Thomas Brooke, 8th Baron Cobham

Arms of Brooke, Baron Cobham "of Kent": Gules, on a chevron argent a lion rampant sable crowned or

Thomas Brooke, 8th Baron Cobham (died 19 July 1529), lord of the Manor of Cobham, Kent, was an English peer.

Thomas Brooke was the son and heir of Sir John Brooke, 7th Baron Cobham (d. 1512) and Margaret Neville (d. 1506), ^[1] daughter of Edward Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny, and his second wife, Katherine Howard.

Career

Thomas took part in the wars with France and was at the Siege of Tournay in 1513, and fought at the Battle of the Spurs on 16 August 1513. ^[1]

He was made Knight Banneret by King Henry VIII in 1514, and attended the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520. ^[1]

He was summoned to Parliament from 1514 to 1523. ^[1]

In 1521 he was one of the twelve Barons for the trial of the Duke of Buckingham. ^[2]

Family

Thomas Brooke married Dorothy Heydon, daughter of Sir Henry Heydon of Baconsthorpe and Anne, daughter of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn and Anne Hoo. ^[3] They had seven sons and six daughters. His daughter Elizabeth Brooke married Sir Thomas Wyatt.

He was twice widowed. He married secondly Elizabeth Calthorpe (d.1517), the daughter of Sir Philip Calthorpe of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, ^[4] widow of Sir Robert Southwell ^[5] (d. 31 March 1514 ^[6] ) and thirdly Elizabeth Hart, and had no issue from them. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [note 1]}

Elizabeth Calthorpe's and Sir Robert Southwell had been married by settlement of 1506/7. ^{[15] [note 2]} After his death, together with Sir Robert's brother-in-law William Wootton, she was entrusted the wardship of his ten-year-old nephew and heir, Sir Richard Southwell. After her death, Thomas Wyndham acquired the wardship. ^{[19] [20]}

Thomas Brooke died on 19 July 1529 and was buried at St. Mary Magdalene New Churchyard, Cobham, Kent.

His epitaph was recorded by Weever:

Orate pro anima Tho' Broke militis Domini de Cobham consanguinei et heredis Richardi Beauchampe militis, qui quidem Thomas cepit in uxorem Dorotheam, filiam Henrici Heydon militis; et habuerunt exitum intereos, septem filios, et sex filias, et predicta Dorothea obiit . . . . et predictus Thomas cepit in uxorem Dorotheam Sowthewel viduam, que obiit sine exitu; et postea cepit in uxorem Elizabetham Harte et habuerunt nullum exitum inter eos; qui quidem Thomas obiit 19 Julii, 1529. ^{[21] [22] [23]}

Thomas Brooke, Lord Cobham, and Dorothy Heydon, his wife – Cobham Church

He is in the elaborate armour of the period, with skirt of mail, and broad-toed sabbatons, a chain with dependant cross suspended from the neck, an ornament found on many effigies about this date. The lady wears the pedimental head-dress of that era. The children are in two groups below. Arms, four shields at the corners, each charged alike with Brook, Cobham, Braybroke, and De la Pole—Azure, a fess between three leopards heads Or, an annulet for difference, being the bearings assigned to the younger branch of De la Pole. ^[25]

Of his thirteen children, John, the eldest son, died in his father's lifetime; George, who became his heir, Thomas, William, and Edward. Of his daughters, Margaret was married to Sir John Fogge of Repton; Faith, to William Ockenden, Gentleman Porter of Calais; and Elizabeth, to Sir Thomas Wyatt of Allington Castle in Kent and afterward to Sir Edward Warner. ^{[26] [27] [28] [29]}

He was succeeded by his son, George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham.

Footnotes

1. His second wife is often called Elizabeth or Dorothy 'Fowthewel'. ^[11] This is a misreading of Sowthewel (Southwell), from Weever's transcript of Thomas Brooke's epitaph. The transcription as printed says 'Dorotheam Fowthewel viduam, que obiit sine exitu'. Some sources also call her 'Ursula'. ^{[12] [13]} As Nina Green points out, it seems likely that this is a confusion with Sir Robert Southwell’s first wife, Ursula Bohun. ^[14]
2. Richardson takes '27th Henry' to be a mistake. As, he puts it: "The date of the settlement given above as 27th Henry VII is impossible, as King Henry only ruled 24 years." ^[16] However, this appears to be a counting of regnal years used by some, to mean a regnal year spanning parts of the years 1506 and 1507, perhaps in order to discount the reign of Richard III of England. ^{[17] [18]}

References

1. G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant , new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910–1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 347
2. "BROOKE". tudorplace.com.ar. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
3. The Magna Charta Sureties, 1215: The Barons Named in the Magna Charta, 1215 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Walter Lee Sheppard, William Ryland Beall
4. Emerson, Kathy Lynn (11 October 2020). A Who's Who of Tudor Women. Kathy Lynn Emerson. Entry for 'Elizabeth Calthorpe (d.1517)'.
5. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd Edition by Douglas Richardson
6. Eller, George (1861). Memorials: Archaeological and Ecclesiastical of the West Winch Manors from the Earliest Ages to the Present Period. Printed (for private circulation) by Thew & Son, Publishers, King's Lynn. p. 83. He died on the 31st of March, 5th Henry 8th [1514]
7. L. G. Pine, The New Extinct Peerage 1884–1971: Containing Extinct, Abeyant, Dormant and Suspended Peerages With Genealogies and Arms (London, U.K.: Heraldry Today, 1972), page 78.
8. Reference: C 1/452/8. Catalogue Description: Urswyk v. Broke. Plaintiffs: Christopher Urswyk, LL.D., and others, executors of Robert Southwell, knight. Defendants: Thomas Broke, lord Cobham, late the husband of Elizabeth, formerly the wife of the said Robert. Subject: Detention of deeds relating to the estate of the said Robert. Note: Mutilated. Date: 1515–1518. Held by: The National Archives, Kew. 1515–1518.
9. Court of Common Pleas – CP 40/1013 (Hilary 1516) County: London; Persons: Thomas Lovell; Robert Southwell; Thomas Cobham; Elizabeth Cobham; William Wotton; Places: London. "In 1516 Thomas Lovell, Knt., sued Thomas Cobham, Knt., Lord Cobham, of London, Elizabeth his wife, and William Wotton, Esq., co-executors of Robert Southwell, Knt., of the King's Household in the Court of Common Pleas regarding a debt."—For a full text of the suit see f 1137
10. Court of Common Pleas – CP 40/1013 (Hilary 1516) County: Norfolk; Persons: Robert Southwell; Christopher Ursewyk; William Wotton; Thomas Broke; Thomas Cobham; Elizabeth Cobham; Thomas Collys; Robert Henlyng; Places: Honworth; Hempsted. "In 1516 Christopher Ursewyk, clerk, doctor of law, William Wotton, and Thomas Broke, knight, Lord Cobham, and Elizabeth his wife, acting as co-executors of Sir Robert Southwell, sued Thomas Collys, freemason, of Hanworth, Norfolk, and another regarding a debt."—For a full text of the suit see d 837
11. Edward Hasted, 'Parishes: Cobham', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 3 (Canterbury, 1797), pp. 404-442 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol3/pp404-442 [accessed 12 May 2015] "northward of the former, the figures of a man in armour, his wife, five sons, and six daughters, and round the verge, in brass, an inscription for Sir Thomas Brooke, lord Cobham, and kinsman and heir of Sir Richard Beauchamp; he married first Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Haydon, by whom he had seven sons and six daughters; and secondly Dorothy Fowthewel, widow; and thirdly Elizabeth Hart; by neither of whom he had issue, ob. 1529, arms quarterly, 1st, on a chevron, a lion rampant, crowned; 2d, Cobham as above; 3d, seven mascles, three, three, and one; 4th, on a fess between three leopards heads an annulet."
12. Norfolk Archaeology, Or, Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to the Antiquities of the County of Norfolk. Vol. Ⅸ. Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society. Norwich: Printed by A.H. Goose & Co. 1884.
13. Dashwood, G.H., ed. (1878). The Visitation of Norfolk in the Year 1563, Taken by William Harvey, Clarenceux King of Arms: Volume 1 (PDF). Norwich. p. 125.
14. Green, Nina (2018). "Will of Sir Philip Calthorpe, proven 7 April 1535. Norfolk Record Office Platfoote 197" (PDF).
15. Eller, George (1861). Memorials: Archaeological and Ecclesiastical of the West Winch Manors from the Earliest Ages to the Present Period. Printed (for private circulation) by Thew & Son, Publishers, King's Lynn. pp. 82–83. Ursula, daughter of Sir John Bohun of Midhurst, was his first wife; upon whom, and the issue of the marriage, he settled the West Winch estate. She died, however, without issue, and he contracted, 27th Hen. VII., a second marriage with Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Philip Calthorpe, of Burnham Thorpe; upon which occasion, by a deed of covenant, made between himself and Sir Philip Calthorpe
16. The Obscured Elizabeth (2013) by Douglas Richardson.
17. Memoirs of the Public Life of Sir Walter Blackett, of Wallington, Baronet: with a Pedigree of the Calverleys, of Calverley, in Yorkshire, and the Blacketts, of Newcastle Upon Tyne and Northumberland (1819) by John Straker. Newcastle: Printed by S. Hodgson, Union-Streeet, p. 13. "In the 27th. Henry VII. 1506,"
18. The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, and the Ancient Lords of Arwystli, Cedewen, and Meirionydd (1885) by J. Y. W. Lloyd of Clochfaen, Esq., M.A., K.S.G. Vol. Ⅴ. London: Whiting & Co., 30 & 32, Sardinia Street, W.C., p. 147. "living 27th Henry VII, 1506-7"
19. Archbold, William Arthur Jobson (1898). "Southwell, Richard (1504–1564)"  . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography . Vol. 53. London: Smith, Elder & Co."Richard, owing to the deaths of his father and uncle, was heir to great wealth. His wardship was given to his uncle's widow, Elizabeth, and to William Wootton, but on 27 June 1519 he was handed over to Sir Thomas Wyndham."
20. Jones, William Henry Samuel (10 June 2010). "A History of St. Catharine's College, Cambridge: Once Catharine Hall, Cambridge". In Cambridge Library Collection. 1st (ed.). Archived. from the original on 25 February 2025. Cambridge University Press. p. 215. ISBN   978-1-108-00896-9. On 16 January Elizabeth Southwell and William Wotton, executors of Sir Robert Southwell, conveyed to the Master and Fellows all their right of the manor and lands, late John Fynn's, of Coton, Barton and Whitwell. By an indenture made 4 Novemeber 1509 Sir Robert Southwell bargained to sell to Thomas Greene, Master of the College, and others, all the lands, late John Fynn's, in Coton, Barton, Whitwell, Grantchester and Cambridge, for £50 to be paid on 8 November 1514 in St. Paul's Church, London, and other £50 to be paid 8 November 1515.
21. Rogers, William Henry Hamilton (1902). "Brook of Somerset and Devon: Barons of Cobham in the County of Kent: Their Local History and Descent.". Archaeological Papers Relating to the Counties of Somerset, Wilts, Hants, and Devon. University of California Libraries. Reprinted for the Author. This Paper is reprinted from Vol. Ⅳ, Third Series, of the Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archæological and Natural History Society, for 1898. Taunton: Barnicott and Pearce. Athenæum Press. p. 65.
22. Weever, John; Tooke, William (1767). Antient Funeral Monuments, of Great-Britain, Ireland, and the Islands Adjacent. New York Public Library. London, Printed by W. Tooke, for the Editor and sold by J. Wilkie, at the Bible in St. Paul's Church-yard. pp. 122–123.
23. Weever, John (1631). Ancient funerall monuments within the vnited monarchie of Great Britaine, Ireland, and the islands adiacent with the dissolued monasteries therein contained: their founders, and what eminent persons haue beene in the same interred. As also the death and buriall of certaine of the bloud royall; the nobilitie and gentrie of these kingdomes entombed in forraine nations. A worke reuiuing the dead memory of the royall progenie, the nobilitie, gentrie, and communaltie, of these his Maiesties dominions. Intermixed and illustrated with variety of historicall obseruations, annotations, and briefe notes, extracted out of approued authors ... Whereunto is prefixed a discourse of funerall monuments ... Composed by the studie and trauels of Iohn Weeuer. In the digital collection Early English Books Online. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 21, 2025. Orate pro anima Tho. Broke militis Domini de Cobham consanguinei et heredis Richardi Beauchampe militis, qui quidem Thomas cepit in vxorem Dorotheam,* filiam Henrici Heydon militis; & habuerunt exitum inter eos, septem filios, & sex filias, & predicta Dorothea obiit . . . . et predictus Thomas cepit in vxorem Dorotheam Fowthewel viduam, que obiit sine exitu; & po∣stea cepit in vxorem Elisabetham Harte & habuerunt nullum exitum inter eos. Qui quidem Thomas obiit 19. Iulii 1529. *Tho. Lord Cob∣ham, and his three wiues.
24. Rogers, William Henry Hamilton (1902). "Brook of Somerset and Devon: Barons of Cobham in the County of Kent: Their Local History and Descent.". Archaeological Papers Relating to the Counties of Somerset, Wilts, Hants, and Devon. University of California Libraries. Reprinted for the Author. This Paper is reprinted from Vol. Ⅴ, Third Series, of the Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archæological and Natural History Society, for 1899. Taunton: Barnicott and Pearce. Athenæum Press.
25. Rogers, William Henry Hamilton (1902). "Brook of Somerset and Devon: Barons of Cobham in the County of Kent: Their Local History and Descent.". Archaeological Papers Relating to the Counties of Somerset, Wilts, Hants, and Devon. University of California Libraries. Reprinted for the Author. This Paper is reprinted from Vol. Ⅴ, Third Series, of the Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archæological and Natural History Society, for 1899. Taunton: Barnicott and Pearce. Athenæum Press. p. 9. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
26. Rogers, William Henry Hamilton (1902). "Brook of Somerset and Devon: Barons of Cobham in the County of Kent: Their Local History and Descent.". Archaeological Papers Relating to the Counties of Somerset, Wilts, Hants, and Devon. University of California Libraries. Reprinted for the Author. This Paper is reprinted from Vol. Ⅴ, Third Series, of the Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archæological and Natural History Society, for 1899. Taunton: Barnicott and Pearce. Athenæum Press. p. 10. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
27. "Index: N, O | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2025. Okyngdon, Wm., gentleman porter of Calais (1546), ii. 199 (35):—g. 476 (14).
28. "Henry VIII: September 1546, 26-30 | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2025. 1546 [...] Sept. R. O. 199. Documents signed by Stamp. Abridgement of bills, etc., which the King caused "me, William Clerc," to stamp at divers places and times in the month of September, 38 Hen. VIII., in the presence of Sir Anthony Dennye, knight, and Mr. John Gate, esquire. [...] Wm. Okyndon. Office. (fn. n8) G 4 Nov. n8. Preferred by Mr. Secretary Paget.
29. "Henry VIII: November 1546, 21-30 | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2025. 476. Grants in November 1546. [...] William Okyngdon, the King's servant. To be gentleman porter of the town of Calays, vice.—— (blank) Rookewoode, with two soldiers under him in "petit wages"; with 12d. st. a day for himself and 6d. for each soldier, payable from 3 April last, since which date he has "exercised the said room." Del. Westm., 4 Nov. 38 Hen. VIII.—P.S. (notdated). Pat. p. 12, m. 13.