320 



The Wiltshire Compounders. 



to be set off a variety of pensions and liabilities. Two years' revenue 

 had been the fine agreed on in the Oxford articles. Lord Hertford 

 argued that an estate of inheritance was more than twice as valuable 

 as an estate for life ; and great part of his own being of this latter I 

 nature he considered that only one year's revenue ought to be levied I 

 on such portions. His fine was declared at first £12,603, said to 

 be at a tenth, but was finally set at £8345. The ordinance for 

 granting his pardon passed the Houses in August, 1648. We may 

 be excused from reciting the separate values of all his lordship's 

 estates in Easton, Amesbury, Erchfont, Crofton, East and West 

 Grafton, Putthall, Burbage, Collingbourn Ducis, Barton, Alderbury, 

 Monckton, All Cannings, Wick, Westcombe, Bedwyn, Neston, 

 Bapton, Froxfield, Wotton Rivers, Stapleford, Chisbury, Shalbourn, 

 Eastcourt, Savernak and Tottenham Parks, and the town of Marl- 

 borough j besides lands in Lincolnshire, Somerset, Hampshire, and 

 London. He was further entitled to a considerable estate in right 

 of his lady by the recent death of her brother, the Earl of Essex, 

 but being at present unable to describe it, desired a reserved liberty 

 to compound for it hereafter. His debts owing to sundry persons, 

 were at least £22,000. 



For larger annals of this house see the History of Marlborough 

 and other biographical works. It may suffice in this place to say 

 that no one of King Charles's adherents served him with more 

 simplicity and integrity than the Marquis of Hertford. This was 

 testified at the Restoration by his elevation to the dukedom of 

 Somerset by a special Act of Parliament recognising his heirdom to 

 his great-grandfather, the first Duke of Somerset, and by the fol- 

 lowing pointed allusion to his merits in the restored monarch's speech 

 to the two Houses in September, 1660: — "I cannot but take 

 notice," said the King, " of one particular bill I have passed, which 

 may seem of an extraordinary nature — that concerning the Duke of 

 Somerset ; but you all know it is for an extraordinary person, who 

 hath merited as much of the King, my father, and myself, as a 

 subject can do. And I am none of those who think that subjects 

 by performing their duties in an extraordinary manner, do not oblige 

 their princes to reward them in an extraordinary manner." 



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