GASCOIGNE, George (by 1537-77).

Family and Education

b. by 1537, 1st s. of Sir John Gascoigne of Cardington, Beds. by Margaret, da. and coh. of Sir Robert Scargill of Thorpe Hall, Richmond, Yorks. educ. ?Trinity Coll. Camb.; G. Inn, adm. 1555, ancient 1565. m. ?bigamously, 23 Nov. 1561, Elizabeth, da. of John Bacon of Hessett, Suff., wid. of William Breton (d. Jan. 1559) of London, and w. of Edward Boys of Nonington, Kent, 1s. suc. fa. 4 Apr. 1568.1Presumed to be of age at election. Vis. Beds. (Harl. Soc. xix), 72, 173; C. T. Prouty, George Gascoigne, 293 seq.; DNB; Eng. Reprints, ed. Arber, v(2), 9-10, 15; PCC 16 Chaynay, 12 Babington; Machyn’s Diary (Cam. Soc. xlii), 293.

Offices Held

Dep. almoner at Elizabeth’s coronation 1559; govt. agent in Netherlands Aug.-Nov. 1576.2C3/76/82; HMC Townshend, 3; Prouty, 93–95.

biography text

George Gascoigne’s significance as a poet is not matched by any parliamentary achievement. His election while still a student at Gray’s Inn was presumably the work of his father, who held part of the barony of Bedford and who was probably already recorder of the town. After his father’s death Gascoigne was elected for Midhurst in 1572, but on the advice of Viscount Montagu he was replaced before the assembly of Parliament. He lived beyond his means and wasted his inheritance, dying on 7 Oct. 1577.3VCH Beds. iii. 12-15, 235; Prouty, 263; Eng. Reprints, 15, 26.

Author

N.M.F.

Volume

Commons 1509-1558

Notes

1. Presumed to be of age at election. Vis. Beds. (Harl. Soc. xix), 72, 173; C. T. Prouty, George Gascoigne, 293 seq.; DNB; Eng. Reprints, ed. Arber, v(2), 9-10, 15; PCC 16 Chaynay, 12 Babington; Machyn’s Diary (Cam. Soc. xlii), 293.
2. C3/76/82; HMC Townshend, 3; Prouty, 93–95.
3. VCH Beds. iii. 12-15, 235; Prouty, 263; Eng. Reprints, 15, 26.