1825.] Letter to Lord Monteagle on the Powder Plot. into the cellar itself. In Smith's Antiquities is a view of the East end of the Prince's Chamber, which shews the appearance of this court, and a door communicating with that before described. But the whole of these buildings have been removed. At which of these two entrances Fawkes was apprehended, has not been particularly pointed out; but the latter is the more probable, as being the most secret, and therefore better suiting the conspirator's purposes, which required concealment; and being besides nearer to the river Thames, the track in which he meant to escape. There is strong reason for fixing the letter, by which the plot was discovered, not on Percy, as a friend, as Lord Monteagle supposed, but on a mach nearer relation, unfortunately connected with one unhappily too deeply privy at least to the existence and tendency of the plot. Lord Monteagle's eldest sister, Mary, was married to Thomas Abington, of Hinlip in Worcestershire, esq.; and Green, in his History of Worcester, vol. ii. p. 102, says, "Mr. Abington's wife, daughter of Lord Morley, is supposed to have written that letter to her brother Lord Monteagle, which warned him of the impending danger of the Powder Plot, and was intended to save him from the intended massacre;" but Green has given no reason or authority for his assertion. Sir Edward Coke, in his speech on the trial of Garnet the Jesuit, 28 March, 1606, mentions Greenwel the Jesuit, as meeting in Master Abington's house, with Hall another Jesuit; and as advising Hall to lose no time, but forthwith to seek to raise and stir up as many as he could ↑. And the Earl of Salisbury, who was one of the Commissioners for trying Garnet, notices that as soon as Catesby and Percy were in arms, Greenwel came to thein from Garnet, and so went from them to Hall, at Master Abington's house, inviting them most earnestly to come and assist those gentlemen in action. Thomas Abington's name occurs among those of the conspirators, in the memorial tablet erected by Sir William Wade, knt. Lieutenant of the Tower, 211 in the Deputy Lieutenant's apartments, called the Council Chamber, in the Tower, in the year 1608. And Mr. Chamberlain, in a letter to Mr. Winwood, dated 5th April, 1606, and inserted in the Winwood State Papers, vol. ii. p. 206, says, Abington, Hall, and another priest, were sent down, the last week, to Worcester, to be tried at the Assizes there." It does not appear what became of this trial, but these circumstances are sufficient evidence that he was deeply implicated in the plot. The letter must have been written by one who was well acquainted with the movements of Lord Monteagle, and who was able to give precise directions where at any particular time he might be found. And the messenger must have been perfectly instructed on this point; for it is observable, that the letter was not delivered at Lord Monteagle's house or residence, but to a servant of his in the Strand, about six o'clock in the evening. Now the fact is, that Lord Monteagle, though his father Lord Morley was still living, was himself a peer of Parliament, the Barony of Monteagle having descended to him on the death of his mother; and his regular residence was at Monteagle House, Monteagle Close, Southwark, which is now standing; but this being too far off from the House of Lords, and there being then no bridge at Westminster, he had taken lodgings in the Strand, which was then as fashionable a place of residence as Bond-street would now bet. And who, but a person well acquainted with his motions, could know, that ten days before the meeting of Parliament he was residing in lodgings in the Strand? Another proof that this letter was written by some one very nearly allied to, or connected with Lord Monteagle, arises from the letter itself, which at first was written, "My Lord, out of the love I beare your.' The writer was proceeding to say "Lordship,' but thinking that too personal, and likely to point out the writer to be some relation, altered it to "out of *See Dugdale's Baronage, vol. ii. p. 255. + Clark's Enquiry as to "God save the King," p. 85; and p. 81 a view of the house itself. The House is also engraved in Gent. Mag. vol. LXXVIII. p. 777. See Ben Jonson's Comedy of Epicene, or The Silent Woman. the 212 Pedigree of the Rokeby Family. *[Sept. the love I beare to some of youere Office, now held in Great Georgefrends," by blotting out the word street, Westminster; and a fac-simile "your," in the first instance, and add-of it is given in the Archæologia, vol. - ing the rest *. xii. p. 200*. The situation of Mrs. Abington, as the wife of one of the conspirators, of whose treason she dreaded the detection, and the sister of Lord Monteagle, whom she wished to save from destruction (for probably she knew, that from other engagements, her father Lord Morley would be absent, or that her brother would not fail to warn him), naturally suggested to her the mode she adopted, in which she certainly acted with considerable dexterity. And the circumstances above mentioned, it is imagined, are so strong, as to leave very little, if any doubt, that she was the person who wrote the letter. As the original materials or evidence for the principal of these facts lie dispersed, it may not be useless to insert the following information. The original letter to Lord Monteagle, which discovered the plot, is still remaining in the State Paper Mr. URBAN, Sept. 6. poss OSSESSING a Pedigree of the Rokeby Family, duly set forth on vellum, several yards in length, with the arms properly emblazoned, and a MS. account of the same "once powerful family," also very neatly written upon vellum, and as long as the pedigree; it struck me the other day, for the first time, to refer to Sir Walter Scott's Poem, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it contained anything which they might tend to elucidate. With this object in view, I searched the notes to Rokeby, where I found a statement of the family pedigree, which differing in various re The original tablet, erected by Sir William Wade in the Tower, is still existing there; and an engraving, and copies of the inscriptions, are to be found in the Archæologia, vol. xii. p. 193. An account of the discovery of the Plot, in manuscript, corrected in the hand-writing of Lord Salisbury, then Secretary of State, is now preserved in the State Paper Office, and printed in the Archæologia, vol. xii. p. 202*. King James's own account, in his Speech to the Parliament, is printed in the Journals of the House of Lords, vol. ii. p. 358, and reprinted in the Archaologia, vol. xii. p. 200*. A Letter of the Earl of Salisbury to Sir Chas. Cornwallis, giving an account of the discovery of the Plot, dated 9th Nov. 1605, is inserted, from a manuscript in the Cotton Library, in Winwood's State Papers, vol. ii. p. 171. J. S. H. spects from the one that I possess, I am induced to send you a verbatim et literatim copy of both for insertion in your Magazine, if you think them worthy the space they must necessarily occupy. I of course do not mean to assume that mine is the correct one, far from it, I would only surmise that such a thing is probable, from the fact of its being apparently the more ancient, as it contains one generation less than Sir Walter's, and it appears to have been emblazoned during the life of the last member of the family which it notices, judging at least from the observation of the Genealogist attached to No. 17. Note 2nd to 5th Canto of Rokeby, "Pedigree of the HOUSE of ROKEBY." 1. "Sir Alex. Rokeby, Knt. married to Sir Hump. Liftle's daughtert. 2. Ralph Rokeby, Esq. to Tho. Lumley's daughter. 3. Sir Tho. Rokeby, Knt. to Tho. Hubban's daughter. 4. Sir Ralph Rokeby, Knt. to Sir Ralph Biggott's daughter. 5. Sir Tho. Rokeby, Knt. to Sir John de Melsass' daughter, of Benne-hall, in Holderness. 6. Ralph Rokeby, Esq. to Sir Bryan Stapleton's daughter, of Weighill. 7. Sir Thomas Rokeby, Knt. to Sir Ralph Wry's daughter. 8. Ralph Rokeby, Esq. to daughter of Mansfield, heir of Morton. 9. Sir Tho. Rokeby, Knt. to Strode's daughter and heir. 10. Sir Ralph Rokeby, Knt. to Sir Jas. Strangwaye's daughter. 11. Sir Thomas Rokeby, Knt. to Sir John Hotham's daughter. 12. Ralph Rokeby, Esq. to Danby, of Yafforth, daughter and heir‡. 13. Tho. Rokeby, Esq. to Rob. Constable's daughter, of Cliff, Serjeant-at-Law. * See the original letter, Archæol. vol. xii. p. 200*. + Lisle. Temp. Henr. VII. mi. and from him is the House of Skyers of a fourth brother. 14. Chris -1825.] Pedigree of the Rokeby Family. 14. Christopher Rokeby, Esq. to Lassells of Brackenburgh's daughter. 16. Sir Thomas Rokeby, Knt. to Sir Ralph Lawson's daughter, of Brough. The same Pedigree as extracted from that I possess. filia Jo. de Melsa, of B'net Hall, in Holdernes. 1. "Alexand. Rokeby, miles - 2. Rad'us Rokeby, 8. Thomas Rokeby, mil. = 4. Rad'us Rokebye, miles 5. Thomas Rokeby, miles 6. Rad'us Rokebye, ar. = 7. Thomas Rokebye, miles 8. Rad'us Rokebye, ar. = 9. Thomas Rokebye, ar. = 10. Rad'us Rokebye, miles 11. Thomas Rokeby, miles = filia Symon' Murston, mil. com. Cest. filia Jacob's Strangways, mil. = 12. Rad'us Rokeby, ar. filius et heres Margareta filia et heres Danbye de Yaforth. 13. Thomas Rokeby, ar. = filia Constable de Clyff, Sergt, at Law. 14. Xpoferus Rokeby, ar. = filia Roger Lasselles. 15. Joh'nes Rokebye, ar. filius et heres filia Thweng et heres de Eastheslerto. 16. Thomas Rokebye, filius et heres, miles filia Rad. Lawson de Burgh, mil. 17. Franciscus Rokebye, filius et heres Thomæ = filia Faucette de My pedigree in this line ends here, with this observation of the Genealogist, "Francis, the root of the family, hath two sonnes, but I know not their names." In looking over these statements, it will be observed that the first important difference between them is respecting the wife of Ralph Rokeby (No. 8), Sir Walter's authority, and the one which I copy, each bestowing upon him a different lady. It is not impossible that he had two wives, which these ladies might be, but the question then is, "whether of the twain" was the mother of Tho. Rokeby (No. 9). The observation which I have next = 213 to make is, that my pedigree gives to Sir Thomas Rokeby (No. 11), that lady for a wife which Sir Walter's bestows upon the grandfather, Thomas Rokeby (No. 9), and vice versa. And my last remark concerns No. Rad'us Rokeby, ar. (No. 12.)Margaret, filia et heres Denbye de Yaforth. William Rokeby de Hotham, filius, et heres Dorothea, filia William Rokeby * de Skyers Thomæ. Hall, ar. William Rokeby de Hotham, et Skyers by purchase-Francisca, filia 1a de William Hick de from Co. Darcey. Gainsburgh, militis. Alexander Rokeby, filius et heres Willi'mi=Margareta filia 4a Johannis Coke de Holkham, From my Pedigree it appears that this William Rokeby was the son and heir of "Ralph Rokeby de Skyers, ar. Sargeant at Law," who was the only brother of Thomas Rokeby (No. 13.) and who is the first Rokeby that I can find as "de Skyrs." The 214 On Public Buildings in the Metropolis. The MS. which accompanies this Pedigree is a narrow scroll, between three and four yards in length, addressed "To my Right Honble Collonell Sr Thomas Rokeby, Knight, in the words of his learned Cozen Ralph Rokeby, Esquire," and pretends to be "A Copie of the Book of your originall drawne from that which was written by your great uncle Ra. Rokebie, of Lincoln's Inn, directed to his three nephews, Tho. Will. and Ralph Rokeby, written by mee Thomas Henshaw, Esq. Capt. in your regiment, in the service of his most Christian Matie Lewis the 13 King of France and Nauarre: at our Garrison of Amiens, Jan. 26, 1650." It is evidently a Copy of that from which Sir Walter extracted his anecdotes relating to «Parson Blackwood and Sir Willyam Walleis," and "the fellow swine and bragging fryart" but Sir Walter hardly concludes the sentence respecting the latter, for after "on which a jargon was made" where he ends, follows, "which for brevity's sake I omit," which said love of brevity has unfortunately deprived us of every thing in the shape of a genuine copy of a very humourous song. However, the writer proceeds to say concerning it: "This song I tell you old Will. Luther St Edmund Mantrever's man, held so rare a record that he would not teach it to his sonne for feare his skill in antiquity should thereby be blemished," from which it would appear that antiquaries thought not lightly of themselves even in those days; but I must proceed with one short extract more, as it may assist us in ascertaining within something like a century, the time when the writer of this account lived, which Sir Walter says "is uncertain." "Of this jargon I have seen (in an ancient written hand before the prints were known) a com'ent of some paraphrasing fryar of Newborough (as I guesse) for yr Cozen Sr Will. Bellousis owner thereof gave it mee, concluding that the gude father fryar was felloniously troubled and bitten with the sow." This was no doubt the Ralph Rokeby "Master of the Requeste, neuer married," and his three nephews were with as little question Thomas (No. 16.) the grandson of his brother Christopher, and William and Ralph, the two grandsons of his other brother Thomas de Hotham. + Vide note to Rokeby. [Sept. And now, Mr. Editor, having already I fear occupied to much of your valuable space, I must conclude, being first permitted to say that though this MS. and its companion, the Pedigree are treated with profound respect by myself; yet if this should meet the eye of Sir Walter Scott, and the possession of them would afford him the slightest pleasure, they are entirely at his service; as the satisfaction of knowing them to be in the hands of so highly gifted and deservedly celebrated an antiquary would much more than compensate for the loss of the gratification I now feel in being enabled to call myself their proprietor. G. S. Mr. URBAN, Sept. 7. much underrates our noble Metropopolis. Take away St. Paul's and Waterloo Bridge" (for Westminster Abbey though added, seems to have been almost forgot), "what is there in London to brag of?" Is the fine Bridge of Westminster an insignificant structure? Has he never viewed it from the [Arch-]Bishop's Walk, at Lambeth? from which spot the agreeable symmetry and moderate expansion of its semicircular arches are far more pleasing to the eye than the wide elliptical ones of Waterloo. With respect to the "great lot of houses collected together without taste, magnificence, or splendour," I should have supposed that Regent-street, Portland-place, some of our squares, and, I might add, the great improvements on the site of Moorfields, might not have been included in his severe censure. Let me, however, acknowledge that I cordially join in your Correspondent's remark that Government has never been impressed by the repeated observations on this subject in your valuable record," of which we have a glaring proof from the Bridge he so justly admires. I advert to Somersetplace, (an ornament to the capital that "G.A." omits noticing) which to this hour 'remains in an unfinished state, though Sir Thomas Baring, on 40,000, being voted for the British Museum, thought it would have been better employed in finishing that edifice; and Mr. Croker said that the East wing would afford three galleries 400 feet long, and 60 wide, As 1825.] Monument of Sir Nicholas Pelham, Knt. As the City of London already possesses the finest Protestant Church in the world, and Westminster its far famed venerable Abbey; no structure, in my humble opinion, would be more proper and more approved of by the nation, than the long proposed Palace 215 for our august Sovereign, on a scale that THIS Monument of Sir Nicholas Pelham, Knt. HIS handsome Monument is on the North wall of the Church of St. Michael, at Lewes, and bears the following remarkable inscription: "Here under lye buried the bodies of Sir Nicholas Pelham, Knt. (son of Sir Wm. Pelham, of Laughton), and Dame. Anne, his wife, daughter of John Sackville, Esq. grandfather of the Right Hon. Tho. (late) Earl of Dorset. They had issue six sons and four daughters. "His valrs proofe, his manlie virtues, prayse Cannot be marshall'd in this narrow, roome; [dayes His brave exploit in great King Henry's Among the worthye hath & worthier tombe: |