“Winchcombe 
 
 ‘Polesouen 
 
‘ 
 ny 
 ‘ 
 
A HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOLTES OF ASTON, 
 
 BARONETS; 
 
 WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE FAMILY MANSION, 
 
 ASTON HALL, WARWICKSHIRE, 
 
 BY 
 
 ALFRED DAVIDSON. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM DRAWINGS 
 
 BY 
 
 MEL EN Ena Ree, 
 
 BIRMINGHAM : 
 E. EVERITT, 66, NEW STREET. 
 
BIRMINGHAM: 
 | PRINTED BY JOHN TONKS 
 | 85, NEW STREET. 
 
 > 
 
 ENTERED AT STATIONERS’ HALT, 
 
TO 
 
 CHARLES HOLTE BRACEBRIDGE, ESQ. 
 
 ) 
 
 OF 
 
 ATHERSTONE HALL, WARWICKSHIRE, 
 
 THIS 
 
 BRIEF HISTORY 
 
 OF HIS 
 
 MATERNAL ANCESTORS 
 
 RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Tue universal expression of regret with which the announcement, made in the summer of 1851, that 
 a considerable portion of Aston Park was about to be appropriated for building purposes, was received, 
 
 led to the idea in my mind that a History of the Family who so long possessed it might be 
 
 appropriately offered to the public. In the prosecution of this purpose I have had occasion to apply 
 to many gentlemen, and from all I have received the utmost kindness and attention. To Charles Holte 
 
 Bracebridge, Esq., the grandson of Sir Charles Holte, the last Baronet, I am indebted beyond my 
 
 ability to express. His generous confidence, his undeviating friendliness, and unwearied courtesy—in 
 the communication of information; the loan of title-deeds, manuscripts, pedigrees, inventories, copies 
 
 of wills, and letters; and the explanation of points of difficulty—have been so constant and unremitting, 
 
 that I feel the highest pleasure in thus publicly acknowledging my obligations. To Mr. Bracebridge 
 { am also further indebted for the presentation of the plate of his ancestor, Sir Thomas Holte. No 
 
 M. D. Hill, Esq., Recorder of this Borough; to W. H. Spilsbury, Esq., Librarian of Lincoln’s Inn; 
 to J. B. Davidson, Esq., of Chancery Lane; to Francis Willington, Esq., of Tamworth; and to 
 S. James, Esq., of this town, for their valuable professional assistance; to J. H. Dixon, Esq., of 
 Oldswintord, for access to his extensive collection of correspondence; and to Mr. T. B. Wright, 
 Mr. E. Robins, Mr. D. R. Hill, and Mr. E. Holt, I likewise desire to tender my warmest thanks. 
 Nor can I omit to express my sense of the kindness of Mr. J. Y. Robins, in spontaneously offering the 
 loan of the original portrait of Sir Thomas Holte, now at Allesley Hall, and which has been copied 
 for the purpose of embellishing this work. To those other gentlemen, both of the clergy and laity, 
 from whom I have received communications, as also to those who, without being able individually to 
 afford me information, have, in various ways, manifested their interest in my undertaking, I desire to 
 express my appreciation of the obligations conferred. And, lastly, to my friend, Mr. Allen E. Everitt, 
 I offer my hearty thanks for the valuable assistance he has from time to time rendered me, and the 
 deep interest he has myariably shown in the success of my researches. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 Highgate, Aston, 
 
 November 7th, 1853. 
 
| 
 | 
 
PEDIGREE OF THE FAMILY OF HOLTE. 
 
 Huon ex Howry, or arre Hors, of Birmingham, 14 Edward II.—Maud, dau. of Sir Henry Erdington ; relict, 16 Edward 11. 
 ee 
 
 Jonn arre Hours, 14-20 Edward IL= 
 
 ice, dau. of Sir George Castells, of Withybrook. 
 
 a = Se 
 
 Snrox arrm Hotre, of Birmingham,—Albreda,20Hdward IL, Thomas atte Holte—Margery, dau. of John de Collesley, 28 Edward 
 Hdward IL. 21 Edward ILI. { Edward II. If. Philip de Budeford, 39 Edward IIL, 
 (second husband.) 
 
 elder so: [aude Grimsarowe. 
 
 1 Edward 
 
  Honre, second: argery, dau. of Sir William Joun arre Ho 
 Edward TIL, ear Basel relict, 3-4 Richard 20 Edward II 
 
 Wanrer ar 
 on, 4 
 Richard I. 
 
 Il. 
 
 Ed | | 
 Joun Horrs, Esq., of Birmingham,—Alicia, dau, Simon Holte, 16 Richard—=Maud, dau, and heiress of | Wint1am are Hovre,Esq., Jou avre Houre,—Agnes Durvassal, Walter atte 
 {0 Edward III. ; of Aston, 49 Edward | of —Brad- IL; of Nechells, 4 Richard Collynge, of of Stanford, 3 HenryIV.; 30-35 Hdward mdwaratiiy Holtecb, 
 IIL; of Yardley, 12-18 Richard II. | ford. Richard IL, 3-9 Henry | Bridgnorth; relict, of of Aston, 12-14 Henry VI. “ILL; ob. s. p. Bi 
 Iv. Nechells, 17 Henry VI. 55 ne: 
 oe ean 
 
 Avpowan, or Aver Houre, Joyce Raynford, 49 Henry VI., relict,—Joun Honrn, Hsq,, 15-49,—Margaret, dau. of Sir Richard Delabere, Marion, 18-26—Thomas Haste, 
 10-15 Henry VI. i4 Edward IV., (second wife. ) Henry VI. of Kynardsley, Herefordshire,29 Henry Henry VI. 
 VI., (first wife.) 
 
 ‘ Margaret, dan. of William Cumberford,  Hlizabeth=John Ruggeley, of Wigginton. 
 3 Henry VIL. | Esq. of Cumberford, Staffordshire, 
 10-17 Edward IV. Pau 
 
 Edward IV. 
 
 | | 
 avin. Wuasam Horr, Esq., died Sept. 28,—Joan, dau. of Adam Knight, of . Alice. 4, Margaret. 
 . Thomas. 6 Henry VIII. Shrewsbury, 3 Henry VIII. Joan. 5, Christian. 
 . Anne. 6, Blizabeth. 
 
 a weal F To = 
 . Mark. Troms Hore, Esq.,Justice—Margery, elder dau. and co-heiress of 1. — Weston. 5, Ellen — Perman. 
 . John. of North Wales, died March | William Willington, Esq., of Barches- 2. Margaret Stailey, of Derbyeniver 6) Winefic@= Thomas’ Hawking) ‘alias 
 SNuaHolnes 18, 1545 ton, died 1567. Sir Ambrose Cave, 3, Anne=— Piers, of Warwick. Fisher, of Warwick, Esc 
 Knt., of Stanford, (second husband.) 4, Vrances= — Forster, of Shropshire. 7. Margery — Nicholls. 
 
 Dorothy, dau. of Jobn Ferrers, Bsqu of 
 
 yarp Hourn, isq.,died Feb. 3, 1 
 
 2 Jos. Holte, gent. 
 
 aged 51. | Tamworth 2, buried Dec. 20, 1594. 
 oe b . Francis, Anne, younger dau. of Sir Edward—Sir Tabane are Knt.—Grace, dau. and co-heiress 1. ward Haste, Esq. 
 Sept. 13,1 . Robert. Littleton, Knt., (second wife;) and Bart., buried Dec.) of William Bradbourne, 2. Hungerford, 
 Isabella, bapt. afterwards to the Hon. Charles 14, 1654, aged 83. Esq., of Hough, Derby- 3. tumphrey Wy ces, buried Aug. 30, 
 Sept. 2, 1580, Leigh: died Nov. 2, 169 : shire, (first wife.) 4, Mary=George Smith, Esq. 1570. 3 
 i — = 
 1. Robert, ob. ju vt 2. Edward Holte, Hsq., Groom of the—Elizabeth,dau.ofDr. 1. 5, Blizabeth, died April 15, 1647. 
 3. Jerman, ob. inf., bapt. Dec. 22, 1601. 3edchamber to Charles I.; died at| John King, Bishop G, ems, 
 4, Richard, ob. s. p., bapt. Oct. 2, 1604. Oxford during the siege, 1643 ; buried | of London. John Keating, died April 7. Katharine, buried Aug. 3, 1605 
 5. George, ob. s. p., buried Mi in Christ Church ‘ee, a 30. Millington, Esq., 2. Anne=W ard, Esq. Islington, London. 
 6, Thomas, buried Jan. 22, 1618. (second husband.) 3. Catharine—Anthony Roper, Esq. Two other children, supposed to have 
 4. Dorothy, bapt. Dec. 1, 1606. died in infancy. 
 ze, | 
 2, John, Gent, Com. of Balliol College, Mary, dau. of Sir Thomas: ert Houre, Jane, dau. of Sir John 1. George Hampson, M.D. 
 Oxford, died Oct. 23, 1653, buried in Smith, of Hough, Che- jed Oct. 3, 167 Brereton,marriedabout 2. Elizabeth—= — Duncombe; afterwards 
 Magdalen Parish Church there. shire, buried June 18,| St. Clement Danes’,| 1646, died 1648, (first to — Richbell. 
 1679, (second wife.) | London. wife.) 3. Letitia—John Hugford, Esq. 
 4. Cathar — Kittermister; _after- 
 _ | wards to Sir Edward Nevill, Knight. 
 5 aes ae 
 1. 1, Bettini, 1. Elizabeth—=Wm. Hemings, of Wor- born Mareh—Anne, elder dau. of Sir John 
 
 1680, died Clobery, Knight, buried Feb. 
 
 ‘Thomas, buried Dec. 21, 1684. cester, gent., 1692. 
 : 6, 1737-8, aged nearly 90. 
 
 ‘died at Hartlebury, Sept. 15, 2. Anne. 
 3. Catharine. 
 
 1, Edward, liv ing 1684. 
 
 : | 
 Charles, born Feb. 28, 1686-7, died Sir Cropery Horre, Bart., born—Barbara, dau, and hei 5, Katherine, born May 16, 1689, buried 
 
 1, Anne, born Aug 
 
 8, Elizabeth, born Nov, 16, 1698, married 
 4, Susanna, born April 5, 1688, James Mackenzie, M.D,, of Worces- 
 ter; died May, 1772. 
 
 Legh, who died May 16, 17 
 
 unmarr Aug. 19, 1681, married July | ‘Thomas Lister, Esq., of North Foley, Dee. 5, 1696. 
 3. Francis, born Feb. 8, 1690-1, died Dee., 7, 1719, buried July 24,| Whitfield, Northampton- Jan. 27, 1718 6. Selena, born Sept. 12, 1693, buried 
 1723, unmai 1729. | shire, William Brinker, 2. ‘Aug. 5, 1727, 
 . John, born Dec. 24, 1694, LL.D., died | Hsq., (second husband.) 7. Diana, born Aug. 8, 1697, died Sept. 9) 
 Dec. 22, 1734; married Elizabeth A 17 
 
 20, died April 8, Six Cuancus Horns, Bart, born Nov.24—Anne, dau. of Pudsey Jesson, Esq. of 
 5,died March | Langley, Warwickshire, died March 14, 
 | 1799, aged 
 
 Sir Lisren Hore, Bart., born April 26, 17: 
 1770, s. p.; martied—Ist. Anne, younger dau, of William, 1721, married May 19, 1 
 Earl of Dartmouth, Oct., 1739, ‘buried | ous a 1740; 2nd. 782 
 Mary, younger dau. of of Calke, a 
 
 hire, July, 1742, buried July + ; 3rd. Sarah, y Elizabeth, born 1757, married Sept.—Abraham Bracebridge, Esq., of Ather- 
 
 younger dau. of Samuel Newton, Esq., of King's Bromley, 775, died April 24, 1819, aged 62. stone, Warwickshire, born March 10, 
 
 Staffordshire, married July, 1755, died April 1, 1794, aged 70. | 1747-8, died 18 ; 
 
 Cuartes Honrs Bracenrmen, Esq. born March 19, 1799, Mary Holte Bracebridge, born June 22, 1776, married, Dec 
 married, March, 1824, Selina, dau, of William Mills, Usq., 8, 1803, Walter Henry Bracebrid q., of Morville House 
 
 of Bis 
 
 me, Hants. —[Both living. ] Warwickshire.—[ Both living. } 
 
A HISTORY 
 FAMILY OF .HOLTE, 
 
 OF ASTON HALL, WARWICKSHIRE. 
 
 WuareverR may be the abstract value of genealogical records, or what their tendency, whether 
 as ministermg to arrogance or stimulating to excellence, is not a question that needs to be discussed 
 in these pages. Family names become 
 
 ciated with certain localities ;—mansions erected, churches 
 endowed, schools or alms-houses reared, speak of those who may have long departed from the earth, 
 but whose memories are thus perpetuated to future ages, and whose history becomes a part of that 
 of the district where their deeds have been performed. However uninteresting a history of a family 
 may appear to a stranger, no one can visit a magnificent mansion, or gaze on a stately monument, 
 without desiring to know somewhat of the history of the founder of the one, or the person to whose 
 memory survivors have dedicated the other. And, doubtless, many who have gazed on the noble 
 mansion of Aston Hall, reposmg in stately majesty amid venerable Spanish chestnuts and antique elms 
 coeval with itself, have desired to learn something of the Family by whom that building was erected, 
 and of their history, chequered by sunlight and gloom, until the star of their glory sank into its 
 final darkness. 
 
 The family name is a Saxon word, signifying a grove or woody place, and the first member 
 of it of whom any mention is made is 
 
 I—Sm HENRY HOLTE,* who probably resided in this vicinity at the close of the thirteenth 
 century, but of whose history and birthplace no particulars are known, He was succeeded by his son, 
 
 I.—HUGH DEL HOLTE, or ATTE HOLTE, who married Maud, daughter of Sir Henry de 
 Erdington, Baron of Erdington. He died in 1322, (16 Edward IL,) (his wife surviving him,) 
 leaying a son, 
 
 Ii—JOHN ATTE HOLTE, who married Alice, daughter, and at length sole heiress of 
 Sir George Castells, who was descended from a family of that name, formerly lords of Withybrook, 
 in the county of Warwick, and by a female ancestor from Reginald de Asseles, lord of Nechells. 
 When he died is not stated, but probably it was about the year 1330, (4 Edward III.) He was 
 followed by his son, 
 
 * This name does not occur in Dugdale. It is first given in Collins’s Baronetage, from an illuminated roll lent to 
 him by Sir Ch s Holte, and with the use of which we have been favoured by Mr. Bracebridge. The Christian name, 
 however, i sing. In this pedigree the name is invariably spelt Holte, though it frequently occurs where 
 witho' The final letter, however, appears to have come into regular use before the middle of the sixteenth 
 century. 
 
10 
 
 TV.—SIMON DEL HOLTE,* styled of Birmingham, who married Albreda, called by Collins in 
 his Baronetage ‘de 3irmingham,” but the statement is not supported by Dugdale, and the mistake 
 arose from a careless transcript of that writer’s pedigree. This Simon, in 1331, (5 Edward IUD) 
 purchased the manor of Nechells, “in consideration of xl. li. of silver,” from Alice, widow of Sir George 
 de Castells, and heiress of Aliva, one of the co-heiresses of Simon de Asseles. This is the person 
 whom our local historian makes to apostrophise his “degenerate” descendant in these words :— 
 “T, with neryous arm, and many a bended back, drew £40 from the Birmingham forge, with 
 which, in 1330, I purchased the park and manor of Nechells.” i fA “2 “‘T planted that 
 Family which you have plucked up by the roots; in the sweat of my brow I laid a foundation for 
 
 ereatness; many of my successors built on that foundation,” &c. It is evident that Mr. Hutton’s 
 
 statement is incorrect, for the Family must, at the time referred to, have been of consideration, as 
 the intermarriages with the Erdingtons and the Castells testif} 
 
 the worthy old “blacksmith” must be passed aside as an airy nothingness. 
 
 ; and the indignant apostrophe of 
 
 Sir William Dugdale, in his reference to Gilsdon, (Warwickshire, p. 1022,) mentions a Thomas 
 Holtc, whom Mr. Hamper considers to have been a son of John, father of Simon. This Thomas 
 married Margaret, daughter of John de Collesley ; between whom and her sister Alice a_ partition 
 of their father’s property took place in 1348, (22 Edward III.) The manor of Gilsdon was allotted 
 to this Margaret, who, surviving her husband, married Philip de Budeford, and he, joining with his 
 
 wife, sold the estate. 
 
 V.JOHN ATTE HOLTE succeeded his father, and was livmg in 1348, (22 Edward III.) The 
 name of his wife is given in the pedigree as Maude Grimsarowe and Maydenhach. He had two 
 sons, John and Walter, and was called the elder, to distinguish him from his son. He was followed 
 by his elder son, 
 
 VI—JOHN ATTE HOLTE, who married Agnes, daughter and co-heiress of William Durvassal, 
 of Spernall. In 1365, (39 Edward III.,) he purchased, for forty marks, the manor of Duddeston, 
 from John de Grimsarwe. Two years following, Maud de Grimsarwe, by her charter dated at Aston 
 on the Sunday next before the feast of St. Agapite the Martyr, conveyed to him the manor of Aston. 
 John’s younger brother died without issue, and he himself leaving no children, w: 
 
 s succeeded by 
 his uncle, 
 
 VIL—WALTER ATTE HOLTE, who married Margery, daughter of Sir William Bagot, of 
 Baginton. In 1376-7 he served the office of escheator for the counties of Warwick and Leicest 
 ‘a gervice in those days of great trust, and wherein none but persons of eminent worth and quality 
 were employed.” In the latter year he was also principal commissioner in Warwickshire for levying 
 and collecting the fifteenth and tenth granted by Parliament to the King. By a feoffment to one 
 William Whetele and other persons in trust, he settled the manor of Aston to the use of himself 
 
 and Margery his wife, and to his own right heirs. His wife survived him, and the better to secure 
 the estate, enfeoffed it to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, Sir William Bagot, of Baginton, and 
 other persons of quality. The reason of these enfeoffments may be gathered from a petition presented 
 to the House of Lords in 1393-4, by John Drayton, which stated that Richard Lonches and Elizabeth 
 his wife were seised of the manor of Aston, of which they were disseised by Thomas de Colshull, 
 1ers; whereupon the said Richard and Elizabeth, by an < 
 
 ssize of new dis 
 
 John Holte, and 
 recovered the manor, which they demised to the petitioner for the term of his life, and of which he 
 was accordingly poss possessed by Margaret, wife of Walter Holte, 
 and the said John, her son, and others. The petitioner, haying recovered the manor, was again 
 
 isin, 
 
 ssed, but was subsequently di 
 
 £ 
 i 
 
 dispossessed, on which he brought a h action of re-disseisin, and the Sheriff appointed a day for 
 
 r 
 
 trial of the cause, but when the inquest was assembled, Sir William Bagot, with a large company, 
 
 * The roll already referred to places the arms of Simon by the side of John atte Holte’s, from which it may be inferred 
 that they were brothers 
 
11 
 
 came, and threatened the Sheriff and the petitioner, so that the former dared not do his duty, and 
 the petitioner was thus kept out of his rights, and therefore prayed their Lordships to ordaim a 
 remedy.* No statement of the result is given, but the manor appears to have remaimed in the 
 possession of the Holtes. Walter had three sons, John, Simon, and William. Of 
 
 VIII—JOHN HOLTE, the elder, styled of Yardley, Esquire, little is known. He made 
 another enfeoffment of the estate, in fee simple, to Sir William Bagot, one of his mother’s trustees, 
 probably to endeavour still further to secure his title. Immediately contiguous to the churchyard of 
 Yardley is a moat, in an excellent state of preservation, encircling a plot of ground on which was 
 formerly a mansion house belonging to the Family, and where, probably, this John had his residence. 
 He ig stated to have had but one son, Audomar, or Aymer, who succeeded him, but mention is 
 made of a Walter Holte, probably a younger son, who was of full age in 1403, (5 Henry ‘V.,) 
 who shortly after that time passed the manor of Spernall (to which he became entitled as heir of 
 the Duryassals, through Agnes, wife of John atte Holte) to John Reve, Vicar of Coughton. 
 
 IX.—AUDOMAR HOLTE succeeded to the estate on the death of his father, but was dispossessed 
 by his uncle William, the younger son of Walter, who, in the first year of the reign of Henry IV., 
 obtained a grant of the estate for life. The King challenged a legal title to the property as son and 
 a claim which had no shadow of 
 
 heir of John, Duke of Lancaster, one of the feoffees of Margery, 
 
 right to support it, as the Duke was merely a trustee. From the words used in the patent, 
 ‘‘dilectus armiger noster,” (our well-beloved esquire,) it is not impossible that he might have been 
 in immediate attendance on the person of Henry before he ascended the throne. In order, however, 
 
 to enjoy possession for his own life, William Holte was meanly content to sacrifice, not only the 
 
 claims of his nephew whom he had robbed, but also to extinguish for ever, as of right, the interest 
 which his own children, if he should have any, might possess m the estate. But the usurper was 
 not permitted to enjoy his ill-gotten treasure without interruption. He had possessed the manor 
 only three years, when Sir William Bagot, one of the trustees named in the feoffment made by 
 Margery, wife of Walter, considering his title equal to that of the King, advanced a claim to the 
 yroperty. This Sir William had been a great favorite with Richard IJ., and when Henry landed 
 at Ravenspur, fled, with others, to Bristol; but the discontented lords, taking advantage of the 
 King’s absence in Ireland, raised an army of 60,000 men, and besieged and took the castle, Sir 
 William escaping to Ircland. He came back, however, with Richard; for m a month after Henry 
 yegan his reign, he was committed prisoner to the Tower, (November 22,) probably as a matter of 
 precaution merely, for on the 24th of December following, the Sheriff of Warwickshire received 
 command to allow the feoffees of his lands to have possession. On the 23rd of January, however, 
 his restitution was superseded, but on the 12th of November the Constable of the Tower had orders 
 
 for his release. In 1403, (5 Henry IV.,) he was elected knight of his shire, and having been 
 received into the royal favour, claimed the estate as trustee. After much disputation, both parties 
 
 consented to refer the matter to the arbitration of Edward, Duke of York, and Richard Beauchamp, 
 Earl of Warwick, binding themselves to submit to the decision of these noblemen in bonds of £200 
 each. William Holte, however, kept possession, Sir William Bagot, his competitor, dymg in 1407, 
 (9 Henry IV.)t After the lapse of a considerable time, Audomar asserted his claim, and in 
 10 Henry VI, (1431,) according to a statement in the reply to John MHolte’s petition in 
 29 Henry VI., (1450,) recovered the manor after course of law, before the Judges of the Ki 
 
 Bench, though his uncle appears still to have retained possession, as in 15 Henry VI., (1436,) he 
 released to two persons named Ward and Shyngler, as feoffees, all his right in the estate; and the 
 next year, for the further confirmation of his title, Audomar, his nephew, and the right heir, was 
 induced to release his right and claim; but for what consideration is not stated. 
 
 * Rolls of Parliament, Vol. IIT., p. 326. 
 
 + The monument to his memory, (a fine brass,) at Baginton, has been recently repaired by Lord Bagot. 
 
12 
 
 X.—WILLIAM HOLTE, who is styled of Stanford, in 1401, (8 Henry IV.,) and of Aston, 
 Esquire, 1433-5, (12 and 14 Henry VI.,) appears in the list of gentry returned by the Commissioners 
 in 1433,* (12 Henry VI.,) and is described as having been one of the chief persons in 
 Warwickshire, being chosen in the following year to make oath for the performance of certain 
 articles concluded in the Parliament then held. In 1422, (1 Henry VI.,) he held the office of 
 Sheriff of Worcestershire. When he died does not appear, but having no issue, and his interest 
 in the estate being but for life, in 1440, (19 Henry VI.,) John, his nephew, procured from the 
 Crown letters patent for the inheritance, with all the privileges and liberties belonging thereto, 
 for himself and his heirs, to be held of the chief lord of the fee, and not of the King i capite. 
 Thus the property so unjustly alienated was restored to the right line, this John being now the sole 
 
 male representative of the Family.t+ 
 
 In a former page it was stated that Walter and Margery Holte had three sons, of whom Simon 
 was the second. This Simon, described as of Nechells in 1398, (22 Richard II.,) and as alive in 
 1407, (9 Henry IV.,) married Maud, daughter and heiress of Richard Collynge, of Bridgnorth ; 
 she was surviving at Nechells in 1438, (17 Henry VI.) ‘Two sons were (according to Collins) the 
 issue of this marriage, but Dugdale- makes mention of one only, while Hamper is of opinion there 
 was a daughter also, Marion, who married Thomas Haste, she and her husband being both alive in 
 
 1447, (26 Henry VI.) 
 
 XI._JOHN HOLTE succeeded his uncle, and was twice married. In 1440, (19 Henry VI.,) 
 he was styled Esquire, and was living in 1470, (49 Henry VI.) His first wife was Margaret, 
 daughter of Sir Richard Delabere, Knight, of Kynardsley, Herefordshire. In 1438, (17 Henry VI.,) 
 he was appointed escheator for Warwickshire and Leicestershire, and was a faithful subject of the 
 amiable but unfortunate Henry VI., to whom he became an esquire of the body,t and from whom he 
 received protection against the act of resumptions in the 28th year of his reign, in the following 
 
 terms :— 
 
 “Provided also that this act extende not nether be prejudicial to John Holte, Esquier, and Margarete his wyf, nether 
 o the heires and ignes of the same John, of any graunte or confirmation made to them by us by our letters patentes 
 beryng date the vi day of Marche the xix yere of oure reigne, of the manor of Aston, in the county of Warwyk, and of 
 iii mes. iiii caruys of londe, with the appurtenances in Dodesdon and in Bordesley, which the Duke of Lancastre, fader to 
 our ayell Kyng Harry the Fourth had with other of the feofement of Margery somtyme the wyfe of Waulter Holte to the 
 use and behove of the said Margery and of herr heires, to whom the said John Holte is cosyn and heyre; nor of any 
 fraunches or liberties in the same letters specified, of which the seide gery and her auncestres’ and all thos whos estate 
 he same Margery hadde yn the same maner and fraunches have be sesyd fro the tyme of which no mynd ys.” 
 
 In the following year he again presented a petition, praying that the act of resumptions might 
 not be prejudicial either to himself, his wife, or his heirs, in respect of the said patent, considering 
 that the manor of Aston had been duly recovered according to due course of law, before the Justices 
 of Common Pleas, in the tenth year of the said King’s reign, by the said Aymer (Audomar) Holte, 
 cousin (grandson) and heir of the before specified Walter Holte, against William Holte, Esq., the 
 enant thereof, by virtue of certain letters to him made.§ The prayer of the petition was complied 
 with by the King, the following being the terms of the ‘“responsio” :— 
 
 “Provided also that this act of Resumption extende not nor be prejudiciall to John Holte, Squire, nor Margarite 
 his wiff, nor to the Heirs or assignees of the same John, of or in the manor of Aston, with the appurtenances, in the 
 Shire of Warrewick, nor to non other person enfeoffed of and in the said manor of Aston to the use of the said John, 
 nor of and in iiti mess’s, iiii plowe lands -with the appurtenances, in Dodeston and Bordesley, nor to any Yifte, Graunte, or 
 Confirmature made, as by our letters patentes to the said John Holte and Margarete and to the Heirs and assignees of 
 the said John Holte of the seide manorr and landes with their appurtenances, nor to the said liberties, franchises, quittances 
 conteyned in the same, consideringe that the said manour was duely recovered after the course of our law, before our Juges 
 of our Commyn Bench the x yere of our reigne by oon Aymer Holte cosyn and heire of oon Walter Holte against William 
 Holte, Squire, thenne beying tenaunt and seised of the said manour by virtue of our letters patentes by us to hym made and 
 
 * Fuller’s Worthies; Article—Warwickshire. 
 
 + Sec. Pars Pat., anno 19 Hen. VI—*Rex concess’ Joh’ni Holte in feodo manerium de Aston, in comitatu War’, 
 cum visu franci plegij, infangtheof, ac alijs libert’, tenend’ de capitali domino, et non de Rege, quondam Walteri Holte.”— 
 Cal. Rot. Pat., p. 
 
 £ “This Jhon Holte was esquyrr for the boodye too Kynge Henddrye the Syxte.”—Illwminated Pedigree. 
 § Rolls of Parliament, 29 Henry VI.—Vol. V., p. 217. 
 
grantued, as by record of the said recoverer and by a bill makyng mention of the premises to us furth by the said John Holte 
 in this present Parliament more pleynly may appear.”—P. 224. 
 
 In 1460, (39 Henry VI.,) on the rebellion of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, this John was 
 made Ranger of Sutton Chase, the patent bearing date at Coventry, May 23rd. The words ‘De 
 eratiaé nostra speciali, ac consideratione diutini et continui servitii quod humilis servitor noster 
 Joh. Holte, armiger de hospitio nostro,’ &ec., (of our special favour, and in consideration of the 
 daily and constant service which our humble servant, John Holte, esquire of our household, &c.,) 
 would seem to testify the high esteem in which he was held by the King, and the closeness of his 
 attendance on the royal person. Dugdale thinks him to have been a “meniall servant,” but the 
 words would appear to refer to his office of esquire of the body to the monarch. His second wife 
 was Joyce Raynford, whom he married before 1470, (49 Henry VI.,) and who was a widow im 
 14 Edward IV. In 1454, (33 Henry VI.) a fine was levied between two parties named Waldeyve 
 and Leyeroft, plaintiffs, and John Holte, Hsq., and two others, deforciants, when it appeared in 
 evidence that the inheritance of Nechells was vested in Waldeyve, but most probably it was to the 
 use of John and his heirs; as in 1529 (20 Henry VIII.) it belonged to Thomas Holte, “de Medio 
 Templo, London, generosus.” In the time of the latter, Nechells had four farms and a cottage. 
 After a long and prosperous career, John’s sun, which had risen amid storms and tempests, set in peace. 
 He had two children, Elizabeth, married to John Ruggeley or Rudgeley,* of Wigginton, and a son, 
 
 XIL—WILLIAM HOLTE, Esq., who married Margaret,t daughter of William Cumberford, Esq., 
 of Cumberford, in the county of Stafford. He was alive in 1498, (13 Henry VII.,) and his lady 
 in 17 Edward IV. He had issue three sons, William, who succeeded him, John, and Thomas. In 
 the very curious original Boke of the Guild of Knowle, (in the possession of W. Staunton, Esq., of 
 Longbridge, near Warwick,) among the members of the guild, in 1498, occurs the name of Thomas 
 Holte. William Holte was a merchant of the Staple, and his name occurs twice in the Rolls of 
 Parliament, in the reign of Henry VI., with reference to the subsidy of “wolles and vwolfell.” 
 Besides his sons, he had six daughters, Alice, Joan, Anne, Margaret, Christian, and Elizabeth. His 
 
 elder son, 
 
 XIIL.—WILLIAM HOLTE, Esq., married Joanna, daughter of Adam Knight, Esq., of Shrewsbury. 
 She was living in 1511, (38 Henry VIII.) He had a family of four sons, Thomas, his successor, 
 Mark, John, and Nicholas;{ and seven daughters,—Elizabeth, married to Weston; Margaret, to Stanley, 
 of Derbyshire; Anne, to Piers, of Warwick; Frances, to Forster, of Shropshire; Ellen, to Perman, 
 Winefrid, to Thomas Hawkins, alias Fisher, Esq., of Warwick; and Margery, -to Nicholls. No 
 particulars of his history have been handed down. He lies buried in the north aisle of Aston Church, 
 under an altar tomb, on which rests his effigy, life-size. He is clad in a suit of mail armour, a 
 surcoat covering the upper part of his body; his hands, which are ungloved, are joined in the attitude 
 of prayer. His head, uncovered, rests on a helme, and at his feet reposes a couchant lion. The 
 front of the tomb is divided by buttresses into four compartments, each consisting of a cinquetfoil 
 panel, and containing, crowned, and vested in long robes, an angel with extended wings, and 
 
 bearing on his breast a shield. The shields are charged with the following arms:—Ilst, Holte, 
 impaling Knight; 2nd, singly, Delabere; 3rd, Cumberford; and 4th, De Wolvey. The inscription 
 
 round the verge, which has, with the exception of small portions, long been obliterated, is 
 given by Dugdale as follows:— 
 
 for the soule of William Holt, Esquyre, sometime Lord of this towne, and Joane his wife. 
 iii September, the yeare of howre Lord mecexxiii.” 
 
 “Of your charity, pra 
 Which William dy’d the 3 
 
 The date of the year was either mistaken or imperfect, probably the former, and that, perhaps, 
 
 by the engraver of the plate, as it is scarcely probable an error of so grave a kind would have been 
 
 * Sanders, in his History of Shenstone, makes Rugeley to have been Ranger of Sutton Chase in 16 Henry VI. The 
 name of his wife is also given by the same author as Margery.—P. 34. 
 + Sanders incorrectly states her name to have been Mary.—P. 258. 
 
 { The illuminated pedigree has the following note appended:—“This William Holte had thre sunes, Thomas, Vmfrey, 
 and Nykkolas, which Nykkolas was father to Ane Peerse.” 
 
14 
 
 allowed to remain by those who erected the monument. The date should have been 1514. This 
 monument is the oldest remaining of the Family. All antecedent ones—if any ever existed—must 
 have been destroyed more than two centuries since; it is interesting, therefore, to emerge from the 
 region of mere genealogy into what may be termed the light of day, and to be able to pomt to this 
 ancient relic of the Family. The successor of William was his elder son, 
 
 XIV.—THOMAS HOLTE, who was a “learned lawyer” and Justice of North Wales in the 
 reien of Henry VIIL, the patent bearing date in or about the sixteenth year of that King’s reign. 
 He was also in the commission of the peace for the county of Warwick, and was appointed one of 
 the commissioners for taking the surrender of monasteries in the same district.* | Probably his good 
 service in the cause led to his higher appointment. In a letter from Richard, Bishop of Dover, 
 to Cromwell, dated August 27, 1538, the following passage occurs:—‘‘And also I praye you be 
 good lorde to yower servant master Holte, and to master ; they have moche comforteyd me.” 
 In an act of the Privy Council, dated at Ampthill, September 29, 1540, his name is inserted in a 
 ormame’ts be embecilled from the shryne of 
 
 commission “for to examyn what jucls, plate, and 
 St. David’s, by whom and to what value; and also what is left there and to what value the same 
 is, and to put the same in suretye to the King’s use,”t At the time of the suppression of Hales 
 Owen Abbey he was “sub-seneschall of the court of the said Lord Abbot.” He married Margery, 
 the elder of the seven daughters and co-heiresses of William Willington, of Barcheston, a wealthy 
 merchant of the Staple. Surviving her husband, she married Sir Ambrose Cave, Knight, of Stanford, 
 Northamptonshire, who was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster m the time of Elizabeth.§ 
 Mr. Bracebridge has in his possession a deed dated 1544, (35 Henry VIII.,) being a decree in 
 Chancery, under the great seal, in a suit between Edward Birmingham, Lord of Birmingham, and 
 Thomas Holte, Bencher of the Middle Temple, Lord of Aston. The Justice lies buried in the north 
 aisle of Aston Church, by the side of his father, his monument being of brass, laid in the floor. 
 
 It contaims portraitures of himself and wife, over their heads being a shield, Holte impaling 
 ‘Willington. Immediately beneath the figures is the following tetrastic: 
 
 “Thomas Holte here lyeth in grave: Ihu for thyn pass: 
 On him thou have compassyon, and his soolle do save.” 
 
 yon 
 
 3elow this are the ichnographs of a male and two female figures. Enclosing the whole of 
 the characters is an oblong border, having at the angles quadrangulated circles figured with the 
 symbols of the four Evangelists, the cherub, lion, ox, and eagle; and bearing the following 
 inscription :— 
 
 “Of yo charitye praye for the sooles of Thomas Holte, Esquy: er, late Justice of North Wales, and lorde of this towne 
 of Aston, and Margerye us wyfe: wich Thomas deceased the xxiii daye of Marche, anno Dni mecccexlv whose sooles God 
 pardon.” 
 
 The Justice is clad in a long gown reaching to the feet, but permitting the broad-toed shoes 
 to appear. A tunic is thrown gracefully over the shoulders, one portion being gathered over the 
 left arm, and falling in front, while on the other side it is thrown back, so as to show the ample 
 sleeve on the right arm, to which is attached the gypciére, or purse. The hands are raised in the 
 attitude of prayer, the right holding a scroll. The head of the figure has been destroyed. The 
 lady wears the angular or pedimental head-dress, with lappets; a tight boddice, and bishop sleeves, 
 termimating with graceful cuffs. Round the waist is a cincture, with an ornamental knot at the front 
 of the stomacher. The skirt of the robe is full and flowing, and at the front is gathered up under 
 
 * Extract of a Letter from Thomas Lord Burdenell to Sir William Dugdale, dated November 18th, 1655 :—“ Families 
 of yr owne countie that you write on may in the p’geny of Grevile, Holt, ” Fitzharb’te, Gage, St. Cleere, and others, take 
 yr memorie of their anncestors upon this occassion not as a favor: yet truthe and auetoritie warrants much more then they can 
 quarrell at, and therefore I s say—Prosperé procede.”—Hamper’s Dugdale’s Life and Diary, p. 296. 
 
 + Documents relative to Suppression of Monasteries, p. 213. 
 £ Acts of Privy Council, (Commissioners’ Records,) Vol. VIL., p. 46. 
 
 § Sir Ambrose is well known, from the circumstance of having, at a ball, picked up the Qucen’s garter, which, her 
 Majesty declining to receive from him, he wore on his arm, and is so represented in a portrait. He left one child, a 
 daughter, Margaret , wife of Henry, third son of Sir Francis Knollys. 
 
15 
 
 the right arm. The figures, with the exception just noticed, are in an excellent state of preservation. 
 The design is characterised by freedom and boldness; and the execution is good. The Justice had 
 a son, Edward, who succeeded him; and is also supposed to have had another son, John, or Joseph, 
 who had a son, Barnaby, baptized at Aston, September 13, 1579, as the child of Joseph Holte, of 
 Duddeston, gent.; and a daughter Isabella, baptized September 2, 1580.* 
 
 From a roll of parchment, 5 feet 9 inches long by 5 inches wide, headed “The Inventory of 
 all the goodes and catells movable and unmovable, plate, juclls, and housold stuffe of Thomas Holte, 
 Esquier, decessed, made the eighth daie of Apll, in the yere of the reyne of oure moste dradde 
 Souvreign Lord Henry the Hight, by the grace of God, Kynge of Englonde, Ffrance, and Irelond, 
 Deffender of the faythe, and of the Churche of Englonde and Ivelonde in earthe supreme hedde, 
 
 the xxxvijt,” we glean some interesting particulars as to the size of his residence at Duddeston, the 
 nature and description of its furniture, and the extent of his rural occupations. The sleeping 
 partments were thirteen in number,—the chambur over the buttrie, the chappell chambur, the 
 maydes’ chambur, the great chambur, the mner chambur to the great chambre,t the yatehowse 
 chambur, the inner chambur to the same, the geston chambur, the crosse chambur, the inner chambur 
 
 > 
 
 to the same, the clark’s chambre, the yeomen’s chambre, and the hyne’s chambre. The other 
 apartments were the hawle, the plece, the storehowse, the galarye, the butterye, the ketchyn, the 
 larder howse, the dey howse, the bakhowse, the bultynge howse, and the yeling howse. There was 
 so a mylne: and forming a portion of the house was the chappell, the catalogue of the furniture 
 
 © 
 
 of which we give entire :— 
 
 Inprimis a canabe, a pixe, and the sacrament thereof ij d. 
 Item ij corporas cases ij pillos for the same, iij frunts, ij pere of vestments, a 
 cope, ij candlesticks, a surples, a masbok, altr clothes, ij cruets, a pere 
 of censes, iij tore iij carpyt quissions, ij carpets, and a challes  ... viij i. 
 Item in the boddy of the chappell a frunt for an alter, a cloth for the same, a 
 pentyd table, and ij bolles ... = a E 7 5s se se(5h 
 Sum ix li. iijs. ij d. 
 
 The principal bed chambers were hung with splendid hangings, those of the great chamber 
 being “of gaye colors, blewe and redde;” one of the beds in the same room being “wrought with 
 gildinge and fyne bise,” and haying Ka tester of satten, blew and redde, with cuverleyd of sarsnet 
 of the same collor.” In the same room were also “ij long satten quissions, a quission of yellow 
 and blewe for the cheyre, and a quission of tynsoll for the cupborde.” There was also a ‘“knytte 
 tester lyned about blewe with curteyns of white and blew for feet.” The total value of the 
 contents of this room was estimated at £13 14s. 4d. Nor were the other sleeping apartments 
 without their share of luxurious adornment. In the imner chamber to the one last-mentioned, there 
 were a ‘tester collored redde and yellow, a bedstyd, a fether bed, a bolster, a pere of blankets, a 
 quilte, a covering, a cupborde, a carpyt to the same, and a nother to the wyndowe.” In the 
 “vatehowse chambur” the hangings were “redd and yellow,” the tester ‘of redde and blewe 
 chekered,” the curtains “of blew tuke,” and a “quission of redd satten and white.” In the cross 
 chamber were the “hanging ther,” a “‘yoyned bed, carvon, a tester of blew damaske and tynsoll 
 patten, with the curteynes of blew and grene sarsnet.” The furniture in the living apartments is 
 not of a character to call for remark; but the linen in the “chambur over the buttrie” requires 
 to be noticed. It consisted of 
 
 Table clothes xxij wherof are of damaske and ij of diapur 
 
 Table napkyns x dosen wherof ij dosen diapur and one of damaske 
 Fyne towells a dosen, wherof iij diapur and one of damaske 
 Course towell, a dosen : as 
 
 Fyne shetes, x vii. 
 Course shetes, ij a Be ij i 
 Pillo beres xxvj wherof xiiij fyne and xij course ape a si XX Ss. 
 
 * Under date 1568, 9th October, is an entry at Aston of the burial of Rodolphus, son of Rodolphus Hoult of Duddeston ; 
 and in 1570, 4th of Februar y, of William, son of William Holte, of Deritend. Probably it was the latter William who 
 was one of the executors of Hdward Holte’s will in 1592. 
 
 + So in original. 
 
16 
 
 The kitchen contained potts, chafornes, skymmers, skellets, cressets, eredires, fryig pannys, 
 chafyng disshes, a brason morter with a pestell, stone morters, striking knyves, broches, racks, 
 brandards; cobberds, pothangings, hocks, a rack of iron; bowles and payles. The plate consisted 
 of two gilt salts, with a cover to one; a gilt cup with a cover; two silver pieces; a silver cup 
 with a cover; and a dozen and half of tea spoons,—value £16 10s. 
 
 The apparel of the Justice is curious :— 
 
 A. gowne faced with velvet, a gowne lyned with damaske, a gowne faced 
 with jeucls, a gowne faced with pynes, a gowne lyned with grey 
 
 connye (coney) ote 26 Bai bn 6p a xiij li. vis. viij d. 
 ij jackets of vellet, a dublet of crymson damaske, a dublet of blak satten, 
 a dublet of erymson satten, a dublet of tawney damaske, a new ~— 
 colored cote, a marble cote, a blak cote, a cloke, and ij spruse jurkyns vij hi. 
 Sum xxii. vis. vijd. 
 
 The live stock, entitled “moveable godes,” consisted of xix oxen and sterys, xxvilj kyne, 
 xvij young beste, xiiij young calves, xij gots, ij geldings, ij mares, ij naggs and a colte; 
 cexxix shepe, xix swyne, a crane, a turkye cok, and a henne with ij chekyns; the value being 
 £86 Os. 8d. 
 
 The inventory, amounting to £270 6s. 2d. was exhibited before the proper authorities at 
 Sutton Coldfield, on the 4th of April, 1546. From it a tolerably correct idea of the extent of the 
 Chief Justice’s establishment may be gained; and it also affords good evidence that his wealth must 
 have been considerable. 
 
 XV.—EDWARD HOLTE, who succeeded his father, was born in 1541, (33 Henry VIII.,) and 
 was, therefore, only about four years old at his parent’s decease. It is probable that he was confided 
 to the guardianship of Sir Ambrose Cave, who subsequently married Margaret, the widow of the 
 Justice, as Sir Ambrose presented to the vicarage of Aston, in right of his wife, (her son not being 
 of age,) in 1552 and 1561. This Edward married Dorothy, daughter of John Ferrers, Esq., of 
 Tamworth Castle.* He was a justice of the peace for Warwickshire, and served the office of High 
 Sheriff for that county in 1583, (26 Elizabeth.) By letters patent of Ist July, 1573, (16 Elizabeth,) 
 the Queen gave, for considerations therein expressed, the rectory of Aston, to this gentleman, for the 
 term of twenty-one years after the expiration of a term of sixty years’ lease granted to one Philip 
 Hobley, by John Oliver, D.C.L., dated 18th March, 1531, (23 Henry VIIL,) at the yearly rent of 
 £17 6s. 8d., payable at the Feasts of St. Michael and the Annunciation. 
 
 By the will of his grandfather Willington, Edward Holte imherited considerable property. To 
 the kindness of Francis Willington, Esq., of Tamworth, we are indebted for permission to make the 
 following extract from a copy in his possession. Mr. Willington’s courtesy is the more valuable, as 
 the following, taken from a letter of Sir William Dugdale to Sir Simon Archer, will show:—“TI 
 received your letter, whereby you desire a copie of Will’m Willington’s will, wch I should readily 
 send you if I had it; but when I scarcht the registers in the Prerogative Office I found it not, 
 though I did earnestly endeavour so to doe; weh makes me doubt that it was not registered there. 
 Therefore I was constrayned to make use of that old copie thereof wch I found amongst Sr Thomas 
 Holts writings; of weh I have taken short notes.”—Hamper’s Dugdale, p. 328. The will is 
 ated March 28, , and was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, November 14, 1559 :— 
 
 “And further I will, that if I fortune to decease without issue male of my body lawfully begotten, then I will and 
 bequeath to my daughter Margery Cave, and to the heirs of her body between Thomas Holte and her lawfully begotten, 
 all those my lands, tenements, and hereditaments with their appurtenances within the towns, villages, and fields of 
 next Byrmyngham and Wytton, within the county of Warwick, Melton Mowlberye, within the county of Leices 
 
 ° 
 
 The Ferrers family was one of the noblest that sprang from the Norman chiefs of the Conquest. Dorothy’s father 
 was descended directly from Thomas, second son of William I of Groby, Leicestershire, and Elizabeth Freville, he 
 of Tamworth, the Frevilles representing the last of the Marmions, whose great grandfather was the original grantee of the 
 castle, temp: Henry I. William Ferrers, of Groby, (now represented by the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, ‘as Lord Grey, 
 of Grooby,) was the direct descendant of the great Earl Henry de Ferrers, who came over with the Conqueror. The only 
 representative of this family in Warwickshire, is Marmion Ferrers, Esq., of Baddesley Clinton, descended from Edward 
 Ferrers, of Tamworth, ob. 1535. 
 
17 
 
 Handsworth, in the county of Stafford, which did of late belong unto the dissolved chamber of Aston aforesaid, and also 
 the Priory or Free Chapel of Birmingham, with all those lands and tenements to the said Priory or Free Chapel belonging, 
 within Birmingham aforesaid, and the Lordship or Manor of the same within the lordship of Dudeston, together with certain 
 lands and tenements lying within the lordship of Nechels, Salteley, within the said parish of Aston, sometime belonging to 
 the late dissolved Guild of Derytenne, within the said county of Warwick; which lands and tenements I lately had and 
 purchased of one Thomas Hawkyins, otherwise called Fyssher, as by his deed thereof made more at large it doth appear, 
 to have and to hold the premises, with their appurtenances, to my said daughter, in form aforesaid; and for default of such 
 issue the premises to remain to the issue between Sir Ambrose Cave and my said daughter lawfully begotten. And also 
 all my lands, tenements, and hereditaments with their appurtenances in- the towns and parishes of Horborne, Haleshowen, 
 Norfylde, and Smythewick ke, within the counties of Worcester, Salop, and Stafford, to have and to hold the same to my 
 said daughter Margery Cave, and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten between her and the said Sir Ambrose Cave; 
 and for default of such heirs I will that all my said lands, tenements, and hereditaments with their appurtenances in Aston, 
 Wytton, Birmingham, Dudeston, Nechells, Melton, Hanseworthe, Horborne, Hayleshowen, and Norfilde aforesaid, shall remain. 
 and come to the heirs of the said Margery lawfully begotten by Thomas Holt her late husband, and for default of such 
 issue to my right heirs for ever. And I will that the residue of my said daughters and heirs and their husbands shall after 
 my decease release and assure against them and their heirs the said lands and tenements and other the premises in Aston, 
 Wytton, Birmingham, Dudeston, Nechells, Saltley, Melton, Hanseworthe, Horborne, Haleshowen, Norfelde, and Smithewicke, 
 with their appurtenances, to the said Margery Cave and to her said heirs according to the intent of this my will, with such 
 remainders over thereof, and in like manner and form as is above declared of the same as shall be devised by the said 
 Margery and her said heirs, at the costs and charges of the said Margery and of her heirs. And I will that the heir male 
 apparent of the said Margery Cave, after my decease, at his full age of twenty-one years, shall haye out of the same manors, 
 lands, tenements bequeathed to the said Margery an yearly rent £20 to be paid him at the feasts of the Annunciation of 
 our Lady and St. Michael the Archangel by even portions, which rent I bequeath to him out of the same by this my will, 
 with like clause of distress for non- payment thereof as is aforesaid of other rents.’ 
 
 Edward Holte lies buried with his ancestors at Aston, his monument being affixed to the wall, 
 near to his grandfather’s. It consists of a representation of himself and lady, kneeling, one on either 
 side of a reading-desk, in the attitude of prayer. He wears long flowmg hair, has a peaked beard, 
 and is partially clad im armour. ‘The lady is habited in a long robe, over which is a kirtle. Round 
 the neck is the well-known ruff, so fashionable in the days of Elizabeth; and on the head is a veil, 
 thrown back so as to permit the features to be seen. The upper part of the monument is encircled 
 with a semicircular arch, flanked by plain round pillars with Corinthian capitals. In the spandrils 
 are shields, Holte quartering Willington, Delabere, &., and Holte impaling Ferrers. Over the 
 pediment is a shield charged with the armorial bearings of the Holte Family—azure, two bars or; 
 in chief, a cross patée, fitché of the same. Resting on the shield is the crest—a squirrel sejant, 
 proper:* in the forefeet a hazel branch slipped, vert; nuts proper. Beneath the shield is the 
 motto “Exaltayit humiles,” (He hath exalted the humble,) probably taken from the Gospel by 
 Luke, chap. i, v. 52. The age of this gentleman, and the date of his death, are recorded in the 
 inscription on his monument, as follows :— 
 
 “Here lieth byried Epwarpe Hours, Esqvier, and Dorornyn his wife: weh Edwarde was Lorde of this Towne and 
 Patron of this Chyrche or Vicaredge; He was allso Lorde of Dyddeston and Nechels, and of divers other landes within 
 this parishe: who dyed abovt Candelimas, einge abovt the age of one and fiftie yeares, in the xxxv yeare of the raigne of 
 Qveene Hlizabethe, and in the yeare of ovr Saviovr Christ 1592.” 
 
 By his will he leaves £500 each to his two daughters, Margaret and Mary; to his son Francis, 
 the parsonage and appurtenances of Shenstone, Staffordshire; to his son Robert, property in Weston 
 in Arden, near Bulkington, Warwickshire, and desires his executors to put this son apprentice to a 
 merchant in London, and when he should attain the age of twenty-two, to make an “advancement” 
 for him; to his dear wife sundry articles are left, and the remainder is bequeathed to his elder son, 
 Thomas, who was to come into possession on attaining his twenty-second year. William Holte and 
 
 others are appointed executors. 
 
 The date of his death was February 3rd, 1592; his lady was buried on the 20th of 
 December, 1594. Three sons and seven daughters were the issue of this marriage. The names of 
 the former were—Thomas, who succeeded to the estate, Francis, and Robert; of the latter, Anne 
 married Edward Easte, Esq.; Lucy, John Hugford, Esq.; Catharine, Humphrey Wyrley, Esq., of 
 Handsworth; Mary, George Smyth, Esq., son of George Smyth, Hsq., of Wootton, Warwickshire ; 
 Dorothy and Margaret, who died unmarried; and Frances, who died young. 
 
 XVI.—Sm THOMAS HOLTE was born in 1571, (14 Elizabeth,) and could scarcely have attained 
 his majority at his father’s death. He enjoyed his property for the long space of sixty-two years, 
 
 * Tn the Books at the Heralds’ College, the squirrel is sometimes given argent. 
 
18 
 
 and it was he who raised the Family to the highest pitch of its prosperity. When in his 28th year, 
 1599, (42 Hlizabeth,) he served the office of Sheriff for the county, and in April, 1603, was a member 
 of a deputation to welcome King James to England, and on the 18th of the same month, being 
 then designated as of Cheshire, received the honour of knighthood. On the 25th of November, 1612, 
 (9 James I.,) he was further advanced to the dignity of a Baronet. The reason of the foundation 
 of this order of nobility was as follows:—The province of Ulster being in a state of great rebellion, 
 the King, desirous of reducing it to obedience, hit upon an expedient which, without burden to the 
 subject, or danger to the law, accomplished his object. Counting on the weakness of human nature, 
 the “Royal Solomon” offered a title of Baronetcy to every gentleman possessed of an annual 
 income of £1,000, who at the least was descended from a father and grandfather bearing arms, 
 and was willing to maintain for the defence of Ireland, “and especially for the security of the 
 province of Ulster,” for three years, “thirty foot soldiers in the King’s army, after the rate of 
 8d. sterling per day, which amounted in the whole to the sum of £1,095.” Hence the popular 
 and true idea of the cost of a Baronetcy having been £1,000. In order, perhaps, to divert the 
 ridicule which the purchase of a title would cause, the royal commission of 1611 goes on to say 
 that these extraordmary subsidies should be solemnly separated from all the other treasures of the 
 kingdom, and kept apart by themselyes, and wholly converted to this public and memorable work. 
 The royal arms of Ulster—the red hand 
 
 ‘were also assigned to the baronets for their assistance and 
 services in the work of colonization, of which the King was so enamoured that he quartered the arms 
 of Ireland on his shield, “he being,” says an old author, “the first of our kings who bore the same 
 quartered with the royal arms on his coin and seal.” The notable scheme of the monarch succeeded 
 so well, that at the time when Sir Thomas Holte acquired his title—a year after the creation of the 
 order—ninety-three gentlemen had obtained the dignity, fifteen other patents bearing the same 
 date as that of Sir Thomas. The original document is in the possession of Mr. Bracebridge. The 
 parchment is plain, (without border,) except a pen-and-ink sketch of the King sitting in state, with 
 the sceptre and globe. The receipt from the Exchequer for Sir Thomas’s Baronetage money is 
 also in the possession of Mr. Bracebridge. The former document is too long to transcribe, especially 
 as a copy of the general form employed, and differing only in trivial particulars from the patent 
 of Sa Thomas, has been published in the Baronetage of Kimber and Johnson, and also in other 
 works. From the latter we extract the receipt for the first instalment of £365 :— 
 
 In Pello Recept’ de Termino Mich’is anno nono Regis Jacobi, sexto Decembris. 
 
 Warr’.—D. Thomas Holte Mil’ et Baronett’ trescent’ sexagint? quinge libras de p’te miiiixy li. p’ ip’m D’no Regi Jacobo 
 dat’ et conc’ ad manutenend’ trigint’ viros in cohortibus suis pedestr’ in Regno d’no Hibernie p’ defenso 
 eiusdem et p’cipue p’ securitat? plantac’o’is Provincie Vltonie ib’m jp’ spatium triu’ annorum subsequen’ 
 s’e’d’m ratam viii d. p’ quolib’t huiusmodi pedit? p’ diem duran’ termino pd. 
 
 (In the Pells. Receipt at Michaelmas term, 9th James, 6th December. 
 
 Warwickshire—Sir Thomas Holte, Knight and Baronet, £365, part of £1,095 given and conceded by him to King James 
 for maintaining thirty men in his foot regiments in the kingdom of Ireland, for the defence of the same, 
 and chiefly for the security of the province of Ulster there, for the space of three years following, after 
 the rate of 8d. per day for each of the said footmen during the said term.—£365 paid.) 
 
 And now, having attained to so great honour, this gentleman, who had, hitherto, as his ancestors 
 before him, resided at the Manor House of Duddeston, and who is described by a descendant, (Sir 
 Charles Holte, his great grandson,) as “a gentleman well read in most parts of learning, and versed 
 in several languages,” and as “highly esteemed in his county by men of all conditions, being of an 
 even temper, truly just, charitable, and exemplary in his life and conyersation;” haying previously 
 received a very large accession of property by his marriage with Grace, one of the daughters and 
 co-heiresses of William Bradburne, Esq., of Hough, in the county of Derby, commenced the enclosing 
 of the park at Aston, and in the month of April, 1618, began the erection of the noble mansion 
 standing there. In order, however, to avoid a break in the continuity of the Family history, a 
 description of the building is deferred to a subsequent page. 
 
 Sir Thomas, on the 21st June, 1599, (42 Elizabeth,) purchased the rectory of Aston, which 
 had been granted to his father for a term of twenty-one years, in 1573, (16 Elizabeth.) By letters 
 
19 
 
 patent, dated 20th June, 1599, the rectory and other properties were granted by the Crown to 
 Kdward Nelson and John Purnell, for £1,869 16s. 2d., at a yearly rent of £17 6s. 8d.; and on the 
 day following the date of the patent, an indenture was made between the parties named and 
 Thomas Holte, Esq., of Duddeston, by which it was agreed that, for a certain sum of money paid 
 by the said Thomas Holte, the rectory should be sold to him. The execution was attested by six 
 witnesses, and the deed enrolled in the close rolls of Chancery, on the 22nd June. ‘The original is 
 (or rather was) in the Rolls Office, Chancery Lane. 
 
 Sir Thomas had a family of fifteen children. His elder son, Robert, died young; the second, 
 Edward, was born in 1600. ‘This young gentlemen, at the age of fifteen, entered Hart Hall, (now 
 Hertford College,) Oxford, as the elder son of a Baronet. (Liber Matric. Aul. Cervin., Novembris 17°, 
 1615 :—“ Edouardus Holt, Baronetti fils, Waruicensis, annos natus, 15.”) It is not known whether 
 he took any degree. In Jacobi Ara, 1617, and in Anne Funebria, 1619, he has Latin verses, his 
 signature being “Baronetti fil. nat. max.”* In consequence of his intimay with the sons of 
 Dr. King, Bishop of London, at College, he married Elizabeth, the elder daughter of that high 
 dignitary. The match, however, was so displeasing to Sir Thomas, that he threatened to disinherit 
 his son, and was only prevented by the personal interference of Charles I. The following is a copy 
 sion of Mr. Bracebridge :— 
 
 of the monarch’s letter, the original being in the posse 
 
 “Charles R. 
 
 “Trusty and well beloved, Wee greet you well. Wee have taken knowledge of a marriage between your 
 sonne and a daughter of the late Bishop of London, and of your dislike thereof, soe far expressed as to threaten a 
 disinheritance of your sonne: of whom wee have also heard very well, as having many good parts that make him able to 
 oe us service, and fitt rather to bee cl ed of all good encouragements, than oppressed with a heavy hand. Whereas 
 is no greater cause of offence epee him, and the interest wee have in all our subjects, and especially in families of the 
 best qualitie, giveth Us cause to interpose in this, where a severe proceeding against your sonne would endanger the 
 overthrow of your house, whereof there are so many examples, and leave that tytle of honour which must descend upon 
 him by our late father’s gratious grants, contemptable, when it should fall upon one, deprived by your act of the state 
 
 and means to support it. “For the match, We consider and may well hope that a blessinge and many comforts will follow 
 the daughter of a soe reverend and wood a man, whose other chil dren are in soe hopeful wayes and soe well disposed; 
 and an alliance with them cannot be a disparag >, ualitie you may thinke of betweene your sonne and 
 her, for estate or otherwise, Wee will be ready to Suan our grace and assistance, in giving him advancement and 
 impartinge our favour to him in such way his good parts are capable of. Wee doe therefore recommende it to you 
 that you doe not only forbeare any act against your sonne in respect of his match, but that you restore him into your former 
 favour and good opinion, wherein Wee doubt not that our mediation upon grounds of much reason and indifference will soe 
 far_preyaile “with you, that Wee shall have cause to accept graciously your answer, which Wee expect you return unto Us 
 with all conveniency. Given at our Courte at Hampton, the 7th day of August, in the third yeare of our reigne.’ 
 
 The marriage took place about the year 1624. Its further history will be adverted to in 
 chronological order. It may be stated here, however, that Edward Holte was appointed groom of 
 the bedchamber to the King, but the date of the appointment is not known. 
 
 In May, 1631, Sir Thomas took up his abode at his new residence, though it was not finished 
 till April, 1635, and here he resided in great splendour, his ample resources enabling him to maintain 
 in due state the dignity of his rank.} 
 
 In 1637, a will was drawn up, by which,—after reciting an indenture made in 1635, 
 (10 Charles I.,) between Sir Thomas Holte, of the one part, and Sir Thomas Puckeridge, Anthony 
 Roper, Richard Shuckburgh, Walter Giffard, and Richard Smallbrook, of the other part, whereby 
 the manors and estates of Aston, Nechells, and Duddeston, and lands in Witton, Erdington, 
 Washwood, Saltley, Bordesley, Birmingham, Honesworth, and the rectory of Aston, were assured to 
 Sir Thomas for life; then to the uses of his will; then to the uses declared in the said indenture ;— 
 Sir Anthony Roper, Sir Richard Shuckburgh, William Giffard, and Richard Smallbrook were appointed 
 trustees, with power to raise £1,500, and with £100, or, if not sufficient, £200 of that sum, to erect 
 alms-houses at Aston for five men and five women, and, with the residue of the £1,500, to purchase 
 hereditaments to the yearly value of £66 13s. 4d., to pay each of the inmates £5 4s. per annum, by 
 weekly instalments of 2s., and 10s. to buy a furze gown, and a wain load of coals; appointing the 
 
 * Hannah’s Poems of Dr, King, Bishop of Chichester. 
 
 + A bond for £4,000, from Peter Giffard to Sir Thomas, dated 1633, is in Mr, Bracebridge’s possession, 
 
20 
 
 yearly payment of £1 6s. 8d. for two lectures, and the like sum for collecting the rents. This 
 document does not appear to have been executed; a rough draft (perhaps the only one drawn up) 
 still remains. By a subsequent will, dated June 4, 1650, Sir Thomas (inter alia) directed the 
 erection of a monument to the memory of himself and wife in Aston Church; and also empowered 
 his executors to raise the sum of £300, and with £100 of that sum, and if that were insufficient, 
 with £200, or more, to erect, or cause to be erected and built, one convenient alms-house of 
 brick-work, in the town of Aston-juxta-Birmingham, somewhat beneath the vicarage, in the crofts there 
 wherein the Tinker’s House and Hollman’s House did stand, along the street or lane side, with a 
 garden to each, in case the testator should not do it im his life-time. The nominees (five men and 
 five women) were to be appointed by his widow and the heirs male, and, in default, by the Vicar, 
 Churchwardens, and Overseers of the parish. Eighteen trustees were appointed; and a rent-charge, 
 of £88 per annum, arismg out of the manors of Erdington and Pipe, and other lands, and payable 
 at Lady-day and Michaelmas, was assigned for the support of the immates.* 
 
 The estimation in which Sir Thomas was held at Court was so great that he was nominated 
 by Charles, ambassador to the Court of Spain, but, on the plea of advanced age, was excused from 
 the discharge of that important office. When, however, the war broke out between the King and 
 Parliament, the old Baronet warmly assisted the Monarch with his purse,t but was disabled by age, 
 being then more than seventy, from active service in the field. His previous habits of life also 
 would have unfitted him for the discharge of military duties. 
 
 In the month of October, 1642, on the evenings of Sunday and Monday, the 16th and 17th,t 
 Charles, whose army was marching from Shrewsbury to relieve Banbury Castle, staid at Aston two 
 nights as the guest of the loyal old Baronet; and this visit, trivial in itself, has invested with an 
 undying interest the edifice, as identifying it with the hapless fortunes of the ill-judgmg Monarch. 
 To the present time the room where he slept is called “the King’s Chamber,” and, though it be bare, 
 it retains a prestige which attaches to no other portion of the building. 
 
 That Sabbath evening was a memorable season in the annals of Aston Hall. We see, in 
 imagination, the last rays of the setting sun glancing athwart those mosque-like minarets, whose 
 metalled roofs yet retained their pristine freshness. | We see the royal standard, as it proudly floats 
 from the highest turret, as if in defiance of all gainsayers. We hear the clash of arms, the loud 
 flourish of martial music, the joyous ringing of the old church bells, the glad acclaim of a loyal 
 assemblage, who raise the shout which erst greeted the ear of the Jewish King; and we look on 
 the sombre, pensive countenance of him, in whose honour all this demonstration is made, as he 
 courteously acknowledges the deferential obeisances of the assembled throng. In that retinue of 
 attendants on the Monarch, we likewise behold one, who, with sorrowful face and averted eye, casts 
 around him furtive glances as the cavalcade proceeds, and is anxiously longing to see if the man 
 who is so prodigal of his affection towards his Sovereign has any feeling of regard towards a son, 
 whom, for eighteen years, he has viewed with unmitigated hatred. And, as no ray of compassion 
 beams from the eye of the old man, we can well imagine that utter sinking of spirit which came 
 over “the noblest, the best, and the bravest,” of all who ever bore the name of Holte. Go, old 
 man! hug thy patents and commissions—produce thy pardon from thy Sovereign, duly signed, sealed, 
 and delivered, and defy the world to charge thee with crime—rejoice in thy noble mansion and 
 thy broad domains—but remember! there is a canker at the root of all thy greatness, so long as 
 
 * The Commissioners’ Reports, Vol. XXTX., Part 2, contain a full account of the charity. 
 
 + In Ashburnham’s receipts from April, 1642, to October, 1643, occurs the following item:—“ From the Lord Dunsmore, 
 for Sir Thomas Holt, £65.” 
 
 + Manley’s Iter Carolinum, in Sancroft’s Collectanea Curiosa. There is some discrepancy in the Iter respecting the 
 16th, but all accounts make Charles to have passed two nights at the Hall, and on the 18th, after reviewing the Staffordshire 
 troops at Sutton Coldfield, he went on to Packington Hall. The Iter is also given in Lord Somers’s Collection of Tracts, 
 but the same discrepancy occurs there also. 
 
21 
 
 that gallant son of thine—in so few days to shed his blood in thy royal master’s cause—remains 
 
 unforgiven for the magnanimous erime of having made her whom he so truly loved his wife. 
 
 The King left behind him several memorials of his visit. Among them, a cabinet of walnut 
 was the chief: it rests on large spiral carved legs, and measures, without these, 3 feet 7 inches by 
 4 feet 5 inches. The writing-desk is arranged so as to draw out; and the entire cabinet is full 
 of curious secret drawers. It is richly inlaid with wood, and many elegant brass figures, in addition 
 to the royal arms. This exquisite article of furniture was removed from the Hall by Sir Charles 
 Holte, the last Baronet, and is now in Mr. Bracebridge’s possession. Six chairs, carved with the 
 royal arms; a huge Delph mug, also bearing the same insignia; and a China bowl, 9 inches deep 
 and 22 inches in diameter, were also left by the King. The chairs were dispersed at the sale in 
 1817—one of them is in the possession of the Rev. Egerton Bagot, at Pipe Hayes; the mug and bowl 
 are at Atherstone Hall. 
 
 On the Sunday after the royal visit, the battle of Edge Hill was fought, and Edward Holte 
 was wounded. He, however, recovered, and was engaged in August, 1643, in the defence of 
 Oxford, and, while in the discharge of his duties there, contracted a fever, which proved fatal on 
 the 28th of the above month. The entry respecting him, in Dugdale’s Diary, (page 54,) is simple 
 and affecting:—“‘Mr. Edw. Holte (sonne and heire of Sr Tho. Holte, of Aston-juxta-Bermingha’) 
 dyed in Oxford: buried in Christ Church, under ye window in ye Chappell on ye south side ye 
 Quire, wherein ye picture of a Bishop is sett.” He was buried on the 30th. The entry of his 
 interment, from the register, (Gutch’s Wood’s History of the Colleges of Oxford, p. 508,) is:— 
 “ August 30: Edward Holt, Esq., heir apparent to Holt, Bart., was buried in the south aisle 
 joinmg to the choir, near to the head of Bishop King’s monument.” The Bishop King referred to 
 was first Bishop of Oxford, grand-uncle of Dr. King, Bishop of London, whose daughter Mr. Holte 
 married. A monument, in memory of this gentleman, was placed over his grave, probably by his 
 brother-in-law. In March, 1828, a diligent search was made for it by Mr. Edward Holt, but 
 unsuccessfully, until he was enabled, by means of a plan of the interior of the cathedral, to discover 
 its position. The stone ‘is removed from where it was originally placed, and is laid on the ground, 
 but from the great traffic over it, the inscription is completely obliterated. It is of black marble, 
 with two white tablets imserted, the one for the armorial bearings, the other for the inscription.” 
 From the marks on the shield, it appears to have been displayed quarterly. The arms, however, 
 
 are obliterated. 
 
 The sentiments of Sir Thomas with regard to his son’s marriage do not appear to have 
 changed. The old Baronet made his will in 1650, and though he bequeathed £100 to his grandson 
 Robert and his “now wife,” and to his other grandson, John, the estates at Pipe and Erdington, for 
 life; yet as no mention is made of Mrs. Edward Holte, it may be inferred that he continued 
 implacable. But the other branches of the Family looked on the matter in a different light. Francis, 
 (Six Thomas’s brother,) in his will, dated July 16th, 1641, bequeathed her a gold ring; and Robert, 
 the other brother, (will dated July, 1650,) a legacy, placing her name before that of Lady Shuckburgh; 
 while Sir Thomas’s daughter, Elizabeth, (will proved July 16th, 1647,) in the legacies she bestows on 
 her nephews and nieces, describes them as “the sons and daughters of her sister Holte, widow,” 
 thereby expressing her esteem. 
 
 Edward Holte died at the age of forty-three. The following elegy, written by his brother- 
 in-law, the Bishop of Chichester, and the subjoined extract from that prelate’s will, afford additional 
 
 information with respect to this Family quarrel :—* 
 
 * Hannah’s Poems of Dr. King, Bishop of Chichester, p. 105. 
 
99, 
 
 AN ELEGY UPON THE DEATH OF MR. EDWARD HOLT. 
 
 Wuerrnnr thy Father’s, or disease’s rage, 
 
 More mortal proved to thy unhappy age, 
 
 Our sorrow needs not question; since the first 
 
 Ts known for length and sharpness much the worst. 
 Thy feaver yet was kind, which the ninth day 
 
 For thy misfortunes made an easie way, 
 When th’ other barbarous and hectick fi 
 In nineteen winters did not intermit. 
 
 I therefore vainly now not ask thee why 
 Thou didst so soon in thy youth’s midway dy: 
 But in my sence the greater wonder make 
 Thy long-oppressed heart no sooner brake. 
 Of foree must the neglected blossom fall 
 When the tough root becomes unnaturall, 
 And to his branches doth that sap deny 
 Which them with life and verdure should supply. 
 For parents’ shame, let it forgotten be, 
 
 And may the sad example die with thee. 
 
 It is not now thy grieved friend’s intent 
 
 To render thee dull Pitie’s argument, 
 
 Thou hast a bolder title unto fame, 
 
 And at Edge Hill thou didst make good the claime; 
 ‘When in thy Royal Master’s Cause and Warre, 
 Thy ventured life brought off a noble skarre ; 
 
 Nor did thy faithful services desist, 
 
 Till Death untimely strook thee from the list. 
 
 Though in that prouder vault, then, which doth tomb 
 Thy ancestors, thy body find not room, 
 
 Thine own deserts have purchased thee a place, 
 Which more renowned is than all thy race ; 
 
 For in this earth thou dost ennobled ly, 
 
 With marks of Valour and of Loyalty. 
 
 In the will of the prelate-writer of the elegy we find the following affecting reference to his 
 deceased relative. The will is dated 14th July, 1653, when the prospects of the Bishop were 
 exceedingly dark :— 
 
 “Ttem, one other somme more than double to both these, (the first was £1,000, and the second ‘a somme not less 
 than that,’) which I lent out of my pu to my deceased brother, Edward Holt, Esquire, as the Bondes by him given 
 perticulerly shew; and I recommend this, my last and earnest desire, to my worthy nephew and God sonne, Sir Robert 
 Holt, Barronett,* that as he was born under my roofe, and had his share in that support which for many years I cheerfully 
 allowed his parents and their children, when the ynnatural vsage of an implacable Father denyed them competent means 
 wher by they might subsist, soe he, being now master of a plentiful estate, will not forget the kindness which I shewed, 
 but return it to my sones, whose provision must needs fall the shorter, since what I disbursed was taken out of their 
 patrimony. I mention thus much without repentance of the Courtesie by me performed, or without pleading merritt for 
 my nephew's regard towards those I leave behind, beleeving his worth such that he cannot faile in so iuste a request, 
 which I reinforce as he expects eyther blessing from God vpon his, or fidelity of friends to himselfe; in assurance thereof 
 that out of this great debt something will come in to discharge those remembrances I desire to leave behind me, I 
 bequeath to my beloved Nephew, Sir Robert Holt, a seale, with all the quarters of hi mily, engraven by most curious 
 Artist, and provided by my Executors. Item, J bequeath to my deare sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Millington, formerly wife to 
 my brother, Edward Holt, Esquire, a piece of plate of forty ounces, beseeching her to accept it as an acknowledgment of 
 her affectionate care expressed towards me and myne during the tyme I soiourned under her roofe: and to my worthy 
 rother, her husband, John Millington, Esquire, I bequeath fower volumes fairely bound, being a description of the world 
 in French, written by Pierce Avity.” 
 
 The fact recorded in reference to Mis. Millington is the most beautiful episode in the history 
 
 of the Family. She was alive in 1670, as, by the will of John King, Esq., (elder son of the 
 Bishop,) of Boycote, Kent, dated May 20th and 24th of that year, the picture of the testator’s uncle, 
 Mr. William King, was bequeathed to her. A small legacy of remembrance was also left to Sir 
 
 Robert Holte. 
 
 We now return to the history of Sir Thomas. In the month of December, 1643, apprehending 
 danger from his Birmingham neighbours, he applied to Colonel Leveson, Governor of Dudley Castle, 
 for a guard of soldiers, and on the 18th, forty musketeers were placed in the Hall. On the 26th, 
 (a sad exchange for the festivities of Christmas,) the Parliamentarians, in number 1,200, commenced 
 their attack. The marks of the cannonading are still visible on the walls of the south-west wing of 
 
 * There must be some mistake in the date, as Sir Thomas did not die until December, 1654 
 
23 
 
 the building. The array brought against the Hall could not have consisted of regular troops, as the 
 forty foot soldiers and the houschold of Sir Thomas—could not have 
 
 small number of the besieged 
 defended the place for any length of time; but must have been composed of an undisciplined 
 concourse, with a very few gunners and regular soldiers; the choice of ground for the play of the 
 cannon showing much more skill than a mere assembly of townspeople, unacquainted with the science 
 
 of gunnery, could have possessed. The attack continued on the day following, the 27th; and on 
 the 28th, after twelve of the royalists had been killed, the gallant defenders surrendered their fortress, 
 but not before they had inflicted a loss of sixty on the enemy. One of the balls, after piercing 
 
 the wall, struck off the ornament from a pillar of the banister on the staircase, and lodged in the wall 
 adjoining. 
 
 The Hall, immediately on its surrender, was plundered; such of the Family papers as had not 
 been removed to a place of security were destroyed, though not entirely to the extent stated by 
 Collins, as the numerous evidences still existing at Atherstone show. Sir Thomas was also imprisoned, 
 but his confinement would appear to have been rather a matter of precaution than for the purpose of 
 revenge; and, from the fact that no injury was done to any of the monuments of the Family in 
 the adjoming church, it may be inferred that the act was one rather undertaken for the public weal 
 than from dislike to the old Baronet. 
 
 The popular opinion is that the attack was made because of Charles being in the Hall at the 
 time, and this impression was certainly shared in by the later branches of the Holte Family, among 
 whom a tradition existed that the defence was prolonged for three days, to afford him an opportunity 
 of escaping. In corroboration of this idea, they pointed, too, to the articles of furniture left at the 
 Hall by the Monarch. But the slightest reflection will show the improbability of the supposition. 
 
 Charles would never have risked his person so slenderly guarded in so disaffected a district as 
 te} 
 
 Birmingham. There was no purpose to serve in his making a visit incognito to Aston, nor is there 
 c=) c fo} ) 
 
 the slightest reason to suppose that he did so. hat wing of the building in which the Kine’s 
 D E>} c co} 
 
 chamber was situated was cannonaded; and as no written account of the circumstances was preserved, 
 in process of time the royal visit and the assault-at-arms would be blended together, till they came 
 
 to be regarded as events occurring at the same period. The dates, however, as given by Manley 
 and Dugdale, are conclusive. Tn October, 1642, the King visited Aston, and in December, 1643, 
 
 the attack was made. 
 
 Sir Thomas suffered severely for his loyalty to his Sovereign. In addition to his imprisonment, 
 his household goods were twice confiscated, and his estates once decimated, such contributions bemg 
 forced from him, that, according to Collins, “the damage he sustained was computed at £20,000.” 
 The sum named was probably a random guess, but doubtless was tolerably accurate. In the 
 “catalogue of the Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen that have compounded for their estates,” under 
 date, 1655, the following entry respecting him occurs:—‘“ Holt, Sir Thomas, of Aston, com. Warr., 
 Baron., £4,401 2s. 4d.” 
 
 Sir Thomas, about the close of Elizabeth’s reign, purchased the manor of Lapworth from Sir 
 Edward Greville, Knight, of Milcote; and in 1647, the manors of Pipe and Erdington from Sir 
 Walter Devereux; and, with the latter manor, the chantrey founded by the Erdingtons, at Aston. 
 The manor of Pipe had previously formed a part of the Holte property, having been purchased 
 from John Butler by Edward Holte. In 11 Elizabeth, (1569,) he sold it to one Dimock, from 
 Earle; thence to Sir Walter Devereux, who in turn sold it. 
 
 whom it went, with Erdington, to 
 
 Sir Thomas was twice married; first, to Grace, daughter of William Bradburne, Esq., of Hough, 
 Derbyshire, by whom he had fifteen children. The names of the two elder sons have been already 
 given. The others were—Jerman, baptized December 22nd, 1601, who died in his infancy ; 
 Richard, baptized at Islington, London, October 2nd, 1604; and George, buried May 7th, 1605, who 
 both died without issue. There was also another son, Thomas, buried at Aston, January 22nd, 1618-19. 
 
24 
 
 Of his daughters, Grace, the elder, married, on 4th February, 1634-5, Sir Richard Shuckburgh, 
 of Shuckburgh, Warwickshire, she being his third wife; and six sons and three daughters were the 
 issue of this union, the present Sir Francis Shuckburgh being descended from this lady. Sir Richard 
 dying in 1656, Lady Shuckburgh, in 1699, married a second husband, the particulars of which match 
 appear in the subjoined inscription from the monument at Shuckburgh :— 
 
 «This is in memory of the Lady Grace Shvkbyrgh, who was daughter to Sir Thomas Holt, of Aston, near Birmingham, 
 in this county, Kt. and Bart., and wife to Sr Richard Shvkbvrgh, late Lord of this Mannor, by whome she had issue 
 six sonnes and three daughters; and after his decease, viz., 27th of Octob., 1659, tooke to her husband John Keatinge, 
 of Norraghmore, in the county of Kildare, Esquire, then a student at Lincoln’s Inn, and afterwards Lord Chief Justice of 
 the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland. She departed this life at his house in Dublin, the 12 of Aprill, 1677, and was 
 
 buryed in the chappell of Palmerston, three miles distant from that citty, in a new vault by him there made for that 
 purpose; who also in memory of her singular Virtue hath caused this small monument to be sett up.” 
 
 Below the inscription are the arms of Shuckburgh impaling Holte. The other daughters were— 
 Anne, who married Walter Giffard, Esq. ; Catherine, Anthony Roper, Esq.; Katharine, buried 
 August 3rd, 1605, at Islington, London;* Dorothy, baptized December Ist, 1606; Frances, of 
 whom nothing is known; and Elizabeth. There were two other children, whose names we have 
 failed to discover. Elizabeth, just mentioned, died April 15th, 1647, and was buried at Chaddesley 
 Corbett, Worcestershire, where a monument was erected to her memory. By her will, proved in 
 July, 1647, she leaves a legacy to her uncle, John Hungerford; to her nephew, Robert Holte, Esq., 
 her buckles; to the sons and daughters of her sister Holte, widow, sundry sums, but their names 
 are not mentioned; to her “cousin” Middlemore, of Edgbaston, a legacy; to her sisters, Lady 
 Shuckburgh and Mis. Giffard, a Lady Yates, Sir Thomas and Lady, and sundry other persons, sums 
 of money to purchase rings, which she particularly requests they will wear in remembrance of her. 
 Her father and Sir Richard Shuckburgh are the executors. The following is a copy of the 
 inscription on the monument :— 
 
 Neare hereynder 
 Lyeth interred the Body of 
 Mrs. Enizannrn Hon, 
 One of the Dayghters of Sr Thomas Holt, 
 of Aston, neare Byrmingham, in the covntie of Warwick, 
 Knt. and Baronet : 
 Who liveinge single departed this life on the 
 15th Day of April, in the Yeare of ovr Lord God 
 1647. 
 “Virescit, Post Fynera Virtvs.” 
 
 Sir Thomas’s second wife was Anne, the younger daughter of Sir Edward Littleton, of Pillaton, 
 Staffordshire, Knight, but by her he had no issue. After his death she married Charles Leigh, Esq., 
 the third son of Thomas Lord Leigh; she died November 2nd, 1697. Her name will again occur 
 
 in the history. 
 
 There is one other circumstance in the history of Sir Thomas, without a reference to which 
 
 the narrative of his life would be incomplete. We refer to the charge of his having murdered his 
 cook. The tale has been widely circulated, but in well-informed circles has always been discredited, 
 
 inasmuch as popular tradition has associated with it the assumption of “the bloody hand” as a badge 
 of disgrace. The character of Sir Thomas, as given on his monument, and shown in the erection 
 of the alms-houses, has also been appealed to, as tending to throw discredit on the story. But the 
 connection of the Ulster badge with the “murder” is easily explained. It was at Duddeston that 
 the crime was committed, and it was while residing there that Sir Thomas received his title, and 
 by consequence assumed the augmentation granted by the Crown; and an unthinking people, 
 uninitiated in the mysteries of heraldry, immediately connected the two circumstances; and in this 
 form the tale has been handed down to the present day. But putting this aside, we find that the 
 
 charge was made in the life-time of Sir Thomas, and so deeply did he feel aggrieved that he 
 commenced proceedings for slander against the person who made the charge. The Plea Rolls, 
 
 * From this and a similar entry referred to in the previous page, it would appear that Sir Thomas had a town residence 
 at Islington. 
 
20 
 
 (5 James 1., Haster Term, roll 462) contain the particulars of the case, as follows:—At Michaelmas 
 Term, 1606, Sir Thomas Holte, by Richard Jackson, his attorney, preferred a bill against William 
 Ascrick,* ayerring that he (Sir Thomas) was a good, true, and faithful liegeman of the King, and 
 had been so from his birth, having, on account of his good name, fame, eredence, estimation, and 
 conversation, and the favour of the King, been appointed one of the justices of the peace for the 
 county of Warwick, as well as having received special letters patent for hearing and determining 
 divers felonies perpetrated in the said county; im which offices he had administered justice without 
 fear, malice, or favour. And that the said William Ascrick, being seduced and provoked by instigation 
 of the devil, and envying the happy and prosperous state of the said Sir Thomas, did, on the 20th 
 of December, in the third year of King James, at Birmingham, openly, publicly, maliciously, and in 
 the hearmg of divers persons, utter with a loud voice, these false, fictitious, scandalous, and opprobrious 
 words in English, respecting the said Sir Thomas, viz, ‘Sir Thomas Holte tooke a cleever, and 
 hytt hys cooke with the same cleeyer uppon the heade, and clave his heade, that one syde thereof 
 fell uppone one of his shoulders, and the other syde on the other shoulder; and this I will veryfie 
 to be trewe.” The damages were laid at £1,000. To this bill, Ascrick, by his attorney, John 
 Harborne, responded at Easter Term that he was not guilty, and put himself on his country. After 
 divers delays, the case came on for trial at Warwick, on the 13th of July, 1608, the Judges being 
 Sir Thomas Walmysley and Sir Peter Warburton. The Jurors were William Holbache, of Corley 
 More; Christopher Goodall, of Atherstone; John Smythe, of Great Alne; Nicholas Knight, of 
 Barrel’s Green; George Kempson, of Haselor; Thomas Hopkyns, of Moreton Baggott; Charles 
 Wheeler, of Tanworth; Thomas Buswell, of Harborough Parva; and Richard Clever, of Napton; 
 and as the remainder did not appear, Theophilus Wilkyns, Thomas Palmer, and Thomas Bree were 
 added. A verdict of “guilty” was returned, and damages to the amount of £30 awarded, with one 
 shilling costs. The entry on the roll, of which the above is an abstract, is couched in the barbarous 
 Latinity of the period, and is full of unintelligible legal terms; the copy extends over six foolscap 
 
 pages. 
 
 The case was carried by Astgrigg into the Court of King’s Bench, and at Michaelmas Term, 
 in the same year, was argued before the Judges, it being contended, on behalf of the appellant, that, 
 although it had been stated the halves of the head fell on either shoulder, there was no averment 
 that the man was killed; and the judgment of the Court was in his favour. The following is the 
 account of the case as given in Judge Croke’s Reports, (Grimstone’s edition, 1659, Vol. 2, p. 184):— 
 
 “Sir Tuomas Hoxr versus Asrerte¢.—Action upon the case for words: Sir Thomas Holt struck his cook on the 
 
 head with a cleaver, and cleayed his head, the one part lay on the one shoulder, and another part on the other: The defendant 
 pleaded not guilty, and found against him; and now moved in arrest of judgment that these words were not actionable, for 
 it is not averred that the cook was killed, but argumentativé: And of that opinion was the Court, (Fleming and Williams 
 absentibus:) For slander ought to be direct, against which there may not be any intendment: But here, notwithstanding 
 such wounding, the party may yet be living, and it is then but trespass: Wherefore it was adjudged for the defendant.” 
 
 Though the argument employed was but a quibble, it does not appear that the defendant denied 
 his statement, and the charge was certainly tantamount to one of murder. The most probable 
 tradition of the cause of the commission of the crime is, that Sir Thomas, when returning from 
 hunting, in the course of conversation, laid a wager to some amount as to the punctuality of his 
 cook, who, most unfortunately, for once was behind time. Enraged at the jeers of his companions, 
 he hastened into the kitchen, and seizing the first article at hand, avenged himself on his domestic. 
 It is added, also, that he afterwards sought to conceal the deed. 
 
 * The family of Ascrick was one of great respectability in Birmingham. In the list of the first Governors of the Free 
 School, Dugdale mentions William Ascherig, though his name is omitted in the charter itself; and one of the family married, 
 in the reign of Queen Mary, the widow of Edward de Bermingham, the last of the ancient lords of the manor of that name. 
 The regis’ of St. Martin’s Church contains several entries “respecting various members of the family. Under date of 
 January 27th, 1562, occurs the marriage of William A: ee and Marie Symonds, probably daughter of one of the Governors 
 of the Free School; and on April 23rd, 1563, the baptism of James, son of John Askrigg. From 1610 down to 1645, 
 entries Ge baptisms and deaths appear, under date of November 26th, 1617, bemg the record of the burial of William 
 
 », perh: the defendant to Sir Thomas Holte’s action. The name appe: to have been spelt in divers way 
 8c Ascricke, Ascrike, Askrike, Askricke, Ascrocke, Ascherig, Askrigge, and Astgrigg. 
 
26 
 
 The character of Sir Thomas, so far as his actions serve as a test, appears to have been proud, 
 obstinate, and revengeful. At one time we find him pertinaciously refusing Sir William Dugdale 
 fees which, as a herald, were his due; and, in the same spirit, hopelessly defending his mansion 
 without the slightest probability of success. We see him prevented solely by the interference of the 
 King from disinheriting his son, though he still left him in penury. And of his pride we have ample 
 proof, in the fact of his having purchased a title at so great an expense, and of having erected a 
 mansion, which, for magnificence, exceeded any to be found in its vicinity. And yet this proud 
 man sought and obtained from Charles, in the first year of hig reign, a royal pardon! 
 
 This document is dated at Westminster, the 10th of February, 1625-6, and has appended to it 
 the great seal of James. It is in excellent preservation, and is in the possession of Mr. Bracebridge. 
 Tt runs in the general form, so that from it nothing can be gathered as to any specific offence 
 committed. It is so ample, that every crime of thought, word, or deed, prior to the 27th of March 
 then last past, (the day of the death of King James,) is entirely remitted. To mention a few of 
 these will suffice:—Lese majesty, rebellions, insurrections, conspiracies, misprisions; homicides, felonics, 
 robberies, murders; escapes, evasions; forcible entry of houses, riots, routs, unlawful assemblies; false 
 pleas, extortions, oppressions; forging of charters, writings, and muniments, and the publication of 
 the same; perjuries, subornations, simulations, bribes for false swearmg; abrasion, rasure, and 
 interlineation of any rolls of the King’s Courts; false weights and measures, unlawful contracts, and 
 
 usury. There are certain exceptions, among which are murder on the highway, rape, forging of 
 Government paper money, and witchcraft. The pardon might be pleaded in any court, where it was 
 to be admitted as a complete answer to any charge prior to the date mentioned. 
 
 There is a phrase in the pardon granted to Sir Thomas which is omitted in the one granted 
 to his grandson,—“suspected;” and though the word may have been inserted merely as a matter of 
 form, it will doubtless be considered as at least recognising the existence of the general impression. 
 The following is the passage:—“Ac etiam omnes ct omnimodas homicid’, felon’, robber’, et accessar’ 
 eorundem. Ac etiam omnes et omnimodas escap’ et evasiones tam voluntar’ quam non voluntar’ ac 
 negligent’, quorumque predict’? murdratorum, homicid’, et felon’, aut accessar’ aut suspect’ eorundem.” 
 (And also all and all kinds of homicides, felonies, robberies, and accessories of the same. And also 
 all and all kinds of escapes and evasions, as well voluntarily as involuntarily and negligently, and 
 each of the aforesaid murders, homicides, and felonies, or accessories, or suspicions of the same.) 
 
 There are difficulties in the way of forming an absolute judgment on the merits of the case ; 
 but it does appear to us that a very strong degree of probability rests in favour of the opinion that 
 the poor cook’s head was cloven in twain, as charged in the libel. 
 
 If, in expressing this opinion, an erroneous conclusion have been arrived at, and if there have 
 been a failure of that charitable construction of actions which should be shown towards all men, we 
 can but reply that our desire has been to arrive at a proper decision, and that no feeling of prejudice 
 has been allowed to mingle in the formation of that judgment to which we have reluctantly come. 
 
 The following letter from Dugdale, “Blanch Lyon,” to Sir Simon Archer, dated June 10th, 1639, 
 shows that Sir Thomas was not on good terms with the great antiquary, and may, perhaps, in part 
 account for the History of the Family in the “Warwickshire” not beg more complete :— 
 
 “T was on Saturday eveninge wth Sr Rob. Fisher, and delivered unto him a copye of the letters patentes of 
 King Edward VI., confirmed by P’liament, touchinge the p’vilidges belonginge unto the officers of Armes, wherii I am 
 now interessed, as my Lord Marshall’s certificate weh I shewed him formerly doth testifye. Now, forasmuch as some of 
 my neighbours (p’tendinge a feare that my ease might be there burden) have urged the Deputye Leiftenantes herewth, 
 I was bold to intreate Sr Robert (whose well wishes to me I doubt not) to lett Sr Tho. Holte and the rest whom he 
 pleaseth, understande by what authoritye I clayme these imunities; and I shall take it for a great favour that you will 
 please to take notice thereof to Sr Robert, who will ther shew you the copye I delivered him. And I doubt not of their 
 wisdomes (beinge satisfyed fully therein) but that they will continue a p’portionable ease to the constablerye, forasmuch as 
 the King’s imunitye to us doth not intend a chardge on others in leiu thereof.” 
 
 Sir Thomas outlived all his children, with the e 
 December, 164 
 
 eption of Lady Shuckburgh. He died in 
 
 4, bemg buried on the 14th of that month, aged cighty-three. He was buried with 
 
27 
 
 his ancestors at Aston; a rich mural tablet, at the apex and base of which are placed shields 
 emblazoned with the numerous armorial bearings obtained by matrimonial alliances, being dedicated 
 to his memory. The inscription is as follows :— 
 
 H. 8. E. 
 
 Tomas Honrn, Eques et Baronettus, 
 Quibus titulis a Iacobo Imo. 
 Ob patriz amorem, vite integritatem, 
 Morum candorem, erga Principem fidem, 
 Erga pauperes liberalitatem, erga omnes justitiam, 
 Thsignitus est. 
 Flagrante bello civili, 
 E re sua familiari bis confi et decima parte semel proseripti, 
 Quicquid reliquit Fanatica Rabies 
 Caroli Imi. (cui Edyardus filius a cubiculis fuit) 
 Incarceratus fuit, in subsidium contulit. 
 Tandem vero Aides Astonianas nobili magnificentia extruxit. 
 Nec tamen egenis defuit, 
 Quibus hospitium pari munificentia vicinum condidit : 
 Eximia ingentis animi monumenta. 
 Cujus memorize alterum hoe monumentum 
 Non super vacaneum censuit 
 Carolus Holte, Baronettus, pronepos. 
 Duas habuit uxores, Gratiam, Gul. Bradbourne, 
 De Hogh, in Agro Derbiensi, arm., filiam et coheredem, 
 A qué quindenam suscepit sobolem. 
 Sed nullam superstitem preter Gratiam, Rich. Shukburghi, 
 De Shukburgh, in Agro Warwicensi, militis, uxorem: 
 Annam, Edy. Littletoni, de Pillerton, 
 In Agro Staffordiensi, Baronetti, filiam, 
 Quam sine prole reliquit viduam. 
 
 Altatis sue LXXXIIt. 
 
 Obijt anno Sal. Hum. mpotty. 
 
 (Here lies buried Sir THomas Honrn, Knight and Baronet, by which titles he was, on account of the love he bore to 
 his country, the integrity of his life, purity of his morals, fidelity to his Prince, liberality to the poor, and justice towards all, 
 honoured ‘by James ‘the First. During the raging of the civil war, although imprisoned, he contributed to the cause of 
 Charles the First (to whom his son Edward was chamberlain) from whatever fanatical fury had left him; his property 
 having been twice confiscated, and once taxed to the amount of one-tenth. Nevertheless, ‘he erected Aston Hall with a 
 noble magnificence; nor was he wanting towards the poor, for whom, with similar munificence, he built the neighbouring 
 hospital: both worthy monuments of his exalted mind. To whose memory it has not been thought vain to erect this 
 additional memorial, by Sir Charles Holte, Bs his great-grandson. He was twice married: First, £0 Grace, daughter and 
 co-he s of W sllbiew ‘Bradbourne, of Hough, in ike county of Derby, Esq., by whom he had fifteen children, of whom none 
 survived him except Grace, wife of Sir Richard Shukburgh, of Shukburgh, in the county of Warwick, Knight. Secondly, to 
 Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Littleton, of Pilerton, in the county of Stafford, Bart., whom he left a widow, without issue. 
 He died in the 88rd year of his age; in the year of human redemption 1654.) 
 
 A roll of parchment, 11 feet long by 6 inches wide, bemg “A true and perfect inventory of 
 all and singular the goods, cattells, and chattells of Sir Thomas Holte, late whilst hee lived of the 
 n, in the county of Warwick, Knight and Barronctt, deceased, taken 
 and priced the twentieth day of November, in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred 
 fiftie and fower, by Gilbert Littleton, John Walter, Robert Whitehall, Richard Martin, and Augustin 
 Walker,” still remains. The value of the furniture in the different apartments is very small, and 
 only to be accounted for on the supposition that the damage occasioned at the time of the assault 
 in 1643 was never repaired. A few items are subjoimed :— 
 
 parish of Aston-juxta-Birmingha1 
 
 a fh tik 
 In primis in the great hall the furniture there, priced at a8 28 oe 004 18 0 
 Item in the great Ee alr the furniture there, priced at 004 08 4 
 Item in the “chamber betweene the great stayres and open roome, and in the three 
 little roomes by the greate stayres, the goods and furniture there, priced at ... 004 10 O 
 Ttem in the winter parlor, the furniture there, priced at 016 11 8 
 Item in the best lodginge chamber and under chamber to the same, ‘the furniture 
 there, priced at ide ay 003 O1 8 
 Item in the second best lodginge chamber, the furniture there, priced ati 024 16 8 
 Item in the great dining roome and in the withdrawinge roome, the furniture there, 
 priced at 003 18) 4 
 Item in the galerie and space at Sir Thomas his chamber dore, the furniture there, 
 priced at fs Be 568 20 ab bee od Beh 006 10 0 
 Item in the best chamber over the hall, the inner chamber over the hall, and in the 
 middle roome over the hall, the furniture thereof, priced at 5. aes pil akl 
 Item in the greene Kittermister stuffe chamber, and in the other Kittermister 
 stuffe chamber, the furniture thereof, priced at : ; Ls 006 15 0 
 
28 
 
 The furniture in the kitchen, &c., was priced at £22 10s. 8d.; in the dry and wet larders, 25 8s. ; 
 in the wine and beer cellars, £7 1s. 8d.; and in the buttry and pantry, £24 14s. The linen was 
 valued at £48 11s.; and the wearing apparel, books, and ready money of the deceased, £600. The 
 “cattle, horses, mares, coltes, sheepe, swyne, and pullin of all sorts about the howse” were priced 
 at £301 16s. 8d.; the “corne of all sorts in the barnes, and hay,” £159; the waggons and 
 tumbrels, £16; and the contents of the saddle and coach houses and stable, £22 8s. 4d. The total 
 value was £1,631 15s. 6d.; and the inventory was proved the 2nd of April, 1655. 
 
 In addition to the account of Sir Thomas’s will in a previous page, it may be mentioned that 
 there was also a codicil. By the former, the real estates were devised to trustees for twenty-one 
 years, to pay certain legacies, and erect the alms-houses, but there is no devise over of the estate. 
 By the codicil the testator devises his manors of Erdington and Pipe to his grandson John and hig 
 heirs male, but subject to the trusts of the will, and payment of the legacies. Though John was 
 killed before his grandfather’s death, the codicil was not altered. 
 
 The alms-houses, which have been adverted to in a previous page, were not erected till the 
 year 1655-6. The following inscription over the centre of the building records their history :— 
 Tuis Atms Hovsr was BY THE CHA- 
 rity or Sr THomas How, tare 
 oF tHIs Touns & Covnty, Kyrenr 
 AnD Baronet, Dnconasep, PROVIDED 
 FOR AND APPOINTED TO BE BVILT, AND 
 WAS, IN ORDER THERETO, ACCORDINGLY 
 ERECTED BY HIS GRANDSONE AND 
 Herre, Sr Rosert Horr, Baronet, In YE 
 YEARE or ovr Lorp Gop 1655 & 56. 
 LAVS DEO. 
 
 And there they still remain. Time has stamped on their lineaments some traces of his flight, but 
 has left unimpaired their power to comfort and to bless. In these havens of rest, after the storms 
 of work-day life, an asylum is still to be found; and though the powerful Family under whose 
 sheltering auspices these humble dwellings nestled, has sunk into decay, yet they remain—a monument 
 more enduring than brass or marble could supply.* By a deed poll, dated June Ist, 1655, Sir Robert 
 confirmed his grandfather’s grant. 
 
 Edward Holte, the father of Sir Thomas, it was remarked in page 17, had three sons. The 
 second, Francis, resided in London, and is styled as of that city in his will dated July 16th, 1641. 
 He leaves to his good brother Sir Thomas, to his brother Robert, to his nephew Edward, and to his 
 niece Mrs. Elizabeth Holte, a gold ring each, that of Edward Holte being of the value of 15s. 
 The third, Robert, was in the commission of the peace for the county of Warwick, in 1639, 
 (14 Charles I.) He was the author of two works, dated respectively 1612 and 1640: the one ig a 
 collection of materials for a general geography; the other a biography of Scripture characters, with 
 their contemporaries, on a plan somewhat resembling that of Prideaux’s celebrated “Connections.” 
 Each work is in two thin volumes, and they are now in the library at Atherstone. In his will, 
 which is dated July, 1650, he is styled of Warwickshire. He leaves to his brother Sir Thomas 
 a gold ring, value 20s.; “and if he should die, to my nephew his heir, whose son he be;” he also 
 leaves legacies to Mis. Elizabeth Holte and Lady Shuckburgh. 
 
 On Christmas Eve, an amusement, of which the following is a description, was observed at the 
 Hall, and if not introduced in the life-time of the first Baronet, was kept up in hig day :— 
 
 “As soon as supper is over, a table is set in the hall; a brown loaf, with twenty silver threepences stuck on the top 
 of it, a tankard of ale, with pipes and tobacco; and the two oldest servants have chairs behind it, to sit as judges, if they 
 
 * Sir Aston Cokayn, author of the “Chain of Golden Poems,” wrote a poetical address to Sir William Dugdale, on 
 the publication of his “ Warwickshire,’ in which the following lines occur :— 
 
 Maugre the rage of war or time to come, 
 Aston shall flourish till the general doom ; 
 And the Holt’s progeny shall owe as much 
 Unto your lines, as him that made it such. 
 
29 
 
 please. The steward brings the servants, both men and women, by one at a time, covered with a winnow sheet, and lays 
 their right hand on the loaf, exposing no other part of the body; the oldest of the two judges guesses at the person, by 
 naming a name, then the you r judge, and lastly the oldest again. If they hit upon the rig a name, the steward leads 
 the person back again; but if they do not, he takes off the winnow sheet, and the person receives a threepence, makes a 
 low obeisance to the judges, but speaks not a word. | When the second servant was brought, the younger judge guessed 
 first and third, and this they did alternately, till all the money was given av Whatever servant had not slept in the 
 house the preceding night forfeited his right to the money. ‘No account is given of the origin a this strange custom, but 
 it has been practised ever since the F: amily settled there. When the money is gone, the servants have full liberty to dance, 
 sing, and go to bed when they please.’ 
 
 XVIT—Sir ROBERT HOLTE, the elder son of Edward, succeeded his grandfather. He 
 
 inherited the loyal feelings of his ancestors, and “did his best endeavours for the restoration of the 
 royal line.” In the year 1660 he was appointed High Sheriff for the county, the patent for that 
 
 office under the great seal, and the commission of Deputy Lord-Licutenant, of the same year, still 
 remaining. In the following year, he was elected member for the county,t and was one of the 
 Commissioners appointed to cause the Coventry city walls to be destroyed, he being present when 
 the demolition was effected, on the 22nd of July. On the 28th of February, in the same year, 
 the royal pardon was granted him, his only crime being that of having lived under the government 
 
 of Oliver Cromwell. These pardons, which were empty farces, calculated only to render the granter 
 contemptible, were bestowed in great profusion. One is mentioned, in Leicestershire, where three 
 baronets were grouped together. Sir Robert’s (which is im Mr. Bracebridge’s possession) is in a 
 beautifully neat hand, but full of contractions. The seal which was appended has been accidentally 
 broken, and the fragments alone remain. Humiliating, indeed, must have been the spectacle for 
 
 high-born English gentlemen, who had spent blood and treasure on behalf of the Stuarts, and whose 
 hearts had ever throbbed with loyalty to their cause, to stoop to receive pardons for bowing 
 to a stern necessity, before which he who affected to forgive them had been obliged to succumb. 
 3ut the silly show was gone through, and men who held the royal commission were solemnly pardoned 
 their rebellions, conspiracies, and treasons, and had their properties restored to them, which no 
 treason of theirs had ever forfeited. 
 
 In 1662, Sir Robert was again appointed Deputy Lord-Lieutenant, others being joined with 
 him in the commission; and in the same year a commission of the peace under the great seal was 
 also issued to him. In the following year, (1663,) we find a commission, signed “ Northampton, 
 Master of his Majesty’s Leash,” directed to him, authorising him to “take and seize greyhounds. 
 
 ee OY ’ 3) 5 erey ‘ 
 bracks, and chippets, and other dogs, for the use and disport of his Majesty, as in the time of King 
 
 ) Beet, S8; ES OYE 8 
 Henry VIII., Queen Elizabeth, King Edward VI., and King James, his Majesty’s grandfather.” 
 
 ay ’ p) co) ? co} i) WV to) 
 
 Sir Robert was twice married. His first wife was Jane, daughter of John, son of the first 
 Lord Brereton, of Brereton Hall, Cheshire. He wedded this lady about 1646, her portion being 
 £4,000. She was great aunt to Francis, the fifth and last Lord Brereton, who, dying without issue 
 in 1722, the noble Elizabethan mansion and large estates of the Breretons became the inheritance 
 of Sir Clobery Holte, the grandson of Jane, wife of Sir Robert. This estate remained in the hands 
 of the Family till the death of Sir Charles Holte, and, indeed, till the Act of Parliament for settlement 
 of the Holte and Bracebridge property, which was passed in 1817. Brereton Hall and Park were 
 leased by Sir Charles to Mr. Bracebridge, and there that gentleman and his family resided till 
 
 about 1814. 
 
 * Gentleman’s Magazine, February, 1795, p. 110. 
 
 + The following letter has reference to the entrance of the Dutch into the Medway and Thames, when, according to an 
 eye-witness quoted by Carte, the “consternation and confusion in the looks of all men” were greater than during the 
 Plague and the Fire :— ; 
 
 “Warwick, 5th July, 1667. 
 “ Bobsie, 
 “Provide your purse, and send it into the Chequer; the Dutch canot be beaten out without it. And lett me 
 knowe what time you thinke of going upp to London, that wee may meete before. I will bee there at the first sitting, 
 (God willing,) and so must every one that will doe good. My service to my best Sister, and all the Family. I am, 
 “Your undoubted friend, 
 For Sr Robert Holt, Bart., “B, Pucknrina. 
 At his howse at Aston, neare Burmingham.” 
 
30 
 
 Sir Robert’s union with his lady was not of long duration. She died in March, 1648, in 
 child-bed of her son Charles, afterwards third Baronet, and was buried in St. Clement’s Danes, 
 
 London. His second wife was Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Smith, Knight, of Hough, Cheshire, 
 and widow of George, son of Thomas Cotton, of Combermere, in the same county. By her he had 
 
 seven children: four sons and three daughters. 
 
 Sir Robert was on terms of intimacy with the celebrated Izaak Walton, and to him the Angler 
 dedicated his first separate edition of the life of Dr. Donne, in 1658. In nearly all the editions 
 of the great preacher’s life, this dedication has been omitted, though it has been, we believe, restored 
 in a late issue. The following is an extract :— 
 
 “To you, sir, do IT make mine addres for an umbrage and protection, and I make it with so much humble 
 boldnesse as to say *twere degenerous in you not to afford it. For, sir, Dr. Donne was so much a part of yourself as to 
 
 be incorporated into your Family by so noble a friendship, that I may say there was a marriage of souls betwixt him and 
 your reverend grandfather, (Dr. King,) who, in his life, was an angel of our once glorious Church, and now no common 
 
 star in heaven. And Dr. Donne’s love died not with him, but was doubled upon his heire, your beloved uncle, the Bishop 
 of Chichester, that lives in this froward generation to be an ornament to his calling. And this affection to him was by 
 Dr. Donne so testified in his life, that he then trusted him with the very secrets of his soul; and, at his death, with 
 
 what was dearest to him, even his fame, estate, and children. And you have yet a further title to what was Dr. Donne’s, 
 by that dear affection and friendship that was betwixt him and your parents, by which he entailed a love upon yourself, 
 even in your infancy, (Dr. Donne died March 31st, 1631,) which was encreased by the early testimonies of your growing 
 merits, and by them continued, till Dr. Donne put on immortality; and so this mortall was turned into a love that 
 cannot die.” 
 
 Again :— 
 
 “My desire is, that into whose hands soever this shall fall, is may to them be a testimony of my gratitude to 
 yourself and Family, who descended to such a degree of humility as to admit me into their friendship in the dayes of my 
 youth; and notwithstanding my many infirmities, have continued me in it till I have become grey-headed; and as Time 
 has added to my yeares, have still increased and multiplied their favours.” 
 
 This friendship, so honourable to both parties, arose from the circumstance of Walton having 
 been a parishioner of Dr. Donne, who was on terms of intimacy with Bishop Henry King. 
 
 Sir Robert appears to have disliked the Puritan Nonconformists. The following extract from 
 Baxter’s Life (edited by Sylvester, 1696, folio, lib. 1, part 2, p. 380, sec. 266) presents him in 
 the rather unenviable light of a persecutor:—‘ About the same time, Sir Robert Holt, a Knight of 
 Warwick 
 
 name, as preaching or praying seditiously, but not one syllable named that we said. And another 
 
 hire, near Birmingham, spake in the Parliament House against Mr. Calamy and me_ by 
 
 time he named me for my Holy Commonwealth.” Calamy also mentions Mr. Wilsby, the ejected 
 minister of Wombourn, as having been “much troubled” by Sir Robert. Strange, indeed, it was, 
 
 that sedition should be charged on men who had been royal chaplains, and had refused bishoprics 
 for conscience sake; and whose prayerful lives were the best refutation of so unjust a charge. 
 
 Sir Robert would appear to have been in straitened circumstances, in consequence of the losses 
 sustained by the Family in the civil war. In 1655 and 1658, he mortgaged several manors for the 
 sum of £5,000, a transaction that will be referred to hereafter. The papers relative to them are 
 in the British Museum Library, ticketed ‘“ 816.—M. 5.—81.—Holt—Papers relating to.” One of his 
 ereditors was named Prideaux, who obtained judgment im an action; and Sir Robert, being outlawed, 
 was arrested, and confined in the Fleet Prison. On the 16th of February, 1676, (the day after 
 the assembling of Parliament,) he communicated to the House by letter “that he was detained 
 prisoner in the Fleet, at the suit of Mr. Edmund Prideaux, and thereby hindered from attending 
 
 the service of the House.” A petition from Mr. Prideaux was also tendered and read, and, after a 
 debate, im which an adjournment to the following Monday was negatived by 154 to 143, the case 
 was referred to a Committee. On the 22nd of the same month, the Committee of Elections and 
 
 Privileges were ordered “to take the same into their consideration the first business this afternoon, 
 and to report the same, with their opmions thereon, to the House; and they are to search precedents 
 in the case.” Accordingly, on the 2nd of April, the Committee reported that they had agreed to 
 “two votes or resolves,” as follow :— 
 
31 
 
 “That it is the opinion of this Committee, that Sir Robert Holt, a member of this House, now prisoner in the Fleet, 
 and taken in execution, out of privilege of Parliament, be not discharged from his imprisonment, by virtue of the privilege 
 of Parliament. i 
 
 “That it be reported, that the outlawry after judgment is another good cause why Sir Robert Holt ought not to 
 
 be discharged by privilege of Parliament.” 
 
 On the question bemg put, the report was negatived by 122 to 97, and the following resolutions 
 were agreed to:— 
 
 “That Sir Robert Holt shall have the privilege of this House. 
 
 “That Sir Robert Holt be delivered out of the custody of the Warden of the Fleet, to attend the service of 
 this House. 
 
 “That Sir Robert Holt be delivered from such custody, by sending the Sergeant at Arms attending this House, 
 with the mace, to bring him to the service of this House.” 
 
 The matter does not appear, however, to have been settled, for, on the 22nd of March 
 following, a petition was presented from Mr. Prideaux, but as Sir Robert was not present, it was 
 ordered to be presented on the following Tuesday, and Sir Robert to have notice to attend. 
 Accordingly, on that day the “petition of Edmund Prideaux and Susannah his wife, complaining 
 against Sir Robert Holt,’ having been presented, Mr. Prideaux was called to the bar, and owned 
 the petition, whereupon Sir Robert, “standing up in his place, desired that he may have a copy of 
 the said petition, and some reasonable time given him to put in his answer thereto in writing,” which 
 being acceded to, ‘Monday after Easter week” was appointed for that purpose. On the 30th of 
 April, it was ordered that the answer should be put in by “Monday next.” No further entry 
 respecting the matter appears, so that arrangements were probably made for a settlement.* 
 
 Lady Holte was buried on the 18th of June, 1679; and Sir Robert on the 3rd of October, in 
 the same year, his age bemg about fifty-four. He was buried with his first wife. Strype, whose 
 edition of Stow was published in 1720, makes no mention of any monument to his memory, so that, 
 in all probability, one was not erected. 
 
 Edward Holte, the father of Sir Robert, had a younger son, John, a Gentleman Commoner of 
 Balliol College, Oxford, where he died, unmarried, October 23rd, 1 
 Parish Church there. Guillim thus narrates the accident that proved fatal to him:—‘The occasion 
 of his death was this: Coming on horseback from Hedington, near Oxon, there met him, on the 
 way called Smallman’s Cross, one Tho. Pelham, M.A., and Fellow of New Colledge, (sometime a 
 captain in the Parliament army,) both whom struggling for the way, Pelham unhors’d him; so that 
 his horse trampled on his breast and belly: He dy’d about three or four days after, of his wounds.”+ 
 
 3, and was buried in Magdalen 
 
 1e daughters were—Grace, married to George Hampson, M.D., a younger son of Sir Thomas 
 8 ) iss Westone , Jon 
 Hampson, Bart., of Taplow, Bucks; Hlhzabeth, to a gentleman named Duncombe, of Surrey, and 
 afterwards to a London merchant named Richbell; Letitia, to John Hugford, Esq.; and Catharine, 
 to —— Kittermister, and afterwards to Sir Edward Nevill, Knight, of Grove, Nottinghamshire. 
 The following reference to three of these ladies occurs in the will of Bishop Henry King :—“ Item, 
 I bequeath to my three neeces, Grace, Elizabeth, and Catherine, daughters to my eldest sister b 
 q/ y ) ’ 3) ’ 5 Ne 
 her first husband, Mr. Edward Holte, the somme of five pounds to each, entreating them with it to 
 buy some small remembrance of their godfather, who heartily blesseth them.” Probably Letitia 
 died before the Bishop’s will was made, so that her name could not of course be mentioned in it. 
 
 It has been remarked that Sir Robert’s children by his second wife were seven in number: four 
 sons and three daughters. Of the former, Ferdinando, and Thomas, buried December 21st, 1684, are 
 supposed to have died without issue. The third, Robert, was elected a Fellow of Magdalen College, 
 Oxford, when Dr. Hough was reinstated President, in 1688. He remained in the University till ‘his 
 
 death, in 1720. Several letters in his handwriting remain, addressed to his niece, Mrs. Foley, of 
 Stourbridge. One of them states that he has received an invitation from the Bishop of Worcester, 
 
 * Journals of the House of Commons, Vol. IX., pp. 384, 387, 411, 460, 461, 472. 
 + Guillim’s Heraldry, ed. 1722, folio, p. 75, (quoted from Anthony Wood.) 
 
32 
 (Dr. Hough,) to visit him at Hartlebury, and anticipates the pleasure with which the reverend writer 
 
 will meet his nicce. But a sad accident, detailed in the following letter from the Bishop, deprived 
 him of his life in an awfully sudden manner :— 
 
 “Sr,—It is with no small trouble I give you account of a sad accident that has befal’n us this day. Mr. Holte 
 bought a new horse on Monday or Tuesday “last, and, being desirous to make tryal of him this evening, he got pon his 
 back about five of ye clock, and rode him about leisurely in ye park; but it was not long before ye horse took an head, 
 and ran directly to ye stable, where, stopping short, his master’ fell from his back, and lay in appearance dead. Mr. Hector* 
 was in ye house, and blouded him immediately, and so soon as he could be gotten into his chamber, apply’d other remedies 
 proper to stop an inward bleeding which the fall had occasion’d; but all in vain, for about nine he dyed, and I dare say 
 will be lamented by all that knew him. I presume, Sr, you will direct Mr. Foley to order his funeral, with whom I 
 shall then discourse of other matters. 
 
 “T am, Sr, yr most obedient and most faithfull servant, 
 
 “Sept. ye 15th, 10 at night.” “Jo. Wrcorn. 
 
 A letter from Sir Charles to Mr. Foley, dated Baginton, September 16th, requests that gentleman 
 to have the corpse buried at Hartlebury, “considering yt his gross body cannot keep;” and also to 
 ascertain if there were a will. | Another letter from Sir Charles, also to Mr. Foley, dated the 21st, 
 says :— 
 
 “JT am much obliged to you for yr trouble you: have given yorself about my brother Holte’s unfortunat death. il 
 will send one over to wait on my Lord Bp., and beg leave he may be informed how accounts stand between his Lordship 
 and my brother. I presume, if I administer, I must have a valuation made of his personal estate, or ye court will not 
 allow of it. I desire yr advice in this, wherin you will oblige 
 
 “Yor affect. Father and humble servant.” 
 
 The complete indifference of Sir Charles, as evinced by his two letters, is painfully apparent. 
 The inventory amounted to £409, besides thirty-eight guineas and half;guineas, and some silver 
 
 medals. The original documents, from which these particulars are taken, are in the possession of 
 J. H. Dixon, Esq., of Oldswinford, whose courtesy in permitting the use of them we take this 
 opportunity of acknowledging. 
 
 Sir Robert’s fourth son, by his second wife, was Edward, described by Collins as living in 1684, 
 
 but of whom no further mention is made. A reference to him will be found in a later portion of 
 the work. The daughters were—Elizabeth, wife of William Hemings, of Worcester, a member 
 the Society of Friends, 1692; Anne, and Catherine. Collins makes a general remark that no 
 
 issue of any of the children by this marriage was surviving in 1714. 
 
 XVII.—Sir CHARLES HOLTE succeeded to the Family honours on the death of his father. 
 He was born on the 22nd of March, 1648, and spent the earlier part of life with his maternal 
 relatives. He studied for several years at Oxford, in which University he took the degrees of A.M. 
 and M.D. He married, August 5th, 1680, Anne, the elder daughter of Sir John Clobery, Knight, 
 of Bradstone, Devonshire, and of Winchester.t A memorial of Sir John remains at Atherstone, in 
 the form of a beautifully embossed silver salver, twenty-four inches in diameter, with his arms in the 
 
 centre. This is accompanied by six other pieces, of a like pattern, with the arms of Holte and 
 
 Clobery; so that probably the former was a marriage present to Sir Charles Holte, and the six latter 
 
 pieces added to it, immediately on his marriage, by his worthy father-in-law. 
 
 In 1682, Sir Charles was placed in the commission of the peace for Warwickshire; in 1683, 
 he was appointed Deputy Lord-Lieutenant; in 1684, he was again appointed to the same office; and 
 in 1685, was chosen member for the county. In the same year, he was again a Deputy Lord- 
 Lieutenant; and another commission, nominating him to the same office, was granted in 1686. We 
 
 find him to be one of the magistrates who allowed the scale of wages for the county of Warwick, 
 of all manner of artificers, appointed at the quarter sessions “‘uppon Tuesday next after the close of 
 
 Easter, in the six and thirtiethe year of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Charles the Second.” 
 
 * A Birmingham surgeon. 
 
 + Sir John, who was an intimate friend of General Monk, was knighted by Charles IT. on his arrival in London. He 
 married Ann, daughter of William Cranmer, grandson of Edmund, Archdeacon of Canterbury, who was brother of the 
 Archbishop. A. stately monument marks his grave in Winchester Cathedral. 
 
 { Archeologia, Vol. XI., p. 208. 
 
Q9 
 Fay) 
 
 Sir Charles is described, on his monument, as a man of letters 
 He is also stated to have been much devoted to the study of medicine, which he practised with great 
 
 and well beloved in his county. 
 
 success, restormg many to health, who, but for his humanity and skill, would have fallen a prey to 
 death. In addition, he compiled many notes on medical subjects, but his diffidence caused him to 
 commit them to the flames. Two of his papers—one “Of a disease caused by swallowing stones,” 
 and the other “Of a child that had its intestines, mesentery, &c., in the thorax”—were published 
 
 in the Philosophical Transactions, about the year 1699. He is further described as a kind and 
 indulgent. husband, a provident and loving parent, and a bright example of piety and charity. By 
 
 his prudence, he is stated to have repaired the breaches caused by the civil war, and to have left to 
 
 his descendants an estate, not merely restored, but greatly augmented. 
 
 ‘When Sir Charles succeeded to the Family estate, he found it greatly encumbered. His painful 
 position, in reference to a mortgage of his father’s, led him to present a petition to the House of 
 Lords for a private bill, which was acceded to, and the bill carried through its various stages, and 
 sent to the Commons. On the 11th of January, 1695-4, Sir Charles presented a petition to that 
 House, im which it is set forth 
 
 “That the petitioner’s father, in 1655 and 1658, mortgaged several manors to James Perrott 
 £5,000, and, as a ateral security, acknowledged a recognisance in Chancery for £8,000, which mort 
 were, in 1664, igned to Andrew Fountaine, Esq., for 00, as his own money. That, in 16 the executors of 
 John Coke, Hsq., claimed the said £5,000, as part of his sonal estate, placed out in Mr. Fountain’s name, in trust for 
 Mr. Coke, and, after ten years’ contest, and several hearings in the Exchequer, obtained a decree against Mr. Fountaine 
 for the said money, and that he should ign the said mortgage and recognisance to them, and decreed the said executors 
 to be executors in trust for Edward Coke, Esq., an infant now living. That Edward Coke obtained a decree, in Trinity 
 Term last, against the petitioner, to pay what was due on the said securities, by Michaelmas, 1694, or be foreclosed of 
 the equity of redemption. That Mr. Fountaine hath stood in contempt of the said decree for eleven years, and will not 
 assign the said mortgaged estate, but has received near £3,000 out of the rents thereof, and petitioner has been compelled 
 5,000 more for interest, and is desirous to pay what is due, and yet is like wholly to lose his estate, because he is 
 sell, and can have no remedy, as advised, by the present or otherwise than by Act of Parliament. And, 
 
 aying that leave may be given for the bringing in a Dill for divesting the said secur out of Andrew Fountaine, sq., 
 and others, and vesting the same in trustees, for raising and paying the money remaining due upon the said securities, 
 and assigning the residue of the estate, encumbered therewith, to the petitioner.” 
 
 gent., for securing 
 ge and recognisance 
 
 The subject was referred to a Committee, on whose report leave was given to bring in the bill, 
 which was read a first and second time. Petitions against the measure were presented from 
 Mr. Fountaine, (who asserted, that if it passed, he should lose a rent charge of £1,000 a year, and 
 his fortune with two wives, amounting to above £10,000,) and Mrs. Ann Gwavas, widow of William 
 
 Gwavas, who had been an executor of John Coke, and who claimed the property as devised under 
 Mr. Coke’s will. In this petition the assertion is made that “Mz. Fountein, haying, by surprise, 
 gotten the mortgage deeds of Sir R. Holt’s estate, set up a title thereto (for the £5,000) for himself.” 
 These petitions were referred to the Committee on the bill, who presented ‘a state of the case” to 
 
 the House. The following are the main features:—In or about June, 1664, Sir Robert Holte 
 mortgaged an estate of £700 per annum, to Fountaine, for £5,000. The dispute between Fountain, 
 
 Mis. Gwayas, and Coke, is as to the ownership of the mortgage money, and as to Sir Charles Holte, 
 his endeavour is only, upon payment of the money, to have his estate again. Mr. Coke claims as 
 heir of John Coke, to whom Founteine was only a trustee, and Gwavas an executor in trust; and 
 that his claim has been adjudged by a decree of the Exchequer Court, and affirmed, on appeal, by 
 the House of Lords. Mrs. Gwavas insists that her husband was not only an executor, but a devisce, 
 of the personal estate of John Coke, and though there was a decree in the Exchequer against her 
 view of the case, she might be relieved of it, and, therefore, her right ought to be saved by the bill. 
 Mr. Founteine contends that the money was paid by Gwavas, who was agent for both Founteine and 
 Coke; that the latter had given him several releases of all accounts and demands, and was privy to 
 his (Founteine’s) settling this mortgage money, among other things, as a provision for his wife and 
 children; boldly accuses both the Court of Exchequer and the House of Lords of injustice; and 
 srting that the bill will take away “the chiefest means he hath for the getting of 
 
 ” 
 
 concludes by a 
 
 the said mortgage money The report concludes as follows :— 
 
 “By the disputes of the several pretenders to the ownership of this money, it being uncertain, during the contest, 
 
34 
 
 who it belonged to, the debt swelled up to £12,083 13s. 4d.; and Sir Charles Holt, in pursuance of several orders of the 
 Court of Exchequer, hath paid £7,800, aud unless he pay the residue, viz., £4,189 9s. 8d., by Michaelmas next, he is, by the 
 decree of the Exchequer, to be foreclosed of his equity of redemption cf an estate of £700 per annum. For the ownership 
 
 of the mortgage money being, even in the last court of appeal, adjudged against Mr. Founteine, he cannot pay the money 
 to him; and, unless he p it to Mr. Coke, he is to lose his te: And yet, unless he has the estate, in law, out of 
 
 Mr. Founteine, he cannot raise the money by the estate, or settle his estate upon his wife and family.” 
 
 Appended were two resolutions that the passing of the bill would not prejudice the claims of 
 Founteine and Mrs. Gwavas; and the amendments were agreed to. However, on the question being 
 put, “That the bill, with the amendments, be engrossed,” it passed in the negative, so that the bill 
 was rejected.* Doubtless, an arrangement was made between the claimants, which led to this result, as 
 we cannot find any reason for supposing that any portion of the estates was alienated. The eulogy on 
 
 the monument—“ayitas possessiones heredi reliquerit, non modo in integrum restitutas, sed et multo 
 auctiores””—was indeed well deserved. 
 
 The Latin Bible of Sir Charles has the following entries, in his handwriting :— 
 
 “Augt. 5, 1680.—Marryed to Ann, ye eldest daughter of Sir John Clobery.” 
 
 “Aug. 19, 1681.—My eldest son was born abt. } past 4 in ye morning, and on ye 6th of 
 September he was christened at Aston Church, by Thomas Yardley, Vicar, by ye name of Clobery ; 
 his grandfather, Sir John Clobery, being one of his Godfathers, and Simon Ld. Digby ye other, his 
 Godmother, ye Lady Holte, second wife to his great great grandfather, Sir Thomas Holte, Knight and 
 Barronet.” 
 
 Then follows the like record of Ann, his second child, Sir John Bridgeman and Mrs, Wyrley, 
 and Lady Clobery, grandmother of the child, being sponsors. The register at Aston describes the 
 infant as having been born and baptized the same day, August 23rd, 1682; but the Latin Bible gives 
 the date of the christening as September 11th. , 
 
 Jane, the third child, was born November 10th, 1683, baptized November 12th, by the register, 
 but, by the Bible, christened November 26th, Sir John Wyrley and the Right Hon. the Lady Brereton 
 and Lady Puckermg being sponsors. 
 
 “Mary, my 4th child, was born on Thursday, about 3 o’c in the morn, being the 20th of 
 November, in the year 1684, and was christened on Monday, the 8 of December, in the Parish 
 Church of Aston, by Mr. Yardley; her Godfather being Mr. William Cranmer, my wive’s uncle, and 
 her Godmothers, my sister, Catherme Clobery, and Mary, the wife of Humfrey Jennens, Esq.” The 
 register gives the date of the baptism of this child as January Ist, 1684-5. 
 
 Charles, born February 28th, 1686, and christened March 16th. The register gives the date 
 of baptism, February 28th. 
 
 Susanna, born April 15th, 1688, christened May 2nd. 
 
 Katerma, or Catherme, born May 16th, 1689, christened May 81st. The register makes it 
 June 7th. 
 
 Francis, born February 8th, 1690, christened February 24th. 
 
 Celena, or Selena, born September 12th, and christened September 27th, 1693. 
 
 John, born December 24th, 1694, christened January 7th, 1694-5. 
 
 Diana, born August 8th, and christened August 25th, 1697. 
 
 Elizabeth, born November 16th, and christened December 5th, 1698. 
 
 The whole of the entries are in Sir Charles’s handwriting, with the names of the godfathers 
 and godmothers at full length. 
 
 By an indenture of January 10th, 1720, power was given to certain trustees to raise £10,000, 
 for the education and portion of the younger children of Sir Charles, should there be more than fov ee 
 
 * Journals of House of Commons, Vol. XJ., pp. 58, 55, 60, 66, 74, 75, 76, 110, 116, 121, 126, 180, 187, 138. 
 
39 
 
 if but four, to raise £8,000; if but one, two, or three, £6,000. This money was raised, and by a 
 deed of December 14th, 1723, an acknowledgment of receipt of the several amounts 
 
 yas signed by 
 the children of Sir Charles to their mother. 
 
 Sir Charles held no public appointment after the abdication of James Il., a circumstance which 
 tends to confirm the tradition that he was a Jacobite. His name, however, does not occur in the list 
 of non-jurors published in 1715, so that he must have taken the oath, probably soon after the crown 
 was settled on William and Mary. The words on his monument, “erga regem fides intemerata,” may, 
 perhaps, refer to his attachment to the House of Stuart. He took part, however, in the affairs of the 
 town of Birmingham, as his name appears among the defendants in the suit relative to the Free 
 School there. The Governors haying been induced to surrender to Charles II. the original charter 
 of Edward VI., a new one was granted, but some of the outed parties commenced proceedings against 
 Sir Charles and the other Governors holding office under the new charter. They were defeated, 
 however; but, carrying the case on appeal to the House of Lords, succeeded in obtaining the reversal 
 of the decree of the Court of Chancery, and the restoration of the original charter in 1690-1. 
 
 Sir Charles was in a declining state of health some years previous to hig decease, and the 
 letters of his lady and daughters constantly express their apprehensions on that subject. He died 
 on the loth of June, 1722, and was buried on the 18th of the same month, at Aston, a mural 
 monument to his memory, erected by his widow, bearing the following inscription :— 
 
 H.S. E. 
 Carotus Howe, 
 De Aston, in Agro Warwicensi, Baronettus, 
 Qui natus xxii die Martij, anno mpoxnvir, 
 Denatus est xv° Junti, mpcoxxr°. 
 Primarum nupsiarum filius, patrem habuit Robertum Holte, 
 Baronettum, matrem Janam Brereton, neptam Gulielmi Dni 
 Brereton, Baronis de Laughlin, in Regno Hibernia, 
 Cujus prenobili Familia teneram fere exequit xtatem, ubi amoris 
 Et in Deum et in Patriam, ijs imbutus est, Principijs quibus 
 Futurum erat, ut sequentis vite decursu splendido 
 Uteretur ab ijsdem nunquam desesseret. 
 Universitate Oxon. per complures Annos studijs vacavit, ubi 
 Magistratus in Artibus in Medicina Doctoratus suscepit gradus: huic 
 Facultati ideo potissimum incubuit, quod post sterne salutis curam 
 Hominibus ut: mum fore duxit confecto cruciatu xgrotantes 
 Sublevare per peritiam in re medicinali, medicamenta etiam egenis 
 Suppeditando, plurimos ad sanitatem reduxit qui morbis occubuerant, 
 Nisi corum inopie pariter ac adverse Valetudini pix subyenisset. 
 Multa quog. que in medicis ac phy: accuratissime 
 Notayit, penum locupletassent publicum, nisi 
 Modestia nimis injuriosa ea omnia 
 Igni devovisset. 
 Per antiqua e stirpe ortus, quum familia sue dignitati preesset, 
 Republic munia istuis modi viris deferri solita ita obivit, wt in 
 js fungendis, erga Ecclesiam Anglicanam pietas spectatissima, 
 intemerata, publice simul libertatis studium 
 i risq. exquisita et castissima 
 emper effulserint. 
 ali, ea tamen prudentia, rem 
 Familiarem gessit, ut avitas possessiones flagrante rebelione raptas, 
 Et vastatas ingentibus insuper quo regias partes defenderint, majorum 
 Impensis haud parum imminutas, heredi reliquerit non modo in 
 Integrum restitutas, sed et multo auctiores. 
 Blandissimus erat atq. indulgens conjux, Pater providus et 
 Amantissimus, lucidum pietatis et charitatis exemplar. 
 Dignus deniq. qui inter optimos viros 
 Jure merito, nec uno nomine, 
 Annumeretur. 
 M.S. 
 Monumentum hoe posuit 
 Vidua ejus Anna, filia primogenita et coheres 
 Johannis Clobery, 
 Wintoniensis, in comitatu Hantoniw, equitis, ex qua 
 Filios quatuor Filiasq. octo suscepit; horum 
 Filius natu maxim 
 Clob Holte, 
 Baronettus, titulum atque 
 Rem paternam 
 Possidet. 
 
 Hospitio usus est, per quam 
 
 8, 
 
36 
 
 (Here lieth buried Sir Charles Holte, of Aston, in the county of Warwick, Bart., who was born on the 22nd of 
 March, 1648, and departed this life the 15th of June, 1722. He was the son of Sir Robert Holte, Bart., by his first wife, 
 Jane Brereton, grand-daughter of William Lord Brereton, Baron of Laughlin, in the kingdom of Treland, im whose noble 
 family he spent a great part of his youth, and where he was imbued with those principles of love to God and his country, 
 which were to guide him in the splendid course xf his future life, and from which he never departed. He pursued his 
 studies, for several years, at the University of Oxford, w here he took the degrees of Master of and Doctor of Medicine. 
 He was the more strongly devoted to this pursuit, because, next to the ¢ of their eternal salvation, he considered it most 
 beneficial to his fellow-creatures, to relieve them from the anguish of bodily disease. By his skill in medical science, 
 and by supplying the poor with medicine, he restored many to health who would have fallen a prey to disease, had he not 
 charitably administered relief, both to their wants and infirmities. The public, also, would have been greatly enriched by 
 his writings on medical and philosophical subjects, had not his too scrupulous modesty doomed them to the flames. Sprung 
 from a very ancient family, and surpassing, in dignity, all his ancestors, he so ably discharged the duties of those state 
 offices which are usually confided to men of his rank and worth, that, in the performance of them, his marked attachment 
 to the Church of England, his unshaken fidelity to his Sovereign, his ardent love of liberty, and his pure and impartial 
 administration of justice, ever shone conspicuov He was remarkable for his hospitality, and yet conducted the affairs of his 
 household with so much prudence, that, notwithstanding the family estates had been much impaired during the flagrant 
 Rebellion, partly by the violence of plunderers, and partly by the liberal support his ancestors had rendered to the royal 
 party, he left them to his heir, not only restored to their former value, but also much augmented. He was a most tender 
 and indulgent husband, a prudent and affectionate father, a bright pattern of piety and charity, and, finally, worthy, on 
 
 more accounts than one, of being ranked amongst the best of men. This monument, sacred to his memory, was erected. 
 by his widow, Anne, eldest daughter and co-heir of Sir John Clobery, of Winchester, in the county of Hants, Knight, 
 
 by whom he had four sons and eight daughters. The eldest son, Sir Clobery Holte, Bart., possesses the title and 
 
 family estates.) 
 
 792 
 723. 
 
 Sir Charles’s will is very brief, being comprised in about six lines. It was proved in 1 
 All the personalty was left to his wife, who was appointed sole executrix. Lady Holte died in 
 February, 1737-8, aged eighty-nine. Her name will again occur in a subsequent portion of this 
 History. 
 
 The nameg of Sir Charles’s children have been already given. Of the younger sons, Charlies 
 was a member, as founder’s kin, of Magdalen College, in the University of Oxford, where he filled 
 the office of Proctor in 1715. The following extract, from an undated letter to Mr. Foley, refers 
 to him:—*“ About a week since, dear Charles went to finish his lecture at Oxon, deliver it up into 
 ye Vice-Chancellor’s hands, and make a compliment to the electors for their kindness to him.” He 
 took the degree of D.C.L. at Oxford, in or about 1720, when the like distinction was conferred on 
 his brother Clobery. By his will, proved January, 1724-5, he bequeathed £20 to Magdalen College, 
 and if he died at Oxford, £70 was to be expended on his funeral, but if elsewhere, his interment 
 was to be as private as possible. He died unmarried, in or about 1723. 
 
 g) 
 
 To Francis, Sir Charles’s third son, many references occur in the Foley correspondence. BY 
 his imprudent course of life, he had ruined his health and impaired his fortune. His father’s letters 
 show the alienation that had taken place. One, dated March 19th, 1719-20, says :— 
 
 “Deare Nanny, I received this letter this morning; and if your brother Frank will not take care to give Porter 
 some satisfactory answer to this debt, which is of long standing, he will be taken up in a small time.” 
 
 31st March, 1720:—‘I really doe not understand what you say of your brother Frank, yt he intends in a day 
 or two, to be at Aston. You further say yt you believe he had noe other thought than to beg your and my mother’s 
 advice for ye most proper way to settle his affz TI wish, deare Nanny, you would explain this to me, for I know 
 nothing of his affairs more than yt I have paid some hundred pounds to settle his affairs, to noe purpose. I will trouble 
 
 you noe further on this melancholy subject. Frank’s behavior and idle way of living has bin a great affliction to yer 
 mother and me. You and all persons may see to what a condition this young fellow has reduced himself by his way 
 of living.” iy 
 
 His sister Elizabeth thus writes:—“I am now concerned for him, because he is got in one 
 of his raking fitts. He went away last Thursday morning, and has not been heard of since. I pray 
 God he may not be picked up and sent to gaol.” The following (undated) shows deep sympathy :-— 
 
 “T think him, indeed, to have a great aversion to my father and mother, and that makes it very hard for any bod 
 to do him service with them, and I am certain they will never be brought to meddle in his affairs, and’ truly all T can eat: 
 of them is to relieve his nec ; and if we can keep him out of prison, he must be contented to take whatever ahey eS 
 good, or expect no further favours from them. I hear nothing as to what my brothers will do for him, nor indeed ie 
 they can do for him; and the only comfortable thought I now have, is that T have done my endeavour to keep him cat 
 of a gacl till the rest come home, and indeed I know it is to no purpose to do any more, unless the-debts be taken up. 
 for if-he can lye hid he’l be sued to an outlawry, and then both his person and his estate will be seized one e 
 
 A letter from Clobery, under date December 26th, (the year is not given, probably 1721,) 
 
 says :— 
 
 “T was with him all day yesterday, and thought him very ill. His chief complaints are a cough, and weakness 
 
on 
 oT 
 
 and lowness of spirits. * - My father seems not to apprehend him to be in great danger, and I heartily wish 
 he may not prove mistaken. As soon as I see what is likely to become of poor Frank, I dessigne to wait on you.” 
 He lingered till December, 1723, dyimg unmarried. By his will, dated February 12th, 1717, 
 and proved in January, 1724, he appoints his loving brother Clobery executor, to whom he bequeaths 
 his estates in the county of Southampton, to his sister Selena, “my emerald ring,” and the remainder, 
 ‘particularly an estate called Bowmers, in Castle Bromwich,” to his sisters Anne and Selena. 
 
 John, the fourth son, was of Christ Church College, Oxford, and attained the degree of LL.D. 
 He married Elizabeth, elder daughter of Thomas Legh, Esq., of Bank, Lancashire. She died at Sutton 
 Coldfield, May 16th, 1750, and was buried at Ripple. Doctor Holte, who had no issue, was Vicar 
 of Bishop’s Itchington, Warwickshire, September 18th, 1721; Rector of Ripple, Worcestershire, 
 November 21st, 1727; Archdeacon of Salop; and Domestie Chaplain to Dr. Hough, Bishop of 
 Worcester. Dr. Holte gave, by will, £20 to the poor of Ripple, the interest of which sum was to 
 be applied by his successors for the benefit and relief of the most deserving poor. He built, also, a 
 comfortable and substantial rectory house, to which reference is made in the inscription on his 
 monument. The Bishop of Worcester gave his license for the erection, on the 26th of April, 1729. 
 He died December 22nd, 1734, and was buried at Ripple, where a monument bearing the following 
 
 inscription is placed to his memory :— 
 Within this Church are deposited the Remains of 
 Joun Hotre, LL.D., 
 Who departed this life December 22, 1734. 
 He was son of Sir Charles Holte, 
 Baronet, of Aston, in the county of Warwick, and 
 Dame Ann, his Wife; by whom, after 
 a Prudent and Religious e bestowed on him in 
 his tender years, he was placed at Christ 
 Church College, in Oxford. 
 In this seat of Learning, by an eager application to 
 the most useful Studies, and a remarkable sweetness in 
 His Temper, he became dear to all who had the care 
 of his Education or the Happiness of his 
 Acquaintance. 
 Hence he was at length call’d forth to perform the 
 
 Offices of his ho 
 to the Vicaridge of 
 Warwick, then to 
 
 y Function, and was first presented 
 Bishop’s Itchington, in the County of 
 the Rectory of this Church, and after- 
 
 wards constituted Archdeacon of Salop, 
 Which several preferments he look’d upon as so 
 Many Calls and Occasions to do good, rather 
 than Opportunities of accumulating Riches. 
 
 Of this, the Hospitality he constantly used, his 
 Extensive Charities to the Poor, both during his 
 Life and at his Death, and the EHdifice he has raised 
 to the benefit of his Successors in this Rectory, 
 are evident and Particular Proofs. 
 
 He Married Elizabeth, Eldest Daughter 
 of Thomas Legh, Esqr., of Bank, in 
 the County Palatine of Lancaster, who, deeply 
 sensible of the constant and most tender affection 
 of her dear Husband towards her, and the 
 irreparable loss she has sustained in his Death, 
 Erected this monument to his memory. 
 
 On a flat stone in the chancel of Ripple Church is the following inscription :— 
 Here lyeth the body of 
 Joun Hours, LL.D., 
 Who died December 22nd, 1734, 
 Aged 40. 
 Here also lyes 
 The remains of Elizabeth, 
 Mentioned in the Monument above, 
 Relict of the late Dr. Holte, 
 to whom she was 
 a most aflectionate 
 and. faithful 
 Wife. 
 She departed this life May 16th, 1750, 
 Aged 47 
 
 * For copies of these inscriptions, as also for other information with reference to Dr. Holte, we are indebted to the 
 Rey. G. H. Clifton, Rector of Ripple, to whom, as algo to the Rey. A. P. Lovekin, Curate of Bishop’s Itchington, our 
 
 acknowledgments are due. 
 
38 
 
 Several letters of Dr. Holte’s still remain. They are all dated from college, and show him to 
 have been a man of a genial and hearty temperament, and possessed of strong common sense. His 
 correspondence presents him in a very favourable light. 
 
 Sir Charles’s elder daughter, Anne, married, January 27th, 1718-19, North Foley, Esq., of 
 Stourbridge; and the Foley papers and correspondence, in the possession of Mr. Dixon, reveal a state 
 of things painful in the extreme, and highly discreditable to Sir Charles. Shortly after the marriage, 
 Mr. Foley was called upon to pay debts contracted by his wife previous to marriage, which he 
 discharged, to prevent exposure, but communicated the circumstance to Sir Charles, expecting 
 reimbursement. The following extract of a letter, addressed to one of the young ladies by Mr. Foley, 
 also reveals another transaction not calculated to heal the breach :— 
 
 “The first day I waited upon Sir Charles Holte, when I had told him what my estate and debts were, he ask’d me 
 what fortune I expected. I told him I heard he would give each £3,000, or more. He said he could, in his present 
 circumstances, give but £2,500, and that there would be some difference in his daughters’ fortunes, and asked which I desired. 
 I told him I could not be particular, for I had only seen them that day at dinner;* but never heard more from him, but by 
 others, that my wife had money of her own; and after several is I wondered none of the family had ever mentioned it 
 to me, even when the writings were drawing. I then told my wife I heard she had money of her own. She said she had; 
 and (I) ask’d what hands it was in. She told me that it was in her father’s, viz. a bond of £600, gave her by her 
 grandmother, and another of £100, (I think,) gave her by her grandfather.” id = “T as much believed I should 
 have that money as marry, and was surprised very much, when J ask’d my wife, after I was married, to see the bond. She 
 told me that her father had made her bring the bond for £600, and deliver it to him, telling her that he had gave me 
 
 security for it. I told her if she had asked my advice, she should not have parted with it. She answered again,—how 
 could she help it? Mr. Burgh had given his opinion, in a case then depending in the family, that parents might do what 
 they pleased with their own children. I never heard of any condition that it was delivered upon. | When I was last at 
 
 Aston, upon my saying to Sir Charles I thought I had no need to ask anything about debts, when I heard my wife had 
 money of her own, he said he had told my wife that money must be part of her fortune; and if I had said it had been 
 delivered up upon a condition without my consent or privity, I believe I should have been charged with reflecting, though 
 
 that’s the least you pretend to make of it. That you may make no more doubts nor strained constructions on what I 
 write, I say, once for all, I will not pay any debts contracted before marriage, unless I can be forced to it.” 
 
 There is no date to this letter, but the last sentence, without doubt, refers to a demand made 
 on Mr. Foley for the sum of £140, on a bond of his wife’s. He paid a year’s interest, in the hope 
 that Sir Charles would discharge the debt, who refused; and, within little more than two months 
 after Mrs. Foley’s death, a bill was filed im chancery, at the suit of Joan Jorden, widow, of 
 Birmingham, against Mr. Foley. The latter put in a replication; but though no papers remain to 
 state the result, it is clear the husband would have to pay the debt. On the back of the brief is a 
 statement by the defendant’s attorney, (ex parte, of course,) from which the following extract ig 
 taken :— 
 
 “Sir Charles Holte was very severe, and did not allow his children sufficient supplies for necessaries. Defendant 
 had very good reasons to believe his late wife, by money borrowed, supplied herself, and assisted her fellows, (sisters.) 
 She only having £700 of her own liable to her debts, and the others, being entirely dependent, could give no security. 
 Defendant, when tradesmen gave him bills, when he had no previous notice of such demand, usually blamed his wite 
 for not discovering all her debts, and the occasion of contracting them, which she always refused, and endeavoured to 
 conceal them. Defendant paid tradesmen’s small bills rather than expose his wife, but applied to her father and family 
 about it; but when this bond debt and gross sum were demanded, his wife refusing to discover the reason of it, defendant 
 resolved openly to apply to Sir Charles and family to discharge it; but being unwilling, in the meantime, publicly to expose 
 the affair, paid the interest, and kept the blank bond, and with intent to be executed, in case he could receive satisfaction 
 or security from Sir Charles Holte or some of his late wife’s family, which they put off during her life, and when she 
 died, they refused, defendant being then deprived of any possibility of necessary discoveries, in order to a satisfaction from 
 any of them.” 
 
 The bond, it is stated, was not discovered till two years after the marriage, when Mis. Foley 
 was near her confinement, and her family thought there would be issue to inherit under the marriage 
 2 
 
 settlement. Mr. Foley paid debts contracted by his wife, for clothes and other necessaries, nearly 
 seven years before her marriage. One of his letters, dated March 3rd, 1721, enquires if Sir Charles 
 
 will pay the debts, and if not willing, asks, “May I be at liberty to give my reasons to the creditors 
 and all our friends why I refused to pay them? and assure you, that if Sir Charles thinks it for 
 the honour and interest of himself and family they should never be paid, I will make myself ag easy 
 as I can, under it.” The letter, however, does not appear to have effected the purpose intended. 
 
 * A tolerably convincing proof of Mr. Foley’s motives in selecting the elder daughter. The amount received by 
 him was £2,500. “ 
 
39 
 
 Many of the bills of this lady remain, but they all appear to have been paid long before the marriage, 
 and not one of those that caused so much unhappiness exists. We give two, as specimens :— 
 
 Noy. 14, 1707.—For making a diamond cross Ri oy, £1 10 0 
 June, 1708. For a diamond lockett ring Aug aud 1550 
 
 And ffor a ring, with a pearl and two garnetts O18 0 
 1709. Ffor mending her watch ... Be 8: 0 3 6 
 
 £3 14 6 
 
 Dee. 26, 1709.—For a ffeather muff NB an! it £00 14 00 
 For a box 60 oe sie Ee 00 00 10 
 
 Jan. 26. For a cherry cull’d embroidered handkerchief 00 17 00 
 For a pr of blk tabby sticht stays e 01 18 00 
 
 Feb. 6. For a pair of steel buckells and snappin .. 00 09 06 
 For a knot and a box... oe a 00 02 06 
 
 £4 1 10 
 
 Mrs. Foley was buried at Oldswinford, on the 26th of October, 1721. A resurrender of the 
 property on which her settlement was secured was made by her brother Clobery; and “an Inventory 
 of the goods that were Mrs. Anne Holt’s, before she married with North Ffoley, Esq.,” taken 
 May 12th, 1724, and amounting to £10 10s. 6d., is the last in the series of papers referring to this 
 lady, whose domestic happmess was so deeply embittered by the imprudences to which reference 
 has been made. 
 
 Jane, the second daughter, died, unmarried, at Bath, November 26th, 1718, and was buried at 
 Aston. Her will was proved in 1723. 
 
 Of Mary, the third daughter, more than a passing allusion is required. She lived nearly to 
 the age of seventy-five, and (probably from having survived all her sisters, except one) died possessed 
 of considerable property, which she bequeathed chiefly to her two nephews. ‘The last codicil of her 
 will, highly characteristic of a single lady of good family and independent means, of that period, is 
 dated October 17th, 1757. She says, “Also I give to my said nephew, (Sir Lister,) my cabinet, 
 which was King Charles the First’s, also my large Bible and Common Prayer Book, with the works 
 of the Whole Duty of Man, all in folio.” These are now in Mr. Bracebridge’s possession. And 
 again:—“To my sister Mackenzie, the sum of 100 pounds in money, also my worked bed and 
 hangings, in the room over the best parlour, also the chairs in the said room, and my India quilt, 
 also my set of dressing plate for a lady’s toy light.” After bestowing an annuity of £10, she 
 
 goes on :— 
 
 “Also I give and bequeath to my servant, Mary Audley, as a further reward for her faithful services for upwards 
 of thirty years, all my wearing apparel, of what nature and kind soever, together with, such of my household goods as follow, 
 to wit, all the furniture of my own lodging room, except the cabinet before mentioned, which is given to my nephew, 
 Sir Lister Holte, in lieu of which I give her the old cabinet with drawer standing in the chamber over the parlour. Also 
 I give the said Mary Audley all the furniture, chests, tables, and chairs, belonging to al the closets in or about my own 
 lodging room; also one long mahogany table, six chairs, the seats covered with crimson stuffed damask, one frame for pewter, 
 with drawers, standing in the laundry, twelve pewter dishes, five dozen pewter plates; also one-half of the kitchen utensils, 
 and half the brewing vessels in the brewhouse and cellars, and one-half of my household linen; one pair of standing 
 candlesticks, of French plate, and one hand candlestick, of silver, one nest, with three castors and cruets, one pair of salt 
 cellars, six silver spoons, six tea spoons, one preserving spoon, and any one of the beds in any of the garrets, with feather 
 bed and furniture belonging to it, which she shall choose, it being my desire that if the said ary Audley be my servant 
 at the time of my decease, to enable her to live comfortably, without being necessitated to seek for other s Also 
 I give and bequeath to my servant, Sarah Audley, an annuity of ten pounds, | £ * * also si : oy; 
 bed of green camlet, together with the feather bed and quilt, and eight chairs in the Hall; also one pair, of candlesticks, 
 of French plate, one pair of silver salt cellars, and one of the beds in the garrets. Also I give the said Sarah Audley 
 two pairs of sheets, two table cloths, and two dozen napkins. I give to whosoever shall be my cookmaid, and whoever 
 shall be my manservant, at my decease, five pounds in money. a ha sul The rest and residue of my estate, to 
 my nephew, Charles Holte.” 
 
 At the commencement of the will, she states:—‘‘I desire my body may be decently buried 
 in the side of the great chancel in Aston Church, belonging to Sir Lister Holte, Bart.” 
 
 A proof of the zealous loyalty of this lady, as well as of her assiduity, and great skill in female 
 accomplishments, exists in the tapestry worked by her, with the assistance of some of her sisters, 
 
 for the room in which King Charles slept, at Aston. This beautiful specimen of needlework long 
 
A() 
 
 hung on the walls where those who revered the memory of the hapless monarch had placed it, and 
 was removed from Aston to Atherstone, where it is still to be seen. It entirely covered the wall, 
 where not interrupted by the bed, the fire-place, and the windows. It is worked in cross-stitch, 
 and the brilliant colours are still fresh, being disposed with great taste. The chief design, which is 
 very bold, may be described as an orderly profusion of bright flowers, among which appear genii 
 bearing baskets of flowers; through an oval bocage heads and demi-figures appear, with, occasionally, 
 birds and grotesque masks. Round the whole is a rich wide border of varied flowers, amongst which, 
 at equal distances, are many tablets. These each contain a shield with the Holte arms, quartered 
 
 with some one quartering of the nine in the carpet to be presently described, alternating with a 
 view of some temple, lake, lodge, or grove, in the parks of Aston and Brereton. The principal 
 pieces are 9 feet 3 inches high, the one being 17 feet 10 inches wide, and the other, 11 feet 8 inches. 
 In the centres are medallions worked in tent-stitch. One of these medallions, which is 5 feet by 
 3 fect, contains an exact view of the front of Aston Hall; and the other, which is 4 feet 2 inches 
 by 3 feet 2 inches, contains a similar representation of Brereton Hall. ‘This great achievement of 
 female taste and industry bears the devotional inscription :— 
 
 “God be the Guide, and the work will abide.” 
 4 “Mary Holte, Spinster. Aged 60.—1744.” 
 
 The carpet, which is in cross-stitch, is 14 feet 6 inches by 8 fect 10 inches, and is ornamented. 
 with rich and varied groups and wreaths of large flowers, in every variety of bright colour and 
 tasteful contrast. In the centre is a medallion, 5 feet by 3 feet 8 inches, containing the Holte arms, 
 with nine quarterings, a baronet’s helme, and the Family crest (a squirrel proper) and motto. This 
 srved at Atherstone. A few letters written by this 
 
 exquisite specimen of female skill is also pr 
 lady remain, but they contain nothing worth extracting. 
 
 Susanna, the fourth daughter, died March Ist, 1700, in her twelfth year; and Katherine, the 
 fifth, was buried December 5th, 1696, aged seven years. Selena, the sixth, died unmarried, being 
 buried August 5th, 1727: her will was proved in November of the same year. The letters of this 
 young lady show that the laxity of manners brought in at the time of the Restoration was not 
 completely out of vogue in 1720. Lady Clobery, who had mixed much with the courtiers of the 
 time of Charles II., appears to have resided constantly at Aston about this time, and to her, probably 
 more than one of the young ladies were indebted for initiation into a freedom of language anything 
 but becoming female modesty. Diana, the seventh, died September 9th, and was buried September 12th, 
 1724, her will being proved June, 1726. A monument to her memory, at Aston, bears the following 
 
 beautiful imseription :— 
 In the Vault underneath is 
 Deposited 
 The body of Diana Hours, 
 ’ Daughter of Sr Charles Holte, Bart., and Dame Ann, 
 his Wife. 
 She was born on the 8th day of Augst, 
 In ye year of our Salvation 1696, 
 And haveing fought ye good fight, 
 Kept ye faith, and finisht ye course, 
 obtained eternal life, whereunto she was called 
 on ye 9th day of September, 17 
 In memory of 
 Whose exempl virtue, 
 and most dutifull and affectionate behavior to her parents, 
 Her afflicted Mother 
 caused this marble to be erected. 
 
 The eighth daughter of Six Charles was Elizabeth, who married Jas. Mackenzie, of Worcester, M.D. 
 She died a widow, in Scotland, in May, 1772. Her letters show her to have possessed a large fund 
 of playful irony, and much of her correspondence with Mr. Foley is of a keenly satirical character. 
 
 XIX.—Sm CLOBERY HOLTE succeeded his father im the Family honours. In Sir Charles 
 Holte’s Latin Bible, though not in his handwriting, is the following entry:—‘Clobery Holte, Esq., 
 
4] 
 
 son and heir of Sir Charles, was married 7th of July, 1719, to Barbara Lister, of Whitfield, 
 Northampton.” She was the daughter and heiress of Thomas Lister, Esq., who was cupbearer to 
 Queen Mary. In May, 1720, in consideration of the settlement of £2,000 made upon Miss Lister’s 
 marriage, the manor and advowson of Whitfield, with the manor and capital messuage of Overbury, 
 Northamptonshire, were conveyed to Sir Charles Holte; and in December, 1723, they were sold for 
 £13,000 to the Provost, Fellows, and Scholars of Worcester College, Oxford. By the death of 
 Lord Brereton, in 1722, the great estates of that family, in Cheshire, came imto possession of 
 
 oS 
 Clobery, but Colonel James Tyrrel, of Shotover, Oxfordshire, disputed his claim. The result of 
 the suit, in 1727, was in favour of Sir Clobery This gentleman did not live happily with his 
 
 lady, as the following glimpse into his private life, taken from a letter of Bishop Hough,} an intimate 
 friend of the Family, to Mrs. Knightley, and dated July 2nd, 1729, testifies :— 
 
 The Widow Lady Holte is now at Hartlebury, with her two grandsons, who are fine boys, 
 asi sensible, and well-behaved, and I wish poor Sir Clobery may long be happy in them; for I know no other 
 domestic comfort he is likely to enjoy. His estate is much increased, but he seems to have no pleasure in it, and his 
 lady (whom I am told he passionatel 2 
 
 ly loves) seldom is at home, or satisfied when she is there. 
 
 On the 24th of the same month, Sir Clobery was laid with his ancestors. He marked his 
 
 sense of his wife’s conduct by leaving her a legacy of only £10; his personalty was to be equally 
 divided between his two sons; to whom “his honoured mother,’ Dame Anne Holte, was appointed 
 guardian, and in the event of her death before they became of age, she was invested with power to 
 name a successor. His will was proved on the 2nd of August, 1729. It has been already stated 
 that he was a D.C.L. of Oxford. His few letters remaining show him to have been a kind-hearted 
 
 man, and worthy of every honour that could be paid him. He never took any part in public affairs, 
 having a strong sympathy for the Jacobite cause. 
 
 Of the affection of Lady Holte for her grandsons, the following is given as a proof. It is an 
 extract from a letter by the Bishop to Mrs. Knightley, dated March 22nd, 1730-1, (page 290) :— 
 
 “Towards the end of the last summer, the smallpox came into this neighbourhood. 
 fatal in some families, and Lady Holte fetched her grandchildren from this school, (Hartlebury, 
 Christma: nt them hither again, when we thought the disease had taken leave of us; but it is broke out a 
 or three ho and on Saturday her coach returned for the young gentlemen. I cannot blame her Ladyship’s tenderness ; 
 but the children were desirous of staying here, and had no apprehensions of the distemper; and perhaps it were better 
 for them to have taken their chance now, than when they were grown up.” 
 
 An extract from an indenture, dated July 29th and 30th, 1735, made by Dame Anne Holte, 
 shows the opinion she held of her daughter-in-law, Lady Barbara, who had married, as her second 
 husband, William Brinker, Esq. Certain property, at Lapworth and other places, was assigned to 
 the Rey. Strensham Master, Vicar of Aston, and others, 
 
 Jpon trust that he or they should permit the said Sir Lister Holte (he was then fifteen y of age) and his 
 assigns to receive the rents and profits of the said trust estate during so long time of the said term of ninety-nine years 
 as the said Sir Lister Holte should not permit the said Barbara, wife of the said William Brinker, to reside for more 
 than seven days successively, or for a longer time than fourteen days within 365 days, in the mansion hous lled 
 Aston Hall, or in any other house whereof the said Sir Lister Holte then was or thereafter should be seized or possessed, 
 nor with the said Sir Lister Holte at any other place. 
 
 After the commencement of any such residence, the rents and profits were to revert to Charles ; 
 
 in default, to Mary Holte; and after her decease, to Sir Lister and his assigns. This clause, in 
 so direct contravention of the fifth commandment, “Honour thy father and thy mother,” can never be 
 too strongly condemned. Dame Anne, though she reyoked several parts of the imdenture, never 
 abrogated the clause just quoted. She was buried at Aston, February 6th, 1737-8. Her will is 
 dated August Ist, 1735, and was proved at Canterbury, March 16th, 1737-8 She also bequeathed 
 
 * The following is an extract from a letter of Bishop Hough’s to Lady Kaye, dated April 13th, 1727 :-—“*Madam, I 
 have deferred my humble thanks for your Ladyship’s last letter longer than I should otherwise have done, that Mr. Byr che 
 might have the honour of presenting it; who is called up to Westminster Hall, upon a great trial at law betwixt 
 Sir Clobery Holte and Colonel Tyrrel, about the Brereton estate. The jury is to co + of Staffordshire gentlemen, and 
 he could not obtain to be excused from being one.’ Colonel Tyrrel was, subsequently, a Lieutenant-General, and Governor 
 of Gravesend and Tilbury Fort. 
 
 + Wilmot’s Life of Bishop Hough, p. 276 
 
49 
 
 £400 for the purchase of an estate, the rents of which were to be divided in bread and clothes 
 among poor parishioners, but the money was never invested. £20 were paid annually by Mr. Legge, 
 while in possession of the Hall, and afterwards by Mr. Digby, the proceeds being applied for the 
 benefit of the alms-people. Mrs. Walter Henry Bracebridge, who inherits, by will of Mr. Digby, 
 the Erdington estate, ‘“‘also contributes to the comforts of the alms-people in the same manner and 
 to the same amount.” (Commissioners’ Reports.) We believe that to this lady is also conceded the 
 nomination of the inmates. By a reference in the will, it would appear that Duddeston Hall was 
 used by Lady Holte as a residence, up to the date of her death. 
 
 The portrait of Lady Barbara, as already given, is drawn from Bishop Hough’s letters, whose 
 
 information would be derived from Lady Anne. They are corroborated, however, by Sir Clobery’s 
 leaving his wife only £10, and appoimting his mother guardian of his two sons. The extract from 
 
 the deed of 1735, executed by Lady Anne, also affords confirmation. But her few letters still in 
 existence (written in a beautifully neat and clear hand) show Lady Barbara to have been a person 
 of so highly cultivated a taste and refined a mind, and display so deep a feeling of regard for her 
 husband, that we feel compelled to hesitate before accepting the conclusion the circumstances alluded 
 to would imply. That her manners and sentiments would be distasteful to her mother-in-law may 
 readily be inferred, from the circumstance of her father haying been in the court of William and 
 Mary, and, therefore, not only more correct in his morals than a courtier of the time of Charles lle, 
 but also more fayourably inclined to the principles of religious liberty. The strong bias displayed 
 by Lady Anne must cause her testimony to be received with caution, while the letters of Lady 
 
 Barbara, written without reference to anything beyond the passing events of the day, are not open 
 , 8 5 Ys 18 
 to any such objection. 
 
 XX.—Sir LISTER HOLTE succeeded his father. From an entry in his grandfather’s Latin 
 Bible, it appears he was born on the 26th of April, (no year is stated,) and from the register, that 
 he was baptized on the 28th of the same month, 1720. The following entry respecting his brother 
 also occurs :—‘‘Charles, the second, was born 24 Noy., 1721; his Godfathers, the Rey. Father in 
 God, John Hough, Ld. Bishop of Worcester, Will. Bromley, of Bagington, Esq., and Mrs. Cartwright, 
 wife of Tho. Cartwright, of Aynho, Northampton, Esq.” The entry is not in the handwriting of 
 Sir Charles. 
 
 Sir Lister and his brother were, as boys and young men, devotedly attached to each other. 
 They were at school together when young, and afterwards studied at Magdalen College, Oxford ; 
 and, for years, were scarcely ever separated. One of Bishop Hough’s letters, (p. 229,) dated 
 February 11th, 1737-8, addressed to Lady Lewisham, refers to Sir Lister, and shows the affection, 
 strong in death, entertained by his grandmother :— 
 
 “The widow Lady Holte died on Tuesday last, and, I am told, has enga 
 of the Aston Family, as far as he will please to concern himself in them. er Holte is now as much master of his 
 estate as a gentleman under age can be. He is eighteen, and lives at Oxford in a very respectable manner. I take 
 his lands to be not less than £4,000 per annum; he is = be really y greeable, and if Lord Dartmouth 
 thinks fit to bestow his daughter upon him, everybody in that neighbourhood thinks it may be convenient, and a happy 
 match on both sides.” 
 
 on 
 
 d the Earl of Dartmouth in the affairs 
 
 The articles of agreement for marriage with the lady referred to—Lady Anne Legge—are dated 
 October 5th, 1739, but, as Sir Lister was not of age, no settlement could be made ; it yas agreed, 
 however, that when he attained his majority he should settle a jointure of £1,500 on his lady, her 
 fortune being £6,000; but no settlement was ever made, the lamented death of the young wife 
 obviating the neces 
 
 sity for one. The marriage was solemnised in the month ‘of October, 1739. She 
 died at the end of June, 1740, and was buried at Aston on the 2nd of July. Worthy Bishop Hough, 
 in a letter to Lady Kaye, (p. 241,) thus refers to this melancholy event :— 
 
 “You are troubled, Madam, for the loss of Lady Ann Holte, and I believe so young a person could not be more 
 lly deplored than she has been, but she is happier than the best of her friends can wish her; it is only the 
 of human nature, in spite of their judgments, that moves their passions on her account. Poor Sir Lister is 
 
 univ 
 weakn 
 
 the object, the only proper object, of our pity! for T really think there is not a more sorrowful widower than himself. 
 
43 
 
 He was, to my knowledge, a true lover before marriage; and as the lady’s good qualities opened upon him, they heightened 
 his esteem; every day discovered something that was a new cause of endearment; and to be unexpectedly deprived of all 
 
 at once, is a trial too great for a young philosopher. Indeed, I am extremely concerned for him: his relations are 
 apprehensive his present situation may make too deep impression upon his fancy, and think it not adyisable for him to 
 continue in the melancholy scene. I am by no means a friend to those excursions that our nobility and gentry make 
 
 into foreign countries, at their first setting out in the world; but, upon this occasion, I think it is convenient for a 
 gentleman to go from home; and when he mourns in good earnest, it is well if any place can give him ease.” 
 
 Sir Lister early mingled in the political world. On the 25th of June, 1741, he was elected 
 Member of Parliament for the city of Lichfield. In the same year he purchased the market tolls, 
 the property of the Corporation, and gave them for the common benefit of the city. He also 
 contributed towards the erection of a market house.* His liberality, however, was not duly 
 appreciated, for at the next election, in August, 1747, he was rejected by a majority of thirty-five 
 votes, the successful candidates being—Gower, 278; Anson, 272; and the unsuccessful—Holte, 237 ; 
 
 Vernon, 229. 
 
 Sir Lister, about the middle of July, 1742, married Mary, the younger daughter of Sir John 
 Harpur, Bart., of Calke, Derbyshire; she is described by a local paper of the day as “a lady of 
 great fortune, and possessed of all the valuable accomplishments that adorn her sex.’+ From a deed, 
 dated July 16th and 17th, we find that her fortune was £10,000, and £2,000 additional on the death 
 of her mother; that her jointure was £1,000 per annum; and there was a proviso, that if she died 
 
 before Sir Lister, he might charge the property burdened with her jointure with £400 per annum 
 for another wife. Some difficulties arose in the course of making this settlement, and Charles Holte 
 came forward to remoye the obstacles that were in the way, and at once proffered his consent to any 
 
 fresh settlement of the Family estate that might be considered necessary. The deed for this purpose 
 is dated June 30th, 1742, and is briefly as follows:—By indenture between Sir Lister, of the first 
 part; Richard Bannister, of St. Dunstan in the West, London, gentleman, and Francis Musson, of 
 the parish of St. Giles, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, gentleman, of the second part; and William 
 Noel, of the Inner Temple, London, Hsq., and John Eardley Wilmott, of the Inner Temple, London, 
 Esq., of the third part; it is witnessed that for the “docking, cutting off, and barring of all intails 
 and estates tail” theretofore made or limited of the several manors and hereditaments thereinafter 
 mentioned, and of all reversions and remainders thereon dependent or expectant, and also in 
 consideration of the sum of 10s., the said Sir Lister Holte did grant, bargain, and sell unto the said 
 Richard Bannister and Francis Musson, their heirs and assigns, the estates named in the indenture, 
 to hold the said manors, hereditaments, and premises to the said Richard Bannister and Francis 
 
 Musson, their heirs and assigns, for ever, to their only proper use and behoof, for ever, to the intent 
 and purpose that they might be and become perfect tenants of the immediate freehold and inheritance 
 of all and every the premises, until a good and perfect common recovery, with double voucher, might 
 be perfected of the said manors, hereditaments, and other premises, in which the said William Noel 
 and J. E. Wilmott should be demandants, the said Richard Bannister and Francis Musson tenants, 
 and the said Sir Lister Holte vouchee, who should vouch the common voucher. Declaration that 
 
 immediately after such common recovery should be perfected of the premises, as aforesaid, the said 
 common recovery and the execution thereof, and the recited indenture, should enure to the only proper 
 use and behoof of Sir Lister, his heirs and assigns, for ever, and to and for no other use, intent, or 
 purpose whatsoever. The deed was attested by two witnesses as to the execution by Sir Lister, 
 and Messrs. Bannister, Musson, and Noel, and by one witness as to the execution by Mr. Wilmott. 
 It was also enrolled in the Common Pleas, (Roll 6,) in Trinity Term, 16 Geo. 2, (1742;) and in 
 the same term there was an exemplification of recovery, Noel and Wilmott beg demandants, Bannister 
 and Musson tenants, and Sir Lister first voucher, who vouched over the common youchee. 
 
 er, 1741, Sir Lister Holt, Batt., one of the Members of Parliament for the city, gave £500 to the 
 Corporation, ng that £400 of that sum should be applied to exonerate the markets from toll, and that the remaining 
 £100 should be applied towards rebuilding, altering, or making additions to the Town Hall. It was therefore ordered at 
 
 Common Hall, October 27th, ‘That this city shall, from Christmas next, be discharged from all tolls whatsoever upon 
 market days, except pickage.’’”"—Harwood’s Lichfield, p. 356. 
 
 } Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, July 26th, 1742. 
 
44 
 
 Mr. Hutton, in his brief allusion to the Family, speaks of Sir Lister having starved his brother 
 into compliance, and of having wantonly cut off the entail, and given away the estate; and, in 
 apostrophise him from the tomb, adds, “The ungenerous attorney, instead 
 
 making Sir Lister’s father 
 of making your absurd will, ought to have ap ised you of our sentiments, which exactly coincide 
 with those of the world, or how could the tale affect a stranger?” An attention to facts and dates 
 will show Mr. Hutton’s errors. Charles was born November 24th, 1721; the deed was dated 
 June 30th, 1742, before he had attained his majority.  Conseq uently, he could not do any legal act, 
 
 however willing he might be to do so. And as to being “starved into compliance,” under his 
 father’s marriage settlement he was heir to £4,000, and to £4,000 more left him by his grandmother, 
 who was entitled to raise that sum should she survive her husband, which she did, the indenture 
 being dated January 10th, 1720. The same lady also bequeathed to him a farm at Lapworth, worth 
 
 £104 per annum: and he also received additional property under her will, as well as having expectations 
 ) d to} at 
 ssed of a considerable fortune, which ultimately came to her two 
 
 from his aunt Mary, who was po 
 
 nephews, in 1758; so that had the force spoken of been used, he would, besides his own resources, 
 
 have received powerful assistance from his aunt, in resisting it. The truth is that Mr. Hutton has 
 > 3 as 
 proceeded on the assumption that the entail was cut off in 1769, and has confounded events which 
 
 did oceur about that time with the abrogation of the entail, and has thus gone astray himself, and 
 misled his readers likewise. Great injustice has also thus been done to the character of Sir Lister, 
 in ascribing to him the application of improper means which he never resorted to. The brothers 
 continued on the most affectionate terms, and this, too, shows the incorrectness of the statement. 
 
 In 1745, when the great grandson of him who had been received with such distinguished 
 honour at Aston, a century before, was in full retreat northwards, Sir Lister was so zealous in 
 furnishing horses to pursue him, that he supplied 250 from his own stables and parks; and to so 
 
 ereat an excess did his loyalty run, that he even sent his own carriage horses. His zeal 
 would, perhaps, have shone to more advantage, had he accompanied his stud. The date of this 
 
 chivalrous transaction was Sunday, December 8th, and was, as it richly deserved to be, chronicled 
 
 in a Gazette extraordinary. 
 
 In 1755, Charles Holte married Ann, the daughter of Pudsey Jesson, Esq., of Langley, 
 Warwickshire, the articles of marriage being dated May 19th, and the marriage took place the same 
 day. Sir Lister, however, had previously been called to part with his second wife, she having been 
 buried at Aston, July 25th, 1752. His domestic afflictions increased his yearning towards his faithful 
 
 and tender brother, who loved him with an affection as pure and disinterested as one relative could feel 
 for another; and, with a view to promote his brother’s happiness, Charles, entirely regardless of his 
 y, howeve 
 
 own pecuniary prospects, recommended a third marriage. Unfortunatel he did not approve 
 
 of the lady selected—Sarah, the younger daughter of Samuel Newton, Esq., of King’s Bromley, 
 Staffordshire. The articles of agreement for marriage were dated June 20th, 1755, Miss Newton’s 
 fortune being £2,000 ; iage took place in July. By an indenture of lease and release, 
 dated July 19th and 20th, 1756, Sir Lister settled an annuity on his wife of £700. 
 
 and the mar 
 
 The characters of Lady Holte and her sister-in-law were not congenial. The former was 
 haughty, cold, and selfish; and the high spirit and keen wit of the latter could ill brook the 
 
 assumption of superiority indulged in by Lady Holte. The foundation of discontent being thus laid, 
 
 an open quarrel soon ensued, the effects of which speedily became apparent. By an indenture of 
 May 10th and 11th, 1758, Sir Lister took adyantage of the power conferred on him by the deed 
 of June 30th, 1742, and made a settlement of his estate by which his mfant niece was cut off from 
 
 any participation therein. The estates were settled, first, to Sir Lister, and his heirs male; in default, 
 to Charles, 
 
 in default, to Lewis Bagot, Esq., son of Sir William Bagot, of Blithfield, with remainder to his first 
 
 his brother, and his assigns, for life with remainder to the first and other sons of Charles; 
 
 and other sons, in tail male; in default, to Heneage Legge, Esq., with like remainders; and in default, 
 
45 
 
 to Wriothesley Digby, Esq., with like remainders; and, in default of issue to all these, with remainder 
 to his own right heirs for ever. There was also a proviso to Mr. Charles Holte, to grant an annuity 
 to his wife of £200, as an addition to the jointure already made by him; and, in the event of his 
 surviving, and marrying a second time, power was given to grant such wife an annuity of £700. 
 There was also a proviso empowering him to raise £10,000 for portions for his female or younger 
 children. 
 
 But, though Sir Lister had been induced to make this unjust disposition, the affection of more 
 than thirty years’ duration between himself and his brother was not eradicated. Charles resided at 
 Coleshill Hall, only ten miles from Aston, and occasionally also at Erdington Hall, belonging to the 
 Family estate, only a mile distant; and so fond was Sir Lister of his brother’s company, that he 
 exacted of him, when at Erdington, to spend his evenings at Aston; and he was in the habit of 
 entering the dining room when Lady Holte withdrew. 
 
 After his rejection by the electors of Lichfield, in 1747, Sir Lister does not appear to have 
 taken a prominent part in public affairs, and he is only found to have occupied one official position — 
 that of High Sheriff of Cheshire, in 1767. The indenture made by him, with John Wilson, 
 gentleman, of Sandbach, the Under Sheriff, is still preserved at Atherstone. As years and infirmities 
 increased,* Sir Lister (though not an old man) yielded himself more and more to the influence and 
 
 management of his wife. Being advised by his physicians to visit Bath for his health, he there 
 spent a considerable portion of his time. At this period, there is every reason to believe letters 
 
 from his brother were withheld from him, and all kindly intercourse was gradually broken off. The 
 two last letters from Sir Lister and his brother are of a very painful character, and show that the former 
 was then entirely alienated from the earthly relative who loved him best, and coldly, and, indeed, 
 reproachfully, refused him pecuniary assistance.t The following letters closed the communication for 
 ever between the two branches of the Family. The first is from Miss Newton, the sister of Lady 
 Holte, to Mrs. Holte: we copy from the original :— 
 
 “Dear Mapam,—I have received your favour, which needed no apology, for was it in my power I should with 
 great pleasure do you any service I could. I have communicated the contents of your letter to Sir Lister and Lady Holte: 
 they bid me say, that as you so well know the reason of the shyness you complain of, they think all explanations unnecessary, 
 and are determined not to make any alteration in the present situation of affairs. This subject is too disagreeable to 
 dwell upon any longer, so will conclude myself, 
 
 “Madam, your most obedient servant, 
 “Ei. Newron. 
 “Bath, May ye 8th, 1769.” 
 
 To this epistle Mrs. Holte sent the following emphatic reply. Our copy is from the original 
 draft, in which one or two insertions and erasures by another hand, probably that of her husband, 
 oceur. The letter is undated :— 
 
 “Dar Mapam,—Your obliging letter demands my most sincere thanks, both for the trouble you have been so good 
 to take, and the desire you express to serve me if it was in your power. All that remains for me is to lament that I 
 have, it seems, offended past forgiveness, and that an intercourse of even distant civilities cannot be restored. I must, 
 in justice to myself, and duty to my husband and child, protest to you and all the world, was it necessary, as I mean 
 to answer it to the Almighty at that day when every secret shall be discovered, that I do not know, or even guess, wherein I 
 have offended Sir Lister and Lady Holte. That they may never experience the want of that justice they deny to me 
 is the sincere wish of, 
 
 “Madam, your obliged and obedient servant, 
 “Ann Hoxtn.” 
 
 More than fourscore years have elapsed since these letters were written, and yet the melancholy 
 interest attaching to them, as snapping the last lmk of the chain, only increases as time rolls on. 
 The solemn asseveration of Mrs. Holte, and the final sentence of her affecting letter, are worthy of 
 one whose high spirit bore her so bravely through her numerous trials. 
 
 * In his curious and unpublished work, entitled “Memorandums from Memory: all trifles, and of ancient date,” 
 Hutton gives the following :—“ November 10, 1769.—Watched all night with John Ryland, Esq. he having broke his 
 
 thigh the 7th. Dr. Parrott remarked ‘that Sir Lister Holte was not the man he used to be.’ I was on the point of 
 asking, but durst not, If he was one of his body guards.” 
 
 + This is the fact referred to by Hutton, in his reference to the entail. 
 
46 
 
 On the 11th of October, 1769, the indenture of the 10th and 11th of May, 1758, was revoked, 
 and the revocation is endorsed on the latter deed. On the day following the revocation, (12th October, ) 
 Sir Lister made his will. To his wife he left Aston Hall and manor for life, with an additional 
 annuity of £800, his furniture, (except the books,) plate, jewels, &c., also for life, with remainder 
 to his brother; all his ready money, the fwmiture of certain rooms, horses, farm stock, wine, &c., 
 with £1,000 in money, to Lady Holte absolutely; the books and other personalty to Charles, 
 his brother, after his debts, funeral expenses, and a year’s wages to his servants, should have been 
 paid. The real estate is then left to his brother for life, subject to payment of Lady Holte’s annuity, 
 and liquidation of any deficiency in the personal estate for payment of debts. In default of male 
 issue to Sir Charles, the estate was to revert to Mr. Legge, and his heirs; in default, to Mr. Bagot; 
 in default, to Mr. Digby; and in default, to the heirs general. There were also provisoes as to 
 the annuity for Sir Charles’s wife, and portions for his female or younger children, as in the indenture 
 of 1758. The executors were Lady Sarah Holte, John Newton, Esq., her brother, and Fettiplace 
 Nott, Esq. A codicil, leaving a few legacies, was added on the 6th of April, and Sir Lister died 
 about eight o’clock in the evening of Sunday, the 8th of April, 1770, at Aston Hall. The will 
 was proved on the 18th of May following, by all the executors, in the Prerogative Court of 
 Janterbury. A small mural tablet to Sir Lister’s memory bears the following inscription :— 
 
 To the memory of 
 Sir Lisrpr Hoxrn, Baronet. 
 He married, 
 
 Ist, Lady Anne Legge, youngest daughter of William, Earl of Dartmouth ; 
 2nd, Mary, youngest daughter of Sir John Harpur, Bart., of Calke, in the county of Derby ; 
 Lastly, Sarah, youngest daughter of Samuel Newton, Esq., of King’s Bromley, in 
 the county of Stafford. 
 
 She died 1st April, mpcoxcry., aged 70. 
 
 Sir Lister died without issue 8th April, wpccrxx., aged 50. 
 
 His real estates, after the death of 
 Charles, his surviving brother, 
 he entailed successively on Heneage Legge, Hsq., and Lewis Bagot, Bishop of St. 
 Asaph, 
 
 Nephews of his first wife, 
 and Wriothesly Digby, Esq., of Meriden, in this county, 
 on failure of whose respective issue he gave the same to his own right heirs for 
 ever. 
 
 This monument was erected MDCCXCIV., 
 as a memorial of his virtues, 
 and in compliance with the wishes of his Widow, 
 by her affectionate sister, 
 
 Elizabeth Newton. 
 
 XXI.—_Sir CHARLES HOLTE succeeded his brother. The history of the earlier portion 
 of his life has been already given. The Family narrative is therefore taken’ up from the time of 
 his succeeding to the title. The first circumstance of general interest in which Sir Charles took 
 part was in 1774, when at the general election he was proposed as a candidate to represent the 
 county of Warwick in the House of Commons. As the circumstances of the contest were rather 
 peculiar, a more detailed account may be given than would otherwise be required. The object of 
 the contest was the influence of Birmingham and the northern portion of the county over the 
 southern, which had hitherto returned the two members; and it was considered that the great 
 manufacturing district of the county ought to have a fair share in the representation. There was no 
 objection to the return of Mr. Skipwith, one of the old members; but to the retwm of Mr., afterwards 
 Sir John, Mordaunt, there was a decided dislike. This gentleman, who sought to supply his father’s 
 place, was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber; and this only increased the desire of the manufacturing 
 interest to be represented by an unbiassed country gentleman, instead of a courtier. The popular 
 cry, therefore, of ‘ Holte and Independence,” 
 The office, too, which Mr. Mordaunt unfortunately held, afforded scope for the artistic abilities of 
 
 it will be at once apparent, was not an unmeaning one. 
 
 some of his opponents; but the caricatures, however much they might be relished at the time, were 
 certainly not, as examples of the modest in art, to be commended. The nomination took place at 
 Warwick, on the 13th of October, and the popular feeling in the county town was certainly, if the 
 
47 
 
 statements of the Mordaunt party may be relied on, in favour of their candidate. The voting 
 commenced on Thursday, the 20th, and at the close of the day, Mr. Mordaunt had polled 207 votes, 
 and Sir Charles only 164.* On the following day, Mr. Mordaunt’s success was yet more marked, 
 
 the numbers being—Mordaunt, 788; Holte, 503. Nor did the Saturday improve Sir Charles’s 
 prospects, for his opponent still gained ground, Mordaunt haying polled 1,256, and Holte 930. On 
 
 the Monday, the numbers were—Mordaunt, 1,498; Holte, 1,187; on the day following, a strong 
 effort was made to reduce the majority, and it was successful, Sir Charles having polled 128 votes 
 more than his opponent on that day, the numbers bemg—Mordaunt, 1,570; Holte, 1,387. On the 
 Wednesday the exertions of the preceding day were successfully renewed, and the majority was beaten 
 down to 61—Mordaunt, 1,616; Holte, 1,555. Great was the interest with which the following day’s 
 polling was regarded. The chances of the final issue were calculated; the number of voters yet 
 unpolled for the respective candidates anxiously examined; and all the circumstances affecting the 
 contest fully taken into the account. Judging from the excitement that prevailed, the fate of a 
 dynasty or an empire might have been at stake. But it was a county election, and what Englishman 
 ever viewed such an event with indifference in his own locality ? Those little printed missives, 
 
 containing the “state of the poll,” though dingy with the weight of nearly fourscore years, have 
 still a power to stir the feeling of the people of Warwickshire, and have excited in our minds, as 
 we have looked on them, an interest which graver matters of a much more recent date would have 
 failed to inspire. On the Thursday—the seventh day of the contest—notwithstanding all efforts to 
 the contrary, Sir Charles still gained on his opponent, the numbers being—Mordaunt, 1,678; 
 Holte, 1,662; majority 16. Though the constituency was nearly polled out, neither party relaxed 
 their exertions, but the star of Sir Charles was in the ascendant, and the Friday’s polling showed— 
 for Holte, 1,746; Mordaunt, 1,736; majority for Holte, 10. Invigorated by their success, the 
 “Independence” supporters strained every nerve, and the Saturday’s retwn gave—Holte, 1,818; 
 Mordaunt, 1,764; majority, 54. Mr. Mordaunt, however, would not yet acknowledge his defeat, 
 and continued the contest on the tenth day—Monday, the 31st,—but to no effect. The final close 
 gave the numbers—Skipwith, 2,954; Holte, 1,845; Mordaunt, 1,787; majority for Sir Charles 
 Holte, 58. After the declaration of the numbers, the two knights of the shire were chaired at 
 
 Warwick, and Sir Charles made his public entry into Birmingham on Wednesday, the 2nd of 
 November, “and notwithstanding,” as the Mordaunt chronicler states, forgetting, in the enthusiasm 
 
 of the moment, his duty to his party, “the amazing concourse of persons assembled on this joyful 
 occasion, the public peace was preserved in such a manner as will refiect eternal honour on the 
 inhabitants of Birmingham.” Amid, says the same authority, ‘every mark of respect and attention 
 
 which could be paid ‘by a generous and free people to an independent representative,’ Sir Charles 
 was conducted to the Swan Hotel, where ‘the entertainment provided for him by the freeholders 
 
 was elegant and well-conducted;” and after this festival was concluded, he was escorted to his 
 residence at Erdington, amid the loud and hearty congratulations of his zealous friends. 
 
 On the 10th of September, 1775, the marriage articles of Sir Charles’s only child, Mary 
 Elizabeth, with Abraham Bracebridge, Esq., of Atherstone, were signed, and on the 12th of the 
 same month, the marriage was solemnized at St. Michael’s, Lichfield, Sir Charles then residing near 
 to that city, at Freeford Hall, which he rented of R. Dyott, Esq., (Aston Hall and Park bemg 
 occupied by the Dowager Lady Hoite, under Sir Lister’s will,) but he still kept up Erdington Hall, 
 where he built the large room. Miss Holte’s fortune was £20,000. 
 
 * Hutton, in the work before adverted to, under date October 20th, 1774, has the following :—“ Rode with my son 
 
 to Warwick, to vote, at my own expense, for Sir Charles Holte, as member for the county. The only time I ever did, 
 or will, vote for a member of a self-interested Parliament, who only merit the disapprobation of the people.” 
 
 + The feeling is shown by the numbers polled in the towns in the vicinity of Sir Charles’s residence :—Aston :— 
 Holte, 134; Mordaunt, 8; Birmingham :—Holte, 366; Mordaunt, 39; Sutton Coldfield:—Holte, 107; Mordaunt, 3; 
 Tamworth :—Holte, 106; Mordaunt, 4. In the southern part of the county, however, the feeling was very strong in favour 
 of Mordaunt. ‘ 
 
48 
 
 The affairs of Sir Lister were not settled without a Chancery suit. By a decree, dated 
 March 15th, 1775, “Legge, Bagot, and Digby, v. Sir Charles Holte and wife, Dame Sarah Holte, 
 
 John Newton, Fettiplace Nott, Elizabeth Newton, Mary Catherine Cartwright, Mary Elizabeth 
 Bracebridge, (by her guardian,) and Alexander Jesson, (trustee for Lady Anne Holte,)” the will 
 of Sir Lister was declared well proved, and that the same ought to be established and the trusts 
 performed; and it was referred to Mr. Leeds, one of the masters, to take an account of the testator’s 
 personal estate received-by the defendants. It was also further declared that Sir Charles should be 
 admitted a creditor for the two separate sums of £4,000 and £6,000. On the 22nd of March, 1779, 
 a report was made by the master, stating the total debts of Sir Lister to be £14,192 19s. 03d. ; 
 and the deficiency to be £13,805 17s. 74d. The debts due to Sir Charles were recited as follows :— 
 By indenture of settlement of May 26th, 1720, £4,000; bond from testator, dated April 19th, 1763, 
 £6,000, and interest from April Ist, 1770; and for principal and interest, £2,153 5s. Idd. After 
 this the suit appears to have languished, but was revived in 1785, and continued in 1786, 
 Mrs. Bracebridge recovering the amount due to her father, who had died im 1782. 
 
 The portrait of Sir Charles depicts him as a man of a calm and amiable character, not without 
 a certain dignity, softened by the urbanity and gentleness of an old English country gentleman. 
 Of Lady Holte, Romney painted a good picture, and an excellent likeness. She sits erect, with a 
 somewhat severe expression of countenance, in which talent and determination are the leading 
 characteristics. She retains the remains of what must have been beauty and liveliness in youth, 
 mingled with the dignity of a lady who could well understand and ably defend her own rights. 
 Romney has also left a fine picture of the daughter of Sir Charles and Lady Holte—Mrs. Bracebridge, 
 with her daughter. She must have sat for this picture in about her twenty-seventh year. The 
 style of beauty, both of form and complexion, is that of a high-bred Englishwoman, and the sweetness 
 of expression is by no means disturbed by the sharp but delicate outline of the mouth, and an 
 evident power of quick perception and lively feeling. The child is most admirably given, and the 
 beautiful eyes and rounded features still bear a resemblance to the original, the lady of 
 W. H. Bracebridge, Esq. The whole of these “household treasures” grace the collection of 
 Mr. Bracebridge, at Atherstone. 
 
 Sir Charles made his will December 27th, 1779. In it he describes himself as of Erdington 
 Hall, never having been in possession of the Family mansion. He bequeaths to his widow all hig 
 jewels, books, &c., for life; after her death, to his daughter; and afterwards to his grandchild or 
 children; all the furniture of his house in London, and at Brereton and Erdington Halls, the wine, 
 horses, coaches, farming stock, and pictures, and all that should come to him after the death of the 
 dowager relict of Sir Lister, by the will of the latter, to his widow, Dame Ann; all the remaining 
 property, personal and real, being directed to be sold, the interest arising from the proceeds to be 
 paid to his widow, for life; at her decease, to Mrs. Bracebridge, for life; and after her decease, to 
 Miss Mary Holte Bracebridge, her daughter, till she was twenty-one, or should marry, and then the 
 principal was to be paid to her. ‘And I desire that my said son-in-law, Abraham Bracebridge, the 
 younger, Esquire, and his issue by his present wife, the said Mary Elizabeth Bracebridge, my daughter, 
 do and shall, as soon as conveniently may be, after my decease, by Act of Parliament or otherwise, 
 take upon himself or themselves, and use the surname of Holte instead of Bracebridge.” The 
 executors were Abraham Bracebridge, and Richard Geast, of Blyth Hall, Warwickshire; but the 
 will was proved by Mr. Bracebridge alone, in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, on the 26th of 
 March, 1782. 
 
 Sir Charles died at his residence, No. 6, Portman Square, London, on Tuesday, the 12th of 
 March, 1782. His remains were conveyed from London, and on Sunday, the 24th, arrived at Castle 
 Bromwich, and on the evening of the same day were interred at Aston, the funeral ceremony being 
 witnessed by a vast concourse of people collected from all parts of the adjacent country. 
 
49 
 
 A feeling of sadness comes over the mind at the thought of the death of Sir Charles under 
 circumstances so widely different from those of his ancestors. Instead of breathing his last in the 
 halls of his forefathers, he died away from all those scenes hallowed by a thousand tender recollections. 
 Instead of being followed to the graye by a numerous circle of attached relatives, there were none 
 to mourn his loss, or cherish his memory, saye a widow and an only daughter; and he died with 
 the sad consciousness that those who had no moral claim would succeed to that estate which had 
 once been his. Truly, it was a fitting time, in the solemn gloom of a March midnight, to consign 
 to his final resting place the last representative of a long ancestral line; and the solemnity of the 
 hour and the scene, doubtlessly, spoke to many a heart of the evanescence of things earthly; while, 
 it may also be hoped, the approaching season of spring would remind many a spectator of the time 
 when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality, and the bodies of the 
 righteous be raised to flourish in eternal bloom. 
 
 On the death of Sir Charles the Family title became extinct. His widow survived him, and 
 by her was erected a mural monument to his memory, near that of his ancestor, Edward, who died 
 in 1592. The following is the inscription :— 
 
 Sacred 
 to the memory of 
 Sir Cuartes Hourn, Bart., 
 who, after a decline of three years, 
 which he bore with the greatest patience and resignation, 
 departed this life the 12th of March, 1782, 
 
 Aged 60 years. 
 Sir Charles was the second son of 
 He married, in 175: 
 Mary El 
 
 r Cleobury Holte, Bart. 
 the daughter of Pudsey Jesson, Esq., and left only one child, 
 2 , the heiress of this Family, married, in 1775, to 
 Abraham Br idge, of Atherstone, Esq. By the will of her uncle, 
 Sir Lister Holte, Bart., the large estates in this county, and other valuable 
 possessions, were alienated, and his niece, then an infant, deprived of the 
 patrimony of her ancestors. 
 
 This monument marks the hallowed spot where the remains of a beloved 
 and revered friend are deposited; but it cannot represent the unutterable grief 
 occasioned by his death, or convey an adequate idea of her gratitude, who 
 twenty-seven years experienced all the happiness 
 that the most indulgent and affectionate 
 husband could bestow. 
 
 This high-spirited lady died on the 14th of March, 1799, aged sixty-five, and was buried by 
 the side of her husband. By her will, dated the 3rd of November, 1796, and proved the 5th of 
 July, 1799, she left all her property to her daughter, Mrs. Bracebridge, with remainder to her 
 grand-daughter. No mention is made of her grandson, the present Mr. Bracebridge, as that 
 gentleman was not born till the 19th of March, 1799—five days after her decease. On the floor 
 of the aisle of the church is a slab b caring the following inscription :— 
 
 In a vault 
 beneath this marble rest 
 the remains of 
 Sir CHartes Hors, Bart., 
 and Dame Any, his wife. 
 
 On the adjacent wall of this Church 
 she caused a monument to be erected 
 to perpetuate the memory of 
 the best of husbands. 
 
 She died on the 14th of March, 1799, 
 Aged 65, having survived her irreparable loss 
 seventeen years. 
 
 The acute and accomplished Richard Lovell Edgeworth, in his interesting memoirs of himself, 
 (vol. 1, p. 880,) describes Lady Holte as “a woman of much knowledge of the world, and of great 
 firmness of character.” He married, for his third wife, Miss Elizabeth Sneyd, who was intimate with 
 Lady Holte. 
 
 Mrs. Bracebridge had two children—Mary Holte, born June 22nd, 1776, who married, at 
 Mancetter, (the parish church of Atherstone,) on December 8th, 1803, her first cousin, Walter 
 
50 
 
 Henry Bracebridge, Esq., of Morville House, in the county of Warwick, (both being now alive ;) 
 and Charles Holte, born March 19th, 1799. Mrs. Bracebridge was buried at Mancetter, a tablet to 
 her memory bearing the following inscription :— 
 
 In memory of 
 Mary Enizannrn, 
 Wife of Abraham Bracebridge, Exsq., of Atherstone Hall, 
 in this parish. 
 
 She was the daughter of Sir Charles Holte, Bart., of Aston, and 
 Dame Anne, (Pudsey Jesson,) of Langley, in this county. 
 She died on the 24th of April, 1819, aged 62. 
 
 With an understanding highly cultivated, 
 and pretensions of every kind to higher rank in life, 
 she preferred the social comforts of a private home, 
 which she adorned by every Christian virtue. 
 
 She enjoyed the gifts of Providence with thankfulness and humility, 
 was patient under suffering, and kissed the rod of affliction. 
 Her strong and dignified mind 
 was contrasted by the amiable qualities of the heart. 
 
 She was affectionate to her family, 
 kind to her friends, and good to all. 
 
 The present Mr. Bracebridge married, in March, 1824, Selina, daughter of William Mills, Esq., 
 of Bisterne, Hants. He is an active magistrate for the counties of Warwick and Leicester, and 
 
 Deputy-Lieutenant for the former county ; and a warm friend of literature, art, and science. His 
 tastes are indicated by the fact of his having for some time had a residence in the vicinity of the 
 world-renowned Athens. Some of the sketches made by his lady, of ruined Grecian temples and 
 objects of antiquarian interest, exhibited at the expositions for the benefit of local societies, are 
 of a high order of merit. She also adorned, with texts of Scripture, the walls of the chapel of the 
 at Athens. To Mr. Bracebridge we have been deeply indebted for a very large 
 
 English embassy 
 
 portion of the matter contained in many of these pages. With a kindness, courtesy, and patience 
 that could not have been exceeded, he has done all in his power to elucidate every obscure or 
 doubtful pot; and by the confidence he has generously reposed, in the loan of documents and 
 pedigrees of the most important and valuable character, as well as other papers, he has conferred 
 
 literary obligations beyond our power to discharge. 
 
 Mr. Bracebridge’s father, Abraham Bracebridge, Esq., was the elder son (and soon after his 
 marriage the successor) of Abraham Bracebridge, Hsq., of Atherstone Hall, Warwickshire, where, as 
 well as at Brereton Hall, Cheshire, he subsequently generally resided. In the first year of this 
 century. he raised a volunteer corps at Atherstone, and in 1808 served the office of High Sheriff for 
 the county. He died at Atherstone, August 21st, 1852. The Bracebridge Family was founded in 
 this county by Peter de Bracebrigg, Lord of Bracebrigg, on the River Witham, in Lincolnshire, 
 who, about 1100, married Amicia, daughter of Osbert de Arden, and grand-daughter of Turchill 
 de Arden, Earl of Warwick in the time of the Confessor. Turchill was a man of great importance, 
 as Dugdale shows, and descended in a right line from Reynburn, son of Guy, Earl of Warwick, by 
 his wife, Leonetta, daughter of King Ethelstan, and great grand-daughter of King Alfred. With 
 Amicia, Peter de Bracebrigg inherited Kingsbury, an ancient residence of the Kings of Mercia, which 
 had descended to Turchill, and here the Bracebridges held their principal residence till the 6th of 
 Elizabeth, when the manor was sold to the Caves and Willoughbys, a rent charge of £42 being 
 reserved, which is still paid. 
 
 After this period the Bracebridge Family was divided into two branches, the elder of which 
 soon became extinct. The second again formed two branches: the elder settled at Lindley, in 
 Leicestershire, and rebuilt the manor house; and the younger purchased the Atherstone estate and 
 hall, late a friary. Both these transactions took place at the end of the seventeenth century, but 
 as the last of the Lindley Ime died in 1786, devising his estate to two nieces, who married into 
 the families of Abney and Heming, the Atherstone branch is the only one remaining of the Family. 
 Mr. Bracebridge had a son and daughter; the latter married Walter Henry, the son of his brother 
 
51 
 
 Walter; the former is the present owner of Atherstone. The only other member of the Family now 
 alive is Harriet Anne, Mrs. Ogle, sister of Mr. Walter Henry Bracebridge. The Family arms are— 
 Vaire, argent and sable, a fesse gules. Crest—a staff ragulé, argent. Motto—“ Be as God will.” 
 
 Sir Robert Holte, as will be seen by reference to a former page, had four sons by his second 
 
 wife, all of whom, according to Collins, died without issue. There are parties, however, who 
 claim descent from Edward, the younger son, and to them we now advert. 
 
 The most diligent search has failed to discover any record relative to the births of any of 
 Sir Robert’s children. From his grandfather’s will he appears to have been married to his second wife 
 
 as early as 1650, so that some of his children would be born during the time of the Commonwealth. 
 No record, however, appears at Aston of any of them haying been there baptized; and after the 
 Restoration, being a member of Parliament, he would probably reside chiefly in London; but all 
 investigations among the metropolitan registers have been fruitless. Neither has the most unwearied 
 search sufficed to show that Sir Robert made any will. He was buried on the 3rd of October, 1679, 
 little more than three months after the death of his wife, so that it is probable, from the shortness 
 of the interval, he died intestate. We mention these circumstances to show the difficulties attending 
 the case. Collins’s statement—positive as it appears—is by no means to be relied on: he gave it 
 
 as he received it from Sir Charles; but as the latter would consider his brother a disgrace to the 
 Family, he would pass him over in the briefest manner. 
 
 This (supposed) Edward—probably from his acquaintance with William Hemings, of Worcester, 
 a member of the Society of Friends, (who married Elizabeth, the elder daughter of Sir Robert)— 
 
 embraced the opinions held by that body. In the month of January, 1692—the same year as his 
 sister’s marriage—he wedded, at the Friends’ Meeting, at Dudley, Mary Hornblower, of Hales Owen. 
 His place of residence was at Brierley Hill, where he carried on business as a coal and iron master. 
 From the Court Rolls of the Manor of Cradley, it appears that at a Court Baron held the 21st of 
 October, 1685, (the year after he was stated by Collins as alive,)* John Wheeler and Elenore his 
 
 wife surrendered certain houses and. lands at Cradley, containing in all sixteen acres, to the use of 
 Edward Holt and his heirs for ever; a life interest in one of the houses being reserved to one 
 Elizabeth Cole. The fine paid amounted to £12. He was buried at the Friends’ Meeting House, 
 at Stourbridge, in 1714, bemg about fifty years of age, leaving two children—Mary, born 
 October 9th, 1693, married to James Compson; and Edward, born 1695. The name of the daughter 
 is inserted in the Friends’ books, at Stourbridge, but not that of the son. From the Court Rolls 
 of the Manor of Bewdley, however, it appears that, in 1718, Edward Holt, with Mary Holt, widow, 
 his mother, mortgaged the whole of the property to Joseph Palmer, of Hagley, gent.; and in the 
 same rolls for 1721, the payment of the mortgage by, and re-surrender of the property to, this 
 Edward, are recorded. He lived at Cradley Manor House, which formed part of the purchase by 
 his father im 1685; and married Elizabeth Cox, of the Lye Waste, on the 6th of September, 1720. 
 Bred up in the tenets of the Friends, he resolutely adhered to them through life, and firmly withstood 
 the offers of Sir Lister (with whom he was on visiting terms) to conform to the Church of England. 
 He never had any of his children baptized, notwithstanding Sir Lister’s strong solicitations, who, in 
 
 a frolic, obtained possession for a short time of one of the younger daughters, whom he caused to 
 be baptized by the name of Sobieski! In 1746, it appears by the Bewdley Court Rolls, he 
 surrendered the property to the uses specified in his will; and dymg in 1767, was buried at the 
 
 Friends’ Meeting House, in Stourbridge. His wife survived him, and in the year last mentioned 
 she was admitted tenant of the property, according to the will of her late husband, the fine paid 
 being £18. The property was ultimately disposed of in 1776. This gentleman had a family of 
 
 three sons—Joseph, Edward, and John; and six daughters—Anne, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Sobieski, 
 
 * The point to be established, of course, is, as to the identity of the Edward Holte, son of Sir Robert, with 
 Edward Holt, of Brierley Hill. This has not yet been proved. 
 
52 
 
 and Jane. Of the sons, Joseph had a son and daughter, who both died young. John, the younger 
 son, had a numerous issue. Edward, the second son, born in 1738, lived in Birmingham, and was 
 He was well acquainted with 
 
 engaged with his brother in the spade manufacture at Cradley For 
 the late Mr. Hutton; and it was through misinterpreting the information procured from him, that 
 the historian fell into the strange mistake of supposing that the head of the Family was originally 
 a blacksmith. Mr. Holt died in 1800, leaving four sons—John, Edward, Benjamin, and Cornelius ; 
 and six daughters. John dying without issue, Edward became the representative of the Family ; 
 he was born in 1771, and died in 1831, leaving one son, Edward, born in 1806, (an extensive 
 wire drawer and pin manufacturer in Birmingham,) and two daughters, Mary and Sarah; the 
 former now living. 
 
 It may not be out of place here to refer to the circumstance that the parties whose history 
 has just been briefly given, acting upon the idea that the entail had never been legally cut off, but 
 supposing (like Hutton and others) that no fine had ever been levied, and that the disposition of 
 
 the estate was entirely dependent on Sir Lister’s will, made great exertions, by examinations of 
 registers and wills, and other means, to obtain the necessary evidence in support of their claim ; 
 and it was not till 1849 that they became aware of the deed of the 30th of June, 1742, an abstract 
 of the contents of which has already been given. Immediately on obtaining this information, 
 Mr. Holt submitted the case to the opinion of counsel, by whom the following reply was returned :— 
 
 “Sir Lister Holte being in possession of the fee, and of full age, I am inclined to think he was legally entitled to 
 sue a fine for the purpose of a recovery, and the consent of his brother Charles, at the time a minor, was not legally 
 ne ry. 
 
 “Provided the entail has been legally cut off, Sir Lister Holte could leave the property to whom he pleased, which 
 he appears to have done; and the failure of the male heirs to whom the devise was made cording to his will, entitled 
 the right heirs of Sir Lister to the property; and as the male heirs are not named, but heirs general, Mrs. Bracebridge, 
 being the next and nearest in blood, I believe would come in.” 
 
 This opinion, so clearly stating the case, of course decided the matter; and whatever claim 
 Mr. Holt may have to the Baronetcy, it is quite certain that the property was lawfully alienated. 
 We may remark that Mr. Holt has in his possession three hatchments, on panel, that have descended 
 from the first Edward; but they are not the arms of any family registered in the Heralds’ College ; 
 neither are they good heraldry, the blazonry bemg in some particulars incorrect. 
 
 Numerous persons in the neighbourhood of Brierley Hill and Cradley claim affinity to the 
 Family, and one person at Tipton has acquired some notoriety by his proceedings. There are also 
 other parties at Abbots Bromley, and in Derbyshire, who declare themselves to be the “ right heirs,” 
 and a gentleman in the county of Middlesex also asserts his right to the title;—but in no case 
 have we been furnished with any information which tends to prove the relationship. 
 
 On the death of Sir Charles Holte, in 1782, the estates, according to the settlement in 
 Sir Lister’s will, reverted to Mr. Heneage Legge, but that gentleman had no issue, and the same 
 remark applies to Mr. Digby, the-third party nominated in the will. The Bishop of St. Asaph, who 
 was placed second, died, without issue, in 1802. Mis. Bracebridge was consequently heir at law. 
 On the security of this reversion her husband raised large sums of money, which, in consequence 
 of his bad success in the working of a patent for the manufacture of soap, and from other cases, 
 he was unable to discharge, and he had, in consequence, become so seriously embarrassed, that after 
 various agreements from time to time, an indenture was entered into between Heneage Legge, 
 Wriothesley Digby, Abraham and Mary Elizabeth Bracebridge, and others, in which “ after taking 
 notice of the said will of the said Sir Lister Holte, and that neither of them the said Heneage Legge 
 and Wriothesley Digby had, and that it was not probable that either of them would have any issue,” * 
 it was recited that 
 
 “Unless some arrangement could be made with the tenants for life of the said estates, it would be absolutely 
 necessary to sell the said reversion, in order to satisfy, so far as the purchase money for the same would extend, the sev 
 
 * Mr. Legge was about seventy, and Mr. Digby seventy-two years of age. 
 
Ko 
 py) 
 
 debts charged upon the said reversion; and also reciting that under the circumstances aforesaid it had been agreed between 
 the said tenants for life of the said estates and the several persons interested in the said reversion in fee, that the said 
 estates should (subject and without prejudice to, and without in any manner affecting the estates in tail male to the sons 
 of the said tenants for life) be apportioned between them in fee simple in possession in the manner after mentioned.” 
 
 An Act of Parliament being necessary to confirm this indenture, a petition was presented on 
 the 3rd of March, to the House of Lords, for a bill; which petition was ordered to be referred to 
 Mr. Baron Wood and Mr. Justice Park. On the 10th of June, a second petition was presented, 
 setting forth that the Judges having been on circuit, and the witnesses to prove the allegations being 
 numerous, and many of them residmg in places very distant from London, the petitioners had been | 
 unable to proceed before them till after the time allowed by the House for bringing in reports upon i) 
 petitions had expired; that the Judges had gone through the bill, and signed the report; and praying | 
 their Lordships that, in consideration of the circumstances stated, the report might be received. This 
 haying been agreed to, leave was given to bring in the bill, which was passed on the 3rd of July, 
 and sent to the Commons. On the 7th, having gone through all its stages in the Lower House, | 
 it was retuned to the Lords, and received the assent of the Prince Regent on the 10th.* By this 
 indenture, which was dated May 6th, 1817, it was “witnessed, agreed, and declared” that 
 Mr. Bracebridge’s interest as lessee in the Brereton estate should merge in the inheritance; that the 
 fee simple of the hereditaments in schedule A should be vested in trustees therein named for sale, 
 to pay all the costs or sums after mentioned; that the fee simple in schedule B should be vested in 
 Mr. Legge and his heirs, free from all incumbrances, except fee-farm and quit-rents, &c.; that the 
 
 fee simple in schedule C should, subject to certam mortgages, and the charge for the support of the 
 Aston alms-houses, and to fee-farm and quit-rents, &c., be vested in Mr. Digby; that schedules D 
 and F should be vested in trustees, for sale; that schedule E should be vested in Sir William Paxton, 
 Sir Charles Cockerell, and Charles Greenwood, Esq.; that schedule G should be vested in 
 W. W. Currey, Esq., as assignee of Walter Henry Bracebridge, Esq.; that schedule H should be vested 
 in Messrs. Currey and Digby, for sale, in trust for Mrs. Bracebridge; and after various other 
 recitals, it was agreed that Mr. Legge “should hold the said mansion house and park of Aston, and 
 the lands then held by him therewith, until the 10th day of October then next, at the rent of 
 £500,” he defraying all the taxes and other outgoings in respect of the same. The preamble of 
 
 the Act of Parliament confirmmg the indenture concludes with divers other recitals not requiring 
 special notice, after which it was enacted :— 
 
 1.—That the indenture of May 6th, 1817, be confirmed. 
 
 2.—That the manors, &c., in the schedules, be vested in trustees, who should convey them to the persons, and in the 
 divisions expressed in the indenture. 
 
 3.—To facilitate execution of the trusts, the trustees to have power to call meetings of the creditors. 
 4.—No commission of bankruptcy to disqualify a trustee. 
 5.—On death or removal from the kingdom of a trustee, the High Court of Chancery, on petition, to appoint a new trustee. 
 
 6.—Act not to affect Richard Thornton, who was in Holland at the time of its passing, till he should give his consent j 
 by writing thereto; such writing to be enrolled in the High Court of Chancery within twelve calendar months ih 
 after the passing of the Act.t | 
 
 7.—Saving clause. nt 
 
 8.—Act to be printed by the King’s printers; a printed copy to be admitted as evidence by all judges, justices, and others. 
 
 The following are the contents of the schedules referred to in the Act:— | 
 
 A.—The Aston property, containing 1,2074. 2R. 35p., the rents at 25th March, 1817, being £3,109 1s.; and the Cheshire 
 property, 1,2794. Or. 3p., rents, £1,314 6s. 4d. VW 
 
 B.—The manors of Duddeston and Nechells, advowson of Aston, freehold of hamlet of Ashted, Duddeston Hall, and lands 2 } ! 
 and houses let on lease for various terms; amounting, in the whole, to 7634. 3x. 20p., rents, £4,452 1s. 8d. 
 
 C.—Manor of Erdington Hall, one-fourth of manor of Bordesley, Hay Mill Brook House, and other lands in Aston 
 
 parish; manor house, mills, pools, and lands in Sutton Coldfield: total contents, 1,100a. Or. 81p., rents, | 
 £1,898 9s. 4d. 
 
 * Journals of House of Lords, Vol. LI, p. 72, 277, 280, 347, 360, 376, 399. Journals of House of Commons, \ 
 Vol. DXXIL, p. 446, 459, 460. i 
 
 + By deed poll of July 28rd, 1817, Mr. Thornton consented to the Act, and on the 26th of the same month such | 
 consent was enrolled in Chancery. 
 
D.—Manor and hall of Brere containing 1,128. 8p., let on lease to Mr. Bracebridge: total contents, 
 2,800a. OR. 35P., rents 5 (At foot of this schedule is mentioned the sum of £1,493 17s. in the Three 
 per Cent. Annuities, surplus arising from sale of hereditaments by Mr. Legge, on redeeming land tax on estates of 
 Sir Lister Holte.*) 
 
 E—Manors of Lapworth and Bushwood, and houses, farms, &c., in the parishes of Lapworth, Old Stratford-on-Avon, 
 Rowington, Preston Bagot, and Beaudesert, in the county of Warwick: contents, 1,0144. Ir. 28p.; rents, 
 £1,042 12s.; and Lapworth chief rents, £3 7s, 9d. 
 
 F.—Manor, hall, and advowson of Aston, (not valued, having been partially mentioned in schedules A and B,) lands, &., 
 and advowson of Brereton: content p., rents, £1,258 7s. 6d.; tithes in Erdington on 2,628a. 1x. 81p., 
 amounting to £303 Os. 8d.; in Witton, 58a. 3R. 23p., amounting to £19 4s. 6d.; and in Bordesley, on 
 11654. 2n. 25p., amounting to £57 15s. Total income in this schedule, £1,638 8s. 2d. 
 
 Qn. 182., rents, £257 ‘7s. 6d. 
 
 3, £249 12s. 
 
 G—lLands at Erdington and Saltley, containing 
 H.—lLands at Witton, containing 243. Or. 6p., 
 The total acreage of the property, as appearing in the above schedules, is 8,914. 2r. 28p., 
 
 and the rentals, £16,557 0s. 9d. Large though the annual income was at the time of the compilation 
 of the schedules, the property in the neighbourhood of Birmingham has enormously increased in 
 value since that period. The leases of building land in schedule B are generally for ninety-nine 
 years, the dates commencing in 1788, and extending to 1815. Brereton Hall, also, leased to 
 Mr. Bracebridge at £700 a year, must have been worth considerably more than that sum. The 
 Aston property originally extended from the junction of Biumingham parish, at the termination of 
 Prospect Row, to beyond Erdington Hall, and from Nechells and Saltley to the Custard House and 
 
 Hay Mill Brook. To any one acquainted with the localities here mentioned, the immense extent 
 of the possessions will be at once apparent. The total value of the whole estates was estimated in 
 
 1816, by a somewhat hasty survey, at £600,000. 
 
 After the passing of the Act, Mr. Legge quitted the Hall for his beautiful villa at Putney, where 
 he died in January, 1827, and the fwmiture was offered for sale by auction. Before. this, however, 
 numerous articles of interest were removed to Atherstone Hall, and little remained to excite the 
 attention of the*curious. The pictures of the Duke of Rutland, Sir Clobery Holte, Sir Lister and 
 Charles Holte, when children, King Charles the First and his Family, Lord Crewe, Lady Harpur, 
 Sir John Harpur, Bishop King, and others, as well as David and Goliath, having been left at Aston, 
 were, through the neglect of an order for packing them, dispersed at the sale. Mr. Hamper purchased 
 the David and Goliath, and Mrs. Armishaw, of Aston, has possession of the portraits of Sir Lister 
 and his brother. The portrait of the first Lord Brereton, with an .ancient picture of Brereton Hall ; 
 the fifth Lord Brereton; King Charles and his Queen; Queen Anne; Queen Elizabeth; a delicate 
 and curious Holbem of Edward the Sixth; a duplicate of the Earl of Strafford and his secretary, 
 Sir R. Willoughby; a duplicate portrait of Sir Thomas Holte; and a few others, (two of which 
 are supposed to be Breretons,) in addition to those mentioned in a previous page, are now in 
 
 Mr. Bracebridge’s possession. The picture of Dr. Hough, the famous President of Magdalen College, 
 and Bishop of Worcester, is lost; and that of Dr. King, Bishop of London, was transferred (by 
 Mr. Legge, with leave) to the collection of the Bishop of London, at Fulham. Portraits of Sir Robert, 
 of his son, Sir Charles, and of Lady Clobery, are in the possession of Mr. W. H. Bracebridge; those 
 Bromley Manor; and a head of Lady Anne, 
 the first wife of Sir Lister, is at Sandwell Hall, the property of the Earl of Dartmouth. Three 
 half-lengths of young ladies, probably daughters of Sir Charles, are im possession of Mr. Roderick, 
 of New Street; and one, also a female, in that of Mr. Jones, likewise of New Street. The portrait 
 of Sir Thomas Holte, a large full length, was presented by Mr. Le 
 
 of Sir Lister and Lady Sarah are at Mr. Lane’s, of King’s 
 
 > to Mr. Josiah Robins, who 
 ion of his widow, at Allesley Hall, near Coventry, whose 
 courtesy in permitting it to be copied for the use of this work we have pleasure in acknowledging. 
 
 A C j Sls. 
 Mrs. Robs also possesses a small half-length of the “good Lady Brereton;” a three-quarter of 
 
 conducted the sale, and is now in poss 
 
 © > (Caroli ag: © ree. arter P « ¢ 7 « 27 Y . « _ p 
 Lady Caroline Jones; a three-quarter of a lady, attributed to Lely; a three-quarter, supposed to 
 have been intended for Locke or Milton; a group of flowers and fruit; and also a game piece. 
 
 * The amount of tax redeemed was £247 9s. 6d., the price paid £9,074 1s. 8d. in the Three per 
 he f ‘ eas 4 l ? Se iia J Jent. Ci fe 
 Reduced Bank Annuities; payment to be made in sixteen instalments. The deed is dated April 24th, 1799, cere ot 
 
55 
 
 The same lady also has in her possession a walnut cabinet, with brass locks, and mountings enclosing 
 a crown. This is called, whether truly or otherwise, “King Charles’s cabinet.” The portrait of 
 the Countess of Derby is in the possession of W. C. Alston, Esq., of Elmdon Hall. Of those portraits 
 left at the Hall, no clue can be gained from the catalogue of the sale. The total number valued to 
 Mr. Legge in 1794, was 119, and of other pictures, 37; the amount being estimated at £56. 
 Among others, the following items occur :—VForty-five portraits, £9; miniature of Edward VI, by 
 Holbein, £1 1s.; sixteen very old portraits, &c., 2s. 6d.; picture of Aston Hall, and two portraits, 
 6s.; King Charles and Family, three whole, three three-quarter length, and twelve half-length portraits, 
 £21 1s. 6d. Four of the six chairs left by Charles I. in 1642, were also dispersed, without any 
 sign to mark their rarity, save the royal arms carved on the back. One of them is now in the 
 possession of the Rey. Egerton Bagot, of Pype Hayes. 
 
 The auction, which was conducted by Messrs. Josiah and Cornelius Robins, commenced on 
 Monday, September 22nd, 1817, and lasted nine days, exclusive of the sale of the farming stock 
 and a supplementary sale of goods not removed. The number of lots was 1,144. No person of 
 
 eminence attended the sale, and the prices realised were, in many instances, especially with reference 
 to the pictures and prints, disproportionately small. The furniture realised £2,150, and the farming 
 stock £1,201; total, £3,351. The decadence of Aston had set in in full tide. 
 
 On the 15th of April; 1818, and two following days 
 estate were offered for sale, the land amounting to 1,530 acres, and the property was divided into 
 
 after several postponements, the Hall and 
 
 lots “suitable to the situations.” The Hall was purchased by Messrs. Greenway, Greaves, and 
 Whitehead, bankers, of Warwick, and is now in possession of the two former and Mr. Lowe, the 
 late Mr. Whitehead’s representative.* On the 5th of October following, the Hall, and park of upwards 
 of 300 acres of land, with the stock of 200 head of deer, were offered ‘to be let on lease or to yearly 
 tenants, together or in four or five lots;” and on the 19th of the same month, the north wing was 
 
 advertised to be let, being described as ‘consisting of two parlours to the terrace on the ground floor, 
 
 a very desirable drawing room, and four bed rooms on the chamber floor,” beside other rooms; and 
 farm buildings, and land from 30 to 150 acres, “if required.” The Hall was ultimately let to 
 James Watt, Esq., son of the celebrated James Watt, on a lease for a term of years. The destruction 
 of the old associations was completed by the sale of the herd of deer, then diminished to 150, advertised 
 on the 21st of December. The line of the Liverpool branch of the London and North Western 
 
 Railway crosses the magnificent avenue between the lane and the turnpike road, and in the year 1852 
 a street was laid out between the lane and the Hall, thus agam intersecting the avenue. 
 
 With the sale faded the last vestige of the glory of Aston. The mansion was then closed 
 to the public, and henceforth its historic associations, its distinctive architecture, and its lovely 
 scenery were shrouded from the eye. During Mr. Watt’s occupation of the Hall, no strangers 
 were allowed to inspect the interior; and whatever might have been the motive which induced 
 this course, it was strictly adhered to. 
 
 * That portion of the park which is in Staffordshire was not sold at this time. It had formed part of the property 
 bequeathed by Lady Anne Holte to her grandson Charles, and was rented by Mr. Legge during his occupancy of the 
 Hall, at £200 per year. Mrs. Bracebridge disposed of it at a subsequent period. 
 
\ 
 
 | 
 | 
 
er GL a) iP See) de TY SE at ray) 
 
DESCRIPTION OF ASTON HALL. 
 
 Aston Hatt is situated on a gently rising eminence, at the extremity of a noble avenue of elms and 
 Spanish chestnuts, and is built in the form usual with edifices of the period—a centre and two 
 wings, emblematic, it is supposed, of the initial letter of Queen Elizabeth. The view from the 
 Church Lane is exceedingly striking, and still more so from the Lichfield Turnpike Road, on account 
 of the increased length of the avenue, which carries the line of vision directly forward, so that the 
 general plan of the whole building is at once apparent. 
 
 On each side, as an advanced guard, is a small square building, connected with the wings by 
 a wall having an ornamental coping. The chief features of the wings are the two large embayed 
 windows to the front, with their pierced parapets, and the lofty towers, surmounted by closed ogee 
 roofs of a dome-like character. These towers advance considerably into the quadrangle, of which 
 the whole forms three sides, and have their two lower stories divided by horizontal string-courses 
 very boldly moulded, and projecting considerably from the surface of the wall. These string-courses, 
 or mouldings, are carried round the greater portion of the building, and, indeed, form an important 
 feature. Each of the towers has an entrance on the ground floor, consisting of a square-panelled 
 door, under a semicircular arch enriched with a large shell ornament, and flanked by flat shallow 
 fluted pilasters having plain capitals, and high square bases ornamented with sunk panelling. The 
 moulding of the lower string-course slightly projects over these pilasters, and, indeed, appears as if 
 it were a continuation of them, serving to support the bracket-shaped bases of two enriched graduated 
 pilasters, narrowing to the base. These flank the window of the first floor, and are continued up 
 to the second string-courses, of which they also form a portion, and are important features, adding 
 considerably to the beauty of the towers. The ornamental curved gables of these wings, combined 
 with the various groups of octagonal chimneys, give a picturesque and pleasing appearance to the 
 whole. 
 
 Of the centre buildings and principal entrance the characteristic features are the large windows 
 lighting the Entrance Hall, and those of the Great and Oak Staircases, and a massive central tower 
 of three stories, capped with a double ogee roof; on each side of the tower are two curved 
 gables, in which are placed small windows. The central portion of this front—containing the principal 
 entrance, the four windows of the Hall,—two on either side of the door, and those of three chambers 
 over them, and surmounted by a bold cornice and balustrade—slightly projects from the main portion 
 of the building, and serves to relieve what would otherwise appear of a formal character. The 
 projecting porch—one of the distinctive features of the Elizabethan style—is omitted; but although 
 the decoration is carried out with the spirit that characterises the whole of the details throughout 
 the building, yet the absence of that contrast of light and shade which a bold porch would have 
 afforded is sensibly felt. The doorway consists of a semicircular arch with two fluted columns on 
 square bases, supporting an entablature, above which is an ornamental panel flanked by two scroll 
 
 nn ____ eS _____________________ 
 
58 
 ornaments, and surmounted by a shield on which are emblazoned quarterly the arms of Holte, 
 Castells, Maidenach with Grimsarwe, and Willington. The panel bears the following inscription :— 
 
 Sz Tomas Horr, or DyppEstoy, IN THE covNtiE or Warwick, Kyienr 
 Anp BaRroner BEGAN TO ByILD THIS Hovse ry Aprinn ty anno Domryt 
 1618: my THE 16TH YEARE oF THE RAIGNE oF Kiya Jamns or Enauann, &e., 
 AND OF SCOTLAND THE ONE AND FIFTIBTH, AND THE sArD Sr Tomas Horn 
 Came To DWELL IN THIS Hovse in May in anno Domint: 1631: IN THE 
 SEAVENTH YEARE OF THE RAIGNE OF ovr Sovurarane Lorp Kine 
 CHARLES, AND HE DID FINIsH THIS Hovysn rn Aprimm anno Domrnr 1635: 
 InN THE ELEVENTH YEARH OF THE RAIGNE OF THE SAID Kine CHaruzs. 
 LAVS DEO. 
 
 Connected with each wing by a wall is a small square building (before mentioned) of two 
 stories, originally appropriated as residences for the falconer or gamekeeper, and gardener. These 
 buildings have windows similar to those in the wings, but not so large or bold. A door in the south 
 connecting wall leads into the garden; a gateway in the north one opens into the courtyard 
 
 appropriated to the domestic offices.* 
 
 The garden presents a scene of unsurpassed loveliness. Immediately in the foreground a carpet 
 of the softest turf, adorned at intervals with treasures of the floral world, delights the eye of the 
 admiring beholder; while venerable Portugal laurels, rhododendrons, and other shrubs, disposed in 
 pleasing forms, add the contrast of their more sober foliage to the gayer tints of the scene; a noble 
 line of solemn yews forming an appropriate background to the whole. Nor are the charms of contrast 
 wanting. Turning an angle, the sweeping branches of some noble walnut trees diffuse a feeling of 
 sober pensiveness, while, at the same time, they protect the garden from easterly winds. From the 
 walk that winds beneath the boughs of one of these trees, our south-east view of the Hall is obtained. 
 Flanking the east side of, but extending considerably beyond, the garden, is an avenue of sycamore 
 trees, ‘rather more than 300 yards in length; and the boughs of the trees so completely interlace, and 
 resemble the groined roof of the nave of a Gothic cathedral, as to afford no inconsiderable degree 
 of support to Warburton’s opinion as to the origin of poimted architecture. 
 
 If the east front of Aston Hall may be designated as grand, the southern view may, with equal 
 propriety, be termed beautiful. The more prominent feature is the projection in the centre, containing 
 the windows in the Chapel, and the large ones in the Great Drawing Room. On each side, on the 
 ground floor, is a colonnade of four arches, having plain circular pillars, with capitals and bases. 
 These pillars support semicircular arches with dripstones, and ornamented on the faces and reveals 
 with sunk panels. Adjoining the Great Drawing Room, and over the east colonnade, are the King’s 
 Bed Room and Dressing Room, the latter having been partitioned off from another room, the 
 remaining portion also serving as a dressing room to the first floor room as seen from the east front. 
 These two dressing rooms, and that part of the colonnade over which they are placed, did not form 
 a portion of the original building, as the bracket of an oriel window may be seen, partially hidden 
 by the roof of the colonnade; and the places where the junctions have been effected are distinctly 
 visible on the exterior of the building, and shown also in the illustration. 
 
 Adjoming the Great Drawing Room, to the west, is Lady Holte’s Drawing Room, adjacent to 
 
 which is the vestibule to the Long Gallery: these rooms are over the second colonnade. The 
 vestibule is also an addition. The wall of Lady Holte’s Drawing Room still bears distinct traces 
 
 of the attack in 1643, the only spot where the besiegers could have erected their battery being a 
 small eminence about 240 yards from the Hall, and exactly opposite this room. Many of the balls, 
 after penetrating the outer wall, passed through that on the opposite side of the room, to the 
 
 * The view of the Hall introduced in the background of the picture of Sir Thomas Holte has the space between the wings 
 represented as laid out as a pleasaunce, separated from the adjoining park by a low clipped hedge, with demi-figures on 
 pedestals at equal distances; from the centre of this extends a paved walk to the entrance door, and on either side are 
 three rows of pyramidally clipped yew trees, with statuary, on pedestals, between. In front of this pleasaunce, and at a 
 little distance, are some ornamental palisades, with rather elaborately worked gates. Whether this design was ever carried 
 
 into effect, and subsequently removed, or merely introduced in the picture as a suggestion to be afterwards acted upon, 
 cannot now be determined. 
 
\ 
 | 
 { 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 
59 
 
 staircase, one of them shattering a massive oak standard, and finding a resting place in the adjoining 
 wall; another piercing one of the beautiful panelled compartments; while a third, pointed higher 
 than the rest, passed over the balustrade, making a circular hole (which still remains) through 
 the door opening on to the sixth landing. 
 
 In the west colonnade is a very massive door, boldly panelled, which opens to the Terrace 
 adjoining the west front of the Hall. This front has, in the centre, a small glazed porch, forming 
 an entrance from the Saloon, and four windows on each side, lighting the suite of rooms under the 
 Long Gallery. The whole of this lower portion of the building is mantled with ivy. Above these 
 rooms—five in number—is the Long Gallery, which is lighted by five windows, the central one and 
 a portion of the adjoining wall slightly projecting, and having niches—one on either side—containing 
 statues of David and Solomon. Above these windows is a bold cornice, surmounted by a parapet, on 
 which, at equal distances, are placed vases. The roof of the Gallery is flat, and leaded, forming a 
 delightful promenade. At the back of the roof, and in the centre of the main building, is a large 
 stack of octagonal chimneys, on each side of which are three gables, having small windows, which 
 light the dormitories formed within the gables, and opening into a passage in the interior, termed 
 “ Dick’s Garret.” This front has evidently ‘been designed with an especial reference to the Long 
 Gallery—the favourite and usual appendage to Elizabethan mansions of the larger kind. 
 
 The Terrace, which consists of a broad gravelled walk, nearly 500 feet in length, embraces, 
 in its extent, the whole of the west front, the garden on the south side, and the courtyard on the 
 north appropriated for domestic offices. It is divided from the garden and courtyard by lofty walls, 
 covered with choice fruit trees. Between this walk and the park, from which it is divided by a 
 sunken wall, is a level lawn of turf, the centre of which is carried forward as an oval. This lawn 
 is ornamented with flowering shrubs, and has, opposite the saloon entrance to the house, a small 
 sun-dial. In the park, and at a little distance from the south end of the Terrace, is a magnificent 
 lime tree, which, from the luxuriaace of its growth, and the elegance of its shape, is worthy of 
 especial attention. 
 
 At the north-east corner of the Terrace a flight of steps conducts to the north side of the 
 house, beyond which are the stabling and out-offices. The centre portion of this side of the building 
 projects slightly beyond the Long Gallery, the bay window of which, at its north end, is worthy 
 of notice, and contains, on the ground floor, the Seryants’ Hall, Kitchen, and Housekeeper’s Room ; 
 and on the first floor, the Blue Room, Chinese Room, Lady Holte’s Bed Room, and the Boudow, 
 called after the same lady. Several gables, containing domestics’ sleeping apartments, terminate this 
 side of the building. 
 
 Many of the windows in this front have been despoiled of their mullions, and further injured 
 by the introduction of modern window frames. This was evidently the work of unskilful hands 
 towards the close of the last century, at a time when architectural taste was at its lowest ebb. The 
 same tasteless age also witnessed the painting of the beautiful oak panelling, and other equally 
 barbarous alterations in many of the rooms in the interior. It may also be mentioned that the 
 whole of the chimneys are octagonal, with plain moulded tops, and are on large square bases. 
 The various gables, also, add greatly to the picturesque appearance of the building, as they are all 
 formed of curved lines, and ornamented on their different stages with the vase-like balls and other 
 enrichments, which, in the Elizabethan, succeeded to the pinnacle of earlier styles. The whole of 
 the corners of the building are also quoined, and the surface of the walls is relieved by the 
 introduction of blue bricks, forming a series of chequers. 
 
 The offices are so placed as not to intercept the view from the north side of the house, and 
 extend for a considerable space from the Falconer’s Lodge, forming, with the Terrace, and the wall 
 connecting the north wing and lodge, a square, in the centre of which, on a large plot of turf, are 
 a few trees. The bark of a waspish dog now alone awakes the echoes where once the neighing 
 
60 
 
 of gallant steeds and the baying of numerous hounds gave earnest token of the exciting pleasures 
 of the chase. From the courtyard, a bridle road leads to the pleasure grounds and kitchen gardens, 
 which will be noticed in proper order. 
 
 The Hall is supplied with water from a well in the Hall Moors; a wheel, propelled from the 
 Dovehouse Pool, forcing up the water, through pipes, into two tanks, one of them of immense size. 
 
 Before entering on an extended description of the interior of the edifice, a sketch of the 
 
 position of the different apartments may, perhaps, not be out of place. The east front contains the 
 Hall, with the Great Staircase on the south, and the Oak Staircase on the north, both reaching to 
 the top of the house. Over the Hall are the Yellow, Middle, and Cleopatra Rooms, and above 
 
 these a passage called “ Dick’s Garret,” and servants’ dormitories. At the back of the Hall, staircases, 
 &e., and forming the west front, are five rooms, the centre one being the Saloon, to the north of 
 which are the Dining Room and Yellow Library, and on the south, the Small Drawing Room and 
 Green Library. These rooms are all beneath the Long Gallery. 
 
 The south wing contains, on the ground floor, the Colonnade and Colonnade Room, the Chapel 
 co} ? fo} vf 7 7 
 and a room to the east, known traditionally as “Mr. Lane’s;” on the first floor, the vestibule to the 
 Long Gallery, Lady Holte’s Drawing Room, the Great Drawing Room, Kine Charles's Bed Room 
 co) z 3 “ co) ? =) 
 and Dressing Room, and one over “Mr. Lane’s.” On the second floor are several apartments for 
 co} x 
 servants. 
 
 The north wing contains, on the ground floor, the Housckeeper’s Room, Kitchens, Servants’ 
 co} a to) ? 9 “) 
 Hall, &.; on the first floor, the State Room, Lady Holte’s Boudoir, the Blue Room, and the Chinese 
 a ») 2 y y > 
 Room; and on the second floor, a number of apartments, intended chiefly for domestics. In the 
 ? ? o] 
 centre of each wing, also, is a tower staircase, for servants.* 
 
 The Great Hall is 47 fect long by 24 feet wide, having. four large windows, of three lights 
 each, divided by transoms into four compartments. These windows, which are placed two on either 
 side of the entrance door, are deeply set in the walls, which are 4 fect 6 inches thick. The ceiling 
 is of plaster, very richly decorated with bosses, flowers, grotesque heads, &¢., within compartments 
 geometrically arranged. A broad cornice, interspersed with animals—including the elephant, unicorn, 
 lion, griffin, and stag—is carried round the room, the lower portions of the walls being wainscotted. 
 Opposite the entrance door is another, leading to the Saloon, and in the panel on each side of the 
 latter door is an arched compartment, with entablature, and pillars approaching to the Corinthian 
 style; the one compartment containing a landscape, and the other a picture of an Italian ruin. In 
 the north-west and south-west corners are similar compartments, flanked by pilasters, but without any 
 entablature, and distinguished by a scroll ornament, carried as a decoration above the wainscotting. 
 These compartments contain paintings representing Roman Emperors. These pictures, with the two 
 landscapes, were valued to Mr. Legge, in 1794, at £1 10s. The fire-place is on the north side: 
 the back of the grate bears the royal arms, with the initials O. R., and the compartments on each 
 side contain the Holte crest, under which on the one side is the letter W., and on the other the 
 
 letter H. Over the chimney-piece, on a square panel surrounded by Elizabethan scrolls, the following 
 verses are inscribed in Roman characters : 
 
 Ir sERVICE BE THY MBA TO THRIVE, 
 THOY MYST THEREIN REMATNE, 
 
 BoTH SILENT FAITHFVL JVST AND TRVE, 
 CoNTENT 0 TAKE SOME PAINE; 
 
 Ir LOVE OF VERTVE MAY ALLVRE, 
 OR HOPE OF WORLDLY GAINE, 
 
 Tr rHare oF Gop May THEE PROCVRE, 
 To SERVE DOE NOT DISDAINE. 
 
 * The total number of rooms, including out-houses and farm buildin 
 1817, is 102; the Chapel being omitted from the 
 
 g8, as mentioned in the catalogue of the sale in 
 
6] 
 
 A door in the south-east corner of the Hall leads to the Great Staircase, and a corresponding 
 one in the north-east to the Oak Staircase. These, as well as the great entrance door, and that 
 to the Saloon, have semicircular heads, and are further enriched with numerous small panels having 
 raised centres, both on the doors and also carried up the jambs and architrave on their several faces. 
 They also have the ornamental seroll-work carried above the wainscotting, similar to that just mentioned. 
 
 The Saloon has three windows, each of two lights; the centre one, however, has been formed 
 into a door leading into a small porch opening on the Terrace. From this room a door to the south 
 leads to the Small Drawing Room, which is lighted by two windows similar to those in the Saloon. 
 The chimney-piece in this apartment is a rich specimen of the Elizabethan method of adapting human 
 and animal forms, in bas-relief, as decorations on flat surfaces. | Adjoining this room is the Green. 
 Library. North of the Saloon is the Dining Room, the only object worthy of notice in which is 
 the chimney-piece, divided into panelled compartments, but heavy in design. Adjacent is the Yellow 
 Library. These five rooms, forming the ground floor to the western front, are all beneath the Long 
 Gallery. 
 
 From the vestibule in which the Great Stairease is situated, access is obtained to the South 
 Front Colonnade Room, so called from opening, by means of half-doors, to the Colonnade attached 
 to the Gardens. This room is panelled throughout, though the style is rather later than that of 
 other parts of the house. Adjoining, to the south, is a doorway somewhat resembling those of the 
 Great Hall, and containing within a scroll ornament, placed similarly to those before mentioned, but 
 not so richly decorated, a shield charged with the arms of Holte empaling Clobery. This door opens 
 into the Chapel Passage, and immediately opposite to it is another door, enriched with oblong panels 
 boldly moulded, and square-headed. This opens into the gallery or seat in the Chapel appropriated 
 to the Family. This seat, which is very commodious, though level with the ground floor of the 
 house, is raised a few feet above the area of the Chapel, and runs along the whole of the north side. 
 
 Adjoining the end of the passage is an apartment called “Mr. Lane’s Room,” close to the door of . 
 
 which, and at right angles, is a smaller passage, from which, by descending a flight of steps, 
 entrance is obtained to the Chapel on its east side. The Chapel was lighted by two windows in 
 the south wall. These are now stopped up, but a sufficient glimmering of light struggles along the 
 passages to admit of the internal arrangements being dimly discerned. The walls are wainscotted, 
 each being divided by pilasters into four compartments. To the east and west are placed large seats 
 for the domestics, the centre of the floor being unappropriated. The communion table, which was 
 of oak, covered with a crimson velvet cloth, was placed between the windows. The rails are carved 
 in a manner similar to the Oak Staircase, to be hereafter described, but the table has been removed. 
 The front of the Family pew was covered with velvet, and all the cushions were of crimson. The 
 Bible was Watson’s folio edition; the Prayer Books comprised two of Baskett’s, in folio, covered 
 with velvet; a Bill’s, in blue Turkey; a Baskett’s, large quarto, also in blue Turkey; twelve, in 
 calf, marked with Sir Lister Holte’s name; and a Baskerville’s octavo. The Chapel was lighted 
 by twenty-one brass sconces; and there was also a piece of tapestry hanging. 
 
 We now return to the Great Staircase. This is very similar in design to the famous one at 
 Crewe, which has been so frequently described. It is divided by short flights of steps into numerous 
 landings, and to each flight is an ornamental compartment divided by square high standards, enriched 
 with grotesque heads, and other ornaments in basso relievo. From the first floor, however, the 
 decoration consists only of low arabesque carving, but the whole standards are surmounted with 
 yase-like ornamental terminations, boldly carved, and capped with an Ionic volute. The compartments 
 between the standards are filled with a richly pierced strap ornament peculiar to the period. Instead 
 of being of polished oak, as is usual, the staircase is painted, that portion from the ground floor to 
 the first landing being now disfigured with white; the upper part, however, shows the decoration 
 of the whole, the colours employed being a dull red and grey, with the minor ornaments indicated 
 
62 
 
 by colour instead of carving. It may be noticed, as a peculiarity, that from the first landing the 
 wall side has been painted in imitation of the staircase, but the drawing is of the rudest description, 
 as also the colouring. The fourth, or first floor, landing is the place rendered memorable in 
 
 connection with the assault on the Hall in 1643. The southern front was that selected for attack, 
 and numerous marks still remain in the wall south of the staircase where the iron messengers forced 
 an entrance. But one ball, after passing through two thick walls, in its course encountered the 
 vase of one of the massive oak standards, and the stout post was riven from top to bottom, the 
 ball finally lodging in the wall a few feet distant. The course, taken by another, in a diagonal 
 direction, through the ornamental panelling, till it found a resting place near its companion, may 
 also be distinctly traced. The shattered standard still remains in the condition to which it was 
 reduced by the cannonading, as does also the balustrade; and for more than two centuries these 
 interesting relics have remained—conyincing proofs of the devoted loyalty of the old Baronet. 
 From this memorable spot, the standards of the upper part of the staircase are simply ornamented 
 with arabesque decorations, the carving being carried out with equal spirit through every portion. 
 On the top landing are two doors,—one leading to the leads over the Long Gallery, and the other 
 to a gloomy corridor in the roof, called ‘“ Dick’s Garret.” In the door opening from the sixth 
 landing to the rooms over the Hall, is a circular hole—the effect of a stray shot at the time of 
 the attack. | The staircase is lighted on the ground and first floors by large double mullioned windows 
 of three lights and six divisions each; in the ledge on the first floor window are two hollow sockets— 
 in one of these was deposited the ball which has become so famous, its companion haying been found 
 in the garden. From the windows beautiful views of the noble avenue, the spire of the church, and 
 the adjacent country, are obtained. 
 
 The Great Drawing Room, which is over the Chapel, is approached from the first landing of 
 the staircase. The mouldings of the doorway are richly ornamented, the style of decoration slightly 
 differing from that employed im other portions of the house. This splendid apartment, which is 
 39 feet by 23 feet, is lighted from the south by two noble mullioned windows, of three divisions and 
 nine lights each, and from the portion of the wall in which they are placed projecting a little beyond 
 the main line of the building, advantage has been taken to introduce a small window of two 
 divisions and six lights on each side, thus adding materially to the effect. A large north window 
 looking into the quadrangle has long been stopped up. The walls are panelled to within about a 
 yard of ‘the cornice, which is bold, but plain. The most peculiar feature of the decoration of the 
 room, however, is an ornamental stone frieze placed between the cornice and panelling. It contains, 
 under shallow semicircular-headed openings, placed at alternate distances round the room, bold 
 figures in military costumes of different times and nations, ranging from the polished Roman to the 
 rude Highlander; and from the mail-clad medieval warrior to the courtly knight of the Elizabethan 
 era. Four of these figures are displayed on the west, three on the south, three on the east, and 
 one on the north, walls. The portions of the frieze between the figures are covered with decorations 
 in low relief, simular to those in the ceiling. There is a general resemblance between this room 
 and the large one at Crewe, though the details and the figures in the latter are much bolder. 
 The ceiling is ornamented with one of those indescribable patterns peculiar to the period. It consists 
 of three large centre oval compartments, flanked by the same number, of a similar description, on 
 each side, every oval containing a smaller one ornamented with appropriate Elizabethan scroll work, 
 the centres containing a cherub’s head; and each of the circles formed at the junctions of the 
 principal ovals is filled with a grotesque head. The chimney-piece is especially worthy of notice. 
 It reaches nearly to the cornice, and is divided into two parts by bold entablatures, cach being 
 supported by graduated pilasters;* the upper ones, moreover, rest on bases supported by grotesque 
 
 * The graduated or diminishing pilaster, with its grotesque heads or masks, is a distinctive feature of Elizabethan 
 architecture, and is found, as in the present instance, as a member of the chimney-piece, and also often enlarged as a 
 pilaster to divide panelled compartments. Externally, though not so frequently, it is used to break the formality of a 
 series of perpendicular lines, as in the towers mentioned in the earlier part of this description. It is much to be wished 
 that a consecutive arrangement and general nomenclature of details, &c., of this truly English style of domestic architecture, 
 were arranged, similar to what has been done for the many varieties of our ecclesiastical styles. 
 
63 
 
 heads. The centre of the upper part is left perfectly plain. On the upper entablature are placed 
 scroll ornaments, enriched with shells > at*equal distances on the scrolls being placed shields—Holte A 
 Holte quartering Castells, Maidenach with Grimsarwe, and Willington; and Holte impaling Bradbourne. 
 A door in the east wall, close to the fire-place, opens into King Charles’s Bed Room, and one on 
 the opposite side leads through Lady Holte’s Drawing Room to the Long Gallery. 
 
 Lady Holte’s Drawing Room is lighted by two windows on the south side. The decoration. 
 of the ceiling is in the geometrical pattern, similar to that in the Hall, and the design is very good. 
 The chimney-piece is the only other object worthy of notice. This is singular from having the 
 entablature supported by Corinthian columns of dark marble, the whole composition strikingly resembling 
 a funereal monument of the same era. The doorways appear to have been carved at a much later 
 period, as they do not, in many respects, assimilate to those in other parts of the house. 
 
 From this room access is obtained to the vestibule or upper end of the Long Gallery. The 
 transition, altogether so unexpected, is striking, and fills the beholder with astonishment. As the 
 eye sweeps down the long uninterrupted vista, the mind is involuntarily filled with wonder at the 
 boldness that could design, and the skill that could execute, so choice a specimen of art and man’s 
 device. The massive walls, with the deeply-set old mullioned windows, through which the golden 
 beams of the sun shine in rich effulgence—the polished oaken panelling, rising tier above tier till 
 it approaches the lofty roof—the fluted pilasters crowned with chaste Ionic capitals—the magnificent 
 ceiling, with its graceful adornments—and the chimney-piece, too elaborate for description—all these 
 form a whole, worthy, indeed, of that noble mansion of which they constitute so distinguished a 
 decoration. Nor is the view from the windows out of keeping with the apartment. On the north, 
 the eye ranges over a wide landscape of richly-wooded country, extending across the Park to the 
 demesne of Perry Barr; while in the distance, the College of Oscott, and the famed Barr Beacon, 
 with the woods of Sutton Chase—over which one of the Holtes once was ranger—rise to the sight. 
 From the west, a fine view of the lovely scenery of the Park is obtained—the rising grounds and 
 dark woods of Handsworth bounding the view. To the south, the gardens impart an additional 
 charm to the scene; while immediately in the foreground, an ample terrace walk extending the whole 
 length of the building and the garden, and commanding an extensive view over the Park, terminates 
 the landscape. 
 
 This Gallery—perhaps, with the exception of those at Hardwicke and Hatfield, the finest in 
 England—is 136 feet in length, by 18 feet in width, and 16 fect high. It is lighted by five large 
 mullioned windows, of four lights and twelve divisions each, the centre window slightly projecting. 
 At the north end is a large oriel, in one of the compartments of which is a small shield, in stained 
 glass, charged with the Family arms impaling Newton, and similar to the one in the east window 
 of the north aisle of the Church. The walls are covered with oak panelling, divided, by pilasters 
 having capitals, into thirteen compartments. These pilasters are divided into three stages—the lower, 
 or base, being boldly moulded and ornamented. The second has numerous projecting bevelled blocks 
 placed perpendicularly and horizontally, and surrounding a boldly carved acorn; while the third, or 
 upper, is fluted in minute divisions, and finished with a capital. The rows of panels are eight in 
 number, each containing a semicircular arch supported by pilasters, all in low relief, similar to those 
 so often seen in pulpits of the Jacobean. era. A shallow cornice, or frieze, covered with ornaments, 
 also in low relief, is carried round the room. The ceiling is decorated with two rows of ornaments, 
 formed of squares, having semicircular projections, the centres being occupied with graceful devices, 
 of which the principal feature is the cornucopia. The chimney-picce is of marble, and by far the 
 most important in the house, and is in the centre of the east wall. Its principal features are broad 
 entablatures and cornices, supported by grotesque Caryatides, and divided into two principal portions, 
 the upper one, again, being also divided into two compartments, containing oblong panels of grey 
 marble surrounded by scroll-work. The lower portion is supported by graduated pilasters with 
 
64 
 
 sculptured heads, in a fine style of art. Three shields, charged similarly to those in the Great 
 Drawing Room, are placed on the upper part of the chimney-piece. | The fire-place has hand-irons, 
 for supporting logs of wood. Access to the Oak Staircase is gained by a door between the fire-place 
 and the north end of the Gallery. There is also a small door that formed the southern entrance 
 to the Gallery, from Lady Holte’s Drawing Room, before the vestibule was added; but when the 
 latter was erected, the aperture was closed. It should be noticed that the vestibule at the south 
 end was an afterthought, as the Gallery originally terminated with the main wall of the house ; 
 but the vestibule being afterwards added over the Colonnade, contributed materially to heighten the 
 general effect. The date of this addition is not known, but it was probably about 1650, as the 
 view of the Hall in Dugdale shows the Colonnade without the vestibule. 
 
 King Charles’s Bed Room, to the east of the Great Drawing Room, is of the same size as, 
 and similarly lighted to, Lady Holte’s Drawing Room. On the north side is a recess of some depth, 
 in which the bed was placed. ach side of this recess is flanked, at the entrance, by a clustered 
 pillar. On the western side is a small closet, into which three doors formerly opened—one leading 
 into the room, another into the recess close to the head of the bed, and a third, in the north-west 
 corner, leading through another small room, or rather closet, into the Great Drawing Room. These 
 two last doors have been stopped wp, and their original uses can now only be matter of conjecture. 
 The decoration of the ceiling is geometrical, like that in Lady Holte’s Drawing Room, but not so 
 bold. This apartment is further ornamented with a bold frieze or cornice, similar to that in the 
 Hall. The chimney-piece is of oak, and plain in comparison with those in other parts of the building. 
 In the north-cast corner of the room is a door leading to the other apartments in this wing, but 
 they do not call for especial notice. On the south-east there is a small Dressing Room, its only 
 ornament being a cornice, similar to that in the Bed Room, though on a smaller scale. 
 
 Over the Hall, and forming the centre of the first floor, are three rooms—the Yellow Room, 
 or Nursery; the Middle Room; and the Red, or Cleopatra Room. 
 
 The Yellow Room contains, in its south wall, a small chimney-piece divided by bold entablatures 
 into two portions; the upper one containing, under a semicircular arch on which recline two figures, 
 a female, in bold relief, pouring water from an ewer. The lower part is supported by two nude 
 demi-figures, rude in design, and clumsy in execution. Within the fire-place some quaint old tiles 
 still remain. 
 
 Passing through the Middle Room, which contains no object worthy of description, the Red, 
 or Cleopatra Room, is reached. This room is thus designated from a rude bas-relief over the 
 chimney-piece, under a semicircular arch, and representing Cleopatra and the asp. In the west 
 wall is a door leading into a small wainscotted apartment, called the Muniment Room. 
 
 From the Cleopatra Room access is obtained to the Oak Staircase, forming the means of 
 communication with the northern wing of the building. This staircase is entirely of oak, enriched 
 with balustrades having acorn ornaments appropriately introduced as pendants to the standards. 
 On the right of the first landing is a door communicating with the Long Gallery, as before mentioned, 
 and on the left a small vestibule lighted by a large window similar to those on the Great Staircase, 
 while on the north side are two doors, one communicating with the Blue Room, and the other 
 leading to the Chinese Room, Lady Holte’s Boudoir, and the State Room. The Blue and Chinese 
 Rooms are each lighted by two modern sash windows, the originals having been removed during 
 Mr. Legge’s occupancy of the Hall, and do not contain any object worthy of description. Over 
 the fire-place in the Blue Room is a copy of a picture formerly belonging to the Holte Family, 
 and styled “the Water Doctor.” The State Room is rendered rather more important than those 
 last mentioned, by having a dressing room thrown into it by means of a large depressed arch, and 
 was probably so arranged at the close of the seventeenth century. 
 
65 
 
 The upper story of the north wing, which is apprvacucu uu tue uynest Ianaing on the Uak 
 Staircase, is principally devoted to servants’ dormitories. These are lighted by small windows, in many 
 of which the original casements, glazed with quarries of sand glass, still remain. The doors consist 
 of stout pieces of oak nailed together, their only fastening being a latchet and string. 
 
 Over the Cleopatra and adjoining rooms, is a long dismal corridor in the roof, from which the 
 central tower, and other rooms for servants, similar to those just described, are approached. This 
 gloomy spot, into which just sufficient light gains admittance to make the darkness more apparent, 
 is rendered still more dreary by the associations connected with it. Tt has long been known 
 by the name of “Dick’s Garret,” being so denominated from a domestic who there hung himself 
 from one of the low rafters of the roof. In the central tower—a huge mass of brickwork resting 
 entirely on the timbers of the roof—isa chamber without any means of light, and called the “ dark 
 room,” which also has its tradition, as having been, for several years, the place of confinement of 
 one of the ladies of the Family who was supposed to be insane. At the extreme end of the Garret 
 a door opens on to the top landing of the Great Staircase; so that the extremes of cheerfulness 
 and gloom are here all but united. | Another door on the same landing leads to the flat lead roof 
 over the Long Gallery. 
 
 Immediately ‘over Lady Holte’s Drawing Room, and entered from the top of the Great 
 Staircase, is a small room, commanding a pleasant view over the southern portion of the Park. 
 The chimney-piece in this apartment has a depressed Tudor arch, and is remarkable as being of an 
 earlier character than the other portions of the building; possibly it may have been removed hither 
 from some other locality. The remaining apartments in this wing, and to the south-west, form 
 servants’ dormitories, and are similar to those in the corresponding wing. 
 
 In concluding the description of the house, it may be mentioned that it was evidently the 
 architects intention to bring prominently forward in the internal construction, the Entrance Hall, 
 the Great Drawing Room, the Long Gallery, and the Staircases, as, after these, every other portion 
 is comparatively small, and plain in the decoration; and the traditionary custom of having the chief 
 rooms on the upper floor has also been observed. 
 
 The name of the architect of this noble pile has not been preserved. § Richardson, in his 
 observations on old English mansions, observes that there is every reason to suppose that Dorfold 
 Hall, Crewe Hall, and Aston Hall, were built in successive order by the same architect. Many of 
 the ceilings, fire-places, staircases, &c., are nearly the same in all the houses. The carly rudeness 
 of the style is seen at Dorfold Hall, its purity in Crewe Hall, and the commencement of its 
 deterioration in Aston Hall. Nash, in the description to his first series of “The Mansions of 
 England in the Olden Time,” states that Crewe is one of the finest examples of the mansions of 
 King James’s time, and was built from a design (it is said) by Inigo Jones. Sarsfield Taylor, in 
 his “Fine Arts in Great Britain and Ireland,” says Crewe was built by Jones, but that it is really 
 surprising how little is known, with certainty, of the mansions he built. Aston may, therefore, be 
 one of Jones’s productions. 
 
 At the north-east corner of the Terrace, a narrow flight of steps leads to the main drive 
 through the Park, and to the Kitchen Garden and Pleasure Grounds. These are separated 
 
 from the Park by a rustic paling, and shallow ditch, over which a small wooden bridge is thrown. 
 
 Passing the wicket gate, immediately to the right is a sheet of water (two acres in extent) somewhat 
 in the shape of a triangle, called the ‘“ Dovehouse Pool,” having on its north side a grass walk, 
 parallel to which, but separated by a plantation of rhododendrons, is a gravel walk, which adjoins 
 the south wall of the Kitchen Garden. Passing forward along the main walk, the road leads through 
 a retired path, bounded on one side by flowering and deciduous shrubs, with a background of large 
 trees, and on the other by the garden wall, along which are trained numerous beautiful shrubs and 
 
66 
 
 flowers. At the termination of this walk is an irregular avenue of lime and other trees, leading 
 to a lawn on the margin of the “Staffordshire Pool,” (seven acres in extent,) so called from the 
 county boundary passing through it. The view from this spot is one of exceeding beauty. A noble 
 oak, around whose massive trunk a rustic seat has been placed, spreads its broad pendent branches 
 over the verdant turf, while another, planted on the margin of the pool, dips its leafy boughs into 
 the clear deep waters below. A small neat fishing lodge, apparently in the style of Queen Anne’s 
 reign, harmonises admirably with the surrounding scenery, and affords accommodation for the angler. 
 Adjoining this lodge are the poultry pens and dovecot. Winding round a curve of the pool, and 
 passing through a small clump of lofty trees, is seen a bridge, placed in a very picturesque spot, 
 and spanning the narrow outlet connecting the pool with the fish stews. The aspect of these 
 stews is of a wild and almost savage character. The dense foliage of the trees casting a dark 
 shadow, which a stray glimpse of sunlight but serves, by the contrast, to render more perceptible ; 
 the black and unruffled appearance of the apparently stagnant pools; the ever-recurring sound of 
 falling water; and the gloomy isolation of the spot—all combine to produce an impression of the 
 most solemn and striking nature. Leaving the place just referred to to the right, and crossing the 
 little bridge, the road winds, by a double walk, along the side of the pool, through a grove of the 
 most beautiful rhododendrons and other flowering shrubs, while forest trees of a larger growth are 
 not wanting to impart an additional charm. At intervals, an opening in the foliage permits a glimpse 
 of the scenery of the Park to be obtained; and from an aged willow, whose branches float on the 
 surface of the water, at the north angle of the pool, an exquisite view of the north-west portion of 
 the Hall is obtained. From this point the walk extends a considerable distance, terminating in an 
 open space of some extent, (recalling to mind the pleasaunce of olden days,) in the centre of which 
 is an ornamental grass-plot, in front of an elegant alcove, so placed as to command a view, from east 
 to west, directly across the pool. In this place the Pleasure Grounds terminate, but the plantations 
 are continued at the back of the farm buildings, and past a third pool called the “Great Pool,” 
 (containing sixteen acres,) to the Lodge on the Walsall Road. 
 
 The Church Lodge, which was the original entrance to the Park, and so called from being 
 opposite the western end of the old Parish Church, is worthy of a passing notice. It consists of 
 a large central gateway, of stone, on either side of which is a small postern door, and these are 
 flanked by low brick buildings, forming small residences, haying curved gables (in which the Holte 
 crest is inserted) and mullioned windows. But the distinguishing characteristic is a large ogee arch 
 of stone over the centre gate, ornamented with crockets and a large finial, and evidently intended by 
 the designer as an imitation of the enriched arches of the fifteenth century, and probably considered 
 thus to harmonise with the adjoining Church. On either side of this arch are tall pyramids 
 or pinnacles of stone, partaking rather of a funereal character. Just within the gates are some 
 venerable trees; and, combined with a distant glimpse of the stately Hall on the one hand, and the 
 beautiful old Church and quiet churchyard on the other, the whole forms a most agreeable and 
 pleasing picture. The other Lodge, on the western side of the park, adjoins the Walsall New 
 Turnpike Road, and, though modern, is built in very good taste. Owing, however, to the sale of 
 the adjoining land, its removal may shortly be expected. 
 
 The wall that formerly encircled the Park was built by Sir Lister Holte, and the tradition has 
 long been current that the expense was borne by Staffordshire coalmasters, on Sir Lister’s undertaking 
 that no attempt should be made to mine for coals supposed to le under a portion of the estate. 
 
67 
 
 About the same time as the Aston property was disposed of, the magnificent mansion of 
 Brereton Hall was also offered for sale. The house and park (the greater part of the estate having 
 been previously sold off) came into the possession, about 1828, of Mr. Howard, of Hyde, Lancashire, 
 a manufacturer. There is a beautiful engraving of it in Ormerod’s Cheshire, Vol. III., and also in Nash’s 
 “Mansions of England.” “The Baronial Halls of England,” Vol. I., edited by S. C. Hall, also contains a 
 short illustrated account of it. The estate, as mentioned in a previous page, came to the Holte Family 
 through the marriage of Jane, daughter of Sir John Brereton, with Sir Robert Holte, in 1646. 
 This lady being the great aunt of Francis the fifth and last Lord Brereton, and grand-daughter of 
 William, the first Lord, the estates descended to her son (two months only before his death) as heir 
 at law, but the title became extinct. The powerful Family of Brereton was known in the time 
 of William Rufus, but first rose into importance in the reign of Edward III. It possessed various 
 seats in Cheshire, where it was, and still is, a saying that the Brereton could go on his own land 
 from his parish church of Astbury to Chester, a distance of twenty-five miles. 
 
 Sir William Brereton, in the reign of Henry VIII, held the high offices of Grand Justiciary 
 and Grand Marshal in Ireland. He subdued the great O'Neil, and brought him to “a composition,” 
 and was marching, in 1541, with a large force to “bring in” the powerful Earl Desmond, when 
 he was arrested by illness, and died at Kilkenny, where he was buried in the choir of the church 
 of St. Kenneth. This gentleman seems to have settled many of his Family in Ireland, where several 
 branches remain to this day. Sir William, his grandson, is mentioned by Strype (Ecclesiastical 
 Memorials, 1557, cap. 56) as leading 200 Cheshire men to Lord Derby’s levy of Lancashire and 
 Cheshire men for the war in Scotland. This Sir William’s son, or the third Sir William, was also 
 
 employed in Ireland. He was long at the court of Queen Elizabeth and King James, and by the 
 latter monarch was, in 1624, created Baron Brereton, of Leighlin or Loughlin, in the Kingdom of 
 Treland, and died in 1631. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Savage, of Rock Savage, 
 
 formerly Clifton, in Cheshire, and of Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas, Earl of Rutland, a lineal 
 descendant of John of Gaunt, Edmund Langley, Duke of York, King Edward III., and Don Pedro, 
 King of Castile. Lord Brereton, of whom a portrait is preserved at Atherstone, was a portly 
 and noble gentleman, with lofty forehead, oval countenance, and fresh colour. He lived to a good 
 old age, and was the founder of Brereton Hall, on the site of the more ancient’ mansion of the head 
 of his Family. 
 
 The house, finished before 1578, is placed on a rising ground above the little river Croc, 
 which issues from Bagmere, in the estate, a small lake celebrated for its floating island, recorded 
 in Camden’s Britannia, from a ford over which the approach led through an ornamental brick 
 gateway and low walled courts* to the great door, beneath a groined arch. ‘This door is flanked 
 by octagonal towers rising to a great height, and united above by an ornamental arch joining their 
 upper rooms; below, they are pierced with ornamented windows on both stories. On each side of 
 the towers is the body of the building, of two stories above the basement, covered by a lead roof, 
 and having a handsome balustrade. The front is terminated at each end by a lofty gable, rising 
 over a wide projection pierced with bold bay windows in all the stories. The house forms three 
 sides of a quadrangle. On the left of the front a side door communicates with offices attached to 
 the kitchen and servants’ hall, both in the wing on that side, while a door on the right wing (in 
 which are the great dining room, staircase, and library) opens towards the churchyard, nearly 
 adjoining. Both wings are covered with heavy stone roofs, the towers being domed with lead. 
 Toward the interior of the quadrangle is a wide stone corridor, above the basement story, and 
 ascended to from the great door by two handsome flights of steps; and above this corridor is a 
 long gallery uniting two narrower corridors, which give entrance to the apartments in the wings. 
 The chief apartments open to the gallery above, and to the corridor below. The whole structure 
 is of brick, with stone mouldings and ornamental courses. Over the great doorway is the date 1586. 
 
 * The courts and arch are now removed. 
 
68 
 
 Queen Elizabeth is said to have laid the first stone of Brereton Hall, and after its completion she 
 honoured its owner with a visit. Not only had this loyal gentleman a large state picture of her 
 Majesty in panel, but he also caused the external stonework of the Hall to be decorated with her 
 arms, and with her double roses and portcullis. In the oriel window over the great door were the 
 royal arms finely emblazoned, and supported by a lion and griffin, the whole beg flanked with the 
 double rose and portcullis, surmounted by crowns. Below was the motto “Vivat Regina, 1578 ;” 
 above, the letters “E.R.” This beautiful piece of glass is now at Atherstone. Lord Brereton, 
 besides several very fine armorial chimney-pieces, decorated his dining hall with a frieze on which 
 are emblazoned the arms of forty-seven sovereign princes of Europe and Africa at that period. 
 He filled his windows with the coats of arms of the Karls and Barons of the county of Chester 
 soon after the conquest, and then with the gentlemen of the same county entitled to bear arms in 
 the time of Elizabeth; in all 330 coats of arms, richly and beautifully emblazoned in the finest 
 colours. The heraldry is certified in a parchment book (still preserved) by the Herald Somerset, 
 and signed by Sir William Brereton, 1608. But the more important specimens of painted glass with 
 which he adorned the Hall (and which have much engaged the attention of antiquaries and 
 connoisseurs) are the effigies of the seven Harls of Chester and two Earls of Mercia, each figure 
 having beneath it the arms of some noble family descended from these Earls, (as, indeed, was 
 Lord Brereton himself,) with all their quarterings, surrounded by a Garter, with its motto, and 
 surmounted by a coronet. This extraordinary work of art was removed from Brereton to Aston 
 some time after the former estate came into the possession of the Holtes, and, in 1817, was removed 
 thence to Atherstone Hall, where, in a high state of preservation, it now graces the window of 
 Mr. Bracebridge’s library. 
 
 The great Norman Earls,* who originated with the Conqueror, succeeded to the power, possessions, 
 and blood of the Saxon Earls of Mercia. The two last of this latter dynasty form, therefore, the 
 beginning of the series. They were Leofwine and Leofric, the latter the husband of Lady Godiva, 
 and contemporary with his kinsman, Edward the Confessor. The first Norman Earl is Hugh Lupus, 
 nephew of the Conqueror, to whom the County Palatine of Chester was granted to hold by the 
 sword as freely as William held England. He held, among other tribunals, a court at Chester, 
 where “pleas of the sword,” 7, matters against the rights and dignities of the Earl Palatine, 
 were tried; and exercised sovereign right compatible with allegiance to the King. 
 
 Richard, his son, succeeded. He was drowned with the son and daughter of Henry I. in 
 their unhappy shipwreck, in 1120. His brother Orwell, the tutor of the royal offspring, was also 
 drowned at the same time. 
 
 The third Earl was Randulph Meschines, son of John de Bohun, Earl of Cumberland, and 
 Margaret, sister of Hugh Lupus, (consequently his nephew.) This Earl, after a marriage with 
 Maude, daughter of Aubrey de Vere, Earl of Guisnes, was united to Lucia, daughter of Algar, 
 son of Leofric and Lady Godiva, the representative (her brothers, Edwin and Morcar, being dead) 
 of the line of King Harold. His son, therefore, Randolf Vernoues, or Gernouns, fourth Earl of 
 Chester, united the Norman blood of Lupus and King William with that of the Saxon Earls of 
 Mercia and Kings of England. He acted a conspicuous part in the war between Stephen and Maud, 
 often changing sides. He at one time is stated to have held a third of England by conquest. 
 He died, by poison, after a reign of twenty-five years. His successor was his son, Hugh de Bohun, 
 or Kevelioc, fifth Earl. He reigned twenty-cight years, and died 1181, having married Beatrix, 
 daughter of Richard Lucy, Lord Chief Justice of England; and next, Bertred, daughter of Simon, 
 Earl of Evreux, in Normandy, by whom he had a son, Randolph Blundeville, sixth Earl, and five 
 daughters. Randolph, already distinguished by feats of arms in the time of King Richard and 
 John, was mainly accessory to the elevation of Henry III. to the throne, with the Pope’s legate 
 
 * For this account we are indebted to Mr. Bracebridge’s paper, read at the meeting of the Archological Institute, at 
 Warwick, in 1847. 
 
69 
 
 and the Earl of Pembroke. He joined the crusade to the Holy Land about 1218, and died without 
 issue, being succeeded, in 1232, by his nephew John, surnamed Scot, son of Maud, daughter of Hugh 
 
 Kevelioc, and David, Earl of Angus and Huntingdon. He was the last Earl, and died, without 
 issue, in 1237, when the King took the earldom to himself, and, disinheriting John’s sisters, gave 
 them large feuds and possessions instead of their legal inheritance. Ada, the fourth of these sisters, 
 
 married, for her third husband, Sir Ralph Brereton, of Brereton, and lies buried, with him, under 
 a beautiful canopied tomb, in the churchyard of Astbury, then the parish church of Brereton. The 
 date is about 1270.* 
 
 The space of glass (formerly enclosed between the mullions of stone) which forms the field in 
 which each Karl stands, is 34% inches by 17} inches, the figures being 232 inches high. The Earls 
 Leofwine and Leofric of Mercia have different coronets from the rest; in other respects all the 
 
 figures are similar. Each Earl is in full plate armour, cap @ pied, excepting the coronet instead of 
 helmet. This armour is of the time when the glass was painted, and in no respect represents tha 
 & iE ? i i 
 
 of the period when each Earl flourished. The arms are—a sword drawn in the right hand, and a 
 large dagger hanging from the belt; in two or three instances the armour is inlaid with gold. Each 
 
 figure wears gauntlets, and over the armour is thrown a rich surcoat, (the Earls of Mercia bear it 
 black, and the others, azure, yellow, or red,) on which the arms of each Earl are richly emblazoned, 
 
 without a shield. The figures stand on a floor of yellow, from whence a background of yellow 
 
 and white chequers rises knee-high; on each side are pillars of yellow glass, supporting an arch of 
 
 blue, in the crown of which is introduced a grotesque lion’s head, of yellow, bearing a basket filled 
 with rich yellow flowers, and wreaths of these are suspended from the centre of the arch to the 
 
 capitals of the columns. The Earls themselyes have their heads in different directions, and some 
 are painted with red hair. Square cut beards and moustaches give to all a venerable character, 
 mingled with a martial and noble bearing. The Earl Richard, son of Hugh Lupus, who perished 
 
 at the age of twenty-five, is an exception to the rest, being represented as a beardless youth. 
 Though the figures are somewhat stiff, the general effect is imposing, and exceedingly good, being 
 much relieved by the brilliant arms on the breast, and the admirable manner in which the leading 
 is arranged, so as to give shade and outline to the contour of each figure. 
 
 In the like space of plain glass which each Karl occupies, and below each, are the richly- 
 quartered arms of some noble family descended from them, as Stanley, Somerset, Sydney, Compton, 
 &e.; and these are enclosed in a rich azure garter edged with gold, with buckles and points of the 
 same; above each is a widely-spread coronet of gold. The height of the painted glass, from the 
 apex of the coronet to the gold point of the pendent part of the garter, is 204 inches, and the 
 
 (a3 
 
 width 13 inches; and on each garter is the motto, in golden letters, ‘“ Honi soit qui mal y pense.” 
 
 The arms, as given upon the surcoats on the breasts of the two Earls of Mercia, are a double-headed 
 
 eagle displayed, or, on a black surcoat. Of the seven Karls of Chester, the arms are as follow :— 
 
 Ist, Hugh Lupus—rouge, a wolf’s head erased, argent; 2nd, Richard—the same, but with the 
 p] co) ae ON) ? he ) > ? 
 
 rouge surcoat par semé, with cross-croslets, argent; 3rd, Randolph Meschines—or, a lion rampant, 
 
 gules; 4th, Randolph Vernoues 
 
 garbes, or; 6th, Randolf Blundeville—azure, three garbes, or; 7th, John Scott—the same. 
 
 cules, a lion rampant, argent; 5th, Hugh Kevelioc—azure, six 
 5 2: 5] to} rd 3) = ? 
 
 With this lengthened description of this extraordinary work of art, we bring our history of 
 the Holte Family to a close. 
 
 The shadow of the Past—the mighty Past—looms darkly over Aston. It is impossible to 
 feel otherwise than thoughtful, if not sad, in gazing on that extensive and noble pile, oft resonant 
 with joy and gladness, but now, alas! lonely and deserted. But lonely and deserted though it be, 
 it speaks most eloquently to him who in silent contemplation muses on the lessons it teaches. 
 
 * Vide Sir Peter Leicester’s History of the Harls of Leicester, &c. 
 
70 
 
 It reminds him of the instability of all things earthly; of the nothingness of worldly honours and 
 human greatness; and it tells him, in the Ichabod written on its walls, that “they build too 
 low who build below the skies.” Reader, enter with us that old Parish Church. As we pass 
 
 the threshold across which so many generations of busy feet, now silent among the clods of the 
 valley, once trod, let a feeling of awe, as though in the immediate presence of Him whose 
 presence pervades all space, come over our minds; and as we approach that spot where the 
 memorials of the noble departed lie so thickly scattered above us, beneath us, and around us, let 
 us pray that we may be enabled, from their history, to learn a lesson of lasting benefit. And let 
 those sepulchral monuments, which tell of fidelity to earthly monarchs, of enlightened patriotism, of 
 disinterested philanthropy, of Christian faith and hope, of conjugal affection, and, alas! of bitter 
 
 hostility, be to us a homily not lightly passed by. Two generations have gone to their final 
 
 account since the Last of the Holtes was gathered to his fathers. But the lessons to be derived 
 
 from the Family history remain as forcible as ever. Be it ours, then, to draw such instruction 
 ad y ? 
 
 therefrom as shall be best calculated to enable us to avoid their errors, and to surpass their good 
 deeds. Then will our study of their history not have been in vain. 
 
QUARTERINGS OF 
 
 Houre—Azure, two bars or; in chief a ¢ 
 the second. 
 
 3 patence of 
 
 Hrprneron: 
 
 Dz Wotvey—Or, between three mullets gules, a lion 
 rampant, sable. 
 
 Azure, two lions passant, or. 
 
 Castrtts or Castres—Gules, three castles, or. 
 
 Grimsarwe or Grimsiaw—Azure, a cross fleuré argent, 
 in chief a label of three points, gules. Borne 
 quarterly with 
 
 Marpennacu—Barré of six, argent and gules, engrailed; a 
 canton dexter, gules. 
 
 Contine—Azure, two wings displayed, or. 
 
 CompBrrrorp—Gules, upon a cross engrailed or, five roses 
 of the first. 
 
 Kyienn, of Baschurch, Salop—Paly, argent and gules, with 
 bordure azure; on a canton gules a spur, or. 
 
 Wixtineron, of Barcheston—Gules, a saltire vaire, azure 
 and argent. 
 
 E HOLTE FAMILY. 
 
 e Le rs 
 Frrrers, of Tamworth Castle—Vaire, or and gules. 
 
 Brappourne, of the Hough, Derbyshire—Argent, on a bend 
 gules three mullets, or. 
 
 Brerpron—Argent, two bars, sable. 
 
 Marpas—Gules, three pheons, argent. 
 Baron of Manpas.—Argent, a cr fleuré, azure. 
 
 Ecrrton pr Marpas—Argent, between six pheons sable 
 a lion rampant, gules, tongued and clawed azure. 
 Corsnt—Or, two crows, sable. 
 
 Orrepy—Chevronné of six, gules and ermine; in a dexter 
 canton, gules, a lion passant, or. 
 
 Srrancr—Gules, two lions pa 
 tongued azure ; 
 
 t, argent, langued and 
 a label of three points, or. 
 
 Cuosrry, of Bradstone—Argent, a bend engrailed cotizé, 
 sable. 
 
 Lister, of Whitfield—Ermine, upon a fess sable three 
 mullets, argent. 
 
 PEDIGREES OF 
 
 IN THE HARLEIAN COLLECTION. 
 
 MS. 1,100, folio 12 b. 1,167, folio 6 b. 
 
 1,563, folio 22 b. 
 
 THE 
 
 HOLTE FAMILY. 
 
 IN KINGS COLLEGHR, OXFORD. 
 
 MS. 150, folio, p. 211. 
 
 PATENTS, COMMISSIONS, &c., 
 
 UNDER THE GREAT SEAL, 
 
 BELONGING 
 
 TOT MAGE TE OEE SHeACMUIn ve, 
 
 (IN POSSESSION OF MR. BRACEBRIDGE.) 
 
 1544,—35 Henry VIII—Decree in Chancery, umder the 
 great seal, between Edward Birmingham, Lord of 
 Birmingham, and Thomas Holte, Bencher of the 
 Middle Temple, Lord of Aston. Marked on one 
 side (apparently at the time) “the King’s letters 
 patent for the confirmation of some grants.” 
 
 1612.—9 James I.—Patent of Baronetage to Sir Thomas 
 Holte, Knight. 
 
 1612.—Receipt from the Exchequer for Baronetage Money. 
 
 1625.—-1 Charles I—General Pardon, under great seal, to 
 Sir Thomas Holte. Dated February 10th. 
 
 1637.—18 Charles I— Commission of Deputy Lord-Lieutenant, 
 to Sir Thomas Holte. 
 
 1638.—14 Charles I—Commission of the Peace for the 
 county of Warwick, to Sir Thomas Holte. 
 
 1638.—Ditto—Commission of the Peace for the county of 
 Warwick, to Robert Holte. 
 
 1641.—17 Charles I.—First warrant for subsidy, under the 
 great seal. 
 
 1660.—12 Charles II—Patent of High Sheriff, to Sir Robert 
 Holte. 
 
 1660.—Ditto— Commission of Deputy Lord-Lieutenant for 
 the county of Warwick, to Sir Robert Holte. 
 
 1661.—13 Charles II.—Pardon and Indemnity to Sir Robert 
 Holte. Dated February 28th. 
 
 1662—14. Charles IJ.—Commission of the Peace to Sir 
 Robert Holte, under the great seal. 
 
 1662.—Ditto—Commission of Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of the 
 county of Warwick, to Sir Robert Holte, others 
 being joined with him in the Commission. 
 
 1663.—15 Charles IT.—Commissi 
 
 , signed “ Northampton, 
 Master of his Maj Leash,’ to Sir Robert 
 Holte, Bart., to take and se greyhounds, &c., 
 for the use and disport of his Majesty. 
 
 1680.—31 Charles I1.—Commission of the Peace for the 
 county of Warwick, to Sir Charles Holte. 
 
 1683.—34 Charles II.—Commission of Deputy Lord-Lieutenant 
 of the county of Warwick, to Sir Charles Holte. 
 
 1684.—85 Charles I1.—Commission of Deputy Lord-Lieu- 
 tenant, to Sir Charles Holte. 
 
 1684.—Ditto.— Duplicate of ditto. 
 
 1685.—1 James IJ.—Commission of Deputy Lord-Lieutenant, 
 to Sir Charles Holte. 
 
 1686.—2 James II.—Commission of Deputy Lord-Lieutenant, 
 to Sir Charles Holte and others. 
 
 1767.—Indenture between Sir Lister Holte, High Sheriff of 
 Cheshire, and John Wilson, of Sandbach, gentleman, 
 his Under Sheriff. 
 
RELATIVE 
 
 9 Edward III. 
 
 10 e; 
 15 » 
 
 16 : 
 
 40 ” 
 
 49 i 
 
 49 is 
 
 2 Richard II. 
 1 ” 
 
 18 » 
 
 18 Henry VI. 
 18 ” 
 
 28 
 
 1 Edward IV. 
 
 12 Ps 
 
 7 
 
 3) 
 
 ANCIENT DEEDS OF THE HOLTE FAMILY, 
 
 TO PROPERTY AT ASTON, BORDESLEY, DUDDESTON, ERDINGTON, NECHELLS, &c., 
 
 (ay POSSESSION OF MR. BRACEBRIDGE.) 
 
 14 Edward IV. 
 19 o 
 20 és 
 20 i 
 Edward V. 
 Henry VII. 
 
 Hee 
 PHAANWNWOH 
 
 24 
 
 4 Henry VIII. 
 
 1474 
 1479 
 1480 
 1480 
 1483 
 1494 
 1497 
 1497 
 1501 
 1503 
 1503 
 1509 
 1509 
 1509 
 1513 
 
 6 
 
 41 
 
 5 Henry VIII. . 
 
 » 
 
 ” 
 
 ” 
 
 Elizabeth 
 
 9 James I. 
 
LIST OF 
 
 CHARLES HOLTE 
 Appertey, C. B., Esq., M.P., 
 Allarton, Miss, Edgbaston 
 Alleock, W. P., Edgbaston 
 Allen, Josiah, Colmore Row 
 Allen, Josiah, Jun. 
 Allport, The Rev. J 
 Alston, Miss, 
 Anderton, 
 
 Hams Hall, Coleshill 
 
 Handsworth 
 ., Ashted, (2 copies) 
 Newbold Terrace, Leamington 
 
 George, Moseley Wake Green 
 
 Armitage, Miss B 
 Aston, John, Wa: 
 Aston, Samuel, 6, 
 
 Highfield, Edgbaston 
 
 et, Birmingham 
 Attwood, Thos. 
 
 , Hawne House, Hales Owen 
 
 Braprorp, The Rt. 
 Bacchus, Wm., Wi 
 Bagnall, William, 
 
 Bagnall, Mrs., Monme 
 Bagnall, Miss, Monn 
 Bagot, The Re. Egerton A rden, Pype Hayes, near Birmingham 
 Baker, R. 
 
 . The Earl of, Weston Hall, (2 copies) 
 bourne Road, Edgbaston 
 
 ad Hall, Handsworth 
 
 (2 copies) 
 
 1 
 
 Hamst 
 
 » Birmi 
 
 Bakewell, Ha am, , Birmingham 
 
 Banks, Richard W., 
 Barker, Edward, Hdg! 
 i 
 
 gton, a ae? ordshire 
 
 Barrows, Joseph, 
 Barwell, Charl 
 Barwell, James. 
 Barnett, 
 Bateman, John J., 
 
 Terrace 
 
 Edward, Edgbaston 
 
 Beale, Wm. John, 
 Beaumont, Wm., 
 Bedford, John Yeend 
 Bennett, Wm., B: 
 Bickmore, The 1 
 Birch, Charles, 
 Blews, Wm. H. 1 
 Booth, The 
 Botham, John R 
 
 Road, Edgbaston 
 
 “ill, Bir 
 
 oll, Birmingham 
 
 Abbey, Pershore 
 
 nam. 
 
 Berkswell Hall, n 
 
 Rdghaston 
 
 ear Coventr 'y 
 
 Birmingham. 
 5 9 
 
 (83 copies) 
 
 erefordshire 
 
 Boulton, 1 
 Boulton, John, I 
 rer. ‘dw: ohe 
 Bower, Edw ngham 
 
 rville House, 
 
 Bracebridge, ‘Warwick, 
 
 near Lichfield 
 ey Hnsor, near Atherstone 
 Tarborne Teak Edgbaston 
 
 fe High Street, Birmingham 
 
 Bradbourne, 1 
 Bradley, The I 
 Branson, G. W., 
 Bright, S., 
 
 Brown, Jas., Bi 
 
 London 
 
 Brown, J. K., Union Passage, Birmingham 
 
 Browne, J. Garle. Cornhill, J.ondon 
 Buckeridge, The Rev. George, St. John’s, Lichfield 
 Buckley, Mrs., Calthorpe Street, Edgbaston 
 
 Bunce, John Thackray, Camp Hill, Birmingham 
 
 BRACEBRIDGE, 
 
 Esq., Agrnerstonr Hann, (5 copies) 
 
 Caurnorrr, The Rt. Hon. Lord, Perry Hall, Staffordshire 
 Crows, Sir John Harpur, Bart., Calke Abbey, Derbyshire 
 Chance, Wm., Jun., Chad Road, Edgbaston, (8 copies) 
 
 |  Cheston, Charles, Oak House, Balsall Heath 
 
 Clarke, John, Birmingham 
 
 Clarke, Leonard W., Birmingham 
 
 | Cole, Job, Aston Lane, Birchfield 
 
 | Collis, Edward H., Hdgba 
 Cooke, H. B 
 Cope, C 
 Corfield, 
 
 ton 
 reet, Regent’s Park, London 
 nh Green, Birmingham 
 
 John, 149, Moor Street, Birmingham 
 Cornforth, John, Bi 
 | Cowper, Wm., 
 
 Cox, Isaac. 
 
 mingham 
 Harborne Road, Edgbas 
 Aug 
 
 ton. 
 
 Street, Birmingham 
 
 | Crosby, s Caroline, 5, King Alfred’s Place, Birmingham 
 e Earl of, Patteshull 
 
 Erdington 
 
 House, 
 
 uth: 
 
 ampton, 
 
 on, James, 
 
 Davies, James, 
 Dawson, Geor 
 Derringtor 
 
 Coventry Road, Birmingham 
 
 pe ae Edgbaston 
 Highfiel , Edgbaston 
 
 5 id non 
 
 Dodd, Te Round Hills, Aston 
 
 Downes, Wm., Handsworth 
 
 Edwards, John, 89, New Street 
 
 Newhall Street 
 
 Elkington, George, Hégbaston 
 
 kington, G. By Northfield 
 
 Blikincton. Brederick 
 ilkington, Frederick, 
 
 Belmont Row 
 Everitt, George A., Coventry Road 
 
 1, Arthur, 1) 
 
 Vittoria Street 
 
 y, Birmingham 
 Fenwicke, The Rev. G. O., 4, Dowry Square, Clifton 
 Fereday, Richard W., Noel Road, Monument Lane, Edgbaston 
 Ferrers, Marmion E., Esq., Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire 
 Foley, John H. H., Bsq., M.P., Prestwood, near Stourbridge 
 Forrest, The Rev. I. G., 83, Caroline Street 
 Free, James, Worce 
 
 Fearn, Th 
 
 Feather, Hen 
 
 r 
 
 Freeth, John, Smethwick, near Birmingham 
 
 | Preeth, Major General, London 
 | Fry, Mrs., Highfield, Edgbaston 
 
 Galton, Hubert, Esq., Warley Hall, Birmingham 
 Garbett, The Rey. John, Harborne Vicarge 
 Geach, Charles, Esq., M.P., 
 
 Edgbaston, (2 copies) 
 
Gem, Wm. Henry, Wood End, Erdington, (2 copies) 
 Gibson, James Watt, Esq., Heathfield Hall, Handsworth 
 Gillott, Joseph, Edgbaston 
 
 Granger, J., Broad Street 
 
 Graves, Henry, & Co., 6, Pall Mall, London 
 
 Greaves, Richard, Esq., Cliff House, Warwick 
 
 Greene, Richard, Esq., St. Chad’s, Lichfield 
 
 Griffiths, H. M., Bennett’s Hill 
 
 Grimley, H. N., Birmingham 
 
 Grundy, Wm. M., Sutton Coldfield 
 
 Goodman, John D., Edgbaston 
 
 Gwyther, Edwin, Tudor House, Edgbaston, (2 copies) 
 
 Harnerton, The Rt. Hon. Lord, Teddesley Hall, (2 copies) 
 Hanrorp, Sir William, Bart., Four Oaks Hall, Sutton Coldfield 
 Haines, Samuel, .Chad House, Edgbaston 
 
 Hall, R. H., 6, Regent Street, Parade 
 
 Hall, William, Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Hamilton, Gilbert, Esq., Hamstead, Handsworth, (2 copies) 
 Hannah, The Rev. J., 62, Great King Street, Edinburgh 
 Hands, ©. R., Cato Street, Duddeston, Birmingham 
 Hands, John, 8, Prospect Row, Birminngham 
 
 n, Alexander, Edmund Street, Birmingham 
 Harrison, The Rey. J. H., Erdington 
 
 Harding, W. J., Hsq., Stratford-on-Avon 
 
 Haywood, James, Carpenter Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Heywood, John, Bordesley, Birmingham 
 
 Heath, James, Round Hills, Aston 
 
 Heeley, Edmund, Elvetham Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Heming, The Rev. S., Fenny Drayton, near Nuneaton 
 Higgs, Charles Powell, Leamington 
 
 Hill, George R., Harborne, near Birmingham 
 
 Hill, William R., Harborne, near Birmingham 
 Hodgkinson, George, Birmingham 
 
 Holden, Captain, 18th Light Dragoons 
 
 Hollins, Peter, Great Hampton Street, Birmingham 
 
 Holt, Edward, Small Heath, Birmingham, (2 copies) 
 
 Holt, John, Balsall Heath, Birmingham 
 
 Holt, R. H., Esq., 6, New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, London 
 Holt, Thos. Littleton, Esq., Market House, Southall, Middlesex 
 Hopkins, J. S., Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Hoskyns, Chandos Wren, Esq., Wroxhall Abbey, near Warwick 
 Howell, William, Easy Row, Birmingham 
 
 Hunt, William O., Stratford-on-Avon 
 
 Husbands, John, Birmingham 
 
 Ingram, J. W., 125, Islington, Birmingham 
 
 Jabet, George, 25, Ann Street 
 
 Jacot, Mrs. Wm., Liverpool 
 
 James, The Rev. J. A., Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 James, Thos. S., Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 
 James, Joseph, 13, Calthorpe Street, Edgbaston 
 
 Jervis, J. H., Esq., Worcester 
 
 ohnson, William, Lisieux, Normandy 
 
 Johnson, William, Washwood Heath, near Birmingham 
 Johnson, Samuel, Balsall Heath, near Birmingham 
 Johnstone, Mrs., Northfield Rectory 
 
 ones, Edward, Erdington 
 Jones, H., Aston Cross 
 
 Jones, T., Bell Street 
 Frederick, Cherry Street 
 
 ukes, 
 
 Keith, Alexander, 14, Pall Mall, London 
 Kell, Thos., Hagley Grove, Edgbaston 
 Kempson, Samuel, Sutton Coldfield 
 
 Law, The Lady Charlotte, Harborne 
 
 Lane, John Newton, Esq., King’s Bromley Manor, near Lichfield 
 Laundy, Edwin, 41, Spring Street, Edgbaston 
 
 Law, The Rey. George H., Lichfield 
 
 Ledsam, Joseph Frederick, Esq., Chad Hill, Edgbaston 
 Legge, The Rev. William, Ashtead Rectory, near Epsom, Surrey 
 Legge, The Rev. Henry, Hast Lavant Rectory, Sussex 
 
 Leighton, The Rev. William A., B.A., F.B.S.H., Shrewsbury 
 Lewis, Miss Emma, Church Hill, Handsworth 
 
 Library, The Birmingham 
 
 Linwood, Miss, Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Lloyd, George, Esq., M.D., Leamington. 
 
 Lloyd, Mrs. G. B., Spark Till, Birmingham 
 
 Lloyd, Wm. R., Newhall Street, Birmingham 
 
 Lowe, Henry, Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Lowe, J. B., Esq., Hatington, near Stratford-on-Avon, (2 copies) 
 Lowe, Thomas, King’s Norton 
 Luckcock, Howard, Esq., Oak Hill, Edgbaston 
 Lucy, William, Hsq., Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 Lutwyche, Alfred, Hamstead Road, Handsworth 
 
 Mackey, E. W., Erdington 
 
 Maesfen, J. H., 116, Bloomsbury, Birmingham 
 
 ale, The Rev. OC. P., Harborne Road, Edgbaston 
 
 ale, Dudley, Edgbaston 
 
 ale, H. B., Westbromwich 
 
 fale, Miss, Calthorpe Street, Edgbaston 
 
 falins, David, Esq., Summer Hill, Birmingham 
 
 fanly, John, Jun., Chad Hill Cottage, Edgbaston 
 
 farlow, J. H., Walsall 
 
 artineau, Robert, Hsq., Highfield, Edgbaston 
 
 assen, Wm. Philip, Theatre Royal, Birmingham 
 
 atthison, R., Birmingham, (2 copies) 
 
 Mason, Georgs M., Wetley Abbey, near Leek 
 
 Melson, J. B., Esq., M.D., Newhall Street 
 
 Moilliet, James, Hsq., Abberley Hall, Worcestershire 
 
 Muirhead, James P., Hsq., Haseley Court, Oxfordshire, 
 (4 copies 
 
 urdock, John, Sycamore Hill, Handsworth 
 
 Murray, The Rev. G. W., Handsworth Rectory 
 
 Bibbs ee 
 
 wie 
 
 a 
 
 Norru, Colonel, M.P., Wroxton Abbey, near Banbury 
 Nelson, Edward, Burbury Street, Lozells Lane, Birmingham 
 Newey, Isaac, 88, New Street, Birmingham 
 
 Nunn, J. P., Bradford Street, Birmingham 
 
 Osborne, E. C., Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham 
 Oughton, Mrs., Sutton Coldfield 
 
 Paxryaton, The Rt, Hon. Sir John S., Bart., M.P., Westwood, 
 Worcestershire, (2 copies) 
 
 Pures, Sir Thos., Bart., Broadway, Worcestershire 
 
 Page, Richard, Aston Road 
 
 Pallet, James, Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham 
 
 Palmer, M: Boar Street, Lichfield 
 
 Palmer, S. F., Great Charles Street, Birmingham 
 
 Parry, Mrs., Water Orton, Warwickshire 
 
 Parry, Richard, Edgbaston 
 
Partrige, Julius, Northfield 
 Peake, The Rev. George, Aston Vicarage 
 Pearson, F., Union Street, 
 Percy, John, Hsq., M.D., 
 
 Perry, 
 
 Birmingham 
 
 .R.S., London 
 Samuel, The Lozells 
 Perry, Samuel, 17, Regent 
 Perry, John, 17, Regent Place, Birmingham 
 Phelps, J., ee Crescent, 
 Phipson, Miss, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, (2 copies) 
 
 Place, Birmingham 
 Birmingham 
 
 Piggott, George, Spring Hill, Birmingham 
 Potts, William, New Inn Hall, Handsworth 
 Potter, Richard, Aston Park 
 
 Prosser, Richard, King’s Norton, Worcestershire 
 
 Rabone, 
 Ratcliff, John, Wyddrington House, Edgbaston 
 Ratcliff, Charles, Edgbaston 
 Rawlins, John, Handsworth 
 
 Edward, Bellefield, Birmingham 
 
 Reece, Wm. Henry, New Street, Birmingham 
 Reeves, Richard Gibson, Bristol Road, Edgbaston 
 Rhodes, John, Wavyerhill, Handsworth 
 Richards, Westley, Edgbaston 
 
 Roberts, William, Harborne 
 
 Robins, H., New Street 
 
 Robins, J. Y., Esq., Allesley Hall 
 
 Rofe, Henry, Paradise Street 
 
 Rose, The Rey. H. H., Erdington 
 
 Rotton, Mrs. Wm., Jun., Dale End 
 
 Rushton, Miss, Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 Ryland, Arthur, Calthorpe Street, Edgbaston 
 Ryland, Thos., Great Lister Street, Birmingham 
 
 Suucksureu, Sir Franci 
 Daventry 
 Sackett, W. J., Birmingham, 
 Salt, Wm., Esq., 9, R 
 Scholefield, Wm., | 
 Scott, Robert, Esq., Stourbridge 
 Scott, W. J., Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham 
 Sharpe, E., Allesley, near Coventry 
 
 2 copies) 
 
 sell Square, London 
 , M.P., Birmingham 
 
 Sharp, Wm., Esq., Endwood Court, Handsworth 
 Shaw, Charles, Exsq., Greenfields, Edgbaston 
 Shelton, Miss, Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Smart, Mrs. George, Church Road, Edgbaston 
 Smith, The Rey. J. F., Aldridge, near Walsall 
 Smith, Robert, The Grove, Edgbaston 
 
 Smith, Bassett, Erdington 
 
 Smythe, The Rey. P. M., Solihull Rectory 
 
 Snape, E., Great Hampton Street, Birmingham 
 Southall, Wm., Jun., 8, Yew Tree Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Bart., Shuckburgh Park, near 
 
 1 
 
 or 
 
 Spencer, Wm., Southbank, Edgbaston 
 Staunton, John, Esq., Longbridge, Warwick 
 Steadman, Joseph, 7, Highgate, Birmingham 
 Stephens, Jared J., Birmingham 
 
 Stephens, George, Birmingham 
 
 Stock, Thos. 8., Northfield 
 
 Sturland, Thos. T., The Crescent 
 
 Syson, James, New Street 
 
 Trotiore, The Rt. Hon. Sir John, Bart., M.P., Casewick, 
 Lincolnshire 
 
 Taylor, Mrs., Moseley Hall 
 
 Taylor, Miss A. E., Moseley Hall, (2 copies) 
 
 Teulon, S. S., Lansdowne Place, Berkeley Square, London 
 Hagley Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Timmins, Samuel, Birmingham 
 
 Timmins, Frederick, 222, 
 
 Tindal, Captain, Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham 
 Turner, Charles Hampden, Esq., Rook’s Nest, Godstone, Surrey 
 Turner, James, Winson Green, Birmingham 
 
 Turner, Robert, Newcastle 
 
 -on-Tyne, (2 copies) 
 Street, Bi 
 Twells, P. M., New Street, Birmingham, (2 copies) 
 
 Turner, Thomas, V- 
 
 ‘irmingham 
 
 Tonks, John, New Street, Birmingham 
 
 Unett, John, Harborne Hill 
 Underwood, Thomas, Union Passage 
 
 Warwick, The Right Honourable The Harl of, Warwick Castle 
 Walker, Richard, Camden Cottage, Albion Street 
 
 Wallis, Mrs. Thomas, Rose Cottage, Nechells 
 
 Warden, Joseph, Jun., Green Lanes, Small Heath 
 
 Warden, Wm. M., Westbourne Road, Edgbaston 
 
 Webster, Baron D., Esq., Penns, Sutton Coldfield 
 
 Welch, John, Balsall Heath Road 
 
 Weston, The Rev. G. K., Aston 
 
 Whateley, J. W., Esq., Edgbaston Hall 
 
 White, Frederick, 8, Coleshill Street 
 
 Whitehouse, William, Packwood House 
 
 Whitworth, John, Bradford Street 
 
 Williams, William, Esq., Ox Hill, Handsworth 
 
 Wills, William, Esq., Edgbaston 
 
 Winfield, J. ¥., Chad Lodge, Edgbaston 
 
 Wingfield, The Rev. J. Digby, Vicar of Coleshill, and Rural Dean 
 Wolferstan, Stanley Pipe, Esq., Statfold Hall, near Tamworth 
 Wright, Thos. B., Great Barr, near Birmingham 
 
 Yor, The Hon. and Rev. G. M., Rector of St. Philip’s, 
 and Rural Dean, (2 copies) 
 
 Yeoville, H. R., Edgbaston 
 
 Yeoyille, George, Edgbaston 
 
Pedigree of Family of Holte ... 
 
 Sir Heyry Hore 
 
 Huer pet Horr 
 
 Joun arrn Hore 
 
 Srmoy prn Honrp 
 Thomas Holte 
 
 Joun arr Horn 
 
 Joun arte Hore 
 
 Water arrn Hors E 
 Enfeoffments of Manor of Aston 
 
 Joun Horn 
 
 Avpomar Hors a of 
 Dispossession by William Holte 
 Sir William Bagot 
 
 Wintiam Horr 
 
 Joun Honre... ob es) 
 Act of Resumptions 66 
 Rangership of Sutton Chase 
 
 Witt Hore 
 
 Wiis Horr 20 
 Monumental Inscription 
 
 Tuomas Hone 08s 
 Monumental Inscription 
 Inventory of Goods, &e. 
 
 Epwarp Horre oe 
 William Willington’s Will 
 Monumental Inscription 
 
 Sir Tuomas Honrn 
 Patent of Baronetcy 
 Letter from Charles I. 
 Alms-houses oh 8 
 Visit of Charles I. to Aston 
 Edward Holte ; 
 Elegy on Death of Edward Holte 
 Bishop King’s Will 
 Attack on Aston Hall ... 
 Younger Children of Sir Thomas 
 
 Charge of Murder of Cook by Sir Thomas 
 
 Monumental Inscription 
 
 Tnyentory of Goods 
 Christm 
 
 Amusement 
 
 Sir Rozrrr Hore 
 Isaak Walton 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
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 CONTENT 
 
 Sir Robert arrested for debt 
 
 Younger Children of Edward Holte 
 
 Younger Children of Sir Robert 
 Sir Cuartus Hoxrn 
 
 Bill relative to Mortgage 
 
 Younger Children of Sir Charles 
 
 Monumental Inscription 
 
 Tapestry a 
 Sir Croz Hourn 
 Sir Listzr Honrn 
 
 Abolition of Entail 
 
 Quarrel ae Be i 
 Letters of Miss Newton and Mrs. Holte 
 al Inscription 
 
 Horrn 
 
 e Election 
 
 liss Holte 
 
 Suit pas ae ES 
 of Sir Charles and Lady Holte 
 Will and Death of Sir Charles Holte 
 
 Robert Holte ... 
 
 Indentu: r Settlement of Estate 
 Act of ment 39 5n0 
 Pictures ‘ing to the Holte Family 
 
 Sale of Aston Hall and Estate 
 Description of Aston Hall 
 Description of Pleasure Grounds ... 
 Park Lodges 
 
 n Family 
 
 Hall 
 
 Earls of Chester 
 
 Stained Glass 
 
 Conclusion 
 
 Quarterings of Holte Family .. 
 
 Patents, Commissions, &c. 
 
 Ancient Deeds 
 List of Subscribers 
 
 JOHN TONKS, TOWN HALL PRINTING OFFICE, 85, NEW STREET, BIRMINGHAM, 
 
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