt. son of Sir Thomas, served in Parliament for the burgh of Alburgh in Suffolk, 13th Elizabeth, 1570, and was knighted by that Queen at Sir Edw. Clere's house at Clickling in Porfolk, August, 1578, (fn. 50) The Queen, in her return from Por, with, in her progress to Cambridge, favoured him with her presence, (fn. 51) and lodged at his house at Rimberley, (fn. 52) Friday Aug. 22, 1578; he served for Thetford in parliament, 28th Elizabeth, and married mary, daughter of John Torbet, of Sprowston Esq. sister to Sir Miles Corbet, Knt. who survived him, and married Beurge Kemp of Cottenham in Middleser, Esq. who, in his will dated 1606, calls her Mary Lady Wodehouse:
Corbet doth give Rebus rich and old, A Corbeau (fn. 53) Proper in a field of Gold.

He died in 1588, and was buried at Kimberley the 4th of April.

–Sir Roger was the younger, (fn. 54) he Was knighted by Queen Elsabeth, for she To him allied by Shelton (fn. 55) was, she came To Kimberley, and lodged there with her Train In Norfolk's Progress; we was nobly just, And wise in his Affairs: witness the trust, We laboured under for his departed Friend, And Kinsman Knyvey, whom he did defend, Against the Power of Court, he dared to Spend, Wis own, to bindicate his Orphan Friend: Brave Patriot he was, weak Mens defence Aganist Oppression: Prop of Innocence.

n. Henry Wodehouse, his second brother, was born 3d Jan. 1546, Sir John Robsart and his lady answered for him; he was (as all his ancestors for many generations, always were) Justice of the Peace, and twice member for the county of Norfolk, viz. in the 14th and 31st Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas, married Thomas Jones of Iyn, Esq. and afterwards Sir Denner Strutt, who lived at kimberley in 1650, for in that year he gave in his name to Thomas Bradford, then curate, according to an act for confining malignants within five miles of their dwelling. By the Register of kimberley, I find that Blanch, daughter of Sir Denner Strutt, Knt. and Bart, and Eliz. his lady, was baptized 13th June, 1644, Anne their daughter in 1650, Thomas their son in l651. She is buried in Wodehouse chancel: against the north wall is a monument, erected with her figure kneeling at a fald-stool, with the arms of Strutt and Wodehouse, and this,
Here lyeth the Body of Dame Elizabeth Strutt, Daughter of Sir Thomas Wodehouse of Kimberley in the County of Norfolk Knt. and Bart, the Wife of Sir Deuner Strutt of LittleWarley in the County of Essex Knt. and Bart, by whom he had 5 Children, & left living 1 Sonne and 2 Daughters, Thomas, Blanch, & Anne. She departed this Life 6 Nov. 1651, in the Yeare of her Age - - - -

21. Sir Philip Wodehouse, Knt. served Queen Elizaheth both by sea and land, in Spain and Portugal, was at the conquest of Cales in Spain, and for his valour shown there, was knighted by Rab. Earl of Esser, and Charles Earl of Hottingham, the Queen's generals: (fn. 56) on the accession of James I. to the crown of England, he went with Thomas, his eldest son, to meet that King in his way from Scotland to London, and at Sir George Fermour's house in Horthamptonshire, his Majesty conferred the honour of knighthood on his son; and on the first erection of baronets, Sir Philip accepted of that title, A^o. l611. (fn. 57) In 28th Elizabeth, be was elected burgess in parliament for Castle Rising, (fn. 58) was at the camp at kilbury, was Deputy Lientenant for the county of Norfolk, and dying at Wimberley, was there buried, Oct. 30th, 1623 ; (fn. 59) his wife was Grizell, daughter of Wil. Yelverton of Rougham in Norfolk, Esq. widow of Thomas Le Strange of Hunstanton, Esq. to whom he was married at kimberley, Dec. 22d, 1582, she died Aug. 4, 1635, and is buried by him:
This Yelverton dues bear, on Silver spread, Three Rampant Lioncels and chief of Red.

Sir Philip nert succeeds, his only Son, Brought up in splendor and high Fashion, Great Survey''s Earl his God sire was, when he So little was, and young, nert Infancie, That lockt to his Sabble he was forced to be, To ride from Kenninghall (fn. 60) to Kimberlye: Right brave he proved, he went to Cales in Spain, Conquer'd, was Knighted, then came Home again, Where he, and Hev'ningham, two metled Labs, Their Province ruled, and to the Rogues were Robs, He after was made Baronet, yet had, Long time demurr'd, on what his Son had said The Prince he waited on, Prince Henry (fn. 61) did, Mislike the Thing, the Cause whereof he hid, An ancient honour 'twas thought, and but for Life, Not to descend to heir, and not so rife, As now it is, no common Title then, Or patent Grant, but won in hte Field by Men. It not a Little Baron did imply, But was ta'en for Banneret (fn. 62) confusedly; As Colonel he went to Tilburye, When false Alarms made England's iollitye; The great Office of the County he Sustained long Lientenant Depute, So many Men he kept of Quality, As their Estates collected, came to nigh As much as his, which in those Dans was found To be by Ycare above two thousand Pound.

22. Sir Thomas Wodehouse, Knt. and Bart, was knighted by King James as aforesaid, and was Gentleman to Prince Henry, was twice member in parliament for Thetford in King Charles the First's time, viz. in 1639, and 1640; he married Blanch, daughter of John Cary Baron of Hunsoon, sister Henry Lord Hunsoon Viscount Rochford, relict of Christopher Peyton, Esq. (fn. 63)
This Cary Hunsdon's Lord, now Dover's Earl, Gibes Pearl, on a Diamond Bend, 3 Roses Pearl.

He died in 1658, and is buried in kimberley chancel, with these verses on his stone, which lies towards the north side in the altar rails; his arms and wife's are impaled, supported by two wild men holding clubs, with the crest of the hand and club, and fruppe forrt:
God's Mercy and Christ's Merits make me trust, To rise from sleeping in my sinfull Dust, For Aye to prayse Jehovah, with the Just. Hæc dictavit ipse, sub semi-horam moribundus, Thomas Woodhowse Miles et Barro. Mar: 18.1658.

Of whom the following verses were added to the old ones, which ended with Sir Philip,
Thomas Sir Philip's son, a gallant youth, Bred gallantly, at eighteen years of growth, He knighted was, he waited on a prince, The fairest prince of hope that breathed since Henry the Great, such eminence he had Of parts and personage, his prince him made Of his bed-chamber, and of his mere grace, Designed to fit him for some publick place Of honour and employment, to which end, To France, to Spain, to Italy, he him send, That there he might himself accommodate, With languages, and misteries of state: Mean while, alas! that Royal Hero dies, Which drown'd in tears, ours, and all Europe's eyes, This his dear prince, and master's dismal fate, Blasts him, and renders all disconsolate, Sad he returns; to double his annoy, He finds the want of his brave goodly boy, His first-born child, a child of such a grace, As shew he sprung from Harry Hunsdon's race, These losses he laments in such a strain, Of elegy, as speaks pure Ovid's vein. He bids adieu ! to court, its soul being gone, And merely now a painted skeleton, Into the country now retires, where he Enjoys both calm and sweet serenitie, In hounds and horses he great pleasure took, His home delights, were musick and his book, His wisdom was so eminent, as he Was called to every place of dignitie, All which he hath so prudently perform'd, That by his country, he's politician term'd, At length is called that fatal parliament, To king, and kingdom, thither is he sent A member, where he stoutly acts for right Of subjects and the laws, against the might Of court Leviathan's, who would pull down The pale, between the people and the crown, Thus far went he, but other bigot fools Ran into extremes, and pull'd up all the dools Of government, they brought in anarchy, In kirke and law, which brought in tyranny; This'tis for faction, interest and zeal, To be reformers of a common weal; But to return: he now returns confined, And fetter'd by arthritick pains, resigned Up all his publick cares, for now he is The ancientest knight, this part of England has, And oldest justice, whence he comes to be, The custos rotulorum, orderlie. Stern and severe he is, yet curteous, In's morals, modest, yet magnanimous, In justice strict, yet full of equitye, He scorns to do, or take an injury, Long may be live in health and dignity, And read himself in his posterity.

23. Sir Philip Wodehouse, Bart. was one of the burgesses for Thetford, in that parliament that restored Charles II. A^o. 1660; (fn. 64) he was baptized at Kimberley, July 24, 1608, and was a man of good learning, ready wit, and exceeding skilful in musick; he died at Kimberley and was buried there May 6, 1681, of whom there is the following just character on his grave-stone, which hath the arms, crest, and motto of Wodehouse, impaling Cotton, viz. arg. an eagle displayed or, armed and beaked gul. and lies in the altar rails on the south side:

Hic jacet Philippus Wodehouse, Bart^us Qui in Deum, Principem, et Patriam, Eximium Pietatis Exemplar emicuit, Clementia fuit in suos, omnesque quibuscum vixerat admiranda, Theologiæ simul et Philosophiæ ita operam dedit, ut utramque Vita et Moribus expresserit, Musas et Musicam studiose colens, Vitam sibi et suis amœniorem reddidit, Quumque Annos fere tres, supra Septuaginta exegerat, tranquillam obijt Mortem quinto Nonas Maij, Anno Salutis 1681.

His lady lies by him, with this on her stone, in the midst of the altar rails:

Here lyeth the Body of Dame Lucy Wodehouse, the Relict of Sir Philip Wodehouse of Kimberley Bart. Daughter to Sir Thomas Cotton of Conington in Huntingtonshire, she was of a genuine yet strict Modesty, tender, not fond Love to her Children, great Mildness to her Servants, Candour and Charity Universal, she departed this Life 26 of June 1684.

N. B. Her Mother was Daughter of Lord William Howard of Naworth.

24. Sir Thomas Wodehouse, was knighted by King Charles II. 2d Nov. 1666, and died of the small pox at Kimberley, 1671, and lieth buried there in the chancel, with this inscription, and the arms of Wodehouse, with the label of three, to distinguish him to be the eldest son, and his father living, impaling Airmine or Armyn, viz. erm. a saltier ingrailed gul. on a chief of the second, a lion passant or.
Thomas Wodehouse Eques Auratus, Phillippi Wodehouse Baronetti (id Nominissecundi) Primogenitus, Litterarum, Humanitatis, Virtutum Exemplar, cum illustrem Familiam (E qua per directam supra viginti Equitnm Auratorum, et Baronettorum Seriem transmissus) magis illustrasset, et se meliori seculo dignum ostendîsset, tricesimo tertio Peregrination is suæ Anno (quo vivere plerique vix incipiunt) nondum peracto, orbos Parentes, Viduam Uxorem castissimam, Annam (Filiam et Cohæredem Gulielmi Armyn in Agro Lincolniensi Baronetti) Orphanos Liberos lugentes omnes relinquens, Patiiam cœlestem petijt, Vicesmo nono die Aprilis, Anno Salvatoris Christi MDCLXXI.

He married Anne, daughter and coheir of Sir William Airmine of Osgodby in Lincolnshire, Bart, who survived him, and remarried Thomas Lord Crem of Stene, by whom she had four daughters; Jemima married to Henry de Grey Duke of Kent; Armyn, to ThoCartwright of Anna in Northamptonshire, Esq.; katherine, to Sir John Harpur of Aalhe in Derbyshire, Bart.; and Elizabeth, to Charles Butler Earl of Arran and Lord Butler of Weston, brother of James Duke of Ormond. (fn. 65) After Lord Crew's death, she married a third time to Arthur Herbert Earl of Corrington, who bare, per pale azure and gules, three lions rampant arg. armed and langued or. Lord Crew bare, az. a lion rampant arg. (fn. 66)

* Edmund Wodehouse, Esq. second son of Sir Philip, was Cofonel of the Militia in 1696, and lived at Lerham in Norfolk, the present residence of Sir John Wodehouse; he had two wives; first, Mercia, daughter of Sir Philip Parker, Knt. widow of Will Guybon, Esq. son of Sir Tho. Guybon; she died in 1673, and is buried in, kimberley chancel, with this,
Mercia Wodehouse, Phillippi Parker in Agro Suffolciemi Militis Filia, Edmundi Wodehouse Armigeri, (Filij secundi Philippi, Wodehouse, in Agro Norfolciensi Baronetti) Uxor, Cui reliquit filium Philippum, Filiasque Luciam et Merciam, Fæmina equidem tarn Oris quam Pectoris sereni candidique, rara nempe Morum Suavitate ac Modestia ornata, Passionum facile Victrix, obijt xxix° die Aprilis A. D. Mdclxxiii.

Wodehouse with a crescent impales Parker, arg. a lion passant gul. between two bars sab. with three bezants, two on the first bar, and one on the second; in chief three bucks heads caboshed of the third.

His second wife was Anne, daughter of John Anguish of Oreat Melton, Esq. who was buried at Kimberley in 1685; the pedigree, by mistake, has it 1658; she bare gul. a cinquefoil or.
Here lyeth Anne Wife of Edmund Wodehouse of East-Lexham Esq. the only Child of John Anguish of Great-Mekmi Esq. an obedient Daughter, tenderly loving Wife and Mother, and a discreet Mistress, died 28 July .1685.

He died Sept. 5, 1727, aged 88, and lies buried between them.

† John Wodehouse, Esq. third son of Sir Philip, married Anne, daughter of Sir Denner Strutt, Bart, widow of Will Samwell, both which are buried at Watton in Norfolk, and the inscription on their monument there may be seen at p. 317. See also p. 315.

| Blanch, eldest daughter, married Sir Jacob Jstley of meltonconstable in Norfolk, Knt. and Bart, at kimberley, 6 Feb. 1661, Herbert Astley, LL.D. rector of Poulsham, performing the ceremony; and in 1653, being then prebend of Norwich May 27, he baptized their eldest son, Jacob, at kimberley aforesaid.

§ Margaret Wodehouse, sister to Blanch, married in 1669, April 29, to Tho. Sabage of Elmly Castle in Wocestershire, Esq. whose eldest son, Philip, was born at kimberley, March 21, 1669. He bare arg. six lioncels, 3, 2, 1, sab.; their daughter Margaret wag baptized in 1670, and another daughter, named Mary, in 1672.

25. The present Sir John Wodehouse, Bart, only son and heir of Sir Thomas, was born at kimberley, March 23, 1669, and was baptized there April 14, 1670; in 1695, he was elected burgess in parliament for the burgh of Thetford, of which he is now Recorder: he served also for that burgh in 1701, and 1705; and in the ninth of Queen Anne, was elected knight of the shire with Sir Jacob Astley for Norfolk; he married first, Eliz Benson, sister of John Lord Bingley, who is buried in the vault in Kimberley chancel, with this,
Hic jacet Elizabeth a Uxor Johannis Wodehouse Bar^ti quæ Spiritum suum in Manus Domini commendavit 5^to. die January MDCC.

His second lady was Mary Fermor, daughter of William Lord Lempster, by Catherine Pawlet, half sister to Earl Pawlet, and sister to the present Earl of Pomfret; she is buried at kimberley, and left issue,

26. William Wodehouse, Esq. eldest son, married Frances, daughter of Lord Bathurst, and was elected one of the members of this present parliament, for the county of Norfolk, but died of the small-pox at London, without issue, and is buried in a vault belonging to Lord Bathurst family, in St. James's church, Westminster A^o 1733; and since, his widow, who is now living, remarried to James whisthed of Jrcland, Esq.

27. Armine Wodehouse, Esq. second son, and now heir of Sir John Wodehouse, Bart, upon his brother's death, was chosen in his place, to serve in parliament for the County, and now is one of the worthy representatives thereof: he married Letici a, eldest daughter and coheir of the Honourable Sir Edmund Bacon of Garboldesham, premur Baronet of all England, the other representative in parliament for the county.

Sophia Wodehouse, Sir John's only daughter, married Sir Charles Mordaunt Bart, the present member for Warmickshire, and hath left issue, John Charles, and Mary, And this is all I know at present of the history of the foregoing Hundreds, in which I am sensible there may be some errours in the modern account of things, which are owing to the materials sent me; but yet I declare, there are none but what I shall be willing at any time to acknowledge, and not only so, but obliged to any that will give me better information, that I may correct them at the end of each volume, as I have done in this, which, notwithstanding the endeavours of those that wish no success to the work, and that have attempted, both by unjust reports, and unjuster actions, to hinder my progress in it, I have, by the help of my generous subscribers, now finished, and hope and design by the same means to be able to complete the rest, which, when done, I shall insert a list of all such as have stood to their subscriptions, and another of those, who, though they subscribed, had not honour enough to stand to it: begging leave at this time, to return my utmost thanks to my present subscribers, acknowledging that it is owing to them only that I have been enabled to proceed thus far.

Fersfield, Dec. 25, 1739.