http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harington_(treasurer)

John Harington (or Harrington) (fl. 1550) was an English official working for Henry VIII, and husband to one of his reputed illegitimate children, Ethelreda Malte.

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In turn John and Elizabeth had a younger son whom they named John. This John Harington, of the eight generation after John of Lancaster, lived in Stepney in the eastern section of London. He was born about 1525. He was know as ÙSThe PoetÙT since he was one of the minor poets of the Elizabethan Age. He also collected and published the writings of other writers of that period. John made a very profitable marriage to Ethelreda Dingley, an illegitimate daughter of King Henry VIII, and secured from this union the Manor of Kelston and four other manors in Somerset in southwestern England. These properties had been taken from Bath Priory and given to Ethelreda by her father, King Henry. John supported his natural sister-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, and was imprisoned for aiding her cause during the struggle for the throne which followed King HenryÙus death. Ethelreda died about 1555 and john then married Isabella Marham, daughter of Sir John Markham. He wooed her with love poems and recorded his attraction toward her ÙSwhen first I thought her fair as she stood at the PrincessÙu window in goodly attire, and talked with divers (persons) in the court yardÙT. With Elizabeth on the throne and JohnÙus position secured, he began the building of one of the great manor houses of that day at Kelston Manor. He died in 1582 leaving a son, another John Harington, born in 1561. http://www.harringtons.org/documents/england/haringtn.htm 1

John was a younger son of John and Elizabeth. He was born about 1525 and lived on Stephey in the Eastern section of London. He was known as The Poet since he was a minor poet of the Elizabethan age. He also collected and published the writing of others during that period.

He made a profitable marriage to Ethelreda Dingley, an illegitimate daughter of King Henry VIII. As a result, he secured the manor of Kelston and four other manors in Somerset in south western England. These properties had been taken from Bath Priory and given to Ethelreda by King Henry VIII.

Subsequent to King Henry's death, John supported his natural sister-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, and was imprisoned for aiding her attempt at securing the throne.

Ethelreda died about 1555 and John married Isabella Markham, daugther of Sir John Markham, and was the mother of his successor, John, who was born in 1561.

Once Elizabeth was secure on the throne and John had regained his position, he began building Kelston Manor, one of the great manor houses of the time. It was unfinished at his death in 1582.

Ancestry and Descendants of William Harrington or Herrington. page 3.

-------------------- John Harington, acquired considerable estates by marrying Etheldreda, an illegitimate daughter of King Henry VIII. After her death, he was attached to the service of the Princess Elizabeth. He married Isabella Markham, one of her ladies. On Mary's accession to the throne, he and his wife were imprisoned in the Tower of London with the princess.

He translated Cicero's "De Amicitia" and wrote poetry.

He is referred to as "the enraptured poet" in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.

Some of his work:

An elegy of a pointed diamond given by the author to his wife at the birth of his eldest son

DEAR, I to thee this diamond commend,

In which a model of thyself I send.

How just unto thy joints this circlet sitteth,

So just thy face and shape my fancy fitteth.

The touch will try this ring of purest gold,

My touch tries thee, as pure though softer mold.

That metal precious is, the stone is true,

As true, and then how much more precious you.

The gem is clear, and hath nor needs no foil,

Thy face, nay more, thy fame is free from soil.

You'll deem this dear, because from me you have it,

I deem your faith more dear, because you gave it.

This pointed diamond cuts glass and steel,

Your love's like force in my firm heart I feel.

But this, as all things else, time wastes with wearing,

Where you my jewels multiply with bearing.

Sir John Harington

AND

Of an accident of saying grace at the Lady Rogers who used to dine exceeding late. Written to his wife from Bath

MY Mall, in your short absence from this place,

Myself here dining at your mother's board,

Your little son did thus begin his grace,

The eyes of all things look on thee O Lord,

And thou their food dost give them in due season.

Peace boy (quoth I) not more of this a word,

For in this place this grace hath little reason,

Whenas we speak to God we must speak true,

And though the meat be good in taste and season,

This season for a dinner is not due,

Then peace, I say, to lie to God is treason.

Say on my boy (saith she) your father mocks,

Clowns and not courtiers use to go by clocks.

Courtiers by clocks (said I) and clowns by cocks.

Now if your mother chide with me for this,

Then you must reconcile us with a kiss.

Sir John Harington

-------------------- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harington_(treasurer)

Harrington lived at Stepney, and filled the post of treasurer to the king's camps and buildings. While holding that office Harington employed John Bradford. Accounts differ on their professional relationship: it is said by Bradford's biographers that he compelled Harington about 1549 to make a restitution to the crown of a sum of money which Harington had misappropriated. John Strype, however, represents that Bradford was himself guilty of misappropriating public moneys, which Harington made good to shield his clerk from punishment.

Harington seems to have been a confidential servant of Henry VIII, and to have risen by marrying a natural daughter of the king, Etheldreda, daughter of Joanna Dyngley or Dobson, who was brought up by the king's tailor, John Malte, as a daughter of his own. Henry granted her the monastic forfeitures of Kelston, Batheaston, and Katharine in Somerset, and on his marriage in 1546 Harington settled at Kelston, near Bath, on his wife's estate. Etheldreda later died without issue, leaving her lands to her husband.

Harington entered the service of Princess Elizabeth. He was a cultivated man and a poet, who in his visits to Elizabeth at Hatfield turned his talents to the praises of her six gentlewomen, but soon singled out among them Isabella Markham, daughter of Sir John Markham of Gotham. He married her early in 1559. Five years before their marriage he was imprisoned in the Tower at the same time as the Princess Elizabeth; his first wife and Isabella, both being her Ladies-in-Waiting, had accompanied the princess. In 1561 their son John was born, and Elizabeth, who had now ascended the throne, repaid their loyalty by acting as his godmother. He later became known as a writer at her court, where he was often in trouble.

-------------------- Christening: 21 APR 1525 England Event: Invention 1st flush toilet Note: John was a minor poet of the Elizabethan age. His first wife was an illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII. He lived in Somerset in southwestern England on a manor known as "Kelston" which came to him from Henry VIII through his first wife. This info came from M/M Henry Edward Flake of 419 Jones Ave, Waynesboro, Ga. Oct 25, 1991

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harington_(writer)