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Whence then did Webbe derive his influence ? and who were 
his patrons ? Laud’s mother was Lucy Webbe, the widow of 
Robinson, and the fathers of both were clothiers at Reading. 
Is it possible that Hugh Webbe was any connection ? Webbe 
was, as I said, a very common name. There were Webbes of 
Swainswick, who for many years managed the College property, 
being called the Farmers, and who were succeeded by Sherston, 
_ the father-in-law of Prynne. There was Robert Webb at 
Beckington in 1580; and John Webb and William, his son, 
rich men, at Salisbury in 1570 and 1585, but I can find no 
trace of any connection between the families. There is, 
however, a report that Laud, upon the accession of Charles I., 
furnished the Duke of Buckingham with a list of clerics worthy 
of promotion which was intended to be given to the King, 
and it is noticeable that George Webbe’s nomination as Chap- 
lain-in-Ordinary took place at this time and his elevation to 
the episcopal bench soon after Laud became Archbishop. 
They were men of opposite character, but if Webbe’s life at all 
coincided with his writings he could have had few enemies 
and would be specially trusted in a post near the King by one 
whose ruling passion was ambition. 
Another patron may have been Mary Herbert, sister of 
Sir Philip Sidney, wife of Henry, the second Earl of Pembroke. 
Mary was the ‘‘ Urania”’ of Spenser’s Colin Clout, and her 
brother’s Arcadia was written at her suggestion, and it was 
her eldest son, William, the third Earl, to whom Shakespeare 
dedicated his Sonnets, and who presented George Webbe to 
the living of Steeple Ashton. Mary Herbert’s uncle was 
Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the favourite of Queen Elizabeth, 
and this may partly account for the entry in the register 
of Steeple Ashton, 1612: ‘‘ Hugh Webbe sonne of George 
Webbe, pastor of this Church, was borne, November ye 16th 
ye day before the commemoration of the happy beginning 
of ye blessed Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and ye restauration of 
ye Gospel.” 
Both the Countess and the Earl were friends of Sir John 
Harrington, and together they entertained James I. at Wilton, 
in 1603. 
: All this is only conjecture, but it is certain that being then 
a Master of Arts at 24 he was inducted on the 14th May, 1605 
(James, 3rd year), into the Vicarage of Steeple Ashton, and on 
the 17th June, 1606, married in the little Norman Church of 
Semington, a district of Steeple Ashton, Annie Seager, ~ 
