1G6G.] THE EARLS OF OXFORD. 257 



approved by Henry II. Albcrico coniiti, so earl before. This 

 great honour, this high and noble dignity hath continued ever 

 since in the remarkable surname of Dc Vere, by so many 

 ages, descents, and generations, as no other kingdom can 

 produce such a peer in one and the same self title, I find in 

 all this length of time, but two attainders of this noble family, 

 and those stormy and tempestuous times, when the govern- 

 ment was unsettled, and the kingdom in competition. I have 

 laboured to make a covenant of myself, that affection may not 

 press upon judgment, for I suppose that there is not many 

 that hath any apprehension of gentry or nobleness, but his 

 affection stands to the continuance of so noble a name and 

 house, and would take hold of a twig or a twine thread to 

 uphold it. And yet, time hath his revolutions ; there must 

 be a period and an end of all things temporal — -finis rermn — 

 an end of names and dignities and whatever is terrene, and 

 why not of De Vere.'' For where is Bohun .^ Where is 

 Mowbray ? Where is Mortimer ? Nay, which is more and 

 most of all, where is Plantagenet .'' They are entombed in 

 the urns and sepulchres of mortality ! And yet let the name 

 and dignity of De Vere stand so long as it pleased God." 



'^'*^ Colonel the Hon. Bernard Howard, younger son of 

 Henry Frederick, Earl of Arundel, and grandson of Henry, 

 9th Earl of Norfolk. He was the Admiral Rous of his day in 

 Turf matters. A detailed memoir of this notable turfite will 

 be given in a subsequent volume. 



The Chevalier de St. Evremond, who was at 

 Newmarket during this meeting, was much pleased 

 with the following: conversation which he ^, 



^ _ Charles II. 



heard there between the king and an honest Newmarket. 

 Worcestershire baronet, who was lately 

 elected for a borough in that county. " The good- 

 natured man came up to take his seat among us, and, 

 as he lived in the neighbourhood of the royal oak, he 



VOL. II. s 



