Chapters from Family Chests

Home , Earl of Dundonald, Earl of Portland

(3 P HAFTERS FAMILY

E WA A M A . W F . D RD L ORD ,

AU THOR OF

COUNTY FAMIL IE S ,

ETC” ETC.

IN TW O VOL UMES .

VOL . 11.

L ONDON B L H R S U E S T AND B L A CK E T T, P U I S E , ”b 13 R R B S e . G EAT MA L OROUGH

1887 .

£4? ” “ ﬁf ﬁ t b $ q

fip n ? fi 9 9 fl

C O N T E N T S

T H E S E C O N D V O L U M E .

THE RISE OF THE PE IRESES

THE STANLEYS AND THE MURRAYS THE H OUSE OF DE CLIFFORD P IR J HN DINELEY BART S . OOR O , SIM N F A L L VAT O R SER , ORD O THE RISE OF THE DUOAL HOUSE OF PORTLAND THE NOBLE HOUSE OF COURTENAY THE GALLANT ADMIRAL LORD DUNDONALD THE MURDER OF LORD CHARLEMONT THE DUDL EYS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE THORNTON OF THORNVILLE THE CAVENDISHES ‘ BESS OF HARDWI ORE

' OLIVE PRINCESS C U B AN , OF M ERL D WILD DARELL OF L IT’I‘LECOTE E IZ A FA N CoUNTEss D BY L RRE , OF ER vi CONTE NTS .

A ROMANCE IN THE HOUSE OF ROSEBERY ’ THREE VERY FAIR SE YMOURS L ETI ICE DIGBY LA OEEAL EY , DY ROMANCE OF THE EARLDOM OF KELLIE A ROMANCE IN THE DARTMOUTH FAMILY O LD LADY CORR THE DE LA POLES THE E GLINTON TOURNAMENT MA C L F TH L OLM , ORD OR THE PRINCE AND PRI NCESS OF HE SSE - HOMBURG THE RISE OF THE HOUSE OF GOLDSMID THE LOVE - MATCH OF THE EARL OF OSSORY NAN C LARGES D C B A , U HESS OF AL EM RLE MA GA T D CH N WCA T R RE . U ESS OF E S LE THE LORDSHIP OF LORNE THE ANCIENT EARLDOM OF DESMOND THE GALLANT SIR JOHN CHANDOS H MF M C APTERS FRO A ILY CHESTS.

TH F P E RISE O THE HIPPSES .

I 00 not kno w that in the whole range of houses connecte d with the p e erage there is to be found a family whose rise to wealth and high titles has b e en more truly the result of

Phi ses accident than that of the p p , Earls of

e u e A Mulgrav and Marq is s of Normanby.

’ r eferenc e to the genealogical portion of Burke s

e Peerag will explain my meaning .

e hi ses e Three c nturies ago the P p p w re plain ,

e e e untitl d gentl m n , or possibly only yeomen, in — e ne e a . Lincolnshir . O of th ir number Mr

l th e t e e Wi liam Phipps, ﬁrs whose nam app ars in

his the annals of the country, or even of county B VOL . II . I 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS . — appears to have raised a regim ent of hors e soldiers for the service of King Charles during

i t s w as th e Civ l Wars. But hi loyal act not at all likely to have h elp e d him in a pecuniary

e e . s nse ; for, with very rare exceptions, Charl s II s e ems to have had a very short memory Of good

e f t de e ds done to his father wh n in di ﬁcul ies.

li e e . Mr . Wil am Phipps, how v r, had a grandson ,

Constantine , who chose the profession of the law, and who , going over to Ireland at a for t unat e e e junctur , rose to b come the occupant of

’ ‘ i s re the woolsack in the s ster i land, and to c eive H e e the honour of knighthood . h ld the

17 14 e seals till , when he r signed, and, coming

e his back to London , settl d down in chambers

th e e e in Templ , r solved to Spend his declining

e e years in l isure and retirem nt .

th e e e Like nobl house of Lansdowne , whos

" e e e e th e history I hav trac d in th s pages , hous e of Phipps included in its pedigre e a man of

e e practical g nius, whose name and care r I ﬁnd

’ e Mecha nic s Ma azine thus mention d in the g , for

u i was hi a co s n of Sir Constantine William P pps, the inventor of th e diving- b ell

- See vol i . 241 . , pp 250. 3 THE RISE OF THE PHIPPSES.

The ﬁrst diving- bell of which we read was

e e Sus ende d nothing but a very large k ttl , p by

e h rop s, wit the mouth downwards, and planks

sit th e e i . to on, ﬁxed in middl of its concav ty

r ee e 1588 ex eri Two G ks at Tol do , in , made an p

e i e e e e m nt w th it b for the Emp ror Charl s V .

e e e Th y d sc nded in it, with a lighted candle, to

i e e 8 l i e . 16 3 a cons d rabl d pth In , Wi liam Ph pps,

so n un the of a blacksmith, formed a project for loading a rich Spanish ship sunk on th e coast of

him e Hispaniola . Charles II . gave a vess l with e e e e v rything n cessary for his und rtaking ; but,

e e h e e e e . b ing unsucc ssful, r turn d in great pov rty

He then e ndeavour ed to procure anoth er v essel ; l hi but, fai ing, he got a subscription, to w ch the

e 168 7 Duke Of Albemarle contribut d . In Phipps s et sail in a ship of two hundred tons, having previously engage d to divide his proﬁts accor d ing to th e twenty shar e s of which th e sub scrip

e tion consisted . At ﬁrst all his labours prov d

e h e e e fruitless ; but at last, wh n se m d almost to

i h e u e so despa r, was fort nat enough to bring up much treasure that h e return e d to England with the value of Of this sum h e got a bout and th e Duke of Albemarle

B 2 4 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e th e Phipps was knight d by king, and since that time diving- bells have be e n con

’ l e stant y employ d .

e h e d W No doubt, wh n ied , this Sir illiam

Phipps l eft th e results of his inve ntion to his

e e e cousin Constantin , who appears to hav nam d

him his l in after only son Wi liam , whom the

e hop es of the family w ere c e ntr d . This Mr.

William Phipps marri e d th e Lady Cath erine

e e th e e Ann sley, only daught r of Earl of Angl

e e w as e sey, whos count ss a natural daught r of

e e Jam s II . As the husband of this latt r lady,

e e di e e the Earl of Angl s y, d conv niently young, her ladyship took for her second husband John

f e e No rmanb She ﬁ ld, Duk of Buckingham and y,

sh e e by whom had an only son , who di d in his

e e th e minority, and bequ athed to his moth r re

o f e e version his large Yorkshire stat s .

It was of cours e a v ery natural thing for th e

r a n e e e mothe , h ving i h rit d a ﬁne estat from the

so n second e e only of her marriage, to l av it to the only grandson of h er ﬁrst marriage ; and so it

e th e so n cam about that Constantine Phipps, of

Mr. William Phipps and th e Lady Cath erine

e Annesl y, when he found himself the heir to this PHIPP ES 5 THE RISE OF THE S . n e e e oble prop rty, was nabl d to claim and to

s e Th e e obtain an Iri h pe rage . titl which he

r Ne w Bo ss chose was that of Lord Mulg ave , of , in the county of Wexford ; the sam e that had been one of th e lesser title s of th e Duk e of

ef Buckingham . E dmund Sh ﬁeld, third Lord

f e e w e She ﬁ ld, of Butt r ick, was cr ated Earl of

162 6 e 164 6 Mulgrave in , and at his d ath , in , was succ e e de d by his grandson Edmund as se cond

w as th e e - e e earl . He the father of abov m ntion d

efﬁ e e e th e John Sh eld, who was l vat d to Mar

uisat e 16 9 4 1703 ad q of Normanby in , and in v n a ced to th e dignity of Duke of Buckingham .

e e - his His grac was w ll known in day as a poet,

e re He e 1720 but of moderat p tensions . di d in ,

e e his so n and was succe d d by Edmund , on

e e 1735 th e whos d ath in his minority, in , duke

r e dom a nd other honou s b e cam e xtinct . It is

e e th e e remarkabl that, lik lands in B rkshire, the

e e e ducal titl of Buckingham is skittish, and v r

’ a t e e as e p to cast its own rs . As oft n it has b en

e e e e e o ne grant d, it has b com xtinct aft r or two

e r g ne ations.

th e Constantine John, second Lord Mulgrave

th e new a of creation , was a capt in in the royal 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

h e e e fo r navy, in which capacity mad a voyag the purpos e of endeavouring to ﬁnd the north

e e w est passag . An account of this xpedition h e gave to the world on his return to England .

’ t h e o ne th e In Mr . Pitt s administra ion was of

e th e e e paymast rs of forc s, and a commission r

th e e of East India Board, and held many oth r

He e th e important ofﬁces . was add d to roll of the

e e 1 79 0 th e e English Pe rag in , with titl of Baron

e e h e b e Mulgrav , of Mulgrav , in Yorks ir , which came e xtinct on his death without male issue

e e er two years lat r . The Irish barony, how v ,

e e e d volved upon his broth r, H nry Phipps, who

17 9 4 e him co n in had a new patent grant d , ferring upon him th e title of Baron Mulgrav e of

e 18 2 Mulgrav . In 1 he was raised to th e dignity of Viscount Normanby and Earl of Mulgrav e .

r e e th e His lo dship , having been ducat d to army,

e obtain d early a commission in the Foot Guards, and rose by r egular stages to th e rank of a

He general . distinguish e d himself by his s er

e at 179 4 vic s the taking of Toulon in , and he

was for som e tim e colon el of th e 31st R e giment

e of Foot, and Gov rnor of Scarborough .

His t son , Constan ine Henry, the father of the THE RISE OF THE PHIPPSES . 7

o f present head the family, was a distinguished

e H t . e stat sman , politician, and diplomatis held many important o ﬁi cial situations in th e govern

e e m nt of the country, including thos of Gover

- e e nor Gen ral of Jamaica, Lord Privy S al , Lord

e S ecret ai r e Lieutenant of Ir land, j of Stat for th e e th e Colonies, and S cretary for Home

e 1 46 1852 h e D partment . From 8 till , was accredited representativ e of Great Britain at

th e uil e e 18 54 the Court of T ri s, and from to

’ 1858 he was H er Majesty s envoy to th e Court

H e inter a lia e of Tuscany . was also , , a succ ss f l e i u novelist . Besides being mad a Kn ght Grand Cross of the Order of t h e Bath and a

e his e e e e Knight of the Gart r, political s rvic s w r

e e er r cognised by Lord M lbourne, who conf red

Her Upon him at the coronation of Majesty, in

1 38 . 8 , the Marquisate of Normanby His lord

e 18 6 e e e ship di d in 3, and was succ d d in all his

his son e t u honours by only , Georg Augus s Con stantine th e i e , present marqu s, who has h ld e e s v ral colonial posts, including the Governor ship of Victoria .

His e e e uncl , the lat Hon . Sir Charl s Phipps, was for many years private secretary and k e ep er 8 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHE STS . of the Privy Purse to Her Majesty ; and various m th e m i embers of Phipps fa ily, ever s nce the d e o f ays of Lord M lbourne , and the accession

Her e e Maj sty, have h ld lucrative posts about the Court and the person of Queen Victori a PE RE GRINE BERTIE .

FOR three c enturies th e Christian name of Pere grin e has b e en a sp e cial favourite in th e noble

e th e e e e e hous of B rti s, form rly Duk s of Ancas t er e Th e , and now Earls of Linds y . name, as

e - ev ry fourth form schoolboy knows, denotes a

’ ‘ foreigner or ‘ traveller and it is familiar to

English e ars also in its abridged and dis guise d

’ shape of pilgrim .

Mo st ' fancies e e o ne can hav a r ason , if only

ﬁnd it o ut ; and th er e is good r eason for th e fancy which the B ertie s have taken for th e nam e of P e re grin e ; for it comm emorates an e vent in th eir family history of which th ey may

e b e e e e e re w ll proud, though thr c nturi s and mo have passe d sinc e that e vent occurr e d . 10 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

It appears from th e re cords of th e College of

’ e s Arms that, according to the H rald Visitation ,

e e e o ne Thomas B rti , a g ntleman of high birth ,

e e e e long pedigr , and gr at accomplishm nts, a memb er of a family seate d at Berst ead or B ear

e e n n t me e e st d, in K nt, havi g a lo g y us d hims lf

’ feat es e e to of arm s, was appoint d by King

e V e H nry III . Captain or Governor of Hurst Castl , b etween Southampton and th e Isle of Wight .

W e e and know little of him p rsonally, perhaps h e did not hold his captaincy long enough to l e av e a name b ehind him for any further feat es

e h e t but by his wif , Alice Say, or Saye, lef a so n e e , Richard, who becam a f llow of Corpus

e O th e Christi Colleg , xford, was bred to Bar, and b e came distinguish e d for his acco mp lish a m ents in an ag e when the young stude nts of

’ - th e e e Lincoln s Inn and T mpl took part in plays,

e e masques, and r v ls ; and when even grave

Lord Chancellors and Ke epers were no t ashamed

‘ ’ to lead the brawls at Christmastide in the

Great Hall, which was de corate d with bright l mistletoe and ho ly for the occasion .

In 1553 young Robert B ertie carried o ff as his prize and married one of the belles of th e

12 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e e e e they extend d th ir trav ls, th y found plenty

i e s o f p ersons in h gh positions , and ven in court , who wer e well dispose d to anyon e who had a grievanc e against that most unpopular of sove

e . r igns, Mary Tudor

But th e story of th e ﬂight abroad of this coupl e is style d by Sir Bernard Burke a roman

’ ’

aﬁair e . tic , and such ind ed it was It will be

e e r e th e u rem mb red that Cha l s Brandon , D ke of

ff o ne th e ﬁrm est e Su olk, was of and staunch st f h riends of Archbishop Cranmer, and t at his wife almost surpasse d him in z eal for the cause

9 new e e e r of the r ligion . At all v nts, at G ims

e h er e e sh e e thorp , s at in Lincolnshir , k pt as her

e e dom stic chaplain Dr. Latimer, the sam who ,

e e e e e und r Qu n Mary, as Bishop of Worc ster, di d at e r e the stak . Finding, from sou c s of private nf sh e i ormation , that and her new husband were

’ ’ th e e e sh e e e down on Qu n s Black List, r solv d

th e law to steal a march on myrmidons of the , a nd e e e r e to ﬁnd som xcus for a volunta y xile ,

sh e e which did not intend to be of bri f duration .

‘ e e t n th e Accordingly, ith r at Bos on or at Ly n , young couple s e cure d b erths on board a ﬁshing vessel which was bound for one of the ports in PEREGRINE BERTIE . 13 th e e a Low Countri s, t king with them an infant

e n e r rr daught r, amed Susan , who aft rwa ds ma ied

e e e . R ginald Gr y, Earl of K nt

Though th ey pass ed th e perils of th e sea with o ut diﬂicult et o n n th e es much y, y , landi g on shor

th e e e e e e th e of Neth rlands, th y found th ms lv s objects of Suspicion and mistrust . Accordingly th ey went through a series of not very ple asant

e e ffe e e adv ntur s, and su red much fatigu as th y trav elle d on in disg uise from o ne city to anothe r in th e hop e s of ﬁnding a retr e at among som e o f the Prote stant princes of th e p etty stat e s o f

e e e in Germany . At last, however, th y succ ded

- e e ﬁnding a resting place for t h sole s of th ir fe et .

e e th e e e r At W s l, in Duchy of Cl v s, not far f om

e th e th e e the conﬂuenc of Rhine and Lipp , in

15 55 th e e e e e so n , duch ss was d liv r d of a , to whom sh e and h er husband gave the nam e o f

e e e e e P r grin , for the r ason stat d above . Dug

e t he e dal , who in main follows Hollinsh ad, says

e e e e e e e e that, wh n th y w r r fus d a lodging at W s l, th ey w ere about to sh elter th ems elve s from th e cold on a very bad and wintry night in th e

th e e porch of gr at church , and to buy coals and

e e o n wood, in ord r to light a ﬁre th re, but that, 14 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e e t i their way, Mr. B rtie h ard two you hs talk ng

e e e e e Latin , and that he th r upon pr vail d on th m ,

e e b eing a v ry fair scholar hims lf, to conduct

e th e m to a privat lodging, where they had the

e . e e good luck to be recognis d by a Mr P ver l , a

e e e e Prot stant minist r, who caus d th m to be

e b eﬁttin e entertained in a styl g th ir rank.

It is probabl e that they r e mained at Wesel for

e 155 7 e e about two y ars, as in they journ y d on

ere e e e into Poland, wh th y w re duly install d by th e e Crolan ruling power in the arldom of , in

S amo itia e e e ll g , and had conf rr d on th m fu and absolute power to rule and govern it in the

’ k n e e ing s ame ; and her th y stayed, apparently

e n e e e q uit co t nt d , until the d ath of Mary and th e conse quent acc ession of Elizabeth prepared th e e e way for th ir r turn to England, which,

e th e new e und r que n , soon declared for the

e Protestant caus . In the letters patent by which Peregrine

e e e e Berti was subs qu ntly naturalis d, it is r ecite d

e e his that Richard B rti , father, had a licenc e

m e fro Qu en Mary to travel in foreign lands .

e e e This is xplain d by Dugdal and Hollinshead, who say that soon after his marriage Bishop I 1 PEREGR NE BERTIE . 5

G d ar iner sent for him , and asked him whether th e e set duchess, his wif , was as ready now to up the Mass as sh e had be e n before to pull it

? Th e u sa su down same a thorities y that, p

e b e e p osing the duch ss would in dang r, her

’ e e e husband obtained the Qu en s licenc to trav l, as if to colle ct som e d ebts due from th e Emp eror o f Germany to the late Duke of Suffolk ; and that he thereupon made his way to th e Conti

- th e l nent, leaving poor duchess to fol ow after him e in the best way she could, wh ther on

i e board a ﬁsh ng boat, as relat d above , or by

e e e e i any oth r chanc v ss l. Be th s as it may, there is a note in Hollinsh ead re cor ding the e scape , though he does not enter into details about it, and Miss Strickland passes over the ff a air almost in silence .

e t e and his e Mr. B r i wife, on their r turn to

th e England, stood high in favour at Court of

’ h s n th e e e . T e o Maid n Qu en young , whom , in memory of his birth during th eir forced e xile

e e from England, his par nts nam d Peregrine, grew up to manhood as handsome and ac complished as his fath er had been before him ;

’ e 1580 and, on his moth r s death, in , he was sum 1 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

o ne d He m to Parliament as Lord Willoughby. proved himself o ne of th e ﬁrst soldie rs of his time and Sir Rob ert Naunton sp e aks of him in

’ his Fragmenta R e galia as o ne of th e Qu e en s

ﬁrst swordsmen and a great master of the

’ a He e th e milit ry art . marri d a lady of noble

e De e e hous of Vere , daught r of Henry ighteenth

O e h e Earl of xford of that lin , by whom had a so n e e e Robert, a soldi r by prof ssion , lik his

e father, who claim d, though without success,

e his e the arldom of Oxford in right of moth r. He was more fortunate in a claim which he pre ferred to th e Ofﬁce of Lord Gre at Chamberlain

i e and of England, wh ch was allow d to him , which has d esc ended to his present r epre senta

’ th e d Eresb e tive , Lady Willoughby y, moth r of

Av land He Lord e . was create d Earl of Lind se th e e y, and made a Knight of Gart r ; and at the outbreak of the Civil War he was appointe d

- in- e e s General Chi f of the Royal Forc s , a divi ion of which h e commanded at the Battle of Edge

e e e Hill, wh r he f ll . His great grandson was raised to th e Mar q uisat e of Lindsey and the Dukedom of An

e caster, titles which became xtinct early in the PEREGRINE BERTIE . 17

e e pr s nt century, when the Earldom of Lindsey

e passed to a distant cousin , who was desc nd e d n from a younger so of the second earl . But in almost every generation down to the pre se nt time one of the sons of the house Of Bertie h as h om e the name of Peregrine . THE LITTLE KINGDO M OF THE

STANLEYS AND THE MU RRAYS .

W E th e im erium all know common phrase , an p in imp er io ; but it is probably new to most of my readers that down to the end of the last c entury, and, indeed, to some extent for some

e e ‘ i y ars in the present, ther was a k ngdom

l refer e within this kingdom . to the sov reignty

th e l e e of Is e of Man , which was enjoy d for s veral

e centuri s by the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, and

e e aft r th m by the Murrays, Earls and Dukes of

Atholl.

Th e reader of English history n e eds no in t ro ductio n e to the nam of Sir John Stanley,

K . G e . , Lord D puty of Ireland under H enry IV.

V o ne and Henry ., of th e m ost distinguished

2 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . the great - grands on of this Sir Thomas who

e th e marri d, ﬁrstly, sister of Warwick, the

’ - e e king mak r, and , s condly, the mother of

e Henry Earl of Richmond, and who plac d the

’ crown of England on his stepson s head upon h - t e blood staine d ﬁ eld of Bosworth . But I

e must re turn to my subj ct .

Th e e Man e sov reignty of , though f udally

e subj ct to the crown of England, would seem

e e Man th e to hav been a r ality . As King of , earl h ad th e right of summoning th e d eputies

th e n i e of isla d to a local parl am nt, the House of

e th e e K ys, which is still held in op n air, upon a

e th e hill call d Tinwald Mount, though now it is conven e d in th e name of Que en Victoria ;

th e le e and down to this day Is of Man , lik the

e r e th e Chann l Islands, is unrep es nted in English

e e Parliam nt, but enjoys the unquestion d right

’ e e e of Hom Rule, having a l gislatur for its own local purpose s under the crown of Great Britain and Ireland .

’ ’ ’ Th e ‘ ‘ ‘ words king, prince, and lord , all

e e admit of degrees, and may be used in a s ns not excluding a reference to some feudal s uperior : and therefore it may be supposed that 1 THE STANLEYS AND THE MURRAYS . 2 when one of the Earls of Derby voluntarily

‘ ’ r elinquished th e titl e of king for that of

’ ‘ th e w as e th e lord, change rath r in name than

e in the nature of his rule ; and that, b ing at a v ery r e mote distance from the s e at of the im

’ e e ‘ e p rial legislatur , the lord of Man xercised pretty much the sam e authority which had belong e d to himself and his pred ecessors when

’ ‘ h e they were nominally kings, and t at justic

- even to the extent of capital punishment

e . was administer d, as before, in his name

’ e th e e e e as ‘ Jam s, s v nth Earl of D rby, lord

e th e th e e e of Man , h ld island in caus of Charl s t I . agains the Parliamentarians ; and his noble wife Is almost as c el ebrate d for h er d efenc e of

’ n e it in her husband s ame and in his abs nce, as sh e had b e en for h er gallant d efenc e of Lathom h Hous e in t e early part of the Rebellion . She

no t e e e could , how v r, sav her husband from falling into the hands of th e reb e ls at th e battle

’ o f s Worcester, or from the head man s axe at

O e 165 1 e r b e Bolton in ctob r, , wh n C omwell

On e e . stowed the island his g n ral , Fairfax

e e w as e . e No soon r, how ver, Charl s II s ated on

’ his father s thr one than b e r estored th e Isl e of 22 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

e th e e Man to the Stanl ys in person of Charl s, e e e i e ighth arl, whose two sons in succ ss on h ld th e th e th e lordship of it, until death of last

e 17 6 th e m survivor of th m in 3 , when Earldo of D e rby passed to a distant cousin .

Th e e no w e qu stion aros , who ought to inherit th e fe udal dignity of L o r d of Man . The last thre e Earls of D erby had die d without leaving

h e e e a c ild b hind th m ; but Jam s, the gallant e th e e arl who fought and bled for Stuart caus ,

e had left three daught rs, of whom the youngest

’ v e th e e e h er sur iv d rest, and b cam father s heir ; and there w ere also oth er fe males whose representatives, it was thought, might put in a

e e e e e claim , nam ly, the thr daught rs of F rdin

— e e ando , ﬁfth earl Ann , Lady Chandos ; Franc s,

e e E i Count ss of Bridg water ; and l zabeth , Coun

es t s of Huntingdon .

e e O The s qu l is curious, and shows how ften

e e th e important matt rs, ev n successions to great

e e are states and high titl s, after all but the

re o f f aks of Fortune, and hang on the turns

h er e e e th e e e wh l . Wh n coron t of D rby had

be en assumed without dispute by a younger

th e branch of Stanleys, the lordship of Man 23 THE STANLEYS AND THE MURRAYS . lay for awhile practically in ab eyance ; no o ne e e u had claimed it, much l ss had tak n it p

e e e and th r w re some thoughts that, for want of

c e a suc essor, it would rev rt to its feudal supe

th e th e rior, wearer of British Crown .

ke James, then Du of Atholl in Scotland , had formed no well- grounde d hop es of get ting any pre tensions to the sovereignty of

e e Man acknowl dged, though he may hav had some hazy idea of his claims ; but, having

e e invited Duncan Forbes, lat presid nt of the

e Court of S ssion in Scotland, to stay with him

a him as his guest, he entert ined at Blair Atholl

e or Dunkeld . After dinner the att ntion and curiosity of Mr. Forbes was drawn to a ﬁne

ee y e its genealogical tr of the famil pedigre ,

in th e honours and alliances, which hung all colours of blazonry upon the walls of th e castl e

e r e e e e m hall . Wh n his expe ienc d y had xa ined

t e e it a li tl at l isure, he exclaimed,

“T is e hat h re, my Lord Duke

’ h nl e e th e e . O , o y the Murray p digre , was r ply

hi e e e Only " I t nk that, by the r c nt d ath of

e Lord D rby, your grace has a claim through

e hi e your grandmother, Am lia Sop a, daught r of 2 4 CHAP TERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e the seventh Earl of D rby, to at least some portion of his estates and honours , though not to

’ his earldom .

Th e duke replied that he had never thought seriously of any such good luck accruing to

h e him, and that had no idea of putting for ward pre tensions which he could not maintain in a court of law .

‘ But I am sure that you could m aintain

’ ‘ them , replied Forbes, and you ought to lose no time in putting them forward the law and the right are clearly on your side . ‘ You do not really mean so replied the d uke .

‘ Yes, indeed I do, and you cannot too soon

’ set about the task in earnest.

o u f Then make me out, I pray y , a brie statement of the grounds of my claim, and I will call on my solicitor in Edinburgh ; then we will go south and take the advice of English

’ e couns l in London . This was no sooner done than the first st ep w as u w taken ; the duke went p to to n . Solicitors and agents were employe d to obtain the proper certificates at the Lyon o flice in 25 THE STANLEYS AND THE MURRAYS .

th e e e m L o n E dinburgh , and in Coll g of Ar s in do n e o ne , and the case was laid befor of the

e e h e most min nt lawyers of t day. He took his f e e u e n th e of co rs , and gave his opi ion that

Duke of Atholl had an undoubt e d right to the lordship of Man and to the barony of Strange ,

e which, as a barony by writ, was desc ndable in

e e e Th e e e e o n the f mal lin . cas befor long cam for hearing in due course befor e th e House of

d e n m n e e . co . Lor s, who d cid d that the claim was

e th e h just and incontrovertibl , and Duke of At oll holds his s e at tod ay in th e Hous e of P e ers as

r e i Lord St ang . Such was the romant c upshot of a chanc e country visit .

f e Di ﬁculties, however, aros with respect to this imp erium in imp er io in the hands of th e

Th e th e Murrays . duke had too much to do in manage ment of his own estate in P erthshire to pay any great attention to his distant sovereign t i y, beyond occasionally nominat ng its Bishop or

’ ‘ e e th e e its D emst rs . Added to this, duti s on

e e e e Sp irits, silks, and oth r articl s b ing low r than

e e in England or in Ir land , the Isl of Man then b ecame a den of smuggl ers ; and th erefore it was resolve d by t h e English Governm ent that it 2 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . would be as well to put an e nd to this constant h w e . o sourc of discomfort and annoyance As,

e ee o f ev r, the Murrays had b n in possession

- a- r e their lordship for half centu y, ther was only

e one way of proceeding, namely, by purchas .

e th e e Accordingly, just four years aft r acc ssion

e e of Georg III ., a bargain was struck b tween th e e e king and the Duk of Atholl , who agre d for the sun of to c e de to th e Crown all

e e his f udal rights and civil patronag in Man ,

th e e e e e along with castl s of P l and Rush n , which the nc eforward was ann e xed dire ctly to

h e England. From that date forward t smug

e e o ut e e e gling trad gradually di d , having r c iv d

- e Th e e h o w its death blow by the transf r. duk , e e l e e e e s uc v r, special y r s rv d to hims lf and his cessors m Of th e the no ination bishop , and sun dr e e Th e y oth r eccl siastical rights . duke, also,

e e e by fair means or foul , was abl still to k p a

th e e th e pretty tight hold on rev nues of island , and th e British tax- payers in 1828 - 2 9 found it n e c e ssary to purchase th ese rights from th e then Duke of Atholl for th e sum of

’ ’ according to Haydn s Dictionary of Dates, or, if we may trust the statem e nt of Sir Bernard

8 H 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY C ESTS.

tion , and for which his grandfather, thanks to

i e m parl am ntary inﬂuence, was able to co mand a

so m e price far above its ark t value . The age o f such feudal privil e ges may be said to have

e can b e now fairly pass d away, and there no possible e xcuse for their revival in any shape or form whatever. A M ODE RN EPIS ODE F FF IN THE HO USE O DE CLI ORD .

THE holders of the pe erages of Lord Clifford of

’ Chudleigh and of Lord De Cliﬂo rd are desc end e d in th e male and female lin e resp e ctively from

e e e f th e onc great and pow rful hous of Cli ford,

e e th e who njoy d earldom of Cumberland, and * w h o m e e , as stated by on a previous pag , stood n e xt to the P ercies and the Dacres in th e f north of England . O late years the ancient

De l ff Barony of C i ord has passed, through

e e f e e f mal s, into one or two di f rent famili s .

e e th e e l Nev rth less titl is sti l extant.

th e All my readers are aware, no doubt, that old bridge across the Thames at Blackfriars was

h lne t e work of an engine er named James My .

ee vol. i . 144 . S , p 30 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

It is not often that the architect of a bridge b e comes also the architect o f a pe erage ; and yet o ne of the merest accidents in the world , in

M lne re th e con which y ﬁgu d as principal hand,

e e e e its ferred that v ry anci nt titl , or at all ev nts

e e e e revival , upon a plain g ntl man of Glouc st r

e shir .

The story is told at some length in the

’ G en eral Biographical Dictionary of Chamb ers ;

e e e e its substanc may b r lat d as follows : Mr .

Mylne happ en e d to b e e ngage d in making some v ery great alterations and improvem ents at

’ i e e r B th e K ng s W ston , n a ristol, for late Lord

De l ff e C i ord, th n Mr . Southwell, who had known h im m e e at Ro e , and who had conc ived a v ry

O high pinion of his talents, for a sight of his n w k n e e . (th n) bridge at Blac friars O Mr .

’ M lne s e e b e e i y arrival th r , commenc d mak ng

e th e e som plans, in cours of which he discovered

th e th e in back part of house a small room , to

e er e was e s which appar ntly th no m ans of acce s . It w as resolve d accordingly to cut into it from th e e outsid .

On t e e ob aining an ntrance, th y found, to

e t th ir great astonishment, a quan ity of old F 31 THE HOUSE O DE CLIFFORD . f e amily plate, and a pil of musty papers and

e parchm ents. These were d ciphered by the

th e e aid of a local antiquary, and r sult was that a mong th em w ere found the original records of a barony grante d to that family in th e reign of

e Th e e H nry III . family pedigre was accord

’ ingly hunte d up and set forth ; the Heralds

Coll e ge was consulted ; th e matter was brought under the attention of the House of Lords ; a p etition to the king to hav e the claim submitte d to a committe e of privile ges was duly pr e sente d and e e e e favourably r c iv d ; at last, aft r a short

e e e th e int rval , during which v ry link in chain o f proof was closely e xamined and e stablish e d to the satisfaction of the committee, the king w as graciously pl eased to reviv e th e dormant

e e titl , and Mr . Southw ll took his seat among th e e e p rs of England, as second on the roll of

h e t 17 76 . barons, in

Th e room in which these pap ers were found h ad all e th e in probability b e en clos d up , for

’ e e th e e sak of s curity, during troublous tim s o f h d e t e e e I . an r ign of Charl s , had never b en

e — op n e d subse qu ently upwards of a century . The rats and the mice had b een good and 32 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

* kind enough to Spare the precious documents , and t h e absenc e of damp no doubt had co n tributed to the preservation of th e papers which confe rred a coronet on Mr. Edward Southwell .

’ e so n The title , at the death of this nobl man s

e e w as and successor, fell into ab yanc , which

1833 his e t terminated, in , in favour of eld s

e e daught r, Sophia , who marri d Captain John

e Russell, and whos grandson is the present

e hold r of it.

T is has not a wa s een t h c . For i ance t h h l y b e ase nst , e at e Sir Jo n owrin to me o nce t at his anc r th l h B g ld h esto , e s uire of Bowrin slei h in D evon h ad con erre o n him a q g g , , f d

atent of aronetc b ut t at ein ut fo r sa t urin p b y , h , b g p fe y d g t h e t roubles of t he Commonwealth behind t h e panell ed wainscottin o f th e ouse it h ad b een e oure a most g h , d v d l entire rat r mi ly by s o ce . P SIR J H DI ELEY BA T N . OOR O N , R

AT the beginning of the present c entury there were two living objects of curiosity at Windsor ; th e o ne e was the good old farm r king, George

l e III ., who, ti l laid aside by m ntal and bodily

e e e ailm nts, us d to walk along its str ets and

rs e e e ul conve e on the Castl t rrace r g arly, to the great delight of his subjects and th e other was

e e e one of the Military Knights, or, as th y w r

—a then called, the Poor Knights of Windsor

e certain landless and almost p nniless baronet,

Dinele e Sir John y, a man of ccentric dress and mi e en, who had found in the Low r Ward, through the kindne ss of those who had known him in

e better days, a refuge from the storms of lif .

- e Anchored in his little two roomed hous , he was in se i so totus teres at ue r otundus p , , q , and he was V D OL . II . E 34 CHAP TERS FROM FAMILY CH STS. the better abl e to k eep th e wolf from th e door

e er b cause he had not a s vant, or even a char

He woman , to wait upon him . would go out e th e arly in morning, after having carefully

e lock d his door, and walk down through the

e I th e e - e e Castl gate nto mark t plac , wh nce he

e e would r turn lad n with a penny roll , a pat of

s butter, a small bundle of ﬁrewood, and pos ibly

e a herring, taking car to return to his rooms

’ e and dress in tim for the service in St. George s

’ e e Chapel which the Poor Knights w r bound ,

th e e O by statut s of the rder of the Garter, to attend daily. And who was Sir John Din sley ? He was a

— e e e member ind ed, the last h ad and repres nta — tive o f a worthy and resp e ctable family who long h eld landed e states in Herefordshire and

re e Worcestershi . His ancestor had be n raised

1707 e his e e in to a baron tcy for political s rvic s , having sat for many years in the House Of

as e e Commons m mber, ﬁrst for Ev sham , and afterwards for H erefordshire and th e family had passed through many generations without

a u its e sad a st in pon scutcheon , when a event occurred which destroyed it root and branch .

36 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . late at night h e found himself crossing th e large

e e th e th e e squar und r shadow of cath dral , known to everybody in th e West of England as Coll e ge

e e h e e Gre en . H r was sudd nly brought to a

e six stand, b ing confronted by sturdy sailors, all

e arm d with pistols and cutlass, with his brother,

th e Ru i e . captain of the by, at the r h ad It was th e work of less than a minute to seiz e and gag th e unsusp e cting landsman and to carry him o ff

- th e e e e . As to riv r side, wh r a boat was waiting

h e th e m en e soon as was on board, row d down

i e th e Avon to their sh p . He was sp edily hoisted

r e r e on boa d, and th n st angl d by two sailors

e e e nam d Whit and Mahony, acting und r the

r r d re o de s of Captain Samu el G o o ye .

But th e ve nge anc e of the law was both sp e edy

e Th e e e w as e e t h e and sur . v ss l d tain d in roads

th e r t h e on suspicion , and instigato of crime ,

o o d ere - Dinele Captain Samuel G y y, who of course

e r in th e e had succ eded his b other baron tcy, was

e his e tri d, with two accomplic s, at Bristol , in the

h e di following month of Marc . A v r ct of guilty

e h e e e e e was return d, and was s nt nc d to d ath within three months after th e p erp etration of the cruel act which had made him at once a baronet J DINEL EY 37 POOR SIR OHN , BART .

nd e a a murderer. Th re was nothing to plead in e e e e e his d f nc , nor was any inﬂu nc used by

e e so e th e titl d p rsonages, as was oft n case in

tio ns co nvrc e b e e . for high tr ason , to g Georg II

e e to r spit or pardon the criminal . His estates

e e e e e w r forf it d to the Crown , and his wif and

e e e e two sons w re r duc d to beggary. The lder s o n s e e 176 1 , Edward Din l y, di d a lunatic in ,

e e i e e n v r hav ng marri d , and the young r son was

Dinele e the Sir John y, whom I hav already introduc e d to my r eaders sixty years later as a K Poor night of Windsor, living on the dole of a s et of rooms in the Castle,

’ nd a in ri A p ss g ch o n sixty po unds a y ear .

h e e But, poor as was, he did not despair, ven

e e when sixty, seventy, and ighty y ars of age of b e eing able to r trieve his position , and once more to b e come Sir John Dinsle y of Burh o p e in r i eality. The way to accomplish th s was easy if h e could only ﬁnd the right and pr op er p erson — a lady both able and willing to r escue him f i e rom his painful S tuation as a poor bach lor .

e e Due de In fact, lik his grac the sham Rous

~ n h e o ne diﬂi sillo , felt that the solution of his 38 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . culties was a w ell - endowe d wife and what h e

h e e O e . e felt avow d p nly With that vi w, no

’ e e e t soon er was the servic ov r in St . Georg s han

e o ff h e we nt back to his room , thr w his blue

’ ‘ e e e e cloak and roqu laur , and cam out lik a

e e e e i e butt rﬂy, anoth r cr atur , qu t captivating in

r app ea ance .

e e e e e Wh r v r Royalty took its public walk , wh r e e e e e th e v r a crowd ass mbl d, as oft n as sounds of military music brought together th e fair

e W th e e ladi s of indsor and Eton on to gay parad ,

Dine le e dis there was Sir John y. Th n was — closed the gay apparel of th e old beau th e

r e e th e - ﬂo w ered emb oid r d coat, silk waistcoat, the n ether garm e nts of tawdry and fade d velvet

e e e th e i hi car fully m ting dirty s lk stockings, w ch in their turn terminated in th e half- polishe d

e e e laS s e c . sho s, fast n d with silver buckl s and p

‘ On gre at occasions th e old wig was n ewly

e e — so e re powd r d writes Charl s Knight, who

e m e e n m b red him w ll , in his pleasant gossipi gs

about Winds or and t h e best cocke d hat was

’

e e . brought forth , with a tarnish d edging of lac

And so Sir John stepp e d proudly about th e

stre ets and terraces of Windsor at th e op ening J DINEL EY POOR SIR OHN , BART . 39

th e i e of n net enth century, just as if he was one of th e fops who hung about K ensington Palac e

t h e e e ‘ e e in r ign of Georg II. All oth r days wer to him as nothing. He had dreams of ancient

e b e gen alogies, and of alliances still subsisting

h l e th e tween imse f and the ﬁrst famili s in land , and of mansions described in Nash’s History of ” e e Worcest rshir , with marble halls and superb ” e gat s, and of possessions that ought to be his o wn and him , which would place upon an equality with the noble st and th e w e althiest in th e e e e e land . A little mon y to be xp nd d in

’ law would t urn all th es e dr eams into realities .

e b e That mon y was to obtained through a wife, to who m in exchange he would give th e title of

’ my lady.

e e e e b e e e V ry naturally, th r for , d vot d himself to that which h e had persuaded himself to b e th e e o ne great business of his existenc . To be able to display himself where the ladies co n g reg at ed most thickly was th e obj e ct of his daily savings ; to be constantly in the public e e e y was his hop and glory . And, to do poor

Dinele e e e Sir John y justic , th re was not a particl

e e e of l e vity in all his proc e edings . Th y w r 4 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

’ — ‘ hi . terribly real to mself, at least His face ,

ni ‘ e write s Charles K ght, had a grave and int l lectual character ; his deportment was st aid and digniﬁed . He had a wonderful discrimination

th e in avoiding twittering girls, with whose

w e faces he as familiar. But perchance som buxom matron or timid maiden , who had

th e e seen him for ﬁrst tim , gazed upon the apparition with surprise and curiosity. In that case he would approach . With the air of one

h e bred in courts, made his most profound bow,

e his and, taking a pi c e of paper from pocket, he

— e presented it, and withdrew doubtl ss watching

eff the ect it produced. I give an e xtract from one of these matri momal advertisements

’ FOR W A IFE. ‘ As the prospect of my marriage has much

s ne increa ed lately, I am determi d to take the b est means to discover the lady most liberal in h er e h er steem , by giving fourteen days to make h er quicke st steps towards matrimony from the

’ date of this pap er until eleve n O clock the next

as e e morning ; and , the cont st will vidently be J DINEL E Y . 4 1 POOR SIR OHN , BART

e the most superb , honourabl , sacred, and law

u ff e e e let f lly a ctionat , pray, ladi s, do not false d elicacy int errupt you An emin ent attorney here is lately r eturn e d from a view of my very

e e e ca ital in superb gat s b for my p house, built

’ th e ue e e the form of Q n s house . I have ord red

im e e e e e can h , or the n xt min nt attorn y her , who

fy e m satis you of my poss ssion in y estate, and e e e n e e very d sirabl particular co c rning it, to mak you the most lib e ral settlem ent yo u can desire, to the vast ext ent of thre e hundred thousand

’ pounds .

i And the n follow some comical verses, wh ch conclude thus

A b eautiful page Shall carefully ho ld

’ ’ Yo ur ladyship s train surro unded with gold.

In another of his handbills he thus addresses the ladies with reference to the ali enation and loss of the family e states on account of his

’ e e father s crim Pray, my young charmers, giv m e a fair hearing ; do not let your avaricious guardians unjustly frighten you with a fa lse

’ a cco unt o or e ur f f f it e.

There is a quaint portrait of Sir John Dineley 4 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . in th e Wonderful Characters of Caulfeild ; and John Timbs t ells us in his English Ecc entrics that h e spent no less than thirty years in this

’ - e e e . wild goos chase aft r a partn r His ﬁgure , h e w e t e e adds, was truly grotesque in w ath r h e was mounted on a high pair of pattens

e He came to London twice or thrice a y ar, and

e e . u visit d Vauxhall and the theatr s His fort ne,

h e e e if could r cover it, he estimated at thr e H th hundre d thousand pounds . e invited e rich

l e six widow, as we l as the blooming maid n of

ee e t n , and addressed th m in printed documents,

e his n u e e b aring sig at r , in which he speciﬁ d the sums that h e expected the ladies to possess h e demanded less property with youth than with a e few ie g or widowhood, adding that lad s would b e eligible who did not posse ss at l east t en

i e thousand pounds a year, wh ch, howev r, was as nothing compare d with t h e honour which his

e e e fo r high birth and nobl d scent would conf r, he was desc ended in th e fe mal e line from the r e e Th e e oyal hous of Plantag net. incr dulous

’ ” h e e e e r e ad r f rred to Nash s Worc stershi . He dre ssed his advertisements to th e “ angelic fair r his e f om house in Windsor Castl , and to the

SIM F ASE VAT . ON R R , LORD LO

T HE life of th e last of those misguided men whose heads were set up on T e mple Bar as

’ ‘ e e e y can reb ls, n arly a c ntur and a half ago ,

b e n e e e hardly fail to of i ter st to my r aders, ven though it should turn out that that life is no t one of the heroic type of martyrs, but that of a c lever, cunning man of the world, and, indeed, approaching to that of knave .

‘ ’ o ne us e th e At time, to the words of

‘ e - lat historio grapher of Scotland, he was a

e e mountain brigand, hunt d from cave to cav , at e e e another a lac d courtier, w lcom d by the

ﬁrst circles in Europe ; in summer a powerful f baron , with nearly hal a kingdom at his back, SIMON FRASER, LORD LOVAT . 45 i in winter a prisoner, and dragged gnominiously

ll : to the block on Tower Hi by turns a soldier,

h e e adminis a statesman , a Highland c i f, a judg t ering the law of th e land ; uniting th e loyal hi Presbyterian W g with the Catholic Jacobite, and supporting both characters with equal

’ succ e ss . Lord Lovat was a strange and eccentric

t o character, and one whom it is worth while

e - I e study. His high tal nts had almost writt n

e — e e g nius his versatility, his great inﬂuenc ov r

e e o ne r oth rs, mak him out as who towe ed above

- men e his fellow , though his p rsonal history is a record of fraud and force , which would have be en impossible to re ad in any but a most un

e — e e s ttled time indeed, a p riod of civil strif .

His biography has been w ritten at length by

e th e s veral hands, from which following notice

e r e e is larg ly ab idged . To the contents of th s

i are biographies, wh ch rare in the extreme , I

e e am able to add one littl bit of romanc , name l e e y, that ther is reason to b lieve that, though h e h e lived and died as Lord Lovat, had no real right or claim to the title of Lord Lovat I 4 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS .

O . at all, but nly to that of the Hon Simon

‘ Fraserﬁ 16 7 6 He was born about the year , an d is describ e d as ‘ the second son of Thomas ” e Fras r, fourth son of Hugh, Lord of Lovat a nd it is worthy of note that no att e mpt is made by any o f his biographers to show what

e e e w e becam of his ld r b rother . All that learn

’ h e about Simon s childhood and youth is, that

’ e e e was ducated at King s Coll ge , Aberde n , that he distinguish e d himself in the acquirem e nt of

e Latin and French, and that his ton of writing and speaking was that of a scholar. He was taken from colle ge to hold a company in the r egiment raise d in th e service of William and

r t h e Mary, by Lord Mu ray, son of Marquis of

Athole .

His cousin , Lord Lovat, it appears , had mar

e h er ried a daughter of the Lord of Athol , and broth er naturally desired that th e young lord

b ad should assist in the recruiting . Simon , who

* This was written short ly befo re th e q uest io n o f th e Lo vat t itle was bro ught b efo re th e H ouse o f Lo rds in

1884 a ins man w o se c aim t o u it wo re an a ear by k h l , h gh pp ance o f t rut was ismis s o m w a summari n h , d e d s e h t ly o

in si t a mmitt f h L r be g f e d by Co ee o t e Ho use of o ds. O V . 4 7 SIM N FRASER, LORD LO AT no toleration for any tre achery that was not of

e his own devising, "speaks of this proc eding against the exile d sovereign as an infamous

’ c ommission , furthered by one who , not daring to attack the Frasers in an open and decisive

e mann r, endeavoured to tarnish their reputation

’ Th e by ruining that of their chief. object of s ending for Simon was to inform him that a

’ captain s commission in th e re gim ent was at his s ervic e if he woul d giv e his inﬂuenc e to per

’ suade the clan to becom e re cruits. But Simon s

’ inco rm tible—h e re virtue, we are told , was p

’ n H e ject e d the bait with scor . informed the h ead of his house how that ‘ h e had for ever lost his honour and his loyalty, and that possi bly he would o ne day lose his e states in co nse q uence of the infamous step s ~ h e had tak en ;

h e s o that , for himself, was far from consenting to acc e pt a commission in the regiment of that

h e imm edi traitor, Lord Murray, that would

e e o ne at ly go home to his clan , and pr vent any

’

s . e man from enli ting in it Simon , howev r, at

al last accepted the commission ; and thus, though his honour r evolte d against taking l arms in support of King Wil iam, it was clear 48 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

‘ no e e his e that he had objection to nt ring servic , with the intention of b etraying his trust and

’ e e doing the work of the n my. In connection with this period of his life there is extant a curious legal document, in the form of a bond,

- e e by which a fencing mast r ngages, during all the days of his life , to teach Simon his art ; and th e price for this slavery is eight pounds .

At the ag e of twenty th e young lord went

r e - in— to London with his b oth r law, Murray, to

’ be presented at King William s court at K en

e e sington . Shortly aft r his r turn from town

e e e e occurr d the d ath of the l venth Lord Lovat, and Thomas Fraser of Beaufort immediately

t e — assumed the itl of Lord Lovat. Simon his e e e e w as lder broth r Alexand r b ing, as it

e no e th e th e ass rted, long r in land of living

r th e m took , acco ding to Scottish custo of a

’ e th e e ‘ Th e e baron s eld st son , titl of Mast r of

’

. e e t h e e e Lovat The abov succ ssion to pe rag ,

e e e how ver, did not pass unchall ng d , and it stood a chanc e of b e coming o ne of the causes — célébres of t h e ti me o ne of those cases where legal principles and practices are torn up by th e ro ots b e , that every ﬁbre may anatomised. VA SIMON FRASER, LORD LO T . 49

In the m eantime a series of stirring incidents prevent ed this matter from coming under the

th e e calm arbitration of law . The chi f of th ese was his atte mpte d abduction of th e young

e th e e e e sist r of lat lord, who had a b tt r claim

e th e e e e than hims lf to Fras r stat s .

’ th e ‘ th e e In Memoirs of Fras r family, it is stated that th e h eiress was d estin e d for a m e mb e r

fa ‘ e of the Athole mily, by a proj ct of that grey

e e r e h ad d ty ant, the Marquis of Athol , and of

Tullib ardine his e so n th e the Earl of , ldest , true h eir to his avarice and his oth er amiable quali

e e e e e e e ti s, to poss ss th ms lv s of the stat of Lovat,

e e and to nrich th ir family, which was hitherto

’ rich only in hungry lords. It was thought a dangerous proj e ct to force one wh o was no t a — F raser on th e clan ; and Lord Saltoun the head of a branch of th e Fraser family in Ab er deenshire o f e , with whom a sort treaty had be n — conclud e d was suppose d to be a ﬁtting instru

' m ent f or counteracting the rising inﬂu ence of

Simon .

Bafﬂe d in his schemes with th e h eire

n e alt o e Simo , for som reason or other not g

e explainable, seiz d on the widow of the

E VOL . I I . 50 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

Lord Lovat, a lady of the Athole family, and compelled her to marry him . To accomplish

e this act, Simon and his clan rose in arms , ost n sibly for the purpose of attacking Lord Sal

’ toun s party ; the real motive, however, was

e t apparently the seizur of Doune Cas le, where th e e e dowager lady resided, as a clos prison r, and of forcing her into a marriage with him . In the indictment brought against Thomas

th e so n Fraser, father, and Simon , the , for this

' o e o f n utrag , the particulars the tra saction are thus narrated Not only the said Thomas and Simon Fraser and their said accomplices refused to lay down arms and desist from their violence wh en co m m anded f e e and charged by the sheri f of Inv rn ss ,

e e but, going on in th ir villainous barbariti s, they kept th e said lady dowager in the most

e miserabl captivity, and, when nothing that she

ul a i f could propose or promise wo d s t s y them , the said Captain Simon Fras er takes up the most mad and villainous resolution that e ver was heard of; for all in a sudden he and his said accomplices make the lady close prisoner in h er his u n chamber under armed g ards, and the

52 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

assemble twelve thousand Highlanders for th e

e e th e e Princ of Wal s, if court of Franc would

e f e w e only contribut a r gular troops, some

o ﬂicers and mone . , arms, ammunition, y Louis

h e XIV. e e e nt red into this proj ct, although had

’ r n e e e no g eat co ﬁd nce in Fras r s sinc rity, and

ﬁnally resolve d that th e outlaw should ﬁrst

e e r turn to Scotland, with two p rsons upon

e e e whom His Maj sty might r ly, and who wer

t h e instructed to examine Highlands, and sound

th e e clans th mselves . But Fraser no sooner r eached Scotland with

these two individuals than h e privat ely reveal e d

th e e th e e e e whol plot to Duk of Que nsb rry, und ertaking to make him acquainted with the

whol e correspondenc e between th e Scottish

th e e Jacobites and courts of St. G rmain and

n e Versaille s . O it b ing discove re d that he had

hoaxe d th e Duke of Que ensb erry and oth er states

men w as e e e e , and playing a d p gam of tr achery

h e e e of his own , onc more made good his saf ty

by e scaping to the Continent.

He had already b ee n outlawed for his out

e e e rag s, and anoth r Fraser enjoy d his estates by th e l etter of the law ; but still h e was not L ovAT 5 SIMON FRASER, LORD . 3

e nor e his And q uite forgott n forsak n by clan .

e e e e th e e th e e wh n , som y ars lat r, hold r of estat s

' t h e e had joined insurr ction , Simon found it to

is r e h int erest to side with the Gove nm nt . His

e th e e h e clan at onc left insurg nts , and was by law once more duly installe d in th e full poss es s r e e ion of his la g states.

Of th e innum erabl e intrigu e s in which he was e ngage d during th e remainder of his tricky life ;

174 5 e e e how, in , he tri d to play a doubl gam by s er th e so n ending his clan , und command of his ,

t h e e e e to ﬁght for Pret nder, whil he hims lf, d e e e e th e ply plotting for that caus , sid d with

e e sa Royalists of these things I n d y nothing, a s e are e th y matt rs of history.

Finding at last that a price was set upon his

h e head, attempte d to save his life by conceal ment in th e wildest part of the W e st ern High

h e e lands ; but was run to earth, and arr sted at

r m e e h e Mo ay, and taken to Fort Willia , wh nc * w s e He a conv eye d to London by easy stag s.

9" In th e last o f t h ese stages h e sl ept at th e W hit e Hart

’ I nn at St . an s w er h acci enta l m et H o art Alb , h e e d l y g h ; a nd h is ortrait th at artist ill avour e as it re resents p by , f d p h im reser es at o nce his eatur es and th e memo r o f , p v f , y t a h t event . 54 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS. was naturally th e special object of vengeance of

e e the Governm nt, and, after a trial by his p ers i in Westminster Hall , was found gu lty of treason , 74 e e 1 7 . and ex cut d on Tower Hill in April ,

e e e th e Wheth r the Dowag r Lady Lovat , aft r

e e e e e e e re forc d marriag abov r f rr d to , becam co nciled h er e w as e s or not to fat , aft rward to

e He Simon Fraser a matter of indiff er nce .

’ re th e e t ated forc d ceremony as a youthful frolic ,

e Mr t writ s . J. Hill Burton in his his ory of Lord

th e e se e Lovat, and victim of it liv d to him

e h e twice marri d, and rising to t e pinnacl of for tun e as o ne who could over - ride th e laws of both

Her e e e m God and man . days, how v r, se not

e e h r to hav been shorten d by e hardships, for she ll th e e 174 e l lived ti y ar 3, but di d, un uckily, jus t too soon to se e th e signal downfall of her

’ oppressor . THE RISE OF THE D UCAL H OUSE F P O ORTLAND .

L K l I E the Russe ls, so the Bentincks, Earls and

e th e Duk s of Portland, owe high position which th ey hold in th e highest grade of o ur

e aristocracy to a mere accid nt, which made t their founder the object of royal favour . Par of the story is well known ; b ut th e accide nt to which I refer is kno wn only to memb ers of a

r e nar ow and privil ged cir cle .

e i O e Wh n Will am , Prince of range, cam over to England in order to rid us of th e unpopular

l e ru of James II ., he brought with him a large dl army of Dutch soldiers, and a goo y sprinkling

rs h of the membe of t e Dutch nobility, who doubtl ess w ere quit e content to exchang e th eir dwellings among the dykes of Holland for th e green ﬁelds and pleasant homesteads of this M 5 6 CHAPTERS FROM FA ILY CHESTS .

. e we e th e S ch o mb er s country . Among th m r g ,

De Ginkels th e Auver uer ues th e Z e the , q q , ul

t e s eins, the Kepp ls, and last, not least, the

Bentincks .

Burk e and the heralds tell us but littl e about the antec e dents of the Bentincks in their own

e e e country . But th y would app ar to hav been

e e soldi rs of fortune, and always r ady to risk their lives and substance in the servic e of their prince . Th e particular member of the house of Ben tinck who resolve d to Share the fortunes of

w as so n William the Dutchman William, of

Di en Henry Bentinck, who is styled Herr Van p h m e e so n as a O . in v ryss l The , a youth, was

e th e his pag of honour to prince , and in early

’ his e He manhood became conﬁdential advis r. had already given the prince a strong proof of h is e ffe e th e ﬁd lity and a ction ; for, wh n former

- h e was ill with the small pox, not only nursed

b ut u l e his him day and night, vol ntari y shar d

- m e his bed roo , and ev n bed, at the risk of his o w n life .

e Such heroic conduct des rved a reward, and

e i w as for a wond r it received one . Bent nck OF THE DUCAL HOUSE PORTLAND . 5 7

e sent, whilst quit a young man , to England, on

e e e n e a conﬁd ntial and d licat mission , am ly, to negotiate th e marriage of th e Prince of Orange

th e e r e e with Princ ss Ma y, daught r of Jam s,

r m Duke of Yo k . Acco panying his royal m aster

o ur r h e to sho es, landed with him in Torbay,

u e rode p to London by his sid , and as soon as th e princ e had acc epte d th e thron e which was

f e th e e e h e o f red to him by Hous s of Parliam nt, w as appointe d groom of the stol e and ﬁrst g en tlem an b e d- e of the royal chamb r, and sworn a me e th e e mb r of Privy Council . Two days befor th e h e coronation of William and Mary, was

th e made a p eer of his adopted country, by

n e e am , style, and titl of Earl of Portland, Vis

’

e e . count Woodstock, and Baron of Cirenc st r

H e subsequ ently held th e important command

’ i e e o f the k ng s own r gim nt of Dutch Guards, and in that capacity playe d a l eading part at

He e the battl e of the Boyn e . was a man mark d

l e by no great bril iancy of parts, but of st rling

e e b e integrity and ﬁd lity, and his brav ry was

e yond question . By his ﬁrst wif , who was a

l ie th e th e r e e h e Vi l rs, sister of Ea l of J rs y, had

e m e a family of daught rs, ost of whom w re mar 58 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

e ee s son ri d to English p rs, and al o a , who be

e e ar" cam at his death second , and was shortly afterwards create d Duke of Portland .

B entinck does not se e m to have taken any Op e n p art in the intrigues and negotiations of

1688 - 9 e e e , but th re is littl doubt that he act d

‘ ’ privately as wire - puller for his royal master

’ e te li s throughout . Some ten y ars af r Wil am accession , Lord Portland was despatched into a

e e e sort of honourabl exil , b ing sent as ambas

XIV e e e sador to Louis . at V rsailles aft r the p ace of Ryswick and it is probable that h e himself

e h e sought this appointment, b cause was grow

’ ing j ealous of a rival in the king s favour

e e namely, K pp l, who had been made Lord

’ e e Alb marle . Lord Portland s embassy was v ry

e b eﬁtt ed so r stat ly and imposing, as g eat a man at the court of Le Grand Monarqu e but it would seem to have b e en remarkable rather for pro fusion than for ele gance and taste ; and accord ingly it was made an object of pleasantr y among the gay lords and ladies of the French court,

i e e wh lst som of th m strove, but in vain, to vex the ambassador by most trivial squabbles about

R 6 0 CHAPTERS F OM FAMILY CHESTS . successive heads of the family with the nobl est

e th e — th e e hous s in land Noels, the Harl ys, and

e the Cavendishes ; and, as at almost very step

w as the the lady an heiress, ducal title was amply secured by a corresp onding amount of prop erty ; so that for the last two c enturies th e Dukes of Portland have stood almost as high nk for their wealth as for their rank . Tha s to the marriage of his ancestor with a Cavendish a

u e cent ry and a half ago, the pres nt duke owns the freehold of nearly half of the parish of

e Maryl bone .

hi e 1762 The t rd duke , who h ld the title from

il e e t l the pr s nt century, was distinguished by ’ th e personal favour and friendship o f King

him vi George III . , who sent as ceroy to Ireland,

e w e e son and mad him t ice premi r. The s cond o f i l e th s duke, Lord Wi liam B ntinck, was

r - e e e Gove nor G n ral of India, wh re his name is still rem embered for the e xertions which he made in the cause of e ducation and in the

‘ ’ i - An abol tion of the horrors of Suttee . other son i his , Lord George Bent nck, after Spending

’ e n its ‘ lif on the turf, and wi ning blue ribbon OF 1 THE DUCAL HOUSE PORTLAND . 6

e e e of at Epsom , lat in b cam joint leader th e Conservative party along B enjamin

no t e e e Disraeli, and, had it b n for his sudd n

’ e ‘ h e d ath, it was quite Upon the cards that

e e n might hav b en Premier of E gland . THE B E H USE F C U TE AY NO L O O O R N .

IT may b e asserted without fear of co ntradic tion that, in point of ancestral nobility and

r th e e ancient glo y, no family in British Peerag e e e xce ds that of the Court nays, Earls of Devon shire, or Devon . It is true that it was not until a comparatively rec ent date that they attaine d th e coron et which their head now wears ; b ut

e e e e e th ir nobility dat s from b for the Conqu st,

e and is European rath r than English, cosmo

e politan rath r than insular .

If w e may trust the statem ent of the monk

Al th e e u moin , who wrote in tw lfth cent ry, the e s th e e O arlie t ancestor of Court nays was tho , a

e i e certain Fr nch knight , who l v d about the

e 1100 e o y ar , and who built the castl of C ur

b e tenai, on the banks of the river Clair, HE F 6 T NOBLE HOUSE O COURTENAY . 3 tween Sens on the east and Montargis on the

e i e th e west, and betw en ﬁfty and s xty mil s to s o celine e outh of Paris . His grandson J join d in th e e his ﬁrst crusad , and by the death of

B e kinsman , aldwin , gained the titl of Count

e e of Ed ssa, with a large t rritory annexed to

so n e e e it . His and succ ssor, b ing worst d in his

e wars with the barbarians, di d a prisoner at

e e Aleppo in Syria . His daught r marri d the

u e brother of Baldwin III . , King of Jer sal m, and two of her desc endants inherite d that sovereignty.

o celine e e J , third Count of Ed ssa, distinguish d

el n hims f at the battle of Ascalon against Saladi ,

e Sultan of Egypt, and is supposed to have be n s i th e e la n at fall of Jerusalem . His daught rs Bea

e e trix and Agnes were marri d, the form r to a

e e G rman , and the latt r to a French noble, and with them ended this (the elder) branch of th e

C e ourt nays.

Th e descent from Otho, however, was carried

e - s e de e on by his gr at grand on , R ginald Court na e e e th e y, who marri d Isab l, daught r of one of

e Th e e e u Counts of Corb ille . ld st da ghter of

m e e e this arriag marri d Peter, a young r son of

ls w as Louis Gros, who assumed, as the custom 4 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

’ e w in such cases, his wife s nam , and is kno n to

r l histo y as Peter Courtenay, and whose son (a so P eter) succeede d to th e throne of Constanti no le e p in right of his wif , Sister and heiress of

Baldwin and Henry, Counts of Flanders, the

e e ﬁrst and s cond Latin Emp rors of the East.

Three of his descendants in succ e ssion sat u Th e pon the throne of Constantinople . last of

e e e e ei e th s l ft a daught r and h ress, Jan , who m ri e e e ar d Charles V . of Franc ; and th ir son,

e de e e Rog r Court nay, S igneur de Champaign clles e and Chief Butler of Franc , died in Pales 2 tine in 13 9 .

e e Nin generations pass by, wh n I ﬁnd his desc endant Francis de Courtenay petitioning

e . r n e H nry IV of F a ce, but without succ ss, for th e restoration of his ancient house to their rights as princes of the blood ; and other mem bers of th e house pr esente d like p etitions to

th e e e b ut his successors on Fr nch thron , with only the same mortifying r esult.

The direct French lin e of Court enay and the male descendants of Pharamond in that country are said to have ended by th e sudde n d eath of

1730. Charl es Roger Courtenay, in May, OF 65 THE NOBLE HOUSE COURTENAY .

It is a matter of tradition and history that th e

R eginald C o urt enay m ention e d above abandon e d h is e e e e stat s in France, and s ttl d in England in th e e r th e e a ly part of r ign of Henry II . It is said that th e reason of his expatriation was the

e e e e e VII disagr ment b tw n Louis . and his queen ,

e e e e El anor of Aquitain , and her cons qu nt divorce — and re - marriage to th e King of England an

e end to which Courtenay had larg ly contributed .

e e e e H nry, b ing thus indebt d to him , did his b st to h elp him to a good match on this side of the

Ch annel in e e e es o us , cons qu nce ofwhich R ginald p

Hawise e e e de ed or Alic , granddaught r of Rob rt

Ab rincis e e , Viscount of D vonshir and Hugh

e e Courtenay, his desc ndant in the fourth gen ra

e e due e th e e tion , succ ed d in cours to annex d

' e e e Earldom of D von , b ing lin ally Sprung from

w r a O Bald in de B ion , B ron of akhampton and

e re so n Viscount of D vonshi , through his Hugh , th e r i e e ﬁrst Ea l of D evonsh r . He add d to his position at Court by a fortunate m arri age with

e e e de th e Margar t, daught r of Humphr y Bohun ,

- e all powerful Earl of Ess x, by the Lady Elizabeth

a e e . Plant g n t, daughter of King Edward I

Th e succe eding earls w ere distinguished for

V OL . II . H E 6 6 C APTERS FROM FAMILY CH STS . th eir loyalty and d e votion to their king and

th e th e e country ; and, during Wars of Ros s , ml th ey ﬁr v adhere d to th e Lancastrian cause .

The ﬁrst earldom of D evon becam e e xtinct on t h e r death of John , eighth ea l , who , having

e joined in the caus of Margaret of Anjou , fell,

th e sword in hand , at battle of Tewkesbury, in

147 1. e d e It is not to be wond re , therefor , that when th e Tudors came to th e throne the son of H enry of Lancaster should have resolve d to

e b stow further honours on the Courtenays, and accordingly Edward , second Earl of Devon (of

new e 152 5 th e the creation) was rais d , in , to

e marquisate of Exet r .

He th e had honour of tilting with Francis I . o f France at th e to urnam e nt which form e d part o f the amusem ents at th e meeting of t h e Fr ench and English monarchs on th e Field of Cloth of

’ Gold .

e few His prosp rity, however, lasted but a

e 1538 h e e bri f years, for, in , was accus d, truly or

e e fals ly, of high treason , in having, tog ther with

e e e w H nry Pol , Lord Montacut , and Sir Ed ard n Nevill , conspired to place Reginald Pole , Dea

e e of Ex ter, Upon the throne . He was execut d ,

6 8 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

was soon after rele ase d at th e intercession o f ’ i Mary s husband, Phil p of Spain .

As his anc estor had com e ov e r to England

th e so e e e from Continent, now he r solv d to retir

e e from this land of strif and war, and to s ek a

e e e He refug in the sunny and p ac ful south .

e e e h e e accordingly withdr w into Italy, wh r di d

e unmarri d, not without suspicion of having been

n e poiso ed . His large stat e s passe d into th e

o e o f families of M hun , Tr lawny, and Arundell

Trerice his e , and earldom was suppos d to have

e e e e becom xtinct, or, at all events, to hav pass d

e e so e s into a hopel ss abeyanc hopel s , that the e arldom (and subse quently the dukedom) o f D e vonshire was held to be at the fre e disposal

h r t e e e . of C own , and was bestow d by Jam s I

on the he ad of the house of Cavendish .

th e e nd th e e n e e . Towards of r ig of G org IV ,

e th e e e w as howev r, a claim to anci nt arldom

e r e ll e pr fe r d by Wi iam , Lord Court nay, of Pow

as e e derham Castle, a d sc ndant of Hugh de

th e e e Courtenay, second of old arls of D von ;

e e and, aft r a long inv stigation before a Com mitt e e e e of Privileg s, it was r solved by the 1 1 House of Lords in March, 83 , that the claim THE OF NOBLE HOUSE COURTENAY . 6 9

h ad e e e new e been cl arly stablish d . The arl,

e e e e how v r, who had long resided in Paris, wh r

led el - e e e e e he a s f indulg nt and cc ntric lif , n ver

c ame to England to take his seat in th e House

o f e er h e P s, the doors of which had sought, at

s e ene uch cost of money and labour, to hav op d

e e e e in his favour. He di d som thr e or four y ars

e e th e e aft rwards, wh n arldom passed to his

c e e e ousin , William Court nay, who had b n for

many ye ars a cl erk in th e House of P e ers and n P so M . e his , who sat as for South D von in the

e e o ﬂice Hous of Commons, and aft rwards held

succ essive ly as S e cretary to th e Poor Law

r e th e e Boa d, Chanc llor of Duchy of Lancast r,

e e th e and also as Pr sid nt of Poor Law Board, is

th e prese nt h e ad of th e nobl e house of Cour

e th e A lmanack de Gotha can n tenay, unl ss fur ish us with any elder branch es among th e ma isons

* r e ales o r maisons du ales th e e g/ c on Contin nt.

Th e Court enays till quite lat ely re tain e d for

e th e ai Ubi th ir motto touchingly pl ntive words,

la sus ? uid eci ere e p q f Wh am I fall n , and

i on as is well nown e otes an e o uent c a t er G bb , k , d v l q h p ‘ ’ o f his D ecline and Fall t o a general stat ement of the onours of t n h his oble house. 7 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

‘ ’ v 3 e e what ha e I done Th s words, ex press astonishment at a sudde n and unde serve d

are th e fall, said to have been adopted by Pow

e th e e d rham branch of Court nay family, when f they had lost th e earldom of Devon . O late

e e e e th y hav adopt d the far mor prosaic motto ,

’ um Q uad s er um tut . THE GALLANT ADMIRAL LORD U A D ND ON LD .

E X e CEPTING Lord Nelson , p rhaps no other Ofﬁcer in th e British Navy during th e pr es ent c entury has gained gr e ater distinction by his s ervices than the late Admiral Thomas Earl of

e r Dundonald, b st known as Lord Coch ane, whose naval care er was one of brilliant exploits

e 180 e u and d eds of daring . In 9 his d str ction of th e French ships in the Basqu e Roads d ealt

’ a crushing blow to the great Napoleon s mari

’ ﬂo rts e e time e . A few years later he s rved und r th e e e l gov rnm nt of Chi i and Peru, which had

e n and n e r volted agai st Spain , his aval assistanc mainly contribute d to those pr ovinc es ach ieving " e e th eir ind ep endence . His gr at f ats in that war

e his u di wer capt re of Val via, and his cutting 72 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . o ut the Spanish frigate E smer alda from und e r

He sub se the fortiﬁcations of Callao . was

e e th e e m e q u ntly employ d by pir of Brazil, and there also he was comple t ely successful . He

r was created Marquess of Ma anham , in Brazil, and had conferred upon him th e Grand Cross of t h e Imp erial Brazilian Orde r of the Cruz ers ; h e w as also a knight of th e Royal Order of the

th e O de ri t Saviour of Greece, and of r r of Me of Chili, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Most

e e th e He e e Nobl Ord r of Bath . succ ded his

e e r 1831. fath r as t nth Ea l of Dundonald in July,

no t e e e e It is , how v r, of the s rvic s which won for his lordship th e proud distinctions above e e e e hi num rat d that I wish to sp ak in t s paper, b ut rather of an episode in his life by which h e was plac e d in a v ery awkward and unenviabl e

o srtio n e e p , nam ly, a charg of conspiracy and

th e e fraud in connection with Stock Exchang , which was brought publicly against him in the 8 4 year 1 1 .

d ff e Extraordinary panics have, at i erent tim s,

e th e th e taken plac at Stock Exchange, and pric es of stocks have risen and fallen with T idit ap y at the rumours of wars, foreign alli 73 THE GALLANT ADMIRAL LORD DUNDONALD .

a nces . m e e e e r , and coalitions So tim s th s rumou s

e ee e b e er e e Th e hav b n prov d to m inv ntions . most extraor dinary conspiracy e ver plann e d a nd rr e ca ied out in ord r to bring about a panic ,

e e r e th e e how v r, was that which fo m d subj ct of

r e e e er e the cha g abov r f r d to , and which was c arri e d into e x e cution towards th e clos e of th e gre at struggle b etw e e n th e Fi rst Napol e on and

’ t h e e e e e ‘ alli d sov r igns of Europ . The funds

e er e e e wer then in a v y d pr ss d condition, and

r e re e Th e g eat national anxi ty p vail d . e b st

e r er e e e id a of this conspi acy, p haps, may b gath r d from a narrative of c ertain le gal transactions which took plac e some Sixty years ago .

Th e trial came on for this conspiracy in th e

’ C u e th e 8 o rt of King s B nch , Guildhall , on th of

e 1 8 14 th e e n e e e Jun , , p rso s charg d , b sid s Lord

C e e de e e ochran , b ing Captain Randone B r nger,

- th e e o s e . G ath o rn Hon . A . Cochran J hn ton , R

e Butt, Ralph Sandom (a spirit m rchant at

‘ No rthﬂe et e e M Rae . e e ) , Al xand r , J P t r Hollo

w a e . e e e e y, and H enry Lyt Th y w r indict d for c onspiring to d efraud th e Stock Exchange by

’ c irculating false n ews of Bonaparte s de

his e e th e . b ing kill d by Cossacks, etc , in A I C 74 CHAPTERS FROM F M LY HESTS. to raise th e funds to a higher pric e than they

e e e e th e i would oth rwis hav born , to njury of

’ h th e e t h e t e e . public , and b n ﬁt of conspirators

The conspiracy was v ery dramatically carried

th e e e out, and r port which was spr ad through the city by th e p rincipal p e rsons conc ern e d in it was such as to throw th e citizens of London into a state of commotion . ’ m a a . . It appears th t about one o clock, , on

2 1st e the of February in the above y ar, a

th e b e e person , who was proved at trial to non

e e r oth r than Randon de Berenge , stopped a

w e e watchman in the to n of Dov r, and inq uir d

’ t h e ‘ th e way to the Ship Inn , at that time

o n Th e e principal h tel in the tow . p rson , who

e th e e De e - gav nam of Colonel Bourg, aid de camp of Lord Cathcart, was attired in a scarlet

e his and gold uniform , with a larg star on

e m e as e br ast. Having ad his way, dir cted, to

’ th e ‘ l nn b e th e Ship , knocked violently at

e m e e e e h e door, and, on b ing ad itt d, pr t nd d that

e e had b en convey d in an open boat from France , and lande d along th e coast about two mile s from Dover ; that h e w as th e bearer of impor tant news from the seat of war -being nothing

7 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e re driv him on to Marsh Gate, Lambeth, whe

e e - e o ff he enter d a hackn y coach, and was driv n t o a house th en r ec ently tak e n by Lord Coch

e e e e . rane in Gre n Str t, Grosv nor Square

By a little after t en th e r umours had reached

e th e ~ the Stock Exchang , and funds rose sensi

e no co nﬁrma bly ; but, on its b ing found that

e e e t h e r e tory n ws had r ach d Lo d Mayor, th y

But soon went down again . an important a uxiliary to this fraudul ent contri vanc e shortly a e pp ared . This was the arrival of three appar e ntly military ofﬁc ers in a post- chaise from

Northﬂe et th e er , having driv s and horses

e e e e e d corat d with laurel . Th s wer Sandom ,

‘ M Rae e r e . , and Lyt in disguis To sp ead the

e e th e e news th y drov through City, and ov r

r e e e se t Blackf iars Bridg , and w r down near the

e e e e e Marsh Gate , wh re th y ti d up th ir cock d

e . hats, put on round on s, and walked away This last contrivance was the means of rais

‘ m 2 er e ing omniu to 3 p c nt . The amount of s tock in the possession of Lord Cochrane and

e o hnsto e M ssrs . J ne and Butt amount d to nearly o ne million ; and it was prove d in e vidence

th e d e that, but for this plan for raising fun s, th y 7 THE GALLANT ADMIRAL LORD DUNDONALD . 7 must have b ee n d efault ers to th e amount o f

and n early ruin e d by th eir Sp e cula

. e e e tions Sandom , Holloway, and Lyt w r

’ ‘ e h e th e e jobb rs in t funds. At tim of th e

ri th e t wo e e e t al , latt r had conf ss d what was

e th e th ir object to Stock Exchange Committee, though they denie d any participation with th e

’ D B r n s w oth er parti es. e e e g er handwriting as

’ e e m prov d ; and the coat , purchas d at Solo on s,

e e at Charing Cross, was identiﬁ d as having b en

r th e bought and wo n by him , and then sunk in

e e e e e e Tham s, wh nc it was accid ntally dr dg d u e M‘Rae re p by a ﬁsh rman , , who was in dist ssed

e and re circumstanc s, who was proved to have ceive d fift o er y p unds for his s vices .

For th e de fenc e it was cont end e d and prove d tha t Lord Cochran e was acquainted with De

e e e r B r nger on honourabl grounds, not a ising

t - e e from s ock jobbing transactions, having xert d himself to g et him into th e Navy likewise that h e had authorise d his broker to sell his stock

er e when ever h e could g et a proﬁt of o ne p c nt.

Lord Ellenbor ough took two hours in sum

- u th e e th e u e ming p cas , and j ry took anoth r two hours and a half in arriving at a verdict. 78 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

They found all the p ersons guilty ; and th e sentenc e passed upon th em was as follows "

e e r e That the d f ndants, Lo d Cochran and Butt, s ﬁne th e e e hould each pay a of d f ndant,

ﬁne £ 500 th e e e Holloway, a of ; all d f ndants to be imprison e d for one year in the custody of o f the Marsh al of th e Marshalse a ; and that the d e e — e and f ndants Lord Cochran , Butt, De

B e e e — r ng r should once , during that period,

th e o ne s tand in and upon pillory for hour,

e e betwe n the hours of tw lve and two at noon , in the op en spac e facing the Royal Exchange h ’ in t e city of London .

Lord Cochran e at the time of th e trial was

Memb er of Parliam ent for th e city of IVest

u e th e n nst r, and in month of July he was

th e th e e s brought to Bar of Hous of Common ,

e e e e and called upon to mak his d f nc . He most

e e solemnly d clared his innocenc , and imputed

e e h th e gr at partiality to Lord Ell nboroug ,

e and e judg who presided at the trial, arnestly implore d the House to institute a thorough

Th e investigation of the case . motion , never t h eless e , for his expulsion was carri d ; but that part of the sentence condemning him to stand THE GALLANT ADMIRAL LORD DUNDONALD . 7 9

e in the pillory was r mitted, the Government

e e e ffe b ing vid ntly afraid to carry it into e ct, a s F Sir rancis Burdett had declared that, if it

e h e e i n was don , would stand b s de his frie d on

ffo the sca ld of Shame .

’ So littl e did the p e ople b elieve in Lord

’ C e th e th e ochran s guilt, that, on issuing of new

IVestminster h e e writ for , was imm diately and without Opposition re - ele ct e d as their repre senta

’ e e e tiv . To crown all , how ver, Cochran s political e ne e ri e n mi s had him st pp d of his k ighthood, and the e scutcheon of his Ord er disgrac efully kicke d

’ th e e e e W down steps of St . G org s Chap l, indsor

e ne e n Castl . Lord Cochra demurr d on pri ciple to t h e e e remission of any part of his s nt nce , stating

e b e that, if innoc nt, he ought to publicly pro c e so h laim d ; but t at, if guilty, the punishment

e no t e was c rtainly too sev re .

For many ye ars Lord Dundonald remained

e e e e und r a cloud, a branded xil , d voting his

e e l courage to the caus of univ rsal iberty, but I n lost to th e country which h e love d so much .

a e e e e his old g justic , to some xt nt, was done to him by th e restoration of part of th e honours and dignities of which he had be en stripped . 8 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

o ne e n 1832 Under Gov r ment , in , Lord Dun donald receiv e d th e fre e pardon of the

e in th e Crown , and was promot d to that rank

Navy which h e would have h eld had he never

e e e th e er e e e b n dismiss d s vic . Und r a subs quent

e 1847 w as e re th e Gov rnment, in , he r sto d to

honours conferre d upon him previous to his

e e e xpulsion , a cours which amount d to nothing l ess than a public re cognition by the Government

e e 1860 his of his innocenc . At his d ath in , re

mains were honoured with a grave among th e

’ e m e nation s heroes in W st inst r Abbey . Finally

1 77 th e e e in 8 , committe of privileg s of the House of Lords decided that compl ete reparation would not hav e b e en done to Lord Dundonald

’ unless th e claims for ‘ back pay which had

e e e e be n institut d by his successor, w r recog nised ; th e committe e adding that it Shoul d further be borne in mind that th e exceptionally brilliant servic es of Lord Dundonald renderedt o

s Of e the Briti h Crown as a naval ﬁc r, would, but

e for his dismissal , probably have arned for him more ample and ade quate r eward than any

e e O which he rec ived for his s rvices . S tardy

occasionally is the action of justice . THE

M URDE R OF LORD C HARLEMONT .

THE m Caulfeild r e is fa ily of , Ea l of Charl mont, o ne of great power and distinction in th e north

e e e e e ee e of Ir land, wh re its m mb rs hav b n settl d

h r e e for t e last three centu ies . The pr s nt Lord

Charle mont is th e owner of som e tw enty thou sand s eve n hundre d acre s of land in th e county

ﬁve e of Armagh , and about thousand nin hun dre d in the county of Tyron e ; his nominal rent

th e e e roll in two counti s r aching, according to

B e e the modern Doomsday ook, to an aggr gat of

- about twenty ﬁve thousand Six hundr e d pounds .

Th e founder of this nobl e family in Ireland

Caulfeild so n was Sir Toby , of one Alexander or

Caulf eild e e O Richard , R cord r of xford, who was desc ended from ancestors of great antiquity and

VOL I I . . G 8 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e a nd e worth , settl d in that county, at Gr at

e e e . Miss nd n , Buckinghamshir Sir Toby was a d e istinguish d and gallant soldier, and , to quote

i ‘ e th e . n e e words of Mr Lodge, his P rag of

’ ‘ re i e ff r I land, being init at d in the a ai s of war

e e e f e wh n v ry young, p r ormed many servic able and m emorabl e actions in th e reign of Que e n

’ Elizabeth against h er Majesty s enemi e s in

e r e Spain , the Low Countri s, and I land (all which are sp e ciﬁed in th e pre amble to his patent of creation to th e titl e of Bar on of

r e e fo rmid Cha l mont), and esp cially against the

’ ’ a e O Neile . bl traitor , , Earl of Tyrone

Towards th e close of th e sixteenth century

Sir Toby Caulfeild took part in the sie ge of

King sale against th e Spaniards ; and in th e

e e 1602 th e e b ginning of Jun , , D puty, having

e e ere coll ct d his forces, took the ﬁeld, ent d

e e u th e e th e Tyron , and march d p to passag of

er th e Blackwat , which he had in previous year discovered to be most convenient to carry h er

’ Maj esty s forc es that way into the heart of that

He e district. there sp nt some time in causing

e e a bridg to be built ov r the river, and a fort

a e e adjoining to guard the p ssag , which , aft r his

4 M 8 CHAPTERS FROM FA ILY CHESTS .

v n e e t 1 Pri y Seal, beari g dat at W stmins er Nov. , 6 e . 2 2 1 20 and by pat nt at Dublin Dec , , limiting,

e e e th e or rath r xt nding, honour to his nephew, lf il Cau e d e . Sir William , and his issue mal

th e i r e Toby, th rd Baron of Cha l mont, was

e e return d to Parliament for the county of Tyron , and succ e e de d his fath er as Gov ernor of th e fort — of Charl em ont a very considerable and im portant place at the tim e of th e reb ellion of 164 1

e e e m wh r he then liv d , having his co pany of th e 9 7th Foot (at ﬁfte e n shillings a day on the

e r . stablishment) in ga rison But on Friday,

e 22 h e e e r e Octob r , was surpris d and mad p ison r

e e e with all his family, and aft rwards murd r d by

’ ’ e O Neill s e th e Sir Ph lim dir ctions, circumstances

’ wh ere of are r elated as follows in Lodge s work quote d above

’ ‘ Sir Ph elim O Neill that day w ent to dine

u e with his lordship , who very joyf lly receiv d and entertain e d him ; but Sir Ph elim having appointe d that visit as a Sign to h is Irish

er e e e in e follow s, th y r paired thith r great numb rs,

’ e and his lordship s whol company, with the

- e e e e captain li ut nant, Anthony Stratford , w r e e e e th e ith r kill d or imprison d, and all arms and U OF R THE M RDER LORD CHA LEMONT . 8 5

e e e goods s iz d by Sir Phelim, who, b ing thus

e e e e mast r of the plac , march d that v ry night

e e e and took Dungannon ; and, aft r k ping his

e er lordship , with his mother, sist rs, broth s, and

e Of e e e er the r st his family, ﬁfte n w ks prison s in

’ e e e e Charl mont, s nt th m about ﬁve mil s distanc e

Killenane th e e e e e e . to , hous of Lawr nce N tt rvill

th e e And next day, s nding away Major Patrick

r th e r Caulfeild e e e re Do y, Lo d arn stly d si d Sir

th e him Ph elim that major might stay with , becaus e h e could Sp eak the Irish language but

Sir e re e e e Ph lim answe d, he should hav b tt r

e e e in c ompany b for night ; and the sam day,

’ th e re e e e th e r e major s p s nc , committ d cha g of

’ his lordship to Captain N eal e Modder O Neil and

C e M‘Kenna Of th e th e aptain Neal , Trough, in c e e ounty of Monaghan , with dir ctions to conv y

u h o wt er h e him to Co g Castle . That night was

’ e r Ph elim s e e tak n to Kina d , Sir own castl , wh n , going into th e castle b e twee n th e said two

’ c th e e e O Hu h aptains, latt r spok to Edmond Bog g

e - e a e e (fost r brother to Sir Ph lim) s ying, Wh r is your h eart now whereupon th e said Edmond

his th e ere h e e Shot lordship in back, wh of th n d ied . 8 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

And that sam e night there w ere als o ﬁfte en

’ o r sixte en of Sir Ph elim s servants and tenants

t — e e all English and Sco s murd r d at Kinard,

’ among whom was a base so n Of Sir Ph elim s

e e e e e i also murd r d, b caus his moth r was a Br tish

e e e e woman . And it is furth r observ d that P t r

’ r e ef e Pilly, his lordship s servant, th e months b or t he e e e e e e th e reb llion brok out, b ing thr at n d by

’ Lady Caulfeild (his lordship s mother) that sh e would turn him away unless h e would go to

r h e sh e e e e e chu ch ; said ne d not troubl h rs lf, for h e did believe Sh e would not stay long at Cha rle mont herself ; and th e day the r ebellion began h e e el e w nt with Sir Ph im to Charl mont, and took

’ e away his lordship s hors s .

’ Sir Phelim took the king s bro ad seal from t h e conﬁrmation patent of th e estate to his lord ’ f Ship s father, and a ﬁxed it to a Sham commission ,

h e e e d th e which pr tended was grant by king,

’ ri e r e e li autho sing him to rais that ho rid r b l on .

Th e murd er of Lord Charlemont took plac e on t h e 1st 164 1 hi e r of March , and t s furth r ci cum stance is adde d by the examination o f William

’ e e e e m Neill Sk lton , th n a s rvant to Sir Ph li O , w h o witnesse d the perpetration of th e deed from F 8 7 THE MURDER O LORD CHARLEMONT .

‘ e ri a window, that, as his lordship was nte ng

th e u e e o ne in at o tward gat of Kinard Hous ,

’ Clo h o le O Hu h e e him g y g ﬁred his pi c at , and m e e e e r e e iss d to discharg it ; wh reupon anoth r b l ,

’ e O Hu h e e e nam d Edmond Boy g , cock d his pi c

e e and shot his lordship , b ing on foot, who f ll

“ e e e e e down , and utt r d th s words, Lord, hav ” m ercy upon me I

e th e Mrs n It also app ars, by deposition of . Ja e

e e e B r, that, not long aft r his lordship was

r e e th e s e mu d r d , as assin was tak n , and imprison e d in th e r e e m en gaol of Armagh , and had th s et as sentinels over h im (as a mock e xhibition

th e e e on part of Sir Ph lim), nam ly, an English

a He man , Scotchman , and an Irishman . , how e e e e e his e e v r, succ d d in making scap , along

’ with th e gaoler ; wh ereupon Sir Ph elim O Neill

e th e e e e b e e caus d thr e s ntin ls to conﬁn d, and

e e e Th e e th e thr at n d to hang them all . two form r ( Englishman and the Scotchman) w ere accord in l e e t h e e e e g y xecut d but Irishman was r l as d, and th e gaoler who had conveye d away th e

er e e r e e murd r aft rwa ds r turned to his plac , and re maine d there unquestion e d and unmoleste d by

Sir e Ph lim . 8 8 L CHAPTERS FROM FAMI Y CHESTS.

A most surprising instance of th e divine Pro vidence seems to have interposed for the p re

’ v entio n of this horrid d esign (Lord Caulfeild s

. Th e e Old ser murder) butl r, an and trusty

’ so th e e th e vant, runs narrative , remark d that assassin, his accomplices, and the noble family, made up th e odd numb er of thirt ee n ; and

e ve w e e t h e obs r d, ith dr ad and conc rn , that murder ers had ofte n changed both their seats

e e e and their countenanc s, xc pt the bravo him e wh o his o n th e e s lf, kept place l ft hand of Lord

Caulf eild h e , as was wont to do, being an intimate

e acquaintanc .

e th eO e The butl r took pportunity, whilst th y

e e his wer at dinn r, to acquaint lady with the

e e e e caus s of his un asin ss, t lling her that he

e e e e h e e dreaded som dir ful v nt. S r buked his fears ; told him h e was sup erstitious ; aske d if the

e e e e company w r m rry, and had ev rything they

He ere h e : wanted . answ d, had done his duty

e ee e e e th y all s m d very m rry, and want d nothing h e kne w of but grac e ; and sinc e her ladyship was

e e h e of opinion that his f ars wer groundless, was

e e l e h e e r solv d, through a natural impu s f lt, to

e n take care of his own p rson . And thereupo U OF 8 9 THE M RDER LORD CHARLEMONT . i e th e e th e nstantly l ft hous , and made best of

9 Th e e his way to Dublin . murd r followed almost i e r e re e e h e mm diately afte his d partu , b for

e e e th e end e could w ll hav reach d of his journ y.

e th e r His lordship dying unmarri d, honou

e e r e th e d volv d on Robe t, his n xt brother, fourth

r e e n ba on , who was a captain aft r the reb llio

e H . e e e e e b gan , how v r, njoy d the title only a fe w e e re months, his death b ing occasion d by p s cribing to him s elf too large a quantity of opium ; s o l th e r e sur that Wi liam , thi d son (his broth r),

’ n e ‘ t h e e m e r am d Good, b ca the ﬁfth Ba on of

C r em e ha l ont, and had the good fortun to

’ ’ a e Sir e O Neill r ppr hend Ph lim , his b other s

r er er e him e e e mu d , and hav x cut d . His lordship ,

i e e e R chard Blayn y, Esq . , Esch ator of Tyron , a nd others were empow er e d to inquire What e e r O e an stat , ight, and title liv r Cromwell, or y o his r edecesso rs "rin s o r ueens o E n land f p , g q f g , at a n e n y time had to any castl s, ma ors, lordships,

h e e e e &c. t r ctori s, tyth s, , within county of

e e an e Tyron , by virtu of y Acts of Parliam nt or

C e e e ouncil, or by reason of any attaind r, sch at,

e e e e e e e e re or oth rwis , who w r th n poss ss d th of, a nd e w as by what titl , which commission then 9 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . e e x cuted by an inquisition , taken August 9 ,

’ 1658 th e e , at town of Straban .

e r Aft r the Restoration , his lo dship was called

th e &c. e into Privy Council, , and, b ing highly e e e e st em d by King Charl s II. on account of his

e e th e e ee m rit and services, was advanc d to d gr

ri e n of a viscount by p vy seal, dat d at Hampto

t 17 e O Cour , July , and by pat nt at Dublin , ctober 8 16 65 , , by which title he took his seat in

e Parliam nt . l 6 7 1 His lordship , dying in April, , was buried in e e the cath dral church of Armagh , und r a

e noble monument erect d to his memory. His

e er lady was Sarah , s cond daught of Charles,

e th e e : Viscount Drogheda, and sist r to wif of his brother Thomas ; and his childre n were four

e e sons and thr e daught rs, his second (but eldest

so n m e surviving) , Willia , succ eding to his

e us honours . This nobl man , who was a zealo supporte r of th e cause of th e Princ e of Orange

e . e (aft rwards William III ) against King Jam s,

- - e enjoye d the p e erage more than half a c ntury.

e Caulfeild His grandson , Jam s, fourth Viscount

r e e ri of Cha l mont, was a distinguish d pat ot, and was advanc e d to th e dignity of Earl of Charle

THE D UDLEYS OF NORTHAMPTON SHI E R .

FOR a little more than a c entury after the

’ th e e e Restoration of M rry Monarch , few famili s held a high er position in the land of Spires and

’ e th e e squir s than Dudleys, baron ts and lords o f th e e manor of Clapton, n ar Thrapston, in the

- e e above m ntion d county . During the Civil

e s e Wars they had spou d the cause of royalty, a nd had shown th eir z eal by parting with much o f e e e e th ir plate and j w ls , in ord r to supply the

e e e p rsonal wants of the unfortunat Charl s, and, w e son th e e e h n his came to throne , they w r a mong the favoure d on es who w ere not for

e Th e g ott n . young king e ntere d London in

e 16 6 triumph at the clos of May, 0, and the patent of baron etcy bestowed on William Dud le y, Esquire, of Clapton, in the county of North OF THE DUDLEYS NORTHAMPTONSHIRE . 9 3

1st ampton , bears date the of August following.

Sir William was the lineal descendant of the

e Suttons, one of whom had tak n , as was usual,

e e sur or at all ev nts common , in such cas s, the nam e o f Dudle y on his marriage with Margaret de S o merie th e e e , daught r and h iress of John de So m erie e Hawise , by his wif , Pagnell, whose ancestors were Lords of Dudley at a date ve ry

’ te soon af r the Norman Conquest . Sir William had three wives ; but h e had childr e n only by

e Paul his third lady, a daught r of Sir Pindar,

m r Alderman of London , whose ansion still pa tly — — stands though on its last le gs in Bishopsgate

’

e e W . so n t h e e Str t ithout His , second baron t, was for many years m ember of parliament for

e e his nativ county, and a Commission r of the

e Customs ; and as his grandson, anoth r Sir

l m th e e th e Wil ia , proved to be last of his lin , 7 4 title e xpi red with him in 1 6 .

i Among th e anc estr esses of this Sir Will am

e e e e fo r h er Dudley, one d serv s sp cial m ntion

e e Her e e p rsonal brav ry . nam was Agn s Hotot, h eiress of an ancient and nobl e family of that

e e e nam , who claim d to have come ov r to Eng 9 4 CHAPTE RS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e e land with the Conqu ror, though their nam

e e does not ﬁgure on th roll of Battle Abb y. She was certainly no unworthy daughter of a

e and sh e e e e in noble hous , deserv s b ing h ld m e o ne e l mory for d ed of ga lantry, which stands re corde d in a conte mporary manuscript p enned

e by a rev rend monk , who was vicar of Clapton d th e e VII Th e uring r ign of Henry . account

th e e l th e runs as follows, sp l ing of manuscript being modernised

th e e e e The father of Agnes Hotot, gr at h ir ss

ri e e o ne who mar d Dudl y, having a dispute with

Rin sdale th e e e e g about titl to a piec of land, th y — - the litigants r esolved to m ee t on th edispute d

e e ff e co m ground , and to d cid the a air by Singl

n th e e e bat . O day appoint d for the encount r a t the lists it so happ ene d that Sir John Hotot was laid up with th e gout ; but his daughte r

e e Agn s, rath r than that the land should be lost

e e e ca - ap e and by d fault, armed h rs lf p pi , , mount

’ in h e r er r g fath s ho se, went and encountered

in sdale sh e e R g , whom unhors d after a stubborn

e h e e conte st. Wh n lay prostrat on the ground , s h e e h er - u e loos n d throat latch , lifted p the vizor

9 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

h e without t border of Northamptonshire, it is possible that they claim th e right of bearing that crest as one of which th ey may w ell fe el proud . I am told by th e present r e ctor of Clapton that the last Sir William Dudley died at York 1764 in , but in what churchyard he was buried

k Th e is now un nown . old church of Clapton

e has been pull d down and rebuilt, and all that no w re cords the family is a pair of tablets

e i t o ne e can almost ill g ble, hough on of th m be

th e : ‘ e ae e deciphered words R liqui Ed . Dudl y,

6 1632 ae tatis suae armigeri ; obiit Maii , ,

Hall a e Clapton Manor (or , as it is now c ll d) is

e probably a wing of a much larg r building, and

- e e e it still stands in park lik g rounds . Th r is a tradition in Clapton that t h e lofty Spire of th e old church was struck by lightning, but that th e th e e e ri Dudley of day, inst ad of r pai ng it,

l e pu led it and the tow r also entirely down , and

- h t h e e built two farm ouses with ston s, selling t e h e bells to pay his gambling d bts .

It only re mains to add that some years prior to the death of the last of the Dudleys, the THE E OF R DUDL YS NORTHAMPTONSHI E . e u rt state was sold to Sir H tchins Williams, Ba ,

e e e a cousin of the anc stor of the pr sent squir , th e t h e lord of manor and patron of Clapton ,

- e . Mr. Augustus P ere Williams Freeman

VOL . II . F THORNTON O THORNVILLE .

AT the beginning of the present century few names were b etter known in the Sp orting world

l e th e than that of Co on l Thornton , one of wealthie st of the broad- acre d squires of York s r — e ui e hi e that land of g n ne Sportsm n , with its

nd ll Th e Op e n moors a heathery hi s. Thorn

as e e us e tons , h ralds and gen alogists tell , ither d e n e o ne eriv d their ame from , or gav it to , of the Sixte e n lords hips in the three Ridings which

w e o ned th m as superiors. The most ancient of

e e n e e th e th s , Thor ton in Craven , perp tuat s

m hi e fa ily name , w ch is mention d in deeds of t h e age immediately before the arrival of Wil liam the Conqueror. As legislators and as

e soldi rs, as civilians, merchants, and diplo matists , the Thorntons have rendered good

100 F CHAPTERS ROM FAMILY CHESTS . th e Stuart clans set a price of one thousand

e . On e n pounds on his h ad r tur ing to England, h e e e ed r e e e nt r Pa liam nt as m mb r for York . In this character h e signalise d himself by revising th e e e old cod of the militia laws . H died

e so n th e t e young, and l ft his , fu ur colonel , a minor .

Th e guardians sent th e boy to th e Charter

e e e ma ee hous , wh r he y have b n , and probably w h as t e e W . , schoolf llow of John esley Ill

e e e r e his e h alth , how v r, b ok short school car er,

h e e e e e e e e and was nt r d, wh n fourt n y ars of

e th e e age, as a stud nt of Univ rsity of Glasgow .

H ere he se ems to have b e en a diligent scholar

- e h e in term tim , though in his vacations de

e e o e his vot d hims lf wh lly to ﬁ ld sports, chief

e ea companions b ing Lords Rivers and S forth ,

e . e r Sir Thomas Wallac , and Mr (aft rwa ds the

He Right Hon . ) William Windham . took an e e e e sp cial d light in hawking, a div rsion which b e revive d with som e success upon th e broad moors of his native county ; and b efore he had attained his majority he had gained a name known all over England to th e north of t h e

e th e Trent as a very ke n rider, and one of best OF 1 1 THORNTON THORNVILLE. 0

e e e e a nd most sci ntiﬁc br d rs of horses and dogs .

His stabl e s and his ke nn els at Old Thornville w ere said to b e the b est in th e county ; and

e e e e h e e w ll th y may have b n such , for grudg d

e e no expense for their maint nance . Wh n th e young squire cam e to London for ‘ th e

’ h e r e e season , found that his fame had t av ll d thith er b efore him in Spite of th e badne ss of th e

e e r roads, which ind ed made a journ y f om the north of Yo rkshir e to th e m etropolis a s erious undertaking not e asily accomplish e d in bad wintry we ath er in much less than th e inside of

’ a w e ek .

On reaching town h e was introduc e d as a

’ em er e e m b of the Savoir Vivr Club , th n recent l e e ere h e m et th e y stablish d, wh most of

" ‘ blo o ds o f th e e o f young day, and som also

ﬁle th e r l e e the rank and of a my of it ratur , and

’ s o saw ‘ r e e a little of life . Cha l s Jam s Fox and t h e e e r e Lord Lytt lton, whos Ghost Sto y I hav

* e er e th e m e m told in anoth r work, w among b ers of this club ; and among its occasional gu ests and visitors was th e kind- hearte d Oliver

G n ri th e oldsmith . The an ual subsc ption to

3" ‘ ’ S Ta f r F ili 1st series vol. i. ee les o G eat am es, , I 102 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS .

e th e club was four guin as, and a guinea was

e e e . charg for dinn r, including win Cards and

e e e dic w re in vogu at this club , according to t h e fashion of th e age : but th e colon el would have nothing to do with eith er the one or the

e e h e used t o sa oth r, being cont nt, as y, with

’ e e . e sport, which rend red play n edless Inde d , it is said that when he put Up over th e chim ney- pi e ce of his library at Thornville a Latin

r i e w as e insc ipt on , declaring that his hous op n

’ e ceri amicz e w to non but , he wrote b lo it By t h e e e all stablished rul of this house , bets

e e b e o ff th e e are consid r d to if either of parti s,

e e th e th e by l tt r or otherwise , pay into hands of

’ o ne e ve th e landlord guin a by ﬁ next day.

’ W e n ext ﬁnd t h e colon el e stablishe d malgr e lui th e as a master of hounds . At ﬁrst pack was supported by a subscription among the n eighbouring gentry ; but quarrels and dissen

th e sions arose, and in the end hunt association

e th e was dissolv d, and colonel found himself

his obliged to maintain the pack at own charges.

e er e This, how v , was no v ry great burden, for h e e e e was a k n Sportsman, and had pl nty of

his his ready cash in pockets or at bankers .

04 H 1 C APTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

’ The list of th e more c elebrated o f the colon el s horses and dogs O ccupi e s thr e e pages in the

Book of Sporting An e cdotes and among the l e e atter are foxhounds, beagles, point rs, s tters , i n e r e &c. greyhounds, spa i ls, ter rs, Three of

’ t h e e — hawks reared in his m ws, named Sans

’ ’ ’ e Th e e e Quarti r, Death, and D uc , from their — respective qualities were allowed to distance any ta me birds of the kind which have been

ﬂown in mod ern times in pursuit of game .

The colonel w as als o a vigorous athlete ; on o ne occasion he walked four miles in thirty- two

h e e minutes, and could l ap his own height, ﬁve

e e e On th e f t nine inch s . one occasion , on New

e- market rac course , he ran down a hare, picked

u o ff her p , and carried her in the presenc e of a

e e - n large ass mblag . He was also well k own in

e e e oth r circl s, and specially as a patron of the

’ w as e e ring, which at that day rend r d all the more fashionable on account of the encourage m ent which it received from the frequ ent pre — sence of the Prince of Wales the ﬁrst gentle

in —at - ﬁ hts man Europe prize g .

’ e un h riere But no man s life is quit c eq d. Here and there a dark cloud will overcast the sky of H THORNTON OF T ORNvIL L E. 105

e e . n e v ry man For i stanc , in spite of the eﬂicienc e Mi y of the W st York litia, of which h e el e h e h d the colon lcy, was brought, through

ri e e e e — e p vat malic , b for a court martial, b ing a e i h e felt ccus d of unsoldierly conduct . Th s

e e e h e w as k nly, and at one tim tempted to r esign his commission ; but h e was consol e d by the love and aff e ction of his Yorkshir e n eigh

his e bours, who, on acquittal, took the hors s from his carriage and drew him t o his hot el in

e e e e triumph , and pr s nt d him with a b autiful m ll e da ro n In silver and a handsome sword .

’ Th e e w as old Colon l, as he always called, was a good scholar, a man of wit, and a great c e onnoiss ur in paintings , both ancient and

’ mod ern ; and his book on Sport in Scotland had the honour of b eing re vi ew e d in the

Quar ter ly by no less a p erson than Sir Walter

Scott.

AS e i e e to the aft r l f of Colon l Thornton , it would appear that h e survive d th e malic e of

e e e r his nemies, and pass d his declining y a s in

e e e e e p aceful r tir m nt, r taining his love for his

e th e He hors s and dogs to last . did not, how e e ff his e ver, conﬁn his a e ction to hors s, dogs, 106 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

3 and hawks. He married a lady from Essex,

e e Miss Corston , who was wise nough to cultivat a taste in th e same dire ctions as those of h er

’

. Th e e 1823 husband old Colonel di d in , when a large part of his estates was purchase d by th e

th e o f late Lord Stourton , who changed name

e All rton to Stourton Castle .

1 08 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . historie s as th e donors of lar ge grants to various

e e abb eys and oth er r ligious hous s .

Th e ﬁrst of the family of whom we read in

de e history is Robert Gernon , who gav consider abl e prop erty to th e Abb ey of Gloucest er in the

e He th e e reign of H nry I . was anc stor of

e t de f Rob r Gernon , of Grimston Hall, in Su folk,

e th e e who , having marri d daught r and heiress

e of John Potton , Lord of Cav ndish , in that

e e 1325 m l county, l ft at his dec ase in , a fa i y of

n th e m four so s, who , according to custo of those

e times, ach took the local name of Cavendish .

i th e e l Accord ng to Collins and H ra ds, the

e e e an second of th s sons, Roger Cav ndish , was cest o r e of Thomas Cav ndish, the distinguished n e en e avigator, whose nam is always m tion d along with those of Drake and Dampier, and who at his own cost victualle d and furnishe d

e h e s et thr e Ships, with which sail from Ply

in 15 8 6 e mouth July, , and mad a circumnaviga

th e e e tion of glob . This Thomas Cav ndish, on his e ri e e r turn to England, wrote a cu ous l tt r to

t h e r Lord Hunsdon , Chamberlain and favou ite

e e e of Que n Elizabeth ; in which , aft r t lling the c ourtier how he had gained victory over her V THE CA ENDISHES . 109

’ e e h e w Maj sty s en mies, rites, I burnt and sunk

e e nin t en sail of ships small and great, and all th e village s and towns that ever I lande d at I

’ r e e bu n d and spoil d .

e e e e Elizab th knight d this succ ssful depr dator, and th e t th e , from por ion of spoils that fell to

e e his Shar as capitalist and command r, Sir

e th e e Thomas Cav ndish was said, in languag of th e e e e e ‘ e tim , to hav b n rich nough to purchase

9 He e . e no t so suc a fair earldom was, how v r, cessful e e in his n xt and last voyag ; for, having set 159 1 sail from Plymouth, in August, , and

‘ e e th e t not b ing abl to pass Strai of Magellan , by

e e e th e his str ss of w ath r, and mutinous spirit of m en h e e , was driv n back to the coast of

h e m et e e e . Brazil , wh r with an untimely d ath

e i th e e Sir John Cav nd sh, eld st son of the

e - e e e n abov mention d Rog r de G rno , was a

e e r distinguished lawy r, and h ld the post of Lo d

’ Chief Justic e of th e King s B ench in th e reig ns

h r r . t e of Edwa d III . and Richard II In fou th year of th e latter reign he was el e ct e d Chan

ll e e w as ce or of the Univ rsity of Cambridg , and

e e e e de e n xt y ar commission d, with Rob rt Hal s,

e insrirrec tr asurer of England, to suppress the 110 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e r tion rais d in the city of York , in which yea

th e the mob, to number of about ﬁfty thousand ,

made it a point, particularly in the county of h ff t e e . Su olk, to plunder and murder lawy r

Being inc ense d in a more than ordinary degre e

a ai th e e th e g nst Lord Chief Justice Cav ndish ,

mob seiz e d upon and dragge d him along with

e r Ed John of Cambridg , the P ior of Bury St.

- e n munds, into the market plac of the latter tow ,

e and there caus d them both to be beheaded . The unpopularity of the judge arose in t h e f l Th e S o n th e o lowing manner . younger of

e e e r judg , Sir John Cav ndish squi e of the body

Il is th e h e to Richard . , said by old c ronicl rs to

have be en th e p erson who actually slew Wat

e . W Tyl r For William alworth, mayor of Lon

vi e him h e th e don , ha ng arrest d , furiously struck

mayor with his dagger, but, being armed, hurt

th e him not ; whereupon mayor, drawing his

e ri bas lard, g evously wounded Wat in the neck ;

’ in e i s e which conﬂict, an esquir of the K ng s hou ,

e e his call d John Cav ndish, drew sword , and wounde d him twice or thrice even unto

’ d . e eath For this s rvice , Cavendish was knight e d mithﬁeld in S , and had a grant of forty

112 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

t h e e r e r ign of Que n Ma y, and afterwards pub

i h d e e l l s e it. So faithfully ind d had Wil iam

e th e Cavendish serv d the Cardinal that, Upon

e e r e in death of the latt r, King H n y r tained him

e e e th e his own s rvice, sp cially upon grounds of

’ e e e his attachm ent to his lat fall n mast r .

e w as e o f In 1530 Mr . Cav ndish appoint d one

th e commissioners for visiting and taking the

e e e e no surr nd rs of r ligious hous s, in which

doubt h e obtain e d some good pickings he sub

e e e f e s qu ntly h ld high o ﬁces in the Stat , including

that of Tr easur er of th e Chamb er to the King ;

h e e e th e likewise rec iv d honour of knighthood ,

and had b estowed upon him grants of forfeite d

r church lands from the C own . But his w e alth in this way was augm e nted

chieﬂy by his fortunate marriage with ‘ B ess

’ —sh e ir e— b of Hardwicke , was his th d wif y

h e m whom had a large fa ily. It was this Sir

William Cav endish who comm enc e d th e pr ese nt

e w e princ ly mansion of Chats orth, but di d Shortly

afterwards, leaving his sorrowing widow in the

l e fu l enjoym nt of her worldly possessions, which

s h e took good care should be Se curely s ettle d

e e e upon herself and her h irs . Some tim aft r H 113 THE CAVENDIS ES .

w s sh e e t h e e . ard , becam wif of Sir William St

th e e Lo , a captain of Guard to Queen Elizab th, whose diverse fair lordships in Glouc e stershir e it w as also arranged by th e articles of marriage

Should b e s ettl e d upon herself to t h e e xclusion

’ w Sh e of her ne husband s relatives. survived

Sir William by som e ye ars ; but e ve n to this

w e e third idowhood, as Bishop K nnet obs rves in

’ e th e e his M moirs of Family of Ca v ndish , She

e h er e had not surviv d charms of wit and b auty, by which sh e captivate d th e th en gr eate st

e th e e e e h e subj ct of r alm, G org , Earl of S r ws

sh e r th e e es bury, whom b ought to terms of gr at t

’ u e e e e hono r and advantag to h rs lf and childr n .

e e i th e e B sid s ﬁn shing er ction of Chatsworth, the count ess built th e mansions of Hardwicke and

Oldco t es i Sh e e , all of wh ch transmitted in th ir entirety to h er se cond son by h er s e cond h us

e e band , namely, anoth r Sir William Cav n

s 1605 th e e e di h, who in was raised to p rage as e e Baron Cav ndish of Hardwicke, in D rbyshire, and 16 18 i e in advanced to a st ll high r dignity, as hi e ‘ e Earl of Devons re . His moth r B ss

’ o f C e Of e e Hardwicke, ount ss Shr wsbury, liv d

six e to the age of eighty , dying in F bruary,

VOL . II . 1 14 CHAP TERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

1 7 e th e 60 , and b ing buried in south aisle of All i Saints Church , Derby, in wh ch town She had e ndowe d a hospital for the subsistenc e of

e e poor peopl , who hav each of them an allow

’ a nce of ne ar ten pounds per annum .

Lord Cavendish was o ne of the ﬁrst adven t urers who settled a colony and plantation in

i th e Ber Virg nia ; and, on the ﬁrst discovery of

s h e th e muda Island , obtained, with Earl of

o th ers a m Northampton and , grant of them fro the

i Th e e e k ng. islands w r afterwards divided into e t e th e e igh cantons or provinc s, bearing nam of e e e ight of the chi f propri tors, and accordingly o ne of the m becam e known by th e name of

Cavendish .

th e e e William, fourth Earl of D vonshir , having

e th e l 1 taken an activ part in revo ution of 688 ,

e e d 169 4 was cr at , in , Marquis of Hartington and

e . so n W th e Duke of D vonshire His illiam ,

e second duk , was grandfather of H enry Caven

th e e e Th e dish, min nt chemist and philosopher.

e th e e third duk , having held post of Lord St ward

th e s e 1737 of Hou hold, was appointed, in , Lord fﬁ Lieutenant of Ireland , which o ce he held till

M E 116 CHAPTERS FROM FA ILY CH STS .

is ly encourage d and supported. It true that the Cavendishes derive a spl endid revenue from

- in- the town of Barrow Furness, but few know of the princely sums supplie d by him for pro viding church acc o mmodation and educa tional advantages in that town . B K ’ ESS OF HARDW IC E .

I F prosperity and success in life are to be regard e d th e e e Of as m asur and standard happiness, few individuals can be said to have been more

l e worthy to be styled happy than E izab th,

e e Count ss of Shrewsbury, a lady bett r known to

’ hi as w story Bess of Hard icke . It is not given t o e e every woman, how ver nobly born and w ll

sh e did mated, to marry, as , four husbands in su e sh e cc ssion , and on each occasion that went to th e altar t o rise high er and higher both in wealth and in social position .

It was h er lot also to hav e childr en by one of h er s see e e husband only, and to th se childr n all marri e d to the highest and the noblest in the

ﬁn w as h er land ; and, ally, it given to to erect t hre e at least of the most magniﬁc ent private

ee a ove . 13 1 S b , pp 1 , 14. 118 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . — mansions in this island the princely Chatsworth ,

h e e Oldco t es t e stat ly Hardwick Hall, and , all

’ magniﬁc ent mansions in th e county of D erby. This lady was born the second daughter and

r e e ventually hei ss of John Hardwick, or Hard

e e e wicke , of Hardwick , Derbyshire, whose stat s in that county sh e inherite d on the death of h er

saw th e brother. She ﬁrst light of day in or 1 1 about the year of grace 5 6 . Not much is known of her early education and training ; b ut from the very ﬁrst sh e would seem to have shown a Spirit of independence and an indo mit able courage which must have marke d h er out

th e r as no ordinary p erson . At ea ly age of

r e e e e e e fou t n she b cam the wif of Robert Barl y,

e e e e Esquir , of Barley, in D rbyshire, whos larg

e sh e e e e e estat s inherite d under a d e d of s ttl m nt . In th e course of a few months sh e was left a

sh e e widow, and in that state remain d for a

e sh e e period of tw lve years, when was marri d ,

as his l r third wife , to Sir Wil iam Cavendish , fathe

th e i th e of ﬁrst Earl of Devonsh re, and possessor

e ff e th e of vast estat s in di er nt parts of kingdom,

a large portion of which h ad b een acquired as

grants of forfeited church lands in th e reign o f

120 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

' ’ riag e there was a stipulation that th e earl s e e th e ld st daughter, Lady Grace Talbot, should wed her elde st son (by her se cond marriage)

e e e Sir H nry Cav ndish , and that his s cond son ,

Gilbert Talbot (who e ventually succ e e ded to th e Earldom of Shrewsbury) , Should marry her

e e young st daughter, Mary Cav ndish . This a micabl e family arrangement w as duly carri e d o ut ef e e at Sh ﬁ ld in the month of F bruary,

1 56 7- 8 e e e , the young r of the two coupl s b ing at th e tim e only about ﬁfteen and twelv e ye ars

e e Th e e o f ag respectiv ly. Earl of Shr wsbury d e 159 0 e his e th e i d in , l aving count ss in full e e e n njoym nt of all her worldly poss ssio s, of which Sh e would appear to have made good use if can b e , that expression applied to her

e e lov of grand ur and propensity for building .

’ ’ di ‘ e e Accor ng to Walpole s An cdot s of Painting, there is a tradition in th e family of Cave ndish that a fortune - teller had onc e told this imperious lady that ‘ She would never die whil e sh e w as

Sh e building and that, accordingly, bestowed a gre at deal of the wealth sh e had obtained from thre e of her four husbands in erecting large seats at Hardwicke, Chatsworth, Bolsover, ’ OF KE BESS HARDWIC . 12 1

and Oldco t es r , and, I think, at Wo ksop and

e th e di d in a hard frost, when workmen could

’ no t labour.

Th e charact er of Bess of Hardwicke is thus s et forth by Lodge in his Portr aits of Illust ri ous

’ Persons ‘ Sh e was a woman of masculine u e r u nd standing and conduct ; proud, f rious, s e ﬁ e . l sh , and unf eling She was a builder, a

e s eller e e m e - e e buy r and of stat s, a on y l nd r, a

e e e s farm r, and a m rchant of l ad, coal , and tim b er Sh e e e a e e . liv d to a gr at old g , and di d

’

1607 e e . in imm nsely rich , and without a fri nd

Old Fuller write s of her as ‘ a woman of un daunte d spirit while upon h er monum ent She

’ e e ‘ e e is d scrib d as b autiful and discr et . She

re e e o ne had, as al ady stat d, childr n by only of h er e four husbands, nam ly, Sir William Caven

a e dish , who thus bec m the founder of the famous

e family of Cav ndish .

The estate of Hardwicke is situate d about Six m e r e e e th e e il s f om Ch st rﬁ ld, and hous stands o n e e - u high ground in a nobl de r park, f ll of tre e s which were not young in t h e days of th e

Tudo rs erh a s e e e th e e e . , p p v n in thos of Plantag n ts At th e tim e of the Conquest it formed part of 122 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

o f Ste nesb i e t o the manor y y, wh ch was grant d

Po icto w as Roger of u. By King John it trans e th e f rred to Andrew de Beauchamp , and in middle of th e thirt e enth c entury it passe d to

St e nesb h William de y y, whose grandson , Jo n ,

3 e died possesse d of it in 13 0. Shortly aft r

s it e o r ward pass d to the family of Hardwick,

De e e e Hardwick , who gave to it th ir nam , and

In whos e possession it remained for Six gen era

edi z h tions, their p gree closing with Eli abet

w e e Hard icke, the wif of Sir William Cav ndish,

e w e and the subj ct of this chapter . Hard ick , with

e its princely domains, has continu d in the pos

o f h er e th e session lineal desc ndants, through

e e e t His family of Cav ndish, to th ir r presenta ive,

Grac e th e Duke of D e vonshire and Baron Caven

s o f e e di h Hardwicke , the pr sent noble own r.

‘ ’ w e his Hardwicke, rit s Mr. S . C. Hall, in

’ B i s ‘ h as e e aron al Hall , for a v ry long p riod d erive d romantic interest from th e pop ul ar beli ef that it was o ne of the prisons of th e lovely and

is cer persecuted Queen of Scots. It , however,

e h e tain that, although for a tim in t custody of t h e Sh e w as Earl of Shrewsbury, never immured a t w ri e th e Hard icke, her p son having be n one of

1 H 24 C APTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . might think that the Scottish Mary was but

th e just walked down into park and Mrs.

f e e Radcli f , who gives a l ngthy description of the mansion in h er Tours of the Lak e s (p ub lis h ed 17 e th e et e in not s proud, y g ntle and melancholy look of th e qu ee n as Sh e slowly

’ e u th e r h pass d p hall, and cont asts it wit the

e e et som what obs quious, y jealous and vigilant air r e e e e of my Lo d K p r Shr wsbury.

There is no nec essity to d escribe Hardwicke

as e e Hall at length, it is b tt r known to English tourists than almost any other great Show- house

th e i in Midland distr ct . It is a magniﬁcent

e i e t e structur in the El zab than s yl , massive and

e ﬁrm in construction , whilst sol mn grandeur is

e e It s the gr at charact ristic of the stately pile .

e e e general form is squar , with a high squar tow r

e e e at ach corn r, and with larg medallioned windows ; ind ee d th e windows are so e xtensive as to have giv en risen to a local adage

Li e H ar wic Ha l k d ke l , ’ More win ows t an wa d h ll .

Round the top is a parap e t of op en work in which fre quently app ear the initials of the ’ ‘ OF D I KE BESS HAR W C . 125

‘ E h ‘ e . S e t e found r , Silent m morials of proud

’ ’ e dam s vanity.

O w e The lder Hard ick Hall , which Bess of Hard

’ ’ w e e e icke s mansion sup rs d d, still stands only a few e r off e e e hundr d ya ds , a d s rt d ruin ; but it certainly must have b e en a more comfortable dwelling- house than that by which it w as sup er seded th e hi u e ; . In walls gh p may still be s en

’ e marble mant lpieces carved with stags heads, th e e th e i heraldic b arings of Cavend shes, but they look as if th ey would fall with th e next

’ winter s storms .

’ It is only n e cessary to add that th e tomb of

B e ss Of Hardwick e is to b e seen in th e south ern

’ e r e aisl of All Saints Chu ch, D rby. It is a

m e Of large and agniﬁcent structur its kind, which would b e p erhaps best described as

e Jacobean, made of marbl and alabaster, and

e a rich in carving and h raldic be rings . It was

e e e e design d by h rs lf some years befor her death, and sh e would fre qu ently visit the church t o watch its progress towards completion . O IVE P I CESS OF C UMBE A L , R N RL ND

AND D UCHESS OF LANCASTE R .

e are e MOST read rs awar of the fact that, like t h e th e e Duchy of Cornwall, Duchy of Lancast r

e ri is an appanag of the B tish Crown, and a

e . e e sourc of income to royalty Few, how v r, possibly are aware that within the memory of o ur fathers th e titl e of Duch ess of Lancaster was assum e d and born e by a lady in virtue of a n alle ge d b estowal of that honour on her by

e . e Georg III , and that she was recognis d as s e e e e uch by four royal duk s, and r c iv d with full honours as a member of th e royal family at

’ th e Lord Mayor s dinner at th e Guildhall littl e

e Sh e now mor than sixty years ago , though lies in a humble grave l And who was this D uchess of Lancaster ? a nd how came Sh e to assume that title ?

28 1 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . tracting a marriage with an English subject

e ri e accordingly, it app ars that this mar ag was

e e e w kept quite privat , and, ind d, was not kno n

e e th e for sev ral years aft rwards to public ,

e e e though two distinguish d nobl m n , the Earl of

Warwick and the g reat Lord Chatham (the

e e e e eld r Pitt) wer privy to its c l bration, and certiﬁed to its regularity by their formal signatures.

On th e 3rd 17 72 re of April, , this marriage sult ed in the birth of an only child, a daughter, who was privately baptise d the same day as

O u live Wilmot, and was brought p to believe

e th e e hers lf daughter of Mr. Rob rt Wilmot, and niece e e if th e of the r v rend gentleman who,

h er e story be true, was grandfath r. The family

l w u lived at Warwick, and Olive Wi mot gre p to childhood and to womanhood apparently

h er e e quite unconscious of real royal par ntag , although on the day following h er birth sh e was ‘ ’ O rebaptised, by the King s command, as live ,

’ s daughter of the Duke of Cumberland. Thi

i e e second bapt sm, how ver, was not ent red in the

’ ‘ e ‘ Ro a arria e in ‘ Ta f r at Se Two y l M g s, les o G e ’ F mi i 2nd S i s l. i. . es . e e vo . 29 8 a l r , , p IV OF N . 2 OL E , PRINCESS CUMBERLA D 1 9

e e parish regist r, but was placed on r cord by a

e e e e c rtiﬁcat Sign d by Dr . Wilmot, his broth r

Robert, and John Dunning (afterwards Lord

Th e e Ashburton) . certiﬁcat of this union was

e e th e kept privat and sacred, b ing entrusted to

e w w as s th e car of Lord War ick, as al o following

e e docum nt, which I Copy from the l gal state m ents put forward in e vide nce only a few year s sinc e before the House of Lords .

G EORGE R .

‘ W e are h ereby pleased to create Olive of

e Cumb rland Duchess of Lancaster, and to grant o ur e ai e e royal authority for Oliv , our s d ni c , to

use th e e e bear and titl and arms of Lancast r ,

Shoul d sh e b e in existence at the period of o ur

e royal d mise . ’ 2 1 Given at our palace of St. James s, May ,

l 7 73.

(Witnesses) CHATHAM .

’

DUNNINO. J .

This paper may have been written in full by th e r al as King ; but it clea ly is very inform , it departs from th e usual phras e ology o f ‘ name

’ e — styl , and title, and does not mention in the

VOL . 11. K I H 130 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY C ESTS . second clause the grade in the p e erage to which

‘ ’ e e Our e his Majesty wish d to elevat ni ce , whether to that of a baroness, a countess , or a

e e e e e e duch ss . It was agr d, how v r, betwe n the

r e e King, his b other, Dr. Wilmot, and witn ss s, that the pate nt of cre ation shoul d not be acte d

e e e upon during the lif of Georg III . the r ason allege d being that this step was nec essary in

’ order to scre e n th e King s brother from a trial

17 71 e for bigamy, as in he had marri d publicly

A e e e th e l Lady nn Luttr ll, daught r of Ear of

Carhampton , and widow of Mr. Christopher

e e . e Horton , of Catton , in D rbyshir It is cl ar,

e e h r eal how v r, that if t is was the ground for

e e l suppr ssing the pat nt of creation , it wou d hav e b e e n far more sensibl e (Sinc e the King

’ was privy to his brother s marriage) to have agre ed that th e patent Should not b e acted on during th e life of the Duke of Cumberland

e e e his — hi hims lf, s ing that death w ch happ ened — in 179 0 o f course put an end to all possibility

h is e e of b ing indict d for bigamy.

179 1 i O as In th s Miss live Wilmot, She was

b e i reputed to , apparently in profound g nor ance of her rank, bestowed her hand on Mr.

E 132 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CH STS . was duly authenticated before Lord Chief Jus tic e Abbott (afterwards Lord T e nterden) ; and

e — e h o w the lady in qu stion was told appar ntly, — e ver ba ll b h er . e ev r, only y y solicitor, a Mr B ll ,

‘ that his Maj e sty had b e en graciously pleas e d to acknowle dge h er royal highness as Princess

e e his of Cumb rland , only l gitimate daughter of

e e e e late uncl , H nry Fr derick, Duk of Cumber

’ e e Sh e land, and to giv ord rs that Should have found for h er a suitabl e re sidence until a p er

e b e e e cu man nt one could ﬁx d Upon , and that p niar e f e e u y m ans, su ﬁci nt to enable her to ke p p h er b e e e h er dignity , Should at onc plac d at

w as e e command . She th n living in Alfr d Place,

Be dford Square ; and even by her own state ment th e information doe s not app e ar to have

e e h er f al be n s nt to o ﬁci ly.

Th e e e e Duk s of Suss x, Clarence, and K nt, it

r e e appea s, w r not Slow in acknowl e dging their

e th e new cousin , b ing satisﬁed that documents

’ e e e e with th ir fath r s Signature, G org were genuin e and although the Duke of Cambridge did not acknowle dge h er till a far more r e c ent date and the Duke of York refus e d to

e sh e follow suit altog ther, maintained that the IV OF 1 OL E, PRINCESS CUMBERLAND. 33

Duke of K ent had long pre viously gone so far a s not only to make a will bequeathing to h er and to assign to her and her child a

4 0 e yearly income of £ 0 und r his hand and seal, promising solemnly to see his cousin reinstate d

’ ’ h er in royal birthright at his father s demise, but absolut ely to nominate her as th e futur e

i e e g uard an of his infant daught r, her pr sent

e are Majesty. The docum nts as follows

1 ‘ e e t . I sol mnly t stify my satisfac ion as to

’ t h e proofs of Princess Olive of Cumb erland s

’ e e birth, and d clar that my royal parent s Sign

’ manual to the c ertiﬁcates of my deare st cousin s

e re e birth is, to the b st of my own comp h nsion a nd e e th e e e th e b li f, g nuin handwriting of King,

e e l e e my fath r. Thus I constitut O iv , Princ ss of

e re Cumb rland, the guardian and the di ctor of

’ * m e e e y daught r Al xandrina s ducation, from the a e e m g of four years and upwards, in cas of y d and th e e e e eath, from Duch ss of K nt b ing so unacquainted with the mod e of English educa

’ It will b e remembered t hat h er Majest y s full name is ’ xan rina i ria and t at it was un r t at ou e Ale d V cto , h de h d bl n name that sh e was ﬁrst proclaimed q uee . 1 4 3 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . t e e e ion ; and, in cas my wif departs this lif in

’ e e my daught r s minority, I constitut my cousin

Olive the sole guardian of my daughter till sh e is of ag e .

EDWARD . L n n 1 t o o No v. s d , ,

2 . r e s Prince Edwa d, Duke of K nt, bind him

e e e e s lf h r by to pay to my daught r, Lavinia

e e 4 e h er Jan tta Horton S rres, £ 00 y arly during

e e r e life , in r gular q uarterly paym nts , and fu th r promises that She shall be th e young lady co m

e panion of his daughter Alexandrina, wh n that

h r r e e dear infant attains e fou th y ar. Witn ss the

r his h royal signatu e of royal hig ness, in con

ﬁrm atio n e of this sacr d obligation .

‘ Dec. 1 th 7 ,

The Duk e of K ent lived only a few weeks

e n e e e aft r sig ing this strang pap r, dying a we k b efore his father ; but he survived long e nough — — if this story b e true to re comm end solemnly

Mrs e i e e . O Olive S rres, otherw se liv , Princ ss of

’ e e Cumberland, to his broth r, aft rwards George

136 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

D orsetshir e county family- b ut the marriage did th e e dis not turn out happily, union b ing

R ve s e s b v e e . . olved a l gal s paration Mrs y di d,

e e e if not in actual pov rty, at all vents in v ry n ’ eedy circumstances, in lodgings in Queen s

e e e 187 1 Cr scent, Haverstock Hill, in D c mber, h er e ri husband , too, nded his days in obscu ty e 18 son arly in the year 73. Besides one and o ne e e e e Mrs R v es daught r, who are d c as d, . y

e e had issu three daught rs and two sons, who

h er e f e survived , by no m ans in a ﬂu nt circum

e e it e stanc s . I believ is true, and if tru it is a

e wond rful example of the irony of history, that

e e the lady who , assuming her own stat m nt to be trustworthy, was the Second cousin of our

e in most gracious Que n , and her possible and

e e e in h er t nd d guardian , was d pendent last ill ness on th e aid and support of those who had

e e e sh e little nough of th ir own to Spar , and that now lies in I care not to say h o w humbl e a

e e grave in the cemet ry at Highgat .

But my re aders will want to know what steps

e O h er w re taken by the Princess live , and by d Mr ve e s. R s e e aughter, y , in ord r to pros cut

e e e th ir claim to the title bestowed by G org III. , IV OF . 137 OL E, PRINCESS CUMBERLAND and to th e l egacy left them by th e will of

e . Edward, Duk of Kent The lady who had tr od upon scarlet laid along h er path when Sh e dined in state at the royal

e th e e 1820 w as tabl at Guildhall in Novemb r, , arrested in the following year upon a promissory

e th e note, most probably on purpos to raise question of her birth in a legal shape and form .

e h e th e She pl aded t at, as a m mber of royal

e e family, she was privil g d from arrest ; and , although bafﬂe d on this occasion by a legal

e ea sh e e technicality, in the n xt y r gain d her

’ w a use h er e point in another y. I daught r s words

‘ e My mother subsequ ntly gained, or

e w as e h er e e rath r grant d, privil g as

e e b ing a memb r of the royal family ; for, having

e e e e r fused to pay tax s for armorial b arings, mal

s &c servant , ., an information was ﬁled against her in th e Court of Exch e qu er by the then

e - e e e th e Attorn y G n ral, and aft r hearing argu ments on the cas e for s ev eral days the Chief

Baron advise d th e Attorn ey- Gen eral to with

th e h e n draw information, which accordi gly

’ complied with . 38 P 1 CHA TERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e She must, however, have had a strong tast

th e - as — I for law and law courts, next year am no t inform e d how the circumstanc e c ame about

Sh e e e ‘ was a prison r for d bt, and living with

’ o f in the Rules the Fleet.

l us satisfac Her daughter tel s , with apparent tion , that ‘ She was delivered into the custody of the

th e e e Warder by nam , style , and titl of Prin ” d e w as cess of Cumberlan . From the Fle t She removed into the custody of the Marshal of th e

’ n e e fo r King s Bench, when , after havi g b n

e e e s ven y ars in illegal bondag , her liberty was eff e cte d by a writ from th e Crown Oﬂice to th e

’ Marshal of th e King s B ench for the Princ e ss to proce ed to th e Judges at We stminster to receive

i sh e did her liberty, wh ch accordingly , and n ’ obtai ed it. n O the death of George IV. the daughter,

R ves e l i th e Mrs. y , ﬁl d a bi l in Chancery aga nst

’ e Duke of Wellington, as the King s ex cutor, for the mon ey due to her moth er from the estate of

e b ut G orge III . , was again defeated by a legal t echnicality which prevente d h er right from

n law . t o b ei g really tried at But, with respect

140 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

o h er r e als broke hea t ; and She di d, as I have s 18 71 e aid, in poverty at Christmas, , lik her

e h er mother b fore , a victim to disappointed h e 1 opes and Shatt red ambitions. Alas how true are th e bitter words

Th e lovely young Lavinia once h ad friends

Thus far I have given my story in the words o f R ves Th e e h er e Mrs . y . d ath of moth r, how — — ever th e Princ ess Olive gave occasion to a long obituary notic e of h er care er in the pages

’ h e t man sMa azine th e e 1835 of t e G n le g for y ar , in which her pretensions to royalty are tre ate d as

’ ‘ Sh e e e fabrications, and hers lf d nounced as an m ’ On extraordinary and aspiring i postor . the

le A udi alteram ar tem princip of p , I take from

e all s the notic of Mr. Sylvanus Urban the fact w hich are in any way supple m e ntal to my story

Mrs R v s e . of . y

e e a h er e . It is h r s id that fath r, Mr Robert

’ w as - e W Wilmot, a house paint r at arwick, and

h er th e Rev. that while living with uncle , Dr .

t sh e a Wilmot, shor ly after quitting school, p p eare d as a witness on a very e xtraordinary

’ u t rial for a b rglary in her uncle s house, for OF . 14 1 OLIVE , PRINCESS CUMBERLAND

e e e e e which two m en w r convict d and ex cut d.

’

Her . r e account, adds Mr U ban , was v ry mar v ello us h er e r e e e , and conduct, as She r p s nt d it,

’

e H er . highly h roic . husband, Mr John T .

e s e - e th e S rre , was scen paint r at Royal Coburg

e e - e Th atre , and also marin paint r to King

e r th e e e e h er G o g e III . and to Duk of Clar nc ;

’ e e e en husband s fath r, Count Dominic S rr s, a g tleman e een of French xtraction , who had b

e e taken a prison r of war, settl d in England, and b ecame o ne of th e e arly m emb ers of the Royal

e h er e r Academy . Aft r s pa ation from her hus

e e h er band, Mrs . S rr s was thrown on own re

u in 1806 e e so rces, and obtain d the appointm nt

e - e e of landscap painter to the Princ of Wal s. It is b eliev e d that at o ne tim e sh e also made an

e appearanc on the stage , and performed as

’ ’ l r Pol y in the Beggar s Ope a .

Always possessed of a busy and romantic

O e r a e e e h er imagination , liv at an ea ly g ssay d

e 1 05 pow rs at original composition , and in 8

’ is e e i e th e publ h d a novel nt tl d St. Julian . In following ye ar sh e gave to th e world a volum e of

e e r e e poetical misc llani s, which , st ang ly nough ,

’ sh e ‘ e sh e named Flights of Fancy. Th se E 142 CHAPT RS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

u O Th e a followed p with an pera , C stle of

’ ‘ e Avala, and a volume of Lett rs of Advice to

’ e h er Daught rs .

e sh e In writ s Mr . Sylvanus Urban , e mbarked in h er ﬁrst attempt to gull t h e public

r e W h e . b e by proclaiming late uncl , Dr ilmot, to

’ ” - unius s the long sought author of J Letters .

se e e h er “ The pr t nsions, advanced by in a Life

h e t e . of Rev James Wilmot, were n ga

tived e e r . er by l tt rs f om Dr Butl , of Shrewsbury,

i h eld e L c ﬁ . . (aft rwards Bishop of ,) and Mr G

’ e ntleman s Ma azine Woodfall, publish d in the Ge g 18 13 for August, , and giving rise to a contro

’ v rs e e e y which was carri d on for s veral months .

H er n e xt fre ak was an Explanation Of the

Creed of St . Athanasius for the advantage of youth 1’

‘ th e About year continues Mr. Urban ,

e e e e she ﬁrst discover d, or prof ss d to hav dis

e e sh e cov r d, that was not the daughter of Mr.

i b ut e e R . W lmot, of H nry, Duke of Cumb rland .

At ﬁrst Sh e w as satisﬁed to be accounted ille giti — mate that was honour enough but sh e shortly

e e b e his e after prof ss d to legitimate daught r .

e e At ﬁrst her moth r was Mrs. Payne , sist r to Dr .

144 A OM CH PTERS FR FAMILY CHESTS.

s s t o a manifesto of the Prince s Olive, addres ed

hi e er the gh st pow s of the Kingdom of Poland , and stating that sh e was descended from ” i u t I i me Stan slaus Aug s us From th s ti , however, the Princess Olive w as constrain e d to relinquis h h er e th e carriage and her footm n in royal liveries, which some simple trade smen had enabled her to display

e e e e I in Her lat r y ars wer sp nt, fear, not only

b ut obscurity, in absolute poverty, and, indeed ,

’ ’ w i e ith n the Rul s of the King s Bench, where sh e died. I i O have seen a portrait of the Pr ncess live, and certainly no one who insp e cts it will deny that sh e bore a striking likeness to th e royal

m . fa ily, and especially to King George IV ILD D ELL F L ITTLE E W AR O COT .

‘ ’ THE t L it tleco t e s ory of Wild Darell of , one of th e most romantic in th e annals of romantic

’ e e e Wiltshir , is known to the read rs of Sir Walt r ’ — Scott s poe m of Rok eby where it is given in th e form of a note at the end of the volum e and it has b e en often told in a variety of oth e r

o ne e e i shapes ; but it is , n verthel ss, which w ll

re - e e at all events bear t lling in these pag s .

Th e e o f L ittle co t e r estat , formerly the p operty

e is of the Dar lls, and now of the Pophams,

i e situated just with n the bord rs of Wiltshire , to th e e w stward of Chilton Foliot, partly in that parish, and partly in the parish of Ramsbury, some two or three miles from the town of

e i Hungerford, in B rksh re . The hall, as it at

e n o ne e pr se t stands, is of those pictur sque red

e brick diﬁces of Tudor times, enriched with

VOL . I I . L 14 I 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS.

e e mullion d windows, gables, and ornament d c e - so e e himn y stacks, which much delight the y

f so e e e e o an artist, and are ag rly s iz d upon by the writer of romance as the sc en e of some wild

i di e and thrill ng story. It is a spacious e ﬁc , and appears to have been erected by one of the

e th e ar th e e Dar lls in early p t of sixteenth c ntury,

about th e time of t h e t ermination of feudal

e e e e e b e warfar , wh n d fence cam no long r to an

9 co m obj e ct in a country mansion . The park pr eh ends an are a of about four miles in Circum e e e e f r nc , and is adorn d with groups of various

e n o ne e kinds of tr es . O side of it ris s a lofty

e hill, crown d with wood, and forming a striking c ontrast with th e luxuriant and level meadows

e spread along the banks of the river Kenn t, a

th e e branch of which runs through gard n , and

e e e e er hi can th r constitut s a pr s ve for trout, w ch

ee r i wi h be s n da ting hither and thither, or ris ng t

th e a dash to rippling surface .

Old e i e L land, writ ng in the time of H nry VIII . , describ e s th e e state as ‘ a right faire and large

' parke h angyng e upon the clyﬁ e of an high e hille

’ e e w o dd d e w ll y , over the Ken t . When Leland saw the hall it was doubtless not very old but it

148 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

’ e mi the seat of the Dar lls, a plain county fa ly.

Th e th e e s ﬁrst of name who poss s ed it, and who acquired it by his marriage with an h eire ss o f th e Calsto ns e e , in the early Plantag n ts, was one

e e fﬁ sub William Dar ll, who h ld the o ce of

r treasure of England . He appears to have ﬁxed his abode on the lands that had thus fallen to his t lot, and there he es ablished a race of knight l u e e y distinction, which ﬂo rished for s v ral

su generations in honour and esteem . The b

’ e e e so n e e l tr asur r s ldest , Sir Georg Dar l , succeed

his e e ed to mat rnal inh ritance, and became the

ls L ittlecot e His so n ancestor of the Darel at . ,

w as w as Sir Edward, who next in possession , thrice married, and had one only son, John , a

e w as n Airde gallant soldi r, who slai at in

ai . Picardy, in the wars ag nst Franc e He was the grandfather of the ill - fate d Will (or Wild

t h e Darell , to whom reference is made at open ing of this chapter.

e Aubr y, who wrote about the end of the m seventeenth century, see s to have been the ﬁrst t o leave any record of the story we are about to relate ; he introduced it into a notice i o f the lif e of Chief Justice Popham . The h story I OF L ITTL E OTE 1 W LD DARELL C . 49 he gives of the crime is very clear and distinct ;

’ a nd it is probabl e that it was from Aubrey s account that the materials w ere gl e aned which

’ ’ f th e e orm not to Scott s poem of Rokeby . L ocal tradition adds somewhat to Aubrey’s

. Th e th e r narrative story, as told in neighbou hood to this day, is somewhat as follows

th e e e In time of Qu n Elizabeth, towards the c e e lose of the sixt enth c ntury, there was an old

w e i e e mid ife, of gr at sk ll and practic , who dw lt in a small cottage by the r oadside some fe w

e L ittleco t e e e mil s from . Wh th r it was at Rams bury or at Chilton is not quite clear ; for accounts

ff e . One di r on that score night, shortly after i ret ring to rest, she was aroused by a loud

h er . e knocking at door There was , how ver, nothing particularly unusual in such a proceed

sh e e e ing as that ; but, as soon as asc rtain d the c e h er e sh e e e e aus of being disturb d, nd avour d

e e f th e e to excuse h rs l on score of fatigu , having only just returned from exercising h er p ro fe io nal e e duties in another quart r. She pl aded to be

e e sh e e allow d to s nd an assistant, whom k pt in th e e Th e e e e e er r e hous . m ss ng r, how v , u g d that, as her servic es were required by a pers on of con 150 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

er him t o sequence, it was utt ly impossible for

’ k n h er e e think of ta i g d puty . He was resolv d

th e no e to gain principal, and one lse, for his

e Th e e e purpos . old woman thereupon d sc nded

n r the stairs and unfaste e d the doo .

Th e th e in ﬁtful night was dark, and wind blew

sh e e th e gusts ; and, just as op ned door, the lighted taper which sh e carri e d was suddenly extinguish

’ e e e e e e ed . She had not tim v n to s the strang r s

. Th e e face man had dismounted from his hors ,

e i in which was ti d to a stile Close by. Hav ng

e th e Old fe e quir d of woman what was her , and

e th e t received a r ply, s ranger told her that sh e should r e c eive twenty time s the amount on condition that sh e accompanied him then and

e e e th r without a word of h sitation or inquiry, or of mention or inquiry ever afte rwards and that sh e allowe d herself to b e blindfolde d whe n sh e mounte d th e horse that was ready pillion e d to

h er Th e carry . re ward which w as Offere d

’ proved quite sufﬁcient to outw eigh th e woman s

e e sh e e e e t scrupl s and f ars, if r ally nt r ained any.

e th e i e e e She gav prom s , and, having had her y s

sh e e bandaged with a scarf, mount d to the

set ff pillion, and the pair o together at a brisk

152 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

b sh e stairs, the steps of which, y the way, took the precaution to count ; they w ere twenty

e two in number. A door clos d behind her ; the bandage was take n from h er eyes ; and the n sh e found that her conductor in th e house was

- a e - a white f ced, fright ned serving woman , who t instantly quitted h e room without sp e aking. Th e old cron e at once perc eive d that sh e was

i ﬁne e stand ng in a and lofty chamb r. A bright

th e e t ﬁre was blazing on hearth , and n ar it s ood

e n a larg bed hung round with blue curtai s, from which came sound of we eping and pain . At

e end the oth r of the room a man richly dressed, was pacing backwards and forwards in an angry o r e e agitat d manner . Having, in a subdu d tone ,

’ th e h er o fﬁce e bid woman do , the man quitt d th e th m apartment . As soon as e event w as co

let el O e sh e a s e e h er p y v r, had a gl s of win giv n , and was told to prepare to return hom e by

e w as no t e so e anoth r road, which quit n ar, but

e e r Sh e e e b e fr f om gates or stil es. b gg d to allowe d to repose h erself for a quarter- o f- an hour in th e arm - chair whils t th e horse was

n e l e e e bei g got r ady, p eading the xtr m fatigu e sh e e th e had undergon preceding day. E O E 153 WILD DARELL OF L ITTL C T .

e th e e e Thus seat d, w ight of mystery oppress d h er sh e e h er , and thought of the strangen ss of

e sh e th e situation . She not d all could in room , and silently and unsuspecte d cut with her scis

e b e d sors a small pi ce out of the curtains, and

e h er ‘ sh e b e secret d it in pocket . Suddenly cam e aware that th e gentleman whom sh e saw o n e e ent ring the room had com back, and stood

th e e by bedside . He l ant over the mother, and sh e e e e th e gave a shri k . He had s iz d Child

h er e e h e from br ast, and in a mom nt dashed

r h it among th e e mb e s on t e h earth . The infant

m ﬁre e fell on one side fro the . The agonis d mother pl e ade d with brief strengt h from the b e d ; the old woman clung to his arm ; but a ai h e e th e l g n rais d chi d and cast it down , and th e e e e e murd r was consummat d . Then h rush d

o ut .

Soon afterwards the s ervant e ntered the room

’ th e th e e e e with scarf, old woman s yes w r again

e sh e led n bandag d, and was out agai into the

re . Th e r e e sh e f sh air ho se b ing in readin ss, w as e th e e e lift d into pillion , and the pair w r s t h e ne f e e oon on jour y back, but by a di f r nt

. th e e th e road At tim of parting from guide, 154 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . which was within ﬁf ty yards of h er own

e h e e h er e e e dw lling, mad sw ar to obs rv secrecy,

e at the same time putting into her hand a purs , which sh e afterwards found to contain twenty

v i th e ﬁ e gu neas . For some time old woman k ept her terribl e se cret ; but at l ength th e

e e e so e e h er strang v nts pr y d upon mind, that sh e went to a justic e of the peac e and narrated to him the whole of the facts in as Cl e ar a

e sh e e mann r as was abl . Suspicion was at

e r L ittleco t e onc di ected to Hall, and to William

e e Darell, its master . The numb r of st ps leading from the court- yard to the landing- place on t h e th e stairs, which old woman had counted, tallie d e xactly with those of the suspecte d house ; and th e piece of curtain was found exactly to match one in a room where th e birth of th e child was suppos e d to have taken

. e e e e e e place With such vid nc , it was xp ct d that nothing short of a conviction of some of th e parti e s for th e murder of a new- born infant must have followed ; particularly as a b e autiful young lady in the family (a nie ce)

e e had withdrawn h rs lf from her acquaintance , under th e plea of going into a conv ent at

156 PT L CHA ERS FROM FAMI Y CHESTS . t h er e e e urn ed whol videnc , was her positively

e th e e h er insisting that in th ir way to house, wher a e e e ssistance was want d, th y crossed a ford twic , when it was prove d that th ere w as only one straight

e e e river betw n the two hous s . Now supposing

u e in e the g ide to have mad a wheel round, ord r

e to deceive the midwif , and to have again cross e d e the riv r, they must still have forded it a

e e All third time to arriv at the susp cted house .

e e n e co m these Circumstanc s b i g point d out, and ment ed on by t h e judg e for the consideration of t he e e jurymen, they r turn d a verdict of acquittal

th e without leaving court .

Wheth er the susp e cte d parties were or were

’ a not guilty of the crime of murder, observes

’ ’ r e l writer in Bu k s Patrician , could on y be known to th emselves and th e great Disposer Of all things ; b ut no judge or jury would have est ablish e d a diff erent v erdict from such defe e i e e Th e s t v vidence . train of calamity which ue c eeded th e trial may give rise to m elancholy re

ﬁectio ns e , and was, no doubt, consid red by the multitude to have be en the eff e ct of Divine visita

. s L itt leco te tion In few word , the owner of s oon became involve d in estate and deranged in OF L ITTL E TE 157 WILD DARELL CO .

is des o n mind, and said to have died a victim to p

e e and th e e th e e d n y , though fat of ni ce is

e are unknown or forgott n , ruin and misery said to have b efallen th e family which survived him .

In the words of the poe m above referred to

Th e s rif t is one th e riar is one h d , f g , Blindfold as h e came

N xt mornin all in L ittl cot H a e g , e ll ,

W ere mourning for t heir dame.

’ i Dare is an alter d man W ld ll , Th e village crones can t ell ;

H e oo s a e as c a and st ri es t o ra l k p l l y, v p y, n n If h e h ears th e co ve t bell .

’ rince o r er cross are s wa If p pe D ll y, H e b eards him in his prideh

h m t a riar f or ers re If e ee f o d g y ,

’ r and t urn asi H e d oops s de .

From th e Darells th e e state of L ittleco t e is said by tradition to hav e passe d as a bribe to Sir

o Po h am th e e J hn p , Lord Chi f Justice of England,

e who presid ed at th e trial of William Dar ll .

Th e story has b een thus told by a writer in Once

We e t r a ek : Wild Dar ll was arres ed, and p oofs

e him stiﬂ of all kinds were accumulat d against ,

Th e his ing every hop e of his innocence . day for 8 PT R E 15 CHA ERS F OM FAMILY CH STS .

r a e t ial, which was appointed to t ke place befor

e e e Judg Popham, came on . His friends w r bafﬂe d in their ende avours to rescue or screen t h e e e e t culprit, wh n s cr tly one las means were

l e tried . From Wild Darel in his prison a strang

O ff e e u e e r w nt p to Judg Popham , and the Chi f

e e : Justice list n d . It was this that, should

’ el e b e e th e e d Dar l s lif spar d and law, perv rte or

e e e e th e hoodwink d, l av him at lib rty, all fair

r Little co t e e e th e Mano of , the Hall, and v rything

e e b e e . Of prisoner poss ss d, should the brib what bound the compact tradition is silent but

u e " the compact was bo nd, and k pt Wild

e e e i l o t Darrell rod bac k in fr dom to L tt ec e Hall .

Soon afterwards th e day came when h e should

l e e e Th e e e fulﬁ his ngag m nts . de ds and agre m ents which made th e transfer complete w ere

th e e e laid out on gr at tabl , and wanted only

’ r e e e Da ll s signatur . The judge Came to tak

r e possession , bringing st ange s rvants with him .

' Th e u e e signat r s were complet d, and the last of the old family strode sil ently from the little — crowd around him in th e hall a beggar " He

a h eadlo n e e e had been g and g n rous liver, lik his

ri der father, and notably a hard . The poor and

16 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . tive of this distinguished branch of th e ancient

e w as . hous of Popham Francis Popham , Esq ,

L ittleco te Ho undstre et e e i of , and of , Som rs tsh re ,

e 173 e who di d in 0, having devis d his estates to

e t- e his nephew, Lieut nan Gen ral Edward Wil

e e liam Leybourne . That g ntl man assumed in

th e Of consequence surname Popham, and,

e L ittleco t e e as s ating himself at , s rved high f 1830 sheri f of the county of Wilts in . He died

18 3 e e son in 5 , and was succe d d by his eldest

l e e and heir, Edward Wi liam , on whos d ath, in

188 1 th e January, , property devolved upon his

- nephew, Francis William Leybourne Popham , no w L ittle cot e Ho undstre et is of and , who it hoped may live to show that the curse above mentioned is powerless. ELIZ RR C OU SS OF A FA EN, NTE E D RBY .

IN the course of the last two centuries a few

- e untitled and humbly born actr sses, but only a few ‘ , after having taken the town more or less

’ ‘ e by storm as popular favourit s, and having r eign e d for a longer or shorter period as ‘q ueens ’ th e e e e e e of stag , hav found th ms lves rais d to

e coronets, which they hav won with more or

e r l ss prop iety, and in some few cases without

* e Per compromising th ir characters as women . haps the very best and brightest and purest

w as n Specimen of this class Eliza Farre , from f 179 7 down to 1829 Countess O Derby.

5 " The best known of t hese ladies were Lavinia Fento n (‘ Po lly Peach um D uchess of Bolto n ; and Miss Louisa

runton Co unt ess of Cra en. B , v

VOL . 11. I 162 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS .

z w as Li zie Farren , as she called on the

e the e . stag , was daughter of a c rtain Mr George

e r Farr n , a su geon and apothecary of Cork, who

e i was a m mber of a band of stroll ng players, but never rose to anything beyond a provincial

"E e e dau ht er fame and c l brity. His talented g , must have b een born in one of the last

th e . 1769 years of reign of George II , as in we ﬁnd her going about the country acting with sylph- like grac e the part of Columbine at such places as could b e found where th e mayor was willing to give countenance to those stage ex hib itio ns which had been so cruelly proscribed

r e ime e under the Puritan g , and w re forced to re main in th e cold shade for more than a cen

e . . his tury aft rwards Dr Doran, in Knights

’ e r and th ir Days, draws a charming pictu e of

z e was u the little Li zi , when her father locked p by order of th e Mayor of Salisbury as a vaga i bond, marching down the frozen street nto the

’ Eliza s mot er was a Miss W ri t au ter of a h gh , d gh

w r f i r h r S u . rr m f r b e e o L ve poo l . e bro ght Mr Fa en so e o

t une w ic h e issi ate hi irr u ar a i and , h h d p d by s eg l h b ts,

articular his attac ment t tri m m n p ly by h to hea cal a use e ts,

w ic led him to ne ect his rofession and- to oin a h h gl p , j

m an r a co p y of st olling pl yers.

’ 164 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e sh e sh e Townl y, was declared the ﬁrst, and was then almost th e youngest of living actresses .

sh e r And when joined the Dru y Lane company,

ee s in the succ ding season , the principal part

e e e e e e w r divid d b tw en hers lf, Miss Walpole,

‘ ’ Miss P . Hopkins, and Perdita Robinson . Not one of this body was then quite twenty years of ag e " For just twenty years sh e adorned th e Lon

e e th e don stag , playing n arly all principal h charact ers in the stock English com edies. S e attracted th e p ersonal attention of Charles

e Jam s Fox, and of other wits of the time, but

e And without any loss of charact r . for Lord

e sh e Derby, whilst his ﬁrst wif was living, had

ff e th e sub a platonic a ction, which was made

‘ j cet of many squibs and j ests ; but h er co n

’ ’ th e entleman s duct, says Sylvanus Urban in G

‘ Zlf a azine so e e g , was guarded as to be fr from the asp ersions of the most c ensorious and mali

’ cious . As manageress of the plays which were

’ performed at the Duke of Richmond s house in

e sh e e i Whit hall, b came int mately acquainted

e ton with many l aders of and fashion, and all who knew h er admired her and appreciated her worth at its proper value . Z OU OF 1 5 ELI A FARREN, C NTESS DERBY. 6

h er At length came the season for abdication .

Eliza Farren took leave of th e stage at Drury h ni t e e 179 7. Lane at b gin ng of April, At that time private th eatricals w er e not affairs of such frequent occurrence as they have b e com e in our

u e e t h e e m em own days, tho gh s v ral of l ading bers of the nobility and wealthi er gentry had private theatre s ﬁtte d up at their r esp e ctive

n e th e cou try s ats. Amongst others , Wynns of

e at r e . Wynnstay, Lord Barrymor Warg av Lord

e th e O e D rby at aks, n ar Epsom, and the Duke f o Richmond at Goodwood, and at his town

e set th e house in Whit hall, apart a portion of mansions for dramatic purposes ; and it w as probably through the p erformanc e of some of his dramas at th e Oaks that G en eral Burgoyn e

li th e e became al e d with Stanl y family, having m e s e th e arri d the Lady Elizabeth, si t r of then

Earl of D erby.

Th e e so e e e e e arl, it happ n d, had just b n l ft

’ a e m an di fr e , with a coronet at his own sposal

th e e i by death of his ﬁrst wif , the Lady El za

e - e e b th Hamilton Douglas, daught r of Jam s ,

l . so Duke of Hami ton and Brandon And , on th e a in h er s 8th of M y follow g abdication , Mis 66 1 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

Farre n was marri e d by special licence to Lord

’ his e e Derby, at r sidence in St. Jam s s Square ; sh e e became by him the moth r of three children ,

i b e two of whom died young, and the th rd

e came Countess of Wilton, and moth r of the

e e lat arl. In a dramatic magazine of the date of h er

e e is r tir ment from the stage, Eliza Farren thus described

Her ﬁgure is considerably above the middle

e e height, and of that slight t xtur which allows

e us e e and requir s the of full and ﬂowing drap ry, an advantage of which sh e knows w ell how t o

e e Her avail h rs lf. face, though not regularly

f is i i beauti ul, an mated and prepossess ng ; her e e is e n e y , which blu and pe etrating, is a pow r ful feature when sh e chooses to employ it on the

e i e public , and ither ﬂashes with sp rit or m lts with softness as its mistre ss decide s on th e

sh e expression wishes to convey ; her voice ,

in e e though perhaps deﬁcient swe tn ss, is reﬁned

e i h er i sh e is no and f min ne ; and sm les, of which

i e as as niggard, fasc nat the heart much her

m co m for delights the eye . In short, a more p let e exhibition of graces and accomplishments

IL 1 68 CHAPTERS FROM FAM Y CHESTS .

’ ’ aﬂect ed . , and when Mr Wroughton came for ward to speak some lines which had been writ t en sh e e for the occasion , was fairly overcom

‘ ’ and had to be supported by Mr. King . The fall of th e curtain was attended with r ep eated

e bursts of applause, not unmingled with f elings o f re gret for the loss Of an actress then in th e

e z nith of her charms, and while her dramatic and personal reputation were both in the highest e m stee of the public .

Th e Countess of Derby died on the 23rd of

182 9 r e April, , at Knowsley Pa k, Lancashir ,

after protracted suffering} at th e age of sixty six e ri t e , and li s bu ed in h family tomb of the

e r Stanl ys . It is said that sh e gave h e step

th e grandson , future premier of England and

’ ’ e e translator of Homer s Iliad, his arli st lessons

e in locution .

h e It may b e interesting to add that t Mr.

s e Burrough who is m entioned abov , was the

e as sam person who , a boy, had helped Eliza Farren to carry to her father his Christmas

e his br akfast in prison at Salisbury, and who

e e e e ev ntually became a judg , and r ceiv d the

e honour of knighthood. An anecdote r lating to IZ OU OF 16 EL A FARREN, C NTESS DERBY . 9

b e him shall told by Dr . Doran in his own words

‘ h er Not long after presentation at court, where sh e was received with marked kindly

e ee condesc nsion by Qu n Charlotte, the countess w as walking in th e marriage procession of the Princess Royal and th e Duke of Wurtemburg h er th e i sh foot caught in carpet ng, and e would have fall en to t h e ground but for the ready arms

e e e once mor ext nd d to support her of Mr. Bur

— e e e roughs now an min nt man ind ed .

‘ Many ye ar s have been added to the roll of

e time, wh n a carriage containing a lady was on

e its way to Windsor. It sudd nly came to a

- s top by the breaking of an axle tree . In the midst of the distress which ensue d to th e ocen

e a pi r, second carriage approached bearing a

- - e e good natured looking g ntleman, who at onc

ffe e . nis o red his servic s The lady, recog ing an

Old ri e e th e f e . f nd, accept d o f r with alacrity As

’ the two drove off together in the gentleman s c i th e re arr age towards Windsor, owner of it marked that h e almost e xpecte d to ﬁnd h er in d e eve istr ss on th e road ; for it was Christmas , and h e had b e en thinking of old times. 1 7 T 0 CHAP ERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

Ho w many years is it, my lady countess

’ - said he, since I stood at my father s shop door in Salisbury, watching your perilous passage

" over the market- place with a bowl of milk ?

“ ” e e sh e Not so long, at all v nts, answered ,

m e with a s il , but that I recollect my poor father would have lost his breakfast but for your assist ance .

“ Th e no t th e time is long for memory, replied

“ a as judge, nor is S lisbury as far from Windsor

Dan from B e ersheba ; yet how wi de th e distance betwe en th e breakfast at the cage - door at Salis bury and the Christmas dinner to which we are ” e i " both proc eding, in the palace of the k ng ” e e th e The arl is alr ady there, added

ll b e in countess, and he wi happier than the k g himself to w elcome the legal knight who has don e such willing service to th e Lady of th e ” Knight of th e Bath .

7 I H 1 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY C ESTS .

t romantic marriage which he had con racted, in

e e perf ct good faith and innoc nce, with a certain lassie of plebeian e xtraction in one of our East

am Anglian counties, the facts of which I able to lay before my readers from a private and

r authentic sou ce . The young lady to whom Lord Dalmeny

e e thus b cam allied was named Kate, or, as sh e was always called, Kitty Cannon, and her

e e n parents wer substantial yeom n, occupyi g a

e larg farm in the parish of Thorpe , which lies a t th e e e - e end xtrem north ast of Essex, jutting far out into the German Ocean . They were

e plain people ; but th ir daughter had the good, o r e bad, fortune of being extrem ly pretty, and when littl e more than a girl sh e was admire d by the gay young men of ‘ the quality ’ who came down from London to stay with the

’ d e . O issipat d Earl of Rochford, at St syth s

e n s e Priory, and with anoth r mi i terial g ntleman ,

b e who shall nameless, at Mistley Park, near

i e e in Harw ch . Howev r, none of th se titled dividuals condescended to breathe in her e ar

3 . so sh e single word about matrimony ; , when

sh e was just twenty, gave her hand, and (it OF 17 ; A ROMANCE IN THE HOUSE ROSEBERY . 3

e h er e th e e r is to be presum d) h art also, to r cto

e e . . of Thorpe, a R ver nd Mr Gough

A e e e e qui t and remote parsonag , how v r, was not exactly suited to th e taste of a young lady who had once sipp e d the cup of ﬂattery from gentlem en who belonged to the clubs about

’

e in . St . Jam s s, and who moved courtly circles

n e e e sh e Accordi gly, one v ning wh n was stay

e ing in London, being pres nt at a ball in the n eighbourhood of th e then fashionabl e district

e e sh e of Cov nt Gard n , managed to slip out,

e h er unobserv d by husband, and to run away w m e few ith John , Lord Dal ny, who was only a

e e e Sh e y ars old r than h rself. had no children, and doubtl ess his lordship was le d to b elieve

sh e e that was a widow, and quit at her own disposal .

Th e e b tw o pair w nt a road, and remained for or thre e years travelling in th e sunny south ;

e r r 1 52 but in the a ly summe of 7 Kitty Cannon,

e e or Kitty Gough, was tak n s riously ill at Flor

Her e e l ence . illn ss turn d into a gal oping con

th e e sumption , and in May or June of that y ar sh e e few e e h er di d . A hours only b for death, sh e e ‘ l wrote upon a scrap of pap r, I am rea ly 174 C I H HAPTERS FROM FAM LY C ESTS.

wi the fe of the Reverend Mr . Gough , vicar of

m e Thorpe, near Colchester, Essex ; my aid n K name was itty Cannon , and my family belong

’ th e e ri u to sam pa sh . B ry me there .

’ Dalmen s Lord y young wife, as he always

h er w as thought to be, gone before he was a bl e to realise the full meaning of t h e lines

r e was dis which she had w itt n . At ﬁrst he

e h er posed to rej ct them, as a creation of sick brain it was impossible for him to b elieve that the dear companion of his last few years was

e guilty of bigamy. But, whether true or fals ,

h er f he at once resolved, as she lay in co ﬁn at f i Florence, to give e fect to her last w sh , and he inst antly prepared to carry her remains over to

England .

Th e body of this lov ely woman was e m l ‘ ba med, and secured in a very ﬁne oaken coﬁin , decorated with six large silver plates, and it w as then put into a strong outer case hi of common deal, w ch concealed the ominous

e i e shap of ts contents . The j wellery and ward

e o f e s rob the lady were packed in other ch st , and with this cumbersome baggage Lord Dal m eny set o ut upon his melancholy journey by

1 6 HE 7 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY C STS .

out giving any attention to t h e remonstrances

e e e e of Mr . Williams, th y w r about to plung

e th e th ir knives into the larger case, when Hamburg merchant dr ew his sword and told

e e them to desist . He at once mad a Cl an breast

ff i e of the a air, tell ng th m that he was an

w as e i Englishman , and, what mor , an Engl sh

e n u th e nobl ma , and that the chest pon wharf

e contained the body of his dead wif . But this

th e Ofﬁ e wh o explanation did not satisfy c rs,

were not sure that there was no t a murder at

th e e e the bottom of transaction . Th y th refore

e e e e at once brok the out r ch st, tore op n the

co ﬂin e th e e - lid , and lift d cer cloths from the

th e e e l face of mbalmed corps . Lord Da meny

e th e co ﬂin was tak n, along with , to a church

e e h e i e n ar at hand, wh re was deta n d until he

could prove th e truth of his story.

Th e e e Of n ws soon spr ad about, and crowds

the neighbouring villagers came to see th e fair ’ h h f lady s face as s e lay in er co ﬁn . Many of

these identiﬁe d her feature s as those of the

Kitty Cannon who had Sp ent h er childhood at

e e Thorp , and who had disappear d soon after

A t Her marriag e with the vicar of that parish . THE OF 1 A ROMANCE IN HOUSE ROSEBERY. 77

But h ere was a further difﬁculty for his lord ship ; for, though the rest of his story was

e e e th e transpar ntly tru , it was cl ar that lady

e co mm uni a was not r ally his lawful wife . A c tion was at once forwarded to the vicar, who lost no time in coming over to th e Hythe and recognising th e corpse as that of his vanished

e e ff partn r. But what a mystery the whol a air

e e was to him as w ll as to Lord Dalm ny, to

as e e whom at ﬁrst, may be suppos d, he nter t ained e d ee and expressed no v ry frien ly f lings.

h e But h e was soon paciﬁed . Possibly had preach e d but lately a sermon enforcing forgive nes e e e e e s of v n int nded wrongs, and h r was a

e e e wrong which cl arly was not int nd d. Accord in l e e g y, as soon as he was abl to contemplat — th e matter in all i% bearings the de c eption which had been practis e d on the poor young

e i nobl man, and the pass onate constancy which had h o m e him up through his toilsom e journ ey by land and voyage by sea in order to gratify

’ e e th e l his suppos d wif s last prayer, and faithfu

e w e e n ss with hich, like a dog, he watch d b side — h er co ﬂin in th e church h e felt that h e no t e u and r f se to forg ive the wrong, he

V OL . I I .

Me n 7 1 8 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS. s ente d to meet Lord Dalmeny on a fri endly footing . Th e interview between the two rival hus bands is said ia a family record to hav e b e en

’ ‘ no very moving, and doubt must have been touching in the extreme ; the only wonder is that it has not been take n by play- writers to

e work out as a plot for the stag . I am not able to tell my readers the exact words in which Lord Dalmeny assured th e husband of

e his entire innocence of fraud, and of the hon st

e h intentions with which he had act d t roughout .

’ Even the discovery of his long- lost Kitty s de ceit and guilt did not put his love to Shame, or shake his det ermination to follow her to her last

- e th e e resting plac . And the same was fe ling

as of his lordship . The next day, soon as the magist rate s were satisﬁe d that th e law had no t

e e been brok n , both husbands accompani d the

e e e th e loved r mains to Thorp Church, wh re poor frail lady was buried with all the pomp and show which could have been accorded to a

i Of e real peeress . Wh ch the two paid the und r

’ taker s bill is not stated ; but I have every reason to believe that the cost was paid by

180 CHAPTERS FROM FAMI LY CHESTS .

e . . r hous of Primrose As for Mr Gough , he neve

e a t married a second tim , being laid in his l s

- e i 1774 . Th e r st ng place at Thorpe in July, family of Cannon is extinct in the village ;

’ Kitty s monument was removed som e thirty years ago by the vicar, and a ﬂat stone was placed over her remains to form the ﬂoor of a vestry.

’ ‘ me So , as one of her connections wrote to

18 62 sh e u in , there is, Shut p out of sight and

n e h er mind alo g with the parish r gisters, where burial is duly re corded ; and every Sunday the o ﬂiciating parson and clerk tramp solemnly into church over the author of a scandal too great ,

e and too romantic also, to be forgott n , even in the third or fourth generation . Kitty Cannon ,

’ ‘ or Kitty Gough, adds my correspondent, is I

l e e be i v , the ﬁrst woman in England who had two husbands to follow her to the grave

’ together. It only remains to add that this story is told

’ his very brieﬂy by Chambers in Book of Days,

(vol . ii, p . and also at g reater length with

e Once a Week . mor minuteness in , (vol by

wh o u a lady signs her name Diana B tler, who OU OF 18 1 A ROMANCE IN THE H SE ROSEBERY.

’ c Hanco mb e alls the lady Kitty , and the nobl

’ e man Lord Dalry, doubtless in ord r to throw a t i e sh e e h n veil ov r the transaction which relat s.

’ e She, however, gives a portrait of Kitty, tak n

e from an original painting in her own poss ssion , a s can e e I c rtify. Happily Kitty l ft no child by either husband, and perhaps it is fortunate

Sh e e e that never b came a mother. The arldom

’ o f Rosebery devolved on h er second husband s

e e e next brother, whos great grandson is the pr s nt peer. ’ THREE VERY FAIR SEYMOURS.

* THE e e r cent death of the Duch ss of Somerset,

e who was one of thr e very beautiful , witty, and

e accomplish d Sisters, and who, as Lady Seymour, preside d with grace and elegance over th e

e 1839 Eglinton Tournam nt in August, , may serve to remind th e re ader of history that the

e e e h as nobl hous of S ymour , from a very early date, been celebrated for the beauty of its daughters ; and the truth of th e tradition may be prove d by the many portraits in o ur g reat

l e e th e pub ic and private gall ri s, painted by hands of Sir P eter Lely and Sir Godfrey

e e Kn ll r. But probably there was never a fairer triplet n of daughters to be seen than the Ladies A ne,

Of 3. Margaret, and Jane Seymour, daughters

c m r 14 1 4 . Her Grace died D e e be , 88

184 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

the title of Tombeau de Marguerite de Valois ,

w e Royne de Navarre. From the same work

o ne Deniso t e learn that Nicholas , who had b en

e preceptor to th se learned ladies, made a collee

and tion of their distiches some other verses, as well in honour of them as in commemoration of th e

e e e de que n , and d dicated it to anoth r Marguerite

e e e Valois, Duch ss de Berrie , sist r of H nry II . of

e h e s France . Th y have been praised, add , by

e e sev ral authors, particularly by Ronsard , whos O de pays th e se three fair Seymours the compli ment of suggesting that ‘ if Orpheus had only

e ul heard th m , he wo d have been safe to become their pupil 1’ It is delightful to read the gushing words o t th e Frenchman himself : If that famous writer

e heard the song of these syr ns, who Sing upon

Al h e the foamy shores of their sandy bion , would surely break his pagan lyre and b e com e i their scholar, in order to learn their Christ an

’ n e o w n 1 so g, as their voices excell d his He

e t : n adds, in the same hyp rbolic s rain Lear ing,

so e t which long r sided in the Eas , has at last by

e degre s advanced into the West, and never

ste ed p p , till it arrived at that unknown land, IR 1 5 THREE VERY FA SEYMOURS. 8 whither sh e came to engage the aff e ctions of these young virgins, the only ones of our age ; and sh e succ e eded so well with th e m that we

e e hear th m singing th ir many distiches, which

’ we blush to ﬁnd superior to our own . And,

e further, the l arned translator of Amadis de Gaule Spoke in terms e qually enthusiastic of the

e e r tal nts and l a ning of these ladies, in a letter

e hi which he addr ssed to them, and w ch was pre ﬁxed to a collection of epitaphs on Queen

e e e e Margar t h rs lf. It is, ther fore, surprising that their nam e s were always and are so little known , if not in France, yet in their own

r s r count y. Thus Mon ieu Bayle says that he has questioned some Englishmen of great learning, and well versed in the knowledge of books and

nd of authors, but can ﬁ little or nothing known i about them . And apparently the r names were

n e e unk own ven to L land, the royal antiquary ; though this may be accounted for by the fact that he became insane b efore he had reache d

e e s o e e middl lif , and probably their names scap d th e knowle dge of the many biograph ers who

’ copied and reproduced L eland s stores of inf o r mation . 186 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e e It would seem , from the slight sketch of th s

n e — e you g ladi s given by Mr . Ballard whos work lik ewise deserves to b e b etter known than it is — that they w ere the thre e eldest daughters of

e th ir parents, and that they had three younger

Sisters, who proved to be by no means their

e e quals in devotion to the Mus s, though the author is at the pains to tell us that th ey were

e e all bred up to learning. Th y wer all quite young, and the third was probably little more

' than a child when their fame made its sudden

e 155 1 l blaz in . They were brought up carefu ly

w th e e at home and a ay from court ; and, b sides

’ e ‘ e e th ir pr ceptor for the Latin tongu , they had oth er professors to teach them music and the

’ f e sciences. O th ir skill in br oidery and ne e dle

e work there is no r cord possibly Mr . Ballard did no t lay much stress on that branch of feminine

e . One e w e accomplishm nts of th m , ho ev r, sang

e e divin ly, and anoth r played with great skill on

’ vir irrals the g .

Of their subseque nt life there is v ery little t o sa th e y. Possibly young men about th e Court and in high society in those days did no t care for such qualities as a taste for composing Latin

1 88 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . w h dl as Jo n Du ey, Earl of Warwick, and after

ir his death She married S Edward Untou , Knight

f e e o the Bath . The dat of her d ath is not r ecorded in the Peerages, nor is it known

h e whether s e left any childr n behind her. As for the three youngest sisters whom I have

e e m ntioned incid ntally above , the name of one is not given by Sir Bernard Burk e and the

e as heralds ; but the two oth rs, being less learned,

th e r i found husbands, Lady Ma y marry ng, ﬁrstly,

e Mr. Andrew Rogers, and, secondly, Sir H nry

t l e Pey on , of Peyton Ha l ; whil her sister, the

iz Lady El abeth, became the wife of Sir Richard

Kni htle g y, ofNorton and Fawsley, the owner of many broad acres and manors in Northampton s i h re and the other midland counties, and an a n ncestor of the present baronet of that ame . LE TICE DI BY L DY FFALEY G O . T , A

TH E Lady Lettice Digby is a heroin e whose name right well deserves to b e held in remem brance along with those of Lady Brilliana

e e th e Harley, of Blanch Lady Arund ll, and of

e Lady of Lathom , whose def nces of Wardour

Castle and Lathom House I hav e told in pre

" vio us er-S e e pap i Her def nc of Geashill Castle,

’ K e Of in ing s County, Ir land, was one the most

Spirite d episod es in the history of the Irish

e 164 1 S e e R bellion in . h was by birth Lettic Fitz G erald th e Of , being only child Gerald,

Off ale w e - e Lord y, hos great grandfather, G rald,

e e t h e ninth earl of Kildar , was an anc stor of

e e Her e ducal hous of L inster. moth r, the Lady

e i Of e e Katharin Knollys, a cous n Que n Elizab th,

e r 1580. was l ft a widow almost at her bi th, in

‘ ’ See a e r i T s Of eat Families 2nd Series vol. . l G , , , p and 1st ri l i Se es vo . . , , p 278 . 1 I H 9 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY C ESTS .

Th e e arldom , of course, descended in the male

’ Oﬂale line , but the barony of y, as a barony in fe e , was one which it was thought c ould pass t o e e e f males , and was th refor claimed for the

e th e youthful heir ss while still a child . But

e claim, though brought befor the judges , was

e kept so long in disput that King James I . u ndertook to adjudicate it in person , and in the end e he did so, b ing probably moved by gifts

e and presents, which in his day often h lp ed to

e e e e promote or to d f at justic . His Maj sty in the end adjudged the ancient barony to the

e earl, but cr ated Lettice Knollys Baron ess

' ’ ﬂal h O e e . T e y for lif King s grant, which is

16 19 e dated in , and was made under the gr at

e e th e Seal of England , inv st d her with lands o f Killeagh and the territory and dem e sne of

Geashill, which She brought by marriage into the Digby family .

ri 164 1 When the I sh rebellion of broke out,

' a s e e ﬂale mention d abov , the Lady O y was some

ee sixty years of age , and had b n a widow for a

e ‘ q uarter of a c ntury. With the reb els Sh e c e e th e ould mak no common caus , and with defe ction of the Lords of the Pale she could

1 I 9 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS . helpless inmates had been butchere d or driven

h e forth homeless and Shelterl ess . T Lady Let tic e had too much spirit to yi eld herself to such a fate without a struggle, or without ﬁghting a

- e e th e blow in self def nc e . She alike qu stioned authority of h er enemie s and distrusted their promises of mercy.

’ ‘ sh e ‘ e e I am, replied, as I hav ver been , k a loyal subject of my king. I than you

Of e for your f r of a convoy, which, how

e . ever, I hold as of little saf ty Being free

ff e w t o from o ending His Maj sty, or doing rong

o u die e any of y , I will live and innoc ntly, and

e m will do my best to def nd y own , leaving the ’ h ’ issue to God . Such was t is noble lady s dauntless answer to a summons sent fraudu

’ lentl th e e y in king s name, r quiring her to give

’ h er h r h up castle to e own and t e king s en emi es .

e e e e il Being surround d by ext nsiv bogs, G ash l

as Castle was by no means easy of approach, already m entioned ; but in proportion to its strength was its possession of importance to

’

s . G essh all is the rebel , in the King s County, v ery necessaire to be had ; it is a matter of consequence to Her Majestie ’s service in that DICBY OFFAL EY LETTICE , LADY . 19 3

’ count e y , were the words of Sir Henry Sidney, when h e paid a visit to Ireland in the previous

e was reign of Elizab th . Sixty years later it an e e e qually valuable priz , and the rebels d ter

e ul mined to s cure it if they co d, at all cost .

Negotiations with its high - spirited owner

e e e being usel ss, they proceed d to mak an assault on th e castle ; but they experienced

e such a warm r ception on a near approach, that

e ‘ ne th e they were glad to r treat . O of Lady

’ Offale s y sons, having fallen into the hands of

e e the reb ls, was brought under the castl walls

e o ut nl e in chains, and a threat was h ld that, u ss sh e e i e mad at once an uncond tional surr nder,

r his o ff e they would st ike head befor her eyes .

e sh e e Nothing daunt d, r plied that She had a Roman Catholic priest as a prisoner within her

sh e o ut walls, that would bring him upon the

i edi ramparts, and that his l fe should be imm ate ly forfeited if the rebels touched a hair of her

’ th e l e e son s head . As rebe s wer Catholics, r ver ence for their prie st induced them to withdraw

e e as the pric of his saf ty.

e e w as e The si g , however, renew d after a

e i brief int rval, and pr soners were taken on either

VOL . II . 0 1 4 H R R 9 C APTE S F OM FAMILY CHESTS .

. On e side one occasion a mess nger, sent by

’ Oﬂale s w as Lady y with a letter to the rebel ,

’ d n sh e etained by them . I am i nocent, wrote, nl of doing you any injury, u ess you count it an injury for my people to bring back a small

o wn quantity of my woods when they ﬁnd them , and with them some men who have done me all

e " the ill th y can devise .

The siege was suspended for a time, but not l abandoned, an interva of two months being Spent in making preparations for a renewed a e Of ssault. A hundr d and forty fragments old iron were collected from every quarter, and brought together, and an Irish rebel undertook th e e i work of ﬁxing th m, and mould ng them

o ne e into hug cannon . Three times were they

e b ut recast b fore the work was completed, the lady of Geashill showed no signs of alarm . At length the engine w as brought across th e bogs to the front of the castle . Hoping to intimidate

e Clanmalier el its gallant d fender, Lord hims f .

e n wrot to her, announci g the arrival of this

e l h er formidable pi ce of ordnance, tel ing that h e would never leave the spot to which he had

s advanced, until he had gained posse sion of the

1 6 T 9 CHAP ERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . not understand by relation that my piec e o f

e e b e ordnanc did not prosper, I believ you will sensible of the hazard and less you are like t o

t e e e t o sus ain th reby, unless you be b tt r advised accept of the kind Offer which I mentioned t o you in my last letter unto you If not, — exp ect no further favour at my hands And so

’ ’ e hi & c I r st, your ladys p s loving cousin, .

Th e fawning hypocrisy of her fe e was well met by th e ke en and caustic reply of Lady

Otfaley

- re My Lord, Your second summons I have ceived e e o f , and shall be glad to ﬁnd you t nd r

d n e r my good . For your piece of or na ce I n ve

e e e u u disput d how it prosp r d, pres ming you wo ld rathe r make use Of it for your own defence o r against your en emies than against a poor widow

e b e of your own blood, which , if sh d, shall require d at t h e hands of those that s eek to Spill

e l me it . For my part , my conscience t l s that I

e —I am innoc nt, and I wish you so too . rest,

’

u & c. yo r cousin ,

In this le tter true womanl y feeling and thorough h eroism are apparent in closest

o f alliance . Lady Lettice was not ashamed DICBY OFFAL EY 1 LETTICE , LADY . 9 7

pleading her womanhood and her widowhood .

Her mind was free fromarrogance and prid e ; sh e uttered no hard words sh e was cautious as

e e e w ll as courageous . Wh n her dang r became

e h er e e e more immin nt, and resources gr w f bler, sh e felt that help from outside was not to be re

d 2 s suc ect e . th e 164 h e j At end of April, , cee ded m e e in infor ing Sir Charl s Coot , who was

e a th n at Na s, in the county of Kildare , of the

He straits to which sh e was r e duc e d . applied

th e r at once to Earl of O mond, who was at

th e e Dublin , for instructions, and matt r was laid b efore the council at Dublin Castle . It was determined that no time should b e lost in s end in e l g assistanc to Geashill. Accordingly, Phi ip

e e so n th e - e Sydn y, Lord de Lisl , of Lord Li u

’ t o f I e tenan reland, was s nt to the King s

e e e County, with a r giment of carabin rs and a

h e company of dragoons, which had brought

him r e with f om England . He was plac d in this high command in spite of his youth ; but

he would have b elie d the high nam e which h e

e e e bor , had he not been forward to r nd r assist anc e wh ere such claims of chivalry and

’ hi Ao humanity were p ut forth as at Geas ll . 19 8 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

W Sir companied by Sir George entworth ,

Charles Coote , and Lord Digby, the Lady Let

’ e e s o n s t o ff e th e tic s ldest , he e at onc , and at

e head of three hundr d horse, and half that

- number of foot soldiers . But their active aid

e e was scarcely ne ded, for, though they wer slightly harrassed by some reb el skirmishers as

e e s l th y cross d the bog, yet on reaching Gea hi l it was found that the rebels had gone o ff into

th e th e woods and e mountains. It app ared

’ ﬂale e that Lady O y, weary of waiting for h lp ,

e e or, at all v nts, unaware that it was close at

e e en o f hand, had d spatch d mess gers to some

Fitz G eralds her relatives among the , asking for the loan Of about ﬁfty foot - soldiers to protect

s her again t the mixed multitude of insurgents.

e n th e h er This latter, however, f ll i to hands of

e r fo s, who were on the p oint of retu ning to

e e o f ren w the sieg , when the sudden arrival the royal troops scattered them one and all t o the winds .

Although repeate dly urged by her fri ends t o r e e s etire to some place of p ace and saf ty, thi

heroic lady preferred to r emain within her own

c ow - d astle walls, which were n well provide

ROMANCE OF THE EARLD OM OF

K I ELL E .

I T is not Often that a coronet passes over

Sixteen or seventeen intervening h e ads to upon that of a person eighteenth in remainder. Yet such an event happened in the middl e of last century in the nobl e Scottish house of

e u Erskin , which enjoys, among other hono rs, l the earldom of Kellie . If anybody wil be at

’ the pains of turning to the pages of Sharpe s

e ll e Pe rage, he wi see that, while Mr. M thven

e Erskin was married to Joanna, daughter of

Ro sshire his Gordon of Ardoch, in , brother

’ Thomas w as als o married to that lady s sis ter

see Anne . He will also that both of these gen tlemen e s outliv d their seniors, and became Earl f l O Kel ie, and that their respective ladies also R LL ROMANCE OF THE EA LDOM OF KE IE . 201

' ‘ ’ lived to become countesses . Marriages, they

’ s a ‘ are b ut e y, made in heaven, , as th se two

r unions came about th ough a Shipwreck, the

e truth of the stat ment may be doubted. The Castle of Ardoch stands perched on a rock high abov e the waves of the German

n e Ocea , on a headland somewhere b tween

e Tarbat and Fortros . The owner of this do main (Mr. Adam Gordon) in one of the last years of the reign of Georg e IL , or soon after

. i the accession of George III , was walk ng late o ne h e evening in his grounds, when heard a gun ﬁred as a Signal of distress by a vess el in the

fﬁ e o ng. It was a v ry stormy night, and he knew that there was littl e chance for a good ship which got n ear the rocks of that headland

e when a strong ast wind was blowing. He c his s and e e alled servant t nants, how ver, and hastened down a cleft in th e rocks to the beach ; but no trac e s of th e ill- fated vessel were to be

n e fou d, except a few broken spars and som small fragments of timber ﬂoating hither and

th e thither upon waves. These they tried to

e collect as they cam to the shore, and among oth er wreckage was a sort of tiny crib of 202 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

- e e wicker work, inside of which was a f mal infant, alive, in Spite of the cold and wet to which she had been exposed . It was the work of a few moments to rescue the little stranger ,

n u e throw , like a second Undine, pon a strang shore . — The waves have hither brought ’ Th i t ne e helpless l t le o . From the clothes wrapped round its tiny body

sh e it was clear to Mr . Gordon that was a child of p arents of no low condition b ut there was in h er clothing no clue as to who or wh at h er parents

th e might be, nor was there anything to Show name of vessel thus lost and swallowed up by th e waves . It was a matter of course to a hospitable i Scott sh heart like that of Mr . Gordon to take the little foundling home and have her wants

his He attended to by wife and daughters.

e doubtl ss supposed, and at ﬁrst probably hoped , that ere long the little waif of th e sea foam would be claimed ; and in the meantime the hi latter was reared with his own c ldren , who w ere young and who came soon to regard her as a sister.

- 2 01 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . having been saved from the jaws of the ocean a s by a miracle . The stranger listened with a great interest and emotion , and said th t at the date corresponding with her infancy his o wn

e sister, with a little infant, was lost in a vess l

O ff the eastern coast of Scotland, which foundered in a storm .

e th e e As is oft n the case, un xpected not only

is e O e e . probabl , but ft n do s happen in reality

so co t And it was here . The or cradle in which

e the foundling came ashore, on b ing shown to

- e b e the new comer, was pronounc d to singular ly like that which his sister h ad made for her

e sh e Th e e b fore left India . featur s of the young

to o e t e lady, , corr sponded wi h thos of his own relatives. Further inquiries brought out other points of similarity, and a mark on the little

’ lady s cov erlet bore th e initial le tter of her

’ ’ and father s mother s name . The foundling

e e orphan , th r could be little doubt, was his own

’ S ister s child.

e The gentl man was a merchant, and the shipwreck which he had suff ered had not ruined

h im G ott enb er . . He had a home at g , in Sweden

w as O e It pen for the r ception of his niece, and 205 ROMANCE OF THE EARLDOM OF KELLIE . there was a little fortune re ady for the young lady there in case sh e should e ver be found .

e t o Twenty y ars, however, had endeared her

sh e th e her sisters, as called Misses Gordon , and sh e was unwilling to go to Sw e den with h er

e - e o ne th e es n wly discover d uncle , unless of Miss

u h e r Gordon wo ld accompany , and the other promised to com e and stay with her upon h er

’ Sister s return to Scotland . h Accordingly, Miss Anne Gordon sailed wit h er adopt e d sister from the por t of Leith for

e 1 71 e Swed n , where , in 7 , only a few w eks after

G Ott enb er sh e e th e e landing at g , b came wif of

e e Mr. Thomas Erskin , a young r brother of Sir

W e e e illiam Erskin , of Cambo, in Fif shir , who had

e e e e long b en s ttled ther as a m rchant, and was

e th e a man of wealth . Not long aft rwards

can e th e young lady, whom I only d scribe as

i h er e foundl ng of Ardoch, followed exampl ; but I do not know th e name of th e man who

ff e e so o r d her his hand and his heart, I can only

’ hope that sh e live d happy ever afterwards .

e But, wheth r this was the case or not, at all events th e sea off ere d no obstacle to th e inti macy which e xisted between th e good p e ople I 2 06 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS.

e G o tt enb er of Ardoch and thos in g . And so

e r it cam to pass that, some nine or ten yea s

e e lat r, Miss Joanna Gordon was marri d to Mr .

h er Methven Erskine, the younger brother of

’ e sist r s husband . Deaths followed in rapid suc c e ession in the family of Lord Kelli , and in

17 7 e m 9 the arldo devolved on Charles Erskine.

He e e liv d, however , to enjoy the titl little more t e 1 9 9 h e han two y ars , for in 7 followed his a th e ncestors to the grave, and earldom of

Kellie passed to his uncle and heir, Thomas

Erskine , who had been for some time a consul

S O in Sweden . And it came to pass that the incident of a shipwreck twenty or thirty years before result e d in bestowing the coronet of a c ountess ﬁrst on one and then on the other

th e of two Misses Gordon of Ardoch . One kinsman of the last of these two noble men is the present Earl of Kellie, the same t owhom the House of Lords in 18 75 adjudged an earldom of Mar, created, or supposed to have 1565 hi been created, in , whilst the old storic e arldom of Mar, whose origin, according to

‘ ’ Lord Hailes, is lost in the mists of antiquity, is still borne by the heir of line of the house

A ROMANCE IN THE DARTMOUTH

ILY FAM .

S OME few miles from Huddersﬁeld, in the

West Riding of Yorkshire, and on the borders

’ ‘ W o o dso m e of the black country, stands Hall,

ld- hi an O fashioned country house, w ch has been from time almost immemorial the property Of the

A r o s Legges, now Earls of Dartmouth . p p o of

is the old manor, there a good story told by tradition in the Legge family respecting th e ist t s er of an ancestor of Lord Dar mouth , who

h e lived som e two hundred years ago . S was

Old a grand dame , and had outlived her

e youth and prime many y ars, and had resided ld alone in one wing of the house . O Miss

’ ri Susan , for such was the lady s Ch stian name, sooth to say, was very proud, and fond of IN 20 A ROMANCE THE DARTMOUTH FAMILY . 9

h er h er e i having own way, and in own stabl sh

e sh e e e e m nt was perhaps more f ar d than lov d .

Sh e e e e e ri th e liv d in tol rable stat , b ing ch as

e e e world th n consid red w alth , though probably,

th e e w e e - a- sh e at rat at which liv now days, would b e said to have had little more than a

e e comp t ncy .

so e - e It happ ned that one of her body s rvants ,

Simon Jenkins, in a ﬁt of despondency at

S O e n dO— a having littl , or rather othing, to fault of which mod ern retainers are not in — th e habit of complaining committe d suicid e by hanging himself to the bedst ead of his

th e n t e th e e . room , on or hern sid of hous The chamb er in which this happ ened is still point e d

Th e e e out. sudd n d ath of Simon caused, as ma b e e e and co n y easily suppos d, no littl stir st ernatio n among the inmates of W o o dsome

’ l e e e due Hal . A coron r s inqu st follow d in

e e ‘ r cours , and a sol mn verdict of tempora y

’ insanity was returned ; so in due course he

th e ri th e was buried in pa sh church, within

’ e Th e u pr cincts of her ladyship s park. f neral ,

e e e at v ry naturally, was at once att st d and tend e d by a large gathering Of the household

VOL . II . P 2 10 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . o f which Simon had been so important a mem ber. In the afternoon of the day on which th e funeral took plac e (for Jenkins had b e en a great favourite with his mistress) Miss Susan commande d th e attendance of all her domestics

e in her chamb r, and when they were assem

e e e : bl d, addr ss d them as follows Simon Jen w kins, as you all kno , was a worthy servant, and kn ew and did his duty well . I was very fond of him, and much regret his loss . But l I do not wish , and indeed I Shou d be much

s e e e so afraid, to him in the ﬂ sh ; , if anyone of you shall se e h im walking about the corri

are dors, as suicides often reported to do, I tell you plainly that he or sh e shall quit my

’

all . service . And now you may go Her

u sermon ended, the proud old lady took p her

i - walk ng cane leisurely, and retired to her own

e sh e t chamb r, where probably sea ed herself in

- — her high backed arm - chair I can scarcely call — it an easy- chair to take her post- prandial snooze. And now comes the Nemesis of the t s ory . One evening in the same week Miss S usan had

so as e t dined alone, far gu s s were concerned,

2 12 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . of the lady herself is a question that has been w often asked, but is kno n only to the family,

e even if it is known to them . It is oft n told by Lord Dartmouth to a circle of intimate friends and visitors to the grand Old mansion under th e

’ ’

e . title of N mesis, or the Butler s Ghost And I

is may add that mine the authentic version , for I tell th e tale as Lord Dartmouth himself told

r it to one of my oldest and most trusty f iends.

’ e e e The Susan Legg , whose servant s fat I hav

th e e s recorded, was probably one of ﬁve daught r

e - th e Ord of G orge Legge, Master General of

e and l mi nanc , a so ad ral in the British Fleet, whose name is known to history as the captor

e was of Tangi r. He created Lord Dartmouth

1682 son l in and his and successor, Wil iam , second baron, having ﬁlled many important

th e e e w as posts in gov rnm nt under Queen Anne, raise d to the Viscountcy of Lewisham and Earl i 1711 dom of Dartmouth n . OL D L DY C K A OR .

S OMEWHAT less than half- a- century ago there w ere three titled ladies who reign e d with almost undispute d sway over West- End society in Lon

— e t n e don Lady Bl ssing o , Lady Charlevill , and

sh e old Lady Cork, as was called during the

e e th e last two or three decad s of a lif which, in

e end, was prolonged far b yond the period allow

n r ed by David . She had b e en a early rise all her i ch ldhood, youth, and middle age, and, till a few d e sh e e six ays b fore her death, rose r gularly at ; so it is no wonder that sh e had a narrow e scape

e sh e of becoming a v ritable centenarian, though

e es th e e liked the pl asur of tabl , and made it a point to th e last always to din e out if sh e had

e not company at hom . Her ladyship was by

th e birth Honourable Mary Monckton , daughter o f the ﬁr st Viscount Galway in the Pe erage of 2 14 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

- . th e 1739 4 Ireland She was born about years 0, and as soon as sh e ﬁrst cam e out was appoint

a - of- e In ed maid honour to Qu en Charlotte .

17 68 sh e e married Edmund, s venth Earl of Cork and Orrery ; and b efore the end of the century sh e had assembl e d at h er table half th e lions o f — the time young Arthur Wellesley and Burke ,

e e e and Charl s Jam s Fox and the young r Pitt , l and the still more youthfu Samuel Rogers, and

Sh e e Mrs . Montagu . Indeed, was stat d by a writer in the N ew Monthly to have had among her frequent guests both Dr. Johnson

e s e and Sir Joshua R ynold ; and in early lif ,

’ h er sat as a child at parents house, she to

s Reynold for her portrait.

e sh e Lady Cork has been credit d, or rather

e n used to cr dit herself, with havi g ﬁrst brought

n i e Sheridan i to public not c . There was Sheri

’ ’ ‘ sh e t r dan , said a one of her soi ees ; I was his

e —in e ﬁrst fri nd London , at least ; I used to invit

u and him to B rlington Street, to introduce him to people who were likely to b e useful to him .

Th e s eat for which he sat at Stafford was put in

e his way by me . My brother, Edward M nck

t o n w as his , you know, colleague for a long

2 16 TE I CHAP RS FROM FAM LY CHESTS .

mania had reache d to fever point . At which t e e im , when visiting her friends, She perceiv d

e t w as no t any strangers, her ﬁrst qu s ion , who ,

“ ” or wha t ar e they but what can th ey do ?

’ Yet in , with all Lady Cork s admitted taste the ” e “ sh e nu s lection of her evening stars, was acquainted with that skill and delicacy of polis h

e hi ff requisite to mak them s ne with full e ect. Her ladyship w as unpractised in the nic e tact

e and ﬁness which draws forward, imperceptibly

th e to possessor, the amusive powers of the

On r sh e s tir u gifted . the cont ary, would p the reposing faculties of her lions somewhat too

e e show- beast much in the fashion of a hackn y d ,

lo n ole r e i e and by using the g p too b iskly , som t m s

“ ” th e e fright more delicat monsters, the more

i e timid animals, into s lence, or xasperate the

e de ﬁance— h er mor savage into thus, by pre

o r - i okin s e mature ill t med j g and ticklings, d feat

e ing her own int nt, and not unfrequently some

“ ” “ - wi e lion rough, who other se had roar d as — ’ gently as any sucking dove Or an t were ” an e sh e y nightingale, whos humour had turned ” th e e s amy side without, would show his claws,

ff e in e ct saying, If you think that I have come 2 OLD LADY CORK . 17

' hither as a lion , it is really a pity ; no , I

’ am no such thing ; I am no such thing ; I am a

7 7 , man as other men are .

’ Lady Cork had to complain of Dr. Johnson s

e u rudeness, if th re be tr th in the following

e story, which has be n told over and over again about that eccentric prodigy of learning

’ e ? You kn w Dr. Johnson said a gentleman to

sh e her. Knew Dr. Johnson answered ; why,

’ e e he was my bosom fri nd . I ll t ll you a story o f H e me and in th e him . was sitting by , , heat

e e m e of his conv rsation, b gan pinching y kne I was young then . I bore it a little while, and ” e e hilo so th n r monstrated. Madam , said the p

e — one must have a ph r, I beg your pardon but ” uietin m ti n ne q g o o . O would willingly have gon e far to see in th e ﬂesh a lady who had thus

quieted the Old bear who frequ ented th e Blue

Stocking Club . Among those who were invited to her lady

’ ship s salo ns w ere Charles Matthews and Theo dore Hook ; but both of those worthies resented

" th e idea of b eing exp e ct e d to Show o il or to

’ be shown o ff either ; and v ery amusing is

’ Theodore Hook s account of the way in which 218 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . he defeated the designs of his hostess and

r . e enemy in this di ection In spit , however, of

’ t contr etem s such li tle occasional p , Lady Cork s parti e s were rendered agre e able by h er piquancy and wit ; and to the very last her memory was

ul prodigious . She co d repeat the longest pas n sages of Shakespeare, and Milton , and Byro ,

’ ’ ’ and even of Dryden s ‘ Virgil and Pope s

’ ne e i Co mh ermere s Homer. O ev n ng at Lady house, when she was approaching her eightieth year, whilst waiting for her carriage or sedan

sh e m chair, sat down in the hall in the idst of several of th e gentlemen who dangled about

e a her, and recit d with great animation half of

’ ’ book of Homer s Iliad .

Sh e e t b e When gr w old, if the truth mus told — though sh e had the character of b eing wise as

e — e as w w ll as witty she grew rather d spotic ell , and would say som etim es v e ry cross and ill

e e e Sh e natur d things of and to her b st fri nds . also indulge d in th e peculiarity of what is call e d

’ ‘ kleptomania ; and it was no uncommon thing for the host and hostes s of the hous e at which sh e dined to leave a stray pewte r fork or spoon

o ff h er uf . O in the hall for her to carry in m f nce, i ri direc ndeed, She car ed her propensity in this

D L L THE E A PO ES.

FEW of our most ancient and most noble houses have had a more sadly chequered and pathetic

s can e ui hi tory, and few boast a high r antiq ty or

e e greater nobility than the D e la Pol s, who w re

- e n - - l merchant princ s at Ki gston upon Hu l, in

e th e e Yorkshir , as far back as r ign of E dward

III e i n . Th y probably derived the r ame from

e e Pol , in Montgomery, clos to which was the a bbey of De la Pole . Th ey were at a very early time connected

e with the wool trade , as app ars from the fact 7 t hat in 12 1 Henry III . issue d a precept order ing to William De la Pole and others the pay

e e l m nt of tw lve pounds nine shil ings, in payment

’ fo r Giles s cloth purchased at St . Fair, in

W e inchest r. In the same year we are told that an embargo was laid on ﬁfty sacks of skins O E 1 THE DE LA P L S . 22

of wool, the property of William De la Pole ,

e e m rchant, of Rouen, in ord r that they might no t b e removed o ut of the kingdom ; and in th e following year w e read of an allowance of forty

e marks made to Nicholas De la Pol and others,

e th e e ag nts for Flemish m rchants, for losses sustained by English merchants in Flanders .

ne t O of this family, John Pole, was the ﬁrs

Of so n so n Mayor Hull . His Edmund had a ,

William, who became a London citizen , mer

w o olsta ler chant, and p ; and , in consideration of a subsidy off ered to th e king at a time of

e e ‘ e sp cial nec ssity, when mon y stood him in

’ o ne men- at - h e more stead than thousand arms, was enriched by his sovereign with various

e e estates, and mad a knight banner t, a dignity

th e 1358 then next to baronage . In , two

th e Of Po ictiers th e years after battle , abbot of a house in Normandy conv eye d to him four

hi l h e English manors, w ch stil belong to t hos

O r his pital at Ewelme , xfordshi e, founded by

e d scendants a century later .

e so n l De e e Micha l, of Wil iam la Pol , ros into favour with Edward III. during his wars with

France . By Richard he w as made a Knight of 22 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAMIL Y CHESTS. t h e ff and Garter and Earl of Su olk, , in the end,

His so n Lord High Chancellor of England.

M his ichael, the second earl, died like father in

France , and was brought to England to be

e h buried at Ewelme, leaving the titl to is

e . As e broth r William, third earl the latt r stood

’ e his e b side brother s grave , a youth of ninet en, h is h e future bride, Alice C auc r, was a child of

Sh e e his e four ; lived to b come wife, aft r bury — ing two other husbands ﬁrst Sir Thomas

Philip, and , secondly, Thomas Montacute, Earl

w as l ie e of Salisbury, who kil ed at the s g of

O e - rleans, wh n , we are told, the battle cry of the

’ s De English troops was Sali bury and la Pole .

e sh e Soon aft r her third marriage, joined with h er husband in building and endowing the

e its church of Ewelm , with adjoining hospital a nd grammar- school ; and sh e lies in alabaster o n r a noble altar tomb in that Chu ch, wear

h er ing on arm the blue Riband of the Garter,

e once worn by her second husband, a privileg almost unique . But the Earl of Suffolk was not content with

in ri a mere share a work of cha ty. He would

224 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

3 e e r crowned at Paris in 14 0. For th s and othe

e services he was cr ated a marquis , and he was ff 1448 raised to the dukedom of Su olk in . But the goodwill of the Court and of th e g re at lords arouse d very different fe elings in th e th e breasts of nation at large, who became more and more embittered against him as he

’ e rose step by step in favour at St . Jam s s and

r e e Whitehall . He was cha g d with having hand d

e e e i over the provinc s of Main and Anjou to R n er,

l e e King of Sici y, on the marriag of his daught r,

Que en Margaret ; with having b etrayed State secrets to th e French ; with having equipped th e castle of Wallingford with warlike stores for the servic e of the French in case of an inva sion and with other high misdemeanours—all

r w as i probably alike unt ue . He accord ngly arraigne d before his peers by th e Speaker of m the House of Commons, and com itted to the

Tower ; but h e manage d to escap e from his

e keepers and the stone walls of the Tow r, and H . e took ship to France was, however, stopped

th e in Downs, where he was greeted with,

‘ ri Welcome, traitor A mock t al followed, as every reader of Shakespeare knows . He was L O 225 THE DE A P LES . taken within a few furlongs of the Shore by his

’ e e e o ﬂ e captors , and b h ad d D over, his body b ing

e in ﬁeld Suf carri d for burial to W g Church, in

e e e e a his . folk, wh r th r is monument to memory

He e e e th e , doubtl ss, f ll in r ality a victim to fac

th e tion of Richard, who then was thirsting for

n h e O e . crow , which subsequently btain d

son His John became, by his death , second

e H e duke when only eight y ars old . married

Elizab eth Plantagenet in the year of the d e ath

r th e of her fathe , Richard Duke of York, on

e - ﬁeld e e bloody battl of Wakeﬁ ld, and was th re

’ e h - infor brot er law of Edward IV . and Richard

’ e e - e III and as his moth r s gr at aunt, Catharin

w nfo rd Of S y , the third wife John Duke of Gaunt,

r suf was aunt by mar iage to Richard, he stood

ﬁcientl e his r y n ar to the throne to make child en ,

e e e th e suc at all ev nts, an obj ct of j alousy to

c sso rs . Th e th e e of Richard III latter, on death

14 84 e of his own son in , declar d John Earl of

so n th e e ff e Lincoln , of s cond Duke of Su olk, h ir

e ff to the crown . In fact, the Duk of Su olk stood s I o high in th e favour of King Richard II . that

his he. bore the sceptre and dove at coronation ,

VOL . I I . Q 2 R E 2 6 CHAPTERS F OM FAMILY CH STS . while the Earl of Lincoln carried the ball an d the cross . John Earl of Lincoln was killed at th e battl e

O f e i e Stok , wh lst ndeavouring to make good his

th e His suc claim to Crown . brother Edmund — c eeded to th e title of Duke of Suff olk an

e e ff s empty honour, s ing that the Su olk e tates

e e e had b e n scheat d to the Crown . A portion

e co n of thes , however, was restored to him , on dition that he should merge the title of duke in that of earl . But even these estates were seized ,

e in 14 w as and ﬁnally forf ited 9 9 , when he forced

w as to ﬂee the kingdom as an outlaw, as it said

e ‘ slaine and b lieved, for having a meane per

’ s on h e th e , for which was excommunicated by

e e Pop . The arl was induced to return to Eng land by promise of an indemnity from H e nry

VII . but, in spite of this, he was committed in

1505 to th e safe k e eping of th e Tower of Lon do n e e e h e , wh r , aft r a captivity of seven years,

e e was b head d by order of Henry VIII ., who,

- e ever false and Tudor lik , declined to be bound

’ i ff s by his father s prom se . All the Su olk e tates, both those in the eastern counties and those at

HE I T UR E T E GL N ON TO NAM NT .

E 18 61 ARLY in October, , there died very sud denly one of the most popular noblemen in the

Mo nt o merie three kingdoms, Archibald William g ,

e Of th e thirt enth Earl Eglinton , in peerage of

th e inﬂuen Scotland . He was also one of most

e tial Chi ftains in the Lowlands, and his castle , on the Ay rshire coast, is well known to tourists .

’ - He . was staying at Mr Whyte Melville s seat,

’ e i e e h e en near St . Andr w s, Fifesh r , wher was

e t h e gag d during afternoon in playing at golf, apparently in robust health . He dined with Mr.

e his Melville in the evening, and exhibit d usual cheerfulness ; b ut before the party separated he

y was seized with a ﬁt of apoplex , which at once rend ered him unconscious . In that lamentable

his state he continued until death, a few hours N O 2 THE EGLI T N TOURNAMENT . 2 9

e afterwards. His deceas cast a gloom over all

Scotland. The earl was the head of the noble Scottish

Mo nt o merie hi house of g , w ch has held broad acres in Ayrshire for Six centuries without inte r

s i h as e mi s on , and produced in that tim many illustrious scions, including Sir John Mont

o merie di th e g , who played a stinguished part in battle;of Otterbourne (see the ballad of Che vy

e e e Chas and th re took prisoner Henry P rcy,

’ ‘ r and Hu h the Hotspu of history ; g , third Lord

Mont o m erie ustice g , and ﬁrst Earl of Eglinton , J

e e G n ral of Scotland under James V .

e e i e The lat arl (his father hav ng di d young, whilst his grandfather lived to a gre at age) s ucceeded to the title at the age of eight, a nd SO had a long minority, during which his e e states, which wer always large and proﬁtable, were immensely increas e d by judicious accu mulatio n e a e ; and though, after he cam of g , he

e rf b came a great patron of the tu , his losses

his i e e and winn ngs about covered ach oth r, and

e i e e e w o n he r t r d, som y ars back, having the

’ ‘ blue ribbon of that order and many other

u . prizes, with an uns llied reputation He thence 2 30 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . forward devoted himself more steadily than ever to agricultural science and to politics, and proved himself at once one of the b e st land lords in canny Scotland, and one of the most popular, practical , and sensible viceroys that

e ever s t foot in Ireland. He held the Lord

e Of Li utenancy that kingdom twice, ﬁrst during ’ 1 52 Lord Derby s ﬁrst brief administration in 8 , and again during his equally short political 1 58 5 n innings in 8 9 . O both occasions Lord Eglinton won for himself golden opinions

He w as among the susceptible Irish people . ;

e sociabl , jovial, frank, open, and strictly honest, and Showed no favour either to Catholic or Pro

n his testant, Whig or Tory, taki g as motto not

’ ’

to in r . only Justice Ireland, but Justice I eland

Shortly after his ﬁrst visit to Ireland h e had t h e his e i misfortune to lose ﬁrst wif , a port on

e l ss widow, whom he had married when quite a young man , and whose daughters by a former

e husband he provid d, out of his own pocket, d with han some marriage dowries, securing for

e h e e them ther by two, if not t re , prospectiv

: re coronets one of these coronets, be it here

2 32 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

s t week previously, by practising at the jous s at

’ ’

e e . Th e St . John s Wood, near the R g nt s Park tilting was inte nd e d to have occupied an entire

e e we k, but a pouring rain marr d the pleasure

e and the beauty of the ntertainment, drenched

’ e the ladies rich silks, canopi s, and caparisons ,

’ and forced the Queen of B eauty herself to — appear upon the ground not, as had b een

e e int nd d, on horseback , but in a prosaic car

a e e w ri g and four. The ground s lected as about

’ a quarter- o f- a- mil e from Lord Eg lint o n s castle

e in Ayrshire, surround d by ﬁne woods and very

u e beautif l scen ry, and the area enclosed for the purpose covered a space of about four square

e e six e acr s, the ar na being hundr d and ﬁf ty feet n lo g by two hundred and ﬁfty wide . Around

e w as e e the ar na erect d a fenc , in which were used no less than tw elve thousand square feet

e th e e of boarding . The barri r in centr , parallel to which the knights charge d e ach

e t w as e e e e oth r in the til s, thre hundr d f t long

i th e and about four and a half feet h gh, and ground was thickly strewed with sawdust for

- e twenty ﬁve feet on eith r side . At the four corners of the arena the lances of the knights O E 3 THE EGLINT N TOURNAM NT. 23

e e i were pil d, and at ither extremity the pavil ons

th e of knights, their squires, and retainers were a rranged. The grand stand accommodated seven hundred

’ o f th e e lite of th e visitors ; it was erected in the

e th e Gothic styl , and the throne for Queen of

th e e e Beauty, which formed its centre, caught y less by its prominence than by its elaborate carved work ; it was overlaid with gold, and hung with rich drapery of crimson damask. East and west Of this gorgeous receptacl e were

e e e two galleri s of inf rior Spl ndour , calculated to contain be tw e en the m nearly three thousand

e ne ll sp ctators . O of these ga eries was assigned

e th e to the private fri nds of the earl and knights, and in th e other those strangers who had obtain e d tick ets for witnessing the display

i e Around th s selected spot, n ar which the knights displayed their dexterity in the use of ancient

r ff weapons of war, the g ound a orded stands for

a e thous nds of sp ctators, who Could not possibly

e e have gained admittance within the lists. N ar r th e e e e e t wo t m ora castl wer er ct d e p y saloons,

re each two hund d and ﬁfty feet long, for the banquet and th e b alL Each of the knights had 2 4 H R 3 C APTERS F OM FAMILY CHESTS .

r his own marquee , or (in more approp iate

e e languag ) pavilion , for himself and att ndants.

Th e d e corations of the lists were costly and m n e e ag iﬁcent, and som of the splendid er ctions

’ provided for at her Maj esty s coronation were

u again brought into se .

At the request of Lord Eglinton , a large proportion of the visitors came attired in ancient

u e costume . The armo r worn by som of the

Chevaliers was of the most splendid description.

Th e m Earl of Eglinton , who hi self presid ed as

e in e Lord of the Tournament, app ared a v ry

e th e costly and b autiful suit of brass armour, and crest which surmounted his h elmet was d e cora

e e His ted with plumes of blue and yellow f ath rs .

r e horse , too , was richly capa isoned with blu satin and cloth of gold .

Th e w et morning was unfortunately very , and the feudal app earanc e of the display w as In sadly marre d by thousands of umbrellas .

e o f consequence of the rain , a consid rable part the ceremonial was omitted ; and th e Queen of

e B auty and her ladies, instead of mounting their palfreys, were conﬁned within their carriages . ’ t It was two o clock, and in the mids of a

3 AP I E 2 6 CH TERS FROM FAM LY CH STS .

Mont omerie Mo nt o merie g , Lady Jane g (the

’ e arl s mother and sister) , and the Honourable M i Miss acdonald, on horses capar soned with blue and white silk . The King of th e Tourna ment, the Marquis of Londonderry, in a tunic of

e e e green v lvet, embroid r d with gold, and

e cov red by a crimson velvet cloak . Esquires W (Colonel ood and H . Irvine , Esq. ) and

e halberdiers . The Queen of B auty, Lady

‘ S m ur e e o ﬁ . i y in a rob of violet ‘ Lad es attendants

u . i Es . on the Q een Esquire (F . Charter s , q )

J and The ester (Mr. Melan , a Highland artist

e actor), on a mul caparisoned in blue and

& c. yellow cloth and trapped with bells,

Th e e . co s Retainers on foot . Irvin archers in t um e s of Lincoln green . Servitors of the Lord

n . of th e Tour ament. Halberdiers of the lord

- - at . The gonfalon , borne by a man arms The f Lord of the Tournam ent (the Earl O Eglinton),

ui - e in a s t of richly damask d gilt armour, with a

- Th e e skirt of chain mail . banner, born by Lord

e ai A . S ymour. Esquires and ret ners of the

e lord. Then follow d, in like manner, each

b die nf preceded y his halber rs and go alon , and

m r t Afterwards D uchess of So e se . ECL INTON THE TOURNAMENT . 237

followed by banners , esquires, and retainers, the

e : t e sev ral knights, as follows Knight of h

Grifﬁn (Earl of Craven) Knight of the Dragon

(Marquis of Waterford) ; Knight of the Black

Lion (Viscount Alford) ; Knight of Gael

(Lord Glenlyon) ; Knight of the Dolphin (Earl of Cassilis) ; Knight of the Crane (Lord

Cranst oun e ), Knight of the Ram (Honourabl Captain Gage) th e Black Knight (John Camp

e o f e th e b ll, Sadd ll) Knight of Swan (Honour

r ernin h am th e able M . J g ) ; Knight of Golden

O. Lion (Captain J . Fairlie) ; Knight of the

White Rose (Charles Lamb , of

’ th e Stag s Head (Captain B eresford) Knight of

Ohnst o ne the Border (Sir F . J ) Knight of the

Burning Tower (Sir F . Hopkins) ; Knight of

h m r d L ec e e . h e e . . t R Rose (R J , Esq ) Knight of

’ e Lion s Paw (C cil Boothby, Esq . ) the Knights

e . Visitors, in anci nt costumes Swordsmen ; bow m en th e s eneschal of th e castle ; two deputy marshals ; attendants of the d eputy marshals ; chamberlains of the household ; servitors of th e

- at castle, and men arms .

e run in i Sev ral courses of j ousting were , wh ch ,

was of all the combatants, the Earl of Eglinton E 2 38 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CH STS . t h e most successful but the sports on the ﬁrst day were abridged in consequence of the

- weather, and concluded with a broad sword

e e . combat b tw en Mr Mackay an actor, and a s e oldi r of one of the Highland regiments .

‘ Th e e s cond tilt, perhaps the most gallant, and certainly the most interesting joust of the

’ e day, writ s one who was present, was between the Knight of the Dragon (the Marquis of

r Wate ford), and the King of the Tournament

(the Earl of Eglinton) . The knights met as c ombatants, in spite of the rain , in a truly

r g allant style . In the ﬁ st course both lances w e w as er shivered, and the Shock heard through o ut th e e e whole amphitheatr , the sound b ing a nswered and re - echoed by th e enthusiastic che ering of the Sp e ctators who were looking on in e thousands. In the s cond joust the Marquis of Waterford started a little before his antagon ist e , and thus, meeting un qually, they raised their lanc es and passed without actually e n

e th e countering ach other. In the third course noble earl splintered his lance upon the shield — o f the marquis a feat which was answered by another burst of prolonged applause . He was

240 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

s which one thousand g ue sts were pres ent . Thi

e e part of the pageant, being carri d on under cov r, was almost the only portion of th e proce e dings which was not spoiled by th e malig n inﬂuence of

s e e n Jupite r Pluvius . And o nd d the Eglinto

’ e Tournam nt .

It was sad indeed that th e re vival of so splen did a page ant was marre d by th e badness of th e

e w ather, and when it does rain in Scotland, it can r th e pou in torrents, and blind with

e thickest of mists as w ll . But it is sadder still

e th e e to reﬂ ct that out of young, nobl , and

’ e g ntle men of England and of merry Scotland, scarc ely o ne is now alive after s ev en and forty

years, and that most of them , Lord Alford, Lord

Waterford, Lord Londonderry, and the Lord of

e e the Tournament, for exampl , ifth y do not lie in e e e arly grav s, at all events n v er live d to approach

’ the Psalmist s allotte d limit of three - score years

t en and . LC L L D R R O . MA O M , O F TH

O 18 61 e In ctober, , the newspapers announc d th e e die e n ws that Lord Forth, had d sudd nly

e whilst staying at an hotel at Gloucest r, and

e his He that his d ath was caused by own hand . was th e second but only surviving son of th e

e t Right Hon . Georg Drummond, ﬁf h Earl of

e e P rth and M lfort, in the peerage of Scotland , and Due de Melfort and Comte de L ussans in

e s that of France, by his ﬁrst wif , the Barones

Albertine von Rothberg Rheinweiler, relict of

e e G n ral Count Rapp , a peer of France . Lord 1 4 t Forth was born at Naples in the year 83 , los

e e his moth r befor he was ten years old, and in 4 2md entered the army as ensign the Foot, at th e a e e e th e g of ighteen . Not long aft r that

and Russian war broke out, Lord Forth aecom

VOL . II . R 242 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

anied e p his r giment to Turkey, where he served f o r some months before proceeding to the

Crimea .

For some reason or other, which has never

e be en satisfactorily xplained, the wild and impulsive youth b e came unpopular in his regi m ent ; and in th e end he resigned his com mission and retired from the service while the — war was going o n a step which caused much

- e ill natured remark at the time , and gav rise to a story which was most industriously circulated

th e his at time, and which seriously impugned w personal courage . Kno ing as I do, from a

e private sourc , much that has been said both for

e e and against him, I beli v Lord Forth, as a young man in the army, to have been as much sinned against as Sinning ; and I am of Opinion that the treatment which he receive d while

’ e holding her Maj sty s commission , acting on a

- r e ﬁery, head strong, and unrest ained temp ra

th e ment, laid foundation of his subsequent mis

e ill - - s fortun s, including an starred and ill a sorted

e in marriage, a matrimonial s paration, and an eff e ctual attempt to obtain a divorce on the part

W a of both husband and ife ; and at l st, the tragical

244 O CHAPTERS FR M FAMILY CHESTS .

t lived wholly abroad, and it is no secret tha when h e succ e ede d in establishing his claim t o th e e r e his a ldom , which had been forfeit d by ancestor s on account of their z ealous adherenc e

th e e to caus of the unhappy Stuarts, he recover

n o r ed not a shilling of their o ce vast revenues, an acre of the estates which once owned th e

e e Earls of P rth as th ir laird . Rightly or wrongly, almost all those estates are now owned by the

’ W d Eresb r Lady illoughby y, as heir of a younge

e e th e m mb r of Drummond family, who was rais e d towards the close of the last c entury to a

e e peerag , which xpired at his death .

r e n t o D ummond Castle , near Perth , w ll k own e very Scottish tourist as the princely residence

’ d Eresb th e of Lord and Lady Willoughby y, is seat wh ere the Drummonds of old kept all but regal state and I happen to know that th e late

e i e e th e Lord Forth , som years s nce, trav rs d

e e un many mil s of the estat s of his ancestors, g

e in hand, and brought back with him to the hot l

co n at Perth several brace of birds, which he sidered that he had a perfect right to Shoot

e e Willo u hb ies without l av or licence from the g , as h e h eld that the estates were by strict right O O . 4 MALCOLM, L RD F RTH 2 5

’ e 1 t n his fath r s . only s ate facts ; I give here o

as e m verdict of my own to the justic of his clai . I would only point to the melancholy end of

Lord Forth as o ne of the distant and remote — — results yet still a result o f those odious and infamous penal laws which were SO cruelly e nforced against the followers of the exiled

Of w e e House Stuart, do n to a comparativ ly r cent d ate .

1840 suc The Earl of Perth, who had, in , ce eded his uncle in the French honours co n XI V. ferred by Louis on his grandfather, and

e e e th e had th nceforth b come h ad of family,

e 184 1 th e petitioned the Qu en, in , for formal

e his r storation of Scottish titles. It was not, however,till 184 8 that he succeede d in esta blish

his e his e e ing cas , by proving d sc nt b efore t h e Committee of the House of Lords for Privi leges ; and it was only in 18 53 that his ances

’ ai e and h e w as tors att nder was rev rsed, form a lly restored in blood by a sp ecial Act of

e Her e . Parliam nt, and the favour of Maj sty In the same ye ar the e arl (who in e arly life

e 9 rd a had b en captain in the 3 Foot), was p pointed major in the Victoria Middlesex Riﬂes, 2 46 T CHAP ERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

a commission which he held for very many years .

It is almost superﬂuous to add that the cause of the attainder passed upon the Drummonds was the Share which th ey took in the Scottish rising in favour of the Pretender in 1745 ; and that the same causes which divested them o f

e e e e e th ir pat nt of nobility h r , earned for th m even a higher title at the Court of Le Grand

e Monarqu . They lived mainly at St . Germain ,

th e XIV on most intimate terms with Louis . ,

XV XVI th e . , and ., and with family of the

’ e Young Ch valier ; and Lord Perth s sister, Lady

m e Clementina Davis, told that she herself was th e very last person born in the royal apartments

e dis at St. Germain , befor that palace was

e e mantl d as a royal r sidence, after the outbreak of the ﬁrst French Revolution .

248 CHAPTERS FROM FAMIL Y CHESTS .

- w Landgravine Louise of Anhalt Dessau , wido

f e o the Landgrave Gustav, some time r igning

- - in- Prince of Hesse Homburg, and sister law of

e his succ ssor, the Landgrave Ferdinand, died in 18 58 a e e the summer of , at the g of n arly

e Sixty years, at the Schloss of Homburg, n ar

- o u- th e - as Frankfort Maine . And, some of the details of her early career are so romantic that th ey would see m to b elong to the realms of

ﬁction rather than to those of reality, I will

e u i giv here a short sketch of her life, pres m ng o are nly that the facts advanced not imaginary, but literally and strictly happened as they are told in these pages .

e i The Princ ss L ou se Frederica, daughter of

- e the Hereditary Prince of Anhalt D ssau, was

1st 179 8 e born on March , , and was littl more

’ nl ‘ e than a Child, certai y not out of her t ens,

e i wh n the Prince Ferd nand above mentioned, n ’ happeni g to pay a visit to her father s Court,

w h er e e e was struck ith xtreme b auty, and f ll

e violently in love with her. Unfortunat ly, how

e ver, he was not an elder son ; and the young lady had even before this—though unknown to himself—been promised in marriage to Fer P OF - HOMB R 24 RINCE AND PRINCESS HESSE U C. 9

’ dinand s e e eld r broth r, Prince Gustav ; but, a lthough th e ard ent lover tried everv possibl e means of Changing this prior e ngagem ent to an a e e h e arr ng m nt in his own favour, was not

’ a e e ble to p rsuad the young lady s parents, or to

end. r u n h gain his A linge ing illness , d ri g whic

’ Prince F erdinand s reason was for some time

th e i e despaired of, was mmediate cons quence o f e the marriag of the princess, which was

s th e 12th e 1 1 . olemnised on of F bruary, 8 3 At

h e e e last r cov red from the shock, and, reason

e e th e his having r turned, he ntered army of

e and - ﬁelds fath rland, , both on other battle and a e r e l th e lso at Wat loo, thr w himse f into thickest

e of the fray, as if he wished to rid hims lf of th e - burden of life . But death as often hap — pens in such cases did not come at the mo

h e e all ment when was want d . At events, he did no t e his tak a fancy to his voluntary, or rather

- b e so r e would , victim ; and the prince eturn d

r home f om his campaigns unhurt in body, and

e e e i e probably b tt r in mind also . In ord r to wh l a m e hi way the ti , w ch hung heavy on his hands,

no w set e el he out on a long cours of trav s, during which h e visite d almost all the Courts 2 50 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

of Europe, and not a few of Asia also , and did no t return to Homburg until th e death of his

r e e broth er had al eady call e d him to th thron .

th end 1 48 This happened at e of 8 . Prince

F erdinand was now Sixty- ﬁve ; th e Princess

’ e e h er Louise, his broth r s widow, had se n

e th e e ﬁfti th birthday, and was moth r of mar

e e r ri d daught rs, who , of course , we e his own

. e e so s nieces N v rtheless, though many year had passed by since h e had ﬁrst sought her

f e Sh e o f youthful a f ctions, was still the beloved his heart ; though it was, of course , impossible

th e for him to obtain the consent of Church , or

e e p rhaps of the State eith r, to a marriage

th e e b e within prohibited degr es . Accordingly, resolve d to lay down a most extraordinary line

e H e n of conduct for hims lf. was aturally re luct ant h er e and th e e , for sak for avoidanc of

th e th e scandal, to live under same roof with

e e e obj ct of his early love ; but, as th r was only

e e e one royal r sid nc within his small dominions , h e saw e his hims lf obliged, very soon after

n el th e accessio , to instal hims f as an inmate of

e e e palac of Homburg on the Mountains. Th r he lived thenceforth in th e strictest possible

2 52 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

The princess died, as already stated, in the year 1858 and from that time down to the day of his death the poor Landgrave remained in

e e e h e c onsolabl . At all v nts, became thence

a e forth compl te hermit, and lived in the s ri e eri and t ct st seclusion , wand ng by day night through the chambers of his lonely palace . An English traveller who visite d the n eighbourhood of H esse - Homburg in 18 59 or 18 60 write s thus c oncerning him : ‘ His subj e cts as well as the

e s num rous tourist , chieﬂy Englishmen, who e b t very year visit the a hs of Homburg, never g et sight of him who formerly was so amiabl e ; a nd he is suppose d to be determined to end his

e e e days in a small privat chap l, b fore a statue o f e Old e - f Princ ss Louise, his , n ver orgotten

’ - lady love . It only remains to add that the

Landgrave Ferdinand died on the eve of our

- 18 6 6 th e Lady day, in , and that he was last of

e his royal race. His small t rritory was in the s ame year incorporated with Prussia, and now

th e forms a portion of Empire of Germany. But

- war for the Franco German , it would have

e e - fall n to H sse Darmstadt.

’ According to the Statesman s Year Book - H 25 PRINcE AND PRINCESS OF HE SSE OMBURC. 3

Of n th e en the late Mr. F . Marti , Landgrave

ﬂo rins joyed an annual income of , or about which was in a great part

e e e d riv d from the sale of mineral wat rs, and from the rents of the gaming- tables at Hom

Th e hi e w as burg. royal line w ch he repres nted founde d in 15 9 6 by Princ e George I . of Hesse

e e th e erri Darmstadt, who s parat d t tory from the other possessions Of his family in favour of a

so n e younger , to whom he wish d to secure a position among th e smaller potentates of

n th e m Europe . O establish ent of the Rhein 1 6 bund of Napoleon in 80 , the small country of

e - e e H sse Homburg was ann x d to, or rather

e e Of - plac d und r, the sovereignty Hesse Darm stadt ; but the Congress of Vi enna reinstated the Landgrave among th e reigning sovereigns

th e e of Continent, though under the prot st of th e e e e e e l ading G rman princ s ; and, ind d , it was only in the year 18 17 that the then Land

e n e grave , Fr derick Louis, was formally recog is d

ni e Th e e by the Germa c Di t. littl kingdom ,

e ther fore , Can hardly be said to have lived

- - quite half a century . THE RISE OF THE HOUSE OF L D MID GO S .

T HE G oldsmids e e e , whose head and r pres ntativ enjoys a baronetcy in England and the dignity h of a baron in Portugal , may well form in t is seri es a companion picture to the storie s of the

* hi Th ellusso ns Barin s . rise ofthe Rothsc lds, , and g

Little is known of their early history e xcept

e that th y came from Cassel , in Germany, and that in all probability th ey derived their name from the branch of trade which they followed at a time when a goldsmith and a banker were

e o ne th s pretty n arly and e ame thing .

so n We are told that Aaron , the second of

G oldsmid e Benedict , of Hamburg, settl d in

’ Leman Street, Goodman s Fields, near White

- chapel Church , as a merchant, in the early part

“ f e th e o the last c ntury. His son George was

’ 9“ e f r t ami i S e Tales o G ea F l es.

2 56 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

f ld mid 1 0 success O the G o s s was rapid . In 8 1 they b e came for the ﬁrst tim e comp etitors for a

t th e ﬁ ve por ion of Government loan of millions, a speculation which proved S O lucrative that at the next loan th ey wer e enable d to treble their

e th e former subscription . They wer ﬁrst mem bers of the Stock Exchange who comp ete d with the bankers for th e favours of the Chan

ello r Of e e e c the Exchequ r, and succ d in divert ing into more l e gitimate sourc e s th e proﬁts

t h e hith erto absorbed by bankers . In the course of ﬁve ye ars th e brothers had amassed a fortune variously estimated from t o

aturallv N fond of Show and society,

e e and possessed of great b nevolenc of Character , th ey spent their money freely . No sordid

’ parsimony was theirs. The daily papers, w e in er th e rit s Francis, his Charact s of Stock

’ n ‘ e e Excha ge , bor almost daily t stimony to

e e their uniform and boundless g n rosity. Natur

- s ally open handed , the poor of all Cla es found

On th e in them kindly benefactors . one day grand doings at an ent ertainm ent to royalty w ere recorded ; and on the n ext a few words related a visit of mercy to a condemned cell. OF OU E OF GOL DS 7 THE RISE THE H S MID . 25

e At anoth r, mansions vying in architectural b eauty with those of our nobility wer e de

e scrib d and, again , some gracious act of charity

e u was dw lt pon . Banquets to princes and ambassadors reviving the glori e s of the Arabian

e e e e Nights wer fr quent , and gall ri s with works of art worthy of th e magniﬁcenc e of th e Medici

9 e e e e e grac d th ir hous s . They w re awhil for

’ e e s tune s Chi f and pecial favourites . When in

179 3 almost e very m ercantil e house in Englan d experi enc e d th e baneful effects Of the well - nigh

e e e unprec dent d numb r of bankruptcies, and when th e bank in o ne day discount e d

e ne th eir loss amount d but to ﬁfty pounds. O year th ey gain e d two swe epstakes by naming th e thousand in which the ﬁrst and last ticket in

e e e e e h the lott ry happ n d to be drawn , tog th r wit

e several oth er prizes in subsequent lotteri s .

But this care er of splendid prosp erity was cut n Short in the most m elancholy mann er . O the

12th 1808 e . morning of April , , the val t of Mr

G olds mid e Benjamin , the young r of the two

’ e e e his broth rs, on nt ring master s room , found him hanging suspended from a cord attached to

e b the t ster of the bed. It having been rought

vOL . I I . s 2 58 I CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS . forward in evidence that for some time previous ly he had been labouring under depression of

th e Spirits, jury brought in a verdict of lunacy.

G oldsmid e Mr . Abraham , it is said, f lt the loss

Of his broth er S O severely that he never recover e d from th e shock ; and SO intimate had been the relations existing between the two memb ers

u G oldsmid of the ho se of , that the ﬁrm , reduced

e to one partner, was unabl to do its accustomed

its work . Hitherto invariably successful in all

t it r e . under akings, now became the reve s S oon Calamity after calamity overtook th e surviving i partner, until, driven to desperat on , he staked f the remainder of his ortune, formerly amounting

l . . to about eight mi lions, in one transaction Mr

G oldsmid was a joint contractor for the loan of fourte e n millions with the house of Sir Francis

th e Of Baring ; but, Sir Francis dying, support

e his the market was l ft to companion . Taking th e e b larg st possi le range, that he had dealt amongst his friends one half the sum allotted to

u e him , the loss s stained by the r mainder at sixty- ﬁve per thousand was a strain which no n a u i dividu l fort ne could sustain . About the

’ G oldsmid s middle of September, Abraham loss

2 60 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e m - parties oppos d to him in the oney market .

In th e evening h e re c eive d som e fri ends at his

e in hous at Morden , Surrey, and even joined

e - e th e m in a gam of cards. About half past sev n

th e h e s on following morning, was seen pa sing over the bridge which led to a part of th e shrub

e e bery call d the Wild rness, in the grounds at th e back part of the house ; suddenly a pist ol

e e r shot was h ard, and he was discover d sho tly afterwards lying mortally wounded . In spite

e of ev rything that medical aid could do , he ex

’ ired e his p about ten o clock, surround d by i i sorrow ng family . As soon as intell gence of

e the dreadful vent reached the City, it created a sensation unparalleled by the loss of any

e ‘ e e e singl individual . Expr ss s were s nt with th e n ews to th e King and the Princ e of Wale s ;

e few 6 6 63 Consols f ll in a minutes from 5 to g, and Omnium declined from about 64 to about 10 } discount , and remained steady at that pric e for som e time ; the jobbers of Cap el Court crowd e d in anxious inquiry ; the m erchants of the Exchange assembled before their usual time ; th e thoroughfares resounded with rapid t ques ions and hurried replies, and little or no L D M 2 61 THE RISE OF THE HOUSE OF GO S ID. business was done ; and it is said th e great q uestion of p eace and war n ever created a

’ ’ S imilar confusion . A hundred fortunes, writes t h e e e e e e lat Mr. Fr d rick Martin , w nt to pi ces under t h e fall of the most truste d pillar of

’ e the Stock Exchang .

r The jury record e d the usual ve dict, and the remains of the de c eas e d wer e interred in t h e

’ nd al Jews burial ground at Mile E . The funer proc ession was followed to th e place of inter

e e e m nt by a numb r of poor p rsons, who , having

’ e G o ld mid s f p artak n of Mr. s charity in his li e i him time , w shed to honour in death, their moans

e and sobs attesting the sincerity of th ir sorrow.

The high priest and th e elders of th e synagogu e who were present paid every distinction in th eir

e e e r e power to the r mains of th ir d pa ted fri nd,

e but, in accordanc with the Mosaic law, they

e him e withh ld from their customary funeral rit s, a nd he was buried without the pale of couse c e rat d ground .

G oldsmid It is said of Mr. Abraham , as of his

e e m l e broth r B nja in , that a man more tru y amiabl in all th e social relations of life never e xisted .

e a i e muniﬁcence His gen r l ph lanthropy, his r ady , E 2 6 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CH STS .

ri e e his f ndly d meanour, his mild and conciliatory

e e mann r, made him beloved and esteem d by a e large circle of fri nds, and by the commercial

e was public at larg . He the promoter of all

r e e cha itabl institutions, and ther were not many

e i men who ev r performed k nd acts in social life , or more liberal on e s in what may be termed his ld o ne G o smid. public , than Mr Abraham ’ ‘ n It is stated, says Francis, that, oticing a great depression in the waiter who usually at

de di e e ten d him while he n d, he inquir d the

e ai e it w as e cause , asc rt n d that . pecuniary, gav t h e astonished man double the amount he re

e s th e quir d, and refu ed to listen to the thanks of

’ recr rent p .

e e Anoth r story is extant to the sam purport .

o ne He became acquainted, by accident, with of those simple and single - minde d country curates whose poverty was the disgrac e and whose

e th e pi ty was glory of the Church of England .

This was the man for Abraham G o ldsmid at

e e once to appr ciat and to beneﬁt. He obtained

s ul fe w all neces ary partic ars of his case, and in a w e eks th e parson received a letter which told him

2 64 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

Omnium since , in order to sustain it, had alone f o ccasioned the di ﬁculties which, in a moment

o f e sad . fr nzy, led to the act The amount of t h e purchased Omnium was no t state d ; but it w as positively asserted by those who had looked f i l into the a fa rs of the house, that there wou d be a considerable surplus for the family of the d e ceased after fulﬁlling all engagem ents of the

th e O ﬁrm, provided the holders of mnium (as s e curity for the money advanced) did not imp ru dentl ri re y b ng it to the market in a hurry, but t aine d it till there was a public demand for it

Th e account between the Treasury and Mr.

G o ldsmid so was completely balanced, that no interruptions occurre d to prevent the winding

u ff . G o ldsmid p of his a airs Mr. Isaac Lyon , neph e w of the c elebrated brothers Abraham and

e G o ldsmid e B njamin , was creat d a baronet in

184 1 He l . was also made Baron de G o dsmid — and de Palmeir a in Portugal titles confe rr e d upon him by the Que e n of Portugal in recog nition of th e important services rendered by him

h er u e w as e to country, and f rth r authoris d to

e his His w ar Portuguese honours in England . E OF U F GOL D MID 2 65 TH RISE THE HO SE O S . s o n and his grandson have held seats in the

e House of Commons, and they own the nobl e o erhill state of S m , near Tunbridge, which the second baron et purchased from the Alexanders about forty years ago THE LOVE MATC H OF THE EARL OF S R O SO Y .

I N l o ne the midd e of the seventeenth century, o f the most powerful and inﬂuential nobles in

Or Ireland was James, Earl and Marquis of monde , whom Charles II . raised to the still

e e s higher grad of Duk , in reward for his service

’ th e rmo nde s so n during Civil War. O eldest O Thomas, Earl of ssory, appears to have been o ne of those young gentlemen who consider

e th e e that th y have a right, although ldest

e i m sons of pe rs, and dest ned heads of fa ilies,

rr co nvenance to contract ma iages of love , not of , and to choose wives according to their o wn

e fancies, and not at the bidding of a par nt ,

w e however good and excellent. Accordingly, 1658 i ﬁnd that in , while resid ng at the Hague , in he fell over head and ears love with Emilia,

68 O F I 2 CHAPTERS FR M AM LY CHESTS . that have so much jeered at others for being in

b ut it, cannot with much shame confess that

er I am so much ov taken with it, that if I fail in this I Shall never have a conc ern for any

’ other . At the same time , he complains that h e h as not heard from his mother for some

m . f onths O one thing he is glad , namely, that

e t h young lady has had other suitors, but he

h er knows that he stands high in favour. He

’ a - e sks for some band lac s of the newest fashion , in e e e order to s nd as a pres nt to mademois lle , a nd concludes by referring to ‘ Som e lie of Dick

’ ’ u e Talbot s abo t him . N xt day again he writes that h e h as been so accustom e d to have his hopes frustrated though not in things of this

’ h e e — kind, adds . in a par nthesis as that his

e u e eu fears exce d his hopes. He is no f rth r

e gaged, however, than that, if his fri nds approve , h e has desire d h er not to oppose their mutual

‘ ’ happiness, which , I am sure, She will not, he

if h e n q uietly adds, as k ew all the secrets of the f e e e mal h art . m The arquis, I have said, did not oppose the match , but it was not equally to the fancy of t h e w lady mother . She as a prudent old soul ; O - OF RL OF O O 2 6 THE L VE MATCH THE EA SS RY. 9 sh e knew the value of a good jointure ; and sh e hoped that her so n would make such a match as would put a good round sum into the h . s e s et e family purse In fact, herself h art and soul to oppose and thwart the love- affair ;

e n but it w nt on merrily notwithstandi g. She did not think the De Bev erw e erts high enough in rank to mate with th e h eir of th e house of Ormonde ; and to the belonging t o the young lady She obj e cted seriously that it

e u th e e did not com p to mark at all, as ther

e o ff was a mortgag of to be paid , in

e e e e e e ord r to clear the state, and th r w r still two daughters unprovided for so she hoped and truste d that some of her son s friends would dissuade him from th e match while th ere w as

‘ et so ste his y time, and give a p to ruining

’ AS e a poor family. late , inde d, as January,

1659 Sh e , after has given an outward , and doubt

e less a reluctant, ass nt to the match, She still hopes on that Ossory will be op e n to co n

’ victio n th e e e on subj ct. It is not hims lf, says

- m - the match making and atch marring mamma,

‘ but a whol e posterity that will be ruined by his marrying a girl with an unsuitable marriage 2 70 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

’ Ossor s portion . Mr. Thomas Page, who was y

a O s ecret ry, writes to rmonde

About two months ago, my lord sent word to my lady (his mother) that in his next she might

e happily h ar of a match proposed to him , and

’ that th e young lady s fortune was ten thousand pounds, and it may be more . My lady, whether taking off ence at th e improvidenc e of

n e th e you g men in general, or touch d by example Of some of our nobility who have ruined themselve s and their families by rash engage ments in this very place, or dissatisﬁed with the dowry itself (b e cause sh e made a but of ten thousand pounds,) or intending my lord for

s e Somebody el e, or, lastly, upon pr sumption that this county affords no t a party parallel to your

en i him family, jo ned to proceed no further,

e e under no pret nce what ver, without her and

’ ’ his family s consent, Since his lady s portion

e s e must serv to di engage the estat mortgaged,

’ partly to marry my Lady Elizabeth . Page adds : Since I had the honour to be known to

‘ so s my lord, I never saw him in discon olate a mood as he has continued ever since the receipt

’ o f vi O this letter, and he ad ses rmonde to

2 72 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

’ e favour with the ruling power in England. H compares the present match with that proposed

w : on the part of Mr . Tres ell for his daughter of

’ that on Sir Walter Py s behalf, who said he would disinherit his so n and make his daughter worth twenty thousand pounds . But

’ - e O . there he over r ached himself, says ssory n n He k ew the girl , and would ever dispose of himself in that manner for a reason which h e

e . One could tell Ormond , but not write it of

’ Ormo nde s e in hous hold, named Buck, having t ermeddled O sa ‘ , ssory writes to y that Littel

n o fﬁcio us h as Buck has bee very , and he been

i no t e so des red to und rtake much . It is Lord ’ n Southampton s daughter he mea s, whose allianc e he (Ossory) would covet more than any other in England if he could like the young

h e e lady, whom has often se n , or if it were not him ’ absolutely impossible for to love another. He goes on to say that he considers it would be unworthy on his part if h e were to marry d deserving p e rson simply on account of a large

i ul if fortune, wh ch wo d not prevent misery n there was not mutual ki dness. Thomas Page was sent by Ormonde to Ireland to try and O - OF OF THE L VE MATCH THE EARL OSSORY. 2 73

e I t r soften Lady Ormond . shows how educ e d th e Royalists were that Page had not e ven money enough to pay for th e letter he was

e w sending to Ormonde . He had rec ive d t o

e e e hundr d guild rs for the journ y, but he said he did not know what Ossory would do to

e e He e defray som trivial exp nses . (Pag ) could not part with any of the money h e had rec eived ;

’ ‘ e e e and for payment of this, your xc ll ncy s

i e packet, I had only one sh ft l ft, viz ., an old

’ e gold ring, which I found in a cabin t.

Ossory still hoped that Monsieur de Bever we ert m ight consent to th e marriage portion

e r e being appli d as his mother desi d . In a

e his lett r to father, after treating of his passion ,

‘ r and saying, as I never had a vi tuous love

S O u e b e e before, I am s re that I shall n ver capabl

’ e of having anoth r again, he adds a postscript,

o I forgot t tell you that one night the mother,

’ a t lking with me of Tom Howard s marriage, laughe d at him for being duped in having been Shown his portion and afterwards b eing

e e e put in bank, which I am apt to b li v was not said without d esign of letting me know that I

’ e r might xpect the cont ary . At length Lady

VOL . II . M 2 74 CHAPTERS FROM FA ILY CHESTS.

’ rmo nde s e Was O ass nt extorted, and on Novem

h er 1 th 165 9 son . l 7 , , her was married Short y

’ e e Osso r s after his wif wrote , vidently at y

d e m ff ictation , a l tter of co pliment and a ection to

h er new - in- father law, consisting of a few lines

o f as Six scrawl, such a child of ﬁve or years

e e ne w might writ e . Som new att mpt being on

’ e e s e foot for the king s caus , Ossory expr s s his

r e eadin ss to engage in it . I am very glad you

are of my opinion that past s ervices are not

sufﬁ cient to ke ep up a posterity in reputation .

see rt You may that, for the most pa , a

’ rebel s condition that treats is better than an

' ’ suﬂerer honest .

In th e e v e nt it is satisfactory to know that the marri ed life of the Earl and Countess of

Ossory was happy, but the Duchess of Ormonde probablyjudged right in thinking that an alliance

.with some of the English nobility would have been

e e t e mor lik ly to s rengthen the family inﬂu nce . Th e duch ess generally Speaks of her daughter

in- law in a ton e of complaint and of dissatis

at faction the imprudence of the marriage . In

68 e th e 16 , being then in Ir land, She writes to

duke in London ; after mentioning a few

6 H 2 7 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY C ESTS .

thither with the charge o f a helpless wife and

’ He a number of small children . survived

scarcely long enough to suffer many of the

e i usual troubles which attend dom stic l fe , when childre n multiply without the means to support

i ds them multiply ng in proportion, and frien are apt to look askance at the happy authors of

e . 16 0 their b ing He died in 8 , during the life

Of his l his w time father and a so ife . He lies

i s buried in Westm n ter Abbey, and is known to

‘ ’ history as the gallant Earl of Ossory. He

left two sons, who both inherited the peerage,

o ne and two daughters, of whom married l Wi liam , ninth Earl of Derby, while the other

’ e d Auver uer ue married her cousin , H nry q q , who w as created Lord Grantham , an ancestor,

th e through female line, of the present Lord

Cowper. NAN CLARGES DU C SS OF , HE

ALBEMARLE .

I N the reign of the M erry Monarch courtiers hi and nobles, to say not ng of princes, did not always look to th e high est rank in th e selection of th eir wives ; and inde e d the same to a c ertain e xtent may be said to hav e been t h e case during thy puritanical times Of the Commonwealth ; for within thre e years after the e xecution of Charles

I . at Whitehall the daughter of a black

ri Clar es smith and far er in the Savoy, John g by

w as e h in h er name , fortunate noug matrimonial care er to secure for her husband a no less

th e celebrated person than General Monk, Duke

Of Al lar es b e bemarle . To John C g is attri ut d th e n u e setti g p of the Maypol in the Strand, at

its the time of the Restoration , upon former site .

Clar es u e n g was farrier to the D k , then plai 2 78 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e e th e Colon l Monk . He lived ov r his forge at

th e t he junction of Strand and Drury Lane , near

’ ‘ e u spot whe re the historic Maypol e was s t p .

H e gave his daughter an e ducation suite d to th e e u mployment to which she was brought p ,

e e th e e nam ly, that of a millin r. As mann rs of young p e ople are ge nerally formed in early

e—o r sh e life , Ann as was usually called — Nan Clarg es retained Som ething of the

’ blacks mith s daughter about her even after h er elevation to a c oronet with strawberry

e leav s .

On o ne ﬁne morning in the summ er of 1632

e Clar es . Ann g was married , in the church of St

e e e th e Lawr nc Poultn y, in City of London , to

Ratfo rd th e one Thomas , son of another man of t h e e n e e sam am , who had been a farri r, and a

e e e servant in the mploym nt of Prince Charl s,

’ ‘ e th e and was resident in the M ws, no doubt

’ e th e no w King s M ws at Charing Cross, on spot

e e e r cover d by the National Gall ry. Aft r thei

marriage we are told that this Thomas Ratford

’ his e e ‘ and wif liv d at the New Exchange, in

th e th e Strand, in a house or Shop bearing Sign

’ o f ‘ s the Three Spanish Gip ies. Here they

L 2 80 CHAPTERS FROM FAMI Y CHESTS .

e i the following year, some little dom st c squabble

e e sh e o r gri vance having aris n , and her hus

e e Clar es band separated. Wh ther Ann g (or

Re tford) had given up the stall in th e ‘ New

’ e l Exchang , or whether her husband was real y

and dead, is not, never will be known , for no c ertiﬁcate from any parish re gister app ears to have been forthcoming to prove his burial but

e 1652 th e l e e at all ev nts, in , ady h rs lf saw no impedim ent to her entering a se cond time into

and the connubial state , accordingly in the above - mention e d year sh e was married at the

- - church of St. George the Martyr, in Southwark ,

n e to the gallant colonel, a am of importance in

i e Engl sh history, and one whom we aft rwards

know as th e chief instrument of the re storation

o f th e e w as monarchy. In the following y ar She

e e so n s d liver d of a , Chri topher , of whom we

e Shall h ar more presently . In 16 60 the dukedom of Albemarle was co n ferred on Monk (who had no w b e come a

general) ; but th e coronet of strawberry- leaves does not app e ar to have reste d very b e comingly

t h e e Upon brow of the duchess ; for, as P pys

us his tells in gossiping diary, she became the CLARCES U OF L B R . 281 NAN , D CHESS A EMA LE

- e laughing stock of the Court, and gav general — o f h e . disgust course , means among the ladies

e e us P pys t lls , by the way, how he went to

s e l We tminst r Hal , and bought among other

’ s o ne th e book of Life of our Queen , which he

’ e ‘ ‘ read at hom to his wife . But, he adds, it was so Sillily writte n that we did nothing but

e i laugh at it. Among oth r things, it is ded cat e d e to that paragon of virtu and beauty, the

’ e ma Duchess of Albemarl . Indeed, it y be a dded that Sh e was not at all handsome or a e e e ttractiv , or ven cl anly in appearance ; and that her mother was one of th e ﬁve women

er' e and barb s of Drury Lan , a person of no high

e . a r pute for her morals A ballad is ext nt, written upon h er and her four companions ; the burd en of it is

Did ou e er now th e i e y v k l k , Or e er ear t h e same v h ,

’ Of th e ﬁve wo men- barbers ’ That lived in D rury Lane ?

Th e e di 16 69 duk ed in January, , leaving the a - e so n ri e e bove mention d , Ch stoph r, who becam ,

e e e or at all vents was call d, the s cond duke, and who was appointe d Governor Of Jamaica 282 : CHAPTERS FROM FAMI LY CHESTS. in 1687 : he died there without issue in th e

e e his e e . same y ar, wh n titles b came xtinct

few e e 1700 A years lat r, namely in Novemb r, ,

’ ’ a cause celebr e was heard at th e bar of the King s

h th e e e Clar es Bench, in w ich nam of Ann g ,

' Alb emarle w as e Duchess of , brought promin ntly

was b efore the public . It an action for tres

w ll e f pass bet een Wi iam Sh rwin , plainti f, and f l “ e C ar es . Th e Sir alt r g , bart , defendant

ff e plainti , as heir and r presentative of Thomas

M . e e onk, Esq , elder brother of Georg , Duk of

b e e Al emarl , claim d the manor of Sutton , in

hi e d e Yorks re , and also oth r lan s in N wton ,

e e - at - law t o Eaton Bridg , and Shipton , as h ir

e th e e m the said duk , against d fendant, to who they had be e n left by his only so n and suc

e h e t e e . c ssor Christopher, s cond duk At the trial several witnesses w ere brought forward to

e H r swear that they had se n Thomas atfo d, her

’ e e e Grac s ﬁrst husband, aliv as lat ly as January

1 - 7 e e h er e 669 0, many y ars aft r marriag with

r th e ﬁrst duke and the bi th of the second . In

Opposition to this evidenc e it was contende d

all e u e e that along, during the liv s of D k s Georg

e e and Christopher, this matt r was n ver ques

2 84 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

lar es d property on which C g Street, Picca illy,

* s now stand .

‘ ’ e ai Clar es It only r m ns to add that Nan g ,

- Duchess of Albemarle , and ex sempstress, died

fe w within a days of the duke, her husband, in

6 his 1 69 , and was buried by side in Henry the

’ ‘ e e S eventh s chap l in W stminster Abbey.

’ r in E n iar t at Mr too lVe a e told vely s d y h a . N eale k f rom Sir W alt er Clarg es a large piece o f gro und o n th e n rt si f i ca il a r ein t la u in o h de o P c d l y , g e g o y o t ui in : b ut h e did not do so and Sir W a ter a in b ld g , l , h v g a t er reat t rou e ot t h e ease o ut o f hi an s ui t o n f g bl g l s h d , b l it w a n lar r h t is ow called C g es St eet . RG RE D UC SS MA A T, HE OF C L NEW AST E .

A SHORT account of the life and career of this

b e lady may not, perhaps , wholly void Of

e int rest. That She was a learned lady may b e inferred from th e fact that Sh e was the author of thirte en published volumes of prose and poetry ; among these is h er Autobiography ; and it is only right to say that I have drawn largely on its contents in compiling the present p aper . Those who make a pilgrimage to Westminster

see e Abbey, will in the north trans pt a magni

ﬁcent m and to b of alabaster marble, with the recumbent ﬁgure of a cavali er and his lady,

his the former grasping in hand a truncheon ,

e while sh e holds a book in hers. B low they will read the following inscription : Here lyes . 2 86 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS. t h e e Loyall Duk of Newcastle and his Dutches, his e wh o me no e second wif , by he had issue ;

e a her nam was Margarett Luc s, youngest sister

e to the Lord Lucas of Colchester, a nobl

e th e e famili ; for all brothers wer valiant, and t h e e e sisters virtuous . This Dutch s was a wis ,

e k witti , and learned lady, which her many boo s

e t sti e Sh e t do e w ll e ﬁ . was a most vir uous and

and e e h er a loving car ful wif , and was with lord all th e time of his banishm ent and miseries ; and wh en h e came home never parte d from him

’ in his solitary conﬁnement . This refers to

l e e Wi liam , ﬁrst Duk of N wcastle , and his

th e e duchess, young st daughter of Sir Charles

Lisle (who was killed at the siege of Colchester) .

Th e lady se e ms to have been a blu e stocking from her earliest years ; at all events she writes

It pl e ased God to command his s ervant nature to e ndue me with a po etical and philosophical genius even fr om my birth for I did write some books of that kind before I was tw elve years of a e g , which, for want of good order and method ,

’ e ul I would n ver div ge .

In 1643 she entered the court of Que en

Henrietta Maria ; but her bashfulness and reti

2 88 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . or means left him to maintain himself and his

h e e d family, was nec ssitated to seek for cre it and live upon the courte sy of those that were

e pleased to trust him , which, although th y did

e e for some while , and showed th ms lves very

et e civil to my lord, y th y grew weary at length , insomuch that his steward was forced o ne time to tell him that he was no t able to provide a

him e e e dinner for , for his cr ditors w r resolved to

no . e trust him longer My lord, b ing always a

—s t great master of his passions, was least — Showed himself not in any mann er troubl e d

b ut at it, in a pleasant humour told me that I must of n e cessity pawn my cloth e s to make so

’ much money as would procure a dinn e r.

After they had b e en marrie d some two or three years , the marquis and marchioness

e e quitted Paris, and trav ll d into Holland, making short stays at Rotterdam and Brabant, and n w ﬁnally settli g down at Ant erp . It was from this place that her ladyship came to England to seek relief, but to no purpose . During h er stay in England on this occasion , the marchioness wrote a book of poems, and also a little volume

’ entitled Philosophical Fancies. U OF MARGARET, D CHESS NEWCASTLE . 2 89

t s e Notwiths anding their vicis itudes, th y se em

e e e to have liv d v ry happily together, ch rishing

e as similar pursuits , and njoying as often possi

th e e u e e ble qui t pleas r s of country lif . How

’ e e are so v r our fortunes , writes her ladyship ,

w e are e both content, Spending our tim harm lessly for my lord pleaseth himself with th e management of some few horses and exercises

i e use h ms lf with the of the Sword, which two arts he has brought by his studious thoughts ,

e er e t o rational xp i nce , and industrious practice

’ an absolute p erfection .

Th e humour and disposition of th e lady are thus s et forth in h er own words in th e memoir above referred to

‘ As for my humour, I was from childhood

e e e giv n to cont mplation , being more tak n and d elighte d wi th thoughts than in conv ersation

e with soci ty, insomuch as I would walk two

e u or thre hours, and never rest, in a m sing ,

e e n consid ring, cont mplati g manner, reasoning with myself of e verything my senses did pre sent ; but when I w as in the company of my natural friends I was very attentive of what

e th y said and did. For strangers I regarded

VOL . II . U 2 9 0 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . not much what they said ; but I observed their

e e actions, wher upon my reason as judg , my thoughts as accusers or excusers, or approvers

e co m and command rs, did plead or appeal or

e e l e in plain th r to. A so I never took d light

e i e th e e clos ts or cab n ts of toys, but in vari ty of ﬁne cloth e s and such toys only as were to adorn w my person . Like ise I had a natural stupidity towards the learning of any other languag e than my native tangue ; for I could sooner and with

e e e e mor facility und rstand the sens , than rem m

th e e ber the words, and want of such m mory makes me so unlearned in foreign languages as

’ I am .

e e sh e With r gard to her habits of lif , writes

‘ e e I was n v r very active, by reason I was

e given so much to contemplation ; b sides, my brothers and Sisters were for th e most part

e serious and staid in their actions, not giv n to

Sport or play, or dancing about, whose company,

e e I ke ping, b came so too As for my

s l e study of book , it was ittle ; yet I chose rath r to read than to employ my tim e in any other

ul work or practice . But my serious study co d not be much, by reason I took great delight in

29 2 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

Her husband w as among the ﬁrst to repair t o

e the Hague to congratulate King Charl s II . on th e i h e t Restoration . Soon after th s re ired into the country and set himself to the work of

ri his e repai ng estates. The duch ss computed his losses a t But the wisdom and

u economy of the d ke enabled him , before he

e di d, to recover in some measure his former

e e magniﬁc nc . He was raised to the dukedom

16 64 16 76 n his in , and died in , havi g survived

e e cel brated duchess about thr e years. The very few persons who have read th e

‘ s Autobiography of Margaret, Marchiones , and

’ w d e dis after ar s Duchess, of Newcastle, will f el posed to accord to that lady a very distinguished plac e among the female worthies of the seven t eenth e h er c ntury, though prose and her poetry are alike forgotten now. In an age of great

e i sh e ‘ th e public and privat lax ty, kept even

th e t e tenor of the way in mos exalt d position , l excellent a ike in her capacity as daughter ,

e i e sist r, w f , and mother ; while, by her writings, sh e has Shown the world that, without talents of

r hi e t sh e the ve y gh s order, could adorn her high s tation with the graces of a cultivated taste and R RE U OF . 29 3 MA GA T, D CHESS NEWCASTLE e ducated mind ; and even in a gloomy period of s tr sh e orrow, danger, and dis ess could inﬂuenc e those around her no less by h er e xample than by precept,in favour of all that was noble and

ai g enerous in itself, and sust n the Spirits and the

e e hop s of her lord, wh n exile and ruin stared

th e him in face .

e u The records of her life are scanty no gh .

e e e Th y consist of two small volum s, print d by

r e the late Sir Egerton B ydg s, at his private

co n printing press at Lee Priory, Kent ; the one s - isting of thirty six pages, and the other of only twenty- ﬁve ; and of one work only twenty- ﬁve

c e e th e . opi s were print d, and only ﬁfty of other

e e i e Both volumes are now xce d ngly rar , and I presume that I might se ek in vain for the original manuscript in the library of the Cavendishes at

C e hatsworth, or in that of the pr sent Duke of

o ne e Newcastle at Clumber. The volum is e e Of th e e ntitl d, A true Relation Birth, Br eding, a nd e e e di Lif of Margar t Cav n sh, Duchess of

e Herselfe and th e Newcastl , Written by other,

e e i e S elect Po ms, by Margar t Cavend sh, Duch ss

’ o f e r e us N wcastle. Sir E . B ydg s tells in his

e is n Advertisem nt to the former, that it take 2 9 4 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

’ from the Duchesse s folio volume entitled ,

’ ’ ” Nature s Pictures drawn by Fancy s Pencil ,

’ e ‘ th e which volum , he adds, is accompanied by

e e th e cel brated, very rar , and exquisite print of

his Die enb er . Duke and family, by p g

2 9 6 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS.

The broad lands of Lorne passed into the hands of the Campbells of Lochow, the direct ancestors of the present ducal house of Argyll , about four hundred years ago ; and it is remark

e Of able that th y were acquired, not by force

Sir e n arms, but by a fortunate marriage . B r ard

r s us Bu ke tell that Sir Colin Campbell, of

ni th e e Lochow, in recog tion of gr at additions which h e had made to the esta tes of the house o f e e Campbell , and to his achi vem nts in war,

’ e n e ‘ e acquir d the am of Mor , or the Great, and

his e that from him the head of desc ndants, down to the present day, is known among his

Gaelic tenantry and clansmen as ‘ MacCallum

’ More He re c eive d the honour of knighthood

A D. 1280 th e e e in . , from hands of Al xand r III .

e e of Scotland, and eleven y ars lat r was one of t h e nominees of Robert Bruce in his contest

t h e i e for Scottish crown . Th s r nowned and gallant Chi eftain w as Slain in a contest with

e his powerful n ighbour, the Lord of Lorne,

‘ ’ n e at a place called the Stri g of Cowal, wh re

an ugly obelisk of large siz e is erecte d over i h s grave . This event occasion e d feuds for a series of years between the neighbouring Lairds I OF O 7 THE LORDSH P L RNE. 29 o f n hi n Lochow and Lor e, w ch were termi ated

e n at last by the marriag of Coli , second Lord

e L w r Campb ll of ocho , and ﬁ st Earl of Argyll,

Lord High Chanc ellor of Scotland at the close

f th e e e e o ﬁft nth century, with Isab lla Stuart,

e e e the ld st daughter and heir ss of John ,

e e i n Laird of Lorne . In c ons qu nce of th s u ion Colin Campbell adde d to th e arms of his ances

’ th e e e m tors gall y, which still ﬁgur s in the Ca p

e e h e e b ll shi ld, and assum d the additional title f ’ o Lord of Lorne . The Marquisate of Lorne was created in 1701

i e in favour of Arch bald, t nth earl and ﬁrst Duke o f e e v Argyll, in recompens for his s r ices to th e new monarch in the troubled times imme di

e th e 16 ately aft r Revolution of 88 . It is thought probable in w ell- inform e d circles that in th e course of a few months t h e broad lands

e b e of Lorn will probably raised into a duchy,

Of n as in favour the prese t Marquis of Lorne, ther e are obj e ctions to a so n- in- law of H er

Maj esty holding a s eat in th e Lower House of Parliament and it is o bvious that the crea

It is desirabl e to state that t his was written o n t h e eve Of th e marria e th M L o f e ar uis o f o rne wit H . H g q h R. . t h e Princ L ui ess o se in 1871. 29 8 R CHAPTERS F OM FAMILY CHESTS .

tion of a new dukedom in favour of the bride

groom - ele ct will not eve n be open to the o bjec tion that it will make it a permanent addition

to the House of Peers ; for in the ordinary course of nature Lord Lorne must inherit also his

’ e father s title , and as we have a Duk of Hamil

ton and Brandon , a Duke of Buckingham and

Chandos, and a Duke of Richmond, Lennox , and

so D Gordon , we may possibly have also a uke

of Argyll and Lorne . A slightly parallel example of a father and so n both sitting in th e Upper House under two

separate creations, which, however, must ulti

e e mat ly be merg d into each other, is to be found in the case of th e eldest son of the late

e Duk of Leinster, who was raised to the peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Kildare in his

’ e i e e fath r s l f tim . With th e e xception of the honours bestowed

e on her own childr n, and the somewhat anoma lous and exceptional case of the Duchess of

e e Inverness, her Maj sty has but once ex rcised her right of creating a ducal title since h er accession to the A second ducal title

H er Ma est since t at at h as raise th e m r uisate j y, h d e, d a q o f W estminst u er to a d kedom.

THE ANCIENT EARLDOM OF

DESMOND .

IN the early times, long before the arrival of th e h e Englis under Henry II. , n arly the entire county of Cork—the largest of all the counties

e — of Munster, and indeed of all Ir land formed a

e s parate kingdom, under the rule of princes of

an e the cl or s pt of Macarthy. But the invaders made Short work of th e native race ; the fair territory over which the s ept had h eld sway for c e enturies was r duced to submission by Henry, who grant e d it to Robert Fitz St ep h en and an

o f other Norman noble , with the exception a s th e mall portion of land on southern shore,

’ which was kept in the king s own hands . The

’ larger part of what since King John s days has been the county of Cork, but was formerly the

n n is ki gdom or pri cedom of Desmond, still O OF THE ANCIENT EARLD M DESMOND . 301 vested in th e d escendants of the early Norman

e Old Macarth s ttlers but the race of y, though

et v e robbed of its lands, y sur iv s in the middl e

e e e u and lower class s, though scatt r d p and

e down the length and br adth of Munster, Lein ster, and Connaught. But it is no t of the Macarthies that I now

e writ , though I could tell how they fought on

th e e th e De equal terms with Barri s and Burghs,

‘ e to say nothing of the Geraldin s . It is said that at o ne time they were so powerful that the Geraldines durst not put a plough into the ’ n ground in Desmond. O their fall, their lands were mainly given to the followers and favour

" o f ites of the sovereign , and the whole territory

e Desmond was made into an arldom , which was

e e 13 0 conf rr d by E dward III . in 3 on Maurice

FitzTh o mas , one of the most popular and most

w e th e e po erful nobl s in southern counti s, who had been called in by the Lord Justice to aid him in suppressing an insurrection of th e native

. One e chiefs of th se lords, Thomas, commonly

’ th e e e his known as g r at earl , from the xtent of

o ssessro ns . p , obtained from Edward IV a charter of incorporation for the town of Youghal , and 302 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS . e ven founded here a college and a monastic house . But the Desmonds were proud and

e and ﬁerc , the great earl rose in rebellion a gainst th e English king. — — Th e Palatinate for such it really was that King Edward granted to th e Earl of Des mond formed the ninth of those petty sov ereigntie s into which the kingdom had be en

e e wantonly parcell d , in order to nrich and e e xalt a few favour d individuals In fact, these palatine lords had royal jurisdiction thr oughout their te rritories ; made barons and knights, and erected courts for civil and crimi nal causes, as well as for the management of

r e thei own r venues, according to the forms in

’ which th e king s courts were establis he d in

e e ff Dublin . Th y made their own judg s, sheri s,

’ and coroners ; nor did the king s writ run in l the Such being the case, it wi l not be surprising to learn that on one occasion the Earl of Desmond, at the head of nearly ten

’ men O Briens his thousand , having the for allies,

‘ took the ﬁeld against th e combined septs of

’ ’ c O Mo rro u h s O Dem Leinster, the N lans, g , and p

’ ’ See T omas Mo ore s ‘ Histor of Ire an i vol. i i . h y l d , , p . 85

H E 304 C APTERS FROM FAMILY CH STS . rudeness as well as the hospitality of that period

his in the South of Ireland . Without consulting

w e lord, the ste ard of the Great Earl invit d

hi e numerous c efs, or petty princ s , of Munster, l with their fol owers and retainers, to spend a h mont with him at the castle . Crowds accord in l e Mo eale th e e g y ﬂock d to g y, to surpris and,

e e th e th e it is to be f ar d, annoyance also of e w as no t e e arl, as he provid d, in lard r at least, for so large a party for so many days . The

e o ff steward, meantime, w nt on a holiday ; and

e e e this earl, ﬁnding that his stor s wer n arly exhausted, resolved to save his credit as a host,

h e e even at t cost of his castle its lf. So he led his company out on a hunting e xpedition into

e e the n ighbouring for sts and woods, having given orders to a trusty servant to set ﬁre to

e sa the castl , and then , when it was burnt, to y

an e h e that it was accid nt, for such an accident knew would be regarde d by his visitors as a

th e notice to quit. Throughout morning, during

e n the intervals of the chas , he cast many a lo g

e Mo eale th e look at the tow rs of g y, in earnest hope of seeing th e ﬂames burst from the top of his towers . But no such ﬁre arose . The ANCI ENT O or O 3 THE EARLD M DESM ND . 05

e e t earl wonder d, as w ll he might, to ﬁnd hat his

e e e n orders w r not carri d out. O his return home in the eve ning it was found that m eantim e his

e in steward and sen schal had come back, just time to pr e vent th e s ervants from ﬁring th e

i ‘ e bu lding, and had brought with him a larg

’ e e prey of cattl and corn , which he had obtain d

e r — e e by forc and th eats enough , at all v nts, to keep th e e arl and his friends in meat for a longer period than it w as inte nded that th eir revelry should last .

th e From this time to the reign of Elizabeth , history of Ireland may be said to b e little more than a record of strife betwe e n th e house of

m t h e e Des ond and house of Fitzg rald, Barons

' ﬁale e of O y and Earls of Kildare, the h ads of the form er b eing alternately masters of th e situation and then again all but beggars. Thus, for

ta e th e e . w e ins nc , in r ign of Henry VIII , ﬁnd

e ‘ the Earl of D smond, the noblest man in all

’ t he e realm, petitioning the king for rob s to

e w re wear in Parliam nt, like ise for appa l for

’

ai use e e e . . d ly , wh r of he had gr at lack St

e hi e Leg r ms lf, who states this fact, had already

e giv n to this once potent earl a gown, a jacket,

VOL . H . X I 306 CHAPTERS FROM FAM LY CHESTS . l a doub et, hose, and other articles of dress, for

h e hi which was very thankful , and w ch he wore in all places where he accompanie d the lord

’ e deputy. The true r ason of the hard straits to which h e was driven to supply himself with such n e cessarie s is probably to b e found in th e ~ w ast~ ing wars in which h e had be e n engaged in sup v

s porting the cau e of the king .

e In the hands of Gerald , the sixt enth and

e th e last arl, possessions of the house of Desmond had grown to such an exc essive size as to be quite un exampl e d in the history of th e three kingdoms . They extended for upwards of one hundred and ﬁfty miles through the countie s of

Waterford , Cork, Kerry, and Limerick, and compris e d more than ﬁve hundred and seventy

e thousand acr s, according to the rough estimate

e e of that period, when ordnance surv ys wer u w nkno n . Such a wealthy and powerful subject was a standing m enace to the royal crown of the

Tudors, and it did not need much provocation for Elizab e th to suppress him and his house with a high hand . That royal personage seldom us ed half measures ; and where she laid h er

308 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHESTS .

e w e his after s veral narro escapes, to k ep

’ 2 e Christmas in 158 in a wood n ar Kilmallock .

e e e Being attack d her , his follow rs were all put

w r e to the s o d, and he and his count ss escaped only by remaining unde r the bank of a river up

th e th e to th eir chins in cold water. About

e th e middl of following year his chief force, re duced by disease and death to about ﬁfty in all, was surprised in the act of boiling down h orseﬂesh by a party from Kilmallock, when

e e half of them w r slain .

’ Th e e e last scen of the earl s life, howev r, was h r e e t e most t agical of all. His n cessiti s having driven him to take some cattle b elonging to a.

h e poor woman , was closely pursued by some

h e n Englis musket ers, who, on entering at ight a grove in a lonely and mountainous gl e n near

e o e e e o r Trale , f und , s at d round a hov l, four

’ e ﬁve of D smond s most faithful followers , who ,

e ﬂe d o n e e e e e how ver, th ir ntranc , l aving b hind

o ne e e them venerable and pow rl ss old man . A soldi er aimed at him one blow with his

e h im so sword, and wound d in the arm , that t h e e e n e blood ﬂow d fre ly. O his rep ating the

‘ th e r blow, old man cried out, Spa e me ; I am O 309 THE ANCIENT EARLDOM CF DESM ND .

’ Th e t h e Earl of Desmond appeal, however, was made in vain ; for th e soldi er at onc e struck

e th e O o ff his head, and s nt it to Earl of rmond,

’ ‘ e o ff who pickled it in a pipkin , and pack d it t o England, where it was exposed, as usual with

th e . heads of traitors, on London Bridge The h eadless body of the once formidable Lord — I had almost written Princ e o f Desmond was c onsigned to an obscure and nam el ess grave in

e Killnamana th e the littl chapel of , in county o f Kerry.

Th e e e e e e po t Spens r, who writ s as an y

e o f th e e e f witn ss sc nes, thus describes the fe cts o f civil warfare in th e south of that green i so sland for which Nature has done much , and which man has so cruelly marred : ‘ Any h e art

th e Out would rue sight. of every corn er of the woods and glynns (glens) th ey (th e people o f Munster) came cre eping forth upon their

e h ear e e hands, for th ir legs could not th m th y

e e e look d like anatomies of death . Th y spak like ghosts crying out of th eir grave s ; th ey did e at th e e e e d ad carrions, happy wh n th y could

e ea o ne e ﬁnd th m ; y , and another soon aft r, insomuch as th e very carcase s they spare d no t 310 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY CHE STS .

e e to scrape out of their grav s ; and , if th y found

e e e a plot of watercr sses or Shamrocks, th re th y

e e e ﬂock d as to a f ast for the time, yet not abl to continue there withal ; so that in a short tim e

e e e th r was none almost l ft, and a most populous and pl entiful country suddenly became void o f n ’ ma and beast .

After the attainder of Desmond his huge

e e e e e e estat s w re forf ited, and distribut d piec m al among various favourites of th e English sove

e e e r ign, and especially among thos adventur rs who had chos en to settle in Ireland under th e

i e protection of the Engl sh bann r. Upwards of six thousand acre s were given by Elizab eth t o

e Kilco leman e w the Hyd s ; and Castl , as is kno n

e e i e e to ev ry read r of history, in l k mann r was

e e e pres nt d to Edmund Spens r, the author of

9 th e ‘ e e e Fairy Qu n . Other and larg r tracts of h e e t e . broad lands w re given to the Boyl s, St

e th e Fitz maurices e L gers, , the Fitzg ralds, etc . , and many of these still r emain in the hands of

e e th eir d sc ndants.

e e e As for the arldom , it was reviv d as a titl ,

e n without the estat s, in the oble family of

e Preston, but became xtinct after two genera

THE GALLANT SIR JOHN C HAND OS .

OF all the Norman familie s who have mad e

e few can th eir hom in this realm of England ,

Of e boast a mor noble descent, or a more worthy anc estor than the hous e of Chan dos.

th e e According to Sir Bernard Burke and h ralds , t h e founder of the house was one Rob ert de

Ch ando is e e thi Chandos, or , who cam ov r to s c u t o n ry from Normandy, and who proved a great b enefactor to the Church in th e West of

e e e England . The family was for thr centuri s of knightly rank in Herefordshire ; and th ere is still

b e e i to s en in the par sh of Much Marcle , near

e e th e th e H r ford, place which is traditional

e e e hom of this brave and intr pid rac .

But of all the members of th e Chandos family no t o ne b ears a more honoured name than Sir

th e e John Chandos, one of lead rs of the Eng JO 13 THE GALLANT SIR HN CHANDOS . 3 lish army in those wars with France which were

n e e m o ur ﬁ ally s ttl d , for a ti e at least, by vic

e P o ictiers tori s at Crecy, , and Agincourt , in the

th e e middle of fourteenth century . In sev ral of these battles Sir John Chandos too k a lead t ing par , and in one of them he lost his life ,

u wi ﬁghting for king and country, th s sho ng himself no unworthy d escendant of Sir Robert

- in- Chandos, the companion arms of William the

e Conqueror, who, wh n his brother Chieftains b egan to enlarge their grants by invading

e th e w Wal s, contrived, by aid of his good s ord a nd e stout arm, to carve out for hims lf a

e property in Monmouthshir , along the banks of

r s e the Usk, round about Ca l on . S veral of

’ e b e this Sir Robert s d scendants, it may stated here, proved men of note in their day, and from

e riff time to time b came she s of Herefordshire ,

e e f e e a nd constabl s of the Castl O H r ford.

ears John Chandos, though young in v , had already gained r enown at the great naval battle

’ o f 1340 e Sluys , on St. John Baptist s Day, , wh n

e e di th e Edward III . wholly d f ated and sabled

ee Of e six e ﬂ t Franc . Some years lat r, having

’ k e h e become one of the ing s chief couns llors, RO E 314 CHAPTERS F M FAMILY CH STS .

w was entrusted with the education of Ed ard ,

e as Princ of Wales, well known to history

’ th e e so - th e Black Princ , called from colour of

e his armour, which is still pres rved in the Tower

e of London . The Black Prince fought und r him and by his side at Crecy ; and t h e tutor and governor of the young hero was made one of the ﬁrst knights Of the Order of the Garter at Windsor. The honour was well deserved ,

was for, as Froissart says, Chandos one of the i best kn ghts in England for wisdom , strength ,

’ h u t . for une , hig emprise, and good co nsel From this time he was hardly ever separated

e from the Black Princ e, and the experienc of m the master, writes Mr. D . M . S ith, in his Tales

’ and e of Chivalry Romanc , contributed princi

e pally to the glory of the pupil. The succ ss of

Po ictiers e b e the battle of , for exampl , is to

u e attrib ted chi ﬂy to Chandos, who, on seeing

e s e e the Fr nch cavalry in di order, cri d out , Sir ,

’ th e e th e e charge , and day is yours . Aft r battl

e Sir John Chandos, like a tru knight, was most active in enforcing the duty of mercy and

th e courtesy towards vanquished. Having accompanied the Black Prince to Lon w don, where he as received with all marks of hon

H 3 16 CHAPTERS FROM FAMILY C ESTS.

r In the next yea , Chandos was named , along with Sir Walter Manny and the Dukes of Lan c e t h e aster and Warwick, to repr sent King of

England at a conferenc e for bringing about peac e betwe en the two kingdoms ; and so please d was Edward with his brave warrior

e h e him e and couns llor, that made Constabl o f Aquitaine and Li e utenant - General of all the

e in e English poss ssions France, at the same tim

e hi h S an b stowing on m t e V iscountcy of St.

e e . veur, in Cot ntin , with a fair estat

At the battl e of Auray h e took prison er his o ld fo e uesclin and rival Du G . But the Black

Princ e was so elate d with his succ esses that h e b e gan to act harshly and tyrannically in

e ld e Aquitain . In vain did his O tutor r monstrate

e with him the Black Princ , like many another

e e h im y oung man b fore and aft r , would not

th e e e e e listen to couns ls of xp ri nce . All Gas c u oigne was soon p in arms against the English , and the Gascons applied Openly to the French king for aid in r esisting th e tyranny and ext o r h t e e e . e e t h e tions of n my Wh n it was too lat ,

Prince s aw his mistake th e trage dy w as work t ing towards its gloomy conclusion . On the las n 13 ight of the year 70, Sir John Chandos, as 7 THE GALLANT SIR JOHN CHANDOS . 31

Po ict ou General of the Forces in , sent forth a

summons to all th e barons and knights of th e

province to meet him at Po ictiers on a se cond

e expedition . Thr e hundred knights, among

Perc e e his was Sir Thomas y, answ r d to call .

no t e e e e He led them out, t lling th m th ir d stina

tion ; but at midnight the y found themselve s

th e Of Salvain s beneath walls St . , with order

e e e th e l to mount th ir ladd rs , and scal wal s .

e But it was not to be . The night pass d away,

and in th e morning it was found that the French

h e e Po ictier t s. had taken ﬁ ld, and were near At once Sir John Chandos resolved to encounter

e e fe w ill- them, though his forces w r and pro

vided . with food and arms Unhappily, Sir John

e e Chandos, though on hors back, wor a long,

n t h e ﬂowi g robe, and, slipping on miry ground,

his e e e got feet ntangl d in it . At that mom nt a

e French knight pois d his lance, and thrust it

e e th e into the fac and n ck of English knight,

e e e e e who f ll mortally wound d . The victory s m d to be at ﬁrst for th e French ; but Sir John Chan dos live d just long enough to se e the English forces regain th e w ell - fought en ﬁ eld ; and h e br eathed his last almost at the mom ent o f v ictory. O 3 18 CHAPTERS FR M FAMILY CHESTS.

When the body of the English lord was found , and re cov ered from among the heaps of the

e in slain , ther was great mourning the camp .

Th e knights and bar ons of Po icto u were grieved

’ e Of at heart. Flow r of knighthood and bravery, t h e v cried ; Sir John Chandos, cursed was the

n ee forgi g of the lance that wounded th , and

’ us e which has cost thy lif . Then they stripped

o ff e e e his armour him g ntly and rev r ntly, and ,

e r e e him laying his body on th i shi lds , they bor

e e e to the n ar st fortr ss . But it was all too late .

The English mourn e d their gen eral ; b ut no one grieved for his loss more deeply than the Black

e e Princ hims lf, whose folly and rashness had

h e e e e c ost t King so gr at a h ro . And w ll might

e e - in- m he gri v , for amongst all his comrades ar s, though h e found many brave heroes and many s e e h e e e ag couns llors , n v r again found one who

e e was the qual of Chandos, in both the t nt and t h e ﬁeld

ra e an in th e ora B v h d f y, ’ Sage co uns el in cumber .

THE END.

LONDON 3 P RINTE D BY DUN AN MA DONALD BLE NHEIM HO USE . C C ,

13 REA MARL ORO H S REE LONDON , G T B UG T T, .

’ MESSRS. HURST AND BLACKETTS F L I S T O N E W W O R K S .

C HAP TERS FROM FAMIL Y C HE STS . By ’ R D u mili s DW ARD ALFO . . u or o f Th e o n a e &c. E W , M A , A th C ty F ,

s rown 8 vo . 2 1s . 2 v ol . c ‘ ’ “ Th ere is a mine o f wealth in th e Family Chests which no one h as yet n r m i M W a or h as o n ri e t o ex a a e a r u t o th e sur a e a d o s r. b o ght f c , f th lf d c t v d c v t — ” — r r ur us nd man Globe. mass o f acceptable matte a t easury o f narrative c io a ro tic. O EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WAIFS . By J HN ’ SHTON u or of o ia i e in th e ei n of ueen nne &c. A , A th S c l L f R g Q A ,

1 ol ar e rown 8 vo. 12 s. v . l g c

SHIKAR SKETC HE S : WITH N OTE S ON INDIAN

I ELD PORTS . . OR AY R OW N a e 79 t h am eron i F S By J M B , l t C H gh

anders. i i lus ra ions b . LLMAN R I . O . 1 vol. l W th E ght Il t t , y J C D ,

own o 12 s. a lar ge cr 8 v . (J mmy REMINISCENCE S OF THE C OURT AND

OF K OF O . th e R e C. TIMES ING ERNEST HAN VER By v. ’ . ILKIN SON . . His a e s s s e i en om es i a ain. A W , M A , M j ty R d t D t c Ch pl d 2 o s. i or rai of h n 2 13 . v l W th p t t t e Ki . An in eres in o o en i e Reminis n es f th e ur and imes f K in t t g b k, t tl d ce c o Co t T o g ’ s H an r h as us een ub i M E rne o f o e s e b essrs. H urs and a e t. Th e t v , j t b p l h d y t Bl ck t t wo vo lume s in which the se re miniscences o f a septuagenarian are co m prise d a oun in ara eris i s o ries o f th e o ld in in ane o es o f m an e e ri es b d ch ct t c t k g, cd t y c l b ti En s and o rei n o f th e e ar ar o f is e n ur and in e e o f all i n s and gli h f g , ly p t th c t y, , d d, k d conditions of me n and wo m en with whom th e autho r was b ro ught in co ntact by " — ’ h i s o ur o r asto rial ofﬁce. S t. Jam s az tt c tly p es G e e. M 1882 TO 1 85 THE EGYPTIAN C A PAIGNS , 8 D THE W D M AN EVENTS HICH LE To THE . By CHARLES RO YLE a is e r - a - L aw o L m rr t f EXA NDRIA . 2 o s. e o u 8 v . s ra e B t , A v l d y Ill t t d

b a s and an 9 . y M p Pl s . 30 “ o h a n r o ri m e n r Mr . R yle s do e w ell in th e inte ests o f hist cal co pl te ess to desc ibe no t o n th e e n ire m l ar ram a b ut a so th e o i a e en s onne e wi ly t i it y d , l p l tic l v t c ct d th it and w o e er re a s th e o o wi are h as o ne a conSIderab le wa owar s , b y h v d k th c ” g t d mas er in th e difii ul i —A henaeum t g c t Egyptian q ue st o n. t “ Th e E ian as o h as o un in Mr. Ro e a mo s ains a in a ura e and gypt fi c f d yl t p t k g, cc t , udimous s o r a F m ra omt o f ew h is o um es m a b e o u t o j hi t i n. ro a lite ry p vi v l y th ght on a n to o man un m o r an in i e n s et eir res en e was ne es s ar er c t i y i p t t c d t , y th p c c y p a s in a o m e e re o r and t h e mos as i io us rea er wi un e s a n ac h p , c pl t c d, t f t d d ll h it ti gly " — mt Mr. B o l e f n e l a in . t q y o filling h is p age s W ith anything that ca b ca led p dd g S . ' mes s Gazett Ja e.

THE PAL ACE AND THE H OSPITAL ; or, ’ R O L h EV . . R A GE H NI E S O N I H t e R . ST N F REE W . C C G C By A G L E , ‘ ’ ‘ u or o f Th e i a e of a a es Th e riends i s o f ar A th V ll g P l c , F h p M y ’ us se i ord &c 2 o s. r own 8 vo . i us ra ions . 2 18 . R ll M tf , . v l c W th Ill t t ‘ Mr. L E stran e h as ro i e f o r o se wh o a e a as e f or o o ra o r g p v d d th h v t t t p g phy, rather f or th e histo ri cal and biographical annal s o f a l o cality famo us in h is o r t wo o umes w i are ri in roman i in eres and h is a es a oun in t y, v l h ch ch t c t t, p g b d urious and in — l c teresting glimp ses of old manners Daz y News. U R BL A KETT’ S M ESSRS . H ST AN D C — NEW W ORK S Continued.

’ THE RE AL SHELL EY : NEW VIE WS OF THE POET S “ I HN ORDY EAFFRE SON u or of Th e ea o r FE . JO L By C J , A th R l L d ” ” “ ” ron o o ab ou o ors oo ab ou aw ers dzc . By , A B k t D ct , A B k t L y ,

em SW . 308 . 2 v ols . d y ’ “ Mr Jeafi res n un o f o n i re re t o Tho se wh o h ave read . o s acco t Byr w ll b e p pa d find that impartia lity is th e di stinguishing feature o f h is endea vour to clear away t h e fancie s and misco nce ptions which h ave been given to th e world in so m e o f t h e io r es o f e e and e wi no t b e di s a o mte d. Th e au o r h as b g aphi Sh ll y, th y ll p p th ri en to as er ain air and u th e ru on ernin a oe w o se influen e s t v c t , f ly f lly, t th c c g p t h c , w i e it h as een re a exa era e h is m o s en us as a m rers is s l a h l b g tly gg t d by t th i tic d i , til ”— n Mora . living factor in th e life o f ma y. wy Post REMINISCENCE S OF MILITARY SERVICE 9 rd U WITH THE 3 S THERLAND HIGHLANDERS . By - A h U L U RO M. D . o RG E ON ENER N C. B. rmer ur eon of t e S G M , , , F ly S g

1 vol. dem 8 vo . 15 s . R egim ent . y

- is oo is no t on ri and i e b ut orou l oo na ur e . W a Th b k ly b ght l v ly, th gh y g d t d h t makes these rem iniscences exce ptionally re adable is th e amo unt o f illustrative i are in ers ers Th e au o r h as a een a re a i n anecdo te with wh ch they t p e d. th k pp ci t o " — o f umo ur wi th e na o f re a a ro r a e s o ries. Sa ur da Renew. h , th k ck c lln pp p i t t t y THE FRIEND SHIPS OF MARY RUSSELL MITFORD : A s RE CORDED IN L ETTERS FR OM HE R L ITERAR Y ’ NDENTS . di e d b h e RE V T N ORRESPO t . . . S RA GE C E t y A G L E , ” di or o f Th e i e of ar usse i f or dzc. 2 o s . 2 18 . E t L f M y R ll M t d, v l “ r s are all wri en as t o n o m th ri e rs an r M s s The se lette tt o e wh e w t lo ve d re ve e. i ’ is o ne o f M ss M o r s orres on en s all o f w om seem to b e ins re Barre tt i itf d c p d t , h pi d x e en e in th n r in n e r e rs re ex with a sense o f e c ll c e mi d they a e vo ki g. Th i l tte a reme in e re s in and e s r e o ut re o e ons o nions r isms w t ly t t g, th y t ik c ll cti , pi , c itic , hich ' " — rea er s e i e and ser ous en io Da l Tel r a h. will hold th e d d l ght d i att t n. i y eg p

THE O E M e e e e e BR NT FA IL Y, With Sp cial R f r nc

t o A R K ELL R O E . RA EYL D T I NT N I . N 2 P C BRANW B By F C S A L A .

2 18 . v ols. “ This bo o k is so full of interesting inform ation that as a co ntri bution to liter ”— i r it a i A . ary b o g aphy m y b e cons dere d a real succes s. cademy “ ‘ Mr. Le an s oo is earnes and a ura e and h e h as s are no ains to yl d b k t cc t , p d p mas e r h is su e and re sen it wi earne ss th e o o is a ua e and s o u t bj ct p t th cl ; b k v l bl , h ld " b e rea all wh o r a i h e r s r n th e ami —Gr a h zc d by a e f miliar w th t p ek wo ks o f ly . p M ME OIRS OF A CAMBRID GE CHORISTER .

ILLIAM LO ER . 2 o s . ro wn 8 vo . 2 18 By W G V v l c . “ ese amus m m G er r n in In th g vo lu es Mr. lo v p o vides us with th e means of spe d g " ur r n — a ple asant ho o t wo in h is co mpa y. s ea “ e se o ume s o n a in a mis e aneous s et o f reminis en es ommen s and Th v l c t c ll c c , c t , wri e n in a i and ane o e s o u ar s Mr. o er is a wa s eer u cd t , tt l ght j c l tyle. Gl v l y ch f l " — n er i a c. and ev d d cti Athemeum. WITHOUT G OD : NEGATIVE SCIENCE AND NATURAL “ ’ ” THI S . PERCY REG u o r of Th e e i s vo a e E C By G , A th D v l Ad c t , “ ” ross th e Z o dia ﬁre . 1 vol. em 8 vo . 12 3 . Ac c , d y

Mr. G re h as o n ense mu ro o un o u in o his o o and h as ul g c d d ch p f d th ght t b k, f ly m " — su ee e in ain aini n th e in e re s o f t h e discus s wn r u u Mormn os . cc d d t g t t th o gho t. g P t This wo rk is ably written; there are in it many p as sag e s o f no o rdinary p o wer " — and ri ian . I is minen su e s i e e and s im u a n Scotsma n. b ll cy t tly gg t v t l ti g . TEP F ’ OOT O e . F S S JEANNE D ARC . A Pilg rimag

Mrs L RE ADDY 1 l d . 1 8 . . O N E . vo . m i Ma o f o ute 5 By F C C e y 8 vo . W th p R " Th e rea er w a e er h is re on e e no io ns of th e mai ma a e een d , h t v p c c iv d t d y h v b , wi s oo n ﬁnd imse in s m a W a wr er wh o th e arm o f h er d e ll h lf y p thy ith it , by ch s ri i e s e a t o n e arre s s his a en ion nd sus a ns th e in eres o f h er c pt v tyl , c t tt t a t i t t " — s ub ect. Al om m J g Post.

? ﬁ s her the Captt ial g ame s” of £ 21 wait ing .

blished annuad in One VOL ro al 8 uo with the A rms beauti uﬂ Pu y, , y , f y

n raved handsomel bound with ilt ed es rice 313 . 6 d. e g , y , g g , p L O D G E ’ S P E E R A G AND BARONETAGE , R R E TE D BY TH E N C O C O B I L I TY .

' F F Y - S X H E D O FO R I T I T I T I N 1 8 8 7 .

’ L one ns PEERACE AND BARONETAOE is acknowledged t o b e th e mo com e e as we as th e most e e ant wor o f th e in . A s an es t pl t , ll l g , k k d ' m i b lish e d and authentic authority o n all q ues tio ns r especting th e fa is ories onours and onne ions o f th e t i e aris o ra no wor h t , h , c ct tl d t c cy, k h o s o i e ia a r ona e of H e v er st o d h gh . It is pub lished under th e esp c l p t g a es and is annua orr e e t rou ou rom t h e erso na co M j ty, lly c ct d h gh t , f p l munications o f th e ob i i It is th e o n wor o f it s as s in w i t N l ty . ly k cl h ch , t e bein ke t cons tantl s tandin e er orre ion is m a e in it s ro yp g p y g , v y c ct d p p a e t o t h e a e o f ub i a ion an a an a e w i i es it su rem a" pl c d t p l c t , dv t g h ch g v p o er all it s om e ito r s e en en o f it s ul and au en i inf orm v c p t . Ind p d tly f l th t c t ion r es e in th e e xis in e ers and arone s of th e r ea m th e mo p ct g t g P B t l , sedulous attention is giv en in it s pages t o th e c ollat eral b ranch es o f t i arious nob e ami ies and th e name s of m an ousan in i i ua s a v l f l , y th d d v d l intro u e w i do not a ear in o er re or ds o f th e i le ass es. d c d, h ch pp th c t t d cl F it s au ori orr e ness and a i i o f arr an emen and th e b eau th ty , c ct , f c l ty g t , ty its t o ra and b indin th e wor is us en it e d t o th e la e yp g phy g, k j tly t l p c o ccupies on th e t ab les o f Her Majesty and t h e Nobility .

OF T LIST HE PRINCIPAL C ONTENTS . ri i f th e i f En laz Histo cal V ew o e P erage. Th e Ar chb shops and Bishops o g men ar o th e ar ia Ro f H o use f Lo r s. and I P l t y ll o d re land. En is S o and I ris eers in eir Th e aro ne a e a a e i a arran e . gl h, c tch, h P , th B t g lph b t c lly g d urnam o rders o f Pre ce dence. Alphabetical List o f S es as sumed l a e i a Lis o f rs f rea ri a e Alph b t c l t Pee o G t B t in members o f Noble Fami li s. and th e ni e K n om o i n su e Ai hab etical Lis o f th e e o n i es U t d i gd , h ld g p t S c d T tl rio r ran in t h e S o c o r Iris eer e ee m eir E e a . rs usua h o e k c t h h P g , lly by th ld A a e i a s o f and Iris r o o ee s ns. lph b t c l li t Sc tch h P , S ho lding superior title s in th e Pee rage o f Al h ab e tical Index to th e Daughters G a ri ain d th ni M r s h h a re an e e om. es ar uises and Ea w o t B t U t d n d , q , l , , A C o e i e is o f eers in eir o r er of in marrie ommo ners re ain th e tit ll ct v l t P , th d g d C , t n f L ad wn h Pre cede ce . o before their o C ris tian at ’ a f r n mon Men. ir T ble o P ece de cy a g the usb and s Surnames. a e o f re e en amon W o m A a i I x to th e Dau ers T bl P c d cy g en. lph be t cal nde ght

Th e uee n and th e Ro a Fami . Vis o un s and arons wh o h avix Q y l ly c t B , ,

eers o f th e oo Ro al. marrie ommoners are s e H ono P Bl d y d C , tyl d Th e ee ra e a a e i a arran e . a e Mrs and in ase o f t h e us an P g , lph b t c lly g d bl , c h b

Families o f su Ex in eers as a e e ein a aro n r Kni H o n. La . ch t ct P h v l ft b g B et o ght, dy W i ws r Issue. A L s o f th e Kni ido o t Orders o f ghthoo d. Al h ab e tical Lis t of th e Surnames of all th e M tt alphabe tically arranged and trim a“e? eers.

“ This work is th e most perfect and elabo rate record of th e living and recently (1 t cease d membe rs of th e Pee rage o f th e Th ree Kingdoms as i stands at this day. It us u u li i n W e r a ear e s i mo n to th a scru ulo a mo st ef l p b ca t o . a e h ppy to b t t y e fact th t p ”— Ti mex. accuracy is a distinguis hing feature o f this boo k. ‘ L r h in re aso ns : rs o e s ee a e mus su erse e all o er wor s o f t e for two . dg P g t p d th k k d, ﬁ t is o n a e e r an and se o n it is e er exe u e . W e can sa e ro no unce it to b tt pl ; c dly, b tt c t d f ly p l " — t h e rea ies t h e mo s use u and exa e s of mo ernwor s o n th e su e t. S ectato d t, t f l, ct t d k bj c p “ A wo r o f rea a u I is th mo s ai u re or we o ssess o f th e aria k g t v l e. t e t f thf l c d p " — ra orth e da . os c cy y P t. 4 IN ONE O U O 8v0 6 8 . EACH V L ME CR WN ,

D O N O V A N

A MODERN ENGL I SHMA N.

“ i i a Th e rea er is rom th e rs arrie awa th Th s s very admirab le work. d f ﬁ t c d y by rallant un o n n i na f its au o r Dono an is a er ex e en no e b ut it c ve t o lity o th . v v y c ll t v l ; i ometh in m r n er s oul do as mu o o as th e es sermon e er wri e g o e a d bett . It h d ch g d b t v tt r m h un ns io us o etr e i ere ex em o re . Th e s o r is o W a ran Bi Cl t an o d l v d t p t y t ld ith g d p y, c c p e o ue n e w i rs th e e de f th e ear On o f th e main ex e e n e s 0 f l q c h ch s ti v ry pth s o h t. e c ll ci h is no vel i s th e delicacy o f to uch with which th e a utho r sho ws h er mos t delightful ch ar ”— tcters to be a e r all uman ein s and not an e s e o re eir me. S andard. ft h b g , g l b f th ti t ' ‘ Do no an is o wi th e ower of ru ex erien e and mora insi t Th e t en v t ld th p —t th. p c , l gh f th e n i x e r i Dazl News. o vel s e c llent and ve y h gh. y

W E T W O .

is o o is we wri e n and u o f in e res Th e s o r a oun i a oo man Th b k ll tt f ll t t. t y b ds w th g d " i h t o u es and is er a far ro m la in in in i en . g t ch , c t m f ck g c d t ’ W e Two contains many very evciting p assage s and a great dea l o f inf ormatio " dies L a l is a a wr er and a ear- ea — a e e n e r. A t y l c p bl it cl h d d thi k henceum. “ A r f ee o n mu o r rio i b ri h wo o u a d we . e us as it s it is no w and en k d p th ght ch p S , th g ne d ra s o f by y genuine hum our. Alto ge ther this sto ry is more and better than a no vel

There is artistic re alism bo th in th e conception and th e del ineation o f th e personag es h e a io n and in e res are unﬁ a iu l sus a n ro i g g g y e m rs to as , and th e oo is p e ct t t t i d f ” ﬁ t l t b k mo s — a a an a ere o f e e a e e arnes o u . 8 cotsman. d d by t ph l v t d, t th ght

N T H E I G O L D E N D A Y S .

Miss Lyall h as given us a vigorous study o f such life and characte r as are re ally wo rt in Th e en ra re f h A rn n n and is ure sh ead g abo ut. c t l fig u o er s to ry is lge o Syd ey ; th fig in es s W a s u ar ni and o wer. H e a wa s a ears wi efi ect b ut no e i v t ith g l dig ty p l y pp th , lib e s a e th a f Th e o is a a e W re a e i i to en re tak n W ith e f cts o h is life . pl t d pt d ith g t f l c ty th Eiis ar in it a so u e o nsis en as it is wi s ori a ru i es it rea i as we l a p t . b l t ly c t t th hi t c l t th, g v l ty l i nit . m o f t h e ene s a r mar a Th e es a is an a mira e narr g y S o e sc re e k bly Vivid. c pe d bl ‘ “ — ve w i a mo s m a es o ne o one s re a as o ne rea s. S e tator . , h ch l t k h ld b th d p c In th e G olden Days is an excell ent no ve l o f a kind we are always particul arly gla c reco mmend. I h as a oo o un a o n o f o and in en a o ro u no e t g d f d ti pl t cid t, th ghly bl o e some m o i e a ero wh o rea l acts and sufi ers ero i a and t wo e r nic h l t v , h ly h c lly, v y ero ines. Th e is o r a a roun is er are u l in i a e b ut is ne er a owe h t ic l b ckg d v y c f l y d c t d, v ll d t " e ome more an a r un — rd c th b ckg o d. Gua ian.

W O N B Y W A I T I N G .

' — Th e De an s daughte rs are perfectly real characte rs th e learned Cornelia e specially th e i e im u si e F ren e ro ine wh o en ure s eir o o s i a i and at as l ttl p l v ch h , d th c ld h p t l ty l t eir a e io n is o ro u armin w e ro u ou th e o o ere runs a o e h ff ct , th ghly ch g ; hil th gh t b k th g ld f ure ro er and sis e r o e easan remin s us a th e makin brea o p b l , w pl l d th ly t y l v hich t y d”— th t und marrin o f marria e is not a e r all th e sum o a of rea if e. Academ . g g , ft , t t l l l y ‘ W on by W aiting is a very pl eas ing and well - written tale ; full o f graphic descrip b ions of Fre n and En is i e wi in i en s and ara e rs we sus aine . A oo ch gl h l f , th c d t ch ct ll t d vi su eas an rea in and wi su a eal one and inﬂuen e is a rea b oo th ch pl t d g, th ch h thy t c , g t ”— F eeman. o th e young people in our families. r E A U H I N U N L V U h U M ﬁ J D R U W N OVO .

A H O U S E P A R T Y .

D By OUI A . ‘ ’ ‘ A H ouse ar wi b e read rs e ause it is Oui a s and se on e ause 01 P ty ll , ﬁ tly , b c d , , c dly, b c i n an r n in ee more i e a o rne he brightne ss o f th e conversat o s d desc iptio s. It is d d l k c d ‘ " — s. G han any o ther of th e writer s bo o k lobe.

B M F ORRE E R . y rs . ST

Th is oo is easan an e ean H er n r r some oo ou es. Si b k pl t d w ll m t. e a d the e a e g d t ch h m " — lal is a an wo r rea in a o u A adem . p th d g b t. c y “ This tale is we ll and cl e ve rly written ; th e characters are d rawn a—nd sustaine d wit onsiderab le ower and t h e o n ersa ion is a wa s r and l e . las ow Herald. p , c v t l y b ight iv ly G g

B E T R A Y A L O F R E U B E N H O L T .

By BAR BAR A L AKE . is no e s ows i r in ere are some s ri in s enes an Th v l h co ns derable p ower o f w it g. Th t k g c " cidenta —Sco sm t an. “ s t ale s a s e e a ion of ou and ee in uni e to no l e race o Thi di pl y l v t th ght f l g, t d ittl g " — ix r s i ost. p e s on. P

S O P H Y .

By VIOLE T F ANE . o is th n ri ina wor of a e er m I ts meri s are o f a e r i S phy e clever a d o g l k cl v wo an. t t u unus ua kin I is ar e ro u ou wi th e s r n es uman in erest. I ii gly l d. t ch g d th gh t th t o g t h t t " 11 a wor a no e a wi l ma e its mar . World. d, v l th t l k k

1 13 ? L O R D A N D M Y L A D Y .

F E ER ORR . By Mrs . ST

A er a i a no e Th e rea arm a o u it is a Mrs . Fo rres er is ui e at h on v y c p t l v l. g t ch b t th t t q t " — in th e so e w i h e es ri es I is a o o to re a S andar d. ci ty h ch s d c b t b k d. t “ ' Mr orres e r s s e is s o res r i r is un er its s. F t tyl f h and g aph c that th e re ade kept d sp e " — from rs to as . r n ﬁ t l t H o m g Post.

H I S L I T T L E M O T H E R .

th e h o r o f Jo H f e em n. By Aut hn ali ax, G ntl a ‘ ‘ His Little Mo ther is o ne of those pathetic stories which th e author tells b et " — t an an e se. h ybody l Jo)m Bull. “ ’ is o o is wri en wi all Mrs rai s r of s th e ie arm of w io T C a e y e, h f h h h b k tt ”—th k g c t l c c a er all is its M licit . l s ow Herald. ft , p y G a g

T H E B R A N D R E T H S .

h e Ri h t t H o n. H M .P . . ERE F RD O E J. . O By g A B B S P , Th e rea a ra io n o f is no e is th e eas o n ersa iona no w e ea e o ne g t tt ct th v l y, c v t l , k l dg bl t i t ; th e s e c in ro m th e i e and et not so os e to th e i e as to b e m a i ious me k t h g f l f , y cl l f l c , women ri d e o s and e en s to all o f wh i in e i en rea ers can a name. Tl , p , v t , ch t ll g t d ﬁt po litica l and social ske tches will naturally excite th e chie f inte rest among readers 17 wi b e ' ”— a ra e th e au or s nam and x rien S tator. ll tt ct d by th e e pe ce. p ec

e TILL MY WEDDING D AY . By a Fr nch Lady. s 2 v ol . THE G REEN HILL S BY THE SE A : A MANX

T Y UGH O LEMAN A IDSON . 3 ols . S OR . By H C D V v OF 18 14 PA SSAGE S IN THE L IFE A L AD Y in , “ ” “ 6 AMILTON AID u o r o f i a e nrud 18 15 18 1 . P , By H , A th R t , ” “ ” do e o et and e er &c. 3 o s . Januar ck , P P , v l ( y “ E M s . O e VICTIMS By TH GIFT , Author of Pr tty i s ” “ ” e ew L il orimer &c. 3 o s . Ja nuar B ll , L , v l ( y

. O U THE BROKEN SEAL By D RA R SSELL, Author ” of oo rin s in th e no w &c. 3 o s . F tp t S , v l “ Mis s Do ra R us se wri e s as eu and we and sh e h as th e i o f ma in h e r ll t y ll, g ft k g " ers es ri e emse e s eir a o ue w i i s ri and na ura . charact d c b th lv by th di l g , h ch b ght t l

A thenceum. ’ M . U MURIE L S ARRIAGE By ESME ST ART, Author “ ” of aire Damz ell &c. 3 o s . A F , v l “ Mu of th e in ere s and arm o f th e s or and o are o nsi era e are ch t t ch t y, b th c d bl , due to t h e e inea io ns no t m ere o f th e t wo rin i a erso na es b ut o f t h e d l —t , ly p c p l p g , S colsman. mino r characters . Mrs O N E . . O C AGAIN By F RRESTER, Author of ” ” ” i a Mi non ord and a &c. Se ond E dition V v , g , My L My L dy, ( c ) 3 v ols . “ A a in s r . ri and o en ri ina as is Mr F rea s ina o o s. orres er h er lly f c t g t y B ght ft g l t , ‘ ’ e u ar s a e ne er een se en t o e er a an a e an in On e A am p c li gift h v v b b tt dv t g th c g . A n un er urren o f ra e runs ro u is s ar n a e and s o e e r d c t t g dy th gh th t tli g t l , thi , t g th wi i ts ra i a l ra wn ara ers se s it om e e a ar rom th e o r inar th g ph c l y d ch ct , t c pl t ly p t f d y " - s r Mor n ost. society to y. mg P

O OM . . A WILFUL Y UN G W AN By A PRICE, “ ” “ ” u d Wh o i a o u or o f s i ai s vi ? &c. 3 s . A th A R t c M , Syl v l

A r a a e s r . Pn e h as ra n h er dramal sona? ve y re d bl to y Mrs. c d w zs p er with some i " — Academ . p owe r and v go ur. y " - — h e or is rou ou o soun and i rin i . I/derar orl T st y th gh t b th d h gh p c pled y W d.

O . THE SURVIV RS By HENRY CRESSWELL, Author ” ” o f o ern ree eroine n o ni a &c. 3 o s A M d G k H , I c g t , v l . " is e erne ss in is o o and o asiona ril ian d i — ere an w t A m . Th cl v th b k. cc l b l cy cade y An amusing co medy o f m od ern life ; there are some good S itua tio ns and " — t A hene um. striking episo des in h e b ook. t M . HAY t A WICKED GIRL By ARY CECIL , Au hor ’ ” ld M ddelto n s one 620 . o s o f O 3 . y M y, v l “ ' Th e author of Old Myddelto n s Mo ney always manages to write interesting " — A cadem . sto rie s. y Th e s o r ‘ A Wi e G ir h a s an in enious arrie out M B t y ck d l g ly c d plo t. iss ay is " — a ra e u wri er and h er a os is enuine. P os . g c f l t , p th g t

THE OF . E WOOIN G C ATHERINE By . FRANCES “ ” YN E u o r o f i e ad O T R &c. 2 o s . P , A th My L ttl L y, v l Th e ure s are rawn wi ear o s r o es e a in i i ua s an in ﬁg d th cl , b ld t k , ch d v d l t d g e o re us wi mar e ersona wh i e th e a roun s ar f i nd b f th k d p lity, l b ckg d e e fect ve a " — s r in L it rar Wor ld. t ik g. e y PLEAS E DO NOT REMOVE

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