BRYAN, Sir Francis (by 1492-1550), of the Blackfriars, London and Ampthill and Woburn, Beds.

Family and Education

b. by 1492, 1st surv. s. of Sir Thomas Bryan of Ashridge, Herts. by Margaret, da. of Sir Humphrey Bourchier (d.1471), s. and h. of John, 1st Lord Berners. educ. ?Oxf. m. (1) by Mar. 1522, Philippa, da. and h. of Humphrey Spice of Black Notley, Essex, wid. of John Fortescue of Ponsbourne, Herts.; (2) by 29 Aug. 1548, Joan, da. of James Fitzmaurice (Fitzgerald), 10th Earl of Desmond, wid. of James Butler (d.1546), 9th Earl of Ormond; at least 1s. illegit. suc. fa. by 31 Jan. 1518. Kntd. 2 July 1522, banneret Sept. 1547.Date of birth estimated from first reference. DNB; PCC 4 Ayloffe; CP, ii. 153; Emden, Biog. Reg. Univ. Oxf. 1501-40, pp. 654-5; Essex Feet of Fines, iv. ed. Reaney and Fitch, 253; LP Hen. VIII, iii; Corresp. Politique de Odet de Selve 1546-9, ed. Lefevre-Pontalis, 466.

Offices Held

Capt. Margaret Bonaventure 1513; master of the toils 1518 – 48; constable, Hertford castle, Herts. 1518 – 34, Harlech castle, Merion. 1521 – d., Wallingford castle, Berks. 1536, jt. constable, Warwick castle, Warws. 1528 – d.; cipherer, the Household 1520; gent. privy chamber by 1521; esquire of the body by 1522; commr. subsidy, Herts. 1523, Essex 1524, survey lands, Calais 1532, tenths of spiritualities, Beds. 1535, benevolence 1544/45, musters 1546; forester, Enfield Chase, Mdx. 1524 – 26; v.-adm. 1525, 1543; j.p. Beds. 1525 – d., Bucks. 1525 – 42, Herts. 1526; master of the henchmen 1526 – 49; custos rot. Bucks. 1528; keeper, Richmond Park, Surr. 1529 – 46, jt. (with Francis Bulstrode) Brogborough Park, Beds., 1547; ambassador to France and Rome Aug. 1528 – Oct. 1529, France Oct. 1530 – Dec. 1531, Nov. 1535, Apr. – Aug. 1538, to the Empire Oct. – Dec. 1543; steward, the Chiltern hundreds 1536, Ewelme and Nuneham Courtnay, Oxon. 1538; chief butler, Eng. 1537 – d.; recorder, Bedford c. 1548; marshal, Ireland Nov. 1548, ld. justice Dec. 1549.LP Hen. VIII, i-xxi; CPR, 1547–8, pp. 80, 339; 1549–51, p. 179; Somerville, Duchy, i. 561, 604, 612; The Gen. xxx. 19; Ordinances and Regulations, R. Household (Soc. Antiq. 1790), 168–9; LC2/2, ff. 37, 41; E. Breese, Kalendars of Gwynedd, 133; W. C. Richardson, Tudor Chamber Admin. 486; PRO Lists, ii. 15; information from Bedford town clerk; CSP Ire. 1509–73, passim.

Parlimentarian

BRYAN, Sir Francis (by 1492-1550), of the Blackfriars, London and Ampthill and Woburn, Beds.

Main residences: the Blackfriars, London; Ampthill; Woburn, Beds.

Author

M.K.D.

Volume

Commons 1509-1558

Web Title

BRYAN, Sir Francis (by 1492-1550)

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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