DIARY OF WILLIAM WHITEWAY. 



Sep. 3. " Mr. Bailiff appointed the Beadle to cut and carry 

 away the corn that Fordington men had sown upon the Town 

 walls." 



October. " John Williams, of Herringston, Esq., was chosen 

 to be captain of the horse for this division, instead of Sir John 

 Miller." 



The choice of John Williams, of Herringston, Esq. , for the important 

 post of captain of the horse of this division shows in what estimation 

 he was held. Herringston House was a mansion house in the reign of 

 Henry III. In the reign of Ed. III. a royal licence was granted to Sir 

 Walter Herring to improve the place and enclose it with a stone wall, 

 but the greater part of the present house was built by Sir John Williams 

 in the reign of James I. It was built round a quadrangle, on one side of 

 which was the private chapel and a burial chapel. These were pulled 

 down many years ago. The most interesting features of the house now 

 are the old dining-hall with the minstrels gallery and the old drawing- 

 room with its coved and moulded ceiling, an excellent specimen of 

 Jacobean moulded work. Upon the ceiling are represented the arms of 

 the Williams, which are similar to those in St. Peter's Church, the arms 

 of the Prince of Wales, with the initials of Prince Charles, the three 

 Herrings of the Herring family, from whom it descended to the Williams 

 and there are mermaids, fit supporters of the Herrings, and the 

 harts of the De la Lindes, of white hart celebrity, who intermarried 

 with them.* 



Nov. 20. "This day John Felton was condemned at West- 

 minster, and hanged at Tyburn for killing the Duke of Bucking- 

 ham." 



December. It is recorded that the inhabitants of Gillinghain 

 forest in this month " rose up against those who were about 

 to enclose it and misused the Bailiff and threw down their 

 work." 



* Coker, who was contemporary with Sir John Williams, says 

 "Winterborn Harange, the seat in former ages of the ancient family of 

 Harangs, from whom it took its name " . . . . " by the co-heir of Sir Thos 

 Delalinde Herringston fell to Robert Williams, father of Sir John 

 Williams, a very worthy man and good patriot who by his building and 

 other ornaments much beautified the place and commendablie lived a 

 faire age, left it to his grandchild John, the son of William, his 

 Heire." 



