Page "Edward Coke" Paragraph 59

On 13 August 1582 Coke married Bridget Paston, daughter of John Paston, a Counsellor from Norwich.

Paston came from a long line of lawyers and judges – his great grandfather, William Paston, was a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

Having grown up nearby Coke knew the family, and asked for Bridget's hand immediately after she turned eighteen.

At the time he was a thirty-one year old barrister with a strong practice, and her father had no qualms about accepting his offer.

Six months after they married John Paston died, leaving his daughter and son-in-law his entire estate and several of his clients.

Bridget maintained a diary, which reveals that she mainly ran the household.

Despite this she was an independent woman, travelling without her husband and acting as a helpmate to Coke.

Paston was noted as an " incomparable " woman who had " inestimable value clearly manifested by the eulogies which are lavished on her character ".

The couple settled at the manor of Huntingfield, described as " enchanting, with a legend for every turret ... A splendid gallery ran the length of the house, the Great Hall was built around six massive oaks which supported the roof as they grew ".