by his father's second marriage to ellen gadbury, widow of a husband surnamed parris, and daughter of a london goldsmith, he had a half brother, robert googe. by licence dated 21 may 1563, ellen (née gadbury) married william burnell (d.1570), esquire, of winkburn, nottinghamshire, auditor to henry viii. it is said that googe 'came to dislike his stepmother intensely'.