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THE ANCESTOR

A Quarterly Review of County and

Family History, Heraldry

and Antiquities

TED BY

OSWALD BARRON F.S.A

MBER X!

OBER 1904

LONDON
HIBALD CONSTABLV TD

THE ANCESTOR

A Quarterly Review of County and

Family History, Heraldry

and Antiquities

EDITED BY

OSWALD BARRON F.S.A

NUMBER XI
OCTOBER 1904

LONDON
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & CO LTD

JvO.ll

THE pages of the ANCESTOR will be open
to correspondence dealing with matters
within the scope of the review.

Questions will be answered, and advice
will be given, as far as may be possible,
upon all points relating to the subjects
with which the ANCESTOR is concerned.

While the greatest care will be taken
or any MSS. which may be submitted for
publication, the Editor cannot make him-
self responsible for their accidental loss.

All literary communications should be
addressed to

THE EDITOR OF THE ANCESTOR,
1 6 JAMES STREET,

HAYMARKET,

LONDON, S.W.

CONTENTS

TAGI

THE WILD WILMOTS . . ._ . O. B. I

WE REGRET THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRINT
AN ARTICLE FROM MR. BIRD IN REPLY TO MR.
ROUND'S ARTICLE ON "THE TRAFFORD LEGEND"
IN THIS VOLUME. IT WILL THEREFORE APPEAR
IN VOLUME XII.

GENEALOGIST'S CALENDAR OF CHANCERY PROCEEDINGS 161

WHAT IS BELIEVED 170

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 178

CASES FROM THE EARLY CHANCERY PROCEEDINGS

ExUL. 191

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR !97

EDITORIAL NOTES 201

The Copyright of all the Articles and Illustrations
in this Review is strictly reserved

Rfc

no. 1 1

1 6 JAMES STREET,

HAYMARKET,

LONDON, S.W.

CONTENTS

THE WILD WILMOTS O. B. I

AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT

A. R. MALDEN 26

THE PEDIGREE OF FREKE H. B. 33

OUR OLDEST FAMILIES : XIII. THE BASSETS . . . O. B. 55

A POSSIBLE SAMBORNE ANCESTRY . . V. S. SANBORN 61

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL . . . . H. M. DIGBY 71

SHIELDS FROM CLIFTON REYNES . . . . THOMAS SHEPARD 90

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE. . . OSWALD BARRON 97

COMYN AND VALOIGNES J. HORACE ROUND 129

LETTERS OF THE FANES AND INCLEDONS L. C. WEBBER-

INCLEDON 136

A GREAT MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT . . J. HORACE ROUND 153

A ROYAL PEDIGREE AND A PICTURE OF THE BLACK

PRINCE 158

GENEALOGISTS CALENDAR OF CHANCERY PROCEEDINGS 161

WHAT IS BELIEVED 170

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 178

CASES FROM THE EARLY CHANCERY PROCEEDINGS

EXUL. 191

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 197

EDITORIAL NOTES 201

The Copyright of all the Articles and Illustrations
in this Review is strictly reserved

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

CHARLES, 3RD EARL OF ROCHESTER Frontispiece

HENKY, IST EARL OF ROCHESTER Facing page 5

JOHN, 2ND EARL OF ROCHESTER AS A YOUTH .... „ „ 8

ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF ROCHESTER „ „ n

JOHN, 2ND EARL OF ROCHESTER (MINIATURE) .... „ „ 14

JOHN, 2ND EARL OF ROCHESTER, AND HIS APE. ... „ „ 17

BARBARA, DUCHESS OF CLEVELAND „ ,,20

JOHN, 2ND EARL OF ROCHESTER „ „ 23

FRANCES, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND „ „ 25

GEORGE DIGBY, 2ND EARL OF BRISTOL „ ,,71

SHIELDS FROM CLIFTON REYNES „ ,,90

» » n » « » 92

» » » rj " " 94

» » » :; " )» 9°

THE BLACK PRINCE AND THE FAIR MAID OF KENT . „ „ 158

KING ALFRED AND KING EDWARD THE ELDER ... „ „ 160

KING HENRY AND KING RICHARD LIONHEART ... ., 162

THE WILD WILMOTS

ALTHOUGH the genealogist may carry the pedigree of
the Rochester WUmots somewhat further, their history
begins and comes to an end within six generations.

Their founder was Edward Wilmot of Witney, a figure
familiar amongst ancestors of English noble houses, a thrust-
ing yeoman of the Tudor times who dies a squire and lord
of manors. His father, a Wilmot of the substantial yeoman
class, had married with one who had married after his death
a Cottismore, and again on Cottismore's death to an Oxford-
shire Doyley, but Edward, although a younger son, pushed
his fortunes to a point beyond any of his kin. His wife was
one of the seventeen children of John Bustard, a squire of
Adderbury, and her portion cannot have been a large one, so
we must reckon all Edward Wilmot's winning as coming by
his own eager wits. He died in the first year of Elizabeth's
reign, and an inquest taken of his Gloucestershire lands shows
that he was seised of the manors of Newent and Pauntley,
whilst his will disposes of other manors and lands in Oxford-
shire, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire. Christian, his
widow, married William Bury of Culham, esquire.

Edward Wilmot and Christian Bustard had seven sons and
three daughters, Thomas the eldest son and heir being aged
twenty-three years and more at his father's death. This
Thomas married an Essex woman and removed into Hamp-
shire. Alexander, the third son, died without issue. An-
thony, the fourth son, was apprenticed to a citizen of
London, and became himself a citizen and skinner in 156^,
marrying and leaving a son. The fifth son, John Wilmot,
went like his elder brother into Hampshire, and was of Wield
in Hampshire and a gentleman when he died on a visit
to London in 1614. James, the seventh son, seems to have
been one of two brothers to stay in Oxfordshire, and he died
there in 1610 as a squire of Churchill. In this generation the
highest rank was reached by Arthur Wilmot, the sixth son,
who was of Wield when he was created a baronet in 1621
for his ' services in Ireland,' the growing interest of his

2 THE ANCESTOR

nephew, the Lord President of Connaught, being perhaps a
better explanation of his rise.

The will of this Sir Arthur Wilmot is a substantial instal-
ment towards the biography of the good baronet of whom
we should else know little enough. His opening pieties are
in the best taste of his day —

I doe willinglie forsake the world and the vanities thereof, and doe professe
from the bottome of my hart Cupio dissolvi et esse cum Christo, Amen, fiat
voluntas Dei,

Since it hath pleased God that he should not have an heir
of his body —

I give him most humble thanks that hath blest our name and family with so
noble a person as my honourable nephewe Charles Lord Viscount Willmott,
whose vertues hath added honor to our house.

Therefore the residue of his estate is settled upon this splendid
nephew, who is to take into his especial care Mistress Dorothy
Waringe, wife of Arnold Waringe, esquire, and their children,
which Dorothy was a natural daughter of the testator.

The father of this worshipful nephew was Edward Wilmot
of Culham, esquire. Certain proceedings in Chancery give
us the tale of his marriage to Elizabeth Stafford, daughter of
a Berkshire squire, and widow of John Bury of Culham, a
son by an earlier marriage of Edward Wilmot's mother's
second husband. Thus entangled become the relationships
in an age in which there are few spinsters and fewer bachelors
and in which no well-found widow or widower rests many
months unmarried. With this a stepson came into the Cul-
ham house, young Thomas Bury, who married, before he came
of age, one Judith Humfreys, and had the law of his stepfather
therefor, protesting that he had been forced into the match.
The suit being in Chancery Edward Wilmot could not do less
than deny the plea roundly, swearing that the match was one
of wilful Tom's own making and deplorable to his stepfather.

Edward Wilmot and Elizabeth Stafford had two sons,
Charles and Stafford. Of these Charles was sent to Oxford,
where he matriculated from Magdalen College. But Charles
Wilmot did not love his book well enough to take a degree,
and leaving Oxford, perhaps as page to Sir Thomas Norris,
an Oxford man like himself, he went off to the Irish wars, and
in 1592 is found wearing a captain's scarf, which, as any other

THE WILD WILMOTS 3

young man of his years will agree, is a handsomer garment
than a bachelor's rabbit-skin hood.

It was soon seen that Charles Wilmot had corrected his
vocation in good time. He became a ' valorous and suffi-
cient serjeant-major ' l of the forces in Munster. A colonel
at twenty-seven, he was knighted in 1599 by the Earl of Essex
as Viceroy in Dublin. From this time his life was a long story
of wars with the wild bare-legged Irish and with the wild Irish-
English rebels of the pale and beyond it. In October of 1600
he broke Thomas Fitzmaurice, Lord of Kerry, and the next
month Listowel Castle fell to him after sixteen days' sieging.
In these activities he stood in the path of Fineen Maccarthy
Reagh, plotter and historian, an Irish chieftain whom the
English loved not and whom Irishmen held to be ' a damned
counterfeit Englishman.' The Maccarthy Reagh is said to
have honoured the hard-riding Wilmot by planning his taking
off in private ambuscade, but fortunately Wilmot was of a
race that found favour in women's eyes, and he was warned
in time by the chieftain's wife.

In 1600 he was Governor of Cork, from which point he
harried the lands of Beare and Bantry in 1602 and 1603.
For a picture of Elizabethan war in Ireland let us call up this
campaign of his in those savage parts of the Cork coast. On the
high roads, that were bridle tracks and no more, we may see
the pikemen and musketeers in steel caps, breast and back
pieces, tramping in a close company with a few gallopers at
the flanks. Marching on the edge of the hills they could
command on either side the land that runs down to the waters
of the long bays. In the winter weather boats could not live
amongst the toothed rocks of these firths, and the governor's
pikemen might drive the Irish before them towards the head-
lands where the skene and axe must needs turn against the
pike. On the shores of those waters are the fifteenth century
peel towers of the O'Mahonys, a pirate race, and the strong-
holds of the O'Sulivans, each of which must be stormed
before the country could be left in that peace which the
sword leaves.

In such frontiersman's warfare the years of Charles Wil-
mot's life went by. He came to England for some years
about 1610, being M.P. for Launceston in 1614, before which
time he had christened three children at St. Martin's-in-the-

1 The rank of serjeant-major was the forerunner of our major.

4 THE ANCESTOR

Fields, children by a wife whom he buried there in 1615.
She was Sarah, daughter of Sir Henry Anderson, a sheriff of
London. It was twelve years and more before he married
again, his second wife being the widowed Viscountess Moore,
a daughter of Sir Henry Colley of Castle Carbery, a knight
from whose loins was to come Sir Arthur Colley, alias Welles-
ley, Duke of Wellington and Prince of Waterloo.

After the death of Dame Sarah Wilmot her husband went
back to Ireland. In 1616 he was made Lord President of
Connaught, with a seat at Athlone, from which town he took
his title when, on 4 January 162^, he had a patent as Viscount
Wilmot of Athlone. In 1627 he was given a service outside
Ireland from which little credit could be plucked, being in
command of the relief expedition to the Isle of Rhe which
was scattered and driven back by storms. In 1629 he was
back again in Ireland as general and commander-in-chief of
the forces, and had good hopes of being Lord Deputy until
Wentworth came, a man with whom the old soldier had no
pleasant dealings. He came at last to beseech Wentworth's
favour, but he was then clinging to the crown lands which in
the course of his adventurous life had disappeared into his
own Irish estates, and Wentworth's policy was a harsh one,
full of reform distasteful to the old pioneers of Elizabeth's
day.

In 1641 he was failing and could no longer go out after
the rebels upon the bog, and he died some little while before
April 1644, when his third and only surviving son Henry was
appointed to serve with Sir Charles Coote as Joint President
of Connaught, the office being vacant by his death. He prob-
ably died in London, as his will, made 12 May 1643, speaks
of his lease of a house near Charing Cross, adjoining Scotland
Yard, wherein he was dwelling, which lease he gave to his son
Henry. His mortgaged manor of Long Marston was the only
noteworthy estate to be dealt with, and the will lay un-
proven for ten years and more, a creditor in 1654 ta^mg
an administration grant.

His third son, Henry Wilmot, succeeded him. This is
the Lord Wilmot of Clarendon's history, the Wilmot of the
Odyssey of King Charles II. He is said to have been born 2
November 1612, but he was certainly christened at St. Mar-
tin's-in-the-Fields 26 October 1613, an unusually long time in
those days for a baby to wait outside the church door. He was

HENRY WII.MOT, FIRST EARI. OF ROCHESTER.

(A drawing by W. N. Gardiner, from a picture in the possession of the Countess of Sandwich,
hii grand-daughter. The draining now in the Sutherland Collection at Oxford.)

THE WILD WILMOTS 5

sent up to Oxford as a lad, for in the seventeenth century a
young gentleman must needs make his bow to learning, but in
1635 he began life in a manner more kindly to his father's son
as a captain of horse in the Dutch service. His foreign service
made a soldier of him, and he was Commissary -General of the
horse in the second Scottish war, where he and Major O'Neale
were taken by the Scots in ' that infamous rout at Newburn,'
charging the enemy at the head of troops who were unwilling
to come to handstrokes. They were well treated by the Scots,
whose good discipline and order were noted by Wilmot, and
handed over at York by the Scots mission nothing the worse
for their adventure. O'Neale's name bewrays his birthplace,
and the two prisoners were more than comrades in arms seeing
that the Major was ' very indevoted ' towards the Wilmots'
old enemy Strafford. In 1640 Wilmot was M.P. for Tarn-
worth and a known partisan of the king at a time when public
men were beginning to look at this side and that for the
cause they would stand by, but Parliament in the next year
expelled him from the House as one favouring the plot for
bringing up the army to overawe the Commons.

When the King came north in 1642, soldiers were welcome
guests at his court, and Wilmot, as muster-master and Com-
missary-General, took arms and came by a wound in one of
the first skirmishes of the war. At Edgehill he commanded
the cavalry at the King's left wing, but the honours of war fell
to him alone when with his own command, a fortnight after
being raised to the peerage as Lord Wilmot of Adderbury,
he met Sir William Waller upon Roundway Down.

Waller, flown with success, and wearing his new nickname
of ' William the Conqueror,' won in the south and the west,
was superior in horse, foot and cannon to my Lord Wilmot.
His men were arrayed on Roundway Hill, a steep place a mile
from the Devizes, and marched to the charge split into little
plumps of horsemen with the foot and cannon between.
Wilmot, by a strange fancy of tactics, looked not for his
enemy's weak point, but for his strong one, and found it in
Sir Arthur Haslerigge's cuirassiers, ' all covered with armour '
and massed about Sir William. At these Wilmot suddenly
launched his whole force of cavalry, breaking them up with the
shock, and driving them, heavy in their lobster-tail helmets,
their plates and pauldrons, this way and that amongst Waller's
disordered host. Waller's foot, light horse and gunners were

6 THE ANCESTOR

stirred at once into confusion. Routed as much by their own
cuirassiers as by the cavalier horse, a panic fear ran through
the Parliament's men, who fled tumbling upon the steep hill-
side. Out of the Devizes came the Cornish foot, still furious
from Lansdowne with Sir BevilFs death unavenged. No
rallying was possible. Wilmot filled the town with prisoners,
and the guns and baggage came whole to his hands, whilst
Waller and Haslerigge's good horses were carrying them to-
wards Bristol.

The two captains were to meet again, for at Cropredy
Bridge in 1644 the Lord Wilmot came down upon Waller's
dragoons and worsted him with another charge of horse.
For Wilmot this was his last command under King Charles I.
His good service had made him no friends in high places.
Prince Rupert hated him with a hatred which may have had
something in it of jealousy, and the King had no affection for
him. His own father's ambitious and climbing spirit filled
him, and the King's civil advisers found in Wilmot a man
contemptuous of them and ill to handle. Nevertheless the
army loved him for a good soldier and companion, and made
a soft pillow for his fall when it came in August of 1644, at
which time he was arrested upon a charge of treating with the
Parliament. It is difficult to understand what lay beneath
the charge, but it is clear that Wilmot had spoken freely
of the kingdom's affairs, declaring that the weak and stubborn
king feared to make peace, and that the Prince of Wales might
stand for a regent in whose name some new policy could be
advanced.

His officers petitioned for him, and so with a loss of his
command, and of his share in the Presidency of Connaught,
he was allowed to pass over to France, where in 1647 he had
the pleasure of calling Lord Digby, one of his enemies, to
account, with the result that the civilian pinked the soldier
to the derision of all Paris.

With the new reign Wilmot came again into the field
under a king who had broken with many of his father's coun-
sellors. From the day when the young Charles went into
Scotland Wilmot was at his right hand. He was with him
at Worcester field and shared the flight of the King's majesty.
Those wanderings of which Charles loved to tell were his
wanderings with the Lord Wilmot, and in those days it was
well with the King thatWilmot's and no wiser head shaped

THE WILD WILMOTS 7

his path. For beyond all things Wilmot loved disguises and
concealments.

Having lived the intimate life of vagabond pals it was
impossible that Charles, once safe abroad again, should not
either love or detest his late companion. As it fell out, the
dismissed servant of King Charles I. was taken to the arms of
King Charles II., and became one of the council of four in
that slipshod court over in the low countries. In 1652 he was
created Earl of Rochester, in which new name he went as
envoy to the Duke of Lorraine and to the diet of the empire
at Ratisbon, from which august sitting he coaxed a subsidy
of io,ooo/. for his master's need as deftly as he had found him
meat and shelter on the road from Worcester.

In the February of 165$ he crossed secretly to England
on a desperate errand and was at the gathering on Marston
Moor, at which Yorkshire cavaliers were to rise for King
Charles. But so small a troop came to the muster, that they
were fain to break company and ride for their lives. Wilmot
came southward in grievous peril, for his shrift would have been
short had the Lord Protector dealt with him. But once in
a disguise, this strange man, whose courage in the milee had
often been questioned, seemed happily prepared for all risks.
He rode lingering at his ease, chattering; in marketplaces,
drinking with good company in market alehouses as though
the very shadow of the dangling loop were not upon his
neck. He had an adventure in Aylesbury that was like to
be his last, being detained for a malignant, but stepped deli-
cately from the trap and went on his way.

This was the last adventure of his picaresque life. He
lived out his day in the court whose plate was pawned, whose
high officers went in threadbare breeches. The one part left
for him to play upon occasion was that of the pious courtier,
a performance repeated by Charles and his circle whenever a
strange visitor from England was received. We learnt that
on such occasions the court was ' plaguy godly,' and we may
not doubt that Rochester of the twenty disguises snuffled
louder and more convincingly than any man of his fellow-players.

After all his adventures he died in his bed, an exile's bed.
Colonel Price at Ghent writes to Secretary Nicholas at Bruges
on 19 February 165! that he is ill in bed, having5"; been for
three nights ' attending my lord of Rochester's, I hope, happy
departure out of this unhappy world ' ; my lord having died

•& THE ANCESTOR

on that day at three in the morning. A letter of 24 February l
tells us that the Colonel had laid Lord Rochester's body ' with
what decency we could and as little noise ' by Lord Hopton's
body at Sluys,3 embalmed, in good cere cloth with ' a lead
well soldered.' His body, however, does not rest in that
forgotten town, once a great port and now a Dutch inland
village upon a canal. A coffin plate at Spelsbury shows
that the body was afterwards carried home to Oxfordshire.

Over in England the hope of the Wilmots was learning
his book at a country grammar school. The scandal-mongering
Wood would lop him from the family tree, alleging that Sir
Allen Apsley was nearer of kin than Harry Wilmot to him.3
But in twenty ways the son reflected the father. A play-
actor in grain, a gallant ruffler whose deeds of arms did not
stay the whisperings against his courage, we know too much
•of John Wilmot to doubt his begetting.

He was born in his native Oxfordshire in 1647, and as a
mere child proceeded to Wadham College. His little pipe
greeted King Charles at the Restoration in a copy of verses
neither better nor worse than such odes are wont to be, verses
from one

Whose whole ambition 'tis for to be known,
By daring loyalty, your Wilmot's son.

The University made its prodigy Master of Arts at four-
teen years of age, and the boy was carried abroad by a tutor
to obtain in Italy and at the Court of France lessons which
would serve him better at Whitehall than all that Wadham
could teach.

Then the Court took him, and, as it is written, corrupted
the lad ; he took his seat in the House as a minor, and
generally began life young. It was, as we know, a ' loud,
querulous and impertinent Court,' this one of the English
Restoration. After years of exile and hard living it had
rushed upon the dainties like an ill-conditioned dog. There

1 State Papers, Domestic Series.

a Mr. C. H. Firth, in his article upon Rochester in the Dictionary of National
Biography, quoting these same letters for his authority, makes him die at Sluys
and be buried at Bruges !

3 Old Sir Allen Apsley was father of the Mrs. Hutchinson by Lucy St.
John, aunt of Henry Wilmot's countess. Mrs. Hutchinson was able through
her husband to help Henry Wilmot under the Commonwealth, and Lady
Rochester in return helped Colonel Hutchinson at the Restoration.

JOHN, EARL OF ROCHESTER, AS A YOUTH.

THE WILD WILMOTS 9

was no need any more for being ' plaguy godly ' in the
sight of strangers, and the Puritan, once so disconcerting a
figure in his buff coat and cuirass, was now a whining pan-
taloon for the comic stage.

These were the days of the courtier, the man who followed
the court as other men follow a craft. Before this time he is
always present in the history book, yet these were his great
days and perhaps his last. We have a glimpse of him under
the fourth George, but the King's court, after the death of the
restored Charles, shrinks to a royal household. Rochester was
to see it in its golden prime as the house of the pride of the
eye, of the lust of the flesh, as Bunyan's own Vanity Fair jigging,
wenching, ruffling and drinking, play acting and casting the
dice. The very dress of this court, with its long curls shorn
from other men's heads, its profusion of lace, its wanton be-
ribboning from shoe to shoulder, must have been viewed by
the survivors of the saints as the true livery of hell.

Into this Court came the young Rochester, nimble-
tongued, malicious and depraved. He was never a court
favourite, nor had he aught of the jolly air which his father
could wear so well when in the mood for popularity. The
court was less his companion than his audience, before which
he was to play for its approval when it would give it. But
when at some ill-natured jeer, some distasteful wickedness, he
was driven for shelter to the wings, he felt himself none the less,
a successful player.

His father's love of disguises would often come upon him.
At such times we hear of the freak which made him play
landlord at the Green Mare Inn at Six Mile Bottom on the
way to Newmarket, visiting his neighbour's wife in a country-
woman's gown. For the bad motive, too, he played a grave
citizen in London city, shocking fellow citizens with his true
tales of court iniquity. He was an astrologer, a pedlar, a
beggar, and, chiefest prank of all, ALEXANDER BENDO the
quacksalver at his lodgings in Tower Street ' next door to the
sign of the Black Swan at a Goldsmith house.'

We may reckon the soldier's part as one for which he had.
a passing desire. He was tall and well shaped, and the cuirass
and scarf sat well upon him. Service on shore and service at
sea were both open to the gentleman of fortune, and Roches-
ter's fighting days were spent aboard ship. He sailed in the
Revenge to the attack on the Dutch in Bergen harbour, and

io THE ANCESTOR

Lord Clifford spoke well of his bearing. He was in Sir
Edward Spragge's fleet in 1666 when almost all these gentle-
men volunteers were shot down, Sir Hugh Middleton's
brother dying in Rochester's arms, and it was Rochester who
carried a message in a cockboat across a shot-splashed water.
But with this his service ended, and the rumours which had
dogged his father's fighting days followed the second Rochester
despite his feats. His father had boxed a great person's ear
in the King's own presence, and in like manner the son boxed
Tom Killigrew's ears before his sovereign, but these sudden
wraths made no one believe that Rochester's anger was to be
feared. Rochester had learned in Italy that a nobleman's
honour could be best avenged by some night prowling ruffian,
as John Dryden knew to his cost. Nevertheless Black Will's
cudgel could not earn respect for Rochester's sword, and when
Mulgrave came back from Knightsbridge with his drawn up
memorial of the circumstances in which my lord of Rochester
had shunned battle upon the very ground, the earl was set
down as one who could be lampooned in safety.

In the biographies Rochester is with the authors, but his
performance is slight. He made verses with the ease of many
well-bred folk of his time : his lyrical pieces are smooth and
do not lack prettiness. But he was a wit rather than a poet ;
and the wits, with their interminable lampoons, their furious
tossing of abuse, leave us unmoved in these latter days. When
a Wilmot's rhymes assure us that a Villiers

Left ne'er a law unbroke of God or man,

the blackness of the character of Villiers takes in our minds no
additional smudge. Scandal, to be piquant, cannot be flung
about where all is scandalous, and the miscellaneous amours
of the Court of Charles II., by their daylight frankness, lose
the quality of being pleasantly shocking, becoming at last to
their student as innocent as the intrigues of the poultry-yard.
It was asked of the Restoration poet that, whatever his
native vileness, he should affect impatience of the human race,
and Rochester, with the lack of originality which marks the
rare actor and mimic, published in due course his Satire on
Mankind, and rails in his letters against his fellow Yahoos.

Most men are cowards, all men should be knaves

io THE ANCESTOR

Left ne'er a law unbroke of God or man,

Most men are cowards, all men should be knaves

ELIZABETH (MALET), COUNTESS ov ROCHESTER.

THE WILD WILMOTS n

is the burden of his verses, and he writes to his friend Harry
Savile that

Most human affairs are carried on at the same nonsensical rate which makes
me (who am now grown superstitious) think it a fault to laugh at the ape we
have here, when I compare his condition with mankind.

Of such satire the human race is patient. The chisel of
the Hittite scribes chipped and our type-writers click to the
same burden, and my Lord Rochester cannot be set amongst
the major prophets for his scorn of us. The quality of his
verse and prose is shown clearly enough by the fact that no
line of it ever became a familiar quotation in common speech
unless it be the quatrain on ' our sovereign lord the king/ a
passable epigram, and even that is not too surely of Rochester's
own making.

It is, indeed, difficult to disentangle what may be Roches-
ter's work from the work of the nameless ones about him.
Those who after his death collected the verses of ' a late
Person of Honour ' were willing to credit him with any
foundling obscenity. A Rochester society might essay the
task of a collected edition, but its labours must need find a
foreign press to record them, for even the boundless liberty of
the Restoration publishers boggled at the half of his works.
The British Museum, which is no pudibund institution, keeps
some scraps of Rochester's fancy in its securest bookcase from
which only the director's order may give them ticket of leave.

His marriage and his death are all that remain to be told of
Rochester's stage-parts. His marriage was in the highest note
of melodrama. Elizabeth Malet, daughter of Squire Malet
of Enmore in Somersetshire, is always famous for us in
Grammont's phrase of the triste heritiere and in naught else.
Sad or merry, she was an heiress, the "great beauty and
fortune of the West," with an income of 2,5007. a year,
a mighty sum in 1665, when Lord Hichinbrooke, Butler,
Herbert, Popham and Rochester were in the first rank of her
cavaliers. Rochester had the King's interest and might have
pushed his cause with more persistent courtship, but melo-
drama was nearer to his mind. The Somersetshire girl had
been supping on a night in May with La Belle Stewart at
Whitehall — helping her it may be to build the card castles she
loved. Her coach was turning the corner of Charing Cross
when horsemen, cloaked and masked, surrounded it. With a

12 THE ANCESTOR

scene of an heiress dragged into another coach whose six horses
galloped away with her down the Uxbridge road, Rochester
anticipated much Victorian drama and romance. But old
Lord Hawley, grandfather of the heiress, showed no such
intelligent anticipation. Thrust back into the seat from
which she had been snatched, he played his part, let us hope,
with the imprecations and threats proper to the crabbed
guardian of beauty ; but when the strange coach and six horses
had clattered away he should have driven after it, leaning from
his window and shaking a fist at the ravishers. To the vexation
and discomfiture of Rochester he turned his own horses round
and carried his complaint to the King so speedily that eighteen
miles away the heiress and her captor were stopped by the
King's life guards and brought back to Whitehall, whence the
dramatist was led away to the Tower on a warrant issued the
next morning.

For the time the anger of King Charles was hot against
the earl, but the culprit was but a boy of seventeen years,
and Charles was a king with little bitterness. The adven-
ture ended, to the surprise of all in those days before the
novel, with the suddenly arranged marriage of Rochester and
his heiress. Some ancestral leaning towards marriage by
capture may have moved the lady whose wedded life with her
debauched and untameable husband seems hardly to have
passed as wretchedly as a moralist could wish.

The spirit of the wicked Lord Rochester, if we may believe
a catalogue of recent French works, is still alert, occupying
itself with the dictation to a Parisian medium of a work upon
the private life of the Emperor Tiberius.1 It may still,
therefore, be matter of surprise to this shade of a person of
quality that his last scene of all, his death upon a provincial
stage, was the most widely applauded of all his doings.

Rochester was a cockney to the blood. The country liked
him not with its few spectators, its limited occasions for sin.
' I wish you were married and living in the country,' was the
word he threw after a dog that bit him. In his ranger's lodge
of Woodstock park he had a retreat which presented to him a
good case for the country life, but he would have none of it.
' When I pass Brentford on my way to London,' he declared,
' the devil enters into me.' When business called him from

1 Episode de la vie de 1 'Here : ceuvre medianimique dictee far F esprit de John
Wilmot, Comte de Rochester.

THE WILD WILMOTS 13

the town he rode hard to end it the sooner, and it was when
riding post to his wife's Somersetshire lands that his last illness
took him.

At Woodstock he lay upon his deathbed and prepared the
lines for the last part he was to play. His mind was made up
to die as an illustrious penitent, a revolting lieutenant of Satan.
Bishop Gilbert Burnet of Salisbury, a young bishop with a
growing literary reputation, was chosen for the secondary part
of confessor, as one who could be trusted to record the scene
faithfully. And Bishop Burnet did not betray the trust. We
learn how he hurried to the bedside of this wicked lord, and
how they conversed of morals, of revealed religion and of the
due limits of satire. It may be that specimens of Rochester's
work as a social reformer and satirist were produced for the
bishop ; if so, we can understand his hurriedly expressed prefer-
ence for a ' grave way of satire.' The first three chapters of
Genesis were asserted before the doubter who was disinclined
to accept them as true ' unless they were parables.' Con-
fronted with the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, the earl hand-
somely withdrew all his objections to orthodoxy. His
atheism of the tavern was easily resolved, and the sincerity of
his repentance is as certain as its shallowness is probable. By
this time he was but poor skin and bone, but the restless soul was
restless to the last. Parsons, his mother's chaplain, Marshall,
rector of Lincoln College, and Pierce of Magdalen were all
summoned to build up his recovered faith. He himself was
set upon converting his physicians, and brought his wife back
to the Church of England, which in one of his elfish fancies he
had once persuaded her to leave for the Roman creed. To
the last he turned his phrases as became a noble author.
' My spirits and body decay so equally together that I shall
write you a letter, as weak as I am, in person,' ran a message to
Burnet. ' Take heaven by force and let me enter with you
in disguise,' he wrote to Pierce of Magdalen in a more signi-
ficant passage, assuring us that the Wilmot love of a mask
stayed in him as long as the breath of life.

At the end he died without a word or a groan, the end of
one who had been spendthrift of life.

The muses, the nightingales, the swans and the water
nymphs were besought by a chorus of rhymesters to adorn
the hearse and weep for the fate of this sweet shepherd, but
bishop and chaplain hurried into print with the story of his

i4 THE ANCESTOR

edifying death. Respectable editors have long since put aside
the hopeless task of preparing Bowdlered versions of his work
and the garret presses have let his verses go by for dead and
gone sculduddry. But still endures the history of Lord
Rochester's death-bed repentance, a history told and retold
in editions whose list flows far beyond the limits of the cata-
logue of the achievements of Rochester's own pen. His name
serves for a landmark of the naughtiness of courts, but the
Cottage Library of Christian knowledge and tracts in their
hundredth thousand keep this very wicked lord's memory as
a fragrant thing.

With him the Wilmots end, for his boy, to whom his father
from his London haunts was wont to address letters of encour-
agement to virtue and truth, died within the year, three months
after his mother, and the high-sounding title of Rochester was
given at once to Lawrence Hyde. The dowager countess, a
nursing mother to the estates of her Lee and Wilmot children,
survived till 1696 to see her three Wilmot granddaughters
married and scattered. Of these Anne Wilmot married first
Henry Baynton, the head of a great Wiltshire house, to
whom she brought her mother's estate of Enmore,1 and,
secondly, Francis Greville, ancestor of the earls of War-
wick. Elizabeth Wilmot, a second daughter, was a Coun-
tess of Sandwich who kept her earl a trembling prisoner
in his own house. ' Feu M. le Comte de Rochester, pere de
Madame Sandwich,' wrote St. Evremond, 'avoit plus d'esprit
qu'homme en Angleterre. Madame Sandwich en a plus que
n'avoit M. son pere.' Malet Wilmot, the youngest daughter,
married John Vaughan of Trawscoed, Viscount Lisburne,
whose descendants the Earls of Lisburne are still at their house
of Trawscoed which came to them with its heiress seven
hundred years ago.

It may be said that for three generations these Oxfordshire
Wilmots were famous men. But the historian will ponder the
fact that the stubborn service of Charles Wilmot's long
life, the galloping sand plottings of Harry Wilmot, are half for-
gotten, whilst the apish fancies of the bad young man who
came after them have set his fame upon a hill.

O. B.

1 The senior representative of this marriage is Mr. J. Horace Round, in
whose possession are all of the portraits which illustrate this article, except
that of Henry Wilmot which passed to Lady Sandwich.

JOHN, EARL OK ROCHESTER.

GENEALOGY OF THE FAMILY OF
WILMOT, EARLS OF ROCHESTER1

EDWARD WILMOT of Witney in Oxfordshire, esquire,
died at Witney . . . October 1558, as appears by an
inquest taken at Cirencester, co. Gloucester, 10 March 155!-
The jurors say that he was seised of the manors of Newent and
Pauntley, and of the rectories of Newent, Pauntley and Dimok
in Gloucestershire. He made a will 7 July 1558, which was
proved 10 December 1558 [P.C.C. 9 Welles] by Christian
Wilmot the relict and executrix. In this will he names his
brother Thomas Cottesmore, and also his brothers William
Chauncey, Anthony Bustard, and Robert Doyley. He
recites a deed dated 21 November 3 and 4 P. and M., where-
by he had given all his Gloucestershire manors and lands to
Sir Thomas Pope, knight, William Chauncey, Anthony Bus-
tard and Robert Doyley, esquires, and Thomas Cottesmore,
gentleman, to his own use for life, with various remainders
to his sons, etc.

He married Christian Bustard, daughter of John Bustard
of Adderbury, co. Oxford, esquire, who died 1534, by Eliza-
beth his wife, who died 1517 [M.I. Adderbury]. She died
about 1594, having married (ii) William Bury or Berry of
Culham, esquire, as his second wife [Chan. pro. Eliza. S. xiii.
60].

Edward Wilmot and Christian Bustard had issue : —
i§. Thomas Wilmot, son and heir, who was born about
1535, being aged twenty-three years and upwards
at the date of the inquest taken after his father's
death on 10 March 155$. He married Anne
Twedy of Essex, and had issue according to the
heralds' visitation pedigrees \Visit. Hants, 1634] a

1 A genealogy of the earlier Wilmots and of the elder line of their descend-
ants is in preparation.

1 6 THE ANCESTOR

son, Edward Wilmot of Ringwood in Hampshire
(who married Anne Okeden, daughter of Philip
Okeden, of Elingham, Hants), and three daughters
— Dorothy Wilmot, wife of Henry Tanner ;
Catherine Wilmot, who died unmarried ; and
Barbara Wilmot, who married Henry Lock.

ii*. Edward Wilmot of Culham, esquire, of whom here-
after.

iii§. Alexander Wilmot, whom his uncle, John Wilmot
of Wolston, Berks, yeoman, made his residuary
legatee in a will dated 20 July, 1550 [P.C.C. n
More], at which time the said Alexander was a
minor. His father's deed of 21 November 1556
gave him the reversion of the manor of Walmer,
which he had bought of Richard Androwes, esquire.

iv*. Anthony Wilmot of London, gentleman, a citizen
and skinner. He was made free of the Skinners'
Company 31 January, 156^. His brother Edward,
by a deed indented, dated 23 March 1576, gave
him the manor of Garforde, co. Berks, for a term of
500 years, which lease he assigned by deed dated
24 February 158-^ to Edward Vener, serjeant-at-
law, and Hugh Cheverell, gentleman, for the lives of
himself and his wife Elizabeth, in consideration of
an annuity of 6o/. to the said Anthony and Eliza-
beth for their lives. By his will of 25 December
1582 he gave the lease to Edward Wilmot his son.
To the said Edward he gave his lands at Dover
and his rent-charge out of the manor of Culham,
with remainder, if the said Edward died without issue,
to the testator's nephew and servant, Edward
Kempe, and the heirs of his body, with further
remainder to William Kempe, brother of the said
Edward Kempe. He made his good brother,
Arthur Wilmot, his friend Mr. Fleminge of the
Isle of Wight, Mr. Lucas of Paternoster Row, and
Mr. Thomas Lewes, ' my brother William Parker's
schoolmaster,' his overseers, and sealed his will with
his seal of arms. Administration with the will
annexed was granted 22 March 1582 [P.C.C. 17
Rowe], to Elizabeth Wilmot the relict, during the
minority of Edward Wilmot, the son and executor.

JOHN, EARL OF ROCHESTER, AND HIS APE.

THE FAMILY OF W1LMOT 17

Anthony Wilmot married Elizabeth, who was
probably daughter of Edward Kempe, citizen and
skinner, to whom he had been apprenticed. They
had issue Edward Wilmot, who by Elizabeth his
wife had, with other issue, Arthur Wilmot, named in
the will of Sir Arthur Wilmot, his great uncle
(23 February 162$), who gave legacies to Edward
Wilmot, son of his brother Anthony, and to Arthur
Wilmot and the other children of the said Edward.
This Arthur Wilmot was of Adderbury, and died a
bachelor, administration of his goods being granted
10 February 164^ [P.C.C.] to Elizabeth his mother.
After the making of his will Anthony Wilmot's wife
must have given birth to a daughter, for Elizabeth,
daughter of Anthony Wilmot of Culham [sic] is
recorded in the Visitation of Wilts in 1623 as wife
of Simon Spatchurst of Humington, esquire, by
whom she had issue Elizabeth, aged six in 1623,
Simon aged four, and Thomas aged three. Simon
Spatchurst, with other defendants, makes answer
4 April 1612 to a bill in Chancery of Arthur Wil-
mot of Weld, concerning a lease of the manor of
Thaxted [C.P. Jac. /., W. 8. No. 4].

v*. John Wilmot of Wylde or Weld, now Wield, in
Hampshire, gentleman. He died in the parish of St.
Andrew's, Holborn, 14 October 1614, as appears
by his nuncupative will made about Bartholomew-
tide before his death. He gave legacies to Alice,
wife of Leonard Tokefield, gentleman, and to the
said Leonard Tokefield, and to Julian Nicholls.
Administration with will annexed was granted 28
October 1614 [P.C.C. 127 Lawe] to Arthur Wilmot,
esquire, the brother.

vi§. Sir Arthur Wilmot, of Wield, co. Hants, baronet.
He was created a baronet I October 1621, by patent
at Dublin. He died 13 March 162$, and was buried
20 March 162$ in the chancel of St. James's,
Clerkenwell. He made a will 23 February 162!,
which was proved 16 March 162$ [P.C.C. 24 Ridley]
by his nephew, the Lord Viscount Wilmot, the
executor. He recites that by indenture of equal date
with his will he had conveyed to his friend and

1 8 THE ANCESTOR

counsellor John Davies, of the Inner Temple,
esquire, and his servant Richard Rowell, all his
manors, lordships and lands in the counties of
Southampton, Oxford, Lincoln, Hertford, Lan-
caster, Stafford and Buckingham, with exceptions
therein noted, having by another indenture dated
21 February 162! conveyed to them his manor of
Whitchwell, alias Winelsgate, alias Bradshewe's
Manor in Wendover. He made various disposi-
tions for the benefit of Mrs. Dorothy Waringe,
wife of Arnold Waringe, esquire, whom, with their
children and his nephew Edward Wilmot, son of
Anthony Wilmot, deceased, he commended to the
special care of his nephew Charles, Lord Viscount
Wilmot. He settled the residue of his real estate
upon the said Viscount and upon his sons Arthur,
Charles and Henry Wilmot, in tale male. He gare
zoo/, for his monument to be set up in the church of
St. James's, Clerkenwell. He seems never to have
married, but the aforesaid Dorothy Waringe was his
bastard daughter. She married (i) at St. James's,
Clerkenwell, i January 161^, the said Arnold
Waringe or Warren, esquire, of Thorpe Arnold
in Leicestershire, by whom she had issue. Her
second husband, Nicholas Lanyon of Cornwall,
was married to her 27 April 1647, at St. Bartho-
lomew the Less.

vii*. James Wilmot of Churchill, co. Oxford, esquire.
He made a will 31 August 1610, which was proved
10 September 1610 [P.C.C. 80 Windebanck] by
Arthur Wilmot, the brother and executor. He de-
sired to be buried in the church of Great Milton
by his kinswoman the Lady Greene, deceased.
He gave his brother Arthur his leases in Berkshire
and Hampshire. He gave to his cousin Sir
Michael Greene, knight, his best gelding, and to
his cousin Anne Greene the ' silver bason and ewer
and all my other plate I have in my lodging in
Yarworth House in Fullwoods rentes.' His lease
of the prebend of Much Milton, granted by Sir
William Greene, knight, and Sir Michael Greene,
his son, is to be redelivered to them for 8oo/.

THE FAMILY OF WILMOT 19

William Greene, Millicent Greene and Richard
Yerworth are witnesses to this will, which was con-
firmed by sentence the same year. The Greenes
were James Wilmot's Kinsfolk by the marriage of
Sir William Greene of Much Milton with his aunt
Anne, daughter of Anthony Bustard. Sir William
Greene was buried at Milton 28 Feb. 162}.
i. Mary Wilmot, who was married before the date of
her father's will to Richard Beconsawe, a son of the
Lancashire family of that name, who settled in
Hampshire and was of Hartley Westhill in that
county. The heralds' visitation of 1634 records
their issue.

ii. Elizabeth Wilmot, to whom her father gave 3OO/. at
full age or marriage. She is named in the heralds'
visitation of Hampshire in 1634 as unmarried.

iii. Anne Wilmot, to whom her father gave 3OO/. at full
age or marriage. She is not named in the her-
alds' visitation of 1634, anc^ probably died young.

EDWARD WILMOT of Culham, co. Oxford, esquire, second son
of Edward Wilmot of Witney. He married Elizabeth Staf-
ford, daughter of Thomas Stafford of Bradfield, co. Berks,
esquire, and relict of John Bury of Culham, esquire, son and
heir of William Bury of Culham, stepfather to Edward
Wilmot. Her birth and marriages are recited in certain
proceedings in Chancery, when her son and heir, Thomas
Bury or Berrye of Steeple Barton, esquire, put forward a
bill 23 April 1600 against his uncle, Reade Stafford, esquire,
and his mother Elizabeth Wilmot and her husband [Chan,
fro. Eliz. S.xiii. 60]. In this bill young Thomas Bury asserts
that, although Thomas Stafford, his grandfather, gave him
his own marriage by will, the said Edward Wilmot married
him before he came of age to one Judith Humfreys. Edward
Wilmot and his wife reply that the match was of Thomas
Bury's own making, however much he may repent it now
without any seeming reason.

20 THE ANCESTOR

Edward Wilmot and Elizabeth Stafford had issue two
sons : —

i*. Charles Wilmot, Viscount Wilmot of Athlone, of

whom hereafter.

ii§. Stafford Wilmot, to whom his uncle John Wilmot
conveyed an annuity of 100 marks, as is recited in
the nuncupative will of the said John, made about
Bartholomew-tide 1614.

Ill

CHARLES WILMOT, Viscount Wilmot of Athlone, son of Edward
Wilmot of Culham, and grandson of Edward Wilmot of
Witney, is usually and wrongly described as son of the said
Edward Wilmot of Witney. He was born about 1571,
matriculating at Oxford (Magdalen College) 6 July 1587 as
aged sixteen. He left Oxford without a degree, and is said
to have gone to Ireland as a page. He was knighted at Dub-
lin 5 August 1599 by the Viceroy Essex. M.P. for Launceston
5 April to 17 June 1614. On 3 June 1616 he became presi-
dent of Connaught, his government being seated at
Athlone, from which town he took his title when on 4 January
i62y he was created Viscount Wilmot of Athlone. He died
between 29 June 1643 (when his son's barony was created),
and April 1644, when his son Henry and Sir Charles Coote
were appointed joint-presidents of Connaught.

His will, dated 12 May 1643, indicates the broken fortunes
of his later years. His executors, Thomas Leake, esquire, a
baron of the Exchequer, and Robert Wolrich, esquire, are to
take order for the payment of the mortgage money upon his
manor of Long Marston and his other lands in Herts and
Bucks. All of the said lands remaining unsold when his
debts are paid he gives to his grandchild Charles Wilmot and
his issue, with remainder to his son Henry Wilmot, to whom he
gives the lease of his house wherein he dwells at Charing Cross.
The will lay unproved for ten years and more, administration
with the will annexed being at last granted 2 June 1654
[P.C.C. 403 Alchiri] to Michael Babington, a creditor, who
had been named in the will as the testator's servant.

He was first married to Sarah Anderson, fourth daughter

BARBARA, DUCHESS OF CLEVELAND.

(Cotufn of Jok*t Earl of Recktsttr.)

THE FAMILY OF WILMOT 21

of Sir Henry Anderson, Sheriff of London 1601-02 by Eliza-
beth, daughter of Francis Bowyer, citizen and grocer. She
died in 1615, her burial being found in the parish registers of
St. Olave Jewry and St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. Between
9 November 1627 and 28 April 1630 (on which date she was
gossip to the daughter of Viscount Valentia) he married his
second wife, Mary Colley, daughter of Sir Henry Colley of
Castle Carbery, co. Kildare, knight, by Catherine, daughter
of Sir Thomas Cusack, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. She
was relict of Garret Moore, first Viscount Moore of Drogheda,
and was buried 3 July 1654 at Drogheda by her first husband.
She had no issue by Charles Wilmot.

Charles, Viscount Wilmot of Athlone, had issue by Sarah
Anderson, his first wife, three sons and a daughter : —

i*. Arthur Wilmot, who probably served under his father
in Ireland. He was a legatee under the will of his
uncle Sir Arthur Wilmot in 162$. He married
Penelope Hill, daughter of Sir Moyser Hill of
Hillsborough, provost-marshal of Ulster and an-
cestor of the Downshire family, by his first wife,
Alice, daughter of Sorley Boy MacDonnel. She
married (ii) Sir William Brooke of Sterborough,
K.B., son and heir of the attainted Lord Cobham,
who died 20 September 1643 of his wounds after
the second battle of Newbury, by whom she had
issue. The widow married (iii) Edward Russell,
son of Francis, fourth Earl of Bedford, who died
21 September 1665 and was buried at Chenies
19 October. By him she was mother of Edward
Russell, Earl of Oxford, and Lord High Admiral,
the victor of La Hogue (1653-1727). Arthur
Wilmot died without issue 31 October 1632 and
was buried at St. Michan's, Dublin.
ii1. Charles Wilmot, who was christened II March i6ir
at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, a legatee under the
will of his uncle Sir Arthur Wilmot. He died
v.p. without issue.
iiis. Henry Wilmot, second Viscount Wilmot of Athlone,

and fourth Earl of Rochester, of whom hereafter.
id. Elizabeth Wilmot, christened 25 May 1612 at St.
Martin's-in-the-Fields. She probably died young
and unmarried.

22 THE ANCESTOR

HENRY WILMOT, first Earl of Rochester and second Viscount
Wilmot of Athlone, was christened 26 October 1613 at St.
Martin's-in-the-Fields. He is said to have been born 2 No-
vember 1612, and his coffin plate gives his age as forty-five at
his death on 19 February 165$. He matriculated at Oxford
(All Souls) and was M.P. for Tamworth in 1641. In his
father's lifetime he was created Lord Wilmot of Adderbury
in the peerage of England by patent 29 June 1643. In April
1644, his father being dead, he was appointed to the presidency
of Connaught jointly with Sir Charles Coote. A privy coun-
cillor 1650, he was created Earl of Rochester by patent
13 December 1652. He was made a Field-Marshal in 1654
and Colonel of an English regiment of foot in Flanders 1656.
He died at Ghent in Flanders at one o'clock in the morning
19 February 165!, and was buried at Sluys 24 February 165$
by the grave of Lord Hopton [State Papers, Domestic Series,
1658]. His body, which had been embalmed, was afterwards
buried at Spelsbury, as appears by a coffin plate.

He married (i) Frances Morton, daughter of Sir George
Morton of Milborne St. Andrews and of Clenston, co. Dorset,
knight, by Katherine, daughter of Sir Arthur Hopton, the
wedding being recorded in the parish register of Chelsea
21 August 1633. By her, who was born in 1600, he had a
son : —

is. Charles Wilmot, styled Viscount Wilmot. He died

during his father's lifetime at Dunkirk "1652-57.

On the restoration administration of his goods was

granted 27 November 1660 [P.C.C.].

He married (ii) Anne St. John, daughter of Sir John St.

John of Lydiard Tregoze, co. Wilts, by Lucy, daughter and

heir of Sir Walter Hungerford of Farley, knight. She was

born 5 November 1614 and was first married to Sir Francis

Henry Lee of Ditchley, Bart., the marriage settlements being

dated 30 June 1637, by whom she had issue the Lees, Earls

of Lichfield, descending from this match. He was buried

23 July 1639 at Spelsbury. She survived her grandson, the
last Earl of Rochester of this family, and was buried at Spels-
bury 1 8 March 1694. Her will, dated I June 1683, with a
codicil 23 March 169!, was proved I April 1696 [P.C.C. ] by
Edward Henry Lee, Earl of Lichfield, the grandson and

JOHN, EARL OF ROCHKSTER.

THE FAMILY OF WILMOT 23

executor. By this marriage the Earl of Rochester had issue
a son : —

ii*. John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester, of whom
hereafter.

JOHN WILMOT, second Earl of Rochester, was born at Ditchley
10 April 1648, a scandal preserved by Wood asserting that he
was begotten by Sir Allen Apsley. Richard Salway, esquire,
was guardian of him and of his half-brother Sir Francis
Henry Lee during their minority [Chan, depns. Bridges, 393].
He matriculated at Oxford (Wadham College) 1 1 December
1660, and was created M.A. 2 September 1661, being then
aged thirteen. On 8 Sept. 1667 a warrant was issued to the
Lord Keeper for calling him to parliament, he being then a
minor. Ranger of Woodstock Park 1674. He died at the
rangers' lodge at two o'clock in the morning on 26 July 1680
in his thirty- third year, and was buried at Spelsbury 17
August [M.I.].

He married Elizabeth Malet, daughter and heir of John
Malet of Enmore, co. Somerset, esquire, by Unton, daughter
of Francis Hawley, first Lord Hawley of Donamore. The
marriage took place 29 Jan. 1667, the earl haying first
endeavoured to carry her off by violence on 26 May 1665.
She survived her husband little more than a year, being buried
20 August 1 68 1 at Spelsbury. She died of an apoplexy.

His will, undated, with a codicil 22 June 1680, was proTed
23 February i68£ [P.C.C. 31 North] by John Gary of Wood-
stock, esquire, power being reserved, etc., to the Countess of
Rochester, the relict, the Countess-mother, Sir William St.
John, Sir Allen Apsley and Sir Richard How. He made his
mother and wife guardians of his son and heir. He gave a
legacy of I5O/. to Mrs. Patience Russell, and upon an infant
child, named Elizabeth Clerke, presumably his bastard
daughter, he settled a life annuity of 4O/. out of his manor of
Sutton Malet. Arabella Wilmot, another natural daughter
of his, died at her lodgings in Fleet Street n February 1765.

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, had issue by his wife
Elizabeth Malet, a son and four daughters : —

24 THE ANCESTOR

i*. Charles Wilmot, third Earl of Rochester, of whom
hereafter.

i". Anne Wilmot, who was christened 30 April 1669 at
Adderbury. She married (i), at Adderbury I Sep-
tember 1685, Henry Baynton of Spye Park, co.
Wilts, esquire, who was christened 17 November 1664
at Bromham. He was M.P. for Chippenham in 1668,
and died in 1691. His will, dated 19 June 1691,
was proved 10 August 1691 [P.C.C. 129 Vere\
The senior descendant of this marriage is Mr.
J. Horace Round, of West Bergholt, the historian.
She married (ii) Francis Greville, and from this
second marriage descend the Earls of Warwick.

iiD. Elizabeth Wilmot, christened 13 July 1674 at Adder-
bury. She married Edward Montagu, third Earl
of Sandwich, the allegation for the marriage licence
being made 8 July 1689 [Fac. Off.]. He was born
c December 1670, and was master of the horse to
Prince George of Denmark ° 1690- 1705. He died
20 October 1729 and was buried at Barnwell. His
relict died 2 July 1757 in the Rue Vaugirard in
Paris, where she had lived as a widow. She was a
woman of great wit, her qualities being celebrated
by Lord Chesterfield in his Letters, and a termagant
wife. Her husband is said to have been kept by
her a prisoner in his own house.

iiiD. Malet Wilmot, christened 6 January 167^ at Adder-
bury. She married John Vaughan of Trawscoed,
co. Cardigan, esquire, at St. Giles'-in-the-Fields, 18
August 1692, by licence from the Faculty Office.
The allegation for marriage licence was made
17 August 1692, he being a bachelor of St. Giles's
parish, aged twenty-three, and she a spinster of the
parish of St. Anne's, Soho, her parents dead, and
her grandmother the Countess consenting. He
was created baron of Fethard and Viscount Lis-
burne, and was Lord Lieutenant of Cardigan in
1714. He died in 1721 and was buried 5 April
1721 at Greenwich, having survived his wife about
five years. His family had been seated since the
beginning of the thirteenth century at Trawscoed,
where they still remain as Earls of Lisburne.

FRANCES, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND.

("La Belle Stewart")

THE FAMILY OF WILMOT 25

CHARLES WILMOT, third and last Earl of Rochester of the
Wilmot family, was christened 2 January 167^- at Adder-
bury. He died 12 November 1681 (as is recorded in the
Adderbury parish register) and was buried 7 December 1681
at Spelsbury (as ' John ' Earl of Rochester). Administration
of his estate was granted 30 May 1682 [P.C.C.] to Anne,
Countess Dowager of Rochester, grandmother and guardian
to his three sisters and co-heirs.

The arms of this family of Wilmot, as put up in Witney
Church by Edward Wilmot of Witney in the time of Queen
Elizabeth, were silver a fesse gules between three eagles'
heads rased sable with a golden unicorn couched upon the
fesse between two golden escallops. The unicorn may have
been suggested by the crest of their kinsfolk, the Cottesmores.
The Earls of Rochester, however, replaced the unicorn by a
third escallop.

AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE
OF AGINCOURT

IN the Records of the City of Salisbury (Leger Book A,
fo. 55) there is a contemporary account of the Agin-
court campaign. It reads somewhat as if it had an official
origin 'and was a sort of Gazette. Possibly the same or a similar
record is found elsewhere, but I do not know of one. Apart
from the national interest attached to the document, it is
worth while to inquire how it came to pass that the Mayor
and Corporation had it inserted among the minutes of their
own municipal proceedings and concerns.

Henry V.'s army was collected and sailed from South-
ampton, and to reach that place many of the troops from the
North of England, Wales, and the West must have passed
through Salisbury, and although the citizens cannot have
been altogether unfamiliar with the sight of soldiers, the
great numbers that passed through their city during the
summer of 1415 must have moved them much in the same
way as the influx of soldiers belonging to the 2nd Army Corps
established on Salisbury Plain has lately roused the martial
spirit of their descendants. Upon examining the Leger Book
I find too that there were special circumstances connected
with the passage of the troops which might well leave behind
an abiding impression and cause the Mayor and Corporation
to take pains to obtain and keep a particular record of the
result of the campaign.

In the early days of August there came to the city Domi-
nus Jacobus Haryndon, otherwise Sir James Harington,
knight, in command of a detachment of Lancashire men,
which seems to have consisted of ten men-at-arms and thirty
archers. Sir James Harington and his men were quartered
in Fisherton, a suburb only divided from Salisbury by a
bridge over the river Avon, and there they rested for Sunday,
4 August. There is something about a bridge over a swiftly
running river that disposes men, more especially idle men,
to congregate upon it. The weather was warm, and we may
be pretty sure that many of the Lancashire men divided their

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT 27

time between visits to the local alehouses and loafing on the
bridge. To the English countryman a stranger or foreigner
(and the Northerners must have seemed almost like foreigners
to the Wiltshire men) has always been a legitimate object
for curiosity and ridicule, and many of the baser sort of citi-
zens no doubt spent their Sunday in gathering on the bridge
to stare and very probably to jest at and bandy words with
the visitors. It is very easy to imagine how a sudden disturb-
ance might arise ; anyhow from some cause or other one took
place, and, as might be expected, the soldiers got the best of
it, ' ipsos de civitate fugando et sagittando gladiis et sagittis,'
and four of the townsmen were killed, viz. John Baker { la-
borer,' William Hore ' tonker,' Henry his man, and John
Tanner. Some one ran and told the Mayor, John Levesham,
at once, but he, good easy man, was at a loss ; it was a matter
outside his usual experience, and ordering the alarm-bells to
be rung, he summoned his council to consult as to what was
to be done (consultum est quid agatur).

If the Mayor was in doubt, Sir James Harington was not,
and mustering his men he at once proceeded on his march to
Southampton. What the Mayor and Corporation decided
I do not know ; perhaps they complained to the Steward of
the Treasury or the Comptroller of the Household, as persons
molested by the captains or soldiers were bidden to do by the
King's proclamation made at Southampton eleven days be-
fore (see Rymer) ; or, perhaps, the soldiers being well on their
way to Southampton, they made the best of a bad job and
only thanked God they were rid of Sir James Harington and
his company. The Leger Book says nothing. It appears,
however, that those who stood valiantly for the honour of the
city were not altogether forgotten. In the Mayor's accounts
for the year there is an entry of a grant ' cuidam ministrello
Wallie pro panno emendo pro capucio faciendo eo quod
araisit capucium suum in defensione civitatis apud insultum
factum super pontem de Fissherton per homines de comitatu
Lancastrie xviiid et in pecunia data eidem et alteri ministrello
eiusdem patrie viiid.' Music hath charms, etc., but evidently
when there was a fight going on the fiery Celts could not bear
to be only spectators, though the affair was none of theirs.
The City also paid the expenses of the funeral of John Tanner,
which came to xid.

This riot cannot have been soon forgotten, and three

28 THE ANCESTOR

months later, when news came that the King's soldiers had
served the French much in the same way as they had the
people of Salisbury (' fugando et sagittando gladiis et sagit-
tis '), it was thought fit to record their prowess in the City
Leger Book. And as a fight generally breeds a friendly feeling
between the combatants, no doubt many a Salisbury man in
after days was proud of his share in the contest with some of
the Victors of Agincourt, and stood a tiptoe when the fight
on Fisherton bridge was named, and remembered with ad-
vantages what feats he did that day, and was proud o the
scar of the broken head that he got from those who fought
with Harry the King upon St. Crispin's Day.

The account is as follows : —

Et sciendum est quod dominus Rex Anglic Henricus
quintus cum magno exercitu suo transmigrans mare versus
Harfler in vigilia assumpcionis Beate Marie portum ibidem
arripuit anno regni sui tercio. Ac ipse villam illam per
viam sedis cum duce Eboraci duce Clarencie duce [Bedeford
erased] Gloucestr et aliis pluribus comitibus Baronibus et
dominis postea xxii die Septembris videlicet die dominica
in crastino sancti Mathei Apostoli et Euangeliste anno supra-
dicto ipsa villa se dicto domino Regi reddidit et sic ipsam
Rex fortiter perquisiuit. Post quam perquisicionem habitam
facta ordinacione pro eadem villa conseruanda constitute
ibidem Domino Comite Dorsetie capitaneo ipse dominus
Rex cum dicto exercitu suo a sede predicta recessit versus
Calesiam causa pestilencie ingentis apud Harriet regnantis.
Ac ipse Rex sic transeundo exercitus magnus Francie
numero quasi C" positus fuit contra ipsum Regem non
habentem secum ultra numerum x" Qui duo predict! exer-
citus omnibus forciis bellarunt. In quo bello interfecti
fuerunt de Franciscis in campo de Argencott die veneris in
festo sanctorum Crispini et Crispiani videlicet xxv die Octo-
bris anno domini millesimo ccccmo xv° et anno supradicto
tercio Regis dicti Henrici quinti Dominus de Brut constabu-
larius Francie dux de Launson dux de Bare dux de Braban
comes de Nywere comes de Russe comes de Breue comes de
Sannies comes de Grauntepre Monsieur Dampiere Mon-
sieur Baustemond Monsieur Phelippe Dancy baillif Damense
Monsieur Damerey Monsieur Robert Frete Monsieur Dar-
manille Monsieur Dagnovile Monsieur Gray Monsieur
Waryn Monsieur Graymerain Monsieur Seneschal de Hay-

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT 29

nam Monsieur de Mongang Monsieur Coursy Monsieur
Goudard de Romit John Gordyn Monsieur Boremys Monsieur
Symond de Faignewell Monsieur de Graues Monsieur Robert
de Montagu Monsieur de Broues Monsieur Dainchy Mon-
sieur Gyon de Harbaines Monsieur John de Gret Monsieur
de Sorell Monsieur Gangers de Dolpyn Monsieur de Montey-
gney Monsieur de Vaysay et son fitz Monsieur Roiount Dayne-
court Monsieur Mayhew de Humers Phelippe de Sossens
Monsieur Curard Rubympre Monsieur de Poys Monsieur
Launselot de Clare Monsieur Robert de Waren Monsieur de
Hamede Monsieur de Crekes Monsieur de Merchin Monsieur
Roger de Pois Monsieur Tremes et son frere Monsieur de
Noiell Monsieur Antony de Graue Monsieur Collard de
Cessewes Monsieur Denyn le Burgoney Monsieur de Bauford
Pere Bonefant John Sempy Porren de Prees Monsieur de
Brayme Monsieur Roland de Grotus Monsieur Phelippe de
Dent Monsieur Gilaw de Trie Monsieur de Seint Clere Mon-
sieur John de Poys Monsieur Jakes Courtyamble John de
Werdyn Saylond Bryan de Geremys Monsieur de Cavency
Monsieur Alert de Somage Monsieur Collard de Fraymys
Monsieur Caynot de Borneville Monsieur Raynold de Flaun-
dres Monsieur Vaudan de la Mys Monsieur John Caramys
Robert le Sauage Monsieur Dacy Monsieur Dency Monsieur
de Calenche Fortescu John de Lysle Ducet Dauncy Monsieur
Deo Monsieur John de Beamond Monsieur John de Mondeux
Monsieur John Drux Monsieur Charl de Chastaile Monsieur
Phelippe Leukirke et son frere John Gueryn Monsieur John
de Colevyle Monsieur de Bremle Monsieur Giliam de Garvyle
Monsieur de Haly Lerceuesque de Soyns et M'M'M'M1 de
valantz chevaliers et esquiers sauns les communes. Et similiter
capti fuerunt prisones domini nostri Regis dux Dorliaunce
dux de Burbon le Mareschall de Fraunce appelle Bursegaud
le counte de Rychemond le counte de Verdon le counte de
We et le frere Duyk de Launson et autres sieurs. Et ex parte
dicti domini Regis interfecti fuerunt dux Eboraci Juvenis
Comes Southfolk et non plures de dominis et circa xv de aliis
personis valettorum. Et sic dominus noster Rex superauit ilia
die omnes hostes suos gracias agens deo altissimo matri patrone
que virgini Marie Sanctoque Georgio omnibusque sanctis dei,
abiens cum exercitu suo versus Calesiam ibidem requiescens
et se reficiens remittens quos voluit de dicto exercitu suo in
Angliam ad se reficiendos. Post quam requiem habitam idem

3°

THE ANCESTOR

dominus Rex prouidens plurima negocia regni sui postea in
Angliam reuenit arripiens apud apud (sic) Doveriam die Sabbati
in festo sancti dementis pape videlicet xxiii die Nouembris
anno supradicto tercio conferens secum dictos dominos Francie
prisones et captiuos suos. Qui veniens versus London maxima
multitude gentium civitatis illius in vestibus rubris et capuciis
albis obuiam habuit ille intrans civitatem ilia die Sabbati
sequente videlicet vltimo die eiusdem mensis in festo sancti
Andreae et tanta multitudo virorum et feminarum astitit
in plateis ab angulo sancti Georgii in Suthray usque in
Westmonasteriam quod vix ab hora xa ipse Rex cum dominis
predictis captiuis suis vsque in hora iii post nonam adue-
nire potuit Westmonasteriam et causa eciam propedicionis
diversarum ordinacionum et munerum eidem per civitatem
illam oblatorum pro eius aduentu et gloriosa victoria Gloria
in altissimis deo.

The same done into English

BE it known that our lord Henry the Fifth, King of
England, crossing the sea with a great army towards
Harfleur, arrived at that port on the vigil of the Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the third year of his reign
[1415]. And he laid siege to the town, together with the
Duke of York, the Duke of Clarence, the Duke of Gloucester,
and many other earls, barons and gentlemen. Afterwards
on the xxii September, which was Sunday, the day after the
feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist, in the
aforesaid year, the town surrendered itself to the King. The
King, after making a thorough examination of the town,
ordered that it should not be destroyed, and after making
the Earl of Dorset Governor himself with his army retreated
towards Calais on account of the great sickness which pre-
vailed at Harfleur. And on his march he was opposed by a
great French army of about a hundred thousand men, while
he himself had not with him more than 1 ten thousand.
And the two armies fought fiercely. In which battle were
slain of the French in the field of Argencott on Friday, being
the feast of Saints Crispin and Crispianus, the 25th of October

1 Elmham, the King's chaplain, who was probably present, puts the
strength of the army at scarcely 900 men-at-arms and 5,000 archers;
Monstrelet estimates the former at 2,000, the latter at 15,000.

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT 31

1415, that is the third year of the reign of King Henry the
Fifth [here follows the list of names of French noble-
men and gentlemen who were killed], and four thousand
valiant knights and esquires, without counting the common
folk. And there were likewise taken prisoners of the King,
the Duke of Orleans, the Duke of Bourbon, the Marshal of
France named Bursegaud, the Count de Rychemond, the
Count de Verdon, the Count D'Eu, and the brother of the
Duke d'Alen9on and other gentlemen. And on the party
of the King there were slain the Duke of York, the young
Earl of Suffolk, and no more of the leaders, and about fifteen
others of gentle blood. And so our lord the King gained the
victory that day over all his enemies, and returned thanks
to the most high God and to His mother his patroness
the Virgin Mary, and St. George, and all the Saints, and
departed with his army towards Calais. And there he rested
and refreshed himself, and dismissed to England those of his
army that he thought fit. And after he was rested, he,
foreseeing many matters concerning the affairs of his kingdom,
returned to England, arriving at Dover on Saturday, the feast
of St. Clement the Pope, which was the 23rd of November
in the said third year of his reign, bringing with him the
above-named French lords his prisoners. And he reached
London on the next Saturday, the last day of the same month,
St. Andrew's Day, and as he entered the city he was met by
a very great multitude of citizens clad in scarlet robes with
white hoods, and so great was the throng of men and women
standing in the streets that the King, with his prisoners the
above-named lords, could with difficulty, between the hours
of ten in the morning and three in the afternoon, make his
way from the corner of St. George's Southwark to West-
minster, the delay being also caused by the publication of
divers ordinances and the presentation of gifts to him by the
City upon his return and glorious victory. Glory to God
in the Highest.

A. R. MALDEN.

THE PEDIGREE OF FREKE

THESE five pedigrees complete the collection from William
Freke's MS. of 1707, begun in Ancestor, vol. x. In the
pedigree No. II. the children of Elizabeth Freke by William
Stout have been given in error the surname of Freke. In
No. IV. Sir Roger Feilding should be described as ' brother
to y6 Earle of Denby ' [i.e. Denbigh].

The italicised passages, as before, denote additions to
the MS. by a later hand.

IX. FREKE OF HINTC

Jane Baker left=Thomas Frd
no living issue Melcom Ao)
[son and heir
Freke, seven
Sir Thoma«
Shroton]

Thomas Freke born

William Freke born Elizabetl

at Hinton Jan. 17

at Hinton Ap. 7. born J«J

i6|§ and married to

1662 married to married

Elizabeth dr of Tho.

Eliz. Harris of Henry S

Pile of Baverstock

London And now Marston

etq.

become the Hinton Wilts

and Han. house

united

zabeth Raufe Freke Thomas William George Rachel Freke born Francis Theodora Elizabeth
ke born at Lond. Freke Freke Freke at Hinton Jan. 3 Freke Freke born at Freke bor
it. Ap. 25. 1601 born at born at mort. 1 69 J married to M? mort. HintonFeb.22. HintonScj
married to Ann Lond. Lond. Cole of Milburn 1TO"8 1703 mort
Colchester Feb. 25. May 6.
1692 1694 Jane John Freke born at Lucy Robert Freke Mary Frel
mort. Freke Hinton Feb. 10 Freke born at Hinton born Sept.

mort. 1695

mort. March 28 1702 1710

Jane Fre

ke Thomas Freke William Freke ]
mort.

Elizabeth Mary Freke Anne Freke
•Yeke

AND HANNINGTON

t = Elirabeth d' to S' Will"
$29 Clarke of Kent knight,
t.imily portion first and
laat I5OO/. at least
of

:ke
64.

Jane Freke born
Ap. 17. 1668 and
married to Robert
Duke of Lake near
Sarum Wilts, esq.

Mary Freke bom May
y« 8"1 1670 at Han-
nington married first
to D' Coward without
issue and after to Mr
Tho. Leir rector of
Ditcheat Somerset

1 1

Ann married Mary

1 1 1 1 1

married Lucy Bcata Jar

le mar- Ma

ry Thomas Richard Tt

omas M

to Mr Whitton to M'.

Capper ried to Mr

in Oxfordshire Somerset Andrews

Salisbury

Anthony mar- Henrietta mar- Henry Frances Robert George Freke

ried to Mr ried to MT.

Duke of Bui- Christopher

ford's d'. Wilts Twincoh

NOTE

The descent of y« Hannington estate to yc Hinton family was on this account Sr Tl
Freke having made no provision for his son Tho. ye first settled at Hinton and y'
virtue only of a iooo/. given him by his grandfather Alderman Taylour Sr Thomas
going to Lond. to provide for his sd son died on yc road and grieved y' he must lea
his son Tho. unprovided for comended on his blessing his sons Raufe and Willi;
y" w"1 him y' if they had no heirs male they should let Hannington estate come
their br Thomas and his heirs. ye two bP Raufe and William made a settlem' straite
it according and tho William dying first left all in Raute's power yet he just to 1
father and br5 desire let yc Han. estate come to yc Hint, family and y' tho before 1
death he liv'd to sec Sr Raufe Freke born by his own daughter.

X. FREKE

Thomas Freke [seventh son
born at Shroton March zi.
May 30 1 642 married to Mi
ye sister to S' Francis Doi
iooo/. and upwards

ne Baker=Thomas Freke =
t no living born at Melcom
ue Aug. 2 1629

- Elizabeth dr to S' Will"1
Clarke of Kent knight,
family portion first and
last 15007. at least

Margaret
born at
1630. m
Mr Philip
of Manso

Frcke John FreJ
Hinton Hinton i
arried to ried to E
Nicholas New Eng.
1

.e born at Elizabetl
63 1 mar- July 7*
liz. Clark and man
John Bro

izabeth

John

Katherine

Robert

Phillip

Mary

irried to M?

mort.

married to Mr

mort.

living at

married to

nning and

Harding of

Marston

— Collins

er one Mr

Merc Wilts

rreyard

John
dead

Freke Mary Freke

Jane mort. Hughe

William

F HINTON

Tiomas Frcke of Shroton]
ying at Hinton St. Mary

lighter of Dodington

(IK). Family portion a

>rn

Mary Frckc born

Sar.ih Frckc married to

George Freke born

Jane

1634 married to Wm

M^ Humphry Mildm.iy

at Hinton A° 1638

Wel(

Chafin rsq of Zeales

living near Queen Camell

and dying unmarried

dyin|

set

in Meer Wilts

Somersett dying \v(tlout

at Southampton

she <

issue supposed heart broke

as a

by her husband

fami

Jane Frcke married to

Weldon of Windsor esq. who
dying soon left her a widow
she continuing such and acting
comOn mother to her

1 1

| 1

m mort. Thomas Christopher mort.

George mort.

Mary mar- Thomas

Harry married to

mort. leaving a daugh-

leaving a

ried to Mr

Duller Reimes's

ter

daughter

John Grove

widow by Dor-

—

— —

—

chester w^out

hard married Mary Sarah married to

Jane married

issue

'* Ann Freke mort. Mr Christopher

to Mr Ridout

—

lad issue Mary

Twineho

of Blandford

Richard mort.

Ann

Dorset

orgc
rt.

John a
physician

Chafin

XI. FREKE

Anthony Freke
child born at Shi
to Agnes Weech

William Frcke married
to Mary Doman of Fiford
Somersetchr.

Richard Freke married
to Jane Irish of Chard

Anne Freke married
Henry Tutchener of
Bridgwater D^ of physick
having twelve children all
dying before marriage

Thomas Freke marrying
Joane Shaddick had two
sons Richard and Thomas
who never married

e Freke mar- John Freke
to Will. Bray marrying
e Isle of Wight
>ut issue

hony Freke
rd J. England of
rd w^out issue

I 4 | 5 i • .

William Freke in Judith Freke [of]

Barbadoes

London

Rebecca

Collins of

Sarum

Ann Freke mar-

Elizabeth Freke

rying Geo. Bell
of Dunyatt

[of] London

Charles Mary Elizabeth
Freke Freke Freke

Alice
Freke

' -

Mary Freke Robert Freke
marrying of Taunton

John Manly

Thomas Freke
of Taunton

James Mary

Thomas marrying
Joane Bainton of
Chard

John mard Agnes
Wilkins of Comb
St Nicholas

THORNCOMB

'aringdon's eleventh
5. 1579 and married
near Dorchester

r Freke marrying to Elizabeth F
. Lumbard of Chard to Stephen
issue William and Chard
ard, married after
Rossiter w"'out

rekc married John Freke of Thorncomb Frank Fre
Simms of parish married to Eliza- Somerset
beth Haslebor Dorothy 1

le of Ling
marrying
Votty

ren

Joh
mar
gar<
of C

parrying Matilda
cane of
omcrsct I

oane
lenry

n Freke Nicholas Freke Charles Freke Samuell Freke Mary F
rying Mar- marrying Mary marrying Mary marrying marry'd V
t Selwood Stanton Hancock Susan Stevens Masey of I
hard lj,h and

- —

—

issue Chri

Abraham of Elizabeth

Mary and 1

Barbadoel

ell Jane Fr

eke Johi
Fret

Danicll Samu
Frekc Frek<

I Susan
e Freke

Thomas Get
Freke Fre

Margaret Mary Freke

Freke

Richard
Freke

John
Freke

Nicholas
Freke

Elizabeth
Freke

Samuel John
Freke Freke

Anne Freke marry'd
John Temple of
Ling

Anthony Freke

Thomas Freke mar-
ryed to Joane Smith
of Nortn Curry

XII. FREKE OF OCK

Richard Freke
Chard [second
eleventh child oi

r IT T

Anthony William Rich:
Freke mar- Freke mort. Frekt
ryed to Eliz. ryed 1
Dymond of King
Chard Glast

rd John Fn
mar- mort.
o Mary
of

onbury

rr T T r T T

Richard Freke Francis William Anne Freke Elizabeth Mary F
married to — Freke Freke married to Freke married
Chilcot of married to Henry mort. Richd
Exon. Elizabeth Arthur of Shuckbc
Freeman, Exon. Exon.
rector of merchant m'chant
Loddiswell
John Freke Devon
married to —
Lewis of Exon.

reke Hannah Ric
to Freke Fre
mort. mar
ro Eliz
— of 1
Wi
Hannah
Freke
mort

Francis Freke Elizabeth Henry Henrietta John Elizabet
bred a clergy- Freke mort. Maria
man — —

h Sarah Rich:
Freki
mort

Mary Snell Richard

mort.

RD FITZPAINE, ETC.

Jane Irish of
Anthony Freke,
:c of Faringdon]

John Freke

mort.

I-

John Frcke fellow

of Wadham Oxon.
and now rector of
Ockford Fitzpaine
Dorset married Jane
Baker of Hamwood
in Trutt parish
Somerset

Hannah Freke born
June 17. 1640 and
married Ist to Tho.
Eattbrook of Exon.
a tucker, and after
to Tho. Bingham
mort. wlhout issue

John Frcke

married

Sarah

Syndry of

Lend, a

sitkman's

daughter

eke

Sarah
mort

Jane

Freke

mort.

James
Freke

mort.

Thomas
Freke a
presbyterian

minister

Sarah Freke
mort.

Jane Freke
married Mr
Glasse an

attourny in

Shaston

Mary Freke

Elizabeth
Freke

Hannah
Freke mort.

John Freke an
eminent Sur-
geon in London
married to M'.
Blundell y«
Royal Sur-
geon's daughter

Thomai

Freke

mort.

XIII. FREKE OF BRUA1

Philip Frcki
Freke of Ci
Domner in S

Alice Freke born at
Shrot. 1570 and
after married to
Will"1 Hawkins of
Chilthorne

Jane Freke born at
Shrot 1573. and
married to John
Bampton of Stoke
Somerset

Thomas Freke at Chil-
thorne mard Agnes Lan-
ning at Shrot. 1 1 Dec.
1569, and after Edith
Hawkins dying 1605

Edith Freke first
married to John
Good of Maiden
Newton and after to
Abraham Bryant of
Burton Dorset

Robert

his fou:
don an
having
Anckti

Jane Freke married
1593 to Robert
Mighell of Stoke
under Bullbarro
Dorset

John Freke Mary Freke John Freke mar-

Mary Freke

ried to Mary

married to

Fre

Barry of Sturton

Robert Pope

Wilts

jhn

oh
:reke

Mary
Freke

Frances
Freke

Robert
Freke

Bridget
Freke

Elizabeth
Freke

Philip
minister
of Bruam

Frances
marrying
Edward
Ings

Elizabeth

Frances

Phillip twin
with Mary

Freke mort.

M
m:
PC

r I

Ann Elizabeth

John Freke
July i J.
marrying
Sarah Wii
Bristoll

Mary twin
with Phillip

Thomas
Freke mort.

John Freke
mort.

BRISTOL AND PRESTON

of Frank
Chilthorn

•old

ring-
lam,
Lucy

Elizabeth Freke married
to Willm Bragg of Sad-
bury July 16 1570 at
Shrot. and who hat left
a most numerous issue

3 4 5 |«

e born Phillip Freke who John Freke born at William Freke born Thomas Freke born

582 at married Mary Tim- Shrot. 1584 and Ap. io'.h 1584 at March 27 1588 at

named bury of Bruam married to Edith Shrot mar11 Joane Shroton

itby of

Asgile of Ockford [ ] of Fording-

1602

Fitzpaine 1611 bridge

le had

i Oct.

ihroton

John
Freke

Thomas Freke
marry1* Elizabeth
Perry of Preston
Somerset

John Freke
born at
BUndford
Jan. 19.
1626

William
Freke in
Ireland

Mary Freke Rafe Freke

omas Rol

ert Richard

Phillip Freke

liam

Margaret

Elizabeth Joell Freke Edith Frel

ke 1645 mart. Freke

marryed Ann

Freke

Freke maryed

Freke mart. marryed

ried

marryed

daughter of Mr. marryed

Tbo. Rodler

married to Richard

an dauyh-

Sarah

Sam*1 Price. Ann Christian (?)

John Fookes

»/*""

daughter

dying marryed

daughter of

Whitby

mo* no

M'. (Penny ))

Elia. daughter of M"

Holt [or

Mr George Protvse Hobbs] and

of Teovil

no male issue

Thomas a Merchant in Bristol (son

Pbilif married Frances the daughter

bis uncle William, one son Thomas dea

Betty Sarah Mary

Pbilif

in Thomas

Betty

Tempi

Susanna

And after marr* Frances daug^ of -
Langton of Brislington Com. of Somers
had issue Thomas Langton Freke mot

Freke Freke Freke

Freke

Freke Freke

Freke

Frances and An* mort.

OUR OLDEST FAMILIES
XIII. THE BASSETS

norm
rwvx

OAAA

Y reason of its many and wide-spreading
branches the house of Basset makes a
great figure in English history. The Bassets
of Weldon and Drayton, and the many lines
which come from them, have made the name
one harder to miss than to find in any page of
_ the chronicle book. The shields of a score

of Bassets, heads of houses and knights with many a man to
their banners, are found in the ancient rolls of arms. Yet
far and wide as they went, no landed branch remains as their
monument unless it be the Bassets of Tehidy in Cornwall.

The Bassets came from over sea. Of Ralph Basset, the
king's justice, the first great man of the name in England,
Orderic writes that he was of ignoble stock, one whom
Henry I. had raised up as it were from the dust, to set him
above his betters. But the source of the Bassets is not to
be thus muddied without appeal, for Orderic has much the
same story of the beginning of another Norman-English
house whom other evidence clears of the slander.

Five sons at least are assigned to the justice, who flour-
ished in the first quarter of the twelfth century. From his
time onward a clan of Bassets increases and multiplies. In
the troubles of the thirteenth century they were in both
camps. There were Bassets out with Montfort — a Basset of
Drayton falling beside the earl at Evesham — and Bassets were
in the king's host in good plenty. The oldest stall-plate
remaining of a garter knight is that of a Basset, and Froissart
and the gallant chroniclers tell of the deeds of the house.

But the greater lines soon perished away. The last barons
of Weldon, Drayton and Sapcote were in their graves before
the Wars of the Roses, and the lesser houses failed one by one
until this west-country house stands alone.

The near kinship of the Cornish Bassets to the main stock
cannot be doubted, but it is nevertheless impossible to do

56 THE ANCESTOR

more than guess at the link. The Cornish story must begin
with the history of another Norman house, the Dunstan-
villes.

Humfrey de Lisle, Domesday lord of Castle Combe and
Winterburne, and of five-and-twenty other Wiltshire manors,
was living as a follower of William the Red in 1091. His
daughter and heir, Adeline, in 1 1 24 gave lands to Tewkesbury
Abbey for the soul of her dead husband, Rainald de Dun-
stanville. This Rainald bears the same name as Rainald de
Dunstanville, Earl of Cornwall, a bastard of the blood, but
he was dead whilst the second Rainald was yet a boy, and
confusion between them may be avoided. Two sons were
born to Rainald and Adeline the heiress, Robert and Alan.
The elder, a follower of Empress Maude and her son, died
without issue. The younger was Lord of Idsall, having
grants in Sussex and Shropshire by the favour of Henry I.,
and his two sons, Walter and Alan, are found, and a daughter
Alice. A pipe roll of 1168 shows that Walter was heir to his
uncle Robert, and Alice brings the family of Basset first into
our view by marrying Thomas Basset of Oxfordshire, son of
Gilbert, one of the supposed sons of Ralph the Justice. His
younger brother Alan married twice, whose line was continued
by his daughters,1 his only son Geoffrey dying without issue.
Of these daughters, Cecily married William Basset of Ipsden,
another Oxfordshire Basset, who may be reckoned as a
probable kinsman of Thomas Basset, his wife's uncle by
marriage.

The immediate ancestry of this William Basset is made
clear by suits at law which are found again and again in the
Coram Rege rolls. Again and again we find the same pedigree
set forth in his pleas. An Osmond Basset of Ipsden marries
Basilia, widow of one Luvet de Brai, and has by her John
Basset, living under Henry II., and father to William, husband
of Cecily de Dunstanville. A charter roll of King John
proves this marriage with Cecily, the king confirming to her
husband and his heirs of her body the lands which Alan de
Dunstanville her father gave him on his marriage with her.
Osmund had been enfeoffed of half a knight's fee in Ipsden
by Brian fitz Count in the time of Henry I."

1 Curia regii roll, Hilary, 27 Hen. III. m. 4<1, 13.

2 Curia regis roll, Mich. 9 Hen. III. m. 29.

OUR OLDEST FAMILIES 57

Amongst the Dunstanville lands was Tehidy, which is
even to this day the seat of the Bassets, descendants in a right
line from William and Cecily, a manor which with Trevalga
and other lands was held by the Bassets of the Inglefields as
their mesne lords, the Inglefields descending from Emme,
elder sister of Cecily. This possession of Tehidy enables
the descent thenceforward to be traced with great assur-
ance.

The heir of the Dunstanville marriage bore the Dunstan-
ville name of Alan, as did his son after him, upon whom Alan
the elder settled Trevalga by a fine in 47 Henry III. From
this second Alan inquests post mortem carry the pedigree to
his great-grandson Sir William, who had King Edward III.'s
licence to embattle his house of Tehidy.

He had been a minor and in wardship at his father's death.
In like case were his son, another Sir William, and his grand-
son, John Basset, who died in 1463, so that for three genera-
tions the estate suffered those feudal exactions which preyed
upon the estates of young heirs. The marriages of these
three were with Botreaux, Fleming and Beaumont. The
match with Joan Beaumont, heir of her brother Sir Philip,
last of the Beaumont lords of Heanton, brought to the
Bassets the beautiful Devonshire lands of Heanton, Sherwell
and Umberleigh. Umberleigh indeed tempted the Bassets
from their ancient seat, and is henceforward the chief
house of the name. Sir John Basset of Umberleigh, grand-
son of John Beaumont, wedded Honor Grenvile, daugh-
ter of Thomas Grenvile, Knight of the Bath and ancestor
of famous Sir Richard of the Revenge, a lady who after his
death took for a second husband a gentleman bearing a
splendid name, Sir Arthur Plantagenet, Knight of the Garter
and Viscount Lisle. This was Edward IV.'s son by Elizabeth
Lucie. He was one of the shining ones at the Field of Cloth
of Gold, Vice- Admiral of England and Deputy of Calais, and
being prisoner in the Tower upon some whisper of a fantastic
plot, died of joy on receiving a ring in token of pardon from
his tiger sovereign. Foxe, the martyrologist, has a word
concerning Dame Honor Basset of Umberleigh in her new
rank of viscountess, calling her ' utter enemy to God's honour,
and in idolatry, hypocrisy, and pride incomparably evil.'
The sum >of which may be that she was no patroness of
Master Foxe.

58 THE ANCESTOR

With Honor Basset's children the house divided. John
Basset, the heir, had Umberleigh, and for a wife Frances
Plantagenet, daughter and co-heir of his stepfather, who bore
him an heir and remarried with Thomas Monke, ancestor of
the general of the Restoration. The heir, Arthur Basset of
Umberleigh, was knighted by King James at Theobalds.

These Bassets of Umberleigh and Heanton were for the
king, as were their cousins of Tehidy. Colonel Arthur
Basset of Heanton held St. Michael's Mount until forced to
surrender it to the parliament. Four generations after-
wards Francis Basset of Heanton had by a Courtenay of
Powderham a son, who died unmarried, and two daughters.
Joseph Davie, son of the younger daughter, succeeded to
Umberleigh and Watermouth and to the name and arms of
Basset, but with his grandson the new line failed, and a
daughter carried name, arms and land to a cadet of Williams
of Tregullow.

The ancient lands of the Bassets in Tehidy were settled
upon George Basset, the second son of Sir John Basset and
Honor Grenvile. He married a Coffin of Portledge, and
was a parliament man, member in turn for Bossiney, New-
port and Launceston. He died in London in 1580, and left
a son James, who married a Godolphin of Godolphin.

The next generation carried the Bassets of Tehidy into
the civil wars. Sir Thomas Basset, second son of James, was
major-general in King Charles's host in the west. Sir
Arthur, a fourth son, fought his way to a colonelcy, whilst
Sir Francis, the head of the house, sheriff and vice-admiral of
Cornwall and recorder of and member for St. Ives, did not
allow his dignities to stay him from striking in on the same side.
This Sir Francis, married to a Trelawney of Trelawne,
was a hearty sportsman, a great falconer and fighter of cocks.
He was in the king's army with the western gentlemen on
Braddock Down, where he had knighthood on the field, the
king in high spirits hailing him as ' Dear Master Sheriff.'
He died in middle life in 1645, and upon his son's head came
the wrath of the parliament. Young John Basset of Tehidy,
who had never been in arms, was forced to compound at a
high price for his estates, and in 1660 the Bassets parted with
their lordly house upon St. Michael's Mount. With the
restoration it was discovered that the loyal Bassets had bred
a Puritan, and a Puritan vehemently suspected for a while of

OUR OLDEST FAMILIES 59

plotting against King Charles the Restored, until a treason-
able letter in his hand was shown to be a forgery.

The Bassets had a pretty knack of courting and marrying
heiresses, four of whom followed one another at Tehidy in
the seventeenth and eighteenth century. Of these Mrs.
Mary Pendarves may be signalized. The brutal old squire,
Alexander Pendarves of Roscrow, the first husband of Miss
Delany, had no children by her, and dying with an unsigned
will his estates came to a niece and heir, Mary Pendarves, who
married Francis Basset of Tehidy.

Sir Francis Basset, grandson of Francis and Mary, was
created a baronet in 1779, paying for his advancement
with a shower of political and economical pamphlets, writing
with impartiality on Mildew and on the Crimes of Democracy,
on Crops in Cornwall, and on the Theory and Practice of the
French Constitution. He was ready for the French with more
than pamphlets when they threatened Plymouth in 1779, the
year of his baronetcy, at which time he marched the Cornish
miners in militia coats to Plymouth and cast up earthworks
and batteries about the port. Those were the great days of
Cornish mining, and Basset was king amongst the miners,
his house of Tehidy lying near his rich lodes. In 1796 Pitt
made a peer of him by a title which recalled the coming of
the Bassets to Cornwall, making him Lord de Dunstanville
of Tehidy. The next year he had a second barony of Basset
of Stratton conferred upon him with a special remainder to
the heirs male of his only daughter, who survived until 1855
but never married.

His nephew, John Basset of Stratton, the next head of
the house, wrote on mining in Cornwall and elsewhere, and
brought from the Hartz mines the system of machinery
which abolished the long ladders by which the Cornish
miners, till his days, had ascended and descended. Three sons
of this John Basset succeeded in turn to Tehidy, the third
being followed by his son Arthur Francis Basset, now of
Tehidy, who is probably heir male of William Basset and
Cecily Dunstanville.

Cornwall, which has still many old houses amongst its
halls, can show no pedigree to match this of the Bassets.
Let us recall that it can be traced with assurance to a Basset
of Ipsden under Henry I., who was doubtless a son of one of
the most famous of our Norman English clans. Seven hun-

60 THE ANCESTOR

dred years ago the head of the family founded this line in
the west country with a rich and noble marriage. Since
then they have married, and given in marriage with most of
the great houses of Cornwall and Devon, and are still firmly
seated in their ancient manor house of Tehidy.

O. B.

A POSSIBLE SAMBORNE ANCESTRY

LET me preface these notes with the statement that they
come from an amateur in genealogy, who pretends to
but a superficial knowledge of his craft, and who asks
for the criticism and aid of those better versed in genealogical
lore. The data which I have collected are, I think, for the
most part unpublished, and I hope throw new light on some
mediaeval families of importance.

The following key pedigree shows the SAMBORNE line from
Nicholas of Wiltshire to the division into Somerset and Berk-
shire branches.

Niebolai Samborne, born
about 1350, of Biddes-
ton, Wilts, and Fern-
ham, Berks

[Nicholas ?] Samborne,=
born about 1380, of I
Lushill, Wilts, and
Fernham, Berks |

Walter Samtorne, born =
about 1420, of Lushill,
Wilts, and Fernham,
Berks

Catherine, d»u. and co-heir
to Sir John Lushil! or Lus-
teshull, of Lushill in Wilts

Elizabeth, dau. and co-heir
of Thomas Cricklade of
Leigh and Studley, Wilt*,
and Langridgc, Somt.

; Margaret, dau. and co-heir
of Thomas Drew of Seagry,
Wilts, and Southcut, Berks.
Died 1494. i. P.M. 10 Hen.
VII. 1C?

Drew Samborne of Southcut, = Joan Nicbolai Samborne, =

Elizabeth, dau. of John

Buckhurst and Fernham,

of Mapledurham,

Brocas

of Beaurcpaire,

Berks, and Lushill, Wilts.

Oxf. Died 1506.

Hants,

and grt.-grdr. of

Died 1505. I.P.M. 24

Will. F.C.C. 8

Sir John Lisle of

Hen. VII. pp. zz, Z3, 24

A'Deane

Thruxton, Hants. (See

I.P.M. of Lady Mary

Lisle, 34 Hen. VIII.)

William, b. abt. Thomas Henry of Walter John,b. 1490,

Nicholas,

b. 1495 Anne

1470, d. 1503. Sonning, of Timsbury,

probably

M. Anne, d. Sir Berks, a Somt. M.

Andover,

Hants

Roger Copley, quo the Dorothy, dau.
and left one Sam- of Nicholas

dau. and heir, bornes Tichborne

Margaret, who of Moull-

m. William, znd ford,
Lord Windsor Berks

A Jl

a quo Windsor-

a quo the

a quo the Hampshire

Hickman, Earls

Sambornes

Sambornes and pro-

of Plymouth

of Timsbury

bably the American

Sanborns

«1

62 THE ANCESTOR

I have traced the English Samborne family back to one
Nicholas Samborne, who was born about 1350, and who be-
came of some note. The first record of him is in 1386, on
the Patent Rolls of Richard II., which give (p. 165) 1 the
appointment of Nicholas Samborne, escheator in Wilts,
together with John Blake, Robert Devenish, and the sheriff
of Wilts, as a commission to inquire into the lands, etc., of the
alien priory of Abury, Wilts. Again on page 177 of the same
volume is the appointment of Tho. de Hungerford, Nicholas
Bonham, John Legh, Nicholas Samborne (escheator) and
the sheriff of Wilts to inquire into the status of the manor
of Heyghtredbury, Wilts.

In 1387 (p. 316 of the same series) we find the appointment
of Lawrence Drew, Nicholas Samborne, Edward Flory, John
Panes of Purygge, Stephen Bodenham, Richard Huneman
and the sheriff of Wilts as a commission to arrest the monk
Thomas Coffyn.

This Nicholas Samborne seems to have been the son of
another Nicholas, for he is called ' Junior ' in the following
references : — 3

Parliament of England at Westminster, 17 Ric. II. 27 Jan. 1393-4.

Nicholas Samborne, Junior ) ~, .

Hugo de la Lynd J CluPPenham bor°U8h-

Parliament of England at Westminster, 18 Ric. II. 27 Jan. 1394-5.

Nicholas Samborne, junior ) A/t , u ,

_, _ . \ Malmesbury borough.

Thomas Froud )

Although in the Parliament of 3 Nov. 1391 the Junior was omitted, when
the representation was —

Hugo de la Lynde } „ ., -,.

XT- L. i e i. r Bath City.

Nicholas Samborne j

Nicholas is still called ' Junior ' when in 18 Ric. II. (1395) 3
he bought from Walter Hertland and John, son of Thos.
Perham, lands in Worton, Potterne, Hurst, Merston, Fyding-
ton and Bishop's Lavington, Wilts. Again in 1401 we find 4
a fine ' between John Thornbury, elk., John Herman, elk.,

1 References are to the printed volumes of Close and Patent Rolls now
being issued by the P.R.O.

J References are to the printed returns of Members of Parliament 1213-
1702. House of Commons, 1878.

3 Wilts Feet of Fines, 18 Ric. II. (case 256, file 57, § 19). These lands were
conveyed to Nicholas Samborne, junior, and Hugh de la Lynde, who was prob-
ably some connection.

« Wilts Fines, 3 Hen. IV. file 58, § 16.

A POSSIBLE SAMBORNE ANCESTRY 63

Nicholas Samborne the younger, and Robert Andrewe,
querents : and Thomas Bonde of Malmesbury and Alice his
wife, def., concerning lands in Malmesbury, Burton and
Thornhull, Wilts.' These lands were conveyed to the four
plaintiffs and to the heirs of John Thornbury. In 1403 we
find * a fine ' between Nicholas Samburne, John Wikyng and
Robert Andrew of Eton Meisy, querents ; and William
Sibyle, def. ; of one third of the manor of Lustishalle, to
hold to the said Nicholas, John and Robert, and the heirs of
Nicholas.'

From 1392 to 1404 Nicholas Samborne held one-fourth
of a knight's fee in Biddeston, Wilts.8

Sir Thomas Phillipps' Licenses for Oratories, 1322-1504,
yields the following : 3 ' 1409, Nicholas Sambury (sic) Junior,
de Fernham and Lusteshull = Katerina.' This Nicholas
Samborne married Katherine, daughter and coheir of Sir
John de Lusteshull, concerning whose ancestry I will add a
note. Thus, between 1386 and 1409 we find this Nicholas,
of a line hitherto unknown, intermarrying with a family of
distinction, becoming an escheator and a Member of Par-
liament, and owning, partly by descent and partly by pur-
chase, two manors. My effort has been to find whether he
rose thus suddenly from the yeoman class, and if not, who
were his ancestors.

The Samborne trail becomes very blind when we attempt
to trace the ancestry of Nicholas. I assume his father to
have been also Nicholas, but in that period of varying sur-
names it is possible that he was not called Samborne. The
manor of Biddeston, Wilts, was the earliest Samborne holding,
and it was held as follows : — *

Domesday : Held by Turchetil under Humphrey de 1'Isle.

1250-72 : Held by Henry de Budeston under Walter de Dunstanvil.

1338 : Held by Nicholas de Budeston under Lord Badlesmere.

1350: Held by William de Budeston.

1392-1404: Held by Nicholas Samborn.

1424 : Held by Robert Russell of Bristol.

i Wilts Fines, 4 Hen. IV. file 58, § 17.
1 History of Castle Combe, p. 156.

3 Phillipps says this is from Bishop Metford's Registers ; but the reference
is somewhere wrong, for that bishop's episcopacy extended from 1396 to 1407
only.

4 References are to History of Castle Combe.

THE ANCESTOR

Since we assume the father of Nicholas Samborne was
also so called, was he the Nicholas of Budeston who held in
the manor in 1338 ? If so, we have a variant from Sam-
borne to Budestone. But whence came the name Sam-
borne ? Was it a Wiltshire cognomen ? A careful search
of early Wilts fines, court and subsidy rolls yields but the
following references : —

Cbippenham, Sbuldon, &c., Wilts : Nicholas Samborne, tenant of a gar-
den and 3 acres of land, 5 Edw. III.
(1331-2) (Rentals and Surreys,
portfolio 16/53).
Trtncbridge, Wilts:

1327. Richard Samborn, xijd (Lay Subs. Roll I Edw. III. 196/7).
1333. Richard Saumburn, xijd (Lay Subs. Roll 7 Edw. III. 196/8).

Unless the Samborne and Budestone lines were identical,
perhaps the Sambornes came into Wilts from some other
county, since the Wilts references to the name are so meagre.
Was there in Wiltshire any place named Samborne, which
could have furnished a derivative for the family name ? I
can only find one, the hamlet of Sambourne in Warminster.
This is not mentioned in Domesday, and though called a
manor in Mr. Daniell's History of Warminster, I have not
found anything to connect our family with the place.

Where else in England do we come on Samborne as a
family name as early as 1350 ? I can only find one line,
which seems to have originated in Somersetshire, near Yeovil.
The earliest record of Samborne here is in 1314, and I append
it in full.

Patent Roll, 7 Edw. II. p. 150, June 7 (1314).

Commission of oyer and terminer to Will, de Burne, Ric. de Rodeney and
Joh. de Foxle, on complaint of Geoffrey de Lorimer of Yevele, that Master
Rob. de la Mere, Joh. de Loketon, Thos. de Saunbornt, Joh. Much, John le
Tayllour, Rob. Gilletoune the elder, Joh. le Cutiller, Tho. de Goldun, Tho.
de Anne, John Rusmer, Nich. Wilet, Nich. Malet the elder and Joh. Godwyne,
with others, leveled a house of his at Yevele, Somt. and hauled away the timber
and other goods of his.

From now until 1400 in Somerset frequent references
occur. In 1333 the Lay Subsidy Roll for Yeovil shows a
Maude Samborne. Of this Yeovil line was undoubtedly
Robert de Sambourne, a Somerset cleric of some note, whose
birth I cannot trace, but whose name appears often on the
public records. Concerning his life I will cite the main facts,
seriatim.

A POSSIBLE SAMBORNE ANCESTRY 65

1333. Instituted as Priest of Merriot, Somt., by the lord of the Manor
(Weaver's Somt. Incumbents).

1348. Founded Samborne's Chantry in Yeovil, endowed with 7 messuages

and 30 acres of land in Yeovil, Kingston and Mersh (Collinstn,
iii. 208).

1349. Instituted as Priest of Kyngeston, Somt., on presentation of Rob.

Fitz Payn (Wearer's Somt. Incumbents).

1353. Resigned as priest of Kyngeston (Ibid.).

1356. Demise by Sir John de Risyngdon, parson of the Church of Yeovil,
Sir Robert de Sambourne, chaplain, and Sir. Wm. Umfray,
parson of the church of Kyngeston to Wm. Woodfield covering
certain premises in Yeovil (Anc. Deeds, vol. ii. § B, 512).

1359. John Mautravers of Litchet, and Agnes, his wife, took from the hand

of feoffees, Robert Sambourne, &c., certain lands (Top. et Gen.

"• 339)-

1360. Sir John de Meriet (patron of the advowson of Merriot) and the

Earl of Arundel (patron of the church of Yeovil) proposed an ex-
change of livings by which Robert de Sambourne should hare that
of Yeovil (Register of Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury).

1362. June 9: Sir Hugh de Courtenay presented Robert de Sambourne
(by William White, elk., his proxy) to the living of Yeoril in ex-
change for John de Risyngdon (Weaver's Somt. Incumbents).

1362. Sir John de Meriet enfeoffed Robert Sambourne of the manors of
Lopene, Stratton and Meriet (Greenfield's Meriet Family,
Som. Arch. Soc.).

1369. Nov. 5. ' Robertus Samborne canonicum electus fuit in Senes-

chal turn capituli' (Wells Register).

1370. William de Courtenay made Bishop of Hereford upon the death

of the late Bishop ; and Robert Samborne, Robert Waggescombe,
and Richard Hyden were custodians of the Bishop'* Temporali-
ties (Rymer's FaeJera).

1380. At the Court of the Earl of March in Odcombe, Robert Samborne,
parson of the church of Yeovil was summoned to answer on a
plea of trespass (Court Roll, 26 May, 4 Ric. II. ; 200/5).

1382. May 20. Will of Robert Samborne, Canon of Bath ind Wells, and
Rector of Yeovil. Pro. 12 Sept. 1382. Executors acquitted
21 Nov. 1382. Filed Lambeth (Courtenay 201 A). Mentions
no kindred.

By these references concerning Robert Samborne's life
we see he lived at Yeovil, had some connexion with Odcombe,
and was in a sense a protege of the families of Meriet, Mal-
travers and Fitz Payn. A curious connexion existed be-
tween one Nicholas de Odcombe and the Meriet family with
the Wiltshire manor of West Kington ; and of this manor
Nicholas Samborne as escheator for Wilts had charge in
1385. The history of this manor of West Kington throws
an interesting light on a branch of the famous Fitz Herbert
family, and its descent is shown by the following pedigree.

THE ANCESTOR

Hugh de Vivonia=. Mabel, dau. and co-heir

Herbert the Cbamberlain =

steward of
Poitou, etc.
Held West
Kington in
1214 (Coll.
Tof. et Gen. vii.
•37).

of William Malet

Herbert Fitz Heriert=

Peter Fin Herbcrt=

Hugh,
John,

left one son, William de Fortibus= Maud de Kyme
who d.s.p. 1314

Cecily, heir to=
her cousin
John. Held
half West
Kington

=John de
Beauchamp

Sybil, m. Mabel, m. Joan, d.
Guy de Fulk de before
Roche L'Orty 13I4
Chinard

-Reynold Fitz Peter,
d. before 1314

John
d.s.p.

1 1

Cecily, m. Eleanor, m.
John Grey Sir John de
Meriet,
patron of
Robert
Samborne.
His son,
Sir John de
Meriet,
sold half
West King-
ton in 1379
to Sir W.
Bonvyle

John, Ela (see=
a quo Genealo-
Fitz gist,N.S.
Her- ix. 150)
bert

Peter Fitz Reynold= M a u d e = Nicholas d
b. abt. 1275; d. survived Odecombe
1323. Held half her hus- who maj
West Kington as band and have been
heir to his cousin married an ancestoi
John de Vivonia again in of S a m -
1327 to borne

Roger Fitz Peter
also called Roger
Martel. 8.1285;
d. 1334

=Joan

N. de O.

Henry Fitz Roger= Elizabeth
b. 1318 ;d. 1354.
Held half West
Kington (see
I.P.M. 26 Edw. III.
No. 37

Thomas :
d.i.p.

John

John Fitz Roger. =Alice [Chedder ?] who survived her husband
Held half West I and is said in History of Trigg Minor to have
Kington I m. four times more

Elizabeth, held=John de Bonvyle, s. and h. of
half West I Sir William de Bonvyle of
Kington I Chute, Devon

Sir William Bonville, who held, by inheritance
and by purchase, all of West Kington

a quo Grey
Marquis of
Dorset

A POSSIBLE SAMBORNE ANCESTRY 67

It has occurred to me that the Nicholas de Odcombe of
this pedigree may have been a Samborne antecedent. I
have not found his ancestral line, but I take him to have been
a Paulyn. Burke and Papworth give the arms of Paulyn of
Odcombe, Staffordshire (sic) (22 Edw. III.), somewhat re-
sembling the ancient Samborne arms ; viz. On a chevron
between three cinqfoils, as many dart heads. I should be glad
to have any new light on this Nicholas, concerning whom I
find the following references, mainly from the series of Close
and Patent Rolls, now being published by the Deputy Keeper
of the Public Records.

1312. Pardon to Nicholas de Odecombe, for acquiring in fee without
license, from William le Eyr of Combe, 5 1 acres of land and 3 acres
of meadow in Combe and Stuntesfield (Oxon).

1320. Acknowledges that he owes Richard de Rodney £50 to be levied
in default on his lands &c. in Oxon.

1327. Represented Somerset County in Parliament.

1327. Acknowledges that he owes Will. Trussel £100 to be levied in de-
fault on his lands &c. in Leic.

1327. Order to deliver to Nicholas de Odecombe and Maude, his wife
(late the wife of Peter fitz Reynold), as her dower, 1/4 fee in
Leygh, Dorset, 1/2 fee in More Krichel, Dorset, I fee in Hinton,
Mapelarton, and Brodemayne and Wolverton, Dorset, 1/4 fee in
Multon, Dorset, 1/2 fee in Stepelton, Dorset, 1/4 fee in Lasar-
ton, Dorset.

1327. Protection for one year with clause nolumus.

1330. Order to permit John Franceys the younger and Nicholas de Ode-
combe to take 300 quarters of corn to Ireland.

1330. Peter Fitz Peter acknowledges he owes to Nicholas Paulyn £1,000

to be levied in default on his lands &c. in Sussex.

1331. Protection for one year with clause volumus.

1331. Pardon to Walter Lovecok of Nettleton, for his outlawry in Wilts,
for non-appearance to answer plea of Nicholas Paulyn de Od-
combe that he render an account as his bailiff in West Kington.

1333-4. On Lay Subsidy Roll for West Kington, Wilts.

1335. Protection for one year with clause volumus.

1337. Acknowledges he owes John Paulyn Byestbroke £100 to be levied
in default on his lands &c. in Oxon.

1337. Complaint of Nicholas Paulyn de Odcombe that Walter de Shobyn-
den, Will ; and Rob ; Alyn, Simon de Wodestok, Walter Cok,
John le Couper, Will and Rob. le Eyr, and others broke into his
house at Combe by Hanesburg.

1339. Nicholas de Odcombe, 'late Escheator of Dorset.'

Is it possible that this Nicholas de Odcombe was the ante-
cedent of our Sambornes ? Or was the line of Wiltshire
yeoman stock rising in the time of Richard II. into a gentle
and landed family ?

68 THE ANCESTOR

The Samborne heraldry gives me no clue to the earlier
generations. The arms given in the early visitations were
silver a chevron sable between three pierced molets gules.
Glover's Ordinary gives the arms of Sir John Samburne as
sable a lion rampant gold ; but this coat I assume to be an
error, confused perhaps with the Brocas arms, because of an
intermarriage between the families about 1490. Perhaps
these notes may suggest to some one better versed the solution
of the Samborne derivation.

The Lushill or Lusteshill family also needs some eluci-
dation. So far as I know, except for the researches of Mr.
Story-Maskelyne and myself, this old Wiltshire line has not
been traced since the days of Glover. Mr. Maskelyne found
in Harl. MS. 807 the oldest Lushill pedigree, about which
he wrote : —

Concerning this valuable MS. referred to by Mr. Alfred T. Everitt, some-
thing of its history is given in a note prefixed to it : — ' This booke of Pedigrees
is in the handwriting of Robert Glover Esqre. Somt. Herald, and from the
Executrix of Ralph Brooke Esqre. Yorks Herald came into the hands of me,
Tho. Cole, Ao. 1629.' No candid person can, I think, fail to be convinced that
this MS. is founded on another noteworthy MS. in the same collection, Harley
1074, the source of those curious tables printed in vol. i. of the Collectanea.
The latter is, I believe, the work of an earlier herald, and I hazard the suggestion
that it is of common origin with the notes printed by Sir Tho. Phillipps from
the Aske collections. Harley 807 may therefore be considered as an edition.
revised by a very competent hand, of very early work.

These Lushill pedigrees are as follows : —
A. Harley MS. 807, ff. 27 and

Sir Edmund Littbill= Ladjr Collhill

S/> John Lmbill, Kt. = Agne», dau. to Shoteibroke

Nicholas Dunstanville= Agnes, dau. and Catherine, m. Jane, wife to
I co-heir to Samborne Jno. Temes-

Henry DunstanTille=Millicent of
I Cornwall

John

January DumtanTil = Alice, dau. to
I John Richens

John Wriotheslejr— Barbara, sole heire, grandmother

all. Garter to Thomas Wriotheilejr, Earl of

Southampton

A POSSIBLE SAMBORNE ANCESTRY 69
B. Harley MS. 807, f. 66b.

Shotribrukc —

Gilbert Shoteibroke, Esq.= Agne« Shoteibroke=Sir John Luihill

1 of Luihill, Kt.

Edith, dau. to=Sir Robert John Shotetbroke Catherjrn, m. to Agnes, m. to Nicholii

athcryn, m. to

Sir John

Si. It'll "II ; lit

m. Sir John
Beauchamp

Shoteibroke of whom the yiue Walter Samborne, DunitanTil of Cattle

of Sir Will. Etiex of whom Margaret combe, heir male to

cometh cometh m. to Baronjr of Cutle-

Wjrntor combe

Alienor, dau. and — Sir John Cheyney
heire of Shepey

The manor of Lushill, in Castle Eaton, Wilts, was held
partly of the duchy of Lancaster, as of the manor of Trow-
bridge, and partly of the barony of Castle Combe. In Mr.
Poulett Scrope's History of Castle Combe, we find its tenure
given as follows : —

Domesday. Lands of Humphrey de Lisle, held by Gunter.
Temp. Henry III. Nicholas ntz Ada held two parts of a knight* fee in
Lusteshall of Walter de Dunstanvil.

1340. (Partition Roll) held by John de Lusteshulle.

1377. In custody of the Lord during minority of John de Lusteshull.

1404. Held by Nicholas de Castle Combe.

1414. Held by Agnes, widow of Nicholas de Castle Combe.

Nicholas fitz Ada, or Nicholas de Lusteshull, then was
the earliest antecedent of our Lushill family. He was sheriff
of Wilts in 1246-9 and again in 1267. His descendant, Sir
Edmund or Simon de Lusteshull, married — Coleshill, and
had a son, Sir John de Lusteshull, who was born about 1310
and who married Joan . In 1333 certain lands in Lus-
hill, Hannington and Widhill were settled on John and Joan,
and in 1 340 the manor of Lushill was settled on them. Major
Gen. Wrottesley shows in his Crefy and Calais that this John
de Lusteshull served in those famous wars. His son and heir
was undoubtedly the Sir John Lushill who married Agnes
Shotesbroke in the pedigree, and he was probably born about
1335. His children were : —

i. Agnes, born about 1356; married (l) Nicholas Dun-
stanvil, a descendant of John Dunstanvil, second son of
Walter, the second Baron of Castle Combe. Apparently she

7o THE ANCESTOR

married (2) John Temes of Rood Ashton, for on her death in
1442 John Temmes was her heir.

ii. Joan, born about 1358, married John Sibell, and left
son and heir William Sibell, who in 1394-5 held one third of
the manor of Lushill (Cbanc. I. P.M. 18 Ric. II. No. 38),
which he sold in 1403 to Nicholas Samborne.

iii. Catherine, born about 1360; married Nicholas Sam-
borne, of whom before.

iv. John, born about 1362 ; the only son, a minor in 1377,
and probably died soon after unmarried.

The Lushill arms were silver a 'pale indented, within a bor-
dure azure bezanty. Whether these arms furnish any clue
to the family ancestry I cannot say. The Note Book
of Tristram Risdon gives these arms as belonging to
John de Lusteshull, and also mentions Sir Simon de Lustes-
hall, but gives no arms for him. Some expert in heraldic lore
can perhaps with these scant data fill out the Lushill pedigree,
which will amplify the earlier lines of the Wriothesleys,
Earls of Southampton.

V. S. SANBORN.

From a carbon print of Messrs. Brattn, Clement & Co

GEORGE DIGBY, SECOND EARL OF BRISTOL, AND WILLIAM RUSSELL,
FIRST DUKE OF BEDFORD.

(From the picture by ' 'an Dyck.)

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL

^»^~ ~~| ' A SINGULAR person, whose life was
f | j[~V. one contradiction. He wrote against

_\ /f~\ Popery, and embraced it ; he was a zealous
_\n f(f-\ i opposer of the Court, and a sacrifice for it.
vij u (iL V Was conscientiously converted in the midst
^ C? *5 J °f hi8 prosecution of Strafford, and was
^^\J^r most unconscientiously a prosecutor of Lord
Clarendon. With great parts, he always
hurt himself and his friends ; with romantic bravery, he
was always an unsuccessful commander. He spoke for the
Test Act though a Roman Catholic, and addicted himself to
Astrology on the birthday of true Philosophy.'

Such is the character of George Digby, Earl of Bristol,
as delineated by Horace Walpole. The words are severe, but
the following pages will, I think, show that on the whole the
criticism is justified.

The family of Digby is a very ancient one in the
counties of Rutland and Leicester. In 1434, in the reign of
Henry VI., we find that a Sir Everard Digby, of Tilton and
Stokedry, in the county of Rutland, was made High Sheriff
for that county. In the Wars of the Roses he took the side
of Henry VI., and was killed at the battle of Towton, fighting
for the Lancastrian cause. He married Jaqueta, daughter of
Sir John Ellys, and by her had seven sons, all of whom fought
at the battle of Bosworth against Richard III. The second
son, Simon of Coleshill, in Warwickshire, was made High
Sheriff of Warwick and Leicester. His great grandson, Sir
George Digby, was knighted at the siege of Zutphen, in Flan-
ders, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and died in 1586,
leaving three sons, the eldest of whom died young ; the
second, Sir Robert, from whom is descended the present Lord
Digby ; and the third, John, the father of the subject of this
memoir. The latter married Beatrice, daughter of Charles
Walcot, Esquire, of Walcot in Shropshire, and widow of Sir
John Dyves, of Bramham in Bedfordshire. Their son George
was born in Madrid in 1612. John Digby was appointed
Ambassador to the Court of Spain by James I. to negotiate

71 _

72 THE ANCESTOR

the marriage between Prince Charles and the Infanta. For
these services James created him Earl of Bristol, and Baron
Digby of Sherborne in the County of Dorset. Sherborne
Castle had belonged to Sir Walter Raleigh, who began the
building of the present house, which is the shape of the letter
H, the two wings with octagonal towers being added by the
Earl of Bristol. After Raleigh's execution, the castle and
estates were appropriated by James, who gave them to his
son Henry, Prince of Wales, who, however, did not live long
to enjoy the possession of them. James subsequently gave
or sold Sherborne to Lord Bristol in recognition of the be-
fore-mentioned services in Spain.

Buckingham's conduct with regard to the negotiations
of the Spanish match led to a serious quarrel between him
and Lord Bristol, and on the latter's return to England,
Buckingham endeavoured to impeach Bristol, who, however,
ably defended himself and successfully proved his innocence
of the accusations brought against him, and then in turn
proceeded to impeach Buckingham. King James came to
the assistance of his favourite, and sent Bristol to the Tower,
from which, however, he was soon released, receiving at the
same time orders from the King to retire to his estates in the
country, which he accordingly did, remaining at Sherborne
till the death of James I. On the accession of Charles I.,
Lord Bristol still remained in disfavour at Court, and the
King gave orders that the Customary Writ for attendance at
Parliament should be withheld from him. To this indignity
Lord Bristol was not prepared to submit calmly. He accord-
ingly laid his case before the House of Lords. Their Lord-
ships arrived at the decision that there was no just cause why
the Writ should be withheld, and thereupon the King granted
it him, accompanied, however, by a letter from the Lord
Keeper commanding him in the King's name to absent him-
self from Parliament. To this Lord Bristol made reply that
having received the Writ signed by the King himself under
the Great Seal of England, commanding him to appear and
take his seat in Parliament, he felt himself bound by that
alone. The King subsequently withdrew his prohibition,
and Bristol took his seat. But the resentment of the King
and Buckingham still pursued him, and a charge of high
treason was brought against him. He made a brilliant de-
fence, and was acquitted. At the conclusion of the pro-

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 73

ceedings the King dissolved Parliament, and Bristol was
committed to the Tower, where, however, he does not appear
to have remained long.

It was during his father's committal to the Tower in
1624 that George Digby made his first appearance in public.
At the early age of twelve he was sent with a petition to the
House of Commons on his father's behalf, which he delivered
at the bar of the House, and accompanied it with a short
speech of his own. The confidence with which he spoke,
combined with his tender years, made a good impression on
the members. He was looked upon as a youth of great pro-
mise. On 15 August 1626 he was admitted to Magdalene
College, Oxford, where he greatly distinguished himself in
his knowledge of the classics, and especially Greek, and in the
study of Literature. On leaving the University he travelled
for a time in France, and on his return to England remained
for some years quietly at his father's seat of Sherborne.
While he was at Oxford he made the acquaintance of Peter
Heylin, the historian and divine, from whom he derived a
great taste for theological discussion. During the time spent
at Sherborne young Digby had ample opportunity for de-
veloping his tastes for philosophy and theology, and for pur-
suing his studies, since his father was an accomplished man of
letters, and his house was the resort of many of the most
learned men of the day. We find him at this time engaged
in a correspondence with his kinsman, Sir Kenelm Digby, on
the subject of religion, George Digby writing in favour of
Protestantism, and Sir Kenelm upholding the Roman Catho-
lic doctrines, of which church he was a member. These
letters were published in 1651.

It is curious to note that this singular man, who was con-
sistent only in his inconsistency, should have written so
strongly against the creed which in later years he himself
adopted.

To give an instance of his style, and his considerable
acquaintance with the works of the Fathers, it may not per-
haps be thought out of place to quote from the above men-
tioned letters. Discussing the subject of Papal Supremacy
he writes : —

For their clashing* in point of government, to name the superiority of the
See of Rome will be enough to call to your memory the epistles of Leo contrary
to the 28th Canon of the Fathers of the Council of Calcedon, who had elevated

74 THE ANCESTOR

that of Constantinople to an equal height with the other ; and likewise those
Epistles of Gregory the Great, wherein he inveighs in sharp terms against who-
soever should take upon him the title of Universal Bishop, hardly reconcileable
with those passages of the Fathers that the Roman Doctors cite for the Pope's
supremacy.

George Digby appears to have remained peaceably at
Sherborne till he was about twenty-six years of age. When
next we hear of him he is engaged in an affair of honour which
led to rather disastrous consequences. Whilst at a party in
London, he met a lady of his acquaintance whom he was about
to escort downstairs, when a young man about the Court,
named Crofts, interposed himself between Digby and the
lady, which act of rudeness Digby resented and made Crofts
apologise. Many months afterwards, however, Digby was
informed that Crofts had not only " pleased himself " with the
lady, but had spread the report that he had kicked Digby. On
hearing this Digby took the earliest opportunity of challenging
Crofts, and they met and fought a duel in Spring Gardens.
Crofts was wounded and disarmed. The encounter having
taken place within the precincts of Whitehall, wherein duel-
ling was prohibited, Digby was arrested and imprisoned in
the Fleet, an unusually severe punishment for a person of his
rank. He petitioned the King for his release, which was sub-
sequently granted. On his release he returned to the country.
But the indignities he himself had suffered, together with the
unjust manner in which his father had been treated, incited
him against the Court, and he resolved to oppose the Court
party to the utmost of his ability. The opportunity was soon
forthcoming, for in 1640 the King found himself under the
necessity of summoning Parliament, his difficulties in Scot-
land being so great that he was sorely in need of funds for
carrying on operations against the Scotch rebels. Digby
stood for Dorset, and was elected a Member for that county.
He joined the discontented party, which was opposed to the
Court, and soon acquired distinction as an orator. This
Parliament, known as the ' Short Parliament,' did not sit for
quite a month. It met on 13 April, and was dissolved on
5 May. Charles had called Parliament together in order that
they might vote him money to carry on the suppression of
the insurrection in Scotland, instead of which the House of
Commons drew up a list of grievances, whereupon Charles
hastily dissolved it, and determined to rule alone. The

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 75

affairs in Scotland, however, did not progress favourably, and
on 3 November 1640 Charles was obliged to summon his fifth
Parliament, memorable as the ' Long Parliament.' '| Digby
was again returned for the County of Dorset. He now took
the lead in all measures opposed to the Court, and his elo-
quence and witty, polished utterances, which were always to
the point, gained for him a great reputation.

I will quote a few lines from a speech delivered on an
occasion when the House of Commons were declaring their
grievances. He expresses himself thus : —

Mr. Speaker, you have received now a solemn account, from most of the
shires in England, of the several grievances they sustain, but none as yet from
Dorset. Sir, I would not have you think I serve for a land of Goshen, that we
live there in sunshine, whilst darkness and plagues overspread the rest of the
land. As little would I have yon think that being under the same sharp mea-
sure as the rest, we are either insensible or benumbed, or that the shire wanteth
a servant to express its sufferings boldly.

Then he goes on to enumerate some of the grievances
with which the County is burdened, such as : —

1st. The great and intolerable burden of Ship money, touching the legality
of which they are unsatisfied.

2nd. The multitude of Monopolies.

3rd. The many abuses in pressing soldiers, and raising money concerning
same.

4th. The new Canons, and the oath to be taken by Lawyers, Divines, etc.

He delivered several other speeches upon similar subjects,
which are upon record, and to be found in the Parliamentary
History. These speeches greatly raised Digby in the esti-
mation of his party, and on II November 1640 he was ap-
pointed a member of a select Committee to undertake the
Impeachment of the Earl of Strafford. He at first entered
with great ardour into the prosecution. The House of
Lords, however, showed reluctance in condemning Strafford ;
whereupon the Commons dropped the Impeachment and
brought a Bill of Attainder against him.

It was then that Digby completely changed his attitude.
At the third reading of the Bill he opposed the passing of it
in a very able speech. He pointed out that, although he
spoke strongly against Strafford when he was a member of
the Select Committee, and though his sentiments in regard
to Strafford's conduct remained unaltered, yet now that he

76 THE ANCESTOR

was no longer in the capacity of Prosecutor, but in that of
Judge, he could not reconcile his conscience in condemning
a man with the evidence before him. Thus he says, in the
course of his speech : —

In prosecution upon probable grounds, we are responsible only for our
industry or remissness ; but in judgment we are responsible chiefly to God
Almighty for its rectitude or obliquity. In cases of life, the 'Judge is God's
steward of the party's blood, and must give a strict account of every drop.

He further went on to criticize Sir Harry Vane's evidence,
showing how very unreliable it was. These are his words :—

But, sir, this is not that which overthrows the evidence with me concerning
the army in Ireland, nor yet that all the rest of the Junto remember nothing
of it, but this, sir, which I shall tell you is that which works with me to an over-
throw of his evidence. . . . Mr. Secretary was examined thrice upon oath at
the preparatory Committee. The first time he was questioned to all the in-
terrogatories, and to that which concerned the army of Ireland he said posi-
tively these words : ' I cannot charge him with that.' But for the rest he
desired time to recollect himself, which was granted him. Some days after he
was examined a second time and deposed these words concerning the King's
being absolved from rules of Government, and so forth, very clearly. But
being pressed to that part concerning the Irish army, he said he would say
nothing to that. ... It was thought fit to examine the Secretary once more,
and he deposed these words to have been spoken by the Earl of Strafford to
His Majesty : ' You have an army in Ireland which you may employ to reduce
this Kingdom.'

This speech gave great offence to the members of Digby's
own party, and he was called upon to give an explanation,
which he accordingly did, and here the matter rested for a
time. But from thenceforward he was regarded as a deserter
by his own party in the House of Commons. So great was
their resentment against him, that being unable to expel him
from the House, owing to his having been a short time pre-
viously elevated to the Peerage, they took the totally unjusti-
fiable course of ordering his speech to be burned by the
common hangman. Further to display their ill-will they
caused his name, together with fifty-nine members who voted
with him, to be written on parchment and called Strafford-
ians, and to be fixed on posts and thus displayed through the
town.

An event now occurred which increased Digby's unpopu-
larity with the House of Commons. In December 1641,
the King sent the Attorney-General, Herbert, to the House

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 77

of Lords to arrest Lord Kimbolton on a charge of High
Treason. At the same time the Sergeant-at-Arms came to
the House of Commons to arrest five members on a similar
charge. These members were, Sir Arthur Hazelrig, Pym,
Hampden, Holies and Strode. The King is supposed to have
arrived at this decision solely by the advice of Lord Digby,
with whom he had consulted privately, no one else being with
him.

The Commons sent back a message to the King by the
Sergeant-at-Arms that the members would be forthcoming
as soon as a legal charge was preferred against them. Next
day the King came in person to the House of Commons to
demand the five members, but they had left, having obtained
information of the King's intention, and taken refuge in the
city. Digby pretended to have no knowledge whatever of
the affair, and, happening to sit next to Lord Mandeville in
the House of Lords, whispered to him that ' the King was
very mischievously advised, and that it would go hard, but
that he should know whence that counsel proceeded, and
that he would go immediately to his Majesty.'

Shortly after this an event occurred that enabled Digby's
enemies to renew their persecutions. In the beginning of
January 1642, the King, having failed in his attempt to pro-
secute the five members, retired to his palace at Hampton
Court. While there he had occasion to send Lord Digby to
Kingston-on-Thames, who thereupon set out from London
in a coach and six horses, attended by only one servant, and
Colonel Lunsford, who was with him in the carriage. fThis
Colonel Lunsford was the Lieutenant of the Tower, and it
was supposed that he had owed his appointment chiefly to
Digby's influence, who considered that he was a man likely
to carry out anything that he might direct, especially in re-
gard to the arrest of the five members.) This sounds a per-
fectly natural and harmless proceeding. But a very different
account was communicated to Parliament, namely, that Lord
Digby with Colonel Lunsford had proceeded to Kingston-
on-Thames with an armed force of horse and foot. Digby's
enemies in the House of Commons were only too pleased to
give credence to the story, and to magnify it into a plot to
overthrow Parliament. He was accordingly commanded to
appear before the House of Lords to answer for his actions.
He had, however, in the meantime fled to Holland.

78 THE ANCESTOR

While in Holland he sent a letter addressed to his brother-
in-law, Sir John Dyves,in which was enclosed one to the Queen.
This letter was intercepted and ordered to be opened by the
House of Commons. On hearing this the King sent a mes-
senger to the House desiring that a transcript of the letter
should be sent to the Queen. This the House consented to
do, keeping, however, the original, saying that ' having opened
the other letters and having found in them expressions full
of asperity and malignity to Parliament, they thought it very
probable that the like might be contained in that to her
Majesty, and dangerous to the kingdom if it should not have
been opened, and they besought the King to persuade her
Majesty that she should not vouchsafe or countenance the
Lord Digby, or any other fugitive whose offences were under
the examination of Parliament.' In his letter to the Queen,
Digby had written as follows : —

If the King but betake himself to a safe place where he may avow and pro-
tect his servants (from rage, I mean, and violence, for from justice I will never
mplore it), I shall then live in impatience and misery till I wait upon you.
But if after all he hath done of late, he shall betake himself to the easiest and
compliantest ways of accommodation, I am confident that I shall serve him
more by my absence than by all my industry.

In the letter to Sir John Dyves, he writes : —

God knows I have not a thought to make me blush towards my country,
much less criminal, but where traitors have so great a sway, the honestest
thoughts must prove most treasonable.

This letter, of course, gave great offence to those against
whom it was directed, but his enemies could find no words
which could possibly be regarded as treasonable, so they fell
back on the incident of the coach and six, and actually brought
an indictment against him of levying war against the King !
On the same day the Bill of impeachment against Attorney-
General Herbert was carried ' for maliciously advising and
contriving the articles upon which Lord Kimbolton, Mr.
Holies, etc., had been accused of High Treason.'

On 26 January 1642 the House of Commons impeached
Digby on a charge of high treason ; the charge consisted of
three articles, which were as follows : —

1st. That in or about the month of January he had maliciously and trai-
torously endeavoured to persuade the King to levy war against his liege sub-

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 79

jccts within this Kingdom, and that he did actually levy forces within the realm
to the terror of his Majesty's subjects.

2nd. That he had falsely, maliciously and traitorously endeavoured to
raise a dissension between the King and his people, and to possess his Majesty
that he could not live in safety of his person among them, and did thereupon
persuade his Majesty to betake himself to some place of strength for his de-
fence.

jrd. That he endeavoured to stir up jealousies and dissensions between
the King and his Parliament, and to that end did wickedly advise the framing
certain false articles against Lord Kimbolton, Denzil, Holies, etc., and did
persuade his Majesty, accompanied by divers soldiers and others in warlike
manner, to come in person into the House of Commons, and demand jthe
said members of the said House then sitting ; to the apparent danger of his
Majesty's person, and in high violation of the principles of Parliament.

Digby did not long remain in Holland, but by dis-
guising himself as a French sailor, succeeded in reaching
Hull without detection, which was partly due to his fluency
in speaking French. He met with many adventures on the
voyage, narrowly escaping capture by an English cruiser.
All the time he was on board he feigned sea-sickness, and
thus remained concealed below until he landed. Sir John
Hotham was at this time Governor of Hull, a partisan of the
Parliamentary party. He it was who shut the gates of Hull
against his Royal master. Digby determined on a bold
course of action, and although he knew Hotham to be his
enemy, determined to make himself known to him. There-
fore, in very broken English he asked his way to the Gover-
nor's, stating that he had important secrets to reveal.

On being introduced to the Governor's presence, and
being alone with him, Digby asked him in English whether
he knew him. Sir John Hotham replied that he did not.

' Then,' said Digby, ' I will try whether I know Sir John
Hotham, and whether he is in truth the same man of honour
I have always taken him to be.'

Thereupon he told the Governor who he was, and that he
hoped he was too much of a gentleman to hand him over to
his enemies.

Sir John was so much struck by Digby's courage, at the
same time being a good deal flattered, that he consented to
let him travel to York in safety.

During his conversation with the Governor, Digby tried
hard to persuade him to turn over to the King's side, and
nearly succeeded, as Hotham was not a very scrupulous man,

«o THE ANCESTOR

and had he been sure of the King gaining the ascendency,
would probably not have hesitated to join his cause. Digby,
believing that Hotham was about to surrender Hull, advised
the King, who was at York, to attack the town, which he did
with a very small force. When he arrived before the walls,
he found it strongly defended, and the surrounding country
flooded by the enemy. Hotham himself came out along a
causeway with a reconnoitring party of five hundred men,
and drove back a body of the King's horse. Whatever Hot-
ham's inclinations may have been, he was too closely watched
by his son and the Parliament not to appear loyal to them.
The King, unable to enter Hull, was forced to retire upon
York.

When the Parliamentary party had openly hoisted the
Standard of Rebellion, Digby raised a regiment of horse for the
King, at the head of which he fought at Edgehill, where he
distinguished himself by his personal bravery. He after-
wards accompanied Prince Rupert to the North, and on the
way they found the Close in the City of Lichfield strongly
fortified by a wall and moat. Prince Rupert ordered the
infantry to storm it, but not being strong enough, they were
driven back. Then Digby, to encourage the officers of the
cavalry to make an attempt in another place, offered to go
himself at the head of them, and accordingly led them across
the moat to a weaker place. He himself, up to his waist in
the mud of the moat, was shot through the thigh, and was
with great difficulty brought to a place of safety. After a
time he recovered from his wound. By this gallant action
the city was taken.

Soon after this event a disagreement arose between Digby
and Prince Rupert about the defeat of the former at Sher-
borne, which General Gerard asserted to be the result of
treason. Digby's character, however, was supported by the
Governor of the town, and several others. But Prince Ru-
pert sided with Gerard. At length swords were drawn, and
the King rushed in to part them. When it was found that
his opinion was in favour of Digby, Rupert and four hundred
of his men threw up their commissions. Digby also gave up
his command, and retired to the Court, where he gained con-
siderable influence with the King.

After the siege of Gloucester, he again embarked upon a
military career, joining as a volunteer the forces which were

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 81

pursuing the Earl of Essex, and during an engagement at
Auburne, near Hungerford, was shot in the face and narrowly
escaped losing his sight. The next day was fought the battle
of Newbury, in which Lord Falkland, one of the Secretaries
of State, was killed. Digby was appointed to fill the vacant
post. About the same time he was elected High Steward of
Oxford University. He was not a successful Secretary of
State. The two projects which he set on foot after his
appointment both proved failures. The first was for a treaty
between the King and the City of London, which came to
nothing owing to his letters being intercepted by Parliament.
The second was when, the Marquis of Montrose having gained
brilliant victories in Scotland, Digby made overtures to Leslie
and other commanders of the Scottish forces on the Parlia-
mentary side, with a view towards inducing them to join the
King's party. The crafty Leslie, while pretending to listen
to Digby, imparted their correspondence to the rebel leaders.

From this time the fortunes of Charles were on the wane.
The decisive battle of Naseby was the deathblow to the
Royalist cause. In the following year Charles fled over the
border to seek refuge with the Scots, and was treacherously
handed over by them to the English Parliament. In January
1649, having been brought before a Tribunal illegally ap-
pointed by the Commons, he was condemned to death, and
was beheaded on 30 January 1649.

In October, 1645, Digby was appointed Lieutenant-
General of all the Royal Forces north of the river Trent. In
the same month he defeated four hundred of the rebels at
Ferrybridge, in Yorkshire, capturing their arms and ammu-
nition. This good fortune, however, did not last. He was
defeated two days afterwards at Sherburn in Yorkshire, losing
several officers and men. Many prisoners were taken, and
his coach, in which was the Countess of Nithsdale, was cap-
tured, and several of his papers fell into the hands of the
enemy. This capture was considered of great importance
by the Parliamentary party. Digby, who seems always to
have had a faculty for making enemies, quarrelled with most
of the officers of the King's Army. Owing to these dissen-
sions he was obliged to retire from His Majesty's service, but
still retained his Secretaryship of State.

On relinquishing his command in the army, he went to
Ireland, which was at this time in a state of rebellion, the

82 THE ANCESTOR

rebels being under the direction and leadership of the Papal
Nuncio. Digby, who never could remain for long inactive,
at once conceived a plan for the pacification of the country.

The Lord Lieutenant, the Marquis of Ormonde, was con-
fined in the City of Dublin. The Prince of Wales had taken
refuge in the Scilly Islands, whence he sent a message to
Ormonde for one hundred men, as a guard to his person. On
hearing this, Digby embarked for the Scilly Isles with two
frigates which had been sent with the hundred men and
supplies, intending to persuade the Prince to go to Dublin,
believing that his presence there would compose the con-
tending factions and reduce the kingdom. On his arrival in
the ScUly Isles, he found that the Prince had gone to Jersey.
Thither he followed him, and, presenting himself, laid his
projects before him. The Prince replied that the proposals
which Lord Digby set before him were too important to ad-
mit of hasty decision, and that, moreover, the Queen had
desired him to join her in France. This delay did not suit
Digby, so he crossed over to France, determined to see the
Queen herself and endeavour to persuade her to agree to his
proposals. On his arrival in Paris, he immediately sought an
audience of Queen Henrietta, and tried to persuade her to
consent to his projects, but without success. He next ap-
proached Cardinal Mazarin on the subject. The Cardinal
treated him with great courtesy, and having enlarged on the
French Government's inclination to assist King Charles,
especially in Ireland, promised him money for that purpose,
at the same time pointing out that as France was playing so
important a part in favour of English and Irish Royalists, it
was necessary that the Prince should reside in France. To
this proposal Digby ultimately agreed, and set out again for
Ireland, stopping on his way at Jersey, where he saw the Prince
and gave him a letter from the Queen, urging him to join
her in France.

Lord Digby, together with Lord Jermyn and other lords,
who constituted a Council of State, strongly advised him to
accede to the Queen's wishes, with the result that the Prince
finally consented and embarked for France. In Ireland,
the Papal Nuncio, whom the rebels had made their leader,
had broken and disavowed the Treaty of Peace which Digby
had succeeded in bringing about. Affairs indeed were in such
a hopeless state, that in spite of all his attempts to settle them

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 83

advantageously to the Royal cause, he was obliged to let the
Parliamentary Commissioners take over the Island in the
name of the Parliament.

He returned to France and again sought his friend Car-
dinal Mazarin, who received him with all his former goodwill.
At this time the Wars of the Fronde were disturbing France.
With his usual impetuosity Digby at once decided to place
himself at the service of the King of France, and not waiting
for a commission, joined the King's forces as a volunteer.
On the very day he joined an unknown officer of the Fron-
deurs advanced out of the ranks with the purpose of chal-
lenging any one on the opposite side to single combat. Digby
thereupon rode leisurely out of the ranks to meet the challen-
ger, when he was treacherously fired upon by the troopers of
his opponent, who retired behind them.

In this treacherous encounter Digby was severely wounded,
and with difficulty got back to his own side. This gallant
action, performed in the presence of the King and his whole
army, excited universal praise and admiration, and he was
received by the King with every mark of favour and given a
high command in the French army. To quote from one
authority : —

He was the discourse of the whole Court, and had drawn the eye» of all men
to him. His quality, his education and the handsomeness of his person, his
alacrity and courage of action against the enemy, the softness and cirility of
his manners, his knowledge of all kinds of learning and languages, rendered
him universally acceptable.

He was raised to an important post in the French army,
and obtained a lucrative monopoly of licences for transport
of persons and property on all the rivers of France. About
this time his father died, and he succeeded to the Earldom
of Bristol. Charles II., who was in exile at Bruges, made
him a Knight of the Garter. Cardinal Mazarin, who had
been on very friendly terms with Digby, whose considerable
talents raised him in the Cardinal's estimation, was in 1650
obliged to leave France on account of political intrigues.
Before leaving he recommended Lord Bristol to the Queen
of France as a man on whose counsels she could rely. Bristol
endeavoured to raise himself in the Queen's favour, and had
hopes of attaining to the position of Prime Minister ! The
Cardinal, however, soon returned from exile and strongly

84 THE ANCESTOR

resented Bristol's conduct, which he never forgave, for soon
afterwards a secret treaty was entered into between Crom-
well and Mazarin, whereby Charles II. should receive no
assistance from France. It contained the following clause :
' That nobody who related to his service, or against whom
any exception could be taken, should be permitted to reside
in France.' Lord Bristol's name was among those who were
to be expelled, and it was generally supposed that Mazarin
had more to do with its insertion than had Cromwell. The
Cardinal, still professing friendship, sent for Lord Bristol,
and ' bewailing the conditions that France was in, which
obliged them to receive commands from Cromwell which
were uneasy to them,' told him that he could stay no longer
in their service, and that they must be compelled to dismiss
the Duke of York and himself, and that they would part with
him as from a man who had done them great service.

Thus forced to leave France, Bristol went to Bruges, in
which town the exiled Charles II. held his Court. He did
not stay there long, but soon afterwards joined the army of
Don John in the Netherlands. Now he was cordially dis-
liked by the Spaniards, both on account of the enmity he had
shown towards them in England while Secretary of State,
and also from his having commanded a regiment of French
Horse in Flanders, which were notorious for the outrages and
depredations they committed. But his unbounded self-
confidence set aside all these obstacles, and he presented him-
self to Don John, who, notwithstanding all his prejudices,
soon became very friendly with him, owing to his wonderful
powers of making himself agreeable.

Soon an event occurred which enhanced the estimation
in which he was held by the Spaniards. The French held a
place called St. Ghislain, a few miles from Brussels ; it was
so strong that several attempts made by the Spaniards to
reduce it had proved unsuccessful. Lord Bristol was able to
gain important information through some officers of the
garrison who were Irish, and who had written to the Marquis
of Ormonde to know whether the surrender of that place
would be of service to the King. This Bristol communicated
to Don John, and the result was that St. Ghislain surren-
dered to the Spaniards.

This important service gained the Earl great reputation
with the Spaniards, and Don John, at his request, applied to-

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 85

King Charles to restore him to the office of Secretary of State,
which had lapsed at the death of Charles I.

Charles, having news of a rising in his favour in England
against the Protector, repaired to Calais, accompanied by
Bristol, Ormonde, and others. On their arrival, however,
news reached them of the failure of the Royalist rising, and
the capture of the leaders. All hopes of a successful landing
in England thus put an end to, Charles, by Bristol's advice,
turned his attention to Spain. A treaty of peace between
that country and France was in process of negotiation.
Don Louis de Haro, the Spanish Ambassador, and Cardinal
Mazarin, had met together at Fuenterabia, a frontier town
in the Pyrenees, to discuss the terms of the treaty. Bristol's
plan was that Charles should go there with a view to getting
an article inserted in the treaty, assuring him of assistance in
regaining his throne.

Charles was unsuccessful in his projects, however, and
returned to Brussels. Meantime Bristol won the esteem and
regard of Don Louis de Haro, who took him to Madrid,
where he was given an important post in the service of the
King of Spain.

While in Spain he became a convert to the Roman Catho-
lic Church ; possibly a desire to still further ingratiate him-
self with the Spanish Court may have had something to da
with his conversion. Soon, however, the news reached him
of Charles' restoration, whereupon he relinquished his ap-
pointments in Spain, and hurried back to England. He
found, on his arrival there, that by changing his religion he
had forfeited the office of Secretary of State, and was obliged
to deliver up the seals of office. This was a great disappoint-
ment to him, as he had hoped that the King would have made
an exception in his favour, permitting him to retain his post.

On the Earl's return to Court, the King received him
with every mark of favour, and took him into his confidence
with regard to the treaty with Portugal, and his marriage
with the Infanta, which was in process of negotiation. Bris-
tol, who wished to be regarded as devoted to the interests of
Spain, strongly opposed the Portuguese match, and endea-
voured to persuade the King against it. He told him that
'he would be exceedingly deceived in it, that Portugal was
poor and not able to pay the portion they had promised ; that
now it was forsaken by France, Spain would overrun it and

86 THE ANCESTOR

reduce it in a year.' The Spanish Ambassador suggested an
alliance with one of the Princesses of Parma, of the House of
Medici, assuring Charles that the King of Spain would give
her the dower of a daughter of Spain, and further assuring
him that these ladies were of great beauty. To this advice
Charles so far gave ear that he sent Bristol to Parma to find
out and report upon the pretensions of these Princesses.
On his return Bristol found that Charles had become recon-
ciled to the Portuguese match. This he attributed to the
influence of the Lord Chancellor, Clarendon, who had
hitherto been his friend, but from this time forward became
his bitter enemy.

Not long after this a Bill came before Parliament for
restoring the Bishops to their seats in the House of Lords,
of which they had been deprived during the Commonwealth.
This measure passed through the House of Commons with
but little obstruction ; but when it came up to the Lords, the
Earl of Bristol, who wished to be regarded as head of the
Roman Catholics in England, voted against it, and even went
to the King to try and persuade him to withhold his consent
to the Bill, telling him that if the Bishops sat in the House of
Lords, whatever their own opinions might be, they would
find themselves obliged, to preserve their reputations with
the people, to oppose all measures which looked like favour
towards the Catholics. The King listened to Bristol, and
the passing of the Bill was delayed, until Lord Clarendon
persuaded the King to allow it to go forward, pointing out
to him that it would go harder with the Catholics if the true
cause of obstruction were known. To quote from Claren-
don's Memoirs, ' That if the reason were known if would
quickly put an end to all pretences of the Catholics, to whic'i
His Majesty knew he was no enemy.'

The King thus persuaded, concluded there was not
sufficient reason for further delaying the passage of the Bill,
and notified his wish that it should be despatched as soon
as possible. The next morning the Lord Chancellor pre-
sented the Bill to be read a third time, and it was accordingly
passed.

This made Bristol still more bitter against the Lord
Chancellor, and from henceforth he was his avowed enemy.
From this date Bristol lost the confidence of the King, which
up till this time he had enjoyed to the fullest extent, and he

GEORGE DIGBY, EARL OF BRISTOL 87

much resented that His Majesty should suddenly withdraw
it from him. This he put down to the influence of the Lord
Chancellor, and so one day having gained a private inter-
view with the King, used such language towards him as
probably had never before been used by a subject to his sove-
reign, telling His Majesty that he well knew the cause of his
withdrawing his favour from him ; that it proceeded only
from the Chancellor, who governed him and managed all his
affairs, while himself spent his time only in pleasures and
debauchery, and concluded by saying, ' that if he did not
give him satisfaction within twenty-four hours, he would do
somewhat that would awaken him out of his slumbers and
make him look better to his own business.'

The King was so confused by the unexpected outburst
that he could say nothing, and allowed Lord Bristol to leave
the room unhindered, though he afterwards said that he
ought to have called in the Guard and have sent the Earl to
the Tower.

The meaning of Lord Bristol's threat was soon to be re-
vealed, for a few days afterwards, on the 10 July 1663 he brought
a charge of High Treason in the House of Lords against Lord
Clarendon, which contained twenty-four articles. The
Chancellor made a speech in his defence in which he easily
cleared himself of all the accusations brought against him,
and the House of Lords rejected the charge. The King,
who was very angry with Bristol for his recent behaviour
towards him, gave warrants for his apprehension. He
accordingly concealed himself for a time, until the downfall
of Lord Clarendon enabled him to return to Court, when
the warrants for his apprehension were repealed.

A characteristic act of inconsistency concluded his career,
for in 1673, although a Roman Catholic, he voted for the
Test Act, justifying himself by saying that he was ' a Catholic
of the Church of Rome, but not of the Court of Rome, a
distinction he thought worthy of memory and reflection
whenever any severe proceedings against those they called
Papists should come in question, since those of the Court
of Rome did only deserve the name.' Therefore he insisted
that they should not speak here of ' Roman Catholics, but
as faithful members of a Protestant Parliament.'

This is the last occasion on which we hear of Lord Bristol
taking part in public affairs. He retired to a house which he

88 THE ANCESTOR

had bought in Chelsea, where on the 20 May 1676 he died
in his 65th year.

He married Lady Anne Russel, daughter of Francis, Earl
of Bedford, and had by her two sons and two daughters.
John, who succeeded him as third Earl, left no heirs, and on
his death the Earldom became extinct. He died at Sherborne,
and was buried in the Abbey, where there is a large marble
monument to his memory. The second son was Colonel
Francis Digby, who was killed in a naval engagement with
the Dutch in 1672. The eldest daughter, Lady Diana,
married a Dutchman, Baron de Moll, and the youngest,
Lady Anne, married Robert, Earl of Sunderland, and so
became the ancestress of the present Dukes of Marlborough.
Before concluding this brief memoir, some mention must
be made of the Earl of Bristol's writings, which are enumer-
ated in Horace Walpole's Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors.
We have already mentioned his letters to Sir Kenelm Digby
concerning religion, wherein he argues in favour of Pro-
testantism against Roman Catholicism ; these letters were
published in London in 1651. He further wrote several
speeches and letters, which have been published ; also a
comedy entitled Elvira, or The Worst not Always True ; a
manuscript in Latin, Excepta e diver sis operibus Patrum
Latinorum, and the first three books of Cassandra translated
from the French.

He is said to be the author of A true and, impartial Relation
of the Battle between His Majesty's Army and that of the Rebels
near Ailesbury, Sucks, September 2Oth, 1643, and Horace
Walpole says that he finds the following piece under his name,
though in his opinion it is not of his writing : Lord Digby's
Arcana Aulica, or Walsingham's Manual of prudential Maxims
for the Statesman and the Courtier, 1655.

With this summary of his writings, we conclude this short
study of a remarkable figure in history, in many ways a really
noble character, yet woven of inconsistencies ; with all his
many faults it may be said that he was never guilty of an ill-
natured action, and his many reverses of fortune were borne
with great fortitude.

H. M. DIGBY.

SHIELDS FROM CLIFTON REYNES

THE shields here pictured decorate two tombs of the
Reynes family in their church of Clifton in Buckingham-
shire. The first tomb has the effigies of a knight and his lady
carved in oak, and may be of the middle or third quarter of
the fourteenth century. The second tomb has a knight and
lady carved in stone, the knight having the arms of Reynes
upon his coat. His crest is broken from the helm. These
would appear by their dress to be of the end of the fourteenth
century.

The older monument must be for Thomas Reynes, whose
wife was Cecily, daughter of Roger Tyringham. As son of
Ralph Reynes he was returned as holding lands in Clifton in
1316.* The alliances of the second series of shields show
that a generation lies between the two, for we have here
shields commemorating the alliance of the brothers John and
Richard Reynes with Scudamore and Morteyne.

The first tomb has ten shields, five on each side. Their
description is as follows : —

i. Sezanty with an ermine quarter for ZOUCHE. The Reynes family were
connected with the Zouches through the marriage of Ralph Reynes with a
Greene of Boughton.

n. A saltirt engrailed for TYRINGHAM, parted with cheeky with an ermine
quarter for REYNES. At this time it was often held to be a matter of indiffer-
ence whether the wife's coat or the husband's should have the first place in the
shield. The eighth shield in this series gives another example of this.

m. Three harts passant at gaze for GREENE.

iv. Ermine a fesse with three millrind crosses thereon. Perhaps for PATELEY
or BRISLEY.

v. A cross engrailed [for DRAYTOH ?].

i Misc. Rolls (Exch. L.T.R.), Bund. 2, No. i.

in.

IV.

SHIELDS FROM CLIFTON KKYNES.

THE ANCESTOR

vi. Three arches for ARCHES.

vn. A checkered cheveron between three escallops.

vin. A cheveron between three escallops for CHAMBERLAIN parted with REYNES.

ix. REYNES.

x. Two lions passant with a label. Perhaps for EKENEY, an alliance of CHAM-

BERLAIN.

VII

VIII.

IX.

SHIELDS FROM CLIFTON REVNES.

94 THE ANCESTOR

The shields upon the second tomb are sixteen in number,
of which one is cut away and others injured. We give illus-
trations of twelve of them.

i. A cheveron between three escallops for CHAMBERLAIN.

H. Ermine a fesse with three mittrind crosses thereon. Perhaps for PAVELET
or BRISLEY.

in. A broken shield of a saltire engrailed for TYRINCHAM.

IT. Ermine with a chief indented for MORTEYNE.

T. Three arches for ARCHES.

vi. Three harts -passant at gaze for GREENE.

II.

IV.

VI.

VIII.

SHIELDS KROM CLIFTON REYNES.

96 THE ANCESTOR

vn. A shield with the charges cut away. Probably a shield of REYNES.

Tin. Bezaitty with an ermine quarter for ZOUCHE.

ix. A fesse between six crosses formy.

x. A saltire engrailed for TYRINGHAM.

xi. A bend between six martlets for SEYTON.

Ml. A scutcheon and an orle of martlets.

mi. A cross engrailed. Perhaps for DRAYTON.

xiv. Three plain crosses fitchy (or crosses formy fitchy) and a chief with a
demi-lion.

xv. Three stirrups with their leathers for SCUDAMORE.

xvi. A chief with a lion passant thereon. This shield is that of Brok. Laur-
ence de Broc or Broke was grandfather or great-grandfather of Joan, wife of
Sir Peter Scudamore, whose daughter and heir Katherine married John Reynes
of Clifton Reynes.1 Their son John Reynes, heir to his grandmother Joan,
died 4 March 141!. It is noteworthy that the shield of many quarters made
up by Thomas Lord Brudenell about 1640 gives the arms of Broke as a hawk's
lure on a bend, the old coat having been forgotten.

THOMAS SHEPARD.

1 Coram rege roll, Hil. 13, H. VI. m. 78.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

SHIELDS FROM CLIFTON RKYNES.

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE

THE enemies of the Holy Roman Empire said that it was
neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire. But even
in its last years, when it was feeble as the old giants whom
Bunyan's pilgrims passed by the roadside, it was a splendid
shadow, and the titles deriving from it, its princedoms and
countships, seem memorials in Europe of a mysterious govern-
ance more sacred than any with which the chancelleries
reckon to-day.

In England we are not curious of titles. To our public
the Earldom of Arundel with seven hundred years of English
history at the back of it and an Earldom of Ballyshannon,
the price of a squireen's vote for the union, are held in equal
honour. Much more then are the less understood titles of
continental folk accepted without distinction. A countship is
for most of us a foreign earldom, although the title becomes
flighty and unsubstantial by translation, and all counts are alike.
But when his full dignity is proclaimed, the Count of the Holy
Roman Empire is redeemed from the undistinguished by the
sound and noble colour of his style. There are, it is true,
those who confuse his honour with the humble vanity of the
countship of the papal states, but these must be people of a
negligible sort, having no ear for the sonorous.

Small wonder then that the titles of the ancient Empire
are eagerly sought amongst their family evidences even by
the members of great English houses. Such titles, by the
terms of the grants of them, carry, as a rule, the title of count
to any descendant in the male line of the original holder.
The Arundels of Wardour once had an heir who fought the
Turks and gained such a countship from Rudolf the Emperor,
and the news coming home enflamed the royal Tudor anger
in Queen Elizabeth, who with her roughest words proclaimed
her sole right to tar her own sheep. The soldier's parents
and kinsfolk renounced on their knees art and part in his re-
bellious frowardness, but in later days the possession of this

98 THE ANCESTOR

countship has become dearer to the house of Wardour.
Confused by the unfamiliar descent of a title to cadets, de-
scendants of Rudolf's count have come to believe that the
countship's virtue flows to all his progeny without distinction,
and the Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, whose great-grandmother
was a daughter of Wardour, arrays a countship of the empire
with his English honours. Even so the Duke of Marlborough
is reckoned a prince of the empire in remembrance of an
honour which began and ended with the Blenheim duke.
The surprising assignment of countships to Master and the
Misses Butler of Ewart Park, has been dealt with in an earlier
number of the Ancestor,1 but in these matters fancy has rule.
The travelling Englishman may come back with the diplomas
of a dozen countships, or his home-keeping brother may create
himself count with a manifesto on his own club notepaper,
and none will hinder them.

Despite this confusion, we have amongst us more nobles
of the empire by right inheritance than will be readily admitted
by the genealogist, reasonably suspicious of the genealogical
paragraphs now so popular in our evening newspapers. There
can be no doubt of the princedom of the empire which Lord
Cowper inherits from an ancestor who earned it by his com-
placence in the matter of a sister's dishonour. Those Arun-
dells of Wardour who find a foreign title more to their mind
than their ancient name and historic peerage have a count-
ship which they may use unquestioned, and the Countess St.
Paul is the last of the house of an Englishman who won his title
in the Seven Years' War, a title which his son held so cheaply
that he accepted an English baronetcy as promotion. Count
de Salis, of the English diplomatic service, although a count
of the empire and head of his branch, cannot be reckoned
with these, being the heir of a stranger who came as the Em-
peror Joseph's envoy to Queen Anne, whose son remained here
to found a now widely-spread family.

But over Salis and Arundell, Clifford and St. Paul, enough
ink has been shed. The histories of their honours are at hand
on the bookshelf. We are here to draw, not from obscurity,
the word would be unseemly, but from prideful retirement
the name and glorious ancestry of our fellow countrymen, the
Counts de la Feld of the Holy Roman Empire.

1 Ancestor, yii. 15. J. Horace Round. English Counts of the Empire.

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 99

Time was, in that great gathering day of the pedigrees of
which we have often spoken, the age of the Sailor King and of
the young Victoria, when the name of de la Feld held its own
with the best. Its chief might have sat at board with Coul-
thart of Coulthart, and capped ancestral dates of renown with
the fifty-eighth chief of that famous line. In that day the books
of landed gentry, the family history chronicles, kept open house
and welcomed in the foundling pedigree, making themselves
dove-cotes for the wildest fowl of family legend. The heads
of knightly houses whose founders had come raging over sea
with Cerdic and Cynric met with no insulting demands for
a grandfather's baptismal certificate. The descendants of
those who had brushed from Duke William's knees the sand
of Pevensey beach were not questioned concerning those cen-
turies during which the public records had courteously left
the family in its pleasant privacy. To that golden age of
genealogy Mr. Pickwick, active and unsuspicious, was anti-
quary in waiting, and the Castle, the Hall, Ivy Cottage and
' the Laurels ' harboured each an English family with thirty
generations of unsullied nobility.

Such were the times when the family of de la Feld, or
Delafield, as their blunt English spelling would have it for the
most part, unveiled the story of their birth. It is our mis-
fortune that we can but guess at the artist to whom was
entrusted the preparation of the great chronicle for the public
eye. Worthy of the hand of Alexander Cheyne, B.A., the
bard of the Coultharts, it appears too early in the century to
be the work of his hand, although it may well have been served
him for inspiration and example. But Alexander Cheyne,
B.A., was B.A. of Trinity College, Dublin, and it is in the
hands of a fellow-graduate of Trinity that we first find the
story of Delafield. Therefore we may pronounce it without
hesitation a masterpiece of the Dublin school, and we may
suggest that Mr. John D'Alton was in the secret.

Mr. John D'Alton, the apostrophe in whose name is elo-
quent of the lost days when imagination took its reasonable
share in pedigree-making, has a place in the roomy Pantheon
of the Dictionary of National Biography as ' Irish historian,
genealogist and biographer (1792-1867).' His biography is
in the faithful hands of an Irish admirer, who may quote
' personal knowledge ' as the authority for his panegyric. His
works include the Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin, the

ioo THE ANCESTOR

History of the County of Dublin, and the Annals of Boyle.
From such studies he found distraction in a poem called
Dermid and a Treatise on the Law of Tithes. The personal
knowledge of his biographer throws light upon our inquiry
when we read that ' his reputation for genealogical lore pro-
cured him lucrative employment.' The statement that ' his
rigid adherence to the facts of history doubtless impaired the
literary success of his books ' is one to which we shall look back
from our page of the History of the County of Dublin with an
uneasy feeling that Mr. D'Alton's literary success suffered
unjust hindrance.

Before opening the History of Dublin for quotation, we
make first obeisance to the tulelary gods of that city declaring
that we know nothing of its history, being ignorant and Saxon.
We have entered Dublin as a curious traveller, but of its
history and historians we know naught, and protest that our
business is but with the house of Delafield, whom we find
seated at Fieldstown near Dublin half way through Mr.
D'Alton's history in the edition of 1838.

Of Fieldstown Mr. D'Alton writes : —

The family of de la Field, still indissolubly connected with this locality,
notwithstanding their total estrangement from its possession, were originally
derived from Alsace, and long resided in the chateau that bears their name,
situated in a pass of the Vosges Mountains, about three days' journey from
Colmar. They were also lords of considerable possessions in Lorraine.

The ruins of their castle and chapel yet remain, and afford a picturesque but
melancholy memorial of the splendour of the Counts de la Field, as styled by
du Chesne, who records the tributes they claimed, the retinue and hospitality
they maintained, as well as the difficulties they encountered in the early wars
of Germany and France, notwithstanding the assistance they received from the
Earls of Flanders, and the house of Hapsburg, to both of which they were allied
by marriage.

" La croix d'or de la Feld luisant parmi les,
En courageux defi lances des armies de la France."

A cadet of this noble line came over to England about the time of the Con-
queror, and, accordingly, Hubert de la Field is recorded as a tenant in capite
in Buckinghamshire in the third year of the reign of that monarch, as is also
John de la Field in 1109.

King John, early in his reign, granted a considerable estate at Streatham in
Surrey, which had been the property of Peter ' Feald,' to William de Rivers,
Earl of Devonshire, and in 1253 John de la Feld intermarried with Elizabeth
Fitzwarine, from which marriage descended the de la Felds, of Field Place in
Sussex, as also the de la Felds of the above locality, of Fieldstown, in
consequence of which marriage the head of this sept now claims the barony of
Fitzwarine as a barony in fee.

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 101

About the year 1 270 Ralph de la Feld granted six acres in Botlowe (Glou-
cestershire) to the abbey of Flaxley, while other members of the family were at
the same time settled in Hertfordshire and Kent. In 1299 Adam de la Field
was one of the king's valets on service in the castle of Loughmaban and in the
king's army, for which he received for himself and his mailed horse an allowance
of twelve pence a day. About the same period Reginald de la Field was a landed
proprietor in the palatinate of Meath. In 1315 Robert de la Feld was keeper
of the tallies under the Earl of Warwick.

In 1344 John, the son of John de la Field, was seised of the manor of Skidow
in the county of Dublin, and in 1359 was one of the three appointed to assess
and collect a subsidy over that county. In 1375 the sheriff was directed to
summon this John de la Field amongst others, the chief men of the county,
to a great council.

At this point Mr. D'Alton's rigid adherence to the facts
of history makes him cautious and withal incoherent. The
narrative of the de la Feld pedigree, at no time well sus-
tained, becomes vague and more vague. As we hurry through
the ages hand in hand with Mr. D'Alton we catch glimpses
of de la Felds on this side and on that, even as Alice noted
objects of interest when falling down the rabbit-hole. But
like Alice we may not examine them, and we make no halt
to ask the place in the pedigree of the celebrities we pass.

Here is Richard Field installed a canon of Windsor chapel
in 1390, here is Thomas Felde, merchant of Salisbury in 1402.
John Felde was sheriff of London in 1454. Doctor Field, warden
of Winchester, was benefactor to King's College, Cambridge.
Mr. Field was a celebrated puritan, and yet another Doctor
Field bishop of Llandaff. When our journey is ended we
have come to suspect that Mr. D'Alton, that famous Dublin
genealogist and historian, shared the vulgar belief that all
persons of the same surname or anything like it are blood rela-
tions, and in particular that any one of the common English
surname of Field may be taken into the 'pedigree of de la
Feld of Fieldstown, provided of course that credentials of
respectability or distinction are forthcoming. This perhaps
will account for the fact that Doctor Field, Bishop of Llandaff
(and afterwards of St. David's and of Hereford), is welcomed
into the cousinhood of the de la Felds, whilst his less respect-
able brother, Nat Field the player, is left to howl without.

Two only of Mr. D'Alton's later notes are to the point.
' John de la Feld,' we are told, ' was seised of Fieldstown,
which, his daughter and heiress Catherine having inherited,
passed with her on her marriage with Richard, son of John

102 THE ANCESTOR

Barnewall, of Trimlestown. This, without prying too closely
into the secrets of Irish genealogy, the same being a dark and
tangled thing to the English, we are content to believe, for the
Barnewalls did certainly own Fieldstown, and traced their
possession to such a marriage with an heiress of de la Feld.
The second note of value runs as follows : —

In 1 697 John de la Feld, a descendant of the marriage mentioned at 1253,
who had entered the Imperial service, acquitted himself with distinguished
gallantry at the battle of Zenta in Hungary, fought by Prince Eugene against
the Turks, and was therefore created a Count of the Holy Roman Empire.

For the descendants of this new line we are to look in
England, in Lancashire, in Herefordshire, in Buckingham-
shire, and in KENSINGTON. We have done then with Mr.
D'Alton and his chronicle, and may sum up as we leave him.
Dublin had once a family or families named Field or de la
Field. Such a family had Fieldstown, where it is found no
more after the middle ages.

The records of the English branch are near at hand. The
first edition of the History of the Commoners contains what we
may assume to be Mr. D' Alton's more detailed researches
concerning the English branch of that family which re-
mained, to his mind, ' still indissolubly connected with the
locality ' of Fieldstown. Although to the Saxon imagination
its absence for some four to five hundred years would have
tended to weaken the link, the account of the family sent to
enrich the pages of the History of the Commoners supports
Mr. D'Alton's belief of the affectionate relationship between
the English de la Felds and their Irish home. For although
Fieldstown had passed away time out of mind, although in
mere fact the de la Felds had ceased to be a landed family,
nothing will let but that they shall still head the account of
themselves with the title of

DELAFIELD OF FIELDSTON.

Here, at least, we find detail and to spare. In another line
we have broken into the family circle at Kensington, W.

DELAFIELD, JOSEPH, esq., of Camden Hill in the county of Middlesex, b. 14
May 1749, m. 4 Jan. 1790, Frances, second daughter of the late Hervey Chris-
tian Combe, esq., of Cobham Park in Surrey, one of the members of parliament,
for many years, of the City of London, by whom he had issue,

JOSEPH.

Edward-Hervey, who died unmarried.

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 103

John, in holy orders, m. Lady Cecil Jane Pery, daughter of the Earl

of Limerick.
William.

Frances-Henrietta, m. to the Rev. Thomas Rennell, one of the pre-
bendaries of Salisbury, eldest son of the Very Rev. the Dean of
Winchester.
Maria.

Mr. Delafield is the second son of the late John Delafield, esq., but his elder
brother, Count Delafield, having established himself abroad, he is now the re-
presentative of the family in England. The Count appears to be the undoubted
heir to the ancient BARONY OF FITZ WARINE, which has been suspended for
more than four centuries.

Hituagc.

This family derives its descent from the COUNTS DE LA FELD, the once
powerful proprietors of the demesnes and castle near Colmar, of which the
latter still bears their name. These Lords had large possessions in Alsace and
Lorraine, and are frequently mentioned in the wars of those countries. The
Croix d'or of La Feld, their ancient badge, is still the coat armour of the house
immediately before us.

It is probable that HUBERTUS DE LA FELD was the first of his race that emi-
grated to England ; and that he came over amongst the crowd of foreigners
who attended the Conqueror hither, his name appearing enrolled as the owner
of lands in the county of Lancaster, in the third of WILLIAM I. The name of
JOHN DE LA FELD occurs in the I2th of HENRY I. as a proprietor in the counties
of Lancaster and Bucb ; of ROBERT DE LA FELD, without a date, and of JOHN
DE LA FELD, in the 38th and 43rd of HENRY III. The last-named person,

JOHN DE LA FELD, witnessed two deeds in the same years on the marriages
of his son and daughter, viz. : —

JOHN, of whom presently.

ELIZABETH, who m. (43rd HENRY III.) Norman D'Arcy of Nocton,
in the county of Lincoln, and had issue.

PHILIP D'ARCY, who was summoned to parliament as Lord

D'Arcy in 1299.

JOHN (Sir) D'Arcy, a very distinguished personage in the
reigns of Edward I., Edward II., and Edward III. In
the two latter he was JUSTICE OF IRELAND, and was sum-
moned to parliament as a BARON in 1332. He m. first
Emeline, daughter and co-heir of Walter Heron, of Hed-
leston in Northumberland, and secondly Joane, daughter
of Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, and widow of Thomas,
Earl of Kildare. By the first he had three sons, and by
the second a son William, and a daughter ELIZABETH, m.
to James, EARL OF ORMONDE, surnamed the NobU Earl
Robert D'Arcy, of Starlingburgh, in the county of Lincoln.
The son, John de la Feld, espoused in the 38th of Henry III., Elizabeth
Fitzwarine (who?e father was Lord Warden of the Marches in the North), and
had three sons, JOHN, Robert or Hubert, and Nicholas.

104

THE ANCESTOR

It is evident that we have to do with a family of high
fame. Nevertheless we must hasten the telling of their story.
This we may best do with a series of pedigrees deduced from
the narrative.

John de la Feld

living 38 and

43 Hen. III.

John de la Feld = Elizabeth Fitzwarinc, dau.

Elizabeth, married

of the Lord Warden of

43 Hen. III.

the Marches of the North.

Norman Darcy

Married in 38 Hen. III.

Norton

Robert or Hubert

de John, canon of the

Nicholas de la

la Feld, married

in abbey church at

Feld

II Edw. II. to his Hereford

cousin the dau. and

heir of Fulke Fitz-

warine

John dc la Feld, married in 23 Edvr. III.
to Margaret de Tyringham

Thomas de la Feld, who married in 45 Edw. III.
Elizabeth, dau. and co-heir of Thomas Butler,
second son of James, Earl -of \ Ormond, and
great grand-daughter of Elizabeth de la Feld and
Norman Darcy. He was killed in the French
wars soon after his marriage

ert de la Feld, who
married in 51 Edw. III.
Elinor Butler his
brother's wife's sister

Remarking on our way that the family of de la Feld is
curiously fortunate in preserving documents which prove the
dates of their marriages, and as unfortunate in mislaying all
other documents which might give us those death dates which
are in other cases so much more easily obtainable, we take
up our pedigree again : —

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 105

Robert de la Fcld, who married in
51 Edw. III. Elinor Butler, his
brother's wife's sister
I

Robert de la Feld, married in 12 Anne, »n abbes*

Hen. IV. to Alice, dau. and heir of a convent at

of Sir Reginald de Grey Leicester

Sir Thomas de la Feld of Aylesbury, co. Bucks, and of Fieldston
and Culduffe, co. Kildare, Ireland. He married in 16 Hen.
VI. (Catherine, only daughter of Sir Thomas de Rochfort by
Elizabeth, only daughter (or as some assert) eldest dau. and co-
heir of John Fitzwarine, ton and heir of William Filzwarine,
summoned 16 Edw. III. as Lord Fitzwarine. Lord Fitzwarine
left an only son, Ivo or John, whose daughter Joane married
John Darcy, and had an only child, Elizabeth de la Feld

From this point onward our family of de la Feld [ become
Lords Fitzwarine in right of their ancestress Elizabeth, but
the title is never assumed, although, as has been seen, the
family circle at Kensington is jealously aware of its hereditary
rights. The son of Sir Thomas and Elizabeth is Sir John,
and about this time de la Feld anglicises to Delafield.

Sir John Delafield, married in 35 Hen. VI. to
Elizabeth Hankford, sister of Sir Richard
Hankford, whose dau. and heir Anne Hank-
ford, niece of Lady Delafield, married Thomas
Butler, Earl of Ormond

Sir Thomas Delafield, mar- Gerald Delafield, who Catherine Delafield,

ried in 21 Edw. IV. [yet married an heiress and married in iS Edw. IV.

another marriage date !] to took her name and to Sir Richard Barne-

Margaret Howard, daughter arms. His son called wall. She « conveyed

and heir of Ralph Howard, Delafield bore «or, a Fieldston to her hus-

descended from the Howards lion gu. and arg.' [,ic] band '
of Fersfield i

i A

John Delafield, who was Isabel Delafield, who married

at Calais in 1 500 with Gerald Fitzgerald of Alloone,

the court. He married son of John, fourth lord of

Thomasine, < the fair Offaley. She « took Culduffe

daughter ' of Sir Thomas to her husband's family '
Dillon, ancestor of the I

Earls of Roscommon

i A

Sir Thomas Delafield, who married Gerald Delafield, who married

Margaret Fleming, grand-daughter Anne Plunket of the Killeen

of the Lord Slane family

Patrick Delafield, who married, in 1 563, Elizabeth, dau. of
Thomas Cusack, esquire, of Gerardstown, by Anne, dau. of
Nicholas, jtvilh Lord Howth, by Joan Beaufort, dau. of
Edmund, Duke of Somerset, grandson of John of Gaunt

io6

THE ANCESTOR

About this time the family leaves Ireland. The last Irish
marriage is that of Patrick. His son, John Delafield, marries in
England, and contrary to the usual experience of genealogists,
pedigree detail becomes thereafter harder to discover.

John Delafield married Anne de la Bere, co-heir
of her brother, 'who was a younger branch of
the de la Beres ' of Gloucestershire

John Delafield, who married in 1610
Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Thomas
Hampden, son of John Hampden of
Hampden, co. Bucks

William Delafield
married Isabel
Dudley

William Delafield

John Delafield, who married William
in 1636 Elizabeth Brooke Delafield

1 1

James Thomas
Delafield Delafield

Joh

hn Delafield, born in 1637. He took
a standard from the infidels at the battle
of Zenta, and was created a count of the
Holy Roman Empire in 1697

The Delafields, who have hitherto shown little anxiety to
be summoned in their barony of Fitzwarine, have gained at
last a distinction which becomes very dear to them, thejpride
and ornament of the house.

John Delafield, the Count ot
the Holy Roman Empire
I

ohn

John Delafield, esquire,
born in 1656, married
Mary, dau. of John
Heanage or Headage

Count Leopold Delafield. His
grandson Count Leopold mar-
ried a daughter of Count Goltz,
and had a son Count Leopold,
shot in a duel in Paris in 1817

Theophilus

John Delafield, esquire, born
1692, married Sarah, dau. of
James Goodwin, esquire

John Delafield, esquire, who Joseph
married Martha, dau. of Delafield
John Dele, esquire, of
Aylesbury

1 1

Thomas Mary, married
Delafield to E. Unsworth,
esquire

John Delafield=Mary, dau. JOSEPH DELAFIELD

William

Martha Dela-

Mary

who settled

of George of Camden Hill

Delafield

field, married

Delafield

abroad. Count

Tollemache

died

Thomas Arnold

died

of the Holy

unmarried

of Slatwoods in

unmarried

Roman Empire

the Isle of

Wight

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 107

Thus handsomely, and for the first time, were the records
of the house of Delafield spread before the antiquary and the
public, and the fame of the Counts Delafield of the Holy
Roman Empire spread through many armorials, books of
landed gentry, and other grave works of reference. Stimu-
lated, no doubt, by the eagerness of historians and genealogists
the family dived deeper into its record chest and brought
up more pleasant reminiscences of former splendours. By
1846 the opening paragraphs of the tale are conceived in this
wise : —

The family of De la Feld descend from the ancient counts of la Feld in
Alsace, who long resided at the Chateau that still bears their name, situated in
a pass of the Vosges mountains, three days' journey from Colmar. Pope Leo IX.,
a native of Alsace, is said to have rested at this princely castle when he visited
Strasburgh. There were, previous to 1533, stately monuments to the counts of
la Feld in the cathedral church of Strasburgh, to which this family had been
considerable benefactors at the time of its rebuilding, under the venerable
Bishop Werenhaire. A perpetual chantry was also founded in the same cathedral
by these counts, with a pension of two marks per annum for a priest to celebrate
daily service therein for the repose of their souls and those of their ancestors.
The family have, however, for many years been settled in England and Ireland,
being possessed of considerable estates in both countries. The present head
of it is a claimant by descent to the ancient barony of Fitz-Warine.j

Soon after this date the pedigree disappears from the
' Landed Gentry.' The time was at hand when criticism was
beginning to make gentle and tentative assertion of its rights
in the fields of history and genealogy. We may readily
believe that, wounded in its Alsatian pride by some questioning
of editor or critic, the family of Delafield veiled its family
honours from the vulgar rather than humiliate itself by pro-
ducing evidence in proof of a descent which was written across
the chronicle of Europe. The family, nevertheless, survives
in two continents. Here at home an occasional newspaper
paragraph reminds one that the old Alsatian line has not yet
run its race, whilst over sea the current edition of Matthew's
American Armoury and Blue Book, reminds us that patri-
cian society of New York is still enriched by the presence of
Counts Delafield, ' descended from Hubertus de la Feld who
came over to England with William the Conqueror.'

io8 THE ANCESTOR

III

Before the canonization of a saint his claims to a sufficing
saintliness are by custom vigorously disputed. His advocates
must meet the rough assault of criticism, and doubts and
denials are cast upon his evidences by one who is fittingly
styled the advocate of the devil. Yet we cannot allow ourselves
to believe that the learned clerk who fulfils this cruel office
has doubts in his heart of the claimant's sanctity, and when
the saint triumphs the erstwhile devil's advocate triumphs
with him in his promotion. In such a spirit we would ap-
proach the records of the house of Delafield, which, truth to
tell, offer many difficulties to the inquirer. Affecting a
sneering doubtfulness most difficult to maintain before the
story of so much earthly eminence and moral worth, let us
boldly inquire whether from end to end of the pedigree a line
of it can be supported, until its eighteenth century characters
come upon the stage.

We have found the Counts Delafield at home at Kensing-
ton. If we begin our inquiry by seeking them at their
earlier address at the ' princely castle ' in Alsace that ' still
bears their name,' we encounter unexpected difficulty. The
castle bears their name, Schloss Feld, it may be, or Schloss
la Feld, or Schloss de la Feld, or less probably, Schloss Delafield.
For a moment we see it before us, donjon and bailey, keep
and tower, drawbridge and portcullis, rising in ruinous
majesty above some beetling pass. But the vision passes, and
search as we may in geography book, gazetteer and atlas, the
castle has flickered away like the unsubstantial castle of
Triermain. We hurl ourselves at the search, with our records
to aid. It is ' situated in a pass of the Vosges mountains, three
days' journey from Colmar.' Most European capitals are
now within three days' journey of Colmar, but we may take
it that journey by coach and horses is indicated at the date
of the narrative. At the outset we may doubt whether any
spot in Alsace was ever three days' journey away from Colmar,
for Alsace is a long narrow strip of a province, little more
than a hundred miles by twenty miles, and Colmar is in the
midst of it, whilst the backbone of the Alsatian Vosges limits
our search field again to some seventy miles. Even in this
narrow space our search is in vain. The castle which

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 109

should be familiar in chromolithograph/ amongst advertise-
ments by which Cook tempts the tourist towards week-ends
in Alsace-Lorraine is still to seek. Where the geographers
have failed us we turn to the Alsatian historians and genealo-
gists. Lehr's three huge volumes of U Alsace noble should say
something of the noblest of the Alsatian houses, but not a
word of the Delafields has Monsieur P. C. Lehr, and the Livre
(for du patriciat de Strassburg belies itself by its neglect of
our counts. As the Delafields were lords in Lorraine as in
Alsace, a search for their name on this new ground is indi-
cated, but Callot's Armorial de Lorraine, Georgel's Armorial,
and Cayou's Ancienne chevalerie de Lorraine are found as
untrustworthy as their Alsatian fellows. Of the house to
which Hapsburgs and Counts of Flanders came suing for
alliance no trace remains behind. The family chronicle itself
admits that the ' stately monuments ' of the counts of de la
Feld disappeared in 1533, so we need waste no time in looking
for them, and their perpetual chantry in Strassburg cathedral
cannot have been long enduring, for its priests must sooner
or later have become dissatisfied with the twenty-six shillings
and eightpence of salary provided by these parsimonious
counts.

Our faith in the evidences flickers, and who can blame us
if in our despair we are driven to the ignoble suggestion that
HUBERTUS DE LA FELD (fl. io66 and 1069) deceived the
Duke of Normandy and tricked his own innocently noble
offspring by enlisting in the Norman host under a false name
and address ? The furtive character of HUBERTUS is further
seen in the scanty information forthcoming concerning his
later adventures. He admits ownership of land in Lancashire
in 1069, but the nature of the document which reveals this
is not disclosed, and we must admit a desire for a more
complete dossier of this warrior.

Even a Delafield will admit that his family papers for the
two centuries following HUBERTUS are incomplete and in
disorder. In such a historic house the connexion between
HUBERTUS and John de la Feld of Henry III.'s reign may be
proved by its notoriety ; it is enough to point out that no
other evidence of it is forthcoming. With John de la Feld
our difficulties should be over, for here the connected pedigree
begins, and the illustrious matches of the Delafields should
throw each its clear ray upon the pedigree. John and his heir

no THE ANCESTOR

marry into the famous house of Fitzwarine, but the Fitzwarine
pedigrees do nothing to help us in deciding which of its
branches had this honour. The reasonable haughtiness of the
Delafields, cousins of Austria and Flanders, must have created
enemies, for each and all of the families — Fitzwarines, Tyring-
hams, Butlers, Greys, Hankfords and Howards — whose daugh-
ters are mates for the Alsatian line, sponge out, with petty
jealousy, the record of such marriages from their family records.
For some such reason the marriage of Norman Darcy of Nocton
with Elizabeth de la Feld was kept from the knowledge of
Dugdale, and in our own days Mr. Cokayne is still unaware
of this illuminating fact which explains the subsequent steady
rise of the Darcys. The pedigree of the house of Ormond
indeed finds a place for the ' Hon. Thomas,' who gave each
of his fortunate daughters to the mailed arms of a Delafield ;
but as James, the third earl, his elder brother, was a minor at
their father's death in 1382, it is difficult to believe in the
precocity which would allow Thomas, the younger son, to be
arranging his elder daughter's marriage in 1371.

In the case of the Rochfort match our public records
themselves seem to have been tampered with. Through this
Rochfort marriage the Delafields of Kensington and New
York claim the barony of Fitzwarine, the descent being
given in the following manner : —

William Fitzwarine, summoned
1 6 Edw. III. as a baron

Ivo or John Fitzwarine, son
and heir

Joane, dau. and heir, married
to John Darcj

Elizabeth, dau. and heir, married
to Sir Thomas de Rochfort

Katherine, dau. and heir, mar-
ried to Sir Thomas de la Feld
in 1 6 H. VI.

At the public record office another account of this barony
can be readily obtained. William Fitzwarine ' le pere,'

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE in

governor of Montgomery Castle, who is said to have been sum-
moned in 16 Edward III., left a son and heir, Ives Fitzwarine,
whose large and splendid brass in the church at Wantage has
escaped the fate of the Delafield monuments at Strassburg.
He died without male issue, 6 September, 1414, as is proved by
an inquest taken after his death, leaving a daughter and heir,
by name not Joane, but Eleanor, then aged thirty years of
age. She was second wife of Sir John Chideoke, by whom she
had a son, Sir John Chideoke, whose two daughters and co-
heirs carried the representation of his line and of the barony,
if ever one existed, to the Arundels and Stourtons.

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries we come to a nevr
element in the pedigree. Without doubt a family or families
of de la Feld, or Delafield, had lands in Fieldstown, near
Dublin, in Culduffe and in Painstown. Though Irish re-
cords for Dublin and Meath have much to say concerning
them, little is available for the pedigree maker at second
hand. A few scattered references are to be found in such
works as Archdall's edition of Lodge's peerage, and it is
evident that some ingenuity has been needed in order to
weave from these notes a pedigree of the main line of
Delafield. Fieldstown, for example, of which the Delafields
still style themselves in the nineteenth century, passed, as
Mr. D'Alton carelessly admits, by the daughter and heir of the
Delafields to the house of Barnewall. That it so descended,
although this lady had two brothers both married and with
issue, demands more explanation than we are accorded, and
this is not the only occasion on which the heads of this unhappy
family, in their ignorance of the ancient customs of the descent
of land, allowed a sister to carry away their inheritance, for
it will be seen that Culduffe followed the same course, Isabel
Delafield taking it to her husband, Gerald Fitzgerald, in the
lifetime of her brother John. Here our genealogist, uneasy
over the fate of Fieldstown, makes a lame explanation. Cul-
duffe, he would have us believe, passed with the sister because
the brother was with the Court of England at Calais whilst
the plague was in London, and lingered so long in that
watering-place that he was forgotten at home. He returned
at last, to the joy of his kinsfolk, but the question of the return
of his Culduffe estate seems never to have been mooted.
With their easy nature thus tricked and abused, what wonder
that the Delafields soon left Ireland for honest Buckingham-

ii2 THE ANCESTOR

shire. We leave their Irish record with the remark that
although eleven generations of Delafields preserved the date
of tteir marriage day, their births and deaths are recorded
in no single case until the birth of the hero of Zenta.

Our evidence for this change of country is as slight as
that for the journey of HUBERTUS from Alsace to Lancashire
in 1066, but we may consider the Hampden match as a starting
point from which to begin the study of their Buckinghamshire
life. In 1610, John Delafield married Elizabeth, daughter
and heir of Thomas Hampden, son of John Hampden, of
Hampden. The Hampden pedigree before and after this
period is singularly complete, but no Thomas Hampden
appears as a son of the house and no Elizabeth Delafield as
a grandchild. The Goodwins of Winchendon were a great
landed family in the neighbourhood of Aylesbury, but here
again no pedigree of them acknowledges a match with Dela-
field. In despair of touching firm ground we plunge forward
to point where a certainty can be grasped.

We choose Joseph Delafield, of Camden Hill, in Kensington,
esquire, the father of the sons and daughters in whose honour
the first pedigree was compiled, and find pleasurable relief
when we have ascertained beyond doubt that here is a fact,
a Delafield whose birth, marriage, and death can be traced
and set forth.

If the honours of the family were indeed founded upon
foreign adventurings, sword in hand against the Turk, their
immediate fortunes arose in more English fashion, for inquiry
reveals Count Joseph Delafield as practising that art of brewing
which our statesmen hold most honour-worthy amongst the
arts of civilization. His birth in 1749 probably happened
in London, so that Mr. Joseph Delafield — in business hour?,
so to speak, he will forgive us if we lay his title carefully aside
— had all careers at his feet without the need for making that
fatiguing pilgrimage towards the capital with a bundle and
a half-crown which the late Mr. Samuel Smiles is understood
to recommend in the springtime of a business man's affairs.
He would seem to have obtained employment in Gyfford's
Brewery in Castle Street, Long Acre, and thereafter he presses
forward in such fashion that Mr. Samuel Smiles might raise
hands in blessing over every stage of his life's journey. Gy fiord,
if there were a Gyfford, can have had no beautiful and high-
principled daughter, or this industrious young man would

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 113

most certainly have wedded her ; but Harvey Christian Combe
son of an Andover attorney, partner in Gyfford and Company,
and a future Lord Mayor and M.P. for the city, had a sister.
When Joseph Delafield himself had come to a partnership
and to his forty-first year he offered his hand (and with it,
of course, the coronet of a Count of the Holy Empire) to Miss
Combe, whom he married in 1790. The Gentleman's Maga-
zine records the bridegroom's name as John Delafield, and
his son's pedigree misdescribes the lady as daughter of Harvey
Christian Combe, but the facts can be disentangled. Joseph
Delafield prospered, the brewery became Combe, Delafield
and Company, and the junior partner bought on pleasant
Camden Hill in Kensington what, in those remote days, he
was content to describe as a country seat. He died at Hast-
ings in 1820, in his yznd year, having made a will n August
1819, as of Castle Street, Long Acre, brewer, his hereditary
dignity being unnamed therein.

He left four sons and two daughters. His eldest son
Joseph lived first at Charles Street, Berkeley Square, and
afterwards in Bryanston Square. He inherited his father's
share in the brewery, and married his cousin, Charlotte,
daughter of the Lord Mayor and M.P., who was by that time
of Cobham Park in Surrey. By this lady he had two sons
and three daughters whom he names in his will of 1842,
the eldest son, another Joseph, marrying, in 1844, Eloisa,
daughter of the Cavaliere Bevere of Naples. This branch,
it is presumed, is not yet extinct.

Edward Harvey Delafield, the second son of Joseph the
brewer, died a bachelor of New Street, Spring Gardens, in
1827, and, like his father and brother, kept his hereditary
countship a secret thing. His next brother, John Delafield,
was less reticent. Born about 1795, he became in due course
B.A. and M.A. of Oriel, Rector of Tortington, and Canon of
Middleham. He married in his own rank, his wife being the
daughter of the first Earl of Limerick. Be it remarked that
Kensington and Oxford had known our rector as plain John
Delafield. But by the time of his death in 1866 Delafield
has broken, as the drill book hath it, into ' extended formation '
as de la Feld. Reverend has been supplemented or replaced
by Count, and John has taken to itself other and more high-
sounding names, imperial and Roman in the ring of them.
At his country seat of ' Feldenstein,' Richmond, Surrey, dies

1 14 THE ANCESTOR

Count JOHN LEOPOLD FERDINAND CASIMIR DE LA FELD, Count
of the Holy Roman Empire, and Knight of the Chapteral Order
of St. Sepulchre ; and as the transformed name and titles swell
before us a sudden suspicion comes that in the Knight of the
Chapteral Order we have the Dublin historian's collaborator
and the chronicler of the fortunes of an Alsatian house. His
younger brother who survived him is plain William in the
printed book, but the British Museum copy of the Landed
Gentry of 1850 has the name corrected to Thomas William.
It is just possible that a paragraph in the County Families of
five years since may deal with the history of this branch.

Encouraged by our good success in tracing these latter
generations of the house of de la Feld, we are emboldened to
reach at a still higher branch of the pedigree. Let us begin
afresh with the grandfather of Count Joseph of Long Acre.
By the pedigree he should be John Delafield, of Aylesbury,
esquire (Count of the Holy Roman Empire), grandson of the
Hero of Zenta, born 1692, and husband of Sarah, daughter
of James Goodwin, esquire.

A short search in the records of Aylesbury brings us into
the presence of the Count. With the modesty of his family
he goes incognito, rejecting in real life not only his countship,
but even the modest dignity of esquire. He makes a will as John
Delafield, of Aylesbury, the elder, on 22 December 1736.
It is at once clear that of the plunder of the pashas who fled
at Zenta little remains in 1736, for John Delafield of Ayles-
bury has little to leave beyond the moneys collected for him
from public generosity ' by brief or briefs,' of which he leaves
the better part to his son-in-law and executor John Aspinall
of Aylesbury, who has boarded him for three years and more.
He gives a shilling only to his son, John Delafield, of London,
cheesemonger, and five shillings each to his grand-daughters,
Mary and Elizabeth Aspinall, his son Joseph and his executor
having the bulk of his little estate between them. He is a
widower, but we find nothing of his marriage with Sarah
Goodwin, his wife, Mary, of an unknown family, having been
buried 12 September 1728, at Aylesbury, where her husband's
body was laid 7 January 173^.

Of his son 'Thomas' and daughter 'Mary, wife of E.
Unsworth, esquire,' nothing is to be discovered. But the
pedigree of other descendants can easily be followed. His son
John Delafield, of London, cheesemonger, we find living in

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 115

Whitecross Street, in St. Giles's without Cripplegate. So
described he makes a will 7 March, 1763, giving to John
Roughton of London, grocer, and Chamberlain Goodwin of
Moorfields, dyer, all his estate in trust for his seven children
who are then minors. He died 7 March, 1763, aged 43, as
appears by a monument to himself and his wife in the church
of Aylesbury, a monument set up in a later year, and bearing
one of the earliest appearances in modern times of that famous
shield of arms the ' croix d'or de la Feld.' We regard that
shield and suspect that the Count John Leopold Ferdinand
Casirm/ de la Feld did not allow himself to be bound by the
letter of the Fourth Commandment, and that here he has
honoured his grandfather and his grandmother. The grand-
mother's record is complete. By the pedigree she is Martha,
daughter of John Dele, esquire, of Aylesbury,. For John Dele
read Jacob Dell, a maltster, with a leaning to Presbyterianism,
buried 13 October 1727 at Aylesbury. His will names his
third daughter Martha, whose parentage is further established
by her monumental inscription. She was born at Aylesbury
9 March, and the register records her christening on 29 March
1719 by a Presbyterian minister. She died before her hus-
band. Joseph Delafield, younger son of John the elder, was,
like his brother, a cheesemonger in London, being of Thames
Street in 1740, when a child daughter of his was buried at
Aylesbury. His will, dated and proved in 1759, describes
him as a citizen and leatherseller of Shoreditch, and names his
only son Joseph, who had married Elizabeth Clarke, at Shore-
ditch, in 1756. This son in 1759 was intending to goto sea,
a proceeding which, undertaken by the son of a London
citizen in 1759, probably indicates that the adventurer elect
had not prospered in the world. A little girl, named
Elizabeth, was to be left at home with her mother, and is
chosen by the citizen and leatherseller as his heir.

At this point we have come again to Joseph Delafield of
Long Acre. John of Whitecross Street leaves seven children
who are minors at the date of his will in 1769, and each of
these can be accounted for — John, who goes to America and
founds a family there; Joseph, our brewer; William, who dies
unmarried; Susannah, Sarah, Martha and Mary.

To test the pedigree further than John, father of the two
cheesemongers, we must cross the border of Aylesbury into the
neighbouring parish of Waddesdon, for Aylesbury parish

u6 THE ANCESTOR

register shows no earlier household of the name save that of
Daniel Delafield or Dollifield, a labourer and bone setter,
who has no child christened John. The family pedigree
asserts that our John Delafield was born in 1692 ; and failing
Aylesbury, we seek him in Waddesdon, where are Delafields
who now' and again are married at Aylesbury. John Delafield,
born in 1692, is readily found, In that year John Delafield,
son of Richard, is christened at Waddesdon on the 14 August.

From this time we can trace the line of John Delafield for
several generations upward. Waddesdon register, Waddesdon
wills and lay subsidies show that from a date when the de la
Felds should be still knights and squires in Dublin and Meath,
they are swarming in Waddesdon as yeomen, husbandmen and
labourers. Delafield seems a late form of the name which,
were its Alsatian origin discredited, one would guess to be a
derivation from some field or place name in the neighbour-
hood. Dalifeilde, Dalefeilde, Dalofeild, Dolafild, Delafield,
these and many other versions are given. At no time do they
rise above their original rank, and, like most numerous village
clans, their fortunes are on the downhill path when our own
branch and others seek better luck in London and the wide
world. William Delafield, dead in 1675, is parish clerk, and
Count Theophilus of the pedigree, youngest son of the hero
of Zenta, is easily identified by his rare name as a scrivener in
an adjoining parish, who makes a will in 170^, lamenting his
poverty. Of his children, pushed out to shift for themselves
in the world, one, having made some little fortune as one of
John Company's captains, comes at last to make a will as
an ' esquire ' with a peer of the realm as an executor
of it.

But the spirit of pedigree making has seized upon us, and
having respect to the patience of the reader, we must thrust the
resultant dozen of genealogies into our scrapbook or into an
appendix. By this time we have lost all hopes of the track
of John Delafield, who tore the standard from the Turk at
Zenta. We follow the troops of ' der edler Reiter ' as they
break the army of the vizier Mustafa, but we gain no news
of Count John. The foreign pedigree books help us not, and
the Gotha Taschenbucb der grafiichen Hauser knows of no
Counts de la Feld.

The legend totters and topples. We have seen that the
Alsatian tower is a dream castle, unsubstantial as any castle

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 117

of Spain, and that the memory of its lords has gone from
mind of man and from printed page.

Irish Delafields are found for centuries in and about
Dublin and the counties of the Pale, but no connected pedigree
of them has been made public, save this one whose warp is
of lies. No connexion between Alsatia and Lancashire,
between Lancashire and Ireland, between Ireland and Buck-
inghamshire, has been found or has been supported by a
reasonable guess. The hero of Eugene's army is a prancing
myth, and those who should be his sons are poor village folk
innocent of countships and knighthoods of chaptered orders.

For a last blow at this straw man, this painted ancestor,
let us joust at his shield of arms, secure that the wooden
sabre of Zenta will never swing round to strike us in return.

The first appearance to us of the ' golden cross of la Feld *
is on the monument at Aylesbury of John Delafield the cheese-
monger, who, of a truth, in his own lifetime meddled not with
such toys. Its first appearance, according to the authorized
pedigree, was in Alsace, from whence it had become a familiar
sight on European battlefields long before the conquest of
England. But in time even our newspapers will learn that
armorial bearings are first found in the twelfth century, a
fact which assigns its precise value to the family history. It
is permitted, then, to throw doubt upon that curious family
relic, the tenth century couplet —

La croix for de la Feld luisant parmi Us

En couragtux defi lances des armees de la France —

a gibberish whose re-arrangement we refuse to undertake.
The Ecole des Chartes may deal with it if it will.

The arms of the Lancashire house of Delafield or Delles-
field are found in a single Lancashire collection of the seven-
teenth century. A glance at them shows that they are a
misread and misdrawn version of those of the Midland family
of EUesfeld. Another shield was borne by the Herefordshire
family of ' de la Felde ' or Field, but this again is not the ' croix
d'or,' and, deriving its name from a small estate called the
Field in Hampton Bishop, this family can have nothing in
common with our Alsatians.

The true beginning of the croix £or de la Feld is easily
touched by any one familiar with English armory and its later
abuses. The shield is the sable shield with the golden cross

u8 THE ANCESTOR

paty of the northern house of Lascelles. De Lassels in some
often copied MS. armory has been misread for its long s's
as Delaffels, from which to Delaffeld is but a step. The
arms of the Irish family of Delafield are blazoned in many
old manuscript Irish armorials. They give no ' croix d'or '
to assist the probabilities of our pedigree, the shield being
gold with a lion gules having a silver ring on the shoulder. The
Delafield crest, on the other hand, is from foreign parts. A
search in a foreign armory may have yielded no croix (For
indeed or Alsatian shield, but the family of von Felden, of
Denmark, ennobled in 1689, bore in their first and fourth
quarters a white dove, with a green sprig of olive in the
beak, and the looting of this charge from some dictionary of
European shields has provided a crest for Delafield of Alsatia
and Kensington.

The supporters of two lions need not delay us, although
in this case, as in others, a cock and a bull would be indicated
by an enlightened symbolism. Nor need we pause at ' the
escutcheon borne on the breast of the imperial eagle of Ger-
many,' for we are reminded that a great English house of
earls has the bird of two necks on plate and panel with as little
authority as the ' German patent ' invoked by the Delafields.
But the motto is worth a moment's attention. Born like
the countship and its appanages on the field of Zenta, each
ill-fated English book of reference recites it as ' FEST signify-
ing PIM ! ' although what PIM in its turn may signify no
one has yet paused to inquire. And under the eagle of the
Empire and of the Delafields in Matthews' American Armoury
and, Blue Book, new from the press, we read that the motto
of the New York or senior line of Delafield is ' FEST signifying
PIM.' Yet FEST being Englished was not PIM, but FIRM, until
some scrawled translation produced a printer's error, which
has remained undiscovered by each of the score of copyists
who have followed one another in describing the armorial
honours of 1697.

With this mass of embarrassing fiction at its back what
should be the course of the living descendants of this family,
whom the recoil of an ancestor's folly has thus covered with
undeserved ridicule. For many Delafields of the line survive.

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 119

In New York we find a group of distinguished citizens accepting
modestly and in good faith the Alsatian legend and the count-
ship, and we are informed that other Delafields in England or
on the continent display themselves as Counts de la Feld.

First of all they may consider dispassionately the facts
here arranged and annotated. Error is everywhere possible,
and there may be some loophole through which the original
story or some portions of it may appear more probable than
they do to the present investigator. But should the results
of this research be accepted, but one way of conduct can offer
itself.

Let us consider that no story of ancestral shame or dis-
credit is to be faced. Far from this, the true tale of the
Delafields of Waddesdon and Aylesbury is full of reasonable
interest, and the family, even though they miss Count John
coming over sea flushed with the sunset honours of the oldest
institution on earth, will find their family tree not without
its encouragement to family pride.

Here we have a stock of English yeomen, once and now
no more the strength of the land, good householders and
husbandmen, falling in their fortunes through their own
numbers. Amongst these start up Delafields whom the
spirit of adventure draws from the parish where they are of
kin as it were to the very soil. It may seem a little thing that
Theophilus Delafield learns the scrivener's calling and moves
a parish or so away, but so the march begins, and the son of
Theophilus goes beyond Prince's Risborough and sees India
and the world as a captain walking his own quarterdeck.

John Delafield goes to Aylesbury to be a small and
unprosperous ironmonger, but his sons wear good coats, are
citizens of London, and beget a prosperous generation
which marries its daughters in great families and establishes
itself in the world of rich and well considered folk,
calling cousins with two houses of earls. The heir who sails
to America founds a new house in the States. Delafields in
Aylesbury and Waddesdon were village bone setters and wise
herb-men, but a Delafield in New York becomes President
of the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Not yet placed in the pedigree of Delafield, wherein he
should assuredly have an Honoured place, is that laborious
antiquary, Thomas Delafield (1690-1759), curate of Fingest
and schoolmaster of Stoken Church, whose scores of MSS.

i2o THE ANCESTOR

enrich the Oxfordshire collections in the Bodleian library, a
village scholar with no university learning, to whose work
Oxfordshire topographers will always turn for help. He
came, by his own account, from the Aylesbury and Waddes-
don Delafields, and preserved a family legend, more worthy
of print than the Zenta fancy, that his ancestor was Mr.
Delafield the surgeon who tended the last moments of John
Hampden as he lay dying in the inn at Thame. Some indis-
tinct memory of this amongst the Aylesbury Delafields was
doubtless the first cause of the assertion that the family was
allied in marriage with the great squires of Hampden.

For a last honour with a fact to back it we may cite the
distaff descent of one of the greatest Englishmen from Dela-
field of Aylesbury. Martha Delafield, sister of the first
brewer Delafield, married Thomas Arnold, of the Isle of
Wight, a collector of customs, and by him was mother to
Arnold of Rugby, and grandmother to Matthew Arnold the
poet.

These things will doubtless be remembered by the family
of Delafield in England and America when the tale of the
countship has long been thrown aside for a musty fiction.
It is better to know oneself for an Englishman of humble
but honourable descent than to go uneasy in a pinchbeck
coronet, and the harmless fantasy woven by Count John
Leopold Ferdinand Casimir de la Feld would lose its saving
humour if persisted in to the dangerous edge of imposture.

OSWALD BARRON.

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 121

THE DELAFIELDS OF WADDESDON, AYLESBURY AND KENSING-
TON, COUNTS DELAFIELD OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

WILLIAM DELAFIELD ' of Waddesdon, co. Bucks, christened
5 May 1605 at Waddesdon as son of John Dalafielde. His
wife's name is unknown. He had issue : —

i. James Delafield, of whom hereafter.

ii. Richard Delafield, christened 31 July 1631 at Wad-
desdon and buried there 18 August 1631.

JAMES DELAFIELD of Waddesdon, christened 26 December
1628 at Waddesdon, and buried there 25 October 1674.
Admon. of his goods was granted before 2 March 1671"
[Arch. Bucks] to Elizabeth the relict, who was probably
the Elizabeth Delafield, a widow, buried 29 April 1693 at
Waddesdon. His estate is valued at £47 qs. 4^., and William
Delafield of Waddesdon, yeoman, possibly the father of the
deceased, is a party to the bond. James and Elizabeth Delafield
had issue : —

i. Richard Delafield, of whom hereafter,
ii. Elizabeth Delafield, whose birth on 2 January 165*,
as daughter of James and Elizabeth is recorded
in the register of Waddesdon.

(iii.) Theophilus Delafield of Prince's Risborough,
scrivener, may perhaps have been a son of James
Delafield, seeing that in the pedigree made for
the Delafields of Kensington he is claimed as an
uncle of their ancestor John Delafield of Aylesbury

i The surname, spelt at first indifferently as Dalafeilde, Dolafield, and the
like, settles to the later form of Delafield in the eighteenth century.
> The admon. act has been partly destroyed.

122. THE ANCESTOR

(1692-1736.). He made a will 26 February i/of,
in which he complains that he had several children,
sons and daughters, ' most of them small and
uncapable to provide for themselves.' His worldly
substance he declares to be small and ' hardly
competent for maintenance of my wife.' To
that wife Susannah he gives the messuage wherein
he dwells, with another wherein William Seymer
dwells, and makes her his executrix. She proved
the will 17 May 1712 [Arch. Bucks]. Of their
children we can at present discover three only : —

1. Susannah Delafield, born 30 January and christ-

ened the same day -H^Hr at Stone, co. Bucks.

2. Mary Delafield, born 22 June 1705 [Stone

3. Philip Delafield, born 2 August and christened

4 September 1697 at Stone, son of Theo-
philus and Susannah. He was doubtless
the Philip Delafield who made a will 24
December 1772, being then a sea captain in
the service of the H.E.I.C. This will was
proved 8 November 1783 [P.C.C. 557
Cornwallis] by Mary, the relict and univer-
sal legatee. The probate was afterwards
voided, a new will being put forward of
the date of 1783 at which time the testator
was living at Kew in Surrey, which will was
proved 7 March 1786 [P.C.C. 150 Norfolk]
by Mary the relict and by Thomas, Lord
Say and Sele. He gave to Thomas, Lord
Say and Sele, any trinket he would choose
from those brought from India. To Thomas
Twisleton, youngest son of Lord Say and
Sele, he gave his money to be received from
India. To his niece Mary Delafield of
Croudhall near Farnham in Surrey he gave
fzo yearly for life, and the like to his sister
Jane Broad, and to an infant Harriet Whitell
Strangeways. The residue he gave to his
wife for life with remainder to his children
by her, if any, and with further remainder to
the said infant.

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 123

III

RICHARD DELAFIELD of Waddesdon, a weaver, whose birth
on 23 September 1653 is entered in the Waddesdon registers
at a time when christenings are not recorded, was son of
James Delafield and Elizabeth his wife. He was buried at
Waddesdon 2 February i6o,£ as ' Richard Dealafield, wever.'
No will or admon. act can be found in the local courts or
in the prerogative court of Canterbury, He married Sarah,
who survived him, being probably buried at Waddesdon
31 May 1700 as ' a poor widow.'

Richard and Sarah Delafield had issue : —
i8. An infant male child who was buried 4 January

:68£ at Waddesdon.
ii*. James Delafield, christened I December 1685 at

Waddesdon.
iii8. Richard Delafield, christened 7 September 1688 at

Waddesdon and buried there 25 August 1689.
iv8. John Delafield, christened 14 August 1692 at Wad-
desdon, of whom presently.

iD. Sarah Delafield, christened 6 January 16$ at Wad-
desdon.

iiD. Elizabeth Delafield, christened 13 February 1 68$
at Waddesdon.

JOHN DELAFIELD of Aylesbury is recorded in the pedigree
made for his grandson's children as having been born in 1692.
He is doubtless the John Delafield, who was christened 14
August 1692 at Waddesdon, the youngest son of Richard
and Sarah Delafield. He was buried 7 January 173^ at
Aylesbury. He made a will 22 December 1736 as 'John
Delafield of Aylesbury, ironmonger.' He gave a shilling
to his son John, a cheesemonger in London. To his son
Joseph Delafield and to his son-in-law John Aspinall he gave
.£80 each. To the said Joseph he gave £26 los. ' out of the
moneys that was gathered and collected for me by brief or
briefs,' the remainder of the sum going to the said John
Aspinall, to whom he owed three and a half years' board, in
satisfaction of which he gave a further legacy. To his grand-
children Mary and Elizabeth Aspinall he gave five shillings

124 THE ANCESTOR

each, with a little silver cup to Mary. The residue he gave
to John Aspinall, his executor, who proved the will 29 June
1737 [Peculiar of Aylesbury}. His wife Mary died before
him and was buried at Aylesbury 12 September 1728.
He had issue : —

is. John Delafield of St. Giles Cripplegate, of whom

presently.

iis. Joseph Delafield, a cheesemonger in Thames Street,

London, in 1740, when his daughter was buried

at Aylesbury. He made a will 6 February 1759,

as of St. Leonard's in Shoreditch, being then

free of the leathersellers' company. This will

was proved 8 September 1759 [P.C.C. 293

Arran\ by John Clarke, citizen and joiner, and

William Abbott of White Cross Alley, gent., the

younger, the trustees and executors. His wife

died before him. He had issue : —

Is. Joseph Delafield, who was of St. Magnus parish

on 19 August 1756, when he was married

at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, to Elizabeth

Clarke of St. Leonard's. She was possibly

the Elizabeth Clarke born 29 August and

christened at St. Leonard's 10 September

1729 as daughter of Joseph Clarke, a labouring

man. At the date of his father's will in 1759

Joseph Delafield, who was intending to go

to sea, had an only child Elizabeth Delafield.

ID. Hannah Delafield, buried at Aylesbury 20

August 1740.

i". A daughter who was apparently dead at the date
of her father's will. She was wife to John Aspinall
of Aylesbury, an ironmonger, who was one of her
father's executors. They had issue Mary and Eliza-
beth Aspinall, both living in 1736.

JOHN DELAFIELD of Whitecross Street in St. Giles's, Cripple-
gate, cheesemonger. He died 9 March 1763 aged 43, a
citizen of London, as appears by a monument set up in the

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 125

church at Aylesbuiy, which monument bears the first known
representation of the arms of Delafield — sable a' cross paty
gold. He was buried 16 March 1763 at Aylesbury. He made
a will 7 March 1763, which was proved 15 March 1763
[P.C.C. 119 Ceesar} by John Roughton of London, grocer,
and Chamberlain Goodwin of Moorfields, dyer, to whom
he gave all his real estate for the benefit of his seven children,
all of whom were then minors. He married Martha Dell,
daughter of Jacob Dell of Aylesbury, maltster, and Susannah
his wife. She was born 9 March 17^ and was christened at
Aylesbury 29 March by a Presbyterian minister. Her father
was buried at Aylesbury 12 October 1754, having made a will
4 June 1730 which was witnessed by John and Joseph Dela-
field and by John Aspenall. Admon. with the will was
granted 17 May 1755 [Peculiar of Aylesbury] to John Dell
the son, the wife Susannah being dead. Martha Dell died
before her husband Joseph Delafield on 26 November 1761,
and was buried 27 November at Aylesbury. Her parentage
is commemorated on her husband's monument.
John Delafield and Martha Dell had issue : —

is. John Delafield of New York, born in London 16
March 174*. He married Anne Hallet, daughter
of General Joseph Hallet of Hallet's Cove, N.Y.,
a member of the N.Y. Provincial Congress, by
Elizabeth Hazard. In the pedigree printed in
the Commoners he is said to have married Mary,
daughter of George Tollemache. He died in
New York city 3 July 1 8 24 [Matthew's American
Armory and Blue Book]. He had issue four sons,
of whom Edward Delafield [1794-1875] was
president of the college of physicians and surgeons
of New York city.

From John Delafield descend the DELAFIELDS
OF N EW YORK, now styling themselves Counts
of the Holy Roman Empire.
ii*. Joseph Delafield, of whom hereafter.
iiis. William Delafield, one of the seven children named

in his father's will. He died unmarried.
i°. Susannah Delafield, born 10 September and chris-
tened 3 October 1757 at Aylesbury. She was a
legatee under the will of her brother Joseph in
1819.

126 THE ANCESTOR

ii°. Sarah Delafield, born 13 September 1758 and
christened 15 November 1758 at Aylesbury.
She was dead in 1819.

in". Martha Delafield who married Thomas Arnold of
Slatwoods in the Isle of Wight, a collector of
customs. She was living II August 1819. They
had issue Thomas Arnold, Matthew Arnold,
Martha, Lydia and Frances Arnold. Of these,
Thomas Arnold (born 13 June 1795 and died 14
June 1842) was the celebrated head- master of
Rugby and father of Matthew Arnold, the poet
and critic. Lydia Arnold was the second wife
of Richard Ford William Lambart, seventh Earl
of Cavan.

ivD. Mary Delafield, who died unmarried before n
August 1819.

JOSEPH DELAFIELD of Charles Street in Long Acre, brewer,
so described in the preamble of his will. He bought a
house upon Campden Hill in Kensington. He was born 14
May 1749, probably in Cripplegate. He became a partner
in Gyffora"s Brewery, which changed its style to Combe,
Delafield & Company. He died 3 September 1820 at Hast-
ings. His will, dated II August 1819, with three codicils,
was proved 30 September 1820 [P.C.C. 517 Kent] by Joseph
Delafield, the son and exor. He married 4 January 1790
[Gent. Mag.] Frances Combe, daughter of Harvey Combe,
an attorney at Andover, and sister to Harvey Christian
Combe, a partner in the brewery, who was Lord Mayor in
1799. She died 2 March 1803 at Campden Hill [Gent. Mag.]
in her 4131 year.

Joseph Delafield and Frances Combe had issue : —
i8. Joseph Delafield, of whom hereafter.
iis. Edward Harvey Delafield, who died unmarried 28
January 1827 in New Street, Spring Gardens. He
left a will which was proved in the prerogative
court [P.C.C. 76 Heber].

iiis. John Delafield, alias JOHN LEOPOLD FERDINAND
CASIMIR, COUNT DE LA FELD. He matriculated at

THE DELAFIELDS AND THE EMPIRE 127

Oxford (Oriel College) 29 June 1813, aged 18.
B.A. 1818, M.A. 1821. He was instituted to the
vicarage of Tortington in Sussex in 1833, and was
given the canonry of Middleham in York cathedral
in 1842. He died at his residence of Feldenstein
House, Richmond, Surrey, on 5 September 1866,
aged 71. Before his death he had changed his style
from ' the Reverend John Delafield ' to that of ' John
Leopold Ferdinand Casimir, Count de la Feld, and
Knight of the chapteral order of St. Sepulchre ! '
Besides Feldenstein House he had a residence at
Prince's Terrace, Hyde Park. His will, in which
he describes himself by his titles, was proved
29 October 1866 in the Principal Registry by his
widow. He married (as the Rev. John Delafield)
on 1 8 March 1828 at All Souls', Marylebone,
Cecil Jane Pery, sixth daughter of Edmund Henry
Pery, first Earl of Limerick. She survived him
and died without issue 24 April 1888.
iv*. William (or Thomas William) Delafield, who is
named in the wills of his father and brother Joseph.
He seems to have assumed the title of Count of
the Holy Roman Empire and to have married and
left issue.

i". Frances Henrietta Delafield who married 14 October
1823 the Rev. Thomas Rennell, vicar of Kensington
and prebendary of Salisbury, son of a Dean of
Winchester. She was a widow at the date of her
brother Joseph's will.

iiD. Maria Delafield, who married 4 September 1823 the
Rev. C. Bethel Otley, incumbent of Tortington.
She is named in her brother Joseph's will.

VII

JOSEPH DELAFIELD of Charles Street, Berkeley Square, and
afterwards of Bryanston Square, a partner in the brewery.
He married 6 January 1819 his cousin Charlotte Combe,
fourth daughter of Harvey Christian Combe of Cobham
Park, Surrey, alderman of London. He made a will 4 May
1842, which with a codicil of the same date was proved 2

728 THE ANCESTOR

July 1842 [P.C.C. 1842-465] by William Delafield the brother
and John Ward, esquires.
He had issue : —

is. Joseph Delafield, ' eldest son of the late Joseph
Delafield of Bryanston Square,' who was married
10 May 1844 at Naples to Eloisa, daughter of
the Cavaliere Bevere of Naples, by whom he seems
to have left issue.

ii*. Edward Thomas Delafield, named in his father's will.
He matriculated at Oxford (Ch. Ch.) 12 May
1842, being then aged ij.

i". Charlotte Frances Delafield, who was married 19
July 1848 at Dover to Richard Phelips of Bayford
Lodge, Somerset, Captain R.A., who died 1889,
being brother to William Phelips of Montacute,
esquire.
iiD. Frances Georgina Delafield, named in her father's

will.
iii°. Emily Maria Delafield, named in her father's will.

COMYN AND VALOIGNES

IN my recent paper on ' The Origin of the Comyns ' I
drew attention to the fact that no evidence was vouch-
safed for the statement that their ancestor Richard Cumin was
father of David Cumin, the founder of the Cumins of Eastre
Kilbride.1 The account of this David Cumin in the Scots
Peerage is as follows : —

5 * David, who married Isabella, daughter and heiress of Roger de Valloniis
of Easter Kilbride. She was one of the heirs of Christian, Countess of Essex,
whose mother was her cousin, being a daughter of Robert de Valloniis, her
father's brother.

In chart form the pedigree would be this : —

Robert de Roger de Richard

Valloniii Valloniis ot Cumin

I Easter

Kilbride
[Gunnora]

Isabella dju.= D»rid Cumin, " Dead in

Christian and heir I 1247 when his widow

Countess of I did homage for her lands

Essex I in England"

Now this pedigree affects, not only an English territorial
barony, but also the office or dignity of Chamberlain of
Scotland. It is therefore desirable to state it as accurately as
possible.

Fortunately neither the necessary evidence nor the pub-
lication of that evidence has been wanting ; the whole pedi-
gree has been set forth in print for more than twenty years.

i The Ancestor, No. 10, p. 107.
1 i.e. 5th son of Richard Cumin.

i3o THE ANCESTOR

In a notable paper on ' Sir Alexander Balliol of Cavers
and the Barony of Valoynes,' * Mr. J. A. C. Vincent was able
to show that Sir Alexander had been wrongly asserted to be
a brother of the Scottish King, and he further showed that
he was a son of Henry de Balliol and Lora de Valoignes, the
latter being co-heiress, with her sisters, Isabel, wife of David
Cumin, and Christiana, to the barony of Valoignes.

Mr. Bain, to whose calendar of documents relating to
Scotland the Scots Peerage is so largely indebted, followed up
Mr. Vincent's paper by an article on ' The Balliol and Va-
loines families, and office of Chamberlain of Scotland,' in Notes
and Queries (28 Jan. 1882),* in which he observed that the
former was ' drawn up with careful references to undoubted
original authorities ' and proved its case absolutely, but that
it was chiefly of interest to himself ' as tending to throw some
light on the succession of the early Chamberlains of Scotland.'
For (the late Lyon) Mr. Burnett, he explained, had been
feeling his way to a relationship between the earliest Cham-
berlains,3 and Mr. Vincent's evidence strengthened the case
while correcting Mr. Burnett's conjectures.

I remember in those days, at the Public Record Office,
those three ardent genealogists, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Bain, and
Mr. Greenstreet working day by day, and the last of the
three capped Mr. Vincent's discovery — which was largely
based on the Register of Binham Priory, a Valoignes founda-
tion— by printing the record of a suit in 1235 which estab-
lished the relationship of the Scottish and English branches
of the house of Valoignes.* This suit proved that Robert de
Valoignes, grandfather of the Countess of Essex,5 had a younger
brother Philip, who ' went to Scotland ' and had a son and
heir William, who was father of the three co-heiresses men-
tioned above. As Mr. Vincent had done before him, he set
forth in chart form the pedigree proved by this evidence, and
the record of this important suit was printed anew by Pro-
fessor Maitland in his edition of Bracton's Note Book.6

It is not too much to say that the whole history of the

Genealogist, [Ed. Marshall], vi. 1-7.

6th Series, vol. v. pp. 61-2.

In Appendix to preface to Exchequer Rolls, vol. ii. p. cxvii.

Notes and Queries (25 Feb. 1882) 6th Sen, v. 142-3.

See chart pedigree above.

Case 1128, vol. iii. pp. 147-148.

COMYN AND VALOIGNES 131

descent of the Valoignes fief is altered by this evidence ; for
Dugdale went unusually wrong in his version of the Valoignes
heirship. He knew that Robert Fitz Walter, the famous
leader of the barons in their struggle for the Great Charter,
had two wives, of whom Gunnora de Valoignes, the first,
brought him the extensive estates of her house ; but he ex-
pressly (and erroneously) states that this Gunnora was the
mother of his son and successor, Walter, as well as of his
daughter Christiane, wife of the Earl of Essex.1 If this had
been so, it would be unintelligible why Christiane was suc-
ceeded by her cousins, and not by her brother of the whole
blood. The direct result of the suit was to prove that this
Walter was only her half-brother, being Robert Fitz Walter's
son by his second wife Roese, and had therefore no claim to
the Valoignes inheritance.

But, for my present purpose, what I have to insist on is
that the evidence of this suit demolishes altogether Lyon's
genealogy of this important Scottish house, given in the Scots
Peerage. I call it an important Scottish house, for not only
were Philip de Valoignes and his son William chamberlains
of Scotland in succession ; it was also from them that Pan-
mure came, through one of William's daughters, to the
Maules, and Easter Kilbride through another to the Comyns,
who all but took her name, while lastly, it was also from them,
through William's eldest daughter, that Henry and Alexander
de Balliol appear to have derived their claim to the office of
Chamberlain of Scotland.*

Before setting out the chart pedigree which will show
how the Scottish house succeeded to the English fief, I should
like to establish one point in the previous descent of the latter.
Mr. Vincent reprinted from the Genealogist his Valoignes
pedigree in Notes and Queries (15 April 1882), adding from
the Binham Register a single deed which proves ' a previous
marriage of Gunnora de Valoignes,' Christiane's mother.
Her former husband's surname ' appears,' he observed, ' in a

' Baronage, i. 220. He added a further error on p. 706 by stating that this
(William) Earl of Essex ' had not any wife.'

» The descent of this office through the eldest daughter (apparently) is
very remarkable in view of the fact that Lord Ancaster's recent claim to the
office of Chamberlain of England was based on the contention that it should
so descend. But the Scottish parallel was not cited on his behalf.

i3a THE ANCESTOR

double form, either of which is strange and questionable ' ; for
in the transcript of the charter he is ' Durandus de Steill'
camerarius Domini Regis,' while in the heading to the charter
he is ' Durandus Sustile.' * I can supply, however, the right
form, having met with the man as Durandus de Ostilli in the
latter part of the reign of Henry II., a charter of whom to
Godstow he witnessed, while my Calendar of Documents pre-
served in France shows him, as chamberlain, with that king
at Le Mans between 1182 and 1186 (p. 361). The Rotulus
de Dominabus also reveals him about 1185, and affords inde-
pendent evidence of his marriage with the Valoignes heiress,
though (in the form in which we have it) it wrongly styles
her daughter, instead of granddaughter, of Agnes de Va-
lognes.2 This identification is further confirmed by an entry
which, in turn, we are now able to explain, namely the record
of Durand de Osteilli's payment of .£15 31. 4^. for scutage on
the Pipe Roll of U9O,3 for the 30^ knight's fees, which this
payment represents, is the very number on which the barony
of Valoignes paid,4 which show that he was then holding it
in right of his wife. In 1194 his wife (then presumably his
widow), Gunnora de Valoignes, paid on that same number.8

1 By a singular coincidence — it can hardly be more — a William Cumyn is
a witness to this charter.

2 ' Agnes de Valuines, que fuit soror Pagani filii Johannis, est de donatione
Domini Regis et plusquam Lxta annorum. Ipsa habet in hundredo de Rede-
felde quoddam manerium quod valet xv libras. Filia ejus et heres data est
Durando de Ostili ' (p. 46).

3 Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 78. The editor has dated the record, like
all those of this reign, a year too late.

• Ibid. p. 361.

• Ibid. p. 94.

COMYN AND VALOIGNES 133:

We can now set out the relevant pedigree in full.

Peter dc

Robert de

Geoffrey de

Roger de

Philip'de

Valoignes

Valoignes1

Valoignei

Valoignes

mar.

mar. Emma

of Easier

of Panmure,

Gundred At

Hawije,

du Hommet,1

Kilbride,

Chamberlain

Warenne,

dead

1190

ob. i.p.

ob. 5. p. ?

of Scotland,

ob. i.p.

d. 1215

(0 I W

Durand de=Gunnora de = Robert Fiu

Ostilli,
her

husband
in 1190

Valoignes,
heiress of
Valoignes
barony

Walter,
died 1233

William de Valoignes
of Panmure,
Chamberlain of
Scotland, died 1219

(') I W

William Earl = Christiane, ob.s.p. before = Reymund de
of Essex 25 May 1233, heiress of Burgh

Valoignes barony

Henry de Balliol = Lorade Valoignes,
Chamberlain of I co-heiress of the
Scotland I Valoignes barony

Isabel!

ella, mar. David
Cumin, co-heiress of
the Valoignes barony,
Lady of Easter
Kilbride

Guy de
Balliol
ob. s.p.

Alexander de
Balliol of
Cavers,
Chamberlain
of Scotland
1287-94

Christiana, mar..
Peter de
Maule,'
co-heiress of
Valoignes
barony

William " Comin allot
de Valoignes " found
her heir and aged 1 6
or 17 in April 1253
on her death

Philip^de Valoignes, who ' adiit Scociam ' and became-
chamberlain of that kingdom, appears as a surety for the
Scottish king in the treaty of Falaise (1174), and it is very
interesting to find him in attendance on his sovereign at a
tourney on the other side of the channel probably about that
date. The incident is thus paraphrased by M. Paul Meyer :

1 Paid 200 marcs for his relief 1160 (Rot. Pip. 6 Hen. II.).

1 She was previously wife of Geoffrey de Nevill and mother by him of
Henry (Rot. Scacc. Norm. II. clxxxiv.).

' The name is variously spelt. I give the co-heiresses in the order given by
the writers I have cited, but I think that Isabel, not Christiane, was the
youngest of the three; for in four fines of 1240 and 1241, relating to.
Valoignes manors, Lora invariably comes first, and Isabel last (Feet of Fines
or Essex, I. pp. 139-40).

i34 THE ANCESTOR

Le Roi d'Ecosse etait present avec une suite nombreuse. Le Marechal se
lanca sur sire Philippe de Valognes, chevalier bel et elance, le saisit par le
frein et Pentraina de force hors du tournoi.1

Mr. Farrer observes that —

The whole County of Westmorland was granted to Philip de Valoines in
1170, when he paid £30 for his relief of four knights' fees for the Baronjr of
Appleby, and two knights' fees for the Barony of Kendal.'

Philip, who died 5 November 1215, was buried in Melrose
Abbey,3 as was his son and successor William, who died in
1219.* It was acutely suggested * and eventually asserted '
by Mr. Bain that this William married Lora,6 daughter of
Saher de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, by Margaret, sister and
co-heiress of Robert, Earl of Leicester. Earl Saher was a
considerable Scottish landowner through his mother Ora-
bilis.

On the death of Christiane, Countess of Essex, the suc-
cession to the whole fief of Valognes opened to her three
cousins, the daughters and co-heiresses of this William de
Valoignes. The share of Isabel, wife of David Cumin and
lady of Easter Kilbride,7 is shown by the Inquisition on her
death to have consisted of Sacombe in Hertfordshire, and of
a manor in each of the three eastern counties.

We are now in a position to criticise the statement by
Lyon in the Scots Peerage (i. 505), that David Cumin's wife

1 L'histoire de Guillaume le Marechal (1901), iii. 21. In the original poem
the lines run : —

Sire Felip[es] de Valoingnes
Fu armez si tres cointement,
etc., etc.

» Lancashire Pipe Rolls, p. 19 note. But this whole statement appears to
be gravely erroneous. It was not Philip, but Theobald (Tedbaldus) de
Valoignes who appears on the Roll of 1178 (not 1170) as owing £30 for relief
on six fees. Philip is entered on the roll of 1178 (under Cumberland) as owing
£40 " pro defectu," which he was excused paying.

a Mr. Vincent in Notes and Queries (as above), p. 291.

4 Notes and Queries (as above), p. 390.

« Genealogist [N. S.], vii. 19.

« She must have derived the uncommon name of Lora (or Loretta), which
she gave to her eldest daughter, from her uncle's wife Loretta, Countess of
Leicester.

1 Mr. Bain has shown that Roger de Valoignes, apparently a brother of
Philip de Valognes, 'was Lord of Kilbride as early as 1175-1189,' and, as Isabel
is found as Lady of Kilbride (Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis), he considers
that Roger must have died s.p. (Notes and Queries, as above, p. 390.)

COMYN AND VALOIGNES 135

Isabella was ' daughter and heiress of Roger de Valloniis '
and that Robert de Valloniis was ' her father's brother.' We
find (i) that she was only one of three daughters and co-
heiresses ; (2) that her father was not Roger, but William de
Valoignes, Chamberlain of Scotland ; (3) that Robert de
Valoignes was not her father's ' brother,' but his uncle. These
may be added to that catalogue of errors which Lyon has
contrived, as I have shown,1 to compress into two pages.*

Lastly, as to David Cumin. I pointed out in my previous
paper that no evidence was vouchsafed for the statement that
he was a son of Richard Cumin, and although, in the absence
of such evidence, one cannot well disprove the assertion, the
chronology points distinctly to his belonging to the next
generation ; indeed it would seem that his son and heir cannot
have been born earlier than 1236," that is, some ninety years
after his (David's) father's marriage ! This must increase
our desire to know on what authority Lyon asserts that
David was a son of Richard Cumin.

1 Ancestor, No. 10, p. 116.

J A Scottish publication, the Registrum de Panmure (1874), contains much
information on the Scottish house of Valoignes and its heirs (vol. ii., pp.
119-46). See especially pp. 131, 135-7, for David Cumin and Isabel his
wife. The Binham Priory evidence is given.
3 Calendar of Inquisitions, i. 72.

J. HORACE ROUND.

LETTERS OF THE FANES AND INCLEDONS

THE Fanes of Combe Bank in Sundridge, with whom
these letters are concerned, were a branch of the house
of Westmorland. Robert Fane, the first squire of Combe
Bank, was seventh and youngest son of Francis, first Earl of
Westmorland of that family, by Mary Mildmay, the heiress
of Apethorpe. Of his brothers two were in arms for the
King, and one for the Parliament, whilst the eldest born ran
with the hare and hunted with the hounds to his own content
and advancement. Our Robert Fane, being a young man
and possibly a wise one, did not meddle in these troubles.
He married a daughter of Sir John Sedley of Ightham, and
died in 1657.

Robert, his only son and heir, the writer of several of the
letters, was born in 1650, and died at Combe Bank in 16/f.
His wife, Mary Cartwright, daughter of William Cartwright
of the Aynho family, survived him and married a gentleman
named Fulke Grosvenor.

Henry Fane, the only son of the last-named Robert,
parted with Combe Bank and lived in Kensington. In the
next generation this branch of the Fanes came to an end with
Henry Fane, who died in 1785, having been imbecile from
youth.

Two daughters of the first Robert Fane grew up and
married. Elizabeth the elder was born in 1655, and married
in 1672 Lewis Incledon of Buckland in Braunton. From the
marriage descend the Incledon-Webbers and the Webber-
Incledons, in whose hands these letters remain and with whose
permission they are now published.

Mary Fane, the younger daughter, was second wife of Wil-
liam Walton of Addington, a squire with whose family the
Fanes had been connected at the end of the fifteenth century,
when Henry Fane of Hadlow married Alice Clarke, daughter
of a Baron of the Exchequer and relict of Robert Walton of
Addington.

The letters make a pleasant contribution to the social
history of the second half of the seventeenth century, those of
Paressatus, as Rachel Countess of Westmorland was pleased

138

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 137

to sign herself, being especially delightful in their tangle of
gossip wondrously spelt. The begetting of children in the
various branches of the family is perhaps the matter of the
first interest to most of the correspondents, but affairs of
state, news of the world, the great whale come ashore in
Lincolnshire, and Sir Vere's ' rumatise ' have their due place.
And due place has the family quarrel, the relations between
Fane of Combe Bank and Walton of Addington being far
from cordial. Two love-letters from Robert Fane might
have been taken for models by any young man of his day.

A draft or copy of a letter without date and without address, but probably
from the Honourable Robert Fane to his sister Rachel, Countess of Bath.

MADAM E, —

Since the date of my last letter it hath pleased God
for my sins to lay a heavy affliction upon me by bringing my
deare wife soe neare the brink of death (though no means
hath been omitted that might preserve her life, one of y*
ablest Doctors that belongs to the Colledge at London,
Doctor Bennet by name, haveing been w"1 her almost ever
since), yet till this present day wee had but litle hopes of
her recovery ; but now, God's name be ever praysed, whoes
mercy is over all his workes, for bestoweing upon this precious
woman a good night's rest the last night whereby her spirits
are much refreshed & the violence of her feaver mittigated,
& myselfe extreamly comforted ; for seriously, madame,
had shee died of this fitt I had beene the miserablest man
breathing & my six poore infants utterly undone to have
lost so tender a careful mother & my selfe soe affectionate
provident & discreete a wife as the whole world can hardly
parrallell.

I presume yr Ladp hath before this time received my
last letter & box with directions w** if you have followed
punctually I am confident I shall heare by the next letter
you are pleased to honor me w"1 of the benefitt you have
received by them.

As for my Welsh business, w* truely, madame, hath been
very chargeable to me, my witnesses coming above 200 miles
& the day of hearing severall times deferred purposely
to multiply my troubles, & although my cause be never

138 THE ANCESTOR

soe just, yet I have reason to feare the event will be doubtfull,
those that are to be my judges being alsoe the parties that
will reape the most advantage by my overthrow, for if I loose
my estate they must enjoy it i' trust as they say for the Pro-
tector, w* makes them stile themselves the Trustees ; but
the God of heav'n I trust will protect me from their wicked-
ness who make no difficulty to destroy whole families wtt a
vote that they may thereby inrich themselves.

I am nowe in full possession of the litel farme house &
land that lay so conveniently for me & have pay'd forty
pounds of the money already, but where to have the rest
(were it not for the hopes & confidence I have of yr La1"
favourable & loveing assistance) I am as farre to seeke as
the Spanish curate was the stopping of my rents in Wales,
together w"1 the charge of that suite and the expenses about
my poore wifes sickness that alone hath cost me litel less
than thirty pounds, as alsoe the overthrow that my brother
Westmorland hath received from Mr. S'. Johns by the
wicked Comitee at Habberdashers-Hall contrary to the
Verdict & Judgement of the Judges in the two last tearmes
wch yr Lap knowes did much concern me, hath taken away
all my other hopes.

I prayse God my deare children are all in good health,
my youngest girle & all, who is yet an anabaptist, but I
hope she will live to be a Christian.

Pardon my tedeousness I beseech you & beleeve me
to be without dissimulation,

Madm,

Yr La1* most obliged affectionate brother
& humble servant,

R. F.

Letter from Robert Fane II. to his sister, probably Elizabeth, afterwards Mrs.
Incledon, at this date very likely resident with the Countess of Bath at Tawstock.

LONDON,

Sept. the 28tb (16)72.
DEAR SISTER, —

I received your letter w"* was dated the 28th day of
August, in w** you desire to be further satisfied concerning

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 139

my earnest business vy0*1 I writt you word of, but I hope to
see you w^in a short time here when I shall give you an
account of my Sommers employment ; in the mean time I
am but where I was. If it had been worth while I would have
sent you word, but in a letter I can not tell how to doe it, &
therefore doe desire your patience until you come to towne,
where you will be sure to find me, for I have hired a chamber
for a yeare, and doe intend to continue in towne all this
winter, w*11 1 know you will like very well ; it is att the sign of the
flower-de-luce, a Stationers over against S' Dunstons Church
in fleet-street, where if you send anything to me it will be
certaine to come to me safe. I am now in towne but must
goe out the beginning of the next weeke into Kent to lett my
land & setle my business, & then I come to winter here
where I hope wee shall be very merry, if you can lett me
heare from you once more before you come & send me word
how my lady takes my letter which I have here written to her
concerning the Counterparte of the Deed w"* she gave
my father. I left & pray will you remember Mr Cobb of his
promise to me that he would look for it. As for news we
have litle here. The Duke of York is come to Whitehall &
goes no more to sea untill next spring, & your boy is come
of well & presents his service to you. I have not seen my
brother nor sister Watton this month but I heare they are
well, only shee is grumbling again. Sr Vere & my lady are
not yet returned out of Northamptonshire ; they are at this
time in Norfolke at my Lord Townsend,1 but doe intend
to be back wttin this fortnight. My Lord of Westmorland
is going to keep house at Epthorpe, & my lady Brugnall*
is w"1 child again. A great many such things I could write
but being in haste (onely w& my service to all my friends)
I take leave & am

Your truly loving brother,

ROBERT FANE.

1 Lord Townshend was son of Mary Vere, Sir Vere Fane'»N mother, by her
first husband Sir Roger Townshend.
* Brudenell.

1 4o THE ANCESTOR

III. IV. V

The three following are on the same piece of paper, being undated copies or
drafts. The first may be from Robert Fane I. to the brother of his betrothed
wife, who was daughter to Sir John Sedley of Ightham. The others are
doubtless addressed to Mistress Sedley.

SIR, —

Haveing received these inclosed wch I intended to have
delivered wth my owne hands, but of my journey being
deferred till fryday I was affrayd least Sr John should be
come away before my arrival there ; wherefore I thought good
to send them by the first opportunity. I beseech you Sr
excuse this boldness in him who though as yet unknowne
to you is most desirous to serve you in the quality of

Sr
Your loveing brother and humble servant,

ROB. FANE.

DEARE HEART, —

Had I a messenger to send every day in the weeke or
every ower in the day I should not let slip one oppertunity
of presenting my service to you, though in rude expressions,
partly to assure you of my owne health, wch I thanke God
I enjoy as well as can be expected during our present divorce
& partly by my much importunity to draw from you two
or three lines either by way of requitall and to showe your
love & affection towards your constant servant or by way
of prevention to countermand his future importunityes I
beseeche you consider the preseding arguments & soe use me
as you in your discression shall thinke him to deserve whoe
is proud of nothing more than that you are pleased to give
him leave to stile himselfe

Your most affectionate servant till death,

R. F.

I beseech you to present my service to all my loveing
friends wth you.

Though our sorrowfull depart at Grenewiche prov'd a
[ ] to my wounded heart yet next daye the good

newes of your safe though late arrive at Sl Cleeres hath
perfectly cured me & inabled me to perform my intended
journey this day towardes Cambridge, which otherwise

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 141

notwithstanding my former ingagements to all my friends
here I should by no means have undertaken. On Wednes-
day night we shall returne hither againe, & in the mean-
time craveing pardon for this abrupt conclusion, being in
great hast, I shall humbly take my leave and rest with this
assurance that I am & ever will be

Your constant friend & servant till death,

R. F.

The following appears to be from Mrs. Mary Walton, wife of William Watton,
of Addington, co. Kent, and daughter of the Honourable Robert Fane, to her
sister Mrs. Incledon. It has no address.

June th : 12 : (16)73.
DEARE SISTER, —

I received yr letter from my lady Cathern * which I should
have answered before but that my little boy hath been like
to die. I bless God he is pretty well againe and growth bravely.
I am sorry to hear that you have mis-cared but glad that you
are so well recovered of it. I believe the next news I heare of
you will be that you are wto childe againe. I long to see you.
If I had not been a nurse I should have been with you before
this, but that hinderth me from takeing any journey ferther
than I can come back at night, Mr Watton speaketh often of
coming to see you. My brother promised to go w"1 him but
his wife will [be] lying [in] about the time that they apoynted
which will hinder his journey. I persuad the parson to come
with him ; he saith he will. I cannot tell wher he will keep in
that mind. You wret to me to be kind to my brother ; I am
so and would do more for him if he were not so strang to me
to consealle his business from me so as he doth. I know nothing
of his concerns but what I hear from others. I feare he is
undon. I invited him and his wife down to my houes and so
did Mr Watton to stay as long as he would but he did not
accept of our kindness fearing our entertainement would
not be good anoufe. I feare when he comes to pay his debts
he will wish he had come ; though he cares it out bravely for
the present yet if he get none of her porshon he will come
ofe but il. Mr Watton is just a going to London and stayth
for my letter or eles I could not make an end so soon for I

1 Lady Catherine Fane, daughter of Mildmay, Earl of Westmorland.

1 42 THE ANCESTOR

have a world more to writ, but I hope to here from'youTby
him if you writ so soun as you receive this ; my brother neglects
the sending of your letters. I am sure he needs not ; being he
keeps a boy it is no great matter for him to go with them to
the carrier, I am in great hast, therfore adue, my deare sister,
t'll I here from you.

M. WATTON.

Mine and Mr. Wattons affectionat love to yrself and to
yr good husband. Robine presents his duty to you, he is ready
to ask you blessing. I send you a letter from the parsons wife.

VII

From Robert Fane to his sister Mrs. Incledon.

Directed on the back : —

For Mrs. Incledon att her house in Branton near Barnstable in Devon-
shire. These P'sent Weh speed.

COOMBANK, y i9*h of Apr. 75.
DEAR SISTER, —

I have nou received yors dated ye 21th of March in which
you say you have mine consarning ye differences betweene
me and my sister Watton, & w'ever I writt to you I'le Justine
to be true notwithstanding whoever storyes she hath made ;
but upon yor desire I freely forgive her & shall endeavour
to live in love wto her & hers & for ye money I owe her I
conffess theres about 12* behind for our board 10 of w011
I would have her give way to me to pay Sr Vere, for if you
remember I borrowed so much of him in London to pay
for ye scuttcheons Paull Wine & other things towards her
ffirst husbands ffuneral. As for her giving me w* I owe her
I never had any desire or thought that way though she hath.
Consserning y' ten pounds to Sr Vere I have not as yett seen
them since they came home but think I shall this week, for
I have not been out of our parish since we came here (except
two nights at Sr Vere's) nor shall I ever be a gadder but take
more delight in walking about my ground than others doe
in going to every feast & help ale wthin 5 miles round. I am
exceeding glad to hear y' yorselfe my good brother & little
nephew are all soe well ; I pray God continue it to you all.
You say you are angry y' I writt you not my girles name

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 143

you have no reason for because I did as soon as she was
Christened; also I can say ye same by y0' litle one w01 my
litle-ffingers, for I doe not yet know y* name thereof but
desire it in y' next. I am sorry I have no more assurance
of yo' being in town this sumer& yet am glad to find you soe
well satisfied therewith. I must confess I cannot so earnestly
desire that happiness since I was with you where in discourse I
found my good brother soe much averse to London ; however
I doubt not but w^in a yeare or two you'll both be willing,
& will find a time to see yor ffriends in Kent, amongst y* rest
Coombank, where none in the world shall be more wellcome
than yourselves. You desire to know when I shall be in
towne, y8 w* I thinke to be about y8 latter end of y* next
weeke or y* beginning of y* weeke after, where if you or my
brother have any service to command me I shall readily doe
it to y* utmost of my power.

These with mine & my wives kind love & service to yo'self
& my brother I rest, & many thanks to you for yo' good
counsell in yo' last w0*1 1 shall endeavour to ffollow. I am for
ever, Dearest sister,

You very much obliged &

Intirely loving Brother,

ROBERT FANE.

My sister's name is Dorothy.1

My service to Mrs. Watton & tell her when I goe to Add-
ington I intend to see her mother, & if she have anything to
send Fie take care to convey it to Buckland.

VIII

Robert Fane to his sister, Mrs. Incledon.

LONDON y' 16th of Decemb' (16)75.
DEAR SISTER, —

I received yo™ dated ye 3cd Instant I being then in towne,
& I had before been with Mrs. Brig about yo' things who told
me y* shee had sent you paternes, & y' she expected an answer
from you every day, y" w"* they had not on friday last, for
I then called at ye office & told him y' you had received his

1 This is Dorothy Cartwright, sister to the writer's wife. She died in
1686, being then betrothed to Sir Nicholas Lestrange.

i44 THE ANCESTOR

wines lettr & paternes & had sent up 30* for y* buying y8
Bedd : but he told me y' they had not heard anything of it
then, but as soon as they did his wife should use all y* skill
she had to buy it to yor mind (as far as I understand they
may have it very good for y* money) ; they say they will send
it as soon as possible when they have heard from you. I
have been at Mrs. Wattons & Mrs. Betty tells me y* shee
was with Mre Br to put her in mind of yor things & to desire
her y* she may know when shee sends them away, by wch I
imagine ye M™ Betty intends to send you somthing at y*
same time.

Mr Mallet y6 Calenderer's son went on fryday to my
brother Wattons (as himselfe ye day before told old Ma
Watton) & he swears he'el eat not Oatmeale puddings wth
his mother this Christmas but will try how he likes plum-
porrage made by ye good housewife of Addington, but he
may be mistaken if she should make none but for herselfe
wch is likely, y' is if shee invite him to stay, for I suppose a
litle invitation will serve a man of his capacity, yet he said
he would be back as yesterday & y* he would waite on mee,
but I thanke God I shall be out of towne intending to-
morrow God willing for Combank, & if he stay there all ye
Christmas you shall heare what trade they drive at M"
Wattons. They tell me they believe he'es to be God father ;
however his pretence was to consult wtb them about ye
sueing of Trevilian for their mony, for w** as they Bake soe
lett them Brew. I believe I shall be in towne again ye next
tarm, else certainely in Easter term, & then (or in y6 meane
time) if you have any business wherein I can serve you, I
shall not faile to do it wth all ye care imaginable as would
I have done in buying yor Bedd had she not sent as she did.
And now, Dearest Sister, lett me desire you to lay by all melan-
cholly & doubt not but y* God which enabled you once to
goe through wth ye bearing of a child will doe it againe, &
yor troubling yorself doth I know much trouble my good
brother, to whom & yo'selfe I give my hearty love and service,
& shall ever pray y' all health & happiness may attend you
both.

I remain for ever, Dearest Sister, yor most truly

Loving Brother,

ROBERT FANE.

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 145

From Robert Fane to his sister, Mrs. Incledon. This letter is sealed with a
seal of arms of Fane quartering the two Nevill coats and Beauchamp
of Bergavenny.

Directed on the back : —

To Mrs. Incledon att Buckland in Braunton, neare Barnstable, in Devon.
These.

COMBANK, y 20th of Jan. (i6)7|.
DEARE SISTER, —

I have received yora dated ye 4th Instant & am very glad
y< I had anything to write w011 might please you. I have not
heard of the Addingtonians a long time & I suppose my
Sister will not lett my brother come to see us because I have
not been there a great while by reason of my sickness nor do
I know when I shall, for I am not yet recovered but hope this
spring wth yo* deare company & my good Brothers will
make me perfectly well. We doe not heare y' my sister
Watton is brought to bedd. Pray God send her well & also
pray y* y' God w"* once delivered you safely will now againe
enable you to goe through with the bearing of a second
Boy, at the news of w011 1 shall be very joyfull. Pray if you can
be soe kind as to write to me againe before you ly down,
let me know whether M™ Brig hath sent yor Bedd & how you
like it. I was told by severall, y* yr money you sent would
buy a very good one & I hope she hath done soe. I have not
at this time any news to send you by reason of my not being
soe well as to goe abroad, but when I have you shall be sure
to know it ; in the meantime, praying for both yor healths &
happiness & w"1 my true love & hearty service to you both,

I remain, Dearest Sister, your most affectionately

Loving Brother,

ROBT. FANE.

From E. Fane, probably Elizabeth, wife of Sir Henry Fane of Basildon, to

Mrs. Incledon.
Directed on the back : —

These For Mrs. Incledon at Buckland in Brantton in Devon,
leave these with the post Master of Barnstaple.

LONDON, February the 12th, 1680.

I give y° a thousand thanks for all your kindness to us when
we ware with y° which I know noe way to return but by giving

146 THE ANCESTOR

y° the same hearty welkom at Basseldon when I shall be so
happie to se 7° there, heare is no news that is devertting.
All state afairs & Parliment matters the Town will be very
emptty. All are for Oxford,1 but to the Ladys great greve thare
will be little room for them, & how the gallants & thay will
live apart I cannot imagin. Yor nefew & neases are very well ;
the mother hath the boy & the girels are to come the next
week to her. How Sr Vere & she will agree I know not. My
cossen Rachel hath bin very ill since she came home but is
better now ; she gives y° her services & will writ very speedily
toy0. Coranell Basset was heare this morning ; he is very well
but dose not talk of coming into the countree. My service to
my cossen ; I wish him rid of the ill companion which I heare
he hath got. My services to Mra Doren. I am, Deare Cossen,
yo' most humble sarvant,

E. FANE.

XL XII. XIII. XIV. XV

The five following letters are all apparently in the same handwriting.
Probably the writer was Rachel, wife of Sir Vere Fane, who became 4th Earl
of Westmorland. Mr. Lovett was Edward Lovett of Liscombe and Tawstock,
whose first wife's sister, Honoria Paget, married John Incledon, elder brother
of Lewis Incledon.

Directed cm the back : —

For Mrs. Incledon att Mr Lovetts in Tawstocke neare Barnstable,
Devonsh. These.

MY DERE ROGE, —

If it ware not to you I cood not expect pardon haven
not answared yours soner, but I protest it has not bin out of
any want of afexan that Robin can tell, for I bid hem make
my excuse, but eallnisses & visiters are the only coas and as
I here that from Bath hows you have had a coasen not to com
to town becoas of the small Pox I moust confess thay be very
rife every whare & allwase was all London ever sence I knew
the town, tharefore I wood have you consider whether or
non you due not think it be a trick to keep you in the countre ;
for my part I due really think it is, for thay think if you stay

1 The parliament was summoned to meet at Oxford 21 March, 168^, and
was dissolved seven days later.

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 147

in the countre then your husband will say that you may
as well stay Another yere before you com to town, & then I
think that R. is afeard you will be too mouch in our Lady's
favor which I sopose is the cheafest of thare fear tho my
Lady & eiy did tolk of you yesterday mitely & she dos commend
you most mitely which I am very glad to here, & she sase that
she never bestode anything to so good a purpo8 as upon you.
But pray, my dere roge, take som pity upon mee, for it may
be that I may never see you again if you due not com up
this spring & I can not be deliverd tell I see you, tharefore
pray take som pity upon me in my destress, & tho I am a
stranger to your good man yet tell him that he will allmost
save the Life of won if not too if he will but com up this
spring & surely then you will both take som considrorsion
& not be so hard harted to destroy both ; besidse my sister
Keat l will be here & sure you can not withstand such temta-
tion. Pr.ay consider my condission & due not expect much
writen from mee but be so chareatebol as to write somtimes
to mee, & when I am well I will return them doubel with
thanks. I have no news but that there is A empres ded ; *
what her name is I know not for I allwase forgett, but we ar
all Agoen into morning for her and shall continuen a month
or six weeks in morning & then go out. This is all from, dere
sweet Roge, your afexant princes — tell deth.

PARESSATUS.*

LONDON, March the iStb, 1673.

Feb. ye 24.*

I received the favor of your kind Leter in so weake a
condishon that I could not before now return my thanks
for it, having bin in all pepells opinion a ded woman, but
growing old and tufe I hold out still though but weake ; heare

1 Lady Catherine Fane.

1 The first wife of the Emperor Leopold I. She d. 1673.

3 This remarkable signature should be Parysatii, a name derived from one
of the lady's favourite romances.

4 The general election referred to in this letter dated 24 Feb., is probably
that between 6 Feb. and 20 March, 1689-90.

148 THE ANCESTOR

is nothing toalk'd of here but who stands in such a plase and
such a plase, things I mind not tho never so much in fashon,
yett may agree well enuf with the news of our country at
this time, which is my Lady Withens is not broaght to bed
yett tho Luks her every day, & miss Mariy Stils is to be marid
veriy sodinley to Sr felixWild1; her brother Ermen Stiles is
jest com horn from trauelin the world round and sets pro-
didous storiy being put A : 1 1 : years ; M™ Mary Dallison
it gest marid to Mr. Carill & Mrs Dickson the younger is
marid to Sr Persifull Harts son ; our nabor James has binne
very call but is now prety well Again. We ofen talk of you
and wish for your good companiy which none would be
more glader of then your affexan humbell sarvant,

R. FANE.

S* Vere and the rest of our familiy is your Sarvants.

Directed on the back : —
These for M™ Incledon, att Buckland, near Barnstabell in Devonsh.

March the 5.

I am extreamliy to blame, Dear frind, for receiving 10
Leters from you without answaring won espeshally when so
obliging a won as your last was & which I was all together
unworthy of ware it don threw unkindness or disrespeckt,
but it is so well known to all the town in what a veriy call
& dangrus a condishon Sr Vere has bin in all this wintor &
has had ten fesishons with him even to this time though now
I hop out of danger if it can be so in his case, his being of
the diabetus, a distemper newley found out which is making
to much wator. He has not been in a tavorn this wintor & for
beare or wine he drinks not won drap nor has not this wintor
& taks 1 8 pels a day & drinks asis milk. I hope by this short
relashon, knowing how I love Sr Vere, it will not seame so
unkind to mis answaring ten leters which truley in all I re-
ceived sence I writ, having writ won seence I came to town
if no more : but truley I have bin att my wets eand most
part of this wintor, tho scene I received your last I might
have writ but that I was ashamed to write tell Sr Vere had
paid Mrs. Westleys money which he has now done & had

1 M«y, daughter of Sir Thomas Style, married Sir Felix Wilde in 1690.

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 149

don it suner had he had the command of his moniy which has
bin promised him from time to time ; and now if you send
him orders he will pay veriy suddinley M™ Wesley twenty
pounds more, as he bids mee tell you if you order it so with
his sarvis to you is all his commands. & now I must tell you the
news of our country (for the news of the town I am veriy
letell acquainted with) ; in my last in the countriy I told
you of Mn Stiles is marin Sr Felis Wild, and now her brother
Oliver Stils is lukin out for a great fortun in town his father
desiring it, and will setell very handsomely on him if he holds
long in a mind, & it is tolk on as if the barinet-ship was to go
to him but that cannot be done I beleave. S'Olivor Butlor's
son has marid a great fortune in the sity1 and Mrs. Bety
Twisden is marid to Mr Dalison." The Letell Captan is a
brisk widow & going to be marid. As for your sister I
can say but letell having not seane her a great while, but
heare she has gott good companiy with her as Mra Seder
that was, & her husband, & Mr Creighelten was to come.
Coson Moll has bin at Chelsea Scule this twelve month
but is now gon horn I think for good. She seam to mee to be
much imprufd, which I am glad of being always a well wisher
to aniy of your familiy. Lady Fane was in town last weake,
tho poore Lady veriy malincholiy. I went to wate on her &
we toalkt of you mitiliy & wisht you with ous. The Doctors
told Sr Vere that he must for his rumatise go to the bath,
which I am glad to hear, being in hops then to gett you to
meet us thare, which if thare minds hold I will send you
word. I do not but you will be so kind as to com with
coson Doley & your son if posibell, for I long to see them, &
meat us. Jams our nabor has had three hundred pound
a yeare fafen to him lately which together with his own
estate I believe in moniy & land may make neare a thousan,
& yett he is gest like a old decai'd jentellman. He say if we goe
he & Waton will go to the bath with us, so you will meat
with your old friends, but I will afearm with none that more
loues & honers you then dos

Your most effexant humbell servant,

R. FANE.

1 Philip, elder son of Sir Oliver Boteler of Teston married Anne, daughter
of Sir Edward Desbouveries.

s Thomas Dalison of Hampton married secondly Elizabeth, third
daughter of Sir Th. Twisden, Bart., of Bradborne.

1 50 THE ANCESTOR

Moll & Coson Ransfords sarvis to you & Coson Doley.

M* Champneys wifes sister is marid this weake to a mar-
chant, but such a great weden that the town rings out & is
to larg to give the pertukerlers in this bit of paper Mre Francis
Loue is going to be marid to Mr. Munwaton she being a
fortune now her brother is dead, but Mre Mariy entend to
diy a pure chast vergin.

As for the old man he is no chanlin.

March 25, 1692-3.

I received your kind Leter, Dere Coson, & am extream
glad to find you are in the Land of the Living, for truliy it
has bin so long sence I heard from you that I much ferd you
had bin call or els I hopt you would not have bin so unkind
to your frinds as to let it be so long before we heard from
you. heare is but Letell news, onliy of remufes which thare
is a great maniy but cannot remember maniy. The Aturniy
Generall is maid Lord Keeper & Sargant Trenshor * is made
Secretary of State ; it is said Generall Talmatch is to be gover-
nor of the He of White & that Lord Bembruck is to go Lord
Leautenant of Ireland & Lord Sidney is to com over to
be master of the ornance. Thare is a great whale com a shore
in lincornshire of a prodidous bigth so that a man of six feet
hiy may stand uprite in his mouth & it is sold for a thousan
pound. The King is gon to Harwidg a friday in order for
Holond. The prinsis is brought to bead of a dead child before
her time, but at the time she youst to mis-cariy att. We are
going for Kent in a few days and the somer for north North-
amptonsh. I here Coson Waton is for the Bath sudenliy.
I say your neasis lateliy which luke veriy well & I here thare
ant Cartwrite is veriy kind to them & cariys them abroad,
which I am glad of. I am your most affexant Coson and
Sarvant,

WESTMORLAND.

I feare I have tir'd you.

1 Sir J. Somers, Lord Keeper, 23 March 1692-3. Serjeant Sir John
Trenchard became Secretary of State 1693.

LETTERS OF FANES AND INCLEDONS 151

Directed on the back : —
For Mrs. Jenkellton, at Mrs. Waton's, at Adinton, in Kent.

March the 29 [1693].
DEARE COSON, —

I am extream sony to hear poore coson Waton is so
call. I hopt she had bin mending & coming to town but, seence
I due not heare she is com I fear she is grone wors which
trobels mee much & the more because of my poore Betys
still contuniying so call that I can not stur out of town to
com & be with her, which I would sartainly due if I ware
in Kent, for I have received so many kindnes from her both
when my husband & my children have bin call that I think
I could due never anufe for her. I pray God send her health
& us a happy meating. I beleave I must cariy Bety unto the
Bath in a hors Leter. I have not bin out of dowers this month
& now I heare Milmey is call of a fevor at Mereworth. I long
to see you. Moll & Poll & myselfe desire our sarvis to all my
cosons ; pray lett mee know how poore Coson Waton dos.
I am your effexant Coson,

WESTMORLAND.

Quean Dowager is gest gon out of town for France.1

XVI

[Lewis Incledon died 28 Jan. and was buried at Braunton I Feb. 1698-9.
His eldest son and successor, Henry Incledon, married, at Bideford, 5 Sept.
1699, Mary, d. of John Davie of Bideford and of Orleigh Court in the parish of
Buckland Brewer, in the County of Devon. The following letter is from Mrs.
Elizabeth Incledon, widow of Lewis, and whose maiden name was Fane, as before
mentioned, to her daughter-in-law, Mrs. (Mary) Incledon, wife of her son
Henry.]

Directed, on the back : —

To Mrs. Incledon, att Buckland, in Branton near Barnstapll.

LONDON, Nov. 14, (16)99.

Y° have such an assendant over me, Deare Dafter, that
when I lefft Buckland I also gave y° ye possession of my Heart,
& now 'tis time to Inquire after it what entertainment y° can
afford so Intruding a Ranger, who if kindly received twill give
me y° Higst delight, & y° may depend upon it I will never
give y° or my deare son any Just cause to carrias me wth any

1 Catherine, the Queen Dowager, left Somerset House, 30 March, 1693
for France.

152

THE ANCESTOR

other Titell then y* most affectionate of mothers, as thars
no person of ye Highest Rank or greatest Estate exempth
from troublls in this world, so I hope what y° meet w' all
in yr new station will by yr sweet even Temper, & ye trew
affections of a tender loveing Husband, overbalance those
uneasy minuetts that may sumtimes obstruct yr quiatt Re-
pose.

I received my sons, for which I give him thanks. I was
much surpris'd & troublld for that pore garll.

I've bin Indispos'd w* a could in my Head which is Incident
to all persons att first comeing heare & have bin Bleeded for
it, sine which I thank God I'm much better. I foolishly cutt
of all my long hair behind & putt nothing one behind to
keep ofe ye could.

My affectionat love to y° & my deare son, constantly
beseeching God to extend his blessings towards y° & that
I may ear long receive ye good tidings & hopes of being made
a granmother is ye earnest desire of, Deare Child,
Yr most affectionate Mother,

E. INCLEDON.

I thank God Bob1 is very well & joynes w* me in his affec-
tionat love to you both & our hearty service to our friends
at Bidiford. Pray my service to M18 Stevens ; ye moad
here is all morning for foreign prinses ; they were thar Heads
very much sloping foroward att top & but litell hair under.
I've often wisht for a cup of ale out of yr seller for ye drink
hear is worse than ever. Y° may derect for me att ye signe of
ye Harp over against y* fountain Tavren in Kathren Street
in the Strand, & pray oblige me by writing as often as y° can.

L. C. WEBBER-INCLEDON.

1 Robert Incledon, second son of Lewis Incledon and Elizabeth Fane his
wife, of New Inn, London, and of Pilton, co. Devon, Clerk of the Peace and
Deputy Recorder of Barnstaple, born 28 Feb. l6yf . He was father of Ben-
jamin Incledon, the antiquary. Mrs. Incledon (born Fane) was buried at
Barnstaple, I Nov., 1717, where, in the parish church, there is, to her memory,
a mural monument (with a Latin inscription) placed there by her son Robert.

A GREAT MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT

THE very remarkable settlement executed by Roger,
Earl of Warwick, on the marriage of his daughter Agnes
with Geoffrey de Clinton the Chamberlain has never, it
would seem, been printed. Its text, unluckily, is somewhat
corrupt, but the very exceptional character of the document
and its importance in several respects make it well deserving
of study. It is rather difficult to date the settlement, for
Roger was Earl from 1123 to 1153, but as some of the wit-
nesses are found among the knights of his son and successor
in 1 1 66, it must belong to the latter part of Roger's tenure,
of the title. The mention, also, of the Bishop of Winchester
suggests that it belongs to the reign of his brother Stephen
in which he played so great a part.

Rogerus Comes Wan' omnibus suis baronibus et amicis suis fidelibus tarn
presentibus quam futuris salutem. Sciatis me dedisse Agnetem filiam meam
in uzorem Gaufrido Camerario consilio Regis et episcopi Wyntoniensis et Com'
Warr' ' et Roberti fratris mei et aliorum meorum fratrum et meorum hominum
in maritagpum] et cum ea in servicpum] x milites de xvij quos tenet de me [in]
feudo. Ita quod illi i milites quieti et liberi er't de omni servicio quod ad pertinet
et hii x facient suam custodiam de Brandun' ; et przter hoc servicium Henrici
filii Voster. Et si rex acceperit commune auxilium per suum regnum, de hiis
x Gaufridus dederit in quantum pertinebit x militibus. Et si rex ger1 in ei-
pedicionem infra Angliam, hii x milites ibunt ad castrum * (sic) mea[m] in
expeditione. Si ego vero perdonum vel acquietacionem vel aliquam admen-
suracionem a rege habuero, illud idem perdonum et acquietacionem et admen-
suracionem habebit Gaufridus quantum ad hos x milites pertinebit. Et si
accipero auxilium de meis militibus Gaufridus accipiat ad opus suum si voluerit.
Et preterea ego concede Gaufrido et hered[i] suo tenere Comptatum] de Warr'
de me et meis heredpbus] eodem modo quo de Rege habeo vel habere potero.

Hujus rei sunt testes ex parte mea : Comit[e] Waren' ; Roberto fratre meo
et Gaufrido et Henrico ; Siwardo filio Turi ; Hastecill de Haruc ; Hugone
filio Ricardi ; Turstino de Munst' ; Waltero filio Hugonis ; Henrico Drap' ;
Willelmo Giffard' ; Hugone Abidon'. Ex parte Gaufridi : Willelmus de

1 One hesitates to extend these words, especially when the text is not always
trustworthy ; for there was often scribal confusion between the Earls Warenne
and the Earls of Warwick. Roger's brother-in-law was the Earl Warenne, so
that we cannot be sure whether these words denote the latter or Roger's wife
or mother.

J This must be an error for ' costum,' a Low Latin word. The knights
were clearly to go at the earl's cost.

153

i54 THE ANCESTOR

Glint[ona] ; Willelmus filius Radulfi ; Hug[one] de Glintfona] et Maurpcio]
fratre eius ; Ricardo Turn' ; Robertus filius Gaufridi et Helias f rater ejus ;
Stephanus filius Radulfi et Ricardus frater ejus ; Rogerus de Frevilla ; Radulfus
de Martinmast ; Mig' de Norhampton ; Paganus de Beref[ord] ; Willelmus
filius Odonis ; Rad[ulf us] de Draitfona].1

The whole document has the true ring of those which are
met with in Stephen's reign, and which I have dealt with in
my Geoffrey de Mandeville. 1 have there printed from this
same volume, a cartulary of the Earls of Warwick, the charter
of the Empress Maud to William de Beauchamp, relating to
Warwickshire, and it seems to me that we have here a grant,
no less abnormal, of the shrievalty of a county, the earl grant-
ing it to his son-in-law to hold as he held it himself of the
king. The fact that Geoffrey de Clinton appears on the Pipe
Roll of 1130 (31 Hen. I.) as sheriff of Warwickshire makes it
rather difficult to understand this provision ; for, as we have
already seen, the grant appears to be of later date.

The earl's allusion to the ' counsel ' of the king and others,
in accordance with which he made this settlement, strongly
suggests that it was really intended to end some dispute be-
tween Geoffrey and himself. A marriage was in those days
a method sometimes employed for the purpose.2

To the historian the document is of interest for its refer-
ence to the levy styled ' auxilium militum ' on the Pipe Roll
of 1130, and for the very curious provisions as to the 'ten
knights.' These appear to have comprised a release of ser-
vice and an arrangement that these knights should perform
their castle ward at Brandon Castle (in Woolston), which was
probably, therefore, then held by Geoffrey.

But for genealogists the value of this remarkable document
consists in the names of the witnesses, among whom are great
tenants of the Earls of Warwick. We will take them in order.

(1) The Earl deWarenne (?). If this is the person meant,
he was the brother-in-law of the Earl of Warwick, who went
on crusade in 1147 and died on the way, unless it is his son-
in-law and successor, Stephen's son William.

(2) Robert, Geoffrey, and Henry, younger brothers of the
Earl of Warwick, and all known as such.

(3) Siward, son and heir of Turchil de Arden (alias de

i Add. MS. 28,024, fo- 58 (S42)-

8 As in the case of the great Berkeley agreement temp. Stephen.

A GREAT MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT 155

Warwick), that great Domesday baron in Warwickshire.
Siward now held under the Earls of Warwick such portions
of his father's fief as he retained. His sons Henry and Hugh
were holding some five fees apiece of the Earl of Warwick in
II66.1

(4) Anschetil de Harcourt.* This is clearly the prede-
cessor of the Yvo de ' Harewecurt ' whose holding under the
Earls of Warwick was seven knights.3 He is also clearly iden-
tical with the man of whom we read, under Leicestershire,
in the 1130 Pipe Roll:

Anschetillus de Herolcurt reddit compotum de xj libris et xiijs. et iiijd.
ne placitet de terra sua nee heres suus.

This is of great importance for the origin of the English
Harcourts, because the family claims that their ancestor,
' Ivo de Harcourt,' was son of William de Harcourt, to whose
English possessions he succeeded. The above Anschetil finds
no place in their pedigree, although he bore the surname of
the alleged founder of the house, Anschetil, Sire de Harcourt,
a contemporary of the Conqueror.

(5) Hugh Fitz Richard, Lord of Hatton and founder,
temp. Stephen, of the adjacent house of Benedictine nuns,
at Wroxall. He held no fewer than ten knights' fees of the
Earl of Warwick in 1166.*

(6) Turstin de Montfort, Lord of Beaudesert, where the
Empress Maud granted him a market on Sundays. He simi-
larly held ten knights' fees of the Earl of Warwick in 1166.*

(7) Walter Fitz Hugh. He cannot be identified from
the Earl's carta of 1166.

(8) Henry Drap'. This witness also cannot be identified.
The name seems corrupt, and must stand for Henry Dapifer,
who attested in 1154 Earl Roger's confirmation of William
Giffard's gift to the monks of Bordesley.

(9) William Giffard. He held two fees from the Earl in
ii66.9

1 Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 325.

1 I would read the name in the text as ' Hascetill* de Harucfurt].'

3 Red Book, p. 325.

4 Red Book, p. 325. See also, for this important man, my Calendar «/
Documents preserved in France, pp. 412-4.

5 Ibid.

• Ibid. See also General Wrottesley's The Giffardi, p. n.

156 THE ANCESTOR

(10) Hugh Abbadun. He held three fees from the Earl
in 1 1 66.'

Geoffrey de Clinton's witnesses were partly drawn from
members of his own family. Three of them, according to
Dugdale's pedigree, were related to him as follows :—

Geoffrey de Clinton de Clinton

Agnes dau. of= Geoffrey de William dc Hugh de Maurice de

Roger, Earl Clinton Clinton Clinton Clinton

of Warwick

Of Geoffrey's other witnesses Roger de Frevilla was lord
of Woolston (co. Warwick) in right of his wife at the close of
Henry I.'s reign,2 and was a benefactor there to the Clinton
foundation at Kenilworth, and Payn de ' Bereford ' appears
to be an earlier member of the Warwickshire Barfords of Bar-
ford than any discovered by Dugdale.

But the most interesting name is the last, that of Ralf de
Drayton (' Rad' de Drait'.') For, under Drayton (co. War-
wick), Dugdale states that he had seen a deed of Henry II. 's
time, ' penes S. Mountford, ar.,' in which this Geoffrey de
Clinton restored the place ' to one Giffard de Lucerna, as
heir to Robert de Lucerna his brother, unto whom he had
given the inheritance thereof in lieu of special service that he
had performed to the said Geoffrey, in his castle of Simily
and elsewhere, to hold by the service of one knight's fee.'
Now ' Simily ' will be sought for in vain ; but it is now
represented by St. Pierre-de-Semilly and La Barre-de-Semilly,
two adjoining communes just to the east of St. Lo (La Manche),
the proof whereof is that La Lucerne,3 from which the above
family would be styled ' de Lucerna,' is immediately adjacent
to St. Pierre-de-Semilly. There are still to be seen at the
latter place the ' Restes d'un chateau fort (monument his-
torique), sur le bord de deux etangs,' which must have been
the castle spoken of in the above document by Geoffrey, the
Norman seat of the Lords of Kenilworth.

• Ibid.

3 Compare the Burton Cartulary (Ed. Wrottesley), pp. 32-3.

3 Not to be confused with La Luzerne d'Outremer, also in La Manche.

A GREAT MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT 157

The place has left its stamp even on the map of Warwick-
shire ; for Radford Simely (now Semele) derives its distinctive
name from that Henry de Simely whom, according to Dugdale,
Geoffrey de Clinton enfeoffed there under Henry I. This
Henry clearly came from Geoffrey's Norman home.

Geoffrey de Clinton owed his rise, as is well known, to
Henry I., and I am tempted to associate his connexion with
this part of Normandy with the fact that Henry, as I have
elsewhere shown, bestowed lands in England on men who
came from the Cotentin, his own former dominion. Whether
Ordericus exaggerates or not in classing him among those whom
Henry I. ' illi obsequentes de ignobili stirpe illustravit, de
pulvere, ut ita dicam extulit,' the above evidence clearly
traces the oldest of our English ducal houses to the Norman
cradle of the race.1

Another grant by Earl Roger deserves to be mentioned
with this one. In it he gives to the Canons of Kenilworth
the manor of Salford (Priors), which Geoffrey had given
them in almoin.2 The first witness, as before, is ' Siwardus
films Turchilli ' ; the second, ' Robertus de Monteforti,'
must be Turstin's predecessor ; the third, ' Ricardus de
Vernun,' would be predecessor to Walter de Vernun, who
held three fees of the Earl in 1166.

Agnes, with whose settlement we have dealt, is, I pre-
sume, mentioned in the charter by which Geoffrey de Clinton
grants half a knight's fee in Leamington Priors to Gilbert
' Nutricius,' who gives him therefor 20 marcs and a silver
cup, with a besant to Agnes his wife.8

J. HORACE ROUND.

1 Its English name of Clinton was derived from Glympton, Oxon, and it
appears to be able to trace its pedigree back further than any other English
ducal house.

» Lansd. MS. 229, fo. 55d.

* Dugdale, however, who abstracts this charter under Leamington Priors,
assigns it to his father, the first Geoffrey.

A ROYAL PEDIGREE AND
A. PICTURE OF THE BLACK PRINCE1

THE long pedigree roll of parchment from which we
take our illustrations is the work of a monk of Peter-
borough. One side of it has a heading : —

[CJronica rotulata Latine et Gallice conscripta cum 'regibus Anglic
ex utraque parte depicta fratris Walter! de Witteliseye monachi
monasterii de Burgo Sancti Petri anime cujus propicietur Deus
amen.

The form of the prayer indicates that the monk, Walter of
Whittlesey, was dead when the roll was thus recorded as
his work. The date of Walter's work upon the roll is uncer-
tain. His pedigree pictures and his historical gloss upon
them end with the death of Edward I. in 1307, and the
character of the work indicates this as the most probable period
for the making of the roll. But another hand has recorded
upon it a long list of events to the date of 1374, to which
time we may assign the continuation of the pedigree to the
Black Prince and his children.

The genealogy begins with the story attested by ancient
chroniclers of the ship which came to Saxony without an
oar to row it. In this ship was found a little boy whom the
good Saxons brought up, naming him SCHEF. SCHEF on
coming to manhood begat BEADWI, and BEADWI WALA, who
is followed by a long line of descendants. The sixteenth name
in the pedigree is that of WODON, ' whom the pagans deifying,
they worshipped him for a god,' whose day was called
Wodonnesday.

The twenty-eighth name is that of PYBBA, with whom
begins the true ' pedigree,' he being pictured enthroned in
a roundel from which jut the lines of descent of the kings
and princes who follow, each in his roundel. PYBBA begat

1 This roll is amongst the family archives of the Earl of Egmont, by whose
kind permission we have been allowed to examine and photograph it.

TliK Hl.ACK I'KINCE AND THE FAIR MAID OI KENT.

A ROYAL PEDIGREE 159

PENDA, ' the most pagan king of the Mercians,' whose name
is more familiar to historians than those of SCHEF and BEADWI.
The system of the pedigree-maker doubles the length of his
roll. PENDA in his roundel has below him in a row his sons
and daughters, amongst whom is WLFERUS, his son, who
succeeds his elder brother PEADA. But when we come to
deal with WLFERUS as a king and a father, a line from the
little roundel in which he appears as one of his father's chil-
dren carries us on to a large one in which he appears as REX
WLFERUS.

The sovereigns follow each other, standing and sitting,
holding sceptres, swords and spears, gloves, palms of martyr-
dom, and the first side of the roll ends with EDWARD THE
ELDER.

The reverse of the roll goes back some generations to
begin again with ADELWLF [Ethelwulf] at the head. On
this side the French language takes the place of Latin, and
the chronicle surrounding each roundel of a king becomes
longer and fuller. Full justice is done to the wisdom of
Alfred, and his divisions of the day are related to the corro-
boration of Mrs. Markham and Mrs. Mangnall. Below
Alfred, will be seen the picture of his daughter, Alfled la
sage file Alured, to whom it will be seen that wisdom has
brought a certain severity of feature.

The head of EDMUND YRENESIDE as prince is the first
to appear in a mail hood with a round basinet. His son,
Edward the exile, a ferocious person, has a round iron hat of
peculiar form above a most improbable hood and gorget in
one piece of plate, which thrusts forward below his mouth in
a saucer like-projection. Behind his shoulders are a pair of
small alettes with crosses.

The same head covering is found further on as the equip-
ment of MAUGER son of RICHARD sanz four, and we see that
for his lesser portraits the artist uses stock types.

KNUT stands in ringed mail with large gloves, a sleeve-
less coat to the knee, his legs in greaves and articulated
shoes. The pedigree of the Conqueror is traced from Rolf,
William himself being styled WILLIAM BASTARD. We go past
WILLIAM LE ROUS and HENRI LE CLERC to RICHARD, who is
pictured in the act of striking at a lion with his sword. The
artist has given King John a wry look of obstinate wayward-
ness. The dress of Henry III. is noteworthy, a long and

160 THE ANCESTOR

plainly-cut gown with false sleeves and worn without a girdle,
taking the place of the usual close-sleeved and girded gown
covered with a full cloak.

The first artist ends his work with a picture of Edward I.,
whose wives and children are drawn by a less skilful hand.
Under this reign the national hero of Scotland is disposed
of by our Peterborough monk as un riband, larron, William
W alleys nomee.

At the end of the roll this later hand gives us the most
interesting of our pictures. In a large round stands a strange
little figure with long hair, moustache and pointed beard.
He wears a close-fitting coat of blue with red spots, fancifully
slittered at the skirt edge. This coat has large buttons down
the front and more buttons from wrist to elbow. A belt is
worn low in the waist. His shoes are long and pointed, and
hose and shoe are red on the one leg and yellow on the other.
A garland of red roses is about his head, and another is worn
by the lady he takes lovingly by hand and shoulder. Her
under-gown is scarlet with close sleeves of yellow. Above
this is an over-gown, sleeveless and slit open from shoulder to
foot, the sides being joined over the hips only. Over them
is written in a curious scrawl, Edward le •prince fys a reoy
Edward le terce. Below them are roundels for their children.
' Edward who died an infant ' and ' Richard who was born
at Bordeaux.'

Here then is what we may believe to be a contemporary
picture of Edward the Black Prince, most famous of our
princes of Wales, and of his wife the fair maid of Kent.

The last date in the chronicle upon the other side of the
roll is in 1374. The Black Prince died in 1376, and after his
death his son Richard, who is here given no title, was created
Prince of Wales. ^Grotesque as may be these little figures,
they take at once a peculiar interest when we regard them
as drawn by one who thought of the famous prince and
captain as a living man, his contemporary.

yy&vR *

Ut..«». p-il-'

'* ^

-
'

ll^fl

,.--.r.

-.., . • ..,.„.».*,

e-1"^"-*

.^ vn>B'^-l •».
1.

'•"(••' '-. {^.W|

' Z J

4-u'i -

«., UN.,W..,^ . '

^^i* ll*»ov 1* *'-**l't- "('"1 '*••'

•I >-< »-V.« ...f...

^fl

»J' ..

'-•-^p-fl. •«•'

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KING AI.FRKD AND KINO KIIWAKD THE ELDER.

A GENEAOLGIST'S CALENDAR OF

CHANCERY SUITS OF THE TIME OF

CHARLES I.

HUDSON AND OTHERS V. JoSCELIN

H^. Bill (30 April 1646) of Daniel Hudson of Epping, co. Essex, cl othier,
and Richard Joslyn of Epping, yeoman, exors. of the will of Joseph Joslyn,
brother of the said Richard, whose brother-in-law was the said Daniel Hudson.

Answer at Chelmsford (22 May 1646) of Simon Joscelin (defendant with
Ralph Joscelin).

Concerning the farm of Boiling Hatch purchased by Ralph Joslyn, deceased,
and Simon his brother.

Joslyn or Joscelin

Thomas Joslyn, who

made Ralph

Joslyn, whose will

Simon

Joslyn died

a will about 3 5 years

since, was dated i Aug. 1626.

about

*t years

and died 4 or 5 years

after. Died about 15 years since.

since

His wife surviTed him and His relict Dorothy sur-

proved the will

vived

lim

Anne Ralph Joslyn

Simon Joslin Joseph Joslyn, deceased,

Richard

Nathaniel

Joslyn of Cranham,

of East Haver- a legatee of hit uncle

Joslyn of

Joslyn, lega

wife of co. Essex, yeo-

ell, yeoman, Thomas. Aged 2 i years

Epping,

tee of his

Daniel man, co-exor.

the defendant, more than 24 years

yeoman

brother

Hudson of his father's

a co-exor. of since. His will dated

Joseph

Iwill

his father's 7 Nov. 1642. Died in

will December last

Daniel

Simon William Elizabeth

Hudson

Hudson Hudson Hudson

161

1 62 THE ANCESTOR

HAYLE v. CUCKOWE

H-f^. Bill (14 May 1632) of Michael Hayle of Essheford, co. Kent, vintner,
and Phillis alias Phillide his wife.

Answer (22 Oct. 1632) of Thomas Cuckowe, defendant, guardian to John
Mascall.

Lands in Wye, co. Kent.

James Mascall of Ashford,
who made a will and died
about April 1623

John Mascall, aged
about 8 years at his
father's death. Ap-
prenticed to a tailor
in London, and died
in January last

Phillis Mascall, wife
of Michael Hayle,
and admix, of her
brother

HUNGATE V. HOBARTE

Bill (25 May 163 1) of Sir Henry Hungate, knight, one of the gentlemen
in ordinary of his majesty's privy chamber.

Answer (13 June 1631) of Sir Miles Hobarte, knight.

i. ii.

Thomas Pettus=Anne=Sir Henry Hungate, knight,
exor. of Sir the compt., son of the Lady

John Pettus Ceasar

, 0*1 ,».,.

• — f»»-"

••(>•"• "^

KING HKNRY AND KING RICHARD LIONHEART.

GENEAOLOGIST'S CALENDAR

163

HARDRES AND OTHERS v. CLIFTON AND OTHERS

Bill (28 June 1631) of Richard Hardres of Upper Hardres, co. Kent,
esquire, executor of Sir Thomas Hardres of the same, knight, and William Child,
scrivener

Answer ^(8 Nov. 1631) of Sir Gervase Clifton, bart., and Sir George Chute,
knight, and4(9 July 1631) of Sir Philip Tirwhitt, bart.

Manors, etc., in Lincolnshire. Debts of Sir Edward Tyrwhitt, deceased.

Edward Tyrwhitt to whom Sir Robert Tyrwhitt,
knight, conveyed the manor* of Stainfield, Apley
and Irforth by indenture in 9 Elizabeth

Sir Philip Tyrwhitt, = Martha Thorold, one of the
bart. daus. of Anthony Thorold,

esquire. Married about 17

Elica.

, r

= Sir Edward Tyrwhitt of Stamfield=
I bart., only ion

Sir Philip Tyrwhitt,
bart., son and heir

Edward
Tyrwhitt

Mary
Tyrwhitt

Anne Tyrwhitt, wife of
Sir Gerrase Ellwaiet 19
Jan. 3 Car. I.

HALL v. TRIPP AND OTHERS

J. Bill (30 June 1631) of Thomas Hall, cousin and heir of John Hall
of Olney,wco. Bucks, maltster, deceased.

Answer (2 July 1631) of Thomas Tripp and (31 Oct. 1631) of Robert Blott
and Ellen his wife. |

A messuage in Olney.

Thomas Hall,
deceased

Joh

in Hall of Olney=Etlen=Robert Blott
died Dec. 1630

Thomas Hall the compt.,
son and heir

164 THE ANCESTOR

HOWARD v. JACKSON AND OTHERS

H^V- Bill (14' May 1641) of Sir William Howard of Thornethwayte, co.
Westmorland, knight (one of the younger sons of the Lord William Howard of
Noward in Cumberland, who died in Sept. 16 Car. I.).
Answer (17 Oct. 1641) of Thomas Jackson and others.

The manors of Thornethwaite and Askam, which the complainant
alleges were conveyed to him by his said father, and out of which he
claims certain rents and fines.

HOBSON v. BROXHOLME

HA. Bill (28 May 1641) of William Hobson of Wrawby, co. Lincoln,
yeoman.

Answer (19 Oct. 1641) of Henry Broxholme.

Lands in Messingham whereof one Nicholas Brodmilesse alias Brown-

lesse, yeoman, died seised.

Nicholas Brownlesse, who died
leaving a relict Agnes

Agnes wife of A daughter who was wife to one

Broxholme Hob»on, the compt.'s grandfather

or great-grandfather

Bartholomew Hobson

Thomas Broxholme, who William Hobson

died 40 years since

Robert Broxholme, died Henry Broxholme William Hobson

1 1 years since the defendant the compt.

HARTNOLL v. HARTNOLL AND OTHERS

H3V Bill (3 Dec. 1640) of Abell Hartnoll of Tiverton, co. Devon, yeoman.
Answer (18 Oct. 17 Car. I.) of Katherine Hartnoll, Sarah Hartnoll, Humphrey
Cogan, and Thomas Cogan. Samuel Cogan another defendant is dead.

Nicholas Hartnoll, who made a nuncupative
will in Feb. i6if. He left Prudence his
widow, whose will of 24 Dec. 1638 was
proved by Katherine her daughter

Nicholas Abell Thomas Katherine Sarah

Hartnoll Hartnoll Hartnoll Hartnoll Hartnoll

GENEALOGIST'S CALENDAR

LOVELL V. GOODSON AND OTHERS

,65

LJ. Bill (24 Nov. 1646) of Richard Lovell of Langford, in Berrington, co.

Somerset, yeoman, and Joan his wife.

Answer (20 Jan. 164!) of John Goodson, John Baker and Elizabeth his wife,

William Hilhouse and Sarah his wife and Henry Backwell and Joan his wife.

Concerning the will of John Luffe, deceased, who is alleged by the plain-
tiffs to have delivered his goods to the defendants for their preservation
whilst the royal troops overran Somerset. The testator was taken
prisoner by the king's forces and imprisoned in Taunton Castle until the
day of his death. He made a will in Sept. 1643, making John Luffe, the
compt., Joan's eldest son, his exor. and died in December following. The
said exor. was then aged about seven years, and his mother took admon.
with the will annexed.

William Lufl> = Joan = Richard Lovell of
Langford, yeoman

John

Luffe Hannah Mary

LAINE AND OTHERS v. BOWLER AND OTHERS

14. Bill (3 Feb. 164$) of William Laine and Anne his wife and Henrjr
Blicke and Frances his wife.

Answer (19 April 1645) of William Bowler and Thomas Parslowe, exors. of
the will of Frances Wheeler, deceased.

Concerning the will of Frances Wheeler, deceased. The said Frances
left legacies of 40*. each to forty-one of her grandchildren, and $/. to
Joan, wife of Edward Stevens, another granddaughter. Also 2Oj. to-
John Tatham, a kinsman. To Frances wife of John Wheeler, 2os.

Christopher Wheeler= Frances of Prince's Risboro", co. Bucks,

who made a will 13
April 1630

widow, relict and eztriz. Her own
will dated 4 Jan. 1649. Inventory of
her goods made 1 3 Jan. 1 64}

rgaret, wife-
John

Time

Jane, who died be- Joan, wife Anne, wife Frances, wife Susan, wife Ma
fore the date of her of William of William of Henry of George of
mother's will. Wife Bowler Laine Blicke Bigg Go
of Thomas Par- I

Six children named in the
will of their grandfather
Wheeler

i66

THE ANCESTOR

LILLY v. HOUCHTON

LyV Bill (17 June 1631) of Richard Lilly and Francis Lilly, infants within
the age of twenty-one years, by their father and guardian Richard Lilly of the
city of Lincoln, gent.

Answer at Colne, co. Lane. (29 Sep. 1631) of Grace Houghton, widow.

Concerning legacies to the complainants under the will of Henry Hough-
ton of Faldingworth, co. Lincoln, clerk, who is alleged in the bill to be
their grandfather by the mother. The answer quoting the will verbatim,
makes them nephews by the sister.

Houghton

Hei

Noi

iry Houghton of
ton, a legatee of

Robert Houghton
of Jtelsey, i lega-

his

son

tee

Henry Houghton
of Faldingworth,
clerk. Will dated
24 March 162^

Sanderson=A n n
Houghto

:=. . . Lettice, Robert Houghton
i Pell wife of of Eztwistle, co.
Richard Lane. exor. of
Lilly Henry Houghton

= Grace,

relict
and
extrir.

I 1

William Robert Margaret

knne Richard Francis

Sanderson Sanderson Sanderson Pelb Lilly Lilly

LINCOLN E v. GURNET AND OTHERS

L sV- Bill (13 July 1641) of Henry Lincolne of Swanton Morly, co. Norfolk,
yeoman.

Answer (18 Oct. 1641) of Robert Gurney, gent., and Anne his wife, and
William Gunthorp and Elizabeth his wife.

Concerning copyholds of the manor of Swanton Morly surrendered by
Richard and Anne Lincolne about 4 Jac. I. to the use of themselves for
life, with remr. to John Small, son of the said Anne, charged with certain
payments by the said John Small to his half-sisters.

i. ii.
Small=Anne=Richard Lincolne

John

Small

Henry Lincoln An
of

ic, wife
Robert

Elizabeth, wife
of William

Gurney,

Gunthorp

gent.

GENEALOGIST'S CALENDAR

167

LANG WORTH v. CHALONER

L4'a. Bill (i July 1631) of Sir John Langworth of the Broyle in Sussex,
knight.

Answer at Kennards, co. Sussex (7 Oct. 1631), of Thomas Chaloner, esquire,
and Jane his wife.

Concerning the manor of Kennards or Kenwards and its settlement upon
the defendants by Thomas Chaloner, deceased, uncle to the complainant,
who says that the defendants are not of kin to the said Thomas deceased.
The pedigree is that put forward by the defendants, who say that the
complainant was cut off by his uncle because of his evil courses.

Challoncr

Cha!
Thor

loner
nas Challoncr of Kennards

Chil
Chal

oner
oner

in Linficld, esquire. Hii will
dated 16 April, 2 Jac. I.

Thomas Challoner=Ja
now of Kennards,
esquire

Francis Challoner Thomas Challoner of Mary, wife
of Kennards, son Kennards, uncle and of ...
and heir heir of Thomas, died Langworth

Thomas Challoner of Kennards, Sir John Langworth, Thomas Challoner
only son, died s.p. knight and other issue

I.ENDOE v. PROVENDER AND OTHERS

L4V Bill (14 July 1641) of Elizabeth Lendoe'of Cowintt, co. Gloucester,
widow.

Answer (19 Oct. 1641) of James Provender, gentleman, of Somerford Keynes,
co. Wilts, gent., exor. of John Sneade of the same, clerk, deceased.
Concerning a copyhold in Somerford.

Clarke

Thomas
Clarke

T| ,

Arthur Thomas Neale=Elirabeth=
Clarke living 14 years I
since

i.
=John Lendoe or Lyndowe
of Malmesbury, baker

e Lyndowe, apprentice to
iry Tellin

Thomas
Neale

Alexander Henry Susanna
Neale Neale Ncale

Am
Hei

1 68 THE ANCESTOR

LEIGH E v. BATTEY AND OTHERS

L¥V- Bill (i2 Oct. 1632) of Thomas Leighe of London, gent., and Martha
his wife.

Answer (30 Oct. 1632) of James Battey, defendant with Robert and Michael
Rabet, exors. of Michael Rabbett, deceased.

Concerning the estate of Michael Rabbett, clerk, deceased, who was
seised of lands in Barking, co. Essex, and in Stone, Greenhithe, Swans-
combe, Sutton at Hone, Tunbridge and Boughton Monchelsey, co.
Kent. He made a will 19 July 1630.

Michael Rabbett, Michael Robert-

clerk, deceased Rabbett Rabbett

Near kinsmen to
Michael Rabbett,
clerk, deceased

Amy Rabbett, dau. Martha Rabbett, dau. and

and co-heir, wife of co-heir, wife of Thomas

William Parsons of Leighe, gent. Aged 20 at

Barking, gent. her father's death

LADE v. CHALCROFT

Bill (4 May 1629) of John Lade of Warden in the isle of Shepey, co.
Kent, yeoman.

Demurrer of Thomas Chalcroft of Bredgar, gent.

Concerning the portion of John Weddingham, who was aged three or four
in 1626, and who was born after his father's will was made.

i. ii. iii.

Thomas Weddingham=Thomas Crofte of=Clemens=John Lade of Warden,
I Rodmersham married 16 Dec. 1626

John Weddingham,
aged 3 or 4 in 1626,
son of Thomas
Weddingham and
Clemens

GENEALOGIST'S CALENDAR 169

LANE v. COULDING

j Bill (17 May 1641) of Charles Lane of Barnewell, Northants, gent.,
and Mary his wife, complainants against William Coulding, gent., nephew to the
compt. Mary and exor. of the will of Gregory Smith of Wellingborough, gent.,
her uncle.

Henry Smith of Longdon,
co. Wore., gent., deceased,
with whom the compt.
Mary formerly lived

Gregory Smith, ot
Wellingborough

Charles Lane of = Mary, niece to
Barnewell, gent. Henry and Gre-
gory Smith

William Coulding, nephew
to Mary Lane

LAWSON v. BRABANT AND OTHERS

Bill (29 NOT. 1641) of Katherine and Anne Lawson, daughters of
Thomas Lawson, deceased, compts. against George Brabant, gent., their grand-
father, and James Cholmeley and Andelyne his wife.

Concerning the alleged withholding of the compts. portions. The com-
plainants were infants at the time of their father's death.

George Brabant of
Branspath Lodge
in Durham, gent.
Survived his son-
in-law Lawson

1. | u. ill.

Thomas Lawson of=Andelyne= Roger Anderson mar-= James Cholmelrv

Cromlington in

Northumberland, es-
quire, died about 24
years since

John La

Brabant ried about 20 years married 3 year

since. Left a personal after Anderson's

estate of ;ooo/. to his death
wife.

Lawson, son {Catherine Anne

and heir, a ward to Lawson Lawson

the Crown at his
father's death

WHAT IS BELIEVED

Under this heading the Ancestor will call the attention of press
and public to much curious lore concerning genealogy, heraldry
and the like with which our magazines, our reviews and news-
papers from time to time delight us. It is a sign of awaken-
ing interest in such matters that the subjects with which the
Ancestor sets itself to deal are becoming less and less the sealed
garden of a few workers. But upon what strange food the
growing appetite for popular archeology must feed will be
shown in the columns before us. Our press, the best-informed
ana the most widely sympathetic in the world, which watches
its record of science, art and literature with a jealous eye, still
permits itself, in this little corner of things, to be 'victimized by
the most recklessly furnished information, and it would seem
that no story is too wildly improbable to find the widest cur-
rency. It is no criticism for attacking1 s sake that we shall
offer, and we have but to beg the distinguished journals from
which we shall draw our texts for comment to take in good
part what is offered in good faith and good humour.

WE are sadly familiar with the newspaper column which,
persuading us to consider with it the alarming mor-
tality in modern warfare, leads us suddenly and treacherously
into the presence of Mrs. Hubbard, a resident in Chatsworth
Villas, Camden Town, who had given up all hope of life and
the reasonable enjoyment of her meals until a neighbour,
whose name and address may be had upon application, sug-
gested a popular pill whose name and address upon enamelled
iron cuirasses the countryside. But such adventures keep us
cautious ; and seeing certain paragraphs open pleasantly and,
as it were aimlessly, with the remark that the fashion of going
hatless in the street has spread to those whom the journalist
knows as ' our lively neighbours,' we ask ourselves towards
what we are being taken. We guess, and are not deceived.
Our paragraphs end in the legend of the De Courcy Hat, the
Hat which upon the heads of its owners in the royal presence
has braved not only the halberds of the guards but all his-

WHAT IS BELIEVED 171

torical probabilities. It comes new furbished, new appointed,
this unfailing legend, in the pages of a great evening news-
paper : —

It was once counted a privilege to walk, not bareheaded, but covered before
a king. The Earls of Kinsale had this dubious distinction as reward for an old-
time service. Seven centuries ago Philip of France summoned that cheerful
hero, our own King John, to mortal combat. John thought he would rather
not, but offered De Courcy, Earl of Kinsale, freedom from the dungeon in
which he lay if he would take in hand the commission. De Courcy, spoiling
for a fight, agreed, and John and Philip sat together to see somebody's head
cracked. The French champion cried off on seeing the size of the Englishman,
whereupon the untried conqueror playfully stuck his helmet upon a post of oak,
and drove his sword through it and so deep into the wood that none save him-
self could withdraw it. He had purchased his freedom, and his reward he heard
from his magnanimous sovereign's lips : Thou art a pleasant companion, and
heaven keep thee in good beavers. Never unveil thy bonnet again before king
or subject.'

Ancient custom orders that this curious anecdote should
be told of a Courcy, Earl of Ulster, but the remonstrances of
genealogists, who have urged that there never was a Courcy
Earl of Ulster, have prevailed, and we have now a Courcy
Earl of 'Kinsale' to meet the craven champion and earn the
honour of the hat. We must nevertheless demand yet an-
other earldom for the hero. Barons of Kingsale we know,
they being alive to testify, their hats firmly on their heads,
but of Courcy Earls of Kingsale we know never a one, quick
or dead. For the rest, King John's speech is a fresh and wel-
come example of English speech in the days of Courcy and
Brian de Bois Guilbert, yet it leaves the nature of the privi-
lege uncertain. These Earls of Kingsale, these pleasant
companions, is it possible that they wore bonnets with veils,

even as did our aunts ?

* * *

The old Saxon families still pour in for registration in our
columns. Lord Bingham's contest at Chertsey brought the
newspaper genealogists upon his track, and the ancestral
glories of his houses were thus chanted by the Scalds at the
edge of the conflict.

LORD BINCHAM, who is to fight Chertsey in the Liberal Unionist interest
is in his forty-fourth year, is one of the most popular of Volunteer command-
ants, has been in the Rifle Brigade, was A.D.C. to the Duke of Connaught, and
served with distinction in the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884-5.

He is the eldest son of the Earl of Lucan, and has been High Sheriff of

1 72 THE ANCESTOR

County Mayo. He married in 1896 one of the greatest heiresses of the last
decade of the nineteenth century, Miss Violet Spender Clay.

The Binghams are an old Saxon family, and crop up in the records of the
First Henry's day, when Sir John de Bingham, Knight, was seated at Sutton
Bingham, in Somerset. They settled in Ireland in the sixteenth century, when
Sir Richard Bingham was made Marshal of that county and General of Lei-
cester. The earldom came to Sir Charles, seventh baronet, in 1795.

Her ewe may see the effect of the genealogical fashions of our
day, which, as we have already noted, demand Anglo-Saxon
origin of all who would be truly in the movement. The
ancient Dorsetshire family of Bingham of Melcombe in the
old-fashioned peerages were wont to boast of their Norman
blood. It can but be the taste of the time that has made
them Anglo-Saxons, but the change matters little in a case
where proof of either origin is not likely to be forthcoming.
Note that the earliest ancestor claimed for an Anglo-Saxon
family flourishes under Henry I., a generation after the Con-
quest, whose parentage must therefore be resolved by the
inner consciousness of his descendants ; and note also that
these Anglo-Saxon families would do well to re-christen the
dim ancestral shade whom their fancy chooses to be their
patriarch, calling him Eadward or Godric or some such name
which might savour more of an Anglo-Saxon pedigree than

John or William.

* * *

Simple as the task would seem to be of tracing the pedi-
gree of a noble English family beyond the period of the Con-
quest, there are some for whom the fateful year of 1066 is a
date not to be bridged. Mr. Justice Bray is amongst these.

The knighthood conferred yesterday by the King on Mr. Justice Bray,
whose appointment in succession to Sir Gainsford Bruce is barely two months
old, is not the first honour of the kind which has come to his family. He has
a delightful estate at Shere, in Surrey, which was given to one of his ancestors,
Sir Reginald Bray, by Henry the Seventh, whose Lord Treasurer he was. There
was also another knight, Sir Edward Bray, M.P. for Helston, who married in
1554 Elizabeth Roper, whose mother was Margaret More, a circumstance
which gives the present Sir Reginald More Bray not only his middle name,
but kinship with the greatest of Lord Chancellors, Sir Thomas More.

Remotest of Sir Reginald's anestors, so far as the records go, was William
Sieur de Bray, whose name figures in the roll of Battle Abbey as one of the Con-
queror's associates in arms.

We despair of persuading the journalist that mention in that
famous roll is no better evidence of antiquity for an English

WHAT IS BELIEVED 173

family than would be the occurrence of an ancestral name in
the equally trustworthy fiction of Ivanhoe. The marvellous
pedigree of Lord Brassey is not notably supported by the
account of the doings of Maurice de Bracy at Torquilstone
Castle, and the pedigree of Bray must call to warrant some
more credible surety than any one of the several versions of
the roll of Battle Abbey, an old and popular jingle with no
better authority at its back than its well-sounding title. We
are not disposed to deny that a William de Bray may have
landed at Pevensey with a kite-shield and a ringed hawberk,
Brays being found on our shores not long after that landing ;
but his kinship with Mr. Justice Bray must be held unproven
for the present, for reasons we have hinted at in an earlier
volume of the Ancestor* The descent of Mr. Justice Bray
from the great Chancellor is, however, history and fact, and
a happy genealogical omen for one who comes to put on the
ermine of the English bench.

This from an article in an evening newspaper which would
have us walk about further London with our eyes open for
memorials of the past. The word is of Brentford.

Down at the end of the Butts, in the High Street again, is the Red Lion.
An insignificant-looking hostel, but in it King Richard the Lion once held a
Chapter of the Garter. What an amazing picture we would see could the dull,
drab walls but reproduce that scene in all its vivid colour and dignity !

Now our King Edward, third of the name, won us vic-
tories by sea and land, Cressy, Poitiers and Sluys. But of all
his doings popular fame might surely recall his founding of
the ancient and noble order of the Garter. Is the legend no
longer to be remembered of the Countess of Salisbury, of the
ball, and of the dropped garter. Mistranslated as it must
ever be, the story of Honi soit qui mal y -pense should surely
linger amongst us to save us from believing that King Richard
of the twelfth century had art or part in the glorious com-
pany of the Garter knights. Let him keep his lion, his min-
strel and his twenty-six pound battle-axe, but let us forbid
him to boast of anticipating the first chapter of the Garter by

1 Ancestor, vol. vi.

r 74 THE ANCESTOR

more than a century and a half with a revel in a Brentford
public-house.

* * *

It has long been the very remarkable boast of the ancient
house of Fitzwilliam that their ancestor, an Englishman
named Sir William Fitzwilliam, being cousin to Edward the
Confessor and Ambassador to William of Normandy, was a
treacherous turncoat. They add that this Sir William,
coming over with the Conqueror, fought against his own
kinsfolk at Hastings, and had for his reward a scarf from his
arm, which scarf has ever been the heirloom of the house.

Antiquaries, eager for the good credit of an illustrious
family, have urged that nothing can be traced of Sir William
Fitzwilliam the traitor, that his embassy is a myth and his
kinship with the Confessor a false imagination. That William
Fitzwilliam, by each syllable of his French names, could not
have been an Englishman in any wise. That Godric, the
first known ancestor of the Fitzwilliams of Milton, was in-
deed an Englishman as his name betokens, yet one who, living
about a century after the Conquest, was safe from temptation
to treachery under Duke William's banner. That Norman
warriors, duke or churl, wore no scarves on their arms, and
that therefore . But here is the scarf itself !

The christening of the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Wentworth Fitz-
william, of Milton Hall, Peterborough, took place at Marholm Church, Peter-
borough, on Sunday. The godparents were Earl Fitzwilliam, Lord Kesteven
(who is abroad and was represented by Mr. Fitzwilliam), and Miss Molly Wick-
ham, daughter of Major and Lady Wickham. The names given to the child
were William Thomas George. Attached to the child's gown was the famous
William the Conqueror scarf, one of the two authentic possessions of the Conqueror,
and one of the choicest treasures at Milton. The scarf was presented to a direct
ancestor of Mr. Fitzwilliam who was a marshal of the Conqueror's hosts when he
invaded England. It has been worn by nearly all the male members of the
Fitzwilliam family at their baptism.

In the presence of the christening scarf, more tangible
evidence than we have ever found before for an English family
legend, we make our submission. The scarf is here, pinned
safely to the gown of Master William Thomas George Fitz-
william, and we can do no less than disavow all doubts. The
ancestor of Master William Thomas George we confess to
have been at once an Englishman, an ambassador and a traitor,
and we hope we may be kept in time to come from credulous

WHAT IS BELIEVED 175

following of antiquaries. And that we may hold more safely
to the sure path of inspired legend we would fain know the
nature of the second ' authentic possession of the Conqueror,
for to that also may be pinned some family history which,
leaning upon the broken reed of history and record, we may
have scouted to our shame.

* * *

To the high-class evening paper that has given us many a
tale for this column we are indebted for this example of what
is believed as to peerage titles.

Lord Hastings is the eleventh holder of a barony created in 1264 by writ
from Sir Simon de Montfort, and renewed in 1290 by the first Edward.

The discrepancy is explained by the fact, almost unique in the history of
the peerage, that when the sixth baron — who was also the third and last Earl
of Pembroke of a line long prior to the Herberts — died in 1391 at the age of
seventeen, the earldom became extinct, and the barony lay dormant for four
centuries and a half.

It was not until 1841 that the abeyance was terminated. The House of
Lords then declared the co-heirs to be Henry 1'Estrange, of Hunstanton, and
Sir Jacob Astley, and finally summoned Sir Jacob to the House of Lord* as
' sixteenth Baron Hastings.'

Of the nine intervening barons, however, neither history nor heraldry has
left any trace. They have vanished into the centuries. But a curious circum-
stance remains. While these nine unnamed and shadowy barons were spread
over a period of four hundred and fifty years, there were five actual tangible
Lords Hastings in the first thirty-four years which followed the revival of the
title.

From this we learn that writs of summons proceed not,
as we imagined, from the Sovereign, but from ' the House of
Lords,' who appear to follow in this revolutionary practice
the example of ' Sir Simon de Montfort,' who, by the way,
was Earl of Leicester. We also learn that a peerage dignity
is ' dormant ' when it is actually ' in abeyance,' which again
is news.

But the writer's really great discovery is that Sir Jacob
Astley was summoned as ' sixteenth Baron Hastings.' We
are thankful to say that the barbarous ' Baron,' — a style
which would, till recent times, have suggested a German
Jew, — has not yet found its way into writs of summons in
feudal baronies, nor, we need scarcely add, do these instru-
ments ticket their recipients with imaginary numbers to vex
the souls of the writers of newspaper paragraphs. The effect
of the House of Lords' decision, in 1841, was that ten, not

176 THE ANCESTOR

nine, members of the Hastings family, whose names and his-
tory are perfectly known, had been rightfully entitled to the
barony though they had not borne the title. Instead of
' nine unnamed ' barons being spread over a period of four
hundred and fifty years, decidedly a ' curious c'rcumstance,'
these ten covered only 153 years, namely from 1389 to 1542,
an average of some fifteen years instead of fifty. The barony
then fell, according to this decision, into abeyance for 300
years, till a writ of summons to ' Jacob Astley de Hastings,
chevaler,' determined that abeyance. All this the writer of
paragraphs might have learnt from a peerage wisely read ; but
in matters of peerage as of pedigree, newspapers remain con-
tent to be supplied with amazing information.

* * *

In the calmest month of the newspaper year the Cabman
Claimant to a Tyrrell baronetcy and estates has had space
found for him willingly by the most exclusive journals. As
is customary in such cases no pedigree is stated by the claim-
ant's supporters. There is nothing in itself improbable in
the heir to a baronetcy being discovered upon a cab-rank.
Fiction has indeed been in advance of the Tyrrell case, and a
successful novel of Mr. Grant Allen allowed a baronet cab-
man to perish miserably upon his box-seat. But of this
Tyrrell claim we are allowed nothing more than rumours of
the torn parish registers and defaced monuments which belong
to the older school of romance. Meanwhile the newspaper
genealogists have traced the Tyrrells'to the age of Henry VIII.,
a modest antiquity which earns our sympathy for an indignant
Mr. J. H. Tyrrell, of 37, London Road, Twickenham, who
writes to the Daily Mail, in reference to a cabman's claim to
the Tyrrell banonetcy, that the family can trace its lineage
not for four centuries, as stated, but for at least ten. From
his letter we learn that

the family descends from Pepin le Gros, grandfather of Charlemagne, and was
of considerable note for ages anterior to Henry VIII.

Sir John Tyrrell was Captain of Carisbrooke, in 1377, and his ancestor Sir
Walter is the man reputed to have slain Rufus.

The Tyrrells of Essex and Buckinghamshire were of an
ancient and knightly stock, and although the main and landed
lines of the name have come to an end, one cannot regard the

WHAT IS BELIEVED 177

family as even probably extinct. We believe, however, that
no descent from Sir Walter of the bow and arrow can be sup-
ported by evidence. Much more then may we decline to
believe that a Birmingham citizen can summon a descendant
of the imperial line of Charlemagne with a cry of ' hansom
up ? '

* * *

Lord Chetwynd, who celebrates to-day his 8ist birthday, is the seventh
Viscount of the creation of 1717 in favour of Walter Chetwynd, one of the
famous Shropshire Chetwynds, whose records in that county go back to a date
long prior to that of William the Conqueror.

Such an assertion may be best met with counter-assertion.
The records of the famous Shropshire Chetwynds do not go
back to a date long prior to that of William the Conqueror.
We offer this statement of ours to any genealogist who may
need it, advising him that it will be useful not only in the case
of future reference to the famous Shropshire Chetwynds, but
to any famous Shropshire family, or indeed to any other Eng-
lish family, famous or infamous, of the north, south, east
or west of England. Truth may thus be served, the devil
shamed, and the contempt of every respectable Welsh gentle-
man attracted to the golden book of English nobility.

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS

THESE crests are from a manuscript of the armorial
collections of Thomas Wall, Windsor herald of arms
and afterwards Garter. In the year 1530 Master Wall made
up his collections and wrote them with his own hand into
a book now in the possession of the editor of the Ancestor.
The first part contains a valuable armory of shields ; the
second, with which we now deal, a rare list of crests.

To the misfortune of students of English armory, no one
of our ancient rolls of arms, save a copy of a late fifteenth
century roll of some Lancashire and Cheshire knights, has
come down to us with a record of crests as well as of shields,
and for English mediaeval crests we must look to seals and
monuments which, for the most part, leave us guessing at
the colours. This roll of crests, then, has an interest above
most armorial MSS. of the Tudor period.

The language of the blazon has its own value. Wall, as
a laborious herald, is disposed to magnify his art by pranking
it out with the far-fetched words supplied to him by those
early writers of armory whose curious science bears so slight
a relation to the actual practice of their contemporaries,
users of armorial bearings. Nevertheless, Wall's language
is far from the debased jargon of those who were to come
after him. There is a main flow of plain English words for
which he has sought no far-fetched disguise. His sitting
lions and flying dragons but rarely become seant or valiant ;
a griffon will have a ' bee ' about his neck rather than be
gorged. A lion's gamb is a lion's paw, which needs no glossary.
Beasts stand in place of being statant, and gold and silver are
here according to old English custom, giving place to or and
argent only in certain hurried abbreviations. Certainly a
man who could Frenchify ' dropped ' as drope had little
excuse for going outside his mother tongue.

The curious elaboration of many of these crests will at
once strike the student, who will remark that Windsor herald
whenever possible gives colours for the mantle and wreath —
arbitrary colours, as it seems, which bear no relation in
either case to one another or to the colours of the shield.

178

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 179

The wreath is sometimes replaced by a crown, by a ' dukes
hatte ' (the cap of maintenance of later blazonry), by a friar's
girdle, by a plain circlet or by a towel, a word which our
fathers always used when they would speak of the eastern
turban.

HERE FOLOWITH CRESTTS or NOBLE MEM.

> I. BRANDON DUKE OF SUFFOLKB beryth to his crest a lions hede rased gold
crowned par pal silver and geules the lions hed drope1 asur in a wreth silver
and geules m. g. d. a.J hrgaulte moblige,
g(ules), d(oubled), a(rgent).

2. ROBYNSON OF MxLPAS MARCHANT OF LONDON beryth to his crest a robyn
reedbrest in his kinde standing on a sonne goold in a wreth silver and vert
manteled geules doubled silver. Par Clarenceux a° 1528, 25 Feb. a° H. 8, xx.

3. STANLEY beryth to his crest a harte passant -silver in a wreth gold and
geules manteled asur dobled silver.

4. LATHOM beryth to his crest an egle in his nest gold flyeng gryping a child
swadeled geules lined ermyns the swadelbond gold the mantel geules doubled
ermyns his bagge " an egles foote gold.

5. WAREN ERLE beryth to his crest a busche 4 of swannes fethers silver in a
crowne geules manteled geules lyiied silver.

6. MAN beryth to his crest two armes armed silver garnished gold holdyng
a ringe gold with a dyamond betwene their handes in a croune gold.

7. MONTHAULT beryth to his crest a lions pawe silver holdyng a branche
of ooke vert in a wreth silver and asur manteled asur lynyd silver.

8. STRAUNCE beryth to his crest a woulf in his kinde with a naked child in
his mouth on a wreth gold and asur manteled geules doubled silver.

9. CLYFTON OF CLYFTON beryth to his crest a right arme appareilled [armed
written above the line] with a bolster on the shulder gryping a fauchon silver
in a wreeth silver and sable manteled asur doubled gold.

10. THURSTON OF ANDERTON beryth to his crest a hilpe otherwise callyd
a curlewe in a wreth silver and vert the mantel sable doubled gold.

11. RIGMAYDEN beryth to his crest a hertes hede sable rased in a wreeth
silver and sable manteled sable doubled silver.

12. CATHRALL OF GARSTANG beryth to his crest a catte silver passant in a
wreeth gold and asur the mantel asur d. ar.

13. RADCLYF OF THE TOURE beryth to his crest a bulles hede rased sable a
crowne about his neck silver with a cheyne gold the homes silver typped gold
in a wreth gold and sable manteled geules lyned silver.

14. WOURTHINCTON berith to his crest a boucke of a goote s silver browsing
in a bushe of nettelles vert in a wreth silver and vert manteled vert doubled
silver.

1 i.e. dropped with azure.

a These abbreviations, which occur constantly in the roll, signify m(antle),.

3 Badge

4 Note recurrent use of the good English word ' bush ' in place of panache^
or of the meaningless ' plume,' which should signify a single feather.

» Cf . French bovc.

180 THE ANCESTOR

15. PRESTWICH OF PRESTWICH beryth tohiscreest a porpantine in his kinde
in a wreeth gold and geules manteled sable doubled silver.

16. LONGFORD beryth to his creest thre chybolles1 in a bushe of faisantes
fethers in a wreth gold and geules manteled geules doubled silver.

17. DALTON beryth to his crest a dragons hede vert langued geules.

18. LATHAM OF KNOULSLEY beryth to his crest an egle sitting clos lokyng
backwardes 2 gold on a leche 3 geules mantel asur lined gold.

19. EGLESTON beryth to his crest a lymmers 4 hede rased sable with a coller
silver ful of tourteaulx in a wreeth silver and sable manteled silver doubled g.

20. ASHEHURST beryth to his creste a fox in his kynde in a wreeth silver and
geules manteled g. dou. silver.

21. KYGHLEY beryth to his crest a dragons hede sable razed in a wreth silver
and sable manteled sable lynyd silver.

22. SHERBOURN beryth to his crest an unicornes hede silver couppe in a
wreeth silver and vert the mantel vert and silver palle doubled silver.

23. STANDISCHE OF STANDISCHE beryth to his crest an oule w* a ratte in her
foote standing in a wreth silver and sable manteled sable doubled silver.

24. STANDISCHE OF DOKESBURY beryth to his crest a coke silver membred
geules in a wreth silver and asur manteled asur lyned silver.

25. TALBOT OF BASCHAWE beryth to his crest a hounde silver passant in a
wreth gold and asur manteled purple doubled ermyns.

26. TALBOT OF SALBURY beryth to his crest a hounde sable in a wreeth
silver and geules manteled purple doubled silver.

27. BOUTH OF BARTON beryth to his crest an imaige of Saincte Katherine in
a wreth gold and vert manteled vert lyned ar.

28. BERON 5 beryth to his crest a maremayden silver the nether part geuies
in a wreth geules and silver manteled g. doubled silver.

29. TRAFFORD beryth to his crest a man threschar party par pale silver and
geules with a flayl in his honde gold, standyng in a wreth silver and geules
manteled geules doubled silver.

30. ASEHETON OF ASHETON beryth to his crest a man mawer party par pal
sable and silver with asythe silver the helve gold in his hande his stroke striken 8
standing in a wreeth silver and sable mant. sable doubled silver.

31. BOTELER OF WARYNTON beryth to his crest a stonding cuppe coveryd
gold in a wreth silver and geules manteled asur linyd silver.

32. LEYGH OF BRADELEY beryth to his crest a rammes hede silver standyng
upon a dukes cronnelet 7 geules manteled geules doubled ermyns his wourd en
toim mafie.

33. BOLDE beryth to his crest a griffons hede sable betwene two wynges
gold in a croune geules manteled sable doubled silver.

1 Onions.

3 Modern blazonry would improve ' looking backward ' into regardant ,
which has in itself no such meaning.

3 I take it that the swaddled bantling upon which the Lathom eagle stands
has been mistaken by Thomas Wall for a reptile. Note however that in No.
74 the word leche is used for a line or leash.

4 A tracking hound. 6 BYRON.

' Cf. PlLKINGTON (No. 45).

' A curiously early example of the ' ducal coronet ' to which blazoners were
to turn the crowns of the older armorists.

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 181

34. TERBOKKE beryth to his crest an egle vert sittyngcloose membryd geules
in'a wreth silver and geules mant led geules doubled gold.

35. IRELOND berith to his crest a dowe silver in a wreth gold and asur man-
teled geules lynyd silver.

36. FARINCTON beryth to his crest a lyzard in his kinde standyng in a
crowne gold manteled geules lyned ar.

37. LANGTON OF WALTON beryth to his crest a maydens heede with burlettes '
in a wreeth silver and geules mantel geules double silver.

38. SOUTH WOURTH beryth to his crest a bulks hede silver razed in a wreeth
silver and sable manteled sable lynyd silver.

39. HOCHTON berith to his crest a bullys hede geules in a wreeth gold and
geules manteled sable doubled silver.

40. WOLTON beryth to his crest a woodwous a wylld man in his kynde vert
standing in a wreth silver and geules manteled g. doubled silver.

41. MOLYNEULX beryth to his crest a bushe of pecoke fethers in a wreth gold
and asur the mantelet asur lynyd gold.

42. PUDSEY beryth to his crest awyld catte grey in a wreth gold and vert
the mantelet vert lyned silver.

43. ATHERTON beryth to his crest a swannes hede betwene two wynges
silver in a croune gold the mantel geules doubled ermyns.

44. STRYCKLOND beryth to his crest a fagotte of holly vert with the berrys
geules leyng in a wreth silver and sable the mantel sable lyned silver.

45. PYLKYNCTON beryth to his crest a man mawer silver and sable party par
pal fetching his stroke a with his sythe silver manched ' geules standyn in a
wreith silver and sable manteld geules lynyd silver.

46. GERARD E beryth to his crest a lyons pa we ermyn holdyng a huukes
lure gold in a wreth hermyn and asur the mantel asur doubled silver.

47. HARINCTON OF HORNEBY beryth to his crest a lepardes hede sable armed
geules in a wreth gold and geules manteled sable lynyd silver.

48. URSWYKE beryth to his crest a lyon silver in a wreth silver and sable
mantelled sable doubled silver.

49. LEYVER beryth to his crest a hare in his kynde in a wreeth silver and
geules manteled geules doubled silver.

50. BOTELER OF KERKELOND beryth to his crest a standyng cuppe gold
uncouveryd in a wreth silver and geules manteled g. d. ar.

51. LAWRENS beryth to his crest a luces tayle silver in a wreth silver and
geules manteled geules lyned silver.

52. BAN ESTER beryth to his crest a pecoke in his pryde sitting in a wreeth
silver and sable manteled sable lyned silver.

53. WAREN OF STOKEPORT beryth to his crest a bushe of swane fethers silver
in a crowne geules manteled geules doubled silver.

54. SAVAIGE beryth to his crest an unicornes heede silver hor. or and mane
verd in a wreeth silver and sable manteled sable doubled silver.

55. CALVELEY beryth to his crest a calfe sable standyng in a crowne geules
manteled geules doubled silver.

1 The hanging sides of the long coif

2 Cf. the action of the mower in the crest of ASSHETON (No. 30).

» Here Wall has succeeded in finding a less English word than the ' helve '
of No. 30.

1 82 THE ANCESTOR

56. VENABLES OF KYNDERTON beryth to his crest a dragon geules commyng
owt of a wyre some callyth hit a salt borowgh silver in a wreeth silver and
geules manteled geules d. silver.

57. FETON beryth to his crest . . .

58. DAWNE beryth to his crest a sheef of arrowes in a wreeth silver and
geules manteled geules doubled silver.

59. BRERETON beryth to his crest a beyres hede sable mouseled geules besante
in a wreth gold and geules mantel geules lynyd silver.

60. DELVES bereryth to his crest a dolphin asur on a wreth silver and asure
manteled asur lyned silver.

61. TROWTBECKE beryth to his creest a morian1 with a dart in his hond
standyng on a wreeth silver and asur manteled sable doubled hermyns.

62. STANLEY OF HUTTON beryth to his crest a hertes hede silver tynyd gold
in a wreth gold and asur the mantel asur d. or.

63. MAINWARING beryth to his crest an asses hede grey w' an halter on hit
in a wreyth silver and geules manteled geules doubled silver.

64. HOLFORDE beryth to his crest a greyhondys hede sable in a wreth silver
and sable manteled sable lynyd silver.

65. EGERTON beryth to his crest a hartes hede gold rased in a wreth silver
and sable manteled geules lyned silver.

66. MASSY OF TATTON beryth to his crest a moore coke in his kynde standing
in a wreth geules and gold.

67. BULKELEY beryth to his crest a bulks hede silver and sable party par
pal in a wreth gold and asur manteled asur lyned silver.

68. DAMPORT OF DAMPORT beryth to his crest a mannes hede close yeed
with a halter a bout his necke in a wreth silver and sable manteled sable doubled
silver.

69. COTYNGHAM beryth to his crest a sarazins hede silver with a towail *
bout hit in a wreth silver and sable manteled sable lyned silver.

70. ASTON beryth to his crest an asses hede partyd par palle silver and sable
in a wreth silver and sable manteled sable doubled silver.

71. KNOWLLES beryth to his crest a rammes hede sylver the oone home
gold the other asur in a wreth silver and geules manteled geules doubled silver.

72. WYNINGTON beryth to his crest a styllytory silver in a wreeth silver and
sable manteled sable lyned silver.

73. BRYNE OF TREVAN beryth to his crest a man silver and g. party par pal
a staffe or in his hande and a salt panyer v. at his backe, similiter VENABLES &c.
a brode hatte geules the furst legge ar. the ijd v. standyng in a wr. a. g. m. g. d. ar.

74. FERNYLEY beryth to his creste a hounde geules coler and leche silver in
a bushe of feme vert standyng on a wreith silver and vert manteled vert lynyd
silver.

75. ARDERN beryth to his crest a busche of ostrische fether silver on a wreith
geules and gold manteled geules dobled silver.

ALL THESE BEFORE THAT BE MADE FOR
CRESTYS BE OF CHESSHIRE AND OF
LANCASSHIRE EXCEPT THE TWO
FURST.

1 A moor, the ' morian ' of the Scriptures.

8 The turban was described by us in old times as a ' towel ' or ' Saracen's
hat of towels.'

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 183

[CRESTS OF IRISH NOBLES]

76. THERLE OF ULSTER IN IRELONDE beryth to his crest a bushe of swanne
fethers silver in a crowne geules the mantel party par pall geules and asur
doubled ermyns.

77. THERLE OF ORMOND beryth to his crest an egle flyeing out of a bushe
of fethers silver on a wreth gold and asur manteled asur doubled hermyns.

78. THERLE OF KYLDARE beryth to his crest a marmoset in his kinde bound
by the mydel with a chayne gold in a wreith gold and vert manteled geule*
doubled ermyns.

79. THERLE OF DESTMOND beryth to his crest a boore silver swadeled ermyn
bound geules in a wreth gold and geules mantell geules doubled silver.

80. BERMICKHAM ERLE OF LOUTHE IN IRELOND beryth to his crest an ovrle
ermyn crouned and menbred gold in a wreith gold and geules the mantel vert
plated silver doubled gold.

81. PRESTON VICOUNTE OF GARMANSTON IN IRELOND barith to his crest a
foxe in his kinde uppon a dukes hatte sable lyned gold manteled sable doubled
gold.

82. THE LORD HAWTHEI IN IRELOND beryth to his crest an otter in hu
kinde standyng in a wreith silver and g. g. ar.

83. THE LORD DuLON1 IN IRELOND beryth to his crest a demy lion silver
holdyng in his pawe a starre gold in a cressant geules in a wreth silver and asur
manteled geules lyned ermyns.

84. THE LORD BARREY IN IRELOND beryth to his crest a woulfes hede sable
in a wreth silver and geules m. g. d. ar.

85. PLONKET IN IRELOND beryth to his crest a horsse silver brydeled sable
in a wreeth gold and asur manteled sable doubled silver.

86. TYRELL OF IRELOND beryth to his crest a boores hede silver caboched
swalowyng a pecockes tayle in his kinde in a wreth silver and geules manteled
table lyned silver.

87. KETYN OF IRELOND beryth to his crest a boore silver wrouting in a bushe
of nettelles vert in a wreth silver and geules manteled vert doubled silver.

88. WYSE OF IRELOND beryth to his crest a demy lyon geules droppe silver
in a wreith silver and sable the mantel geules doubled gold.

89. CUSACKE OF IRELOND beryth to his crest a maremayden silver holdyng
her tayle in her right honde standyng in a serckelet gold mantelyd asur doubled
gold.

[MEN MADE KNIGHTS BY HENRY VII.]

90. CHEYNY OF KENT beryth to his crest two bulles homes silver roted gold
mantelyd geules doubled silver his bage a half a rose geules the sonne bearaes
commyng owt of hit gold.

91. GUYLDEFORD OF HALDEN IN KENT beryth to his crest a fyre bronde in
the propre coullours in a wreeth silver and geules manteled sable doubled silver.

92. PONYNCES OF KENT beryth to his crest a demy dragon vollant sable in
a wreeth gold and vert manteled vert lynyd silver his wourde logaultc na pttir.

93. FORTESCU beryth to his crest a beste in maner of a lezard with a long
tayle mouthed like a dragon silver standyng on a wreith silver and asur manteled
asur lynyd silver

HOWTH. * DILLON.

184

THE ANCESTOR

94. RYSELEY OF [ ] beryth to his crest a moriens hede with a scerlet *
of white roses havyng ringes gold at his eerys in a wreeth silver and asur manteled
asur doubled silver.

95. TREVRY 2 made knyght by H. VII beryth to his crest a ravens hede sable
in a wreeth silver and sable manteled sable lyned silver.

96. MORTIMER beryth to his crest a bushe of blewe fathers in a crowne gold
manteled asur doubled silver.

97. HUNGURFORD beryth to his crest two sickels silver compassing a jarbe
of whete parti par pall geules and vert in a crowne gold manteled sable doubled
silver.

98. POINTZ beryth to his crest v floures gold stalked vert in maner of pyne
apples in a wreeth silver and s. m. s. d. a.

99. RYS AP THOMAS beryth to his crest a demy lyon sable in a toppecastell
palle silver and vert in a wreth gold and asur manteled sable doubled silver.

100. FITZWATER VISCOUNT beryth to his crest two wynges in palle geules a
sonne and a loke hangyng by hit gold betwene the wynges in a wreth gold and
geules manteled geules doubled silver.

101. COKESEY beryth to his crest a sheef in maner of cincqfeules gold
bouddes purple in a wreeth gold and asur manteled asur doubled silver.

102. LEWKENOUR OF SUSSEX beryth to his crest an unicornes hede silver
horned gold in a wreeth silver and asur manteled asur lyned silver.

103. HEYDON beryth to his crest a hound silver flecked sable standyng on
a wreth silver and geules manteled g. d. a.

104. VERNEY beryth to his crest an egle asur.

105. CAREW beryth to his crest a dymy lion sable commyng out of the toppe
of a shippe gold on a wreth silver and sable manteled sable lyned silver.

106. BEDYNGFELD OF SUFFOULK beryth to his crest an egle gold displayed
armed geules standin in a wreeth silver and geules manteled geules lynyd silver.

107. DELABERE beryth to his crest a buscheof ostriche fethers in a crowne
gold manteled asur lynyd silver.

108. AUDELEY BARON beryth to his crest a sarazins hed w' a towel silver on
a wreeth silver and geules manteled geules doubled silver.

109. HOPTON beryth to his crest a crowe sable standyn in a wreeth silver
and sable manteled sable lynyd silver.

no. NORYS beryth to his crest a crowe sable standyn in a wreeth silver and
sable manteled sable lynyd silver.

111. TIRWHIT beryth to his crest a lapwinges hede gold in a wreth gold and
geules manteled asur lynyd silver.

112. GREENE beryth to his crest a buckes hede ermyn horned goold on a
wreeth gold and asur manteled asur lyned ar.

113. WILLOUGHBY beryth to his crest an owle silver crouned gold on a
wreeth gold and geules manteled geules doubled silver.

114. HERBERD beryth to his crest a woman morions hede w' long here a
button in the ende sable a wreth a bout her hede gold and geules standyng in
a lyke wreeth manteled asur lyned silver.

115. PARKAR beryth to his crest a buckes hede sable in a wreth gold and
asur manteled sable lyned silver.

116. FITZLEWES OF ESSEX beryth to his crest a bushe of ostriche fethers the

1 A circlet. " TREFFRY.

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 185

oone silver the other sable standyng in a crowne gold manteled sable lyned
silver.

117. PASTON beryth to his crest a griffon scant holdyng in her mouth a
chayne gold.1

118. POOLE OF WARBLINCTON JN SOUTHSEX beryth to his crest an osperey
gold taking a fyshe silver in a wreeth gold and sable manteled geules doubled
silver.

119. BELLYNCEHAM beryth to his crest a hartes heede gold in a wreeth
silver and geules manteled geules doubled ermyns.

1 20. POOLE OF WIRALL beryth a gryflons hede asur becked gold within a
crowne gold manteled geules doubled silver.

121. BROME OF KENT beryth to his crest brome2 vert with coddes geules
in a wreth silver and geules manteled s. d. silver.

122. VAUX BARON beryth to his crest . . .

123. BROUCHTON OF STANTFORD beryth to his crest a squirrel sittyng breking
a nutte geules on a wreith silver and g. manteled geules doubled silver.

124. BLOUNT beryth to his crest a lion passant geules crowned gold standing
on a hatte geules doubled ermyns m. g. d. ar.

125. VAMPAGE beryth to his crest a demy lyon salliant gold in a wreth
gold and geules manteled asur doubled a.

126. SANDYS OF WYNE 3 beryth to his crest a heede of a bucke of a goote
silver armed and herded gold betwene two wynges gold on a wreth silver and
sable manteled sable doubled silver.

127. PIKERING beryth to his crest a lions pawe asur armed gold in a wreth
silver and asur manteled asur lynyd silver.

128. SABCOTT beryth to his crest a gootes hede rased silver horned and
berded gold in a wreth silver and sable m. s. d. ar.

129. BOWLDE beryth to his crest a gryffbns hede sable beked geules in a
croune silver manteled sable doubled silver.

130. BARKELEY o RUTTELOND beryth to his crest a beerys hede silver moseled
geules in a wreeth gold and vert m. v. d. a.

131. DICBY beryth to his crest an osperey silver holdyng a horshewe sable
in a wreit a. and g. manteled g. d. silver.

132. YORKE bryeth to his crest a marmosetes hede sable in a wreeth silver
and asur mantelyd asur doubled ermyns.

133. DODELEY « BARON beryth to his crest a lyons hede asur langued geules
i n a crowne gold manteled asur d. ermyns.

134. GASCOIGN beryth to his crest a luces hede silver in pal in a wreeth
ermyns and silver manteled sable lyned silver.

135. BARKELEY MARQUIS beryth to his crest a myter w* the armes manteled
geules doubled silver.

136. POMERY beryth to his crest a lion geules sitting holding in the right
pawe an apple gold in a wreeth silver and geules manteld geules doubled silver.

137. SH ELTON beryth to his crest an hermetes hedde with a hoode over
hit and a nother of hit in his necke silver in a wreeth gold and asur manteled
geules doubled silver.

1 Over the word ' gold ' is written the word round.
1 Broom. * The Vine.

4 DUDLEY

1 86 THE ANCESTOR

138. WOLSTON beryth to his crest a moreans hede in a wreath silver and
sable manteled sable lyned gold hole faced.

139. PULTENEY beryth to his crest a lions hede sable langued geules in a
wreeth gold and geules manteled sable d. ar.

140. CONWEY beryth to his crest a morions hede with a towell about hit in
a wreeth gold and sable manteled sable d. ar.

141. LYSLE beryth to his crest a whiet horned silver and having a crownne
about his neke with a chayne gold in a wreeth gold and asur manteled asur
doubled ermyns.

142. GREY OF RITHIN beryth to his crest a dragon gold flyeng standyng
on a dukes hatte geules doubled ermyns manteled gold doubled ermyns.

143. STOURTON BARON berith to his crest a frier sable with a whippe in his
honde silver standyng in a wreeth silver and sable manteled sable lyned silver.

144. WEST beryth to his crest a griffons hede in a crowne gold manteled
geules doubled ermyns.

145. SAINT JOHN OF BEDFORDSHIRE beryth to his crest a baboyn gold in a
wreeth gold and purple manteled geules doubled silver.

146. VERNON beryth to his crest a long bores hede sable rased tusked gsules
in a wreth silver and sable manteld g. doubled silver.

147. HASTINCES beryth to his crest a maremaide silver and lyke fyshe the
nethe in her kynd in a wreth silver and geules manteled geules lynyd ermyn.

148. GRYFFITH berith to his crest a harttes hede cabouched party par palle
gold and silver in a wreeth silver and asur manteled geules doubled silver.

149. TYNDALE beryth to his crest a busche of ostrishe fethers bound ermyn»
in a crowne gold manteled geules lyned a.

150. MOUNGOMERY beryth to his crest a hyndes hede razed.

151. DARCY beryth to his crest a bulle sable armed silver in a wreeth gold
and geules manteled asur doubled silver.

152. CHEYNEY beryth to his crest two fezant fethers bound asur in a wreeth
silver and geules manteled geules d. a.

153. CLYFFORD baron beryth to his crest a dragon1 geules vollant sitting
in a crowne gold manteled geules doubled ermyns.

154. FITZWAREN BARON beryth to his crest a dragon gold sitting hissing in
a wreeth ermyn and geules manteled geules d. a.

155. CROFTE beryth to his crest a dragon sable the myddes of her body geules
in a wreeth a. b. manteled b. doubled a.

156. DACRE OF THE SOUTH BARON beryth to his crest a griffons hede with a
ring in her mouth gold with a saphir in hit in a wreeth gold and asur manteled
asur doubled ermyns.

157. ARRUNDELL OF THE WEST beryth to his crest a woulfe silver standing in
a wreeth silver and geules m. g. d. a.

158. GRIFFITH that beryth to his armes g. a fece between vj lionceaux or
to his crest a maydens hede w' the shulders the here o. the gowne g. wreth silver
and geules geules silver.

159. CLYFTON OF (blank) beryth to his crest a pecokes hede in his kinde in
a crowne gold manteled geules doub. a.

1 Dragon is here, as in most blazons of the period, used for the wyver or
wyvern, the four-legged dragon of the Tudor badge being a late form.

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 187

160. HARRECOURT OF OXINFORD SHIRE beryth a pecoke sitting in a crowne
gold the pecoke in his kinde m. g. d. ar.

161. MARNV OF LYRE MARNEY IN ESSEX beryth to wynges silver in pal rased
standing on a dukes hatte sable doubled ermyns a bout the hatte a lace gold
mantelyd sable d. ar. his wourd looaulcmcnt scrfair.

162. NEWBOROUCH OF [blank] beryth to his crest a morians hede in a wreeth
gold and geules m. b. d. er.

163. RYDER OF [blank} beryth to his crest a legge sable w' a sporre on the
hele gold fleeted at the knee in a wreth silver and geules manteled geules doubled
silver.

164. BAUD OF ESSEX beryth to his crest a moreans hede betwene to wynges
in maner of devylles wynges sable in a wreeth silver and sable manteled asur
doubled silver.

165. SPEKE OF [blank] beryth to his crest a porcpyn sable on a wreth silver
and geules manteled sable d. ar.

166. FULFORD OF [blank] beryth to his crest a beres hede rased errant sable
mouseled gold in a wreeth gold and asur s. a.

167. LITTON OF KNESWOURT* IN THE COUNTIE OF HERFORD beryth to his
crest a bittour in his coullours holdyng a lyle in his beke in a wreeth gold and
geules manteled geules.

168. ECECOMBE OF [blank] beryth to his crest a bores hede caboched silver
leying in a wre. or. b. manteled g. ar.

169. CLERE beryth to his crest a bushe of fethers oon monting above an
other silver in a crowne of gold manteled asur lynyd silver.

170. FAIRFAX OF YORKSHIRE beryth to his crest an asses hede in a wreth
gold and geules manteled sable doubled silver.

171. KNYCHTLEY beryth to his crest a hertes hede silver armed gold in a
wreth geules and ermyn manteled geules doubled silver.

172. CHEOCK beryth to his crest a herons hed silver in a wreth silver and
geules manteld geules doubled silver.

173. PAYTON OF SUFFOLK beryth to his crest a griffon scant gold in a wreth
gold and sable manteled sable lyned silver.

174. FERERS OF GROBY beryth to his crest an unicorne ermyns in a wreth
ermyns and geules m. geules d. silver.

175. CALTHORP beryth to his crest two naked boyes with roddes in their
hondes betwene theym both a bores hede.

176. HUSEY OF LINCOLN beryth to his crest a whith hynd lyeng w1 a crowne
a bout his necke and a chayne gold on a wreth gold and vert manteled geules
doubled silver.

177. PUDSEY beryth to his crest a catte of the montaign in his coulours on
a wreth vert and gold sable dou. silver.

178. MERYNC beryth to his crest a greyhondes hedde sable w' a ring in
his mouth.

179. RODNEY beryth to his crest a bores hede sable caboched armed gold
leyng on a wr. ar. b. g. a.

1 80. WILLYAMS beryth to his crest a wele for fische silver in a wreth silver,
and asur manteled asur lynyd silver.

181. BRYAN beryth to his crest a fesantes hede in her coullours in a wreth
silver and vert manteled g. lynyd silver.

' KNEBWORTH.

1 88 THE ANCESTOR

182. BRUGYS beryth to his crest a moryans hed geules a towell silver in stete
of the wreth manteled geules doubled silver.

183. CAREW beryth to his crest a demy lyon sable comyng out of the toppe
of a shippe gold.

184. CUNSTABLE OF pLAMBOROUGH beryth to his crest a ship gold in a wreth
geules and silver manteled sable lynyd silver.

185. DRUERY beryth to his crest a hownde sable the snowte silver in a wreyth
gold and wert manteled asur lynyd silver.

186. CLYNTON BARON beryth to his crest a busche of flegges or water rede
leves sable in a crowne geules manteled sable d. ar.

187. CORBET beryth to his crest a squyrel sittyng gold krakking a nutte
silver in a wryth silver and vert ma. geules d. ar.

188. WOCAN beryth to his crest a lions pawe geules armed asur in a wreth
silver and sable manteled geules lynyd silver.

189. LAWRENCE beryth to his crest a trowte dyvyng silver a wreth silver
and geules manteled geules lynyd silver.

190. ROGERS beryth to his crest a chery tre in his coulours standing in a
wreth silver and geules manteled geules doubled silver.

191. WALGRAVE OF SUFFOLK beryth to his crest a bushe of ostriche fethers
partyd in pal silver and geules in a crowne gold m. g. d. ar.

192. SEYMOUR OF \blank\ beryth to his crest a wesil standyng in a wreyth
silver and geules m. g. doubled silver.

193. SEYMOUR OF WYLTSHIRE beryth to his crest . . .

194. THROGMORTON beryth to his crest an olyvantes hede in his coulours
graye standyng in a wreth silver and geules ma. g. ar.

195. BASSET OF CORNUAIL beryth to his crest an unicornes hed.

196. ARUNDEL OF TRERYS IN CORNUAIL beryth to his crest a hartes hede
holdyng downe ward his hede hole visaiged geules armed silver standing in a
wreth silver and sable m. g. d. ar.

197. S[T]RANGE beryth to his crest two handes plyghtyng over two clowdes.

198. SCROPE OF CASTILCOMBE beryth to his crest two mennes armes armed
silver holdyng a ringe of gold in a crowne of the ring manteled geules doubled
silver.

199. PAWLET beryth to his crest a faucon in her coullours a crowne a bout
her necke gold standing in a wreth of a fryers gyrdyll graye manteled geules
double silver.

200. WATERTON beryth to his crest an otter in his kynd holding a trowt in
his mouth silver stonding in a wreth silver and geules m. g. d. ar.

201. FYLOLL beryth to his crest an unicornes hed rased sable in a wreth gold
and geules manteled asur doubled ermyn.

202. INGILFELD beryth to his crest an egle dysplayed with two hedes party
par pal asur and geules membred vert standing on a wreth gold and geules
manteled geules doubled silver.

203. CAILWAY beryth to his crest a cocke silver combyd asur standyng in a
wreth gold and asur manteled sable doubled silver.

204. PUTNAM beryth to his crest a fox hed geules in a wreith silver and sable
manteled geules doubled silver.

205. BERON1 beryth to his crest a maremayden thetayle geules her here
gold on a wreth silver and geules manteled geules d. ar.

BYRON

THOMAS WALL'S BOOK OF CRESTS 189

206. HAWTE OF KENT beryth to his crest a bushe of whytte roses stalked
vert standing in a wreth silver and geules m. g. d. ar.

207. WARRE beryth to his crest a gryffons hede silver with a bee a bout his
necke sable in a wreth silver and sable m. g. d. ar.

208. MALIVERER beryth to his crest a greyhond in a
wreth geules and silver manteled g. d. ar.

209. REDE beryth to his crest a bore sable betwene two stalkes in a wreth
silver and gold m. geules d. ar.

210. TREVYLION OF DEVON beryth to his crest two armes asur the handes
silver holdyng a pellet on the which standyth a popingay in her kind in a wreth
silver and sable manteled geules lynyd silver.

2ii FOSTER beryth to his crest a horsse hede geules in a crowne gold
manteled sable doubled silver.

212. STRIKELOND beryth to his crest a bushe of holly vert the bentes silver
in a wreth silver and sabble m. s. d. silver.

213. LONG beryth to his crest a demy lion salliant silver in a wryth silver
and sable manteled sable lynde silver.

214. LEE OF WILTSHIRE beryth to his crest a dun asses hede in a wreth
silver and sable manteled geules doubled silver.

215. NORTON OF [blank] beryth to his crest a mannes hed courled her silver
in a wreth silver and asur m. asur d. ar.

216. THIRKYL beryth to his crest a towre with a steple silver in the whiche
standes a mayde in a rede kyrtel in a wreth silver and geules manteled sable
doubled silver.

217. FELDINC beryth to his crest a busche of floures in maner of blew-
botelles silver stalked vert in a wreth gold and asur manteled geules doubled
silver.

218. CURUEN beryth to his crest an unicorne hede silver the home berd and
mane gold in a wreth silver and geules manteled geules doubled silver.

219. LODER beryth to his crest a dragon silver standing in a wreth sable
and silver manteled geules lyned silver.

220. SAMPSON beryth to his crest a busse of ostrische fethers playn ermyn
within a crowne gold manteled g. d. ar.

221. FOULER beryth to his crest a woulfes hede rased gold in a wreth silver
and geules manteled geules doubled errnyn.

222. WOUDHOUSE OF NoRFFOLK beryth to his crest a wyld man in his coulours
in a wreth silver and geules manteled geules lyned silver.

223. IWARDBY beryth to his crest a demy mayden geules her here gold in a
crowne gold.

224. FROWIK beryth to his crest two armes.

225. Ascu beryth to his crest an asses hede or a hyndes hed silver manteled
silver doubled sable the wrethe lyke.

226. KEMPE beryth to his crest an egle the wynges rising on a sheffegold in
a wreth gold and geules manteled geules doubled argent.

227. KIDWELLY beryth to his crest a gotes hed silver horned purple and
asur in a wryth silver and geules manteled asur d. ar.

228. GYLLIOT beryth to his crest a luces hede rased geules in a wreth silver
vert manteled geules lyned silver.

229. VAVASOUR beryth to his crest a sqwyrell kracking a nutte geules in a
wreth gold and sable manteled sable ly ar.

190 THE ANCESTOR

230. COTISMORE beryth to his crest an unicorn leyng silver on a wreth
silver and asur manteled asur lyned silver.

231. LECH OF STOKEWELL beryth to his crest a cok geules w' a rammes hede
silver horned and spurred gold in a wreth or g. manteled sable doubled silver.

ALL THESE HERE BEFORE NAMED FROM CHEYNY
OF KENT HYTHERWARDES BE CRESTYS OF MEN
MADE KNYGHTES BY KING HENRY THE VIIth.

(To be concluded in the next volume.)

CASES FROM THE EARLY CHANCERY
PROCEEDINGS

II. HAWTREY V. BEKYNGHAM

SEEM to remember some old story that the sub-
dean, lest his sons should be vain of their pedigree, put
the roll of parchment on which it was emblazoned away in
a garret.'

Not, I take it, the original, but an excellently preserved
example of this roll I have myself been fortunate enough to
see ; and there are, undoubtedly, several other copies of it
still in existence. There is one, for instance, according to a
report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, in the
possession of Lord Ripon ; another is at Eastcott House ; a
third, none other, indeed, than the roll which the sub-dean
hid, is in the custody of Miss Frances Hawtrey of Tenby,
or of her sisters.
It is headed : —

' The Genealogie and Pedigree of the Auncient fame-
lie of Hawtrey [written in latine de AUtaripa, and in
some Records called Dawtrey] was of noble estimation
in Normandie before the Norman Conquest as appeareth
in the History of Normandy written by Odericus Vitalis
a Monke of Roan, and it is to be noted y' those of Lincolne-
shire written in their latine deeds de Altaripa, tooke y*
name of Hawtrey planting themselves in Buckinghamshire
by reason of ye inheritance that came by y* match w"1 the
daughter & heire of the auntient Famelie s'named
Checkers whose Seat so called in ye parish of Ellesborow
in ye County of Buckingham, is in the possession of ye
Right worshipfull Dame Mary Wolley widdow & co-
heire of y" same Famelie. An heire masle of which
Famelie is Rafe Hawtrey of Rislip in y* County of Middle-
sex Esqra°. 1632.'

From Mr. ' Rafe Hawtrey of Rislip ' descend Mr. Ralph
Hawtrey Deane of Eastcott House, in the parish of Ruislipp,
co. Middlesex ; and Miss Florence Molesworth Hawtrey

181

i92 THE ANCESTOR

•of Windsor, to whose History of the Hawtrey Family, pub-
lished this year, I am indebted for the anecdote of good Mr.
Sub-Dean's attitude to the roll whereon was recorded his
truly notable ancestry.

As for Lady Wolley, she was miserably married and died
childless. Checkers, the ancient home of her family, passed
to her sister's descendants, and to their testamentary heirs ;
and, for all I know, there may still be safely preserved within
its walls those ancient evidences which, with pious care, I
have no doubt, Lady Wolley produced, when this fine roll
was drafted. Many of these proofs, with Latinity gone much
astray, are entered on the roll itself, and are to be found, with
others, in Harley MS. 5832.

So far as I can judge the charters are genuine, and the
pedigree deduced from them with no little skill ; but upon
•so wide an inquiry, particularly while I am uncertain whether
the original documents may not yet be in existence, I have
no pretence to enter. I am only concerned to show that a
Bill in Chancery confirms a section of the pedigree, and
arbitrates decisively between two varying versions of it.

It is really a case of doctors differing. In a work of good
credit by ' George Lipscomb, Esq., M.D.' (Hist. Bucks,
ii. 192), the pedigree is stated as follows : —

Nicholas Hawtrey of= Alice dau. and co-hr. of
Chekers, 2nd son Robt. Atmersh of Kimble
and hr.

Richa

hard Hawtrey of= Bridget dau. of Sir John Seyton
Chekers I Knt. Ld. of Seyton's Manr in

I Ellesborough

Thomas Hawtrey of= Margaret dau. and co-hr.
Chekers I of Sir Thomas Parnell of

I Oxfordshire

Thomas Hawtrey of= Katharine dau. and co-hr.
Chequers I of Thomas Blakenhall

Thomas Hawtrey of= Agnes dau. of ... Browne
Chekere I or Broome

EARLY CHANCERY PROCEEDINGS 193

This conforms pretty closely to a pedigree (Harley MS.
I no, fo. 16) drawn, or copied, by William Penson, Lancaster
Herald ; though for ' Bridget,' Penson gives ' Burgys ' ; for
' Parnell,' ' Paynell ' ; for ' Browne or Broome,' ' Bowre.'
It also agrees, so far as the succession is concerned, with the
copy of the roll to which I have had access. The roll knows
that Nicholas married ' Alice,' but does not know her parent-
age ; of ' Bridget or Burgys Seyton,' however, it knows no-
thing ; Richard, it states, married ' Elizabeth ' . . . and
gives dates, upon which I dare not enter ; Thomas, son and
heir of Richard, it confidently asserts, married the coheiress,
Margaret Paynell.

I may say, that for reasons connected with that plaguy
question of dates, I think that a generation has dropped out
between Nicholas and Richard ; which, if established, might
lead to the reinstatement of Bridget ; for Miss Hawtrey, too,
knows nothing of her ; but here is what Miss Hawtrey says
(I omit dates) : —

Nicholas de Hawtrey = Alice . . .

Richard de Hawtrey = Margaret daughter and co-heir
to Sir Thomas Paynell of
Oxfordihire

Thomai Hawtrey of= Katharine daughter and heir of
Chequers I Thomai Btakenhall

Thomas Hawtrey of=Agnes . . .
Chequers

It would, perhaps, have been more convenient could I
have persuaded the printer to place these two versions side
by side ; but it will be apparent to the intelligent reader,
that where Dr. Lipscomb and Penson have five generations,
Miss Hawtrey has four ; that Miss Hawtrey has nothing to
say to Bridget, or for that matter to Elizabeth either ; and
that she marries Margaret Paynell (not Parnell) to Richard
Hawtrey instead of to Thomas, Richard's son.

i94 THE ANCESTOR

Now for the Bill in Chancery : —

To the Ryght Reuerend Fader in God the Archebysshop of Yorke

and Chauncellor of Englound.

Mekely besechith your lordship your humble Oratur Thomas Hautre that
Wher Dame Margaret Paynell was sumtyme seased in her demeane as of fee of
the maner of Westcoteberton with thappurtenaunces in the county of Oxon
And the said Dame Margaret was also possessed of certen charturs euydence
and minimentes concernyng the seid maner which Dame Margaret had issue
Agnes which Agnes toke to husbond Thomas Bekyngham and had issue betwene
theym William Bekyngham Which William had issue Edward Bekyngham now
in pleyne life And the seid Dame Margaret had issue also Elizabeth which toke
to husbond Richard Hautre and had issue betwene theym Thomas Hautre
fader of your seid besecher And the seid Dame Margaret decessed After whos
decesse the seid maner of Westcoteberton with thappurtenaunces descended
to the seid William Bekyngham and Richard Hautre as cosyns and heires of the
same Dame Margaret ... as aforeseid and all the evydence concernyng the
same maner after the decesse of the seid Dame Margaret came hooly to the
possession of the seid William Bekyngham which William made his will [ . . . .
that] your seid besecher which is also cosyn and oone of the heyres of the seid
Dame Margaret shold haue suche charturs evydence and minimentes as be-
longed to your seid besecher concernyng the seid maner which charturs evy-
dence and minimentes after the decesse of the seid William Bekyngham beth
now come to the possession of the seid Edward Bekyngham And howbeit your
seid besecher hath often tymes requyred the seid Edward to delyver to him the
seid charturs evidences and minimentes accordyng to the will of his seid fader
yet that to do the same Edward vtterly [refuseth] ayenst good conscience
Wherof of your seid besecher hath no remedy by common lawe of the land
for as muclie as he nether knowyth the specialte nor the number of the seid
charturs evydence and minimentes Please it therfor your good lordship the
premyssez consyderid to graunt a writt to be dyrected to the seid Edward
comaundyng him at a certen day and upon certen payn by your lordship to be
lymytted to be [and] appere before the kynge in his Chauncerye and there to do as
good conscience shall require in that At the reuerence of God and in the way
of charyte.

1 ' A > (Willelmus Chamberleyn de London' gent.

! t Willelmus Dalby de eadem yeoman.

Early Chancery Proceedings, bundle 20, 118.

EARLY CHANCERY PROCEEDINGS 195

We thus get the following pedigree : —

Sir Thomu Paynell = Margaret . . . seised
I in fee of the manor
I of Weitcote Barton

Thomas Belcyngham = Agnes

William Bekyngham =
died 6 Feb. 1476-7

Elizabeth^ Richard Hawtrey

Thomas Hawtrey =

Edward Bckyngham
born about 1457,
died 19 June, 1483

Thomas Hawtrey, petitioned
Thomas Rotherham, Arch-
bishop of York, who was
Chancellor from 3 Sept. to
(apparently) 9 April, 1483

Richard Brkyngham
born about 1481

I should presume from the wording of the Bill that Mar-
garet Paynell had inherited the manor in her own right, but
there are indications that it was an ancient Paynell fee. Thus
in the Testa Hugh Paynell holds in Westcote Barton one fee
of William de Kaynes. Mr. Wing's Annals of the Bartons I
have not seen ; but in Mr. Jenner Marshall's Memorials of
Westcott Barton, a copy of which I fortunately possess, the
names of Beckingham and Paynell are, so far as I can find,
only twice mentioned, once each respectively. The Paynell
mention is a reference to the Testa as above ; the Becking-
ham to an inscription ' in one of the north windows of the
body of the church.' I conceive that it is imperfectly tran-
scribed, but, in extension, it runs as follows : —

Orate pro anima Willelmi Bekynham Armigeri ut pro anima Agnetis ux-
oris ejus.

We may venture, accordingly, to assume that the history of
Westcott Barton is somewhat obscure.

The Beckingham inquisitions, the dates derived from
which I have incorporated in the above pedigree, are as
follows : —

A writ of diem clausit on the death of William Bekyng-
ham, esquire, dated 8 Feb. 16 Edward 4 (1476-7) addressed

196 THE ANCESTOR

to the escheator of Oxfordshire. The inquisition was taken
at Enston, in that county, 6 April 1477. He held no lands
of the king in chief : he died seised of a messuage and two
virgates of land in Cassewell, held of the bishop of Win-
chester, service unknown. Edward Bekyngham is his son
and heir aged 20 and more. He died 6 February 1476-7
(Ing. p. m. Chancery, series i, 16 Edw. IV. No. 5).

The second document is calendered in Inquisitions post mor-
tem, Henry Vll. vol. i. From it it appears that Edward
Bekyngham died 29 June 1483, seised in fee of the manor of
Westcote Barton and of land there and in Chylston, and of
land in Stepul Aston. Richard, his son and heir, was aged io>
24 October 1491.

Upon the whole, Miss Hawtrey's pedigree, based, as I sup-
pose, on the copy of the roll which the sub-dean secreted, is
more accurate than Dr. Lipscomb's, and than the version
which I found in the note book of William Penson, who de-
rived his name from Mount Penson, otherwise Mompesson.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE REPRESENTATION OF THE MALETS

DEAR SIR, —

I should be glad if you would propound the following
problem to the readers of The Ancestor.

It is with regard to theMalet family and their male repre-
sentative at the present time.

It has been taken for granted that the Malets of Wilbury
are the heirs male of this ancient family, but this has never
been established, and I think it is highly probable that the
Malets of Ash, in Devonshire, are at any rate a senior
line, if not the actual heirs male of the family.

I will now give the reasons for this opinion.

A certain Thomas Malet of Enmore, in Somersetshire, the
head of the ancient house long established there — of whose
origin Mr. Round will, I believe, have something to say
before long — died in 1502, leaving two sons, William of
Enmore and Baldwin, the founder of the line of St. Audries,
now of Wilbury. The eldest son William was born in 1470,
according to the inquest at his father's death. He married
about 1495 Alice, the daughter and heir of Thomas Young
of Easton, in Somerset (who brought some manors into the
Malet family), and died in 1511, leaving four sons, as follows :
I. Baldwin, aged 14 in 1511, in which year he died. 2. Hugh,
who continued the line of Enmore. 3. Richard (founder of
the Mallets of Ash f). 4. William, said to have had a son
Hugh, father of a William and Baldwin (Hoare's History of
Wiltshire, vol. ii., part 2, page 106).

Alice (Young) died a widow in 1525, and an inquest was
taken after her death. In this is recited an extract from her
will mentioning her three sons in remainder to her property
in the above order (Baldwin being dead).

Now, having got so far, the difficulty is to connect the
above Richard, son of William and Alice, with the Mallets-
of Ash.

In almost all the Harleian copies of the visitations ofs

1ST

198 THE ANCESTOR

Devon the pedigree of the Malets of Ash begins with a
Richard, husband of Jane Bishop. Harl. MS. 889, p. 289 or
155, says that William Malet, the elder brother of Baldwin
of St. Audries, was of Idsley (the Ash estate is near Iddes-
leigh, and the family was called ' of ' the latter place), and
that he was ancestor of the Mallets of that place. This is
of course a ' howler,' but it serves to show the heralds knew
of the connexion between the two branches, unless they
were wickedly trying to invent one, which does not seem at
all probable in this case.

The Harleian Society's published volume of the visitation
of Somerset refers, under Malet of Enmore and St. Audries,
to the visitation of Devon in 1620 (also one of their publica-
tions), p. 178, which reference is to the pedigree of the Malets
of Idsley. This is another evidence of the official acceptance
of the connexion.

In almost all the visitations of Somerset Richard the
second son (really third) of William Malet and Alice (Young)
is given two sons, William and Barnaby, but unfortunately
the name of his wife is not stated.

It can be shown from the Iddesleigh registers, luckily in
good preservation, that Richard Malet of Iddesleigh had
two sons of the same names. The registers are printed in
the Genealogist.

1542. William Malet, son of Richard Malet, gent.,
and Jane Bishop (mother's name an addition), christened.

1586, 27 Nov. Richard Malet, son of Barnaby Malet,
christened.

There can be little doubt that Barnaby Malet was son
of Richard and brother of William, whose children were
baptized in the same place about the same time as Richard,
son of Barnaby.

It would be a coincidence indeed if there were two
Richard Malets of the same period with each two sons of the
same names, and presumably using the same arms. (The
arms of the Enmore family — azure with three escallops gold —
were recorded for the Malets of Iddesleigh at the visitations.)

A little more information is to be found in Chancery
Proceedings, Series 2, Bundle 124, No. 46. An action be-
tween William Malet of London, gentleman, and Edmund
Weekes of Iddesleigh, gentleman, concerning land in Hart-
landenear Iddesleigh, late the property of Richard Malet of

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 199

Idsley, gent., deceased, father of the complainant, William
Malet which land descended to Antony Malet, son and
heir of Richard, on whose decease (March 6, 1558-9, see
Iddesleigh registers) it should have come to complainant,
as brother and heir of Antony.

Antony Malet being dead at the time of the visitations
(of which the first was 1561) would very likely be omitted, as
was his uncle Baldwin, the son and heir of William of Enmore,
in the Somerset books.

The only inquest taken for these Iddesleigh Malets was
after the death of William in 1586, that is, the only one
extant.

He was possessed of about 600 acres near Iddesleigh in-
cluding the messuage, with 200 acres, in Ash, alias Choldash.

This is all the evidence I have been able to obtain, and
it is only circumstantial, though fairly conclusive.

Can any of your readers confirm or refute it ?

It is, I think, a matter of some interest to discover the
heirs male of so old and well known a family, and this branch
seems to be the likeliest.

. A DESCENDANT OF RICHARD MALET

OF IDDESLEIGH.

THE JOHNSTONS OF BALLINDERRY

SIR, —

I am afraid the tombstone in Ballinderry Churchyard
does not bear an accurate inscription, for the Earl of Annandale
had not a son called Thomas.

James, second Earl of Hartfell, was created Earl of Annandale
in 1661, and he married Lady Henrietta Douglas. Contract
dated 29 May 1645. According to a memorandum by
John Fairholm, father of the first Marchioness of Annan-
dale, the Earl had eleven children : — Mary, b. 1652 ; Mar-
garet, 1654 ; Hendreta, 1657 ; Jannet, 1658 ; Isobel, 1659 >
James, 1660 ; William, 1664 (afterwards second Earl and first
Marquis, who married Sophia Fairholm) ; John, 1665 ;
George, 1667; Hendreta, 1669; and Anna, 1671.

As the son William succeeded his father in his honours,
a Thomas could not have been born before him, and as all

200 THE ANCESTOR

the possible children are accounted for up to the Earl's
death, 17 July 1672, there is not room for another. The
Countess died i June 1673. If the Rev. Thomas Johnston
was ordained about 1618 he could not have been born later
than 1598, so that he could not have been the son of even
the father of the Earl of Annandale, as that nobleman, James
Johnston, created Lord Johnston in 1633, and Earl of
Harsfell 1643, was only born in 1602. The father of this
first Lord Johnston was an only son. Sir James Johnston,
of Dunskellie, born 1567, married 1588, murdered by Lord
Maxwell 1608, leaving only one son, James, first Lord John-
ston, above referred to. A Johnson in Dundee is more
likely to belong to the Johnstons of that Ilk and Caskieben.

GEO. HARVEY JOHNSTON.

22 GARSCUBE TERRACE, EDINBURGH.

EDITORIAL NOTES

THE WESTMORLAND STATESMEN

MR. S. H. SCOTT, in whom our readers will recognize
an early contributor to the Ancestor, has done good
service to the history of the countryside in his Westmorland
Village,1 which tells the story of Troutbeck and its sons. His
book is only just in time to save the picture of a life which
will soon be as far from us as the life of our Roman colonists.
The old houses are falling to ruin, most of the old landowners
have gone from their holdings as the trout have gone from
the Troutbeck, whilst strange quarrymen fill the village
where were only husbandmen and sheepfarmers. Troutbeck,
being a village of statesmen, differed from the south country
parishes in that where in the south a squire and a couple of
gentlemen or yeomen would be rulers over a dependent race
of small copyholders, here in Troutbeck fifty statesmen, each
proud as Spanish don or Scottish laird, lived freely under a
tenure which gave them all but the fee-simple of their lands.

The homes of these sturdy folk are planned and described
for us by Mr. Scott in curious details. We learn how they
wrestled and how they raced their horses and fought their
cocks. They hunted the fox upon hillsides upon which
hounds are sometimes passed from hand to hand up steep
crags, and here we learn that the song lies in saying that John
Peel lived at Troutbeck, for Caldbeck was that worthy's
home.

Of the Brownes of Townend, a statesman family happily
surviving to this day in their old home, surrounded by their
old household goods, we have a pedigree four centuries long,
and notes are afforded of other famous statesmen — of the
Longmires, the Borwicks, the Atkinsons, and the Forrests,
and of the Birketts, or Birkheads, a clan which in 1584 had
no less than two and twenty landholding households in Trout-
beck.

1 A Westmorland Village : the Story of the old homesteads and statesmen
families of Troutbeck by Windermere, by S. H. SCOTT — with illustrations by the
author. Archibald Constable & Co., Ltd., 1904.

202 THE ANCESTOR

Those who come after Mr. Scott will find little to add to
his work. There has been a sky-sign advertisement on the
roof of the Mortal Man inn, and its famous signboard, painted
by Julius Caesar Ibbotson, has been stolen or destroyed ;
the old oak plenishings have found their way to Wardour
Street ; the Westmorland tongue is corrupted by the school
board teachers. The shepherd sings the music hall song
upon the hillside, whilst the last of the Troutbeck fiddlers is
stone-breaking upon the road. In Westmorland, as elsewhere,
the old order is ready to vanish away.

YORKSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY

The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, in its sixty-ninth
part, shows itself in full health and life. Its most important
article is one in which Mr. Mill Stephenson describes and
pictures from excellent rubbings the brasses in the city of
York. The best of these — the only one, in fact, which holds
any rank amongst English brasses — is the early fourteenth
century memorial of Archbishop Grenefield in the minster.
The other figures are crude though interesting work of the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Most curious is the
present state of the brass inscription of John Moore, barrister,
who died in 1597, which, within seventy years of his death,
was cut up to form a weathercock for the turret on the min-
ster lantern. From 1803 the weathercock lay out of work,
and Mr. Challenor Smith, who found it in the vestry, has
been at great pains to fit together rubbings of the various
pieces from which he has reconstructed the whole inscription.
The rising of the northern earls in 1569 is illustrated in
a paper by Mr. H. B. McCall from Sir George Bowes's lists
of rebels at Streateam, showing that of the long roll of persons
marked out for the rope, comparatively few suffered. Two
papers attract the student of English armory. The first,
on a grant of land to Walton priory, gives us the picture of a
most interesting seal of Thomas Fitz William, ancestor of
the name of Greystoke, showing the use of the old Greystoke
coat of the three lozenges, or, rather, lozenge-shaped pillows,
as early as 1235. This is attached to a deed now in the
possession of Mr. William Brown, the honorary secretary of
the Yorkshire Archaeological Society. The second of these
papers describes four Yorkshire grants of arms. The oldest

EDITORIAL NOTES 203

of these documents is illustrated in colours. It is a grant,
or, rather, an exemplification, made by Norroy king of arms
in 1469 to Peter Hellard, prior of Burlington, whose arms
are declared to be de nigro bendam argenteam inter duas costas
informatas de benda et sex flores gladioli fabricates de secundo.
The warrantry of these arms is declared to lie in the ancient
prescriptive right of the Hcllards recited for us in spreading
phrases. ' No tongue mentions, nor does the memory of
man remember, when these arms came lawfully into the
possession of his forefathers. Therefore it is unlawful for
any one within the realm of England, not born of the same
seed, to take to himself these same arms. Let therefore this
truth be known to you all, and his truth who liveth for ever
and ever shall surround you with a shield.'

A SOLDIER'S WILL.'

June y' 28th, 1758.
LAKE GEORGE CAMP.

D" BRO1,—

We have a large army encamped here, healthy and in good
spirits, waiting in a few days to go into our battoos for
Ticonderoga Crown Point, N.E. We are hardly expecting
news from Louisbourgh, as yet have had no good from that
quarter. Cap' Lee is very well ; I relieved him on a guard
yesterday in his Indian dress, which he seems very fond of.
The Cap' L' is gone to Louisbourgh. You must excuse my
short lre as I have but just seen the orders of an express going
to New York in an hour's time, which time is almost expired.
I wrote my last from New York, in case you have not received
it I shall mention to you that I have left you five hundred
pounds Pensilvania currency, which is near 300' St., in the
hands of a Mr. Stedman, merchant at Philadelphia, and
besides which, whenever the Royal Americans' accounts are
settled there will be a ballance considerable due to me, all
which I leave you in case of accidents. I thank God I am
now in the most perfect health, indeed I took care all winter
to lay in a good store. My love to you all with comp" to
all friends from your aff' brother,

-per packet. RICH" MATHER.

To Thomas Mather, esq., at Chester, Europe.
1 Contributed by Mr. Bower Marsh.

204 THE ANCESTOR

On the 1 8th April 1763 Thomas Mather, esquire (brother
of Richard Mather, esquire, late captain in the first battalion
of the Royal Americans now under General Amherst at
Pittsburgh in North America, a bachelor, deceased), the
Reverend Roger Mather (also a brother of the deceased),
and Witter Cunning of Liverpool, swear to the handwriting.
Administration with the will annexed was granted 18 April
1763 to Thomas Mather, esquire.

THE EARLIEST HERALDS' VISITATIONS

From Baron Sannomiya's essay on the imperial family of
Japan we learn that heralds' visitations were amongst the
many ancient institutions of his surprising country. At
the beginning of the fifth century it was recognized that
many dishonest folk had assumed the names of influential
clans to which they did not belong by birth. For putting
an end to these abuses an imperial proclamation was made
in the fourth year of the emperor Inkyo (A.D. 415), in obedi-
ence to which an Ordeal of Hot Water was held to test the
truth or falsehood of clan names borne by the people. In
the year 1 180 the clans registered themselves in thirty volumes,
and a bureau of genealogical investigation — a College of
Arms in short — was established some three hundred years
before the date of the first charter of our own college. Those
amateurs of armory who would have our heralds ride abroad
redressing armorial wrongs with a mailed fist will find their
mouths watering over the blessed privileges enjoyed by the
Japanese heralds in Inkyo's golden prime. The knight or
squire of the sixteenth century who ' would not be spoken
withal ' when the tabards came to his hall door, the armigerous
gent of the nineteenth with his lawless blazon unpaid for—
such as these might have been brought to the register book
and to unfeigned repentance were the Ordeal of Hot Water
amongst the clauses of that most insufficient charter incor-
porating our heralds.

SCOTTISH HERALDRY MADE No EASIER 1
The late Rev. John Woodward in his Treatise on heraldry

1 Scottish heraldry made easy, by G. HARVEY JOHNSTON. W. & A. K.
Johnston, Limited, Edinburgh and London, 1904.

EDITORIAL NOTES 205

said bitter things of the many who set themselves without
original research to compile books on heraldry from the
books of their predecessors. In examining Scottish heraldry
made easy, by Mr. G. Harvey Johnston,1 we find that Mr.
Woodward, being dead, yet speaketh. For Mr. Johnston's
work seems to us the compilation of one whose equipment
for his task seems to come from an uncritical reading of that
brilliant and often misleading work, the Treatise on heraldry.
The present book purports to be a manual of Scottish armory,
and there should be a demand for such a manual if a compe-
tent hand would continue the labours of Nisbet and Seton.
But Mr. Johnston has not been content to make a study
of the peculiarities of his national armorial system, English
and foreign examples crowding his pages, many of them, such
as the shield of LOwel and the plain blue shield assigned by
Mr. Woodward upon doubtful authority to Berington of
Cheshire, speaking clearly enough of the pit from which
Mr. Johnston digged them.

The first dozen pages show that Mr. Johnston has nothing
to offer us beyond the usual huddled miscellanies of those
who study armory from the popular handbooks. Small as
the book is, he can find space therein for ' nombril points,'
furs of ' counterpotent ' and ' vair in pale,' for ' urdy ' lines,
* rustres,' for ' goutt£ de poix ' and ' goutte de 1'huile,' and
for ' golpes,' ' guzes ' and ' pomeis,' the last word being
treated as a substantive singular. The old gibberish with
its ' closets,' ' endorses ' and ' barrulets ' meets us every-
where, the whole ' science,' in short, which, as Le Neve most
truly said, ' cumbers the memory without adding to the
understanding.' No original observation has assisted Mr.
Johnston to cut short the tale of these. One would believe,
for example, that a Scottish antiquary surrounded by old
examples of the checkered fesses of Stewart and Lindsay
would easily discard the belief that a fesse with two rows of
checkers is a charge differing from one with three rows and
demanding a blazon word of its own, yet the blessed word
' counter-company ' is here amongst all its old acquaintances.
The ' helmets of degree ' are here, Mr. Johnston's knowledge

1 ' There is probably no subject on which so many books have been and
continue to be published with so little original research as Heraldry.' — Wood-
ward.

206 THE ANCESTOR

of armory not helping him to discard these fancies of the
armorists' second childhood. But if it be true that a king's
helm must alway be ' affronty or viewed from the front,
the face protected by six bars ' it is wrong to illustrate this
important matter with an old cliche, in which the king's helm
is seen contenting itself with four bars.

We find the general sketch of armory is as unsatisfactory
as the blazonry, being carelessly put together after insuffi-
cient study of the subject. The chapter on the shield
opens with the saying that ' to-day armorial bearings are only
shown on a shield.' Putting aside the heralds, who wear
their sovereign's armorial bearings on their coats, is it possible
that Mr. Johnston has never seen a banner of arms ? The
four little paragraphs which make the short chapter on
seals are curiously unfortunate. ' The seals of Ecclesiastics
were shaped like a pointed oval, and are known as Vesica '
is a deplorable sentence. All ecclesiastics did not use the
pointed oval seal, many laymen used it, and if Mr. Johnston
will consult a Latin dictionary he will find that vesica is not
a plural and that it is certainly not the Latin for the seal of
an ecclesiastic.

If Mr. Johnston will put away for the present Lord
Kitchener's Coat of Augmentation, the precedence of mem-
bers of the Royal Victorian Order and the like matters foreign
to his subject, he will find in Scottish armory material for
study which may enable him in time to produce a more
useful book than this handsomely printed little manual,
against which we have recorded our deliberate verdict. We
are bound to add that, although one does not ask for beauti-
ful phrasing in an archaeological treatise, Mr. Johnston's
style falls short even of the ordinary standard of the literary
amateur : —

Suppose a Mr. MENZIES, who bears, Silver, a red chief, marries a Miss STAF-
FORD, whose father bears, Gold, a red chevron. Well if Miss Stafford has a
brother or brothers, she is not the heiress of her family.

The mob of gentlemen who write with ease may have
grown thinner in our day, but such hesitating colloquialisms
as the above sentence might well be brushed and combed
before coming to us in print.

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fully considered.'

PALL MALL GAZETTE : ' Beautifully printed in bold sizeable type upon good paper,
and bound in handsome dark red cloth.'

BOSWELL'S

LIFE OF JOHNSON

Edited by AUGUSTINE BIRRELL and Illustrated with 100
Portraits selected by Ernest Radford. 6 Vols. Red
buckram, label, gilt top, 365. net. Sold in Sets only.
This Edition is limited to 700 copies for sale in this
country.

TIMES : ' The distinctive feature is the series of portraits of the actors on Boswell's
stage. Of these there are loo, carefully selected by Mr. Ernest Radford, who writes an excel-
lent introduction to explain his method of selection. The portraits have been well reproduced,
and their tone is generally soft and pleasing.'

DAILT CHRONICLE : « The whole of his (Mr. BirrelPs) appreciation of the book's
value and its causes — the size (" it is a big book "), Boswell's perfection of method, his genius
for portraiture, his immense pains, his freedom and glorious intrepidity — all this is excellently
done, with due brevity and orderliness. . . . The Edition is supplied with a series of portraits,
about sixteen to each volume. They have been carefully selected by Mr. Ernest Radford,
Mr. Birrell's colleague, we believe, in the first volume of Obiter Dicta. He writes a Preface
giving an account of his selection, and a history of many of the portraits. The volume is light
well bound, and altogether satisfactory.'

ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE 6f CO LTD
1 6, JAMES STREET, HAYMARKET, S.W.

The Ancestor
410
A6
np.ll

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY

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Full text of "The Ancestor; a quarterly review of county and family history, heraldry and antiquities"

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