THE EARLS SPENCER. 



There was what modern journalists would call a ' scene ' 

 in the House of Lords on the i8th of November 1621. 

 John, first Baron Spencer, had made an earnest appeal to 

 his fellow peers to be guided in their conduct by the 

 actions of their ancestors. Whereupon, the proud Earl of 

 Arundel, head of the great house of Howard, rose to 

 his feet, and hurled this taunt at the orator ; ' My Lord, 

 when these things were doing, your ancestors were keep- 

 ing sheep.' To which Lord Spencer retorted, ' My Lord, 

 when my ancestors, as you say, were keeping sheep, 

 yours were plotting treason.' Whereat, the high-spirited 

 Howard laid his hand on his sword and gave his op- 

 ponent the lie direct. The House took the part of Lord 

 Spencer, who stood high in the favour of King Jamie. 

 Arundel was sent to the Tower, and was not released 

 until he had apologised, as humbly as could be expected 

 from a Howard, to Lord Spencer and the House. 



It will be noted that Lord Spencer did not deny that 

 his ancestors had kept sheep. And, indeed, he had no 

 reason to be ashamed of so ancient, useful, and lucrative 

 a calling. Was not the ' good Lord Clifford,' to whom I 

 have referred elsewhere, for half his life a shepherd? 

 and yet he showed that he could ' head the Flock of 

 War' at Flodden. And when the ill-starred Prince 



