GASCOIGNE, George (by 1537-77).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

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. 1568.1

Offices Held

Dep. almoner at Elizabeth’s coronation 1559; govt. agent in Netherlands Aug.-Nov. 1576.2

Biography

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. 1577.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: N. M. Fuidge

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.