being of an equal tenor almoft throughout the whole year, like the latter end of a fine May in England, infomuch that it is reforted to, from our other colonies, as the Montpellier of the British America. These islands once abounded with cedars, of an exceeding fweet smell, tho' of a kind very different from thofe of other countries, which not only refreshed the inhabitants with their fhade, but ferved as a fhelter to their delicious fruits and other productions, which are mightily decayed, lying too much exposed to the violent blafts of the North Weft winds, by the cutting down of those trees. However, I am informed that, of late years, they have begun to plant them a-new, and that he has feen feveral loops built there of this precious wood, which are universally allowed to be the finest and moft durable in the world." In fhort, thefe iflands ftill answer the charming defcription given of them by Waller :* This *Bermudas, wall'd with rocks, who does not know, } This Earl died at Hardwick, and was buried in the church of Ederfon, near Chatsworth, two villages ftanding oppofite to each other, the one on the Eaft, the other on the Weft fide of the little Derwent. To fum up this great and good man's character, we shall give a tranflation of the Latin infcription on his monument, which, far different from any of our modern epitaphs, hath no less truth than elegance. However, in order to give the Reader a juft idea of its beauty, it will be neceffary to inform him, that the remains of this noble Lord lie near to thofe of his elder brother, who is interred in the fame church, and that the monument erected to his memory is embellifhed with the emblematical figure of Fame founding her trumpet, to which there is a fine allufion in the infcription. Sacred to the memory of WILLIAM CAVENDISH, who bath bere depofited all that was mortal in him; a man born to execute every laudable undertaking; and who, in the fimplicity of virtue, rather deferved than courted glory; whom, when that most discerning of Princes, James, of blessed memory, King of Great Britain, firft diftinguished with the title of Baron of Hardwick, and afterwards with that of Earl of Devonshire, be feemed not fo much to dignify the man, as to add luftre to the honours conferred on him. With what addrefs, integrity, and applaufe he maintained his character in every Station of life, enquire of Fame herself, which, tho' generally a common lyar, bere speaks truth. Such a man, who was not only one of the brightest ornaments of his own age, but would have been reckoned among the best of men had he lived in any other, is neither to be paffed over in filence, nor yet to be carelessly spoken of. His fidelity was equal to his affiduity, and both in the highest degree, He He tranfacted every thing with fuch eafe, that, whilst be was most active, be feemed to be doing of nothing; and tho' be fucceeded in every thing he undertook, yet be arrogated none of the glory to himself. Having left it in charge to be interred in a frugal manner, and without any pompous memorial, bis forrowful fon bas erected this monument with greater affection than expence. He died March 3, in the year 1625. To this Epitaph we fhall fubjoin that of his elder brother Henry, of whom we have spoken in the account of his father's life. Tho' we have scarce any memoirs of this Gentleman, except that he ferved in fix Parliaments, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, yet we may judge from the inftances here produced, that he was a man of great merit. Sacred to the memory of HENRY CAVENDISH, eldeft Son of Sir William Cavendish, of Chatsworth, in Derbyshire, by the most illuftrious Lady, Elizabeth Hardwick, of Hardwick, in the fame county, whofe fourth husband was George, the fixth Earl of Shrewsbury, a man diftinguished for courage and fortitude, as being the only one, who, among the many English volunteers that went over to the United Provinces in 1578, inlifted himself in the Service of that Republic, wherein he fhewed no lefs patience in bearing its fatigues and hardships, than skill in performing every military duty. But when he had an opportunity of withdrawing from the burry of bufinefs, he spent his leisure bours in fuch a manner, as to be deemed rather splendid and chearful than indolent and inactive. Having here depofited his martial accoutrements, which are bung up on this wall, his mortal part refts in expectation of bearing the last trump's found at the general Refurrection, instead of that of earthly Fame, He died October 12, in the year 1616. The The Reader cannot avoid taking notice, from this laft epitaph, how early the Cavendish family afferted the cause of liberty, (in the very infancy of that now famous Republic, which, without the affiftance of fuch champions must inevitably have funk.) No wonder that a family that produced fuch heroes, in defence of the rights and privileges of other countries, fhould fo undauntedly affert thofe of their own. This Earl married two wives; firft, Anne, daughter and heir to Henry Kigbley, of Kighley, in the county of York Efquire, by whom he had three fons and three daughters; 1. Gilbert, who died a young man of incomparable parts, and left a very ingenious book, intitled Hore Subfeciva, Obfervations and Difccurses, &c. 2. William, his heir and fucceffor. 3. James, who died in his infancy. 4. Frances, married to Sir William Maynard, who was, 1611, created a Baronet; next Lord Maynard of Wicklow in Ireland, by Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster, May 30, 1620; and, in confideration of his Lordfhip's farther merit, was, by Letters Patent, 14 March, 3 King Charles I. advanced to the degree of a Baron of this Realm, by the title of Lord Maynard. 5 and 6, Mary and Elizabeth, who both died young. His fecond wife was Elizabeth, daughter of...Boughton, of Caufton, in the county of Warwick, Efquire, and widow of Sir Richard Wortley, of Wortley, in the county of York, Knight, by whom he had iffue Sir John Cavendish, Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Prince Charles, who died foon after. We find nothing more remarkable concerning thefe Ladies, fave that of their being good wives and much refpected. WE have been requested, fince the printing the aforefaid tranflations of the Epitaphs, p. 4, 5. to add the originals as they now ftand infcribed on the refpective tombs, which we have here complied with. Epitaphium GULIELMI CAVENDISH primi Com. Devon. ARCHIVA GULIELMO CAVENDISIO Ad omnia nato Que recte facienda funt Quem cum primum titulo Baronis de Hardwick Provinciam fuftinuit Quali peritia integritate ac laude Fama communis non mentitur. Vir Non fæculi fui fed omnis ævi optimus Laboris ac fidei capaciffimus Nihil fibi vendicans Cùm modicè ac plano folo fe condi * Imaginem Famæ cum tuba decoratam. Mandaviffet |