92 



James Ley ) Earl of Marlhorough. 



Restoration of Charles II., when the oppressive tenures which 

 gave occasion for its jurisdiction ceased to exist. 



There seems to have been another reason which induced Sir 

 James to accept the presidency of this court. Although he was the 

 the youngest of six children he was now the sole survivor of his 

 brothers, and as he had inherited the property at Teffont Evias and 

 Westbury he was naturally anxious to hold some office which would 

 enable him to reside part of the year at Heywood. 



In that year — 1609 — George Webb, Vicar of Steeple Ashton, 

 the advowson of which parish then belonged to the Heywood 

 property, was appointed to preach at S. Paul's, when the judges 

 attended service there on the first Sunday after Trinity. The 

 sermon which he preached, entitled " God's Controversy with 

 England," is published with a dedication to Sir James and Lady 

 Ley. In this he says that " he had been called from his little 

 Anathoth at home to bewray his weakness at the chiefest watch- 

 tower of the land." Urged to publish his sermon he says, " It being 

 a case of controversy and matter of judgment, how could it find a 

 better patrociny than to come forth under your protection, who 

 have yourself been heretofore a judge, yea Lord Chief Justice of 

 His Majesty's realm of Ireland, a zealous and upright judge, es- 

 pecially in the controversies of the Lord, as the Church of Ireland 

 to God's glory and your everlasting praise doth testify ; and now 

 also (and that most justly) are a judge in one of God's most especial 

 judgment seats in this land to see that the orphans and fatherless 

 may not suffer wrong. Secondly, seeing that your worship is lately 

 seized with the patronage, to which as patron, though unworthy, I 

 owe myself and my service, I could not but congratulate your 

 entrance into the same with this poor present." And then the 

 dedication continues with a tribute to Lady Ley, which tells us 

 something of her life at Heywood. " And as for you, Madam, I 

 have made bold likewise to mention your name in this my dedication 

 that I might in some sort certify mine unfeigned thankfulness for 

 the many favours I have received at your hands, and for that great 

 encouragement which you have given both to me and others, my 

 fellow brethren, in our ministry here in this part of our country by 



