Francis Rugge

Francis Rugge (1535 – 18 October 1607[1][2]), of Norwich, Norfolk, was an English politician.

He was a Freeman, Norwich 1563, alderman from c.1570, sheriff 1572-3, and Mayor of Norwich 1587-8, 1598-9 and 1602-3.[1]

Francis Rugge was the 4th son of Robert Rugge (d.1559), Mayor of Norwich, by Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Wood of Norwich,[3] gentleman of the horse to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. His uncle was William Rugge, Bishop of Norwich, and his brother was John Rugge (d. February 1581/2), Archdeacon of Wells.[4]

The Old Telephone Exchange in St. Andrew's Street, Norwich

He married Anne (d. 23 May 1611[5]), daughter of John Aldrich (by 1520–1582[6]) by Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Sotherton, alderman of Norwich,[6][1] on 14 June 1561 at St. Clement's Church, Norwich.[7] Anne had previously been the wife of Nicholas Bacon (d.1560[8]). Nicholas Bacon and Anne Aldrich had been married on 19 February 1559 in the same church.[9] The entry for their marriage is a couple of entries above the entry for that of Francis and Anne. Anne's first husband was buried at St. Clement's Church, Norwich on 20 of November 1560.[10] His entry is a couple of entries above the one for the burial of Anne and Francis's infant son.[11] It was Francis who inherited his father’s position as a Norwich mercer. In his father's will he was left two manors and some money and plate, and he was appointed one of the executors of said will. His father died in 1559.[1]

According to Norwich Heritage:

The couple had no children. They lived in a house built 1470 - 90 on land at the corner of Bridewell Abbey and St Andrew's Street. An inner entrance of the house has been preserved at the Telephone Exchange in St Andrew's Street.[2]

Two children were baptised to Francis Rugge and Anne Aldrich:

  1. Robert, baptised on 12 July 1562 at St. Clement's Church, Norwich,[12] buried on 21 July 1562 at St. Clement's Church, Norwich[11]
  2. Jone, a daughter, baptised in January 1563/4 at home by the midwife,[13] buried on 22 January 1563/4 at St. George Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk, England.[14]

The couple's monument survives, and is located in the same chapel as the monuments of Robert Suckling, also a Norwich politician, and his son Sir John Suckling, who was knighted in 1616 and served as Secretary of State to both James I and Charles I.[15][2][5]

At the east end wall, on the northernmost part, St. Mary's chapel in St. Andrew's Church, Norwich,[5][2] there is an inscription which reads:

Hic prope Patricio RUGGORUM sanguine cretus

FRANCISCUS recubat, qui septaginta duosque,

Per-vivens annos, isti ter præfuit Urbi,

ANNA que ab Aldricijs quæ progeneratur avitis,

Hujus FRANCISCI nuper fidissima conjux,

Condidit hunc Tumulum recubantis honore Mariti.

Obijt Ille die xviii° Mensis Octobris A° Dni. 1607.

Obijt Illa die xxiii° Mensis Maij 1611.

A Senator of Senators renowned Race,

Was FRANCIS RUGG, now intombed in this Place,

He was thrice Mayor in 72 Years Life,

ANN, being by birth an Aldrich late his Wife,

In Love hath reared this Memorial,

To celebrate his worthy Name withal.[16]

St. Andrew's Church, Norwich

The Rugge coat of arms, Gules, a chevron engrailed, between three mullets pierced, argent,[17][18] can be seen on this monument,[2][5] though the chevron does not appear to be engrailed.[19] Francis Blomefield, Rector of Fersfield in Norfolk, however, confirms this to be the coat of arms of Rugge in his An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 4, Containing the History of Norwich, Part II.[16] This coat of arms quarters, 1st,[5] Argent, a chevron engrailed between three pairs of keys erect, addorsed azure, Mynshawe;[20] 2nd, arg. a chevron ingrailed sab. between three birds. 3rd,[5] Ermine, a chief indented gules,[20] Brome.[5][20] There is a crescent for difference. The said quartered coats impale Aldrich,[5] on a fesse bull passant,[20] and there is a shield of Aldrich single.[5]

Of the other coats of arms the Rugge coat of arms is quartered with, Argent, a chevron, between three birds (martlets), sable, appears to be the coat of arms of his mother's Wood family.[21]

This quartering could indicate a Mynshawe and a Brome heiress in Francis Rugge's ancestry, which marriages are now lost to time.

References
  1. "RUGGE, Francis (1535-1607), of Norwich, Norf. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  2. "Francis Rugge Monument". www.norwich-heritage.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  3. "RUGGE, Robert (by 1503-59), of Norwich, Norf. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  4. Rye, Walter; Hervey, William; Cooke, Clarenceux; Raven, John. The visitacion [i.e., visitation] of Norfolk, made and taken by William Hervey, Clarencieux King of Arms, anno 1563, enlarged with another visitacion [sic] made by Clarenceux Cook : with many other descents, and also the vissitation [sic] made. Family History Library.
  5. "City of Norwich, chapter 42: Middle Wimer ward". An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 4. British History Online. 1806. Retrieved 21 September 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. "ALDRICH, John (by 1520-82), of Norwich, Norf. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  7. 1561. M.r Frauncis Rugge and An Bacon wer maryed the . 14 . Day of June Anno 1561 at St. Clement, Norwich, Norfolk, England. NORWICH ST. CLEMENT baptisms 1538–1665; marriages 1541–1666; burials 1539–1666. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 6/1
  8. "Will of Nicholas Bacon, Grocer of Norwich, Norfolk – The National Archives". Published by Ancestry here. 13 February 1561. to my lovinge mother mysteres Alice Bacon to make her a rynge on for a remembrance xLs And I give lykewyse to my mother Aldriche other xLs And I give to my good and lovinge father Mr Henry Bacon and to my father in lawe Mr John Aldriche to be assistinge to my welbeloved wyef to eche of them five pounds to make eache of them a ringe for a remembrance And I give to my brother Bryan and to every one of my Sisters[?] to each of them in money xxs [20 shillings]. And all the residue of my goods by what name soever they maye be cauled my debts beinge paied and this my presente Testamente beinge pformed I doe wholy give them to my welbeloved wyef Anne Bacon whome I do ordaine and make my only and sole executrix of this my saide laste will and testament
  9. Nicholas Bacon & Anne Aldritch were maryed the . 19 . day of ffebruary Anno 1559 at St. Clement, Norwich, Norfolk, England. NORWICH ST. CLEMENT baptisms 1538–1665; marriages 1541–1666; burials 1539–1666. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 6/1
  10. Nicholas Bacon was buryed ye 20. of Novem. 1560 at St. Clement, Norwich, Norfolk, England. NORWICH ST. CLEMENT baptisms 1538–1665; marriages 1541–1666; burials 1539–1666. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 6/1
  11. Roberte Rugg the Sonne of M.r Frauncis Rug was buryed the 21. day of July Anno Dm. 1562 at St. Clement, Norwich, Norfolk, England. NORWICH ST. CLEMENT baptisms 1538–1665; marriages 1541–1666; burials 1539–1666. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 6/1
  12. Robt Rugg the Sonne of Mr ffrauncis and Anne Rug was Baptizd the 12. July 1562 at St. Clement, Norwich, Norfolk, England. NORWICH ST. CLEMENT baptisms 1538–1665; marriages 1541–1666; burials 1539–1666. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 6/1
  13. Jone Rugge the daughter of Mr ffrauncis Rugge was baptised the [...] of January at home by the midwife 1563 at St. George Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk, England. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 7/1
  14. Jonne Rugge the daughter of mr ffrauncis Rugge buried ye 22 Janur 1563 at St. George Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk, England. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 7/1
  15. "Suckling House and Stuart Hall". Norwich HEART. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  16. Blomefield, Francis (1806). An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: History of Norwich. W. Miller.
  17. "Tunstede Hundred: Felmingham | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  18. Farrer, Edmund (1887). The church heraldry of Norfolk : a description of all coats of arms on brasses, monuments, slabs, hatchments, &c., now to be found in the county, illustrated, with references to Blomefield's History of Norfolk and Burke's Armory, together with notes from the inscriptions attached. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Norwich : A.H. Goose and Co.
  19. "Francis Rugge Monument – Heraldic Crest". www.norwich-heritage.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  20. Farrer, Edmund (1887). The church heraldry of Norfolk: a description of all coats of arms on brasses, monuments, slabs, hatchments, &c., now to be found in the county. Illustrated. With references to Blomefield's History of Norfolk and Burke's Armory. Together with notes from the inscriptions attached. Harvard University. Norwich, A.H. Goose and co.
  21. Farrer, Edmund (1887). The church heraldry of Norfolk: a description of all coats of arms on brasses, monuments, slabs, hatchments, &c., now to be found in the county. Illustrated. With references to Blomefield's History of Norfolk and Burke's Armory. Together with notes from the inscriptions attached. University of California. Norwich, A.H. Goose and co. Per pale, a chevron between three birds (Wood, Per pale, a chevron between three martlets as many trefoils slipt, all counterchanged.)
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