FANE, Thomas (d.1607), of Burston, Hunton, Kent.

Fane thrice procured his own return for Dover during his lieutenantship of the castle. In 1589 he was on the returns committee (10 Feb.). His 1593 committees included the subsidy (26 Feb.); the poor law (12 Mar.); Lord Bergavenny’s lands (20 Mar.) and statutes (28 Mar.). No activity is recorded for him in the 1597 Parliament. He did not sit in 1601 but managed the patronage of the warden during the election. His post as lieutenant of Dover castle entailed many duties apart from defence, such as arranging for the embarkation and supply of military expeditions to the Continent, the examination of suspected persons landing at Dover, the supply of information to the government on events abroad and at sea, the safekeeping of foreign captives, and the reception of foreign personages. Fane worked closely with the two wardens of the Cinque Ports in this period, the first of whom (the 10th Lord Cobham) appointed him an executor. After the disgrace of the second (the 11th Lord Cobham) in 1603 Fane’s position as deputy was formally recognized. Among Fane’s many other concerns were the repair of Dover harbour in the 1590s, an inquiry into the alleged malversation of funds at Sandwich in 1589, and into the administration of New Romney in 1591.3CSP Dom. 1595-7, pp. 200, 217; 1598-1601, pp. 344-5, 491; 1601-3, pp. 82, 242, 243; 1603-10, pp. 25, 49-50; APC, xvii. 395; xxi. 287; xxviii. 10-11; xxxii. 213; Lansd. 66, ff. 27 seq.; 78, f. 216; 83, ff. 102 seq.; J. Scott, Mems. Fam. of Scott of Scot’s Hall, Kent, App. p. viii, letter no. 19; HMC Hatfield, iv. 295; xi. 149, 522; New Romney recs. bdle. 115, nos. 2-5; D’Ewes, 430, 474, 499, 504, 511.

He died in January 1607 and was buried at Hunton. His only child Mary had already died s.p. and Burston passed to his nephew George.4Hasted, v. 151-2; HMC 10th Rep. IV, 7.