350 mms ot tbc 1bunt(no*3ficl^ 



It is enough for my purpose as a mere Sassenach, to 

 note that there was a certain Sir Richard Wynn, 

 Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Charles I, who had 

 accompanied that monarch when, as Prince of Wales, he 

 and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, started off on 

 their romantic journey incognito to have a glimpse at 

 the Infanta of Spain, who had been proposed as a bride 

 to the Prince. It was Sir Richard who built, in 1616, 

 the oldest part of the present mansion at Wynnstay. 

 His son Sir John, who was made a baronet under James 

 I, is described as ' a man of pleasure,' a phrase which in 

 those days had a wide significance. Probably the most 

 innocent of his 'pleasures' was his taste for gardening, 

 which led him to beautify Wynnstay, and thereby 

 merit the gratitude of posterity. The grand old trees, 

 which are one of the many glories of the noble seat of 

 the Wynns, were especially dear to Sir John, and there 

 is still pointed out in the park ' Sir John's oak ' — the 

 baronet's favourite tree, to which, when he had grown 

 stone blind, he was led every day that he might run his 

 hands over the giant bole, and assure himself that the 

 great monarch of the woods, which he loved so well, was 

 yet standing hale and sound. Sir John Wynn having 

 no male issue, bequeathed his estate to his connection 

 by marriage, Sir Watkin Williams, M.P. for Denbigh- 

 shire, who assumed the surname and arms of Wynn. 



The Williams family is quite as ancient as the 

 Wynns, but the first member whose career is of any 

 interest to Englishmen was an eminent lawyer, 

 William Williams, Recorder of Chester, and Speaker of 

 the House of Commons in the reign of Charles II, who 

 became Solicitor General under James II, and was first 

 knighted, and then made a baronet in 1688. It was the 



