Edward Zouch facts for kids

Sir Edward Zouch of Woking (died 1634) was an important person at the courts of English kings James I and Charles I. He was known for acting in special court plays called masques and served as the Knight Marshal of the King's Household, which meant he was in charge of keeping order and managing the royal household.

Edward Zouch was the son of Sir William Zouch. His mother's name is not known.

Sir Edward Zouch's Life and Work

His Marriages

Sir Edward Zouch married Eleanor Brittayne in 1598. Later, he married Elizabeth Middlemore, whose sister, Mary Middlemore, was a maid of honour to Anne of Denmark, the queen.

In 1612, he married Dorothy Silking, who was from Denmark and worked in Queen Anne's private rooms. The queen showed her favour by giving Dorothy and her sister Jyngell Silken gifts of clothing. Some people at court, like Reverend George Garrard, thought Sir Edward married Dorothy for her money. A jeweller named George Heriot recorded that "Lady Sutch" (Dorothy) owed him money, which she said the Queen would pay.

Glass Making Business

From 1609 to 1618, Sir Edward Zouch was involved in making glass, especially at the Vauxhall glassworks. He built a glass factory in Lambeth with Louis Thelwall, using coal from Scotland. This factory was inspected by Sir George More and Sir Edmund Bowyer.

There's a story that Sir Edward got the special permission (called a patent) to make glass by making the king laugh with a funny poem. He later sold his share of the glass business to Sir Robert Mansell.

In 1613, Sir Edward sent a female deer from Woking as a Christmas gift to a lawyer named James Whitelocke. In 1615, the King gave a silver plate worth £150 for the christening of Sir Edward's son, James.

Entertaining the King

As a gentleman of the King's Privy Chamber, Sir Edward Zouch traveled with King James to Scotland in 1617. He was also made a special citizen of Aberdeen.

In January 1618, he acted in a short play at Theobalds with other courtiers. The play was meant to cheer up the king, who was not feeling well. However, the king was not pleased with the play, especially some of the songs. People like John Chamberlain were surprised that no one realized it was not suitable for the king.

Later stories say that Sir Edward Zouch, along with others like George Goring and John Finet, often entertained King James. They were sometimes called the king's "chief and Master Fools" because they made him laugh. Their games included people riding on each other's backs to pretend to joust.

Knight Marshal Role

In October 1618, Sir Edward bought the important job of Knight Marshal from Sir Thomas Vavasour for £3000. The king helped him by giving him £1500. As Knight Marshal, Sir Edward was responsible for Queen Anne of Denmark's burial in Westminster Abbey in 1619.

In August 1619, Sir Edward acted in a comedy for the king in Salisbury, pretending to be a "bearward" (someone who looks after bears). In 1620, he wrote to his cousin, Lord Zouch, saying he would entertain King James and Prince Charles with masques (special court plays) when they visited Woking. This made the king happy, and Sir Edward was given Woking and another nearby area, which brought him more than £500 a year.

Life at Woking

Sir Edward Zouch became the manager of Woking Manor or Palace and the keeper of its park in 1609. The king often visited Woking. Sir Edward asked for repairs to the manor and even suggested cleaning the moat and building a new bridge to make the king's garden more private.

In 1620, Sir Edward was officially made the keeper of Woking Palace. He built a house nearby called Hoe Bridge Place. In November 1620, he was given the manors of Woking, Bagshot, and Chobham. He also became the Forester of Woking.

After Queen Anne's death, there was a check of her silver items. Sir Edward and Dorothy were asked to account for some missing items. Sir Edward claimed that a paper with Dorothy's signature was fake, saying she couldn't write. However, we know today that Dorothy could indeed sign her name.

In 1622, Sir Edward Zouch gave a special wooden gallery to St Peter's Church in Old Woking. His name is still painted on it. King James stayed with Sir Edward at Woking in 1624 and enjoyed hunting there. After King James died, Sir Edward Zouch announced that Charles I was the new king.

Sir Edward Zouch left his job as Knight Marshal in 1626. In 1630, he was involved in a legal case about some jewels he had pawned (given as security for a loan) in 1624. It was found that he had actually sold them in 1626.

In 1625, his cousin, Edward, Lord Zouche, left him Bramshill House in his will, saying he was "of my blood and the son of him I loved best."

Sir Edward Zouch passed away on June 7, 1634. There is a special message in Latin for him in St Peter's Church in Old Woking, mentioning his role as "Marshall of the Household." After his death, an inventory of Bramshill House showed his library had 250 books. His son James later sold Bramshill in 1637.

Sir Edward Zouch's Family

Sir Edward Zouch and Dorothy Silking had two children:

• James Zouch (1615-1643) married Beatrice Annesley. Beatrice was the niece of Bridget Annesley, who was also a companion to Dorothy Silking in Queen Anne's bedchamber.
• Sophia Zouch (1618-1691) first married Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon in 1635. Later, she married Robert King and had children.

After James Zouch died, his wife Beatrice married twice more. There was a legal case in 1669 involving a creditor of Sir Edward Zouch against his grandson. This case included copies of Sir Edward's will and a list of items at Bramshill.