Ralph Vane or Fane was born at the manor of Badsell in Tudely, Kent in the reign of Henry VIII.
[1] Fane was nominated under Henry VIII's will to be steward (with Sir William Goring) of Lord Lincoln's lands.
He took part in the Scottish campaign of 1547 under the Protector Somerset, and after the battle of Pinkie Cleugh at Musselburgh was created Knight banneret.
[1] John Strype states that Fane's widow, Elizabeth Brugge (daughter of Rouland Brugge, died 1540, and Margery Kelom), was a "liberal benefactor" to Protestants under Queen Mary and corresponded with Philpot and John Bradford.
Lady Fane was described by John Foxe as a "a speciall Nourse and a great supporter [within] her power of the godly Saintes, which were imprisoned in Q[ueen] Marie's time.