Cliff,
The marriage license misread her surname. That Dorothy is the widow of
Sir Anthony Gwydott or Guydott, who was a wealthy merchant of
Southampton, knighted in 1549 and died in 1555. He is claimed to be a
noble Florentine who served as ambassador for Edward VI and was buried
in Florence (and he had lent money to Henry VIII). The Italian
appears to be Guidotti. There may be something on Dorothy in the
College of Arms.
The immediately following quote is from a history of Lymington, Hants.
(available on Google Books). This should give you enough to get going
on, if you had not already worked it out.
[quote]
APPENDIX. 235
He received letters of protection in May 1549.' In April 1550,
a warrant was issued by the Privy Council, for xlviijK. for a gold
chain, to be given to Anthony Guidott, on his being knighted. Sir
Anthony also received a letter under the privy seal, exempting him
from being sued in any court of law, "proviso that he shall at all
tymes make answer to the King's Ma'tie, in any plea &c.^
He d. in 1555 : and in 1557 his widow " dame Dorothe Gwydott,"
(late of the towne of Southampton), was m. at Stratford-le-Bow,
Middlesex, to John Harman, Esq. gentleman-usher to Queen Mary.
The grant of an augmentation of arms from King Edward VI to
Sir Antonio, is preserved in the Bodleian Library. It is in Latin ;
and
the following is a brief translated extract : —
" Since wortli is always excited by the desire of greater honour, We,
having considered the great merits of that noble man, Antonio
Guidotti, of
Florence, and also his remarkable gifts of mind and singular dexterity
in
transacting affairs Therefore we have granted to him the dignity
of knighthood ; and have permitted him to add to the arms of his
ancient
family the following additions, from Oui- arms and insignia, . . .
[On a chief arg. a lion rampant-guardant, between three fleurs-de-lis,
or.
Crest, a ger-falcon, rising, ppr., armed, or. holding an olive branch
vert.,
fructed of the last. Mantlings arg. and gu. Motto : Pax optima
rerumj.
Datum apud Westmonast : xxijmo die Decembris anno regni nostro
quarto." (1550).
Sir Antonio died in Italy, and is buried in the Church of St. Mark
at Florence, where his monument still stands, with this inscription
(in Latin) :
Deo Opt. Max.
ANTONIO GUIDOTTI,
On account of the peace arranged [by him] between the Kings of France
and Italy, received knighthood and many noble rewards from Edward the
Sixth ; and in his native country was enrolled in the number of the
Forty-eight [senators], by the Grand Duke Cosmo [de' Medici]. His
life
having terminated while he was Mayor [praetor] of Volaterrte, his
relatives
(in the absence of his sons) erected this Monument.
Died December 2nd, 1555, Aged 63 years and 6 months.
' Rymer's Foedera, vol. 15. The same volume mentions the pensions, &c.
above referred to.
- Cotton MSS. British Museum.
[Also]
Item details C 1/1223/46
Anthony GUYDOTT, knight, and Dorothy his wife, v. Edmund COKRELL of
London, merchant.: Seizure of goods from complainant's house in the
High Street, Southampton.: HANTS.