Iohn Lord Williams of Tame.
[1 Mariae.]
BEfore I come to the advancement of this Iohn, unto the degree and dignity of a Baron, it will not be improper to take notice by what steps he ascended to that ho∣nour.
As to his Parentage, he wasa of the same Fa∣mily with Sir Richard Williams Knight, who assumed the surname of Cromwell, in the time of King Henry the Eighth, viz. secondb Son to Sir Iohn Williams of Burfeild▪ in Com. Berks. Knight, by Elizabeth his Wife, Daughter and Co-heir to Richard More, of Burfeild Esquire, (the name of his elder Brother being Reginald Williams.)
The first mention I find of him, in reference to his preferment, is in 18 H. 8. he being then c a servant to that King; having also ten pounds per annum grantedd to him by Patent, for the keeping of a Greyhound. And in 27 H. 8. was Clerke of the Kings Jewel-house. By which means geting interest at Court, he obtained a Pa∣tent f for the office of Master or Treasurer of the same Jewel-house. But Thomas Cromwell, then Secretary of State, being too strong for him, forced him to surrenderg it; and to accept of another,h jointly with himself, so as to share the profits thereof betwixt them, and the sur∣vivor to enjoy it wholly.
By which, and other means, geting wealth; in 30 H. 8. he purchasedi the Mannors of great Ricott, and little Ricott, in Com. Oxon. from Giles Heron of Shakelwell, in Com. Mid. Es∣quire, Son of Iohn Heron, sometime Treasurer of the Chamber to King H. 8. to whom Sir Ri∣chard Fowler Knight, (Son to Richard, Chance∣lor of the Dutchy of Lancaster) had former∣ly soldk them. And in 31 H. 8. (beingl then a Knight) obtained a Grantm of the chief Stew∣ardship of the Mannors of Grafton and Hert∣well, in Com. North. with the keepership of the Parks there: as alson of the Mannors of Wy∣tham, Weston, on the Green, and Botley, in Com. Oxon. And in 38 H. 8. was constituted o chief supervisor of all the Swans within the River of Thames, and all other waters in Eng∣land, excepting those of the Dutchy of Lan∣caster.
Moreover, in 36 H. 8. he had a special Pa∣tent p for reteyning of ten persons, Gentlemen, and Yeomen, in his Houshold; and to give Live∣ry Badges to them: and in 38 H. 8. another Grant,q bearing date 2 Ian. of the office of Treasurer of the Court of Augmentation.
Furthermore, in 2 E. 6. he was made Stew∣•rd r of all the Lands, belonging to Robert, then Bishop of Oxford, the remainder to Francis his Son; with an annual Salary of six pounds, thir∣teen shillings and four pence, for that service. And upon the death of King Edward,* the Sixth, being one of the first that appeareds for Queen Mary; in consideration thereof, and other his faithful services to that Queen, was solemnly createdt Lord Williams of Came, at her Palace of St. Iames's, upon the fifth day of April, in the first year of her Reign, (though his Pa∣tent be not enrolled) having also his Writ of Sum∣mons u to the Parliament, then siting at West∣minster, (which began by Prorogation, upon the second day of that Month) where he took his placex the same fifth day accordingly.
After which, before the end of that year, sur∣rendring y his Office of Treasurer of the Court of Augmentation, he had a Grantz from that Queen, of three hundred and twenty pounds per annum, in lieu thereof, during his life, and upon her Marriage with King Philip of Spaine▪ was madea Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold to that King.
Nor had he less favor from Queen Elizabeth, being in the first year of her Reign, constituted b Lord President of her Council, in the Princi∣pality of Wales, and Marches of the same. Whereupon he wentc to Ludlow, and there residing by his Testamentd bearing date 18 Mar∣tii the same year, bequeathed to his Executors for ever, the Inheritance of the impropriate Recto∣ri•s, and Parsonages of Brill, O•eley, Bur∣stall, and East-•eston, to found a Free• School, in the Town of Tame, and with the profits thereof, to provide a School-Master, and an Usher for ever. As also certain Lands in Sy•enham, for the augmentation of the Almes-house in Tame, and increase of the maintenance for the poor therein. He likewise bequeathed to the Earl of Bedford, all his Armor for his own Body, and his Bay Courser, with the Furniture and Sword pertaining to the same Armor. To his Daughters Norris and Wenman, each of them one standing Cup, with a cover gilt; and to his Bro∣ther the Lord Wentworth, his best Gown, •urred with Sables.
Of which Testament (amongst others) he con∣stituted eRobert d' Oylie of Merton, and Wil∣liam Playce of Lurgyshall, in com. Buck. his Ex∣ecutors; who purchasingf other Lands, for the support of the same School and Almes house, to the yearly value of fifty seven pounds▪ two shil∣lings and five pence, en•eoffedg the Warden and Schollars of New-Colledge, in Oxford, and their Successors therein, to the uses before-men∣tioned. Appointing, that the nomination of the Head Schoolmaster, should be by the same Robert d' Oylie, and William Playce, and the Survivor of them: but afterwards by the Warden and Scho∣lars of New-Colledge, and their Successors for ever: And to have yearly for his Stipend, the summe of twenty six pounds, thirteen shil∣lings and four pence; and the Usher thirteen pounds, six shillings and eight pence, to be paid quarterly. Which Almes-House to consist of five poor Men, and one Woman; towards whose maintenance, the summe of seven pounds and four shillings yearly was given, and a new Gown every fourth year, with eight shillings per annum, for the keeping of his Tombe.
Departingh this life, in the Castle at Lud∣low, 14 Oct. next ensuing the date of this his Page 394 Testament, he was buried in the midst of the Chancel at Tame, where standeth a fair Tombe erected to his memory, whereon do lye the Por∣traitures of himself, and one of his Wives, in white Marble, (but with their heads towards the East.) and on the one side thereof, upon a Plate of Brass this Inscription;
Epitaphium domini Iohannis Williams, equitis au∣rati Baronis à Thame; qui obiit xiv. die, Oct. An. Dom. 1559.
The Plate of Brass, on the other side, being torn away by the Souldiers, in the time of the late usurpation.
This Iohn Lord Williams had two Wives, first Elizabeth, widdowe of Andrew Edmonds; of Cresing-Temple, in Com. Essex. Daughter f and Co-heir of Thomas Bledlow, (by Elizabethg his Wife, one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Sir Humphry Starkey Knight, chief Baron of the Exchequer) Sonh and Heir of Thomas Bled∣low, Sheriff of the City of London, in An. 1472. (12 E. 4.) Which Elizabeth, departing i this life, 25 Oct. An. 1556. 3. & 4. Ph. & M. was buriedk in the Chapel at Ricot, the chief Mourner at her Funeral, beingl her Daughter Isabel, assisted by Mr. Reginald Williams, Bro∣ther to this Lord Williams.
By this Elizabeth, he had Issue two Sons, Hen∣ry, who MarriedmAnne, Daughter to Henry Lord Stafford, and Francis,n but diedo (both of them) in his life time: and two Daughters; Isabell, Married to Sir Richard Wenman Knight, and Margery, to Henry Lord Norris.
To his second Wife, he wededpMargery, Daughter of Thomas Lord Wentworth, by whom he had no Issue. Which Margery surviving him, afterwards became the Wife of Sir William Dar∣cie Knight, and lastly of Sir Iohn Crofts Knight.
