I was but eight years old when my grandfather died, and that my father lived but about four years after; and that for the rest I have lived for the most part from home, it is impossible I should have that entire knowledge of their actions which might inform me sufficiently; I shall only, therefore, relate the more known and undoubted parts of their lives.

My father was Richard Herbert, Esq., son to Edward Herbert, Esq., and grandchild to Sir Richard Herbert, Knight, who was a younger son of Sir Richard Herbert of Colebrook, in Monmouthshire, of all whom I shall say a little. And first of my father, whom I remember to have been black-haired and bearded, as all my ancestors of his side are said to have been, of a manly or somewhat stern look, but withal very handsome and well compact in his limbs, and of a great courage, whereof he gave proof, when he was so barbarously assaulted by many men in the churchyard at

the first Earl of Pembroke, from "a certain manuscript book in the custody of Edward, now Lord Herbert of Cherbury," and he notes in the margin (ibid. ii. 258), when speaking of Sir Richard Herbert, Lord Herbert's great grandfather "ex cod. MS. penes Edward D. Herbert de Chirbury." I have collected a few additional facts about Lord Herbert's ancestry in Appendix I. Izaak Walton says generally of the Herberts "A family that hath been blessed with men of remarkable wisdom and a willingness to serve their country, and indeed to do good to all mankind, for which they are eminent " (Life of G. Herbert).

Llanerfyl, at what time he would have apprehended a man who denied to appear to justice; for, defending himself against them all, by the help only of one John ap Howell Corbet, he chased his adversaries, until a villain, coming behind him, did, over the shoulders of others, wound him on the head behind with a forest-bill until he fell down; though recovering himself again, notwithstanding his skull was cut through to the pia mater of the brain, he saw his adversaries fly away, and after walked home to his house at Llyssyn, where, after he was cured, he offered a single combat to the chief of the family, by whose procurement it was thought the mischief was committed; but he [ie., the chief] disclaiming wholly the action as not done by his consent, which he offered to testify by oath, and the villain himself flying into Ireland, whence he never returned, my father desisted from prosecuting the business any farther in that kind, and attained, notwithstanding the said hurt, that health and strength, that he returned to his former exercises in a country life, and became the father of many children. As for his integrity in his places of deputy lieutenant of the county,

1 In the hundred of Caereimion, Montgomeryshire.

2 There is still a large farm of this name in the parish of Llanerfyl. It doubtless occupies the site of Richard Herbert's house (see p. 28, note 4).

1

justice of the peace, and custos rotulorum, which he, as my grandfather before him, held, it is so memorable to this day, that it was said his enemies appealed to him for justice, which they also found on all occasions. His learning was not vulgar, as understanding well the Latin tongue, and being well versed in history. My grandfather was of a various life; beginning first at court, where, after he had spent most part of his means, he became a soldier, and made his fortune with his sword at the siege of St. Quentin in France,2 and other wars, both in the north, and in the rebellions happening in the times of King Edward the Sixth, and Queen Mary, with so good success, that he not only came off still with the better, but got so much money and wealth, as enabled him to buy the greatest part of that livelihood which is descended to me; although

1 He was Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1576 and 1584, and is probably the Richard Herbert who sat as M.P. for Montgomeryshire in the Parliament of 1585-86. He died in 1596, and was buried in Montgomery Church on 15th October of that year (see p. 10, note 1).

2 Edward Herbert, as captain-general over 500 men, under his kinsman, William Herbert (created Earl of Pembroke, 11th October 1551), joined the Spaniards in the storming and sacking of St. Quentin two days after it had been taken (10th August 1557) from the French. The latter were commanded by Anne, Duc de Montmorency, Constable of France, whose son and grandson are often mentioned by Lord Herbert below.

yet I hold some lands which his mother, the Lady Anne Herbert,1 purchased, as appears by the deeds made to her by that name, which I can show; and might have held more, which my grandfather sold under foot at an under value in his youth, and might have been recovered by my father, had my grandfather suffered him. My grandfather was noted to be a great enemy to the outlaws and thieves of his time, who robbed in great numbers in the mountains of Montgomeryshire, for the suppressing of whom he went often, both day and night, to the places where they were; concerning which, though many particulars have been told me, I shall mention one only. Some outlaws being lodged in an alehouse upon the hills of Llandinam, my grandfather and a few servants coming to apprehend them, the principal outlaw shot an arrow against my grandfather, which stuck in the pummel of his saddle; whereupon my grandfather coming up to him with his sword in his hand, and taking him prisoner, he showed him the said arrow, bidding him look what he had done; whereof the outlaw was no farther sensible, than to say, he was sorry that he left his better bow at home, which he

1 Anne, daughter of Sir David ap Evan (or Euion) ap Llewellyn Vaughan, Knt., and wife of Sir Richard Herbert of Montgomery (see p. 10).

2 A few notes on the general condition of Wales in Lord Herbert's youth are collected in Appendix II.

conceived would have carried his shot to his body; but the outlaw, being brought to justice, suffered for it. My grandfather's power was so great in the country, that divers ancestors of the better families now in Montgomeryshire were his servants, and raised by him.' He delighted also much in hospitality; as having a very long table twice covered every meal with the best meats that could be gotten, and a very great family. It was an ordinary saying in the country at that time, when they saw any fowl rise, "Fly where thou wilt, thou wilt light at Blackhall;" which was a low building, but of great capacity, my grandfather erected in hist age; 2 his father and himself, in former times, having lived in Montgomery Castle. Notwithstanding yet these expenses at home, he brought

1 He was appointed deputy-constable of Aberystwith Castle (16th March 1543-4), by his cousin Sir William Herbert (see extract from Lord Powis' MSS. in Powysland Collections, xi. 361); was Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1537 and 1568; was M.P. for the county in 1553 and 1556-7; was knighted in 1574 (Metcalfe's Knights, p. 128). His local influence is illustrated by a correspondence with Leicester in November 1580, as to the appointment of a sheriff of the county. He successfully insisted on the choice of Griffith Lloyd and the rejection of John Vaughan (Cal. State Papers, 1577-80, p. 686). He was at one time esquire of the body to Queen Elizabeth.

2 This house, also called Lymore, was standing in the middle of the seventeenth century. Lord Herbert retired to it during the troubles of the civil wars.