was a great promoter, when incorporated on October 11th, 1750; and likewise one of the vice-presidents of St. George's and the Lock hospitals, near Hyde-park corner, Westminster; also in 1766, was elected governor of the Turkey company.

His Lordship, on March 12th, 1724-5, married Lady Susannah Noel, daughter to Baptist, third Earl of Gainsborough; but her Ladyship dying without issue, on June 20th, 1758, was buried at Winborne St. Giles; and he wedded, secondly, on March 26th, 1759, Mary, second surviving daughter of Jacob Bouverie, Viscount Folkestone, and full sister to William Bouverie, the late Earl of Radnor; and by her Ladyship, who died February 1805, had two sons.

First, Anthony, the present Earl; and,

Second, Cropley-Ashley, born December 21st, 1768; clerk of deliveries in the ordnance, married December 10th, 1796, Lady Anne Spencer, daughter to the Duke of Marlborough, and has issue. He is member of parliament for Dorchester.

Also a daughter, Mary Anne Ashley, born Deccember 31st, 1766; she married, April 12th, 1788, Charles Sturt, Esq. late M. P. for Bridport, and has issue.

His Lordship departed this life May 27th, 1771, and was buried among his ancestors at Winborne St. Giles, where is a monument of beautiful marble, exquisitely executed by Scheemaker, representing a sarcophagus, under which is the following inscription, with the family Arms under an Earl's coronet, and on each side of it two boys, one holding a torch inverted, the other a crown of glory, and looking up to the bust of his Lordship, which is placed over the sarcophagus, and the following inscription:

This monument is erected by Mary, Countess of Shaftesbury, In testimony of her most tender and indissoluble regard to The much loved memory of her affectionate husband, ANTHONY-ASHLEY COOPER, fourth EARL OF SHAFTESBURY; Who from a consistency of virtuous conduct

In public and private,

Had as many friends, and as few enemies,
As ever fell to the lot of man.

Having lived in honour, he died in peace;
The result of a life well spent,

And of hope grounded on the REDEEMING MERCY

Of that ADORAble-all-Perfect Being,
To whom he looked up with incessant gratitude;
Of whose glory he was zealous,
To whose creatures he was kind,
Whose will was his study,
And whose service his delight.
Having received and diffused happiness;
He departed this life,

Amidst the prayers of the rich and poor,
May 27th, 1771, aged sixty-one.
His works follow him.

He was a nobleman concerning whom Dr. Huntingford remarks, that there never existed a man of more benevolence, moral worth, and true piety;" and this is a character," adds Dr. Kippis, "which we can confirm from our own testimony, having had the honour of enjoying his acquaintance and correspondence. We were particularly informed by him, that whilst he had the greatest reverence for the memory and character of his father, and a high esteem for his writings, he did not concur with him in those parts of his works, which appear to be sceptical with regard to religion."

son,

His Lordship was succeeded in titles and estates by his eldest

ANTHONY ASHLEY Cooper, the present and FIFTH EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, who was born September 17th, 1761.

His Lordship married July 17th, 1786, Barbara, daughter and heir of the late Sir John Webb, Baronet, by whom he has a daughter,

Lady Barbara, born October 19th, 1788.

Titles. ANTHONY-ASHLEY Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury; Baron Ashley, of Winborne St. Giles; Baron Cooper, of Pawlett, and Baronet.

Creations. Baronet, July 4th, 1622, 20 Jac. I.; Baron Ashley, of Winborne St. Giles, by letters patent, April 20th, 1661, 13 Car. II.; Baron Cooper, of Pawlett, and Earl of Shaftesbury, April 23d, 1672, 24 Car. II.

Arms. Argent, three bulls, passant Sable, armed and unguled, Or.

Cres!. On a chapeau, Gules, turned up ermine, a bull, passant, Sable, gorged with a mural coronet, and armed, Or.

Supporters. On the dexter side, a bull, Sable, gorged with a ducal collar, Or: on the sinister, a talbot, Azure, gorged as the dexter.

Motto. LovE, SERVE.

Chief Seats. At Winborne St. Giles in the county of Dorset, and at Rockburn-house in the county of Southampton.

1

THE progenitors of this ancient family assumed their name from their seat Berkeley-castle in the county of Gloucester, a which ROBERT Fitz-harding (a powerful man in his time) obtained a grant of from the Duke of Normandy, afterwards Henry II. King of England, son of Maud, the Empress, (it being taken from Roger de Berkeley b for his adherence to King Stephen) and together with the barony, continueth with them in the male-line to this day.

с

But before I treat of this Robert, I shall take notice of HARDING his father, who, being descended from the Kings of Denmark, accompanied William Duke of Normandy into England, and was with him in that memorable battle against King Harold, at Hastings. But all I have further seen of him is, that after the Conquest, he held. Whitenhort (now called Whetenhurst) in

2 Ex Autogr. in Castro de Berkeley.

b William the Conqueror conferred this manor on Roger de Berkeley, a Norman, from whom it came to his nephew William de Berkeley, from whom it came to his son Roger, who was divested of it in favour of the Fitz-Harding family. But Roger Berkeley, son of the above Roger, had restored to him the manor and castle of Dursley by Hen. II. and his male line continued at Dursley Dodington, and Coberley, till Sir Thomas Berkeley, of Coberley, marrying Margaret, sister and coheir of Sir John Chandos, left issue a daughter and heir Alice, who carried that estate in the reign of Hen. IV. to Sir Thomas Brugge, or Brydges, ancestor of the Lords Chandos. This family bore a different coat from the Fitz-Hardings, viz. Arg. a fess between three martlets Sab. See Banks's Peerage, vol. ii. p. 48.

Lel. Itin 420.

Domesday, Lib. in Glou.

com. Glouc. of Earl Brictrick in mortgage; and that he died on November 6th, 1115.

Robert, his son, before-mentioned, was called Robert FitzHarding, and adhering to Maud the Empress, and her son Henry, afterwards King of England, before-mentioned, was rewarded by him with the manor of Berthone in com. Glouc. as also 1007. per ann. lands in Berkeley, and afterwards with the whole lordship of Berkeley, and Berkeley-Hernesse, thereunto belonging; of which Roger de Berkeley, owner of Dursley, was then divested, for taking part with King Stephen.

In 1168, he entertained, at Bristol, Dermot Mac-Murrough, King of Leinster, with sixty in his company, at the time he came over into England, to solicit succours from King Henry II. who was thereby afterwards enabled to acquire the kingdom of Ireland, which has ever since remained to the English crown.

i

By Eva his wife, daughter and heir of ... ... Estmond, he had issue five sons; Henry, Maurice, Robert, Nicholas, and Thomas; and dying, February 5th, 1170-71, he, with his wife, lies buried in the quire of St. Augustine's abbey near Bristol (now the cathedral), which he founded, 1148, and being styled canonicus, is supposed to have been a canon in his own abbey.

Henry the eldest son dying young, and without issue, Maurice, the second son, succeeded, and is ancestor to the present Earl of Berkeley.

But before I continue his descent, I shall treat of Robert " the second surviving son, of whose line no perfect account has hitherto been published; and of Nicholas and Thomas. Nicholas was designed of Tickenham: and Thomas was arch-deacon of Worcester, A. D. 1135. The said Robert, married" Alicia, daughter and heir of Robert de Gant, Baron of Folkingham (° uncle and heir of Alice, daughter of Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln, who was grandson of Gilbert de Gant, P son to Baldwin, the sixth, Count of Flanders, by Richildis, heiress of Hainault his wife) by

• Abbot Newland's Pedigree in Castro de Berkeley.
1 Ex Autogr. in Castro de Berkeley.
Ex Vet. MS in Castro de Berkeley.

h Sir James Ware's Annals of Ireland, p. 3.

Ex Autogr. apud Berkeley.

* Newl. Pedeg.

MS. St. George penes Dom. Johan Peshall. Bart.
n Rot. Pip. 4 Rich. I. Ebor.

Pugd. Bar. sub tit. Berkeley.

Placit. 27 Hen. III. Rot. 13 Linc.
Monast Anglic. vol. i. 833, 6. n 40, & 50.