Supporters. On each side, a light dun horse, with a large blaze down his face, his mane close shorn, all but a tuft upon his withers, a black list down his back, a bob tail, and three white feet; viz. his hind feet and near foot before.

Motto. TUUM EST.

Chief Seats. At Colne Green, in the county of Hertford; and at Ratling-Court, in the county of Kent; which latter has been nothing more than a very mean farm-house for above a century. The seat at the Moat, near Canterbury, has been lately pulled down.

THE immediate founder of this noble family was the honourable ALEXANDER Stanhope, Esq. only son to the right honourable PHILIP Earl of Chesterfield, by his second Lady, Anne, daughter of Sir John Pakington, a Privy Counsellor, and favourite of Queen Elizabeth. In the reign of Charles II. he was Gentlemanusher to the Queen; and on the accession of King William to the crown, his Majesty nominated him his Envoy Extraordinary to Charles II. King of Spain.

He set out for that kingdom the latter end of December 1689, and resided there several years, honoured by his Catholic Majesty and his ministry, as well as in favour with his own Sovereign, who afterwards appointed him Envoy Extraordinary to the States General. He continued in the same character in the reign of Queen Anne, till, at his earnest request, he was recalled about October 1706. He died the year after, on September 20th, having faithfully and successfully acquitted himself in many difficult, and important negociations during sixteen years that he resided abroad.

By Catharine his wife, daughter of Arnold Burghill, of Thingehill-Parva, in com. Heref. Esq. (the chief of a knightly family, lineally descended from Sir Humphrey Burghill, of Burgbill, in

1

Part of his portion was the Lordship of Hartshorn, in Derbyshire, near Ashby de la Zouch, co. Leic. At this place was born, on March 5th, 1660, the learned Dr. George Stanhope, Dean of Canterbury, whose father, the Rev. Thomas Stanhope, was Rector here under the patronage of the Chesterfield fa mily; and was son of Dr. George Stanhope, Precentor of York, who died 1644. The Dean died March 18th, 1728, aged sixty-eight. His wife was Olive, sisteg of Charles Cotton, the P.et. See Todd's Deans of Canterbury, 187.

the same county, living in the reign of King William Rufus), he had two daughters; Catharine, who died unmarried, and Mary, one of the Maids of Honour to Queen Anne, married to Charles Fane, of Basleton, in com. Berks, created Lord Viscount Fane, and Baron of Loughuyre, in the county of Limerick, in Ireland, 1719; she died 17th August, 1762, aged seventy-six; and five

sons:

b

1. James, of whom I am principally to treat.

2. Alexander, who died at sea in his father's lifetime.

3. Philip, who was Captain and Commander of the Milford man of war, employed in the Mediterranean service, unfortunately killed on September 28th, 1708, in attacking the castle of St. Philip, in the Island of Minorca (a generous bravery, and natural passion for a dear brother, urging him to bear a part in the land service on shore), whose loss was generally lamented.

4. Edward, Colonel of a regiment of foot, who likewise lost his life in the service of his country, at the siege of Cardona, in Spain, on December 23d, 1711. His remarkable bravery, in the defence of the important post where he was stationed, being esteemed the principal occasion of the relief of that place.

5. William, born at Madrid about the year 1691, who died an infant.

JAMES, the eldest son, beforementioned, left the university of Oxford at seventeen or eighteen years of age, to accompany his father to Spain, and after some stay there, travelling into Italy, served a volunteer under the Duke of Savoy, afterwards King of Sicily and Sardinia. In 1694, going a volunteer into Flanders, he was presently taken notice of by King William, who made him a Captain, with the rank of Lieutenant-colonel, in his regiment of Foot Guards. In 1695, when Namur was besieged, though not on duty, he nevertheless went a volunteer on the attack of the counterscarp, and giving extraordinary proofs of bis courage and conduct, was wounded and utterly disabled. In 1700, he was elected a Member for Newport in the Isle of Wight, which was the last Parliament called by King William; and constantly serving in the House of Commons (till he was created a Peer), distinguished himself on the debates therein on several occasions.

In 1702, he was a volunteer in the expedition under the Duke

Coffin-plate.

of Ormond to Cadiz; and behaved with great gallantry on the attack of the fort of Rodendallo, the taking whereof greatly contributed to destroying the galleons at Vigo. The year after, he embarked with Charles III. King of Spain, and landing with him in Portugal, served in that kingdom till the Earl of Peterborough's expedition in the Mediterranean. He was made a Brigadiergeneral, August 25th, 1704, and acquired great honour in the siege of Barcelona; which surrendered to the allies on October 9th, N. S. 1705. He was declared soon after Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to King Charles III. and in that character arrived with his Catholic Majesty at Valentia, October 2d, 1706; and was made Major-general of her Majesty's forces January 1st, 1706-7.

In 1708, he was declared Commander in Chief of the British forces in Spain; and arriving at Barcelona May 29th, N. S. his first enterprize was the reduction of the celebrated port of Mahon in the Island of Minorca. He landed on that island, September 16th, 1708, and immediately possessed himself of the town of MAHON, and the whole country soon appeared in his interest: but the castle holding out, great difficulties were found in landing and transporting our heavy artillery, through a country very rocky, and destitute of beasts of burthen; yet with continual labour the artillery was brought up in twelve days, and on September 28th began to batter the castle; and some of the grenadiers getting into the line without orders, General Stanhope took the ordinary guard of the battery, and advanced to that part of the line next to him. The enemy were in so great a consternation at the sudden approach of our troops, that finding we were lodged at the foot of the glacis of the castle, and our main battery ready to play upon it, they, on the morning following, beat a parley, and at five in the afternoon the capitulation was signed for the delivery of it the next morning. The garrison consisted of above 1000 men under arms; part of whom were to be transported in our ships to France, the others into Spain. There were found 100 cannon, 3000 barrels of powder, and all other necessaries for a good defence. In 1709, he embarked with 8000 men for the relief of Alicant, then besieged; and arriving before it in April that year, all the three-deck ships were ordered to fire upon the town and batteries of the enemy; but a violent east wind arising, forced the ships out for sea-room; and tempestuous weather lasting some days, the enemy took that opportunity to fortify the shore in all places where landing was practicable. Where

upon General Stanhope observing it was impossible to throw succours of men and provisions into the castle, capitulated for the same on honourable terms, and received the garrison. In 1710, the signal victory at Almenara, July 27th, was, under God, owing to his prudent conduct and valiant deportment; for which the then King Charles returned him particular thanks. On August 20th, N. S. following, the French and Spaniards were defeated at Saragossa; and on September 21st, he took possession of Madrid for King Charles.

On the accession of George I. he was, for his faithful services, sworn one of the Principal Secretaries of State, and of the Privy Council, September 24th, 1714, six days after his Majesty's landing in England, and four after his public entry through the city of London.

This appointment he owed to the influence of Townshend, and the friendship of the Walpoles; and possessed their implicit confidence. On July 7th, 1716, he accompanied the King to Hanover. "As Townshend himself, on account of his wife's pregnancy, declined going thither, his colleague, was to be intrusted with that important service; he was to keep the King steady to his ministers in England, and to watch and baffle the intrigues which might be formed to remove them. Stanhope ap. peared peculiarly qualified for this task. A long and intimate connection with Walpole had bound them in the strictest ties of friendship; and when Walpole recommended him to Townshend, he answered for his integrity as for his own. Stanhope himself had made no application for the office of Secretary. His frequent residence in camps, and skill in the profession of arms, rendered him, in his own opinion, more fit for a military than a civil station; and when Walpole proposed it, he considered the offer as a matter of raillery, and applied his hand to his sword. It was not till after much persuasion, and the most solemn assurances, that his compliance would materially contribute to the security of the new administration, that he was induced to accept the post.

"One of the principal charges which Stanhope had received from his friends in England, was to be on his guard against the intrigues of Sunderland: who had, under the pretence of ill health, obtained the King's permission to go to Aix-la-Chapelle. Although at the time of his departure, he had given the most positive assurances of repentance and concern for his late endeavours to remove his colleagues; and after the most solemn professions of repentance and union, had condescended to ask their