English politician
Sir Bassingbourne Gawdy (19 May 1560 – 17 May 1606), of West Harling, Norfolk, was an English lawyer and judge, knight, and Member of Parliament.
Biography.
He was the son of Bassingbourne Gawdy of West Harling, Norfolk and Anne (died 1587), daughter of John Wootton of North Tuddenham in Norfolk, and relict, successively, of Thomas Woodhouse of Hickling, Norfolk (son of Sir William Woodhouse), and of Henry Reppes of Mendham, Suffolk. He was a brother of Phillip Gawdy (1562–1617).
Having trained for the law at the Inner Temple, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Norfolk by 1591 and High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1593–94 and 1601–02. He also served as a deputy lieutenant for Norfolk in 1605. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Norfolk in 1601. Later Bassingbourne became the MP of Thetford from 1593 and 1604.
Bassingbourne succeeded his father in 1590 (inheriting his lands at West Harling and nearby Bardwell Hall, Suffolk) and was knighted in 1597.
Bassingbourne died on 17 May 1606, and was buried on 23 May 1606 at West Harling. He was succeeded by his eldest son.
Family.
He first married Anne (baptised 6 October 1567 – died 1594), daughter of Sir Charles Framlingham of Crow’s Hall, Debenham in Suffolk and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Sir Clement Higham, and had three sons by her. His first wife was buried on 9 June 1594 at West Harling. By his first wife Anne Framlingham, Sir Bassingbourne Gawdy had two sons:
His second wife was Dorothy (daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon of Redgrave, Suffolk), who bore him a further two sons and three daughters. The two were married on 30 April 1595 at Culford, Suffolk. Dorothy, his second wife survived him and in 1609 she married Philip Colby of Culford, at Beccles. In 1621 she died, aged 47. There is a monumental inscription to her in Redgrave church. Children of Sir Bassingbourne Gawdy and Dorothy Bacon: 
"Heaven's wonder late, but now Earth's glorious ray,"
"With wonder shines; that's gone, this" new and gaye "[Anne Gawdye]"
"Still gazed on; in this is more than Heaven's light;"
"Day obscur'd that; this makes the day more bright."
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;