on him a fever, that, joined to the other, carried him off in the fifty-eighth year of his age, at his seat at Isleworth, on the 1st of February 1717-18. On the Monday before he died he sent for all his servants into his room, and telling them that, let his physicians say what they would, he was sure he must die soon; he desired, if death should carry him off suddenly, they would do that justice to his memory to declare, as he did, that he died in the communion of the church of England, of which he had been above thirty years an unworthy member. On Tuesday he received the sacrament from the hands of William Talbot, bishop of Salisbury, and Dr. Chark, his parish minister. He preserved his judgment and senses to the last minute: even on the day he died, he bade the Duchess and his physician go to dinner, and come and chat with him when they had done; but, before dinner was over, he departed this life. Although his heir differed from him in religion, and was a distant relation, yet, for the honour of the family, he left the whole estate to go together, which, from four thousand pounds a year and in debt, he brought to eight thousand out of debt. By his will it was not to be alienated from the honour; and an act of parliament has been obtained for that purpose."

He left the Duchess 12001. a year (which was what his mother had for her jointure) and his house and furniture in Warwick-street, with 2000 ounces of his plate for life. His house at Isleworth, so finely furnished, he left to his heir, as also the fine seat at Heythorpe; and appointed George Earl of Cardigan, William Talbot, then bishop of Sarum (afterwards of Durham, and ancestor of the Earl Talbot) Sir John Stanley, and Mr. Arden his steward, trustees to see his will executed, with an allowance of 100l. a year to each for their trouble; and left some other small legacies amongst his servants.

Burnet's character of him is in the following words.

"The Earl of Shrewsbury had been bred a papist, but had forsaken that religion upon a very critical and anxious inquiry into matters of controversy. Some thought, that, though he had forsaken popery, be was too sceptical, and too little fixed in the points of religion. He seemed to be a man of great probity, and to have a high sense of honour. He had no ordinary measure of learning, a correct judgment, with a sweetness of temper that charmed all who knew him. He had at that time just notions of government; and so great a command of himself, that, during all the time that he continued in the ministry, I never heard any one

complain of him, but for his silent and reserved answers, with which his friends were not always well pleased. His modest deportment gave him such an interest in the Prince, that he never seemed so fond of any of his ministers, as he was of him. He had only in general laid the state of affairs before the Prince, without pressing him too much." b

At the decease of his Grace the Duke of Shrewsbury, on February 1st, O. S. 1717-18, the titles of Duke and Marquis, which were only granted to him and the heirs male of his body, expired: but the Earldom of Shrewsbury, with the other honours, devolved on GILBERT (THIRTEENTH EARL OF SHREWSBURY) the eldest surviving son of Gilbert Talbot, fourth son of John the tenth Earl of Shrewsbury, by Mary his first wife, daughter to Sir Francis Fortescue, as before mentioned: but the said Gilbert, who died unmarried, being in holy orders in the church of Rome, the honours descended to his brother,

GEORGE, FOURTEENTH EARL OF SHREWSBURY, who married, on March 11th, 1718-19, Mary, daughter of Thomas Viscount Fitzwilliam, of Merion, in Ireland, by his wife Elizabeth, sister of George Pitt, of Stratfield Sea, in the county of Southampton, Esq. and dying on December 12th, 1733, was interred at Albrighton, in com. Salop. His Lady surviving him, deceased on September 20th, 1752, and was buried at Heythorpe in Oxfordshire. His Lordship left issue six sons and three daughters.

First, George, fifteenth Earl of Shrewsbury.

Second, The Honourable Charles Talbot, who married Mary, daughter and co-heir of Robert Allwyn, of Trayford, in com. Sussex, Esq. and by her, who died in child-bed on June 8th, O. S. 1750, had a daughter Mary, born on June 2d, 1750, who died July 12th, 1771. He afterwards, in 1752, married Mary, daughter of Sir Pierce Mostyn, of Talacre, in Flintshire, Bart. by whom he has three sons, first, Charles, born on March 8th, 1753, the present Earl; second, George Joseph, born November 23d, 1763, died February 7th, 1789; third, John Joseph, born June 9th, 1765, married, first, May 23d, 1789, Miss Clifton, by whom he has Charles, born 1789; and John, born 1790. On her death, he married, secondly, May 4th, 1797, Harriet, eldest daughter of the Rev. Bacon Bedingfield, of Ditchingham-Hall, Norfolk. The daughters were, first, Anne, born March 9th, 1754, died young; second, Frances; third, Barbara, married, April 9th, 1780,

Burnet's O. T. vol. i. p. 762.

Frances Fortescue Turville, Esq. and has issue; fourth, Catharine Mary; fifth, Juliana, married, June 7th, 1784, M. Bryan, Esq. and has issue; sixth, Elizabeth; seventh, Theresa, married, February 5th, 1793, Robert Selby, Esq. and has a son; eighth, Anne Mary, died January 27th, 1775; ninth, Charlotte Mary, died 1775. Their father died before his elder brother on

......

.....

Third, John, who died unmarried, on April 5th, O. S. 1751.
Fourth, James, died unmarried.

Fifth, Thomas, died April 24th, 1775.

Sixth, Francis, who on April 20th, 1761, married Lady Anne Belasyse, daughter of Thomas Earl Fauconberg, who died September 13th, 1768, without issue. He married, secondly, May 18th, 1772, Margaret Frances, only daughter of William Sheldon, Esq. by whom he has had issue, first, George, born March 28th, 1773, died June 7th following; secondly, Elizabeth Margaret, born May 20th, 1775; third, Frances, born December 1st, 1777, died December 22d, 1795; fourth, Maria, born October 4th, 1779, married, September 224, 1802, James Wheble, of Woodley Lodge near Reading, Esq. and has issue; fifth, Francis William, born March 15th, 1781; sixth, Charles Thomas, born November 24th, 1782; seventh, Louisa Frances, born October 9th, 1784; eighth, Anne Barbara, born May 24th, 1788.

He had also Gilbert, who died an infant.

His daughters were,

First, Lady Barbara, who on June 30th, 1744, was married to James, fifth Lord Aston, of Forfar in Scotland, and died at Paris in October 1759.

Second, Lady Mary, married on August 9th, 1749, to Charles Dormer, Esq. son and heir to the Hon. John Dormer, of Peterly, in Buckinghamshire, afterwards Lord Dormer; and died May 15, 1755, leaving issue the present peer.

Third. Lady Lucy, a nun.

GEORGE, FIFTEENTH EARL OF SHREWSBURY, was born on December 11th, 1719, O. S. and on November 21st, 1753, married Elizabeth, daughter of the said Hon. John Dormer, of Peterly, in Buckinghamshire, afterwards Lord Dormer, but died in July 1787, without issue, and was succeeded by his nephew

CHARLES, SIXTEENTH EARL OF SHREWSBURY, who married September 12th, 1792, Miss Hoey of Ireland; but has no issue.

Titles. Charles Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury in England, Wexford and Waterford in Ireland; Baron Talbot, Strange (of Black

mere) Furnival, Verdon, Lovetot, Giffard (of Brimsfield) Comyn (of Badenagh, or Badenoch) Valence, and Montchensy.`

Creations. Baron Talbot, by writ of summons to parliament, June 5th, 1330, 4 Edw. III. Strange of Blackmere, in com Salop. Furnival, Verdon, Lovetot, Giffard of Brimsfield, in com. Glouc. and Comyn (Cumming) of Badenagh, a family in Scotland, Valence, and Montchensy, the names of families: Earl of Shrewsbury, May 20th, 1442, 20 Hen. VI. Earl of Wexford, and Earl of Waterford, July 17th, 1446, 24 Hen. VI.

Arms. Gules, a lion rampant, within a border, engrailed, Or. Crest. On a chapeau, Gules, turned up ermine, a lion statant, Or, his tail extended.

Supporters. Two Talbots, Argent.

Motto. Prest d'Accomplir.

Chief Seat. Heythorpe, near Woodstock, in the county of Oxford; the other seats being dilapidated.

VOL. III.

THIS is one of those families, whose early Baronial origin, though from a younger branch, seems, in defiance of change of name and arms, to stand upon a satisfactory foundation. From the time of Rich. II. it has made a very considerable figure in history. The prominent part they acted in the fatal battle of Bosworth, by which Richard III. lost both his crown and his life, has made their name familiar to every Briton conversant with the annals of his country. The splendor of their rank, alliances, estates, and hospitality for several succeeding generations, has given an interest to their memories, in the contemplation of those, who love to fill their fancies with pictures of the feudal ages.

a

Camden, Dugdale, and all our antiquaries agree, that this noble family is a branch of the old Barons Audeley, of Audeley in Staffordshire, whereof ADAM de Audeley had the manor of Raveney in Cumberland, of the gift of King Henry I. he had also lands in Bagenhalt, in Cheshire, by the gift of John Poynton, and bore for his arms, Gules, a Fret, Or. He had two sons, Lydulph and Adam.

First, Lydulph, the eldest son, who flourished in the reign of King Stephen, being possessed of Audleigh in Staffordshire, thence took his surname, and was progenitor to the Lords Audeley, who continued to July 25th, 1391, when Nicholas the last heir male died; though the Barony of Audley has continued in the families of Touchet and Thicknesse to this day.

Second, ADAM, the second son of Adam above mentioned, also

a Camden's Britannia, in Staffordshire and Lancashire.