ries, until a villain coming behind him, did, over the shoulders of others, wound him on the head behind with a forest bill, untill he fell down, though, recovering himself again, notwithstanding his skull was cut through to the pia mater of the brain, he saw his adversaries fly away, and after walked home to his house at Llyssym, where, after he was cured, he offered a single combat to the chief of the family, by whose procurement it was thought the mischief was committed; but he disclaiming wholly the action as not done by his consent, which he offered to testifie by oath, and the villain himself flying into Ireland, whence he never returned, my father desisted from prosecuting the business any farther in that kind, and attained, notwithstanding the said hurt, that health and strength, that he returned to his former exercises in a country life, and became the father of many children, As for his integrity in his places of Deputy Lieutenant of the county, Justice of the Peace, and Custos Rotolorum, which he as my grandfather before him held, it is so memorable to this day, that it was said his enemies appealed to him for justice, which they also found on all occasions. His learning was not vulgar, as understanding well the Latin tongue, and being well versed in history. My grandfather was of a various life, beginning first at court, where, after he had spent most part of his means, he became a soldier, and made his fortune with his sword at the siege of St. Quintens in France, and other wars, both in the north and in the rebellions happening in the times of King Edward VI. and Queen Mary, with so good success, that he not only came off still with the better, but got so much money and wealth as enabled him to buy the greatest part of that livelihood which is descended to me; though yet I hold some lands which his mother the Lady Ann Herbert purchased, as appears by the deeds made to her by that name which I can shew; and might have held more, which my grandfather sold under foot at an undervalue in his youth, and might have been recovered by my father, had my grandfather suffered him. My grandfather was noted to be a great enemy to the outlaws and thieves of his time, who robbed in great numbers in the mountains of Montgomeryshire, for the suppressing of whom he went often both day and night to the places where they were, concerning which though many particulars have been told me, I shall mention one only. Some outlaws being lodged in an alehouse upon the hills of Llan

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dinam, my grandfather and a few servants coming to apprehend them, the principal outlaw shot an arrow against my grandfather which stuck in the pummel of his saddle, whereupon my grandfather coming up to him with his sword in his hand, and taking him prisoner, he shewed him the said arrow, bidding him look what he had done, whereof the outlaw was no farther sensible than to say he was sorry he had left his better bow at home, which he conceived would have carryed his shot to his body, but the outlaw being brought to justice, suffered for it. My grandfather's power was so great in the country, that divers ancestors of the better families now in Montgomeryshire were his servants, and raised by him. He delighted also much in hospitality, as having a very long table twice covered every meal with the best meats that could be gotten, and a very great family. It was an ordinary saying in the country at that time, when they saw any fowl rise, Fly where thou wilt thou wilt light at Black-hall,” which was a low building, but of great capacity, my grandfather erected in his age; his father and himself in former times having lived in Montgomery castle. Notwithstanding yet these expenses at home, he brought up his children well, married his daughters to the better sort of persons near him, and bringing up his younger sons at the university; from whence his son Matthew went to the Low Country wars, and after some time spent there, came home, and lived in the country at Dolegeog upon a house and fair living, which my grandfather bestowed upon him. His son also, Charles Herbert, after he had past some time in the Low Countrys likewise returned home, and was after married to an inheretrix, whose eldest son called Sir Edward Herbert, Knt. is the King's Attorney General. His son George who was of New College in Oxford, was very learned, and of a pious life, died in a middle age of a dropsy. Notwithstanding all which occasions of expense, my grandfather purchased much lands without doing any thing yet unjustly or hardly, as may be collected by an offer I have publickly made divers times, having given my bailiffe in charge to proclaim to the country, that if any lands were gotten by evil means, or so much as hardly, they should be compounded for or restored again; but to this day, never any man yet complained to me in this kind. He died at the age of fourscore or thereabouts, and was buried in Montgomery church, without having any monument made for him,

which yet for my father is there set up in a fair manner. My great grandfather Sir Richard Herbert was steward in the time of King Henry the Eighth of the lordships and marches of North-Wales, East-Wales, and Cardeganshire, and had power in a marshal law to execute offenders; in the using thereof he was so just, that he acquired to himself a singular reputation, as may appear upon the records of that time, kept in the paper chamber at White-hall, some touch whereof I have made in my history of Henry the Eighth; of him I can say little more than that he likewise was a great suppressor of rebels, thieves, and outlaws, and that he was just and conscionable; for if a false or cruel person had that power committed to his hands, he would have raised a great fortune out of it, whereof he left little, save what his father gave him, unto prosperity. He lyeth buried likewise in Montgomery; the upper monument of the two placed in the chancell being erected for him. My great great-grandfather, Sir Richard Herbert of Colebrook was that incomparable hero, who (in the History of Hall and Grafton as it appears) twice past through a great army of northern men alone, with his pollax in his hand, and returned without any mortal hurt, which is more than is famed of Amadis de Gaul, or the Knight of the Sun. I shall besides this relation of Sir Richard Herbert's prowess in the battle at Banbury or Edgcot-hill, being the place where the late battle was fought, deliver some traditions concerning him, which I have received from good hands: one is, that the said Sir Richard Herbert being employed together with his brother William Earl of Pembrook to reduce certain rebels* in North-Wales, Sir Richard Herbert besieged a principal person of them at Harlech-castle in Merionethshire, the captain of this place had been a soldier in the wars of France, whereupon he said he had kept a castle in France so long, that he made the old women in Wales talk

*It was an insurrection in the ninth year of Edw. iv. headed by Sir John Coniers and Robert Riddesdale, in favour of Henry vi. This William Earl of Pembroke and his brother Sir Richard Herbert being sent against them, were to be joined by the Earl of Devonshire, but a squabble happening between the two Earls about quarters, the Earl of Devonshire separated from Pembroke, who engaging the enemy at Danesmoore, near Edgcote in Northamptonshire, was defeated and taken prisoner, with his brother, and both were put to death with Richard Widville Earl Rivers, father of the Queen, by command of the Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, who had revolted from Edward.

of him, and that he would keep the castle so long that he would make the old women in France talk of him; and indeed as the place was almost impregnable but by famine, Sir Richard Herbert was constrained to take him in by composition, he surrendering himself upon condition that Sir Richard Herbert should do what he could to save his life, which being accepted, Sir Richard brought him to King Edward IV. desiring his Highness to give him a pardon, since he yielded up a place of importance, which he might have kept longer, upon this hope; but the king replying to Sir Richard Herbert that he had no power by his commission to pardon any, and therefore might after the representation hereof to his Majesty, safe deliver him up to justice; Sir Richard Herbert answered he had not yet done the best he could for him, and therefore most humbly desired his Highness to do one of two things, either to put him again in the castle where he was, and cɔmmand some other to take him out, or, if his highness would not do so, to take his life for the said captain's, that being the last proof he cou'd give that he used his utmost endeavour to save the said captain's life. The King finding himself urged thus far, gave Sir Richard Herbert the life of the said captain, but withal he bestowed no other reward for his service. The other history is that Sir Richard Herbert together with his brother the Earle of Pembrook being in Anglesy apprehending there seven brothers which had done many mischiefs and murders; in these times the Earle of Pembrook thinking it fit to root out so wicked a progeny commanded them all to be hanged; whereupon the mother of them coming to the Earle of Pembrook, upon her knees desired him to pardon two or at leastwise one of her said sons, affirming that the rest were sufficient to satisfy justice or example, which request also Sir Richard Herbert seconded; but the Earle finding them all equally guilty, said he could make no distinction betwixt them, and therefore commanded them to be executed together; at which the mother was so aggrieved, that with a pair of woollen beads on her arms (for so the relation goeth) she on her knees curst him, praying God's mischief might fall to him in the first battle he should make.

(To be Resumed.)

ON THE ART OF PARRYING CHARITABLE SUBSCRIPTIONS. ADVICE FROM A FATHER TO A SON.

DEAR SON,

THE weakness of my feet since the last fit still remaining, so that I cannot visit you, I continue writing, not only as it is an amusement to myself, but may be of more lasting service to you than verbal advice occasionally given.

In my three last, I gave you all the precepts that occurred to me, relative to getting, I shall now proceed to the topic of saving. And as the mad extravagance of the present age is charity, and you must meet with frequent temptations, and earnest solicitations to squander your money in that way, I shall, in the first place, give you some instructions in the art of parrying a charitable subscription.

The want of this necessary art has been a great misfortune to many people I could name to you. For besides their parting with their money against their will, they got the character of being charitable, which drew upon them fresh applications from other quarters, multiplying by success, and creating endless vexation. And here I cannot help remarking the wisdom of that precept of our holy religion, which requires, that if we do give alms, we should do it secretly; so secretly that even the left hand may not know what is done by the right that no one may be encouraged to ask for more. And this is so agreeable to sound human prudence, that even the unenlightened heathens could say, bis dat qui cito dat; the English of which, as I am informed, is, he gives twice that gives readily; meaning, as I suppose, that if you are known to give readily, you will soon be asked to give again.

Not that I would have you thought quite uncharitable neither, no more than I would have you thought poor and not able to give. The avoiding of these imputations, while at the same time you save your money, is the aim of the art I am about to instruct you in.

The first rule of this art is, like the charity, but dislike the mode of it. Suppose now, for instance, that you are asked to subscribe towards erecting an infirmary or new hospital; you are not immediately to refuse your contribution: nor is it necessary, for, you may say, "The design seems a good one, but it is new to you, and you would wil. VOL. J.]

M

[No. IV.