barnabe googe, born 11 june 1540 (st barnabas day), in alvingham, lincolnshire, was the son of robert googe (d. 5 may 1557) of chilwell, nottinghamshire, recorder of lincoln during the reign of queen mary, son of john goche of london and newland, gloucestershire, in the forest of dean, by jane bridges, daughter and heir of james bridges of the forest of dean. his mother was margaret mantell (d.1540), the daughter of sir walter mantell (d.1529) of nether heyford, northamptonshire, by margaret wood (d.1577), one of the daughters and coheirs of oliver wood, esquire. margaret wood married twice after the death of sir walter mantell (d.1529). her second husband was sir william haute (d.1539) of bishopsbourne, kent, whose daughter, jane haute (d. in or after 1595), was the wife of the rebel, thomas wyatt. margaret wood's third husband was sir james hales. googe's mother died when he was six weeks old, and according to lyne, he 'was probably brought up in kent by his grandmother, lady hales'.