THOMAS GERARD OF TRENT. 65 



and having to point out an error in a work so general as the 

 Britannia, he continues, " farr be it from me to tax him, 

 whose bookes I was never worthy to bear after him." (P. 101.) 



He had read the national records in London, and his 

 knowledge of their contents is remarkable, though equalled 

 by John Smith of Nibley, a contemporary antiquary, who 

 wrote the Lives of the Berkeleys. Another member of this 

 fraternity, William Burton, author of a history of Leicester- 

 shire, seems to have been a personal friend. As the owner of 

 Leland's collections Burton certainly allowed Gerard to 

 consult and copy such parts as interested him. Unfor- 

 tunately an effort about 1615 to revive the original Society 

 of Antiquaries, which came to an end at the death of Queen 

 Elizabeth, was stopped by a hint that King James took a 

 little mislike of the Society ; and Gerard had no opportunity 

 of discussing this favourite subject with congenial friends on 

 visits to London. 



In the midst of his labours his wife died on 25th June, 1633, 

 leaving, as her monument in Trent Church states, one son 

 and five daughters. Thomas Gerard died on 13th October, 

 1634. The inquisition enumerates the family estates in 

 Somerset and Dorset, and gives as his heirs his daughters, 

 Elizabeth aged twelve, Anna aged ten, Ethelreda aged nine, 

 Annie aged six, and Frances aged four years, the son having 

 died before his father. 



Thomas Gerard died intestate, and administration was 

 granted to his nephew, John Gerard, on 17th February, 

 1634-5. The estates were divided between the four sisters 

 who grew up ; Annie died 9th October, 1637. Elizabeth 

 married Bullen Reymes, M.P. for Weymouth ; * Anna 

 married Colonel Francis Wyndham and received Trent for 

 her share ; Ethelreda married Edward Hyde, of West Hatch, 

 in Wilts ; and Frances married John Wynter, of Dyrham, 

 co. Gloucester. 



* Som. and Dor. N. and Q., IV., v. 



