 In 1594 William became the 6th Earl on the sudden death of his older brother Ferdinando the 5th Earl.At least 1800 years of recorded history of East and West Lydford, with entries for both in the Doomsday Book, have led to the Parish now known as Lydford on Fosse.The parish of West Lydford was part of the hundred of Catsash, while East Lydford was in Somerton Hundred.