Crest. On a wreath of the colours, a lion's head erazed proper, collared Gules, charged with a Bezant. Supporters. On the dexter side, a lion gardant, Or, collared Gules, charged with a Bezant. On the sinister side, a stag proper, attired and unguled, Or, and collared in like manner. Motto. NEC CUPIAS, NEC METUAS. Chief Seats. At Wimpole, in Cambridgeshire: and at Hammels, and Tittenhanger, in Hertfordshire, HAVING in part treated of his Lordship's ancestors, under the title of Fane, Earl of Westmoreland; and therein shewn the original name to be Vane; when it varied, &c. also observed, that from Richard Fane, Esq. the Earl of Westmorland derived his descent; and that John, his brother, was ancestor to the present Earl of Darlington, and son (as I have by undoubted evidence proved), of John Vane, Esq. who first took the name of Fane, and died in 13 Henry VII. as by his last will and testament, and the probate thereof, appears; a wherein he writes himself John Fane, of Tunbridge, Esq. I shall now proceed to treat of the said JOHN his son; who also wrote his name Fane; and his father, by his said will, left him the lands and tenements called Hollynden; and other lands assigned to him by deed of fee-simple, bearing date on April 1st, preceding the making of the said will. Also by the gift of Henry Fane, of Hadloe, his elder brother, who died without issue (as I have shewn under the title of Westmorland), he had his lands lying in Great Peckham, in Kent; and, after the decease of, Alice, the wife of the said Henry Fane, all the lands that she held in jointure. And, by the entail on him of the manor and mansion of Hadloe, with the lands thereunto belonging, was possessed thereof in 4 Edward VI. when Sir Ralph Vane was beheaded, leaving no issue. The time of his decease I do not find; but bby Joan his wife, daughter and coheir of Edward Haute, Esq. he had two sons, Henry and Richard, both mentioned in the will of C a Ex Regist. vocat. Milles, q. 77, in Cur. Prærog. Cantuar. Visit. de Com. Kant, G. 12, in Offic. Armor. Ex Regist. Hogen, Qu. 4. their uncle Henry Fane, Esq. in 25 Henry VIII.; also another son, Thomas, of Winchelsea, recited in the will of Henry, his brother, as will hereafter appear. Which HENRY Fane, his eldest son, was written of Hadloe, Esq. After the decease of his father, he was unwarily drawn into that insurrection under Sir Thomas Wyat, to prevent the marriage of Queen Mary with Philip Prince of Spain. On his defeat he was committed prisoner to the Tower, on February 7th; but his youth being considered, he was among those that had their pardon, and was released out of the Tower on March 24th following. He was educated in the reformed religion, the whole family being early professors of it; and his kinsman Thomas Fane, Esq. (after knighted), father of Francis, first Earl of Westmorland, was also in Wyat's rebellion, and a warrant sent to the sheriff of Kent for his execution, with three others: but the Queen, at her manor of St. James, on March 18th, 1554, in the first year of her reign, sent orders to Stephen (Gardiner) Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, to cause writs of supersedeas, to the sheriff of Kent, not to proceed to his execution, having compassion on his youth. In the two first parliaments of Queen Elizabeth, this Henry was returned for the cinque port of Winchelsea; and his abilities were so conspicuous, that he was one of the leading members of the House of Commons, as their Journals shew. He had ever been a steady assertor of the reformed religion; and his last will and testament shews his piety, learning, and refined qualities: which containing some remarkable particulars, shall insert part of it in his own words: The one and twentieth day of January, in the twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Queen Elizabeth, I Henry Fane, of Hadlowe, in the county of Kent. Esq. calling to my remembrance, and acknowledging the many fold benefits and graces wherewith it hath pleased God, of his infinite mercy, most abundantly to bless and enrich me, most unworthy and sinful creature; and further knowing and seeing by daily experience, that nothing is more certain than death, and the return of all flesh into dust from whence it came: and yet is there nothing more uncertain than the time or place, when and how it is the pleasure of the Almighty to call; and therefore a thing both expedient and Stow's Annals, p. 622, 623. 'most necessary for all men to provide themselves, and be ever in readiness; first towards God, by hearty and unfeigned repentance, and true faith in him; and then to the world, by due satisfaction and reconcilement, whereinsoever our conscience appealeth as guilty; and also forgiving our brothers, as we desire our hea venly father to forgive us; and, lastly, to the intent that we may leave and establish peace and love amongst all men, and espe cially our children and posterity, it behoveth all men by writing to dispose, devise, and publish their intent, meaning, and determination, concerning the order of their lands, goods, and other things whatsoever, the use and disposition whereof it hath pleased our good God to grant us, during our abode in this variable world. Wherefore I the said Henry Fane, being in good and perfect memory, thanked be God, and often revolving these and other just and good causes and considerations, have thought it convenient, at this present time, to make, declare, and finish, this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, viz. "In the name of God, Amen. I Henry Fane do confess and protest myself a most grievous and penitent sinner, trusting to be saved by the death and passion of my Redeemer Jesus Christ, of whom only I crave, and faithfully hope to receive, all forgiveness. through his mercy and grace; and therefore yield and commit myself, both body and soul, into his omnipotent hands, both now and ever, Amen. Also my will is, that my body shall be buried in such order, time, and place, as shall seem best to my executor and overseers, or any of them, to whom, in like sort, I grant authority to give to the poor people of Hadlowe such money as they shall think meete. Also I give and bequeath to my dear friend, my Lady Ellin Somerset, a ring with a Turky stone therein, now in the custody of my cousin Mary Ashburnham, desiring my Lady to keep and wear it for my sake. Also I will to my cousin Thomas Fane, of Buston, her husband, my damask gown, desiring him to accept and wear it for my sake. Also I will to William Mauley, my servant, three pounds yearly, out of my lands in Hadlowe, for so many years as he shall serve my son Henry.' After which, he bequeaths to Henry Fane, his nephew, son of his brother Richard Fane, an annuity out of his lands, &c. in Hadlowe, during his life; then bequeaths to his son Henry Fane, when he accomplishes the age of twenty-two years, and to his heirs for ever, all his manors, lands, tenements, &c. and, if he deceased without heirs of his body, he then entaileth them on his nephew Thomas Fane, son of his brother Thomas Fane, of Winchelsea, and to the heirs male of his body; in default, to his brother Richard Fane, and the heirs of his body. After which he thus expresses himself: Also my will, desire, and request is, that it will please the Right Honourable, and my especial good Lord, and ever assured friend, my Lord Cobham, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, to accept my son Henry Fane, into his rule, order, and government, until my said son shall accomplish the age of twenty-two years: and I will and charge my said son to continue and shew himself always obedient and willing to be ruled, ordered, and directed by my said Lord, whom, I protest, I have, during all my life, honoured and loved above all men; and I trust my son will follow his father's steps, and do the like. Also my will and mind is, that as well my lease that I have of Sir John Rivers, Knt, of part of the parsonage of Hadlowe, as also all other my leases, writings, and evidences, plate, household furniture, whatsoever, shall entirely remain to be in the custody of my cousin Thomas Fane, of Buston, whom I make my overseer, until my said son shall attain to the age of two and twenty years: at which time my will is, that he shall redeliver them, with a just and true ac count (all his reasonable charges allowed and deducted), to my said son Henry, or his assigns. Also I give to my brother Richard Fane, all the money he oweth me. Finally, I ordain my son Henry, my sole and only executor, &c.' The probate bears date on February 4th, 1582, when Henry Fane, his son, administered. The inquisition taken at Deptford, after his decease, shews, that he died on June 11th, in 22 Elizabeth, and that Henry, his son and heir, was then twenty years of age and more, and married to Mary, only daughter and heir of Thomas Fane, of Buston, Esq. the overseer of his father's will. His mother, Elizabeth, daughter of Godsalve, Esq. died before his father, leaving him, the said Henry, surviving. Which HENRY Fane, of Hadlowe, Esq. was likewise a judicious and accomplished gentleman. His wife Mary, beforementioned, died without leaving issue by him; so that, in 27 Elizabeth, he took to his second wife Margaret, daughter of Roger Twisden, of East-Peckham, in Kent, Esq. In 1588, the me g Escaet. Lib. 5, M.S. not. 61, A. 16, in Bib. Harley. |