260] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



was the end of the Duke of Northumberland, one of the most 

 powerful noblemen that ever lived in England, a man highly 

 endowed, yet, like most great courtiers, his virtues were coun- 

 teracted by vices or errors. He had a numerous issue, eight sona 

 and five daughters, some of whom died before him, and others sur- 

 vived and lived to see a great change in their fortunes. His 

 eldest son, John Earl of Warwick, was condemned to die with his 

 father, but reprieved, and released out of the Tower, on which he 

 went to his brother's house at Penshurst, in Kent, where he died 

 two days afterwards. Lord Guilford Dudley, and his unfortunate 

 consort, the virtuous, learned, and ingenious Lady Jane Grey, were 

 both executed upon the scaffold on the 12th of February 1554, thus 

 affording a memorable example of the danger of ambition and usur- 

 pation. 



ARCHBISHOP SHELDON. 



GILBERT, the youngest son of Roger Sheldon, was born at 

 Stanton, in Staffordshire, on the 19th of July 1598. At the time 

 of his birth his father was a menial servant to the Earl of Shrews- 

 bury, who stood sponsor for him at his baptism, and gave him the 

 name of Gilbert. Under the patronage of this nobleman, young 

 Sheldon received a classical education, and took the degree of 

 Bachelor of Arts in Trinity College, Oxford, November 27, 1617, 

 in the twentieth year of his age, and that of Master of Arts, May 

 20, 1620. He was elected Fellow of All Souls College, in the 

 year 1622, entered into holy orders, and having attracted the no- 

 tice of Lord Keeper Coventry, he was appointed domestic Chaplain 

 by that statesman, and in consequence of his abilities, employed in, 

 various affairs relating both to Church and State. Lord Claren- 

 don observes, that Sheldon soon became distinguished for his un- 

 common abilities and attainments, and was considered by compe- 

 tent judges to be fully qualified to shine in any ecclesiastical pre- 

 ferment. 



Lord Coventry recommended Sheldon to Charles the First, as a 

 person versed in political as well as theological knowledge. He 

 was soon afterwards appointed rector of Ickford, in Buckingham- 

 shire, and also presented to the rectory of Newington by Archbishop 

 Copland. On the llth of November 1821, he was honoured with 



