Sir Robert Jermyn DL (1539–1614) was a prominent East Anglian landowner and magistrate, of strongly reformist views in religion, who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1584 and 1589.

Biography

Jermyn was the eldest surviving son of Sir Ambrose Jermyn and his first wife Anne Heveningham, daughter of George Heveningham. He may have been a student of

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Corpus Christi College (full name: "The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary", often shortened to "Corpus"), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. From the late 14th century through to the early 19th century ...

in 1550. He was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1561. In 1577 he succeeded to his father's Suffolk estates and seat at Rushbrooke Hall, Suffolk's largest moated Tudor mansion. Around this time he was brought onto the commission of the peace. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1578 and hosted the Queen at Rushbrooke during her visit to Suffolk the same year. He was appointed High Sheriff of Suffolk for 1579.N.M. Fuidge, 'Jermyn, Sir Robert (d.1614), of Rushbrooke, Suff.', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603'' (from Boydell and Brewer 1981)
History of Parliament Online
Jermyn's extreme Protestant views saw him removed from the judicial bench from 1583 until 1593. During this enforced absence he served as the junior Member of Parliament (MP) for

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowes ...

in the parliament of 1584 and as the senior MP in 1586. He then served as MP for

East Looe East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fac ...

from 1588 to 1589. He was also a deputy lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Suffolk from before 1594 to 1614. George Gower Isabel Biddulph

Jermyn died in 1614 and was buried at Rushbrooke. Jermyn married Judith Blagge, the daughter of Sir George Blagge of Little Horringer, Suffolk and had at least two sons, including

Sir Thomas Jermyn Sir Thomas Jermyn (1573–1645) of Rushbrooke, Suffolk, was an English courtier and Cavalier, Royalist who served as a Member of Parliament between 1604 and 1640. Early life Jermyn was the son of Sir Robert Jermyn of Rushbrooke. He was admitted ...

, and five daughters. His daughter Susan married Sir William Hervey and they had sons John and Thomas Hervey.B. D. Henning, 'Hervey, John (1616-80), of Ickworth, Suff. and Westminster' in B.D. Henning (ed.), ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690'' (from Boydell and Brewer 1983)
History of Parliament Online

Heraldry

Sir Robert gave a collection of books, works by

John Calvin John Calvin (; frm, Jehan Cauvin; french: link=no, Jean Calvin ; 10 July 150927 May 1564) was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system ...

, to the library of St James's church at

Bury St Edmunds Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as Bury, is a historic market town, market, cathedral town and civil parish in Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St.Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – ...

, founded in 1595. Thirteen of these survive, bearing his donative inscription, and displaying his heraldic arms stamped on the covers.'Jermyn, Robert, Sir (1539-1614)', British Armorial Bindings (University of Toronto Libraries/The Bibliographical Society of London)
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The arms are shown as follows, quarterly of nine:
1: (Jermyn). A crescent between two mullets in pale;
2: (Rushbrook). A fess between three roses;
3: (Heveningham). Per cross a bordure engrailed a crescent for difference;
4: (Jarvill). Paly of six;
5: (Gissing). On a bend three eagles displayed;
6: (Redesham). Semy of fleurs de lys;
7: (Reppes). Three chevrons;
8: (Burgon). A talbot passant;
9: (Bozun). Three bird bolts point downwards in fess.
Crest: A talbot statant ducally gorged.

References

*'' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Jermyn, Sir Robert (1538/9–1614), gentleman and patron of puritans by John Craig. {{DEFAULTSORT:Jermyn, Robert 1539 births 1614 deaths Members of the Parliament of England (pre-1707) for East Looe Deputy lieutenants of Suffolk High sheriffs of Suffolk Knights Bachelor English MPs 1584–1585 English MPs 1586–1587 English MPs 1589 Robert Members of the Middle Temple Members of the Parliament of England for constituencies in Suffolk