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owner the rank of duke or marquis. This same lion is wrought in jewels on the 

 amber dress of the lady above-mentioned, and it also surmounts the frame, 

 which has a ducal coronet above it. This last clue points to the Lady Frances 

 Devereux, wife of AVilliam Seymour, Marquis of Hertford, and Duke of Somerset, 

 as the lady in the picture, though the crest does not suit this surmise. She is 

 represented with fair hair in ringlets, light complexion and eyes, with pearl 

 necklace and bracelets, and amber dress. The warrior opposite to her, who has 

 been already described, has a viscount's coronet surmounting the frame. There is 

 a portrait of Frances, Duchess of Somerset at Petworth, but it does not correspond 

 with the portrait described. Besides the portraits of the warrior and lady are two 

 others of equal size, and bespeaking equal skill in their artist ; one of an elderly lady 

 in black, with collar and cuffs of white muslin, and without any ornaments what- 

 ever. One should surmise that she was a widow, but there is no sign of a 

 wedding ring, though that Mr. Georga Soharf, of the National Portrait Gallery, 

 says, proves nothing in portraits of this date. Opposite to her is the poi trait of 

 a noble-faced old man with grey hair, flowing black velvet gown and cap, a pair 

 of compases in hand, a chest before him, and beside him a globe, where on certain 

 countries, Lapland among them, are prominently figured. His features are con- 

 sidered to resemble thosa of the warrior, who may have been his son ; and this 

 portrait is perhaps the most striking of the collection, but it has proved hitherto 

 in vain to unravel the enigma as to who these worthies are, and in any wise to 

 connect them with the estate. Lady Theresa Lewis had a guess — it amounted to 

 nothing more— that the old man might have been Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen 

 Elizabeth's Secretary of State, who was grandfather to Lady Frances Devereux, 

 Duchess of Somerset aforementioned ; and Mr. George Scharf infers that the 

 warrior and the younger lady are persons of the highest rank, both from the 

 style of painting and the elaborate frames, and is inclined to think that the 

 other pair are portraits of foreigners connected with the family. Photographs 

 of the four are deposited at the Kensington Museum. The pictures them- 

 selves are extremely interesting to all who are curious in old portraits of 

 family histories, and will be gladly shown at any time. They were in a very 

 neglected state when the old manor house and property passed by sale to the 

 late James Davies, of Moor Court. 



Weaving these threads of information together it is not difficult to find 

 an explanation which suits them and adapts itself readily, as well to the other 

 peculiarities of the place, as to the known history of the district. Why should 

 not Moor Court have been the abode of one of those Flemish families who are 

 known to have taken up their residence in this neighbourhood. The man who 

 occupied the house for a considerable time, even if he neither owned nor built 

 it. may have been the proprietor of the cloth works of Leominster or Kington 

 who in the retired seclusion of this valley surrounded himself with happy asso- 

 ciations of the Fatherland. It is easy to fancy the pride he would take in his farm 

 buildings, which are very close to the house, the pleasure he would take in his 



