The baronage of England, or, An historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our English nobility in the Saxons time to the Norman conquest, and from thence, of those who had their rise before the end of King Henry the Third's reign deduced from publick records, antient historians, and other authorities / by William Dugdale ...

Fitz-Williams.

[1 Edw. 3.]

AS to the time, and occasion of assuming this surname, the greatest certainty I have found, is; that William the son of William* 1.1 Fitz-Godric, in King Henry the Second's dayes, calleda 1.2 himself William Fitz-William. Which William, by Albreda de Lizures (Widow of Richard Fitz-Eustace, Constable of Chester) had issueb 1.3 another William;* 1.4 who, having been in Armes with the Rebellious Barons, about the latter end of King Iohn's reign, return'dc 1.5 to his due obedience in 5 H. 3. and left issued 1.6 Tho∣mas his son and heir: which Thomas* 1.7 Married Ag∣nes e 1.8 one of the daughters and coheires to Roger Bertram of Mitford (a great Baron in Northum∣berland.)

From this Thomas descended another William;* 1.9 who, in 29 E. 1. having his residencef 1.10 at Sprotburgh, in Com. Ebor. wasg 1.11 in the Sco∣tish wars. But, in 15 E. 2. joyningh 1.12 with Tho∣mas Earl of Lancaster, in that great Insurrecti∣on, then by him made; was taken,i 1.13 together, with that Earl, and the chief of his adhe∣rents, at Burrow-brigg; and hang'dk 1.14 at York.

To whom succeeded another William* 1.15 (his son and heir, I presume) who had summonsl 1.16 to Parliament, in 1 E. 3. but never after. Which William, in An. 1331. (5 E. 3.) ratifiedm 1.17 the Grants of his Ancestors, made to the Nuns of Hanpole, in Com. Ebor. viz. of Albreda de Li∣zures, who gave them the Church of Athewiks. Likewise, that of Iohn, Constable of Chester, her son; and of William fitz William, her son and heir. As also the Grants of Thomas fitz William, and of William (his Father) son of the same Thomas.

From which William (so summon'd to Par∣liament, in 1 E. 3.) descendedn 1.18 Sir Thomas* 1.19 fitz Williams of Aldwarke, in Com. Ebor. Knight; who, by Lucia his Wife, daughtero 1.20 and coheir to Iohn Nevill Marquess Montacute, had issue two sons; Thomas, slainp 1.21 at Floddon-field, in 4 H. 8. and Williamq 1.22 Which William, in 2 H. 8. was first mader 1.23 one of the Esquires for the Bo∣dy, to that King: and in 4 H. 8. had that Patent renew'd,s 1.24 for life.

In 5 H. 8. beingt 1.25 one of the chief Comman∣ders in that Fleet sent out against the French; he was sore hurtu 1.26 with a Broad-Arrow, in fight, near Brest in Britanny. And, before the end of that year, for his good service at the siege of To••rnay, had the honour of Knighthood x 1.27 conferr'd upon him.

In 12 H. 8. being Vice-Admiraly 1.28 of the Eng∣lish Fleet; he merited so well for his services then done; as that, the next ensuing year, upon the attainter of Edward Duke of Buckingham, he obtain'd a Grantz 1.29 in special tail of the Man∣nor of Navesby, in Com Northampton. part of the possessions of that Duke. And in 14 H. 8. being recall'da 1.30 from his Embassie in France, was commandedb 1.31 to Sea, with a ••••rong Fleet for securing the English Merchants. Likewise, up∣on the returnc 1.32 English Army to Calais, he was imploy'dd 1.33 (with others) by the Earl of Surrey, General of that Army, to Margui∣son, and some other places, which he burnt and spoyl'd.

In 15 H. 8. upon Advertisement,e 1.34 that the Duke of Albany would shortly return into Scotland, by Sea, and bring with him a power of French; he was made Admiralf 1.35 of the English Fleet. Whereupon he layg 1.36 upon the French Coast to meet with him; and landing at Tr••∣port, firedh 1.37 that Town. In 16 H. 8. he was Captaini 1.38 of Guisnes in Picardy. And, in October, 17 H. 8. being then Treasurerk 1.39 of the King's Houshold was sentl 1.40 again into France, (with Iohn Taylor Dr. of Law) to take the Oath of the Lady Regent then at Lyons (King Francis the First being at that time Prisoner in Spaine) for ratifying the Articles, concluded on, in a Treaty then held, by Commissioners for both Crownes.

And, in 21 H. 8. was one of those who sub∣scrib'd m 1.41 the Articles exhibited against Cardinal Wolsey.

Moreover,n 1.42 in the Parliament called that year; when the Commons made their Complaint against the abuses of the Clergy; instancing in divers particulars: and, that Fisher Bishop of Roche∣ster, thereupon, passionately telling the Lords; That nothing now would serve with the Commons but the ruine of the Church; aggravating the danger of such beginnings, by the example of Bohe∣m••a; and that Fisher, upon complaint to the King, for those words, excused himself, as well as he could; this Sir William Fitz Williams, on the part of the King, mediatedo 1.43 the rest.

In 24 H. 8. he was Treasurerp 1.44 of the Kings Houshold. And, in 27 H. 8. sentq 1.45 with the Duke of Norffolk and Dr. Cox, to Treat with the French, upon certain Articles, for a League betwixt both Crowns: amongst which, one was, that the Duke of Angolesme (third son to the King of France) should Marry the Lady Eliza∣beth, daughter to King Henry. After which, in 28 H. 8. beingx 1.46 Knight of the Garter, Treasurer of the Houshold, and Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster, he was constitutedy 1.47 Admiral of England, Wales, Ireland, Normandy, Gascoine, and Aquitane. And, in 29 H. 8. by other Letters-patents,z 1.48 bearing date 18 Octobris, advanced to the title and dignity of Earl of Southampton;* 1.49 and ere long after that, Lord a 1.50 Privy-Seale. By which Title, in 32 H. 8. upon some discontentb 1.51 betwixt King Henry, and the King of France; whereupon the French raised Forces in Picardy (with Iohn Lord Russel, then newly made high Admiral) he carriedc 1.52 over two Troopes of Northern-Horse, into those parts.

And, in 34 H. 8. by his Testament,f 1.53 bearing date 10 Sept. bequeath'd his body to be buried in the Parish-Church of Midherst, in Com. Suss. Appointing, that a new Chapel should be made by his Executors, adjoyning thereto. And in it a Tombe, for himself, and the Lady Mabell his Wife; for the building whereof, he assign'd Five hundred Marks. And gave to the King, his Coller of the Garter, with his best George beset with Diamonds. But before the end of this year (viz. 34 H. 8.) the King resolvingg 1.54 to make a breach with Scotland, an Army was raised, h 1.55 of which the Duke of Norfolk was Gene∣ral. Which Duke begani 1.56 his March thither∣ward accordingly: Howbeit, upon a motion of Peace, he stay'dk 1.57 a while at York; and there,

withl 1.58 this Earl, and some others, had a Treaty m 1.59 with certain Scotish Commissioners.

In which, nothingn 1.60 being concluded, they Marcht on; this Earl leadingo 1.61 the Van: but when they came to Newcastle, he there died. p 1.62 Notwithstanding which, so high an estimation continued to his memory; that to the honor thereof, his Standard was borneq 1.63 in the fore∣ward, throughout that whole Expedition.

By the before-specified Mabel his Wife, daugh∣ter r 1.64 to Henry Lord Clifford (and sister to Henry the first Earl of Cumberland) he had nos 1.65 is∣sue: Whereupon his two Neices, daughters to his brother Thomas, were foundt 1.66 to be his next heires; viz. Margaret, the Wifeu 1.67 of Godfrey Fuljambe Esquire, and Alice the Wifex 1.68 of Sir James Fuljambe Knight. But he had a Natural son; calledy 1.69 Thomas Fitz-Williams, alias Fish∣er.

Notes

• * 1.1

  William.
• a 1.2

  Rot. Pip. 22 H. 2. Ebor.
• b 1.3

  Monast. Angl. vol. 1. 831. ••. n. 30 & 40.
• * 1.4

  William.
• c 1.5

  Claus. 5 H. 3. m.
• d 1.6

  Ibid.
• * 1.7

  Thomas.
• e 1.8

  Ibid.
• * 1.9

  William.
• f 1.10

  Rot. Pro∣tect. 29 E. 1. m. 2.
• g 1.11

  Rot. Pro∣tect. 29 E. 1. m. 2.
• h 1.12

  H. Knigh∣ton, 2541. n. ••0.
• i 1.13

  H. Knigh∣ton, 2541. n. ••0.
• k 1.14

  H. Knigh∣ton, 2541. n. ••0.
• * 1.15

  William.
• l 1.16

  Claus. 1. E. 3. in dorso.
• m 1.17

  Monast. Angl. ut supra.
• n 1.18

  Ex coll. R. Gl. S.
• * 1.19

  Thomas.
• o 1.20

  Catal. of Nob. by R. B.
• p 1.21

  Lel. Itin. vol. 6. f. 73.
• q 1.22

  Lel. Itin. vol. 6. f. 73.
• r 1.23

  Pat 2 H. 8. p 1 m. 19.
• s 1.24

  Pat 4 H. 8. m. 2.
• t 1.25

  Hollingsh. p. 816. a. n. 30.
• u 1.26

  Ib. ••. n. 60.
• x 1.27

  Ib. 824. b. n. 50.
• y 1.28

  Ib 856. a. n. 30.
• z 1.29

  Pa••. 13 H. ••. p. 3.
• a 1.30

  〈…〉〈…〉
• b 1.31

  〈…〉〈…〉
• c 1.32

  〈…〉〈…〉
• d 1.33

  〈…〉〈…〉
• e 1.34

  〈…〉〈…〉
• f 1.35

  〈…〉〈…〉
• g 1.36

  〈…〉〈…〉
• h 1.37

  〈…〉〈…〉
• i 1.38

  Ib. ••••••. b. n. 50.
• k 1.39

  Ib. 892. b. n. 20
• l 1.40

  Herb ut su∣pra, p. 181.
• m 1.41

  Ib. 274.
• n 1.42

  Ibid. 29••.
• o 1.43

  Ibid. 29••.
• p 1.44

  Pat 24 H. ••. p. ••
• q 1.45

  Herb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ut supra, 3••3.
• x 1.46

  Pat 29 H. 8. p. 1.
• y 1.47

  Pat 29 H. 8. p. 1.
• z 1.48

  Pat. 28 H. ••. p. 2.
• * 1.49

  William Earl of Southampt∣rton.
• a 1.50

  Hist of H. 8. by the L. Herb. p. 484.
• b 1.51

  Hist of H. 8. by the L. Herb. p. 484.
• c 1.52

  Hist of H. 8. by the L. Herb. p. 484.
• f 1.53

  Spert. qu 16.
• g 1.54

  Hist. of H. 8. p. 480.
• h 1.55

  Hist. of H. 8. p. 480.
• i 1.56

  Hist. of H. 8. p. 480.
• k 1.57

  Ibid, 483.
• l 1.58

  Ibid, 483.
• m 1.59

  Ibid, 433.
• n 1.60

  Ibid.
• o 1.61

  Ibid.
• p 1.62

  Ibid.
• q 1.63

  Ibid.
• r 1.64

  Catal. of Nob. by R. B.
• s 1.65

  Catal. of Nob. by R. B.
• t 1.66

  Ibid.
• u 1.67

  Ibid.
• x 1.68

  Ibid.
• y 1.69

  Ibid.