HANDBOUND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS f&V It COLLINS'S es6# peerage of Cngianti; GENEALOGICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, AND HISTORICAL. GREATLY AUGMENTED, AND CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT TIME, BY SIR EGERTON BRYDGES, K. J. IN NINE VOLUMES. VOL. VI. LONDON: PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, OTRIDGE AND SON, J. NICHOLS AND CO. T. PAYNE, WILKIE AND ROBINSON, J. WALKER, CLARKE AND SONS, W. LOWNDES, R. LEA, J. CUTHELL, LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND CO. WHITE, COCHRANE, AND CO. C. LAW, CADELL AND DAVIES, J. BOOTH, CROSBY AND CO. J. MURRAY, J. MAWMAN, J. BOOKER, R. SCHOLEY, J. HATCHARD, R. BALDWIN, CRADOCK AND JOY, J. FAULDER, GALE, CURTIS AND CO. JOHNSON AND CO. AND G. ROBINSON. 1812, - i T, r.«osJcy, Printer ■•It C<*urt, Flwt Strwt. L Stmt, London. CONTENTS OF VOL. VI. VISCOUNTS. Page Devereux, discount Hereford t 1 Belasyse, discount Fauconberg | . 23 St. John, discount Bolingbroke and St. John 42 Boscawen, Viscount Falmouth 62 Byng, Viscount Torrington 80 Fitzgerald, Viscount Leinster. J 00 Noel, Viscount Wentworth 200 Courtenay, Viscount Courtenay 214 Ward, Viscount Dudley and Ward 272 Maynard, Viscount Maynard 280 Hampden Trevor, Viscount Hampden, 29 1 Germain, Viscount Sackville 30(5 Townshend, Viscount Sydney 3 19 Hood, Viscount Hood % 324 Hood, Viscount Bridport „ 366 Duncan, Viscount Duncan 378 Curzon, Viscount Curzon ' 397 Dundas, Viscount Melville 399 Addington, Viscount Sidmouth 423 Anson, Viscount Anson 426 Lake, Viscount Lake 432 Cathcart, Viscount Cathcart 454 Wellesley, Viscount Wellington 462 BARONS TO THE DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. De Roos, Baroness de Roos. 483 Stapleton, Lord Le Despencer 496 Southwell, Lord De Clifford 512 Trefusis, Lord Clinton and Say 54 1 Thicknesse Touchet} Lord Audley 546 S IV CONTENTS. Page Brand, Baroness Dacre. . . . k 558 Bertie, Baroness IVilloughly of Eresby 5Q 1 Yelverton, Baroness Grey de Ruthyn 620 Stourton, Lord Stourton 633 Raudon Hastings, Lord Hastings and Rawdon, (Earl of Moira in Ireland) 643 Verney, Lord Wilhughhy de Broke 6gi Barony of Chandos /04 St. John, Lord St. John of Bletsoe /4l Ellis, Lord Howard ofWdlden 752 C^T The Reader is requested to turn also to the Addenda at the end of the Volume for the latest dates, and a few corrections, of every article. THE PEERAGE OF ENGLAND, VISCOUNTS. DEVEREUX, VISCOUNT HEREFORD. Among other powerful Normans, who accompanied Duke Wil- liam in the conquest of England, was Walter de Etvrus, Earl of Rosmar, to whom, in consideration of his valour, he gave the lordships of Salisbury and Arnesbury, in Wilts. This Earl before he came hither had issue Gerold, called Le Gros, afterwards Earl of Rosmar, father of William, surnamed Meschin, father of Wil- liam, who died issueless. But after his coming to England he had other sons, viz. First, Edward, ancestor to the ancient Earls of Salisbury. Second, Robert, ancestor to the Viscounts Hereford, and Earls of Essex. Edward, eldest son, called De Sareslerie, a was possessed, at the general survey, of large estates, among which were thirty- three lordships in Wilts. In 20 Hen. I. he was standard-bearer in the famous battle at Brenneville in Normandy. He left a son Walter ; whose son and heir Patric was advanced to the a Dugd Bar. vol. i. p. 1 74. roL. yr. ^JLy s 2 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. dignity of Earl of Salisbury ,b by Maud the Empress -, and being the King's lieutenant in Aquitaine, in 116/, was slain by Guy de Lezinnian on his return from a pilgrimage, which he had made to St. James in Galiciaj and was buried at St. Hilarier. He was succeeded by his son and heir William, second Earl of Salis- bury, who died in 1 ig6, 8 Rich. II. leaving Ela, his sole daughter and heir, " of whom," says Dugdale, *' it is thus reported j that being so great an inheritrix, one William Talbot, an Englishman, and an eminent soldier, took upon him the habit of a pilgrim, and went into Normandy, where wandering up and down for the space of two months, at length he found her out. Likewise that he then changed his habit ; and having entered the court, where she resided, in the garb of an harper, (being practised in mirth and jesting) he became well accepted there. Moreover, that growing acquainted with her, after some time he took her into England, and presented her to King Richard ; who, receiving her very courteously, gave her in marriage to William, surnamed Longspe, his brother, (that is, a natural sOn to King Henry II. begotten on the Fair Rosamond, sometime his concubine.) And that thereupon King Richard rendered unto him the Earldom of Rosmar, as her inheritance, by descent from Edward of Sares- burie, the son of Walter de Ewrus before-mentioned."0 This Earl William died in ]22rj, his widow Ela surviving till about 1263, at the age of seventy-eight. d Roeert, before-mentioned, younger son of Walter Earl of Rosmar, was styled De Ebrois, and De Elroicis, and was father of Reginald d'Evereux, his only son and heir, who, in 1 140, e gave ten marks of silver to that Monarch, and fifty marks of the mean profits, for the recovery of his father's lands in Cornwall, The said Reginald had also an only son and heir, William d'Evereux, whose widow, Halewyse, f bestowed on the monks of St. Peter's abbey, at Gloucester, certain lands, called tbe Hyde, in Herefordshire, which Walter de Laci gave her in marriage. King Henry II. confirming the grant. Eustace d'Evereux, * the only son and heir of William, in the fifth year of King John's reign, impleaded Herbert Waleran for one knight's fee in Kington. • Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 174. c Ibid p. 175. * Ibid p. 177. William, their grandson, left only a daughter and heir* • R»t. Pip. 5 Steph. Cornub. f Monast. Angl. vol. i. p. ii^. « Rot. Pip. 5 Joh Dors. Somerset. VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 3 Stephen d'Evereux, (or d'Ebrois, as sometimes wrote) only- son of the said Eustace, attended King John in the expedition into Poictou, h in the fifteenth year of his reign ; and, having also served King Henry III. in his wars against the Welch,' had, on that account scutage of his tenants, in the counties of Gloucester and Hereford, who held of him by military service. By Isabel, his wife, he had a son, William d'Evereux, who, being one of the Barons Mar- chers, k fought for the said King Henry against the Welch j but at the battle of Lewes, in Sussex, May 14th, 1264, he forsook him,1 and siding with Simon Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and his partizans, was slain in the fight near Evesham, on August 4th, 1265. He married Maud, sister to Walter de Gilford, bishop of Bath and Wells, and by her had an only son, William : but, the fathers lands being forfeited by his said treason, the son was kept out of them, till making his composi- tion at three years value, according to the dictum de Kenil worth (published on October 31st, 1266,) he obtained livery thereof. This last mentioned William had summons to parliament, A. D. 1298 ; and by Alice, his wife, left a son, Sir William1" d'Evereux, Knight, who wedded Alice," daughter of , and by her was father of Sir Walter Devereux, Knight, who, by Margery, his wife, had two sons. First, Sir John Devereux, his heir; and, Second, Sir William Devereux, seated at Bodenham (or Bo- dynham) and Whitechurch, in Herefordshire, of whom after- wards, as ancestor to the Viscounts Hereford. Sir John, the eldest son, married Margaret, daughter of John Vere, Earl of Oxford ; and by her (who had been successively the widow of Sir Nicholas Lovain, of Pens hurst in Kent,0 and Henry Lord Beaumont) had issue, Sir John Devereux, and a daughter, Joan ; which Sir John, in the 40th of Edw. III. engaged with others of the English and Gascoyners in the service of the Black Prince, in Aquitaine, to go into Spain in assistance of Peter (surna'med the b Claus. 15 Joh. in Dors. m. 1. -, Claus 7 Hen. III. m 5, in Dors. k Monast. Angl. vol. ii. p. 263. ' Pat 51 Hen. III. m. 33. m These two generations are omitted by Dugdale, vol- ii« p 177. " Lillys Ped. of the Nobility, MS • Sir John lived at Penshurst, which he had licence to embattle in 19 Rich. II. 4 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Cruel) King of Castile, against Henry II. the bastard, newly legi- timated by the Pope, and to whom he had given that crown. He was afterwards made Captain of Rochelle, and Seneschal of Li- mosin: and in 13051 attended the Black Prince in Gascoigne, and afterwards served in the wars in France j as he did King Richard II in his fleet at sea, and also in his wars by land. After being made a Knight Banneret, he was r installed Knight of the- Garter, in the ninth year of that King ; in whose eleventh year he was * made constable of Dover Castle, and warden of the Cinque Ports j and joined in commission t with Walter Skyrlaw, bishop of Durham, and others, to treat with the King of France touching peace (being steward of the household at that time) •o likewise to treat with the Flemings on certain important affairs. And having been summoned u to parliament, amongst the Barons of this realm, from 8 Richard II. till the sixteenth inclu- sive, died iu 1394, the year following, and was buried in the Grey Friers church, London j whereupon Margaret his widow, daughter of Sir John Barre, had x her dowry assigned her. To him succeeded Sir John, his son and y heir, who died three years after his father, without leaving any issue by Philippa his wife, daughter of Guy, and grand-daughter and heir to Sir Guy de Bryan -, and before he had accomplished his full age : upon which his sister, Joan, the wife of Sir Walter Fitz- Walter, became bis heir. Having thus done with the principal branch of this family, we come to Sir William Devereux, Knight, of Bodynhamand White- church, before-mentioned, who was sheriff of the county of Hereford in 1371 and 1376, and, by Anne his wife, daughter of Sir John Barre, Knight, had issue Sir Walter Devereux, who, z in the 50th of Edward III. was sheriff of Herefordshire, as also the year after, and in 1379 a obtained licence for a market and fair at his manor of Bodynham. In / Rich. II. he married Agnes, daughter of Thomas Crophull, cousin and heir to Sir John Crophull, Knight, in whose right he became seized of the manor of Weobley in Herefordshire, and u died in 4 Henry IV. leaving issue four sons and two daughters, •» Rot Vase. 42 Edw. III. m. 4. r Ex CoU.Tho.JVtcller, Gen. » Pat. ei Rich. II. p. 2,m. 19. « Rot. Franc. 13 Rich 11. m z. u ciaus. de iisd Ann. in Dors. . Claus. 17 Rich. II. m. 14. y Rot. Fin 20 Rich. II m. 16. » Fuller's Worthies in com. Heref. t Cart z Rich. II. n it. b Claus. 7 Rich. II. m. 36. VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 5 viz. Walter, John, Richard, Thomas, Elizabeth, ajid Margaret. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Walter d'Evereux, then fifteen years of age, who, by Eli- zabeth his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Bromwich, Knight, had issue Sir Walter, his son and heir, and a daughter Elizabeth, mar- ried to Melborne, Esq. which Sir Walter wasc fifteen years old at the death of his father, in 14 Henry VI. and by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of Sir John Merbury, Knight, had issue, First, Sir Walter, his heir. Second, Sir John. Third, Anne, married to William Herbert, the first Earl of Pembroke; and, Fourth, Sibil, the wife of Sir James Baskerville, Knight. This last mentioned Sir Walter d was married to Anne, sole daughter and heir to William Lord Ferrars de Chartley : and in 31 Hen. VI. e by the King's special favour, he had livery of her lands. This match may be said to have laid the foundation for the great honours the family has since attained to $ for this lady not only brought a very large inheritance, but an ancient Barony, and a descent in blood from the illustrious family of Ferrars, Earls of Derby, and Barons of Chartley. In 1456, he was sheriff of Herefordshire/ being then a Knt. ; and on July 26th, 146l, s was summoned to parliament as a Baron of this realm, by the title of Lord Ferrars j also, in farther re- compence h of his manifold services, vast expenses, and sundry perils in the wars against King Henry VI. wherein he had exposed himself, he obtained a grant the same year, of divers manors, lord- ships, &c. Likewise in 14/0, in consideration i of his faithful services, he had a grant for life of the county of Caernarvon, and was made chief forester of Snowdon Hills in North Wales. In the same year he was installed Knight of the Garter : k but ad- hering afterwards to Richard III. he1 was slain with him, on August 22d, 1485, at Bosworth Field ; leaving issue, John, his heir, then a knight, Sir Richard, Sir Thomas, and a daughter Elizabeth, married to Sir Richard Corbet, of Morton-Corbet, in c Esc 4 Hen. IV. m. 9. . d Esc 14 Hen. VI. c Esc 28 Hen. VI n. 22. f Claus 31 Henry VI. m. 5. « Rot. Fin. 34 Hen. VI. m 6- h Orig. 1 Edw. JV Rot. 94. i Pat. ic Edw. IV. m. 6. k Ex Col. Tho. Melier. 1 Pol. Virg. p. 564. 6 PEERxVGE OF ENGLAND. Shropshire; and, secondly, to Sir Thomas Leighton, ofWatles- borough in the said county. John, the eldest son, second, of the name, Lord Ferrars of Chartley, was summoned to parliament from m 3 Hen. VII. till the twelfth j and wedding Cecilie, daughter to Henry Bour- chier, sister and heir of Henry her brother, Earl of Essex, mater- nally descended from Thomas Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester, youngest son of Edward III. left issue, by her, Walter his only son and heir, and a daughter, Anne, married to Henry Lord Clifford. Which Walter, third Lord Ferrars, and first Vis- count Hereford, in 2 Henry VIII. n was joint governor of Warwick-cattle, and served that King in his wars with France, in several expeditions j and in that sea-fight with the French near Conquet in Britanny : whereupon, for his gallant behaviour, he was elected0 on July 13th, 1523, one of the Knights compa- nions of the Garter; and in 1525,' constituted justice of South Wales. In 36 Henry VIII. he was with the King 9 at the taking of Boulogne j and on February 2d, 1549-30, was, in r consideration of the laudable and acceptable services he had performed, as also in regard of his prudence, loyalty, and valour, advanced to the dignity of Viscount Hereford, and to his heirs male for ever, with an annual rent of twenty marks out of the profits of the county of Hereford. In the patent is a clause, that " he and his heirs male should enjoy the rank and degree of Viscount Here- ford, in all parliaments and councils within the realm of England, and other the King's territories and kingdoms," whereby (accord- ing to the opinion of8 Sir Richard St. George, garter king at arms) the Viscounts Hereford were entitled to a seat, as well in the parliament of Ireland as England. He died on September 2;th, 1558, as appears1 by inquisition taken at Brecknock, on January 20th, 1560-1, u seized of the manors of Pipton, alias Pixton, Pen- kclly, Anglicana, and Lanthomas, in the parish of Haytt, in the county of Brecon j Walter, son of Sir Richard Devereux, being ■ Claus. iisd Ann in Dors. ■ Pat. z Hen. VIII. p3. • Appendix in Ashmole's Order of the Garter, n. 26. f Pat- 17 Hen VIII. p. 2. 1 Herbert's Hist, of Hen. VIII. p.5i, r Pat. 4. Edward VI p 8. • Nobility Creations, &c. MS. penes Joh. Vicecom. Percival. « Cole's Etc lib. v. p. 354, n. 61, A. 16, in Bibl Harlcy. » Buswcll's Hist, of the Garter. VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 7 found to be his grandson and heir, and of the age of nineteen, on September 6th, before the taking of the inquisition. This Walter, the first Viscount, was buried at Stow, * com. Stafford. He had issue, by Mary his fiist wife, daughter of Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset, three sons, viz. First, Henry, who died unmarried. Second, Sir Richard Devereux, Knight, > who died in his lifetime ; and, Third, Sir William Devereux, Knight, who married Jane, daughter of John Scudamore, of Home Lacy, in com. Heref. Esq. and left issue two daughters his coheirs, viz. Barbara Deve- reux, who was first married to Edward Cave, Esq. and afterwards to Sir Edward Hastings, Knight, fourth son to Francis, the second Earl of Huntington ; and Margaret Devereux, married to Sir Ed- ward Littleton, of Pillaton-hall, in com. Staff. Knight, great grand- father to Sir Edward Littleton, of the same place, Bart. The said Sir Walter Devereux, Viscount Hereford, by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Robert Garnish, of Kenton in Suffolk, had a son, Sir Edward Devereux, seated at Castle-Brom- wich in the county of Warwick, of whom afterwards as continuator of the male line. Sir Richard Devereux, eldest surviving son before-men- tioned, by the first wife, died in his father's lifetime, on October 13th, 154/, ■ possessed of the manor of Bodcnham in Hereford- shire, as appears by inquisition taken at Hereford, on July 22d, 1450, and by Dorothy his wife, eldest daughter of George, the first Earl of Huntington, he had issue, Walter, his son and heir, at the time of his decease eight years and ten months old. He had also another son, Sir George Devereux, Knight, and two daughters ; Elizabeth, married to Sir John Vernon, of Hod- net, Knight j and Anne, the wife of Henry Clifford. He was interred at Allhallows-Barkin, near the Tower, London. Walter, second Viscount Hereford, and first Earl of Essex, the eldest son, was born about 1540, at his grandfather's castle in Carmarthenshire, and educated in his youth with all the care due to his high birth. Succeeding his grandfather in the x In which parish Chartley castle is situated. See Pennant's Journey ta London. y Cole's Esc lib. v. p. 354, n 61, A 1G, in Bibl Harley. 2 Cole, ib. p. zo. 6 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. nineteenth year of his age, and being early distinguished for hia modesty, learning, and loyalty, he stood in high favour with his so- vereign Queen Elizabeth. On the rebellion of the Earls of North- umberland and Westmoreland in the North, in 1569, he shewed his duty by raising a considerable body of forces, with which he did good service against them. This behaviour so recommended him to the Queen, that he was created Earl of Essex, on May 4th, 15/2, being likewise styled Earl of Eu, Viscount Hereford, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, Bourchier, and Lovain, and Knight of the Garter, In 15/3, he obtained leave of Queen Elizabeth, to make an expedition against the Irish rebels, " following therein," says Camden, M the council of those, who desired, above all things, to have him farther off, and to plunge him into danger, under pre- tence of procuring him honour, which he knew well enough ; but being a stirring man, and one not unacquainted with warlike dis- cipline from his very youth, he held on his resolution," &c. Matters turned out as was predicted : he fell a sacrifice to this undertaking, at Dublin, September 22d, 15/6, in the flower of his age. " A very excellent man," says Camden, and touched with much acuteness and originality, by the late Lord Orford. But, after all, perhaps, we may advantageously recur to the account of old Camden. He says, '■' he was, indeed, a most accomplished person, and had all those qualities in perfection, that become a nobleman. He was bred up, in his younger years, at Cambridge, where he devoted himself to the study of humanity and religion ; and, being introduced to the Queen, by his father- in-law, the Earl of Leicester, it was with some difficulty he raised himself to the condition of a favourite, the Queen happening to have no great respect for his mother. But he had no sooner •wrought himself into her Majesty's esteem, by a deportment that teemed to deserve it, but she was pleased to forgive him a debt which his father owed to the Exchequer j made him Knight of the Garter, and advanced him to the honour of a privy-counsellor, when he was scarce twenty-three years of age. He was several times appointed general of her Majesty's forces, though Fortune did not always smile upon him. The Queen heaped upon him fresh honours every day ; and had a particular value for him, be- cause he was a brave soldier, and cut out for a camp. As soon as he had got a secure and real interest in the favour of his royal mistress, he made it his business to outstrip all persons, whether cf his own, or of a superior rank j and this was a quarrel, which the more politic courtiers had to him ; especially when he took upon him to discharge all whose actions were not of his own •quare j and to brow-beat those, who were not of the royal ear or favour. Add to this the pains and expense he was at to gain the caresses of the vulgar, which are always precarious and short- lived, and to recommend himself to the army, which is equally fatal and hazardous. Nor was he excusable in his department to the Queen herself, whom he treated with a sort of insolence, that VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 11 seemed rather to proceed from a mind that wanted ballast, than any real pride in him j though it looked the more ungrateful, because acted, when he had been more than once restored to the Queen's favour, and received fresh instances of her bounty. How- ever, this unhandsome carriage, and a way which he had of screw- ing, as it were, favours from her, joined with a coldness and dis- respect towards her person, and backed by the sly management of some, that wished him not well, failed not, by degrees, to lessen, and at the long run, to extinguish entirely, the Queen's affection for him. Indeed, lie was a person not rightly calculated for a court, as being not easily brought to any mean compliances. He was of a temper, that would readily kindle an injury, but would not so easily forget one ; and so far was he from being capable of dissembling a resentment, that he carried his passions in his fore- head, and the friend, or the enemy, were easily read in his face." Every one has heard of the insurrection for which he suffered death. On February 25th, 1601, his head was taken off at the third blow ; though the first deprived him of all sense and motion. Thus he fell with great magnanimity in his thirty-fourth year. The Queen, who came reluctantly to the resolution of executing him, never recovered from her sorrow and compunction at his death. " In respect to the public," says the writer of his life in the Biographia Britannica, " he was truly a patriot, had a great re- gard to his Sovereign's honour, and no less zeal for his country's service. He valued himself on losing a father and brother, and in spending a great part of his substance in the cause of both. His projects were high, but very honourable, and the difficulties with which they were embarrassed, seemed rather to invite than to deject him. He was, however, too covetous of royal favour, and some say, not respectful enough of the royal person ; and if there was any truth in this, his fault was inexcusable, the Queen preventing his merit by her favours, as well as rewarding it by- honours. Nor did he feel the sunshine only, but the dew of the court 5 since if the lord treasurer BuckhuYst computed right, and he was r.o enemy to my Lord of Essex, he received in grants, pen- sions, and places, to the amount of three hundred thousand pounds j but then as he received all this from, he spent \tfor the public : and if he sometimes appeared covetous, it was that he might be always generous j for, to his honour be it spoken, learn- ing never approached him ungraced, merit unrewarded, or want without receiving relief. His Sovereigns' favour he lost often ; j 2 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the fidelity of his friends, and the affection of the people never; yet he sometimes trusted those who had formerly been his ene- mies and was not fortunate in all his enterprises, which renders the wonder greater. As to his person, he is reported to have been tall, but not very well made, his countenance reserved, his air rather martial than courtly, very careless in dress, and very little addicted to trifling diversions. Learned he was, and a lover of learned men j wrote with that facility which is the true mark of genius, with that closeness and perspicuity which is the hap- piest fruit of learning, and that noble simplicity which is the cha- racteristic of a great mind. Sincere in his friendship, but not so careful as he ought to have been in making a right choice j sound in his morals, except in the point of gallantry, and thoroughly well affected to the protestant religion, of which he had very just notions, despising alike meanness of superstition^ and the folly of infidelity. h" " The Earl of Essex," says Mr. Hume, u was but thirty-four years of age when his rashness, imprudence, and violence brought him to an untimely end. We must here, as in other instances, lament the inconstancy of human nature, that a person endowed with so many noble virtues, generosity, sincerity, friendship, valour, eloquence, and industry, should in the latter period of his life, have given reins to his ungovernable passions, and involved not only himself, but so many of his friends in utter ruin. The Queen's tenderness and compassion for him, as it was the cause of those premature honours wThich he attained, seems on the whole the chief circumstance which brought on his unhappy fate. Confident of her partiality toward him, as well as of his own merit, he treated her with a haughtiness which neither her love nor her dignity could bear j and as her amorous inclination, in so advanced an age, would naturally appear ridiculous, if not odious in his eyes, he was engaged by an imprudent openness, of which he made pro- fession, to discover too easily these sentiments to her. The many reconciliations, and returns of affection, of which he still made advantage, induced him to venture on new provocations, till he pushed her beyond all bounds of patience -, and he forgot, that though the sentiments of the woman were ever strong in her, those of the sovereign had still in the end appeared predominant."1 His Lordship left issue, by Frances his wife, daughter and h From theliiog. Brit. vol. v. p. i^r — 159. J Hume's Hist, of Eng. vol. v. p. 431. Edit 1789. VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 13 heir to Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state, and widow of the famous Sir Philip Sidney, one son, and two daughters, k viz. Robert, third Earl of Essex j Lady Frances, and Lady Dorothy, who were restored in blood, A. D. 1003. Lady Frances, the eldest daughter, was married to William Seymour, Marquis and Earl of Hertford, afterwards restored to the Dukedom of Somerset j l and Lady Dorothy (the other sister) was first wedded to Sir Henry Shirley, of Stanton-Harold, in com. Leicester, Bart, (from whom descend the present Earl Ferrers and Marquis Townshend,) and, secondly, to William Stafford, Esq. Robert, fourth Viscount Hereford, and third Earl of Essex, his only son, was born at Essex- House, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, in 1592 ; and was restored on the accession of King James to his father's forfeited honours. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford, where he took the degree of A.M. in 1605. The most memorable circumstance of his life, during this reign, was his unhappy marriage with Lady Frances Howard. A long account of this affair, so injurious to the Earl, and so dis- graceful to the Lady and the court, may be found in Arthur Wil- sons History t and this and many more particulars in the Memoirs of King James's Peers. " The Treasurer Salisbury," says Wilson, " that great engine of the state, by whom all wheels moved, held an intimate corre- spondence with the house of Suffolk, which he had strengthened with an alliance ; marrying his eldest son, the Lord Cranborn, to Catherine, the eldest daughter of that family. And being mindfull of the asperity and sharpnesse that was betwixt him and the late Earl of Essex, he thought it a good act of policy and piety, not to suffer malice to become hereditary j and therefore h* was a great means in marrying the young Earl of Essex to the Lady Frances Howard, another of those sisters -, that the father's enmity might be closed up by the son's nuptial fraternity. The Earl of Essex was fourteen years of age, and she thirteen, when they were married ; too young to consider, but old enough to consent : yet, by the advice of friends, separated after marriage: k There is mention in «' Camden's Annals of King James, Anno 1608," of a daughter Elizabeth, who married Viscount Haddington. 1 Whose heir general and representative was the late Duke of Chandos, whoje only child married the present Earl Temple- 14 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. she under her mothers's wing, and he visiting France and Ger- many, till time should mature and ripen a happy co-union. The court was her nest, her father being lord chamberlain -, and she was hatched up by her mother, whom the sour breath of that age (how justly I know not) had already tainted j from whom the young lady might take such a tincture, that ease, greatness, and court-glories, would more distain and impress on her, than any way wear out and diminish. And growing to be a beauty of the greatest magnitude in that horizon, was an object fit for admirers, and every tongue grew an oratour at that shrine," &c. &c. The subsequent intrigues and divorce of the wretched Countess, and her marriage with the minion Carr, are a stain upon the pages of our history, and may be found fully detailed in the authorities already referred to. Lord Essex naturally felt much chagrin at this unhappy affair, and endeavoured to hide himself in the country from the observ- ance and ridicule of the world. His venerable castle of Chartley, in Staffordshire, of which a curious view may be seen in Plott's History of that county, was commonly the place of his residence. Here he lived with great magnificence, in a friendly correspon- dence with all the gentlemen of the country round about him j and in process of time, with as general affection and respects from all ranks and degrees of people as he possibly could desire. Some- times he made a tour to Drayton, next to Tamworth, where his grandmother, the Countess of Leicester, resided: and sometimes he visited his brother-in-law, the Earl of Hertford, in Wiltshire. Manly sports, such as hunting, shooting, and riding long journies, made a great part of his summer recreations. In the winter, good cheer, feasting, with masks and plays, composed commonly by Arthur Wilson, who was his groom of the chambers, served to mitigate his melancholy, and to give the country gentlemen content. ■ In this manner he passed near seven years 5 and then in the ipring of 1620, the war being hot in the Palatinate, his Lordship, at the request of his friend Henry Earl of Oxford, resolved to go thither, under the command of Sir Horatio Vere, an old soldier, of great reputation. The two Earls proposed to raise each a regi- ment) but carried over companies only for the present, composed, ■ Biog. Brit, id edit. vol. v. p. 157, Arthur Wilson's Account of his own Life, in Peck's Desid. cur. i, cap. iv. VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 15 however, for the most part, of gentlemen, who went rather to ac- quire knowledge in the art of war, than to obtain either pay or preferment in the service. The two Earls had 250 men apiece in each company; " and so many," says Wilson, " flocked to Essex out of love, (and he loth to put them off,) that he carried 300 men into the Palatinate, paying fifty of them out of his own money." n Though the fatigues and disappointments these Earls met with in their first martial adventure, might have discouraged them from proceeding, yet these lords went over again into Holland, in 1621 ; and in quality of volunteers, put themselves under the direction of Prince Maurice, of Nassau, and by their behaviour merited the general applause of the whole army. ° They returned in the winter to England, where they both steered the same course in giving some opposition to the designs of the court in parliament j where, though the Earl of Essex was never eloquent, yet he spoke very pertinently, and was very well heard. "Essex," says Wilson, " had ever an honest heart; and, though nature had not given him eloquence, he had a strong reason, that did express him better. His countenance, to those that knew him not, appeared somewhat stern and solemn ; to in- timates affable and gentle ; to the females obhgingly courteous j and though unfortunate in some, yet highly respected of most, happily to vindicate the virtue of the sex. The King never af- fected him ; whether from the bent of his natural inclination to effeminate faces, or whether from that instinct or secret prediction that divine fate often imprints in the apprehension, whereby he did foresee in him (as it were) a hand raised up against his pos- terity, may be a notation, not a determination. But the King never liked him, nor could he close with the court. P We cannot much wonder, after the disobligations that Lord Essex received from court, at his accepting the commission, in the subsequent reign, of general of the parliament forces : this was in 16J2. The King had, in 163.Q, made him the lieutenant-ge- neral of his forces, in the northern expedition. But did not em- ploy him, when the next army was raised, " which," Lord Cla- ren on says, M was a great pity ; for it had infallibly pn served him from swerving from his duty; and he would have discharged b Hist, p 136. • Biog. Brit. Codrington's Life of Lord Essex. p His,i. p. 16*. [ 16 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. liis trust with courage and fidelity ; and, therefore, probably with success : but he was of a haughty spirit, and did not think his last summer's service so well requited, that he was earnestly to solicit for ai. "»ther office ; though there is no doubt but he would hav« accepted it, if it had been ofFered." u A weak judgment, and some vanity, and much pride, will hurry a man into as unwar- rantable, and as violent attempts, as the greatest and most un- limited, and insatiable ambition will do. He had no ambition of title, or office, or preferment, but only to be kindly looked upon, and kindly spoken to, and quietly to enjoy his own fortune : and, without doubt, no man in his nature more abhorred rebellion than he did, nor could he have been led into it by any open and ap- parent temptation ; but by a thousand disguises and couzenages. His pride supplied his want of ambition, and he was angry to see any other man more respected than himself, because he thought he deserved it more, and did better requite it. For he was in his friendship just and constant ; and would not have practised foully, against those he took to be his enemies. No man had credit enough with him to corrupt him, in point of loyalty to the King, whilst he thought himself wise enough to know what treason was. But the new doctrine and distinction of allegiance, and of the King's power in and out of parliament, and the new notions of ordi- nances, were too hard for him, and did really intoxicate his under- standing, and made him quit his own to follow theirs; who, he thought, wished as well, and judged better than himself. His vanity disposed him to be his excellency ; and his weakness to believe, that he should be the general in the houses, as well as in the field j and be able to govern their counsels, and restrain their passions, as well as to fight their battles 5 and that, by this means, he should become the preserver, and not the destroyer, of the King and kingdom. With this ill-grounded confidence, he launched out into that sea, where he met with nothing but rocks and shelves, and from whence he could never discover any safe port to harbour in." In April, 1 645, in consequence of the self- denying ordinance, he resigned his command, In the following year, the King being a prisoner, great differences arose between the parliament and the army j and " the presbyterian party," says Clarendon, " would have new-modelled the army again, if it had not pleased God to have taken away the Earl of Essex, some months before this, who died" (September 1047,) " without being sensible of sickness, in a time when he might have been able to have undont much of the mischief he had formerly wrought 5 t© VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 17 which he had great inclination 5 and had indignation enough for the indignities himself had received, from the ungrateful parlia- ment, and wonderful apprehension and detestation of the ruin he saw likely to befal the King, and the kingdom. And it is, very probable, considering the present temper of the city at that time, and of the two houses, he might, if he had lived, have given some check to the rage and fury tint then prevailed -, but God would not suffer a man, who, out of the pride and vanity of his nature, rather than the wickedness of his heart, had been made an instru- ment of so much mischief, to have any share in so glorious a work. Though his constitution, and temper, might very well in- cline him to the lethargic indisposition of which he died, yet it was very loudly said, by many of his friends, ' that he was poi- soned.' Sure it is, that Cromwell, and his party, (for he was now declared head of the army, though Fairfax continued general in name,) were wonderfully exalted with his death j he being the only person whose credit and interest they feared, without any esteem of his person." He was honoured with knighthood at Windsor, with his High- ness Charles Prince of Wales, afterwards King Charles II. when he was to be installed Knight of the Garter, on May 20lh, 1(538. He died September 14th, * l64f, r or rather 1646, and was pompously buried on October 22d, in St. Paul's chapel within Westminster-abbey. The two houses of parliament, as they were then called, attended his funeral, towards which they ordered 5000/. to be paid, and a hearse was erected for him in the South Cross, which was afterwards by Cromwell's soldiers defaced, his effigies hacked to pieces, his spurs and achievements torn down. He married first, the Lady Frances, second daughter to Tho- mas Howard, first Earl of Suffolk j but, that marriage being nulli- fied for impotency, as before alluded to, his Lady was re-married to Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset ; and He took to his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Powlet, of Edington in com. Wilts, Knight, who bore to him a son, Robert, who died an infant. His Lordship dying without surviving issue male, the Earl- doms of Essex and Eu became extinct, and the Baronies of Ferrers, Bouchier, and Lovaine, continued in abeyance, till Charles II. revived them in the person of Sir Robert Shirley, afterwards Earl 1 Seymour's Survey of London, vol. ii. fol, 554. t Lord Clarendon says 1646. VOL. VI. C Ul l8 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Ferrers : but the title of Viscount Hereford devolved on Sir Walter Devereux, eldest surviving son of Sir Edward Devereux, of Castle Bromwich, before-mentioned, only son of Walter, first discount Hereford, by his second wife, Margaret Garnish. The said Sir Edward Devereux, of Castle-Bromwich, was created a Baronet on November 25th, 1 6 12, 10 Jac. I. and died September 22d, 1()22, and is buried at Aston in Warwickshire.1 By Catherine, his wife, eldest daughter of Edward Arden, of Park ■ Hall in Warwickshire, he had six sons, and four daughters. Of the sons, ** Ambrose, the eldest, died unmarried in the lifetime of his father. Sir Walter, the second, succeeded to his father's honours and estate, as shall be shewn. William, the third son, died unmarried. Sir George Devereux, of Sheldon-hall in Warwickshire, the fourth, shall be treated of as continuator of the wale line. Edward, the fifth son, died unmarried ; and Henry, the sixth son, married Barbara, daughter and heir of Robert Smalbroke, of Yardley, Esq. but left no issue. Margaret, the eldest daughter, was wedded to Sir Hugh Wrot- tesley, of Wrottesley in Staffordshire, Knight ; Anne was married to Robert Leighton, of Watlesborough in Shropshire, Esq. ; Howard was the wife of Thomas Dilke, of Maxtoke castle, War- wickshire, Esq. ; and Grace was the youngest daughter. Lady Catherine, their mother, died November 2d, 1627, and is buried at Aston, aforesaid. ■ Sir Walter Devereux, fifth Viscount Hereford, as aforesaid, second, but eldest surviving son of Sir Edward Deve- reux, Bart, of Castle-Bromwich, claiming, upon the death of Robert, last Earl of Essex, the dignity of discount Hereford, by virtue of the entail on the heirs male, had the same allowed and confirmed to him in parliament, A.D. 1646. Ha first married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Robert Bayspoole, of Aldeby in Norfolk, Esq. but she dying without issue, He took to his second wife, Elizabeth, second daughter of Thomas Knightliy, of Borough-hall, near Knightley, in the county of Stafford, and of Fawesley, in Northamptonshire, Esq. and had issue by her five sons 3 whereof t Dugdale's Warwickshire, fol. 613. u ibid- VISCOTTNT HEREFORD. . 19 Walter, the third, died without issue } Edward and John, the fourth and fifth sons, died unmarried. Of the other two sons, Essex, the eldest, married Anne, daughter of Sir William Courteen, of the city of London, Knight, but died in his father's lifetime without issue, and his widow was afterwards married to Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawesley, Knight of the Bath, x whereupon Leicester Devereux, the second son, succeeded his father as sixth Viscount Hereford, and departed this life on De- cember 1st, 1676, leaving issue, by Elizabeth his first wife, daughter and heir to Sir William Withipole, Knt. (who brought him the lordship of Christ-church, in Ipswich) one daughter, named Frances, married to William, Viscount Tracy, of the king- dom of Ireland. And by Priscilla, his second wife, daughter of John Catch- pole, of the county of Suffolk, Esq. he left issue two sons and two daughters, viz. Leicester Devereux, his eldest son and heir, who suc- ceeded him as seventh Viscount Hereford, but died in March 1682-3, being then about nine years of age ; whereupon Edward Devereux, second son, became eighth Viscount Hereford, after the death of his brother, and took his place in the house of peers, on October 20th, JtX)fj. He married, in 1689, Elizabeth, daughter and coheir to Walter Norborne, of Calne in com. Wilts, Esq. but died without issue on August 9th, 1700, and his relict was afterwards married to John Sims Berkeley, of Stoke Gifford in Gloucestershire, Esq. who died December 11th, 1736, leaving by her a son, Norborne Berkeley, who was after- wards summoned to Parliament, as Baron Botetourt, but died without issue, at his government of Virginia, in North America; and an only daughter, Elizabeth, the late Duchess Dowager of Beaufort. Elizabeth, his eldest sister, died unmarried ; and Anne, the second, becoming at length sole heir to her brother the said Ed- ward Viscount Hereford, married first with Leicester Martin, Esq. in her nght of Christ-church, in Ipswich, by whom she had an only daughter and heir, married to Price, tenth Viscount Hen i. rd. The male issue, of this branch being thus extinct by the death of the aforesaid Edward, eighth Viscount Hereford, without issue, * Bridges'* Northamp- fol. 70. 20 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. we return to Sir George Devereux, of Sheldon-Hall in Warwick- shire, fourth son of Sir Edward Devereux, of Castle-Bromwich, aforesaid. The said Sir George Devereux, by Blanch his wife, daughter and heir of Sir John Ridge, of Ridge in Shropshire, Knight, had issue, First, George. Second, Walter. Third, Arden. Fourth, Edward. Fifth, William. Sixth, Samuel ; and Seventh, Robert. Gborge, the eldest son, married Bridget, daughter and heir of Arthur Price, of Vaynor in Montgomeryshire, Esq. and had issue, First, Price. Second, Vaughan, grandfather of Edward, eleventh Viscount. Third, Arthur, who died without issue 1709. Fourth, Edward. Fifth, Walter. Sixth, George, who left a son, William; and Seventh, Essex, who had a son, Price. Price, the eldest son, died in 1666, before his father, having married Mary, daughter of Stephens, of Bristol, Esq. and was by her father of Price, the ninth Viscount Hereford, who took his place in the house of peers, on February 19th, 1701. His Lordship married Mary, second daughter of Samuel Sandys, of Ombersley- court, in com. Wigorn, Esq. ancestor to the late Lord Sandys, and by her (who died on January 14th, 1 728-9,) left issue one son, Price Devereux, born on June 9th, 1694 ; and One daughter, Mary, married to William Price, of Vaend in the county of Flint, Esq. His Lordship died in October, 1740, at his seat at Vaynor in Montgomeryshire, in the seventy-seventh year of his age; and to him succeeded his only son, Price Devereux, tenth Viscount Hereford; who mar- ried, on January 3d, 1 720-2 1 , Elizabeth, sole daughter and heir of Leicester Martin, Esq. before-mentioned ; which Lady having no issue, His Lordship, in July 1740, married, secondly, Eleanora, VISCOUNT HEREFORD. 21 daughter of Price, Esq. of Plimlas in Merionethshire j and dying July 27th, 1748, without issue by her, who survived him till June 13th, 1763, the honour descended to the issue male of Vaughan Devereux, Esq. second son of George Devereux, Esq. by his wife Bridget Price, as already taken notice of. The said Vaughan Devereux, Esq. was seated at Nantaribba, in com. Montgomery; and had sepulture at Berrew, in the year 1 700. By Mary, his wife, a daughter of Fox, Esq. he left a son, Arthur Devereux, of Nantaribba, Esq. who married two wives, first a daughter of Evan Glynn, of Glynn, Esq. and by her had two sons j Arthur, buried at Forden, on January 25th, 1737, without issue j and Vaughan, who died an infant in 1712. The said Arthur i.evereux, Esq. by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Glynn, Esq. had issue Edward, eleventh Vis- count Hereford, which Edward, the eleventh Viscount Hereford, took his seat in the house of peers on April 3d, 17.50. His Lordship married Catharine, daughter of Richard Mytton, of Garth in the county of Montgomery, Esq. and by that Lady, who died on February 22d, 1748, had issue, First, Bridget, born on May gth, 1/39, married to Price Jones, of Glanhafren, Montgomeryshire, Esq. December 1760. She died May2lst, 1781. Second, Arthur Devereux, who was born on March 25th, 1740, died on September 17th, 1743, and was buried at Forden in Montgomeryshire. Third, Edward, twelfth Viscount Hereford. Fourth, Arthur Devereux, who was born on February 10th, 1741-2, and died on September 17th, 1743. Fifth, Catharine, born on February 7th, 1742-3. Sixth, George Devereux, thirteenth Viscount, born on April 25 th, 1744. The said Edward, Viscount Hereford, departed this life on August 21st, 1760. and was buried at Forden, being succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Edward, twelfth Viscount Hereford, who was born on February 19th, 1 740-1, and at his accession to the peerage was an officer in the first regiment of foot-guards. His Lordship mar- ried, on June 2d, 1 774, the Honourable Miss Henrietta Charlotta Tracy, (one of the maids of honour to her Majesty,) daughter of the late Anthony Keck, Esq. but took the name and arms of 22 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Tracy, pursuant to the will of her uncle "Tracy, late one of the Barons of the Exchequer : his Lordship died without issue, Au- gust 1st, J /83, and was succeeded by his brother, George, thirteenth Viscount Hereford, born April 25th, 1/44, married, December 1 5th, 17^8, his cousin, Mariana, only daughter and heiress of George Devereux, Esq. of Tregoyd, in Breconshire, by whom he had issue thirteen children, six of whom have survived him. First, Henry, the fourteenth Viscount. Second/ Marianna, married Sir James Cockburn, ofLangton, Baronet of Nova Scotia. Third, Charlotte-Henrietta-Maria. Fourth, Juliana-Stratford-Maria. Fifth, Catharine-Eliza-Marianna, married, March 25th, 1806, Walter Wilkins, junior, of Maeslough, Radnorshire, Esq. Sixth, Georgianna-Marianna, married, June 14th, I8O9, Thynne Howe Gwynne, Esq. at Glasbury, Breconshire. The Viscount deceasing December 31st, 1804, was succeeded by his only son, Henry, the fourteenth Viscount Hereford, married December 15th, 1805, Miss Cornwall, daughter of Sir George Cornwall, of Moccas in Herefordshire, Bart, hy whom he has a son, born November 19th, 1807. Titles. Henry Devereux, Viscount Hereford, and Baronet, premier Viscount of England. Creations. Baronet, November 25th, 1612, 10 Jac. I. Vis- count of the county of Hereford, by letters patent, February 2d, 1549-50, 4 Edward VI. Arms. Argent, a fess, Gules, in chief three Torteaux. Crest. In a ducal coronet, Or, a talbot's head, Argent, eared, Gules. Supporters. On the dexter side, a talbot, Argent, eared, Gules, gorged with a ducal coronet of the second. On the sinister, a rein-deer of the last, attired, groged with a ducal coronet, and chained, Or. Motto. Viktutis Comes Invidia. Chiej Seat. At Nantaribba in the county of Montgomery, VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 23 BELASYSE, VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG The name of this family in old deeds and records has been wrote Belasise, Bellasves, Bellas, &c. from the town of Belasyse in the bishopric of Durham, of which the ancestors of the present Vis- count Fauconberg were owners, soon after the conquest. Belasius, a Norman Knight, came into England with Wil- liam the Conqueror, A. D. 1006, and was general4 of those forces sent in 107J, to suppress Egelwinus, bishop of Durham, Earl Morcar, and others, who betook themselves to the isle of Ely, which they held against the Conqueror, until the said Belasius reduced them to obedience : and the place which he chose to en- camp in with his army, being on the south end of Alderheath, is to this day called Belsars-hills, corruptly from his name. His son, Rouland, b married Elgiva the daughter and heir of Ralph de Belasyse, of Belasyse in the bishopric of Durham, and therefore wrote himself Rouland Belasyse de Belasyse, and was also possessed of Beuly in the said county, c and died in the reign of King Henry I. leaving Ralph his son and heir. To whom succeeded William de Belasis (as it was then wrote) who d confirmed to William, son of Robert, and his heirs, the town of Belasis, with the appurtenances and liberties, by his charter without date : whereunto Richard Vavasor, Marg. Vava- sor, and others, are witnesses. It seems to be very ancient, and 6 Ex Stemmate penes praehon- Tho. Com. Fauconberg. b Segar's Baronage, MS. ' c Ibid. d £x Eviden. huj Famil. in Stemmate piaed. 24 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the seal appendant is a man on horseback in complete armour, brandishing a sword. It may be presumed that Robert was son, and William grandson, to the said William deBelasisj for the oldest deeds are very short, and do not often describe the parties thereto. Cotemporary with these was Hervisius de Belasise, e who, by his charter without date (as was the custom in ancient times) granted to the canons of St. Mary of Giseburgh in Yorkshire, in free alms, his lands in Alverton. The next I meet with is Rouiand de Bellas ise, f who mar- ried Mary, daughter and heir to Sir Henry Spring, of Houghton le Spring, or Houghton on the Spring, in the bishopric of Dur- ham, Knight, by his wife the daughter and heir of Robert Ber- nard. The said Rouiand, by his marriage with the aforesaid Mary, became possessed of the manor and lands of the said Houghton le Spring, 8 as also of Beter, Burdon, and other places, as appears by his charter in 24 Hen. III. to which is a seal ap- pendant, of a cheveron between three fiowers-de-lis (the same arms the family now bear) impaling an escutcheon between six martlets, the arms of Spring. This Rouiand de Bellasise was knighted11 at the battle of Lewes in Sussex, on May 14th, 1 264, when the King was taken prisoner by Simon Montford, Earl of Leicester, and other barons. A figure of a knight in armour ' in a praying posture, with his sword by his side, reposing his head on a cushion, and at his feet a lion, is yet remaining in the church of Houghton, said to be for this Sir Rouiand de Belasise, who was k succeeded by Roger his son and heir. Which Roger de Belasise had to wife1 Joan, daughter of Sir Robert Harbottle, Knight, by whom he had issue two sons, Sir Robeit and John ; also a daughter, Elizabeth, married to Thomas Madison, of Unthankhall in Wardale. The younger son married Mary, daughter of Roger Bertram, and the elder, Sir Robert Belasise, Knt. by m Anne his wife, daughter of Sir William Gouldbourne, had issue n Sir John Belasise, and four daughters, ° viz. Mary, married to John de Lambton -} Anne, to • Ex Eviden. huj. Famil. inStemmate praed. t Ex-Stemmate praed. and Lilly's Pedig. of Nobility, MS. p. 144* « Chart. 24 Hen. III. * Ex Stemmate. 1 Ibid. k Lilly praed. 1 Ibid. m ibid. • Ibid. 0 Ex lib. visit- Ebor. VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 25 Robert de Fowbrayj Ursula, to James de Claxtonj and, Frances, to William de Wickliffe. Sir John wedded Oswald, daughter of Sir William Talbois, and by her had two sons,^ John, his heir, and Thomas, who mar- ried Mary, daughter of Thomas de Whitwell. Sir John, by the same wife, was also father of three daughters, viz. Dionysia, who wedded Sir Gerard Salveyn, Knight, and after his decease took the veil ; Jane, espoused to Robert de Buckton j and Eliza- beth, the wife of Hamon Byrd, of Newcastle-upon-Tynne. John, the eldest son, married Alice, daughter of John de la Hay, by whom he had issue two sons, m William, of whom here- after, and John, who married Maud, daughter of John Doolard, of Auklandj and also a daughter, Mary, the wife of William de Featherstonhaugb, of Featherstonhaugh in Northumberland. The said Alice, by her deed, dated at Wolveston, on the morrow of St. Mark the Evangelist, 13 16, writing herself Alice de la Hay, relict of John de Belasise, releases to William de Belasise, and Maud his wife, in consideration of a certain sum of money received, all her right and title to the land which she and her husband were enfeoffed of by Hugh Marshall, witness Gilbert de Bello Loco, and others. William de Belasyse (son and hdr of John) married Maud, daughter andr coheir of William Bellingham, of Belling- ham, Esq. by whom 8 he had issue, John, his son and heir, and a daughter, Joan, wife of John Bussy, Esq. In a plea at Durham, before Robert de Brampton, Adam de Boughs (Bowes) and Richard de Stanlaw, justices of Lewis (Beaumont) bishop of Dur- ham, at the assizes held in the first year of his pontificate (anno J 3 17) William de Belasyse, and Maud, his wife, were summoned to answer Richard del Halle, of Wolveston, and Isabel his wife, who pleaded, that they held of them, by agreement, one mes« suage and sixty acres of land, &c. in Wolveston : whereunto William and Maud made answer, that they were ready to make good the agreement. But John, son of John de Belasyse, of Wolveston, appeared and said, that the aforesaid William Belasyse, and others, had no power to make such agreement, because they had no right to the said lands, being tenants in fee-tail to them and their heirs ; and that the said John is the next heir apparent to the aforesaid lands. And thereupon the said William, being asked what right he had p Ex Stemmateut antea. <) Ibid. r Lilly. « Ibid. 26 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. to the lands? said, that William, son of Ralph Bellingham, died seised of a messuage and twenty-four acres of land in Wolveston, and that Maud and Christian were his daughters and heirs, between whom division was made of the said lands, &c. and that he married Maud 5 and that John, son of Richard, married Chris- tian, who granted their part to him, and the said Maud his wife. John, son and heir of the said William Belasyse, l was knight- ed. And by indenture, bearing date at Durham, on the Monday after the feast of St. Andrew, 1380, between the prior and con- vent of the church of St. Cuthbert of Durham, of the one part, and John de Belasyse, on the other part, it is witnessed, that the said John gave and confirmed to the said prior and convent, and their successors, all his lands and tenements, rents, and services, with the appurtenances in Wolveston (now called Oulston) in ex- change for the manor of Henknoll, to hold to the said prior and convent, in pure and free alms for ever. And the said prior and convent gave and granted in exchange to the said John, and his heirs and assigns, the said manor of Henknoll, with the appurte- nances. Whereunto Sir Ralph Eure, Sir John Coigniers, and others, were witnesses. Also by another deed of the same date, Robert, the prior and convent of Durham, assign Allan de Belling- ham, and John de Elnett, to deliver seisin of the manor of Henk- noll to John de Belayss. And afterwards Robert de Herelsey* clerk, releases to John de Belasys, sen. and his heirs and assigns, all the right he had to the manor of Henknoll, with the appur- tenances: dated at Durham, June 16th, 1391, 14 Richard II. Within the manor of Wolveston was the lordship of Belasise -} and on the said exchange this proverb had its rise in the bishopric of Durham : Belasise, Belassis, daft was thy nowle, When thou gave Bellassis for Henknowle. . Belasyse Cross, in the bishoprick of Durham, v was erected by this Sir John Belasyse, who, by Alice his wife, daughter of Sir Robert Hansard, of Walworth, Knight, had issue x Robert Bela- syse, his son and heir, and two daughters; first, Elizabeth, mar- ried, first, to Thomas Brigham, Esq. and, secondly, to Sir John Cranlington, Knight j second, Julian, successively the wife of John Fishburn, of Fishburn in the bishopric of Durham, Esq. and of Sir John Waddon, Knight. t Lilly. u Ex Stemrnatc. * Ibid. I VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 27 The said Robert Belasyse, y by his charter dated at Henk- noll, the Friday after the feast of Easter, 1407, grants to William de Lambton, and William de Lambton, jun. Robert and Thomas, sons of the said William, his whole manor of Henknoll, &c. which was in order to a settlement ; for he married Alice, daughter z to Robert Lamplugh, of Lamplugh in Cumberland, and by her had issue four sons, John, William, Robert, and Geoffrey. John Bellasis died ■ in 18 Henry VI. leaving Alice, his daughter and heir, thirty years of age, by Jonetta his wife, daughter of Thomas Tipping, b Esq. whereupon William, his brother, suc- ceeded to the estate. Which William married Cecilie, daughter and heir of Wil- liam Hoton (as the name was wrote in l46l, 1 Edw. IV.) of Butterwickj«and in 28 Henry VI. he c settles on Thomas Bela- syse, his son and heir, and Margery, daughter of Richard Dalton, of West Auckland in the bishopric of Durham, Esq. in free mar- riage, all his lands in his manor of Henknoll, to hold to the said Thomas and Margery, and their heirs. He was living in 6 Edw. IV. as appears by a deed between him and Stephen Shotten, of Newcastle-upon-Tvnne, Gent. Thomas Belasyse in 1 Edw. IV. is, in a charter, wrote d son and heir of William Belasyse, and of Cecilie his wife, daughter and heir of William Hoton (or Hutton) late of Butterwyke, Esq. by which charter Ralph Hoton, of Hunwyke, Esq. (son and heir of William Hoton, late of Hunwyke, and cousin and heir of Joan, who was the wife of William Hoton, of Herdwyke) giants to the said Thomas Belasyse all the right and claim he had in the towns and territories of Redmershall, Butterwykc, or Rongton in com. Ebor. bcc. dated at Hunwyke, January 20th, 1461-2, 1 Edw. IV. By the Ik fore mentioned Margery, daughter of Richard Dalton, Esq. his first wife, he had only two daughters, who both died young : and, after her decease, taking to his second wife Mar- garet, daughter of Sir Lancelot Thirkeld, of Melmerby in York- shire, Knight,® had issue by her two sons, Richard, and Anthony, LL. D. of whom afterwards 5 and two daughters, Elizabeth, f y Chart. 8 Henry IV. z Ex Stemmatc ■ Esc 18 Henry VI. b G3— 26, b. C. 29— 87, b. in Her. Coll. « Chart 28 Hen. VI- * Chart 1 Edw. IV. e Ex Stemmate. f In the pedigree of Sir Edward Smythe, of E&hein com. Durham, Bart, she is called Isabel, wife of William Clervaux, of Croftbridge in the com of Durham, Esq Arms of Clervaux, S a cross, or. 28 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. wife of William Clervaux, of Croft in Yorkshire, Esq. and Mar- garet, of Anthony Smith, of Kelton, Esq. second son of John Smith, of Stainton in com. Durham. Richard, the eldest son, on August 20th, 1518, settles divers lands in his manor of Henknoll, on Margaret Simpson, his mother, for term of her life, whereby it appears that she had a second husband. And on March 4th, 1527-8, * the said Richard Bela- syse was constituted constable of the castle of Durham, during life, to officiate by himself or sufficient deputies. He was also h of the council of the North, on the first establishment. He » married Margery, eldest daughter and heir of Richard Errington, of Cokel, or Cockley, in Northumberland, and Morton, Esq. and died on March 26th, 1540, seised of the manors of k Henknoll, Bradwood, Barington, and Scole Aclac, in the bishopric of Dur- ham, and Heigheington and Pelton ; and of lands in bishop Auck- land, Wardale, and Swandburn, in the same county. By the said Margery, his wife, he had seven sons j William, who died an in- fant ; William, who was his heir, and knighted j Anthony, Francis, Thomas, who all three died unmarried -, as did also the two youngest, another Anthony, and Richard. He had also four daughters, viz, Cecilia; Anne; Margaret, the wife of William Pulleyne, of Scotton in Yorkshire, Esq.; and Jane wedded to John, son and heir of Sir Ralph Hed worth, of Harroton in the palatinate of Durham. This Richard Belasyse, leaving Sir Wil- liam his son and heir, only sixteen years of age, ' at his death, Anthony Belasyse, Richard's younger brother, obtained his lord- ship. The said Anthony Belasyse was doctor of laws, and master in Chancery, in 36 Hen. VIII. when hem was one of the four, specially appointed by the King, to hear causes and pass decrees in the court of Chancery, in the absence of Sir Thomas Wriothes- ley, lord chancellor. And in the n reign of King Edward VI. being wrote Anthony Belasis, Esq. he was one of the King's council in the North. On the dissolution of the monasteries, he obtained from that King a grant of the priory of Newborough in com. Ebor. which he afterwards gave to Sir William Bellasyse, Knight, his nephew, son of Richard, his elder brother, before % Pat. i9, Henry VIII. h Ex Stemmate. ' Cole's Esc. lib. 5, N.6i, A. iC, p. 59, in Bibl. Harl. 1 Lsc. 32, Henry VIII. 1 Ex Stemmatr m Rymer's Feed. torn. 15, p. 58. »> Strype's Mem. vol. ii. p. 458. VISGOUNT FAUCONBERG. 29 mentioned. He died in 1552; and, though a layman, was arch- deacon of Colchester, and prebendary of Westminster and Lin- coln. Sir William Bellasyse aforesaid, lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and was sheriff of Yorkshire in 1574, the six- teenth year of that reign. He wrote himself of Newborough in 1584,° when his grandson Thomas was seven years of age; and before that time had the honour of knighthood conferred on him. He lived to eighty-one years of age, and died on April 13th, 1604. He had been justice of peace sixty years, and a knight fifty, and saw his son and grandchild knighted before his death. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Nicholas Fairfax, p of Malton, and Gilling in com. Ebor. Knight, by whom he had issue six sons; first, Nicholas, who was christened on October 3d, 1551 , and died young ; second, Henry, 1 his heir; third, Charles; fourth, Bryan, of Morton in the bishopric of Durham, r who was born at Newborough, on July 19th, 1559, and dying on December 3d, 1607, aged forty-eight, was buried in the church of Houghton le Spring, before mentioned; leaving by his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir George Selby, a son, Sir William Bellasyse, of Morton aforesaid ; fifth, Richard ; and, sixth, James, who wedded , daughter of Tonstal, of Thurland castle in Lan- cashire, sine prole. Sir William Belasyse, of Newborough, by the said Margaret Fairfax, was also father of rive daughters, viz. Anne, Jane, Margaret, Mary, (who all died young) and Catha- rine, who was christened on September 8th, 1553, and became the wife of Thomas Metham, of Metham in Yorkshire, Esq. Sir Henry Belasyse, his eldest surviving son and heir, was christened in the parish of Cockewold, on June 14th, 1555 ; he was knighted by King James I. ats York, on April 17th, l6'03, in his journey to London; and was1 created a Baronet on June 29, l6l 1, at the first institution of that dignity. He lived in great hospitality, and was the first named " in the commission of the peace for the North Riding of the county of York, in 1625. He had to wife Ursula, daughter of Sir Thomas Fairfax, x of Denton o Visit, de com. Ebor. per Glover, Somers. p D. 4—35, b. Fairfax in Her. Coll. q Visit, de com. Ebor. per Glover, Somers. r ibid. * Philpot's Cat. of Knights. t Pat. 9 Jac I- p. 45. u Rymer's Feed. torn. 18, p 579 x d 4 — 36, 2d D. 5— 6»3, b. in Her Coll. 50 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. in com. Ebor. and by her (who after his decease married William Mallory, Esq.) he had issue Thomas, his son and heir, and two daughters, Dorothy, wife of Conyers Lord Darcy, of Hornby, and by her ancestor to the late Earl of Holdernesse -, and Mary, mar- ried to Sir William Lister, of Thornton in com. Ebor. Knight. This Sir Henry Belasyse had a monument erected in his life- time, in the cathedral of York, with the effigies of him and his lady, his son, and two daughters, with the following inscription : • Henricus Belassis, Miles et Baronettus, films Gulielmi Belassis, Militis, ex Margaret ta Filia primogenita Nicholai Fairfax de Gilling Militis 5 mortalitaiis memor, hunc tumulum Sibi et Ursulce conjugi charissimce , filice primo- genitce Thomce Fairfax de Denton Milit. posuit ; Sub quo simulrequiescunt, et gloriosum Christi Adventum expectant. Mors certa est, incerta dies, nee certa sequentum ; Cura sibi tumulum qui parat, ille sapit. Frequens mortis et novissimi judicii recordatio A peccato revocat. That the time of his death is not mentioned, may be from the confusion of the nation that then happened. Sir Thomas Belasyse, his only son and heir, y born anno 1577, was, in consideration of his great merits, advanced to the dignity of a Baron -of this realm, z by letters patent bearing date 25 Maii, 1627, 3 Car.J. by the title of Lord Fauconberg, of Yarum. And faithfully adhering to that King in the times of his unhappy troubles, was, in consideration thereof, created Viscount Fauconberg, of Henknowle in com. pal. Durh. a by letters patent, bearing date at Oxford, January 3 1st, 1642-3, 18 Car. I. His Lordship having a friendship with William Cavendish, Mar- quis of Newcastle, he followed the fortunes of that nobleman in the siege of York, which held out three months against three powerful armies, as Lord Clarendon has observed j and, on the loss of the day at the battle of Marston Moor, July 2d, 1644, the Marquis, under that anxiety of mind, having embarked at Scar- borough for Hamburgh, the Lord Fauconberg b took his share r Vis. de com. Ebor- prsed. z Pat. 3 Car. I. n. 36. » Pat. 18 Car. I. t Whitlock's Mem. p. qj. VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 31 with him in his foreign adventures. He landed with thec Mar- quis at Hamburgh on July 1st following j but I can give no further account of him, than that he was obliged to compound for his estate d with the sequestrators at 5012/. 18s. and dying in 1652, c was buried in the parish church of Cockswold in com. Ebor. He married Barbara, daughter to Sir Henry Cholmondley, of Roxby in com. Ebor. Knight, by f whom he had issue two sons, Henry, and John j and five daughters, viz. Margaret, married to Sir Edward Osborn, of Kiveton, ancestor to the present Duke of Leeds j Mary, the third wife to John Lord Darcy, of Aston; Barbara to Sir Henry Slingsby, of Scriven, in com. Ebor. Bart, of Nova Scotia, who was beheaded on June 8th, 1658, under Crom- well's usurpation ; and died, as he said on the scaffold, for being an honest man : Ursula, to Sir Walter Vavasor, of Haslewood in Yorkshire, Bart. ; and Frances, to Thomas Ingram, eldest son and heir to Sir Arthur Ingram, of Temple-Newsom in Yorkshire, Knight. John, his second son, was, in consideration of his conduct and courage in many gallant actions in the time of the rebellion, created Lord Belasyse, of Worlahy in the county of Lincoln, R by letters patent, bearing date at Oxford, January 27th, 1644-5, 20 Car. I. but this honour is now extinct. He was likewise, by the same KiDg, made lieutenant-general of the counties of York, Nottingham, Lincoln, and Derby ; governor of the city of York, and captain of the garrison of Newark upon Trent j as also cap- tain-general of his Majesty's guards. By King Charles II. he was constituted captain-general of his forces in Africa, and go- vernor of Tangier; lord lieutenant of the East Riding of York- shire ; governor of Hull j colonel of a regiment of foot, and cap- tain of the band of gentlemen pensioners j but, professing the Romish religion, resigned his employments upon passing the Test act, in 1673. A very lofty and costly monument, of curious workmanship, stands affixed to the east wall of the church, in the church-yard of St. Giles in the field", Middlesex j on which, above the sarco- phagus, is bis Lordship's coat of arms, impaling those of Powlet; and on the base the following inscription : c Life of the Duke of Newcastle, p. $3. d List of Compounders, edit. 1655, letter F. e Ex Regist Par. de Cockswold, f Ex Stemmate. k Pat. 20 Car. I. 32 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. u This monument was erected in the year of our Lord 1736, by the pious direction of the Honourable Dame Barbara Webb, wife of Sir John Webb, of Canford Magna in the county of Dorset, Bart, and the Honourable Catherine Talbot, wife of the Honourable John Talbot, of Longford in the county of Salop, Esq. surviving daughters and coheirs of the Right Honourable John Lord Belasyse, second son of Thomas Lord Viscount Fau- conberg, in memory of their most dear father, his wives and children. " Who, for his loyalty, prudence, and courage, was promoted to several commands of great trust by their Majesties King Charles I. and II. viz. having raised six regiments of horse and foot in the late civil wars, he commanded a Tertia in his Ma- jesty's armies at the battles of Edge-hill, Newbury, and Knaseby ; at the sieges of Reading and Bristol j and afterwards, being made governor of York, and commander in chief of all his Majesty's forces in Yorkshire, he fought the battle of Selby with the Lord Fairfax. And being lieutenant-general of the counties of Lin- coln, Nottingham, Derby, and Rutland, and governor of Newark, he valiantly defended that garrison against the English and Scotch armies, till his Majesty came in person to the Scotch quarters, and commanded the surrender of it. At which time he also had the honour of being general of the King's horse-guards ; in all which services, during the wars, and other achievements, he de- ported himself with eminent courage and conduct, and received many wounds, sustained three imprisonments in the Tower of London ; and, after the happy restoration of King Charless II. he was made lord-lieutenant of the East Riding of the county of York, governor of Hull, general of his Majesty's forces in Africa, governor of Tangier, captain of his Majesty's guard of gentlemen pensioners, and first lord commissioner of the Treasury to Kino- James II. He died the 10th of September, l68Q, whose re- mains are deposited in this vault. " He married, to his first wife, Jane, daughter and sole heiress of Sir Robert Boteler, of Wood hall in the county of Hertford, Knight, by whom he had Sir Henry Bdasyse, h Knight of the most honourable order of the Bath, interred in this vault 5 Mary Viscountess Dunbar, and Frances, both deceased. " He married, to his second wife, Anne, daughter and coheir h This Sir Henry mairied Anne, second daughter of Francis Lord Brude- ncll, predecessor to the present Earl of Cardigan ; but died without issue. VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 33 to Sir Robert Crane, of Chilton in the county of Suffolk, Bart, who also lies interred here. " He married, to his third wife, ! the Right Honourable the Lady Anne Powlet, second daughter of the Right Noble John Marquis of Winchester, sister to Charles late Duke of Bolton, and is here interred." On the sarcophagus, above the said inscription, is the follow- ing account of his progeny by his last lady : tf The Right Honourable John Lord Belasyse had issue, by his third marriage with the Lady Anne Powlet, three sous and nine daughters, whereof the three sons, and five of the daughters, died in their infancy 5 Honora, Lady Dowager Bergavenny, widow and relict of George Lord Bergavenny, one of the coheirs of the said John Lord Belasyse, who died without issue the 6th of January, 1706, and is interred in this vault : U The Honourable Dame Barbara Webb, and the Honourable Catharine Talbot, the two surviving daughters and coheirs, now living, who caused this monument to be erected : " Also the Honourable Isabella, the youngest daughter, who married Thomas Stoner, of Stoner, in the county of Oxon. Esq. one of the coheirs of the said late Lord Belasyse, and died without issue the 4th of June, 1/04." The Earl of Clarendon says of this Lord Belasyse, k that when he was made governor of York, he was a person of great interest in the country, and of exemplary industry and courage ; and that the King made him x governor of Newark, being allied to most of the gentlemen of the adjacent counties, and having a good estate there, he thought him more acceptable than Sir Richard Willis, whom he displaced. Henry Belasyse, eldest son and heir of Thomas Viscount Fauconberg, was one of the knights who served for Yorkshire, in the parliament which met in 1641 j and in August, 1642, m signed the articles for a neutrality in the said spacious county ; which he was induced to do, as Lord Clarendon has n observed, for that after the King had left York, and his brother Colonel John Belasyse and his regiment, with other forces, had been sent > His third wife died in 1694. k Hist, of Rebel, fol. vol ii. p 34^ 1 I b • d . p. 355. m Whitlock, p. 59. I Hist, of Rebel. il-1. p. tc6. VOL. VI. D 34 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. to his Majesty, no further supply could be raised. He gives this relation of it : " Harry Bellasis, with the Lord Fairfax, the two knights who served in parliament for Yorkshire, signed articles for a neutrality for that county, being nearly allied together, and of great kind- ness, till their several opinions and affections had divided them in this quarrel -, the Lord Fairfax adhering to the parliament, and the other with great courage and sobriety to the King." He further relates, that the principal persons of both parties subscribed the articles j but the parliament expressed their detestation of it, and reproved the Lord Fairfax and his party, for being cozened and over-reached by the other. In 1645, the militia being one of the difficult points that could not be settled in the treaty of Oxbridge, the King sent proposi- tions, that he was willing to commit the great trust of the militia of the kingdom, for such time, and with such powers, as are ex- pressed in the papers, delivered by his commissioners at Uxbridgej and nominating several persons for that trust, ° among them was this Henry Bellasis, his Majesty supposing there can be no ob- jection against them. This Henry died in his father's lifetime. He had to wife Grace, daughter and heir to Sir Thomas Barton, p of Smithells in com. Lane, i lineally descended from Ralph Barton, of Holm near Newark in com. Nott. and of Joan his wife, only daughter and heir of Sir Ralph Ratcliff, of Smithells, living in the reign of King Henry V. On a monument in Coxwold church, in Yorkshire, is the following inscription : M.S. H. S. E. Honoratissimus Henricus Belasyse Armiger, Thomae Vice-Comitis Fauconberg Filius j Quem Ingenii Eximise Dotes, Intaminata Fides, Intactaq ; Virtus, et Probitas illustris, Patriae Charum, Suisq j Ornamentum Merito Effinxerunt. ronjugem duxit unigenitam Dni. Thomae Barton Equitis De Smithells in Agro Lancas. Filiam, o Rushworth's Col. vol. vi. p. 216, 217. p D. 3— 13, b. in Her. Coll. q Ex. Stemmatc VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 35 Ex quibus Numerosa effluxit progenies, Maria, Thomas facultatum et virtutum Paternarum Haeres, Barbara, Henricus, Rolandus Eques Balnei, Qui uxorem habuit unicam Humphredi Davenport De Sutton in com. Cestr. Armigeri Filiam, Gulielmus, Gracia Vice-Coraiti de Castleton, Francisca Domino Henrico Jones Equiti, Arabella Do. Gulielmo Frankland, Nupta, Margarita, Johannes, Carolus, Barbara, Quam duxit Dns. Marmaducus Dal ton Eques, Et Gulielmus, qui numerum bis septenarium complevit. Obijt 20mo Die Maii, A. D. l6l7mo. By the said Grace, his wife, he left issue seven sons and seven daughters. His sons were, First, Thomas, who succeeded his grandfather. Second, Henry, who died unmarried. Third, Sir Rouland Belasyse, Knight of the Bath, ancestor to the present Viscount Fauconberg. Fourth, William, who died an infant. Fifth, John, who died young; Charles, who also died in his youth ; and another William, who likewise died in his ealy days. The daughters were, Mary 5 Barbara ; Grace, married to George Saunderson, Viscount Castleton of Ireland j Frances, to Sir Henry Jones, of Alston in Oxfordshire, Knight 5 Arabella, the wife of Sir William Frankland, of Thirkelby in Yorkshire, Bart, j Margaret ; and another Barbara, successively wedded to Sir Marmaduke Dalton, of Hauxwell in Yorkshire, Knight, and Walter Strickland, Esq. a younger son of Sir Robert Strickland, of Siserge in Westmoreland, Knight. Thomas, second Viscount Fauconberg (successor to his grandfather) married, first Mildred, daughter to Nicholas Saunder- son, Viscount Castleton, and she dying without issue by him, he married, secondly, Mary, daughter of Oliver Cromwell, 1 the Usurper,1 at Hampton-Court, November 18th, 165/. The Earl of Clarendon gives this account of him : 8 " After Cromwell was declared Protector, and in great power, he married his daughter to the Lord Fauconberg, the owner of a See an account of her in Noble's Memoirs of the Cromwells. 1 Wood's Fasti Oxon. p. 761. 8 Hist, of Rebel, fol vol. iii. p. 469. 36 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. very great estate in Yorkshire, and descended of a family emi- nently loyal. There were many reasons to believe that this young gentleman, being then about three or four and twenty years of age, of great vigour and ambition, had many good purposes, that he thought that alliance might qualify and enable him to perform. His marriage was celebrated at Whitehall" (Wood has given the time at Hampton- Court) " with all imaginable pomp and lustre. And it was observed, that though it was performed in public, ac- cording to the rites and ceremonies then in use, they were pre- sently afterwards in private married by ministers ordained by bishops, and according to the form in the book of Commop- Prayer, and this with the privity of Cromwell." In 1657 he was made one of the council of state j1 and to June J 658, when Dunkirk was taken from the Spaniards, the French King sent the Duke of Crequi, together with Monsieur Mancini, nephew to Cardinal Mazarine, prime minister, to con- gratulate Cromwell on it j who, in return of the compliment, u sent his son-in-law, the Lord Fauconberg, to Calais, to congratu- late the French monarch, for their joint prosperity. This was the only employment the Lord Fauconberg had under the usurper -, for, as the * noble author before-mentioned relates, " His domestic delights were lessened every day j he plainly dis- covered that his son Fauconberg's heart was set upon an interest destructive to his, and grew to hate him perfectly." And Whit- lock > relates, that Richard, the Protector's son, was betrayed by his near relations, and those of his council. In 165Q, he z was by the council of state sent to the Tower. That he was in the secret of the restoration of King Charles II. it is evident from General Monk's conferring on him the regi- ment which was Sir Arthur Haslerig's, tl on April 25th, the same day the parliament met that restored the King. Bishop Burnet writes, b that Cromwell's daughter, married to the Lord Fauconberg, a was a wise and worthy woman, more likely to have maintained the post (of Protector) than either of her brothers $ according to a saying that went of her, * That those who wore breeches deserved petticoats better ; but if those in petticoats had been in breeches they would have held faster." It » Whitlcck, p. 666. ■ Clarendon's Hist of Rebel, p. 5cz, and Whitlock, p 674. y Hi»t or Rebel p 505. » ibid p. 678. * Whitlock, 2d edit. p. 684. » Ibid p. 701 b Hist, of his own Times, p 83. VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. $7 may be presumed, that she was influenced by thi^ Lord, her hus- band, and (from what has been said) concurred with him in the Restoration. King Charles II. was so well satisfied with his Lordship's con- duct, that he constituted0 him lord lieutenant of the bishopric of Durham, July 2/i.h, lfjf30; and the same year d also made him lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the Norih Riding of Yoik- shire, which he held till 16S7, when not complying with the de- signs of King James II. he was put out of the commission. He was also, by King Charles II. sent0 ambassador to the State of Venice, and the Princes of Italy ; and made captain' of the band of gentlemen pensioners, on the surrender of that em- ployment by his uncle John Lord Belasyse, of Worlaby, in 1673. He was likewise one of those? sworn of the priv^-council on April 21st) \t>79, when his Majesty declared he was resolved to lay aside the use he had hitherto made of a single ministry, and to consti- tute such a privy-council as may not only be fit for the consul- tation and digestion of all business, but may be best informed in the true constitutions of the state, and thereby the most able to counsel him in all the affairs and interests of this crown and nation. On the accession of King William and Queen Mary, his Lord- ship was sworn of their privy -council ; and on March 28th, l68gy constituted lord-lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire, having, as before-mentioned, been put out of the commission by King James II. And in consideration of his great merits, was advanced to the honour of Earl Fauconbero, on April Q, in the first year of their reign. He departed this life, without issue, on December 31st, 1/X>0, and was buried at Cockswold in com. Ebor. where a monument is erected to his memory, with the following inscription : M. S. H. S. E. Thomas Belasyse, Comes Fauconberg, Baro de Yarum, Vir Primarius, Priscae Nobilitatis Exemplar, Animi magnitudine, fortitudine, Frudentia, Et rerum agendarum Peril ia singular!, « Bill Sign. 12 Car. II. * Pat. laCar II. Ex Evid«n. hujus Fam » Wood's Fasti, p. 769. « Temple's Memoirs hi Appen. p. 12. 38 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Ad publica obeunda munera Vere formatus. Regiae Pensionarium Cohortis Praefectus Sub Carolo IIdo. sub quo, & Gulielmo IIItio. Com. Ebor. qua ad Aquilonem vergit Prorex, Quorum utriq; a sanctioribus Consiliis Utriq; fidus pariter, & charusj Nee inter Anglos solum, apud exteras vero Gentes inclaruit, Sub Carolo IIdo apud Rempublicam Venetam ; Sabaudise item, Hetruriaeq; Duces, Splendida Legatione functus, Regiae Dignitati, Regniq; Commodis Provide Consuluit, Graviter satisfecit. Gemino F03I1X Conjugio; Mildredae primum, Vice-Comitis de Castleton Filiae. Postea Mariae, ,l Cromwelliorum stirpe, Patre Olivero, Progenitae, Ilia, brevis aevi, maesto Marito superstite decessit, Haec Marito maesta superfuit, Quam indissolubilis Amor, non ficta Pietas, Studiumqj Conjugi morem gerendi, Caram Marito, Posterisqj Exemplum Jure reddiderunt. Ptochotrophio propriis sumptibus extructo, Hujusce Parochiae Pastori Annuum in perpctuum stipendium legavit. Et cum bene Latere frustra alias quesierat, Septuaginta & duos emensus Annos, Quietem hactenus denegatam Maturo in Coelum secessu tandem consecutus est Dec. 31mo. A. S. H. 1700mo. I am therefore now to treat of Sir Rouland Belasyse, who died in the lifetime of his brother the said Earl of Fauconberg. Which Sir Rouland was made one of the Knights of the Bath at the coronation of King Charles II. and departing this life at his seat at Sutton in com. pal. Cest. in the year 1699, was buried at Macclesfield. He married Anne, eldest daughter and sole heir of Humphry Davenport, of Sutton in the county palatine of Chester, Esq. by whom he had issue four sons and two daughters. The said Mary died on March 14th, 1712. VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 39 First, Thomas, of whom hereafter. Second, Henry, who died unmarried. Third, John, who deceased without issue j and, Fourth, Rouland, married to Frances, daughter of Christopher Roper, Lord Teynham, and sister to Henry Lord Teynham, by whom he had issue two sons, Henry, who died unmarried, Oc- tober J 4th, 1782 5 and Anthony, father of the present Viscount ; and four daughters, Bridget, Frances, Barbara, and Anne. Thomas, the eldest son of Sir Rouland Belasyse, became Vis- count Fauconberg in 1700, by the death of his uncle the Earl Fauconberg, with whom the Earldom expired. He married Bridget, daughter of Sir John Gage, of Firle in Sussex, Bart, and coheir to her mother, who was daughter and heir of Thomas Mid- dlemore, of Edgebaston, in the county of Warwick, Esq. by whom he had issue four sons and three daughters. And dying at Brussels November 20"th, 1 71 8, was buried at Cockswold in York- shire, and his Lady deceased on November 18th, 1732. His eldest son, Thomas, was created Earl Fauconberg. Second, Henry, died an infant. Third, Rouland, died unmarried, April 9th, 1768, aet. sixty- five, and is buried at St. Pancras, Middlesex j and, Fourth, John, died in his infancy. Mary, the eldest daughter, was married on April 4th, 1721, to John Pitt, Esq. third son of Thomas Pitt, Esq. governor of Fort St. George in the East Indies, and brother to the Earl of London- derry j Anne and Penelope died unmarried. Thomas, first Earl Fauconberg, of the second creation, born on April 2/th, 1699, conforming to the church of England, became one of the lords of the bed-chamber to his late Majesty, and, as such, attended his funeral solemnity, on November 1 lth, 176O. His Lordship was, by that Prince, advanced to the dignity of Earl Fauconberg, of Newhorough in Yorkshire, by letters patent dated June 5th, 1756, and was afterwards sworn of the privy-council. On August 5, 1726, his Lordship married Catharine, daughter and heir of John Betham, of Rowington in the county of War- wick, Esq. and coheir to William Fowler, of St. Thomas in the county of Stafford, Esq. and by her, who died on May 30th, 1760, of a fit of apoplexy, in George-street, Hanover-square, he had issue three sons. First, Thomas, who died an infant. 40 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. A second Thomas, who was born on June 2gth, 1740, and deceased in the twelfth year of his age -, and, Third, Henry, the late Earl Fauconberg. Also four daughters j Lady Catharine, died, January 12th, 1/88, at Brussels, unmarried -, Lady Barbara, married, in April 1/52, to the Honourable George Barnwell, Esq. only brother to Henry Benedict,* Lord Viscount Kingsland, of Ireland ; she was buried in St. Pancras church, Middlesex : Lady Mary, married, at St. George's, Hanover-square, on July 23d, 1776, to Thomas Eyre, of Hassop in Derbyshire, Esq. j and Lady Anne, married on April 20th, 1761, to the Honourable Francis Talbot, Esq. brother to George, fourteenth Earl of Shrewsbury, and died in 1768. His Lordship died at his seat at Newborough, February 4th, 1//4, and was succeeded by his only surviving son, Henry, second Eakl Fauconberg, born on April 13th, 1743. On February 15th, 1777, he was appointed one of the lords of his Majesty's bed-chamber, and, in February 1773, con- stituted lord lieutenant of the Riding of Yorkshire. His Lordship, May 2(jth, 1766, was first married to Charlotte,* daughter of Sir Matthew Lamb, of Brocket-Hall, com. Hertf. Bart, and sister to the present Lord Melbourne, of the kingdom of Ireland, by whom he had issue four daughters, his coheirs. First, Lady Charlotte, eldest daughter and coheir, born Jan. 10th, 1767, married Thomas Edward Wynn, Esq. third son of the late colonel Glynn Wynn, brother to the late Lord Newborough 5 in consequence of which he has taken the name and arms of Be- lasyse in addition to his own. Second, Lady Anne, born December 27th, 1768, married, July 19th, 1791, Sir George Wombwell, Bart, and has issue- Third, Lady Elizabeth, born January 17th, 1770, married, first, April 23d, 178Q, Bernard Howard, Esq. presumptive heir to the Duke of Norfolk, from whom being divorced in 1794, she re- married the present Earl of Lucan, of Ireland. Fourth, Lady Harriot, born April 21st, 1776. His Lordship having married, secondly, Miss Chesshyre, by whom he had no issue, died of a fit of an apoplexy, March 23dA 1802, when the Earldom became extinct j and the Viscounty de- scended to the present peer, Rowland, present Viscount Fauconberg. His Lordship's father, Anthony, son of Rowland, (who was brother to Thomas, third Viscount Faucouberg, who died 1718,) I VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG. 41 died October 9th, 1754, having married Susannah, daughter of John Clarvet, Esq. by Anne Clifford, by whom he had issue, First, Rowland, the present Viscount. Second, Raymond, who died in his infancy. Third, Charles, D.D. of Sorbonne, born May 7th, 1750. Fouith, Thomas, born September 11th, 1751; married, in 1788, Marie Louise de Maneville, by whom he has five daughters ; Mary, Frances, Elizabeth, Anne, and Barbara. Mary, who died April 1790. Frances, born in 1753 ; and, Barbara, born in 1754, now living and unmarried. His Lordship was born in February, 1747, but being a Catho- lie, has not taken his seat. Titles. Rowland Belasyse, Viscount Fauconberg, of Hen- knowle, Baron Fauconberg of Yarum, and Baronet. Creations. Baronet on June 29, 161 1 , 9 Jac. 1, 5 Baron Fau- conberg, of Yarum in com. Ebor. 25 Maii, I627, 3 Car. 1. j Vis- count Fauconberg, of Henknowle in com. Ebor. January 31st, 1642, 18 Car. I. Arms . Quarterly, first and fourth Argent, a Chevron, Gules, between three fleurs-de-lis, Azure ; second and third Argent, a pale ingrailed between two pallets plain, Sable. Crest. On a wreath, a lion coochant guardant, Azure. Supporters. On the dexter side, a buck holding in his mouth a branch of oak fructed, all proper : on the sinister, an unicorn, Azure, armed, crested, and unguled, Or. Motto. EoNNE ET BEJ.LB ASSEZ. Chief Seat, 42 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. ST. JOHN VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE AND » ST. JOHN. This family is paternally descended from the Ports, Lords of Basing, in the county of Southampton, at the time of the Con- quest j and by maternal descent derive their surname in lineal succession from3 William de St John, (denominated from the territory of St. John, near Rouen, in the province of Normandy,) who entered England with the Conqueror, whose army he at- tended as grand master of the artillery, and supervisor of the wag- gons and carriages : for which reason the horses hemes, (or collar) was borne for his cognizance. This William de St. John, part of whose estate was the manor of Belington, had to wife Oliva, daughter to Ralph de Fil- giers, of Normandy, and had by her, Thomas de St. John, who held lands in Oxfordshire, 13 Hen. I. and in 1112b gave to the monks of St. Peters, in Glou- cester, his lands, called Rugge, lying in Standish, but dying with- out issue, his brother, John de St. John, inherited his lands in England, and prin- cipally the lordship of Stanton, in Oxfordshire (for distinction from the other towns of the same name, called Stanton St. John). He gave the site of the c abbey of Godstow, near Oxford, which was dedicated in December, 1 138 j at which time he gave to the said abbey one mill, and two houses in Wolvercote : and in d ] 140 • Ex Stemmate penes prsehon. Vicecom. St. John. h Mon. Angl. vol. i. p. 118. « Kennet's Parochial Antiq. p. 94. u Rot. Pip. 5 Steph. Oxon. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 43 gave 160 marks of silver for livery of those lands, and was a wit- ness e to that grant of the church of Coombe, made to the monks of Egnesham, in Oxfordshire, by the Empress Maud. He like- wise enfeoffed those monks f with the church of Stanton, and was also witness to another charter of the Empress, confirming the do- nation of Baldwin, Earl of Devon, to the chapel of St. James, at Exon, an alien priory. This John was famous in the reign of King William Rufus, being one of the twelve knights who accompanied Robert Fitz Hamon, Earl of Gloucester, in that warlike expedition, made against the Welsh, and had in reward of his great services and helps in many victories (as other knights which attended had) the castle of Falmont, Faumont, or Fauman (as variously written), in the county of Glamorgan. He s had issue, First, Roger de St. John, of whom hereafter; and, Second, Thomas de St. John, Lord of Stanton St. John, living 13 Hen. II. Also a daughter, Avoris, who was the second wife of Bernard de St. Walery, lord of the manor of Ambroseden, &:c. in Oxford- shire j whose family derived their name from the town and port of St. Walery, or Valery, in France ; the port from whence Duke William set sail for his English expedition. This Bernard de St. Walery, having fallen into the King's displeasure, soon made his peace; and it seems a condition of it, that he (with the consent of his wife Avoris) gave to the King his manor of Wulvercote, and his right of advowson and patronage of the nunnery of Godstow ; K both of which he had in frank marriage with his wife Avoris, daughter of John de St. John. ' Thomas de St. John aforesaid, was father of Roger de St. John, who in 22 Hen. II. wask assessed 133/. 6s. 8d. for tres- passing in the King's forests in com. Oxon, and being dead in the sixteenth year of King John, JetTery de Luci ] gave 300 marks for the wardship and marriage of his heir, whose name was John ; who had issue a son m John, killed in the battle of Evesham, 43 Edw. III. n He was in the holy wars with King Richard I. who, e Ex Registro de Egnesham, f. 176. f Ibid. f. 41, a. « Ex Regist, de Egnesham, f. 41, a. & Rot. Pip. 13 Hen. II. Oxon. h Ex Regist. Godestow MSS. 1 Kenr.et's Par. Ant. p. 127. k Rot. Pip. 22 Hen. II. Oxon. > Ibid. 10 Joh. Oxon. » MS. St. George prsedict. ■ See a farther account of this branch in Dugd. Bar. under St.' John of 44 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. at the siege of Aeon, a port in Palestine, thought of this device ; he tied a leathern thong or garter round the left leg of a certain number of his knights (one of whom was this John de St. John) that they might be excited to greater courage. ° This, some think, the first occasion of the institution of the order of the Garter, p Roger de St. John, intermarrying with Cicely,1! daughter and heir to Robert de Haya, lord of the manor of Halnac, in com. Suss, (given unto him by his kinsman King Henry I.) had by her a daughter, Muriel, and two sons. First, William de St. John1- (mentioned among the barons and knights in the rolls, for payment of scutage for knights fees in the county of Sussex), and, Second, Robert de St. John, who between them augmented the number of monks at Boxgrave in that county, from three to fifteen, William adding ten, and Robert two 5 the three being in- stituted by their maternal ancestor, Robert de Haya, the pious founder of that priory, which he made a cell to Essay in Nor- mandy. Their sister Muriel had for husband s Reginald Jurea valle, or Orvyle, of whom proceeded Mabil, married unto Adam de Port, a great Baron, having the head of his barony at Basing, in com. Southampton, son of John, son of Henry, son of Hugh de Port, proprietor of fifty-rive lord- ships in the county of Southampton, temp. Will. I. a person of yery ample revenues, as may be seen under the title of Terra Hu- gonis de Port, in Doomsday-book, some of which (at least two manors, Cerdeford, and Eschetune, in Hampshire) he had from his ancestors before the entrance of William, the Norman Duke. Nevertheless, as great as he was, his chief heir-male Wil- liam, the son of Adam de Port, by Mabil, assumed the surname of his grandmother by the mother's side, viz. St. John,1 writing himself Willielmus de Sancto Johanne, Filius et Hceres Adce de Port. This William de St. John is stiled son and heir of Adam de Port," confirming to the monks of Boxgrave, what Robert de Haya, Stanton, vol . i. p. 579, and under St. John of lageham, vol. ii. p. 9. Dugdate appearing to have inadvertently separated them, though clearly the same line. k Kennet's Pari. Antiq. 147. v Barnes's Hist, of Edw. III. p. 29}. 4 Mon. Angl. vol. i. p. 594. » Lib. Rub. Scac. & Cot. Lib. Claudius, c. 2. ■ Ibid. ' Mon. Angl. vol. i. p. 595. * ibid, p. 594, VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 45 Roger, and William, and Robert de St. John, his predecessors, Lords of Halnac, had given them. The said William de St. John enjoyed the Barony of Basing, and likewise x gave lo the aforesaid Monks of Boxgrave eleven virgates of land in the town of Walborneton, and pasture for twelve oxen, and as many cows, &c. and in the town of Concone two virgates of land, and pasture for sheep, part also of his wood near Boxgrave ; and likewise a virgate in Halnac to the church of Boxgrave, for the souls of William, and Robert de St. John, and Adam de Port his father, and Mabel his mother j witnessed J' by Geftery Peverell, Roger Hay, and Geffery de St. John, under the seal of his arms, on a chief two mullets, as now borne by his de- scendants. To this William de St. John, Lord of Basing, z by Godchild (or Godchelda) his wife, daughter of Paganel, succeeded Robert de St. John, his son and heir ; but he had other children, Jerlery, Adam, and Thomas ; who wrote himself Thomas de Port, aliter St. John ; he was living in 1256. The said Robert de St. John, Lord of Basing, in 1254, 38 Hen. III..* obtained a charter of free warren in all his demesne lands at Warnford and Chauton, in com. Southampton, Westreet, Hampton, Godenwood, Walferton, and Bernham, in com. Sussex ; as also at Schisford, in com. Berks : and in 42 Henry III. had summons, b among divers other great men, to be at Chester upon Monday next after the feast of St. John Baptist, welt accoutred with horse and arms, to oppose the incursions of the Welsh. Like- wise in 45 Hen. III. he obtained licence S to fix a pale upon the bank of his moat at Basing ; as also to continue it so fortified during the King's pleasure : and in 50 Hen. III. was constituted governor d of the castle of Porchester, but died the next year, or before ; ■ for then had John, his son and heir (by Agnes, daughter of William de Cantelupe) livery of his lands, doing his homage, from whom de- scended the Lords St. John of Basing ; and by female heirship, the Marquises of Winchester and Dukes of Bolton. The brother of which John was William St. John, whose pos- terity bore for arms, till the time of Queen Elizabeth, Argent, on * Mon. Ang. vol. i. p. £96. * Pole's MS. Charters, p. 176. 2 Ibid. p. 594. a Rot. Vascon 38 Hen. III. m. 18. t> Claus. 43 Hen. 111. in dors m. 11. c Pat. 45 Hen. 1 1 1 m 5. . Pat. 50 Hen. III. m. 20 f Claus. <,i Hen. III.. ip. 17. 46 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. a chief, gules, the two mullets, over all a bend of the second, as a note of cadency. This William before-mentioned f had the castle of Faumont (or Funmon, as sometime wrote) in Glamorganshire, by the gift of his father Robert, the second Lord St. John,, of Basing. He lived in the reign of Edward I. about which time, I find Isabel was his wife, who was daughter and coheir to William Comb- nurtin ; and it is evident that he had two sons ; Henry, who died without issue; and Sir John St. John, who, by Beatrix his wife, had issue another Sir John St. John, of Faumont, his son and heir ; who mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter and coheir to Sir Henry Umfreville, of Penmark ; by whom he had an only son and heir, Sir John St. John, who by Isabel his wife, daughter and co- heir of Sir John Paveley, of Paulers Pury, in Northamptonshire, Knight, was father to Sir Oliver St. John, who married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir John Delabere, Knight, and had issue an only son and heir, Sir John St. John, who was found cousin and heir to Sir John Delabere; and in 1395, 18 Richard II. by deed intailed the manors of Shynebrook, Thurlygh, Eaton, Radwell, Felmingham, Roxton, Bareford, Chauston, Ryseley, Cold-Newton, Byddenham, Kaysho, called the Berrysted, in Kaysho, and Stoughton-parva, and Pasture, called Coldham, parcel of the priory of Chicksand ; and Granges of Bulnehurst, and Standford-Bury, all in the county, of Bedford j the manor of Ashmer, in Dorsetshire; the manors of Ripton-Abbots, alias St. John-Ripton, with the park there, Houghton, and Witton, in the county of Huntington ; the manor and scite of Turk's-deane, parcel of the monastery at Lantony, in Gloucestershire; half the manor of Penmark, and advowson of the church j the manor of Barrey, and manor and castle of Fun- mon, in Glamorganshire; and manor of Lanthill, in South Wales.s All which manors and lands, with appurtenances, so entailed, lineally descended to Oliver Lord St. John, of Bletsoe, who died possessed thereof, on April 21st, 1582, leaving John Lord St. John, of Bletsoe, his son and heir, thirty-eight years, seven weeks, and five days old., on June 9th, next following, as set forth in the f Seder's Baronage, MS. • Cole* Escheat lib 1, Not 61, A 12, p. 452, 453, in Bibl. Harley. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 4? inquisition taken at Bedford that day. This Sir John St. John was mayor of Burdeaux, from 1414 to 1421. h Sir John had issue, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Pawlett, Sir Oliver St. John, who came first to possess the lordship of Bletshoe, in the reign of Henry VJ. by taking to wife Mar- garet, daughter to Sir John de Beauchamp, and sister and sole heir to John Lord Beauchamp, of Bletshoe, in com Northamp. Knt. a junior line of the Beauchamps of Powick, which branched from the Earls of Warwick ; by which Lydiard Tregoxe also came into this family of St. John, possessed by the Beauchamps ever since the marriage of Roger, Baron Beauchamp, of Bletshoe, chamberlain to Edward III. with Sibil, eldest daughter and heir of Sir John de Patishul, Lord of Bletshoe, * by his wife Mabel, only daughter and heir of William Lord Grandison. This Sir Oliver died in 1437, and1 was buried in the church of the Jacobins, at Roan, in Normandy, leaving (by the said Mar- garet his wife) five daughters, and two sons j the former were Edith, married to Sir GeofTry Poole, Knight j Elizabeth, mar- ried first to Henry Lord Zouch, of Codnor, secondiy to John Lord Scrope ; Mary, wife of Sir Richard Frogenhall, of Frogenhall j Margaret, lady abbess of Salisbury, who died 1492 j and Agnes, wife to David Malpas, of Cheshire. The sons were, First, Sir John St. John, Knight; and, Second, Oliver St. John, Esq. ancestor to the present Viscount Bolingbroke. From Sir John St. John, of Bletshoe, the eldest, descended the Earls of Bolingbroke, and the present Lord St. John, of Blet- shoe. The aforesaid Margaret Beauchamp (mother of the said Sir John, and Oliver St. John) was afterwards wife of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, Knight of the Garter; who had issue by her only a daughter, Margaret, wife of Edmund Tudor, Earl of Rich- mond, and by him mother to Henry VII. King of England. The said Margaret Beauchamp was also the third wife of Lionel Lord Welles, and by him mother to John Viscount Welles, Knight of the Garter, who married Cecily, second daughter to Edward IV. t> Rymer's Foedera. v. 4, pt. 2, p. 187, and v. 4, pt. 3, p. 197. ' Philpot's great Baronage, fol- 207, in Offic. Armor. 48 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. but died February 9th, 14Q8, leaving issue one sole daughter/ Anne. k Oliver St. John, her second son, had the lordship of Lidiard Tregoze, part of hi9 mother's inheritance, and was, as Leland writes, in his Itinerary, a stout black man, and died at Fonterabia in Spain. His last will and testament is as follows : Ex Registr' vocatHornin Cur' Praerog' Cant.' In the name of God, Amen. This is the laste will of me Olyver Seyut John, Esquyer, sonne to the excellent Dutchesse of Somer- sett. First, I bequeath my sowle to Almighty God, and to our Lady Seynt Mary, and to the Saynts of heven j and my body to be buried in the quier afore Saynt Andrew, in the parish church, of Stoke. Also I will, that my wife have, duryng her life, all my lands and tenements in Legeard Tregoes, and Polton, with the manor of Borwode and Whatrild-hall, which is myne by. the resonne and gift of my Lady my modre, with a place which I purchased in the lordshippe of Hacksmore, called Hillisthing, in Dorsetshire. Also I will, that my wife have all suche landes as be myne, by the reason and gift of the Kynges grace, at Hatfield Peverall, with the ternyns and wayes south, with Depford and Depford Strond, otherwise called West Greenwich. Also I will, that she have the lordeship of Garseynton ; and that after her de^ cease all the forsaid lordshippes, landes, and tenements returne unto my sonne John, and to his heirs. Also I will, that my wife have the lordeship of Lollam, the which I purchased to give and sell, as in fee simple. Moreover I will, that Rauf Rochford have all such landes and tenements as I purchased within the lordeship of Sowth Stoke, and North Stoke. Also I will, that my wife have all my goodes, moveable and unmoveable, and that she oc- cupie as myne executor, sole by herself, and to dispose all my goodes for the helth of my sowle, as she thinks best. Thees being witnesses, Master Richard Bullock, John Writh, Henry Bigote, and Rauf Rocheford, with other yeomen ; and made the seconde day of Marche, in the year of oure Lord God MCCCCLXXXXVI. The probate is dated on April 10th, 1497. The inquisition, taken after his decease, sets forth, | that he left John his#son and k Dugdale's Baronage, vol.. ii, p. 13. 1 Cole's Esc. lib. i. praed. p. 303, an, 213, 117. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 49 heir, aged eight years ; and that he had two other sons, Henry, and Oliver, and a daughter Margaret. He was in the inquisition denominated of Ewell, in com. Surr. and died seized of the manors ofLydiard Tregose, in Wiltshire ; the manors of Warrington, in Oxfordshire 5 the manors of Hatfield-Peverel, and Cermynis, in Essex; and manor of Deptford, called West-Greenwich, in Kent. This Oliver's wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Scroope, and widow of Bygod, or Bigot, as appears from her tomb-stone, in the parish church of Stoke Rochford, in Lincolnshire j whereon is this inscription, viz. " Pray for the soil of Mayster Oliver Seynt John, Esq. and of Dame Elizabeth Bygod his wyjfe, who departed this transitory life the 12th day of June, in the year of our Lord God 1503." By her he left an only son and heir, John, and three daughters ; Elizabeth, married to Gerald Fitz-Gerald, eighth Earl of Kildare } Eleanor, to Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset j and Margaret, lady abbess of Shafton, or Shaftesbury in Dorsetshire. /(_ Which John, his only son and heir, was knighted by King Henry VII. having, in 148/, brought1 forces to the aid of the King against the Earl of Lincoln, Lambert Simnel, and their ad- herents in the battle of Stoke, near Newark upon Trent, on June 10th, when they were defeated, and the Earl of Lincoln slain. And Margaret, Countess of Richmond, that monarch's mother, who died on June 29th, in the first year of the reign of her grand- son, King Henry VIIL by herk last will, dated on June O'th, 1508, styling herself Margaret Countess of Richmond and Derby, and mother to King Henry the Seventh, constitutes this Sir John St. John, who was then her chamberlain, one of her three exe- cutors ', and the King her son, supervisor, desiring him * To shew his special favour, help, and assistance, to her said executors, and to every of them.' She was foundress of Christ's and St. John's colleges in Cam- bridge, having left the issues and profits of her estate for that purpose, which was wisely applied by the executors, who were (as our historians relate) true to the trust and confidence reposed in them, in doing their part, by pursuing the foundress's inten^ tion. This Sir John St. John died in parts beyond the seas, on September 1st, 1512, leaving by Johanna his wife, daughter and > Polydore Virgil, PSIfr N- 20. * Ex Regist. Bennet, Qu 31, in Cur. Praerog. Cantaur. VOL. VI. £ JO PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. heir to Sir John Ewerby, (or1 Iwardby) by Catharine his wife, daughter and coheir to Sir Hugh Annesley, of Mapledurham, in com. Oxon. First, John, son and heir, seven years of age. Also a second son, Oliver St. John, of Lambeth, in Surry, who married Margaret Love, of Winchelsea, in Sussex, by whom he had three sons, Sir Oliver, Nicholas, and John. John, the eldest son, was in ward to Sir Richard Carew, of Bedington, in com. Surry, Knight, who married him to Margaret, one of his daughters ; by which Lady he had three sons. First, Nicholas. ra Second, William ; and, Third, John, whereof the eldest, Nicholas St. John, of Lydiard Tregoze, Esq. had to wife Eli- zabeth, daughter to Sir Richard Blount, of Mapledurham, in com. Oxon. Knt. and by her had issue three sons ; and five daughters. First, Sir John. Second, Oliver ; and, Third, Richard. Catharine, married to Edmund Webbe, Esq.; Eleanor, to Sir Thomas Cave, Knight ; Jane, to Nicholas, of Manning- ford, in Wiltshire; Elizabeth, to Sir Richard St. George, Knight, Clarencieux king of Arms; and Dorothy, to Egiock. Oliver, the second son, Viscount Grandison, was sent to study the law in the inns of court; and falling into a quarrel with one Best, captain of the guard to Queen Elizabeth, and champion of England, killed him in single duel ; for which he was forced to leave the kingdom. He first served in the army under Sir Francis Vere, and Sir Horace Vere, in Flanders, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, where he had the honour of knight- hood conferred on him. In 1601, he was sent with his regiment into Ireland, against the Spaniards, who had landed there, and had taken possession of Kinsale; and gave great n proof of his couTage and conduct at the battle of Kinsale, and performed other memorable services against the rebels. He was president of Munster, vice-president of Connaught, and master of the ord- nance in that realm. In l6l3,° when the parliament met on 1 Monument in Purley Church, Berks, m Sir Henry St. George's MS. makes William and John the issue of a second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Whethill, of Calhs. 0 Cox's History of Ireland, preface to part second. 0 Cox's Hist. p. zz, 43. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 51 May 18th, there was a dispute in the election of a speaker of the house of commons, Sir John Davis being proposed by the protes- tants, and Sir John Everard by the papists : on which occasion Sir Oliver St. John, master of the ordnance, vofed for Davis, who had a great majority j but the papists placing Everard in the chair, Sir Oliver St. John told him, if he would not leave the chair, they should be obliged to pull him out ; and accordingly he and others gently removed him, and placed Davis in the chair. On April 3d, I6l6, he was appointed lord-deputy of Ireland, but did not go over for that kingdom till August following, on the 30th of which he was sworn in. Over the choir-door in Christ-church, Dublin, it is thus written : The Right Honourable Sir Oliver St. John, Knt. descended of the Nolle House of the Lord St. Johns, of Bletso, Deputy-General of Ireland, who took the Sword of State and Government of this Kingdom into his Hands August 30, 1616. Sir Richard Cox, in his preface to the second part of the His- tory of Ireland, gives this account of him, " That he was of a generous temper, and not inferior to any of his predecessors, in a sincere concern for the protestant religion, and the good of the kingdom j but he happened in an ill time, as did also his suc- cessor, the worthy Lord Falkland, whilst the Spanish match was in agitation. So that both these brave men, by the clamour of the Irish, and the prevailing power of their popish enemies, came away in disgrace." However, Sir Oliver p was not wanting in his own vindica- tion j and therefore wrote to the King, that he met a cloud of malicious enemies, instead of good subjects 5 and that even some of the privy-council were spies upon him, and took occasion to lessen him, though they had no provocation for it, but his exami- nation of a certain patent, according to his Majesty's special order, and his righting the church against their depredations. And though the King, in answer, assured him, " That his reputation stood without blemish," yet his enemies afterwards not only pre- Cox's Hi$t, of Ireland, part ii p 3$- 52 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. vailed, by getting the Lord Falkland to succeed him, but were so importunate for his coming over, that his Majesty from New- market, on January 28th, 1621, answers them, " That it were dishonourable to serve one in that eminent station so unkindly without a crime j" and adds this postscript: " It was never wont to be my fashion to disgrace any ancient minister of mine before he was heard." He was sworn 1 of the privy-council to King James in both realms } and in the government of Ireland behaved without any blemish on his character, except from the papists, who endeavoured to blacken him ; and, desiring to resign, he ar- rived in England in May, 1622, and was found so deserving, that, on June 3d following, he was created a peer of Ireland, by the title of Viscount Grandison of Limerick (by reason of his descent from an heir female of that house) with limitation, for want of issue male, to the issue of Sir Edward Fillers, his nephew (half- brother to the Duke of Buckingham) whose son, Sir George Vrl- lers, accordingly enjoyed the honour, and was father of Barbara Villers, Duchess of Cleveland, and from him is descended the present Viscount Grandison, who is Earl of Jersey in England. On the accession of King Charles I. to the throne, r he was on August 13th, 1625, constituted high-treasurer of Ireland j and by letters patent, dated on May 21st, 1626, was advanced to the dignity of a Baron of this kingdom, by the title of Baron Tre- go ze, of Highworthy in com. Wilts. The next year he obtained a grant, from that King, of the manors of Battersea, and Wands- worth, in com. Surr. He married Joan, daughter and heir of Henry Roydon, of Battersea, Esq. and widow of Sir William Holcroft, (or Rycroft, s) Knight, and departing this life without issue, on December 30th, 1630, being then aged seventy years, was buried at Battersea. His dignity of Baron Tregoze became extinct j and John, the son of his brother, Sir John St. John, was heir to his estate. Which Sir John, his brother, had the estate at Lydiard; and having married Lucy, daughter and heir to Sir Walter Hunger- ford, of Farley, in com. Wilts, (afterwards wife to Sir Anthony Hungerford) had issue by her three sons. First, John. Second, Oliver and, Third, John, and several daughters, viz. , Cox's Hist, of Ireland, part ii. p. 36. r Pat. 1 Car. I- p. 9, n. 3. « Notitia St. Johanniana, p. 37. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 53 to Barbara, married to Sir Edward Villers, Knight, by whom she was parent to three sons of the name of Villers, all Viscounts Grandison, and of a fourth, from whom the Earl of Jersey 3 Lucy, married to Sir Alan Apsley, t Knight, lieutenant of the Tower; Jane, to Robert Ayte, secondly, to Sir Charles Pleydell ; Catha- rine, to Sir Giles Mompesson, ofSarum, in com. Wilts ; Anne, to Sir George AylirT, a of Gretenham, in that county j Eleanor, to Sir William St. John, of Heighley, in com. Glamorg. Knight j tnd Margaret, who died unmarried. John, the only surviving son of the last Sir John, succeeded at Lydiard Tregoze, was knighted at Whitehall, on February 2d, 1(308, and was created a Baronet at the first institution of that order, on May 22d, l6l 1, being the seventeenth in precedency by creation. His uncle, the Lord Grandison, gave him his estate at Battersea and Wandsworth, &c. and being zealously attached to the interest of the royal party, in the civil war, had three of his sons slain in the King's service ; William, his second son, was killed at the taking of Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, under Prince Rupert 3 Edward, the. third son, at the battle of New- berry, in Berkshire j and John, the fifth son, in the north. He married, first, Anne, daughter to Sir Thomas Lcighton, of Feckenham, in com. Wigornj secondly, Margaret, the widow of Sir Richard Grubham, Knight. He had issue, by the former, three daughters. Anne, married to Sir Henry-Francis Lee, Bart, ancestor to the late Earls of Litchfield ; and, secondly, to Henry Wilmot, Earl of Rochester 5 x Lucy, to Richard Howe, Esq,; and Barbara, to Egerton. Also seven sons : first, Oliver, who died in the lifetime of his father, at Hackney, and was buried at Lydiard Tregoze, in No- vember 1.641, * having married Catharine, daughter and coheir to Horatio Lord Vere, Baron of Tilbury, and had issue by her, (who after his decease married John Lord Poulet,) Sir John St. John, second Bdiioret, who succeeded his grand- father and died three months before he came of age, unmarried. Second, William, mentioned above. Third, Edward, also above-mentioned. t See Memoirs of Col. Hutchinson, by his widow, lately published. u The daughter of this match was first wife of Edward Hyde, after Earl •f Clarendon. See his Life, p. 12. « Mother by him to the poet. ) Harl.MSS. No. 1040. 54 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Fourth, Nicholas. Fifth, John, already named,, (who married Dorothy, the daughter of Sir George Ayliff.) z All these died without issue. Sixth, Sir Waller ; and, Seventh, Henry, who married Catharine, daughter to Oliver St. John, lord chief justice of the Common Pleas, and left issue only a daughter, Catharine, married to Anthony Bowyer, of Cam- berwelj, in com. Surry, Etq. whose widow she died, April 13tb, 17*/% aged sixty-four, and is buried at Camberwell, in Surry, where a monument is erected to her memory. Sir Walter, the sixth son, third Baronet, succeeded hitf nephew, Sir John St. John, Bart, at Lydiard Tregoze, and in the estates of Battersea and Wandsworth. He served for the county b£ Wilts, in two parliaments, in the reign of King Charles If. as also in that of the second year of King Wi'liam and Queen Mary. He had his chief residence at Battersea, and was famed for his piety, and all moral virtues. Dr. Patrick, bishop of Ely, so justly celebrated for his many religious discourses, and his commentaries on the Bible, was his domestic chaplain ; and in January, 165Q, dedicates to him his Mensa Mystica, wherein lie acknowledges the civilities he had received from him and his lady, and tells us how commendably they Jived. This Sir Walter St. John died on July 3d, in the year 1/08, at his seat at Battersea, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, and was interred in the parish church there j leaving issue by his wife Johanna, another daughter of the lord chief justice St. John, an only son, Sir Heniy St. John, and two daughters. Barbara, married to Sir John Top, Bart. 5 and Anne, to Tho- mas Cholmondely, of Vale-Royal, in Cheshire, Esq. Which Sir Henry St. John, having served his country in parliament the space of twenty-one years, was on July 2d, 1716, 2 George I, created Baron St. John of Battersea, and Viscount St. John. His Lordship died, about the ninetieth year of his age, in April 1742. ' He married to his first wife Mary second daughter and coheir to Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, by whom he had an only son, Henry, the first Viscount Bolingbroke. * Notitia St- Johanniana, p. 39, VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. «S And by his second wife, Angelica Magdalene, daughter to George Pillesary, treasury-general of the marines, and superin- tendant of all the ships and gallies of France, under Lewis XIV, his Lordship had three sons, and a daughter, Henrietta, a married on June 20th, 172/, to Robert Knight, of Barrels, in com. Warw. Esq. afterwards created Lord Luxbo- rough of Shannon, in the kingdom of Ireland, on August 8th, 1746, and Earl of Catherlough, and Viscount Barrels, in the said kingdom, on April 30th, 176J. She died , 1756. Of his Lordship's sons, by his second Lady, (who died at Bat- tersea, in August, 1/36,) George, the eldest, was secretary to the English plenipoten- tiaries, in the Congress, at Utrecht, and died at Venice, in Ja- nuary, 1715-16. John, the second, his heir, shall be mentioned afterwards, as continuator of the male line. And Hollis, third son, was equerry to the Queen, and died in October, 1738, unmarried. Henry, only son of the aforesaid Henry Viscount St. John, by the first wife, having distinguished himself in the house of commons, was, on April 20th, 1/04, 2 Queen Anne, made secre- tary at war j but resigned in February, 1707-8. However, on the change of the ministry, in 1710, he was made secretary of state, and one of the privy-council, in September that year. On July 7th, 1712, in the eleventh of that reign, he was created Baron St. John of Lydiard Tregoze, in the county of Wilts, and Vis- count Bolingbroke, in the county of Lincoln, with remainder, for want of issue male, to Sir Henry St. John, his father, and the heirs male of his body 5 also on October 24th, 1713, he was con- stituted lord-lieutenant and custos-rotulorum of the county of Essex: but in August, 1715, the 2d of George I. his honours were forfeited by attainder, and he entered in the service of the Chevalier de St. George. However, being restored in blood on May 28th, 1723, he came to England next month, and in May 1/25, an act passed, enabling him and his issue to inherit the family estate, notwithstanding his attainder. He died on De- cember 15th, 1751, in the seventy-ninth b year of his age. He married^ to his first wife, Frances, daughter and coheir of * The friend and correspondent of Shenstone the poet. See a volume of their Letters, long since given to the world. b Seventy-fourth , says Coxe. 56 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Sir Henry Winchcomb, of Bucklebury, in the county of Berks, Bart. And to his second, Mary-Clara des Champs deMaresilly, Mar- chioness de Villette, relict of the Marquis de Villette, and niece to the celebrated Madam de Main tenon, wife to Lewis XIV. but bad no issue by either. A monument is erected to his memory, of grey and black marble, standing against the church wall of Battersea, near the altar. On the topis his shield, impaling his anther coats of arms ; and from the top falls a rich marble curtain, partly drawn up, which discovers a double urn of a brownish yellow. Under- neath is spread a sheet of black marble, with inscriptions in gold letters : on the right thereof is her busto, and on the left his Lord* ship's. The inscriptions are as follow : Here lies HENRY ST. JOHN, In the Reign of Queen Anne Secretary of War, Secretary of Slate, and Viscount Bolinglroke. In the Days of King George I. and King George II. Something more and better. His Attachment to Queen Anne Exposed him to a long and severe Perse- cution', He lore it with Firmness of Mind. He passed the latter Part of his Time at home, The Enemy of no national Party 5 The Friend of no Faction. Distinguished under the Cloud of Proscrip- tion, Which had not heen entirely taken off, By Zeal to maintain the Liberty, And to restore the ancient Prosperity of Great- Britain. In the same Vault Arc interred, the Remains of Mary-Clara des Champs de Maresilly Marchioness of Villette, and Viscountess Bolingbroke, VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 67 Born of a nolle Family, Bred in the Court of Lewis XIV. iShe reflected a Lustre on the former t By the superior accomplishments of her Mind ; She was an Ornament to the latter, By the amiable Dignity and Grace of her Behaviour. She lived The Honour of her own Sex, The Delight and Admiration of ours. She died An Olject of Imitation to loth. With all the Firmness that Reason, With all the Resignation that Religion Can inspire. 'Her fortune,' says Voltaire, 'was scarcely any thing; she had little else besides expectations; and has often told me, " she reproached her aunt for doing so little for her family." ■ Her uncommon understanding, however, made up for this deficiency; and Madam de Maintenon, in her letters lately published, styles her, " The most sensible person among her female relations." u In this manner," says Goldsmith, " lived and died Lord Bolingbroke; ever active, never depressed, ever pursuing fortune, and as constantly disappointed by her. In whatever light we view his character, we shall find him an object rather properer for our wonder, than our imitation, more to be feared than esteemed, and gaining our admiration without our love. His ambition ever aimed at the summit of power, and nothing seemed capable of satisfying his immoderate desires, but the liberty of governing all things without a rival. With as much ambition, as great abilities, and more acquired knowledge than Caesar, he wanted only his courage to be as successful ; but the schemes his head dictated, his heart often refused to execute; and he lost the ability to perform, just when the great occasion called for all his efforts to engage. " The same ambition that prompted him to be a politician, actuated him as a philosopher; his aims were equally great and extensive in both capacities: unwilling to submit to any in the one, or any authority in the other, he entered the fields of science with a thorough contempt of all that had been established before him, and seemed willing to think every thing wrong, that he 53 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. might shew his faculty in the reformation. It might have bee* better for his quiet as a man, if he had been content to act a sub- ordinate character in the state ; and it had certainly been better for his memory as a writer, if he had aimed at doing less than he attempted. Wisdom in morals, like every other art or science, is an accumulation that numbers have contributed to increase ; and it is not for one single man to pretend, that he can add more to the heap, than the thousands that have gone before him. Such innovations more frequently retaid, than promote knowledge. Their maxims are more agreeable to the reader, by having the gloss of novelty to recommend them, than those which are trite only because they are true : such men are therefore followed at first with avidity, nor is it till some time that disciples begin to find their error. They often, though too late, perceive that they have been following a speculative inquiry, while they have been leaving a practical good ; and while they have been practising the arts of doubting, they have been losing all firmness of principle which might tend to establish the rectitude of their private conduct. Asa moralist, therefore, Lord Bolingbroke, by having endeavoured at too much, seems to have done nothing : but as a political writer few can equal, and none can exceed him. As he was a prac* tical politician, his writings are less filled with those speculative illusions, which are the result of solitude and seclusion. He wrote them with a certainty of their being opposed, sifted, ex- amined, and reviled -, he therefore took care to build them up of such materials, as could not be easily overthrown : they prevailed at the times in which they were written, they still continue to the admiration of the present, and will probably last for ever."c The following character may be added from Coxe's Life of Sir R. Walpole. u He distinguished himself," says Coxe, " at a very early period, by his talents and excesses j and made so conspicuous a figure in the house of commons, that, in J/04, he was appointed secretary at war, by the influence of Harley. On the removal of Harley, in 1707, he resigned his employments, and followed the fortune of his benefactor. On the dismission of the Whig admi- nistration, Harley proposed to reinstate him in his employment, and expressed a desire to admit some of the most moderate Whigs into the administration. But St. John opposed the coalition, and insisted on being appointed secretary of state for foreign affairs, c Goldsmith's Works, vol. iv. p. 75. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 5g with which demand Harley was obliged to comply. St. John possessed great animation of countenance, elegance of manners, and dignity of deportment. He was fascinating in conversation, of commanding eloquence, abounding in wit and fancy, master of polite learning, which he knew how to draw forth on all occa- sions. In his private character he was without morals and without principles, not only not concealing, but rather proud of his profli- gacy. He was fond of pleasure, yet never suffered his amuse- ments to interfere with affairs of importance; affecting to re- semble the characters of Alcibiades and Petronius, by mixing pleasure and business, in which, when necessity required his at- tendance, he was so indefatigable that he would drudge like a common clerk. Quick in apprehension, easy of access, no less artful in negotiation than decisive and vigorous in action, clear and perspicuous in his style, but too fond of declamation and me- taphor j adopting and enforcing all the violent measures of the Tories j scorning to temporise, caballing with the friends of the Pretender, either with a view to placing him on the throne, or to obtain the removal of Oxford by their assistance. He was de- prived of the seals by George I. and not venturing to abide the pro- secution that awaited him, fled from England; and threw him- self into the Pretender's service ; from which he was soon dis- missed. Thence he resolved to make his pence at home 5 and obtained promises of pardon. A peerage was accordingly con- ferred on his father, Sir Henry St. John, July 2d, 1/lfJ, with re- mainder to his younger brothers. But it was not till l?23, that his pardon passed the great seal; without, however, giving him back his forfeited estate, or his seat in the house of peers. Thii imperfect restoration made him discontented the remainder of his life. He soon after married to his second wife, Madame dc Villette, niece of Madame de Maintenon. It was not long before he engaged in the most virulent opposition to Walpole, which continued unabated through the whole remainder of that minister's power. He continually shook that power to its base, " by a plausible philosophy, recommended by all the graces of eloquence, and enforced by all the arts of personal address. His writings were recommended by a glare of metaphorical ornament, at that time very unusual, the effect of which was to dazzle the judgment of the reader, and prevent him from penetrating ipto the sub- stance of the argument." d He died December 12th, 1/51, at the age of seventy-three, according to Coxe. e * Coxe, vol. i. p. 21 1. « Ibid, 197 — See the Mem. of him by Goldsmith. 60 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. We now return to John, second and only surviving son of Henry Viscount St. John, by his second wife, before-mentioned. The said John served for the borough of Wotton Basset, in Wiltshire, in the first parliament called by King George II. wai appointed comptroller of the customs in the port of London, A.D. 1746, and on the death of his father, in 1742, succeeded him as Viscount St. John. He first married, on April 17th, 1729, Anne, daughter and coheir of Sir Robert Furnese,^ of Waldershare, in Kent, Bart, and by her Ladyship, (who died July 11th, 1747, and was buried at Lydiard Tregoze,) had issue three daughters, Louisa, married to Sir William Bagot, Bart, afterwards Lord Bagot ; Anne, and Louisa, who both died young. Also three sons, viz. First, Frederic, his successor. Second, Henry, formerly member of parliament for Wotton Basset, one of the grooms of his Majesty's bed-chamber, aid-de- camp to the King, now a general in the army, and colonel of the thirty-sixth regiment of foot. He married August 31st, 177*> , eldest daughter of colonel Thomas Bladen, sister to the Countess of Essex. Third, John, formerly member of parliament for Eye, and surveyor- general of the crown lands 3 died October 8th, 1793* His Lordship married, secondly, Hester, eldest daughter of James Clarke, of Watton, in Hertfordshire, Esq. j but, by this Lady, who died March Sth, 1752, and was buried at Wootton Waven, Warwickshire, he had no issue. His Lordship departed this life in France, in February, 1748-9; and his corpse, being brought over to England, was interred among those of his ancestors. x He was succeeded by his eldest son, Frederick, third Viscount St. John, who also, upon the death of his uncle Hemy, A.-D. 1751, inherited his dignities of Viscount Bolingbroke, and Baron St. John of Lydiard Tre- goze, by which titles he was introduced in the house of peers, on February 12th, 1754. His Lordship, in October, 1761, was con- stituted one cf the lords of his Majesty's bed-chamber. On Sep- tember 9th, 1757, he wedded the Lady Diana Spencer, eldest daughter of Charles, second Duke of Marlborough : and by her Ladyship, from whom he was divorced in 1768, and who re-mar- ried to the Honourable Topham Beauclerk, he had issue two sons. First, George, born March 6th, 1761. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE. 6l Second, Frederic, born December 20th, 1763; a lieutenant- general, on the half-pay of 117th foot, married, first, December 8th, 1789, Lady Mary, daughter of the Marquis of Lothian, and by her, who died February 6th, 1791, had a son Robert. He married, April 6th, 1793, the Honourable Georgina Arabella Craven, daughter of the late Lord Craven, by whom he has George, Frederick, and Henry. And one daughter, Charlotte, who died young. His Lordship died May 5th, 1787, and was succeeded by hii eldest son, George, fourth Viscount Bolingbroke and St. John. His Lordship married, in 1783, Charlotte, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Collins, of Winchester, by whom (who died in 1803) he has issue, George and Mary, both died young j and Henry. Titles. George St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke and Viscount St. John, Baron St. John of Lydiard Tregoze, and Baron St. John of Battersea, and Baronet. Creations. Baronet, May 22d, l6ll, 9 Jac. I. j Baron St. John of Lydiard Tregoze, and Viscount Bolingbroke, on July 7th, 1712, 11 Queen Annej and Baron St. John, of Battersea, in com. Surry, and Viscount St. John, on July 2d, 1716, 2 George I. Jrms. Argent, on a chief, Gules, two mullets, Or. / Crest. On a wreath, a mount proper, and therefrom, a falcon rising, with bells, Or, and ducally gorged, Gules. Supporters. Two eagles, with wings expanded, Or, crowned ducally, Gules, and upon each breast a pair of horses hames, tied at the top and bottom, proper ; within which is party per pale. Argent and Gules. Motto. Nec Qujerere Nec Spernere Honorem. Chief Seat. At Lydiard Tregoze, in the county of Wilts. 02 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. BOSCAWEN, VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. His Lordship's ancestors, according to the custom of ancient limes, had denomination from the lordship and manor of Bos- cawen-Rose, in Cornwall, of which they were owners, in King John's reign. The first mentioned, in the visitation of the heralds, in the office of a arms, is Henry de Boscawen, who had two sons, Robert 5 and Alan, who had issue John, the father of Mirabel, his only daughter and heir. Robert de Boscawen, eldest son of Henry, was living in the reign of King Henry III. and left issue Henry de Boscawen, living in 12925 who by his wife, Ha- wise, relict of William de Trewoofe, had issue Henry de Boscawen, his son and heir, who was living iu 1327, and by Nicha de Lulyn, his wife, was father of John de Boscawen, who came to the estate in 1334. This John married Johan, daughter and heir of John de Tregothnan, of Tregothnan, with whom he had that estate, and had issue by her two sons, John, his son and heir, and Otho, second son, who died without issue j and a daughter, Amy, the wife of John Chiderton. The said John de Boscawen succeeded his father, in 1357. He wedded Johan, daughter and heir of Otho de Abalanda,b lineally descended from Sir Osbert de Abalanda, Knight, who, by his wife Eusada, daughter of John Reskyner, had a son, Ewryne, who by * Visitations of Devonshire and Cornwall, C. 1. p. 333, 334. b Ibid. VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 63 his wife Florence, daughter and heir of Walter Pother, had a son, Osbert, who, by Alice, his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Laurence Arundel, of Lamayle, had a son, Osbert, who was father to Ewryne, who, by his wife, Alice, daughter and heir of Otho de Trevayle. had Otho, who, by his wife, Margery, daughter and heir of Ralph Kasel, was father of the said Johan, and bore, for his arms, Gules, three bends, Argent, as his ancestors had done. By this match, a great estate accrued to their son and heir, John Boscawen, Esq. who, by Rose his wife, daughter of William Brett, Esq. had issue Hugh Boscawen, Esq. his son and heir, who succeeded him in his estate j and married John, only daughter of Ralph Tre- nouth, and heir of her mother Maud, daughter and heir of Tregarick, of an ancient family in Cornwall. This Hugh's son and heir was Richard Boscawen, Esq. who, on July 4th, 1505, paid a fine of 5 /. to be excused from being made a Knight of the Bath. He married two wives ; first, Eli- zabeth, daughter of Godfry St. Albin ; and, second, Maud, daughter and coheir of Laurence Haslep, of Trewonwall, by Eleanor his wife, daughter and heir of Will. am TrevilJan, and son of William Haslep, by his wife, Plascasia, daughter and heir of Trewythyneck, in the county of Cornwall, Esqrs. j (Phi- lippa, the other daughter and coheir of Laurence Haslep, being the wife of James Trefusis, of Trefusis, in the same county, Esq.) By his first Lady he had no issue : but by his second, who brought him part of the lands of Haslep and Trevillan, as also the lands of Trewythyneck, he had two sons, John, his heir, and Bennet, who died without issue. John, the eldest son and heir, was seated at Tregothnan, in the county aforesaid j and, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Nicholas Lower, who was living in 1482, had issue, three sons, and five daughters j first, Jane, who died on November 10th, 1517, was successively wedded to Richard Trevenor, and Courtney, Esq.j second, Christian was first married to Thomas Ninnis, and secondly, to Walter Burlace, Esqrs. ; third, Isabel was the wife of Samson Manington, of Cornwall, Esq.; fourth, Elizabeth, of Richard Curtis, Esq.; and fifth, Grace, of Richard Kempe, of Blisland, Esq. The three sons of the aforesaid John Boscawen, Esq. were, First, John Boscawen, of Tregothnan, Esq. Second, Hugh, continuator of the family; and Third, Laurence, who died unmarried. 64 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Which John Boscawen, Esq. the eldest son, died on Fe- bruary 2{)th, 1523-4, c as is evident from the inquisition taken after his decease, which sets forth, that he was son and heir of John Boscawen, and of Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Nicholas Lower, Esq. and he of Richard Boscawen 5 and that he died pos- sessed of the manors of Tregarreck, with the appurtenances j and of lands and tenements in Trevele, Tregithvant, and Trenorra, in the county of Cornwall ; leaving Thomas Boscawen, his son and heir (by his wife Margaret, daughter of Thomas Trethurfe, Esq. and coheir of Edward Courte- nay, Earl of Devon) who was six months old at his father's de- cease, and died in his infancy. Thereupon the inheritance devolved on Hugh, second son, continuator of the family before-named, who paid a fine of four marks for not attending the coronation of Queen Mary, on Oc- tober 1st, 1553, and departing this life on August 24th, 155p, aged eighty, was buried at Penkevil, He wedded Philippa, daughter and coheir of Nicholas Carminow, of Carminow, Wol- veidon, &c. Esq. whose other daughter and coheir, Elizabeth, car- ried her purparty of those lands to her husband, Nicholas Hearle, Esq. By the said Philippa, he was father of seven sons, and as many daughters. The sons were, First, John, who died an infant. Second, another John, his heir, * Third, Nicholas Boscawen, Esq. who succeeded his brother. Fourth, William Boscawen, who died young. Fifth, Hugh Boscawen, Esq, who was born A. D. 1550, and by his wife, Mary, daughter of Thomas Tredynwick, Esq. had issue Hugh Boscawen, aged twenty-four, in the year 1620, and Margaret, wife of William Bird, of Foy, Esq, Sixth, George Boscawen, Esq. who wedded Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Thomas Carnarther, Esq. (and by her had three sons, first, Hugh, aged twenty-three, in 1620 ; second, Edward, aged twenty, in 1620, who died in ]64Q, without issue/and was buried at Penkevil ; third, John) : and, Seventh, Edward Boscawen, Esq. who died without issue, on. February 15th, 1619, aged sixty-three, and had sepulture at Penkevil. The seven daughters of the said Hugh and Philippa were, 1 . Joan, who was successively married to Walter Gawgan, and c Cole's Esc. lib. not. 61. A. u, p. 65, in Bibl. Harley. VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 65 ^ohn Barrett, Esqrs. and, dying in 1625, was buried at Penkevil j second, Alice, the wife of Richard Kendal, Esq ; third, Petronel, wedded to Peter Maynowe, Esq. ; fourth, Mary, who was mar- ried to Peter Coffin, Esq. and deceasing on September 4th, 1622, aged sixty-seven, had sepulture at Penkevil ; fifth, Elizabeth, suc- cessively wife to Richard Ppyie and Richard Trevilian, Ecqrs. ; sixth, Margaret, who died without issue, A. D. J 655, and was buried at Penkevil ; and, seventh, Catharine, who was first mar« ried to Nanscawen, and, secondly, to Richard Geddy, Esqrs. John Boscawen, the second but eldest surviving son of the aforesaid Hugh and Philippa Carminow, succeeded to a great part of the estate of his father ; and died unmarried on May 4th, 1561, possessed of the manors of Tregareck, Trevilla, and Non- fabellan, with thirty messuages in Boscawen, and the appurte- nances thereunto belonging in Tregoney, Penbyrth, Trefrasow, &c. as appears by inquisition taken d on July 12th, in 6 Elizabeth; and that Nicholas Boscawen, of Tregothnan, was his brother and htir, and twenty-one years of age. Which Nicholas Boscawen, third, but second surviving son, e succeeding to the estate of his brother John, had to wife Alice, daughter and coheir of John Trevanion, of Trevanion, Esq. and by her, who died on September 15th, 1580, and was buried at Penkevil, he had issue Hugh Boscawen, his only son and, heir, living, unmarried, in 1620; and three daughters, Mary, married to William Bird, of Foy, in Cornwall ; Grace, who died without issue ; and Radigund (or Radagon) first the wife of Richard Cole, of Buckishe, in com. Devon, and, secondly, of Sir William Cooke, of Highnam, in com. Gloucest. Knight. This Nicholas Boscawen, dying on May 1st, 1626, aged eighty- five, had sepulture at Pen- kevil, and was succeeded in the manor and borough of Tregony, &c. by his said only son, Hugh Boscawen, Esq. who was chosen one of the knights f of the shire for the county of Cornwall, e to that parliament which met at Westminster on November 3d, 1640, but died in 1641, and had sepulture at PenkeviL This Hugh Boscawen, Esq. married Margaret, daughter of Robert Rolle, of Heanton (or Haynton) Satchville, in Devonshiie, d Cole praed. p. 34. e Ibid, ut antea. f Willis's Not. Pari. p. 241. 6 Ibid. p. 286. Y0L. VI. *" 66 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Esq. and by her (who died in December, 1635, and was buried at Penkevil) had issue eight sons. First, Nicholas Boscawen, Esq. his heir. Second, Hugh Boscawen, Esq. who succeeded the said Ni- cholas'" Third, Robert, who was born in 1626, and died young. Fourth, Charles, born in 1626, and died without issue, Fifth, Edward, of whom hereafter. Sixth, Robert, who was born in 1630., and died young, Seventh, John, born in 1634; and, Eighth, Samuel, who was born in 1635, and 1663 had sepul- ture at Penkevil. By the same lady he.had also three daughters, viz. Joan, born in 1624 ; Margaret, who was born in 1031, and was married to Robert Carr, Esq. but died without issue j and Alice, born in 1633. Nicholas Boscawen, Esq. eldest son and heir of the afore- said Hugh Boscawen, Esq. was born in 1623, and joined the par- liamentarian army with a regiment of horse from among his own tenants j but, dying without issue, the estate devolved upon his next brother, Hugh Boscawen, Esq. who was born in 1625, died May 13th, 1701, and was buried at Penkevil, with his wife Margaret, daughter and coheir of Theophilus Clinton, Earl of Lincoln, by which lady (who departed this life in 1688) he had issue eight sons, who all died without issue. First, Hugh, born 1649, married Anne, daughter ofWent- worth Fitz-Gerald, seventeenth Earl of Kildare, which lady mar- ried, secondly, Francis Robartes, son of John Robartes, the first Earl of Radnor : she died May 4th, 1715, and was buried on the 15th in Westminster-abbey. Second, Theophilus. Third, William. Fourth, Edward. Fifth, Robert. Sixth, Charles. Seventh, Samuel. Eighth, Nicholas. Also two daughters ; Margaret, who died unmarried; and Bridget, (who at length became their sole heir) married to Hugh Fojtescue, of Filleigh, in Devonshire, whose son and heir Hugh VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 07 Fortescue was summoned to parliament, as Baron Clinton, in right of his mother. (See that title postea, and also title Fortescue.J Edward Boscawen, Esq. fifth son of Hugh Boscawen, and Margaret Rolle, aforesaid, continuator of the male line, served for Tregony in that parliament, which met January 27th, 1 608-9, which dissolved themselves, and ordered a new parliament to meet on April 25th, 1660, which restored King Charles the Second. He was a leading member of the house of commons in that rei^n, and one of the twelve commoners, who, with six of the house of peers, were appointed to examine and state the public accounts. The King having promised his two houses of parliament, that he would constitute commissioners for taking the accounts of the several sums of money assigned to carry on the war with the Dutch, to the end that his Majesty and people might be satisfied of the faithful application thereof j he represented the said borough in parliament till the last year of that King's reign. He married Jael, daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin, Knight of the Bath, and sister to Sidney Earl of Godolphin, lord high treasurer of Great Britain j and by her had four sons and two daughters, viz. Hugh, his heir, created Viscount Falmouth. Edward, William, and another Edward, who all three died young, and were buried at Kensington, in Middlesex. Anne, wedded to Sir John Evelyn, of Wotton, in Surry, Bart, and Dorothy, married to Sir Philip Medows, knight marshal, one of the comptrollers of the accounts of the army. This Edward Boscawen, Esq. dying in October, 1685, was in- terred at Kensington, aforesaid ; and his Lady, surviving him till April 14th, 1730, had also sepulture there. Hugh, his eldest son and heir, was created Viscount Fal- mouth, &c. In the reign of Queen Anne he was a member iu several parliaments for the county of Cornwall, and boroughs of Truro, and Penryn ; and was groom of the bed-chamber to his Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, and attended in that post at his funeral, on November 13th, 17O8. He was- consti- tuted warden of the stannaries on April 30th, I7O85 and on the accession of George I. was made comptroller of his Majesty's household, and sworn h of the privy- council, on October 12th, 1714. On June 13th, 1720, in the sixth of that reign, he was created Baron of Boscawen Rose, and Viscount Falmouth, in '■ Pointer's Chron. Hist, p 78* 6S PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the county of Cornwall. On April 3d, 1724, he was appointed vice-treasurer of Ireland, &c. and on his resignation of that post, was constituted lord warden of the Stannaries. He was also cap- tain of St. Maw's castle, and recorder of the towns of Tregony and Penryn. His Lordship, h who died suddenly, at Trefusis, in the county of Cornwall, on October 25th, 1734, had sepulture at Penkevil. He was zealously attached to the Hanover succession and family, both before it took place, and ever after. The ser- vices he exerted in that respect, cost him immense sums of money, particularly on the vigorous stand he made in his own county, during the rebellion, A.D. i;i5, being the chief in preserving the quiet and peace of the county of Cornwall, where, at St. Co- lumbe's, James Painter, jun. Esq. bad proclaimed the Chevalier de St. George King of England, &c. His attendance in parlia- ment was very regular and constant : and in private life, as a husband, father, master, and friend, he was kind, indulgent, punctual, and exemplary. He was beneficent by nature, com- passionate, and ready to forgive injuries, and had a peculiar gene- rosity to those who were in distress and want. He treated all ranks of people on an equality, and at the same time supported his character and dignity. He understood and behaved as a man who considered himself as such, and was not a stranger, in any respect, where good offices and humanity were requisite and ne- cessary. He was married,1 on April 23d, 1700, in King Henry VII's chapel in Westminster-abbey, to Charlotte, eldest of the twc* daughters and coheirs of Charles Godfrey, Esq, (by Arabella Churchill his wife, sister to that great general John Duke of Marlborough) and by her (who was one of the maids of honour to Queen Anne, and surviving his Lordship until March 22d, 1754, being then in the seventy-sixth year of her age, had sepulture at Penkevil) had eight sons and ten daughters. First, Charlotte, born on August 5th, 1702, married to Henry Moore, Earl of Drogheda, whom she survived, and died On April 3d, 1735. Second, Anne, who was born on February 1/th, 1703-4, mar- ried Sir Cecil Bishopp, of Parham, in Sussex, Bart, died in May, 1747, and was buried at Parham. Third, Diana, who died young. » Sec a pQrtait of him in Adolphus's British Cabinet. 4 Ex Reg. Eccle. VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 69 Fourth, Mary, born on March 12th, 1705, wedded, in August, 1732, to John Evelyn, Esq. eldest son and heir of Sir John Evelyn, of Wootton, in Surry, Baronet, died in 17^9, buried at Wootton. Fifth, Hugh, the second Viscount Falmouth. Sixth, Harriott, who was born on April 25th, 1708, and died young. Seventh, Elizabeth, who was born on April 20th, 1709, and died young. Eighth, Charles, who was born on June 12th, 1710, died young, and was buried at St. Michael Penkivel. Ninth, Edward Boscawen, of Penrose, near the Land's-End, Cornwall, third son, of whom more fully afterwards. Tenth, George, who was born on December 1st, 1712, and elected a member for Penryn to the parliament summoned to meet on June 25th, 1741 ; also to that parliament summoned to meet on August 13th, 1747 ; and served in the next parliament for the same place. At the general election in 1761, he was re- turned for Truro ; which place he continued to represent to the time of his decease, which was on May 3d, 1775. In 1728, he had a commission of ensign in the guards j and had afterwards a company of the guards, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, having behaved with great bravery at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy. In 1745, he was constituted deputy-governor of the islands of Scilly j and on October 14th, 1749, was appointed one of his Majesty's aid-de-camps. On March 4th, 1752, he was promoted to the command of the twenty-ninth regiment of foot, then in Ireland; and, on January 16th, 1761, was removed to that of the twenty-third, the Welch Fusileers. On January 17th, 1758, he was appointed major-general of his Majesty's forces; and promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, on February 22d# 176O. He married, in February, 1742-3, Anne, daughter of John Morley Trevor, of Glynd, in Sussex, Esq. and sister and coheir of John Trevor, of Trevalyn, in North Wales, Esq. By that Lady he had issue two sons, and two daughters j George, born on September 4th, 1745; member of parliament for Truro, 1774, and formerly captain in the first troop of horse grenadiers, married a sister of Sir Charles Bunbury, Bart, formerly wife of Sir Patrick Blake, Bart. : Anne, born on October 10th, 1744, one of the maids of honour to the Queen; Charlotte, born on May 1st, 1747 j and William, born on August 17th, 1752, barrister at lavr and a commissioner of bankrupts. ;o PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Eleventh, John, born on January 2d, 1/13-14. This gentle* man, choosing a military life, passed through the several degrees of an officer in the first regiment of foot-guards, till he arrived at the rank of colonel, on May 1st, 1758. On November 11th, 1761, he got the command of the forty-fifth regiment of infantry? and, on March 4th, l/6l, was constituted major general. He was master of the horse to the Duke of Cumberland, and one of the grooms of his bed-chamber. He was likewise deputy-go- vernor of Scilly islands. He served as a member for Truro, in every parliament from the year 1747, till his death, which hap- pened in June, 176/ . He married, in December, 1748, Thoma- sina, k daughter of Robert Surman, of Valentine-house, in Essex, Esq. by whom he had a son, William-Augustus-Spencer, born on January 7th, l74p-50, formerly lieutenant-colonel in the foot- guards, and member of parliament for Truro, 1784, 1790; for which he vacated his seat, June, 1792, on being made a commis- sioner of the salt-office. Of him his mother died in child-bed on the 29th following. The general died April 30th, 1767. Twelfth, Eleanor, who was born on February 18th, 1714-15, and died young. Thirteenth, Arabella, who was born on Feb. 13th, 1715-16,, and died young. Fourteenth, William-Frederic, born on September 18th, 171/, went out supercargo in the service of the East India Company, and died unmarried. Fifteenth, Lucy, who was born on May 6th, 1719, married Sir Charles Frederick, Knight of the Bath, surveyor-general of the ordnance? and died in 1784. Sixteenth, Catharine, who was born on December 1 lth. 172Q, and departing this life on June 5th, 1736, had sepulture at Bed- dington, in Surry. Seventeenth, Henry, who was born on April 1 8th, 1/22, and died unmarried. Eighteenth, Nicholas, born on August 16th, 1723, created at Cambridge doctor of divinity, in June, 1753, at the time the Duke of Newcastle, chancellor of the University, was there. He was dean of St. Burien, in Cornwall, a prebendary of Westminster, and chaplain to his Majesty. He married Jane, daughter of Woodward, and relict of Hatton, of Stratford upon Avon, in Warwickshire, Esqrs. and by her, who died in January, 1797, k Buried at Barking in Essex, aged thirty years. VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 71 had two sons ; Hugh, who was born on March 25th, 1755, died on April 21st, 1/56, and was buried at Heydon, in Essex; and Nicholas, who was born on March 25th, 1756. Her Ladyship, their mother, was exemplary in her piety, virtue, and charity : and though, for some years past, she endured the miseries of a tedious, lingering, and gradual decay, yet she perfectly retained her senses unto her last moments, and bore her sufferings with a firmness and resolution peculiar to herself, which can be equalled but by few, but exceeded by none. We shall now return to the Right Hon. Edward Boscawen, third son of Hugh, Viscount Falmouth. The said Edward was born on August lgth, 1/11. His genius leading him to a sea- faring life, he had the command of the Shoreham, of twenty guns, which made part of Admiral Vernon's squadron in the West Indies, in 1739, where he distinguished himself as a volunteer, at the taking and blowing up of the fortifications of Porto-Bello. On the attack of Carthagena, in February 1741-2, he had the com- mand of a party of seamen, who bravely and resolutely attacked and took the Fascine-battery of fifteen twenty-four pounders, and a smaller of five guns, notwithstanding a bloody resistance ; and, spiking up all the guns, tore up, and burnt all the platforms and carriages, wherewith General Wentworth had complained the enemy had much galled him. After that siege, so glorious to our naval forces, having the command of the Prince Frederic, he ar- rived on May 14th, 1742, at St. Helen's, in nine weeks from Jamaica, sent by Admiral Vernon and General Wentworth, with advice, that the fleet, and land forces under their command, were under sail from Jamaica, on a new expedition against the Spaniards. On November 26th, 1746, being captain of the Namure, and commodore of a squadron of his Majesty's ships, he took the In- trepide, a French privateer of St. Maloe's, of twenty guns, and two hundred men ; also a dispatch snow from the Marquis d'An- ville's squadron at Chebucto, in Acadia, with advices of great im- portance to the court of France. On May 3d, 1747, he signalized himself in that engagement with the French fleet, which was convoying from the ports of France, to the East and West-Indies, ships laden with merchan- dize and warlike stores ; and not one of the ships of war belong- ing to that fleet escaped. Thereupon he was constituted rear- admiral of the blue squadron of his Majesty's fleet ; also com- 72 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. mander of a squadron, and general of his Majesty's marine forces, employed in an expedition to the East-Indies. On November 4th, 1747, he sailed from St. Helen's, with a fair wind. On July 2Sth, the fleet arrived at fort St. David's j and from thence proceeded to attack the fort of Pondicherry, but was obliged to raise the siege. The Admiral's strongest force was but 3200 men, who did all that could be expected from them. Soon afterwards news arrived of the peace 5 but unfortunately two of our men of war were lost in a storm. The admiral, having sent forces, and taken possession of Fort St. George, which was delivered up by the French, prepared for his voyage home. On October 19th, 1749, he sailed from fort St. David's, on his return to Europe, and arrived at Spithead in April 1750. On his return he was constituted rear admiral of the White squadron of his Majesty's fleet; and, in June, 1751, one of the lords commissioners of the admiralty. On February 4th, 1755, he was constituted vice-admiral of the Blue squadron of his Ma- jesty's fleet 5 and the French having, in April, that year, equipped a large navy, with a considerable number of regular troops, and military stores in proportion, on board, to reinforce their garri- sons, and execute their ambitious schemes, in North America, he was appointed commander of a squadron rigged out to watch their motions. Accordingly he set sail from Plymouth, on the 27th of that month, with eleven ships of the line, and a frigate, with two regiments, for the Banks of Newfoundland. In a few days after his arrival there, the French fleet, consisting of twenty- five ships of the line, besides frigates and transports, under the command of M. Bois de la Mothe, came to the same station : but the thick fogs which prevail on those coasts, especially at that season of the year, kept the two armaments from seeing each other j and part of the French squadron sailed up the river St. Lawrence, whilst another part of it went round, and got into the same river through the straits of Bellisle, on the north of the island of Newfoundland, by a course which was never attempted before by ships of the line. Nevertheless, when the admiral lay with the fleet off Cape Race, the most southern point of New- foundland, and deemed the most proper station for intercepting the enemy j two French ships, the Alcide, of sixty-four guns, with 480 men, and the Lys, pierced for sixty-four guns, but mounting only twenty-two, with eight companies of land forces on board, having been separated from the rest in the fog on June VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 7* §th, fell in, the next day, with the Dunkirk and Defiance, two sixty-gun ships, commanded by Captain Howe (afterwards Earl Howe) and Captain Andrews, and were both taken, after an en- gagement of near five hours. Mr. Boscawen was, on February 8th, 1758, declared admiral of the Blue, having regularly gone through the two intermediate stations, of vice-admiral of the White and Red, between that and the rank of vice-admiral of the Blue, to which he had been pro- moted before his last expedition to America, as before related : and, the reduction of Louisbourg, in the island of Cape-Breton, being about that time concerted, he was pitched upon as the best qualified officer to command the armament destined for that ser- vice, being equally capable of conducting the operations by land as well as sea. He sailed from St. Helen's on the 19th of that month, when the Invincible, a seventy-four gun ship, and one of the best of his squadron, missing her stays, ran upon a flat, and was lost, but the men, artillery, stores, &c. were saved. At his arrival at Halifax in Nova Scotia, he was joined by General Am- herst (afterwards created Lord Amherst,) and took his departure thence, on May 28th, with that officer, the ships of war and trans- ports amounting to 157 sail* with about 12,000 land forces ou board. After the surrender of this important place, which cost the besiegers about 400 killed and wounded (William Cochran, seventh Earl of Dundonald, a captain in the sixteenth regiment of foot, commanded by brigadier-general John Forbes, being in the number of the former) and which paved the way for the reduction of Quebec, and conquest of all Canada, Admiral Boscawen, having detached some ships, with a body of troops under Andrew, Lord Rollo, to take possession of the island of St. John, and having left a sufficient squadron at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, returned with Sir Charles Hardy, and four ships of the line, to England, where they arrived on November 1st, 1759, after giving chace to six large French ships, which they descried to the westward of Scilly, but could not overtake or bring to an engagement. The house of commons had so just a sense of the service done by Ad- miral Boscawen to his country, by his operations in North Ame- rica, that on December 6th, 1758, it was unanimously agreed, that the thanks of that house should be given to him for the same. Mr. Boscawen having given such eminent proofs of his abili- ties, he was by his Majesty's command, on February 2d, 175g, 74 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. sworn of the privy-council/ and took his seat at the board accord- ingly. This gallant admiral, being vested with the command of a squadron, of fourteen ships of the line and two frigates, for the Mediterranean service, set sail from St. Helen's on April 14th, 17595 and after his arrival in that sea, he displayed the British flag before Toulon, by way of defiance to the French fleet that lay at anchor there under M. de la Clue, consisting of twelve large ships and three frigates, preparing to join M. Conflans, at Brest. Finding that he could not provoke M. de la Clue to quit his moorings, he sent three ships of the line, on July 7th, under captains Callis, Harland, and Barker, to burn two ships that lay close to the mouth of the harbour ; and, though they did not suc- ceed in the enterprize, yet they gained great honour by sustain- ing, for upwards of three hours, the fire of several batteries, some of which they had not seen before their approach. They attempted to destroy two forts, which they cannonaded with great vivacity : but being oveftnatched by superior force, and the wind subsiding in a calm, they suffered considerable damage, and were, with some difficult}', towed off. The admiral then steered to Gibraltar, in order to refit 5 and, when that was near completed, he was ad- vertised, on August 17th, about eight in the evening, by one of his two cruizing frigates, that fourteen large ships appeared on the Barbary coast to the eastward of Ceuta. He immediately weighed anchor, and was out of the bay before ten, with fourteen sail of the line, and two fireships. At day-light next morning he descried seven sail, which proved to be the best part of the French fleet, from which five capital vessels, and three frigates, had separated in the night : but the English squadron not answer- ing their signal, they endeavoured to make the best of their way. However, as the wind blew fresh, the British admiral came fast up with them till about noon, and made signal to chace and en- gage in a line of battle a-head j in which engagement he glo- riously succeeded. This signal victory, which in a great measure disconcerted the future operations of M. Conflans, was gained at the expense of about 250 killed and wounded, and without the life of any officer; but must have proved very dear to the vanquished, as M. de la Clue, in his letter to the French ambassador at Lisbon, acknow- ledged that 100 men were killed on board his ship, and 70 dan^ gerously wounded. Admiral Boscawen, after this memorable ex-, ploit, arrived at Spithead on September 15th ; and waiting on his Majesty, on the 1/th, was very graciously received. For hw. VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 75 eminent services and military skill, he was, on December 8th fol- lowing, oeclared general of the marine forces.: and about the same time, the magistrates of Edinburgh, in consideration of his many favours to Scotsmen, &c. complimented him with the freedom of their city, which he was pleased to accept very politely. In January, 1/60, he sailed for the bay of Quiberon, with a small squadron, in order to watch the motions and distress the commerce of the French j but was driven back, before the end of that month, to Spithead, by stress of weather. However, he sailed again on February 6th j and meeting with a series of tem- pestuous weather, was forced into Plymouth, with his little fleet very much shattered, on the 15th: but the Ramilies, a f)0-gun ship, overshooting the sound, and being embayed near a point called the Bolt-head, was drove from her anchors, and dashed in pieces among the rocks ; all her officers and men, to the number of seven hundred, being lost, except one midshipman and twenty- five mariners. He was, in the course of the ensuing summer, alternately with Sir Edward Hawke, commander in Quiberon- bay, where, having no object to exert his military talents, he shewed his benevolence to mankind by possessing himself of a small island near the river Vannes, and cultivating and planting it with vegetables for the use of the men afflicted with scorbutic disorders, arising from salt provision, sea-air, and want of proper exercise. That was the last public service done by this brave officer, who, if he had an equal, had no superior j for he was cut off by a bilious fever on January 10th, l/6l. He lies interred in the parish church of St. Michael, at Penkevil in Cornwall, where a monument of exquisite workmanship, designed by Mr. \dam, and executed by Mr. Rysbrack, stands erected to his memory^ with an appropriate inscription. k k Here lies the Right Honourable EDWARD BOSCAWEN, Admiral of the Blue, General of Marines, Lord of the Admiralty, and one of his Majesty's Most Hon- Privy-Council. His birth, though noble. His titles, though illustrious, Were but incidental additions to his greatness. HISTORY, In more expressible and more indelibly characters, Will inform latest posterity With what ardent zeal, 76 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Admiral Boscawen was returned one of the representatives for the borough of Truro, in Cornwall, to the ninth parliament of Great Britain, summoned to meet on June 25, 1/41. He was likewise elected for the same borough to the next parliament, which first sat for the dispatch of business on November 12th, 1747j and also for Saltash, in the same county -} but chose his seat for the former, by which he was likewise elected to the en- suing parliament, which met on May 31st, 1754. Among his With what successful valour, He served his country ; And taught her enemies To dread her naval power. In command He was equal to every emergency, Superior to every difficulty ; In his high departments masterly and upright ; His example formed, while His patronage rewarded MERIT. With the highest exertions of military greatness He united the gentlest offices of humanity; His concern for the interest, and unwearied Attention to the health, of all under his eommand, Softened the necessary exactions of duty, And the rigours of discipline, By the care of a guardian, and the tenderness Of a father. Thus beloved and revered, Amiable in private life, as illustrious in public. This gallant and profitable servant of his Country, When he was beginning to reap the harvest Of his toils and dangers, In the full meridian of years and glory, After having been providentially preserved Through every peril incident to his profession, Died of a fever, On the 10th of January, in the year 1761, The 50th of his age, At Hatchland's Park, in Surry, A seat he had just finished (at the expense Of the enemies of his country) And (amidst the groans and tears Of his beloved Cornishmen) was Here deposited. Hh once happy wife inscribes this marble, An unequal testimony of his worth, And of her ailectiojft. VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 77 other offices, he had that of an elder brother of the Trinity-house, which is conferred on none but those who have distinguished themselves in some of the maritime departments. His Lady, who erected the aforesaid monument, was Frances, daughter of William-Evelyn Glanville, of St. Clere, in Kent, Esq. and by her, whom he married in December, 1742, and who died February 26th, 1805, he left three sons, and two daughters, viz. Edward-Hugh, born on September 13th, 1744, died unmar- ried at Spa, in Germany, July 17th, 1774. William-Glanville, born on August 11th, 1751, but was un- fortunately drowned, when bathing in a pond, at Jamaica, A. D. 1/69 George Evelyn, born on May 6th, 1758, who succeeded his uncle as third Viscount. Frances, born on March 7th, 1746; and married July 5th, 1/73, to the Hon. John Leveson Gower, brother to the late Mar- quis of Stafford j by whom she was mother of the present general Gower, &c. And Elizabeth, born on May 28th, 1747, married January 2d, 1 j66, to Henry Somerset, the late Duke of Beaufort. Hugh, second Viscount Falmouth, when a commoner, l was member for Truro, in Cornwall, in the parliament summoned to meet on November 28th, 1727. And after succeeding to the honours, on October 25th, 1734, was constituted captain of the yeomen of his Majesty's guard. On the breaking out of the re- bellion in 1745, his Lordship had such an interest in the county of Cornwall, that 638/ persons signed an association to appear armed, in the best manner they could, under his command (being impowered by his Majesty to form into troops, or companies, such who were willing to associate themselves) or under some other officer or officers, commissioned by him, in order to defend his Majesty's sacred person and government, preserve the peace of their county, their religion, liberties, properties, and every thing dear to them as Englishmen ; and, at the hazard of their lives and fortunes, oppose all invaders, rebels, and traitors whatsoever : which association his Lordship presented to his Majesty at St. James's, on December 18th following. His Lordship also pre- sented an address to the same effect, from the borough of Pen- zance, whereof he was recorder j and the ministry having thought it expedient, on that emergency, to raise two regiments of horse/ •British Pari- Regist. No. 24. 78 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. and thirteen of foot, under as many noblemen of known attach- ment to the government, his Lordship was impowered to raise one of the regiments of infantry. His Lordship, having thus ini- tiated himself in the military service, was promoted to the rank of major-general on March 7, 1755, to that of lieutenant-general on February Sth, 1759, and to that of general on May 25th, 1772. On December 15th, 1756, his Lordship was sworn one of his Ma- jesty's privy council, and took his seat at the board accordingly. At the accession of the present King, on October 25th, 17OO, his Lordship was continued in the office of captain of the yeomen of the guard, and likewise in his place at the council-table. His Lordship married May Oth, 1736, Hannah-Catharina-Maria, widow of Richard Russel, Esq. and daughter of Thomas Smith, of Worplesdon, in the county of Surry, Gent, but had no issue : m and dying February 4th, 1782, aged seventy-four, n was succeeded by his nephew, George-Evelyn, (son of admiral Boscawen) who thus be- came third Viscount Falmouth. His Lordship married, June 26th, 1784, Miss Crewe, only daughter and heir of John Crewe, Esq. of Bolesworth castle, in Cheshire 5 and by her, who died August 10th, 1793, had issue, First, John Evelyn, present peer. Second, Elizabeth, born May 17th, 1785, married, June 23d, 1808, Lord Arthur-John-Henry Somerset, younger son of Henry, late Duke of Beaufort, K. G. m He left a natural son Hugh, some time member of parliament for St. Mawes, and knight-marshal of his Majesty's household, who died September 4th, 1795. n Engraved on his brass coffin plate, size 13 by 17. Arms Boscawen im- paling, Argent, a fesse dancette between three roses, Gules, with supporters, crest, motto, Sec. « The Right Hon. Hugh Boscawen Viscount Falmouth, Baron Boscawen-Rosc in the county of Cornwall. A General of his Majesty's Forces, Vice Admiral of the county of Cornwall, Captain of the Yeomen of his Majesty's Body Guards, and one of his Majesty's most Hon. Privy Counsellors. He married, May 6th, 1736, Hannah Katherina Maria, daughter of Thomas Smith, of Worplesdon in Surry, Gent. Widow of Richard Russel, Esq. and died with issue, Feb. 4th, 1783, aged 74." VISCOUNT FALMOUTH. 79 Third, Frances, died February 4th, 1794. Fourth, Anne, born November 22d, 1791. His Lordship died February 14th, 1808. Edward, eldest son, succeeded his father as fourth Viscount Falmouth. His Lordship was born May 10th, 1787- His Lord- ship was for a short time in the foot-guards 5 and, while a com- moner, was, in 1807, elected member of parliament for Truro. Titles. Edward Boscawen, Viscount Falmouth, and Baron Boscawen-Rose. Creations. Baron Boscawen-Rose, and Viscount Falmouth, in Cornwall, on June 13th, 1720, 6 Geo. I. Arms. Ermine, a rose, Gules, barbed and seeded, proper. Crest. On a wreath, a falcon, close, proper. Supporters. Two sea lions, Argent, gutty de larmes, i. e. «potted with blue drops. Motto. Patience Passe Science. Chief Seat. At Tregothan, in the county of Cornwall. SO PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. BYNG, VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. It appears on record, that this family has been long seated in * Kent : and, as the visitation of that county in the office of arms shews, Thomas Byng, who was living in the reign of King Henry VII. and seated at Wrotham, married b Joan, daughter and heir of Thomas Hicks, by whom he had issue John, his son and heir, with nine other sons, and a daughter, Rebecca, married to Henry Goddard, of Rucking, in Kent, Esq. John Byng, Esq. his son, in 1537, having0 married Agnes, daughter to Robert Spencer, of the county of Essex, had issue two sons, Robert Byng, of Wrotham in Kent, Esq. ancestor to the present Viscount Torrington j and Thomas. The said Thomas, second son, was of St. Peter's college, in Cambridge, and master of Clare-hall, and doctor of the civil laws.d In 1572, he was vice-chancellor of the university of Cambridge ; as also in 15/8. In I076, he wase in commission with William Lord Burleigh, lord high treasurer of England, Richard Bishop, of Ely, and others, to visit St. John's college in Cambridge. In 1594, he was f constituted Regius professor of the civil law in the said university. He was seated at Granchester in Cambridgeshire \ and in& 1571, a Visit. Com. Kantii H. 2. folio 44, in Offic Arm. & No, n©6 Harl. MSS. in Brit. Mus. * Glover. c Symonds's Antiq. of Essex, vol.i. fol 145. * Le Neve's Fasti Eccles. Anglic p. 396, 397. • Rymcr's Feed. vol. xv. p. 762. ' Ibid. vol. xvi. p 243. « Ex Regist Eccles. S. Marg. Westm. VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 81 was married to Catharine, daughter of Randall, or Ran- dolph, Esq. j she died 16-7, aged seventy-four, and is buried at Granchester, where a monument is erected to her memory, which shews that they had issue ten sons, and two daughters, who it is presumed all died young, except Henry, of whom afterwards 3 and Andrew, who was D. D. Archdeacon of Norwich, the King's Hebrew professor at Cambridge j was particularly recommended by King James I. to be master of Corpus Christi college in that university, by his letter of the 26th of March, 1618, as knowing personally, he says, his great worth, as he would be an honour and ornament to the university, if they made choice of him 3 which they accordingly did : he died during the time of the civil war. Henry, the eldest son of Thomas, was born in Westminster, on July 22d, 1573, and the sponsors at his baptism were Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland, Dr. Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster, and the Lady Isabella Neville. He was Serjeant at law, and counsel to the university of Cambridge 3 and, by Catha- rine his wife, daughter of Thomas Clynch, of Holebrooke in Suffolk, Esq. son of John Clynch, one of the justices of the Queen's-Bench, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, he had three sons, First, Henry Byng, who married , daughter and co- heir of Arthur Coke, Esq. third son of Sir Edward Coke, lord chief justice, ancestor to the late Earl of Leicester. Second, Edward Byng, who wedded another daughter of the said Arthur Coke 5 and, Third, John Byng, who was counsellor at law, and counsellor to the university of Cambridge. This John married Grace, daughter and coheir to Thomas Goad, LL. D. Regius professor of the civil law, in the university of Cambridge, and left issue, Johu, who was born at Granchester, in Cambridgeshire, A. D. 1663, and marrying Frances, daughter of Thomas Shortyng, Gent, left by her two daughters, Winifred, married to Richard Burr, doctor in divinity 3 and Catharine, to Henry Oborne, chirurgeon, and citizen of London, We now return to Robert Byng, of Wrotham, Esq. before- mentioned, the direct ancestor to the present Viscount Torrington. He served h for the borough of Abingdon, in the first parliament of Queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1559 3 and in the thirty-fourth year of » Willis's Not. Pari. vol. i. p. 69. VOL. VI. Q 82 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. her reign was' sheriff of the county of Kent. He married to his first wife k Frances, daughter and heir of Richard Hill, Esq. by whom he had three sons, George, John., and Francis, whereof the two last died without issue. And by his second wife, \ Mary, daughter of William May- nard, Esq. he had issue three sons 5 of whom Robert was living A. D. lOlQ, and William was governor of Deal castle. And a daughter, Anne, U1 married to David Polhill, of Otford, in Kent, Esq. The said Robert Byng Esq. n died on September 2d, 1595, (as appears by inquisition of the Court of Wards) leaving issue George Byng, his son and heir, thirty-nine years old. Which George, who succeeded him, was ° chosen member of parlia- ment for Rochester, in the county of Kent, 27 Elizabeth, and for theP port of Dover, in the first of James I. He married °* Jane, daughter of William Gromer, of Tunstall, in Kent, Esq. and by her had three sons and four daughters ; Elizabeth, the eldest, was married to Thomas Polhill, of Wrotham, Esq. j Frances, Martha, and Dorothy 3 the said George, r dying in l6\6, was succeeded by George Byng, his eldest son and heir, s born at Wrotham, in 1594, who, ?,n 1617, was married to Catharine, daughter to John Hewit, of Headley-hall, in the county of York, Esq. (which family was afterwards seated at Waresley-park, in the county of Huntingdon) by whom he had issue a son, John, and a daughter, Elizabeth, married to Man, of Kelmscot, in Oxfordshire, Esq. John Byng, Esq. his son and heir, conveying away Wrotham, was the last of this family there. He married Philadelphia, the daughter of Johnson, of Loans, in Surry ; and by her had several children j of which George, the eldest, born at Wrotham, on January 27th, 1663, was created Viscount Torrington. He went a voluu- » Fuller's Worthies in Kent. k Visit, de Com. Kane. 1 Vincent's Kent in Offic. Arm. No. 182, p. 217 m Vincent's Visit. Kent. c. 16, 81. n Cole's Inquisition of the Court of Wards, vol. iii. fol. 66, in Bibl. Harley. o Harris's Hist, of Kent, p. 450. P Ibid. p. 45a. Cole's Inquisit. vol. iii. p. 66, and Funeral Certif. in Offic. Arm. I. 16. x Ex Regist Eccles. de Wrotham. s Ibid. VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 63 teer to sea, in 1678, at the age of fifteen, with the King's letter, given him on the recommendation of James, Duke of York. In 168 1, he quitted the sea service, upon the invitation of General Kirk, governor of Tangier, and served as cadet in the grenadiers of that garrison, till on a vacancy, which quickly hap- pened, the general (who always patronized him with great friend- ship) made him ensign of his own company, and soon after a lieutenant. In 1684, after the demolition of Tangier, George Legge, Lord Dartmouth, general of the sea and land forces, appointed him lieutenant of the Oxford, from which time he constantly kept to the sea service, remaining likewise an officer in the army several years after. In 1685, he went lieutenant of his Majesty's ship the Phoe- nix, to the East Indies, where engaging and boarding a Zinganian pirate, who maintained a desperate fight, most of those that en- tered with him were slain, himself greatly wounded, and the pirate sinking, he was taken out of the sea with scarce any re- mains of life. In 1688, being first lieutenant to Sir John Ashby, in the fleet commanded by the Lord Dartmouth, fitted out to oppose the de- signs of the Prince of Orange, he was, in a particular manner, en- trusted and employed in the intrigues then carrying on amongst the most considerable officers of the fleet, in favour of that Prince j and was the person confided in by them to carry their secret as- surances of obedience to his Highness, to whom he was privately introduced, at Sherburn, by admiral Russell, afterwards Earl of Orford. On his return to the fleet, the Lord Dartmouth sent him, with captain Aylmer, and captain Hastings, to carry a mes- sage of submission to the Prince at Windsor, and made him cap- tain of the Constant Warwick, a ship of the fourth rate. In 169O, he commanded the Hope, a third rate, and was se- cond to Sir George Rooke, in the battle off Beachy. In the years 169J and 1692, he was captain of the Royal Oak, and served under admiral Russell, who commanded in chief his Majesty's fleet. In 1693, that great officer distinguished him, in a particular manner, by promoting him to the rank of his first captain; in which station he served in 1694 and 1695, in the Mediterranean, where the designs of the French against Barcelona were pre- vented ; and in 1696, in the Channel, to oppose the intended in- 84 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. vasion of King James with a French army, which, upon the ap-. pearance of the fleet, was laid aside. In 1702, a war breaking out, he accepted the command of the Nassau, a third rate, and was at the taking and burning the French and Spanish fleet at Vigo. " In 1703, he was made rear-admiral of the Red, and served in the fleet commanded by Sir Cloudsly Shovel in the Mediterra- nean, who detached him with a squadron of five ships to Algiers, where he renewed and improved our treaties with that govern- ment. In his return home he was in danger of perishing in the great storm which he met with in the Channel. In 1704, he served in the grand fleet in the Mediterranean, and commanded the squadron that attacked and cannonaded Gibraltar 3 and by landing and heading the seamen, the 23d of July (whose valour was very remarkably distinguished on this oc- casion) the town was taken. He was also in the battle off Malaga, soon after, and for his behaviour in that action, Queen Anne honoured liim with knighthood, of which it was published in our Gazette, No. 4064. " St. James's, October 22d, 1 704. This day her Majesty was pleased to confer the honour of knighthood upon George Byng, Esq. rear-admiral of the red squadron of her Majesty's fleet, as a testimony of her approbation of his behaviour in the late action with the French in the Mediterranean." On January 18th following, he was appointed vice-admiral of the Blue j and immediately after, the French having two strong squadrons in the Soundings, besides great numbers of privateers, which annoyed our trade, he was sent with a squadron to cruize against them, in which he was so successful, that he took above twenty of their largest privateers, in about two months time, with the Thetis, a French man of war of fifty guusj and cleared those seas of the enemy. In 1705, he was promoted to be vice-admiral of the Blue, and returned a burgess for Plymouth, which he represented till he was created a peer. During the summer he commanded in chief a squadron in the Channel, and blocked up the French fleet in Brest, with a much inferior strength. In 1706, King Charles, late Emperor, being closely besieged in Barcelona, by sea and land, by the Duke of Anjou, and the place reduced to great extremity, and our fleet in the Mediterra- nean being too weak to relieve it, he was appointed to command a strong squadron fittin- «,t in England 5 in the hastening of VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 85 which service he used such diligence and activity, and joined our fleet with such unexpected dispatch, that the saving of that cit/ was entirely owing to it. He assisted in the other enterprizes of that campaign, and commanded the ships detached for the reduction of Carthagena, and Alicant, which he accomplished. In I/O/, he served in the second post under Sir Cloudsly Sho- vel, at the siege of Toulon j and narrowly escaped shipwreck in his return home, October 22d, when that officer was lost. For being the next ship to him, and finding the admiral's lights all out of a sudden, he was apprised of his misfortune, and with an admirable presence of mind, immediately set his topsails, put out the same lights the admiral had, and steered a different course, and the fleet followed him. He was constituted admiral of the Blue on January 26th, 1707-8, and soon after commanded the squadron that was fitted out to prevent the invasion designed against Scotland by the Pre- tender, with a French army from Dunkirk j in which he suc- ceeded by arriving off the Frith of Edinburgh, before their troops could land, and obliged them to return to Dunkirk, with their troops in so distressed a condition, that all the hospitals and con- vents of Dunkirk, Furnes, and Bergue, were too small for the ac- commodation of their sick. For this important service, on April 2lst, 1708, Sir Patrick Johnston, at London, in the name of the Magistrates of Edin- burgh, presented him with the freedom of that city in a gold box, with the arms of the city on the side, and on the cover whereof were engraven the following words, viz. " The Lord Provost, Bailiffs, and Town Council of Edinburgh, did present these letters of Bourgeoisie to Sir George Byng, Admiral of the Blue, in grati- tude to him for delivering, under her Majesty's auspicious influ- ence, this island from a foreign invasion, and defeating the de- signs of a French fleet at the mouth of the Frith of Edinburgh, March 1 3th, 17O8." This present was accompanied with a letter from Sir Samuel Macklellan, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, wherein he desires the admiral, " to accept of it as a mark of their high respect to him, who had been the happy instrument of so seasonable a deliverance of this island, for which his memory Would be honoured by future ages." All which is set forth in our Gazette, April 26th, 17O8, No. 4430. On his return from this expedition, the Queen was pleased 8(5 N PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. to offer him the place of one of the Prince's council in the admi- ralty, which he then declined. He continued to command that summer in the Channel ; and upon the arrival of Mary- Anne, daughter of the Emperor Leo- pold, at Spithead, September 25th, 1708, on her way to consum- mate her marriage with John V. King of Portugal, her Majesty went immediately on board the Royal Anne, where Sir George Byng received her, and had the honour of conducting her to Lis- bon, where a commission was sent him to be admiral of the White. In I/O9, he commanded in chief her Majesty's fleet in the Mediterranean; and after his return to England, was, on No- vember 8th, 170Q, made one of the commissioners of the admi- ralty, and continued so till near the time of the Queen's death, when not falling in within the measures of the ministry, he was removed. But on the accession of King George I. he was re- stored to that employment. In 1715, a rebellion breaking out in the kingdom, encouraged by the Pretender in person, and secretly supported with arms, and warlike stores, from France, he was appointed to command a squadron, with which he kept such a watchful eye along the French coast, by examining ships, even in their ports, and obtain- ing orders, from the court of France, to put on shore at Havre de Grace great quantities of arms and ammunition which he had de- tected to have been shipped there for the Pretender's service, that in reward of his services the King created him a Baronet, gave him a ring of great value, and other marks of his royal favour. In J7^7j upon the discovery of some secret practices of the ministers of Sweden against this kingdom, he was sent with a squadron into the Baltic, and prevented the Swedes appearing at sea. In 171 8, he was made admiral and commander in chief of the fleet, and sent with a squadron into the Mediterranean, for the protection of Italy, against the further invasion of the Spaniards, who had the year before surprised Sardinia, and had this year landed an army in Sicily. Whereupon he gave a total overthrow to their fleet on the coast of Sicily ; for which action he was ho- noured with a letter from the King, written with his own hand ; and received congratulatory letters from the Emperor and the King of Sardinia, and was further honoured by his Imperial Ma- jesty with his picture set in diamonds. He remained some time VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 87 in those seas, for composing and adjusting the differences between the several powers concerned, being vested with the character of plenipotentiary to all the Princes and States of Italy. In that year and the next, he supported the German arms in their expedition to Sicily, and enabled them, by his assistance, to subdue the greatest part of that island. When matters tended to an accom- modation, in 1720, by the King of Spain's accession to the quad- ruple alliance, and a convention was signed at the Hague for a cessation of hostilities, such confidence was placed in him, and re- gard shewn to his proceedings, that it was expressly mentioned in the treaty, that nothing therein should derogate from any sti- pulations he might have made by virtue of his plenipotentiary powers, which should be in full effect, notwithstanding the said treaty j and when, in consequence of the convention concluded between him and the generals of the Imperial and Spanish armies, the kingdoms of Sicily and Sardinia were to be evacuated by the Spaniards, he arbitrated so equally between them, that the King of Spain expressed his great satisfaction in his conduct to the British court. He afterwards proceeded to Sardinia, to be present at the surrender of that island to the Duke of Savoy, stipulated by the quadruple alliance, in exchange for Sicily, in which, as well as all his other concerns in those parts, his behaviour was very ac- ceptable to that Prince, whose acknowledgments were accom- panied with his picture set in diamonds. After the performing so many signal services, he attended his Majesty, by his command, at Hanover, where he arrived the mid- dle of August, 1720, and was received with the most gracious ex- pressions of favour and satisfaction. On October 21st, J 720, he was constituted rear-admiral of Great Britain, and treasurer of the navy. On January 20th, 1 720-21, he was sworn of his Majesty's most honourable privy-council, at St. James's j and on September 9th, 1721, l was created a Baron, and Viscount. The preamble of his Lordship's patent is as follows : As the grandeur and stability of the British empire depend chiefly upon knowledge and experience in maritime affairs, we esteem those worthy of the highest honours, who acting under our influence, exert themselves in maintaining our dominion over the sea. It is for this reason that we have determined to advance to the degree of peerage our trusty and well-beloved counsellor t Bill. Signat.8 Geo. I. 88 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Sir George Byng, Knt. and Bart, who being descended from an ancient family in Kent, and educated from his youth in the sea- service, hath through several posts arrived to the highest station and command in our navy, by the strength of his own abilities, and a merit distinguished by our predecessors, and ourselves, in the many important services, which he has performed with re- markable fidelity, courage, and success. In the late vigorous wars, which raged so many years in Europe; wars fruitful of naval combats and expeditions j there was scarce any action of consequence wherein he did not bear a principal part, nor were any dangers or difficulties so great, but he surmounted them by his exquisite conduct, and a good fortune that never failed him. Particularly when a storm was gathering in France, and it was uncertain upon what part of the coast it would fall, with wonderful sagacity and diligence he flew to the very place of danger, rescu- ing our capital city of Scotland from the imminent attack of a French squadron, which had many rebels, and numerous forces, on board 5 and by his very appearance defeated the vain hopes of the enemy, compelling them to relinquish their disappointed en-< terprize, and to seek their safety by a flight towards their own ports, attended with loss. With no less vigilance he repressed, not long since, the like machinations of the same traitors in the ports of France, who were so disconcerted at his presence, as to abandon the schemes they had projected ; for which prudent ser^ vice we conferred on him the dignity of Baronet, the first mark of our royal favour. Moreover, lately, when new* contentions were springing up in Italy, and the discord of Princes was on the point of embroiling Europe again in war, he did, with singular felicity and conduct, interpose with our squadron, crushing at one blow the laboured efforts of Spain to set up a power at sea, and ad- vanced the reputation of our arms in the Mediterranean to such a pitch, that our flag gave law to the contending parties, and en-* abled us to re-settle the tranquillity that had been disturbed. It is just, therefore, that we should distinguish with higher titles a subject who has so eminently served us and his country, both as monuments of his own merit, and to influence others into a love and pursuit of virtue. Know ye therefore, &c. In 1725, he was installed one of the Knight Companions of the Bath, on the revival of that most ancient and honourable order. VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 89 In 1727, his late Majesty, on his accession to the crown, placed him at the head of his naval affairs, by making him first lord com- missioner of the admiralty. And in that high station he died, on the 17th of January, 1732-3, in the seventieth year of his age, and was buried at Southill in Bedfordshire. I shall end my account of this Lord with an extract of his character, from a book published after his decease, An account of the Expedition of the British Fleet to Sicily, in which the author, who was well known to him, says, t( To give some de- scription of his person, he was of a slender constitution, but well supplied with spirits, which did not display themselves so much in gaiety of conversation (for he was modest in his nature) as in activity in all the duties and functions of life, or business, in which he was indefatigable 5 and by a continued habit of industry had hardened and inured a body, not naturally strong, to patience of any fatigue. He had made no great proficiency in school-learn- ing (which the early age of going to sea seldom admits of) but his great diligence, joined with excellent natural parts, and a just sense of honour, made him capable of conducting difficult nego- tiations and commissions, with proper dignity and address. The late King, who knew his abilities, used to say to his ministers, when they applied for instructions to be sent to him for his guid- ance on certain important occasions, that he would send him none, for he knew how to act without any 5 and, indeed, all the measures he took abroad were so exact and just, as to square with the counsels and "plan of policy at home. The cause of the Em- peror being become the cause of his master, he served the interests of that Prince with a zeal and fidelity that stood a pattern to his own subjects. He lived in such harmony with the imperial vice- roys and generals, as has been seldom seen among fellow-subjects united in command, the want of which has proved the ruin of many important expeditions. He was incapable of performing his duty in a cold or negligent manner; and, when any service was committed to his management, he devoted his whole time and application to it; nor could any fatigue or indisposition of body ever divert or interrupt his attention from any point that required present dispatch. To this it might be in great measure owing, that he was never unfortunate in any undertaking, nor miscarried in any service that was entrusted to his direction. For whoever will trace upwards to the springs and causes of public or private events shall find (except where the immediate finger of Provi- dence is visible) that what is usually called ill-luck, is generally 90 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the effect of negligence or imprudence. He always proceeded upon solid principles, and left nothing to fortune, that could be accomplished by foresight and application. His firmness and plain dealing were so apparent to the foreigners, who treated with him upon business, that it contributed much to the dispatch and success of his transactions with them 5 for they could depend upon what he said, and, as they saw he used no arts or chicanes himself, and had too discerning a spirit to suffer them to pass un- observed in others, they often found it their best policy to leave their interests in his hands and management, being very sure of a most impartial and punctual performance of whatever he engaged in. His reputation was so thoroughly established in this parti- cular, that in the frequent disputes and altercations which arose between the Savoyards and Germans in the course of the war, and between the latter and the Spaniards, at the conclusion of it, wherein little faith or confidence was given to the promises or as- severations of each other, he was the common umpire between them, always stemming arid opposing any extravagant or unjust demands (which the over-bearing temper of the German general was very apt to suggest, where he had the superior hand) and re- conciling, as much as possible, the violences of war with the rules of honour and justice. When he departed from Italy to at- tend his late Majesty at Hanover, the King, among many gracious expressions, told him, that he had found out the secret of obliging his enemies, as well as friends 5 and that the court of Spain had mentioned, with great acknowledgments, his fair and friendly behaviour in the provision of transports, and other necessaries, for the embarkation of their troops, and in protecting them from many violences and oppressions that had been attempted. No wonder, that a man endowed with such talents, and such a dis- position, left behind him in Italy, and other foreign parts, the character of a great soldier, an able statesman, and an honest man." His Lordship married, in Covent-Garden church, on March 5th, I69I, Margaret, daughter of James Master, of East Langdon, in the county of Kent, Esq. by Joice his wife, daughter of Sir Christopher Turnor, of Milton Erneys, in the county of Bedford, Knight, one of the Barons of the Exchequer} and by her Lady- ship, who died on April 1st, 1750, aged eighty-seven, and was buried at Southill, had eleven sons, and four daughters, of which those that survived him were, VISCOUNT TORR1NGTON. gi First, Pattee, second Viscount Tor rington. Second, George, of whom afterwards, as third Viscount Tor- rington. Third, Robert, born in 1703, chosen member of parliament for Plymouth in 1727 j was appointed one of the commissioners of his Majesty's navy, on June 2lst, 1731 j and, in 1739, governor of Barbadoes, where he died, in 1 740, and was buried at Southill, leaving issue, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and coheir of Jona- than Forward, Esq. three sons, viz. George ; Robert, who was smothered in the Black Hole at Calcutta in the East Indies, June 20th, 17565 and John, who was born in Barbadoes, A. D. 1740, departed this life, on June l6th, 1764, at Boulogne, in France, and was buried at Southill. George, the eldest, on March 16th, 1761, was appointed major-commandant of the ninety-ninth re- giment of fooi, and in 1774, member of parliament for Wigan, in Lancashire j and was afterwards member for Middlesex in several parliaments. He died October 27th, 178$, having mar- ried, March 5th, 1761, Anne, daughter of William Conolly, of Castletown in Ireland, Esq. grand-daughter of Thomas Went- worth, Earl of Strafford, and sister to Caroline, Countess of Buck- inghamshire, and by her (who died in December, 1805) had issue : first, Anne, born February 14th, 1762 5 second, George, member of parliament for the county of Middlesex, born May 1/th, 1764,. married Miss Montgomery, daughter of Sir William Montgomery, Bart, and sister to Anne, Marchioness Townshend ; third, Wil- liam, deceased j fourth, Caroline j fifth, Robert 5 sixth, Frances; seventh, John, lieutenant-colonel in the third regiment of foot- guards, mirried June 1 4th, 1804, Mary, eldest daughter of Peter Mackenzie, Esq. of Twickenham. Fourth, John, born at Southill, in 1704, was brought up in the sea service, into which he entered when about thirteen years of age; and, in 1727, had the command of the Gibraltar man of war, stationed in the Mediterranean. After several services, being commander of the Sutherland man of war, he was, on March 13, 1741-2, appointed governor and commander in chief in and over his Majesty's island of Newfoundland, in America, fort of Pla- centia, &c. On August 5th, 1745, he was declared rear-admiral of the Blue squadron ; and after passing gradually through the inter- mediate stations of rear-admiral of the White, and Red, and vice- admiral of the Blue, White, and Red squadrons, was, in the sequel, promoted to the rank of admiral of the Blue. Upon the 92 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. breaking out of the rebellion in Scotland, A. D. 17^5, he was appointed commander of a fleet on the Scottish coast; and gave manifest proofs of his zeal for the service in which he was em- ployed. In 1756, when repeated advice had been received at London, that the French intended a descent upon the island of Minorca, admiral Byng was selected to take the command of a fleet, con- sisting of eleven ships of the line, in very indifferent condition, and poorly manned, for the defence of that important place ; and, in obedience to his orders, departed from St. Helen's, on April 6th, four days before the French armament set sail from Toulon. He came in view of Minorca upon May 19th, and next day had an engagement with the French squadron. But, as an ac- count of that action, and the infamous steps taken against the un- fortunate admiral, either before or after his arrival in England, would far exceed the limits allotted to this work, we shall beg leave to refer our readers to his trial, and the history of those times j and only observe, that being brought before a court-mar- tial, and that tribunal having resolved, on January 27th, 1 7$7> that " he fell under part of the twelfth article of an act of parlia- ment of the 22d year of Geo. II. for amending, explaining, and reducing into one act of parliament, the laws relating to the go- vernment of his Majesty's ships, vessels, and forces by sea 5 and as that article positively prescribes death, without any alternative left to the discretion of the court under any variation of circum- stances j the court did therefore unanimously adjudge the said ad- miral Byng to be shot to death, at such time, and on board such ship, as the lords commissioners of the admiralty should direct : but, as it appeared by the evidence of Lord Robert Bertie, lieute- nant-colonel Smith, captain Gardiner, and other officers of the ship, who were near the person of the admiral, that they did not perceive any backwardness in him during the action, or any marks of fear or confusion, either from his countenance or behaviour, but that he seemed to give his orders coolly and distinctly, and did not seem wanting in personal courage, and from other circum- stances, the court did not believe that his misconduct arose either from cowardice or disaffection, and did therefore unanimously think it their duty most earnestly to recommend him as a proper object of mercy." In consequence of this last result, when the court-martial trans- mitted a copy of their proceedings to the board of admiralty, they likewise sent their lordships a letter, which concluded in these VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 93 terms : " VVe cannot help laying the distresses of our minds before your lordships, on this occasion, in finding ourselves under a necessity of condemning a man to death, from the great severity of the twelfth article of war, part of which he falls under, and which admits of no mitigation, even if the crime should be com- mitted by an error in judgment; and therefore, for our own con- sciences sake, as well as in justice to the prisoner, we pray your lordships, in the most earnest manner, to recommend him to his Majesty's clemency." However, notwithstanding that recommendation, the warrant, for putting the devoted admiral Byng to death, was subscribed by four of the lords of the admiralty, but the Honourable John Forbes absolutely refused, and for his dissent gave reasons, which are subjoined by way of note ; u and, without regard to the iuter- u Ii may be thought presumption in me to differ from so great authority as that of the twelve judges ; but, when a man is called upon to sign his name to an act, which is to give authority to the shedding of blood, he ought to be guided by his own conscience, and not by the opinions of other men. In the case before us, it is not the merit of admiral Byng that I consider : whether he deserves death, or not, is not a question for me to decide; but whether or not his life can be taken away by the sentence pronounced on him by the court-martial, and after having so clearly explained their motives for pronouncing such a sentence, is the point alone which has employed my most serious consideration. The twelfth article of war, on which admiral Byng's * entence is ground- ed, says (according to my understanding of its meaning), *« That every person, who, in time of action, shall withdraw, keep back, or not come into fight, or who shall not do his utmost, &c. through motives of cowardice, negligence, or disaffection, shall suffer death " The court-martial does, in express words, acquit admiral Byng of cowardice and disaffection, and does not name the word Negligence. Admiral Byng does not, as I conceive, fall under the letter or description of the twelfth article of war. It may be said that negligence is implied, though the word is not mentioned ; otherwise the court-martial would not have brought his offence under the twelfth article, having acquitted him of cowardice and disaffection. But it must be acknowledged, that the negligence implied cannot be wilful negligence ; for wilful negligence, in ad- miral Byng's situation, must have proceeded from either cowardice or disaf- fection, and he is expressly acquitted of both these crimes: besides, ihese crimes, which are implied only, and not named, may indeed justify suspicion and private opinion, but cannot satisfy the conscience in case of blood. Admiral Byng's fate was referred to a court-martial ; his life and death were left to their opinions- The court-martial condemned him to death, be- cause, as they expressly say, they were under a necessity of doing so, by rea- son of the letter of the law, the severity of which they complained of, because it admits of no mitigation. The court-martial expressly say, that, for the sake of their consciences, as well as in justice to the prisoner, they most •arnestly recommended him to his Majesty for mercy; it is evident then, 94 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. cession of his friends, and although several steps were taken for saving him, particularly appealing to the twelve judges, the sen- tence was carried into execution on Monday, March 14th, 1757, when he submitted to his fate with great composure and intre- pidity. Immediately before he kneeled down to receive the fatal volley, he thus addressed himself to William Brough, Esq. marshal to the admiralty : " Sir, these are my thoughts on this occasion. I give them to you, that you may authenticate them, and prevent any thing spurious being published, that might tend to defame me. I have given a copy to one of my relations." At the same time the admiral delivered him a paper, containing those his sen- timents, in the following words : " A few minutes will now deliver me from the virulent per- secution, and frustrate the farther malice, of my enemies. Nor that in the opinions and consciences of the judges, he was not deserving of death. The question then is, shall the opinions or necessities, of the court-mar- tial, determine admiral Byng's fate? If it should be the latter, he will be ex- ecuted contrary to the intentions and meaning of the judges; if the former, his life is not forfeited- His judges declare him not deserving of death ; but, mistaking either the meaning of the law, or the nature of his offence, they bring him under an article of war, which, according to their own description of his offence, he does not, I conceive, fall under; and then they condemn him to death, because, as they say, the law admits of 'no mitigation. Can a man's life be taken away by such a sentence ? I would not willingly be mis- understood, and have it believed that I judge of admiral Byng's deserts : that was the business of a court-martial, and it is my duty only to act according to my conscience; which, after deliberate consideration, assisted by the best light a poor understanding can afford, still remains in doubt, and therefore I cannot consent to sign a warrant whereby the sentence of the court-martial may be carried into execution; for I cannot help thinking, that however cri- minal admiral Byng may be, his life is not forfeited by that sentence. I do not mean to find fault with other mens opinions : all I endeavour at is to give reasons for my own; and all I desire, or wish, is, that I may not be misun- derstood : I do not pretend to judge of admiral Byng's deserts, nor to give any opinion on the propriety of the act. Signed 16 Feb. 1757, at the admiralty J. FORBES. N. B. Mr. Forbes was removed from his seat at the board of admiralty, about the beginning of April following ; but was reinstated in about three months afterwards, and continued in that department until April, 1763, when he was constituted general of marines, which he long worthily retained. He died March 10th, 1796, leaving two daughters his coheirs; Catherine-Eliza- beth, wife of the Hon. William Welleslcy Pole; and Maria- Eleanor, wife of the Rt. Hon. John Charles Villiers. VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 95 need I envy them a life subject to the sensations my injuries, and the injustice done me, must create. Persuaded I am, justice will be done to my reputation hereafter. The manner and cause of raising, and keeping up, the popular clamour and prejudice against me, will be seen through. I shall be considered (as I now perceive myself) a victim destined to divert the indignation and resentment of an injured and deluded people from the proper ob- jects. My enemies themselves must now think me innocent. Happy for me, at this my last moment, that I know my own in- nocence, and am conscious that no part of my country's misfor- tunes can be owing to me. I heartily wish the shedding my blood may contribute to the happiness and service of my country ; but cannot resign my just claim to a faithful discharge of my duty, according to the best of my judgment, and the utmost ex- ertion of my abilities, for his Majesty's honour, and my country's service. 1 am sorry that my endeavours were not attended with more success, and that the armament under my command proved too weak to succeed in an expedition of such moment. "Truth has prevailed over calumny and falsehood, and justice has wiped off the ignominious stain of my supposed want of per- sonal courage and disaffection. My -heart acquits me of these crimes. But who can be presumptuously sure of his own judg- ment ? If my crime is an error in judgment, or differing in opi- nion from my judges ; and, if yet the error in judgment should be on their side, God forgive them, as I do ; and may the distress of their minds, and the uneasiness of their consciences, which in justice to me they have represented, be relieved and subside, as my resentment has done. " The supreme Judge sees all hearts and motives; and to him I must submit the justice of my cause. " J. BYNG." " On board his Majesty's ship Monarque, in Pertsmouth harbour, March 14th, 1757." This unfortunate gentleman (who died a bachelor) had sepul- ture in the vault of his family at Southill, in Bedfordshire, with the following inscription engraved upon a brass plate, and fixed upon the lid of his coffin : To the perpetual Disgrace of Publick Justice, The Honourable John Byng, 96 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND Vice Admiral of the Blue, Fell a Martyr to Political Persecution, On March 14th, in the year 1757, When Bravery and Loyalty Were insufficient Securities For the Life and Honour Of a Naval officer. x He was, in January, 1751, chosen member for Rochester, in room of the deceased Sir Chaloner Ogle $ and at the general election, in 1/54, was returned for the same city to the next par^ liament. Fifth, Edward, born in 1706, bred up in the army, married, in November, 1730, Mary, second daughter and coheir of John Bramston, of Chigwell in Essex, Esq. by Mary, daughter and heir of John Pennyngton, of Chigwell, Esq. She died* March 3 1st, 1744, aged thirty-seven, and is buried at Roxwell, in Essex. When his brother, the admiral, was brought home prisoner, he went to visit him at Portsmouth, where he arrived on July 28th, 1756, very much out of order, and went on board the Antelope in the afternoon j being of a tender constitution from long illness, and overcome by the fatigue of his journey, in which he had made great expedition, he was, on the next morning, seized with convulsions, died about noon, and was buried at Southill. Sarah, his Lordship's only surviving daughter, was married to John, the eldest son of Sir John Osborne, of Chicksands, in the county of Bedford, Bart, and died November 17/5. Pattee, second Viscount Torrington, the eldest son, was born at Southill in Bedfordshire, in 1 6gg j and, in 1/1(5, had a troop in the royal regiment of horse-guards. In 1718, being with his father in his expedition into the Mediterranean, he was dispatched by him to England, with an account of his victory ob- tained July 31st, over the Spanish fleet, off Syracuse, on the coast of Sicily. Returning soon after to Naples, and Sicily, he accom- panied his father during the rest of the expedition, until the be- ginning of the year 1 720, when he was sent by him to the court x The account of the unfortunate admiral Byng has been suffered to re- main as it stood in former editions. But were we to judge of his conduct by t he energy and heroism displayed by the navy in these days, perhaps we should not much wonder at the sentence. y History of Essex, vol. i. p. 303. VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 67 of Vienna, on the proposals made by the general of the Spanish army for its quitting Sicily, which he could not consent to, till the King of Spain had acceded to the quadruple alliance. His father being called up to the house of peers in 1/21, he was elected member of parliament for Plymouth, in his room; and served for the same borough in the next parliament, sum- moned in 1/22. On April 18th, 1/24, he was appointed trea- surer of the navy, on his father's resignation of that office; in which he was continued by his late Majesty, on September 6th, 1727; and was chosen one of the knights of the shire for the county of Bedford, in the parliament then called. In May, 1732, he was sworn of his Majesty's most honourable privy-council ; and on December 29th, 174*1, was appointed joint vice-treasurer and paymaster-general of Jieland, and was of the privy-council in that kingdom. On the resignation of that office, he was, on February 22d, 1745-6, constituted captain of the yeomen of his Majesty's guard; in which post he died, on January 23d, 1 746-7, and was succeeded in his honours by George^ his next brother and heir, third Viscount Torrington. His Lordship married, on January 9th, 1724, the Lady Char- lotte Montagu, youngest daughter of Charles Duke of Manchester; and by her, who died on September 13th, \/5Q, and was buried at Southill, he had two sons, George, and Frederic, and one daughter, Caroline, who all died young. George, third Viscount Tokrikgtou, and second son of George Byng, first Viscount Torrington, was born in 1701. In 1719, he served as a volunteer under Count Mercy, general of the imperial army in Sicily, and, on June 20th, was dangerously wounded there, at the battle of Franca Villa. He arrived at Whitehall, on May 14th, 1 720, sent express, by the admiral his father, with the account of the signing, on May 16th, N S. the convention for a suspension of arms, and of the evacuation of Sicily and Sardinia by the Spaniards. Afterwards, having been a captain in his Majesty's foot-guards, he was, in January, 1740-1, constituted second major in the third regiment of foot-guards, and captain of a company, with the rank of colonel ; and on April 17th, 1743, appointed first major in the said regiment. Also, on September 13th following, he was made lieutenant-colonel of the said regiment. On July 24th, 17^9, he was constituted colonel of the 48th regiment of foot ; having been, on October 10th, two years before, promoted to the rank of major-general of his Ma- jesty's forces. He married., in 1/36, Elizabeth, daughter of VOL. VI. H 98 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Daniel, Esq. son of Sir Peter Daniel, Knight, and by her (who- died on March 17th, 175*9) had two sons. First, George ; and, Second, John, born on October 11th, 1740, formerly a com- missioner of the salt-office ; married, March 3d, 1767, Bridget, daughter of Arthur Forrest, z Esq. by whom he has issue: first, George, born January 5th, 1768, a captain in the royal navy j married, February 8th, 1793, Elizabeth, daughter of Philip Lang- mead, Esq. of Howgate-house, Plymouth, by whom he has had issue a daughter, born June 1 1 th, 1 7g4 j and a son, born May 23d, 1796, who died December 1st, following; and a still-born son born January 3d, 1806: second, Elizabeth-Lucy, born August 15th, 1770; married, September 26th, 179/,captain Percy Frazer, of the royal navy: third, Cecilia, born August 18th, 1771 j mar- ried, in November 1805, J. R. Gregg Hopwood, Esq. of Hop- wood-hall in Lancashire : fourth, Anna-Maria, married, August 29, 1794, to the Rev. Charles-Henry Hall, D. D. Dean a of Christ- church, Oxford, and has issue two daughters : fifth, Frances, who died in November 1796: sixth, Edmund, a captain in the army, colonial pay-master at the Cape of Good Hope : seventh, John, judge and magistrate of the Zillat court at Gangam, Madras, and a clerk in the secretary of state's office : eighth, Bridget- Augusta, married July 9th, 1800, the Hon. Charles Herbert, second son of Henry, Earl of Carnarvon, by Elizabeth-Alicia Wyndham, daughter of Charles, second Earl of Egremont, who was drowned at Gijon in Spain, September 12th, 1808: ninth, Henry, lieute- nant in the navy : tenth, Frederick-Gerald : eleventh, Georgina : twelfth, Beatrice: thirteenth, Lucy. His Lordship, departing this life on April 7th, 1 750, was suc- ceeded by his said eldest son, George, now fourth Viscount Torrington, who was formerly an officer in the Bedfordshire militia, and on July 10th, 1765, married l.ady Lucy Boyle, only daughter of John, fifth Earl of Cork and Orrery in Ireland, and second Lord Boyle of Marston in England, (by his second Lady) and full sister to Ed- mund, late Lord Boyle of Marston, Earl of Cork, &c. by whom (who died March 18th, 1 792) he has issue, Lucy-Elizabeth, bora October 27th, 1766 j married, May fjth, x Miss Cecilia Forrest, her sister, married, in July 1798, the Rt Hon. William Windham, secretary at war. » So appointed, Oct. ji, 1809.- VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. 99 1788, Orlando Bridgeman, now Lord Bradford, by whom she ha* issue. Georgiana- Elizabeth, born February, 1768; married, March 21st, 1/86, Lord John Russell, now Duke of Bedford, and died October llih, 1801, leaving issue. William-Henry, born May '26th, 1/6Q ; died November 23d, 1770. Isabella-Elizabeth, born September 21st, 1773; married, April 24th, 1794, Viscount Weymouth, now Marquis of Bath. William-Henry, born May 7th, 1775, and died in October, 1792. George, in the royal navy, deceased. Emily, married, July 1 st, 1 800, captain Seymour, son of Lord Robert Seymour. Titles. George Byng, Viscount Torrington, Baron Byng of Southill, and Baronet. Creations. Baronet November 15th, 1715, 2 Geo. I. ; Baron Byng of Southill, in com. Bedford, and Viscount Torrington, in com. Devon, by letters patent, September 9th, 1721, 8 Geo. I. Arms. Quarterly, Sable and Argent : in the first a lion, rampant, of the second, armed and langued, Gules. Crest. On a wieath, an antelope, passant, ermine, horned, tusked, flashed, maned, and hoofed, Or, langued, Gules. Supporters. On the dexter side, an antelope, ermine, horned, maned, and hoofed, Or, standing on a ship gun, proper j and, on the sinister side, a sea-horse, proper, finned, Or, on a like gun. Motto. Tuebor. Chief Seat. 10© PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. FITZ-GERALD, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. Having, in the third volume, under the title of Windsor, Earl of Plymouth, treated of the original of the family of Fitz-Gerald j and therein shewn the pedigree of Maurice Fitz-Gerald, a an- cestor to the present Duke of Leinster, Viscount Leinster, &c I shall now observe that the said Maurice Fitz-Gerald (who besides the town of Wexford, had also the barony of OfFaley and Wyken- looe, now Wicklow, and was one of the governors of Ireland in 1172, in which year he slew ORourk, Prince of Meath, then in rebellion against the English government,) died full of honour, b at Wexford, on the kalends (i. e. the 1st) of September, 1 1 77, and was buried under a monument in the monastery of the Grey Friars, without the walls of that town j greatly regretted by his friends for his many excellent qualities, and his death esteemed a real loss to the English interest in that country. A truer man, or steadfaster, for fidelity and love, there was not in Ireland, as gays Giraldus Cambrensis c (his cotemporary and relation) who wrote the conquest of Ireland, which he dedicated to King John. ■ In the Windsor pedigree it is asserted, that Maurice was younger brother of William, ancestor to the Carews and Gerards. But it is contended by Lodge and Archdall, that he was elder brother. They were sons of Gerard, surnamed Fitz-Walter, one of the sons of Walter Fitx-Other, * Ex Evident. Famil. c For Giraldus Cambrensis, see Tanner's Bibl p. 323. He was born 1 146, and dying at upwards of seventy years of age, was buried in the cathe- dral of St David's, of which he was bishop. See also Sir Richard Hoare's late Translation of Geraldus's Itinerary in Wales, with a life of the bishop prefixed. He must not be confounded with his predecessor, David Fitz- Gerald, of this family, bishop also of this see, 1147; for whose descent, see VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 101 And therein he gives this further character of him : d "He wasv< man of much nobility and worship, of a good countenance, of stature indifferent, but seemingly and well compact j in body and mind of the like composition, being not too great in the one, nor proud in the other : of nature he was very courteous and gentle, and desired rather to be so indeed, than to be thought and reputed io to be. He kept such a measure and a moderation in all his doings, that in his days he was a pattern of all sobriety and good behaviour : a man of few words, but his sentences full of wit and reason : and, whensoever any matter was to be debated, he took leisure in thinking of it, and spoke very wisely and prudently. In martial affairs he was very bold, stout, and valiant j but not rash in any adventure. He was sober, modest, chaste, constant, trusty, and faithful j not altogether without fault, and yet not spotted with any notorious crime, or irregularity." His issue ■ were four sons ; and one daughter, Nesta, married, anno 1175, at Wexford, to Harvey Mount-Maurice, one of the adventurers under, and nephew to Richard de Clare, (called Strongbow) Earl of Pembroke. The sons were, First, Gerald, who succeeded in the lands, and was Lord OfTaley. Second, William Fitz-Maurice, f to whom King Henry II. gave the barony of Naas, in the county of Kildare, but his issue male is extinct. Third, Alexander ; and Fourth, Maurice, who both died issueless. Gerald, the eldest son, with his brother Alexander, were with their father in that memorable salley out of Dublin, anno 1173, when it was besieged by O'Connor, King of Connaught, and an army of 30,000 men, over whom they gained a complete victory -, and though these valiant brothers were in the rear, yet were they so vigorous in the pursuit, as to be with the foremost, and over- threw and killed many of their enemies. s In 120i, he was made Baron of OfTaley j and is said to have been chief justice of Ireland. Windsor, Earl of Plymouth, in vol iii. Ankoret, mother of Giraldus Cam- brensis, was sister to Maurice Fitz -Gerald, and wife of William de Barri, brother of Robert, ancestor to the Earls of Barrymore. <» Vide his conquest of Ireland in Hollinshed's Chronicle, vol i. p. 28. e Ex Stemmate. f He married Helen, sister of Richard Earl of Pembroke. Archdall. Ex Evident- hujus Fain. 102 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Jle deceased at Sligo,h in 1205, the 7th of King John -, and by Catharine, his wife, daughter of Harao de Valoins, L lord justice of Ireland in 1 197, left issue two sons, Maurice, his successor, and Gerald, who left no issue. Maurice was ordered by the mandatory letter of King Henry III. dated November 26th, 121fj, to be put in possession of Ma- nooth, and all the other lands of which his father died seized in Ireland ; whereby, it is presumed, he then attained his fall age. In an ancient manuscript, he is said to be the first who brought the orders of Friars minors, and Preachers, into Ireland, the former whereof was confirmed in 121.5, and the latter the year following. In 1229, k or (according to Hollinshed) the year before, the King, understanding the good services of this family, ever since their first arrival in Ireland, constituted him lord justice of the kingdom. In that year, l during his administration, happened the great cause of Coparceners, for the decision whereof the King sent a writ, which in the printed statutes is called* Stalutum Hibernue. He after- wards went to the aid of the King with great power, and m re- turning to Ireland on September 2d, 1232, resumed the sword as lord justice. On the defection of Richard Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, " 17 Henry III. this Maurice Fitz Gerald, then justice of Ireland, re- ceived a letter from Peter de Rupibus, bishop of Winchester, that the said Earl was, for treason, banished the realm of England, and requiring him, and Walter de Lacy, to take him, living or dead (if he came into Ireland ^ in reward whereof the King would be- stow all the Earl's lands in that realm upon them ; also, on an as- surance that they were resojved to effect his desires, the bishop sent them over a patent to that purpose. Whereupon, they im- mediately entered on the Earl of Pembroke's lands and castles with a military power. This drew the Earl into Ireland, ° who raised what forces he could, and laid siege to Limerick, which was yielded to him at the end of four days. Thereupon, this Maurice Fitz-Gerald sent ±0 him, that they could not suffer his proceeding in that manner, without being branded with the igno- miny of traitors, and desired a truce for so long time as they might send into England, to know whether the Ring would defend the realm or not. This drew on. conferences in a certain meadow for i> Cox, p. 61. i Borlace, p. ir. I Cox, p. 60. \ Ibid. ™ Ibid. p. 61. - Matt, Pvis, fo 395. • Ibid. p. 397, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 103 that purpose, when Geffery de Marisco upbraided the Earl with cowardice for consenting to it, and that, if he acceded thereto, he would forsake him. But, the next morning, Maurice Fitz-Gerald demanded the truce, t telling him plainly, that, in case he would not agree thereto, he would adventure battle with him. Where- upon the Earl, putting his men in order, exhorted them to go on with courage, and afterwards boldly charging into the midst of his enemies, was there slain. Yet notwithstanding what Matthew Paris has asserted, relating to the bishop of Winchester's grant of the Earl of Pembroke's lands in Ireland to the said Maurice Fitz- Gerald, it appears by record, in 1234, 18 Hen. III. that Gilbert Earl of Pembroke was restored to the lands of his brother's inhe- ritance, both in England and Ireland. The lord justice, in 19 Henry III. was so much in favour, that he obtained a free commerce between both kingdoms, the King sending over to him the following writ : 1 Rex, dilecto et rldeli suo Mauritio filio Ghaldi, Jnsticiario suo ..liberniae, salutem : Vestra non ignorare debet discretio, quod dignum est, et id volumus, quod terra nostra Angliae, et terra nostra Hiberniae, communes sint ad invicem, et quod homines nostri Angliae et Hiberniae hinc inde negotiari possunt, ad com- modum et emendationem terrarum praedictarum : et ideo vobis mandamus, quod homines de terra Hiberniae volcntes emere blada in Hibernia ducendena, in Angliam, in nulla impediatis vel im- pediri permittatis j quin libere et sine impedimento id facere pos- sunt. Teste Rege apud Westm. 2 die Juu. &:c. Ef vide ibidem de Galeis (i. e. gallies or ships) de Hibernia in Anglian inittendis, to aid the King. About this time, (as related by M. Paris, r &c.) he was sent for into England, ' to satisfy the King concerning the death of Richard Earl of Pembroke, killed as before recited : and conceiving Gilbert Earl of Pembroke to be disaffected to him on that account, though he knew himself to be innocent thereof (as my author * has observed) offered to put himself on his trial. Nevertheless, for the love of peace, and to stand upon terms of amity with him, he told the King he would found a noble monastery for the health 9 Matt. Paris, p. 399. * Pryn in Hen. III. p. 253. r Hist p 432, &c ■ Cox, p. 6i» ' M Paris, 432, &c. 104 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. of the soul of the said Earl Richard : with which the King was so well satisfied, that calling the Earl of Pembroke before him, he offered his mediation for this reconciliation, affirming, at the same time, that, if he refused it, he should be unworthy of his grace and favour ; whereupon a fair accord between them was made. During his absence from Ireland, there was some disorder, and Dr. Hanmer writes, that they rebelled j u but his speedy re- turn gave a check to their intentions. Also, whilst he was in England, the King of Connaught exhibited a complaint against John de Burgh (son of Hubert, Earl of Kent) for invading and wasting his country with fire and sword, and desired the King would rid him of that base upstart, or newcomer, who sought to disinherit him. Whereupon the King* immediately ordered the lord justice to pluck up by the root the fruitless plant, that it might bud no more. And this, it is probable, occasioned the dis- order, which Dr. Hanmer calls a rebellion. In 1235, he opposed Cormac Mac Art OMelaghlin, then in rebellion, y and took him prisoner in AthJone; and the next year built the castle of Ardmagh* and founded a Dominican convent in the friary at Sligo. In 1242, * he erected the castle of Sligo, placing in it able warders. In 1244, King Henry lying at Ganock In Wales, and sending to him for aid against the Welch, he con- ducted the forces over himself, a lauded in the Isle of Anglesey, and joined the King's army at Chepstow, whereby the Welch were defeated, and the King, victualling and manning his castles, returned crowned with victory, and the lord justice into Ireland, with great honour, In 1245, he found Ulster, on the death of Hugh Lacy, Earl of that province, overrun by O'Donnel j to restrain whose pro- ceedings he marched into those parts, and by the assistance of Cormac Mac Dermoid Mac Rory, who joined him with a consi- derable party, invaded Tyrconnel, ODonnel's territory, b where be routed the Irish, and slew many of their chiefs, among whom was Moyleslaghlon O'Donnel, called King of Keyvale: after several expeditions into that country, he fortified and manned his castle of Sligo,0 forced ONeile to give hostages, to keep the King's peace, ana' left him secured In the said castle. He ga,vc h Cox, p. 6*. x ibid. y Ex Eviden. F^mil, z Cox, p. 65. • Ibid. k Cox, p, 6«. c ibi3, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 105 Cormac, his assistant, the moiety of Connaught ; and returned with great booty. But these, and other services, having not rooted out the King's resentment, for his not coming so expeditiously into Wales as he expected, he removed him, in J 245, from the office of lord justice : Mauritium, Hiberniae Justitiarium, eo quod ricte et tarde auxilium ab Hibernia Domino Regi duxerat peri- clitanti, a Justiciaria deposuit, d as Florilegus and Hollinshed write. He afterwards took on him the habit of St. Francis, and e died on May 8th, 1257. Miles strenuus et face tus, nulli secundus, as Matt. Paris writes, fbl. 3yS. He was buried amongst the friars minors at Youghall, ' having founded that convent in 1231. There have been some disputes whether he left two or three sonsj the pedigree in the Duke of Leinster's custody, and others, setting forth, that he had only two sons, Thomas, his heir, and Maurice : yet, in another, drawn in the reign of King William, Maurice is said to be his heir, Thomas, ancestor to the Earl of Desmond ; and Gerald, grandfather of John, created Earl of Kildare. But these pedigrees are no further to be relied on than they are consonant to chronology, history, and records. Therefore, notwithstanding what has been written in favour of the house of Desmond, &c. it will evidently appear, that the Earl of Kildare was the eldest branch, which (besides other au- thorities) is evinced from the unerring testimony of his descen- dants bearing the coat-armour plain, and without any addition -, it being a standing rule in ancient times, as is well known to all who are acquninted with the differences then used, to distinguish the cadets from the principal branch of any family, that they either altered their tinctures, or added lordurcs, orle*, Lends, chiefs, &c. for that purpose j whence, the Duke of Leinster's ancestor, who bore the coat plain and unaltered, is sufficiently proved to be the chief of the family ; the Earls of Desmond bearing the field, ermine, by way of difference, and the Earl of Kerry, a chief, er-, mine. Therefore, considering all circumstances, I shall follow the pedigree in the custody of the Duke of Leinster, which asserts, that Maurice Fitz-Gerald left but two sons, Thomas, his heir, and Maurice. Which Maurice Fitz-Maurice, the youngest son, was, in 12^5, a person of such note, that the King, hearing of dissensions i %9X\wex p. %z and 33. • Ware de Antiq. Hibern. p 231. 106 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. between the great men of the kingdom, wrote to the archbishop of Dublin, the bishop of Meath, his treasurer, and this Mauri e Fitz-Maurice, < ordering them to secure the peace of the nai; u and sent private instructions, by Robert Waspail, commanding them to give credit to him : having, by his behaviour, recom- mended himself to the Kings esteem, he was appointed lord jus- tice of Ireland, (on the death of Sir James Audley), on June 23d, 1272, and so continued h till November lfjth, that year, when Henry III. died. King Edward being then absent in the Holy Land, this Maurice had, on December 7th, ensuing, a writ to proclaim him King, and to preserve the peace of the kingdom, and » is therein styled Maurice, son of Maurice, and justice of Ireland. Also another writ k of the same date was directed to this Maurice, justice of Ireland, Hugh, bishop of Meath, lord treasurer, and to John de Sandford, escheator, to receive the oath* of fealty and allegiance of all the nobility, gentry, and commons ©f Ireland, to King Edward I. He was styled in that writ Mau- rice Fitz Maurice, according to the then patronymical manner of^ designation. In 1273, the Irish1 rebelling, and destroying the castles of Roscommon, Aldleek, Scheligath, and Randon, this Maurice, lord justice, invaded Thomond with great forces, took hostages of the O'Briens, and made the Earl of Ulster prisoner at castle Der- mot : but the rebels finding means to corrupt some of the lord justice's followers, he was betrayed into their hands in OfTaley, and there taken, and imprisoned. This induced the King to send overm in October the same year, GeofFery Lord Genevil, of th6 house of Lorrain, lord justice of Ireland. However, I find him engaged, in 1 277, with Thomas de Clare, his son-in-law, against the O'Briens, and that they took O'Brien Roe, King of Thomond, and beheaded him." Whereupon the Irish, to revenge his death, drove them into the mountains of Slevebloom, and ther« surrounded them, till, being reduced to eat horse-flesh, they sur- rendered themselves prisoners ; and to obtain their liberty were forced to give hostages to make satisfaction for O'Brien's death, and surrender the castle of Roscommon. On which the King was so dissatisfied with Sir Robert de UfTord, then lord justice, that he sent for him into England, to give an account why he per- * Cox, p. 70. h Ibid. 1 Ware de prscsul, p. 34. * Cox, p 72. ;Ibid. p 7J. * Borlace, p 28 '• Cox, p. 73, 74. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 107 mitted it. He did not long survive this,0 dying at Ross, in 1236, leaving by his v wife Emilia, daughter of William Longspee (alias honszvord) the first Earl of Salisbury, an only son, Gerald Fitz- Mauriee, and a daughter Emilia, married, in 1276, to the Lord Thomas de Clare, second son of Richard de Clare, Earl of Glou- cester. Gerald, the only son of Maurice Fitz Maurice, 1 is said to have been drowned between Ireland and Wales, iu the time of Sir Robert de Ufford, lord justice of Ireland; but, in 1285, r Gerald Fitz-Maurice is mentioned to be betrayed by his followers and made prisoner, and that he died8 at Rathmore the year after, which was the same year his father died : and it is probable ho survived him, for, dying without issue, he left his estate to his cousin John, grandson of his uncle Thomas, as appears by inqui- sition, 4 Edward II. wherein it was found that John de Verdon, in the reign of Henry III. enfeoffed Maurice Fitz-Gerald, and Agnes de Valentia, his (second) wife, in the manors of Adare, Crom, &c. in com. Limerick ; that he died without issue by the said Agnes, and that Gerald his son and heir tmfeoffed John Fitz- Thomas in the manors of Manooth, Radunegan, and Leigh. I now return to Thomas, the eldest son of Maurice, second Lord OfTaley, who died in 125/, and was surnamed the Great. He married Eleanor, daughter of Sir William Morrie, son of Sir Geoffrey Morrie, Knight, with whom the Fitz-Geralds got their estates in Kerry. By that Lady he had two sons, John, and Mau- rice ; and dying at Youghall on May 20*th, 12(X), was buried in the Dominican friary there, which (his father having founded) ho had finished at his own charge. He was succeeded by his eldest son, John, designed of Callan, from whom all the Fitz-Geralds in Monster, and some in Lein- ster, are descended. He was the founder of the abbey of Tralee, in the county of Kerry, for friars preachers; and being killed, with his brother Maurice, at Callan, in Desmond, by Mac-Carthy More, against whom the Fitz-Geralds had raised a £reat army, in 120T, was buried in the said friary, with his son Maurice, slain at the same battle. The said John married to his first wife Margery, daughter of Sir Thomas Fitz-Anthony, vv\th whom he got all the lands of Decies and Desmond, with all the baily wicks, returns of the she^ • Cox, p. 77. p MS deFamil de Clifford, lib ii. p. 127. * Cox, p. 70. 1 Ibid, p- 76.. » Ibid. p. 77. 10S PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. rifts, &c. together with the custody of the castle of Dungarvon (which castle and manor, on April 17th, 1543, were by act of parliament annexed to the crown) all which were confirmed to him by King Edward I. whilst he was Earl of Chester, by charter, dated at Bermondsey, on November 7th, 1250. By his said wife he had issue only one son, Maurice ; and marrying, secondly, Honora, daughter of Hugh O'Connor, the first Irish woman any of the family ever married, had by her four sons : First, Gilbert, called by the Irish Gibbon, from whom de- scended the White Knight, otherwise called Clan-Gibbon, whose country contained twenty-four miles in length, and twelve in breadth ; and also Mac Gibbon, of Mohawnagh. Second, John, ancestor to Sir John Fitz-Gerald, of Clenglesse> the knights of the Glyn and Valley (whose territories contained sixteen miles in length and nine in breadth) and also to the fami- lies at Femierstown and Towngeeby. Third, Maurice, who was the first knight of Kerry, alias the Black Knight, of whom many families are descended, as the Fitz- Geralds of Alloone, in the county of Kildare, who are now ex- tinct} those of the Gurteens, in the county of Kilkenny, styled Barons of Burn-church j and also (says an authentic manuscript) Edmund Mac James, dean of Cloyne, who was a layman, and had a daughter, who by Edmund Mac Morrish, Seneschal of Imokilly, (sprung from a bastard son of the knight of Kerry) was mother of John Fitz-Edmund, of Cloyne, Seneschal also of Imokilly, whose posterity were men of great eminence and worth. Fourth, Thomas, ancestor to the Fitz-Geralds of and about the island of Kerry; to Mac Roebuck, of Noghauels; and, as some say, to the Fitz-Geralds of Mornane, in Kerry; and to divers other families there, and in the county of Limerick. Maurice, only son (by the first wife) who was killed with his father, married, first, Juliana (or according toothers Johanna) daughter and heir to John Lord Cogan, ofBelvoir; and, secondly, Maud de Barry. The first wife brought into the family the es- tates of Carrigileene, Carrigrona, Castlemore, Moyallow, in Rath- grogan, &c. And in 1310, an inquisition was taken of the lands and manors of Adare, Crom, Athleacath, Wriggedy, Grene, and Estgrene, in the county of Limerick ; and of the manors of Ma- nooth, Rathynegan, Leygh, Geashill, and Rathmore, in the county of Kildare ; parcel of the lands of Maurice Fitz-Gerald, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 109 together with the feoffment of Juliana de Cogan, by which she enfeoffed him in the said lands. By her he had an only son, Thomas, nick-named Nappagh, Simiacus, or the Ape, an appellation given to him on the following account: being only nine months old when his father and grand- father were killed at Callan, as before related, and being nursed at Tralee, those who attended him, in their first astonishment on the news of their deaths, ran out of the house, and left the child alone in the cradle, when a baboon or ape, kept in the family, took him up, and carried him to the top of the steeple of the abbey of Tralee ; from whence, after carrying him around the battle- ments, and shewing him for some time, to the surprize of the spectators, it brought him down safe, and laid him in the cradle : and by this accident he ever after retained the sobriquet of the Ape. In April, 1295, the said Thomas, sixth Lord, by creation, was constituted lord justice of the kingdom, and being captain of all Desmond, was so great a man, that he is styled prince and ruler of Munster. He founded the house of Eremits, at Dungarvan ; and claimed to be the King's sheriff of the counties of Cork, Waterford, Kerry, &c. as heir to his grandfather, founding his pretensions on a record late in the valuable collection of the bishop of Clogher, now deposited in the college library. He married Catharine, (or rather Margaret) daughter to John Lord Barry, of Olethan j and departing this life at Awny, in 1296, (or, as Henry of Marlborough relates, in 1298,) was interred in the middle of the choir of the friary, at Youghall, leaving (as some say) two sons, Maurice, created Earl of Desmond, and John, ancestor to the family of Mac Thomas, of the Decies and Connelloe. But we are well assured, that when this Thomas was succeeded as lord justice of Ireland, by William Wogan, on October 18th, 1295, he sat as Lord Offaley, in the parliament held by him at Dublin j and accordingly, in the Duke of Leinster's pedigree, is made the seventh who nad that title by tenure, and to have two sons, besides daughters, viz. First, John, who succeeded him, and was the eighth Lord Offaley, created Earl of Kildare ; and, Second, Maurice, created Earl of Desmond. And this seems most probable by the Earls of Kildare bearing the monfdes for their supporters and crest, in a grateful remem- brance of the said Thomas's preservation, which never was don« by any of the Earls of Desmond ; and the late Earl of Kildare, 110 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. alluding to this event, did sometimes use, as a motto over the crest, the words Non Immcmor Beneficii. Believing this to be evident, I shall first treat of Maurice, the second son, who was created Earl of Desmond, by patent, dated at Gloucester, August 2/th, 132.Q. In January, 1329-30, being styled Maurice Fitz-Thomas, of Desmond, he was summoned by Sir John Darcy, lord justice, to tight the Irish rebels then in arms, with the promise of the King's pay; and he accordingly advanced against the O'Nolans, with a very considerable army, l routed them, burned their county of Wicklow, and forced them to give hostages for their submission. He did the same to the O'Murroughs, and recovered the castle of Ley, in the county of Kildare, from the O'Demsies. In 1333, he broke his leg by a fail from his horse; notwith- standing which accident, he is said to have been sent that year into England to the King, by the parliament ; and the year fol- lowing had an order from his Majesty to receive fifty pounds out of the Exchequer, towards defraying the charge of himself and his men against the Scots 3 or rather one hundred pounds, or per- haps both those sums 3 for that year a deliberate was also directed to Thomas Cross, to pay that sum to him, (by concordatum) in recompense ot* the charges he had sustained in staying with his men for a passage from Drogheda towards Scotland. In 1339, he was engaged for the King against the Irish in Kerry, u when he slew 1200 men, and took Nicholas Fitz-Maurice, Lord of Kerry, prisoner, whom he kept in confinement till he died, be- cause he had joined with those rebels against the crown. After this the King being advised, that the over large grants of lands, &c. made to the lords of English blood, caused them to grow insolent, resumed the franchises ratified to the subjects of his kingdom in general ; which gave such offence as threatened a rebellion, the English of birth, and the English of blood, being thereupon at variance. The Earl of Desmond was at the head of this discontented party against the English of birth, to appease whose discontents, and satisfy them in their demands, Sir Ralph UrTord was sent lord justice in 1344: but, he being rigorous in his government, and, by the persuasion of the Countess of Ulster, his wife, covetous and greedy of amassing riches, proved an unfit instrument. However, on June 7th, 1345, a parliament being summoned by him to meet at Dublin, and the Earl being speci- Cox ut untea, p ui, uz. " Ibid. p. ij.6. VfSCOUNT LEINSTER. Ill ally and expressly ordered to give his attendance therein ;* hit Lordship not only refused to come, but appointed another as- sembly at Callan, in the county of Kilkenny, in direct opposition- to the lord justice's parliament at Dublin : which proceeding sq incensed the lord justice, that, immediately after the feast of St. John the Baptist, he marched against him with the King's stand- ard, directly into Munster (but, as is observed, contrary to tho consent of the nobles) and there confiscated all his goods and pos- sessions, granting them in fee to others, on the reservation of an annual rent. He also executed his principal followers, and en- forced the Earl himself to fly and lurk, until twenty-six noblemen and knights became bound for Iris appearance at a certain day prefixed j but he making default the second time, the utmost ad- vantage was taken against his sureties ', and another parliament being called the year after by Sir John Morris, he still refused to give his attendance, shewing, for cause thereof, the resentment he had of some privileges lately taken from him, which he and his ancestors had enjoyed j whereupon (as already observed) arose so high and disorderly a dissension between the English of blood, and the English of birth, that he and the Earl of Kildare, with the citizens and burgesses of the principal towns, convened a council at Kilkenny, in opposition to the parliament, where they framed articles against the lord justice, which produced his re- moval from the government j and Sir Walter Bermingham suc- ceeding him, in 1318, procured leave for the Earl of Desmond to manage his cause in England, and to abide such trial as the law- should award ; y whither repairing, he was kindly received, and allowed by the King, to defray his expenses, twenty shillings a day from the day he landed j and being very active and diligent in procuring satisfaction for the wrongs done him by Sir Ralph Ufford, he obtained it amply in 1252, by a restoration to all his lands, possessions, and jurisdictions. His conduct from thenceforward was so meritorious, and his abilities to serve the King so eminent, that, z on July 20th, 1355, he was appointed lord justice of Ireland, during his life j but he died in the castle of Dublin, on January 25 following, and was buried at Tralee. He was so just a man, that he spared not his very relations, when they were criminal, as Sir Richard Cox re- lates in his History of Ireland. From him the Earls of Desmond * Ibid- p. i2i. I Ibid p. zz, z Ibid; p. 125, i24y J 12 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. descended; and Sir John Davis, in his Historical Collections, has the following observations on their conduct, viz. " That the said Earl of Desmond was the first English lord that imposed Coigne and Livery upon the Kings subjects ; the first that raised his es- tate to immoderate greatness, by that wicked extortion and op- pression ; the first that rejected the English laws and govern- ment, and drew others, by his example, to do the like ; the first peer of Ireland that refused to come to the parliament, summoned by the King's authority; and the first that made a division and distinction between the English of Hood, and the English of birth, and, as he was the only author, and first actor, of these mischiefs, which gave the greatest impediment to the full conquest of Ire- land, so it is to be noted, that albeit others of his rank afterwards offended in the same kind, whereby their houses were many times in danger of ruin, yet there was not ever any noble house of English race in Ireland utterly destroyed, and finally rooted out by the hand of justice, but the house of Desmond only; nor any peer of this realm ever put to death (though divers have been at- tainted) but Thomas Fitz-James, the Earl of Desmond only; and only for the wicked customs brought in by the first Earl, and practised by his posterity, though by several laws they were made high -treason ; and albeit the son of this Earl, who lost his head at Drogheda, was restored to the Earldom, yet could not the King's grace regenerate obedience in that degenerate house, but it grew rather more wild and barbarous than before : for from thenceforth they retained a strange privilege, ' That the Earls of Desmond should never come to any parliament, or grand council, or within any walled town, but at their will and pleasure.' But that which I conceive most worthy of observation upon the for- tunes of the house of Desmond, is this, that as Maurice Fitz- Thomas, the first Earl, did first raise the greatness of that house, by Irish exactions and oppressions, so Gerald, the last Earl, did at last ruin and reduce it to nothing, by using the like extortions. For certain it is, that the first occasion of his rebellion grew from thence; that when he attempted to charge the Decies, in the county of Waterford, with Coigne and Livery, Black Rents and Cosherios, after the Irish manner, he was resisted by the Earl of Ormond. and, upon an encounter, overthrown and taken prisoner, which made his heart so unquiet, as it easily conceived treason against the crown, and brought forth actual and open rebellion, wherein he perished himself, and made a final extinguishment of VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 113 his house and honour." The male issue of the Eark of Desmond became extinct in l632.a I shall now proceed to treat of John, eldest son of Thomas Lord Offaley, of whom the Duke of Leinster is lineally descend- ed. Which John Fitz-Thomas, eighth Lord Offaley, and first Earl of Kildare, had great variance with William Vesey, Lord of Kildare, in 12pl, who was lord justice of Ireland in that King's reign, having many complaints against him, by his oppressions of the country, and neglect of its defence against the Irish j and find- ing the council reflected on his mal-administration, b he endea- voured to excuse his own conduct, by charging this John Lord Offaley u with being as fierce as a lion, when any private injury was offered, but as meek as a lamb, when the public was con- cerned." ■ Maurice-Oge, second Earl of Desmond, dying 1358, was succeeded by his brother John, third Earl, who dying 1369, was succeeded by his half-brother, Gerald, fourth Earl, named the Poet, from his talents in poetry. His eldest son John, fifth Earl, was drowned 1399. and was succeeded by his son, Tho- mas, sixth Earl who having made a low match, was obliged to surrender his Earldom to his uncle James, seventh Earl, who dying 1462, was succeeded by his son Thomas, eighth Earl, who was beheaded 1467. His son James, ninth Earl, being murdered, 1487, his next brother, Maurice, became tenth Earl, who died at Tralee in 1520, whose successor was his son James, eleventh Earl, who died 1529 His uncle Thomas became tvuelfth Earl, who dying 1534, was succeeded by his grandson James, thirteenth Earl. He was mur- dered by his cousin Sir Maurice Fitzgerald, 1535. He was succeeded mfour. teentb Earl,by his great uncle John, younger brother of Thomas, twelfth Earl, who died at a great age, at Tralee, in 1536. His son, Sir James, became fif- teenth Earl of Desmond, and dying 1558, was succeeded by his son Gerald, (eldest son by his second wife) Thomas, the son of his first wife being set aside; which Gerald, sixteenth Earl, one of the greatest subjects in Europe, was styled ingens rebellibus exemplar, was attainted, 25th September 1582, and forfeited his prodigious estate, which commanded almost four counties, his lands extending 1 10 miles, and containing 574,628 acres of English measure, whereon were many strong castles; all which, with the estates of his confe- derates, were vested in the crown by an act of parliament ; whereof great part was restored to the offenders ; and the rest being granted by patents to cer- tain Englishmen, they had upon that gift, and the conditions of plantation, the common name ofUnderta/ers. His son James, being restored in blood and honour, i6co, became seventeenth Earl; but died in London unmarried in 1601. James, eldest son of Thomas, who died 1595, the disinherited eldest son of James, fifteenth Earl, assumed the title of Earl of Desmond, but died in the Tower 1608. His next brother, John, having fled to Spain 1603, was after his brother's death usually called Earl of Desmond. His only son Gerald, called Earl of Desmond, who served in the King of Spain's and Emperor's armies, died in Germany in 1632, and in him ended the heirs male of the four eldest sons of the eighth Earl of Desmond. l' Cox, p. 78. VOL. VI. I 114 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. This occasioned great disputes between them, related in Hol- linshed's Chronicle, and obliged the Lord OfTaley to appeal to the Kingj who, to examine and adjudge the matter impartially, sent for both of them into England (some say, they went of their own accord) where each having addressed the King c (according to the custom of that age) he challenged the lord justice to clear him- self by combat, in the following terms : " But for so much as our mutual complaints stand upon the one his yea, and the other his- nay, and that you would be taken for a champion, and I am known to be no coward, let us, in God's name, leave lying for varlets, bearding for ruffians, facing for crackers, chatting for twattlers, scolding for callets, booking for scriveners, pleading for lawyers -, and let us try, with the dint of sword, as becomes martial men to do, our mutual quarrels. Wherefore, to justify that I am a true subject, and that thou, Vesey, art an arch-tray tor to God and to my King, here in the presence of his Highness, and in the hearing of this honourable assembly, I challenge the combat." The audience expressed their satisfaction by a loud acclamation ; and, the challenge being accepted by Vesey, was admitted by the King, but Vesey conveyed himself into France, to avoid the trial : which, when the King understood, he pro- nounced his Lordship innocent, d and bestowed on him Vesey's manors and lordship of Kildare, Rathangan, and divers others, saying, " That although he had conveyed his person into France, yet he had left his lands behind him in Ireland." His Lordship returned to that kingdom with the congratula- tion of all his friends -, e and in 12Q4, with John Delamere, took Richard Bourk, Earl of Ulster, and William Bourk, prisoners in Meath, and confined them in the castle of Ley j whence they were afterwards delivered by order of parliament at Kilkenny. In 1295, by the lord justice Wogan's procurement, an agreement was made between him and the said Earl ; whereby it was cove- nanted, that he should give to the Earl of Ulster three thousand marks to be thus discharged, viz. to assign Slegagh, with all its appurtenances, in Connaught, for one thousand marks ; and all his silver vessels and plate, in satisfaction of another thousand -, and his son and heir, Thomas, to marry the Earl's daughter, in discharge of the other thousand. In the same year he f marched with a gieat army into Meath 5 and the next year? went to assist T 80, et seq. * Ibid. p. 84. « Ibid. p. 7*. ' Ibid. p. 85. s ibid. p. 86. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 115 the King in Scotland, who sumptuously entertained them in Rox- burgh castle. In 12gg, he was again summoned to attend the King with horse and arms in his best array for war, against the Scots, and to be with him at Withwelaun, on March 1st. Also in 1300, with Peter da Bermingham, the lord justice Wogan, and others, he h went a third time into that kingdom, to assist his Majesty; from whence they returned the next year. In 1307 he accompanied Sir Edmund Butler (afterwards Earl of Carrick) his son-in-law, into Connaught and Offaley, when they dispersed the rebellion then raised in those pans, and relieved the castle of Ley : and in 1312 was sent general into Munster, to suppress the Irish in arms against the government, when he knighted Nicholas Fitz- Maurice, and Robert Clonkull, at Adair, in the county of Lime- rick. Also on May 25th, 1315, when Edward Bruce, brother to Robert I. King of Scotland, being invited by many of the natives, entered the north of Ireland with an army of 6000 men, and being joined by the Irish, was crowned King of Ireland at Dun- dalk ; his Lordship, in order to stop the insurgents' proceedings, attended his said son-in-law, then lord justice,, against the Scots j and that year, the differences, then subsisting between him and the Earl of Ulster, were happily adjusted, and finally determined, at the instance of the lord justice, who brought about their recon- ciliation, that by the union of the King's good subjects, the in- vader of the kingdom might the sooner be expelled or conquered. After this reconciliation, an army being raised, the lord justice, accompanied with his Lordship, and others, the lords and gentle- men of Leinster and Munster, gave the said Edward Bruce battle near Ardskoll : but being defeated, and Roger, Lord Mortimer, also, with an army of 1500 men, overthrown soon after; and the Irish, on the news of these defeats, rising and wasting the country, from Arklow to Leix ; the Lord Offaley, with other lords, faithful subjects to the King, renewed their promise of allegiance, and for the confirmation and assurance thereof, delivered hostages to be kept within the castle of Dublin, and resisted the attempts of the Scots to the utmost of their power j whom, together with the Irish, they frequently defeated, with the slaughter of many of them 3 so that Edward Bruce was at length obliged to send for his brother Robert, King of Scotland, to his assistance ; who, landing at Carrickfergus, in May, 1316, besieged and took that castle j and the Lord Offaley marching against him, to frustrate * Cox, p. 86. / 115 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. his designs King Edward II* as well to reward his services past, as to engage him to his interests for the time to come., created him, by patent, dated May 14th, 13 16, Earl of Kildare ; which the learned Selden, in his Titles of Honour, tells us, « is the most ancient form of creation he had seen," and is as follows : Edwardus, Dei Gratia, Rex Angliae, Dominus Hiberniae, Dux Aquitaniae, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comi- tibus, Baronibus, Justitiariis, Vice-Comitibus, Praepositis, Mi- nistris, et omnibus Ballivis et Fidelibus suis, salutem. Sciatis quod Nos pro bono et laudibili Servitio, quod dilectus et fidelis ftoster Johannes Filius Thomae de Hibernia, Celebris Memoriae, Domino Edwardo quondam Regi Angliae, Patri nostro, et Nobis hactenus impendit, et Nobis impendet in futurum, dedisse, con- cessisse, et hac Charta nostra confirmasse eidem Johanni, Castrum et Villam de Kildare, Ipsumque Praefecisse in Comitem ejusdem Loci : Habendum et tenendum eidem Johanni, et Haeredibus suis Masculis de Corpore suo legitime procreatis, una cum Faeodis lYfilitum, Advocationibus Ecclesiarum, Abbatiarum, Prioratuum, Hospitalium, et aliarum Domorum Religiosarum in Comitatu de Kildare, Homagiis, Servitiis libere Tenendum, Firmariorum et Betagiorum, Wardis, Maritagiis, Releviis, Escaetis, Molendinis, Stagnis, Vivariis, Aquis, Ripariis, Piscariis, Boscis, Moris, Ma- riscis, Pratis, Pascuis, Pasturis, Libertatibus, liberis Consuetudini- bus, et omnibus aliis ad praedicta Castrum et Villam pertinentibus ; fcxcepto officio Vicecomitis Comitatus de Kildare, et his quae ad officium Vicecomitis ibidem pertinent, quae Nobis et Haeredibus nostris volumus remanere j de Nobis et Haeredibus nostris per Ser- vitium duorum Faeodorum Militum in perpetuum. Et si idem Johannes obierit sine Haerede Masculo de Corpore suo legitime procreato, tunc praedicta Castrum et Villa cum Terris, Redditibus, Faeodis Militum, Advocationibus Ecclesiarum, Abbatiarum, Prio- ratuum, Hospitalium, et aliarum Domorum Religiosarum, Ho- magiis, Servitiis libere Tenendum, Firmariorum et Betagiorum, Wardis, Maritagiis, Releviis, Escaetis, Molendinis, Stagnis, Viva- riis, Aquis, Ripariis, Piscariis, Boscis, Moris, Mariscis, Pratis, Pas- cuis, Pasturis, Libertatibus, et liberis Consuetudinibus, et omnibus aliis ad praedicta Castrum et Villam pertinentibus, ad Nos et Hae- redes nostros integre revertantur. Quare Volumus et firmiter Praecipimus, pro Nobis et Haeredibus nostris, quod praedictus Johannes habeat et teneat sibi, et Haeredibus suis Masculis de Corpore suo legitime procreatis, prsedicta Castrum et Villam cur* VISCOUNT LEINSTER. H7 Iferris, RedJitibus, et aliis Pertinentiissuis, sub Honorc et Nomine. Comitis de Kildare j simul cum Faeodis Militum, Advocationibui Ecclesiarum, &c. (ut supra) et omnibus aliis ad predicta Castrum et Villam pertinentibus, quoquo modo, excepto officio Vicecomiti* Comitatus de Kildare, et his quae ad officium Vicecomitis ibidem pertinent, quae Nobis et Haeredibus nostris volumus remanere, de Nobis et Haeredibus nostris per Servitium duorum Faeodorum Militum in peipetuum. Et si idem Johannes obierit sine Haerede Masculo de Corpore suo legitime procreato, tunc praedicta Cas- irum et Villa, cum Terris, Redditibus, &c. ad Nos et Haeredes nostros integre revertantur, sicut praedictum est. His Testibus, Venerabilibus Patribus W. Cantuar. Archiepis- copo, totius Angliae Primate ; J. Norwicensi et W. Exoni, Epis* copis ; Johanne de Britannia, Comite Richmond ; Hugone le De- spenser Seniore j Rogero de Mortuo Mari de Wigmore ; Hugono le Despenser Juniore ; Rogero de Mortuo Mari de Chirk ; Jo- iianne de Cromwell Senescallo Hospitii nostri, et aliis. Datum ;per Manum nostram 14° Die Maiii 131^. Per ipsum Regem. He enjoyed this honour but a very short time, dying at La-» !*aghbrine, near Manooth, on September 10th, the same year, and jwas interred in the Franciscan friary of Kildare > having, amongst other pious acts, built the abbey of Eremites of St. Augustine's order, at Adaire, on the southern part of the river Mage, in the county of Limerick, to which he gave the town of Modulleghy, #nd other lands in Adaire 5 which grant was confirmed by the King, on December 13th, 1317. He also founded in the same town of Adaire, a monastery of friars of the order of the Blessed Trinity, bearing blue and red crosses on their breasts. He married Blanch, daughter to John Lord Roche, of Fermoy and Poolcastle : and by her had two sons and two daughters, viz. Gerald, who died unmarried, in 1303, and Thomas Fitz-John Fitz-Gerald, his successor ; Lady Joan, married in 1302, to Sir Edmund Butler, lord deputy, in 1312, and afterwards Earl of Carrick, ancestor to the Earls and Dukes of Ormondj and Lady Elizabeth, married to Nicholas Netterville, Esq. ancestor to the Viscount Netterville. Thomas, the second Earl of Kildare, a prudent and wise man, was, on the day after Palm-Sunday, 1316, made, by the King's command, leader of the army, consisting of 30,000 men, against the before-mentioned Edward Bruce and the Scots : but the Lord Roger Mortimer landing about the same time at Youghall, 118 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. and by his letters desiring the engagement might be deferred until he joined them with his forces, no battle ensued j for Bruce, being advertised of their design, retired about the beginning of May into Ulster ; and, in 1318, his army was defeated, himself killed, and an end put to the Scottish invasion in Ireland. This Thomas, Earl of Kildare, was appointed lord justice in 1320; when he received a grant from the King, to cause all such of his Trish tenants to be obedient to the laws of England as would be governed by them. In February, 1326-7* he was again made lord justice, in which high office he departed this life, at Manooth, in the county of Kildare (the family-seat) on Thursday in Easter week, viz. April Qth, J 328, and was buried in the chapel of our lady, before the altar, in the abbey of the Friars Minors, in Kil- dare. On August l(5th, 1312, he married at Greencastle, in Con- naught, the Lady Joan de Burgh, third daughter to Richard Earl of Ulster; which Lady, on July 3d, 1329, re-married with Sir John Darcy, lord justice, and she dying on April 23d, 1359, was buried in the church of Kildare, near her first husband, to whom she bore three sons, John, who died in 1323, in the ninth year of his age -} Richard, heir and successor to his father ; and Maurice, who succeeded his brother Richard. Richard, the third Earl of Kildare, died when about twelve years of age (as it is found in the Red-Book of Kildare) at Ra- thangan, on July 7th, 1329, and was buried in the Grey, or Fran- ciscan abbey of Kildare, on the right hand of his father; so that his brother, Maurice Fitz-Thomas, became heir. Maurice, fourth Earl of Kildare, being under age at his ac- cession to the honour, the lands of Kildare, Manooth, Adaire, Cromagh, and Estgrene, were seized into the King's hands, on June 3d, 1334, and granted by him to Sir John Darcy, who had married his mother. He no sooner arrived to years of maturity, but he signalized himself in the defen.ce of his country against the O'Dempsies, who had raised a rebellion in Leinster. He pursued them so close, in 1339, that many of them were drowned in the river Barrow ; and the greatest booty that ever was^ taken in that country was brought by him to Dublin. He continued to defend the Pale until the Earl of Desmond, in 1345, refusing to come to the parliament held in Dublin, he assisted him to with- stand Sir Ralph Ufford, the lord justice j but, after Desmond's lands were seized, and his party subdued, he was allured, on pro- mises of indemnity, to come to the said lord justice, at whose com- VISCOUNT LElNSTER. 119 xnand he was insidiously apprehended by Sir William Burton, as he was sitting among the King's counsellors in the court of Ex- chequer at Dublin, and imprisoned in the castle ; where he re- mained till May 26th, 1346, when he was discharged by Sir Roger Darcy, the new lord justice, on the recognizances of 24 lords and gentlemen. After that he performed many eminent services; for, in November, the next year, he, with the lord justice Sir Walter Bermingham, invaded the territory of OMore with fire and sword, and, after a brisk engagement, pursued them so effectually, that they submitted to the King's clemency, and gave hostages for their future behaviour. Also, in May, 1347, he went, with his Barons and Knights, to serve King Edward III. at the siege of Calais, where he had, amongst other horse- men in his auxiliaries to the King out of Ireland, twenty-seven hoblers, and was made leader of the army ; in which station his services were so signal, that he was knighted by the King, after his return into England ; and, on March 30th, 1360, constituted lord justice of Ireland, by the following commission : " To all to whom these Presents shall come, greeting} Know ye, that we have committed to our faithful and loving subject, Maurice Earl of Kildare, the office of chief justice of our kingdom of Ireland, together with the nation itself, and the castles and other appurtenances thereunto belonging, to keep and govern during our will and pleasure; commanding, that whilst he re- mains in the said office, he shall receive the sum of five hundred pounds yearly out of our Exchequer at Dublin ; upon which con- sideration, he shall perform the said office, and take care of the kingdom, and maintain twenty men 'and horse in arms constantly, whereof himself shall be one, during the enjoyment of the said commission. In witness whereof, &c. given at Dublin by the hands of our beloved in Christ, Friar Thomas Burgey, prior of the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, in Ireland, our chancellor of that Kingdom, on the thirtieth of March, being the thirty- fourth year of our Reign." He was accordingly sworn the next day, and was again made custos of the realm, on March 2d, 1371-2; also a third time ap- pointed to govern Ireland, by a commission bearing date February 16th, 1375-6, until the return of Sir William de Windsor. He was a person of great piety, and was among the principal bene- factors to the priory of St. Woolstan. His Lordship departed this life on August 15tb, 1390, and was buried in the church of the 120 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. fraternity of the Holy Trinity in Dublin. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Bartholomew Burghersh, Knight of the Garter, by Elizabeth his wife, second daughter of Theobald Lord Verdon, who died in 1316, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, and widow of John de Burgh, son of Richard Earl of Ulster: which Theobald was third son, and at length heir, to John Lord Verdon, by Margaret, daughter and coheir to Gilbert Lacy, who died before his father Walter, Lord of Meath, brother to Hugh Earl of Ulster. By this lady the Earl of Kildare got some lands in the county of Meath -, and had issue four sons, besides daughters, viz. first, Gerald, who succeeded to the honour ; second, John, supposed to have died young ; thirtj, Richard, who died unmarried in his father's lifetime ; and, fourth, Thomas, who was father of Gerald, from whom (as is said) the family of Fitz-Gerald, of Palline, in the county of Limerick, de- rive their descent. Gerald, the fifth Earl of Kildare, was taken prisoner, in 1398, by Callogh Mac Murrough O'Connor, and the horsemen of Offaley, who delivered him to his father Murrough O'Connor, Frince of Offaley, to be kept his captive, until he should be ran- somed ; which was afterwards done. He was appointed lord justice on September 7*h> 1405 3 and in October, 1406, being succeeded in that office by Sir Stephen Scrope, his Lordship and the Earl of Desmond accompanied him in 1407, ana< preyed on the lands of Mac Murrough, whom they subdued, taking also O'Nolan and his son. From thence hastening towards Callan, in the county of Kilkenny, he put to flight the rebellious Scepts of the O'Carrols and Burks 5 O'Carrol and eight hundred of his men being slain. In 1403, he built the White-castle in New Leighlin 3 but that year, when Thomas Duke of Clarence, King Henry IV's second son, and lord-lieutenant, landed at Carlingford,. and was met in his way to Dublin by the Earl, of Kildare, he ar- rested his Lordship, and three more of his family, as they came to meet him, whereby he lost all his goods by the lord-lieutenant's- servants, and he was imprisoned in the castle of Dublin, until he paid three hundred marks for the recovery of his liberty. On what account this befel him, or how he had incurred the displea- sure of the lord-lieutenant, history is silent ; yet probably it was, because he and Adam O'Nolan did not permit the King to present a fit person to be prebend of Manooth, in the cathedral church of St, Patrick, Dublin. He departed this, life in 1410, and was VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 121 buried in the friary of Kildare ; leaving issue, by Margaret his wife, ' daughter and heir of Sir John Rochfort, Knight, two sons and one daughter, viz. John, his successor; Thomas Fitz-Gerald, who left no children j and Joan, who was first married to Jenico Grey, by whom she had no issue, and secondly to James Butler, the fourth of that name, Earl of Ormond, and dying in London, on August 3d, 1430, was buried in the church of the hospital of St. Thomas D' Acres there, now Mercers Chapel. John, sixth Earl of Kildare, was commonly called the Crooked, or Crouch Back; and being accused of having com- municated with the prior of Kilmainham, was arrested at Slane, or rather at Clane, in the county of Kildare, with Sir Christopher Preston, and Sir John Bedlow, and imprisoned in the castle of Trim, on the feast of St. John, 1418. He built the castles of Manooth and Kilkea j and, on October 21st, 1426, had a liberate to receive twenty marks for the charges he had been at in resisting the Irish enemies and English rebels, on the frontiers of the Pale. He deceased on October l/th, 1427, and was buried in the mo- nastery of All-Saints, in Dublin, leaving, by his wife Margaret, daughter of De la Heme, an only son, Thomas, seventh Earl of Kildare, who, in 1454, was ap- pointed lord-deputy of the kingdom ; as he was again the year following, when he held a great council, or parliament, in Dublin j and two years after another, at the Naas, on the Friday next after the feast of All-Saints, wherein, among other acts, it was enacted, " That as no mean could be found to keep the King's coin within the land of Ireland, that all Frenchmen, Spaniards, Britons, Port- ingales, and other sundry nations, should pay, for every pound of silver they carried out of the land, forty pence of custom to the King's customer, for the use of the King." The next year he also held a parliament at Dublin, on the Friday after the feast of the purification ; and continued in the government until 1459, when Richard Duke of York was made lord lieutenant, whose deputy he was appointed in 1460. Also King Edward IV. coming to the throne, continued him lord justice by patent, dated by the council at Dublin, on April 30th, 1461 j and, on May 1st, he was sworn in Christ-Church. In 1468, he was constituted lord chan- cellor by act of parliament, with the fee of 40/. per ann. and 10$. per diem. Richard Duke of York, Earl of Ulster, Lord of Wigmore, * Henwried her, when very young. See Archdall, vol i. p. 8i. 122 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. * Clare, Trim, and Connaught, father of King Edward IV. being seised in fee of the manor of Molagh, with its appurtenances, in the county of Meath, which he held of the crown in capite, gave and granted the same to this Thomas Earl of Kildare, without having obtained the previous licence of King Henry VI. for alienating thereof; and a pardon for that offence being absolutely necessary, King Edward IV. for the fine of twenty shillings paid into the Hanaper, granted one both to the Duke and Earl, on July 5th, I46l. In 1464, he and his Countess founded an abbey of Grey Friars, of the order of St. Francis, commonly called the Poor Abbey, in the eastern part of the town of Adaire. They also built the church of the abbey at their own charge, and gave two chalices of silver, and the great bell, to that convent. But, in 1467, with the Earl of Desmond, and Edward Plunket, Esq. he was attainted of high-treason by act of parliament, for alliances, fosterage, and alterage with the King's Irish enemies, furnishing them with horse and arms, and supporting them against the King's subjects. The Earl of Desmond, against whom the accusation seemed principally to be levelled, suffered death. However, his Lordship was afterwards enlarged, pardoned, and restored in blood by parliament 5 and (the lord-deputy, John Tiptoft Earl of Wor- cester, hastening to England) he was made lord justice. He was also, in 14? 1, deputy to George Duke of Clarence, in which office he continued until 1475. Having called two parliaments, the first at Drogheda, wherein the English statute of the sixth of Hichard II. " That women consenting to ravishers should forfeit their inheritance 5" and all other English statutes made before that time were confirmed j he held the second parliament at the Naas, on Friday after the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, in 1472., wherein it was enacted, * That custom should be paid for all staple wares carried into Scotland, and that no grain should be trans- ported out of the realm, if the price exceeded ten pence the peck, upon pain of forfeiture of the same, or the value thereof." On March 25th, 1478, or rather 1477, (as appears from a note of the obits of the Earls of Kildare, taken out of a book belonging to Gerald Earl of Kildare, and Elizabeth Grey, his Countess) he departed this life, and was buried near his father, in All-Hallows, near Dublin. He married, as is found, in some pedigrees, Doro- thea, daughter of Anthony O'More, of Leix, before the Earldom fell to him j and by her is made ancestor to the families of Black- hall, Osbert's-town, Timothire, or Cluonblogue, &c. and, I find, of Sir Shane (John) Fits Gerald, and William, sons of Thomas Ear], VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 123 of Kildare : but the wife, by whom he had his successor, was Johan, daughter to James the seventh Earl of Desmond, by whom he'liad four sons, and two daughters, Eleanor and Anne, whereof Eleanor married Henry Mac Owen O'Neile, chief of his name. The sons of Thomas Earl of Kildare, were, First, Gerald, his successor. Second, Sir Thomas, who by statute in parliament, held at Trim, in 2 Richard III. was made lord chancellor of Ireland for life : and in the reign of King Henry VII. having promoted the designs of Lambert Simnel, had, on December 8th, I486, pardon for all treasons and offences. Yet soon after, k continuing his adherence to that impostor, he accompanied him into England, where the King's forces, at Stoke, near Newark upon Trent, en- tirely routed them on June lfjth, 148/, and this Sir Thomas was slain. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Robert Lord Viscount Gormanstown, and by her left issue Sir Maurice Fitz- Gerald, of Laccagh, his heir, ancestor to the family at Laccagh. James, third son, married Eleanor, daughter of the White Knight, and had issue four sons, Gerald, Edmund, Richard, and Shane j whereof Edmund had Richard, of Mulloghmast, in the county of Kildare, who had Bryan, who left Oliver, of Mullogh- mast, ancestor (as presumed) to the family at Johnstown, in the county of Westme ath ; second, Edmund, of Birton, father of Piers, the father of Gerald, of Birton. Maurice, fourth son, was ancestor to the Fitz-Geralds of Tho- mastown, and Caherassa, in the county of Limerick. The Lady Johan, Countess of Kildare, surviving their father, lived his widow until I486, when she was buried near the choir in the church of the abbey of Adaire, which she and her lord had founded. Gerald, the eighth Earl of Kildare, the same year he suc- ceeded his father, was constituted lord deputy to Richard Duke of York, son to Edward IV. Whereupon he held a parliament at Naas, on Friday after the feast of St. Petronelle the Virgin, The next year, 1479, (or, according to other accounts, 1472,) the so- ciety of St. George, or the Order of the Garter, was established in Ireland, consisting of thirteen of the most honourable persons in the counties of Kildare, Dublin, Meath, and Louth, of which he was the first knight elected. Of this order the Earl was appointed captain, and his successors were annually to be elected at Dublin * Wall's Chron. in Henry VII. fol. 5 and 10. 124 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. on St. George's day, out of the said number, under whose com-' mand were two hundred armed men ; and a poundage was laid on all merchandize imported and exported, for their support (hides, and the goods of freemen of Dublin and Drogheda, ex- cepted). The intention of the institution was to defend the said counties from the incursions of the rebellious Irish, and enemies to the English government : but the society was dissolved b/ act of parliament in 1494. On August 12th, 148Q, he was again made deputy to Richard Duke of York, for four years, by the Duke's patent under the King's privy-seal; and he covenanted, by indenture with the King, to keep the realm surely and safely to his power, and for that end was to have eighty archers on horseback, forty spearmen on horseback, and six hundred pounds a year to maintain them. On Monday after the feast of the translation of St. Thomas the Martyr that year, he held a parliament at Dublin, which forbad the carrying of hawks out of the kingdom, without great custom j and that the Pale should have no correspondence with the Irish. Also, being attended with the mayor, bailiffs, and many citizen* of Dublin, he went out a hosting into the O'Mores' country 3 .and remaining chief governor at the death of King Edward IV. was continued by Richard III. in 1483, as deputy to his son Ed- ward. In 1485, he was deputy to John de la Pole, Earl of Lin- coln, when the parliament held at Dublin gave him a subsidy of thirteen shillings and four-pence out of every plough-land, towards* defraying his charges in the service he had performed against the Irish rebels and traitors to the state. At the accession of King Henry VII. to the throne, he was- Continued deputy to Jasper, Duke of Bedford, the lord lieutenant;' whereupon that year he held a parliament at Trim, on the Monday after Corpus Christi day, when the manor of Swords was con- firmed to John Walton, archbishop of Dublin, for his mainte- nance during life, he having resigned the see to Walter Fitz- S.imons, by reason of his being deprived of his sight. On Fe- bruary 2d ensuing, being at mass in Christ-church, he received the news of the King's marriage with Elizabeth, eldest daughter of King Edward IV. and communicating the same to the arch- bishop of Dublin, he caused the prior to say another mass for the King and Queen. But the next year his Lordship was suspected of adhering to the famous impostor Lambert Simnel, a baker's son, who being supported by Margaret, widow of Charles Duke of Burgundy, and sister to King Edward IV. in order to try the peo* VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 125 -pie's affection to the House of York, personated Edward Earl of Warwick, only son to George Duke of Clarence, brother to the ?aid Duchess and King Edward IV. Which Duke, being their countryman born, the Irish (and especially the Earl of Kildare) much respected him. This impostor laying claim to the crown, as the immediate and rightful heir, and the King having some in- timation of the Earl's hearkening to his designs, and being will- ing to have him secured in his own hands, invited him, by his letters, to repair immediately to England, to consult about the weighty affairs of the realm : whereupon his Lordship, rightly animadverting on the King's intentions, imparted the same to the nobility of Ireland, then assembled at Dublin, who sent letters of excuse, dated June 4th, signifying, w That his presence was so necessary, he could not, at that time, be spared from the govern- ment, certain matters being then debating in parliament, which by bis so sudden journey might prove of the greatest impediment and detriment j and therefore earnestly desired he might stay till those matters were settled." Subscribed by Walter, archbishop of Dublin ; Oct avian us, archbishop of Armagh ; John Pain, bishop of Meath; John Purcell, abbot of St. Thomas ; Walter Camp- flour, abbot of St. Mary ; John Troy, abbot of Mellefont j Henry,, abbot of Baltinglasj Nicholas, prior of Conal j Robert, Viscount Gormanstown -, and the Barons Slane, Delvin, Killeen, Howth, Trimleston, and Dunsany. At length Simnel, with his tutor Richard Simon, an Oxford priest, sailed to Ireland, to win over that kingdom to his interest, before he attempted any thing in England; flattering himself with success from the affection of the natives to the house of York. Accordingly, on his arrival, he presented himself before the lord deputy, the chancellor, treasurer, and other nobles of the York faction, who all readily owned him for what he called him- self 5 and being proclaimed in Dublin by the name of Edward VI. the chancellor lodged him in his own house, and treated him according to his assumed quality. The deputy also (against the endeavours of Octavianus, archbishop of Armagh) shewed him all the countenance he could desire, and was present at his corona- tion in Christ-church, on Whitsunday, May 2d, (others say June 3d) 148/, when the ceremony was performed with great solem- nity, the chancellor, the archbishop of Dublin, the Earl of Lin- coln, Lord Lovel, Jenico Marks, mayor of Dublin, and many other persons of quality attending in performance thereof j the crown being borrowed from the image of the Virgin Mary, erected 126 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. in a church dedicated to her memory near Dame's Gate. John Pain, bishop of Meath, preached the coronation sermon, setting forth his (pretended) title to the crown 3 and he after was con- ducted, with great applause of the people, to the castle of Dublin, on the shoulders of Darcy of Platen, a person of an extraordinary high stature, and much taller than the rest of the people. Where- upon all matters of state were issued in the name of Simnel, who, with an army of Irish, and 2000 Almains or Germans (sent by the Duchess of Burgundy into Ireland, under the command of Martin Swart) and some English, sailed for England, Thomas Fitz-Gerald, the Earl's brother, quitting his chancellorship to attend him : but (as was before-mentioned) coming to an engagement with the King's forces near Stoke, his whole army was routed, and the said chancellor (and not the Earl his brother, as the Lord Bacon and others write) valiantly fighting in a wrong cause, lost his life. The news of this defeat arriving at Dublin, the deputy, being sensible of his oversight, did, with the other ministers of state, who countenanced and attended this mock coronation, send mes- sengers to the King, acknowledging their rashness, and earnestly imploring his pardon j which the King granted, satisfying himself with their submissions, and promises of loyal service for the future: and thereupon, the next year, he sent over Sir Richard Edgecumbe, comptroller of his household and of his privy-council, with authority to take new oaths of fidelity and allegiance of the nobility, gentry, and chief citizens of the kingdom. Sir Richard arrived at Kingsale, on June 27th, and took the homage of the Lords Barry, Kingsale, &c. On July 3d, he put in at Lambay, where he heard the Earl of Kildare was gone on a pilgrimage, and could not return for four or five days. On which going on shore the second day following at Malahoide, he was entertained there by Mr. Talbot 5 and being conducted to Dublin that night, by the bishop of Meath, (who had preached Simnel's coronation sermon, but was the first who made a submission) and other mi- nisters of state, was lodged at the Black Friars, and continued there till the Earl of Kildare arrived at Thomas-Court, with two hundred horse in his retinue. His Lordship immediately sent the bishop of Meath, the Lord Slane, and others, to Sir Richard, to advertise him of his arrival, and conduct him to his house. Sir Richard was received and welcomed by the Earl in a great chamber, to whom, without reverence or courtesy, he delivered the King's letters, which being read, they, with all the lords present, went VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 127 into a privy-chamber, when Sir Richard opened and declared to them his message from the King, and the whole cause of his journey : but divers lords of the council being absent, the consi- deration of the business was deferred for five days ; and that night the Earl went to Manooth, and Sir Richard to his lodgings; whence the next day, being Sunday, on his going to Christ- church, it was declared in a sermon by the same bishop of Meath, " That the King would pardon every man that would do his duty to him; and the absolution of excommunication (which the King had procured of the Pope) to all who should yield due obedience," was proclaimed by Sir Richard's command. On Monday, Sir Richard, at the Earl's invitation, went to Manooth, and was nobly entertained ; the Earl promising, that he would conform himself in all things to the King's pleasure, in such wise, that Sir Richard should be contented : and returning to Dublin, on July 10th, the Earl and the lords of the council agreed, the following day, at Thomas-Court, to become the King's true subjects; and offered, for the performance of their fidelity, to be bound in as good surety as could be devised by the King's laws. Accordingly, on July 21st, Sir Richard, at the Earl's desire, went to Thomas-Court, where the lords and council were as- sembled: and there, in the said great chamber, called the King's chamber, took homage, first of the Earl and then of the other lords 5 which done, the Earl, whilst mass was sung, was delivered from the curse he had incurred by the Pope's Bull, and made his solemn oath of allegiance on the sacrament, as did the bishops and lords after him ; and Sir Richard put a collar of the King's livery about his neck, to signify his Majesty's entire reconciliation to him j which his Lordship (dining with Sir Richard) wore- through the city to his lodgings, and home again. On July 30th, the Earl, in St. Mary's church at Dames-Gate, delivered to Sir Richard his certificate upon his oath, under the seal of his arms, as the obligation of his future allegiance and faithful service; and Sir Richard, in the presence of all the lords, delivered unto him the King's pardon under his great seal ; and, having thus faithfully executed his commission, departed, after dinner, to Dalkie island, six miles from Dublin, where his ships lay, and embarking that night, arrived safe in England. All which particulars of his conduct and success in this affair he presented to the King, and are narrated (from a manuscript in the Cotton Library) in the account of Earl Mount-Edgecumbe's family. Soon after Sir Richard's departure, the Earl and the council 128 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. sent the bishop of Meath, to assure the King of their future fide- lity, and to thank him for his pardon 5 but Simnel being taken prisoner, and confessing the whole imposture to the King, he sent for all the tempoial lords of Ireland to repair to his presence j who, obeying the summons, were conducted before him at Green- wich, in this rank of precedency 5 the Earls of Kildare, and Or- mond, the Lords Barry de Botivant, Roche de Fermoy, Berming- ham of Athunry, Courcy of Kingsale, Preston of Gormanstown, Nugent of Delvin, Fleming of Slane, Plunket of Killeen, St. Lawrence of Howth, Barnwall ofTrimleston, and Plunket of Dun- sany. The King gently reproved them for the countenance and support they had yielded to the impostor and his cause j but told them, " They would at last crown apes, should he be long ab- sent." However, he received them into his favour, honourably treated them, and at length graciously dismissed them, with their pardons under the broad seal, promising the continuance of his favour, as their future conduct should deserve. He continued the Earl of Kildare in the government, who, on his return into Ireland, in 1489, invaded Mac Geoghagan's country, took and destroyed the castle of Bileragh, and wasted the whole territory of Moycashel, in the county of Westmeath$ whence, being loaded with booty, be returned to Dublin. In this year, or 14QO, he had sent him out of Germany, as a great rarity, six hand-guns, or muskets, which his guard, during the time they stood centinels, bore before his habitation at Thomas-Court. The next year he assembled a parliament at Trim, on the Friday after the Epiphany ; but the year following being suspected by the King, on some envious suggestions, for abetting new conspiracies with the afore-mentioned Duchess of Burgundy, he was removed from the post of lord justice ; for (as Hollinshed observes) " let them behave themselves valiantly in war, and loyally in peace, yet notwithstanding such slanders are raised, such rumours noised, such malicious inventions forged, that such as are in authority cannot but of force suspect them, unless they were able, like Gods, to pry in the bottom of each man's conscience." About this time also the contentions, which had long subsisted between his Lord- ship and the Butlers, growing to such a height, as greatly to dis- turb the government, and destroy the English Pale ; it in some measure contributed to raise the said suspicions in the King, and bring a load of trouble on the Earl of Kildare. And it was not long before the Earl was again suspected to be a favourer of the youth called Perkin Waibeck, who was by many VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 129 acknowledged to be Richard Duke of York, King Edward's IV's younger son, reported not to be murdered with his brother Ed- ward V. in the Tower, but in compassion spared, and sent secretly away. However, he cleared himself of that suspicion, by going with the lord-deputy, and the Earl of Ormond, against his abettors, in 1494 : yet, notwithstanding this, he had some enemies, who represented with the greatest indignation to the deputy, that he did it very unwillingly, and was so far from desiring to suppress the King's enemies, that he was more indulgent to them than he ought, and on that account had contrived clandestine plots with the chief of the Irish to oppose the deputy, and especially with O'Hanlan (in whose country they then were) to murder him. This accusation was very incredible, for O'Hanlan, in 1495, de- nied, upon his solemn oath, " That he knew of any such pro- ceedings between them." Yet this is certain, that his brother James (and by his advice as was imagined) seized on the castle of Catherlough, and secured it by a garrison, which obliged the de- puty to lay aside the prosecution of O'Hanlan and Magennis, from whom he took pledges for their keeping the peace j and to march to Catherlough, where he took the castle, after a short siege, by surrender. In November, 1494, his Lordship, with his brother, and many more of the Gerald ines, and their adherents, were, in a parliament holden at Drogheda, by Sir Edward Poyn- ings, declared traitors, and were accordingly attainted of high treason, for corresponding with O'Hanlan, and seizing the castla of Catherlough, extorting coyne and livery, and for treating with the King of Scotland. Likewise his motto of Crom a Boo, with those of the Earl of Ormond, Butler a Boo, of the Earl of Des- mond, Shanct a Boo, and of the Lord Clanrickard, Galriah a Boo, were adjudged unlawful, and a means of nourishing dissension between noble families; and therefore were abrogated. His Lordship, having also before this been at great variance with Plunket of Rathmore, and fought several skirmishes wherein he had always the worst, was at length brought to such a pass, that he dared not to venture into any part of the county of Meath, nor continue for three nights together (but privately) in any part of the county of Kildare ; in which condition he continued, till one day, with about twelve horsemen, meeting Plunket near Trim, attended by about twenty, he engaged him so resolutely, that Plunket and most of his men fell. After which, the bishop of Meath (between whom and his Lordship the strictest friend- ship had for many years subsisted) opposing his authority, and VOL. VI. * 130 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. factiously controuling him, he was watched so close, that his Lord- ship chaced him into a church, where he fled for sanctuary; whence commanding him to come, and the bishop refusing, he ordered his men to dismount, and follow him; and himself en- tering the church, with a naked sword, and going where the bishop was kneeling in the chancel, with his shorn head un- covered, he swore by St. Bride (his usual oath) " Were it noli that he knew his prince would be offended with him, he could find in his heart to lay his sword upon his shaven crown." And then taking him away, kept him prisoner, until, upon demand, by the deputy, he enlarged him ; and having the promise of a free pardon, came to Dublin, but was insidiously taken in the evening, and sent forthwith in a bark, then ready to convey him to England, l and brought to the King, to answer such things as were laid to his charge. . To the afore-mentioned crimes, whereof he was suspected, and for which he was attainted, and the irregularities he had run into, by withstanding and prosecuting his private enemies and op- posers, he was accused of burning the church of Cashel, to prove which there were many witnesses; when, contrary to ell their expectations (being admitted to make his defence before the King) he readily confessed the fact, and swore, " That he would never have done it, but that bethought the archbishop (David Creagh) was in it." Which being uttered with a pleasantness and bluntness, peculiar to his Lordship, did exceedingly work upon the King; for m whilst the Earl did so earnestly urge that for his excuse, which was the greatest aggravation of his crime, the King easily perceived a person of that plainness could not be guilty of those finesses and intrigues which were objected against him. But amongst all his accusers the bishop of Meath was the most inveterate, having pursued him into England, and there charged him with sundry matters of great importance : to which the Earl could not make an immediate reply, saying, " He was not sufficiently learned to make answers in such weighty matters, nor at that time was he well advised of them : that the bishop was a learned man, and so was not he, and therefore might easily out-do him in argument." Whereupon the King told him, " He should be allowed a counsellor ; and bad him chuse-whom he would have in England, and he should have him, and also a suf- ficient time to be advised." The Earl replied, « If you will so 'Btotv's Annals, p. 479. Cox's Hist, of Ireland, p. 191. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 131 do, I will make answer to-morrow ; but I doubt, I shall not have that good-fellow that I would chuse." " The King assured him he should, and that it concerned him to chuse well, and to get counsel that were very good, for that he doubted his cause was very bad." The Earl answered, ** That he would pitch upon the best counsel in England." *' Who is that," said the King ? H Marry," said the Earl, " I can see no better man in England than you; and, by St. Bride, I will chuse no other." Whereat the King laughed, and said, " By St. Bride you have chose well, for I thought your tale could not well excuse your doings, unless you had well chosen ;" adding to his council, "That a wiser man might have chosen worse;" and so requited his Lordship for his compliment. When the bishop concluded his last article with this sharp expression, M You see what a man he is, all Ireland cannot rule yonder Gentleman," the King replied, " If it is so, then he is meet to rule all Ireland, seeing all Ireland cannot rule him;" and accordingly made him lord-lieutenant by his letters- patent, bearing date August 6th, 140,6, restoring him to his honour and estate, and dismissed him with rich presents. The King, however, n kept his eldest son, Gerald, as an hos- tage of the father's fidelity, which proved rather a matter of caution, than of necessity; for none could behave with more loyalty, or more vigour against the rebellious Irish, than his Lord- ship. He returned into Ireland the same month of August, with his second wife; and, the day on which he received the sword, he held a parliament at Castledermot. He soon after marched towards Thomond, against O'Brien; went through the city of Limerick; and on the 26th of that month, by the King's order,0 pardoned Maurice, Earl of Desmond, and many other persons of note, of all their crimes, lest despair might induce them to new disturbances. He took the castle of Fey back from Finin Macna- mara ; took and rased the castle of Bally nitie, orBallymce, and other garrisoned places of the rebels. After which, returning to Dublin, he was reconciled to Octavianus de Palatio, archbishop of Armagh, (with whom he had been at variance from the time of Simnel's proceedings in Ireland, which that prelate had strenuously op- posed) to their mutual ease and quiet, and to the great advantage of public affairs. In 1497, p continuing firm and powerful against the claimant n Cox, p. xgfi. ° Ibid. p. iga. p Ibid. p. 193. 13? PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Perkin Warbeck, he defeated his designs in Ireland ; and on Au- gust 25th, that year, was rewarded by the King ' with a grant of the manors of Dunehurch r (containing the hamlets of Canston, Tofte, and Thurlaston), Avan-Basset, Kingston, alias Kingsford, and UUenhall, in the county of Warwick ; and of the manor of Shennington, and theadvowson of the church there, in the county of Gloucester, to him and Elizabeth St. John, his wife, and to the heirs male of their bodies lawfully begotten j all which had come to the crown by the attainder of Sir Simon Montfort, Knight. This grant was confirmed by another patent, dated July 20th, 1503, IS Hen. VII.8 and free warren granted to them therein j which King Henry VIII. ' likewise ratified in his second year. These lands, &c. by virtue of the entail, devolved on Sir James Fitz-Gerald, his son j but, by his attainder, in 28 Henry VIII. re- verted to the crown, and out of the family, to Sir John Fitz-Wil- Jiam, Sir Ralph Sadler, and others. King Henry VII. in his letter ll to Sir Gilbert Talbot, dated at his manor of Woodstock, recites, l< that Perky n Warbeck, after landing in Ireland, had been taken by his cousins, Therls of Kil- dare, and of Desmond, if he and his wife had not secretly stolen away, and, coming upon the see, is to land in our countie of Cornewalle," &c» On March 28th, 1498, he obtained power from the King to call a parliament, at which time certain articles, propounded by his Majesty, were approved: and soon after be invaded Ulster, x where he took the castles of Dungannon and Omagh, forced Neile Mac Art O'Neile to submit and give hostages, and set at liberty all the prisoners he had detained there. This service being over, he marched in October to Cork, where, by reason of that city's late defection in abetting of Perkin Warbeck's pretensions, and to prevent the like, he placed a garrison, and obliged the inhabitants, with those of Kinsale, to swear allegiance, and bind themselves thereto, both by indentures and hostages. In the beginning of March, his Lordship held a parliament at Dublin, by the title of lord-deputy to Henry Duke of York, the King's second son (after- wards King Henry VIII.) who about this time was made lord- lieutenant j but no mention is made of any acts passed therein*. q Pat. iz Hen. VII. p. i, m. a. r Dugdale's Warwicksh. first edit. p. 190. • Pat. 18 Henry VII. p. 2, m.29. « Pat. 2 Henry VIII. p. « Rymer's Fcedera, vol xi. p-.|P3. * Cox, p. 193. VJSCOUNT LETNSTER. 133 On its conclusion he marched into Connaught, took the four castles of Athleague, Roscommon, Tulsk, and Castlereagh, and placed garrisons in them. Also, on August 26th, 1499, he held a parliament at Tristledermot, in which it was ordered, '* That the acts in England for the punishment of customers, merchants, and others, for their misdemeanors, be put in force in Ireland, after they were proclaimed." Some other statutes were enacted, and a subsidy granted to the King. In 1500, he undertook an expedition into Ulster, against the rebels there, >' from whom he took the castle of Kinrad, put a new garrison therein, and made his nephew, Terlough ONeile, go- vernor of it. In 1503, his Lordship went into England to give the King an account of his affairs in the kingdom ; *■ from whence, after three months stay, and receiving his Majesty's commands concerning certain matters of moment, he returned in August, with great honour, together with his eldest son, Gerald, and his new-married Lady, daughter of John Lord Zouch; and not long after made another expedition into Ulster, when he took and de- stroyed the castle of Belfast, and placed a garrison in Carrick- ferfus. On the feast-day of St. Magnus the martyr, August 19th, 1504, he fought the famous battle of Knockto, or Knocktough, in Connaught, five miles from Galway, when (after encouraging his men, telling them all they had, and the honour of their Prince, depended upon that day's service, as well as their own safety, being far from their towns and castles, and in a country unknown to most of them) he acquired an entire victory over Ulick Bourk, chief of Clanricard, commonly called Mac William, Terlough O'Brien, chief of Thomond, Melroony O'Carrol, and others, who, finding his Lordship's power too great to be opposed separately, had confederated together, and drawn into a body the greatest army that had been in Ireland since the conquest; whereof four thousand (or, according to the book of Howth, nine thousand) were slain, and some taken prisoners j the consequence of which great victory was the surrender of Galway, and Athunry, the destruction of that whole country, and loading the conquerors with prey and booty. At his return to Dublin from this signal enterprize, he bestowed thirty tons of wine upon his soldiers. Also, the same year, being attended with the mayor and com- mons of the city (as he had been before to Knocktough) he marched to Ballagh-Asperd, upon O'Carrol and his abettors. Cox, p 156. * Ibid, p. z?§, 134 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. whom he totally destroyed, and burned their country : and in Sep- tember sent Walter Fitz-Symons, archbishop of Dublin, to Eng- land, to give an account of these and other public affairs. The King was so well pleased with his services, that he procured him to be elected one of the Knights Companions of the most noble order of the Garter, and he was installed at Windsor, on May 4th, 20 Henry VII. by his proxy Sir John Williams, who was very liberal to the officers. Vide Anstis's Register of the Garter, vol. ii. p. 243, 244, 24£. King Henry VII. dying on April 22d, 1509, k*8 Lordship was continued in the government by King Henry VIII. whom he caused to be proclaimed in May with great solemnitv. The same year invading Ulster, he recovered the castles of Dungannon and Omagh, the former of which was delivered up before his ap- proach, and, a little after. besieging the other, he destroyed it. In 1510, he was appointed lord-deputy, and undertook a journey into Munster, with a powerful army, raised out of the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath, and Lowth, to which Hugh ODonnel, Dynast of Tyrconnel, joined himself j and, preying over the greatest part of Desmond, took divers castles without resistance : but, in his return, was met at Monetar, in the county of Limerick, by a strong body of his enemies, the principal whereof were James, eldest son of Maurice, Earl of Desmond ; Terlough O'Brien, Dynast of Thomond, and Mac William, with whom he maintained a long and sharp engagement, in which many on both sides fell j but his soldiers being loaden with spoils, and tired with a tedious march, sustained the greater loss, yet were only parted by the night, which put an end to the battle j and his Lordship, by the advice of his friends, retired the next day in good order. In 1511, he employed most of his time in putting himself in a condition to appear formidable against the enemies of the public peace j and having, in 1503, demolished the castle of Belfast, which being afterwards repaired, he a second time took and de- stroyed it in 1512, wasted the country, and distributed the spoil among his soldiers. That year he built St. Mary's chapel, in the choir of Christ-church, Dublin, where himself was afterwards honourably interred, near the high altar, op October l6th, 1513, and where his arms, within the garter, and those of his wives, stood together, with those of many of his predecessors, and suc- cessors, until defaced by William Moreton, bishop of Kildare, and dean of that church, upon a new model thereof. This great nobleman had been, at several times, thirty-three VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 135 years chief governor of Ireland, which he could never have been intrusted with, had he not been a person of singular parts, as is observed by Camden, Borlace, and others. During his admi- nistration, the kingdom was in a better condition than before his time; being so famous for his many great and successful victories, that his reputation kept the rebels in awe. He also secured the Pale, by castles and fortifications built in commodious places upon the borders, amongst which were thoae of Rathvillc, Lincarrig, Tristledermot, and Athy ; and, whenever the Irish made an in- surrection, he chastised them, by destroying their fortified places, razing and levelling their castles to the ground, and dispersed co- lonies for the security of the land in proper places ; rebuilt ruined towns ; and was so frequently advanced (as Sir Richard Cox ob- serves, in his History of Ireland, p. 199,) to the chief government of the kingdom for good reasons, being a man of great interest and courage, and bis very name more terrible to the Irish than an army. He was of a tall stature and goodly presence, very liberal and merciful, of strict piety and religion, mild in his government, open and plain, sensible of injuries, and when offered, in his mood, desperate both of word and deed ; but yet not so easily displeased as appeased; an instance whereof is related by Stanihurst: that, being in a rage with certain of his servants, one of his horsemen offered Mr. Boyce (a retainer to him) an Irish hobby, on condi- tion he would pluck an hair from the Earl's beard. Boyce ac- cepted the offer; stepped to the Earl (with whose good-nature he was thoroughly acquainted) and said, " So it is, and if it like your good Lordship, one of your horsemen promised me a choice horse, if I snip one hair from your beard." " Well, quoth the Earl," " I agree thereto; but if thou pluck any move than one, J pro- mise thee to bring my list from thine ear." He was well beloved of the English, and a man of singular parts and valour, evident by his long administration of the government. He departed this life, on September 3d, 1513, at Kildare, being carried thither from Athy, where he fell sick, as he was on his march towards Leme- wanan, otherwise called OCanan's-castle, attended by the mayor of Dublin, and a great company. His death was occasioned by a shot he had received a little before, against the OMores of Leix. By his last will he bequeathed his best gown, of cloth of gold pur- purated, for to make sacerdotal vestments; and bestowed the town of Capporo to the maintenance of that canon who should celebrate his obsequies. He is said also to have repaired the church of Cashel, which he had burned. 1*6 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. He married two wives ; to his first, Alison, daughter and co- heir of Sir Rowland Eustace, of Harrestown, in the county of Kil- dare, Knight, created Baron of Portlester, on March 4th, 1462, 2 Edward IV. and for many years lord high treasurer and chan- cellor of Ireland, to which post he was advanced by King Ed- ward IV. on May 1st, 146 I, and died on December lirth, J 4Q6, (by Maud his first wife, daughter of Jenico d'Artoys, and widow of John, third son of Sir John Dowdal, of Newtown, Knight), and by her (who died of grief on November 22d, 1495, during his confinement in England, and lies buried among the friars minors of the order of St. Francis, near Kilcullen, built by her father in 1460, and where he also lies buried) his Lordship had issue Gerald, his successor, and six daughters, viz. Eleanor, first married to Donald Mac Fincene Mac Carthy Reagh, of Carbury, styled in those days Prince of Carbury. The said Lady Eleanor had to her second husband Caluacus ODonnef, Lord of Tyrconnel, and the whole county of Donegal : and, out- living the misfortunes which attended her family, had a grant from King Henry VIII. dated at Dublin, on September 20th, the thirty-eighth of his reign, of a pardon for all treasons, felonies, murders, forfeiture of lands, and other crimes by her committed, before July 3d, in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. Second, Lady Margaret, married to Piers Butler, eighth Earl of Ormond. Third, Lady Elizabeth, married to Christopher Fleming, Lord Slane. Of his Lordship's other three daughters, Alice (or Alison) Eustachia, and Joan, there is no further mention, than that the first of them was married to Con O'Neile, her first cousin, who, in 1480, was naturalized by act of parliament, and whose father and himself (says Morison) waxing bold upon the power of the Earls of Kildare, tyrannized over the people, and despised the titles of Earls, Marquisses, Dukes,, or Barons, in regard of that of O'Neile. The Earl of Kildare' s second wife, whom he married in 14Q6, ■was Elizabeth, eldest daughter to Oliver St. John, of Lidiard Tre- goze, in the county of Wilts, Esq. and of Elizabeth his wife, daughter to Henry, Lord Scroop of Bolton 5 and by her (who sur- vived him, and died seised of the manors of Carlingford and Coly, in the county of Louth, &c. on June 28th, 1516) had issue seven sons: First, Henry, heir to his mother in the aforesaid lands 5 but VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 137 dying on July 2d, the same year, was succeeded by his next brother. Second, Thomas, who was then aged eighteen years and more, but died soon after, in 22 Henry VIIL unmarried; so that Sir James Fitz-Gerald, the third son, became heir. He was seated at Leixlip, in the county of Kildare, was a Knight of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, and in 152(3, deputy of Ireland to his brother, the Earl of Kildare. He was seised of divers lands in England, by livery granted to him in 24 Henry VIII. also of the manor of Leixlip in fee, with divers messuages and lands, parcel of the possessions of the monastery of Leixlip, which were for- feited to the crown by his attainder. He married the daughter of the White Knight, Lord of Clangibbon, and had an only daughter, the wife ofO'Toole, of Imayle. Oliver, fourth son, maried Meawe, daughter of Caher O'Con- nor, chief of his name, and was ancestor to the family of Belloagh, and Killiegh, in the King's county ; having issue three sons, Henry, Thomas, and Gerald. Richard, fifth son, by inquisition in 30 Henry VIII. was found to have been seised in fee of Crewagh, Power's-Court, and Tas- saghroo, in the county of Dublin, with divers other lands. He married Maud, daughter to George Darcy, of Platen, Esq. and widow of James Marward, Baron of Skrine, but had no issue. Sir John Fitz-Gerald, sixth son, was a Knight of the same order with his brother Sir James, and left no issue. W alter, seventh son, left no children by his wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Robert Lord Dunsany. These last five unfor- tunate brethren were all attainted of treason, and executed at Tyburn, on February 2d, 1535-6, with their nephew, Thomas, Earl of Kildare, as related hereafter. I now proceed with the only son of Gerald, the eighth Earl of Kildare, by his first wife. Gerald, ninth Earl of Kildare. He is said to have been one of the fairest men then living, and was called, by the vulgar, Garret Mac Alison. He was a constituted lord high treasurer of Ireland, on February 18th, 1503-4; which office he resigned, when, on his father's decease (whose footsteps, in subduing the Irish, and preserving the peace of his country, he indefatigabJy pursued) he was appointed lord justice of the kingdom by assent of the council, according to an act of parliament in 10 Hen. VII. for electing the lord treasurer, in case of a vacancy by death -, and a COX, p. 197. 138 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the King afterwards, by patent, constituted him lord-deputy. At the battle of Knocktougb, on August Iptb, 1504, he led the body of reserve, and being left at a distance, to be ready if relief was wanted, could not, when he once saw the battle join, stay to wait as his father had appointed him, but charged with the fore- most in such a brave and resolute manner as deserved applause ; yet by quitting his post, all the English carnage was taken by the Irish horse, and a few of the English gentlemen became prisoners. In the winter of 1513, the Irish ravaging the country, his Lord- ship, impatient at their insolence,, in the beginning of 1514, marched with his army into Leix (now Queen's County) where he vanquished O'More, and, pursuing him and his party, drove them into the woods. He after took the castle of Cavan, and having killed O Reily, and many of his followers, chaced the re- mainder into their inaccessible bogs and fastnesses, burning and destroying them there, and returned to Dublin with his men, loadeji with booty. This service was extremely well received by the King and his English subjects, of which his Lordship was adver- tised by Wolsey ; and the next year coming to England, to con- fer with his Majesty touching the parliament intended to be shortly held at Dublin, was, on June 13th, succeeded in the go- vernment by William Preston, Viscount Gormanstown, who on his return, resigned that post to him before the end of the year, being then constituted Lord Deputy. He was so much favoured by the King, that he obtained a grant, dated at West- minster, Oct. 10, the same year, to him and the heirs male of his body, of the customs, subsidies, tonnages, poundages, and other profits, &c. arising and accruing out of the towns and ports of Strangford and Ardglass, and the creeks and members thereof, in the county of Downe. Yet soon after he incurred the King's dis- pleasure, by conniving at James, Earl of Desmond, then a pro- claimed rebel and traitor, contrary to the King's private orders for apprehending him ; instead whereof, he admonished him to come to no place where he might meet bim, or have any power upon him : but, the King pardoning this offence, his Lordship, in 1516, made an inroad into Imaly (the county of Wicklow) and there in a skirmish slew Shane O'Toole, and sent his head to John Richard, mayor of Dublin. Thence he marched into the King's county, wtere he was joined by several noblemen (of English extraction,) of the provinces of Munster and Leinster, particularly by Piers, Earl of Ormond, and James, eldest son to the Earl of Desmond ; with which supply being sufficiently strengthened, he undertook VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 13g the siege of Lemewanan castle, which thegirrison defended for a week, and then by night deserted, leaving it to be demolished by the lord-deputy. This good success encouraged him to make an attempt on the town of Clonmel, in Tipperary, with so much ce- Jerity, that the townsmen (being surprized) immediately sur- rendered upon conditions: and, having thus finished this expe- dition, he returned in December to Dublin in triumph, loaden with hostages, booty, and honour j and there held l> a parliament, on February 2.3th, 1515-16, by virtue of the King's commission, which continued, by several prorogations, until Thursday after Michaelmas, l/l/, wherein a subsidy was granted to the King, and an act made, " That no man should be compelled, by privy- seal, to answer any complaint in England, until the accusers en- tered into a recognizance in the Chancery of Ireland to pay the defendant his costs and damages, if he be acquitted." Which so much abated that vexatious course of proceeding, as it is now quite out of use. In 1517, his Lordship invaded Ulster; and, being opposed by the chiefs erf that province, a great slaughter ensued, but con- cluded in his favour. He took the castle of Dundmm by storm, which had done great injury to the English ; and then, marching into Tyrone, burnt the fort of Dungannon, and reduced Ireland to a quiet condition. However, having many enemies, who, com- bining against him, sought his ruin, they accused him of male- administration j to which charge, as soon as he understood their designs, he earnestly entreated the King, by letters, to give no credit to their malicious accusations, professing he ever had been, and would continue, faithful and firm in his Majesty's service; and instructed his friends in England how they might best answer such matters as he apprehended would be objected against him. This was in 1518. But his enemies fearing his Lordship, now justly incensed, should continue deputy, and make use of his power to their prejudice, rested not until they obtained their de- sire, and had him recalled from his government, in 15 IQ, to England, to answer articles exhibited against him lor male-admi- nistration. First, that he had enriched himself and followers, by unjust seizure of the King's revenues and crown lands. Second, that he had alliance and correspondence with divers of the Irish, enemies to the state. And, having the King's leave to substitute a deputy, lie ap- b Borlace, p. 98. 140 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. pointed Sir Maurice Fitz-Gerald, of Lackah, his near relation, to that office: and marrying his second wife in London, by that means procured favour in England, strengthened himself much by the accession of many friends at court, and was acquitted of what was alleged against him j but, through the malice and power of Cardinal Wolsey, was removed from the government of Ireland, us some write 3 yet others attribute it to the King's having too much neglected his Irish affairs, on which a serious debate was had to rectify that error j when it was concluded, that some prin- cipal person of the English nobility should be sent into Ireland, with a sufficient force to suppress the rebels, and reduce them to their allegiance. In pursuance thereof, Thomas Howard, Earl of Surry, and lord high admiral (whom the Cardinal wanted out of the way, that he might the more easily effect the ruin of Edward, Duke of Buckingham, his father-in-law), was appointed lord-lieu- tenant, with an army equal to the service. However, the Earl of Kildare being set at liberty the next year, was soon after received into favour by the King, whom he attended into France, and was present at. the grand interview his Majesty had with the French King, Francis I. between Ardres and Guisnes 5 c after which he returned to Ireland, in January 1522 3. In 1518, he preferred his petition'1 to William Rokeby, archbishop of Dublin, for licence to found and endow a college at Manooth; with which the bishop complying, his petition was confirmed on October 12th, 1521 ; and he built the said college in a most beautiful form, requiring the prebendary of Laragh- brine, or Manooth, and his successors, to be masters of the said college, and there to receive their daily food. On his return to Ireland, he obtained leave0 of the deputy to invade the territory of Leixj in which expedition, being accom- panied by the mayor of Dublin, and divers citizens, he burned some villages ; but being intercepted by an ambush, lost a great many men, and, with some difficulty, retreated to Dublin. Soon after f jealousies and discords arising between his Lordship and the Earl of Ormond, his brother-in-law, then lord-deputy, so that the affinity between them was not considered, it broke out in open enmity, by James Fitz Gerald's killing Robert Talbot, of Belgard, in the county of Dublin, (the Earl of Ormond's chief favourite) Bear Ballymore-Eustace, in the county of Wicklow, as he was * Mist, of Ireland, p. 213. * Peerage oflreland, fol. p. 59. • Hbt- oflreland, p. z\$. f Ibid, p. 214. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 141 journeying to keep his Christmas with the Earl at Kilkenny. This so exasperated the Earl of Ormond, that he sent an impeach- ment against the Earl of Kildare to England. Whereupon the King, at the instance of the Marquis of Dorset, the Earl's father- in-law., issued a commission, authorising Sir Ralph Egerton, Sir Anthony Fitz-Herbert, one of the justices of the Common-Pleas, and James Denton, dean of Litchfield, to examine the matter j with instructions, that if the Earl of Kildare purged himself of the crimes objected, then to depose the Earl of Ormond., and place him in the government in his stead. The commissioners, arriving at Dublin about Midsummer-day, speedily determined the matter in favour of the Earl of Kildare, by agreement between the Earls, bearing date July 28th, 1524; and the Earl of Kildare was lord- deputy by patent, dated August 4th following ; and for some time after lived in peace and honour, until his serenity was con- verted into a cloud on himself and family. On May 19th, 1525, he held a parliament at Dublin, and that year executed a signal piece of justice on Maurice Cavenagh, archdeacon of Leighlin, causing him to be hanged on a gibbet, in the high road near Glen-Reynold, and his. bowels burned, s for basely murdering his diocesan and kinsman, Maurice Doran, who had reproved him for his crimes, and threatened him with a suit- able correction. Also in this year he invaded Tyrconnel, but on notice that Hugh O'Neile h was up in arms in Tyrone, he settled a peace with O'Donnel, and turning all his force against O'Neilc, gave him a total defeat, wherein being killed, the public peace was, in some measure, restored. After this, his Lordship, on the Earl of Ossory's allegation, being suspected of entering into an engagement with the Byrnes to serve the Earl of Desmond, (who had designed a rebellion) and a letter from him to that Earl, » dated July 28th, 1526, inviting him to meet him in Ossory, being intercepted j as also that he had armed the Irish against himself, being deputy, and put good subjects to death, upon suspicion of their adhering to the Butlers; he was sent for into England, to answer an impeachment against him. On his arrival there (having substituted his brother, Thomas Fitz-Gerald, ofLeixlin, his de- puty till his return) he was imprisoned in the Tower of I ondon, and coming to his trial before the lords of the council, Cardinal "VVolsey, in a virulent speech, enforced the articles objected against * Hist, of Ireland, p. 2rj, and Borlace, p. 301. t> Ibid, i Cox, p. 216, 217. 142 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. him j but his Lordahip removing the objections, by proving they were the malicious suggestions of his enemies, without the least foundation in truth, the Ca-dinal, incensed to see his arguments so fully answered, arose hastily from the council table, committed the Earl, and deferred the further examination of the matter, till more direct proof was produced out of Ireland : but the Duke of Norfolk, late lord lieutenant, perceiving the Earl's innocence, und the Cardinal's bias, interceded with the King for his enlarge- ment from the Tower, and that he might become his prisoner, offering to be bound for his appearance in all his lands, and body for body ; to which the King assenting, he was enlarged from his confinement, on a very considerable bail, viz. k the Marchioness Dowager of Dorset, the Marquis of Dorset, the Lords Fitz-Walter and Mountjoy, Henry Standish, bishop of St. Asaph, Lord Richard Grey, Lord John Grey, Lord Leonard Grey, Sir Henry Guildford> Sir John Zouch, and John, abbot of Vale-Royal j and was ho- nourably entertained by the Duke, and restored to the King's favour. During his stay in England he lived at Newington, (the Duke of Norfolk's house) in Middlesex, where (as was alleged) on July 8, 152Q, he commanded his daughter Alice, Lady Slane, l to repair into Ireland, and, in his name, to will all his brethren, O'Neile, O'Connor, and all other his friends, servants, and al- lies, to levy and stir up war against the King's Deputy and sub- jects, and particularly the Butlers : and being successful in her negotiations, proved very unhappy to him. The aforesaid persons making an insurrection, by invading, burning, killing, and rob- bing the King's subjects ; not desisting from their traitorous acts, until they were by force repressed. This being made known to the Council of England, the Cardinal caused his Lordship to be examined before them, and pressed him so deeply with his late disloyalty, that the presumption being vehement (as the Cardinal enforced it), he was recommitted to the Tower ; but not long after he was again released by the King, restored to his favour, and, before his departure from England, was one of those peers who,1" on July 30th, 1530, signed that memorable letter sent to the Pope, concerning the divorce of King Henry VIII. from his Queen Catharine. In August, 1530, he arrived in Dublin, with Sir William * Ware's Annals, p. u9. 1 Cox's History, p. 221. n. Herbert's Life of King Henry VIII. in History of England, vol. H, p. 141, 142. VISCOUNT LEINSTEH. 14J Skeffington, the lord-deputy; and, being freed from all his trou- bles, was met by the mayor and citizens (to whom he was very dear) in solemn procession, on the green of St. Mary's abbey ; Thomas Fitz Simons, the recorder, congratulating their arrival ; to whom the lord-deputy Skeffington returned this answer : tl Mr. Mayor and Mr. Recorder, you have at length this noble- man here present, for whom you sore longed whilst he was ab- sent. And after many storms by him sustained, he hath now, to the comfort of his friends, to the confusion of his foes, subdued violence with patience, injuries with sufferance, and malice with obedience : and such butchers, as of hatred thirsted after his blood, are now taken for outcast mastives, littered in currish Wood. How well my master, the King, hath been of his gracious inclina- tion affected to the Earl of Kildare (his back-friend being, by his just desert, from his Majesty weeded) the credit, wherein this nobleman at present abideth, manifestly declareth. Wherefore it resteth that you thank God and the King for his safe arrival. As for his welcome, Mr. Recorder's courteous discourse, your great assemblies, your cheerful countenances, your willing meetings, your solemn processions, do so far shew it, as you minister me oc- casion on his Lordship's behalf, rather to thank you for your courtesy, than to exhort you to any further ceremony." The O'Tools having preyed and spoiled his Lordship's tenants in his absence, he determined to punish them, and to that end was assisted by 200 archers drawn out of the city bands, n and ac- companied the deputy the next year in an expedition into Ulster, where taking the castle of Kinnard, they destroyed it, and frighted Hugh ODonnel into a submission. But after this, enmities aris- ing between his Lordship and the deputy, and the same increas- ing to an open rupture, they reciprocally accused each other, by messengers and letters into England. And his Lordship, think- ing it prudent to solicit his own affairs, went thither himself, in 1532 ; where, soon after his arrival, being brought to a trial by the King, he so well acquitted himself, th.it, on July 5th, he was appointed to succeed Sir William Skeffington in the government, as deputy to Henry Duke of Richmond, the King's natural sen j ond returning at Lammas, landed in Dublin, with great congra- tulations of the people j in which year it was enacted in parlia- ment, " That none should be elected lord justice of Ireland but a POX, D. 111. 144 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. an Englishman born in England, and not in orders, except by patent from the King." Whilst his Lordship was in England,0 he procured John Allan, archbishop of Dublin, to be removed from the- office of lord chancellor, (to which he had been advanced dy Cardinal Wolsey, out of hatred and opposition to his Lordship) and George Cromer, archbishop of Armagh, to be substituted in his room, on July 5th, 1532. And his Lordship, f having again got the supreme power, presumed so far on its continuance, as he little valued the opposition of his enemies, which involved him in those troubles that proved, in the conclusion, destructive to him, and almost his whole family. The act for his attainder, in 24 i Henry VIII. sets forth, that he suffered ONeile, the King's Irish enemy, to invade and destroy the county of Uriel (Louth) without any re- sistance made therein by himself, being the King's deputy, or any other for him; also his brother Sir John, being by his command- ment in company with the said ONeile, to succour and guide, aid and conduct him in that his traitorous enterprize; and likewise, in his own proper person, having gathered his forces, invaded the county of Kilkenny, burning and destroying the same, rifling and robbing the King's subjects, and bringing from thence many preys belonging to the Earl of Ossory and his friends (on account of James, Lord Butler, that Earl's eldest son, having been made high treasurer of Ireland, which he resented), and at the fair of Castle- dermot carrying havock among the King's subjects, which thither were resorted, causing them in his own presence to be spoiled and robbed of their goods, and divers of them murdered most cruelly and traitorously 5 and that he might more firmly unite himself to the Irish, he married his daughter Mary to Brian O'Connor, of Offaley j and another daughter to Ferganimus, that is, Anony- mous O'Carrol, Dynast of Elye O'Carrol. And, in 1533, at the persuasion of his son-in-law, his Lord- ship entered that country against the sons of the deceased O'Car- rol, who assumed the right thereof to themselves ; and at the siege of the castle of Birr, occupied by them, was wounded in the head, r so that he was never well after, being thereby deprived of the right use both of his limbs and speech. These proceedings Cox, p. 224. p Ibid. p. 124. (p. 13 8J says 26 Hen. VIII. r Cox, p. 224. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 145 caused the council to send John Allen, master of the Rolls, linked in enmity against him, with the archbishop, Thomas Can- non, secretary to Sir William Skeffington, when lord justice (who thought his master had been supplanted by the Earl) and Robert Cowley, bailiff of Dublin, servant to the Lady Margaret, Countess of Ormond, into England, who made great complaints against him -, and their accusation at length prevailing with the King, his Majesty, willing the reformation of the land, and the relief and comfort of his subjects, commanded the Earl, by his letters, to hasten to his presence in London, and to leave such a person go- vernor of Ireland in his absence, for whose doings he would be responsible. Whereupon he sent his Lady to England to inter- cede with her friends, for procuring a countermand of his voyage, and to allege, that the ill posture of affairs in Ireland could not permit his absence. But her solicitations proving ineffectual, he prepared for his voyage, and before he went furnished all his castles, especially Manooth and Ley, with guns and ammunition out of the King's stores, contrary to the King's express command, imparted to him by Allen, master of the Rolls, in presence of the bishop of Meath and others. And the Act of Attainder also men- tions, that he furnished the wild Irishmen, being the King's mortal enemies, with arms and ammunition. Also being ordered by the King to leave a deputy, for whose fidelity he would an- swer, he made choice of his son Thomas Fitz-Gerald, about twenty-one years of age, and of a hot and active temper. Yet this is recited of his Lordship, that sitting in council at Drogheda (where he took shipping) in the hearing of the whole board, he thus addressed him : s " Son Thomas, I doubt not but you know my Sovereign Lord the King hath sent for me into England, and what shall betide me, God knoweth, for I know not. But how- soever it falleth, both you and I know, that I am well stepped in years; and, as I may shortly die, for that I am mortal; so I must in haste decease, because that I am old. Wherefore in so much as my winter is well near ended, and the spring of your age now buddeth ; my will is, that you behave yourself so wisely in these your green years, as that to the comfort of your friends, you may enjoy the pleasure of summer, glean and reap the fruits of your harvest, that with honour you may grow to the catching of that hoary winter, on which you see me your father fast pricking. And whereas it pleaseth the King his Majesty, that upon my de- • Hollinshed's Chronicle, p. 88t vol. v*. l H<5 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. parture hence, I should substitute in my room such one, for whose government I would answer j albeit I know, that your years are tender, your wit not settled, your judgment not fully rectified, and therefore I might be with good cause reclaimed from putting a naked sword in a young man's hand : yet notwithstanding, for so much as I am your father, and you my son, I am well assured to bear that stroke with you in steering your ship, as that, upon any information, I may command you as your father, and correct you as my son, for the wrong handling of your helm. " There be here that sit at this board, far more sufficient per- sonages for so great charge, than you are. But what then ? If I should cast this burden on their shoulders, it might be that here- after they might be so far with envy carried, as they would per* case hazard the loss of one of their own eyes, to be assured that I should be deprived of both mine eyes. But, for so much as the case toucheth your skin as near as mine, and in one respect nigher than mine, because (as I said before) I rest in the winter, and you in the spring of your years; and now I am resolved, day by day, to learn, rather how to die in the fear of God, than to live in the pomp of the world j I think you will not be so brainsick, as to stab yourself through the body, only to scarify my skin with the point of your blade. Wherefore, my son, consider, that it is easy to raze, and hard to build j and, in all your affairs, be schooled by this board, that for wisdom is able, and for the entire affection it beareth your house, will be found willing to lesson you with sound and sage advice : for albeit in authority you rule them, yet in council they must rule you. My son, you know, that my late maims stifle my talk \ otherwise, I would have grated longer on this matter j for a good tale may be twice told, and a sound ad- vice (eftsoons iterated) taketh the deeper impression in the at- tentive hearer's mind. But although my fatherly affection re- quireth my discourse to be longer, yet I trust your good inclina-, tion asketh it to be shorter ; and upon that assurance, here, in tha presence of this honourable assembly, I deliver you this sword.'' Thus he took his last farewel with tears, and having embraced the council, committed them to God, and immediately after em- barked. His Lordship was no sooner gone, but his enemies not only misconstrued his speech to his sou, but also misinterpreted his actions j and, to give the more weight to the propensed treasons they had laid to his charge, certified the council of England, that, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 147 before his departure, contrary to the King's express command (declared unto him by the said master of the Rolls) he had con- veyed, out of the King's castle of Dublin, all his Majesty's ar- mour, artillery, and munition of war, furnishing his own castles and territories therewith, and delivering part thereof to Irishmen, the King's mortal enemies. The Earl, being examined upon this article, answered, that he had placed the artillery in the castles to defend the borders of the Pale against the inroads of the Irish ; and that, if he had intended any treason, he should not have been so weak as to pursue that method of fortifying castles and fortresses, yet at the same tim* expose his naked person into their hands, in the manner he did j but faultering in his speech (by reason of the afore-mentioned wound he had received near Birr) it was imputed, by such of the council as were not his friends, to proceed from a sense of guilt, and not from his infirmity ; whereupon he was committed, until the King's pleasure was further known. The Earl hereby per- ceiving that his Majesty would remove him from the government, and this being made known to his principal counsellors in Ireland, who, under him, had not only the governance of his said son, ser-. vants, and people, with the custody of his substance and goods, but also of all his lands, manors, castles, and garrisons ; and the enemies of the family raising a false rumour and envious sugges- tion, l " that the Earl was beheaded, and that the same fate was designed for the Lord Thomas, and all his uncles ;" they coun- selled the said Lord OfTaley to rebel against the King, as the only means of his preservation : and that he might the better prosecute and maintain a war, delivered unto him his father's goods, sub- stance, manors, castles, and garrisons, together with the King's ordnance and artillery. By that access of power, and being as- sisted by his father's brethren, kinsmen, servants, and followers, he inconsiderately, and in direct opposition to the advice and earnest entreaties of some of his father's ancient and best friends, viz. James, Earl of Desmond ; Edmund, Lord Kerry ; Thomas, Lord Kilcullenj James, Lord Slane, his sister's husband j and many others ; surrendered the sword and ensigns of government to the lord chancellor, George Cromer, and the rest of the council, on June 11th, 1534. Hollinshedu relatesj that he made the fol- lowing speech to the council : " Howsoever injuriously we be handled, and forced to defend * Cox, p. aaS. v Chron. p. go. J 48 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. ourselves in arms, when neither our service, nor our good mean- ing towards our Prince's crown, availeth j yet say not hereafter, but in this open hostility, which here we profess and proclaim, we have shewed ourselves no villains nor churls, but warriors and gentlemen. This sword of estate is yours, and not mine : I re- ceived it with an oath, and used it to your benefit : I should stain mine honour if I turned the same to your annoyance : now have I need of mine own sword, which I dare trust. As for the com- mon sword, it flattereth me with a painted scabbard, but hath indeed a pestilent edge, already bathed in the Geraldines blood, and now is newJy whetted in hopes of a further destruction. Therefore save yourselves from us, as from open enemies : t am none of Henry's deputies, I am his foe : I have more mind to con- quer than to govern ; to meet him in the field, than to serve him in office: if all the hearts of England and Ireland, that have cause thereto, would join in this quarrel (as I hope they will) they shall soon be made sensible (as I trust he shall) of his tyranny and cruelty, for which the age to come may lawfully score him up among the ancient tyrants, of most abominable and hateful memory." His Lordship performed that rash act in the following man- ner : H he rode through the city with a strong company of seven score horsemen in shirts of mail, distinguished with silken fringes about their head-pieces (on which account he was generally called silken Thomas) and passing through Dame's-gate, went over the ford of the river to St. Mary's abbey, where surrendering up the sword, he bad defiance to the King and his ministers $ and then, breaking out into open rebellion, forced, in the violent progress thereof, many nobles and principal people to swear faith to him, imprisoning such as refused at Manooth ; whereat many, being terrified, sought their safety by flying into England , but John Allan, archbishop of Dublin, (ever a most inveterate enemy to the Earl, and the principal means of raising these disturbances) going by night on board a small ship lying at Dame's-gate, and the wind being contrary, was put on shore near Clantarfe, whence he went to shelter himself at Artaine, a neighbouring village, till the wind should serve : and the Lord Thomas, being that night informed of his retreat, hastened thither, accompanied by his principal counsellor James Delahoide, his uncles Sir John and Oliver Fitz- Gcrald, and divers of his father's tenants and servants. On ar- " Cox, p. u8. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 149 riving there before break of day, he dispatched two of his yeomen into the house, to apprehend and bring the bishop ; who, finding him in bed, dragged him out, and led him half naked into the air; when, falling on his knees, he humbly begged for mercy, and earnestly besought his life; and whilst he was on his knees, re- commending his soul to God, had his brains dashed out, on July 28th, 1534. Stanihurst and others say, the Lord Thomas did not command him to be put to death j but, inflamed with a desire of revenge, turned his horse aside, saying, in Irish, Bir wem e Bod- deagh, that is, away uith the churl, or take the churl from me; meaning, as after he declared, the archbishop should be detained as a prisoner. But they, misconstruing his word?, murdered the unfortunate prelate without further delay. Being too far engaged to return to his allegiance, with any expectation of pardon, or assurance of safety, he sent Charles Reynolds, archdeacon of Kells, to Pope Paul III. and Dominick Power, to the Emperor Charles V. with letters craving their aid towards the conquest of Ireland, which he promised to hold of them for ever. However, in the interim, being accompanied with James and John Delahoide, Edward Fitz-Gerald, Sir Richard Walsh, and divers others his servants and adherents, well armed, and with banners displayed, he committed many outrages, con- straining all men to give an oath of obedience to him, and to take his part against the King and his heirs : after winch, attended with O'Neile, and the aforesaid persons, divers Scots, and many others, he invaded, burned, and destroyed the lands of the Earl of Ossory, of the Lord Butler his son, and of others in the county of Kilkenny, many persons also losing their lives, under pretext the said Earl and his son refused to side with him, who had offered to divide the kingdom with them; and trusting, by such cruel per- secutions, to constrain them to incline to his purpose. In August, he wasted the suburbs and adjacent parts of Dublin, and laid siege to the King's castle ; but his attempts on that and the city were rendered fruitless by the vigorous defence of the citizens ; who, at length, making a desperate sally, slew a hundred of his gallow- glasses, and obliged him to fly to the friary in Francis-street. After that, finding a great want of artillery and ammunition, he treated with the city on these articles : x that his imprisoned soldiers should be enlarged ; that the city should pay him 1000/. in money, and 500/. more in wares; that they should furnish x Cox, p. 330,3137. 150 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. him with ammunition and artillery ; and that they should inter- cede with the King for the pardon of him and his followers. These articles being considered, answer was returned, by the re- corder, to the first, that they would enlarge the prisoners, if he would deliver their children (whom he had seized as they were at school in the country.) To the second and third, that his wars had so impo\erished them, that they could spare neither money nor wares. To the fourth, that if he intended to submit, he had no need of ammunition or artillery; if he did not, that they would not furnish him with instruments to punish themselves; and that they expected, instead of artillery to withstand his Prince, he should have requested parchment to ingross his pardon. This last article they promised to intercede for with the King by word and letter. His Lordship, understanding that succours were coming from England, accepted these terms j and hostages for perform- ance being mutually delivered, he raised the siege; and his Ma- jesty, on the first information of his proceedings (which he re- ceived from Francis Herbert, alderman of Dublin, whom he knighted for his discreet conduct) thinking a small force sufficient to reduce him, sent over Musgrave, and the two Hamertons, knights, with a handful of men. These landing at Howth, on October 18th, and marching towards Dublin, the Lord Thomas, with two hundred horse, met them at Clantarfe, and giving them battle, got the victory ; they and nineteen knights being slain, and the rest carried captive to Manooth. Lord Thomas in that skirmish, being in the front, was wounded by one of the said Hamertons. At that time he held the castles of Manooth, Port- lester, Rathangan, Carlow, Leye, and Athy, and had furnished and manned divers ships, to destroy Sir William Skemngton, the .King's deputy, and army that should arrive or land in Ireland : yet, not being able to prevent their arrival, he, upon the news thereof, assembled his army, on the sea-coast, to receive the de- puty and his forces, many whereof, under the leading of Sir Wil- liam Brereton, his son John, and captain Salisbury, they killed on their coming on shore; but the deputy landed on October 28th, 1534, and marched to Drogheda, to raise the siege of that place $ where, staying till November 4th, and finding no enemy near (the Lord Thomas having withdrawn into Connaught, to levy such forces among the Irish as would serve him, either volunta- rily, or for hire) he proclaimed him a traitor at the high cross, and returned to Dublin. From hence, after some necessary stay, he proceeded to Manooth; and, on March 15th following, laid VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 151 siege to that castle, which was defended by a strong garrison. In the beginning of the siege, very equal conditions were offered the besiegedj and they rejecting them, the great ordnance were placed against the walls, to batter the castle on the north side to- wards the park ; but no great harm being done, that trouble was spared by Christopher Pareis, the Lord Thomas's foster brother and steward, y who, having the charge of the castle chiefly com- mitted to him, agreed, for a sum of money, to deliver the place to the deputy ; intoxicating the guards with liquor on the night ap- pointed to effect it ; so that, ladders being raised against the walls, ' the castle was taken a little before day, on March 22d, and all who were found therein put to death, except a few who were pardoned. Sir William Brereton and his company scaled the walls, and crying, St. George, St. George, he advanced his stand- ard on the highest turret of the castle, notifying to the deputy, that the fort was won. This castle, for its noble furniture, was accounted one of the richest Earls houses under the crown of England. Pareis seeking for his promised reward, the deputy, pretending to recompense him in proportion to the service, and to make him a gainer by the bargain, inquired how his lord and master had employed and rewarded him. The traitor, supposing the more he magnified his Lord's favours, the larger would those of the deputy prove, omitted not to inform him, even of the least benefits received j whereupon his Lordship replied,2 And how, Pareis, couldst thou find in thy heart to betray the castle of so hind a Lord? Having spoke these words, he gave immediate orders for the money to be paid, and then that the villain should be put to death. The Lord Thomas (as was said before) being in Con- naught, hastened to relieve the siege, with O'Connor a and an army of 7000 men; but, hearing, in his march, that the castle was taken, his soldiers began daily to desert him and to return home. However, continuing his journey, the deputy met him near the Naasj where discharging two or three of his great artiU lery upon him, many of his men were slain, and 140 taken pri- soners ; at which the rest, being terrified, betook themselves to flight, and, being pursued by the Deputy's forces, divers of them also fell j and soon after Rathangan, and his other castles, were surrendered to the Deputy. His Lordship's circumstances being rendered desperate, he was obliged to skulk in the day-time, and at night to get in preys y Cox, p. 239. x Ibid p. 240. « Ibid. 152 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. to support his dwindling party j but after some time spent in this melancholy situation, Burnell, of Balgriffin, Dr. Tra- vers, and others his adherents, being taken and executed, he was admitted, after a skirmish with Sir William Brereton, to a parley with Leonard Lord Grey, who had proceeded against him to the bounds of Munster. To him he acknowledged his crime, and implored his endeavours to procure a pardon from his offended Sovereign. There are some who assert, b that Grey promised him a pardon absolutely, which was more than he had a commission for, and therefore no regard was had to it. c But, however that be, he delivered himself into his hands, as did his five uncles, Sir James, Oliver, Richard, Sir John, and Walter (though soa e say, they were sent after him) and, being brought to Dublin, were all about autumn sent captives into England ; yet with letters in their favour, from the Deputy and council, to the King, residing then at Windsor. It is affirmed, that three of them, viz. Sir James, Richard, and Walter, strenuously dissuaded their nephew from this rebellion, and gave him sound advice, although, in the progress of it, they joined him. By that step they entertained hopes of receiving a favourable sentence, until they understood that the name of the ship, in which they were then sailing to England, was the Cow ; which they took for an ill omen, on ac- count of an old prophecy, foretelling, " That, when five sons of a certain Earl should be carried into England, in the lelly of a cow, none of them should return." It is related, d that as his Lordship was going to deliver the letters before-mentioned, they were in- tercepted by the King's ministers, and he, with his uncles, sent to the Tower. Having an offended and implacable Prince for their judge, and a cause by no means justifiable, or, in their present circum- stances, capable of extenuation, they were all six condemned to suffer the punishment of traitors, and were accordingly executed at Tyburn, on the 3d (but rather the 2d, as by inquisition taken after their deaths) of February, 1535-6, being hanged up, cut down before they were dead, and quartered. The old unhappy Earl, oppressed e with grief at the news of his son's and brother's inconsiderateness, died before them on December 12th, 1534, in the Tower of London, where he was buried ; and the following inscription was found on a chest, under the earth, in the chapel there, when a grave was dug to bury the corpse of Ralph Hopton, * Cox, p. 242. c Ibid. * Ibid. p. 242. - e Borlace, p 103. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 153 servant to the Earl of Oxford, and son to Sir Owen Hopton, lieutenant of the Tower, in 1580. <( Here lieth the Corpes of the L. Gerald Fitz-Gerald, Ear/e of Kyldare, tvho de- ceased the 12th of December, in the Year of our Lord M ccccc xxx iiii. on whose Sole Jesu have Mercy." He was a wise and prudent man, valiant without rashness, and politic without treachery ; such an oppressor of rebels, that they dared not to annoy any subject ; whereby he heaped no small revenues to the crown ; guarded with security the Pale j continued the honour of his house, and purchased envy to his per- son. A man of great hospitality and devotion j and endowed with this singular quality, of sifting every report to the bottom, before he gave any credit either to it or the author. In the parliament begun at Dublin, on May 1st, 1536, 28 Henry VIII. an act was passed for the attainder of the above- mentioned Gerald Fitz-Gerald, Earl of Kildare, and others, whereby it was enacted, that the said Gerald Fitz-Gerald, Earl of Kildare, late deceased, from the 8th day of July, 1528, 20 Henry VIII. be deemed, reputed, convicted, adjudged, and attainted traitor of high-treason, and that he and his heirs shall lose and forfeit the titles, style, 2nd name of Earl of Kildare, and also forfeit to the King, and his heirs, for ever, all honours, castles, manors, lordships, leets, franchises, hundreds, liberties, privileges, advowsons, nominations, presentations, patronages, knights-fees, lands, tenements, rents, services, reversions, remainders, annuities, pensions, offices, and all other hereditaments and profits what- soever, whereof he by himself, or jointly with any other, or any others, to his use and behoof, were seized, on the said 8th day of July, or any time after, &c. In like manner his son Thomas, his brothers Sir John, and Oliver, James, son and heir of Sir Walter Delahoide, of Moyclare, with many others, were attaint- ed, and forfeited all the manors and hereditaments whereof they were seized, on July 15th, 1534, 26 Henry VIII. or any time after. James Lord Butler (afterwards Earl of Ormond) on the sur- render of the Fitz-Geralds, marched to Clonmel, to extinguish the remainder of the rebellion, and from thence over a great part of j 54 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Munster, when, all people submitting, peace and quiet were re- stored to the whole country. The said Gerald, ninth Earl of Kildare, married, to his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter to John Lord Zouche, of Codnovre, a woman of rare probity of mind, and every way commendable; and by her, who died suddenly at Lucan, to the great grief of her Lord, on October 6th, 1517 (and was buried with great solem- Dity near his mother, in the monastery of Friars Observants, at Kilcullen) he had issue Thomas, the tenth Earl of Kildare, who suffered with his uncles, as before recited j and also four daughters : first, Lady Catharine, married to Jenicho, Viscount Gormanstown, to whom she was first wife; second, Lady Alice, married to James Fleming, Lord Slane ; third, Lady Mary, married to Brian O'Con- nor, of Offaley ; and, fourth, Lady Elizabeth, to O'Carrol, Prince of ElyeO' Carrol. Thomas, the only son, sixteenth Lord Offaley, by creation, and seventeenth by tenure, and tenth Earl of Kildare, was born in England in 1513, and suffered with his uncles, in February 1535-6, as before-narrated. He was of a tall stature, comely proportion, and an amiable countenance ; of a flexible and kind nature j endowed with many accomplishments and good qualities; and, had it not been for the aforesaid unfortunate step, would have proved a worthy branch of this noble family. He is said by Stanihurst, in his Chronicle of Ireland, (against the authority of other writers) never to have borne the title of Kildare ; but, not- withstanding that assertion, he must have been so, by surviving bis father before he was attainted. 'He married Frances, second and youngest daughter of Sir Adrian Fortescue, Knight, by his first wife Anne, daughter and heir of Sir William Stonor, of Stonor, in Oxfordshire, by Anne his wife, eldest daughter and coheir to John Nevile, Marquis Mon- tacute, and Isabel his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Ingolds- thorp, Esq. But this Thomas, tenth Earl of Kildare, having no issue, Gerald, ninth Earl of Kildare, his father, before-mentioned, mar- ried to his second wife, in 151Q, his Lady Elizabeth Grey, fourth daughter of Thomas, Marquis of Dorset, by Cicely his wife, f daughter and heir of William Bonville, Lord Bonville and Har- rington ; and by her had, besides three daughters, two sons, viz. See vol. iii. p. 34$ VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 155 First, Gerald, who, being at length restored to the honour, wai the eleventh Earl of Kildare : and, Second, Edward, whose son Gerald was the fourteenth Earl of Kildare, of whom mention will be made hereafter. Lady Margaret, eldest daughter, was deaf and dumb, and died unmarried. Lady Elizabeth, second daughter, married first to Sir Anthony- Brown, Knight of the Garter, father of Anthony, who was created Viscount Montagu, and after his death was the third and last wife of Edward Lord Clinton, created Earl of Lincoln ; who leaving her a widow, without issue, on January lfjth, 1584-5, she erected to his memory a monument on the enst side of St. George's chapel, at Windsor; and on her Ladyship was composed this fol- lowing sonnet, by Henry Howard, Earl of Surry, father of Thor mas, fourth Duke of Norfolk : FronvTuscane came my Ladies worthie race, Faire Florence was sometime hir ancient seat : The Western He, whose pleasant shore doth faco Wild Camber's clifTes, did give hir livelie heat, Fostered she was with milke of Irish breste, Hir sire an Earle, her dame of Prince's bloud, From tender yeares in Britaine she doth rest With King's child, where she tastes costlie food. Hunsden did first present hir to mine eine, Bright is hir hew, and Geraldine she hight, Hampton me taught to wish hir first for mine, And Windsor, alas, dooth chase me from hir Sight. Hir beautie of Mind, hir Vertues from above, Happie is he that can obtain hir Love. 8 Of Lady Cicely, the third and youngest daughter, King Henry VIII. in his letters to the Lord Deputy St. Leger, on July 5th, 1544, makes this mention, " And whereas the Lady Sycile, daughter to the late Earl of Kildare, hath certain plate in her hands, late belonging to her said father : we are contented and pleased that she shall enjoy the same to her own use, as of our free gift." Gerald, the eldest son, by the second marriage, and eleventh Earl of Kildare, was born on February 25th, 1525, and, being at e See Lord Orford, R. and N- A. ; and Lodge's Memoir* annexed Jfr Chamberlaine's Holbein Heads. 156 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the time of his brother's execution about ten years of age, was, by the care and sedulity of his nurse (who then attended him lying 6ick, at Donoare, in the county of Kildare, of the small-pox) con- veyed into the custody of Thomas Leverous, foster-brother to his father, and then his own tutor (afterwards bishop of Kildare) who diligently and tenderly conveyed him to his sister's, the Lady Mary O'Connor, in Offaley, where he remained till he was per- fectly recovered. After some removes, he was privately carried into Mac Carthy Reagh's country in Minister, to his aunt Eleanor (then the widow of Donald Mac Fincene Mac Carthy Reagb, before-mentioned) who was a Lady of great virtue and piety, libe- rality and magnanimity of spirit, and solicited to marry with Caluacus O'Donnel, Lord of Tyrconnel, but, considering the dis- tress of her young innocent nephew, would not incline to his re- quest, and consent to be his wife, until he promised safely to pro- tect and preserve her said nephew ; which being agreed to, she took him with her into the county of Donegal, and into the ter- ritory of the said Caluacus O'Donnel, Lord of Tyrconnel, where he found kind reception for about a year: but the King being very averse to his whole family, and offering large sums of money for his apprehension, which some of that county, and her hus- band amongst the rest, were willing to embrace j his said aunt, a wary and prudent Lady, having notice of their intentions, sent him with his tutor, and Robert Walsh, sometime his father's ser- vant, in a disguised manner, and in an open boat, to Dunbarton in Scotland, whence he was transported into France. There his tutor having reason to doubt the sincerity of the French (Sir John Wallop, the English ambassador, demanding him in his master's name, in pursuance of a new league made between the two Kings, wherein it was stipulated, that the subjects of either king- dom should not be protected or kept, if demanded) removed him secretly into Flanders ; whither he had no sooner conveyed him, but one James Sherlock, an Irishman, servant to the ambassador Wallop, sent as a spy to watch their motions, arrived there : upon which, the said Thomas Leverous waited on the governor, to de- sire his protection from Sherlock's villainous intentions to betray the innocent child in that place of refuge. The governor, thereupon, sent for Sherlock, had him examined, and, finding him unable to make any warrantable defence, imprisoned him, till the generous youth interceded for his enlargement. Thence they travelled to Brussels, where the Emperor Charles V. kept his court ) and there again he was demanded by the English ambas- VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 15? sador: but Charles answered, that he had nothing to do with him, and, for aught he knew, he intended to make but a short stay in his country ; and sent him to the bishop of Liege, allow- ing him, for his support, a pension of one hundred crowns a month. The bishop gave him an honourable reception, and placed him in an abbey of monks for the greater safety of his per- son 5 whence, after half a year's stay, Cardinal Reginald Pole, his kinsman by his mother, being advertised where he was, sent for him to Rome, received him very kindly, and gave him an educa- tion becoming his quality, by placing him first under the care of the bishop of Verona, and the Cardinal of Mantua, and afterwards with the Duke of Mantua j Leverous also being admitted, through the Cardinal's procurement, a member of the English House in Rome, called St. Thomas's Hospital. After about eighteen months continuance with the bishop, he was sent for to Rome by the Cardinal; at which time the Duke of Mantua gave him an annual pension of three hundred crowns. Having continued for about three years in the Cardinal's house, under the tuition of the best instructors, he travelled, with the Cardinal's approbation, to Naples j and, becoming there acquainted with the Knights of Rhodes, he accompanied them to Malta. He attended them thence to Tripoli, on the coast of Barbary, then belonging to those knights, where he abode six weeks with Mountbrison, the go- vernor, serving valiantly against the Turks j and returned, with a rich booty, first to Malta, and then to Rome, after being absent near a year. The Cardinal, highly satisfied with his valour and success, augmented his pension of three hundred c: owns to three hundred pounds ; and shortly after preferred him to the service of Cosmo, Duke of Florence, who made him master of his horse, with the yearly pension of three hundred ducats, on the same terms the other pensions were granted, vifc. during life, or until he was restored to his honours and estate. He continued in his service three years, and in that time took a tour to Rome ; when accompanying, one day, Cardinal Farnese, Pope Paul Ill's ne- phew, to hunt the stag, he accidentally, in the chace, fell into a very deep pit ; but, in the fall, forsaking his horse not far from the bottom, caught hold of some roots, by which he hung, till, quite tired with the pain, he was forced to quit his hold, and, falling upon his horse, (dead in the pit) stood there, up to the ancles in water, about the space of three hours. When the chace was ended, his hound, missing his master, and finding the scent of his track, pursued it to the pit, where he stood howling over him, t$8 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. until the Cardinal, perceiving the dog, hastened to his relief; and, sending to a neighbouring village for ropes and other neces- saries, caused one of the company to be let down in a basket, by which he was extricated from the pit, and preserved most provi- dentially from destruction. He remained abroad until he heard of King Henry VlII's death, and then came to London, in com- pany with some foreign ambassadors, and his friend and preserver Father Thomas Leverous. Being at a ball, or masque, in King Edward VI's court, and one of the comeliest young men of that age, he was fallen in love with by Mabel, second daughter of Sir Anthony Brown, Knight of the Garter, ancestor to the Viscount Montagu -t and, marrying her, was, by means thereof, received into favour by King Edward, who, in 1552, honoured him with knighthood} and by letters-patent, dated at Westminster, April 25th, that year, restored him to the lordships and manors of May- nooth, Portlester, Moylagh, Rathangan, Kilkea, &c. But when Queen Mary came to the crown, and Cardinal Reginald Pole, aforesaid, returned to England, he was, at his intercession, re- stored by her to the titles of Earl of Kildare, and Baron of Offaley, with the same precedence, &c. as his ancestors had, by letters- patent, dated at her manor of St. James's,11 May 13th, A. D. 1554, with the creation fee of twenty pounds yearly, to be re- ceived by him and his heirs male, for ever, out of the customs of the port of Dublin, at the feasts of St. Michael and Easter, by %qual portions. Also, by letters-patent, dated on May 1st, 1555, the 1st and 2d of Philip and Mary, his Lordship obtained a grant of all such honours, castles, manors, lordships, lands, tenements, rents, re- versions, advowsons, and other hereditaments whatsoever, within the realm of Ireland, which came, or ought to have come, to the possession of the Kings Henry VIII. and Edward VI. or unto either of them, or to the said Queen, by the attainder of his father. Thereupon returning to Ireland in November, 1555, he was received with great applause and congratulations of the peo- ple. In the parliament held at Dublin, on June 1st, in 1557, the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary, an act passed, whereby the King and Queen, and the heirs and successors of the Queen, were en- titled to the counties of Leix, Slewmarge, Irrv, Glinmarily, and Offaley, and for making the same countries Shire-Ground, where- in the new fort in Leix was called Maryborough, and the nevr * See Brooke praed. p 139. VISCOUNT LEINSTER, H| fort of Offaley, Philips-town, and the said countries called ths King's and Queen's counties ; but it was provided, that, " That act, or any thing therein contained, should not in any ways be prejudicial or hurtful to any letters-patent made and granted to (this) Gerald (eleventh) Earl of Kildare, and to his heirs, by the said Queen, or by her brother King Edward VI. of any honours, manors, lands, tenements, preheminences, dignities, privileges, jurisdictions, and other hereditaments whatsoever ; but that he and his heirs should and might enjoy and hold the same, accord* ing to the tenor and effect of the said several letters-patent, as if that act had not been made.'* Further, their Majesties, by letters-patent under the great seal of England, dated at Westminster, on October 28th, in the 4th and 5th of their reign, granted to his Lordship, and to Mabel his wife, their reversion and reversions of the scite and demesne* of the late priory of Inche, in the county of Downe ; the castle and other buildings, with half a carrucate of land in the island of Inche ; their reversion of the Narrowe-Water, running from the river of Strangford, in which salmon, and other fishes, were caught j one carrucate of land, called a Balliboe, in the town of Ballyrenall ; the like quantities of land in Faghnebrogie, and in forty-five other denominations; lands in the two towns of Bally* vigae and Ballygibet, Wodanston, Ballyquinter, and other places j three carrucates in the three towns of Ballymote ; the late house of Monks in Downe, the dissolved priory or monastery of Canons of St. John; and the dissolved priory of St. John, and Thomas of Downe ; the monastery of Sawle, the house of Friars Minors, and the monastery of St. Patrick in Downe; with divers appurte- nances thereto belonging; the water called Loughdowne, run- ning from the river of Strangford, in which gabbards, or ships of ten tons burthen, may have their passage, even to the port of Strangfoid, where salmon and other fishes were caught ; with, other hereditaments in the county of Downe, and in Claneboy; divers messuages, lands, chief rents, &c. in the manors of Har- reston-Barret, Betagh-town, Clatterstown, Cloghane, Moreton, Denanstown, Crockenstown, Platten, Belgrecourt, Ponderlagh, and Ballcantrie, in the county of Meath, with the water-mill of Clatterstown, &c. the reversion of the lands and tenements of Ballymollane and Fertulkgh ; the entire manor of Rathwyre, and many other lands, &c. in the counties of Westmeath, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, and Meath ; with the entire reserved yearly rentg on the premisses; and all kinds of appurtenances, taken or knowa 160 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. to be parcel of the said demesnes, manors, castles, monasteries, &c. to hold, to the said Gerald, Earl of Kildare, and Mabel his wife, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, of the Queen in capite, by the service of one knight's fee, for all rents, services, &c. And this grant was exemplified under the great seal of Ireland, on April 24th, 1627, 3 Car. I. Moreover, their Majesties being given to understand, that there had been no office or offices, nor other inquisition as yet found, nor made of some of the manors, lands, and other heredi- taments, to which he was restored, after the death of the said late Earl of Kildare, according to the due order and course of the laws and statutes of Ireland ; by reason whereof, some question or doubt did, or might, grow upon the validity and force of the said letters-patent, and whether, by virtue of the same, he might have and possess the premisses to him granted by force of the said patents : their Majesties to take away the said scruple and doubt, and that the Earl should have and enjoy, according to the tenor and meaning of their said letters-patent, all such possessions and hereditaments, as well within the Shire-Ground as elsewhere within the realm of Ireland, whereof his said late father was seized by good and lawful descent from his ancestors, or by any other sufficient conveyance, in the law, of any estate of inheri- tance, and which ought to have come to the hands and possession of the Kings Henry and Edward, or into the Queen's, by force, of the said attainder j authorised Thomas, Earl of Sussex, the Lord Deputy, Hugh archbishop of Dublin, chancellor, Sir Henry Sidney, vice-treasurer, and seven others, to take order, that im- mediately upon the receipt of that commission, they caused to be awarded and directed several writs of commissions to inquire, by all ways and meaos, and by oath of twelve men, as well within the Irish countries not Shire- Ground, as within the Shire-Ground of Ireland, what honours, manors, &c. the said late Earl of Kil- dare, or any other to his use, had or was seized of, at any time during his life, and which came, or ought to have come, to the. crown by his attainder, &c. To make a return thereof into the chancery of Ireland, and a transcript of all the said offices and in- quisitions under the great seal into the chancery of England, that their Majesties might thereupon take such further order, for the assurance of the said premises unto his Lordship, according to the form of the said letters-patent : except nevertheless, and always reserved, such of the said manors, lands, and hereditaments, which, by the Kings Henry, and Edward, were given, sold, or VISCOUNT LEINSTER. lGl exchanged, to any person or persons, at any time since the said attainder. Pursuant to this commission, inquiry was made in the shires of Meath, Westmeath, Dublin, the city of Dublin, Kildare, Car- low, the King's and Queen's counties j and, by the inquisitions taken, divers lordships, manors, lands, tenements, and heredita- ments, were found to have been the inheritance of Gerald, late Earl of Kildare, at the time of his death, and which, by his at- tainder, ought to have come to the hands of King Henry VII I. Whereupon his Lordship made his humble petition to Queen Eli- zabeth, to be restored to the said premises j and she, taking his request into consideration, wrote to Sir Henry Sidney, her deputy, from the manor of Rycote, on August 30th, 1568, expressing her sense of his Lordship's merits and services in the following terms : "We, therefore, in consideration of our said cousin, Gerald, now Earl of Kildare, his good and faithful service to us hereto- fore done, and to his further enabling for continuing of the same, are pleased to restore to our said cousin and his heirs the said lordships, manors, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, which have been the inheritance of his said father, in use or possession and reversion of the same : wherefore, we will and require you, our deputy, to cause our letters-patent to be made to the said Gerald, Earl of Kildare, and his heirs, of all the said lordships, castles, manors, advowsons of churches, &c. saving always such right as any persons have to such parcels thereof, as before the date of these presents, have been given by our father of famous memory, our dear brother King Edward VI. our sustere Queen Mary, King Philip and Queen Mary, or us, to any person or per- sons, which we mean to be preserved and saved to the said person 5 except also the manor of Tecroghan in the county of Meath, the parsonage and the vicarage of Norraghe in the county of Kildare, and the advowson of the same, whereunto we are otherwise in- titled more effectually than by the said Earl's right : and for that it is supposed by some, that the manor of Dippes, the manor of Soy, the manor of old Rosse, and the rest of the lands, tenements, and hereditaments, with their rights, members, and appurtenances, in the county of Wexford, did not appertain to the said late Earl, but are of our proper inheritance, accrued to our said father by other title ; our pleasure therefore is, that you, our deputy and council, examine the truth thereof, and, finding that the said manors, &o. or any part of the same, did not belong to the said late Earl, we will, thai they shall be expressly excepted in the said VOL. VI. M 162 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. letters-patents : the said Earl and his heirs to hold of us, our heirs and successors, all the said hereditaments in capite, by two knights fees." His Lordship was present in the parliament held at Dublin, by Thomas Ratcliff Earl of Sussex, on January 12th, 1559-60, and on February 23d, 1568-9, 1J Eliz- with his brother and sis- ters, were all restored in blood j and the statute of attainder against them in 1536, 28 Henry VIII. repealed in the parliament then held at Dublin. The repeal recites, <* That the suppliant being an infant, and put in fear, travelled in the countries of foreign potentates, contrary to his natural inclinations, till he was called home by the clemency of King Edward VI. who not only made him his servant, and received him to his favour, but also most bountifully restored him to the greatest part and portion of the lands belonging to his late father $ and, after, your Grace's sister, Queen Mary, did give your suppliant the name and title of honour of Earl of Kildare, with the same preheminences, place, and degree, that any of his ancestors, Earls, had and held the same, together with all the lands belonging to the late Earl, other than such as were given away and granted by your noble father and brother -, and of late your Highness, of your princely motion, have restored your suppliant to a portion of his living, which hitherto was thought to hang in some doubt : and forasmuch as your suppliant is not only restored to the state of Earl, but also considered with living for the better maintenance of the same, yet finds in himself a great defect, for that he is not restored to his blood ; he most humbly beseeches your Majesty, that it may be enacted, and be enacted by your Highness, with the assent, &c. that your said subjects and suppliants, the said now Earl, his brother and sisters, and his and their heirs, from henceforth shall be, and, by authority of this act, are restored to his and their ancient blood and lynage, &c. in such manner and sort, as though the said attainder, or attainders, corruption of blood, or any other impediment to the contrary, had never been in law, statute, &c. whatsoever, to the contrary, in any wise notwith- standing." By that act, and the aforesaid letters-patent, the honour, and a great part of the estate, remain in his family to this day, and make the words of Cambrensis justly applicable, who saith : Hoc «st hujus Generis Omen et haec Conditio ; Semper in armata mili- tia chari, semper primi, semper Rebus in Martiis ausu nobili praestantissimi : Cessante verb Necessitatis Articulo, statim exosi, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 163 statim ultimi, statim ad Ima livore depressi. Veruntamen tantae Generositatis Sylvam Livor ad plenum extirpare non potuit. Unde ut usque in hodiernum Gens haec novis Plantularum Snccrementis vires in Insula non modicas habet. Qui sunt, qui penetrant Hos- tium Penetralia ? Geraldinae. Qui sunt, qui patriam conservant ? Geraldinae. Qui sunt, qui Hostes formidant ? Geraldinae. Qui sunt, quos Livor detractat ? Geraldinae. Si Principem tantae strenuitatis merita digne pensantem reperissent, quam tanquillum, quam pacificum olim Hiberniae statum reddidissent ? Sed Horum sine causa semper est suspecta strenuitas. This Gerald, eleventh Earl of Kildare, having received so many and great favours from the crown of England, proved him- self a grateful and obedient subject, by the many services he per- formed. In the reign of King Edward VI. he was directed by the privy-council to prosecute Phelim Roe, then in rebellion j and on April 23d, 155.5, 1st and 2d of Philip and Mary, a commission was directed to him and others, to inquire, within the counties of Kildare and Carlow, concerning all murders, homicides, and other offences. In the same year, with the Baron of Delvin, at the re- quest of John (Doulenagh) O'Neile, the Earl of Tyrone's son, he went into the north against Phelim Roe O'Neile, the said John's enemy j but although they drove great preys, and ravaged the country, yet they received no small loss, fifty of their men being slain. On May 31st, 1555, he was joined in commission for the preservation of the peace with Hugh Curwen, archbishop of Dublin 3 George, archbishop of Armagh ; Richard St. Lawrence, nineteenth Lord Howth ; Sir William Fitz-William, Sir Henry Sidney, Sir Gerald Aylmer, and others. Also, on July 3d follow- ing, he was in another commission with Sir Thomas Cusack, lord chancellor, and others, for the government of the counties of Dublin, Kildare, and Carlow, in the absence of Sir Anthony St. Leger, the lord-deputy : and likewise, on June 14 tb, 1556, was by commission appointed sole governor of Annaly, and Shilelagh, and to do all things therein according to the order of martial law. In 1557, he accompanied the lord-lieutenant, Thomas RatclifF, Earl of Sussex, in his expedition into the north, against James Mac Donel], the Scotsman; and in 156l, being entrusted solely to conduct the great Shane O'Neile to Queen Elizabeth, did, on January 4th, that year, arrive with him safe at the English court -, returning from thence, he was, on April 13th, 1563, joined in commission with James Fitz-Eustace, Viscount Baltinglass, and others, for the government of the county of Kildare j and on the 164 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. 17th of that month appointed, by patent, with Hugh Curwen, archbishop of Dublin, commissioners in the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Louth, Westmeath, Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, the King's and Queen's counties, and in the marches and confines thereof, to cause peace to be observed during the ab- sence of Thomas Ratcliff, Earl of Sussex, the lord-lieutenant, in the north, on his expedition against Shane O'Neilej to make and oversee the musters and arrays of the inhabitants, as occasion re- quired ; to assess them according to the quantity of their lands and goods, for the finding of horses and arms, hobellers, horsemen, and footmen j to cess the men in every barony, and to put them into service in such places as they should think most expedient j to amerce and imprison the negligent and refractory, and to do all other things necessary for the good government of the said counties. They were also appointed commissioners to treat with and grant safe conduct to any rebels, enemies, or invaders of the said counties j to resist and invade with fire and sword all dis- turbers of the peace ; and, in case of such invasion, and a neces- sity of raising the subjects for the defence of the country, the Earl was appointed captain-general, to array, conduct, and govern the people so assembled in an army. On October 6th, 1564, 6 Eliz. his Lordship was commissioned with Adam, archbishop of Ar- magh 5 Hugh, archbishop of Dublin ; Thomas Butler, tenth Earl of Ormond $ Gerald Fitz-Gerald, Earl of Desmond j Hugh, bishop of Meath; Robert, bishop of Kildare j Thomas, bishop ofLeigh- lin, and others, to inquire, from time to time, during the Queen's pleasure, of all offences and misdemeanors against several acts of parliament, of all and singular heretical opinions, seditions, books, contempts, conspiracies, false rumours, slanderous words, and misbehaviour against the Queen, the laws, and statutes, or the quiet government of Ireland; and of the coadjutors and abet- tors of such offences ; to inquire into and determine all enor- mities, disturbances, and misbehaviours done, or to be done, in any church or chapel, or against any divine service, or the mi- nisters of the same 5 to correct and reform all who shall obsti- nately absent themselves from church; to visit, reform, and re- dress all errors, heresies, schisms, abuses, contempts, offences, and enormities, spiritual or ecclesiastical, whatsoever, by censures ecclesiastical, deprivations, or otherwise, to the pleasure of God, increase of virtue, and the preservation of the peace and unity of the realm ; to inquire after and search out all masterless men, quar- rellers, vagrants, and suspected persons, and of all assaults ; and VISCOUNT LEINSTER. i65 summarily to hear, and finally to determine, according to law, all complaints of those, who, in respect of religion, or for lawful ma- trimony contracted, were injuriously deprived or spoiled of their lands, goods, or offices, and to restore them with all convenient speed; to call before them all offenders, or suspected persons, in the premises, and to award such punishment by fine, imprison- ment, or otherwise, as they should think meet. In 1565, his Lordship was authorised to straine the rebels at his discretion j whereupon he disposed himself to serve and support the govern- ment (in conjunction with the lord deputy, Sir Nicholas Arnold) and so effectually prosecuted the enemies of it, that he frequently- presented, to the deputy, numbers of the principal outlaws heads. In September, 1566, he accompanied Sir Henry Sidney, lord- deputy, in his expedition into the province of Ulster, where many- castles were recovered and restored to their right owners (from whom they- had been taken by the grand disturber Shane ONeile), a country of eighty miles in length, and forty-eight in breadth, being recovered to the Queen ; and O'Neile himself quite de- pressed, and reduced to so low a condition, that he once had re- solved to come, with a halter about his neck, and submit to the deputy. In 15(59, De was constituted general of the forces in the absence of the said lord-deputy ; and the said Shane O'Neile again raising a rebellion, and committing many outrages, challenging a superiority over the Irish Lords of Ulster, and warring also upon the English part of that province, his Lordship sent Melchior Husse to dissuade him from any further proceedings, and to re- concile himself to good order, and to remember the honourable estate wherein King Henry had placed his father. Shane accepted that seasonable monition, besought his Lordship's protection, and made a voyage into England ; where being graciously dealt with, he returned and incommoded the Scots in Ulster, where they had intended a total conquest. But the Lords of Ulster, and else- where, whom he continued to yoke and spoil at pleasure, abhor- ring his pride and extortions, craved the deputy's assistance for redress : whereof the enterprizing Shane O'Neile being advertised, he new into an open and long state of hostility against the Queen, which ended only with his lite j of which being deprived, he was wrapt in an old shirt, and tumbled into a pit within a decayed adjoining chapel, where, after having lain four days, captain Pierce cut off his head, and, meeting the deputy with it, he sent it before him, exposed on a pole, to the castle of Dublin, on the top of which it was afterwards set up. 166 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. In 1579, the Earl of Kildare attended Sir William Drury, lord justice, into Munster, to oppose James Fitz-Maurice, who had landed in July, at Smerwick, in the county of Kerry, with some Spaniards, sent by Pope Gregory XIII. and Philip II. King of Spain j and, with the Lords Mountgarret, Upper Ossory, and Dunboyne, brought two hundred horse, besides kern or foot sol- diers, for that service. Also, in October, the same year, the cus- tody of the north borders of the Pale was committed to him by the lord-deputy, Sir William Pelham. That trust had been re- posed in him before, in 1574, with the allowance of one hundred horsemen in pay, together with the command of live hundred horse, being the rising out of the Pale : yet whether his success did not answer expectation, or that he was maligned by "his ene- mies, who again gaped for the wreck of such an ample fortune, he was, upon the informations of Robert Dillon, of Taragh, Rich- ard Gerrot, and Allen, of St. Wolstan's, the year after, 1580, suspected (with his son-inrlaw, Christopher Nugent, Lord Delvin) in his fidelity to the crown, and of favouring the Leinster rebels ; one of his kinsmen, and captain of a foot company under him, having joined James Fitz-Eustace, Viscount Baltinglas, and others, and defeated the lord-deputy, Arthur Lord Grey, in the Glynnes of Wicklow (the Earl of Kildare then serving against them with the deputy), they were committed into the custody of Jaques Wingfield, master of the ordnance, and upon their com- mittal, his son, the Lord Henry, then about eighteen years of age> by the persuasion of his foster-father, and the followers of the family, fled into OfFaley, where he was seized by the O'Con- nors, and detained against his will, until they should hear what would befal his father. The deputy directed the Earl to send for his son, which he did j but the messenger returned with this an- swer, " That the young lord was willing to come, but could not be permitted, unless good assurance was given for safe return." The deputy, disapproving of this excuse and unwarranted pro- ceeding, sent Thomas Butler, tenth Earl of Ormond, accompanied with Sir Nicholas White, master of the rolls, divers captains of the army, and gentry, to treat with the O'Connors for his release -, but their arguments likewise proving ineffectual, they returned without him. However, the O'Connors, upon due consideration, fearing some further trouble might ensue on their refusal, and their detaining the son might be prejudicial to the father, sent him to the said Earl of Ormond -, who delivering him to the de« pnty in Dublin, he was confined with his father and brother, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 167 » until they were sent into England 5 where, on their arrival, the Earl, and the aforesaid Lord Delvin, were committed to the Tower, and the Lord Offaley to the custody of Sir Francis Rus- sell, second Earl of Bedford. But of this suspicion they soon ac- quitted themselves, in their trial before the Queen and council ; the charge against them, upon full examination, appearing (to the confusion of their accusers) to have proceeded from malice, and not from truth j whereupon the Earl was with honour re- stored to all his lands and goods seized on his apprehension j and forasmuch as his enemies were pleased to suggest, that he was able but not willing to profit his country, this distich, signifying his mind, was composed for him : Quid possim, jactant : quid vellem, scire recusant j Utraque Reginae sint, rogo, nota meae ? On April 26th, 1585, a he was present in the parliament held by Sir John Perrot, which enacted many good laws : and depart- ing this life in London, on November 16th, 1585, his body was carried into Ireland, on February 17th following, to be interred with his ancestors at Kildare. He was of a low stature, and slender in body, and endowed with many good qualities of honour and courtesy, valiant and noble, reputed the best horseman in Ire- land, and an affable, line gentleman. It is some addition to his character, that though he was nursed in the popish religion, yet his reason and judgment, in his riper years, conquered the preju- dice of education, whereby he conformed to the Protestant Reli' gion in the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and was an ornament to the professors of it. By the inquisitions taken after his decease, in the several counties wherein his estates lay, it appears that he died seized in fee of the manors, lordships, and advowsons of the rectories and vicarages of Kilkea, Rathangan, Woodstock, and Athy, Kildare, Maynooth, alias Maymiste, Geshel, Castledermot, Griffinrath, Ballybogan, Carthine, Newton de Moyagher, Ardglas, Moylagh, Crom, Adair, Alackaught, Portlester, Kildalkie, Granye, and Dul- lardstown j with many towns and lands too tedious to enumerate : and being so seized, he (pursuant to a licence, dated at Dublin, Fe- bruary 4th, 1559-60, 2 Eliz. to enfeoff, alien, and dispose of, the premises) made a deed of feoffment, dated September 7th, 1566, • Cox, p.jgj. 163 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. 8 Eliz. whereby he conveyed all the said manors, lands, and appur- tenances, with all hereditaments whatsoever, which he possessed in Ireland, to certain trustees, to stand seized thereof to the use of himself during life, and after his decease, that every daughter of his lawfully begotten, living at the time of his death, should have, for their preferment in marriage, 1000/. English, or 2000 /. Irish, and for their livelihood and maintenance 100/. Irish yearly ; also, that immediately after his death every son of his body should have and receive 100/. Irish yearly, for their maintenance, to such time as they should accomplish the age of twenty-four years, and after such time the receipt thereof to cease. The said feoffees were to stand seized, immediately after his death, of the manors of Port- lester, Kildalkie, Kildare, Dullardstown, Kilkea, and Rathangan, with all their hereditaments and appurtenances, to the use of Dame Mabel, Countess of Kildare, his wife, during her life, and of the manors of Manooth and Granye, unto her use during her widuity, in full recompence of such third part, dower, or jointure, which she should or might be entitled to out of his lands ; she paying yearly, at the usual terms, six score pounds for the manor pf Maynooth, towards the payment of his debts, or after the dis- charge thereof, towards the former sums limited to the use of his sons and daughters. After other provisoes, the feoffees were to stand seized of the premises to the use of Henry Fitz-Gerald, his second son, and the heirs male of his body j remainder to his third, and every other son, and their heirs male respectively -, re- mainder to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten. And after the said uses, &c. were determined, the feoffees were to stand seized of all the premises unto the use of the heirs male of his body, and for default of such issue, to Edward Fitz-Gerald, his brother, and his heirs male j remainder to Thomas, son of Oliver Fitz-Gerald, deceased, and his heirs male 5 remainder to Gerald, another of the sons of the said Oliver, and his heirs male ; re- mainder to Sir Maurice Fitz-Thomas, Knight, and his heirs male 5 remainder to William, son of Sir James Fitz-Gerald, Knight, de- ceased, and his heirs male 5 remainder to the use of the heirs of the said Gerald, Earl pf Kildare, for ever. His Lordship also, a few days before his death, made a further disposition by his will, as follows. In the name of God, Amen, the syxte daye of November, in the yeare of oure Lorde God 1585, &c. I Gerald, Earl of Kildare, being syckein bodie, and (thankes be to God) well and perfect of memorie, doe make and ordayne this my laste will and testament. Firste, I bequethe my sowle to VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 169 Almightie God, my bowells to be buried heere in Englande, and my bodie to be conveide into Ireland, and there buried in St. Bryde's churche in Kildare, in suche due ordere as appertaynetlie to one of my vocation, where I wyll and bequethe one hundred pounds sterling to be bestowed, for the makinge of a monument in the saide churche over my grave. Item, I wyll that there be one hundred pounds bestowed upon some Jewell, or token, to be given unto her Majestie from me, as a token of my humble and dutiful loyaltie to her Highnesse. Item, I bequethe to my wyfle, as a token of good will and remembrance, a Jewell called an aggat, which I boughte latelie, and a pece of black tufte taffatye. Item, I bequethe to my brother, Edward Fitz-Gerald, my best neste of gilte and graven bolls with a cover. Item, I bequethe unto my sonne and heire, Lord Henry Fitz-Gerald, all my gold buttons, hatt and capp bands of golde, silvere, and pearle, with all my foote-cloths and horse fortuniture, and alsoe my gilt rapiers and daggers, with their girdells and hangers, and all my shirte bodies. Item, I bequethe unto my saide sonne and heire all such shirtes of maile, armours, and artillerie, and other warlike weapons, to- gether with three of the best suyts of hangings of tapestrie, or clothe of arrass, that I have in Englande or in Irelande, the same suyts to remayne in my house. Item, I bequethe unto my sonne and heire all my stoodes, savinge and exceptinge suche as I be- quethe by legacie unto my seconde sonne, William Fitz-Gerald, and my servante Gerald Delahide. Item, I bequethe unto ray daughter, the Ladie of Delvin, the fourthe beste suyt of hangings of tapestrie, or arrass, next to those I lefte to my saide sonne and heire. Item, I bequethe unto my seconde daughter, the Ladie Elizabeth, over and above the thousand pounds which I ensured unto her upon my landes, the summe of five hundred pounds, for her portion of goodes and prefermente to marriage. Item, I bequethe unto my seconde sonne, William Fitz-Gerald, three score stood mares for his portion of goodes. Item, I bequethe that my deceased sonne, the Lord Garrat's daughter, named Lettice Fitz* Gerald, shall have as helpe towards her marriage, when she is married, three hundred pounds sterling ; and more I woulde have lefte her, were it not that my sonne and heire is over-charged, by meanes of my debtes and other legacies. After which, he wills that his wife should take care of all his old servants who served her in Ireland, for some of which he makes a liberal provision ; and constitutes his son and heir, Henry Lord Offaley, and his son- in-law, the Lord Delvin, executors. 170 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. His Lordship, as before taken notice of, married Mabel, second daughter of Sir Anthony Brown, Knight of the Garter, and master of the horse to King Edward VI. (by Alice his wife, daughter to Sir John Gage, Knight of the Garter) and sister to Sir Anthony Brown, created Viscount Montagu, by Queen Mary, in 1554 : and by her (a Lady of great worth and virtue, who resided whilst a widow in the fair house of Maynooth, and dying on August 25th, 1610, was buried in Kildare) had issue three sons and two daughters ; Mary, who was born on September 13th, 1556, and in 1584, married to Christopher Nugent, the ninth Baron of Delvin, before-mentioned, and died on October 1st, If3l0; Elizabeth, married toDonatus (orDonough) O'Brien, fourth Earl of Thomond, to whom she was second wife. The sons were, First, Gerald, Lord Offaley, born at Maynooth, on December 2Sth, 1559 j and being a young nobleman of great expectations, these verses were made on him : Te Pulchrum Natura fecit, For tuna Potentem, Te faciat Christi norma, Giralde, Bonum, This Gerald, Lord Offaley, married Catharine, daughter of Sir Francis Knolles, treasurer of Queen Elizabeth's household, and Knight of the Garter (by Catharine his wife, daughter of Sir Wil- liam Carey, by the Lady Mary Boleyn his wife, daughter and co- heir to Thomas, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond),.and sister to Sir William Knolles, (or Knollys), created by King Charles I. on Au- gust 18th, 1626, Earl of Banbury. His Lordship, dying in Eng- land before his father, was b buried in the abbey church of St. Alban's, Hertfordshire, on June 30th, 1580. He left issue by his Lady, who survived him (and was secondly the wife of Sir Philip Boteler, of Watton-Woodhall, in the county of Hertford, Knight,) an only daughter and heir, Lettice, c married to Sir Ro- bert Digby, of Cole's hill, in the county of Warwick, Knight, and carried into that family the lordship of Geashil, in the King's county, which was confirmed to her and her heirs, by award of King James I. on July 11th, 1619, as after specified. She was, by that monarch, also created Baroness of Offaley for life j and was mother of Robert, created, on July 29th, 1620, Lord Digby, b Ex Registr. olim Conventual, St. Albani. Dugd. Warwicksh. p, 733. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 171 of Geashil, in Ireland, whose descendant, Edward Earl Digby, is now an Earl of Great Britain, and as such is taken notice of in his proper place. d This Catharine, Lady Offaley, by indenture, dated July 27th, 1583, 25 Eliz. (being then the wife of Philip Boteler, junior, Esq.) had a yearly rent of 200 1. English, settled on her for life, by her father-in-law, the Earl of Kildare. She held also the manor of Portlester, in Meath, and those of Woodstock and Athy, in Kildare, in jointure ; and died in December, 1632. Henry, Lord Offaley, second son, succeeded his father in, honour and estate, as twelfth Earl of Kildare, A. D. 1585. William, third son, succeeded his brother, as thirteenth Earl of Kildare. * This Gerald, eleventh Earl of Kildare, had also a natural son, of his own name, to whom, and his heirs, he demised, for 101 years, the lands of Tymoge, &c. in the Queen's county, which, being fortified by one of his descendants, Gerald Fitz-Gerald, Esq. being concerned in the rebellion in 1641, reverted to the family after the restoration of King Charles II. as shall be shewn, in the account of Robert Fitz-Gerald, Esq. grandfather to James, late Duke of Leinster. The said Henry, second son of Gerald, eleventh Earl of Kildare, succeeded in 1585, and was the twelfth Earl of Kildare, being twenty-three years of age at the time of his father's death. On September 24th, 1503, his Lordship brought eight horse- men to the general hosting appointed to meet at the hill of Ta- ragh, in the county of Meath ; also, on July 1st, 15Q7, marched against Tir-Oen, and his associates in Ulster, against whom he valiantly behaved with his troops, in company with the lord-de- puty Borough ; and, after having taken the fort of Blackwater, the rebels shewing themselves out of a thick wood near adjoining on the north side of the fort, were driven from thence into the thickest of their dens -, in which conflict two of his foster brethren were killed, whose deaths he took so to heart, that he returned sick from the journey, and died on the last day of the same month (or first of August) at Drogheda, and was buried with his an- cestors in the church of Kildare, He married the Lady Frances Howard, second daughter to Charles Earl of Nottingham, by his wife Catharine, eldest 4 See vol. v. 172 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. daughter of Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon (brother to his elder brother Gerald's wife's mother), and on November 12th, 15g0, joined with his mother Mabel, Countess Dowager of Kildare, and William Talbot, of Malahoide (his father's surviving feoffee), in a deed of feoffment, whereby they granted and confirmed to Do- nough O'Brien, Earl of Thomond aforesaid, and Sir George Bourchier, the manors of Rathangan, Kildare, and Castledermot, with the towns and lands of Newton of Moylagh, Carrarowe, Milton, Ballimillan, &c. in the county of Westmeath j of Shers- kolan and Benaghter in the King's county j and Moyrehet in the Queen's county, to the use of the said Lady Frances, then his wife. By that Lady he had issue three daughters ; first, Eleanor, who died young before him -, second, Bridget, married, first, to Rory O'Donel, created Earl of Tyrconnel, and Baron of Donegal, with limitation of the honours to his brother GeotFery, otherwise Caf- fray O'Donel, and his issue male, by letters-patent of King James I. dated September 27th, 1603 -, and, secondly, to Nicholas Barne- wall, first Viscount Kingslandj and, third, Lettice, who died young. The said Frances, Countess Dowager of Kildare, e re- married with Henry Brook, Lord Cobham, and died without issue by him in 1628. To the said Henry, twelfth Earl of Kildare, William, his brother, became heir, and was the thirteenth Earl. His Lordship, being in England, when Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, (Queen Elizabeth's favourite) was going over to Ireland to prosecute the war against Tir-Oen, in the end of March, 1599, attended him -, but the weather proving very tempestuous, the Earl of Kildare, and some gallant gentlemen who accompanied his ship in a small bark, chosen on purpose for speed, were unfortunately cast away in April, and drowned in their passage : and, his Lordship thus dying unmarried, I now return to Edward Fitz-Gerald, Esq. younger brother to Gerald the eleventh Earl of Kildare, who with him was restored by act of parliament. Which Edward, born on January 17th, 1528, being in Eng- land with his mother at the time of his father's death, was, by the interest of her friends, preferred to the post of lieutenant of the gentlemen pensioners j and taking to wife Mabel, daughter and heir of Sir John Leigh, and widow of Sir John Paston, of Norfolk, Knights, had, besides three daughters, two sons, viz. First, Gerald, who succeeded his cousin in the Earldom and estate, by virtue of the afore-mentioned entail : and, • See Memoirs of Peers of James I. p. a$a. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 173 Second, Thomas, father of George, the sixteenth Earl. Elizabeth, eldest daughter, was maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth, and after married to Sir John Hill, Knight ; Lettice was first married to Sir Ambrose Coppinger, and secondly to Sir John Pointz, Knights 5 and Douglas was the first wife of Sir Francis Aungier, Knight, who was made master of the rolls, and one of the privy- council of Ireland, on October 6th, 1 609 ; created Lord Aungier, Baron of Longford, by patent, dated at Dublin, June 29th, 1621 j and continued in his employment of master of the rolls by King Charles I. on April 16th, 16*25. Gerald, eldest son of Edward Fitz-Gerald, succeeding to the title in April, 1599, was the fourteenth Earl of Kildare. He com- manded a regiment of foot in the Queen's wars against Tir-Oenj and, in September, 1599, when the aforesaid Earl of Essex left the kingdom, commanded fifty horse, and one hundred and fifty foot, in and about the Naas. Also, on July 7th, 1601, 43 Eliz. the forces of Kildare under his command were appointed by the deputy to lie at Athy, or elsewhere, at his Lordship's discretion ; the sheriff of the county being nominated to command them under him. He was one of the council to Sir George Carew, pre- sident of Munster j and, by her Majesty's letters, dated at Oat- lands, on August 31st, 1600, was appointed governor of Offaley, with the stipend of a mark a day. He also enjoyed a pension of ten shillings a day. After King James I. came to the throne, he preferred a petition to his Majesty, importing, that he was willing to give up such stipends as he had from the crown, if in lieu thereof, he might have a grant unto him and his heirs, in fee {arm, of so many lands and hereditaments, as amounted to the clear yearly value of 100/. sterling, or thereabouts j and the King, complying therewith, signified his royal assent to the lord-deputy, Sir Arthur Chichester, by his letters, dated at Theobalds, on July 26th, 1606. It appears by inquisition, taken at Dunboyne, on September 10th, 1612, that his Lordship departed this life on February 1 1th, l6ll-l2, and after his funerals were solemnized at Manooth, his body was, on November 15th, 1612, from thence carried to Kil- dare, and deposited with his ancestors in the choir of that church. He married, by dispensation of the Pope, Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Nugent, the ninth Baron of Delvin, by the Lady Mary Fitz-Gerald, his cousin-german, daughter to his uncle Gerald, the eleventh Earl of Kildare, and had issue an only son, Gerald, \\n successor. 174 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. The said Elizabeth surviving her husband, and being left des- titute of dower or jointure for her maintenance, made humble suit to the King in the behalf of herself, and the said Gerald, her only son, then in ward to his Majesty ; who was pleased, by his letter, dated at Westminster, July 15th, 1612, to authorize his de- puty, for the better preservation of the possessions of the Earl- dom of Kildare (being an ancient and honourable house), to give order, that the commissions should be speedily directed to indif- ferent and fit persons, to make inquiry of all such castles, manors, lands, &c. whereof her husband died seized; and, upon return of such inquisitions, to cause letters-patent to be made to the said Lady Elizabeth, of all the said manors, lands and premises, until her son should accomplish the age of twenty-one years 5 and she to enjoy to her own use, without account, a full third part of the inheritance, in lieu of her dower or jointure; another third part to be disposed of to the maintenance of her son, and the discharge of his father's debts, and the mortgages affecting the estate; and the other third part, upon a reasonable survey, to be answered unto the King into his Exchequer. His Majesty likewise granted, that she should have the tuition of her said son until the age of five years, and the before-mentioned Earl of Thomond, and Sir Francis Aungier, master of the rolls, should have the government and charge of his education during that time. Moreover, we re- quire you (adds the King) to have special care of the preserva- tion of the said Earl's inheritance, during his minority, it being a matter very acceptable unto us to continue the maintenance of so ancient an earldom j and likewise the ward being within our pro- tection, for which respect especially we have an intention to be- stow the wardship of the body of the said Earl upon our well-de- serving servant attending our person, who, we doubt not, but will use all good endeavours for his honourable education, and preservation of his rights, and yield us an account thereof as we hold it meet. After the death of the said Gerald, his mother being thereby deprived of enjoying her third part of the estate, his Majesty, pursuant to his letter, dated at Westminster, January 23, 1620-21, 18 Jac. I. made a provision of maintenance for her, by his grant dated at Dublin, June 9th, J 621, 19 Jac. I. in which he observes, that all the manors, lands, and hereditaments, of George, Earl of Kildare, were, or ought of right to be, in his hands or custody, by reason of his minority, being then his ward 5 and the Countess being left destitute of any jointure of the lands of her husband, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 175 his Majesty thinking it very unfit that she, holding the title and degree of a Countess, should not have competent means for her maintenance and livelihood out of her husband's estate, granted and demised unto her and her assigns, during the minority of the said Earl George, several manors, lordships, &c. also Granye, in Kildare. Her Ladyship died in 1621, and was buried in St. Pa- trick's church, Dublin. Gerald, the only son, fifteenth Earl of Kildare, was, at the time of his father's death, only six weeks and six days old, having been born on December 2&h, l6ll ; and on October 21st, 1618, pursuant to his Majesty's letters, dated at Westminster, on July 8th preceding, was given in ward to Esme Stuart, Earl of March, afterwards Duke of Lennox, with order that his Lordship should be married to one of the Lord Aubigny's daughters ; but he dyin^ at Maynooth, on November 1 1th, 1620 (evident by inqui- sition taken at Navan, on September 6th, 1621) was buried in Kildare. Therefore I now return to his uncle Thomas, who married Frances, daughter of Thomas Randolph, post-master general to Queen Elizabeth, and lies buried with her in the church of Walton upon Thames, in Surrey ; where, on a blue marble, on the south side of the chancel, is this inscription : Hicjacet Thomas, Fir, qui de stirpe Giraldi, Kildarce Comitis, Nobilis ortus erat. Hisjacet et Francisca Uxor, Randolphea Proles, Antiquo Armigerum Stemmate qua* ortafuit, Lcetus uterque satis nulli lugendus Amico ; Quern vere coluit, spectat uterque Deum. And on a black marble monument, against the south wall, over the gravestone, is, In farther Memory of the same Tho- mas Fitz-Gerald, Esquire, and Frances the eldest Daughter of Thomas Randolph, Esquire, Post-Master of England : Stay (gentle Reader) stay, and read in ill-fram'd Lynes The Lyfe and Death of two (well suited) Myndes : To Poore they gave, of Rich they did not borrow ; To all they lent, where Want expressed Sorrow ; 176 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. To Foe a Friend, to Friend their Faith approv'dj Of Foe, of Friend, of both they were belov'd. Their Earth was Heav'n, where blessed Angels sings, Their Church was Christ, whose Death sure Life us brings. In fine, so liv'd, so lov'd, so dy'd and rest, As Friends, as Doves, as Saints, and so are blest : Pass on this way, thus live, thus dye 5 which done, Two lives thou gain'st, when others have but one. C. M, Though, future Times, your Malice will not Credit, Present Truth subscribes to, such was their great Merit. 16J9, They had issue three sons and four daughters, Gerald, and John, who both died young : George, who succeeded to the honour, as sixteenth Earl of Kildare j Anne, f who married Tho- mas Gilbert, of West-Beer, in Kent, Gent.; Lettice, married to John Morris, of Thistleworth in the county of Middlesex, Esq. j and the other two died young. George, sixteenth Earl of Kildare, was born in loll, and coming to the titles and estate when only eight years and nine months old, was given in ward to Esme Stuart, Earl of March and Duke of Lennox, aforesaid, by the King's letter from Westmin- ster, January 23d, 1620-21 ; and on August 3d, 1622, the said Earl of March had a grant of his wardship, on paying the fine of 1000 marks, Irish. That nobleman took care to have him edu- cated in the communion of the church of England, in which this great family have ever since continued j but he dying on Fe- bruary 14th, 1623-4, before his ward came of age, the custody of him fell to his Lady, Catharine, Duchess of Lennox, who assigned him to Richard Boyle, first Earl of Cork, who received the wardship of him by King Charles I's letter, dated May 10th, 1629, at Westminster (and by patent at Dublin, June 26th), paying the yearly sum of 47/. l6s. 6d. The Earl of Cork, soon after, pro- posed a marriage to him with his fourth daughter, the Lady Joan, to which his Lordship consenting, and, the King's approbation being necessary, his Majesty, by letter from Bagshot, August 15, 1629, directed to the said Earl of Cork, and the lord chancellor, Sir Adam Loftus, Viscount Ely, his two justices, gave his assent thereto, as the marriage was for the support of go noble and so an- cient a house ; and to the end that it might receive no manner of f Monument in Norfolk College, at Greenwich, Kent. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 177 impediment or delay, required them to call before them Richard Talbot, of Malahoide, and all such other persons as were seized of any manors, lands, or hereditaments, to the use of his Lordship and the heirs male of his body, to signify under his or their hand and seals, that he or they would join with him in making a join- ture to fit and indifferent persons, to the use of himself and the said Lady Joan, and the longer liver of them, in such manner as, by certain articles of agreement lately passed between the before- mentioned Catharine, Duchess of Lennox, and the said Earl of Cork, was already agreed on : and accordingly the marriage took effect on August 15th, 1628. Great variances having for some time subsisted between this family, and Lettice, Lady Offaley, wife of Sir Robert Digby, of Cole's-Hill, in Warwickshire, Knight, before-mentioned, King James, in order to extinguish them, took upon him the arbitra- tion of their differences 5 and by his award under the great seal of England, dated July 11th, 1619, decreed the manor of Geashill, with the lands thereunto belonging, together with other lands, when they should be recovered, to the Lady Offaley and her heirs. His Majesty, transmitting the same to be put in execution by Sir Oliver St. John, his deputy in Ireland, accompanied it with the following letter from his court at Theobalds, dated the 17th of the same month : " You will perceive by our award, bearing date the 11th of this present, which herewith we send you, what course we have taken for the composing of all differences so long depend- ing betwixt the house of Kildare, and Sir Robert Digby deceased, with the Lady Lettice his wife, for several lands and possessions in that realm 5 wherein we have carried so equal a hand, that all the parties interested have good cause to acknowledge our justice with humble thanks, and none of them to complain of any hard or partial measure in the carriage thereof. And as it is our glory with so clear conscience to determine matters of so great a conse- quence, with the contentment of parties so different in their de- sires j so it is a singular comfort unto us, by this means, to make so fair a reconciliation betwixt people so near in blood, that love and amity may hereafter be fostered among them, instead of strife and contention heretofore. And although we are well assured that no orders of ours shall want your endeavours to see them duly executed 3 yet, to give this award the more life and counte- nance, we cannot but recommend it seriously to your care j and do hereby require you to see it duly put in execution, according VOL. VI. N 178 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. to gracious intentions therein expressed, with all convenient ex- pedition, &c." This George, sixteenth Earl of Kildare, on the first insurrec- tion of the Irish in 1641, gave a meeting to the gentry and com- mons of the county of Kildare, at Naas, when he was chosen by them governor of that county ; after which, in conjunction with them, he appointed three gentlemen to be captains (entrusted by his Majesty's council at Dublin) for the guarding and defending of the county in that disordered time. His Lordship became a great sufferer by the said troubles, having his house of Maynooth rifled and spoiled, on January 7th, 1641-42, by Lawrence Welsh (a priest) Patrick Welsh, of Moorton, and their followers, who took away several arms, and then departed, leaving divers of their acquaintance to keep the castle until the Saturday morning follow- ing, when Edward Fitz-Gerald, of Belaghe, Esq. with about one hundred in his company, took absolute possession of it, and of the parks, ground, stock and goods therein, with a library of great value j and expelled his Lordship from the said castle, lands, and rents, amounting to 600/. a year. On the news that Owen Roe O'Neile, the Ulster general, was drawing towards the English quarters with a great army, colonel Michael Jones, commander in chief of the forces in Leinster, committed, on October 2d, 1 647, the guard of the city of Dublin unto his Lordship j of whose great vigilancy in the like trust he formerly had experience, leaving under his command his (the Earl's) own regiment, with those of Sir John Borlace, Colonel Willoughby, and Colonel Fenwick, the trained bands of the city, and five troops of horse j and marched out that day to Clonee, six miles from Dublin, in the way to Trym, with about 3000 foot, 1000 horse, and a train of artillery. His Lordship died in 1660, before the restoration of King Charles II. and had issue by his said Lady (Joan, who was fourth daughter to Richard Earl of Cork, ancestor to the present Earl of Cork, in Ireland, and Lord Boyle, of Marston in England, and dying on March 11th, 1656, was buried in her father's tomb in the cathedral church of St. Patrick) three sons and six daughters, viz. First, Richard, Lord OfFaley, who was baptised in St. War- burgh's church, on February 4th, 1632-3, and died an infant. Second, Wentworth, who succeeded to the honour and estate, as seventeenth Earl of Kildare. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 179 Third, Robert Fitz-Gerald, Esq. grandfather to James Duke of Leinster. Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter, baptised on December 23d, 1631, died voting.,. Lady Jane, a twin with her sister Eleanor, both baptised on May 15, 1034, also died young. Lady Eleanor, married on February 1 6th, 1656, before Ridgeway Hatfield, Mayor of Dublin, to Sir Walter Borrowes, then of Grangemellan, in the county of Kildare, Baronet, son of Sir Erasmus Borrowes, who, on March 20th, 1614, succeeded his father, Henry Bor- rowes, Esq. the first possessor of Gilltown and on September 2d, 1622, had granted him a special livery of his estate. Lady Catharine, fourth daughter, was a lady of great piety and virtue, and dying unmarried in an advanced age, on May 1st, 1714, left all her personal estate to her nephew, Robert, nine- teenth Earl of Kildare. Lady Frances, fifth daughter, married on July 28th, 1656, before Benjamin Worsle>, Esq justice of the peace, to Sir James Shaen, then of Bishopstone, in the county of Westmeath, and after of Kilmore, in the county of Roscommon, son of Sir Francis Shaen, Knight. Lady Elizabeth, sixth daughter (married first to Callaghan Mac Carty, Earl of Clancarty, and secondly to Sir William Davies, chief justice of the King's Bench) died in July 1698. Wentworth, who succeeded his father, being the seven- teenth Earl of Kildare, was, on February 11th, 1660-61, made captain of a troop of horse, (a post at that time not disdained by the highest quality) and on March 27th, 1661, appointed go- vernor of the Queens county, and that of Kildare. On May 8th that year, he took his seat in the house of peers, and the same day was nominated one of the committee of privileges. He was also, on the 25th of that month, appointed, with the Lords Mont- gomery, Santry, and Ranelagh, to search the records of the house, and if any particular intrenched on the honour of the said Earl, to report it in order to the expunging of the same : and on June 18, the lords sent down their said order to the house of commons, de- siring their concurrence, and to do the same to the records of their house j with which the commons concurred. On May 27th, he was chosen by the lords one of their commissioners to go to Eng- land, with some members of the house of commons, for the ser- vice of his Majesty, the good of the church, and speedy and happy settlemtnt of the kingdom. At his return to Ireland, it was or- dered by the house of peers, on March 4th, 1 661-2, '" That his Lordship having brought a seasonable and satisfactory return of 180 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the instructions of the house to their commissioners attending his Majesty in En^ "and, should have the thanks of the house." Also, on May 27th, 1662, he was appointed one of the committee to draw up an address to the lords justices and council for preparing and transmitting a bill explanatory of the act, entitled, an act for the better execution of his Majesty's gracious declaration for set- tlement of the several interests of adventurers, soldiers, and other his Majesty's subjects, in the kingdom of Ireland : in which act it was provided and enacted, lt That his Lordship, his heirs and assigns, shall and may have the pre-emption, and be preferred unto the purchase of, and enjoy the forfeited interests and estates in and all of such lands, tenements, and hereditaments by this present act vested in his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and not restored to the former proprietors, as were or are held of or from George, late (sixteenth) Earl of Kildare, or the said Went- worth, Earl of Kildare, or either of them, or of their, or any of their, manors, or whereout chief rents, service or duty was or is reserved unto the said Earls, or either of them, as also of any other lands, tenements, or hereditaments, surrounded by, or intermixed with, the said Earl of Kildare's estate, which he the said Earl shall desire, by placing thereon such adventurers, arrears, decrees, incumbrances, or other public debts or interests as are confirmed and allowed by the present act, and according to the tenor thereof are satisflable thereupon ; and that the personal arrears of George late Earl of Kildare, for service in Ireland, before the fifth day of June 164Q, be satisfied out of such forfeited houses, lands, tene- ments, or hereditaments, and other security liable for the satisfac- tion of such arrears in the county of Kildare, and elsewhere in the kingdom of Ireland, lying most convenient unto the estate of the said Earl of Kildare, which he the said Earl shall make choice of j all which said satisfactions are to be made at the same rates and proportions, and according to the same rules, as are directed by this act, in cases of the like nature." But this pre-emption and election of lands, for the service of the said George Earl of Kildare, being thought to obstruct the in- tended settlement of Ireland, it was repealed by the future act of explanation : and the arrears belonging to Sir James Shaen, Knt. and Bart, administrator of the said George Earl of Kildare, were to be satisfied as in and by another clause therein after following, and providing for the satisfaction of the interests of the said Sir James Shaen is declared ; and in lieu and satisfaction of those pri- vileges and advantages in and by the said clause given or intended VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 181 to be given, the commissioners for the execution of the said act of explanation were directed forthwith to set out unto John, then eighteenth Earl of Kildare, hereafter-mentioned, and his heirs, so much undisposed forfeited lands, as should be of the clear yearly value of 500/. over and above all charges and reprises -, and therein should take care, that the same might be set out as near unto his estate, and as contiguous to his lordship of Kilkea, in the county of Kildare, as the same could conveniently be done j after which they should be granted by letters-patent under the great seal of Ireland, to his Lordship and the heirs male of his body, and for want of such issue to Robert Fitz-Gerald, Esq. his uncle, and the heirs male of his body, and for default of such issue to the right heirs of Wentworth, Earl of Kildare, for ever. But, this provision of 500/. per ann. being also detained from the said John, Earl of Kildare, he set forth by his petition to the King, that he had reaped no benefit or advantage thereby, and therefore prayed his Majesty, he being an infant, that he would direct his satisfaction of the said 500/. per ann. out of such con- cealed lands, as, on his behalf, should be discovered to be belong- ing unto the King, at the usual quit-rents reserved by the said acts of settlement and explanation j or else out of such unavoid- able lands then remaining on the stock of reprisal, as he should desire, at such a low yearly rent, as might be an encouragement to him to accept the same. His Majesty King Charles II. as- senting to the request, ordered three several commissions to be issued, by his letter from Whitehall, on November 18th, 16/0, (the twenty-second year of his reign ) to make inquiry to his Ma- jesty's title to certain concealed lands in the counties of Kildare, Dublin, Wexford, Westmeath, Waterford, Tipperary, and Kerry, that his Lordship might be effectually satisfied of the said sum of 500/. a year; and the commissioners to make diligent inquiry concerning the premises, to return, under their hands and seals, into the court of Exchequer, the date of the commissions $ which were accordingly issued, on May 4th, and 9th, 1671, and the lands so found to be settled on his Lordship, with like remainders as before. The customs, subsidies, and other profits, of the towns and ports of Strangford and Ardglass, having been granted by King Henry VIII. to Gerald, the ninth Earl of Kildare, the same were confiscated to the crown, by the neglect of the agent of George, sixteenth Earl of Kildare, the last possessor of the premises, when his title thereto was, on misinformation, questioned in the time of 182 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the government of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford ; and, upon a judgment of the court of Exchequer of Nihil Dicit, seized to the King's use ; which being detained after the restoration, his Majesty King Charles II. thought it just and fitting to admit of a proviso to be inserted into the bill concerning the customs in Ire- land, for saving the right, title, and interest of Wentworth, Earl of Kildare, unto the premises. But, on information, given after- wards to the King, of the great prejudice, which the continuing so great a royalty of the crown in the hands of any of his subjects would necessarily be to the revenue of the customs 5 and his Ma- jesty, being sensible of the manifold inconveniences which must; unavoidably therefrom ensue, thought fit rather to grant to the Earl such an honourable compensation, as might be more suitable to his princely bounty than his right 3 and therefore, considering likewise the great destruction made of the houses and buildings of his Lordship during the late rebellion, and the meanness of his estate at that time to support the honour and dignity of so an- cient a family, and so eminent a peer of Ireland, by reason of the great debts whereunto he was liable 5 his Majesty, by his letter dated at Whitehall, on April 22d, ] 662, recommended the matter to the care of James Butler, first Duke of Ormond, lord-lieute- nant, authorising and requiring him forthwith to cause such sums of money, not exceeding 10,000/. sterling, to be paid to John Holies, Earl of Clare , Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork ; Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery ; Oliver O'Donnel, Earl ofTyrconnel; and Ro- bert Boyle, Esq. in trust for his Lordship, his executors, adminis- trators, and assigns, and to be disposed of by them for and towards the discharge of his sisters' portions, and other debts and engage- ments, and for defraying other his necessary occasions. His Majesty also taking notice of his fidelity and readiness to do him service, and being willing to give testimony of his favour to him, and considering that whosoever walketh most warily, may nevertheless unwillingly become a transgressor of the laws, and stand in need of his royal pardon -, authorised James Butler, Duke of Ormond, the lord-lieutenant, on April 14th, 1663, to pass letters patent to him for pardon of all treasons, and other crimes and offences whatsoever, committed by him against the crown during the late troubles, of which he had accordingly a grant, on July 22d following. This Wentworth, seventeenth Earl of Kildare, departing this life in the prime of his years, in great reputation, on March 5tb, J 663-4, was the next day buried in Christ Church 5 and his death VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 183 so greatly regretted, that many verses were composed on the oc- casion, amongst which were the following, which express his great worth and noble qualities : The growing hopes, ripe glory of the peers. Untimely youth, and wit beyond his years, Nobility and honour, both lie here, If ever either of them buried were j The sweet extremes of things in him combin'd,, Who had so stately, yet so low a mind, As if that Nature might herself outdo, Had made him prince and common people too : There's some perhaps more learning have, but yet None lov'd it more, nor more encourag'd it : He to the arts (which now from him we'll call) Was free, as they're to others liberal. Nor stopp'd he at desert, but he did more, Happy, if known to him, were e'en tho poor,- Those all did merit in his generous sense, Either his pity, or munificence. His Lordship married the* Lady Elizabeth Holies, second daughter of John Holies, Earl of Clare, and of Elizabeth his wife, eldest daughter and coheir to the celebrated and valiant Horatio, Lord Vere of Tilbury, with whom he had a fortune of 6000/ and by her, who during her widowhood resided at Kilkea, and dying on June 30th, 1 606, was buried near him (according to her re- quest in her will) had issue an only son, John, the eighteenth Earl of Kildare, and three daughters, viz. First, Lady Mary, who died in her infancy : second, Lady Anne, who was married, first, to Hugh Boscawen, of Tregoth- nan, in the county of Cornwall, Esq. (ancestor by her to the Vis- count Falmouth) and, secondly, to Francis Robartes, Esq. and by him was mother of John, fourth Earl of Radnor, and dying on May 4th, 1715, was buried in Westminster abbey on the 15th; and, third, Lady Eleanor, baptised on January 21st, lfjfj3, and buried in Christ Church, on March 21st, 1605. The said John, eighteenth Earl of Kildare, was born in l66l-} t Monument in St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, erected for John larl •f Clare. 184 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. and, being an infant at his father's death, was left under (he guardianship of his mother : after whose decease he was com- mitted to the care of Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Clare, his grandmother. Whilst his Lordship continued under age, he was considered by King Charles II. as a person deserving his favour, by the services and sufferings of his family : wherefore his Ma- jesty issued the afore-mentioned commissions to satisfy his clause in the acts of settlement; and, on May 21st, 1672, made him a grant of a weekly market, on Monday, at Rathangan, in the county of Kildare. The same monarch also, on August 1st, 1674, joined him, with his uncle Robert, in the government of the county of Kildare ; and, on November 10th, that year, granted him a weekly market on Saturday, and two yearly fairs, to be held on December 8th, and May 13th, at Castledermot. Also, on November 14th, 16/ 8, he had a grant of a Thursday market, aud two fairs, on April 23d, and September 8th, at Maynooth. When he came of age, he attended his Royal Highness the Duke of York (afterwards King James II.) with his royal con- sort, and the Lady Anne (afterwards Queen) his daughter, to the university of Oxford ; and, it being the Duke's pleasure that some of his retinue should be created doctors of the civil law, there was a convocation celebrated in the morning, on May 22d, 1682, i when his Lordship was the first complimented with that degree. After King James went to Ireland, in 16S9, his Lordship's estate, to the value of 6800/. per ann. was sequestered by the Irish par- liament, as he was an absentee. He married to his first wife Mary, eldest daughter to Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrickan (son and heir apparent to Henry, seventh Earl of Thomond) by the Lady Catharine Stuart, his wife, sister and sole heir to Charles Duke of Richmond and Lennox; and by her had a son, James, who died young. To his second wife (in con- sequence of articles of marriage, dated the 10th and 11th of June, 1684) he wedded the Lady Elizabeth Jones, eldest daughter and coheir to Richard Earl of Ranelagh (who for many years was pay- master of the army in Ireland, and afterwards in England, and of the privy-council; and dying on January 5th, 1711-12, aged seventy-one years, was buried in Westminster abbey) but by her, who died on April 10th, 1757, aged ninety-three, and with whom he received a fortune of 10,000/. his Lordship had no issue; and departing this life, at his seat of Caversham, in the » Wood's Athena? Oxon. vol ii. p. 892. VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 185 county of Oxford, on November gth, 1707, was buried, on De- cember 4th, in the Duke of Richmond's vault in King Henry VII's chapel, in Westminster abbey. To this John, eighteenth Earl of Kildare, succeeded his first cousin, Robert, nineteenth Earl of Kildare, son of his uncle, Ro- bert Fitz-Gerald, Esq. younger brother to Wentworth, the seven- teenth Earl of Kildare. Which Robert Fitz-Gerald, Esq. was baptised in the parish of St. Werburgh, on August i;th, 1637 j and, about the time of the restoration of King Charles II. being of great activity and spirit, was an eminent instrument, among others, of wresting the government of Ireland from the hands of usurpers, and put- ting it into that happy condition, that it remained many years in perfect peace and prosperity ; not only maintaining itself, which it never did before that signal event, but also to ease the Exchequer in England of great payments, to which it was liable before, for the support of that kingdom. King Charles II. was so sensible of the share he had in his restoration, that on February 1 st follow- ing, he made him a grant of the lands of Tymoge, &c. in the Queen's county (which had been demised to Gerald, natural son of Gerald, the eleventh Earl of Kildare, for one hundred and one years, and forfeited by the rebellion of Gerald Fitz-Gerald, Esq. in l64l) during the remainder of the term then unexpired, in consideration (as the King expresses) of the many faithful and eminent services done unto him, in the late transaction of his happy and memorable restoration, by Robert Fitz-Gerald, Esq. and his due encouragement for the future to persevere therein. Moreover, on April 15th, 1661, (pursuant to his Majesty's di- rections from Whitehall of March J gth preceding) he was con- stituted comptroller of the musters and checks of the army in Ire- land, with the fee of 20 s. a day; which having been omitted to be effectually inserted in the establishment of the kingdom, the King, on November 6th, 1667, directed it to be done, and the arrears to be duly paid and satisfied. He was also (with his brother Wentworth, seventeenth Earl of Kildare) sworn of his Majesty's privy-council, and made captain of a troop of horse, when the greatest men in the kingdom had no better command, the army not being then regimented, as afterwards. He was joined, in 16/4, with his nephew John, eighteenth Earl of Kil- dare, in the government of the county of Kildare, as before re- cited j and, in 168O, he was made custos rotulorum of that county. He lived in great honour and esteem at Grangemellan, 18(5 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. of which place, on February 13th, 16/4, he took a lease from his brother-in-law, Sir Walter Burrows, for Qgg years. On August 6th, 1667, he had the degree of doctor of laws at Oxford, on the recommendation of James Butler, Duke of Or- mond, chancellor of the university. When King James II. came to the crown, be was stripped of all his offices and employments, and his troop (purchased by himself) for which he had refused 2000 1, some time before, disposed of to another. Having been bred from his infancy in England, he had a perfect abhorrence of popery j and although King James, Richard Talbot, Duke of Tyr- connel, and divers others, had several times offered him many ad- vantages of grandeur and power, yet such was his steady ad- herence to the protestant religion, that they were often heard to say, " He would force them to ruin him, which they were sorry for." The Duke of Tyrconnel not only disarmed the protestants, and took their horses from them, but made an attempt on the lives of the most eminent persons in Dublin, taking, One morning, from their houses, this Mr. Fitz-Gerald, with several others, who were carried through the streets, in a most insolent manner, to the lord chief justice Nugent's, who ordered them to Newgate, where they were confined in the most common and nasty room in that wretched prison 3 and although it was represented their lives would thereby be endangered, they were answered, It was good enough for them. Accordingly Mr. Fitz-Gerald remained there twenty one weeks, until, by frequent applications and im- portunities, an order of council was obtained to discharge him on bail 3 when, giving considerable bonds for his security, he was permitted to live with some ease in his own house for about five months. Yet, lest he might hold correspondence with the citizens, who were still suspected to have great store of concealed arms, a regiment of foot was quartered in three houses within pistol-shot of his ; and although he was deprived of his estate and employ- ments, to the value of 3300/. a year, yet he wanted nothing of necessary provisions for his subsistence, sent from persons then and after unknown to him. When the confirmation of King William's landing at Carrickfergus, in Ireland, on June 14th, 1690, was received at Dublin, leave was promised him to stay at his own house under a guard j but he was, in King James's ab- sence, hurried out of it by an insolent militia officer, assisted with seven citizens, without allowing him one moment to put his af- fairs in order, and carried to the castle, where he met with Dr VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 187 Xing and Dr. Foy (two eminent divines, and afterwards bishops) in the guard-room, brought thither some hours before on the same account : and after some deliberation, he was ordered to be confined in the college, in which, at that time, were above fifty prisoners of all degrees. When the news of King James's defeat at the Boyne, on July lit, 1690, had reached Dublin, the city was in the utmost confusion, occasioned by rumours of being to be burned, and tho castle blown up, and in it all the protestant inhabitants : on which alarm, this Mr. Fitz-Gerald bestirred himself, and it may justly be said, that by his conduct and courage he prevented so terrible a disaster ; having desired Sir Robert Gore, with two or three ser- vants, to go to the castle, and carry a letter to Mr. Spike, who kept the keys of it for King James 5 and required him to deliver them to Sir Robert, with which he complied. After this, accom- panied by the bishop of Limerick, Dean Burke, and eight or nine gentlemen more, he marched out of the college towards the city, and at the end of the Lord Charlemount's house was commanded by a centinel to stand ; but he, pushing forward, demanded by whose order he stood there ? Whereunto the centinel answered, by his Officer's -, that the guard was at hand, and that he would fire upon them if they advanced nearer : upon which, Mr. Fitz- Gerald seizing his sword, and marching forward, he no sooner was perceived with the sword in his hand, but the windows and doors flew open, men, women, and children, crying aloud, u Here's Captain Fitz-Gerald, we are now safe ;" every one then believing him to be so, and the town free from danger. On coming to the custom-house, he with great care and diligence secured the papers of the revenue ; and leaving men to guard that place, he proceeded into the city. After calling at the castle, where he was satisfied all was well, he found several crowds of people gathered about the middle of Castle-street, contriving how- to plunder the houses of the papists, with whom he so argued on the situation of affairs, as to prevail with them to have better thoughts, and to assure him they would act nothing that night but by his directions. When he had advanced as far as the Tholsel (or Exchange) he met Sir Thomas Newcomen, and other princi- pal citizens, who had been some time in the streets to prevent disorders j and who assured him, that Colonel Lutterel, the go- vernor, and his deputy, had both fled about seven o'clock j one of the company averring he heard him say, that Captain Fitz-Gerald 188 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. would soon have his place; which in a few hours proved true* Many of the townsmen joining, with such arms as they could get, a rabble of at least fifty men were gathered near Skinner' s-row, and in the midst of them a gentleman, with all the keys of the city in his hands ; Mr. Fitz-Gerald demanded, by what authority he kept those keys ? To which he replied his authority was better than his. Whereupon, closing with him, he took the keys from him ; and the gentleman, being asked why he would dispute it with Captain Fitz-Gerald, begged his pardon, and told him, that not only he, but all his party, were seeking him, to present him with the keys. This done, the several parties of protestants join- ing, to the number of near 100, he ordered sixty of them, with corporals of his own making, to the several gates of the city, and ten to the mint office ; after which he went to the main-guard, where finding a militia officer on duty, and about thirty men with their arms loaden and matches lighted, it was a long time before he would admit of a parley, threatening every moment that his men should fire ; but at length, Mr. Fitz-Gerald, discoursing him at some distance, declared to him the danger he incurred, of put- ting the whole town in blood, when the King was so near, and .that he could have no hopes of mercy, but by giving up his guard to him. Whereupon he delivered up his pike to him, and his men laid down their arms, which he immediately put into pro- testant hands. He then went to the castle, where he found an easy admittance, having sent thither several protestants before, under the command of Sir Robert Gore, to guard the place; and having placed his guards, and ordered the rounds, he went to a friend's house in the city, accompanied with the Bishop of Lime- rick, Dean Burke, and several gentlemen, who had formerly been in his own troop; who sent letters to his Majesty, then near Drogheda, with an account of their proceedings. The first of their letters were scarce signed, when Mr. Fitz- Gerald was informed, that at least 1000 French were in arms, who had returned from the camp ; and, at the same time, he had a letter from Alderman Blackhall, informing him, the town was a firing in his quarters ; whereupon he drew out the guard, (hav- ing hastily signed the letter to the King, and sent it by Coun- sellor Dixon,) and, with about thirty men, went to the place where the danger seemed greatest ; on which those men, hearing the whole city was in arms with him, took to their heels on his first appearance, and fled out of the town ; but happening to find VISCOUNT LEINSTER. I89 the man that was putting fire to the thatched houses in Kaven- street, he seized him before much damage ensued, who being a French soldier, and obeying the orders of his major, he was re- leased after two days confinement. About break of day some hundreds of the rabble, in several places of the town, being got together, declared, they were resolved to take the protestant goods out of the papists houses, and then burn the houses ; adding, they had been ruined and imprisoned by the Irish rogues, and now would revenge themselves, and plunder all the papists. To pre- vent this, he reasoned with them strongly j and asked them, if they knew him ; and if they had forgot what he had done for them last night, in disarming the guard, and preserving them, when they had no arms to defend themselves? This pacified some of them ; but, whilst he was speaking, others broke open the house of Colonel Patrick Sarsfield (commonly styled Earl of Lucan) and there he was obliged to exercise his authority with cane and sword ; and from four o'clock to seven in the morning was in unheard of danger, every one of this rabble believing he robbed him of his due, in denying him leave to break into papists houses, to search for protestants goods j and yet, by God's great goodness, there was not a life lost in the town. About seven in the morning he directed several letters, and sent messages to all the old privy counsellors, to the few protes- tants of the late council, and to most of the eminent clergymen in town, who assembled on this occasion) and after he had made them a short speech, they returned him thanks, and chose a com- mittee of five, to manage affairs till the King's pleasure was known j which number being increased to nine, by the coming in of some eminent persons, they consulted of what was fit to be done for the keeping of order and peace in the city j but whilst they were thus employed, there was a fresh alarm, that the French were returning, and within a mile of the town. Upon which he drew out a considerable body of men, dispatched three horsemen to scout four miles about the country, and sent a letter to the chief officer of the vanguard of the King's army, as fol- lows: " Sir, " This town is now at his Majesty's service, only the rabble is very numerous, and we are afraid will be disorderly ; and it is feared that some parties of King James's forces, who are within six miles., will return and rifle the town 5 we therefore entreat 190 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. you, to come or send some party of the force? under your com- mand, to relieve and assist us with all expedition, and secure his Majesty's subjects from any further inconveniences. " Fitz-Gerald.'' " Dublin, July 3d, at noon, 1690. " To the Chief Officer, commanding any Body of their Majesties Horse, Foot, or Dragoons, In their March to Dublin. 14 Haste, Haste, Haste, for his Majesty's service." m This letter came to the King, sooner than that which was sent by Dixon, though dispatched eight hours before it. His Majesty received the news of the city's being in his hands, with great sa- tisfaction, and said, where his corpse was interred on the 2/tb, in the family vault, very privately, as he directed in his will, bearing date the day before his death, whereby he ordered that none should attend his funeral, but a few of his servants, and left divers legacies to hi* friends, &c. with the following charitable bequests, viz. for the use of the charity school of Castledermot, 500/. for building a charter school at Manooth the like sum of 500/. for building another charter school at Strangford, 500/. for the use of the poor boys and girls of St. Andrew's parish in Dublin, 500/. to the poor of the parishes of Manooth, Castledermot, Athy, and Kildare, 50/. each j and 200/. for rebuilding the church at Rathangan. On March 7th, J 708-9, his Lordship married the Lady Mary O'Brien, eldest daughter to William, third Earl of Jnchiquin : she died in Feb. /th, 178O, at Dublin; and, besides eight daughters, had issue four sons, whereof, First, William, was born on January 24th, 1714-15, and died an infant. Second, George, was born on October 1 ith, 1/20, and died young. Third, James, Lord OfFaley, Duke of Leinster, and, Fourth, Charles, was born on December 1 6th, 1 724, and died at the age of nine years. The daughter were, First, Lady Mary, born on December 24th, 1715 5 second, Lady Elizabeth, born on May 11th, 1717 5 third, Henrietta, born on June 11th, 1719; fourth, Catharine, who was born on Oc- tober 2d, 1/23, and died on April 8th, 1728j fifth, Anne, born on December 3 lit, 1/26; and, sixth, Frances, baptised on Ja- vol, ri. o 194 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. fluary 8th, 1 727-8. These six daughters all died young, and witk their three brothers were buried in Christ-church, Dublin. Tha seventh, Lady Margaretta, born on July 2d, ] /20, and died Ja- nuary 15th, 1766, having been married in 1748 to Wills Hill, Viscount Hilsborough, and afterwards created Earl of Hilsbo- rough, of whom under that title; and Lady Charlotte, was born on April 3d, 1734, and died at Cartown, on October 18th, 1743. This further account of his Lordship is on a noble monument in Christ-church, Dublin : ROBERT, Earl of KILDARE, The nineteenth of that Title in succession, And in Rank, the first Earl of Ireland, Married the Lady Marie O'Brien, Eldest daughter of William Earl of Inchiquin, By whom he had issue four sons and eight daughters. Of which Number Only James, the present Earl, and the Lady Margaretta, Survived Him. Together with the Titles, he inherited the Virtues Of his Noble ancestors, And adorned every Station he possessed. Truth, Honour, and Justice, Directed the whole course of his life. The Daily Devotions of his Family, And the Publick Worship in the Church, Were, by his regular Attendance, Cherish 'd and Recommended. Though possess'd of a great Estate, He manag'd it with particular Prudence and Oeconomy, In order to give a freer Course to his many and great Charities. He was a disinterested Lover of his Country, Without any Affectation of Popularity j And was belov'd by all, Not because he sought it. But because he deserv'd it. He was A most Tender and Affectionate Husband, An Indulgent and Prudent Father, And a sincere and steady Friend. His Disconsolate Relict, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. 1C)5 In Testimony of her Gratitude and Affection, And the better to recommend to his Descendants The Imitation of his Excellent, Example, Caused this Monument to be erected. He died the 20th Day of February, A. D. 1743, in the sixty-ninth Year of his Age. James, his third but eldest surviving son and successor, was born on May 2 married, July 31st, 1802, Thomas Foley, Esq of Abemarles, in Car- marthenshire, an admiral in the royal navy. Also Henrietta-Catharine, Caroline-Elizabeth-Mabel, Louisa, and Caroline, who died young. After the death of the late Duke, the Duchess re-married tq William Ogilvie, Esq.1 His Grace died November 19th, 17/3* and was succeeded by his eldest son, William Rorert, second Duke ofLcinstcr, &c. in Ireland, also second Viscount Leinster, in England : his Grace, before his accession to the peerage, was representative in parliament for Dublin, for uhich city he acted with the greatest integrity, use- fulness, and patriotism, for which the citizens c married, April 15th, 1799, lieutenant-general Sir Charles Ross, colonel of the eighty sixth regiment of foot, M. P. for Ross shire. Seventh, Emily-Elizabeth, born May 13th, 1778, married, March 13th, 1801, John-Joseph Henry, Esq. of Straffan, in Kil- dare, nephew of Francis, Earl of Moira. Eighth, Geraldine-Mabel, born August 27th, 1779> died March 22d, 1 79O. Ninth, Elizabeth-Mary, born October 20th, 1 780, married July 22d, 1805, Sir Edward Littlehales, Bart, of Ashcome, in Sussex. Tenth, Isabella-Charlotte, born July lfjth, 178I. Eleventh, Cecilia-Olivia, born March 3d, 178(5, married, Au- gust, ISth, 1800, Thomas, Third Lord Foley. Twelfth, Olivia-Letitia-Catharine, born September 9th, 1787, married, May 8th, 1806, Charles, eighth Lord Kinnaird. Thirteenth, Augusta Octavius, born July 27th, 1789, died young. The Duke dud October 20th, 1 805, and was succeeded by his eldest son. Augustus Frederick, the third Duke of Leinster, and third Viscount Leinster, of Taplow. His Grace was born August 21st, 1791. Tides. Augustus -Frederick Fitz-Gerald, Duke of Leinster; Marquis and Earl of Kildare, Earl and Baron of Oifaley, Premier Marquis, Earl and Bnron of the kingdom of Ireland; and Vis-* count Ltinster of Taplow, in the kingdom of Great Britain. Creations. Baron of Offaley, then in the county of Kildare, VISCOUNT LEINSTER. lgg but now in the King's county, originally by tenure ; by creation, A. D. 1205, the 7th of King John ; and Earl of the town of Kil- dare, on May 14th, 1316, lOEdw. II. Marquis of Kildare, and Earl of OfFaley, on March 3d, 1761, 1 Geo. III. Duke of Leinster, November 26th, 1766, 7 Geo. III. Viscount Leinster of Taplow, in the county of Buckingham, on February 21st, 1 746-7, 20 Geo. II. Arms. Argent, a Saltire, Gules. Crest. On a wreath, a monkey at gaze, proper, environed round the middle, and chained, Or. Supporters. Two monkies, proper, environed and chained, as the crest. Motto. Crom a Boo. Chief Seats. Cartown, in the county of Kildare, which seat, with its appurtenances, (sometime the residence of the Talbots and the Ingoldsbies) Robert, nineteenth Earl of Kildare, purchased on January 27th, 1738-9, from Thomas Tngoldsby, of Waldridge, in the county of Bucks, Esq. and greatly improved it, by addi- tional buildings, which he desired, in his will, might be finished according to the plan made thereof: Dullardstown, alias Leinster Lodge, likewise in the county of Kildare 5 and Leinster-house, near Dublin. 200 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. NOEL, VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. The barony o/Wentworth (on which the viscounty arises) had its origin by writ of summons to parliament, in 1529, m ine Per- son of Thomas Wentworth, lineally descended from William Wentworth, of Went worth- Wood house, in com. Ebor. who, by Isabel, his wife, daughter and coheir of William Pollington, Esq. son and heir of Pollington, of Pollington, in com. Ebor. Knight, left issue two sons; First, William Wentworth, of Wentworth-Woodhouse, di- rect ancestor to the late Earls of Strafford. Second, John Wentworth, who was seated at Elmsall, in com. Ebor. by gift of his uncle John, and Joan his wife, daughter of Richard de Teys, of Burgh- Walleys, in Yorkshire, was father of John Wentworth, of Elmsall, who, by Alice, daughter and heir of Roger Bisset, of Preston-Bisset, Bucks, had issue another, John Wentworth, Esq. whose wife was Agnes, sister and co- heir of William Dransfleld, of West Bretton, in com. Ebor. and their son and heir, John Wentworth of Elmsall, having married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Richard Beaumont, of Whitley-hall, Esq. in com. Ebor. left issue three a sons. First, John, ancestor to those of Elmsall, and to those of Kirby, whose posterity are still remaining. Second, Sir Roger, whose descendants attained the honour of Earl of Cleveland, and Barons Wentworth, of Nettjested) and, » Dugdalc's Visitation of Yorkshire, anno 1665, VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. 201 Third, Richard, ancestor to the Wentworths of West Bret- ton, i The said Sir Roger Went worth, marrying Margery, daughter and heir of Sir Philip le Despencer, of Nettlested, in com. Suff. h by Elizabeth his wife, relict of William Scrope (who was beheaded at Bristol, A. D. 1399, for his loyalty to King Richard II. and died without issue) Earl of Wiltshire, and daughter and coheir of Sir Robert Tiptoft, of Nettlested aforesaid, and Langar castle, in Nottinghamshire, Knight, he became possessed of several lord- ships in Suffolk, Essex, and other counties. The said Sir Philip le Despencer was grandson and heir of Philip, a younger son of Hugh le Despencer, son of Hugh, Earl of Winchester, and com- monly styled c Earl of Gloucester j and Sir Roger Tiptoft, was a younger brother of John Tiptoft, grandfather of John Earl of Worcester, who suffered decapitation in J470, for his adherence to King Edward IV. The before-mentioned Margery was a very young widow at the time of her marriage with the said Roger Wentworth ; her first husband, d John Lord Roos, being slain at Bauge, with Tho- mas Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, on Easter-Eve, (March 22d, 142 J) without having any issue by her. She had in dowry the castle of Hehnsley, with the lordship thereto belonging; e as also the manors of Haugh and Lynton, in the county of York; the manors of Chilhamf and Wulryngton, in Kent j the manor of Braundeston, and the third part of the manor of Stoke-Albany, in Northamptonshire -} the manor of Preston-Bisset, in com. Bucks ; the manor of Barkeston, called Pell-house-place, with two parts of the manor of Redmylde, in com. Leic. as also 63/. 14$. 4d. an- nual rent, issuing out of the fee-farm rent of the city of York; and eight bovates of land in Eykering, within the county of Not- tingham. She died son April 20th, 1478, having also survived her second husband, by whom she had issue three daughters ; Eli- zabeth, married to John Calthrope, Esq. ; Margaret, to Sir Wil- liam Hopton, Knight j and to Constable, of Flamborough, in Yorkshire, Esq. j also two sons, First, Sir Philip Wentworth-, of Nettlested, Knight j and, Second, Henry Wentworth, of Codham in Essex j Esq. an- b Barones Extincti, MS. c Sec vol i. p. * Ex Stemmate de Fam. Roos. « Claus. 9 H. V. m. 4. f This with the neighbouring manor of Kingston came from the Tiptofts *nd Badlesmercs • E received the honour of knighthood, with several other persons of distinction, in the chief church of Roy, on All- hallows-day. After that, in consideration of his great merits, he was summoned to parliament ly writ, among the peers of tho realm, on December 2d, 1529, and in the year following, was among those lords who subscribed that declaration, sent ! to F'ope rClement VII. representing, that, if he did not confirm the divorce ■ Sec vol. i. of this Work. o Fuller's Worthies in Norfolk, r*. 270. t MS. in Bib Joh. Anstis Not. B. 5 s Hollingshed's Caron. p 990. r Rymer'slocd vol. xiv. p 405. 204 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. of King Henry VIII. from his Queen, the aforesaid Catherine, he would endanger his supremacy in England. In 1532, he attended on the King to his interview with the French King at Boulogne, on October 20tb, and in 37 Hen. VIII. was 8 commissioned to array all men able to bear arms in the county of Suffolk. In the reign of King Edward VI. he was lord chamberlain of the household, and one of the privy-council, and l accompanied William Parr, Marquis of Northampton, in 1549, to suppress the Norfolk rebels, headed by Kett, the Tanner. The following year he obtained a grant from the King, of the manors11 of Step- ney and Hackney j which was confirmed in I Eliz. to his son, Thomas Lord Wentwortb, by act of parliament, and dying in his place of lord chamberlain, on March 3d, 1550-1, was x buried on the seventh of the same month in Westminster Abbey. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Adrian Fortescue, Knight of the Bath, by Anne his wife, heir to Sir William Stonor, of Stonor in Oxfordshire, Knight, and had issue eight sons and nine daughters 5 Anne, married to Sir John Pooley, of Badley in Suffolk, Knt. 5 Cicely, to Sir Robert Wingfield, Knt. -, Mary, to William Cavendish, Esq. ; Margery, first married to John, Lord Williams, secondly, to Sir William Darcy, and thirdly, to Sir John Crofts, Knight 5 Joan, married to Henry, Lord Cheney, Dorothy, to Paul Withypool, Esq. 5 Elizabeth, married to John Cocke, Esq. j y Catharine and Margery. The sons were, First, Thomas, his successor. Second, Sir Henry, who married his first cousin, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Christopher Glemham, Knight. Third, Richard, wedded to Margaret Roydon. Fourth, Philip, married to the daughter of Sir Richard Corbet. Fifth, John. Sixth, Edward. Seventh, James 3 and, s Rymer's Feed. vol. xv. p. 72. t Life of K. Edw. VI. by Sir John Hayward, p. 71. » Strype's Memorials, vol- ii. p, 218. x Ibid. p. 283. y This Elizabeth was the wife of John Cocke, father of Richard Cocke, of Prittlewell in Essex, Esq. ; and Mary Cocke, his eldest daughter and co- heir, became the wife of Richard Davies the elder, of Middleton,com. Salop, Esq. of the body extraordinary to his Majesty. This Mary Davies died with- out issue ; was born, September ad, 1623, and lies buried in Prittlewell church, where is a handsome monument, 1788. VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. 205 Eighth, Roger. He was succeeded in honour and estate by Thomas, his eldest son and heir. This Thomas, second Lord Wsntworth, in the lifetime of his father, was in that expedition made into Scotland, in 1547, when the Scottish army was defeated, on September 10th, at Mussleborough ; in which battle, having worthily behaved,, he, on the 28th of that month, z received the honour of knighthood, in the camp beside Rox borough. In 6 Edw. VI. he had sum- mons to parliament among the peers of the realm; and, being about the same time made deputy of Calais, was shortly after re- moved from that trust, by reason of his youth and inexperience, as Hay ward writes3 in his history of Edward VI. Adhering to Queen Mary, he was, at her accession, A. D, 1553, sworn of the privy-council, and again made deputy of Calais,, and so continued till the surrender thereof to the Duke of Guise, in January 1557-8 ; for which he was (though a prisoner in France) indicted of high treason : but Queen Mary's death hap* pening soon after, he, on April 22d, 1559, m tne &rst year °f Queen Elizabeth's reign, was b brought to his trial in Westmin* iter-hall j and being heard, was acquitted by his peers, it appear- ing, that he had given repeated advices of the design against that place, and had required succours for the defence of it, but with- out success. Afterwards, on January l6th, 1571-2, he was one of the lords who sat in judgment on the trial of Thomas Howard, fourth Duke of Norfolk; also in 1587, on the trial of Mary, Queen of Scotland : and departed this life on January 14th, 159O-I, having had two wives, first, c Ann, daughter of Sir John Wentworth, of Gosfield in Essex, Knight, who left no issuer secondly, Ann, daughter of Henry Wentworth, of Suffolk, Esq. ; by whom he had two sons, First, William 3 and, Second, Henry. And a daughter, Elizabeth, married to William, son and heir to Sir Francis Hynde, of Madingley in Cambridgeshire, Knight. William, his eldest son, married Elizabeth, daughter of Wil- liam Cecil, Lord Burleigh ; but dying without issue in the life- time of his father, * Hollingshed, p 991. » Ibid p. 162. fc Visitation of Suffolk. c Hollinshed, p. 1184. 205 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Henry, the youngest son, succeeded his father as third Lord Wentworth, as well as to the estate, which he enjoyed but a short time, dying in 36 Eliz. leaving issue by Anne, his wife, daughter to Sir Owen Hopton, d at Yoxford in Suffolk, Knight, lieutenant of the Tower, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and. widow of Sir William Pope, of Wroxton, com. Oxford, Knight. First, Thomas, his heir, fourth Lord Wentworth. Second, Henry ; and, Third, Jane, wife of Sir John Finet, e of Westkele, in com. Lincoln, and of Soul ton, in the parish of WestclifTe, com. Kent, Knight. Thomas, fourth Lord Wentworth, first Earl of Cleve- land, his son and heir, was made Knight of the Bath, in 1614, at the creation of Henry, Prince of Wales j and behaved himself vith such extraordinary prudence, that hef gained the esteem of that Prince's fa then King James I. He was among those Lords, who, in the year 1621, addressed his Majesty, concerning the s advancement of English gentlemen to be peers of Scotland or Ire- land, in prejudice to the peers of England and their children ; which, though distasteful to the King, yet he so far complied with that he after made no new creation. His Lordship was likewise greatly favoured by King Charles I. who advanced him on February 5th, 1625-6, in the first year of his reign, to the title of Earl of Cleveland, in cow. Ehor. And, having served in the wars in the Low-countries, he com- manded under George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, in his ex- pedition into France, in 1627, and afterwards was made captain of the band of pensioners. He manifested his exemplary loyalty throughout the whole course of the civil wars, valiantly behaving himself in several encounters with the rebels ; particularly at the defeat of Sir William Waller, on June 29th, 1(544, at Cropredy bridge, where he b routed his army, and took several prisoners : but on October 27th, the same year, at the second battle of New- berry, having charged the left wing of the rebels horse, and forced d Sir Owen's other daughter married William, fourth Lord Chandos. e Master of the ceremonies to King James I. ; a wit and poet. See Wood's Atliae. and Finetti Philoxensis. See also Topographical Miscellanies, under Wroxton, 1791, 4*0. • Lloyd's Worthies, p. 570, B Hist, of Eng. vol. ii. p. 747. Walker's Hist. Discourses, p. 32. VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. 207 them back in great confusion, and being immediately charged by another body, whom he also defeated, he ' engaged himself so far, that by the badness of his horse, which fell under him, he was un- fortunately taken prisoner, and so continued a considerable time; though it was k ordered by the parliament, on March 31st fol- lowing, that he should be exchanged for Colonel Jones : yet it appears he was a prisoner on July t)th, 1646 ; when it was or- dered l that he should have libeity on bail, to go into the country for three weeks for his health : at the expiration of which, he had his liberty m allowed him a month longer ; and on September 3d, was n released, on engaging his honour to the lieutenant of the Tower, to render himself again, if required by the parliament. Being afterwards remanded back into custody, he had again his liberty0 allowed him for three months, by order of parliament, on September 6th, 1648, on engagement of his honour to surrender himself then, if required. This long imprisonment could not deter him from again dutifully espousing the royal cause ; for he accompanied his Majesty into Scotland, in the year 1650. Soon after hi3 arrival there, he, with several other noble gentlemen, were ordered to depart the kingdom, for p refusing to take the covenant : but being to have money to ' transport himself, which they neglected to furnish him with, he staid with his Majesty, till the battle of Worcester, September 3d, lfi51, when he behaved with great gallantry; and, having rallied some scattered forces, r charged the rebel enemy as they were entering the city; winch, though ineffectual, was the means to facilitate his Majesty's es- cape, who had otherwise been in danger of being taken in that city. After that unfortunate engagement, this courageous noble- man (though above sixty years of age) made his escape from Worcester ; and, having marched twenty-one days together, upon a trotting horse, had the ill-luck to be again s taken prisoner, at Woodcote, in Shropshire, from whence he was conveyed to the Tower of London. He lived to see the restoration of King Charles II. and ' ac- 1 Walker's Hist. Discourses, p. 1, 3. k Whitlock's Memorials, p. 134. l Ibid p. 22Q. „, Ibid. p. 224. n Ibid. p. 225. 0 Ibid, p. 330. p Ibid p 458. q Walker's Hist. Disc p. 161. r Hist, of King Charles the lid's Preservation, p 22, 23. Ibid, p .38. « Lloyd's Worthies, p 571. 208 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. companied his Majesty, in his triumphant entry into London, at the head of three hundred noblemen and gentlemen : and in 1662, he was again made captain of the band of pensioners; which place he enjoyed till his death (which happened on March 26th, 1667, in the seventy-sixth year of his age), and was buried at Tedding- ton, in Bedfordshire. By Anne, his first wife, (daughter of Sir John Crofts, of Sax- mundham, in Suffolk, Knight), who was buried at Teddington, on January 7th, 1637, he had issue, three sons. First, Thomas, Lord Wentworth. Second, William ; and, Third, Charles, who both died young. And also three daughters; Lady Anne, who died an infant; Lady Mary, who died unmarried; and another Lady, Anne, mar- ried to John, Lord Lovelace. His second Lady was Catharine, second daughter and coheir to Sir John Wentworth, of Gosfield in Essex, Bart, before-men- tioned : and by her (who was buried at Teddington, on De- cember 2d, 1651) he had an only daughter, Lady Catharine, mar- ried to William Spencer, of Cople in Bedfordshire, Esq. Thomas Lord Wentworth, his eldest son, was summoned to parliament in 16 Car. L as Baron of Nettlested ; and be- haved himself with extraordinary bravery during the civil wars against the rebels. In the year 1652, he was sent into Denmark, to solicit assistance on his Majesty's behalf: but dying in the life- time of his father, on March 7th, 1664, without issue male, the titles of Earl of Cleveland, &:c. became extinct. And the Barony of Wentworth descended to Harriet, his only daughter and heir, u by his wife, Philadelphia, daughter of Sir Ferdinando Carey ; and she dying unmarried on April 23d, 1686, that dignity devolved on Lady Anne, Baroness Wentworth, daughter to Thomas Ear] of Cleveland, and wife to John Lord Lovelace. The said Lady Anne departed this life, on May 7th, 1697* having had one son, John, Lord Lovelace. And three daughters; first, Margaret, who was married to Sir William Noel, Bart, after-mentioned ; second, Martha, who wedded William Drax, Esq. of Barbadoes, merchant, and died without issue ; and, third, Anne, who died unmarried. » The celebrated and beloved mistress of the Duke of Monmouth. 5e* 2/2 *v VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. 209 John Lord Lovelace, last mentioned, her son, and heir ap- parent to the barony of Wentworth, died before her, without issue male, on September 26th, 1693 ; having married Martha, one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Edward Pye, of Bradenham in com. Bucks, Bart, and by her had a son, John, who died an in- fant ; and three daughters, whereof Anne and Catharine, dying single, Martha, second daughter, being the sole heir of the said John Lord Lovelace, inherited the Barony of Wentworth. This Martha, at tbfl coronation of Queen Anne, attended as Baroness Wentworth, of Ncttlested ; which title was adjudged to her in parliament by descent, and confirmed in 1/02-3. She was married to Sir Henry Johnson, who died without issue by her, on September 29th, 1719 3 and she died a widow aged about eighty-five, on July ]8th, 1745. Whereby the barony became vested in the descendants of the before-mentioned. Sir William Noel, of Kirby-Mallory, in com. Leicester, Bart, by Margaret his wife, eldest daughter of John Lord Lovelace, and of Lady Anne his wife, daughter and last heir to Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Cleveland, and Baron Wentworth, of Nettlested. The said Sir William Noel,x of Kirby-Mallory, Bart, was de- scended from John Noel, Esq. eldest son of Andrew Noel, of Dalby in Leicestershire, of Brook in the county of Rutland, &c. Esq. (ancestor to the Earls of Gainsborough) by his second wife, Dorothy, daugtherof Richard Conyers, of Wakerly in Northamp- tonshire, Esq. and widow of Roger Flower, Esq. This John Noel, Esq. (who was living in 1563,) wedded Anne, daughter and heir of John Fowler, of Wellsborough in the county of Leicester, Esq. and by her (with whom he had that estate) was father of William Noel, Esq. high sheriff of the said county, A. D. 1604, and for Warwick, in 1621 ; and by Frances, his wife, eldest daughter and coheir to John Fullwood, of Frerehall (or Ford- hall) in Wotton-Waven, in Warwickshire, Esq. and Catherine, his wife, daughter and coheir to Thomas Dawbridgecourt, of Langdon, in the same county, Esq. had five daughters and five fcons. First, William Noel, of Kirby-Maliory, Esq. who married a daughter of Richard C res well, (by some called Creshield) Esq. » Visitation of Lincolnshire, A. D. 1619. vol. vi. r 210 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. serjeant at law, but died without issue, 1645, and was buried at Cheping Barnet. Second, Verney Noel, Esq. of whom afterwards, as progenitor to the Viscount Wentworth. Third, Edward Noel, rector of Sibsdon, in Leicestershire, who, by Elizabeth, his spouse, daughter of the Rev. Mr. John Prest- grave, rector of Broughton-Astley, also in Leicestershire, left issue. Fourth, Henry Noel, of Pickering-Grange, in the said county, .Esq. barrister at law, who died without issue l6Q4 ; and, Fifth, Andrew Noel, of Congeston in the said county, Esq, who, by ....... his wife, daughter of Sir Rous, of Rous Lenchin the county of Worcester, Bart, left a daughter and heir. The daughters were, first, Anne, espoused to Thomas Grey, of Langley in Leicestershire, Esq. j second, Frances, married to Henry Kendal, of Smithsby, in the said county, Esq. j third, Eleanor, wedded to John Stafford, of Hancoate, also in Leicester- shire, Esq. ; fourth, Catherine, the wife of Richard Corbet, of Shropshire, Esq, j and, fifth, Elizabeth. Verney Noel, Esq. the second, but eldest surviving sen of William Noel, Esq. and Frances Fullwood, was advanced to the dignity of a Baronet, on July 6th, l6oO, and having married Eli- zabeth, second daughter of Sir Woolstan Dixie, of Bosworth in the county of Leicester, Knight, left by her, at his death, A. D. i66p, an only son and heir, Sir William Noel, of Kirby-Mallory, Bart, who wedded, first, Margaret, daughter of John Lord Lovelace, of Hurley, in Berkshire, by Lady Anne, his wife, before- mentioned; and, se- condly, Frances, youngest daughter of Humble, Lord Ward,, by Frances, Baroness Dudley, his wife. By the first, he was father of two sons, First, Sir Thomas Noel, Bart. ; and, Second, John, who succeeded to that dignity. His issue, by the second, was a son, William, who died young and two daughters : Elizabeth, who died young, and Frances, married, first, to Sir Charles Scrimshire, of Norbury-manor in Staffordshire, Knight ; and, secondly, to Sir John Chester, of Chichley, in Buckinghamshire, Bart. Sir Thomas Noel, Bart, the eldest son and heir, wedded Anne, daughter of William W hillock, of Pbillis-Court, neat- Henley upon Thames, in Oxfordshire, Esq. but dying in 1688, without issue by her, was buried at Hurley, in Bucks, being suc- ceeded in honour and estate by his brother, VISCOUNT WENTWORTH. 2! l Sir John Noel, Bart, who, by Mary, his wife, daughter and coheir of the loyal Sir John Clobery, of Winchester in Hampshire , and Bredstope in Devonshire, Knight, had two sons, First, Sir Clobery Noel, Bart, his heir ; and, Second, William Noel, Esq. ; and a daughter, Anne, married to Francis Mundy, of Markeaton in the county of Leicester, Esq. y William Noel, Esq. the said second son, having been bred to the law, was one of the late King's council ; and, in 1722, 1/27, 1~34, and in 1741, was elected one of the members for Stamford in Lincolnshire, of which corporation he was also recorder. In 1747, he was returned to parliament for Westlow (or Portpignam) in Cornwall, and likewise in 1754. In 1750 he was appointed chief justice of Chester, and continued in that office till March, 1757, when he was constituted one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas. He departed this life on December 8th, 1762 ; and having wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Trollope, of Casewick in Lincolnshire, Bart, by Susannah, his wife, one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir John Clobery, aforesaid, was father of four daughters, viz. first, Mary, who married Thomas Hill, of Tern in Shropshire, and member of parliament for Shrews- bury, and died on February 14th, 1700, father by her of Noel Hill, created Lord Berwick, 1784; second, Anne, who died un- married; third, Frances, married to Bennet Sherrard, Earl of Harborough, and died December 13th, 176O; and, fourth, Eliza- eth. Sir Clobery Noel, Bart, eldest son and heir, was returned one of the knights of the shire for the county of Leicester, 1727; died on July 30th, 1733, and was buried at Kirby Mai lory ; having wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Rowney, of Ox- ford, Esq. and one of the members for that city in several parlia- ments, had by her six sons. First, Edward, late Viscount Went worth. Second, the Rev. Clobery Noel, who died in March, 1763, without issue, and was buried at Kirby Mallory. Third, Thomas Noel, Esq. who was captain of one of his Ma- jesty's ships of war, and having been with admiral John Byng, in the action off Minorca, on May 20th, 1756, received there a y Grandfather of Francis Noel Clarke Mundy, Esq. now of Markeaton, author 01 the descriptive poem of Needwood Forest, &c 212 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. wound, of which he afterwards died at Gibraltar, and was buried there. Fourth, the Rev. John Noel, dean of Salisbury. Fifth, the Rev. Rowney Noel j and, Sixth, William James Noel, who died young; and a daughter, Mary. Edward, first Viscount Wentworth, the eldest son and heir, succeeded to the Barony of Wentworth, of Nettlested, on July 18th, 1745, at the death of Martha Baroness JVentivorth, aforesaid : and his present Majesty was pleased, in consideration of his Lordship's great merits, to advance him to the dignity of a Viscount of Great Britain, by the style and title of Viscount Wentworth, of Welleslorough in the county of Leicester, by letters-patent, dated May -4th, 1762. His Lordship died at his seat in Leicestershire, October 31st, 1774, and was buried with his ancestors at Kirkby Mallory. His Lordship married Judith, daughter and heir to William Lamb, of Farndish in the county of Bedford, and Wellesbo- rough in Northamptonshire, Esq. j and by her Ladyship (who died in January, and was buried at Kirkby, 1/62) had three daughters. First, Judith, married, January gth, 1797> to Admiral Sir Ralph Milbanke, Bart. Second, Elizabeth, married June 10th, 1777* to James Bland Burgess, of Lincoln's-Inn, Esq. now a Baronet : she died January 24th, 1779* *t twenty-three, and was buried at Hurley. Third, Sophia, married August 18th, 1777* to the Honourable Nathaniel Curzon, Esq. now Lord Scarsdale : she died June 28th, 1/82. Also one son, Thomas, the present Viscount, born November 18th, 1745. His Lordship is LL. D. and married, February 4th, 1788, Mary, widow of the late Earl Ligonier, and sister and coheir of the second and last Earl of Northington. His Lordship has been many years a Lord of the King's bed-chamber. Titles. Thomas Noel, Viscount Wentworth, of Wellesbo- rough in the county of Leicester} Lord Wentworth, of Nettle- sted in Suffolk, and Baronet. Creations. Viscount Wentworth, on May 4th, 1762, 2 George III.; Lord and Baron Wentworth, on December 2d, 7 / X^J /^ /£*c~- /£*W Jur*-A* /bu~~ Jo £&t /ic\ t c£ L/en+J , *-* ^ c/fat++y *i£t^/L /rrfdt*. flu. cC^JiJi: 0/ 4stl***-fm-x*~& ^^v 4&±+ul A* £-± tunics The body of St. Thomas the Apostle, with those of this Thaddeus and King Agbarus, are said to be buried at Edessa. King Agbarus, according to Eusebius, in his " Ecclesiastical History," wrote a letter to Jesus Christ, and was favoured with an answer. Eusebius asserts, that he translated them from the Syrian language into the Greek, and that they were found in Edessa (where Agbarus is said to have reigned) among the papers which contained the deeds of Agbarus the King. Whether the said letter and answer be ge- nuine, or not, Nicephorus, a latter historian, narrates a very suspicious story, tiz. That Agbarus, together with the letter, sent a painter to take the picture ©f our Saviour, but the brightness of his face being so extraordinary, as to prevent the painter from taking his likeness, our Saviour took a handkerchief, mndj, laying it upon his face, the picture was immediately imprinted upon it, and he sent it to Agbarus. Nicephorus further advanceth that Edessa being cged in the time of the Emperor Justinian, the inhabitants were reduced to great straits, but, running to this picture for help, were wonderfully re- VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 225 The Count gathered what troops he could, and, passing the Euphrates, came in the night-time to Edessa, to which some of his followers being let in by ropes and ladders over the wall, they opened the gates to their companions, who slew all the Turks they met in the streets; but having no engines, nor materials wherewith to make them, they were not able to reduce the two castles, which were strong and well stored with men and provi- sions. Noradin, the younger son of Sanguin, having succeeded to his father's dominions of Aleppo, was no sooner apprized of this adventure at Edessa, than he collected a great army, with which he encompassed that city in such a manner, that those who were within, could not attempt to get out but at the imminent hazard of their lives. The Christians, finding that they were not in a condition to defend themselves against the enemy without the city, and the garrisons of the castles, and having no prospect of speedy relief, resolved to force their way sword in hand through the besiegers camp. In that attempt they succeeded, though with great difficulty and prodigious loss, being not only pressed very hotly in front by the soldiers in camp, and in the rear by de- tachments from the castles, when they sallied out of their city, but also harassed all the fourteen miles between Edessa and the river Euphrates. During that conflict, Count Josceline acted the part of a brave warrior, and, after exposing himself to the greatest dangers, arrived safe at Samosatum. The loss of the city of Edessa occasioned the second crusade, in which Conrade III. Em- peror of Germany, engaged with an army of 200,000 infantry, and 50,000 cavalry, and Lewis VI f. (surnamed the Young) King of France, with a retinue little inferior in number. These Princes set out for Palestine in the year 1 147, ar|d it being resolved, after their arrival, to open the campaign with the siege of Damascus, a general rendezvous of their troops, and of those of Baldwin* III. King of Jerusalem, consisting of his own forces and those of the Princes of Syria, was held at Tiberias on May 25th, 1 148 : but their attempt upon that city miscarried through the treachery of their Syrian allies, and the two European Potentates left Palestine in disgust, reproaching the Syrians for betraying their Christian brethren, whom they had solicited to take so long a voyage merely for their relief, and would have sacrificed for money to the infidels. The Prince of Antioch having been slain, A. D. 1149, in battle by Noradin, aforesaid, the Sultan of Iconium en- tered Syria with a great army ; and, having taken many cities and castles, laid siege to Turbessel, where Count Josceline re- vol. vi. a 220 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. sided with his wife and children : but the Count delivering up all the prisoners he had belonging to the Sultan, and presenting him with arms for twelve horsemen, that commander retired with his forces. After that Count Josceline lived in too unguarded a security, and going one night, at the Patriarch's invitation, to Antioch, A. D. 1 152, was seized by some thieves,, who lay in wait for him, when he had stept aside, as it is said, to ease nature, having no person with him but his page holding his horse, the rest of the retinue being partly before and partly behind, and quite ignorant of his misfortune. The Count was put in irons by his captors, and, being carried to Aleppo, was clapt into prison, the unwholesomeness of which, together with vexation, soon put an end to his days. This Josceline de Courtenay, second Count of Edessa, wedded Beatrix, widow of William de Saona : and by her had a son, Josceline de Courtenay, third Count of Edessa, and two daughters, Isabel, who died young, and Agnes, who was three times married, viz. first, to Almerick, King Baldwin Ill's brother, who was Count of Joppa, and in the sequel sixth mo- narch of Jerusalem ; secondly, to Hugh de Ibelim 3 and, thirdly, to Rainald de Mares, Prince of Sidon. Joceline de Courtenay, third Count of Edessa, being a minor at the death of his father, Beatrix, his mother,, had the govern- ment of his dominions, which then only contained the towns of Turbessel, Hamtab, Rcvendal, Ramulat, Bile, Samosatum, with a few others ot less consequence : and she, not being in a capacity to maintain them against the superior power of the Turks, deli- vered them, in consideration of a yearly pension for herself and children, to Manuel I. Emperor of Constantinople, with consent of her superior Lord, Baldwin III. King of Jerusalem, who, as he imagined they could not be preserved long from their Turkish neighbours, chose rather that they should fall into the enemies hands (which happened about a year afterwards) while in Ma- nuel's possession, than that the ruin of the country should be im- puted to him. The Countess of Edessa, having resigned her son's dominions to the before-mentioned Manuel I. set out for Jeru- salem with her family j and, soon after her arrival there, the aforesaid Almerick, brother to King Baldwin IJI. married her daughter, Agnes de Courtenay, and, during the life of his brother, had by her a son, Baldwin IV. King of Jerusalem, and a daughter, Sibylla, who also became Queen of that realm, as shall be taken notice of. Baldwin III. being poisoned by a Jewish physician, departed this life on February 13th, 1163, and was succeeded on VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 227 the throne- of Jerusalem by his said brother Almerick, who was, Soon after his accession, obliged to be divorced from his wife, Agnes de Courtenay, before-mentioned, as they were in the fourth degree of consanguinity ; but their two children aforesaid Were declared legitimate, and capable of succeeding to their father's inheritance. Almerick then wedded Mary, daughter of John Protosebastus, a Grecian Prince, and by her had a daughter, Isabel, of whom mention shall be made afterwards. In the year 1165, Josceline de Courtenay, third Count of Edessa, was, with other Christian chieftains, taken in battle by Noradin, before- mentioned j and, being carried to Aleppo, was detained there until 1 1/5, when he was set at liberty by the care and industry of his sister, Agnes, then the wife of Rainald de Mares, Prince of Sidon. In the mean time King Almerick dying of a bloody flux, A. D. 1175, was succeeded on the throne of Jerusalem by his son Baldwin IV. aforesaid, who, on November 25th, 1 1/6> with 400 horse, and a few foot, routed Saladin, Sultan of Egypt, and his army, consisting of 26,000 Turkish troops, at Ascalon. Jos- celine de Courtenay, Count of Edessa, the King's uncle, and Steward of the kingdom of Jerusalem, contributed much by his bravery and conduct to that memorable victory j and in the seventh year of the reign of Baldwin IV. was sent on an embassy to Con- stantinople, to solicit assistance against the enemies of Chris- tianity. A new. invasion being apprehended from the before- mentioned Saladin, the nobles of the kingdom assembled at Jeru- salem in February, 1183, and agreed, that a general tax should be imposed on every city and town, in order to maintain such a number of horse and foot as might be able to defeat the designs of the enemy. The money so collected in the cities and towns between Jerusalem and Caypha, was conducted by four principal persons of every city or town to Jerusalem, and there delivered to certain persons, who were appointed to receive it, and put the money of every city and town by itself, in a bag sealed up, into a chest, in presence of the patriarch of Jerusalem, the prior of the Holy Sepulchre, and the governor of the city, who were each in- trusted with one of the three keys for the three locks of that chest, which was ordered to be kept in the treasury of the Holy Cross. The money raised by that tax, in the cities and towns between Caypha and Berytum, was conveyed in like manner to Aeon, and being there delivered as at Jerusalem, was also put into a chest with three locks, for each of which there was a key, one whereof 228 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. was committed to the archbishop of lyre, the second to this Jos- celine, third Count of Edessa, and the third to four principal in- habitants of the city of Aeon. With the money arising from that tax, King Baldwin levied a more numerous army than had ever been raised in the Holy Land,, and gave the command of it to Guy de Lusignan, Count of Joppa and Ascalon, who was at that time the second husband of Sibylla, his sister, and among other Princes had Josceline de Courtenay, third Count of Edessa, under his banner: but there arose such dissensions among the great officers at Guy's being appointed general, that Saladin, after en- camping near them for eight days, and ravaging the adjacent country, retired unmolested, when it was thought that he had acted imprudently in coming so far as this side of the river Jordan into the kingdom of Jerusalem, and might have therefore been greatly harassed, if not totally routed, had the Christians behaved with unanimity and common resolution. Upon that Guy de Lusignan was divested of the command, which was again given to Raimond, Count of Tripoli, who had been set aside to make room for Guy. King Baldwin IV. survived that event but a short time j for being worn out with the leprosy, and grieved at the discord among his nobles, he resigned his breath A. D. 1185, hi the 25th year of his age, and was interred in the temple of the Holy Sepulchre j being reckoned happy in dying before the fall of his kingdom. He was succeeded by his nephew, Baldwin V. the posthumous son of William (styled Longaspada) Marquis of Montfeirat, by Sibylla, before-mentioned, daughter of King Almerick, by his consort, Agnes de Courtenay. Baldwin V. died about the age of six years, A. D. 1186, after he had set on the throne only eight months and eight days ; and is said to have been cut off by poison. After the death of Baldwin V. "the peers and nobles, joining together in council, offered unto Sibylla, the King's mother, as to the lawful heir of the crown, that she should be their Queen, with this condition, c that she should sequester from, by solemn divorcement, Guy her husband j' but she refused the kingdom offered to her on that condition ; till at last the ma- gistrates, with the nobles in general, granted unto her, and by their oaths confirmed the same, ' that whomsoever she would chuse to be her husband, all they would take and obey as their King.' Also Guy, her husband, with like petition among the rest, humbly requested her that the kingdom, for his sake, or for his private loss, might not be destitute of government. At length VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 229 »he, with tears, consenting to their intreaty, was contented, and solemnly was crowned their Queen, who after the manner re- ceived again their fidelity by their oath : whereupon Guy, with- out all hope both of wife and kingdom, departed quietly to his own home. This done, the Queen assembling the States and Prelates together, entered talk with them about the chusing of the King, according to that which they had promised and sworn to her, to obey him as their King, whom she should name to be her husband. Thus whilst they were all in expectation, waiting every man whom she would nominate, the Q-aeen, with a loud voice, said to Guy, that stood amongst them, 'Guy, my Lord, I chuse thee for my husband, and yielding myself and my kingdom unto you, openly I protest you to be the King.' At thee words all the assembly, being amazed, wondered that one single woman so wisely had beguiled so many wise men : and worthy was she, no doubt (a younger branch of the Courtenays, who have been seated at Powder ham castle above four hundred years from the reign of Edward the Third to the present hour. Their estates have been increased by the grant and improvement of lands in Ire. land, and they have been recently restored to the honours of the peerage. Yet the Courtenays still retain the plaintive motto, which asserts the inno- cence, and deplores the fall, of their ancient house. * While they sigh for past greatness, they arc doubtless sensible of present blessings, ; in the long series of the Courtenay annals, the most splendid aera is likewise the most unfortunate ; nor can an opulent Peer of great Britain be inclined to envy the Emperors of Constantinople, who wandered over Europe to solicit alms for the support of their dignity, and the defence of their capital." Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire^ p. xi. p. 294—307. * Ubi lapsus ! Quid feci ? A motto which was probably adopted by the Powderham branch, after the loss of the Earldom of Devonshire, &c. The primitive arms of the Courtenays were, or, three torteaux, gules, (phich seem to denote their affinity with Godfrey of Bouillon, and the ancient Counts o( Boulogne. 240 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Constantinople, after the decease of the Emperor Henry,, and parted from France in the year 1217, to receive the Imperial Crown of the Eastern Empire, which had been possessed by the Latin or Western Princes, Baldwin and Henry, from the year 1200. Robert, his third son, succeeded him in the empire, in the year 1221 : and to him succeeded Baldwin, his brother, who was driven from Constantinople, and lost the whole empire. His son Philip, after his death, became titular Emperor, who left only one daughter, married to Charles V. of France, Count of Valois. In her children ended this iirsi branch of the family of Peter de Courtenay, son, as observed, of Lewis le Gross, King of France. As the war in Constantinople was unfortunate to the French in general, so it was more particularly to the family of Courtenay ; for, having had the honour to have the empire in their family for three generations, they spent all they had in Europe, so that the grandeur of the family was much diminished j and hence it came to pass, that afterwards, when those of the blood-royal were ad- vanced above all others, and had distinguishing marks given them, this family, who had a superior title thereto, could never obtain to be esteemed as Princes of the blood. The said Peter de Courtenay, besides Peter, Emperor of Con- stantinople, had four other sons> viz. Robert de Courtenay, Seig- neur de Champignelles, &c. and William de Courtenay, Seigneur de Tanlay, &rc. But Robert de Courtenay was the only son whose posterity is continued down to this time ; for the posterity of William de Courtenay failed about 290 years since. So of the three branches that proceeded from Lewis le Gross, viz. Bourbon, Dreux and Courtenay, there are but two remaining, that of Bourbon, which holds the sceptre of France, and that of Cour- tenay. This Robert, Seigneur de Champignelles, &c. was butler of France, and died in the Holy Land, in the year 1239, leaving six sons, the youngest whereof was the continuator of his family. He was succeeded by his second son, John de Courtenay (the eldest being Aichbishop of Rheims in 1300), and he by his eldest son John, to whom succeeded John his eldest son, who, dying without issue, was succeeded by Peter his brother, and Peter by his eldest son Peter, who was counsellor and chamberlain in or- dinary to Charles VI. King of France, posts then looked upon as very honourable, and was succeeded, in the year 1411, by his son John, who spent all his estate in the wars, on which account he bad the name of John sans Terre given him, dying without lawful VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 241 issue in the year 1443. He was succeeded by his uncle John, Seigneur de Bleneau, who died in the year 14(50, and was suc- ceeded by his eldest son, John. His fifth son was Charles de Courtenay, Seigneur de Arrablay, de l'Espinay, &c. whose issue continued for many years. John, the eldest son, was succeeded by another John, in the year 1480, and he, in the year 1511, by Francis his eldest son. Which Francis was succeeded, in 156l, by his eldest son Gaspar, who petitioned Henry the Great, Ja- nuary 15th, lfi03, to obtain the antient rank of his family -, but without effect, as his son and successor, Esme, also did. The petitions and complaints of this Prince were ineffectually reiterated to the time of his death, in the year 1633, when he left the further pursuit thereof to his son Gaspar, who died in the year 1&55, without issue, and was succeeded, in his seigneury of Bleneau, by Lewis de Courtenay, Seigneur de Chevillon, his cousin. Thus having said as much of this branch of the family as I think neeessaVy, from the extracts made by Mr. Cleaveland, from Bouchet, who has given a large history of the family to the year 166], it only remains to be observed, that a little after the death of Lewis XI V. and on the accession of Lewis XV. the late King of France, to the throne, the Princes of Courtenay made a pro- testation, in which they asserted their right to the rank and pri- vileges of the Princes of the blood, dated October 1st, 1715, and signed Louis-Charles de Courtenay. — Charles Roger de Cour- tenay.— Roger de Courtenay. Mr. Cleaveland adds, at the end of his history of this branch : " On the 7th of May, 1730, in the morning, the Prince of Courtnay was found dead in his bed ; he left no issue j so that there remains, of that family, only his uncle, the abbot Courtenay." Robert de Courtenay, eldest son of Reginald, succeeded him as Baron of Oakhampton, Viscount of Devonshire, and governor of the castle of Exeter. In the year 1205, 7 John, he gave 500/. and live palfries, to have livery of the barony of Oak- hampton, with the knights fees belonging thereunto, which were no less than ninety-two and one-third. In 11 John, he gave to the King 500 marks and two great horses, for the livery of the manor of Sutton, in Berkshire. Upon the death of Hawise, his mother, he undertook to pay 1200 marks, that he might receive the homage of Oakhampton, then in the King's hands. And the next year, 12 John, to be released of that debt, he covenanted to serve the King, with twenty men at arms, at his own proper vol. vi. R 242 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. charge, for the term of one year, to commence on the octave ol St. John Baptist, wheresoever the King should appoint. In 1214, 16 John, he was made governor of Bruges, commonly called Bridgnorth, in Shropshire. In the 1/th of the same King, he was made sheriff of Oxfordshire, and governor of the castle of Oxford. For his good services in this office, the King com- mitted to him the coinage of tin in Devonshire and Cornwall. In 1 Henry III. there was a great contest between this Robert slnd Henry, son of Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, relative to the government of the castle of Exeter, which was his hereditary right, and descended to him from his ancestors. Henry would have taken it from him, however, and had it some little time in his possession, till the King interfered, and ordered it to be re-de- livered to Robert de Courtenay. The next year he had a safe conduct granted him, upon some special occasion, there being still a contention about the abovesaid office, notwithstanding the King's writ to restore him thereto ; for in 2 Henry III. on March 2Sth, 1218, the castle of Exeter and county of Devon was com- mitted to Robert de Albemarle to be kept; but, in May follow- ing, the cause of the King's seizing it being removed, he was again put into the possession of it, and, notwithstanding his here- ditary right, he accepted the King's grant for it in 4 and 5 Hen. III. In the fourth year of that King, he gave him a palfry, to hold a fair yearly in his manor of Oakhampton, on the vigil and feast-day of St. James the Apostle, which continues in that place to this day. In the ](5th year of Henry III. most of the castles and counties of England being resumed into the King's hands, the King commanded Robert de Courtenay to deliver up the castle of Exeter to Peter de Rival, or Rivaux, his favourite, by which the family of Courtenay was deprived of the honour and profit of the Viscounty of Devon, and government of the castle of Exeter, after it had been enjoyed by them and their ancestors near two hundred years, from the time of the conquest to this pe- riod, and though Robert had been faithful and serviceable to the Kiag and his father on so many occasions. This Robert, now only Baron of Oakhampton, was a great benefactor to, and pro- tector of, the Monks of Ford, and other religious endowments. He died at his manor-house of Iwerne, in ttye county of Dorset, July '»6th, 1242, and his remains, being carried to the abbey of Ford; were deposited in the chancel of the church there with great pomp j and a stately monument, in the form of a pyramid, MnM erected to his memory. VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 243 He married Mary, youngest daughter of William de Redvers, Karl of Devonshire, by whom his posterity, some time after, came to be Earls of Devonshire. By this Lady he bad issue; first, John, of whom hereafter; second, Sir William, who was one of the four knights of the shire for the county of Devon, in 42 Hen. III. He was surnamed de Musberrie, and married Joan, the daughter of Thomas Rasset, but died without i*sue j third, Ha wise, the wife of John de Nevi], whose heirs were afterwards in ward to John Lord Courtenay, his brother-irj-law. John, the eldest son, was Baron of Oakhampton after his father, and in 2J Henry III. paid 100 marks for his relief, and doing his homage had livery of all his lands; but it does not ap- pear he was summoned to any parliament. He was employed on several important services in that King's reign, and was also a great benefactor of the Monks of Ford. He died May 3d, 12/3, and was buried near his father. He married Isabel, daughter of Hugh de Vere, Earl of Oxford, Lord High Chamberlain of Eng- land, by whom he had one son, Hugh, his successor. His Lady, surviving him, was married, secondly, to the Lord Oliver Din- h.im, or Dinant, whom she also outlived. Hugh Courtenay, Baron of Oakhampton, was twenty-three years old, as appears by inquisition taken after the death of his father. In 1282, 10 Edw. I. he was in the expedition then made into Wales, and afterwards in other expeditions, and had many contests with the monks of Ford, relative to certain services he demanded of them as patron of the abbey, which his father had relinquished in their behalf. He married Eleanor, daughter of Hugh de Spencer, the elder, Earl of Winchester, and had with her the manors of Wooton and Dunstredcn, and had issue by her, two sons and four daughters ; first, Hugh, his successor; second, Sir Philip, a brave soldier, killed in the battle with the Scots, near Stirling, on June 24th, 1314; third, Isabel, the wife of John Lord St. John, of Basing; fourth, Avelina, the wife of Sir John Giffard, Knight; fifth, Egeline, of Robert de Scales; and, sixth, Margaret of John de Moeis or Mulis. He died at his house at Colecombe, (which he built) in Colliton Parish, February 28tb, 1291 ; and his wife at the same place, October 1st, 1328, after having been a widow above thirty years, and was interred near her husband, at Cowick, near Exeter. Hugh succeeded his father as Baron of Oakhampton, and was the First Earl of Devonshire of that name. He was sixteen years of age at the decease of his father ; and in 12gfJ, 244 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. 25 Edw. I. was in such favour with that Prince, that notwith- standing he made no proof of his age, he then doing his homage/ had livery of the manor of Ebrington, in the county of Dorset, a* also of Plymton, Exminster, Tiverton, and Topsham, in the county of Devon, which hereditarily descended to him by the death of Isabel de Fortibus, Countess of Devon and Albemarle, but was deprived of the lordship of the Isle of Wight, to which he was also heir. And, though he had some of the lands belong- ing to the Earldom of Devonshire, yet he had not the title of Earl, nor the third penny of the county, as his predecessors had, until the reign of Edward III. He was in rive expeditions into Scotland, and one into Wales, in the reign of Edward I. 5 and that King having, at Whitsuntide, in the 34th year of his reign, knighted his eldest son Edward of Caernarvon, that prince, at the high altar in Westminster, conferred the same honour imme- diately on 300 gentlemen, the sons of Earls, Barons, &c. amongst whom was this Sir Hugh Courtenay, and Sir Philip his brother. He was summoned to all the parliaments of Edward II. In 2 Edw. II. he received the honour of a knight banneret. He was in the expeditions into Scotland in the 8th year of Edward II. He was fifteen times summoned to especial treaties in parliament, in the eight first years of Edward III. as a Baron. In the ninth of the same King, he was twice summoned to parliament, by the name of Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, being the last Earl in order, as having been that year only restored to his right of that title. In 10 Edw. III. he was twice summoned to parlia- ment, as fourth Earl in order, being then restored to his due place, and to every parliament, enjoying the fourth or fifth place until 1340, 14 Edw. III. in which year he died, and was buried at Cowick. He was in several important commissions in the reign of that Monarch, and founded a chantry at Newton-Popleford, to pray for his good estate, and for the souls of Eleanor de Courtenay, his mother, and Philip de Courtenay, his brother. His right, to the Earldom of Devonshire he derived from Richard de Ripariis, or Redvers, who was made Earl of that county by King Henry I. and also lord of the Isle of Wight, which he obtained of that King. To him succeeded Baldwin, his eldest son, who had nine- teen houses in the city of Exeter, and no less than 159 lordships in the county of Devon ; and had issue three sons, Richard, Wil- liam, and Henry. He was succeeded by Earl Richard, his eldest son, who married Dionysia, or Hawise, as some say, daughter of Reginald, Earl of Ccnwall, natural son of Henry I. by whom he VISCOUNT COURTENAY. M* had two sons, Baldwin and Richard, successively Earls of Devon- shire, but who both died without issue, and the title and estates came to William de Rivers, surnamed de Vernon, their uncle, sixth Earl of Devon, second son of Baldwin, second Earl of De- vonshire. He was succeeded by Earl Baldwin, his son, seventh Earl ; and of his two daughters, Joan was married to William de Brewere, and afterwards to Hubert de Burgh, created Earl of Kent, by Henry III but she had no issue : and Mary, to Robert de Courtenay, as above-mentioned, to whose great grandson, Hugh de Courtenay, the Earldom of Devonshire was restored, as is before taken notice of. This Baldwin, seventh Earl, was suc- ceeded by his son Baldwin, eighth Earl, who having only a son that died an infant, was the last of the male line of the family de Ripariis, Redvers, or Rivers, and died of poison, in the year 1262. Whereupon his sister, Isabel, became Countess of Devon : she was the second wife of William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle and Holderness, a great Baron in the north, and third of that name and title j unto whom she brought the two Earldoms of Devon- shire and the Isle of Wight. But though he enjoyed the profits of the Earldom of Devon, during his life, he was never styled Earl thereof. He had issue by her three sons, who all died in their infancy, and two daughters ; Anne, who died unmarried ; and Avelina, first the wife of Ingram de Percie j and, secondly, of Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, commonly called Crouchback, from wearing the sign of the cross, anciently called a crutch, on his back. She died without issue, and gave a great portion of her in- heritance to her second husband, and sold to King Edward I. se- veral manors, &c. among which was the Isle of Wight. This Isabella de Fortibns, Countess of Devon and Albemarle, deceased in the year 1292, and was succeeded in the Earldom of Devon- shire by Hugh de Courtenay, as recited above. When the Earldom was restored to him, he gave to everj aionastery in De- vonshire twenty marks ; to the priory of Plympton twenty marks, to every other priory ten marks, and to every house of the Men- dicant friars ten marks. This Hugh de Courtenay had many disputes with the Mayor and Commonalty of Exeter, for making weirs upon their river, and his claiming to have Ex island and suburbs there exempted from the power and jurisdiction of the Mayor of that city, and other matters of complaint, all which causes were given in favour of the Mayor and Commonalty. He deceased in 1340, l4 Edw. III. and was buried at Cowick. 246 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. At his death he was seized of the castle, manor, and honour of Ph mpton, with its members -, the castle and manor of Tiver- ton ; the manor of Exminster and Topsham; with the hundreds of Plympton, Tiverton," Harridge, and Wonneford ; the castle and honour of Oakhampton ; with the manors of Stamford Courtenay, Caverley, Duelton, Kenn, Whimple, Ailesbear; the hamlet of Newton Popleford ; three mills upon Ex, near Exeter ; the manor of Chymleigh ; the advowsons of the churches of Throwley and Kenn ; and the prebends of Hays and Cutton, in the chapel of our Lady, within the castle of Exon, all in the county of Devon -, as also the manor of Bramere and Lymington, in the county of Southampton j of the manors of Crewkerne and Hannington, in the county of Somerset; of the manors of Ebrighton and Iwerne Courtenay, in the county of Dorset j and many more. Tt was found by inquisition, that Hugh de Courtenay was his next heir, and then thirty years of age. He took to wife Agnes, sister of John, Lord St. John of Basing, who married the Earl's sister, as before observed, and had issue by her four sons and two daughters, viz. first, Hugh, his suc- cessor ; second, John, Abbot of Tavistock j -third, Robert -} fourth, Thomas j fifth, Eleanor, the wife of John de Grey of Codnor j and, sixth, Elizabeth, the wife of Bartholomew, Lord Lisle. Hugh de Courtenay, his eldest son and heir, was the third Baron of Oakhampton, and second Earl of Devon- shire of his name, and was born July 12th, 1303, 31 Edw. I. and married in the lifetime of his father, August I lth, J 325, Mar- garet, daughter of Humphrey Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, and lord high constable of England, by the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Edward I. to whom he was second husband. In 7 Edw. III. he was in' the expedition into Scotland, and at the battle near Halidown-hill. In 13 Edw. III. the French making a descent on Devonshire and Cornwall, this Hugh, (his father then alive), with the posse comitatus, drove them back to their ships again. In 15 Edw. III. a writ was directed to him, com- manding him to be at Newcastle, January 24th, with sixty men at arms. In \Q Edw. III. he was in that expedition made into Brittany, with one banneret, twelve knights, thirty-six esquires, and sixty archers on horseback, of his retinue. He was in divers other expeditions into France in that victorious reign. But in 21 Edw. III. he became very infirm, and was excused from coming to parliament or any other council, on that account. Neverthe- less, in 24 Edw. III. he had licence to travel one whole year, and ' VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 247 in that year the house of the White Fryers, in Fleet-street, was rebuilt by him. King Edward III. granted to this Earl a licence to entail all his possessions in Devon, and many manors that were ID other comities, which he did accordingly, and thereupon levied a fine; which entail of his lands was to Sir Philip Courtenay his son, ancestor of the present discount Courtenay, who thereby en- joys divers great manors to this day. Herein is to be observed the Earl's prudent provision for the future preservation of his family, and his great wisdom in settling it in such a manner, that all the several changes of succeeding times could not shake or overturn the foundation he laid, whereby the honour of his family is sus- tained to the present time : a thing very rare in such great fa- milies. He was summoned to every parliament in the long reign of King Edward III. and dying at Tiverton, in the last year of that King, was buried in the cathedral church of Exeter. By his Countess before-mentioned he had eight sons and nine daughters. First, Hugh, of whom presently. Second, Thomas, knight of the shire for the county of Devon, and died before his father. Third, Edward, of Godlington, whomarri-d Emeline, daughter and heir of Sir John Dawney, and had with her sixteen manors. He had by her two sons, Edward, who came to be Earl alter his grandfather, and Sir Hugh Courtenay, of Haccomb, whose grand- son Edward was restored to the Earldom, upon the failure of his elder brother's issue. Fourth, William, of whom hereafter. Fifth, John, knight of the shire for Devon, 2 Rich. II. Sixth, Philip, ancestor to the present discount. Seventh, Peter, of whom hereafter. Eighth, Humphry. The daughters were, first, Margaret, the wife of John Lord Cobham;a she died the 2d of August, 1385, and is buried at Cobham, in Kent; second, Elizabeth, successively the wife of Sir John Vere, Knight, second k>ii of Aubrey de Vere, tenth Earl of Oxford, and ofb Sir Andrew Lutterell, of Dunster castle, in Somersetshire ; third, Catharine, first married to Lord Harington, and, secondly, to Sir Thomas Engain ; fourth, Joan, the wife of Sir John Cbiverston; fifth, Anne ; sixth, Eleanor; seventh, 8 Weevcr's Funeral Mon- Edit. 1631, fo. 3*8. b Blomefield's Norfolk, vol. i. fo. 499. S4S PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Guinora ; eighth, Isabella ; ninth, Philippa. Two of these last were probably the wives of Drayton, and Cham* pernon, and the other three died unmarried. The Countess, their mother, continued a widow to the time of her death, which was fifteen years after that of her husband, viz. December 16th, 1391, and was buried also in Exeter cathe- dral, where in the body of the church, near the south aile, is a fair altar monument, with their effigies lying upon it, but without inscription or arms; but in the opposite window are the arms of Courtenay, by themselves, and likewise impaled with the arms of Bohun, viz. Azure, a bend, Argent, between two cotises, and six lions rampant, Or. William de Courtenay, their fourth son, was Chancellor of the University of Oxford, in 1367> also in 136*8 and 1369, when he was elected bishop of Hereford, being no less famous for his learning and prudence,, than for his great nobility, as archbishop Parker observes. In 1375, he was translated to the see of London, and upon the murder of Simon Sudbury, archbishop of Canterbury , by the rebels under Wat Tyler, on June 14th, 1381, he was elected to succeed him in that metropolitan see, in which, through all the turbulent reign of Richard II. he behaved with much prudence, though some way or other concerned in all the great affairs of that period. He was a great stickler against WicklifTe, but put no person to death upon account of their adherence to that reformer. He opposed the usurpations of the Pope, over the prerogative of the crown, and maintained a constant friendship with those great and wise men, Robert Braybrooke, bishop of London, and William Wickham, bishop of Winchester, with whom be advised upon all weighty matters. He died July 31st, 1396, and was buried in the cathedral church of Canterbury, where a monument is yet remaining to his memory, and another at Maidstone, in Kent. Sir Peter Courtenay, seventh son of the said Hugh Courtenay, third Baron of Oakhampton, and second Earl of Devonshire, was famous for his valour and great skill in arms, and for his merit highly advanced 3 was made the King's standard-bearer, governor of Windsor castle, governor of Calais, lord chamberlain to the King, a privy-counsellor, and Knight of the Garter. In consi- deration of his bravery and conduct in the battle of Navarre, in Spain, in the year 1366, 41 Edw. III. he was, with his brothers Hugh and Philip, knighted by Edward the Black Prince, the day VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 249 before the battle ; and that Prince, as a farther recompense, settled on him 50/. per ann. for life, to be paid out of his reve- nues in Devonshire and Cornwall : and in the year 136g, by his letters patent granted him another 50/. per ann. for life, to be paid out of the stannary of Devonshire. His prowess, indeed, on many other occasions, did the greatest honour to his illustrious family. He died unmarried, in the year 140(), 10 Henry IV. and was interred in Exeter cathedral, near the remains of his father. Hugh Courtenay, the eldest son, commonly called Hugh Courtenay le Fitz, also famous in arms, was present at the battle of Cressy, fought upon Saturday after St. Bartholomew's day, 20 Edw. III. and was one of the founders of the order of the Garter, on April 23, 1343, 23 Ed. III. He was afterwards in many expe- ditions to France, and at the battle of Navaret, with his brothers, as before recited. In 44 Edward III. he was summoned to par- liament, although his father was then living, and died in the forty-eighth year of the reign of that Prince, and in the forty- eighth year of his age, his father then living. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Guy Brian. Lord of Tor-Brian, in Devon- shire, and sister of the famous Guy, Lord Brian, standard bearer to the King in the battle of Cressy, and a Knight of the Garter. By his said wife he had issue a son, named Hugh, who living to man's estate, married Matilda, daughter of Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent, and Joan his wife, daughter of Edmund, of Woodstock, son of King Edward I. for her beauty commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent, and afterwards married to Edward the Black Prince, by whom she was mother of Ri- chard II. King of England : so that the wife of Hugh Courtenay was half sister of King Richard II. daughter-in-law of the Black Prince, and grand-daughter of Edward I. This Hugh Courtenay also died before his grandfather, the Earl of Devonshire, in 13/7, and his widow, the Lady Matilda, by whom he had no issue, was married, secondly to the Lord Valeran, Earl of St. Paul. Hereupon Edward Courtenay, eldest son of Edward Courte- nay, third son of Hugh, second Earl of Devonshire, who was about twenty years of age at the death of his grandfather, became the third Earl of Devonshire of his family. In 1360, 4 Rich. II. this Edward, third Earl of Devon- shire, was in the expedition to France, commanded by Thomas of Woodstock, Earl of Buckingham, the King's uncle, by whom, with the Lord Morley, he was knighted, and behaved with re-* rnarkable bravery. 250 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. In 1381, Edward, Earl of Devonshire, with the Earl of Salis- bury, received, with five hundred spears and as many archers, at Gravelin, Anne, daughter of the Emperor Charles IV. and from thence brought her to Calais, and from Calais to Dover, where he conducted her in great pomp to London, and, a few days after, she was married to the King, by William Courtenay, Archbishop of Canterbury, before treated of, the Earl's uncle. In the year 13S3, he was constituted admiral of the western parts, i. e. from the Thames, westward, a thing frequent in those times j and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, was made admiral of the North : and on the 19th of November, that year, the Earl of Northumberland promised for himself and the Earl of Devonshire, safely to keep the seas as long as the money lasted that the commons gave, which was sixpence of every pound of merchandize, and two shillings of every tun of wine j which is a most observable record of tonnage and poundage. In 8 Rich. II. being then Earl Marshal of England, he was retained to serve the King in his Scottish wars, and was with the King five days before Edinburgh, after having destroyed the country as far as that capital. In 1387, with the Earl of Arundel and the Earl of Notting- ham, he was, by order of parliament, appointed to defend the kingdom, and annoy the French ; and having received informa- tion that the French, Flemish, and Spanish fleet lay at Rochelle, waiting for a fair wind, to sail to the several ports to which they were bound, they put to sea to intercept them, and met them on Lady-day eve, and, after a short engagement, took 100 sail, laden with 19,000 tuns of wine, and other valuable commodities. In a second expedition, they landed in many places on the coast of Flanders, and burnt and plundered the country ; and, at length arriving at Brest, took a new fort the French had lately erected, which they manned and victualled, and then returned trium- phantly to England. In 1389, ne was m tnat expedition to France, when the isles of Rhee and Oleron were taken, and after- wards eighty sail of the French fleet. In the year 1399, 1 Hen. IV. he was made lord high steward of England, for the trial of the lords who had conspired against that King, and was the first pro hac vice upon the occasion of the arraignment of a peer. He was in many other important commissions, and was summoned to all the parliaments from 2 Rich. II. to the time of his death, 7 Hen. V. when a writ is directed to him next after the King's sons, brothers, and cousins. He was blind a considerable time VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 251 before he died (and therefore commonly called the Hind Earl) or else, in all probability, we should have heard more of his military services. He deceased December 5th, 141 g, 7 Henry V. and wa» buried in the church of Ford abbey. This noble Lord married Matilda, daughter of Thomas, Lord Camois, by whom he had issue three sons. Edward, who was made Knight of the Bath by King Henry IV. on St. Edward's eve, before his coronation, together with his four sons, and several others of the young nobility. In 14J5, 3 Hen. V. he was in the expedition to France, and was present at the taking of Harfleur, and in the famous battle of Agincourt. In 4 Henry V. he was returned, by indenture, to serve the King in his fleet at sea, for forty days, with five knights, 184 men at arms, and 400 arohersy taking 4s. per day for himself, and 2s. per day for his archers. He was then styled the King's lieutenant, and general of the men of war in the Kings voyage to sea. In the same year he was with the fleet in the expedition for the re- lief of Harfleur, under the command of John, Duke of Bedford, the King's brother, when a signal victory was gained over the French navy, and thr siege of Harfleur raised. He was in two other expeditions to France, and died in 6 Hen. V. about a year before his father, leaving no issue by his wife, Eleanor, daughter of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March. Second, Hugh, who succeeded his father in the title and es- tate ; and, Third, James, who, in 8 Hen. VI. 1428, covenanted to serve the King one whole year, in his wars in France, with twenty men at arms, and sixty archers on horseback. Hugh succeeded his father as jijt h Baron of Oakhamplon , and fourth Earl of Devonshire, of his family, and at that time was of the age of thirty years. He was, together with his brother Edward, made a Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of Henry IV. In 6 Henry V. vita patris, he was made chief commander of the King's fleet, in the room of his said brother, who then de- ceased. In 7 Henry V. he again served the King in his fleet. In 8 Henry V. he had summons to parliament, and died about two years after, June lfjth, 1422, 10 Hen. V. leaving issue by his wife Anne, daughter of Richard Lord Talbot, and sister of the re- nowed John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, two sons, Thomas and John. His widow afterwards married John Botreaux, Esq. and deceased on January lfjth, 1440. Thomas, the eldest son, sixth Baron of Oakhambton, and fifth 452 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Earl of Devonshire, was about eight years of age at the death of his father, and in 8 Henry VI. 1430, being then sixteen years of age, he covenanted to serve the King for one whole year, with six men at arms and twenty- one archers, in a voyage royal into France, for the accustomed wages of war. In 14 Hen. VI. he again covenanted to serve the King, for the relief of Calais, with one knight, twenty-four men at arms, and 470 archers. In 1448, 27 Hen. VI. there was a dispute between him and the Earl of Arundel, about precedence; and it was adjudged in parliament, that the Earl of Arundel, upon account of his possess- ing the castle of Arundel, should have place in parliament before the Earl of Devonshire. This great Earl sided with King Henry VI. in the dispute between the houses of Lancaster and York, and died February 3d, 1458, 36 Hen. VI. in the abbey at Abing- don, as he was on his journey, with other Lords, to London, to mediate between the King and the Duke of York, and put an end to the disturbances of the kingdom. He married Margaret Beaufort, second daughter of John Earl of Somerset, who was eldest son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lan- caster, by his third wife. By this Lady he had issue, first, Tho- mas ; second, Henry; third, John, successively Earls of Devon- shire; fourth, Joan, married to Sir Roger Clifford, Knight, who was beheaded upon Tower-Hill, 3 Richard III. 1485; fifth, Elizabeth, married to Sir Hugh Conway, Knight; sixth, Anne; seventh, Matilda; and, eighth, Eleanor, who all died without issue. Thomas, the eldest son, sixth Earl of Devonshire, was twenty-six years old at the death of his father, and shortly after had livery of his lands, doing his homage. He was also a stout defender of the house of Lancaster, and at length was taken pri- soner at the battle of Towton, and beheaded at York, in April 1462, by the command of King Edward IV. He died unmar- ried, being not quite thirty years of age. Hereupon he was succeeded by his next brother Henry, seventh Earl of Devonshire, of his family, who had great favour shewn him by the victorious Prince, and had some part of the lands of his attainted brother restored to him. However, en- gaging also on the side of the deposed King Henry VI he was attainted of treason, March 4th, 1466, before the King and jus- tices at Sarum, with the Lord Hungerford, and both beheaded there on the same day. And, upon his death, Sir Humphry Stafford was created Earl of Devonshire, but did not enjoy the VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 253 honour long, being beheaded, for his defection from King Ed- ward, at Bridgewater. John, brother of the two last Earls, succeeded as eighth Earl, or at least to the pretensions of the family; but King Edward being, in the year 1470, forced to fly into Holland, by the Earl of Warwick, who had restored King Henry, a parlia- ment was called, in which King Edward, and all his adherents, were attainted of high treason ; their lands and goods confiscated, the crown entailed upon King Henry aad his heirs male, and, in default thereof, upon George Duke of Clarence, and his heirs for ever j and then were the Earls of Oxford, Pembroke, this Earl of Devonshire, and many others, restored to their estates and titles. King Edward landing on March 12th, 1471, at Ravenspur in Yorkshire, after many marches and counter marches, being joined by the Duke of Clarence, with whom be bad been reconciled, totally defeated the Earl of Warwick, in the decisive battle of Bamet, on April 14th, in the same year, the Earl of Warwick, and his brother, the Marquis Montacute, being both of them slain. The Earl of Devonshire and others of the Lancastrian faction now joined themselves to Queen Margaret, who, with her son, arrived with a small force from France, and, hearing of this disastrous battle, had taken refuge at the monastery of Beawley, in Hampshire. The Lords and others of her party raising forces on all sides, particularly the Earl of Devonshire, she at length had the appearance of an army ; but King Edward came sud- denly up with her forces and defeated them in the battle of Tewkesbury, which was the last, and decided the quarrel between the two houses. The Earl of Devonshire, who commanded the rear of the army, was slain valiantly fighting, with many other noble persons, and in him ended the first branch of the illustrious family of Courtenay, in England. This battle was fought on May 4th, 14/1, the father and his 6ons, all successively Earls of Devonshire, haying witnessed, with the loss of their best blood, their true affection to the house of Lancaster. This last Earl was buried at Tewkesbury, and his estates were given by King Ed- ward amongst his adherents, particularly Lord Dinham, Walter Lord Montjoy, and George Duke of Clarence. We now return to Sir Hugh Courtenay, of Haccomb, second son of Edward Courtenay, third son of Hugh, second Earl of De- vonshire, as before recited, and younger brother of Edward Cour- tenay, third Earl of Devonshire, commonly called the Blind Earl, who was the next in descent to Earl John, shin in the battle of 254 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Tewkesbury, To him Edward Earl of Devonshire, his brother, in the first year of the reign of King Henry V. gave the manors of Gotberington, Stancum-Dawney, and South Allington, in the county of Devon, which came to him by his mother Emma, or Emmeline, daughter of Sir John Dawney. In 18 Rich. II. he was, together with his uncle, Sir Philip Courtenay, of Powder- ham, knight of the shire for the county of Devon, as he was also in 6 Hen. V. and 4 Hen. VI. He had three wives, viz. first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Cogan, of Baunton, and widow of Sir Fulk Fitzwarrenj secondly, Philippa, daughter and coheir of Sir Warren Archdeacon, of Haccomb, Knight, by whom he had an only daughter, Joan, who was, first, wife of Sir Ni- cholas, Baron Carew, of Mohun's-Autrey j and, secondly, of Sir Robert Vere, second son of Richard Vere, eleventh Earl of Ox- ford. His third wife was Maud, daughter of Sir John Beau- mont, of Sherwell, in Devonshire, by whom he had his successor, Hugh, and a daughter, Margaret, the wife of Sir Theodore Granvile. Sir Hugh, of Boconnock, in Cornwall, his son, was knight of the shire for the county of Cornwall, in 25 and 28 Hen. VI. He was in the unfortunate battle of Tewkesbury, and was either slain in, or put to death after the battle, and his body buried at Tewkesbury. He had issue by his wife Margaret, daughter and coheir of Thomas Carmino (the last heir male of that ancient family, whose other daughter and coheir was married to Sir Tho- mas Carew, of Mohun's-Autrey) two sons, Sir Edward his suc- cessor, afterwards Earl of Devonshire, and Sir Walter, who died unmarried; and four daughters, Elizabeth, the wife of John Trethref; Maud, of John Arundel, ofTalkern; Isabel, of Wil- liam Mohun 5 and Florence, of John Trelawney, Esq. all Cornish gentlemen. Sir Edward, his eldest son, ninth Earl, was in the con- spiracy with Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, Sir Walter Courtenay, his brother, and others, to set the crown upon the head of Henry, Earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII. but upon the failure of their design, and the decapitation of the Duke, he with his brother, and others, fled into Brittany, where the Earl of Richmond then was. In the parliament called by Richard III. in the beginning of the year 1484, he was, with the Earl of Richmond, and others of his followers, attainted. On the 6th of August, 1484, he landed with the Earl at Milford, and was pre- sent with him at the battle of Bosworth, the event of which was VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 25S his mounting the throne. After King Henry came to London, he created his uncle Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, Duke of Bedford, Thomas, Lord Stanley, bis father-in-law, Earl of Derby, and Sir Edward Courtenay Earl of Devon. In the creation of Sir Edward, after the clauses of creation and investiture, very many castles, manors, and hundreds are mentioned, that were given him, viz. Plympton, Oakhampton, Tiverton, Stamford-Courtenay, Chaver- leigh, Cornwood, Norton-Damerd, Topsham, Ex island, Kenu, Exminster, Colliton, Whitfofd, Whimple, Ailesbear, Raylesford, Musbery, Chymleigh, West Budleigh, East Budleigh, Harridge, Wonefordj the advowsons of the churches of Arlington, Kenn, Throughley, Milton Damerel, and All Saints, in the city of Exeter ; with the advowsons of the prebends of Clift Hays, Cutton, and Kerswell, in the chapel of our Lady, in the castle of the city of Exeter ; the chauntry of Sticklepath, with free fishing in the river Ex, and three mills in Ex island, all in the county of Devon j also other manors, castles, hundreds, &c. in Bedfordshire, Somersetshire, and Cornwall, all formerly the estates of Thomas Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire. In March following, the King made him governor of Kesterwell, in Cornwall, and a Knight of the Garter. He was in all the parliaments of Henry VII. He was in the expedition to France, in 14yi. In the year 14gy, the Earl defended the city of Exeter, against Perkin Warbeck and his adherents, and in the last assault was wounded in the arm. His Lordship died the 28th of May, \50g, and was buried at Tiverton. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Courtenay, of Moiland, by whom he had issue Lord William Courtenay, his successor. His arms were as the former Earls, three Torteaax in afield, Or, with a laid of three points , Azure, in chief. William Courtenay, his son, tenth Earl of Devon- shire, married Catharine, the seventh and youngest daughter of King Edward IV. a very unfortunate match to him, as it was the cause of his being kept in prison several years by Henry VII. of his son's being beheaded by Henry VIII. and his grandson's being a prisoner almost all his life. He was made a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of Hen. VII. and defended the city of Exeter, in conjunction with his father, when besieged by Perkin Warbeck. In the year 1502, be, with Lord William de la Pole, Sir James Tyrrel, and Sir John Windham, were taken up on suspicion of holding a traitorous cor- respondence with Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, (son of 253 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. John, Duke of Suffolk, and Lady Elizabeth, eldest sister of Ed- ward IV.) who had fled to his aunt the Lady Margaret Duchess of Burgundy. He and Lord William de Pole were taken up on suspicion only, because near akin to the Earl, and not because any thing was proved against them : but Sir James Tyrrel and Sir John Wyndham were attainted of high treason, and beheaded on Tower-Hill, and the Lord William Courtenay was kept pri- soner all the remainder of King Henry's reign ; that King, as Lord Bacon observes, being resolved to depress all the chief per- sons of the line of York. In the year 150t), on the death of his father, he became Earl of Devonshire, and was set at liberty by King Henry VIIL as soon as he came to the throne, which was in that year, and was in great favour and esteem with that King as long as he lived, and, in 150p-l0, his Countess stood god- mother to Prince Henry, who did not live above a month. On the 1st of May, 1510, 2 Henry VIIL that Prince had solemn justs at Westminster, and on the third day the Queen made a great banquet for the King and those who had justed, and after the banquet she bestowed the chief prize on the King, the second on the Earl of Essex, the third on the Earl of Devonshire, and the fourth on the Marquis of Dorset : then the heralds cried aloud, *' My Lords, for your noble feats in arms, God send you the love of the ladies whom you most admire." On June 9th, 1511, he died at Greenwich, of a pleuretic fever, and was buried on the south side of the high altar, in St. Paul's cathedral, London. His Lady died at Tiverton, November 15th, 152/, and was interred with great funeral solemnity, in Tiverton church : the Marquis of Exeter, her son, caused a chapel, and in it her tomb, with her effigy upon it, to be erected on the side of the high altar of the said church. By his said Lady he had issue, one son, Henry, his successor, and one daughter, Margaret, who died very young, being choaked by a fish bone. Henry, eleventh Earl of Detonshire, and first Mar- auis of Exeter, in 1522, obtained a grant of the lordship of Caliland, in Cornwall, and of a fair mansion situate in the parish of St. Lawrence Poultney, London, forfeited by the attainder of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, on whose trial he was one of the twenty-six peers that sat in judgment. On June 18th, 1525, he was advanced to the degree of Marquis of Exeter. In the year 1520, at the interview of King Henry VI TL and ths King of France,, in the vale of Andren, when the two Kings chal- VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 257 lenged all men at justs, the Marquis of Exeter ran a course with the King of France, when both their spears broke, and they maintained their seats. He shewed his valour and activity in many other justs and tournaments, and, in the year 1532, the King going to Calais, on the 21st of October, went thence to meet the French King 3 but before he went nominated the Marquis of Exeter his heir apparent to the crown. His Lady was one of the godmothers to the Piincess (after Queen) Elizabeth, who was baptised at the Friars church, in Greenwich, September 10th, 1533, and, after the ceremony, the Marchioness gave to the Prin- cess three standing bowls, graven, all gilt, with a cover. He was one of the lords that subscribed, in 152y, to the forty-four arti- cles exhibited against Cardinal Wolsey, and to the letter sent to Pope Clement VII. earnestly moving him to ratify the divorce between King Henry and Queen Catharine, his first wife. In 1536, he sat with others on the trial of Queen Anne Boleyne, and in the same year, in conjunction with the Duke of Norfolk, the Earls of Shrewsbury, Huntingdon, and Rutland, suppressed an insurrection in Yorkshire. In 1538, he sat as high steward at Westminster, when the Lord Darcy and the Lord Hussey were arraigned and found guilty of high treason. But the same year, he, with Henry Pole, Lord Montacute, and Sir Edward Nevil, brother of Lord Abergavenny, were sent to the Tower, being ac- cused by Sir Geoffrey Pole, brother of the Lord Montacute, of high treason, and indicted for devising to maintain, promote, and advance one Reginald Pole, late Dean of Exeter, enemy to the King beyond sea, and to deprive the King. The Marquis and Lord Montacute were tried, December 1st and 2d, at West- minster, and found guilty. On the 9th of January ensuing, they, with Sir Edward Nevil, were beheaded on Tower- Hill. Some writers ascribe the fate of the Marquis, to the jealousy the King entertained of his great popularity, and his descent from the Plantagenets, which is far from being improbable. The Marchioness was attainted, with the Countess of Salisbury, the next year, but only the latter suffered. Upon the attainder of the Marquis, King Henry annexed to the Duchy of Cornwall, all his lands in that county, which came to the crown by the said attainder. He had two wives, the first Elizabeth Grey, daughter and heir of John Viscount Lisle, by whom he had no issue j the second Gertrude, daughter of William Blount, Lord Montjoy, (by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir William S?y, Knight) VOL. VI. S 25S PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. by whom he had two sons, Henry, who died young, and Edward, who was restored to his father's honours and estates. This noble Lord bore for his arms, quarterly, first, France and England, within a border of the same; second and third, Or, three Torteauxes j fourth, Or, a Lion rampant, Azure. Edward Courtenay, twelfth Earl of Devonshire and Second MARauis of Exeter, was only twelve years old when his father was beheaded, notwithstanding which he was com- mitted and continued prisoner in the Tower as long as King Henry lived, and during the reign of Edward VI. But on the accession of Queen Mary, he was released, and restored to his father's honours, and so much of his estates as remained then in her hands. September 28th, 1553, he was the first of fifteen whom the Queen made Knights of the Bath ; and it is said, by Hollinshead and others, that the Queen had cast her eyes upon him with some degree of affection, but, finding he preferred her sister the Princess Elizabeth, she looked upon them with an evil eye ever after. In the parliament that met October 10th, 1 Queen Mary, two private bills passed, reversing the attainders of the Marchioness, and her son, the then Marquis. He had some command in the suppression of Wyat's rebellion, and yet, with the Princess Elizabeth, was afterwards accused of being accessary thereto, and both sent to the Tower. On May 25tb, 1554, he was brought from the Tower, and conveyed to Fodringham castle, in Northamptonshire, where he was to remain under the care of Sir Thomas Tresham : but when Philip of Spain arrived, and was married to tbje Queen, he, willing to do a po- pular act, procured the Marquis to be released, after he had laid almost a year in prison, who repaired to court, whither soon after- wards the Princess Elizabeth came, who had been removed from the Tower to Woodstock, being released also by the intercession of the King, and this did King Philip great honour with the Eng- lish nation. The Marquis, fearing he should lie under perpetual distrust, and dreading to be again committed to the Tower, resolved to go beyond sea, having obtained the Queen's leave for that purpose. He crossed France and came into Italy, and, being at Padua, he sickened and died, not without suspicion of poison, on October 4th, 1560, unmarried.0 He seemed to be born to be a prisoner; e He was eminent for his accomplishments, and skill in the arts. See Walfule't Antedates of Painting. yiSCOUNT COURTENAY. 25y for, from twelve years of age to the time of his death, he had scarce enjoyed two years liberty. He was the twelfth and lasfr Earl of Devonshire of this noble family, second Marquis of Exeter, and fifteenth Baron of Oakhampton j which last title the family possessed ever since it came into England to that time. His great estate was divided amongst the four sisters of Edward Courtenay, ninth Earl of Devonshire, and great aunts of this last Earl, and the titles were by James I. conferred on other families. His re- mains were interred in St. Anthony's church, in Padua, where a noble monument was erected to his memory. We now return to Sir Philip Courtenay, of Powder ham Castle, direct ancestor of the present Lord Viscount Courtenay, who was sixth son of Hugh Courtenay, second Earl of Devonshire, by Margaret his wife, daughter of Humphrey Bohun, Earl oi Hereford and Essex, lord high constable of England, and grand- daughter of King Edward the First. Sir Philip was an expert martial knight, and served King Edward III. and Richard II. in their wars with great prudence and bravery. He was knighted by Edward, Prince of Wales, commonly called the Black Prince, the day before the battle of Navaret, in Spain, with his brothers, Sir Hugh and Sir Peter. In the year 1383, 7 Rich. II. Sir Philip was constituted lord lieutenant of Ireland for ten years ; and, in the eleventh year of his reign, the said King granted to him the park of Bovy-Tracy, and others, in the county of Devon, parcels of the possessions of Robert de Vere, Marquis of Ireland, forfeited to the King. In 12 Rich. II. he was appointed steward of all the King's manors and stannaries in the county of Cornwall. In 14 Rich. II. the King granted to him, and Anne, his wife, Dartmore forest, and the manor of Bradnich. In the ltJth year of the same King, being returned one of the knights of the shire for Devon, he came before the King in parliament, and was accused of sundry heinous matters, and, not making a good defence, was committed to the Tower, but afterwards purging himself, he was, at the request of the lords and commons, restored to his place and great name, for that he had submitted himself to reasonable arbi- trament. The matters complained of were, that he had wrong- fully expelled Thomas de Pontingdon out of the manor of Bick- leigh ; and Richard Somers out of four marks of land, in Thor- verton, in the county of Devon 5 also that he had imprisoned the abbot of Newnham, in Devon, with two of his monks. He married d Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Wake, of BHs- « Or Margaret, according to some Authors. 260 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. worth, io Northamptonshire, who was the son of Hugh, younger son of Baldwin, Lord Wake. By her he had three sons, First, Richard, Bishop of Norwich. Second, Sir John ; and, Third, Sir William, who died in 14 lp, without issue. Also two daughters, Margaret wife of Sir Robert Cary, of Cockington, son of Sir John Cary, lord chief baron of the Ex- chequer, and Agnes, the wife of Uates Champernoun. By the inquisition taken after his death, in 7 Hen. IV. he was found to have been seized, in fee-tail, of the manors of Powder- ham, Honiton, Moreton, Chiverston,and many others, of the gift of Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon -, that he died on July 29th, 7 Henry IV. and that Richard Courtenay Clerk, was his son and heir. His arms were ajield, Or, three torteaux, with a label, Azure, of three points, charged with nine plates for distinction ; the arms of Anne his wife were Argent, two bars, Gules, three torteaux in chief. Richard Courtenay, Lord Bishop of Norwich, his eldest son, was educated under his uncle, William, archbishop of Can- terbury, who adopted him for his son. He was a student in the university of Oxford, and became famous for his learning, espe- cially for his skill in the civil and canon law. He was succes- sively dean of St. Asaph, canon of York, and chancellor of the university of Oxford, canon of Wells, and bishop of Norwich, to which see he was promoted in the year 1413, 1 Hen. V. Harps- field says of him, that he was famous for his descent, his morals, and his learning. He was one of the ambassadors who went from King Henry to the King of France, to claim the crown of France as his right, by descent, and to denounce war, in case of non-compliance. In the second year of his consecration, he at- tended the King in his first expedition to France, and died before Harfleur, which the King was besieging, of the dysentery, on the * 14th of September, 1415. His body, being brought over to Eng- land, was buried honourably in Westminster-abbey. He was succeeded in the family estates by his nephew Philip, son and heir of his next brother, Sir John Courtenay, by his wife Joan, daughter of Alexander Champernoun, of Beer Ferrers, and widow of Sir James Chudleigh, Knight, which Sir Philip Courte- nay was born in the year 1404, and was eleven years old, when • Weever's Funeral Monuments, Edit 1631, fol. 8C9. VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 261 his uncle, the bishop of Norwich, died, and departed this life, De- cember l6th, 1463. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Walter, Lord Hungerford, and had with her the manor of Molland Bo- treaux, in Devonshire. He had by this Lady seven sons and two daughter. First, Sir William, of whom hereafter. Second, Sir Philip, who had Moiland given him for his por- tion : he married a daughter of Robert Hingeston, and had issue by her two sons and two daughters. His eldest, John, succeeded his father in his estate, and married Joan, daughter of Robert Brett, of Pillond, in Pilton parish, and died in the year 1510. This John had a son named Thilip, the continuator of his family. His second son William, was seated at Loughter, in the parish of Plympton-Mary, and had a son named Sir Philip, who married Jane, daughter of Richard Fowel, of Fowel's-Comb, and by her had an only daughter, Elizabeth, married to William Strode, of Neverham 5 and the widow of Sir Philip, after his decease, mar- ried, secondly, Humphrey Prideaux, of Theoborow, Esq. from whom the family of Prideaux have their descent. Sir Philip Courtenay of Molland's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Sir William Courtenay, restored to the title of Earl of Devon- shire by Henry VII. and his other daughter, Margaret, was the wife of Sir John Champernoun, of Modbury. This Sir Philip, of Molland, was high sheriff of Devonshire, 10 Edw. IV. and his family continued in a flourishing condition to the year 1/32, when John Courtenay, of Molland, the last male of his family, de- ceased without issue, as his brother George Courtenay did some time before him, and they left only two sisters. The third son of Sir Philip Courtenay, of Powderham, was Peter, bishop of Winchester, who was successively archdeacon of Exeter, dean of Exeter, master of the hospital of St. Anthony in London, dean of Windsor, and bishop of Exeter, afterwards of Winchester, and died 14pl. He was one of the great persons that fled into Brittany, to Henry, Earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII. and landed with him at Milford, and, when he had obtained the crown, he promoted him to the bishopric of Win- chester, upon the death of William Wainfleet, founder of Mag- dalen college, Oxford, and he was in great favour during the re- mainder of his life with King Henry. He deceased on Dec. 20th, I4(jl, and was probably buried in Powderham church. He built the north tower of the cathedral church of Exeter, and placed S62 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. in it a great bell, weighing 12,500lb. which, after his name, is called Peter's Bell. To this bell he afterwards added a clock, and a dial of curious invention, considering the age it was con- structed in 3 for it shews the changes of the moon, the day of the month, together with the hour of the day. He also built the tower of the church ofHoniton, and a great part of the church, ( n the pillars of which are the arms of the family. The fourth son of Sir Philip was Sir Edmund Courtenay, of Deviock ; who first married Alice, daughter and heir of John Wotton, Esq. ; secondly, Joan, daughter and heir of Edward Dy- mock, Esq. ; he had issue Richard Courtenay, of Lestwithiel, in Cornwall, Esq. who had issue Laurence Courtenay, of Enthy, who had issue Francis, from whom are descended all the Courte- nay s in Cornwall. Sir Walter, the fifth son, married Alice, daughter and coheir of Walter de Kilrington (or Colbrook) in the parish of Bradnidge, who was afterwards married to Sir John Vere. The sixth son was Sir John, who was made Knight Banneret, by Edward IV. after the battle of Tewkesbury, in which he had fought on his side. Humphrey, the seventh son, died young, and left an only daughter, who was the wife of Thomas Carew, Esq. who va- liantly behaved himself at the battle of Flodden Field; and the manor of Bickleigh, which he had with his wife, still continues in his family. The two daughters of Sir Philip Courtenay, were Philippa, the wife of Sir Thomas Fulford ; and Anne, first the wife of Sir William Palton, of Umberleighj and, secondly, of Richard Trewin, Esq. Sir William Courtenay, of Powder ham castle, eldest son of Sir Philip Courtenay, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Walter, Lord Hungerford, married Margaret, daughter of William, Lord Bonville, taken and beheaded after the second battle of St. Alban's. Sir William was a stout adherent of the house of York, and was high sheriff of Devonshire, in the year 1483, all the short reign of Edward V. and the first of Richard III. and died in the first year of Henry VII. 1485. He left by his above-mentioned Lady, William, his successor, and two daughters ; first, Joan, the wife of Sir William Carew, of Mohun's-Autrey -, secondly, Catherine, the wife of Thomas Rogers, serjeant at law, ancestor of the Rogerses of Cannington, in Somersetshire, which family is now extinct. VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 263 She was, secondly, the wife of Sir William Huddersfield, f of the privy-council to Henry VII. Sir William, son of Sir William and Margaret Bonville, married Cicely, daughter of Sir John Cheyney, of Pincourt. He was renowned for his martial prowess in the reign of Henry VII. and had issue three sons. First, Sir William, of whom hereafter. Second, Sir James, of Upcot, who married a daughter of Sir John Basset, by whom he had issue two sons, James and John. The issue of James, after four descents, failed, and his estate came to James Courtenay, descended from John, second son of the first James, who had issue an only daughter, married to John Moor, of Moor, near Tavistock, Esq. Sir William had likewise several daughters, first, Anne, the wife of Thomas Gibbe, Esq. j second, Joan, the wife of Sir Wil- liam Beaumont, and afterwards of John Bodrugan, Esq.; third, , the wife of John Coplestone, Esq. j and, fourth, , of Danvers, Esq. Their father died in the year 1512, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir William Courtenay, commonly called Sir William Courtenay the Great, who attended the Duke of Suffolk, in the year 1533, in his expedition to France. He was high sheriff of Devonshire, in 1525 3 in 1522, the city of Exeter granted him a pension of five marks per ami. for his life, to be the patron and defender of that city. He was about that time one of the com- missioners for Devonshire, to examine into the yearly value of ecclesiastical preferments, so that their tenths and first fruits might be proportioned accordingly. He married, first, Margaret, daughter of Sir Richard Edgcombe, of Cuttele, Knight, comp- troller of the household, and privy-counsellor to King Henry VJI. by whom he had issue a daughter Cicely, married to Nicholas Francis, Esq.; and four sons. First, Sir George, who married Catharine, daughter of Sir George St. Leger, of Annery, and died before his father, leaving issue a son, William, who succeeded to his grandfather's estates. Second, Sir Peter, or Piers Courtenay, who was sheriff of f Sir William Huddersfield, Knight, was attorney-general to King Ed- ward IV. &c; he died March 20th, 1499, an(l iies buried with his wife Ca- tharine, under a large monument in the church of Shillir.gford, com. Deron. Topograpberyvo\ i. p. 467. 264 PEERVGE OF ENGLAND. Devon, 2 Edw. VI. and was very active in suppressing the Cornish insurrection. He died in the year 1552, and was buried at Chud- leighj and having married Elizabeth, the daughter and heir of Sir Robert Shilstone, of Bridestowe, Knight, he had issue seven children, Carew, Edward, who dieds 1559, and was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster, leaving no male issue : James j Catha- rine, married to Kempthorn j Dorothy, to Cow- lings ; Anne, wife of Anthony Clifford, of Borscomb, ancestor to Lord Clifford, of Chudleigh ; and Joan, wedded Tre- mayne. Third, Henry. Fourth, Nicholas. Fifth, Anthony. He married, secondly, Mary, daughter of Sir John Gainesford, by whom he had issue. First, Philip. Second, John, of Autrey St. Mary, who had issue Roger, who had issue William. Third, James. Fourth, Thomas, captain of a ship of war, in Queen Eliza- beth's reign, and a brave opposer of the rebels in Ireland. Sir Wiliam had another daughter, Mary, married to Sir John Chichester, of Raleigh, Knight. Sir William Courtenay, their father, died, as the inquisi- tion, taken after his death, sets forth, on November 24th, 27 Henry VIII. 1535, and that William Courtenay, son and heir of George Courtenay, son and heir of the aforesaid Sir William Courtenay, was his kinsman and next heir, and of the age of six years, and somewhat more. Sir William Courtenay, his grandson, served King Philip and Queen Mary in their French wars, and assisted at the siege of St. puintin, which was taken by storm on the 18th of August, 1557. He was either killed in storming the city, or died soon after. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Powlet Marquis of Winchester, by whom he had issue, a son William, his suc- cessor ; and, his Lady surviving him, married, secondly, Sir Henry Oughtred, Knight, and deceased November 4th, 1576, and was buried at Basing with her ancestors. Sir Wtlliam Courtenay, his son, was four years old at the death of his father. He was knighted in the year 1576, and was % Seymour's Survey, vol ii. p. 6»2. VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 265 high sheriff of Devonshire in 1581. Iu 1585, he was one of those honourable persons who undertook to send over settlers for the better planting of Ireland, and laid the foundation of that great estate in that kingdom, enjoyed by his posterity. He first married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Manners, Earl of Rutland, and Margaret Nevil, his wife, daughter of Ralph, Earl of Westmore- land ; secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of George Sydenham, Esq. by whom he had no issue ; but by his first Lady he had, First, William, knighted, in the year 1599, Dy Robert Earl of Essex, for his great services in the Irish wars, and died in the year 1605. Second, Francis, who succeeded his father. Third, Thomas. Fourth, George. Fifth, John. Sixth, Alexander. Seventh, Edward. Also three daughters ; first, Margaret, wife of a Sir Warwick Hele, and after his decease married to Sir John Chudleigh, Knt. She died July 17th, 1628, and is buried at Richmond, In Surry : second, Mary, wifo of Sir William Wray, of Trebich, in Corn- wall, Bart, j third, Gertrude, married to Sir John Fitz, of Fitz- ford, Knight. Sir William Courtenay deceased upon the feast of St. John Baptist, in the year 1630, aged seventy-seven years, possessed of the manors of Powderham, Alphington, Ilton, Scotchland, Ho- niton, Moreton, Cheverston, Trigmouth- Courtenay, Milton- Damerel, Whitestone, Thurlestone, Salmeton, Northpool, Sower, Boltbury-Beauchamp, Boltbury-Allyn, Salcombe, Battiscombe, and South- Huish. He was succeeded in these estates by his eldest surviving son, Francis Courtenay, Esq. who married, first, Mary, daughter of Sir William Pole, of Colecomb, Knight, and widow of Nicholas Hurst, Esq. by whom he had no issue j secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Seymour, of Bury-Poraeroy, Knt. and Bart, by whom he had issue four sons. First, William, his successor, baptized September 7th, 1628. Second, Edward, baptized July 17th, 1(531. Third, Francis, baptized July 14th, 1633, who was com- mander of a ship of war, in the year ld72, and being wounded in t« Aubrey's Surry, vol. iii. p. 62. 265 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the fight at Solebay, May 28th, died of his wounds at Yarmouth11 November 20th, 1(5/3, and is buried at Yarmouth. He married Rebecca, daughter of William Webb, Esq. by whom he had three daughters, Elizabeth, who died unmarried 5 Anne, the wife of William Burgoine, merchant -, and Frances, of Benjamin Ivy, merchant. Fourth, James, baptized January 18th, l634. He died in 1038, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir William Courtenay, who married Margaret, daughter of Sir William Waller, Knight, the famous parliament general. It is observable they were married so young, that they could not make thirty between them at the birth of their first child. As he was very young when the civil war broke out between Charles I. and his parliament, he was not in arms 5 but he favoured the King's party, and a little before the restoration of King Charles II. he, with Sir Coplestone Bamfield, raised a gallant troop of horse, of one hundred and twenty gentlemen, all persons of good quality and estates, with which they secured and disarmed disaffected persons, and brought the county of Devon into due subjection. Some time before the restoration he was created a Baronet, but not affecting that title, as much greater, he thought, of righr, appertained to his family, never took out his patent, and therefore was not inserted in the list of Baronets ; but he was always styled Baronet in the commissions that were sent him by the King. In the year 1(504 he was high sheriff of Devonshire, and knight of the shire in several parliaments of King Charles II. He was, seized with the palsy many years before his death, on one side, which prevented his being further serviceable to his country, for which his great qualities peculiarly fitted him. He had issue by his Lady, First, William, who died young. Second, Francis, baptized February 2/th, 1650, of whom here- after. Third, Edward, baptized January lpth, 1652, who was drowned in the river Thames as he was bathing. Fourth, Richard, who married first Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Southwell, by whom he had a son -, and, secondly, Ca- tharine, daughter of Sir William Waller, jun. by whom he had a daughter, married to John Gilbert, Esq. He was member for Honiton in the convention parliament, which settled the crown h Le Neve's Mon. Ang. vol v. p. 101. VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 267 npon King William and Queen Mary, and was captain of marines in Lord Berkeley's regiment, and, going to Italy, was wrecked on the coast, and himself and son perished. Fifth, James, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Bourdon, Esq. by whom he had issue four sons and three daughters. Sixth, George, member for Eastloe, in Cornwall. Seventh, William, who was captain of marines in Colonel Villiers's regiment, and riding with the said colonel through the river Piava, in the- country of Friuli in Italy, they were both drowned ; he was a good officer and a fine gentleman.' Also eight daughters ; first, Lucy, married to Hugh Stafford, of Pines, in Devonshire, Esq ; second, Elizabeth, to John Clobeiy, Esq. ; third, Isabella, to Sir Thomas Lear, Bart, ; fourth, Anne; fifth, Jane, who died unmarried; sixth, Margaret, mar- ried to Edmund Reynel, Esq. j seventh, Mary ; eighth, Dorothy, and others, who died infants, in all nineteen children. Their father died August 4th, 1/02, aged seventy-four, and his Lady was buried January 9th, 1 693. Francis Courtenay, Esq. son and heir apparent of Sir Wil- liam, was knight of the shire for Devon, to the convention parlia- ment, and to all the parliaments, until his death, (which hap- pened in the year l6gg, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and in the lifetime of his father,) in which he served with great repu- tation for honour and integrity ; he was buried at Chelsea. He married Mary, daughter of William Bovey, of London, merchant, and sister to John Bovey, Esq. k and had issue by her, First, William, born March 4th, 1675. Second, Francis, who died an infant. Third, Francis, who also died in his infancy. Also nine daughters; viz Anne, the wife of William Wal- rond, Esq.; Elizabeth, of Arthur Champernoun, Esq. ; Margaret, who died an infant ; Mary, Lucy, Margaret, Jane, Isabella, and Dorothy. Sir William Courtenay, of Powderham castle, Bart, eldest son of the said Francis Courtenay, Esq. succeeded his grandfather in honour and estate, and was constituted lord lieutenant for the county of Devon by King George I. soon after his accession to 1 I believe John Courtnay, Esq. for many years M. P. for Appleby, whose mother was sister to the late Earl of Bute, was of this family : perhaps descended from one of the younger sons of Sir William. He had a brother a captain in the navy, killed early in the war of 1793. » Norfolk, fol. 97, in Her Coll- 168 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the throne. He represented the county of Devon in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth parliaments of Great Britain. He married on July 20th, 1704, the Right Hon. Lady Anne Bertie, second daughter of James Bertie, Earl of Abingdon, by Eleanor, his first wife, daughter and coheir of Sir Henry Lee, of Ditchley, in the county of Oxford, Bart, by whom he had issue. First, William. Second, James, who both died young. Third, William, his successor. Fourth, Henry-Reginald, member for Honiton in several par- liaments, who diedk April 30th, 17^3, in the forty-ninth year of his age.1 He married Catharine, daughter of Allan, first Earl Bathurst, and by her had two daughters, Catharine and Anne j also two sons ; first, the Rev. William Courtenay, rector of Keane, com. Dev. who died in November, 1783 ; second, the Rev. Henry Reginald Courtenay, D. D. formerly rector of St. George, Hanover-square, and of Leigh, in Kent, and prebendary of Rochester; promotedin 1794 to be Bishop of Bristol, and thence translated in J 797 to the Bishopric of Exeter; in which he died June gth, 1803, having married, January 26th, 1774, Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Thomas, second Earl of Effingham, by whom he left at least two sons, of whom, Wil- liam, the eldest, married, November 29th, 1804, Lady Henrietta Leslie, daughter of the Countess of Rothes, by Sir Lucas Pepys, Bart. Fifth, Peregrine, who married Lucy, daughter of Benjamin Incledon, Esq. She died October, 1778. He re-married Au- gusta Beaumont, widow of Sir John Glynne, of Flintshire, Bart. k Coffin Plate. 1 From the brass plate on the coffin, arms at top, Courtenay quartered as usual, impaling Bathurst, crest, Sec. under this inscription : Henry Reginald Courtenay, Esq. second son of Sir William Courtenay, Bart, of Powderham, in the county of Devon, by the Lady Anne, his wife, daughter of James Earl of Abingdon. He married Catharine, daughter of Allen Lord Bathurst by whom he had issue two sons and two daughters ; William, his eldest son and heir, Catherine, Henry, and Anne- He died the 30th day of April, 1763, in the 49th year of his age. VISCOUNT COURTENAY. 269 Also seven daughters} first, Mary, who died young; second, Anna-Sophia j third, Eleanora, married to Francis Basset, Esq. of Heanton-Court, com. Dev. and died in 1/64, leaving issue; fourth, Bridget, married to William Ilbert, Esq. of Bowringsleigh, com. Dev. ; fifth, Isabella, married John Andrews, M. D. of Exeter; sixth, Mary, married John Langston, Esq. of Park, com. Dev. ; aud, secondly, John Davie, Esq. of Orleigh, com. Dev. and died 1754 ; and, seventh, Elizabeth, who died an infant. Their father departed this life in the year 1736, and was suc- ceeded by his third son, Sir William Courtenay, Bart, first Viscount, who, on the decease of his father, was chosen knight of the shire for the county of Devon, which he also represented until he was raised to the peer- age. In consideration of his own merit, and the great antiquity, nobility, and eminent rank and virtues of his ancestors, his present Majesty, May 6, 1/62, was graciously pleased to create him a peer of Great Britain, by the name, style, and title of Viscount Courtenay, of Powder ham-castle, in the county of Devon. He survived this mark of the royal favour only ten days, and was buried amongst his ancestors at Powderham. His Lordship mar- ried, on April 2d, 1741, the Right Hon. Lady Frances Finch, fourth and youngest daughter of Heneage Finch, second Earl of Ailesford, by his wife Mary, daughter and heir of Sir Clement Fisher, Bart. ; and by her Ladyship, (who departed this life De- cember 19th, l/6l, and was buried at Powderham) he had issue William, late Lord Viscount Courtenay, born November 30th, 1742, and four daughters, viz. Mary, died 1783; Frances, born in March, 1746, married, June /th, 177O, to Sir John Wrottesly, Bart, and died in Dec. 1768, leaving issue; Lucy, born in June 1748, married, October 19th, 1777, to John Cotes, of Woodcote, in Shropshire, Esq. who died April 22d, 1787, leaving issue by her; and Charlotte, born January 21st, 1751, married, September 12th, 1782, at El- laston, in Derbyshire, Alexander, late Earl of Rosslyn, who had no issue by her, who survives him. His Lordship deceased on May 16th, 1/62, and was succeeded in his honours and estates by his only son, William, second Viscount Colrtenay. His Lordship was the fifteenth inheritor of the seat of Powderham castle, from Sir Philip Courtenay, the first of the family resident there ; the sixteenth in succession from Hugh, Earl of Devonshire, and Mar- 270 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. garet his wife, grand-daughter of King Edward I. the twenty-first from Reginald de Courtenay, who came into England with King Henry II. and the twenty-fourth from Athon, who fortified the town of Courtenay, and gave that name to his family. His Lordship married Frances, daughter of Mr. Thomas Clack, of Wallingford, in Berkshire. She died March 25th, 1782, at their town house in Grosvenor-square, having had thirteen children, and was buried at Powder ham church the 5 th of April following. By her his Lordship had issue, First, Frances, born in January, 1763 ; married, in December 1778, Sir John Honywood, Bart, of Evington, in Kent, who died 1806, by whom she had issue the present Baronet, and six daughters. Second, Charlotte, born July 14th, 1764 5 married, June 23d, 1788, Thomas Gilford, Esq. of Chillington, in Staffordshire, and has issue. Third, Isabella, born in June 1765, who was burnt by her clothes having caught fire, March 4th, 1783. Fourth, Elizabeth, born September 2d, 1766; married, June 7th, 1788, Lord Charles-Henry Somerset, second son of Henry, fifth Duke of Beaufort, K. G. and has issue. Fifth, William. Sixth, Lucy, born June 13th, 1770 5 married, August 2d, 1799, the Hon. John Vaughan, second son of Wilmot, fourth Viscount and first Earl of Lisburne. Seventh, Harriet, born September 1771 5 married, May 12th, 1797, Lord George Thynne, son of Thomas, first Marquis of Bath, K. G. Eighth, Eleanor, born Nov. 23, 1772, and died in July 1789. Ninth, Anne, born July 2d, 1774 ', married, September 3d, 179O, Viscount Valentia, eldest son of Arthur Annesley, Earl of Mountnorris. Tenth, Caroline, born March 26th, 1^5. Eleventh, Amelia, died March 18th, 1789. Twelfth, Matilda, born July 7th, 1778. Thirteenth, Sophia, born January 25th, 17$0; married, in December, 1804, captain Foy, of the royal artillery. Fourteenth, Louisa- Augusta, born December 25th, 178I ; married, October 17th, 1805, Lord Robert- Henry Somerset, another son of Henry, fifth Duke of Beaufort. VJSCOUNT COURTENAY. 2/1 His Lordship died December 14th, 1788, and was succeeded by his only son William, present and third Viscount Courtenay. His Lordship was born July 30lh 1/68. Titles. William Courtenay, Viscount Courtenay, of Pow- derham castle. Creations. Viscount Courtenay, of Powderham castle, in com. Devoy by letters patent, May 6th, 1 762, 2 Geo. III. Arms. Quarterly, first and fourth, Or, three Torteauxes ; lecond and third, Or, a lion rampant, Azure. Crest. On a wreath, a dolphin naiant, Argent Supporters. Two boars, Argent, bristled, tusked, and hoofed. Or. Motto. Ubi lapsus? Quid feci? Chief Seat. At Powderham castle, in the county of Devon. 272 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. WARD, VISCOUNT DUDLEY AND WARD. This family were advanced to the Peerage, in consequence of their marriage with the heiress of the Lords Dudley, in the reign of Charles I. The family of Ward is of great antiquity; and appears, from Sir William Dugdale, and other antiquarians, to have been seated, for several centuries, in the county of Norfolk. But the first per- son from whom we can with certainty, lineally deduce the present Viscount, was, Simon Warde, who, on June 2Qth, 1301, had the King's licence, with Sir Thomas Colvylle, and Sir John Etton, Knights, William Louther, William Salveyn, and Henry Van Croypole, to perform feats of arms with certain persons of Scotland : and John Lord Ross was appointed by the King to fix a camp, and to be judge of their performances. This Simon is said to marry Mar- garet, of a branch of the noble family of Mortimer, and to have issue John Ward, Esq.a possessed of the manor of Kirkby-Bedon, in Norfolk, in the year 1363, who by his wife, b a daughter of John de Bosco, or Boys, had issue John, his son and heir, whoc was also possessed of the said manor, and married Catharine, daughter of Appleyard, of Dunston, in Norfolk, Esq. and was succeeded by his son and heir, Robert Ward, of Kirkby-Bedon, Esq. who had to wife a Ex Stemmate penes Dom. Ed. Ward, Bart. '° Ibid. « Visitat. of Norfolk, not. 123, p 159, in offic. Armor. VISCOUNT DUDLEY AND WARD. 2;3 Alice, d daughter of Robert Kemp, of Gissing, in Norfolk, Esq.; and had issue Robert, who married , daughter of Coppledick, Esq. and was father of Robert Ward, Esq. who married , daughter of Sir Giles Capel, Knight, ancestor to the present Earl of Essex, and by her had issue Henry Ward, Esq. e who for the most part resided at Pos- wyke, in Norfolk, and by Margaret his wife, daughter of Wil- liam Ugge, of Pokethorpe, Esq. had issue five sons ; first, Ed- ward ; second, Henry 5 third, Miles ; fourth, Tobias ; and, fifth, Thomas. Edward, the eldest son, succeeded to the estate, and was also of Bexley (or Bixley) in Norfolk, where for the most part he re- sided : and having married Anne, daughter of John Havers, of Windfarthing, in Norfolk, , Esq. had issue eight children ; of whom Thomas, the eldest son, was of Bexley, and having married Eleanor, daughter of Thomas Godsalve, ofBuckenham, in Nor- folk, Esq. was father, by her, of Thomas Ward, Esq. whose son and heir, Edward Ward, of Bexley, was created a Baronet, on December 19th, 166O, but his issue is now extinct. William Ward, the sixth son of the said Edward Ward, of Bexley, Esq. was a wealthy goldsmith in London, and jeweller to the Queen of King Charles I. Having a very ample fortune, he resided at Heal, in Staffordshire ; and in his lifetime Edward Suttqn, Lord Dudley, bestowed Frances, his granddaughter and heir, on Humble Ward, Esq. his son and heir. She was the sole daughter and heir of Sir Ferdinando Sutton, Knight of the Bath, who died in the lifetime of his father, the said Edward, Lord Dudley -, who departing this life on June 23d, ]f343, the said Frances succeeded to the ancient Barony of Dudley. Edward, Lord Dudley, before-mentioned, was a Baron by descent from John de Sutton, who in the reign of King Ed- ward II. married Margaret, eldest daughter of Roger de Someri, Baron of Dudley, and sister and coheir of John de Someri, Baron of Dudley, who died on the Feast of St. Thomas the Martyr, in 15 Edw. II. leaving her, the said Margaret, who was then thirty- two years of age, and his other sister Joan, the wife of Thomas Botetourt, twenty-nine years of age, his next heirs. d Vis de Com. Norf. prsed. • Ibid. VOL. VI. t 274 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. At partition of his inheritance, Margaret had for her share an as- signation of the castle of Dudley in Staffordshire ; as also of the town of Dudley, in Worcestershire j the manor of Seggefley, (or Segley) chace of Penshet, and manor of Swynford-Regis, in Staf- fordshire, with divers other manors j all which descended to John, her son and heir, who, in \6 Ecjw. III. was summoned to parlia- ment as Baron Dudley, and died in 33 Edw. III. seized of the castle of Dudley, and of the town of Dudley, in com. Wigorn, as parcel and member of the castle of Dudley, held by barony, as the inquisition sets forth. The said Roger, and John de Somen, were lineally descended from John, Baron de Someri, of the county of Cambridge, who took to wife Hawyse, sister and heir of Gervase Paganel, Baron of Dudley, in com. Staff, son of Ralph, son of Fulk Paganel, Baron of Dudley, who was possessed of Dudley, probably by marrying the daughter of JVilliam Fitz-Auscu/ph, to whom the Conqueror gave the barony of Dudley j f or, according to others, by one of his ancestors, Gervase Paganel, marrying Phillis, daughter and sole heir of Athelstan, who built the castle of Dudley, and was a descendant from Dudd, Earl of Coventry, who wedded EfFri, daughter to Edmund Ironside, who died King of England, A. D. io];. The aforesaid Frances, Baroness of Dudley, being with her husband, Humble Ward, Esq. in Oxford, when her grand- father, Edward Lord Dudley, died, he was thereupon, the next day, June 24th, 1043, knighted by Charles I. and, on March 23d, next ensuing, advanced to the dignity of a Baron of England, by the title of Lord Ward, of Birmingham, in com. Warwick. This Humble, Lord Ward, died on October 4th, 1670, and was buried at Himpley, in com. Staff, his Lady surviving, who lived to be very aged, and departed this life in the year 1701. They had issue, besides four daughters, three sonsj First, Edward, who succeeded to the honour and estate. Second, John, who died an infant. Third, William Ward, of Willingsworth, in the parish of Sedgley, in com. Staff. Esq. of whom more fully, as continuator of the male line. The four daughters were, Anne, who died unmarried j Theo- dosia, wedded first to Sir Thomas Brereton, of Handford, in the t See a more full account of this castle, and its owners, in Shaw's Staf- fordtbiret and of the Suttons and Dudleys inDucoALt'i Baronage, Sec. VISCOUNT DUDLEY AND WARD. 17* county of Chester, and secondly to Charles Brereton, Esq. ; Honour, wife to William Dilke, of Mp.xstock-castle, in the county of Warwick, Esq. She died July 18th, l6gg, aged sixty- three, and is buried at Shustock, in Warwickshire, where a mo- nument is erected to her memory j and Frances, married to Sir William Noel, of Kirkby-Mallory, in I/eicestershire, Bart, being his second wife, as narrated in the pedigree of Viscount Wcnt- worth. Edward, second Lord Ward, and first Lord Dudley of this family , eldest son and heir of Humble, Lord Ward, took his place in the house of Peers, on January ISth, 1697 ; and, at the death of Frances, his mother, in 1701, succeeded to the Ba- rony of Dudley j soon after which he died, and was buried at Himpley, on August 8th, l/Ol. He married Frances, daughter of Sir William Brereton, of Handford, in Cheshire, Bart, and sister, and at length sole heir to Sir Thomas Brereton j by whom he had three sons (of whom afterwards) and three daughters, viz. Catharine, married to the Hon. John Grey, of Endfield (or Envil) hall, in com. Staff, and by him mother of Harry Grey, third Earl of Stamford ; and Humbletta, to Thomas Porter, Esq. Letticc the second daughter dying y6ung. John, the eldest son, and Ferdinando Dudley, the youngest, died unmarried. William, the second son, died in the lifetime of his father, and was buried at Himpley, on May 16th, 1692. He married Frances, daughter of Thomas Dilke, of Maxstock-castle, in com. Warwick, Esq. by Honour his wife before-mentioned : and by her had three sons, First, Edward, Lord Dudley and Ward. Second, John, who died an infant. Third, William, who became Lord Dudley and Ward. And also a daughter, Frances, hereafter mentioned. Edward, second Lord Dudley, and third Lord Ward, succeeded his grandfather in 17O] -, and having taken to wife Diana, daughter of Thomas Howard, of Ashsted, in com. Surry, Esq. departed this life on March 28th, 1/04, in his minority ; leaving his Lady (who died on March 1/th, 1709) in the twenty- third year of her age, and was buried at Ashsted, where a monu- ment is erected to her memory, big with child of Edward, third Lord Dudley, and fourth Lord Ward; who deceasing on September 6th, 1731, unmarried, was buried at Ashsted, and his honours and estate devolved on his uncle, 2;<5 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. William, fourth Lord Dudley, and fifth Lord Ward, who died a bachelor, at his seat at Himpley, in Staffordshire, in May ] 740. The Baronies of Dudley and Ward thereby became sepa- rated, and the former devolved on Ferdinando-Dudley, son of William Lea, of Hales- Owen- Grange, in Shropshire, Esq. by Frances, his wife, only sister of Edward and William, Lords Dudley and Ward/ before-mentioned. The said William Lea was descended from the family of Lea, seated at Lea-Green, in the parish of Kingsnorton, in the county of Worcester : and by Frances, his wife, aforesaid, (who died at the Grange, on January 24th, 1/3? , and was buried at Himpley,) had issue two sons and five daughters, viz. First, Ferdinando-Dudley Lea, above-mentioned. Second, William Lea, who died a bachelor. Third, Anne, married to Wiiliam Smith, of Ridgeacre, in the county of Salop, Gent. Fourth, Frances, wedded to Mr. Walter Woodcock. ' Fifth,. Mary, who was wife to Hervey, M. D. of Stourbridge, com. Wigorn. Sixth, Catharine, espoused to Mr. Thomas Jardon, of Bir- mingham. Seventh, Elizabeth, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Briscoe. Ferdinando Dudley Lea, the eldest son, succeeded his cousin, William Lord Dudley and Ward, as fifth Baron Dudley, 8 in 1/40, as above recited; but died unmarried, on October 21st, 17 5^, and the Barony of Dudley is now in abey- ance, h The dignity of Baron Ward, of Birmingham, being limited to heirs male, fell, by the death of William, last Lord Dudley and Ward, to John Ward, of Sedgley-park, in the county of Staf- ford, Esq. grandson of William Ward, of Willingworth ; Esq. third son of Humble, first Lord Ward, before- mentioned. The said William Ward, Esq. died in January, 1/13-14 ; and by Anne, his wife, daughter and sole heir to Thomas Parkes, ofWillingsworth, Esq. by Rebecca, his wife, who was heir to the Bodleys, he left issue one son, William, his heir, and three daughters j first, Frances, married to Robert Pigot, of Chetwynd, s See mention of him in Shenstone's Letters to Lady Luxborough. h See Banks's Extinct Peerage, yol ii. p. 174. VISCOUNT DUDLEY AND WARD. 277 in Shropshire, Esq. j second, Jane, who wedded to Daniel Jevon, Esq. ; and, third, Rebecca, who died unmarried. "William, the only son, served for Staffordshire, in the last parliament but one of Queen Anne, and in the first of George I. and departed this life on October 25th, 1720. He wedded Mary, daughter of the Hon. John Grey, of Enfield-hall (before- mentioned) by Mary, his first wife, daughter of Sir Frances Wol* ryche, of Dudmaston, in Shropshire, Bart, and by her was father of two sons. First, John, first Viscount Dudley and Ward. Second, the Rev. William Ward, rector of King's Swinford and Himpley, in Staffordshire (who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Hawkes, by whom he had a son Humble, and a daughter Frances ; he died on July 21st, 1758, and was buried at Himley.) By the same Lady, he had also two daughters; first, Frances, » married to George Rooke, of St. Lawrence, near Canterbury, in Kent, Esq. (son and heir to Sir George Rooke, Knight, who made so eminent a figure in the naval department in the reign of Queen Anne j) she died the 14th of October, 1770; k and, second, Anna, who died at St. Lawrence, April, 1770* John, the eldest son, first Viscount Dudley and Ward, was one of the members for the borough of Newcastle- under- Line, Staffordshire, in the first parliament of Geo. II. In May, 1740, ne succeeded to the title of Lord Ward,1 being the sixth who enjoyed that honour : and his present Ma- jesty was pleased, in consideration of his Lordship's great merits and noble descent, to grant to him, and his heirs male, the dig- nity of a Viscount of Great Britain, by the title of Viscount Dudley and Ward, of Dudley, in the county of Worcester, by letters patent, dated April 23d, 1763, 3 Geo. III. His Lordship was also recorder of the city of Worcester. On December 26th, 1 723, his Lordship first married Anna- Maria, daughter of Charles Bourchier, of the city of Dublin, Esq. 5 She was an early friend of the celebrated Mrs. Elizabeth Carter. See Mrs. Carter's Letters. k Mrs. Rooke left the mansion of St. Lawrence, and all her estates, ( which she derived from her husband; to her nephew, John, late Viscount, who sold them- The mansion of St. Lawrence now belongs, by purchase, to Richard Milles, Esq. father of Lady Sondes. 1 He published, I think, a book on the Office of Justice of the Peace — but Quere? 278 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. by Barbara his wife, daughter of Richard Harrison, of Balls, in Hertfordshire, Esq. and by her had a son, John, the late Viscount. That Lady departing this life on December 12th, 1725, was buried at Wednesbury, in Stafford shire. His Lordship, on January 4th, 1744-5, wedded, secondly, Mary, m daughter and heir of John Carver," of St. George, Han- over-square, Westminster, Esq. By her Ladyship he had two sons, viz. First, the Hon. Humble Ward, who died an infant. Second, William, present Viscount. His Lordship died May 6th, 1774, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John, second Viscount Dudley and Ward, born Fe- bruary 22d, 1724. Tn 1754, he was elected to parliament for the town of Marlborough, in Wiltshire j at the general election in l"6l, was returned one of the knights of the shire for the county of Worcester, and was re-elected to the next parliament. His Lordship was LL. D. and married, July 12th, 1788, Mrs. Baker, and dying October 8th following, left no male issue by her, who re-married, August 14th, 1790, Benjamin Jennings, Esq. on whose death, 1791, she again married Capt. J. Smith, of the royal. navy. His Lordship was succeeded by his half brother, William, third Viscount Dudley and Ward, who was born January 21st, 1750. His Lordship married, August 1, 1780, Julia, second daughter of Godfrey Bosville, of Gunthwaite, in Yorkshire, Esq. by whom he has issue a son, John- William, born August 9th, 1781, M. P. for Wareham, late M. P. for Worcestershire. Titles. William Ward, Viscount Dudley and Ward, of Dud- ley, in the county of Worcester j and Lord Ward, of Birming- ham, in the county of Warwick. Creations. Baron Ward, of Birmingham, March 23, 1643-4, «» Her Ladyship died May 31, 1782, at her house in Park-lane, Grosvenor Square. n He left a son by a French Lady, who was father of the late Rev. John Carver, Rector of King's Swinford, and Archdeacon of Surrey; whose daughter is widow of the late Dr. Layard, Dean of Bristol. VISCOUNT DUDLEY AND WARD. 279 19 Car. I. and Viscount Dudley and Ward, of Dudley, April 23d, 1763, 3 Geo. III. Arms. Checkey, Or and Azure, a bend ermine. Crest. In a ducal coronet Or, a lion's head, Azure. Supporters. Two angels, haired and winged, Or, their under robes sanguine, and their uppermost Azure. Motto. Comme Je Fus. Chief Seats. At Himpley-hall, Dudley-castle, and Sedgley- , park, all in Staffordshire j the first being his Lordship's principal place of residence. See a full account of these seats in Shaw's Staffordshire. 2.S0 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. MAYNARD, VISCOUNT MAYNARD. It is evident from our records, that in the reign of King Henry III. Edward Mainard sold lands in Milsted, in Kent, to the monastery of Shepey. And that John Mainard, of Axminster, in Devonshire, who served under Edward Prince of Wales (commonly called the Black Prince) in his victorious expeditions in France, was on July 28th, 1352, a constituted governor of Brest castle in Brit- tany. After him, in 2 Rich. II. was William Maynard, b one of the witnesses to that grant of William Eggecomb (Lord Edge- cumbe's ancestor) of Cothele, in Devonshire, of lands of Midelton, in the said county, to the convent of Tavistock. But John Mainard is said c to be the son and heir of the before- mentioned John, and that he died in 1401, leaving by his wife, daughter of Winston, a son, Nicholas Mainard, Esq. who left this world in 8 Henry V. and by , his wife, daughter and coheir of Hilliard, was father of John Mainard, Esq. who departed this life in 14(50, and by Joan, his wife, daughter of John Alexander, d had Nicholas, his son and heir, who died in 14 Henry VII. and left issue another Nicholas Mainard, Esq. his heir. t Rymer, torn. v. p. 741. h Ex. Collect. Gul. Poole, Bar. « Segar's Baronag. Genealog. MS. <» Sir John Maynard, the famous serjeant at law, who died 1690, aged ninety, was son of Alexander Maynard, of Tavistock, in Devonshire, Esq. He was probably of this family. VISCOUNT MAYNARD. 281 The last-mentioned Nicholas Mainard, Esq. had two wives ; first, Margaret, daughter of John Ellys, of Ellys, in De- vonshire, Esq. j and, second, Dorothy, daughter to Edward Mundy, of the county of Derby. By the first e he had a son, John. And, by his second, a son, also named John, who, by his will, dated December 4th, J 546, orders his body to be buried in the chapel of the Holy Trinity, within the church of St. Mary Arches, in the city of Exeter; and gave lands for a yearly obit to be kept in the said church, on the third of November, (if not on a Sunday) to pray for the souls of John Bradmore, his father-in-law, his father's and mother's souls, and all the souls he is bound to pray for. He leaves a legacy to his brother John Maynard ; and wills, that all his evidences, concerning his lands, be by his overseers sorted, and put in boxes, and then put into a cofter, with three locks and three several keys belonging to each of them; one to remain with the Mayor of Exeter for the time being, another with the overseers of his will, and the third to be kept by the head warden for the time being of the parish of St. Mary Arches; and the said coffer to remain in the council-chamber, till such time as his son and heir came to the full age of twenty-eight years. It also appears, by the will, that he held lands in the parishes of Kenne, Hew, Wymple, Morchard-Crucis, Exminster, and other parishes in Devonshire; and that he left by , his wife, daughter of William St. Leger, otherwise Snelling, of Chedle-wood, Esq. two sons, John and Richard. His elder brother, John Maynard, Esq. in 7 Edw. VI. f was steward of the borough of St. 4lbans, com. Hertf for life ; in which year it was first incorporated. He died on October 21st, 1556, leaving Ralph, his son and heir, twenty years of age; as is evident from the inquisition after his death, taken at St. Alban's, on January 14th fol/owing. He made his will (writing himself John Maynard, of St. Alban's, Esq.e on October 18th, in ,3 and 4 Philip and Mary, ordering his body to be buried in the parish church of St. Michael, in St. Alban's ; and bequeaths to his son Ralph, ten pounds yearly for his education in the law (but, if he withdraw from that study, the annuity to cease) as also all his e Lilly's Pedig. of Nob. MS. p. 13 j. f Chauncy's Antiqof Hertfordshire. t Ex Registvocat. Wrastley, qu. 3, in Cur. Praerog. Cant, 282 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. goods in his dwelling house at St. Alban's. He mentions his son's wife, the daughter of John Bridge; Anne Bridge, his wife's daughter j Henry and Robert Maynard, his sons ; and Dorothy, Mary, and Awdry, his daughters; constituting Dorothy his wife executrix, and his brother Thomas Skipwith, overseer. The said John Maynard, was chosen one of the members for St, Albans, in the parliament called in the first year of Queen Mary ; and was one of those thirty-nine members who are re- corded in Lord Chief Justice Coke's Institutes to absent them- selves from the parliament, rather than join in receiving the Pope's authority into this realm ; for which they were indicted in the Kings-bench, " For that they appeared in the parliament, and were there present ; yet notwithstanding, lightly esteeming the inhibition of the King and Queen, and having no regard of the commonweal of this realm of England, afterwards, namely> 12 Jan. in 1st and 2d of the King and Queen, and during the parliament, departed without licence, in manifest contempt of the said King and Queen's command and injunction, and to the great detriment of the commonweal of the kingdom, and to the perni- cious example of all others." But to this they pleaded, *' That the high court of parliament subsisted by its own laws and customs, and that the King cannot take notice of any thing said or done in the House of Cfmmons, but by the report of the said House, &c." This John Maynard, had to his Jirst h wife Margaret, eldest daughter of Sir Ralph Rowlet, of St. Alban's, and Sandridge, * in the county of Hertford (and coheir to her brother Sir Ralph Rowlet) by whom he had issue two daughters, Elizabeth, wife of Henry Barnes, of London ; and Dorothy, married to Sir Ro- bert Clarke, Knight, Baron of the Exchequer ; also a son, Ralph, who married first Elizabeth, daughter of John Bridges, of London ; secondly, Margaret, daughter of Robert Solery, of St. Alban's, and left a son, Ralph. The second wife of the said John Maynard, was Dorothy, daughter of Sir Robert Parratt, by Margaret, daughter of Ireland, of Hertfordshire, Esq. and by her he had issue Sir Henry Maynard, and other children. h Visitations of Hertfordshire and Essex, i From the other coheir came the Jenningses, and their heiress the old Duchess of Marlborough* See vol, i. p. 377. VISCOUNT MAYNARD. 283 Which Sir Henry was Secretary to the famous William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, Treasurer of England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth}* and served in three several parliaments for the borough of St. Alban's, viz. in the 28ih, 30th, and 39th years of Queen Elizabeth : also, in the 4;$d of that reign, was elected one of the Knights for the county of Essex, and was sheriff of the said county in the last year of Queen Elizabeth, who conferred the honour of knighthood on him. This Sir Henry Mayr.ard, k writing himself of Little Estane, in Essex, Knight, makes his will on August 20th, 1609, and bequeaths to the poor of Estane 61. to the poor of Much Estane 5/. to the poor of Thaxsted 10/. to the poor of Much Dunmow 10/ to the poor of Little Canfleld 4/. to the poor of Broxsted 5 1, to be distributed by the overseers of each parish, as soon as may be, after his decease. He be- queaths to his daughter Elizabeth Maynard. 2000/. at the age of eighteen years, or on the day of her marriage: to his daughter, Mary Maynard, 2000/. to be paid as aforesaid: to his son, Charles Maynard, all those his house and. houses situate in Lon- don 5 and, for default of issue, to descend to Francis Maynard, another son to him the said Sir Henry ; to whom he also be- queaths 500/. and his lease of lands in Warwickshire, which he holds of the King. He bequeaths to Sir William Maynard, his son and heir, all his furniture, &c. in that part of his mansion-house in which he then dwelt, called Estane Lodge, which lieth from the kitchen toward the east : to his beloved wife, the Lady Susan Maynard, 400 ounces of plate} and the residue of his plate to his son, Sir Wil- liam Maynard. He gives and grants to his executors the ward- ship and custody of Robert Jocelyn, son and heir of Richard Jocelyn, Esq. deceased, and the marriage of the said Robert, and lease of his lands, which he had by grant from the King : which executors were his said loving wife and his son Sir William May- nard j to whom he leaves all the rest of his money, debts, goods, and chattels, whatsoever. He moreover desires it would please his very honourable good Lord, the Lord Cavendish, to be the overseer of his will j which was proved, and administration granted to his said executors, on May 18th, 1610. He lies buried at Estains, in Essex, otherwise called Little Easton (a manor he purchased) under a fair tomb of alabaster in i Chauncy's Antiq. of Hertfordshire. * Ex Regist. Wingfield,in Cur. Praerog. Cant. 2S4 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the South isle, with the statues, in full proportion, of him and hi* lady lying thereon at full length, and this inscription : Quis fuerim, qualemque diu me Curia novit, Plebs, proceres, princeps, partia testis erit : Hos de me (lector) non marmora consule, famac Saxa nihil tribuunt ambitiosa meae. Whence, who, and what I was, how held in courts, My Prince, the peers, my country can report : Ask those of me (good reader) not these stones -, They know my life, these do but hold my bones. Here resteth, in assured hope to rise in Christ, Henry Maynard, Knight, descended of the ancient family of Maynard, in the county of Devon 5 and Dame Susan, his wife, daughter and one of the coheirs of Thomas Pierson, Esq. to whom she bear eight sonnes and two daughters. He ended this life the 11th of May, 1610; his lady, six sonnes, and two daughters then living. The said two daughters were, Elizabeth, wedded to Sir Ed- ward Bainton, ofBromham, in Wiltshire 5 and Mary, who died unmarried. Of William, his eldest son, I shall hereafter treat. John, his second son, was seated at Walthamstow, in Essex, also at Tooting, in Surry. He was made Knight of the Bath at the coronation of King Charles I. and chosen burgess for Lest- withiel, in Cornwall, to the parliament that began at West- minster, November 3d, 1040; wherein expressing a pique to the army, by endeavouring to have them disbanded in 1647, he was impeached of high treason, expelled the House of Commons, and committed prisoner to the Tower of London. He was a zealous covenanter, and a sharp antagonist to the independent faction. He died the 29th of July, 1658, aged sixty-six, and is buried at Tooting, where a monument is erected to his memory. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Middleton, Knight, lord- mayor of London j left issue John Maynard, his son and heir, who was created Knight of the Bath, and departing this life the 14th of May, 1604, aged thirty, had sepulture at Tooting. He had to wife Catharine, sister to James Rushout, created Bart, on June VISCOUNT MAYNARD. 285 17th, l6()l, and left a daughter, his heir, married to Francis Buller, of Chillingham, in Cornwall, Esq. Charles Maynard, third son, was auditor of the Exchequer; and, departing this life on November 12th, 1665, in the sixty- seventh year of his age, was buried at Easton j from whom the present Viscount Maynard is descended. I now return to William, the eldest son before-mentioned, first Lord Maynard, who inherited the greatest part of his father's estate and his seat at Easton, wherein the noble family of the Lovains formerly dwelt, who were barons of the realm (de- scended from the Dukes of Brabant) the heir general of which house being married to Bourchier, it afterwards became the seat of the Bourchiers, Earls of Essex, and was purchased in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, bv Sir Henry Maynard. The said William Maynard was bred in St. John's college, in Cambridge, where he founded a logic professor, with an allowance of 50/. per annum. He had the honour of knighthood1 con- ferred on him by King Jamts, at Whitehall, on March 7th, 1608, and was dignified with the title of Baronet m on June 29th, l(il 1, (9 Jac.) next with that n of Lord Maynard, of Wick low, in Ireland, by letters patent, bearing date at Westminster, May 30th, 1620, (18 Jac. I.) and, in consideration of his father's merits, was, by letters patent, bearing date at Westminster, on March 14th, in the third of King Charles I. ° advanced to the degree of a Baron of England, by the title of Lord Maynard, of Estaines ad Turrim, alias Little Easton, in the county of Essex ; and de- parting this life on December 18th, l63Q, was buried near his father, in the vault of the parish church of Little Easton. He married two wives. His first lies buried at Easton parva, under a noble monument, with her effigies at full length, cut in alabaster very fair, and this inscription : Here lyeth the Lady Margaret, wife unto Sir William May- nard, Knight and Baronet, and sole daughter of William Lord Cavendish, and of Anne his first wife. She departed this life on the 1st day of September, l6l3, and in the 20th year of her age. She left behind her one daughter, named Anne, to the care of her truly grieved husband, for the unspeakable loss of so loving a wife. 1 Philpot's Cat. of Knights. m Pat. 9 Jac p 45. ■ Pat 18 Jac. p. 18. • Pat 3 Car. L p. 11. 336 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. He bad to his second wife Anne, (or Hannah) sole daughter and heir to Sir Anthony Everard, of Langleys, in com. Essex, Knight, by which lady, who died August 5th, 1647, and was buried at Little Easton, he left issue one surviving son, William, who succeeded him in his honours. And five daughters, Susan, Jane, Anne, Elizabeth, and Mary; whereof Susan, the eldest, died unmarried : Jane was wife to Ed- ward Eyre, of the county of Galway, in Ireland, Esq. whose daughter and coheir Margaret, was wife to Francis Annesley, Esq. eldest son of John, brother to Arthur first Earl of Anglesea 3 Anne became the wife of Sir Henry Wrothe, of Durance, in the parish of Enfield, in Mi idlesex, Knight ; Elizabeth, of John Wrothe, of Loug;hton, in Essex, E28$ Fourth, Henry, a Spanish merchant, who died November 27, 1686, and was buried at Walthamstow • also two daughters, Mary, who died unmarried January 20th, 1663, and was buried at St. Alban's ; and Anne. Sir William Maynard, the third son, was seated at WaU thamstow, in Essex, was created a Baronet by patent, February 1st, 1681, died November /th, 1 685, and was buried at Waltham- stow, having had is^ue, by Mary his wife, daughter of William Baynbrig, of London, four sons, and Three daughters : Mary, wife of William Scawen, of Car- shalton, in Surrey, Esq. and died August 30th, 1700; Jane, mar- ried to Edward Eyres, of Eyres-court, Esq. j and Elizabeth to Edward Stafford, Esq. The sons were, first, William -} and, second, Charles, who died young. Third, Sir William, who succeeded his father, as second Baronet, but dying unmarried, December 15th, 1/15, was suc- ceeded by his only surviving brother, Sir Henry Maynard, third Baronet, who dying November l6th, 1738, was buried at Walthamstow, leaving issue by his Lady Catharine, daughter of George Gunter, of Racton, in Sussex, Esq. (which Lady died November 6th, 1744, and was buried at Walthamstow) an only son and successor, Sir Willam, fourth Baronet, born April 19th, 1721, who marrird Charlotte, second daughter of Sir Cecil Bisshopp, of Par- ham, in Sussex, Bart. : by this Lady, who died May l6th, 1762, and was buried at Little Easton, he had issue, First, Charles, the present Viscount Maynard. Second, William, born February 4th, 1756, vicar of Thaxted, Essex, died in May 1806. Third, Henry, born October 30th, 1758. And Anne, born December 6th, 1753, and died July 27th, Sir William dying, January, 1772, the baronetage descended to his eldest son, SirCHARLEs Ma YKARD,Jifth Baronet, second Vis count, born August 9th, 1751, who also succeeded to the English peerage on the death of Charles the late Viscount Maynard, agreeable to the before recited limitation in the patent. His Lordship married June 12th, 1776, Mrs. Horton. Titles. Charles Maynard, Viscount Maynard, and Baron Maynard, of Much Easton, and Baronet. VOL. vi. u 290 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND Creations. Baronet, February 1st, 1081, Baron of Much- Easton, and Viscount Maynard, October 18th, (1766) 6 Geo. III. Arms. Argent, a chevron, Azure, between three sinister hands erect, couped at the wrist, Gules. Crest. On a wreath, a stag, trippant, Or. Supporters. On the dexter side, a stag, proper j on the si- nister, a talbot, Argent, pyed Sable, and gorged with a plain collar, Gules. Motto. Manus justa Nardus. Chief Seats. At Easton-Lodge and Walthamstow, both in the county of Essex, and Hoxne-hall, near Eye, in the county of Suffolk. j VISCOUNT HAMPDEN. 291 HAMPDEN TREVOR VISCOUNT HAMPDEN. The noble house of Trevor is one of the principal families in Wales, deduced by the Welsh heralds from Rourd Wiedick, father to Eignian Yothe ; which Eignian held the lands of Gaer- cinion in Powysland, and was grandfather to Kariodock Urech fras, Earl of Hereford and Marchiogien, in the time of Prince Arthur, who began his reign anno 5 16. But the first that bore this name* was Tudor Trevor, Earl of Hereford, son of Rheingar, grandson of Kariodock aforesaid. He married Ankaret, daughter of Howel Dha ap Kadell, Prince of North Wales. And from him lineally descended, in succeeding ages, another Tudor, whose great-grandson, Jerworth Hen. ap Owen ap Blethyn ap Tudor, had in mar- riage Ankaret, daughter and heir to Griffith ap Melior ap Ellidor, by Ankaret his wife, daughter and heir of Liu ap Merrick ap Karadon ap Jestir ap Guergant, and had issue by her Jerworth, junior. Jerworth Vichan aforesaid had issue four sons, and From one of them the family of Mostyn is derived 3 for Tho- mas, in the time of Elenry VIII. took the name of Mostyn, from * Although surnames were not fixed in these dominions till the reign of Henry VIII. yet I find a like name, and of authority, in Ireland, in the annals of that kingdom, A. D. i36i> where Joane is mentioned as wife to Geffrey Lord Trevers. Moreover, there was John Trevers, or Trevaur, the fourteenth Bishop of St. Asaph, and another of that name, who was the nineteenth Bishop of the same see, and likewise Chamberlain of Chester in 3 Rich. II. A. D. 1380, and continued so to 6 Hen. VI. 2c>2 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the place of his nativity and ancient inheritance, by advice of the* judge, who disapproved the genealogical way of appellation used by the Welsh, as tedious ; this Mostyn at that time being called, at the pannel of a jury, by the name of Thomas ap William ap Richard ap Howel ap Evan Vaughan, &c. Those of the name of Jenkyns, with divers others, are also branches of this family, and bear the same coat of arms. Jerworth Voel, another of the sons of Jerworth Vichan, married Gwladua, daughter and heir of Jerworth ap Griffith ap Brockwell, and left issue Edvenet Gam, who married Giolades, daughter and heir of Madoc Eignion ap Edwin, by whom he had several sons. -The second son was David. Thejifth son was Jevan, ancestor to the Howels, and the Hosiers, both of Woodcote, in the county of Salop, and the Ho- siers of Creakton, in the same county. David married Gwenwhyfer, daughter of Adda Gocb, and had issue Edward ap David, who died 1448. He married Ankeret, daughter of Robert Puliston, of Emral, by whom he had two sons, First, John. Second, Richard, progenitor to the Trevors of Ostualdstreh, in com, Salop. John, the eldest son (as likewise his brother) took the name of Trevor, and was seated at Brynkynate, and died in 14 Q4, having had issue by his wife Agnes, daughter and heir to Peter Cambre, of Poole, five sons, which laid the foundation of as many several branches. First, Robert, who succeeded his father at Brynkynate, mar- ried Catharine, daughter and heir of Llewellin ap Ithele de Mauld, and had posterity. b h From him was descended Sir John Trevor, second but eldest surviving son and heir of John Trevor, Esq. of Brinkinate, by Mary, daughter of John Jeffrys, of Helon, in the same county, Esq. Sir John was knighted at White, hall, January 29th, 1670-1, was made Speaker of the House of Commons in 1685, and again 1690; and twice appointed Master of the Rolls; and twice Commissioner of the Great Seal. He died at his house in Clement's- lane, May 20th, 1717, and was buried in the Rolls chapel. Burnet says of him, that « he was a bold and dexterous man, who knew the most effectual ivay of recommending himself to every government ; and had been in great favour in King James's time, and was made Master of the Rolls by him." i VISCOUNT HAMPDEN. 293 Second, Edward, who wedded Anne, daughter of GefTry Kyffin, orc Cuffin, and had two sons, John and Thomas; and from him descended (probably) Colonel Mark Trevor, a loyalist to King Charles I. and by him ennobled in Ireland ; whence the Viscounts Dungannon proceeded. Which Colonel Mark Trevor had to wife Anne, daughter and heir of John Lewis, Esq. and re- lict of John Owen, Esq. son and heir of Sir Hugh Owen, of Oriel ton, in Pembrokeshire, Knt. and Bart, but had no issue. Third, Richard Trevor, of whom hereafter. Fourth, Roger Trevor, of Planykenwich, who married Gwe- rorlla, daughter of Rose Lloyd ap Gruff ap Enion, of Gedroi, and left posterity. Fifth, Thomas, who married Margaret, daughter of John Hanmer, of Lightwood, and left issue. Richard Trevor, third son, already named, married Ma- tilda, daughter and heir of Jenkyn ap David ap Gruff de Ailing' ton, by whom he had, John Trevor, of Allington, who married Margaret, daughter and heir of David ap Rees ap Kenwriek de Kwm, and had three sons, John, Richard, and Edward. John, as eldest son and heir, succeeded at Allington, and marrying Anne, daughter of Randal Broughton, of Broughton, in com. pal. Lancaster, had issue John, Ranclal, David, and Ed- ward. John, the eldest, was seated at Trevallin, in Denbighshire, and d dying July 15th, 1589, was buried at St. Bride's, Fleet- street, London; his wife was Mary, daughter of Sir George Bruges, e of London, Knight, by whom he had an only daughter, Burnet's Oivn Times, vol. ii. p. 42. He married Jane, daughter of Sir Roger Mostyn, of Mostyn, and relict of Roger Puliston, of Emeral, in Flintshire, Esq. She died in August, 1704, and was buried at St. Martin's, in Shrop- shire, where Sir John's estates lay By this lady he had four sons and on« daughter; first, Edward Trevor, Esq. who had displeased his father ; but, by Sir John dying intestate, succeeded to a real estate of 1500/ a year, and to a share of the personal; second, Arthur Trevor, Esq. usher of the Rolls chapel ; third, John Trevor, Esq. Master of the Examiner's Office in Chan- cery ; fourth, Tudor Trevor, a naval officer ; fifth, Anne married, first, Hill, of Hillsbows, in Ireland, and secondly, Alan Brodrick, Lord Middleton, Lord Chancellor of Ireland Noble's Cromwe/t, vol ii. p. 116. 1 Vincent's Shropshire, p. 1. d Seymour's Survey of London, vol. i. p 782- « Nearly related, I presume, to Sir John Bridges, Lord Mayor of London, temp. Hen. VIII. (a remote branch of the Chandos Family) whose daughter, 2Q4 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Winifred, f who married Edward Puleston, of Allington, in Den- bighshire, Esq. and five sons. First, Sir Richard Trevor, of Allington, Knight, the eldest son, married Catharine, daughter to Roger Puleston, of Emrall, Esq. but died without issue, male, having had four daughters, his coheirs : Magdalen, wife first to Arthur Bagnall, of com. Stafford, secondly to Tyringham, of Tyringham, in Bucks, Esqrs. and was buried at St. Margaret's, Westminster, in 1656; Mary, wife of Jever Lloyd, of Yale, Esq. j Dorothy, to Sir John Han- mer, of Hanmer, in Flintshire, Bart. ; and Margaret, to John Griffith, of Lynn, in Carnarvonshire, Esq. she was buried at St. Bride's, March 19th, 1624. Of Sir John Trevor, second son, I shall hereafter treat. Randulph,s third son, died unmarried July 2 1st, 159O, and was buried at St. Bride's, Sir Sackville Trevor, fourth son, was brought up in the sea service, and having the command of one of those men of war that were sent to Spain, A. D. 1623, to bring back Charles Prince of Wales (afterwards King Charles I.) his Highness had been cast away h in St. Andero's road in Spain, had not Sir Sackville Trevor taken him up ; after which, on that war which commenced, in 1626, against France, he took one of their biggest ships, called the Saint Esprit, on which Mr. Howel compliments him, saying, " It was one of the best exploits that were performed." He married Eleanor, daughter of Sir John Savage, of Clifton, in Cheshire, Knight, and widow of Sir Henry Bagnall, Knight Marshal of Ireland* Sir Thomas Trevor, fifth son, was born on July 6th, 1 586 j a day memorable in this family for six successive principal branches, who had their birth thereon. He was observed to smile, as soon as born, and was educated in the Inner Temple j where he be- came Autumnal reader, 18 Jac. I. was afterwards knighted, and made solicitor-general to Prince Charles ; called to the degree of a serjeant at law j made judge of the Common-Pleas j and, finally, Chief Baron of the Excheciuer j but was, with others, im- peached in 1641, 17 Car. I. from which he fairly disengaged Winifred, was mother of Thomas Lord Buckhurst, and Earl of Dorset, the Poet. f Mon. in Lemington church, Warwickshire. g Seymour's Survey, praed. k Howell's Letters, 4to. sect, iii p. 92, and sect. v. p. ;*. VISCOUNT HAMPDEN. 295 himself. He married Prudence, daughter of Henry Boteler, Esq. she was buried at St. Bride's, January 6th, 1614, leaving Tho- mas, only son and heir, of whom presently ; he after married Frances, daughter and heir of Daniel Blennerhasset, of Norfolk ; she died January 6th, 1624, and was buried at St. Bride's; and Sir Thomas himself departing this life December 2 1st, 1656, aet. eighty-four, was buried at Lemington Hastang, in Warwickshire. He has issue Sir Thomas, his son and heir, who was created a Baronet on August llth, 1641, being then wrote of Enfield, in the county of Middlesex. This Sir Thomas Trevor, Bart, was made one of the Knights of the Bath at the coronation of King Charles II. and married Anne, daughter and heir of Robert Jennor, of London, Esq. but dying without issue male in the reign of King Charles II. the title became extinct: I now re- turn to Sir John Trevor, the second son, before-mentioned. He was seated at Trevallin, in the county of Flint, and received the honour of knighthood at Windsor, on June 7th, 1619. He died in 16/3, having married Margaret, daughter to Hugh Trevan- nion, of the county of Cornwall, Esq. by whom he had issue four sons and three daughters. First, John, his son and heir. Second, Charles. Third, William. Fourth, Richard, who being bred at Merton college, in the university of Oxford, afterwards travelled, was doctor of physic of Padua, and dying on July 17, 1676, was buried in the church of St. Dunstan in the West, in Fleet-street, London. His three daughters were, Anne, married to Robert Weldon, of the city of London, Esq. ; Jane, baptized in St. Margaret's, Westminster, on August 31st, J635, and married to Sir Francis Compton, fifth son of Spencer Earl of Northampton -, and Eliza- beth, the wife of William Masham, Esq. eldest son of Sir Wil- liam Masham, Bart, ancestor to the late Lord Masham. Sir John Trevor, the eldest son of Sir John, was knighted by King Charles II. and constituted one of his Principal Secre- taries of State, on his return from his embassy in France/ in October, 1668, and sworn of the privy-council. He died on May 28th, 1672, k in the offices of Secretary of State and privy coun. sellor, at the age of forty-seven, and about a year before his father; » Temple'sLetters, vol. iii p 87. k Gazette, of June 3d, 1672. %qQ PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. and was, on June 2d, honourably interred in St. Bartholomew's the less, in Smithfield. • He married Ruth, daughter of John Hampden,1 of Great Hampden, in com. Bucks, Esq . by whom he had issue four sons, 1 The family of Hampden are very ancient at Hampden in Buckingham- shire, where they are said to have been settled from the Conquest, and to have married the daughter of Walter Gifford, to whom that monarch granted the Earldom of Buckingham. John Hampden, of Hampden, married Eliza- beth, d.vughter and coheir of William Sydney, Esq. (son and heir of Sir Wil- liam Sydney, of Stoke Dabernon, in Surrey,) and elder brother by the half- blood of Nicholas Sydney, Esq. father of Sir William Sydney, of Penshurst, in Kent, (grandfather of Sir Philip.) Barbara, daughter of Sir John Hamp- den, married Sir George Powlett, ofCrundal in Hants, younger brother of William, first Marquis of Winchester. (See vol ii. p. 370.) Griffith Hampden, of Great Hampden, Esq died Oct 27, 1*591. By Anne, his wife, daughter and heir of Anthony Cave, of Chicheley, Esq he had three sons and six daughters; of which Anne married Robert Waller, Esq. of Agmonde- sham, in Bucks, and was mother of Edmund Waller, the poet. William Hampden, of Great Hampden, son and heir, was member of parliament for East Looe, com Cornw. 35 Eliz. and died 1597. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Cromwell, and aunt of Oliver Cromwell, the Pro- tector By her he was father of J o h k Ha mfden,;& celebrated patriot, who was member of parliament for Grampound, 18 James I. for Wendover, in 1st and 3d of Charles Land for the county of Bucks, 15th and 16th Charles I. Lord Clarendon gives the following character of him : *• Mr. Hampden was a man of much greater cunning, (than Mr. Pym) and it may be of the most discerning spirit, and of the greatest address and insinuation to bring any thing to pass which he desired, of any man of that time, and who laid the design deepest. He was a gentleman of a good ex- traction, and a fair fortune, who, from a life of great pleasure and science, had on a sudden retired to extraordinary sobriety and strictness, and yet re* tained his usual cheerfulness and affability: which, together with the opi- nion of his wisdom and justice, and the courage he had shewed in opposing the Ship-money, raised his reputation to a very great height, not only in Buckinghamshire, where he lived, but generally throughout the kingdom- He was not a man of many words, and rarely begun the discourse, or made the first entrance upon any business that was assumed; but a very weighty speaker, and after he had heard a full debate, and observed how the House was likely to be inclined, took up the argument, and shortly, and clearly, and craftily, so stated it, that he commonly conducted it to the conclusion he de- sired ; and if he found he could not do that, he was never without the dexte- rity to divert the debate to another time, and to prevent the determining any thing in the negative, which might prove inconvenient in the future. He made so great a shew of civility, and modesty, and humility, and always of mistrusting his own judgment, and esteeming his with whom he conferred for the present, that he seemed to have no opinions or resolutions, but such as he contracted from the information and instruction he received upon the discourses of others, whom he had a wonderful art of governing, and leading into his principles and inclinations, whilst they believed that he wholly de- pended upon their council and advice. No man had ever a greater power over VISCOUNT HAMPDEN. 297 First, John. Second, Thomas, Jirst Lord Trevor. Third, Richard. himself, or was less the man than he seemed to be. which shortly after ap- peared to every body, when he cared less to keep on the mask." Lord Clarendon thus records his death : ■• But that which would have been looked upon as a considerable re» compence for a defeat, could not but be thought a great addition to the vic- tory, which was the death of Mr. Hampden; who, being shot into the shoulder with a brace of bullets, which broke the bone, within three weeks after died with extraordinary pain ; to as great a consternation of all that party, as if their whole army had been defeated, or cut off. " Many men observed (as upon signal turns of gteat affairs, as this was, such observations are frequently made), that the field in which the late skir- mish was, and upon which Mr. Hampden received his death wound, Chal- grave field, was the same place in which he had first executed the ordinance of the militia, and engaged that county, in which his reputation was very great, in this rebellion : and it was confessed by the prisoners that were taken that day, and acknowledged by all, that upon the alarm that morning, after their quarters were beaten up, he was exceeding solicitous to draw forces together to pursue the enemy ; and, a colonel of foot, put himself among those horse a volunteer who were first ready ; and that when the Prince made a stand, all the officers were of opinion to stay till their body came up, and he alone (being second to none but the General himself in the observance, and application of all men) persuaded and prevailed with them to advance ; so violently did his fate carry him to pay the mulct in the place where he had committed the transgression, about a year before. *' He was a Gentleman of good family in Buckinghamshire and born to a fair fortune, and of a most civil and affable deportment. In his entrance into the world, he indulged to himself all the licence in sports and exercises, and company which were used by men of the most jolly conversation. Afterwards, he retired to a more reserved, and melancholy society, yet pre- serving his own natural cheerfulness and vivacity, and above all, a flowing courtesy to all men; though they who conversed nearly with him, found him growing into a dislike of some church men, and of some introducements of theirs, which he apprehended might disquiet the public peace He was rather of reputation in his own county, than of public discourse or fame in the kingdom, before the business of Ship-money; but then he grew the argu- ment of all tongues, every man inquiring who, and what he was, that durst, at his own charge, support the liberty and property of the kingdom, and rescue his country, as he thought, from being a prey to the court. His car- riage, throughout this agitation, was with that rare temper and modesty, that they who watched him narrowly to find some advantage against his per- son, to make him less resolute in his cause, were compelled to give him a just testimony And the judgment that was given against him, infinitely more against him, than the service for which it was given When this parliament begun (being returned knight of the shire where he lived) the eyes of all men were fixed upon him, as the Patriae Pater, and the pilot that must steer the vessel through the tempests and rocks which threatened it And I am persuaded, his power and interest, at that time, was greater to do good or 298 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Fourth, Edward. John Trevor, Esq. eldest son of the last named Sir John, was of Trevallin, (in which estate he succeeded his grandfather) hurt, than any man's in the kingdom, or than any man of his rank hath had in any time : for his reputation of honesty was universal, and his affections seemed so publicly guided, that no corrupt or private ends could bias them. He wa>of that rare affability and temper in debate, and of that seeming hu- mility and submission of judgment, as if he brought no opinion of his own with him, but a desire of information, and instrucrion ; yet he had so subtle a way of interrogating, and, under the notion of doubts, insinuating his ob- jections, that he infused his own opinions into those from whom he pre- tended to learn and receive them. And even with them who were able to preserve themselves from his infusions, and discerned those opinions to be fixed in him, with which they could not comply, he always left the cha- racter of an ingenious, and conscientious person. He was indeed a very wiseman, and of great parts, and possessed with the most absolute spirit of popularity, and the most absolute faculties to govern the people, of any man I ever knew. For the first year of the parliament, he seemed rather to mode- rate and soften the violent and distempered humours, than to inflame them. But wise and dispassioned men plainly discerned that that moderation pro- ceeded from prudence, and observation that the season was not ripe, rather than that he approved of the moderation , and that he begot many opinions, and motions, the education whereof he committed to other men ; so far dis- guising his own designs, that he seemed seldom to wish more than was con- cluded ; and in many gross conclusions, which would hereafter contribute to designs not yet set on foot, when he found them sufficiently backed by a ma- jority of voices, he would withdraw himself before the question, that he might not seem to consent to so much visible unreasonableness ; which produced as great a doubt in some, as it did approbation in others, of his in- tegrity. What combination soever had been originally with the Scots for the invasion of England, and what farther was entered into afterwards in favour of them, and to advance any alteration of the government in parliament, np man doubrs was at least with the privity of this gentleman. u After he was among those members accused by the King of high trea- son, he was much altered ; his nature and carriage seeming much fiercer than it did before. And without question, when he first drew his sword, he threw away the scabbard ; for he passionately opposed the overture made by the King for a treaty from Nottingham, and as eminently all ex, edients that might have produced any accommodations in this that was at Oxford ; and was principally relied on, to prevent any infusions which might be made into the Earl of Essex towards peace, or to render them ineffectual, if they were made ; and was indeed much more relied on by that party, than the general himself. In the first entrance into the troubles, he undertook the command of a regiment of foot, and performed the duty of a colonel, upon all occasions, most punctually. He was very temperate in diet, and a supreme governor over all his passions and affections, and had thereby a great power over other mens. He was of an industry and vigilance not to be tired out, or wearied by the most laborious; and of parts not to be imposed upon, by the most subtle 01 sharp; and of a personal courage equal to his best parts, so that he was an enemy not to be wished whenever he might have been made VISCOUNT HAMPDEN. 299 married Elizabeth, daughter of Clarke, Esq. and widow of John Morley, of Glynd, in com. Sussex: by this lady, who, after his decease, married thirdly, the Lord Viscount Cutts, he had a friend ; and as much to be apprehended when he was so, as any man could deserve to be. And therefore his death was no less pleasing to one party, than it was condoled in the other. In a word, what was said of Cinna, might well be applied to him : 4* He had a head to contrive, and a tongue to persuade, and a hand to execute, any mischief." His death there- fore seemed to be a great deliverance to the nation.''* He married, first, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Edmund Symeon, Esq. of Pyrton, com. Oxf. who lies buried in the chancel of Great Hampdea •hurch, with the following inscription : To the eternal memory of thetruely Vertuous and pius Elizabeth Hampden, wife of John Hampden, of Great Hampden, Esquier, Sole daughter and heire of Edmund Symeon, of Pyrton in the county Of Oxon, Esq. the tender mother of an happy offspring in 9 Hopefull children : In her Pilgrimage The staie and comfort of her neighbours, The love and glory of a well-ordered family, The delight and happiness of tender parents, But a crowne of blessings to a husband. In a wife to all an eternal paterne of goodnesse, And cauae of joye whilst she was. In her dissolution A losse unvalluable to each, yet herselfe Blest, and they recompenced in her Translation from a tabernacle of claye And fellowshipp with mortalls to a celestial! Mansion and communion with Deity, the 20th day of August, 1634. John Hampden, her sorrowfull Husband, in perpetuall testimony Of his conjugal love hath Dedicated this Monument. His second wife was Letitia Lady Vachell, who long survived him, and dying 1666, was brought from Cooley, near Reading, and buried at Great Hampden. The issue by the first marriage were, First, John Hampden, Esq. died before his father, 1641, or 1642, * Clarendon's Hist, of Rebellion, vol. iii. p. 264 — 267. 300 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. issue two sons; first, John Morley Trevor, of GJynd Stamerton, who died on April 19th, 17195 and Thomas, who died unmar- Second, Richard Hampden, Esq. his heir. Third, William Hampden, Esq. died single, 1676. Fourth, Elizabeth, married Sir Richard Knight ley, of Fausley, in North- amptonshire, K B. who had by her a son, Richard, who died unmarried at Paris, aged twenty-six ; and a daughter, Elizabeth, who died a child. Fifth, Anne, wife of Sir Robert Pye, of Faringdon, com. Berks, Knight, who died 1701, after having lived with her sixty years. He had issue by her three sons, and two daughters Their grandson, Henry Pye, of Faringdon, Esq. died 1749, leaving by Anne, sister to Allan, Lord Bathurst, a large family, of whom Henry Pye, of Faringdon, Esq. the eldest son, born 1709, who represented Berkshire in four parliament, and died 1766, was father of Henry James Pye, Esq. the present Poet Laurent, &c- Sixth, Mary, died an infant, buried March 18th, 1627, at Great Hamp- den. Seventh, Ruth, married Sir John T r ev o r , of Trevallin, as in the text, and was ancestor to Viscount Hampden. Eighth, Mary, married, first, Colonel Robert Hammond, son to Dr. John Hammond, physician to Prince Henry ; and secondly, Sir John Hobart, Bart. By the first husband she appears to have had issue. By the last she was mother of Sir Henry Hobart, Bart who dying 1697, left issue Sir John Hpbart, Bart, born 1692, who was created Lord Hobart 1728 ; and Earl of Buck- inghamshire 1746. He died 17^6 and was father of the two last Earls, and grandfather of the present Earl of Bucks. Ninth, Judith, died unmarried. Richard Hampden, Esq son and heir of the patriot, was appointed a Lord of the Treasury 1689, and Chancellor of the Exchequer 1690 He died 1695, having had issue by Letitia, daughter of William, Lord Paget, First, John Hampden, Esq. Second, Richard Hampden, died young. Third, Isabella, married Sir William Ellys, of Nocton, in Lincolnshire, Bart- whose son and heir Sir Richard Ellys, Bart- dying without issue 1743, left his seat at Nocton, and an estate of 4000/. a year, to his relation the first Earl of Buckinghamshire. John Hampden, Esq. son and heir, was engaged in Lord Russell's plot, and condemned to pay a fine of 40,000/. &c but he engaged again in the Duke of Monmouth's insurrection, 168/5, was tried, pleaded guilty, and was forgiven. He came into favour at the Revolution; but in 1696 laid violent hands on himself, and was buried at Great Hampden. Burnet says, to enable him and his issue male to take and use that sur- name, pursuant to the wills of Sir John Germain of Drayton, a in the county of Northampton, Bart, and of his widow, Lady Eliza- beth Germain, who died I/69 His Lordship, after serving in the necessary inferior parts of command, was appointed, in 1740, lieutenant-colonel of the 28th regiment of foot: in the battle of Dettingen, fought the 27th of June 1743, his behaviour recommended him to the notice of his Majesty, who, on the gth of July following, declared him one of his aid-de-camps: he served in the campaign the year after, and at the battle of Fontenoy, on May 11th, 1745, distinguished him- a Sir John Germain had obtained the noble seat of Drayton (for which see Bridget's Northamptonshire, by his former wife Mary, daughter and coheir of Henry Mordaunt, second Earl of Peterborough, (the divorced wife of Henry Howard, Duke of Norfolk.) She died 1705- See vol iii. p. 318. Sir John Germain's last wife, Lady Elizabeth, was daughter of Charles ad Earl of Berkeley. • VISCOUNT SACKVILLE, 307 self at the head of his regiment, and was wounded. The rebel* Jion having broken out in Scotlind, his Lordship served there under his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and on April 0th, 1746, was promoted to the command of the 20th regiment of foot: in the two ensuing campaigns, in 1747 and 1748, he served in Germany under the Duke of Cumberland, who, during the negotiations for a peace in 1/48, sent him to the head quarters of the French camp, to confer with Marshal Saxe, and to conclude a general armistice to be proclaimed in both armies, which he effected ; after which, his Lordship, accompanied by a French ge^ neral officer, went to Maestricht, where he lay in the Marshal's apartment, and, having settled affairs there, returned the next day to the English camp. On November 1st, 17^9, he was consti- tuted colonel of the 12th regiment of dragoons j and on January 23d, 1749-50, colonel of the King's regiment of horse carabineers in Ireland. In 1751, he went over secretary of state tP that kingdom ; and on February 22d, 1755, was promoted to the rank of major-general ; on April 5th, 1757, was appointed colonel of the 2d regiment of dragoon guards ; on December 20th following, was declared lieutenant-general of the ordnance j on January 20, 1758, he was constituted lieutenant-general of his Majesty's forces, and the next day sworn of the privy^-council. His Lordship being next in command to the Duke of Marl- borough, in the expedition which proved so fatal jn June 1758, to the shipping and naval stores at St. Malo in France, made good the landing at the head of the grenadiers, in the face of the enemy j the Duke, upon his return from that descent, being sent with a body of British troops to Germany, in aid of his Majesty's electoral dominions, his Lordship also accompanied him in quality of lieu- tenant-general ; and upon his Grace's death, which happened on October 20th, the same year, was appointed to succeed him, as commander-in-chief of the British forces in Germany, under his Serene Highness, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, generalissimo of the allied army there, in the pay of Great Britain. in that important st3tion his Lordship discovered his great abilities, and promoted the interest of his country, and of the service, with much z^al and firmness : but it unfortunately hap- pended that his Lordship's behaviour at the battle of Minden, fought on August 1st, 1759, did not give satisfaction to Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, thecommander-in-chief 5 which his Serene Highness seemed tacitly to imply in his orders of the next day, wherein his Lordship was not mentioned. His Lordship there- 308 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. upon applied for, and obtained his Majesty's permission to return home j and upon his arrival in England a court-martial was, by his own repeated desire, appointed to inquire into his conduct ; in consequence of which, he was removed from all his military commands. b On December 26th, I J65, his Lordship was made one of the joint vice treasurers of the kingdom of Ireland, which he resigned in August following. In November 1775, he was appointed first Lord of Trade and Plantations, which he held till November 1/79; ar)d November 10th, 1/75, was appointed Secretary of State for the American colonies, in which post he continued till February 1782. His Lordship was elected one of the members for the port of Dover to the parliaments summoned to meet in 1741, 1747, and 1754, and at the general election in 1761 was returned both for the town and port of Hythe in Kent, and for the borough of East Grinstead in Sussex, but chose his seat for the former. In 1768 he was chosen for East Grinstead, which he continued to repre- sent till his Majesty was graciously pleased to advance him to the peerage by letters patent, dated February 11th, 1JS2, creating him Baron Bolebroke in the county of Sussex, and Viscount Sackville, of Drayton in the county of Northampton. His Lord- ship was also one of his Majesty's privy-council, clerk of the council in Ireland, and one of the keepers of the Phcenix Park near Dublin. Hi? Lordship died April 26th, 1785, set. seventy. I shall m- sert his Lordship's character as given by Mr. Cumberland im- mediately after his Lordship's death, in a pamphlet, which being of a fugitive nature, I am glad to take the opportunity of preserv- ing in its proper place. t( Whoever stands forth as the advocate of a great man's fame, whilst he is living, will hardly gain credit for his motives, be they ever so sincere ; but it is to be hoped there is no such risque in describing the real merits of one, whom death has removed from all sense of human kindness, and who has left this world with such prejudices against his memory, that the surviving friend who <> The details of this once-celebrated trial may be found in most of the cotemporary prints. It certainly did furnish appearances very unfavourable to his Lordship. His friends have always been anxious to blend his conduct with political causes. VISCOUNT SA.CKVILLE. 309 publishes these truths in his defence, would better consult his own interests by suppressing them. " As it is an inviolable principle with me, to bring no man's name before the public without committing my own, I have sub- scribed this paper; and having so done, I hope I may claim belief in the two following assertions ; first, that I have in no instance of my life been a party-writer, or ever published one line in de- fence of Lord Sackvilie, or in praise or dispraise of his or any other man's person or politics; secondly, that in what I now shall say of him, I have spoken the truth conscientiously to the best of my knowledge and belief, without flattery or disguise. " If malice, which is not apt to spend its shafts upon those who cannot feel the wound, will suffer this testimony to pass undisputed, those who were inclined to think favourably of him will be pleased to find they had grounds for their candour ; if otherwise, it will not be the first time that, in the pursuit of truth, I have found myself on the unpopular side of a question. " It was Lord Sackville's fate to act for several years in a re- sponsible office during an unpopular and unprosperous war. In the evil temper of those times, it is not to be wondered at, if a minister, at once so efficient and so out of favour with the public, hud a full share of personal rancour and animosity from the oppo- nents to his measures. I think however they did not attack him on the score of capacity; his abilities were probably too well esta- blished for their purpose; but as they could not deny that he was a capable man, they could insinuate that he was a cunning one, and by this misconstruction of truth, though they could not remove it out of their own way, they contrived to turn it against him. M I need not remark how often opinions of men's characters are taken up upon distant and exterior views only; and it must be confessed that, in this instance, appearances were more in favour of the false impression than of the truth; for he was of a grave and thoughtful cast, mixed but little with the world at large, and his manners and deportment had not the easy freedom of the pre- sent fashion; he talked little, and his opinions, being expressed without circumlocution or hesitation, stamped an air of fore- thought and reflection upon what he said, which might be charged to the account of studied preparation and deliberate design : he gave much matter in few words, and as he seldom, if ever, be- trayed a heat of temper, a false conclusion might be drawn, that because he controlled his passions, he disguised his heart : nothing 310 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. could be more opposite to his real character ; the fact is, sincerity was his nature } reserve, contracted by long exile from society, was the result of his misfortunes. " He was brought up at Westminster school, and took his de- grees in the University of Dublin ; but the early avocations of a military life, and perhaps a want of taste and disposition for clas- sical studies, prevented his advances in literature, so that in fact he was not so well read as people of his rank and condition ought to be, and indeed generally are ; but he knew his weakness in this particular, and, though a willing hearer when these topics were in conversation, never ventured beyond his knowledge. In the modern history of nations, and particularly of his own, he was uncommonly Correct ) of the memoirs of illustrious persons, in- teresting anecdotes and events, he had a fertile stock in memory, and with singular precision of facts and dates; of many consider- able affairs within his own time he had personal knowledge, many others (and several of a curious and secret nature) he had collected from the best authorities; he had a happy talent for relating, and having always been given to inquiry and research, possessing withal a very retentive memory, he may fairly be accounted one of the very best companions of the age, though he had neither tho advantages of literature, the brilliancy of wit, nor any superior pretensions to a fine taste in the elegant arts : it is therefore much to be lamented, that these pleasant and engaging qualifica* tions for society were so sparingly displayed j and that habit had so contracted his circle, that he could not afterwards, without vio- lence to his nature, extend and enlarge it. " This was constant matter of regret to me through the whole course of my intimacy with him j and I lamented that any man, possessing such a fund of information, with a benevolence of soul that comprehended all mankind, a temper most placid, and a heart most social, should suffer in the world's opinion by that ob- scurity, to which his ill-fortune, not his natural disposition, had reduced him ; for I am verily persuaded that his bitterest defamers, even the anonymous slanderers that raked into the very dregs of infamy and pollution to asperse his character, would have repented had they known him. " He was so little used to receive justice from mankind, that perhaps he was over grateful for common approbation j and praise, if by chance he ever met it, seemed to take his senses by surprise : if there has been any one therefore, who for selfish purposes as- sailed his temper by flattery, it was a base and cowardly act 5 VISCOUNT SACKVILLE. 311 because when we attack a man upon that weak quarter which his misfortunes have left undefended, it is aiming our blows at a wound, when we cannot conquer by fair fighting. I state this not so much for the purpose of applying the observation to him, as in general mitigation for human weakness, when a persecuted cha- racter has been too rigidly condemned for taking shelter in the soothing flattery of a favourite. " He had enough of that good-natured companionable vanity, which delights in doing what it does well, to be xtry sufficiently communicative of what he knew ; but he was incapable of laying traps for discourse, or putting other people's conversation aside to make room for his own ; as he never obtruded, so he never tired : he possessed to admiration that rare faculty of always saying enough, and not too much, on a subject ; his observation was so quick, and his feelings so sensitive, that he could nicely discri- minate between the pleasure and the politeness of his company, and he never failed to stop before the former was exhausted. " In argumentation no man went sooner to the truth, or sub- mitted to conviction with a better grace : though he had the gift of seeing through a question almost at a glance, yet he never suf- fered his discernment to anticipate another's explanation, or in- terrupted his argument, how tedious soever: if any one spoke with heat in dispute, or raised his voice above its natural pitch, or if more than one speaker talked at a time, it gave him great pain ; these are defects in temper and manners too commonly met with in the world, but to which he never gave occasion, by pushing an advantage too hard upon any one : a single word, or even an offer at interruption stopt him in a moment, though in the middle of a sentence j and this I have seen him bear repeatedly, and in very many different instances, without a symptom of peevishness, taking up his thoughts in the very place where he had left them, and resuming his discourse with perfect complacency. To sift out the truth by discussion seemed his only object for contesting any opi- nion j and whether that was attained by the result of his own or another's reasoning, was a discovery he had so little desire to arro- gate to his own sagacity, that he was very ingenious in shifting it from himself to any other he conversed with j for he was an adept in that art, which tends to put others in humour with themselves, and which I take to be of the true species of politeness, not laying out for admiration by display. ". To his own ideas he was little attached, to words not at all ; and in delivering his thoughts generally chose the plainest and 312 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. commonest expressions, that could convey their meaning; in this particular he sometimes fell below the dignity of the subject he was speaking upon $ for it was a point with him on all occa- sions, to take the straightest road to his object rather than a cir- cuitous one, though ever so flowery. I believe he was never guilty, either in public or private, of speaking for fame, or setting offa discourse that means nothing with an air of pomp and mys- tery ; he had a dry way of stripping such declamations to search for facts, and would assert that fine words were not meant to be Understood ; but was particularly pleased when merchants or men of business explained naturally to his comprehension; and when state measures were to be communicated to any such for their guidance and instruction, he expressed himself in the same natural manner, openly and fairly, without affectation, ambitious only to be thoroughly understood as to what would be done, and what would not be done, so that they might thereupon determine what was most adviseable for their own interests and concerns. In perspicuity he has never been excelled, in proof of which I believe it is not remembered in parliament (and probably not in council), that he was ever called upon a second time to explain what he had left obscure and imperfect ; his errors, on the contrary, were the errors of sincerity; and I dare say there have been moments, when his colleagues in office could have forgiven him, if he bad been less direct and explicit in reply ; but if he was not to be styled a fine speaker, he was a very ready firm debater, and though he never dealt in flowery periods, made no attack upon the pas- sions, no studied declamations, yet he had great judgment and method in his argument, saw the strong and the feeble of a question with much penetration, knew what he ought to press, and where he ought to give way ; and in giving measures a faci- lity, by the choice of the best moment for their introduction or prosecution, no man had more skill and address. " He was generally represented as a proud and distant man, but in fact he had no more pride at heart, than every man of honour carries about him, and which serves to repel every thing that in- clines towards meanness with becoming indignation : upon first approaches he had certainly an air of reserve, tempered however with much politeness, for he was a high-bred gentleman, or would have been so esteemed at least in any age but the present, for his manners, it must be owned, were not the manners of the reigning fashion : his reserve however, which was more of a pen- sive than proud complexion, soon wore off in conversation, and VISCOUNT SACKVILLE. 313 he was speedily disposed, from the openness of his own heart, to credit others for the sincerity of theirs : he was so far from a cun- ning man, that, considering the danger of late times, and the de- licacy of the affairs he was engaged in, I doubt if he was always sufficiently cautious : if lie had not had a quick insight into cha- racters, he was naturally more direct than would have been safe with respect to himself, or consistent with his situation. " He had all the requisites of a great minister, unless popu- larity and good luck are to be numbered amongst them : in punc- tuality, precision, dispatch and integrity, he was not to be sur- passed j he was fitted both by habit and temper for business j no man could have fewer avocations, whether natural or artificial, for he was slave to no passion or excess, indulged no humour, unless that of regularity may be called a humour, which he observed to a scrupulous minuteness \ and as for his domestic affairs, they were in such a train of order and economy, that they demanded little of his attention : he had studied the finances of the nation, and her resources both in war and peace ; had taken uncommon pains to obtain authentic and early intelligence of the councils and operations of foreign states, and readily discerned how the in- terests of this country were affected thereby. He was of an ac- tive indefatigable mind : intemperance never disturbed his facul- ties j neither avarice nor ambition corrupted them ; easy in his private circumstances, and totally void of every wish to accumu- late, his zeal for his country, and his application to business, were not subject to be diverted from their proper exertions : a scene of activity was what he delighted in, for he was full of ope- ration and project, and of a spirit so incapable of despondency, that difficulties and dangers, which would have depressed some men, served to animate him. " In the interchange of confidence with him it was necessary to have no reserve or holding back of circumstances, for he had such power of seeing into the heart of hyprocrisy, and his own was so free from duplicity, that on such occasions you must impart the whole or nothing ; when this was fairly done, he was your own to all honest intents, and (humanly speaking) to all time; for he was a steady faithful friend : his mind was so strong, that it could not easily be overburthened by the weight of affairs, so clear that the variety of them was not apt to perplex it : he could shift his attention from one thing to its opposite with singular facility; he wished to do business, not to dwell upon it; and as hi> punctuality, as I before observed, went with the hand of the 314 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. clock to the very point of the minute, he was pleasant to all who served with him, or were dependant on his motions, and their hours of relaxation were hours of security. ts The establishment of his household and domestics was upon a noble scale, in fact it was the model of a liberal economy : he was a friend and father to his servants j their health, their exer- cises and even their amusements, were objects of his attention, and a more orderly and happy family did not exist. When I speak of his bounty and humanity to his poor neighbours and dependants in the counties where he resided, it is with pleasure I insist on so meritorious a part of his character. Charity was in him no less the exercise of the judgment than of the heart, for he gave his re- lief to the real wants, not to the mere importunities of the needy : money was seldom the vehicle he employed to convey that relief; a constant resource in sickness, casualty, or iDisfortune, was to be found with him, and it was part of his family establishment to be always provided for such occasions : as his eye was ever upon the poor, all their comforts, their industry, and even their morals> passed under his inspection, and were influenced by it ; his cha- rity was without ostentation, and the extent of his good deeds could only be computed by the lamentations and number of those who followed his body to the grave. fi The same Providence, that gave him strength to endure, laid afflictions upon him to put that strength to the trial : I am war- , ranted in saying they neither hardened his heart, depressed bis spirit, nor soured his temper : it was his countenance, not his tongue, that ever uttered a complaint ; his friends were welcomed with the same hospitable smile, and his family enjoyed the same unchangeable serenity under all events ; if persecution and un- kindness had been capable of relenting, his patience would have moved them to it. " The cry of the world is not always the opinion of the world, at least not of the wisest part of it j the records are in hand, and the facts cannot be perverted or evaded, by which future times must decide, whether he, who was so chief an actor in those un- happy scenes, and bore such a proportion of the public odium during the war of the colonies, shall receive the praise or censure of posterity : he will not enter upon his share in that unfortunate history, till the whole was in action and hastening to its catas- trophe j in the antecedent measures, which have such connexion with the causes and precipitation of the revolt, he has no concern; he properly shares the responsibility of that cabinet of which he Viscount sackville. ai5 was a member; and if there was any negligence or error, any want of proper dispatch and exertion, any corruption, ignorance, or abuse, within his particular department, for all such (if any there were) he is singly answerable ; hitherto we have heard little but the language of prejudice; a short time will bring the ques- tion fairly into judgment, and when the heat of passion has sub- sided, truth will state, and reason will decide. " There are other unfortunate events in his life, which must be referred to the same distant test and examination. They, who have served with him in the war preceding the last, are best able to speak of his military anecdotes ; he served with great reputa* tion under the Dukes of Cumberland and Marlborough, in Ger- many, Scotland, and France; there are passages enough in his campaigns, which put his courage out of all dispute; I think it is unnecessary to produce them merely for the object of confuting a slanderous insinuation, which none but vulgar minds could adopt, and which was never echoed for any purposes but of temporary defamation. He was shot in the breast at the head of Barrel's re- giment in the memorable battle of Fontenoy, and saw that brave regiment almost totally cut to pieces ; if I am rightly informed* only three officers marched unwounded off the field : at the battle of Minden, he was marked by implication in the public orders of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick ; he appealed to a court-martial, was tried, sentenced, and disgraced. I have no further concern with this or any other event of his life, but as it may involve some good or evil quality of his mind, and affect his private character; in this light I presume it is not improper to compare his situation hi the two actions above-mentioned, especially where a crime has been suggested against him, very foreign from his nature, and very different from the reasons upon which he suffered sentence ; this, and this only, is the point to which I address myself; not to his rightful judges, for that would be the height of indecency, but to those who, without right to judge, condemned without reason ; and to such I may be allowed to say, that the situation of Lord Sackville, commanding a single regiment at Fontenoy, under an English prince and general, was very different from his situation at Minden, commanding the British forces under a foreign prince and general : in the former case his duty was only that of an officer; it was simply to fight, and to obey, and that duty he per- formed ; in the latter his duty was that of a general, accountable to his country for something more than his conduct in the hour of battle, for his counsels and opinions, and many other complicated 316 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. and delicate affairs, in all which a man., whose zeal for the pecu- liar interests of his own country exceeded any considerations that respected himself only, must be subjected to dangers that need not be pointed out ; in such circumstances a subordinate general, though of the same nation with his superior, has not always thought in harmony with him, and I believe the consequences have generally proved fatal to one party or the other. ff I have seen him in moments of imminent danger, both per- sonal and political, and never had occasion to doubt of the firm- ness of his mind ; I know not how else he could have supported himself against such continued persecution ; I think this circum- stance alone would mark his fortitude to the conviction of every considerate man, for his deportment was exactly such as innocence and a clear conscience will inspire ; there was no insolence, no ferocity in it, such as detected characters can assume, when they have cast away shame, and hardened themselves against infamy ; his serenity, on the contrary, accompanied him through life, and was particularly conspicuous at the close of it. " He underwent an irksome opposition, when the favour of his sovereign promoted him to a seat in the house of peers: it was one of the last and most painful trials of his life : the trans- action is so recent, that I may be excused from any further men- tion of it. He did not long enjoy his hard-earned honours. He supported the King's ministers in all public measures, except those relative to the Irish propositions, in which he took a part, not of purposed opposition, but of fair and deliberate opinion j he had given his best and fullest attention to the subject in all its branches, and expected its issue with the utmost anxiety. Some time before the conclusion of the session he was seized with the symptons of his last illness, in which stage of his complaint, if he could have been persuaded to retire from his duty in parliament, he might probably have found a remedy in the air and retirement of the country; but he persisted so long in his attendance upon this important business, that his complaint gathered upon him, and his pains grew so troublesome, that when he came at last into the country, he did not experience that relief which was hoped for; notwithstanding this, although repose was so necessary for his condition, his zeal carried him again to town in a very unfit state for the undertaking : he spoke upon the question with greater agitation of mind, and more at length, than was common with him, and the house being hot and crowded, he found himself so exhausted at the conclusion of his speech, that it was with dim*- VISCOUNT SACKVILLK. 317 culty he was saved from fainting on the spot : the sitting was very long, and he returned to his family very materially altered in his health for the worse. " From this period he considered his case as without cure, feeling those symptoms of internal decay which he was satisfied were beyond the reach of medicine; in this persuasion, he even apologized to his physician for the fruitless trouble he was giving him : he endured a succession of wearisome pains with singular serenity and composure of mind j his senses were firm and un- impaired to the last ; and he was occupied almost without inter- mission in fulfilling the duties of a father, a friend, and a Chris- tian :b it should seem as if all the preceding sorrows of his life were repaid to him by that extraordinary support and comfort which Providence vouchsafed to him in his last days. It is not in my remembrance, through the course of my acquaintance with him, ever to have heard a word from his lips that could give of- fence to decency or religion ; but in this latter period, of which I am speaking, and throughout which I constantly attended him, his sentiments were of that exalted and superior kind, as to render the spectacle of his death one of the most edifying contemplations of my life. " I have now the pleasing satisfaction to know, that it was not without reason I thought well of one, whom too many con- spired to traduce. Having survived my friend, I now enjoy the only reward which a disinterested attachment can look to — the reward of finding the opinion I had conceived of his virtues justi- fied to my own conviction ; and of being conscious that I am strictly fulfilling the duties of an honest man, when I lay before the public this small but sincere tribute to his memory."0 b" I was present whilst the Holy Sacrament was administered to him, tw» days before his death : he caused his windows and bed-curtains to be thrown open, and exerted himself to the utmost on that awful occasion; he received the elements with a devotion and fervor, expressive of such inward peace and even gladness of heart, as are the strongest of all human evidences of an easy conscience and a well-prepared mind His last words to me are a further indication of this, and, as nearly as I can repeat them, were as follow : " You see me now in those moments, when no disguise will serve, and when the spiiit of a man must be proved ; I have a mind perfectly resigned, and at peace within itself: I have no more to do with this world, and what I have done in it, I have done for the best ; I hope and trust I am prepared for the next. Tell not me of all that passes in health and pride of heart, these are the moments in which a man must be searched ; and remember, that I die, as you see me, happy and content." c Se« farther anecdotes of this Peer in Cumberland's memoirs of himself. 318 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. In September 1754, his Lordship was married to Diana, second daughter and coheir of John Sambroke, Esq. only brother of Sir Jeremy Sambroke, of Gubbins in Hertfordshire, Bart, which Lady died, January 15th, 1778, aged seventy-four, r leaving issue two sons and three daughters. First, Diana, born July 8th, 1756, and married November 26, 1777* *° John, Viscount Crosbie, who on the death of his father became Earl of Glandore. Second, Elizabeth, born July 4th, \/62, and married October 28th, 17S1, to Henry Arthur Herbert, ofMucras in Ireland, Esq. Third, Caroline, born June 36th, 1704, died September 10th, 1/89. Fourth, Charles, present peer. Fifth, George, born December 7th, 177& His Lordship was succeeded by his eldest son Charles, present and second Viscount Sackville, who was born August 27th, 1767. Titles. Charles Germain Viscount Sackville and Baron Bole^ broke. Creation. Viscount Sackville and Baron Bolebroke, Feb. 11, 1782. Arms. Quarterly, Or and Gules, a bend vaire. Crest. Out of a coronet adorned with fleurs-de-lis Or, an, cstoil of twelve points Argent. Supporters. Two leopards, Argent, spotted Sable, collared vair. MottO. AUT NUNQUAM TENTES, AUT PEKFICE- Chief Seats. At Stoneland Lodge, in the county of Sussex, and at Drayton ■ in the county of Northampton. r Coffin Plate. « fprmerly the seat of the Earls of Peterborough., VISCOUNT SYDNEY. *19 TOWNSHEND, VISCOUNT SYDNEY. Thomas Townsheod, second son of Charles, second Viscount Townshend, by Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Lord Pelham, (by his fir st wife Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir William Jones, attorney-general to King Charles II.) half-sister to Thomas, Duke of Newcastle, (see vol. ii. p. 470), was born June 2d, 1701, and educated first at Eton school, and afterwards at King's college, Cambridge. At the age of twenty-one, he was returned member of parliament for Winchelsea, and at the subsequent general elec- tion, for the University of Cambridge as well as for Hastings. Having made his election for the former, he continued to repre- sent that learned body in six successive parliaments, during which time he applied with the most unremitted attention to the interests of the University, as well as to those of the individuals who com- posed it. Mr. Townshend, with his colleague, the Hon. Edward Finch, first instituted the annual prizes for the senior and middle bachelors, which continue to be given to this day by the mem-* bers for the University. Very early in life he entered into the Secretary of State's office under his father, whom he accompanied in his journies to Ger- many with George I. and George II. in which situation he ac- quired a most accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the in- terests of his country with respect to foroign powers. In 1726-7 at the death of George I. he succeeded to one of the Tellerships of the Exchequer, of which he had a reversionary grant to take place on the determination of the patent to Mr. Treby, whose term expired with the King. In 1739, he was appointed chief secretary to the Duke of Dc- 320 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. vonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; but was prevented from attending his Grace thither by the death of his wife, a most amiable woman, whose loss he so deeply regretted, that it in- capacitated him for business during several years, In April, 17/4, he sent a letter to the University of Cam- bridge, declining to solicit again the honour of representing them in consequence of the infirmities of age. He was one of the first and most elegant scholars of his age. The branches of literature in which he was versed were various. His attainments, joined to great politeness and simplicity of man- ners, chearfulness and suavity of temper, as well as unspotted in- tegrity of heart, gained him the universal affection and respect of all who had the happiness of knowing him. He lived in acquain- tance and familiarity with most of the considerable men of his time, and in strict intimacy and friendship with many of them j particularly Sir R. Walpole, and his brother Horace, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Onslow, &c. He mixed enough in the world to make his character eminent and much admired during his life j but an ex- traordinary sensibility and delicacy of temper prevented his taking part in the more active scenes of public business, for which he had every possible qualification. His own invincible reluctance and unfounded diffidence made him decline a high office, which was more than once earnestly pressed upon him by those who held the government, and who were well acquainted with the extent of his abilities. The latter part of his life was entirely domestic. His society, of which he formed the delight and happiness, was composed in general of his particular friends and his family. In their com- pany he enjoyed and exhibited his great and amiable talents, till within a very few weeks of his death, which happened just upon the close of his seventy-ninth year, in May 1/SO. a He married, on May 2d, 1/30, Albinia, daughter of John Selwyn, b of Matson com. Glouc. and Chesilhurst in Kent, by Mary, daughter of Thomas Farrington, Esq. and by her, who died as already mentioned in 1/39, nad issue, First, Thomas, first Viscount Sydney. Second, Charles Townshend, Esq. born 1/36, died . .. , a This character is copied from Adolphus's British cabinet, vol il wher* a portrait of him may be seen. b Son of major-general Selwyn, by Albinia, sister and coheir of Sir Ed» w ard Betenson, of Chesilhurst, Bart. See Hasted's Kent, 8vo, vol. i. p 9. VISCOUNT SYDNEY. 321 Thifd, Henry, lieutenant-colonel and captain in the first re- giment of foot-guards, eminent for his courage and amiable man- ners, and the favourite of the whole army, killed at the battle of Willhelmtahl in Germany, 1/62. Fourth, Albinia, married to George Brodrick, Viscount Mid- dleton of Ireland, mother of the present peer. Fifth, Mrs. Mary Townshend, single. Thomas, eldest son, first Viscount Sydney, was born in February 1732-3 : whilst a commoner, he was representative for the borough of Whitchurch, in the county of Southampton, in four parliaments ; one of the clerks of his present Majesty's house- hold, when Prince of Wales, who, on his accession to the throne, appointed him one of the clerks of the Board of Green Cloth, which he resigned in 1762 j was made one of the Lords of the Treasury, July 12th, 1/65, which he held till December I/67 5 was appointed one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, July 10th, 1782, which he resigned in April, 1783, and was re-appointed, December 23d following ; and held that situa* tion till June 1789. He was likewise one of his Majesty's most honourable privy-council, and one of the governors of the Charter House. His Lordship was advanced to the peerage by patent, bearing date, March 6th, 1783, by the name, style, and title, of Baron Sydney, b of Chislehurst in the county of Kent, to him, and the heirs male of his body ; and on June 9th, 1 / 89, was farther ad- vanced to the dignity of Viscount Sydney. On May 19th, 1762, he married Elizabeth, daughter and co- heir of Richard Powys, of Hintlesham in the county of Suffolk, Esq. (by his wife Man7, daughter of George, Earl of Cardigan) j by whom he had issue c six sons, viz. First, John Thomas, born February 21st, 1764, present peer. Second, Charles Horatio, born December 10th, 1766, and died an infant. Third, Henry George, who died an infant. Fourth, Frederic Roger, born April 20th, 177°? and died at Eton, in 1782. Fifth, William Augustus, born March 10th, 177Q, formerly of the first regiment of foot- guards 3 and now member of parlia- ment for Whitchurch. b His father's maternal grandfather, Lord Pelham, was son of Sir John Pelham, by Lady Lucy Jydney, daughter of Robert, Earl of Leicester, c From his Lordship's pedigree entered in the House of Lord* VOL. VI. Y 322 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Sixth, Horatio George Powys, born February 6th, 1780 j lieutenant-colonel and captain in the first regiment of foot- guards. Also six daughters, First, Georgina, born June 1st, lj6l Second, Mary Elizabeth, born September 2d, 1762, and mar- ried, July 10th, 1783, to John, Earl of Chatham, Knight of the Garter. Third, Albinia Ann, born October 9th, 1765, who died an infant. Fourth, Frances, born February 20th, 1772> married, Oc- tober 13th, 1794, George, Lord Dynevor. Fifth, Harriot Catherine, born November 27th, 17/3 5 mar- ried, March 24th, 1795, Charles, Earl of Dalkeith, son of Henry, Duke of Buccleuch. Sixth, Sophia Charlotte, who died an infant. His Lordship dying June 13th, 1800, was succeeded by his eldest son John Thomas, present and second Viscount Sydney, who was born February 21st, I764; educated at Clare-Hall, Cam- bridge j sat in several parliaments for Whitchurch ; and was appointed a lord of the admiralty 179O5 and again 1791, which he retained till 1793, when he was appointed a lord of the trea- sury, which he retained till his father's death. In July, 1800, his Lordship was appointed a lord of the bed-chamber on the death of the Earl of Denbigh. His Lordship married, first, April 12th, 1790, Sophia, third sister of Edward, Lord de Clifford, by whom (who died November 9th, 1/95) he had two daughters. His Lordship married, secondly, May 27th, 1802, Lady Caro- line Clements, youngest daughter of Robert, Earl of Leitrim, by Lady Elizabeth Skeffington, eldest daughter of Clotworthy, the first Earl of Massareene, and by her (who died August 9th, 1805) has issue A son and heir. Title. John Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, Baron Sydney, of Chislehurst in Kent. Creation. Viscount Sydney, June 9th, 1789 j Baron Sydney, of Chislehurst, March 6th, 1783, 23 Geo. III. Arms. Azure, a chevron ermine between three escallop shells, Argent, for Townshend -, a crescent for difference. VISCOUNT SYDNEY. 31$ Crest. On a wreath a buck tripping, Sable, attired proper, and charged on the shoulder with a crescent^ Or. Supporters. On the dexter side, a lion, Or, collared, chained, and charged on the shoulder with a pheon's head, Azure j on the sinister a buck, Sable attired Or, collared and chained Or, and charged on the shoulder with an escallop shell, Argent. Motto. Droit et avant. Chief Seat. At Fiognal, near Foot's Gray in Kent. 324 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. HOOD, VISCOUNT HOOD. His Lordship is descended from a respectable family in the- county of Dorset, where, at the time of the civil wars, they pos- sessed a considerable landed property. Alexander Hood, ofMosterton in Dorsetshire, married Eliz- abeth, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Beach, and had issue two daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah j and three sons. First, Alexander, who succeeded at Mosterton, and marrying Anne Way, had issue two sons j first, Arthur, who sold the es- tate at Mosterton, and died unmarried -, second, Samuel, of Kings- land, com. Dorset, who by Anne, daughter of James Bern, of Westbury, com. "Wilts, had issue, Jirst, Arthur, lieutenant of the Pomona, lost in a hurricane in the West Indies ; second, Alex- ander, a captain in the navy, was killed on board the Mars, April 21st, 1796, having married Elizabeth Periam, an heiress, by whom he left an only son, Alexander, on whom the first Barony of Bridport is entailed ; third, the present admiral, Sir Samuel Hood, Bart, and K. B. well known for his distinguished services, who married, in 1804, Juliana, eldest daughter of Francis, Lord Sea- forth. Second, Arthur, in holy orders, died unmarried. Third, the Rev. Samuel Hood, was vicar of Butleigh in Somer- setshire, and afterwards of Thorncombe, com. Devon. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Richard Hoskins, Esq. of Beaminster, com. Dors, and had issue by her, (who died October 10th, 1766) two daughters, and two sons. Anne, died unmarried. Elizabeth, married Edward Walker, alderman of Exeter, by VISCOUNT HOOD. 22$ whom she had captain Hood Walker, of the artillery, who war killed in the expedition to Ostend, 1798. The sons were, First, Samuel, present Viscount Hood. Second, Alexander, present Viscount Bridport, of whom in the next article. Samuel, Viscount Hood, eldest son, was born December 12th, 1724. Of this celebrated commander I shall take the liberty of copying the memoir from the Naval Chronicle,* a. work that is already sufficiently extended to comprize almost every thing that is interesting or valuable in the modern parts of naval biography; and whose compilers, intimately acquainted with every topic and all the materials connected with the subject, give a copiousness to their communications, and a weight to their opinions, which others less familiar with this branch of know- ledge cannot pretend to rival. * Lord Hood was not originally destined for the service $ it was some time before the venerable rector of Thorncombe could ob- tain sufficient resolution to trust two sons to the honourable yet perilous duty of the British navy. His reliance and trust in Pro- vidence at length strengthened his resolution j but the moment must have been painful, when he took leave of the intrepid youth ; the wind howls with peculiar horror to him whose off- spring is on the waves ; the beating tempest of a winter's evening is painfully alarming to that parent, whose social hearth seems forsaken, through the absence of one that is at sea. Commodore T. Smith, b then commander in chief on the New- foundland station, who afterwards sat as president on Admiral Byng's court-martial, was the first officer with whom Mr. Samuel a Naval Chronicle, vol. ii. p. f. b This spirited officer was known at that time in the navy by the appel- lation of Tom of ten tbousavd. When a lieutenant onboard the Gosport, a French frigate, with whose government we were then at peace* in sailing from Plymouth, passed him without lowering her top-sails. The captain of the Gosport was on shore, and Mr. Smith, fearless of the consequences, fired into the French ship, and obliged her to shew the customary homage. Com- plaint was immediately made ; lieutenant Smith was tried by a court-martial and broke. His conduct, however, was so acceptable to the nation at large, that on the following day he was promoted post captain, without passing through the gradation of commander. Capt Smith was afterwards advanced to the rank of Admiral of the Blue, and died respected by every one, on the a8th of August, 176a. 326 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Hood embarked in the Romney, during the year 1740. Having distinguished himself in the situation of a midshipman, on various occasions that demanded considerable skill and intrepidity, Mr. Hood in a striking manner excited the notice and patronage of the discerning commodore ; and was accordingly promoted by him to the rank of lieutenant in October 1746, during the rebel- lion, when commodore Smith commanded a squadron on the coast of Scotland. It is interesting to trace the progression of distinguished cha- racters; we therefore add, that Mr. Hood was next appointed as lieutenant to the Winchelsea, of 20 guns, which in the winter of 1746 engaged, and captured, a French frigate of superior force. During the action, which was very spirited, lieutenant Hood re- ceived a severe wound. In 1748 he was removed to the Princess Louisa, then bearing admiral Watson's flag -, who, with ten other captains, had been advanced for their gallant behaviour in Lord Anson's action with Monsieur de la Jonquiere's squadron. Lieu- tenant Hood accompanied admiral Watson to Louisbourg, and on the peace returned with him to England. In the year 1754, Mr. Hood was promoted commander of the Jamaica sloop, then stationed at the Bahama islands ; and the year following joined Lord Keppel in Hampton Road, Virginia, who commanded the expedition in which general Braddock was de- feated. A putrid, or jail fever, c having raged with great violence in the fleet, under the command of admiral Boscawen at Halifax, Captain Hood, with a presence of mind that thus early was visible in his conduct, being then at South Carolina, immediately en- tered as many supernumeraries, as he could possibly accommodate at sea, and carried them without delay to the admiral -, for which seasonable supply he received the hearty thanks of that officer. In the succeeding year, 1756, having been appointed by com- modore Holmes, his captain in the Grafton, and being present in the action off Louisbourg, with a French squadron, he returned with him to England towards the close of the same year; and found, on his arrival, that he had been made Post during his ab- sence, in July 1756. Captain Hood received the wished-for object of naval ambi- tion at an age, which might induce him to contemplate with zea- lous hope the highest honours of his profession. During the pro- c Before the admiral reached England, upwards of 2000 seamen died of this distemper. VISCOUNT HOOD. 827 bationary years of service he had been under the immediate eye of officers whose character stood high in the public opinion. Few men have had the advantage of forming themselves after such models as captain Hood enjoyed. Under admiral T. Smith, he had early opportunity of daily beholding a most ingenuous cha- racter, marked with a gallantry and integrity that could not be surpassed. The name of Watson brings to our recollection every thing that could adorn the navy : being in the confidence of such a man, must have early instilled those principles into the mind of our young offic r, which he afterwards so rigidly adopted as the rule of his conduct towards others. Commodore Holmes had seen a variety of service, even prior to the period at which captain Hood was under him, and had every thing in his character adapted to form an excellent officer. With these advantages, joined to an apt and ready observation, that suffered none of them to be lost, Mr. Samuel Hood pasted through the first gradations of the profession, and now prepared to increase the honours of that rank to which he had been deservedly raised. His first brilliant action was in the Antelope, 50 guns, to which he was appointed in April 1757-d In this ship he en- gaged, drove on shore, and totally destroyed, in the bay of Au- dierne, near Brest, a French ship of war, of 50 guns, and 450 men. The enemy had thirty men killed during the action, e and twenty-five wounded. The Antelope had only three men killed, and thirteen wounded From a mistake in the naval history of that period, this action has been assigned to his brother captain Alexander Hood ; but with so many others to notice of equal es- timation, the mistake may perhaps be pardoned. Captain S. Hood was appointed to the command of the Vestal frigate in 1758, 32 guns, and 220 men, built at Liverpool. Rear-admiral Holmes having, in 1759, been made third in command of the fleet destined to co-operate in the expedition against Quebec, previously sailed for New York with a convoy of sixty transports. In this squadron f was the Vestal, captain S. Hood. Early on the 2 1st of February, captain Hood being sent d In January 1757* captain Hood had an order to command the Torbay» ■which was the first ship given him after being made Post, in the room of Lord Keppel, then a member of the court-martial on Admiral Byng. In the March following he commanded the Tartar. e For the particulars of this engagement we refer our readers to p 266 of the Naval Chronicle, vol. i. f Admiral Holmes sailed on the 14th of February with the Northumber- 32S PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. on the look-out, made the signal for a strange sail, and soon after- wards that it was an enemy. About two the Vestal got close alongside, and began a most spirited action, which continued without any cessation until six in the evening, when the Vestal took possession of her opponent. She proved to be the Bellona (32 guns, 220 men), commanded by the Comte de Bauhonnoir, who had escaped out of Fort Royal bay, Martinico, during the night of the lfjth of January, in company with the Florissant, and a frigate of her own force. They were all chased by com- modore More's squadron, and had on board dispatches for France, that the English had landed on the island. When the Vestal'? lieutenant took possession of the prize, he found more than thirty dead upon the deck ; out of 220, forty- two had been killed. The French acknowledged at last, that they had thrown about twelve overboard. The Vestal had five killed and only twenty-two wounded. The Bellona was left with only her foremast standing, without either yard or top-mast. When captain Hood brought to, all the top-masts of the Vestal fell over the side -, and her lower masts must have gone likewise, so completely was the rigging cut to pieces, had it not been for the great exertions of the captain, and his gallantship's company; these were assisted by favourable weather, and on the 2d of March he arrived with his prize at Spithead. She was purchased by government, and added to the royal navy by the name of the Repulse. During the remainder of the year 1759, captain Hood's ship was attached, with other frigates, to rear-admiral Rodney's fleet, sent to bombard Havre de Grace. He was afterwards employed for two years on the coast of Ireland, and the remaining three years of the war he served in the Mediterranean under Sir Charles Saunders. After the peace of 17^3, captain Hood hoisted his broad pendant in the Romney, as commander of his Majesty's ships and vessels on the Boston station, in the year 1768. His letters to the ministry at this period, some of which have already been laid before the public, are well worthy their attention. They were printed by Mr. Jlmon, and were much read, as displaying marks of an original and penetrating mind. This curious naval work now only exists in the selections of political men. It strikingly described the ferment and discontent that pervaded all ranks in land and Terrible, 74 guns ; the Trident and Intrepid, of 64 ; the Medway, 60; and the following frigates— Maidstone, Adventure, Diana, Trent, Europa, Vestal, Eurus, Boreas, and Crescent. VISCOUNT HOOD. 32$ North America, and in the clearest manner predicted what after- wards came to pass. On the 25th of July, 1/76, captain Hood was appointed to the command of the Courageux, 74 guns, which had been taken from the French ; and what deserves notice, the four lieutenants serving under him in that ship have since arrived to the rank of rear-admirals. Captain Hood was appointed to succeed (Feb. 16th, 1/78,) the late admiral Gambier as commissioner of Portsmouth dock- yard ; on the 20th of April following, he was created a Baronet; and in the month of September 17S0, was advanced rear-admiral of the Blue. Thus, after forty years of arduous and faithful ser- vice, did this distinguished officer at length attain the professional rank, in which an ampler scope would be allowed for a display of that nautical skill and experience, which he had derived from no common sources, and had gained with no inconsiderable share of peril and fatigue. Towards the conclusion of the Ame-ican war, in the winter of 17SO, rear-admiral Sir Samuel Hood first hoisted his flag on board the Barfleur, and soon sailed with a squadron to the West Indies. On the 3d of December, with all the outward-bound fleet under his convoy, he took his departure from the Eddystone, with a fine breeze from the eastward. During his continuance on this station, he added considerably to a reputation already great, as the following correct details of his principal actions will prove. In the month of April 1731, whilst Sir George Rodney, with his own ship the Sandwich, of 90 guns, and the Triumph, of /4 guns, was at St. Eustatius, rear-admiral Hood, with seventeen sail of the line, was cruising off Fort Royal, Martinico, in the hope of intercepting Monsieur de Grasse's squadron and convoy ; and thereby preventing, if possible, his junction with eight line of battle ships, and one of fifty, at Martinico and St. Domingo 5 which would give the enemy such a decided superiority in those seas, as must render the protection of our West India islands very precarious. The course of the French fleet, from Europe to Fort Royal, lay through the channel of St. Lucia, which is about ten leagues over, and separates that island from Martinico. It has been as- serted, that Sir Samuel Hood made some remonstrances against the squadron being stationed in the channel of Fort Royal bay, as being continually liable to fall to leeward,, and consequently of 330 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. being rendered incapable of accomplishing the object in view : lie therefore proposed that the squadron should cruise to windward off Point Salines; a situation which would render it impossible for any fleet to enter the channel, without coming to action. Sub- sequent events fully proved the justice of admiral Hood's opinion, and yet Sir George Rodney might have sufficient reason, which he kept to himself, for not following it. Men, who possess the energy of original genius, do not always think alike. The bird, that soars towards the sun, is never seen in a flock. Sir Samuel Hood, whilst lying off Port Royal, was distressed for want of frigates to cruise to windward of the islands, having only a single one to look out. In his letter to Sir George Rodney he dwells on this, and urges the necessity of having more employed on so essential a service. In one dated April 23d, he says— -" I hnve detained the Lizard with me to fill the station of the Santa Monica, and I very much want two or three more frigates to employ as look-outs 3 as I think it highly necessary I should keep every line of battle ship with me: for if the enemy were to appear round Point Salines, the ships of the line to the northward could be of no use 3 and vice-versd if the enemy approached the other way 3 which makes more frigates absolutely necessary." Early on the morning of the 28th of April, 1/81, the frigate cruising to windward off Point Salines, made the signal for dis- covering a large fleet. Sir Samuel instantly ordered a general chase to the S. E. in order to bring all the ships well up to wind- ward 3 and at ten A. M. formed the line of battle a-head, at two cables' length asunder 3 the enemy then standing on a wind to the southward. About noon, a signal was made by the recon- noitring frigate, that the enemy was of superior force, and counted nineteen sail of the line, besides two supposed to be armee en Jlute, and a numerous convoy 3 the whole were standing to the northward. Notwithstanding this superiority of force, Sir Sa- muel Hood steadily continued the line of battle a-head, endea- vouring by every exertion to get to windward, that he might be able to close in with Fort Royal at day-light, and theieby cut off the possibility of the enemy's escape into that harbour. Accord- ingly at sun-set the English squadron tacked all together, stood to the northward, and kept in with Fort Royal all night. On the morning of the 29th, at nine o'clock, the enemy ap- peared in sight coming down between Point Salines and the Dia- mond Rock : Sir Samuel Hood made the signal for a close line, and . VISCOUNT HOOD. 331 to prepare for action. The enemy at the same time formed the line of battle. At twenty minutes past nine the Prince William, captain Stair Douglas, with great exertions s and diligence, op- portunely joined the admiral from Gros Islet bay j but at the very same time four ships of the line, and one of fifty guns, joined Comte de Grasse, thus giving him a superiority of six ships of the line. Notwithstanding this great inequality of force, which would have daunted a common mind, Sir Samuel Hood, resolving on the attack, made every possible manoeuvre to gain the wind, and bring the enemy to close action ; and in this he was gallantly seconded by the next in command, rear-admiral Drake, and all the captains of his fleet. At eleven the enemy's fire commenced, which ad- miral Hood did not return until he observed their shot passed over his ships; he then threw out the signal for engaging. De Grasse, having the option of distance, would not approach near enough to render the action decisive, although admiral Hood bravely invited him to come down by bringing-to the English squadron under their top-sails. In his letter to Sir George Rodney, Sir Samuel remarks, that the action became general at half past twelve, but at too great a distance j and then adds : " never was more powder and shot thrown away in one day before} but it was with Monsieur de Grasse the option of distance lay j it was not possible for me to go nearer." The action had now lasted about three hours, when the British admiral finding that not one shot in ten of the enemy reached, and that all his endeavours to gain the wind were fruit- less, ceased firing j an example that was soon followed by Mon- sieur de Grasse. Although the engagement, in point of firing, seemed to be general, the distance preserved by the enemy, and the strenuous, though ineffectual efforts made on every occasion that offered, by the British ships, to close with the French, rendered it partial. The van, and nearest ships of the centre, from their unceasing at- tempts to get to windward, were exposed to a long and heavy fire, 8 Sir Samuel Hood thus expressed his grateful sense of it, in his letter of May the 4th — " Twenty minutes past nine, the Prince William joined me from Gros Islet bay; and, as I sent for her but the night before, Captain Douglas's exertion must have been great, and does him much credit, to be with me so soon, having the greatest part of his crew to collect in the night." Lord Hood never suffered the exertions of his officers to pass unnoticed. 332 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. by which some of them suffered very considerably ; but this was more with respect to their masts, hulls, and rigging, than to any loss of men. The Russel had received so many shot in her hull, that the water was over the platform of the magazine, gaining considerably on all the pumps. Three of her guns also had been dismounted, besides other damages. At half past six on the evening of the 29th of April, admiral Hood made her signal to come within hail ; when captain Sutherland, who commanded her, received his orders, if he could possibly keep the ship afloat, to proceed in- stantly to St. Eustatius, or any other port he could make. He accordingly bore away for the former in the night, and with great difficulty preserved the ship from sinking in her passage. On Monday, April 30th, at day-light, the admiral discerned the van and centre of his squadron separated at some distance from his own ship the Barfleur, and also the rear, owing to baffling winds and calms daring the night. The enemy's ad- vanced ships were steering to the van of his squadron, indicating a disposition in them to bring the contest to that decisive conclu- sion they had before so much evaded. Admiral Hood made all possible sail toward them, and threw out the signal for a close line of battle; the enemy's line being a good deal extended and scattered. The unexpected manoeuvre which Sir Samuel Hood after- wards made, shewed the uncommon powers of his mind as a commander in chief, and is thus related by the first political writer of the age: h " That judicious commander seeing that the French line was very irregular, and that the van, and a part of the centre, were greatly separated from the rest, made one of those bold movements, which, by throwing the fleet into the greatest apparent confusion, would, to a common eye, have appeared full of danger j at the same time that it could only be directed by the greatest judgment. The object was to gain the wind, in which he was very near succeeding; and in that case be would have cut off, and destroyed, one half of the French fleet, before it could have been succoured by the other. Fortune, how ever, failed in her usual favour to bold enterprise. This movement totally changed the appearance of things j and the British fleet, instead of being on the defensive, carried the face of being the aggressor during the rest of the day." b Old Annual Register vol, xxiv. p. jog. VISCOUNT HOOD. 331 That he might not lose any more time in tempting the enemy to a close engagement, Sir Samuel Hood at length resolved to bear away for Antigua : added to the loss of the Russel from the line, he knew that the squadron had upwards of 1500 men sick, and short of complement. The Intrepid and Centaur also, had received several shots between wind and water, and the lower masts of the latter were badly wounded. His sentiments on the occasion were thus expressed : " I judged it improper to dare the enemy to battle any longer j not having the least prospect of beating a fleet of twenty- four sail of the line of capital ships, and knowing the consequence of my being beaten, would probably be the loss of all his Majesty's pos- sessions in this country, 1 thought it my indispensable duty t# bear up, and made the signal for it at eight o'clock. " The loss in men amounted only to 36 killed, and l6l wounded ; but the service suffered considerably by the death of the brave Captain Nott of the Centaur, who, with his first lieute- nant, Plowden, fell in the action." — "The conduct of the French," says Mr. Clarke, •* "in this affair with Sir Samuel Hood, is much the same with the two last of Sir George Rodney. It is the third time, where, contrary to their established practice, they have kept the wind. But, aware of the danger of this position, they approached so near the British only, as to be able to amuse them with a distant cannonade, while their merchant ships and transports might, with sufficient secu- rity, get into port. " From this battle we may judge of the propriety of can- nonading, even where there may be the smallest chance of reach- ing an enemy : for, notwithstanding the great distance of the two fleets, and though the French were to windward, yet many of their shot took place in the hulls of our ships, so far below the water-line, that three of them could with difficulty be kept afloat." ' On the 31st of July 1781, Admiral Sir George Rodney, having entrusted the command of his Majesty's fleet at the leeward islands to rear-admiral Sir S. Hood, sailed from St. Eustatius, on the fol- lowing day, with the Gibraltar, Triumph, Panther, Boreas, two bombs, and a convoy for England. On the fifth of the same month, Monsieur de Grasse had gone with his whole fleet, and a 1 Naval Tactics, pajt.i- p. 99. 334 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. large convoy for Martinico, and arrived about the middle of it at Cape Francois, St. Domingo, where he was reinforced by five sail of the line. At the beginning of August he sailed from thence with his prodigious convoy, which having seen out of danger, he touched at the Havannah for money j and then directed his course with twenty-eight sail of the line, and several frigates, to the Chesapeak, where he arrived by the end of the month. Sir Samuel Hood having received intelligence of this, lost not a moment in hastening to the coast of America. On the 25th of August 1 781, he arrived off Cape Henry, and from thence dis- patched a frigate with intelligence to rear-admiral Graves. Find- ing, however, that no enemy had appeared either in the Chesa- peak or Delaware, he proceeded off Sandy Hook. On the very day of his arrival there, the commanders at New York received intelligence that Monsieur de Barras, who succeeded Ternay in the command at Rhode Island, had sailed three days before with his squadron to the southward. The intercepting of this squadron was an object of importance ; and rear-admiral Graves, on the 31st of August, bringing out of New York to Sandy Hook five ships of the line, and one of fifty guns, took the command : Sir Samuel Hood getting under sail at the same time, the fleets proceeded together to the southward. The cruisers placed before the Delaware by rear-admiral Graves could give no certain information, and the cruisers off the Chesapeak had not joined. k The wind being rather favourable, they approached the Chesapeak on the morning of the 5th of September, when the advanced ships made the signal for a fleet. A number of great ships, being twenty-four sail of the line, were soon discovered at anchor off Lynnhaven bay, just within Cape Henry, extending across the entrance of the Chesapeak. They had a frigate cruising off the Cape, which stood in and joined them. As the British fleet approached, the French immediately l slipped their cables, turned out from their anchorage in some con- k Admiral Graves's letter. i " Certain French officers on board their own fleet, having received an invitation from the admiral to dine with him, on seeing the British squadron approaching the Chesapeak in the morning, and dreading they might be at- tacked before they could be prepared for action, pleasantly said to an English gentleman, then prisoner on board, We have received an invitation from the Admiral to dine with him to-day, but it must have been from your Admiral/ not our own'''— Clarke's Tactics. VISCOUNT HOOD. 335 fusion, and formed without any particular regard to prescribed order, as they could come up. Wind at N. N. E, The British fleet amounted only to nineteen sail of the line, that of the enemy to twenty-four ; so that the French had a supe- riority of no less than^L'e tine of battle ships. The action com- menced soon after four amongst the headmost ships, pretty close, and then was nearly partial, being general only as far as the second ship from the centre, towards the rear. It ceased a little after sun-set. Our fleet had QO men killed, and 230 wounded, chief!/ belonging to Sir Samuel Hood's squadron. The French during the battle had 1800 seamen and 90 officers on shore. The two fleets continued for five days in sight of each other, repairing their damages and manoeuvring, until the French ad- miral had gained his object by covering the arrival of Monsieur de Barras's squadron, m and convoy, from Rhode Island ; when he returned with his fleet to the Chesapeak, and anchored across, so as to block up the passage. This decided the fate of Lord Cornwallis. Sir Samuel Hood returned with his squadron to the West In- dies in the month of December 1781, and arrived, on the 5th, at Carlisle bay, Barbadoes ; but not finding any of the stores neces- sary to refit his ships, he was obliged to dispatch the Fortunee fri- gate to Antigua, for all that could be spared from that island. In addition to this, he discovered that the contractor's agent at Bar- badoes had not a sufficient supply of bread, to enable the ships of the squadron to go to sea with twenty days' provision for each. In the beginning of the month of January 1782, Comte de Grasse, with thirty-three ships of the line, having landed 8000 men on the island of St. Christopher's, under the command of the Marquis de Bouille, General Fraser, with his small garrison of m The Comte de Barras sailed from Rhode Island with seven line of battle ships : {Comte de Barras, Baron de Durfort, M. Destouches, M. de la Grandiere, M.de Tilly, M. Lambart, M.de la. Clocheterie, M- de Marigny. Barras joined de Grasse on the 1 ith of September, after making a circuit as far as Bermuda. Due de Bourgogne - - 84 Neptune - 74 Conquerant - 74 Eveille - 64 Provence - 64 Jason - Ardent " 64 - 64 330 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. 600 men,, retired to Brimstone Hill. Sir Samuel Hood's fleet at Barbadoes consisted at this time of only twenty ships of the line. However, on the 14th of January, this persevering and intrepid commander, notwithstanding the great superiority of the enemy, most gallantly determined on a measure of unusual boldness for the preservation of that valuable island. Instead of waiting their approach he resolved to confound the enemy at once, by an im- mediate attack, and to engage them at anchor. Accordingly, touching at Antigua, he took General Prescott, and the few troops which could be spared, on board $ and having previously given his instructions to the commanders of the respective ships, that they might clearly comprehend his wishes, he proceeded thence in the evening for Basseterre Road, where the enemy lay at that time. Early on the 24th of January Admiral Hood formed his line of battle, for the purpose of bearing down to the attack j when the untoward accident of the Alfred's running on board the Nymphe, arrested the prosecution of this well-concerted design, and the fleet were obliged to lie to for a day to repair the damages which the Alfred had received. In the evening of the same day Comte de Grasse quitted his anchorage and put to sea, that his ships might have full room to act, and thus secure the advantages of their superiority in point of number. On the ensuing morning, January 25th, the enemy were full in view forming the line of battle ahead. Sh Samuel Hood, in forming his compact line, shewed the strongest indica- tion of an immediate and vigorous attack. Having thus with great dexterity drawn the enemy farther from the shore, he then made directly for Basseterre Road, and took possession of the anchoring ground which de Grasse had quitted the preceding evening. The superior judgment and seamanship displayed in this masterly ma- noeuvre, excited the astonishment, and called forth all the spirit of the enemy j whilst the probable consequence of their being thus cut off from all communication with the army on shore, af- forded room for the most serious apprehensions. But let this gallant and indefatigable officer speak for himself: " At day-light," says Sir Samuel in his letter to Mr. Stephens, "we plainly discerned thirty-three sailoftheenemy'sships; twenty- nine of which, of two decks, formed in a line ahead. I made every appearance of an attack, which drew the Comte de Grasse a little from the shore ; and as I thought I had a fair prospect of gaining the anchorage he left, and well knowing it was the only VISCOUNT HOOD. 337 means I had of saving the island, if it was to be saved, I pushed for it, and succeeded, by having my rear and part of my centre engaged." In another paragraph of the same letter he thus nobly expresses the sentiments of a British seaman : — '* Would the event of a battle have determined the fate of the island, I would with- out hesitation have attacked the enemy; from my knowledge how much was to be expected from an English squadron com- manded by men, amongst whom is no other contention, than who should be most forward in rendering services to his King and Country. Herein I placed the utmost confidence, and fully trust I should not have been disappointed." Impelled by every motive, whether of defeating the design, or of avenging the ruse de guerre which Sir Samuel Hood had so ably played off, De Grasse without delay fell with the utmost fury on Commodore Affleck, who commanded the rear squadron, not without hopes of cutting off his division ; but that brave officer, and his two seconds, Lord Robert Manners and Captain Corn- wallis, kept up so unceasing a lire as to cover the other ships in the rear, whilst getting into their stations, with little injury to themselves. The Prudent had her wheel shot to pieces the first broadside, which occasioned her loss to exceed that of any other ship. After a short conflict the French were obliged to stand off, having many of their ships considerably damaged ; but they re- treated with angry retrospection. De Grasse, during the night, summoned whatever energy he could to his assistance. By eight, the next morning, the British line was attacked from van to rear at once, by the whole force of the enemy. After a desperate action of two hours, in which the French were not able to make the smallest impression, they again stood off, the second time, to sea. Not yet discouraged, De Grasse renewed the action with fresh spirit in the afternoon, chiefly directing his attack against the centre and rear divisions, but he was again repulsed by the British Admiral, with considerable loss; and was obliged to stand out, the third time, to sea. The Ville de Paris was upon the heel all the next day, covering her shot holes; and by information, which the Admiral received afterwards from the shore, the enemy's ships sent to St. Eustatius upwards of 1000 wounded men. The loss of the English squadron, in all the attacks, amounted to /2 killed, and 244 wounded. As soon as Sir Samuel Hood had thus gained possession of the anchorage, one of the first objects with him and General vol. vi. z 33 S PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Prescott, was to dispatch an officer" with an account of their situa- tion and proceedings to the commanders at Brimstone Hill. This was successfully performed, and the officer returned in safety : both the governor and brigadier-general placed too sanguine a reliance on the strength of the place. Sir Samuel Hood, on receiving information of the confidence and spirit which prevailed in the garrison, proposed to the general, that if he thought a post could be maintained on shore, he would land two battalions of marines, of 700 rank and file each ; which, with the regular troops, would compose a body of near 2,400 men. General Prescott did not think it practicable to maintain such a post j but on the 28th of January was eager to be put on shore with the Antigua troops, and the 6gth regiment; when a smart skirmish immediately took place; in which our troops had the advantage. On the following morning, the Marquis de Bouille having brought 4000 men from Sandy Point, General Prescott and his troops re-embarked in the evening of that day, without inter- ruption from the enemy. The surrender of Brimstone Hill, and consequent capitulation of the whole island, on the 13th of February 1782, rendered Ad- miral Hood's continuance at the anchorage of Basseterre highly dangerous. His subsequent escape from that road, notwithstand- ing the vigilance and decided superiority of the enemy, who had thirty-four ships of the line against twenty-two, is so meritorious and enterprising, that it can alone be equalled by the masterly manoeuvre, which secured so strong a position to our squadron, when it was an object for the protection of the island. This being no longer in view, Sir Samuel Hood considered only in what manner he could best preserve his squadron whole, and in a per- fect state, for the junction with Sir George Rodney; whose ar- rival from England, with a reinforcement, was daily expected, and which in fact took place on the J 9th of February 1782. Deeply sensible of the importance of this duty, Sir Samuel Hood, during the night after the capitulation, gave the necessary orders for the ships of his squadron at the same moment to cut their cables,0 and put instantly to sea. The darkness of the night fa- il Captain J. N. Inglefield, who subsequently commanded the Centaur, and was afterwards Commissioner at Gibraltar, and since at Halifax. o Sir Samuel Hood having about sun-set made the signal for all his Cap- tains to come on board, gave them instructions to set their watches precisely with his chronometer, and at ten o'clock to have their axes ready to strike the first blow on the cables of their respective ships. VISCOUNT HOOD. 330 Voured the boldness of the design ; and though the enemy's fleet were then lying within rive miles, with their lights full in view of the British squadron, this daring project, to their astonishment, was accomplished. Mr. John Clarke, of Eldin, in his able Essay on Naval Tactics, and while under the immediate impression of the enthusiasm ex- cited by the merit of this manoeuvre, »> bears the most respectable testimony to Sir Samuel Hood's persevering courage, and superior seamanship : " The singularity, or rather novelty, of this affair, so very im- portant in all its consequences, cannot be passed over without en- deavouring to give it a full consideration. ••* Sir Samuel, disappointed in his intended attack, but confi- dent that the obtaining a communication with, and supporting the same, was the only chance left him of saving the island, by a daring stroke in seamanship, seldom before this time attempted, in the face of the enemy, and even while in the act of sustaining a furious attack from the enemy, brings his fleet to an anchor in the self-same position, or station, which they but a little before, and with a fleet so very much superior, had quitted, as thinking it untenable. " On the part of the enemy there were here no accidents, which, as in all other former cases, might be laid hold of, and held up as an excuse for want of success; nothing from winds, tides, or blowing up of particular ships; not the loss of a single mast, or yard; to furnish the shadow of an excuse, either for quitting their anchorage, or, after they had, for not overpowering with their numbers so inferior a fleet, occupying, and even fixed to an anchorage, and affording an equal opportunity of being at- tacked for twelve successive days. *' On no occasion whatever has one, and the same fleet, been so fortunate, as in this of Sir Samuel Hood forcing their oppo- nents to so complete and unequivocal an acknowledgment of their superiority in both cases, whether we shall consider their courage and perseverance, or their skill in seamanship." * On the 19th of February, Sir Samuel Hood anchored his squadron after sun-set in St. John's Road, Antigua ; and on get- p Vol II p 8, of part 4. q See more of Mr. Clarke's opinion relative to this manoeuvre, Nav. Chron. vol. i p 139., 340 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. ing a supply of flour and yams, instead of bread, sailed again on the 22d, to seek Sir George Rodney at Barbadoes. A few days after the junction of the two squadrons under Sir George Rodney and Rear-Admiral Hood, the fleet was further re- inforced by the arrival of three ships of the line from England. The first object of Sir George Rodney was to intercept a convoy from Brest, which sailed in February with naval stores and am- munition, for the Comte de Grasse ; but in this he unfortunately failed, as the French convoy eluded his vigilance. r In March, Sir George returned to St. Lucia, to refit his ships, and to take in a supply of water and provisions. The British fleet at this time at St. Lucia amounted to thirty- six ships of the line, the naval force under Monsieur de Grasse to thirty-four j but, if a comparative estimate of the weight of metal, and number of men, on both sides were made, it would be found that the balance was considerably in favour of the enemy. The van of our fleet was commanded by Sir Samuel Hood, the centre by Sir George Rodney, and the rear by Admiral Drake. Though the succeeding manoeuvres more particularly belong to the Memoirs of Lord Rodney, we shall now enter more fully on such parts as particularly relate to Sir Samuel Hood. The French fleet began to turn out of the harbour at Port Royal, on the 8th of April, by break of day, with a great convoy. Their movements were so immediately communicated by signals, from the frigates on the look-out, that the English were clear of Gros Islet Bay by noon, and pursued the enemy with a press of sail; in the evening our squadron came in sight of them under Dominica. On the morning of the Cjth of April 1782, soon after live o'clock, the signal was thrown out to prepare for action ; to form the line at two cables' length asunder j and for the ships t® file, and stand on. The British fleet lay for some time becalmed ; but the breeze at length reached the van, under Sir Samuel Hood, whose squadron soon began to close with the French centre. The Comte de Grasse immediately fell, with the whole weight of his force, upon the commander who had so often baffled his attack^ and now seemed to be his prey, while thus separated from the main body : the centre, under Sir George Rodney, being four miles astern, and the rear, under Admiral Drake, about twelve miles. At nine o'clock the action commenced. In a few minutes r Nav. Chron. vol i p 139. VISCOUNT HOOD. 341 all the ships in Sir S. Hood's division were closely engaged, and hard pressed from the great superiority of the enemy, who had about twenty ships of the line, against the van squadron, which could not amount to more than seven ships. With near twenty sail of his fleet, De Grasse ranged along the van, then tacked his squadron, and repeated the engagement for near two hours : and it is upon record from the pen of the late Right Hon. Editor of the Annual Register,8 that Sir Samuel Hood's ship, the Barfleur, " had at one time seven, and generally three ships, upon her: but nothing could be more glorious than the firm and gallant re- sistance with which, and without ever shrinking, this ship sus- tained the efforts of so great a superiority." On the arrival of Sir George Rodney with part of the centre division, Comte De Grasse, having the command of the wind, was enabled to keep at his usual cautious distance j and, in this man- ner, the action was continued for near two hours longer; during which the remainder of the British fleet was kept back by calms and baffling winds under Dominica. The French, in their attack upon the van, notwithstanding their great superiority, received more injury than they effected. Two of their ships were so much disabled, as to be obliged to quit the fleet, and put into Guada- loupe : by which means, the line of Comte de Grasse was re- duced to thirty-two ships. The damage sustained by the French during their engagement with Sir Samuel Hood, was the cause of bringing on the subsequent action, and led to all its decisive con- sequences. The particulars of the glorious twelfth of April belong to the Memoir of Lord Rodney 3 to what may there be said we shall now only add, that at the very moment of the sun's setting, on that renowned day, Sir Samuel Hood, who had been closely en- gaged with his old antagonist in the Ville de Paris, had the sin- gular good fortune to behold her at length strike to the Barfleur j when the Comte De Grasse surrendered his sword unto an enemy, whose uncommon merit he was at all times ready to acknow- ledge. Sir George Rodney, in his public dispatches to the admiralty, dated April 12, 17S2, mentions Sir Samuel Hood as having most conspicuously exerted himself, and as being deserving of his warmest encomiums. In another letter, of the same date, Sir George, in detailing the action of the ninth of April, says, » For 1782,— Buike. 342 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. " The enemy first got the wind, and stood towards Guada- loupe. My van division, under that gallant officer Sir Samuel Hood, received it next, and stood after them. At nine the enemy began to cannonade my van, which was returned with the greatest briskness." Again in another part he adds, >egan to be kept in a constant alarm/ from the increasing numbers of Carteaux's army on the west, and that of Italy on the east : each of them consist- ing nearly of 6000 men. At the same time, Lord Hood had ap- prehensions of some desperate attempt being made within, by upwards of 5000 disaffected seamen ; the committee general of 34S PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the Sections, and the French Rear- Admiral Trogoffe, represented the getting rid of them as absolutely necessary for our own safety. This more especially was evident, as, previous to Lord Hood's taking possession of Toulon, they had agreed that these men should be sent home, provided they did not take any active part in obstructing the British fleet 5 *they now in consequence began to be extremely clamorous and unruly 5 it was, therefore, judged expedient to embark them in four of the most unserviceable ships, le Patriot, TApollon, 1'Orion, and l'Entreprenant, to each of which a passport was given. These ships were totally dismantled of their guns, except two on the forecastle for Signals, in case of distress 3 they had no small arms, and only twenty cartridges on board of each, and sailed as flags of truce 3 two for Brest, one for Rochfort, and one for 1'Orient, In addition to the motives just related, which induced Lord Hood to act thus, and to adhere* strictly to the convention pre- viously formed with the civil and military government of Toulon, there were also others that had a powerful influence on his mind, but which were known only to a few. Amid the mass of the 5000 seamen, who were reputed turbulent and disaffected, many were devoted to the cause of the inhabitants of Toulon, and were ready to make every sacrifice in favour of monarchy : therefore, as it was confidently rumoured that Brest, Rochfort, and the other sea ports of France, would take an active part in the same cause, there was good reason to hope that the arrival of these sea- men would accelerate, at the several ports, similar exertions in behalf of the French monarch. The Convention however sus- pected their designs, and, having tried many in a summary man- ner, caused them to be put to death. His Majesty's ships Bedford and Leviathan arrived at Toulon, September 28th, with 800 Sardinian troops j and also Marshal Fortuguerri, Commodore of the Sicilian ships, with 2000 troops from Naples, in two ships of the line, two frigates, and two sloops. This served considerably to cheer the spirits of the garrison, and of the inhabitants of Toulon, as for the last fortnight scarcely a day had passed, without their being attacked from one quarter or the other. Carteaux's army at this time amounted to 8000 men on the west, and that to the east, under le Poype, to ?000 ; with rein- forcements continually pouring into both. The enemy had also opened a battery of twenty-four 24- pounders, upon our gun-boats, and the ships that covered them 3 and though they were soon dismounted by the ships under the VISCOUNT HOOD. 349 direction of Rear- Admiral Gell, and the works totally destroyed, with very great slaughter, yet the enemy, two or three succes- sive times, renewed their works, and persevered to the last mo- ment in their attack upon our gun-boats and advanced ships. During the night of the 30th of September, the French, avail- ing themselves of a fog, very unexpectedly surprised a post oc- cupied by the Spaniards, and thereby got possession of the Height of Pharon, immediately over Toulon; but at noon, on the 1st of October, when in the very act of establishing themselves with about 2000 men, they were attacked by the troops under the command of Lord Mulgrave, and after a short, but spirited action, were driven from the height with great slaughter. Many of the flying parties were forced at the point of the bayonet headlong over the rocks. The loss of the English, Spaniards, Sardinians, and Neapolitans, amounted only to seven killed, and seventy-two wounded. The loss of the French was nearly 1450 killed and wounded, and 48 taken prisoners. The batteries of the enemy on the Hauteur de Ranier were destroyed in the night of the 8th October, with a considerable quantity of artillery and ammuni- tion. The ensuing night a very successful sortie was made under the command of Captain Brereton, assisted by Lieutenant Seri- cold, of the navy, and the seamen under his command: the enemy's batteries, which had recently been erected, were de- stroyed. The French, notwithstanding these defeats, obtained possession of Cape le Brun, on the 11th, but were again over- come, and driven from thence with considerable loss. Our readers must have already perceived with what labour, even at this period, Toulon was preserved by the valour and per- severance of a British Admiral, assisted by his brave followers. These obstacles, however, were as nothing, in comparison to the treachery and peculiar difficulties by which he was surrounded. On the 18th of October, Don Langara informed Lord Hood of the arrival of Don Valdes, to take upon him the command of the Spanish troops at Toulon, in the room of Admiral Gravina, who had been wounded on the 1st of October at the heights of Pharon: on the 23d of the same month, Lord Hood was much surprised to receive another letter from Don Langara, acquainting him, that on account of the valour and good conduct of Admiral Gravina, his Catholic Majesty had promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant General, and had appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the , comhined forces at Toulon. This Lord Hood very properly re- 350 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. sisted ; the town and its dependant forts were yielded up to the British troops alone, and were taken possession of by his Lord- ship ; their Sardinian and Sicilian Majesties had been graciously pleased to confide their respective troops entirely to his Lordship's disposal, or to act under whatever British officer he might judge fit to appoint j he therefore felt it to be his duty to put the Sar- dinian and Sicilian troops, together with the British, under the command of Major General O'Hara, the moment he arrived, and who even then was off the port, eventually subject to such orders as might afterwards be received from his Lordship. This unex- pected measure of the court of Spain, together with the daily en- croachments which the Spanish officers, supported by their com- mander-in-chief, made to obtain power, laid the foundation of that distrust which afterwards a subsisted between the English and Spaniards. Major-General OHara, and Major-General Dundas, arrived on the 22d of October j the former with a commission to be governor of Toulon and its dependencies. Lord Hood had the mortification to find at this critical juncture, that Sir Robert Boyd was so sparing of succours for the defence of Toulon, that only half the number were sent which he had so earnestly requested by letter early in September. Lord Hood, finding his fleet much weakened by such a num- ber of seamen who were sent on shore to defend the various posts, judged it expedient to dispatch a ship to the Grand Master of Malta, requesting that 1500 Maltese seamen might be sent to serve in the British fleet, during its continuance in the Mediter- ranean, who should have the same wages per month as his own seamen. The Grand Master in the most handsome manner fur- nished the desired reinforcement. The Spanish Admiral about this period proposed a joint expe- dition against Corsica j but Lord Hood, aware of the different interests and vietvs which the Spaniards might have, wisely de- clined the undertaking unless he had instructions from home to that purpose : adding in reply, that feeling much for General a The British Admiral had at that time only ten sail of the line in the harbour of Toulon ; the menacing position in which Don Langara placed his ships at anchor, consisting of twenty-one ships of the line, excited much ani- madversion. Under pretence of moving his fleet into more convenient births, he brought his own ship alongside to bear on the Victory, and anchored two three-deckers on her bow and quarter . VISCOUNT HOOD. 351 Paoli, he had a month before, as a voluntary act of his own, sent a squadron to Corsica -b to try what could be effected to assist this veteran General ; but owing to wrong information, and General Paoli not commencing the attack by land at the same moment the squadron did by sea, the ships, after making a complete breach in the fort of St. Florence, were obliged to retreat with the los of 50 men killed and wounded, and two line of battle ships much damaged. The Spanish Admiral began at this time more openly to dis- close the treachery, which had been long concealed under a base hypocrisy, more worthy of an inquisitor general, than of a naval officer. On the 12th of November, Don Langara, as if anxious to contrive some ground for an open rupture, renewed his desire of co-operating with a squadron of the British ships in attacking Corsica, and at the same instant proposed a joint expedition against some French ships that were at Tunis ; but this was also declined by Lord Hood, as the Bey of Tunis had given no just cause of offence to his Britannic Majesty Don Langara, how- ever, still pursuing the object in his own mind, and finding he had not hitherto succeeded as he could wi<>h, wrote another letter to Lord Hood, claiming his right to an equal partition of power, in the naval, military, and civil departments of Toulon ; and com- plaining that Corsican vessels, wearing the Corsican flag, had been received in the port. Lord Hood still baffled the Spaniard by a reply that was moderate, but firm : " Do not, I entreat your Excellency, let us be discussing points our courts only can settle. The inhabitants of Corsica, who have never acknowledged them- selves subjects of France, and navigate from ports in the island not possessed by the French, have, I humbly conceive, a right to hoist the Corsican flag j and I could not be justified in obliging them to wear any other." Lord Hood was little aware that a secret negociation, as this very juncture, had been actually agreed on between the Court of Madrid and the French Convention. During the time this was passing between the British and Spanish Admirals, Commodore Forteguerri, commander-in-chief of his Sicilian Majesty's ships, would not suffer his captains to obey Lord Hood's orders, though given in the most delicate man- ner, as acting under the authority of his Sicilian Majesty. Lord Hood, therefore, was under the disagreeable necessity of complain- b This squadron was commanded by Commodore Linzeer brother-in-law to Lord Hood, since Vice- Admiral of the Red, > 352 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. ing of his conduct to the court of Naples : in consequence of this remonstrance, Commodore Forteguerri adopted half measures, and gave a feeble co-operation to the interests of the common cause \ but the cordiality between the two commanders, so es- sential at this critical period, was thus destroyed. On the evening of the 15th of November, the French vigor- ously attacked, with a large force, our posts upon the heights de Grasse, called fort Mulgrave, and one of the most essential posts that covered the shipping in the harbour of Toulon. This attack was principally directed against that part which was occupied by the Spaniards on the right. General O'Hara, who was at dinner on board the Victory, lost no time in getting on shore. When he reached the height, the French were close to the works ; the Spaniards retreating, and firing their muskets in the air. The General instantly directed a company of the Royals to advance, who gallantly leaped the works, and put the enemy to flight, after leaving about 000 men dead and wounded in the field. The loss of the English amounted only to sixty-one. The British Ad- miral, in addition to what he had already experienced since his taking possession of Toulon, had a fresh vexation towards the end of November, of the most serious and alarming nature j con- sidering the augmented force of the surrounding enemy, and the critical situation of the extensive posts to be defended. After having been flattered with the most positive hopes of receiving, towards the middle of the month, 5000 Austrian troops ; and when he had actually dispatched Vice- Admiral Cosby, with a squadron of ships and transports to Vado bay, to convey them, as previously concerted between himself and Mr. Trevor, his Majesty's mi- nister at Turin j by letters received from Mr. Trevor, of the 18th of November, his Lordship's hopes were at once destroyed, and with them all expectation of the arrival of a single Austrian soldier at Toulon. The enemy, at the close of November, having opened a battery against the post of Malbousket, near the arsenal, from which shells could reach the town, it was resolved to destroy it, and to bring off the guns: for this purpose General O'Hara di- gested a distinct and masterly plan of attack, which he commu- nicated, on the evening of the 29th of November, to the com- manding officer of the troops of each nation. Accordingly, on the morning of the 30th, this plan was so far executed as to sur- prise the enemy's redoubt most effectually 5 the British troops having obtained^ full possession of the height and battery, their VISCOUNT HOOD. 153 ardour and impetuosity were not to be restrained in this moment of success; but continuing to pursue the flying enemy in a scat- tered manner, a mile beyond the works, the consequence was, that the latter, collecting in great force, obliged our troops to re- treat, and to relinquish the advantages they had at first obtained. General O'Hara arrived at the battery on the moment it was taken; and, perceiving the disorder of the troops, thus driven back, was hastening to rally them, when most unfortunately he received a wound in his arm, which bled so much as to render him incapable of avoiding the enemy ; by whom he was made prisoner as he sat down under a wall, faint from loss of blood. The French army before Toulon at this time amounted to 40,000 men ; after the surrender of Lyons, this force, considerable as it already was, became daily augmented. The army of the coalesced powers never exceeded 12,000, and even these were composed of five different nations, and languages; consequently by no means formed to co-operate with each other. The greatest return of the British force, at any one period, was never more than 2360, out of which we had only 2100 rank and file; this was the case on the 1 st c of November : previous to the arrival of the first regiment of foot, (Royals) and the eighteenth regi- ment, there were only 1360 British soldiers at Toulon. The circumference necessary to be occupied for the complete defence c Return of the British forces at Toulon, on November the ist, 1793, being the greatest number at any period : One lieutenant -colonel, 3 majors, 31 captains, 53 lieutenants, 13 ensigns, 2 adjutants, 2 quarter masters, 1 surgeon, 2 mates, 106 serjeants, 57 drum- mers and fifers, 2100 rank and file fit for duty, 23 1 sick, 39 at Gibraltar and England recruiting. Total, 2360. Return of Combined Forces on November the 4th, 1793 : British - - - * 2114 Spaniards * * » 6523 Neapolitans * 433* Piedmontese •- 1584 French - * - -1542 Total 16,095 November the 10th arrived a Neapolitan polacre") with troops - - J At the same time a Spanish corps of artillery 317 16,912 N. B, On the evacuation were embarked of British, Spanish, and Pied- montese, about 8000 ; the Neapolitans having in a panic embarked the pre- ceding day. VOL. VI. a A 354 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. of the town and harbour, extended fifteen miles, by eight prin- cipal posts, with several intermediate dependencies : with such a prodigious superiority as the enemy possessed, it will naturally excite the astonishment of every one, that they could be made tenable for so long a time as seven weeks. Early on the 17th of December, by two in the morning, fort Mulgrave, on the height De Grasse, was stormed by an immense body of the enemy, after having kept up an incessant fire with shot and shells for 24 hours. The right occupied by the Spa- niards soon gave way as before, by which means the French en- tered the works, and got entire possession of the height} at the same time they attacked and carried the heights of Pharon, imme- diately over Toulon. In the forenoon of the 17th of December, a council of war was called, composed of the following members : Lord Hood, Admiral Langara, Admiral Gravina, General Dundas, General Valdes, Prince Pignatelli, Admiral Forteguerri, Sir Hyde Parker, Le Chevalier de Revel, and Sir Gilbert Elliot. After the most deliberate discussion, it was at length resolved, late in the after- noon, to retire from the different posts, and to evacuate Toulon at a fixed time; proper arrangements and regulations being made for that purpose. The resolutions were : First, To send orders to the troops occupying the redoubt, and the lunette of Pharon, to retire to the posts of Artigues and St. Catherine's, and to maintain them as long as they can without being cut off. Second, to send orders to the posts of Great and Little Antoine, St. Andre, Pomet, and the Mills, to retire. Third, The posts of Malbousquet, and Mississi, must be held as long as possible. Fourth, the committee-general to make the necessary arrange- ments for informing the inhabitants of the intended evacuation j and that they should receive every possible assistance. Fifth, The sick and wounded shall be embarked without de- lay. Sixth, The French ships of war, which are armed, shall sail out with the fleet 3 those which remain in the harbour, together with the magazines and the arsenal, shall be destroyed. Mea- sures shall be taken this night, if possible, for that purpose ; but this resolution must not be put in execution until the last moment. Admiral Langara undertook to deliver the necessary directions VISCOUNT HOOD. 355 for destroying the ships, in the inner harbour or bason ; and to scuttle and sink the two powder vessels, which contained all the powder of the different French ships, as well as that belonging to the distant magazines within the enemy's reach. During the sitting of the council, information was received that the Neapolitan troops had deserted their posts, and were stealing on board the ships with their baggage in great confusion and disorder; to which they had been encouraged by the Spa- niards, as well as their own officers j and the next morning, De- cember 18th, the Neapolitan commanding officer on the post of Sepet, signified to the governor, that he would not remain there any longer : the retreat of the British troops, and the general evacuation of the place, could not therefore be now deferred beyond the ensuing night. Accordingly, during the night, the whole of the troops embarked without the loss of a single man ; and 14,8/7 men, women, and children, of the loyal inhabitants of Toulon, were sheltered in the British ships. The Honourable Captain Elphinstone, in faithfully executing to the last moment the difficult service of embarking the troops, received high en- comiums from Lord Hood, for his unremitting zeal and exertions in that important and dangerous duty. The unaccountable panic which seized the Neapolitan troops during the deliberations of the council, together with the shame- ful remissness of Don Langara, in not fulfilling what he had un- dertaken lo perform, prevented the complete execution of an ad- mirable arrangement for destroying all the French ships that lay in the Inner Road, the arsenal, and bason before the town ; to- gether with the magazine, the arsenal itself, and the various stores it contained. Sir Sydney Smith having volunteered his services to burn the ships and arsenal, this hazardous duty was intrusted to his daring intrepidity, which he executed in a manner that jus- tified his appointment to so arduous a task : by this means the treachery ot the Spaniards was in a considerable degree counter- acted. Ten ships of the line, with several frigates, in the arsenal and inner harbour, with the mast house, great store house, hemp house, and other buildings, were completely destroyed. Three ships of the line, three frigates, and seven corvettes, which had been manned and armed prior to the evacuation, accompanied the British fleet, with the French Rear-Admiral TrogofFe, who nobly continued under Lord Hood's orders, notwithstanding the insidious attempts of Don Langara, to prevail upon him to put himself under his orders, and to follow the direction of the Spa- 356 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. nish Court, as being more congenial with the interests of the Family Compact, which had formerly united the respective king- doms.d . Sir Sydney Smith, and the officers immediately under his or- ders, surrounded by a tremendous conflagration of the ships and arsenal, had nearly completed the hazardous services assigned to them, when the loud shouts, and the Republican songs, of the approaching enemy, were heard at intervals amid the bursting of shells and firing of musketry. In addition to the horror of such a scene, and which, for some minutes, had the good effect of checking the career, and arresting in awful contemplation, the minds of a vindictive enemy, the dreadful explosion of many thousand barrels of gunpowder, on board the Isis frigate, in the Inner Road, will ever be remembered. The concussion it pro- duced shook the houses in Toulon like an earthquake, and occa- sioned the sudden crash of every window in them j whilst the scattered fragments of burning timber, which had been blown up, descending with considerable force, nearly destroyed all our officers and men who were employed in the discharge of their re- spective duties. This powder ship had been injudiciously, and we will hereafter prove, treacherously, set on fire by the Spaniards, instead of scuttling and sinking her, as had been previously con- certed. Sir Sydney having completed all the conflagration within his reach, to his astonishment first discovered that the Spaniards had not set fire to any of the ships in the bason before the town ; he therefore hastened with the boats under his command towards the bason, that he might endeavour, though at so late a period, to counteract the perfidy of the. Spaniards : when lo ! to his great notification, he found the boom at the entrance laid across, and was obliged to desist in his attempts to cut it, from the repeated volleys of musketry directed towards his boats from the flag ship, and the wall of the Royal Battery. He therefore proceeded to burn the Hero, and Themistocles, prison ships in the Inner Rpad, after disembarking all the men. This service was scarcely effected, when the explosion of the second powder ship took place, by means d A few days before the evacuation took place, Don Langara wrote a most pressing and Jesuitical letter to Rear-Admiral TrogofFe, requesting him, on various plausible pretexts, to put himself and the French ships under his orders; buc Admiral TrogofFe very properly, and with great firmness, re- sisted this on the ground of recognising no chief but Lord Hood, with whom only he had treated j ai;d he transmitted to Lord Hood Bon Langara's letter, together with his spirited answer on this occasion. VISCOUNT HOOD. 35; equally unsuspected and perfidious, with a shock even greater than the first ; the lives of Sir Sydney Smith, and the gallant men who served under him, were providentially saved from the imminent •danger in which they were thus a second time placed. Had Lord Hood's judicious and able plans been seconded by the Spaniards, not a single ship would have escaped. When from analogy we reason on the above facts, and con- sider the motives which influenced the conduct of our allies, the Spaniards, throughout the whole of the transactions at Toulon, we early discern the different features of a foul premeditated treachery, whose limit was designed to extend to the destruction of the British Admiral and his fleet. The facts themselves justify this assertion, without resorting to other evidence : yet in order to fix this historical truth by proofs that will not admit the possi- bility of a doubt, even in the mind of the most sceptical reader, we subjoin the following extract from a pamphlet, e containing an account of the secret negociations carried on under the direction of Robespiere, with several of the principal states of Europe, written and signed by his own hand. ** Arguments of weight, and especially of golden weight," says Robespiere, " seldom fail of having some effect ; the Spa- nish admirals and ginerals in the Mediterranean, had instructions sent them rather to watch, than to act ivith, the English." In another part he adds, " It was therefore once determined to with- draw the army from before the town (Toulon), and retreat to the other side of the Durance, when fortunately the Spanish courier arrived, and every thing was settled between my brother f on our part, and Major S on the other, with respect to Toulon." Robespiere then proceeds to remark — l< The Spaniards, in consequence of this agreement, being attacked at an appointed time, Jled on all side*, and left the English every where to bite the dust; and particularly at a strong hold called by them Fort Mul- grave. The ships which the Spaniards had to burn they did not *et fire to. The British ships had however more than one escape at this period j conformably to the agreement, the Spaniards were to attempt the destruction of some of them, by cutting the calks, and blowing up in the harbour some old French men of war 9 Translated from the French, and published by Rivington. *" Robespiere the younger was one of the commissaries attached to the French army before Toulon; Buonaparte at the same time commanded the artillery. 358 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. laden with gunpoivder : this indeed they did, lut too late to cause any damage to the English ; and in this instance alone we have any reason to complain of the Spaniards.'" Every thing therefore relating to Toulon 9 may be considered as highly honourable to the British name, and to the noble Ad- miral who so ably executed the trust which had devolved upon him. Actions of considerable merit, which embrace a variety of interests, and are consequently perplexed, demand a considerable length of time, before they are clearly discerned, and duly valued. Great advantages were eventually derived to this country by the blow which the naval power of the enemy thus early received. The republican hydra, though it afterwards writhed in all the an- guish of despair, amid the last struggle of convulsive life, received her first mortal wound from the powerful arm of Lord Hood. Early in the month of January 1/94, whilst the British fleet lay in Hieres bay, near Toulon, waiting for a convoy of trans- ports and victuallers from Gibraltar, Sir Gilbert Elliott, one of the commissioners for Toulon, went to Corsica, accompanied by Colonel Moore and Major Kochler, to consult with General Paoli upon a plan of operations for dispossessing the French of the dif- ferent posts they held in Corsica. Lord Hood, on receiving a very favourable report from Coionel Moore and Major Kochler, fully sensible of the importance which the conquest of the island of Corsica would be of to Great Britain, as containing several capital ports for the reception of his Majesty's ships in the Medi- terranean, resolved to make every effort to drive the French from the island with the force intrusted to his command, aided by the troops brought from Toulon. The necessary preparations were accordingly made without delay ; and on the /th of February the troops under the command of Lientenant-General Dundas were disembarked, from a division of ships and transports commanded by Commodore Linzee, in a bay in the gulph of St. Fiorenzo, to the westward of Martello : by the incredible exertions of the British seamen in dragging guns up precipices almost perpen- dicular, the heights, which overlooked the tower of Martello, were taken. It was however judged advisable the next day to attack the tower from the bay -} and the Fortitude, Captain Young, h and g See also W. S. Rose's Naval History of the War, 1802, 8vo. vol. i. h Afterwards one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Mr. Ross, afterwards first lieutenant of the Impetueux, was then Capt, Young's first lieutenant. VISCOUNT HOOD. 359 Juno, Captain Samuel Hood, ■ were ordered against it : but after cannonading for two hours and upwards, they made no impres- sion whatever on the prodigious thick walls of the tower ; and the Fortitude having received much damage by red-hot shot, both ships hauled off in a masterly manner, as if nothing had happened. Captain Young received great credit for his cool and intrepid con- duct during the attack, as well as in hauling off, and setting sail out of the bay, when his ship was on tire in different places by the red-hot shot ; considerable praise was also due to his first lieutenant, Mr. Ross, who, though wounded, exerted himself with unsubdued spirit, and underwent incredible fatigue. The Fortitude had several men killed and wounded. The tower was carried a few days afterwards by means of batteries erected on the heights j and in the evening of the 17th of February, the enemy's works of Fornelli were stormed, and the town of St. Fio- renzo was taken. Lord Hood, impatient to follow up the blow immediately, by attempting the reduction of Bastia, proposed a plan of co-opera- tion to General Dnndas, which he declined 5 deeming it imprac- ticable, and visionary, without a reinforcement of 2000 troops which he expected from Gibraltar. Lord Hood therefore sailed on the evening of the 23d of February, to try what the appearance of his fleet alone off Bastia might produce. Here, with his usual cool perseverance, he cruised a fortnight, gaining intelligence for his future plans ; and finding that the General remained inflexible, he determined to attempt the reduction of Bastia with the naval force intrusted to his command ; he therefore demanded that the remains of the 11th, 25th, 30th, and 69th regiments, might immediately return to their duty, on board their respective ships, in which they had been originally ordered by his Majesty to serve as marines; and were consequently borne as part of the complements of these ships. After much delay, having received these troops, and also two officers of artillery and thirty men, with some ordnance stores, and entrenching tools, in the beginning of April Admiral Lord Hood commenced the siege of Bastia alone, by disembarking the seamen, and troops serving as marines, to the northward of the town 5 the guns, mortars, ammunition and stores of every description, were landed, whilst ' Cousin to Lord Hood, who has distinguished himself on various oc- casions, particularly as Commander of the Zealous in the battle of the Nile. He is now an Admiral, and K. B. &c. 360 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the ships of the fleet were judiciously anchored in a semi-circular form, just without reach of the enemy's guns j so as effectually to prevent any boats from going into, or coming out from the (own. On the llth of April, our batteries on the heights were ready to be opened, and on that morning Lord Hood sent a summons to the town j but the French General la Combe St. Michell would not receive his letter, and returned a vaunting message, that the only correspondence he should hold with an enemy on the Re- publican territory, would be from the mouths of his cannon charged with red-hot shot, and from the musketry and bayonets of his brave companions. When the officer returned on board the Victory with this mes- sage, Lord Hood made the appointed signal to Uie batteries on shore to commence the attack j which, to the great consterna- tion of la Combe Saint Michell, and the inhabitants, was imme- diately done, by opening the batteries, consisting of five 24 pounders, two mortars of thirteen inch caliber, two of ten inch, and two heavy carronades, in different commanding situations, over the town, citadel, and out works. The Proselyte, French gabarre, commanded by Captain Seri- ccld, k having long French 12 pounders, was directed to be placed against part of the town, when the batteries opened their fire -, but on getting under weigh, and coming to anchor, the swell cast her the wrong way, which prevented Captain Sericold from taking the precise station that had been allotted. The enemy tired nothing but red-hot shot at her, several of which struck between wind and water, lodging among the casks, and other craft in the hold. The signal of distress was immediately made j but Capt. Sericold, notwithstanding his danger, continued to keep up an in- cessant fire, with fourteen guns, upon the town, until the boats of the squadron came to his assistance, and took the men out of his ship, which soon was in a blaze of fire. The batteries, which opened so unexpectedly, had a powerful effect j as by information from the town, on the 24th of April, the enemy lost a great number of men: in the hospitals were near 300 wounded: at this time we had only four killed and twenty-one wounded. The loss of the British, owing to the skill of their commander, was very trifling during the whole siege ; but the service was extremely harassing, and dangerous. Captain Nelson, of the Agamemnon (the late Lord Nelson),1 k This gallant officer was afterwards killed on shore at the siege of Calvi, 1 5ee article Nelson, vol. v. of this work. VISCOUNT HOOD. 364 commanded a brigade of seamen on shore, at the batteries, having three other captains under him, Hunt, Sericold, and Bullen ; on this occasion, as on all others, he gave distinguished proofs of zeal and intrepidity. At length, on the 21st of May, the town and citadel of Bastia, with the several posts on the heights, surrendered to the arras of his Britannic Majesty, by articles of capitulation, drawn up and signed by the respective partirs. The number of French and Corsican troops amounted to near 4,000; whilst the greatest re- turn of the British force, employed during the siege, amounted only to 1,248 ' A packet-boat, intercepted by the Agamemnon, Captain Nelson, two months previous to the commencement of the siege, contained the information, that from la Combe St. Michell's return of the French and Corsican troops, then in Bastia, and for which he proposed subsistence iu case of a siege, they amounted to 8,000. These facts completely contradict the vague assertions of M. Dumourier, in his pamphlet, entitled, " A Spe- culative Sketch of Europe," wherein he affirms that the British are unequal to the toils and delays of a siege ; and have neither generals, engineers, nor a battering train : we need only, in refu- tation, apply the reasoning of the author of the Strictures upon Dumourier's pamphlet : " How was the strong and well fortified town of Bastia taken ? By a detachment of British seamen, and marines, or soldiers acting as such, inferior in number to the garrison of regularly disciplined troops: and who had no tents hut such as were made of sails, and no other battering train than the lower- deck, guns of line of battle shifs !" The vote of thanks to Lord Hood, for this astonishing exploit, which had been deemed impracticable, and visionary, by an able officer, General Dundas, was carried in both houses of parliament by a great majority. The Duke of Bedford, the Earls Albemarle, Lauderdale, Derby, and Thanet, entered their protest against it. Whilst we are faithfully narrating the distinguished services of Admiral Lord Hood, we must not forget to notice that praise, which he gave so zealously, yet impartially, to those who fought, I Correct return of the British force employed at the siege of Bastia, commencing April 4th, and ending May 21st, 1794,-1 lieutenant-colonel, 4 captains of the navy, 1 major, 2 artillery officers, 1 engineer, 12 captains of the army, and marines, 6 lieutenants of the navy, 21 lieutenants of the army, and marines, 5 ensigns, 2 surgeons, a commissary, and master's mate, 69 sur- geon's mates, Serjeants, and petty officers, 30 artillerymen, and 1092 soldiers,, marines, and seamen- Total, J248. 302 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. and conquered under his auspices. Few men have ever equalled his Lordship in the difficult task of rendering, with animated gratitude, •• The suffrage of the wise, the praise that's worth ambition !" " I am unable (says Lord Hood in his letter to the Admi- ralty) to give due paise to the unremitted zeal, exertion and ju- dicious conduct of Lieut. Colonel Villettes, who had the honour of commanding his Majesty's troops ; never was either more conspicuous. Major Brereton, and every officer and soldier under the lieutenant colonel's orders, are justly entitled to my warmest acknowledgments : their persevering ardour, and desire to distin- guish themselves, cannot be too highly spoken of j and which it will be my pride to remember to the latest period of my life. u Captain Nelson, of his Majesty's ship Agamemnon, who had the command and directions of the seamen, in landing the guns, mortars, and stores ; and ,n Captain Hunt, who commanded at the batteries, very ably assisted by Captain Bullen and Captain Sericold ; and the Lieutenants Gore, Hotham, Stiles, Andrews, and Brisbane, have an ample claim to my gratitude ; as the sea- men under their management worked the guns with great judg- ment and alacrity ; never was a higher spirit, or greater perse- verance exhibited ; and I am happy to say, that no other conten- tion was at any time known, than who should be most forward, and indefatigable, in promoting his Majesty's service : for although the difficulties they had to struggle with were many and various, the perfect harmony and good humour, that universally prevailed throughout the siege, overcame them all. I cannot but express in the strongest terms the meritorious conduct ofCaptaip Duncan, and Lieutenant Alexander Duncan, of the royal artillery, and Lieutenant Debutts, of the royal engineers; but my obligation is particularly great to Captain Duncan, as more zeal, ability, and judgment, was never shewn by any officer, than were displayed by him ; and I take the liberty of mentioning him as an officer highly entitled to his Majesty's notice. " I feel myself very much indebted for the vigilance and at- tention of Captain Wolsely, of the Imperieuse, and of" Captain m Captain Hunt died in the East Indies. Vide Nav. Chron. p«347. ▼ol. i. ■ Ca' tain Benjamin Hallowell was afterwards re-appointed to the com- mand of the Courageux, which was shipwrecked on the Barbary coast; and VISCOUNT HOOD. 363 Hallowell j who became a willing volunteer, wherever he could be useful, after being superseded in the command of the Coura- geux by Captain Waldegrave. The former kept a diligent watch upon the island of Caprcae, where the enemy have ma- gazines of provisions, and stores; and Captain Hallowell did the same by guarding the harbour's mouth of Bastia, with gun- boats, and launches well armed, the whole of every night: whilst the smaller boats were very judiciously placed in the intervals be- tween, and rather without the ships, which were moored in a crescent, just out of reach of the enemy's guns, by Captain Young, of the Fortitude, the centre ship, on board of which every boat assembled at sun-set for orders j and the cheerfulness with which the officers and men performed this nightly duty is very much to be admired, and afforded me the most heanfelt satisfaction and pleasure. The very great and effectual assistance I received from Vice-Admiral Goodall, Captain Inglefield, and Captain Knight, as well as from every captain and officer of his Majesty's ships under my command, has a just claim to my most particular thanks j not only in carrying into execution my orders afloat, but in at- tending to, and supplying, the wants of the little army on shore : it is to the very cordial and decided support alonr I had the honour to receive from the whole, that the innumerable difficulties we had to contend with were happily surmounted. " Major Smith and Ensign Vigoureuse, of the 25th regim nr, and Captain Radsdale, and Lieutenant St. George, of the J lth, embarking with their respective regiments, having civil employ- ments on shore ; it is to their honour I mention, that they relin- quished those employments, and joined their corps, soon after the troops were landed " In addition to these testimonies of Lord Hood, issued in public orders, to the commanding officers of the respective corns, similar thanks to the following were addres-rd to Captain Nelson of the Agamemnon, and the other naval officers : " Victory, oflTBastia, 2zd May, 1-794. " The Commander-in-Chief returns his best thanks to Cap- tain Nelson, and desires he will present them to Captain Hunt, after this melancholy accident, being taken on board the Victory. Sir loha Jervis's flag ship, became a volunteer in the Spanish action or the 1 ;'h of February : he afterwards commanded the Swiftsure in the battle WFi h e- He now, 1810, commands Le Tigre off Toulon, and is univer&aiiy allowed to be one of the first officers in the navy. 364 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. Captain Sericold, and Captain Bullen, as well as to every officer and seaman employed in the reduction of Bastia, for the inde- fatigable zeal and exertions they have so cheerfully manifested, in the discharge of the very laborious duties committed to them, notwithstanding the various difficulties and disadvantages they have had to struggle with j which could not have been surmounted but by the uncommon spirit, and cordial unanimity, that have been so conspicuously displayed ; and which must give a stamp of reputation to their characters not to be effaced, and will be re- membered with gratitude by the Commander-in-Chief to the end of his life." Lord Hood, having appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Villettes governor of Bastia, until his Majesty's pleasure was known, and made other necessary arrangements, next proceeded to co-operate with Lieutenant-General Stewart in the reduction of Calvij while Vice Admiral Hotham, with a squadron, blocked up seven sail of French line of battle ships in the bay of Gourjean. Without en- tering into a detail of the transactions attending the siege of Calvi, it is only necessary for us briefly to state, that the garrison sur- rendered to his Majesty's arms on the 10th of August; and that Lord Hood gave a just tribute of applause to Captain Nelson ° and Captain Hallowell, for their unremitting zeal and exertions, in taking by turns, for twenty hours at a time, the command of the advanced batteries on shore. Thus the conquest of the whole island of Corsica was com- pleted by the skill and perseverance of a British Admiral. Sir Gilbert Elliott, who had been an active spectator of the scenes going forward, since the evacuation of Toulon, was appointed by his Majesty Viceroy of the island; his excellency having previ- ously, on the 19th of June, in the character of commissary pleni- potentiary, been specially authorised, accepted of the crown and constitution of Corsica j as unanimously decreed in the general assembly of the Corsican nation, held at Corte, and signed in the assembly by all the members of which it was composed, consists ing of upwards of 400 persons, f Lord Hood's health being much impaired by the fatigue and • The gallant Lord Nelson lost the sight of his right eye at this siege, by x shot striking the battery near him, and driving some particles of sand with prodigious force into his eye. p For many other curious particulars of these operations in the Medi- terranean, see Clarke's Life of Lord Nelson. See aLo article Nelson, vol t. of this work. VISCOUNT HOOD. 365 anxiety attending such a continuance of duty, and such a variety of harassing and perplexed service, returned to England for its re-establishment, in the month of December, 17Q4. In the month of May following, he had prepared to resume his command in the Mediterranean, with a reinforcement, when most unexpect- edly, on the 2d of May, 1795, he was ordered to strike his flag." * In 1796, his Lordship was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital, which honourable and lucrative situation he still retains, and where he principally resides. His Lordship is Admiral of the Red; and an elder brother of the Trinity- House. His Lordship married, August 25th, 17<9, Susanna, daughter of Edward Lindzee, Esq of Portsmouth, which Lady was created a Peeress of England by the title of Baroness Hood, of Cather- ijigton in Hampshire, March 27th, 1795. By her he had issue Samuel and Thomas, who both died young j and an only surviv- ing son, Henry, who succeeded his mother as Lord Hood, of Ca- therington, at her death, on May 25th, 1S06; and whose mar- riage and issue will be recorded under that title in vol. viii. Titles. Samuel Hood, Viscount Hood of Whitley in War- wickshire, Baron Hood of Catherington (an Irish title) and Baronet. Creations. Viscount Hood, of Whitley, June 1st, 1796; Baron Hood, of Catherington in Ireland, September 12th, 1788; Baronet May 19th, 17/8. Arms. Azure, a fret, Argent, on a chief, Gules, three cres- cents, Or. Crest. A Cornish chough proper, on a wreath Vert and Argent. Supporters. On the dexter a triton with his trident resting on his right shoulder; on the sinister a mermaid, holding in her left hand a mirror resting on her left shoulder. Motto. Veritis Necundis. Chief Seats. Catherington House, Hants ; and Greenwich Hospital. q Naval Chronicle, vol. ii. p. z. 365 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. HOOD, VISCOUNT BRIDPORT. Alexander, Viscount Bridpokt, younger brother of Samuel Viscount Hood, of whom an account has been given in the pre- ceding article, was early destined for the sea service. I shall copy the account of this Peer, (as of his brother) from the Naval Chronicle. " Mr. Hood had left, for a considerable time, the peaceful re- tirements of his father, in Devonshire, a county whose coast was hereafter to be defended by his skill and diligence, and had gone through the first gradations of his professional rank, before we obtain any knowledge of his conduct. On the 2d of December 1746, he was made lieutenant; and being afterwards raised to the rank of commander, was on the 10th of June \756, made post captain in the Prince George of QO guns. In 1758 Captain Hood served in the Mediterranean on board the St. George of 90 guns, Rear-Admiral Saunders, which ship formed a part of the fleet under the command of Admiral Osborne. He was therefore present in this squadron on the 28th of February, when M. du Quesne attempted to reinforce M. de la Clue, who was blocked up in the harbour of Carthagena. The St. George does not appear to have been engaged, as the action was sup- ported only by those * who were detached from their station to q In this glorious action the brave Captain Gardiner of the Monmouth loit his life, whilst engaging the Foudroyant, which afterwards struck. The VISCOUNT^ BRIDPORT. 367 chase. The diligence, however, of Captain Hood, in promoting the active designs of the commander-in-chief, should be appre- ciated in its due proportion : as by the judicious execution of his orders, Admiral Osborne was enabled to baffle the designs of an enemy, who had vainly hoped to elude his vigilance, and to pass the straits under cover of the long dark nights which then pre- vailed. Captain Hood most probably returned from the Mediterranean with Rear- Admiral Saunders ; who on being relieved by Admiral Broderick, sailed for England in the Montague, and arrived at Spithead on the 5th of July. On the 21st, Admiral Osborne re- turned also in the St. George. The time that Captain Hood spent under Admiral Saunders, though short, must have been suf- ficient to enable him to derive great advantage from the superior character of an officer, who had seen such a variety of service, and who particularly felt the advantage of employing those mo- ments, that could be snatched from the duties of his profession, in the social and confidential intercourse of learned men. Soon after his arrival in England, Captain Hood was appointed to the Minerva frigate, of 32 guns. The English nation was at this time threatened, by its old and inplacable enemy, with a powerful and long meditated invasion ; which the skill and bravery of our naval force rendered, as we trust it ever will, in- effectual. Although the French asserted in every court in Eu- rope, that the English, owing to the powerful squadrons which had been detached on different stations, would not be able to have a fleet in the Channel this year ( \J5g) equal to that in Brest har- bour, Sir Edward Hawke sailed from Spithead, to their great dis- may, with twenty-five sail of the line, thirteen frigates, in which the Minerva, Captain Hood, was included, and two fire-ships. During the greater part of this year Captain Hood served under Commodore Duff, who relieved Captain Reynolds in blocking up Monmouth mounted only 64, twelve and twenty-four pounders ; her com- plement of men 470. The Foudroyant had a 1000 men on board, and mounted 80 guns, forty-two and twenty-two pounders. Before Captain Gardiner expired he sent for his first lieutenant, Mr. Carket, and made it his dying request that he would never strike the colours. The lieutenant pledged his honour that they never should be hauled down : and immediately going on deck, nailed the flag to the ensign staff. This gentleman, in 1 759, had the command of the Success, 22 guns, one of the squadron detached by Sir £. Hawke to Quiberon bay. 308 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. the French transports in the Morbian. Captain Hood also cap- tured the Ecureuil, a Bayonne privateer of 14 guns and 122 men, but did not obtain any fresh addition of naval renown until the be- ginning of the year 1761 j r when the laurels he had already merited were advanced into public notice, by a most brave and gallant exploit, which restored to his country a ship, whose cap- ture had produced the usual portion of rodomontade on the part of the enemy. On the 23d of January, in latitude 45° 22' N. Cape Pinas bearing S. by E. distant thirty leagues, a large sail was discerned from the Minerva soon after day-break. Captain Hood imme- diately gave orders to chase, and soon found his antagonist to be a ship of two decks. She was the Warwick, pierced for 60 guns, and now mounting 34, which had been taken from the English, commanded by M. le Verger de Belair. Her crew amounted to about 300 men, including a company of soldiers, destined to rein- force the garrison at Pondicherry. The wind blowing hard from the east, with a great sea, it was near twenty minutes past ten before the Minerva came up with her ; when Captain Hood, not- withstanding her superiority, ran alongside and began an engage- ment which the French remember to this day. The fire on both sides was terrible. " At eleven," says the brave commander ot the Minerva, in his letter to Mr. Cleveland, s " her main and fore- top mast went away, and soon after she came on board us on the starboard bow, and then fell alongside ; but the sea soon parted us, when the enemy fell astern. About a quarter after eleven the Minerva's bowsprit went away, and the fore-mast soon fol- lowed it : these were very unfortunate accidents, and I almost despaired of being able to attack the enemy again j however, I cut the wreck away as soon as possible j and about one o'clock, cleared the ship of it, with the loss of one man, and the sheet anchor. I then wore the ship, and stood for the enemy, who was about three leagues to leeward of me. At four o'clock I came up close to the enemy, and renewed the attack : about a quarter before five she struck ; when I found she had fourteen killed, and thirty-two wounded. Our numbers are the boatswain and thirteen killed, and the gunner and thirty-three wounded -, the former died on the 27th, and two seamen. I have given my r Charnock. » London Gazette, letter dated at Spithead, Feb, 3, 1761. VISCOUNT BRIDPORT. 36g thanks to the officers and crew of his Majesty's ship, for their firm and spirited benaviour; and I have great pleasure in acquainting their Lordships with it. At nine o'clock the main-mast of the Minerva went away; at eleven the mizen-mast followed it." Captain Hood convoyed his prize in safety to Spithead, and, ori the 8th of February, being introduced by Lord Anson to his Ma- jesty, received his Sovereign's tbairks and acknowledgment of his conduct. Captain Hood had now risen, by his own bravery, high in the public estimation. His action with the Warwick gave that stamp of celebrity to his character, which placed his merit as an office? beyond the common level ; and he was accordingly considered as one of those to whom his country might look for her future secu- rity and renown. He was appointed in August 1761, to form part of the squadron destined to convey the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh Strelitz to England. He accordingly rendez- voused off Harwich on the 6th ; and the signal being made by Lord Anson, on board the Royal Charlotte yacht, * for sailing, in the evening of the 7th, the whole squadron got under weigh. On the 14th, the Minerva anchored at the Red Buoy, about seven leagues from Cuxhaven, with the Nottingham, Winchester, and Tartar; when the yacht went up the Elbe, and waited at Stade for the Princess, who arrived there the next day. About noon on the 6th of September, her Royal Highness landed at Har- wich. Towards the conclusion of 1761, the Africa, a third rate of 64 guns, was launched, and the command of her given to Captain Hood. Great Britain was at this time in a most precarious situa- tion ; and was engaged directly, or indirectly, in war with the most considerable part of the maritime strength of Europe. Ac- cording to the ordinary computations, the navy of Spain consisted of more than an hundred ships ofwar:u whilst several Commu- nities in France engaged to fit out men of war at their own ex- pense. It was however perceived that a rupture with Spain was unavoidable; and accordingly Sir Piercy Brett was sent out to re- inforce Sir Charles Saunders in the Mediterranean, with a strong * The Royal Charlotte yacht was built at Deptford in 1749 Length of gun-deck, 90 feet 1 inch: of the keel, 72 feet 2 inches and an half. Breadth, 24 feet 7 inches.' Depth, it feet. Tuns, 232 Men, 70. Guns* 10. ■ Dodsley's Annual Register. VOL. VI. 2 * 370 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND. detachment. Captain Hood, in the Africa, received orders to join it, and thus returned again to his old and approving com- mander. After the definitive treaty of peace was signed at Paris in February, 1763, and the different squadrons had returned home, Captain Hood obtained a guard-ship at Portsmouth, the Thun- derer, of 74 guns. x Soon after the usual period of such a com- mand lind elapsed, he succeeded Sir Charles Saunders in ] 766 as treasurer of Greenwich Hospital ; whose humane and protecting spirit continues to be impartially, yet liberally supported under his auspices, and those of his distinguished brother. On the 8th of June 17/8, Admiral Keppel sailed from St. Helen's with the fleet, * in which Captain Hood commanded the Robust of 74 guns j on the 28th they returned into port, with the French frigates Pallas and Licorne j and sailed again on Friday the 10th of June. The Brest fleet, consisting of thirty-two sail, five frigates, and five gondolas, had put to sea : the Count d'Or- villiers, lieutenant general, commander-in-chief; Count Duchaf- fault was second, and the Duke de Chartres the third in com- mand. After some days spent in manoeuvring, on the 27th of July the action commenced off Ushant. The winds constantly in the N. W. and S. W. quarters, sometimes blowing strong, and the French fleet always to windward, going off. The French began firing upon the headmost of Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Harland's division, and the ships with him : being on different tacks, the fleets passed very near each other. Towards the close of day the enemy formed their fleet again ; which Admiral Keppel says he did not discourage, thinking they meant handsomely to try their force with him the next morning : but they took the advantage of the night to go off. Captain Hood was stationed in the line, in the blue division, as second to Sir Hugh Palliser. The Robust, on the morning of the 27th,