According to information passed on to me by Ian Caldwell, in Dec 2001: "Thomas Manners, Ist Earl of Rutland (1492-1543), son of Anne St.Leger and Sir George Manners, married Eleanor Paston, daughter of Sir William Paston of Paston Hall, Norfolk.

On 22nd June 1513, a few months before the death of his father at Tournay, Thomas landed at Calais on the French expedition, and became baron Ros on his father's death in October. He was summoned to parliament in 1515 and was at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 and also at Henry VIII's meeting with Charles V afterwards. In December 1521 he became cup-bearer to the king and in January 1522 was made steward to Pickering, Yorkshire. From April to October 1522 he held the appointment of Warden of the East Marches. He also received the Wardenship of Sherwood Forest on 12th July 1524, an office which was to become practically hereditary in his family. He was knighted on 24th April 1525 and on the 18th June that year was made Earl of Rutland. He was a great favourite of Henry VIII and had many grants, including the keepership of Enfield Chase, which was given to him on 12th July 1526.

On 11th October 1532 he landed with Henry in France. He was at the coronation of Anne Boleyn in 1533 and later took part in her trial. He was actively engaged in meeting the troubles of 1536. He held a joint command with the Earls of Huntingdon and Shrewsbury and marched to Nottingham and thence to Newark, Southall and Doncaster against the northern rebels. He was steward of many monasteries and from various ancestors had claims by way of foundation on certain of the houses. Hence, when the dissolution came he received numerous grants of monastic property. In Leicestershire he obtained Charley, Garradon, and, by exchange, Croxton; in Yorkshire - Beverley, Warter, and Rievaulx by exchange. With Robert Tyrwhit he took Belvoir, Eagle and Kyme in Lincolnshire, and Nunholme in Yorkshire.

When Anne of Cleves came to England, Rutland was appointed her lord chamberlain and met her at Shooters Hill after her unfortunate interview with the King at Rochester. In 1542 he became constable of Nottingham Castle. He went to the border again on 7th August 1542 as warden of the marches, but he was recalled on becoming ill in November the same year. From Newark on Trent he wrote on 7th November to the council of the North: "As God knows, I ame in a poyur and febyll estat." he died on 20th September 1543.

When not at Belvoir, which he repaired and turned from a fortress into a dwelling house, he seems to have lived at the old Benedictine nunnery of Holywell in Shoreditch, London. A portrait by an unknown artist is at Belvoir. he married first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Lovel; and secondly, Eleanor, daughter of Sir William Paston. By his second wife he had five sons and six daughters. His eldest son, Henry, succeeded him in the title.

The Pastons of Norfolk are notable for their correspondence and the "Paston Letters" were published in six volumes in 1904, edited by J.Gairdner, and are a valuable historical source for the Mediaeval period. The Pastons were a family who rose from the agricultural class through acquiring professional skill".

Thomas 2nd Baron Sandys of Vine: Jerry Gandolfo writes (in an email dated 15 Mar 2003 sent to me):

"I’ve just noticed that Thomas 2nd Baron Sandys of Vine was married to Elizabeth Manners, daughter of George Manner, Lord Ros. Meanwhile, your notes (from your website), show , "According to information passed on to me by Ian Caldwell, in Dec 2001: "Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland (1492-1543), son of Anne St. Leger and Sir George Manners, married Eleanor Paston, daughter of Sir William Paston of Paston Hall, Norfolk. On 22nd June 1513, a few months before the death of his father at Tournay, Thomas landed at Calais on the French expedition, and became baron Ros on his father's death in October."

Also, of William, 1st Baron of Vine, my research shows that in 1518 he was made a Knight of the Garter, and in 1520 he was chosen to be one of the Commissioners to arrange an interview between Francis I of France and Henry VIII at what became known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Quoting again from your postings, "He [Thomas] was summoned to parliament in 1515 and was at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 and also at Henry VIII's meeting with Charles V." Further, William, 1st Baron of Vine, signed the letter to Pope Clement regarding Henry’s divorce from Queen Katherine, and your postings show, "He [Thomas] was also a signatory of the letter to Clement VII, requesting Henry VIII's divorce." Finally while Thomas, "served at the trial of Mary Queen of Scots in 1586," William, 1st Baron of Vine, was well placed within court circles during the reign of Henry VII and was a close personal friend of the King’s son, Prince Henry, (later Henry VIII), and later a supporter of Catherine of Aragon (first wife of Henry VIII). The denouncement of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and the persecution of Roman Catholics that followed, upset Sandys and he gradually tried to distance himself from the royal court. Nevertheless, as Lord Chamberlain he was obliged to take part in the public reception of Anne Boleyn when, as Henry's second Queen, made her entry up the River Thames. In 1535 he was also forced to receive Henry and his new Queen at the Vyne."