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CHARLES TALBOT, EARL OF
SHREWSBURY.
1442.
A very illustrious house of ancient nobility; whose ancestor, Gilbert Talbot, a great baron, died 1274, having married Guendelen, daughter of Rhefe ap Griffith, prince of South Wales. From him descended the famous sir John Talbot, whom Henry VI. created earl of Shrewsbury, May 20, 1442. He fell heroically in the French wars, July 20, 1453, at the age of 80. The fact has lately been introduced into poetry by Mr. Southey, in his Joan of Arc.
"------- -Prone fell the earl,
E'en in his death rejoicing that no foe
Should live to boast his fall!"
"----------The herald of the English earl
With fattening step drew near, and when he saw
His master's arms, 'Alas! and is it you,
My lord?' he cried, ' God pardon you your sins!
I have been forty years your officer;
And time it is, I should surrender now
The ensigns of my office!' so he said;
And paying thus, his rite of sepulature
Threw o'er the slaughter'd chief his blazon'd coat."*
His descendant
George, sixth earl of Shrewsbury, was the person memorable for having the
custody of Mary queen of Scots. Camden fays of him, that "In those
ticklish times he made a shift to assert his honor, and make good his
trust for fifteen years together, against all the manchinations and
slanders of the court party, and the ill conduct of his second wife, to
such a degree, that he left behind him the double character of a wife and
faithful statesman, and a brave and worthy commander." He died Nov.
18, 1590. But the issue male of this earl's body failed in the next
generation; and the earldom went to a collateral branch, descended from a
third son of the second earl. Of this branch, George ninth earl died
1630, and was succeeded by his nephew John, who dying 1653, left Francis,
eleventh earl, memorable for being killed in a duel by George Villiers,
second duke of Buckingham, 1667. He was father of Charles, twelfth
earl, who king William, on April 30, 1694, created a duke;
┼ a statesman of great talents, who made a
conspicuous figure in the political world. He died Feb 1, 1718,
without issue; and the earldon devolved on his first cousin, Gilbert
Talbot; who was succeeded by his brother George, fourteenth earl, who died
1733. His son George, fifteenth earl, died July 1787, and was
succeeded by his nephew, the present earl.
His lordship was born March 8, 1753, and married in
1792, miss Hoey, of Ireland. Being a catholic, he, of course, cannot
take his feat in the House of Lords. He is of a very retired temper;
and said to have a turn for mechanics, with which he amused himself.
Female Descent.] Nevile, Butler of Ormond,
Scrope of Bolton, Cotton of Lanwade, Troutbeck, Petre, Baskerville,
Fortefcue, Flatbury, Fitzwilliam of Merion, Moftyn.
Chief Seat.] Hethrope, Oxfordshire.
Heir Presumptive.] John, his brother, who has
been twice married, and has issue.
Younger Branch.] Earl Talbot.
* Joan of Arc, B. X. v. 208, &c.
┼ Pope speaks thus of him,
Oft in the clear still mirror of retreat, I
Shrewsbury, the wife and great."
is a very
retired temper; and said to have a turn for mechanics, with which he
amuses himself.
Female Descent.] Nevile, Butler of
Ormond, Scrope of Bolton, cotton of Lanwade, Troutbeck, Petre,
Baskerville, Fortescue, Flatbury, Fitzwilliam of Merion, Mostyn
Chief Seat.] Hethrope, Osforeshire
Heir Presumptive.] John, his brother, who
has been twice married and has issue.
Younger Branch.] Earl Talbot