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 ...

Lord Paget.

[4 E. 6.]

THe first mention I find of any bearing this name, who arriv'd to the dignity of Peerage, is VVilliam Paget;* 1.1 a person naturally endowed with excellent parts, as may seem by his ascent from so low a condition to those high Preferments, whereunto, by sundry degrees, he attained; being son ^a to ... Pa∣get. one of the Serjeants at Mace, in the City of London, who was bornb 1.2 near Wednsbury, in Staffordshire, of mean Parentage, where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were some of that generation, till of late years, remaining: so that he might well say with the Poet,

—Et quae non fecimus ipsi Vix ea nostra voco.

For, in 23 H. 8. by reason of his great abilities, he came to bec 1.3 one of the Clerks of the Signet: And, in 32 H. 8. Clerkd 1.4 of the Council. As also Clerke 1.5 of the Privy-Seale, with the Fee of Thirty pounds per annum: and, soon after that, Clerkf 1.6 of the Parliament for life. In all which employments, he deported himself with such se∣dulity and prudence, as that, in 33 H. 8. he was sentg 1.7 Embassador into France; and, upon his return from that honorable Negotiation, made one of the principal Secretaries of State; for so I findh 1.8 him in 35 H. 8. Moreover, in 36 H. 8. (being then a Knight) he was constitutedi 1.9 one of the Commissioners, to Treat with Mathew Earl of Lenox, touchingk 1.10 the advancement of King Henry the Eighth's Interst in Scotland; whereupon ^l that Earl was to marry the Lady Margaret Douglas, King Henry's Neice. And, the same year attendingm 1.11 that King, in his Ex∣pedition to Boloin, was associatedn 1.12 with the Earl of Hertford and others, to Treat with the Embassadors of France, in order to a gene∣ral accord betwixt both Realms.

In 37 H. 8. he obtained a granto 1.13 to himself, and Iohn Mason Esquire (then Secretary to the King, for the French Tongue) and the survivor of them, of the Office of Master of the Posts, with the Fee of Sixty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence per an. And, in 38 H. 8 wasp 1.14 one of the Commissioners, which treated of, and concluded a Peace with the French. Shortly after which, the King lying on his Death-bed, he was consti∣tuted q 1.15 one of his Executors, and appointedr 1.16 one of the Council to his successor King Edward the Sixth: In the second year of whose Reign, he obtained a grants 1.17 in Fee of that House, with∣out Temple-Barr, in the City of London, then called Exeter-place (formerly belonging to the Bishops of that See:) as also of a certain parcel of ground, lying within the Garden of the Middle-Temple, adjoyning thereto. Which House he transformed into a new Fabrick for his own habitation, and called it Paget-House. But long it held not that name, being from after-owners called next Leicester-House, and at length Essex-House.

The next thing which I find memorable of him, is; that, in 4 E. 6. he was sent Embassa∣dor t 1.18 to the Emperor, Charles the Fifth, to sig∣nifie, how King Edward, being on the one side distressed by the Scots, and on the other by the French; likewise miserably rent by intestine di∣visions at home, necessity required speedy Succors from him; else that he must submit to an incon∣venient Peace with France. And, upon the Third of December the same year, beingu 1.19 then Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, Comptroller of the Kings Houshold, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster; and calledx 1.20 by Writ to the Parliment then sitting, by the name of Lord Paget of Beaudsert (in Com. Staff.) he took his placey 1.21 there amongst the rest of the Peers. After which, upon the 19^th of Ianuary next ensuing, he hadz 1.22 his solemn creation to that honor: and, within three dayes follow∣ing▪ was sent,a 1.23 with the Earl of Bedford, and

Sir Iohn Mason, again to treat of Peace with the French.

Notwithstanding all which great services, such enemies he had; that, in 5 E. 6. uponb 1.24 the fall of the Duke of Somerset (whose ruine was effected by the contrivance of Dudley Duke of Northumberland) against whom, the princi∣pal charge wasc 1.25 that he had designed the Murther of some Noblemen at Pager-House; this Lord was sentd 1.26 to the Tower, and be∣reav'd e 1.27 of his Ensignes of the Garter. But Money being not a little wantingf 1.28 at that time, whereupon several persons were putg 1.29 out of Office, and some of them grievously finedh 1.30; he was charg'di 1.31 with selling the King's Lands, and Timber-woods without Commission: also, that he had taken great Fines for Lands belong∣ing to the Crown, and applyed them to his own proper use; and that he had made Leases in re∣version, for more than One and twenty years. For which offences he surrender'dk 1.32 his Office; and submittingl 1.33 himself to be fined at the King's pleasure, his mulct was setm 1.34 at Six thousand pounds; whereof Two thousand were remit∣ted, upon condition, that the other four should be paid within the compass of that year. All which he endured with manly pa••ence (saith my Authoro 1.35) knowing right well, that he held the residue of his Estate upon the Curtesie of those who hated him at the heart. Neverthe∣less, though he then sped so ill, through the po∣tency of those, who were most predo••inant, du∣ring the life of that young King, it fared better with him shortly after: For, upon the death of King Edward, and endeavours of some, to ad∣vance the Lady Iane Gray to the Royal Throne; he joyn'dp 1.36 with the Earl of Arundel, the chief∣est Champion of Q. Mary; and, after she was Proclaimed Queen in the City of London, rode q 1.37 post with him that night, to give her notice thereof: For which respect, he had such high esteem from her, as that soon after her marriage with King Philip, he was sentr 1.38 Embassador (to∣gether with the Lord Hastings) unto the Empe∣ror (then at Bruxells) to signifie their joynt-desires to see Cardinal Pole; to the end, that by his Authority, the Church of England, at that time in much disorder, by reason of the Schisme (for so it was then call'd) might be rectified. And, upon the 29^th of Ianuary, 2 & 3 Ph. & M. was mades 1.39 Lord Privy-Seale.

By his Testamentu 1.40 (whereunto is no date, but proved 1 Iulii, An. 1563. 5 Eliz.) wherein he stiles himself Knight of the Garter; he be∣queath'd his body to be buried at Drayton, in Com. Midd. in case he should depart this life within forty miles thereof; or else at Burton (id est Burton super Trent, in Com. Staff.) if within forty miles of that place: and gave to Henry his son and heir, the inheritance of his Mansion-house, in the Parish of St. Clements, without Temple-Barr in London, called Pa∣get's -Place. After which, the next ensuing year, he departedx 1.41 this life, being then very aged: and was buriedy 1.42 at Drayton, before-specified; though his Lady, and his son Thomas, erected a very stately Monument to his Memo∣ry, above the Quire in the Cathedral at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (where the Shrine of St. Chad formerly stood) which Monument, together with that beautiful Church, was, by the fury of those 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people, who were predominant, in the time of the late Usurpation, utterly destroyed; whereon this following Insciption, which I had transcribed from it many years before, stood en∣graven.

Illustri heroi, piae memoriae, domino Gu∣lielmo Paget, equiti maxime honorati or∣dinis Garterii; Regulo, seu Baroni de Beaudesert; potentissimi Principis Henri∣ci Octavi, ad Carolum quintum Imperato∣rem, semper augustum, & Franciscum Gal∣lorum Regem Christianissimum, Legato sa∣pientissimo; ejusdem Principis principi, Se∣cretario, & Consiliario fidelissimo; inter alios hujus potentissimi regni Administra∣tori, in Testamento regio nominato. Du∣catus Lancastriae, (regnante Edovardo) Cancellario dignissimo▪ Hospitii regii Cen∣sori, seu Contrarotulatori prudentissimo: Privati Sigilli serenissin•••• Reginae Mariae Custodi sanctissimo: Illustrissimae Reginae Elizabethae seni Charissimo, senatori gra∣vissimo; & optime de patri•• su••, & bonis omnibus merito. Necnon dominae Annae fidelissimae conjugi suae, & domino Henrico utriusque charissimo filio, & Katherinae Henrici uxori dulcissimae; praedicta Anna clarissima foemina, & domina Catherina, uxor dicti Henrici suavissima; & praeno∣bilis vir dominus Thomas Paget, in prae∣sentiâ Regulus de Beaudesert, de senten∣tiâ & ultimâ voluntate dictorum Gulielmi & Henrici, animis libentissimis, & summo studio officii memores, posuere.

Leaving issuez 1.43 by Anne his wife, daughter and heir to ... Preston of ... in Com. Lanc. three sons; Sir Henry Paget Knight, Tho∣mas, and Charles; and five daughters; Elianore, first married to ... Palmer, afterwards to Sir Rouland Clerk Knight. Grisild, first to Sir William Waldgrave Knight, and after to Sir Tho∣mas Rivet Knight. Ioane to Sir Thomas Kitson Knight. Dorothy to Thomas Willoughby, son of Sir Henry Willoughby of Wollaton, in Com. Nott. Knight; and Anne Sir Henry ...

Which Henry* 1.44 succeeding him in his honor, had summonsa 1.45 to Parliament in 8 Eliz. and took his placeb 1.46 there, upon the Thirtieth of September accordingly. And, by his Testament, c 1.47 bearing date 27 Nov. An. 1568. (11 Eliz.) be∣queath'd his body to be buried in the Parish-Church of West-Drayton, in Com. Midd. near to the place where the body of his Father lay in∣terred: appointing, that a convenient Tombe should be erected over the Graves of his Father and Mother, and his own Grave: and died shortly after; for the Probate thereof beares date, upon the fourth of May next following; leaving issue, by Catherine his wife, daughterd 1.48 of Sir Henry Knevet Knight, one sole daughter, his heir, called Elizabeth, marriede 1.49 to Sir Henry Lee Knight.

Whereupon, Thomas* 1.50 his brother succeeding him in this honor, had summonsf 1.51 to Parliament in 13 Eliz. and took his place there according∣ly, upon the fourth of Aprill. But, in 27 Eliz. being zealously affectedg 1.52 to the Romish-Religi∣on; and, fearing to be entrap'd by the subtile artifices of Robert Earl of Leicester, and Secre∣tary VValsingham, he got intoh 1.53 France. Some

discoveries there were by Letters, which be∣tray••d his w••ll-wishes to the Queen of Scots; for which, in 29 Eliz. he was attaintedi 1.54 in Parliament, as was alsok 1.55 his Brother Charles. After which, in 32 Eliz. he died at Bruxells; leaving issuel 1.56 by Nazaret his wife, daughter of Sir Henry Newton Knight, VVilliam his son and heir.

Which VVilliam,* 1.57 in 39 Eliz. wasm 1.58 with the Earl of Essex in that notable Voyage to Cadez. And, being restoredn 1.59 to his Lands and Honor, in the Parliament, held 1 Iac. left issue, by Mary his wife, daughter and coheir to Henry Knolles, Esquire (a younger son to Sir Francis Knolles, Knight of the Garter, and Treasurer of the Houshold to Queen Elizabeth) VVilliam his son and heir, made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Charles the First: as also two other sons; Henry, and Tho∣mas, who both died unmarried. And four daughters; Elizabeth, married to Sir VVilliam Hicks of Ruckholt, in Com. Essex Baronet; Dorot••y died unmarried. Catherine to Sir An∣••hony Irby of Boston, in Com. Linc. Baronet; and Anne, first wedded to Sir Simon Harecourt of Stanton-Harcourt, in Com. Oxon. Knight, and afterwards to Sir VVilliam VValler of O∣sterley Parke, in Com. Midd. Knight: and, de∣parting this life about the end of August, An. 1628. was buried at Drayton, with his An∣cestors.

Which William,* 1.60 his son and heir, succeeding him in his honor, married the Lady Frances, one of the daughters of Henry late Earl of Ho∣land, by whom he hath had issue three sons; viz. VVilliam his son and heir, who married Frances, the daughter to Francis Pierpoint, late of Not••ingham Esquire, a younger son to Robert Earl of Kingston super Hull. And se∣ven daughters; 1. Isabell, who died unmarried; 2. Lettice, wedded to Sir Richard Hampden of Great-Hampden, in Com. Buck. ••squire. 3. Elizabeth, yet unmarried; 4. Frances, marri∣ed to Rouland Hunt of Boreatton, in Com. Salop. Esquire. 5. Penelope, to Philip Foley of Prestwood, in Com. Staff. Esquire. 6. Diana, to Henry As••••urst, Citizen of London; and 7. Anne, who died unmarried.

Notes

• * 1.1

  William
• b 1.2

  Ex c••ll. Samps Erdswike, at.
• c 1.3

  Pat. 23 H. 8. p. ••.
• d 1.4

  Pat 32 H. ••. p. 2.
• e 1.5

  Ibid. p. 6.
• f 1.6

  Pat. 33 H 8. p. 2.
• g 1.7

  Herb. Hist of H. 8 p. 470.
• h 1.8

  Pat. 35 H 8. p. 5.
• i 1.9

  Pat. 36 H. 8. p 26.
• k 1.10

  Herb. ut supra, p. 509.
• m 1.11

  Ibid, p. 515.
• n 1.12

  Ibid, p. 515.
• o 1.13

  Pat. 36 H. 8. p. 16.
• p 1.14

  Herb. ut supra, p. 542. Stowes Ann.
• q 1.15

  Godw. p. 205.
• r 1.16

  Godw. p. 205.
• s 1.17

  Pat. 2 E 6. p. 2.
• t 1.18

  Godw. p. 240.
• u 1.19

  Journal of Parl.
• x 1.20

  Journal of Parl.
• y 1.21

  Journal of Parl.
• z 1.22

  S••o••es Ann. Godw. p. 240.
• a 1.23

  〈…〉〈…〉
• b 1.24

  Ibid, p. 132.
• c 1.25

  Ibid, p. 132.
• d 1.26

  Ibid, p. 132.
• e 1.27

  Godw. p. 229.
• f 1.28

  Hayw. p. 156, & 157.
• g 1.29

  Hayw. p. 156, & 157.
• h 1.30

  Hayw. p. 156, & 157.
• i 1.31

  Hayw. p. 156, & 157.
• k 1.32

  Ibid.
• l 1.33

  Ibid.
• m 1.34

  Ibid.
• o 1.35

  Hayw. ut supra.
• p 1.36

  Godw. p. 272.
• q 1.37

  Godw. p. 272.
• r 1.38

  Ibid; p. 307.
• s 1.39

  Pat 2 & 3 Ph. & M. p. ••
• u 1.40

  Chayre, qu. 27.
• x 1.41

  Ib.
• y 1.42

  Sheffeild, qu. 11.
• z 1.43

  Ex coll 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.44

  Henry
• a 1.45

  Journal of Parl.
• b 1.46

  Journal of Parl.
• c 1.47

  Sheffeild, qu. 11.
• d 1.48

  Ex coll. Samps. Erdswike, a••.
• e 1.49

  Ex coll. Samps. Erdswike, a••.
• * 1.50

  Thomas.
• f 1.51

  Journal of Parl.
• g 1.52

  Annal 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pe•• Camd.
• h 1.53

  Annal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pe•• Camd.
• i 1.54

  Ibid.
• k 1.55

  Ibid.
• l 1.56

  E•• coll▪ prae••. S••mps. ••r••s∣wike.
• * 1.57

  William.
• m 1.58

  Annal. ••liz. p••r Cam••.
• n 1.59

  ••ou••nal of Parl.
• * 1.60

  William.