He married 1stly, in 1493 or 1494, Christian, 3rd dau. and coheir of Thomas Foderingey, of Brockley, Suffolk, by Elizabeth, sister and in her issue heir of John Doreward, and dau. of William Doreward, of Bocking, Essex. She, who was born circa 1481, died s.p. before 4 Nov 1498. He married 2ndly, between 29 Apr 1507 and 4 Jul 1509, Elizabeth, sister and heir of John Trussell, and dau. of Edward Trussell, co. Stafford, by Margaret, dau. of Sir John Donne. She, who was born in 1496, died probably before Jul 1527. Monument Inscription at Castle Hedingham. By his 2nd wife he had his heir, John, and younger sons: Aubrey, grandfather of the 19th Earl; Robert; Geoffrey, father of the famous generals Sir Francis De Vere, Governor of Brill (died s.p.s. 1609), and Horatio, Lord Vere of Tilbury (died s.p.m. 1635); and dau.s, Elizabeth, married Thomas Darcy, 1st Lord Darcy, of Chiche; Frances, married Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; and Anne, married Edmund Sheffield, 1st Lord Sheffield. In an official Report, 10 Nov 1531, the Venetian Ambassador, Lodovico Ralier, describes the Earl as "a man of valour and authority, with a revenue of 25,000 ducats, and it is his custom always to cavalcade with 200 horse". (Cal. S.P. Venice, 1527-33, p. 295).
He died at his manor of Colne, 21 Mar 1539/40, and was buried at Castle Hedingham, 12 Apr following. His effigy, depicted in plate armour, is carved on a corner post of the Guildhall at Lavenham, Suffolk (Ranson, Lavenham, p. 53).
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