WORTHIES C PEELATES, STATESMEN. 77 



church was ... by the vertuose wife to the right . . . .Sir Henry Sidney, 



Knight of the Garter and Lord President of the Marches of Wales, &c. In April 1580, the eight day 

 of that moneth, was born William Lord Herbert of Cardif, the first-born child to the noble Henry Earle 

 of Pembroke, by his most dear wife Mary the Countesse, daughter to the forenamed Sir Henry and 

 Lady Mary, whose lives Almighty God long prosper in much happiness."* Memorandum, to insert 

 his titles inscribed under his printed picture. As I remember he was Lord High Steward of his 

 Majesties Household, Justice in Eire of all his Majesties Forrests, &c. on this side Trent, Chan- 

 cellor of the University of Oxford, one of lu's Majesties Privy Councell, and Knight of the Garter. 

 He was a most noble person, and the glory of the court in the reignes of King James and King 

 Charles. He was handsome, and of an admirable presence 



" Gratior et pulchro veniens a corpora virtus." 



He was the greatest Mecasnas to learned men of any peer of his time or since. He was very 

 generous and open handed. He gave a noble collection of choice bookes and manuscripts to the 

 Bodlasan Library at Oxford, which remain there as an honourable monument of his munificence. 

 'Twas thought, had he not been suddenly snatch't away by death, to the grief of all learned and good 

 men, that he would have been a great benefactor to Pembroke Colledge in Oxford, whereas there 

 remains only from him a great piece of plate that he gave there. His lordship was learned, and a 

 poet ; there are yet remaining some of his lordship's poetry in a little book of poems writt by his 

 Lordship and Sir Benjamin Ruddyer in 12o. ["Poems, written by William Earl of Pembroke, c. 

 many of wliich are answered by way of repartee, by Sir Benjamin Rudyard. With other poems by 

 them occasionally and apart." Lond. 1660, 8vo. J. B.] He had his nativity calculated bv a 

 learned astrologer, and died exactly according to the time predicted therein, at his house at Baynard's 

 Castle in London. He was very well in health, but because of the fatal direction which he lay under, 

 he made a great entertainment (a supper) for liis friends, went well to bed, and died in his sleep, the 

 [10th] day of [April] anno Domini 1630. His body lies in the vault belonging to his family in the 

 quire of Our Ladies Church in Salisbury. At Wilton is his figure cast in brasse, designed, I suppose, 

 for his monument. [Sec the notices of the Earls of Pembroke in the ensuing chapter. J. B.] 

 Sir Edward Hyde, Earle of Clarendon, Lord Chancellour of England, was born at Dynton in 



Wiltshire. His father was the fourth and youngest sonn of Hyde, of Hatch, Esq. Sir 



Edward married [Frances] daughter of Sir Thomas Aylesbury, one of the clarks of the councell In 

 his exile in France he wrote the History of the late Times, sc. from 1641 to 1660 ; near finished, 

 but broken off by death, by whom he was attacked as he was writing ; the perm fell out of his hand ; 

 he took it up again and tryed to write ; and it fell out the second time. He then saw that it was 

 time to leave off, and betooke himself to tliinke about the other world. (From the Countess of Tlianet.) 

 He shortly after ended his dayes at [Rouen] Anno Domini 1674, and his body was brought over into 

 England, and interred privately at Westminster Abbey. From the Earle of Clarendon. [Anthony 

 Wood states (probably on the authority of Aubrey) that Clarendon was buried on the north side of 

 Henry the Seventh's chapel in Westminster Abbey ; but the place of his interment is not marked by 

 any monument or inscription. J. B.] 



* [This inscription is not mentioned in the account of Wilton Church in Hoare's Modern Wiltshire, but the author notices a 

 tablet recording the birth and baptism of the Earl "over the south entrance." He states that the side aisles were added to the church 

 " within the last two centuries " J. B.] 



