teries of Newnham and Warden, and for the establishment of a perpetual chantry in the church of Turvey, for two secular chaplains, one of whom was to teach grammar freely (Nicolas, Testamenta Vetusta, p. 461).
[Cambridge Antiquarian Communications, i. 275; Churton's Lives of Smyth and Sutton, pp. 100-3, 247, 453, 490; Dugdale's Baronage; Halstead's Genealogies; Lysons's Bedfordshire, p. 147; Manning's Speakers, p. 129; Expenses of Elizabeth of York, pp. 101, 210; Sharpe's Peerage (1833), sig. 3 G 6.]
MORDAUNT, JOHN, first Lord Mordaunt of Turvey (1490?–1562), born about 1490, was son of Sir John Mordaunt (d. 1504) [q. v.] He became a courtier of Henry VIII, was sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in 1509, was knighted in 1520, and attended the meeting of Henry and Charles V at Gravelines, and the Field of the Cloth of Gold in the same year; in 1522 he met Charles again at Canterbury. In 1526 he became a privy councillor, received the office of general surveyor of the king's woods, and was a commissioner to report on some of the king's manors. In 1530 he helped to conduct the inquiry into the extent of Wolsey's property.
Mordaunt supported the reformation and watched for a chance of enriching himself; he was a personal friend of Cromwell. On 4 May 1532 he was made Baron Mordaunt of Turvey, and twelve days later was present when the submission of the clergy was made to the king. He went to Calais the same year with the king with twelve men in his train. On 31 May 1533 he received Anne Boleyn at the Tower when she came to be crowned. In 1534 he was one of the peers engaged in the trial of Lord Dacre. In conjunction with his son John, a strong catholic, he attempted to secure for himself the priory of Harwolde, by making the prioress sign a deed of the nature of which she was ignorant; but this scheme was duly reported by the watchful Richard Layton [q. v.] in 1535. In May 1536 he took part in Anne Boleyn's trial; he went against the northern rebels and assisted to bring them to justice. In 1537 he carried the banner at Jane Seymour's funeral. Henry wished to get Drayton Manor, Northamptonshire, from him, but died before the matter could be arranged. Mordaunt, now old, acquiesced in the changes under Edward VI, but took no part in them, supported the government under Mary, and died in 1562. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Vere of Addington Magna, Northamptonshire, and by her left three sons and several daughters, one of whom, Etheldred, became a nun of Barking. His eldest son, Sir John Mordaunt, was knighted 31 May 1533 at the coronation of Anne Boleyn. He was one of the first who declared for Queen Mary, was of her privy council (Acts Privy Council, 1552-4, passim), and died in 1570, having married Ela, daughter of Richard Fitzlewis of Thornton, Essex. His great-grandson was John, first earl of Peterborough [see under Mordaunt, Henry, third Earl].
[Letters and Papers Henry VIII, ed. Brewer and Gairdner, passim; Collins's Peerage, ed. Brydges, iii. 314 sqq.; Visitations of Bedfordshire (Harl. Soc.), pp. 42, 125; Acts of the Privy Council, 1550-4; Reilly's Historical Anecdotes of the Families of the Boleynes, Careys, &c., pp. 45 sq.; Halstead's Succinct Genealogies, pp. 525 sq.; Strype's Annals, i. ii. 230, Memorials, ii. i. 494, ii. 206, iii. ii. 160 sq.]
MORDAUNT, JOHN, Baron Mordaunt of Reigate in Surrey and Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon in Somerset (1627–1675), cavalier and conspirator, born in 1627, second son of John, first earl of Peterborough [see under Mordaunt, Henry, second Earl], and brother of Henry, second earl [q. v.], was educated in France and Italy. On his return to England he took part with his elder brother Henry in the insurrection of July 1648. During the interregnum he married Elizabeth Carey, second daughter of Thomas Carey, youngest son of Robert Carey, first earl of Monmouth [q. v.] She is described by Clarendon as 'a young, beautiful lady, of a very loyal spirit and notable vivacity of wit and humour, who concurred with him in all honourable dedication of himself' (Rebellion, book xv. § 93); and in the hazardous intrigues which preceded the Restoration she appears on more than one occasion to have rendered material service both to her husband and the royal cause. In these intrigues Mordaunt was the prime mover. Long before Ormonde's adventurous visit to England in January 1657-8 Mordaunt had opened communications with him from London, and placed himself unreservedly at the disposal of the king. A plot was thereupon laid for an insurrection in Sussex, and Mordaunt received commissions
from Charles for the levy of troops. One of the commissions, however, came through the treachery of a subordinate into the Protector's hands, and Mordaunt was arrested and committed to the Tower (15 April 1658). He was tried for high treason with Dr. John Hewit [q. v.] and Sir Henry Slingsby in the Painted Chamber, Westminster, on 2 June following. The court, including the president, Lord-commissioner Lisle, consisted of forty members, who combined the functions of judge and jury. Mordaunt at first disputed their jurisdiction, while his wife was busy
