and the powder wet, it was resolved to burn her, rather than she should fall into the enemy's hands; accordingly by eleven in the morning, that part of her which lay above the water was con⭑ sumed, and the captain with his ship's company got safe on shore, with what was most valuable on board her. He was wounded in the thigh, during the engagement, by a cannon-ball, but not dangerously. He died of the small-pox, unmarried, on February 24th, 1709-10, being then member of parliament for Malmsbury in Wilts, as he had been the two preceding parliaments.

His eldest brother JOHN Lord Mordaunt, taking early to arms, likewise eminently distinguished himself. He was colonel of the grenadiers in the first regiment of foot-guards, at the famous battle of Hochstet, or Blenheim, Aug. 13th, 1704. N. S. and then lost his left arm in the service of his country. He was afterwards colonel of the royal regiment of Scotch fuzileers, and was a member of the house of commons for Chippenham, in the parliaments summoned 1700, 1701, 1702, in part of that called in 1705, and in that summoned in 1708. He died of the small-pox, on April 6th, 1710, and was buried at Turvey, leaving issue by the Lady Frances his wife (second daughter to Charles Powlett, Duke of Bolton) who died on July 30th, 1715, two sons.

First, Charles, who succeeded his grandfather, and also his grand uncle, Sir Peter Fraser of Dotes.

And Second, John, appointed a lieutenant-colonel in the army, October 4th, 1745, who, in October 1735, married Mary, sister to Scroop Lord Viscount Howe, and widow. of Thomas Earl of Pembroke, and was twice chosen one of the kuights for Nottinghamshire, and was member for Christ Church, in the parliament summoned in 1754. His Lady deceased at her house at Parson'sgreen, September 12th, 1749; and he secondly married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Hamilton, Esq. but died without issue, July 1st, 1767.

CHARLES, FOURTH EARL OF PETERBOROUGH, was one of the assistants to the Duke of Somerset, chief mourner at the funeral of Frederick Prince of Wales, April 13th, 1751. He married, first, Mary, daughter of John Cox, of London, Esq. and by her, who died November 18th, 1755, he had issue two daughters;

Lady Frances, born in April 1736, married the Rev. Samuel Bulkeley, D.D. of Hatfield in Hertfordshire, prebendary of Bristol, and rector of Henton, Northamptonshire: she died in October 1798.

And Lady Mary Anastasia Grace, born June 5th, 1738.

His Lordship by his second Lady, Robiniana, daughter of colonel ...... Brown, who died December 6th, 1794, had two

sons;

First, Charles Henry,' present Earl.

And second, Poulet, born 1759, who died young.

His Lordship died August 1st, 1779, and was succeeded by his son CHARLES HENRY, present and FIFTH EARL OF PETERBOROUGH, born May 11th, 1758, who is unmarried.

Titles. Charles Henry Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough and Monmouth, Viscount Avalon, Baron Mordaunt of Turvey, and Baron Mordaunt of Ryegate.

Creations. Baron Mordaunt of Turvey, in com. Bedford, by writ of summons, May 4th, 1532, 24 Hen VIII.; Earl of Peterborough, in com. Northampton, by letters patent, March 9th, 1627-8, 3 Car. I.; Baron Mordaunt of Ryegate, in com. Surry, and Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon, in com. Somerset, July 10th, 1659, 11 Car. II.; and Earl of the county of Monmouth, April 9th, 1689; 1 William and Mary.

Arms. Argent, a chevron between three estoils of six points, Sable.

Crest. In an Earl's coronet, Or, the bust of a Moorish Prince, habited in cloth of gold, all proper, and wreathed about the temples, Argent.

Supporters. Two eagles, Argent, armed and membered,

Sable.

Motto. Nec placida contenta quiete est.
Chief Seat. At Dantsey, in Wiltshire.

THIS family has been one of the most ancient, most wide-spread, and most illustrious in the English Peerage; and the House of Stamford are derived from the most illustrious branch of it; and yet from the strange manner in which books of peerage have hitherto been compiled, this title has formed one of the shortest articles of the former editions of this work. My limits will only allow me to give a brief epitome of the history of this numerous and eminent race.

The first of this family who appears in our public records is HENRY DE GREY, to whom King Richard I. in the sixth year of his reign gave the manor of Turroc in Essex; which grant King John confirmed, and by his public charter vouchsafed to him a special privilege; viz. to hunt the hare and fox in any lands belonging to the crown, except the King's own demesne lands. He had also in 1 Hen. III. a grant of the manor of Grimston, com. Nottingham (part of the possessions of Robert Bardolf,) for his support in the King's service. And having afterwards married Isolda, niece and coheir to this Robert in 9 Hen. III. shared in the inheritance of all his lands. By this Isolda, he had issue six

sons.

First, Richard, whose principal seat was at CODNOVRE in com. Derb.

Second, John, progenitor to the house of Wilton; and also to the Earls and Dukes of Kent; the Dukes of Suffolk; and the present Earl of Stamford.

Third, William of Landford in com. Notts, and Sandiacre, in com. Derb.

Fourth, Robert, of Rotherfield, com. Oxford.

Fifth, Walter, archbishop of York.

Sixth, Henry.

CODNOVRE BRANCH.

Richard de Grey, eldest son above-mentioned, was made con stable of Dover Castle, and warden of the Cinque Ports, 42 Hen. III. He afterwards adhered to the Barons in the contest with the King. His son and heir John de Grey died seized of Thurrock, &c. 56 Hen. III. leaving issue Henry, who died 2 Edward II. Richard, his son and heir, died 9 Edw. III. seized of the manor of Ailesford, in Kent; of the manor and castle of Codnovre, com. Derb.; of the manor of Evyngton, in com. Leic.; Shiryngham, in com. Norf.; and Thurrock, in Essex; leaving a younger son Robert, of Charlton Grey, com. Som.; besides John, his son and heir, then thirty years old, who passed a long life in military employments; and obtained licence in 39 Edw. III. to go on pilgrimage; and in 45 Edw. III. being grown very aged, and not able to endure travel, as formerly, had a special dispensation from the King, (wherein his great and manifold services, with much fidelity and valour are gratefully acknowledged) to exempt him from coming to parliament and councils; and likewise from being charged with setting forth any soldiers whatever, in the wars of that King, his heirs and successors. Henry, his son and heir ap parent, died in his lifetime, leaving issue Richard, who was lord chamberlain to the King, 14 Hen. IV. and was warden of the East marches towards Scotland, 3 Hen. V. He died 6 Hen. V. and was buried at Ailesford in Kent. He married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Ralph Lord Basset, of Sapcote. His daughter Elizabeth married John, son of William Lord Zouche; and of his two sons, John and Henry, the former died 9 Hen. VI. leaving Henry his brother and heir, who died July 17th, 22 Hen. VI. leaving issue Henry, who much affecting the study of chymistry, in 3 Edw. IV. obtained a licence from the King to practise the transmutation of metals by his philosophical skill. He obtained large grants of lands in the North of Ireland, especially those called Le Cale, as also of all Arde in that part of Ireland, to hold for the term of forty years. He died 11 Hen. VII. and was buried in the friary at Ailesford, leaving Richard Grey, a bastard son, to whom he gave the manor of Ratcliff upon Trent, com. Notts.; and another bastard son Henry, from whom the Greys of

Langley in Leicestershire were descended. The manor and castle of Codnovre, went to his aunt and heir Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Zouche, a younger son of William Lord Zouche, of Haringworth.

GREY OF WILTON.

JOHN DE GREY, second son to the first Henry de Grey, was justice of Chester, 33 Hen. III. and after many great employments, died 50 Hen. III. leaving issue Reginald, his son and heir, who was justice of Chester, 9 Edw. I. and obtained from that monarch for his services against the Welsh the honour of Monmouth, and afterwards the castle of Ruthyn and Cantred of Deffryn Cluit, &c. He married Maud, daughter and heir of Henry de Longcamp, a great Baron, whose principal seat was at WILTON CASTLE in Herefordshire. He died in 1 Edw. II. leaving John, his son and heir, then forty years old, who had two wives; by the second of whom he had a younger son Roger, ancestor to the Lords Grey of Ruthyn, Earls of Kent, &c. hereafter mentioned; and was succeeded at his death, 17 Edw. II. by his son and heir, by his first wife, Henry, who had summons to attend the King to France with twenty men at arms, and twenty archers, 16 Edw. III. but died the same year; and was succeeded by his son and heir Reginald, Lord Grey of Wilton, who died 44 Edw. III. leaving Henry his son and heir, who died 19 Rich. II. and was succeeded by his son and heir Richard, who died 1442, and was buried at Blecheley in Bucks; leaving Reginald, Lord Grey of Wilton, his son and heir, who died February 22d, 1493, and was buried at Blecheley. His son and heir John fought stoutly against the Cornish men then in rebellion at Blackheath, 11 Hen. VII. and dying 17 Hen. VII. left issue by Anne, daughter of Edmund Grey, first Earl of Kent, Edmund, his son and heir, who was buried at Blecheley, 1511, leaving issue by Florence, daughter and coheir of Sir Ralph Hastings, Knight, third brother of William, first Lord Hastings, three younger sous, George, Thomas, and Richard; a daughter, Elizabeth, married to Sir John Brydges, Knight, first Lord Chandos; and William, Lord Grey de Wilton, his son and heir, who was a celebrated warrior, commander in chief of Boulogne 36 Hen. VIII. and deputy of Calais, and governor of the castle of Guisnes in Picardy 6 Edw. VI. But this castle he was obliged to surrender, after the French had taken Calais, though he long defended it with great valour; and himself