Biography of John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos 1492-1557
Paternal Family Tree: Brugge
Before 1492 [his father] Giles Brugge 6th Baron Chandos (age 29) and [his mother] Isabel Baynham Baroness Chandos (age 16) were married.
On 09 Mar 1492 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos was born to Giles Brugge 6th Baron Chandos (age 30) and Isabel Baynham Baroness Chandos (age 17) at Coberley, Gloucestershire.
Around 1512 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 19) and Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos (age 20) were married. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before 1522 [his son] Edmund Brydges 2nd Baron Chandos was born to John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 29) and [his wife] Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos (age 29).
Around 1526 [his son] Charles Brydges was born to John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 33) and [his wife] Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos (age 34) at Wilton Castle, Herefordshire [Map].
In 1537 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 44) was appointed High Sheriff of Wiltshire.
In 1546 [his son] Edmund Brydges 2nd Baron Chandos (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys (age 22) were married.
Around 1553 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 60) was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London.
Around 26 Jan 1554 Wyatt's Rebellion was a popular uprising against the marriage of Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (age 37) and Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 26) led by Thomas Wyatt (age 33) with the intention to replace them with Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 27) and Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 20). George Brooke 9th Baron Cobham (age 57) sided with the rebels. John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 61) suppressed the rebellion.
Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland was interrogated.
On 08 Apr 1554 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 62) was given Sudeley Castle [Map] by Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (age 38).
Henry Machyn's Diary. 08 Apr 1554. The viij day of Aprell wher creatyd lordes sir John of Brygys (age 62) creatyd lord Shandoys; sir John Wyllyams (age 54) baron of Tame, and lord chamburlayne to the prynche of Spayne; and ser Antony Browne (age 25), master of the prynsse of Spayne('s) horsses. And the sam day my lord Wylliam (age 44), admerall, and ys captayns, wherin whyt and gren velvet and saten and taffata and sarsenett, and trumpeters all in gren and whyt, and all the marenars in whyt and gren cloth for shypes. [On the same day somebody unknown hanged a cat on the gallows beside the cross in Cheap, habited in a garment like to that the priest wore that said mass; she had a shaven crown, and in her fore feet held a piece of paper made round, representing the wafer.]
Note. P. 59. Cat hung on the gallows in Cheapside. The same outrage will be found noticed in Stowe's Chronicle, p. 623, where the consecrated wafer is there termed "a singingcake," and in Foxe's Actes and Monuments, vol. iii. p. 99.
On 08 Apr 1554 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 62) was created 1st Baron Chandos of Sudeley. [his wife] Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos (age 62) by marriage Baroness Chandos of Sudeley.
Foxe's Book of Martyrs. 09 Feb 1555. So it was determined, at length, he should still remain in Robert Ingram's house; and the sheriffs, and the sergeants, and other officers did appoint to watch with him that night themselves. His desire was, that he might go to bed that night betimes, saying, that he had many things to remember: and so he did at five of the clock, and slept one sleep soundly, and bestowed the rest of the night in prayer. After he got up in the morning, he desired that no man should be suffered to come into the chamber, that he might he solitary till the hour of execution.
About eight o'clock came Sir John Bridges, Lord Chandos (age 62), with a great band of men, Sir Anthony Kingston (age 47), [his son] Sir Edmund Bridges (age 33), and other commissioners appointed to see execution done. At nine o'clock Master Hooper (age 60) was willed to prepare himself to be in a readiness, for the time was at hand. Immediately he was brought down from his chamber by the sheriffs, who were accompanied with bills, glaves, and weapons. When he saw the multitude of weapons, he spake to the sheriffs on this wise "Master Sheriffs," said he, "I am no traitor, neither needed you to have made such a business to bring me to the place where I must suffer; for if ye had willed me, I would have gone alone to the stake, and have troubled none of you all. Afterward, looking upon the multitude of people that were assembled, being by estimation to the number of seven thousand, (for it was market day, and many also came to see his behaviour towards death,) he spake unto those that were about him, saying, "Alas, why be these people assembled and come together? Peradventure they think to hear something of me now, as they have in times past; but, alas! speech is prohibited me. Notwithstanding, the cause of my death is well known unto them. When I was appointed here to be their pastor, I preached unto them true and sincere doctrine; and that, out of the word of God: because I will not now account the same to be heresy and untruth, this kind of death is prepared for me."
So he went forward, led between the two sheriffs (as it were a lamb to the place of slaughter) in a gown of his host's, his hat upon his head, and a staff in his hand to stay himself withal: for the pain of the sciatica, which he had taken in prison, caused him somewhat to halt. All the way being straitly charged not to speak, he could not be perceived once to open his mouth, but beholding the people all the way, which mourned bitterly for him, he would sometimes lift up his eyes towards heaven, and look very cheerfully upon such as he knew: and he was never known, during the time of his being amongst them, to look with so cheerful and rnddy a countenance as he did at that present. When he came to the place appointed where he should die, smilingly he beheld the stake and preparation made for him, which was near unto the great elm tree, over against the college of priests, where he was wont to preach. The place round about the houses and the boughs of the tree were replenished with people; and in the chamber over the college-gate stood the priests of the college.
Then kneeled he down (forasmuch as he could not be suffered to speak unto the people) to prayer, and beckoned six or seven times unto one whom he knew well, to hear the said prayer, to make report thereof in time to come, (pouring tears upon his shoulders and in his bosom,) who gave attentive ears unto the same; the which prayer he made upon the whole creed, wherein he continued the space of half an hour. Now, after he was somewhat entered into his prayer, a box was brought and laid before him upon a stool, with his pardon (or at least-wise it was feigned to be his pardon) from the queen, if he would turn. At the sight whereof he cried, "If you love my soul, away with it! if you love my soul, away with it!" The box being taken away, the Lord Chandos said, "Seeing there is no remedy, despatch him quickly." Master Hooper said, "Good my Lord, I trust your Lordship will give me leave to make an end of my prayers."
continues
Within a space after, a few dry faggots were brought, and a new fire kindled with faggots, (for there were no more reeds,) and that burned at the nether parts, but had small power above, because of the wind, saving that it did burn his hair, and scorch his skin a little. In the time of which fire, even as at the first flame, he prayed, saying mildly and not very loud, (but as one without pains,) "O Jesus, the Son of David, have mercy upon me, and receive my soul!" After the second was spent. he did wipe both his eyes with his hands, and beholding the people, he said with an indifferent loud voice, "For God's love, good people, let me have more fire!"
And all this while his nether parts did burn; for the faggots were so few, that the flame did not burn strongly at his upper parts.
The third fire was kindled within a while after, which was more extreme than the other two: and then the bladders of gunpowder brake, which did him small good, they were so placed, and the wind had such power. In the which fire he prayed with somewhat a loud voice. "Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me; Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" And these were the last words he was heard to utter. But when he was black in the mouth, and his tongue swollen, that he could not speak, yet his lips went till they were shrunk to the gums: and he knocked his breasts with his hands, until one of his arms fell off, and then knocked still with the other, what time the fat, water, and blood, dropped out at his fingers' ends, until by renewing of the fire his strength was gone, and his hand did cleave fast, in knocking, to the iron upon his breast. So immediately, bowing forwards, he yielded up his spirit.
Thus was he three quarters of an hour or more in the fire. Even as a lamb, patiently he abode the extremity thereof, neither moving forwards, backwards, nor to any side: but, having his nether parts burned, and his bowels fallen out, he died as quietly as a child in his bed. And he now reigneth as a blessed martyr, in the joys of heaven prepared for the faithful in Christ, before the foundations of the world: for whose constancy all Christians are bound to praise God.
In 1556 [his son-in-law] Edward Sutton 4th Baron Dudley (age 31) and [his daughter] Katherine Brydges Baroness Dudley were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 12 Apr 1557 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (age 65) died at Sudeley Castle [Map]. His son [his son] Edmund Brydges 2nd Baron Chandos (age 35) succeeded 2nd Baron Chandos of Sudeley. [his daughter-in-law] Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys (age 33) by marriage Baroness Chandos of Sudeley.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 03 May 1557. The iij day of May was bered my lord Shandowes (deceased), odur-wys callyd ser John of Bryges, with ij haroldes of armes, and a herse of wax, and ij whyt branchys, and a iiij dosen of torchys, and a standard and a baner of armes and a targett, and iiij baners of emages, and elmett, mantylles, and viij dosen of skochyons and iiij baner-rolles of [arms], and viij dosen of penselles mad in the contrey; and money mornars; and ther was a grett dolle of money, and mett and drynke grett plente as has bene sene of shyche a man in the contrey.
Note. P. 133. Funeral of lord Chandos. "Sir John Bruges knight loord Chandos dyed at the castell of Sudley in Glostershire on monday the xijth. of Apryll 1556, and was buryd the 3. of May in A° predicto in the churche of Sudley." (MS. Harl. 897, f. 79b.) In Collins's Peerage his death is erroneously dated on the 4th of March.
On 03 May 1557 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos (deceased) was buried at the Chapel at Sudeley Castle [Map].
On 29 Dec 1559 [his former wife] Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos (age 67) died. She was buried at St Faith's under St Paul's [Map].
Letters. Queen Mary I of England and Ireland to Lord Chandos
Whereas John Hooper, who of late was called Bishop of Worcester and Gloucester, is, by due order of the laws ecclesiastic, condemned and judged for a most obstinate, false, detestable heretic, and committed to our secular power, to be burned accord- ing to the wholesome and good laws of our realm in that case provided: forasmuch as in those cities and the diocese thereof, ho hath in times past preached and taught most pestilent heresies and doctrine to our subjects there. We have, therefore, given order, that the said Hodper, who yet persisteth obstinate, and hath refused mercy, when it was graciously offered, shall be put to execution in the said city of Gloucester, for the example and terror of others, such as he hath there seduced and mistaught, and because he hath done most harm there; and will that you, calling unto you some of reputation, dwelling in the shire, (such as you think best) shall repair unto our said city, and be at the said execution, assisting our mayor and sheriffs of the same city, in this behalf.
And forasmuch also as the said Hooper is, as heretics be, a vain-glorious person, and delighteth in his tongue, and, having liberty, may use his said tongue to persuade such as he hath seduced to pei^ sist in the miserable opinion that he hath sown amongst them; our pleasure is, therefore, and we require you to take order that the said Hooper be, neither at the time of his execution nor in going to the place thereof, suffered to speak at large, but thither to be led, quietly and in silence, for eschewing of further infection, and such inconvenience as may otherwise ensue in this part. Whereof fail you not, as you tender our pleasure.
Endorsed — "A true copy of an old paper in my custody, which seems to be the first draught of a letter from the queen to the lord Chandos, &c., who went to see execution done on Bishop Hooper. Thom. Tanner."
[COTTON. MS., CLEOPATRA, E. T., FOL. 380.]
Note. The character of "bloody Queen Mary," as she has so kog heen designated, has been the subject of much dispute and mispresentation. Protestant zeal in the reign of Elizabeth heaped upon her every epithet of opprobrium, and represented her as alike hideous in mind and person; while the latitudinarian charity of modem days, anxious to do justice to one so greatly wronged, has represented her as all that is mild and noble, generous and highminded. The truth seems to lie between the two. Mary's natural disposition was firm but amiable, and the sorrows of her early life had exercised a softening influence over it; but such was the fearful influence of the £uth which she professed, and to which she conscientiously adhered, that it urged her on to deeds of cruelty and blood, from which a woman's heart might well have shrunk. During her brief reign, 277 persons, including five bishops, suffered martyrdom, and nearly as many died in prison through hunger and other cruelties.a
The Harleian MS., 424, contains a doggerel poem in 33 stanzas, addressed by a Protestant to Queen Mary, on the 1st of October 1553, commencing, "O lovesome rose, most redolent," and containing in the first few stanzas some complimentary allusions, but soon diverging to the main business of the poem, which is an earnest remonstrance against the restoration of popish idolatry.
O noble queen, take heed, take heed,
Beware your own intent;
Look ere you leap, then shall you speed,
For haste hute maketh many shent (lost).
What great presumption doth appear,
Thus, in a week or twain,
To work more shuame than in 7 year
Can be redressed again.
That miserable masking mass,
Which all good men doth hate,
Is now by you brought in again,
The root of all debate.
Poor ministers that loveth God's word,
They feel this bitter rod;
Woo are robbed from house and goods,
As though there were no God.
Hath God thus high you,
And set you in a crown!
That you should prison and deface
His flock that maketh moan !
The Lord, who doth his dock defend,
As the apple of an eye,
Of these will quickly make an end—
And banish cruelty.
Therefore, my counsel if you take,
And think thereof no scorn,
You shall find it the best counsel,
You had since you were born.
These miserable rhymes contain the exposition of the sentiments of the greater part of Mary's subjects; but which, in her zeal, she little regarded.
The following (preceding; this not is moved below the letter) is the mandate for the execution of the Protestant Bishop Hooper, which took place on the second of February 1 554.
Note a. Harleian Miseellany, Yol. i. p. 212.
Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1554. At v. of the clock this Wyat, William Knevet, Thomas Cobbam, the lorde Cobbam's son, ij. brethren named the Mantelles, and Alexander Bret, wer brought by maister Jernyngham, vichamberleyn, by water to the Tower as prysoners; wher sir Phillip Deny receyved them at the bullwark; and as Wyat passed by he said, " Go, traytour! There was never suche a traytour in Ingland!" To whom this Wyat tourned, and said, "I am no traytour. I wolde thou should well knowe, thou art more traytour then I; and it is not the part of an honest man to call me so;" and so went fourth. When he came to the Tower gate the levtenantb toke in first Mantell through the wicket, and toke him by the boysome, and shaked him, and said " Ah! thou traytour! What wickednes hast thou and thy company wrought!" But he, holdyng doune his hed, said nothinge. Then came Thomas Knevet, whom rnaister Chamberlayne, gentyllman porter of the Tower, toke by the collar very roughlie. Then cam Alexander Bret, whom sir Thomas Pope toke by the boysome, sayinge, " Ohe traytor! how couldest thou finde in thine hart to worke suche vyllany, as to takinge (the queen's) wages, and, beinge trusted over a bande of men, to fall to hir enemye, returninge agaynst hir in battaile" Bret answered, "Yea, I have offended in the case by all this." Then came Thomas Cobham, whom sir Nicholas Poines toke by the bosome, and said, " Alas, maister Cobham, what wynde headed you to worke suche treason?" And he answered, " Oh, sir! I was seduced." Then came in sir Thomas Wyat, who sir John of Bridges toke by the coller in most rygorouse maner, and saide theis or moche-like wordes, "Ohe! thou villayn and unhappie traytour! howe couldest thou finde in thine hart to worke suche detestable treason to the queues maiestie, who beinge thie moste graciouse soverayn ladie, gave the thie lyfe and lyvinge once alredy, although thowe dydest before this tyme beare armes in the felde agaynst hir? and nowe to make suche a great and moste traytorous stirre, yelding hir battayle, to hir mervellouse troble and fryght. And yf yt was not (saith he) that the lawe must justly passe apon thee, I wolde strike thee throughe with my dagger." And in so saying, havinge one hand apon the coller of the said maister Wyat, and the other on his dagger, shaked his bossome; to whom Wyat made no answer, but holdinge his armes under his side, and looking grevously with a grym looke upon the saide livetenant, saide, "Yt is no maistery nowe." And so they passyd on.
Note b. John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos.
[his daughter] Katherine Brydges Baroness Dudley was born to John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos and Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos.
[his daughter] Jane Brydges was born to John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos and Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos.
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Brugge
Great x 1 Grandfather: Giles Brugge 4th Baron Chandos
GrandFather: Thomas Brugge 5th Baron Chandos
Father: Giles Brugge 6th Baron Chandos
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Darell
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Darell
GrandMother: Florence Darell Baroness Chandos
John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos
GrandFather: Thomas Baynham
Mother: Isabel Baynham Baroness Chandos