of Steward of the Manors of Gillingham and Grain. Philpot
supported the cause of Charles I., and fought for him, and in
1644 he was made prisoner by the Parliamentarians. Besides his
several Visitations, Philpot published several other valuable
historical and genealogical works, and left many more in
manuscript. Several of his books are at the College of Arms.
[Illustration]
POULETT, THE LADY BRIDGET
_Arms._--On a lozenge. Sa., 3 swords in pile arg., hilts or.
[DRYDEN. _Fables._ London, 1745.]
Bridget Poulett (born c. 1720, died c. 1780) was the eldest
daughter of John Poulett, Earl Poulett. Lady Bridget married
Pollexpen Bastard of Kitly in Devon. She had three sisters, one
of whom married John Parker, and these two would have used the
same coat-of-arms within a lozenge before their marriage. The
other two sisters died unmarried, so they would always have
used it.
It is not now safe to say, without further information, to
which of these sisters any particular book bearing this coat
belonged.
[Illustration]
PYE, SIR ROBERT, KNIGHT
_Arms._--Quartered.
1 and 6. Erm., a bend fusilly, gu. _Pye_.
2. A lion passant.
3. Per pale, gu. and az., a lion rampant supporting a tree
eradicated vert. _Wynstone._
4. Gu., 3 stirrups leathered and buckled or. _Scudamore._
5. Arg., on a chevron engrailed sa., between 3 ravens ppr., as
many escallops or. _Croker._
_Crest._--A cross crosslet fitchée gu., between two wings expanded
arg., over all a crescent for difference.
_Helmet._--That of an Esquire.
[ALLEN. _An antidote against Heresy, etc._ London, 1648.]
Robert Pye (born 1585, died 1662) was Remembrancer of the
Exchequer in 1618, and received the honour of Knighthood in
1621. He was a strong Parliamentarian, and his son Robert
married a daughter of John Hampden. Sir Robert Pye acquired the
property of Faringdon in Berkshire, where his descendants lived
for a long time. He represented Woodstock in Parliament.
[Illustration]
RADCLIFFE, ROBERT, FIFTH EARL OF SUSSEX
_Arms._--Within the Garter. Quartered.
1. Arg., a bend engrailed sa. _Radcliffe._
2. Or, a fess between 2 chevrons gu. _Fitz-Walter._
3. Arg., a lion rampant sa., crowned or, a bordure az.
_Burnell._
4. Arg., a saltire engrailed az. _Harding._
5. Gu., 3 lucies hauriant arg. _Lucy._
6. Barry of six, arg. and az. _Grey._
7. Arg., semée of fleurs-de-lys sa. _Bereford._
8. Arg., an eagle carrying off a child swathed gu., banded or.
_Culcheth._
_Coronet._--That of an Earl.
[LONICER. _Chronicorum Turcicorum Liber, etc._
Francoforti ad Moenum, 1578.]
Robert Radclyffe (born c. 1560, died 22nd September 1629) was
the only son of Henry Radclyffe, fourth Earl of Sussex. In 1593
Robert, styled Viscount Fitzwalter, succeeded to his father's
earldom. In 1594 he went to Scotland as Ambassador for the
christening of Prince Henry, and he commanded a regiment of
infantry at Cadiz in 1596, when he was knighted by the Earl of
Essex. Lord Sussex twice acted as Earl Marshal, and in 1599 he
was made a Knight of the Garter. In 1599 he was Colonel General
of Foot, and in 1626 he carried the orb at the coronation of
Charles I. Lord Sussex served as Lord Lieutenant of Essex and
Governor of Harwich.
[Illustration]
RAWDON, JOHN, BARON RAWDON
_Crest._--On a mural coronet arg., a pheon sa., with a laurel branch
issuant thereout ppr. _Rawdon._
[_Recueil general des Caquets de l'Acouchée._ 1623.]
John Rawdon (born c. 1710, died 20th June 1793) was the son of
Sir John Rawdon, Baronet, of Moira, Member of Parliament for
County Down. He succeeded his father in the baronetcy in 1723,
and in 1750 was raised to the peerage as Baron Rawdon. In 1761
he was created Earl of Moira in the peerage of Ireland.
The same crest would have been borne for a time by the son
of Lord Moira, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, who was an eminent
soldier. He was in 1783 created an English Peer by the same
title as was enjoyed by his father, Baron Rawdon, by which
he was known until 1793, when he succeeded to the Earldom of
Moira. The additional surname of Hastings was assumed by Lord
Rawdon in 1790, in accordance with the will of his maternal
uncle Francis Hastings, tenth Earl of Huntingdon.
[Illustration]
RAWDON, MARMADUKE
_Arms._--Arg., a fess between 3 pheons sa. _Rawdon._
[_Life of Marmaduke Rawdon of York._ MS.]
Marmaduke Rawdon (born March 1609, died 7th February 1668)
belonged to an old Yorkshire family, and was the son of
Laurence Rawdon of York. Mr. Rawdon entered the employ of an
uncle who was a merchant, and travelled about the world in his
service. He was for a long time in the Canary Islands, and he
made an ascent of the Peak of Teneriffe. Rawdon was a noted
antiquary, and he made valuable notes of his travels. His
"Life" has been edited for the Camden Society by Mr. Robert
Davies.
[Illustration]
RAWLINSON, RICHARD
_Crest._--A sheldrake ppr., in his beak an escallop arg. _Rawlinson._
[Illustration]
_Badge._--An escallop arg., being an excerpt from the Rawlinson
coat-of-arms which is gu., 2 bars gemelles between 3 escallops arg.
[_Bible_, Greek. Antwerp, 1566.]
Richard Rawlinson (born 3rd January 1690, died 6th April 1755)
was the fourth son of Sir Thomas Rawlinson, Lord Mayor of
London. He was educated at Oxford and took Orders in 1716. In
1728 he was consecrated nonjuring Bishop, but never accepted
the duties of the position. Dr. Rawlinson was a Fellow of the
Royal Society and of the Society of Antiquaries. He was a
great collector of books and manuscripts, the greater part of
which he bequeathed to Oxford, where they are now kept in the
Bodleian Library. Others were sold by auction. Dr. Rawlinson
wrote a number of books on antiquarian and topographical
subjects, and he left his heart to his old college, St. John's,
at Oxford, where it is still kept in the chapel in a marble urn.
[Illustration]
RIVERS, SIR JOHN, BART.
_Crest._--A bull statant arg., ducally crowned, collared, ringed and
armed or. _Rivers._
[_In Aristotelis de Coelo libros quatuor._ Venetiis, 1598.]
John Rivers (born circ. 1579, died circ. 1651) was the son of
Sir George Rivers, and grandson of Sir John Rivers, Lord Mayor
of London. Mr. Rivers was educated at Oxford, and admitted to
the Inner Temple in 1600. In 1621 he was created a Baronet.
[Illustration]
RUSSELL, FRANCIS, SECOND EARL OF BEDFORD
_Arms._--Within the Garter. Quartered.
1. Quarterly; 1 and 4, arg., a lion rampant gu. _Russell._
2nd and 3rd, az., a tower with cupola arg., door gu. _De La
Tour._
2. Barry of eight, or and az., a crescent for difference.
_Fitzalan._
3. Gu., 3 herrings hauriant in fess arg. _Herringham._
4. Sa., a griffin segreant between 3 crosses crosslet fitchée
arg. _Froxmere._
5. Sa., 3 chevrons arg. _Wyse._
6. Sa., 3 dovecotes arg., 2 and 1, a mullet for difference.
_Sapcote._
7. Arg. on a cross gu., 5 mullets arg., 1, 3, and 1. _Bodenham._
_Coronet._--That of an Earl.
[_Prayers._ Edinburgh, 1565.]
Francis Russell (born 1527, died 28th July 1585) was the son
of John Russell, K.G., created Earl of Bedford in 1549. In
1554 Francis Russell succeeded to his father's earldom, and
in 1546 he was made a Knight of the Bath. He was High Sheriff
of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Member of Parliament for
Northumberland, and Lord Lieutenant for Bucks.
Lord Bedford served as Ambassador to France on two occasions,
and in 1564 he was made a Knight of the Garter. He also served
as Chief Justice in Eyre south of Trent, and Lord Lieutenant of
Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall. He was known as the "Good Earl of
Bedford," and entertained Queen Elizabeth both at Chenies and
at Woburn.
[Illustration]
RUSSELL, WRIOTHESLEY, SECOND DUKE OF BEDFORD
_Arms._--Arg., a lion rampant gu., on a chief sa., 3 escallops of the
first.
_Coronet._--That of a Duke.
[KNOLLES. _Turkish History._ London, 1701.]
Wriothesley Russell (born 1st November 1680, died 26th May
1711) was the son of William Russell, second son of William
Russell, first Duke of Bedford. His mother was Rachel,
daughter of Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. In 1700
Wriothesley Russell succeeded to the Dukedom on the death of
his grandfather the first Duke. He was educated at Oxford,
and in 1701 was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber, and acted as
Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, of Cambridgeshire, and of
Middlesex. He was Lord High Constable at the coronation of
Queen Anne, on which occasion he was made a Knight of the
Garter.
Through Rachel Wriothesley the Manors of Bloomsbury and St.
Giles-in-the-Fields came into possession of the Russell family,
and for a long time they lived at Bedford House, which occupied
the site now forming the northern side of Bloomsbury Square.
[Illustration]
SACKVILLE, EDWARD, FOURTH EARL OF DORSET
_Crest._--Out of an heraldic coronet ppr., an estoile of 8 points arg.
_Coronet._--That of an earl.
[DE PHILOTHEIA. _Canticum canticorum_, libri x.
Friburgi Helvetiorum, 1609.]
Edward Sackville (born circ. 1590, died 17th July 1652) was the
son of Richard Sackville, third Earl of Dorset. He was educated
at Oxford, and succeeded his father in the Earldom in 1624. Mr.
Sackville was Member of Parliament for Sussex, and in 1616 was
made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and after
his succession to the peerage he acted as Lord Lieutenant of
Middlesex, and later of Sussex. In 1625 he was made a Knight of
the Garter.
Lord Dorset carried one of the swords at the coronation of
Charles I., and served as Chamberlain of the Household in 1644.
He married Mary Curzon, governess to the king's children.
[Illustration]
SAINT-GEORGE, SIR RICHARD, KNIGHT
_Arms._--Quartered.
1. Arg., a chief az., over all a lion rampant gu., crowned or.
_St. George._
2. Arg., a cross flory gu. _Trussell._
3. Gu., 3 covered cups or. _Butler._
4. Arg., 3 fleurs-de-lys between 8 crosslets sa. _Mortimer._
5. Az., a fess dancetty between 6 escallops arg. _Dengayne._
6. Sa., an estoile arg. _Ingleby._
_Legend._--SIGILLVM RICARDI SANCTI GEORGII.
[_Collection of Manuscript Tracts of the Seventeenth Century._
Add. MS. 577, b. 5.]
Richard Saint-George (born circ. 1577, died 17th May 1635)
was the son of Thomas Saint-George of Hatley Saint-George,
Cambridge. He was always a great student of heraldry and
genealogy. In 1602 he was made Berwick Pursuivant, and in 1603
Norroy King-of-Arms. He conducted visitations of Derbyshire,
Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and other counties. In 1616 he
received the honour of Knighthood.
Sir Richard became Clarencieux King-of-Arms in 1623, and
presently, with Sir John Borough, Norroy, he conducted several
further visitations in the southern counties of England. He
wrote several valuable genealogical works, many of which are
among the manuscripts in the British Museum. Many of his
writings have been published. His son Henry afterwards became
Garter King-of-Arms.
[Illustration]
SALWEY, HUMPHREY
_Arms._--Quartered.
1. Sa., a saltire engrailed or. _Salwey._
2. Arg., on a chief az., a lion passant of the first. _Aston._
3. Or, on a bend sa., 3 eagles displayed arg. _Manley._
4. Gu., a fess compony, arg. and sa., between 6 crosses
crosslet fitchée or. _Boteler._
5. Arg., 2 bendlets sa. _Bradshaw._
6. Bendy of 10, or and az. _Montfort._
7. Arg., on a bend wavy az., 3 swans of the first. _Dawes._
8. Arg., a fess az., between 3 boars' heads couped sa. _Alyson._
9. Arg., a chevron engrailed between 3 bugle horns sa.,
stringed or. _Wyerley._
[HATCHER. _G. Haddoni lucubrationes._ Londini, 1567.]
Humphrey Salwey (born circ. 1575, died December 1652) was
educated at Oxford, and entered the Middle Temple in 1591. He
took part in the Civil War on the side of Parliament. In 1644
he was appointed King's Remembrancer in the Court of Exchequer.
In 1649 he was made a Judge, but never took his place as such.
He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
[Illustration]
SANDYS, SIR THOMAS, KNIGHT
_Arms._--Or, a fess dancetty between 3 crosses crosslet fitchée gu., a
fleur-de-lys for difference. _Sandys._
[JACOBUS DE VORAGINE. _Legendario delle vite de' Santi._
Venetia, 1607.]
Edwin Sandys (born 9th December 1561, died October 1642) was
the sixth son of Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York. He was
educated at Merchant Taylors' and Oxford, and in 1589 entered
the Middle Temple as a student. In 1586 Mr. Sandys represented
Andover in Parliament, and afterwards sat for Plympton. He
wrote some books on religious subjects during a visit to Paris.
In 1603 he received the honour of Knighthood, and was Member of
Parliament for Stockbridge.
Sir Edwin Sandys was conspicuous in Parliament, and got into
trouble about his views as to the succession to the throne,
and had to appear before the Council, but nothing was done
further than that he had to give security for his appearance
if wanted. He was an active member of the East India Company,
and the Sandys group of islands in the Somers Islands was named
after him. He also took a prominent part in the affairs of the
Virginia Company, of which he was elected Treasurer in 1619, in
succession to Sir Thomas Smythe. His administration, however,
in the long-run, was no better than that of his predecessor,
and in 1621 he was imprisoned in the Tower, but soon released.
Sir Edwin was returned to Parliament as Member for Sandwich,
and afterwards for Penrhyn, but soon afterwards left public
life, and devoted himself to his favourite East India Company.
His political career was of much interest and importance.
[Illustration]
SAY, WILLIAM
_Arms._--Quarterly, or and gu., in the first quarter a lion passant
guardant az. A crescent for difference. _Say._
[_Dialogi sex._ Antverpiae, 1566.]
William Say (born c. 1604, died c. 1666) was the second son of
William Say of Ickenham, Middlesex. He was educated at Oxford,
and was a Bencher of the Middle Temple. Mr. Say was a Member
of Parliament for Camelford, and signed the death warrant of
Charles I. For a time, in the absence of Speaker Lenthal, Say
acted as Speaker in the House of Commons.
At the Restoration Say had to leave England, and found refuge
in Holland, where he died.
[Illustration]
SHEFFIELD, JOHN, THIRD EARL OF MULGRAVE, AFTERWARDS DUKE OF THE COUNTY
OF BUCKINGHAM.
_Arms._--Within the Garter. Arg., a chevron between 3 garbs gu.
_Sheffield._
_Coronet._--That of an Earl.
_Note._--Used between 1674 and 1694.
[CUDWORTH. _The Intellectual System of the Universe._
London, 1678.]
John Sheffield (born 7th April 1648, died 24th February 1720)
was the son of Edmund Sheffield, second Earl of Mulgrave, and
succeeded his father in 1658. John Sheffield had an eventful
military and naval career, the two professions being in his
time curiously considered as one. As a sailor he took part
in the fight at Solebay in 1672 under the Duke of York, and
afterwards was Captain of the "Royal Catherine." As a soldier
Lord Mulgrave was Colonel of the Holland Regiment, Governor
of Hull, and commanded a force at Tangier. In 1674 he was
made a Knight of the Garter. He was a member of the Privy
Council and Lord Chamberlain of the Household. In 1694 he was
made Marquis of Normandy, and in 1703, Duke of Normandy, and
shortly afterwards Duke of the County of Buckingham. He was a
book-lover, and an author of some repute in his own time.
[Illustration]
SHELDON, RALPH
_Arms._--Sa., a fess arg., between 3 sheldrakes ppr. _Sheldon._
[_The Annals of Cornelius Tacitus._ London, 1640.]
[Illustration]
_Variety._--Quarterly.
1st and 4th; sa., a fess arg., between 3 sheldrakes ppr.
_Sheldon._
2nd; arg., on a bend sa., between 2 lions rampant of the
second, a wyvern, extended, of the first. _Newport._
3rd; gu., a saltire vair. _Wellington._
[NOSTRADAMUS. _The True Prognostications, etc._ London,
1672.]
Ralph Sheldon (born 1st August 1623, died 24th June 1684)
was the son of William Sheldon of Beoley, Worcestershire,
and an ardent collector of antiquities, particularly books
and manuscripts. He collected a large library at his house
"Weston," at Long Compton, Warwickshire, and bequeathed to the
College of Arms a large number of the manuscripts of Augustine
Vincent, Windsor Herald. Mr. Sheldon suffered persecution as
a Catholic. He wrote several genealogical treatises, many of
which are now kept at the College of Arms.
[Illustration]
SLOANE, SIR HANS, BART.
_Arms._--Gu., a sword in pale, point downwards, blade arg., hilted or,
between 2 boars' heads couped at the neck of the third; on a chief
erm., a lion passant of the first between 2 mascles sa. The Ulster hand
gu., on an escutcheon arg., in the dexter chief.
_Legend._--BIBLIOTHECA MANUSCRIPT. SLOANEIANA.
[_State Papers_, 1515-1525. Sloane MS. 3839.]
Hans Sloane (born 16th April 1660, died 11th January 1753) was
the son of Alexander Sloane, a Scotchman who settled in Ireland
as receiver-general of the estates of Lord Clanricarde.
When he was about eighteen Hans Sloane came to London to pursue
his studies, particularly medicine, chemistry, and botany.
In botany he became a great authority, and his botanical
collections were of great importance. In 1683 he went to France
to continue his scientific studies, and on his return to London
he set up as a practising physician in England.
In 1687 Dr. Sloane went to the West Indies as physician
to Christopher Monck, second Duke of Albemarle, who was
Governor-General of the West Indian Colonies, and during the
voyage the doctor made valuable collections, chiefly botanical,
and also brought together a mass of material for his future
use as an author. Dr. Sloane's botanical collections were
largely increased by bequests from friends, particularly that
of William Courten in 1702. In 1693 Dr. Sloane was Secretary to
the Royal Society, and he was also Physician-in-Chief to George
I., who in 1716 created him a Baronet. He was President of the
College of Physicians in 1719 and of the Royal Society in 1727.
Sir Hans Sloane lived in a house in Great Russell Street, and
in 1741 he moved to more roomy quarters at the Manor House,
Chelsea, where his collections could be better seen.
By his will Sir Hans Sloane bequeathed his natural history
collections, antiquities of all sorts, manuscripts, and printed
books to the British Nation, conditional on the payment to his
family of £20,000, and after considerable negotiation the offer
was accepted. In 1753 an Act (25th George II., chap. 22) was
passed "for the purchase of the Museum or Collection of Sir
Hans Sloane," and the collections were in time, with others,
removed to Montagu House, which was opened to the public
in 1759. The Sloane family is represented among the Family
Trustees of the British Museum.
[Illustration]
SMITH, JOSEPH, CONSUL
_Arms._--Arg., 2 chevrons sa., each charged with 3 fleurs-de-lys of the
first; on a chief gu., a lion passant or. _Smith._
_Crest._--A dexter arm erect, vested chequy, vert and or, holding in
the hand a sheaf of 3 arrows of the last.
[PETRARCH. _Canzoniere._ Venetiis, 1533.]
Joseph Smith (born circ. 1682, died 6th November 1770) went as
a young man to Venice, and quickly became known as an ardent
collector of books and objects of art generally. In 1740 he was
appointed British Consul at Venice. In 1762 Smith's library was
bought for George III., and formed the first important nucleus
of His Majesty's splendid collection. It contained especially
choice editions of the classics, and also many incunabula.
Mr. Smith continued to collect books after the king had made
his purchase, and these were eventually sold by auction in
1773. George III. also acquired a fine collection of pictures,
coins, and gems that had been brought together by Consul Smith.
[Illustration]
SMITH, SIR THOMAS, KNIGHT, OF HILL HALL, ESSEX
_Arms._--Quarterly.
1st and 4th; sa., a fess dancetty arg., between 3 lioncels
rampant of the second, each supporting an altar or, flaming
ppr. _Smith._
2nd and 3rd; arg., on a bend sa., 3 crosses of the first, a
martlet for difference. _Charnock._
In the centre point a crescent for difference.
_Crest._--A Phœnix arg., issuing from flames ppr.
_Helmet._--That of an Esquire.
[_Short Introduction to Latin Grammar._ London, 1609.]
Thomas Smith (born 23rd December 1513, died 12th August 1577)
was the second son of John Smith of Saffron Walden, and Agnes
Charnock.
He was educated at Cambridge, where he attracted attention by
his ability and was given a special scholarship by Henry VIII.
In 1531 Smith was made a Fellow of his College, and shortly
afterwards University Orator. In 1544 he was made Regius
Professor of Civil Law. He was Provost of Eton and Dean of
Carlisle. Although in Orders, Smith presently came to Court and
became Clerk of the Privy Council, and in 1548 he was made one
of the Secretaries to the King, and shortly afterwards received
the honour of Knighthood. He went as Ambassador to the Emperor
Charles V., and with an Embassy to France in 1551.
On the accession of Queen Mary, Smith changed his crest, and
adopted that of a salamander living in the midst of flames,
alluding perhaps to the fact that he escaped free from the
dangers of the time, he being a strong Protestant. The Smith
crest before this had been an eagle holding a pen in his claw.
Queen Elizabeth in turn favoured Sir Thomas, and made him
Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, and soon afterwards
Secretary of State. Sir Thomas Smith had a large library of
books, which he bequeathed to one or other of the Colleges at
Cambridge, or among private friends. He wrote several works,
mostly political.
[Illustration]
SMYTHE, THOMAS, VISCOUNT STRANGFORD
_Arms._--Quartered.
1. Az., a chevron engrailed between 3 lions passant or.
_Smythe._
2. Gu., a fess raguly between 3 boars' heads couped arg.
_Judd._
3. Az., 3 lions rampant within a bordure arg. _Chiche._
4. Arg., 2 chevrons az., a canton gu. _Dexter._
5. Arg., a cross voided gu. _Pilkington._
6. Arg., 5 chevrons sa. _Sutton._
7. Or, a chevron between 3 cinquefoils gu. _Chichele._
8. Arg., a cross voided sa. _Duckenfield._
9. Or, on a chevron sa., a mullet arg., a crescent for
difference. _Mirfin._
_Crest._--An ounce's head erased arg., collared and chained sa.
_Note._--Used before 1628.
[MOULIN. _Anatomie of Melancholy._ London, 1620.]
Thomas Smythe (born c. 1599, died 30th June 1635) was the son
of Sir John Smythe of Ostenhanger and Ashford, High Sheriff of
Kent in 1600. Thomas Smythe inherited a considerable fortune
from his father, who was a son of Thomas Smythe, Farmer of
the Customs to Queen Elizabeth, his mother being Alice Judd,
daughter of Sir Andrew Judd, Lord Mayor of London and founder
of Tunbridge School. In 1625, at the coronation of Charles
I., Thomas Smythe was made a Knight Commander of the Order of
the Bath, and three years later he was created Viscount of
Strangford.
[Illustration]
SOMERS, JOHN, BARON SOMERS
_Arms._--Quarterly.
1st and 4th; vert, a fess dancetty erm. _Somers._
2nd and 3rd; quarterly, vert and gu., a fess dancetty erm.,
in chief a lion passant between 2 hawks arg. _Somers of
Worcestershire._
_Coronet._--That of a Baron.
_Supporters._--2 lions erm., each charged on the neck with a fess
dancetty vert.
_Motto._--PRODESSE QUAM CONSPICI.
[_Common Prayer._ Oxford, 1700.]
[Illustration]
_Variety._--Used between 1688 and 1697.
_Arms._--Vert, a fess dancetty erm.
_Crest._--A coat of mail hanging on a laurel tree ppr.
_Helmet._--That of a Knight.
[ECHARD. _Roman History._ London, 1695.]
John Somers (born 4th March 1650, died 26th April 1716) was
son of John Somers of Clifton-on-Severn. He was educated at
Worcester and Oxford, and became a Bencher of the Middle Temple
in 1689.
Mr. Somers became Solicitor-General in 1688, when he received
the honour of Knighthood, and he represented Worcester in
Parliament. Sir John was sworn of the Privy Council in 1693,
and shortly afterwards was made Lord Keeper of the Great
Seal, Speaker of the House of Lords, and Lord Chancellor. In
1697 he was created Baron Somers of Evesham. Lord Somers was
President of the Royal Society. In 1701 he was impeached in the
Commons for various supposed misdemeanours, but the charge was
dismissed.
The Barony of Somers became extinct at John Somers' death in
1716, but it was revived in 1784 in the person of Charles Cocks
of Castleditch, M.P. for Reigate, who was a descendant of a
sister of the first Lord.
[Illustration]
SPENCER, CHARLES, THIRD EARL OF SUNDERLAND
_Arms._--Quarterly; arg. and gu., on the second and third quarters a
fret or, over all on a bend sa., 3 escallops of the first. _Spencer._