Family and Education

Offices Held

Bailiff and collector, Heighton, Southease and Telscombe, Suss. 1546.3

Biography

The return for Lewes to the Parliament of 1542 does not survive, but in 1544 the constables of the town paid John ‘Cayme’ a sum of £3 3s. as his parliamentary wage. Although this fell far short of what was due even for the third session held in that year, the fact that it was paid to one of the Members, whereas the other appears to have received no payment, suggests that the first was a townsman and the other a patron’s nominee. Of the two John Kymes, father and son, either of whom might have filled the seat, it is thus the elder man, a figure in Lewes since at least 1512, when he was one of the first trustees of the grammar school, who was probably the Member rather than his son, then making his career as steward of the household to William Petre; the influence of Petre, who a few years earlier had dissolved Lewes priory, could have promoted the elder Kyme’s election. The loss of the Lewes names leaves it uncertain whether he was re-elected to the succeeding Parliament.4

If the husband of a Kyme daughter was right to impale the arms of the Kymes of Lincolnshire later in the century, John Kyme was probably related to his namesake the Member for London in 1512 and 1515. With a Member of a later generation, Thomas Audley II, he acquired a connexion through his second marriage, but he was almost certainly dead before Audley sat in the Commons, being described as ‘late of Lewes’ in a suit brought by two of his sons in the court of requests in or before May 1553. Seven years earlier he and his son John had leased the rectory and free chapel of St. Leonard, Hollington, Sussex. If he made a will it has not been found.5

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: R. J.W. Swales

Notes

• 1. Town Bk. of Lewes, 1542-1701 (Suss. Rec. Soc. xlviii), 2.
• 2. Date of birth estimated from first reference. This biography is largely based on W. H. Challen, ‘Kyme fam. of Lewes’, Suss. Arch. Colls. c.111-36.
• 3. LP Hen. VIII , xxi.
• 4. F. G. Emmison, Tudor Sec. 154-317 passim.
• 5. Req.2/16/42.