Biography of Edward Grimston 1508-1559
Around 1508 Edward Grimston was born.
Around 1529 [his son] Edward Grimston was born to Edward Grimston (age 21).
On 28 Aug 1552 Edward Grimston (age 44) was appointed Comptroller of Calais.
On 07 Jan 1558 the English surrendered Calais to the French following a one week siege. It had been in English hands since 1347. At 6am Thomas Wentworth (age 33), Governor of Calais, surrendered Calais [Map] to François de Lorraine-Guise, 2nd Duke of Guise (age 38), after a seven-day siege. Calais was the last English owned territory in France. The loss was a huge blow for Queen Mary I (age 41) and it is said that upon hearing the news she stated "When I am dead and opened, you shall find 'Philip' and 'Calais' lying in my heart" although the source for this is unknown.
Edward Grimston (age 50) was captured and imprisoned at the Bastille [Map].
On 17 Mar 1559 Edward Grimston (age 51) died.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 01 Dec 1559. The furst day of Desember was raynyd at the Yeld-hall [Map] master Grymston captayn.
Note. P. 218. Captain Grimston arraigned for the loss of Calais. This was sir Edward Grimston, who had been appointed comptroller of Calais, Aug. 28, 1552 (King Edward's Diary.) See the pedigree of Grimston in Clutterbuck's Hertfordshire, i. 95.