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CHARLES NEVILLE, sixth and last Earl of Westmoreland, (of the noble house of Neville) was the eldest son of Henry, fifth Earl of Westmoreland, by his first wife, Anne, daughter of Thomas, Earl of Rutland.

His father held the post of Warden of the West Marches, for many years; and his letters prove that he was "a sensible and well-educated, as well as a brave man."-Lodge, Vol. I. p. 244. He died in 1563. Shortly afterwards, his successor, Charles, is mentioned (Aug. 18, 1565) with commendation, by the Earl of Bedford, who met him at Morpeth, with Lord Scrope, Lord Eury, and others, on business connected with the borders. "My lord of Westmerlande and the rest were so honourable and so forward for that service as could be devised."-Cott. MS. Cal. B. x. f. 331.

He married Jane, daughter of the unfortunate Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and sister to the Duke of Norfolk; and it would seem probable, and natural, that his connexion with the family of Howard, and the affection and friendship which he ever bore towards the "good Duke," his brother in law, would incline him to regard, with complacency and favor, the perilous enterprise in which he had engaged, of marrying the Queen of Scots; which led, eventually, to the rebellion, and to the destruction of the house of Neville.

His inclinations and pursuits appear to have been affected to the sports of the field; and, although he inherited the noble blood, he does not appear to have possessed any of the lofty bearing and chivalrous emprise which distinguished the name of Neville.

He lived on terms of the most friendly intercourse with Sir George Bowes, to whom he writes, in 1568—

"I recommende me hartely to you, and have sent you herewith a letter from the Dukes grace, which he prayed me to convey to you, who hath also spoken to me that my man might take the hawkes which [you] doo gyve him, and keape the same till they be redy to sende him, which I must then see conveyed as I dyd the last he had there. And thus, with my commendacons unto my Lady, trusting sone to see you and hir, I bid you hartely farewell. From London, the ijde of July, 1568.

Your loving freinde, and assured to hys power,

Orig. Bowes MS. v 3. p. 3.

C. WESTMERLAND."

In the same year he borrows eighty pounds of Sir George, to whom he gives an acknowledgment, dated 9th Dec. in which

His debts and difficulties are distinctly alluded to in a political pamphlet of the day, (Norton's Warning) whose statements, however, must be received with due caution,

"The other, of no credite, no wisdome, nor governance-no abilitie—no vertue. Who knoweth not the enormities of his lyfe, the indiscretion of ruling his owne, the great lackes and debts wherein he is by his owne faulte, endaungered; the estimation of hym as of a contemned man; none otherwyse regarded than for the names sake of honor, and some possibilitie that he might perhappes leave a better sonne to amend the state of his house? Thoughe hys father were touched wyth many great faults, much noted in the world, some whereof this gentleman hath, as by inheritaunce receyved; yet never did he so hurtfull a deed, either to the common weale, or to his owne name and familie, as when he begatte so ungracious a sonne. Even he that never governed well himselfe, nor anything that he hath, whom no wise man nor, I thinke, any of you (as madde as ye be) would privately trust with ordering of a mean householde, now must take in publike charge the power of

he is joined by Sir William Bellassys, of Newbroughe, knight, and Roger Ratcliffe, of Mowgrave, gent.-Bowes MS. v. 11, p.2.

On the 17th May, 1569, he and Sir George Bowes, as commissioners under the great seal, attended the musters, taken upon Hamilton Hills, of all the inhabitants of the wapentake of "Langbarughe," from the age of sixteen and upwards; so that, up to this period, he appears to have been loyal to his sovereign, and to have lived, not only free from suspicion, but in the occasional exercise of an office of trust and importance.

He was at Brancepath in September, 1569; and, it may be presumed, that he maintained the antient hospitality of his house; for Lord Hunsdon writes to Cecil, from Newcastle, 7th Sep. 1569, that, having finished his warden court, at Alnwick," I rode to my Lord of Westmerland, too be mery, wher, by the way, yn vewyng of Durham Minster, I receyved your packet."-S. P.

He failed to meet Sir George Bowes, at a hunting appointment; (p. 3) yet he attended the Lord President's summons, in October, (p. 5) and declared, "vehemently," that he would venture his life to suppress any commotions.

On being again required to attend, together with the Earl of Northumberland, at York, they declined doing so; and their refusal is communicated to Cecil, by the Earl of Sussex, 4th Nov.

-"I receyved, this nyght, letters from the Erles of Northumberland and Westmerland, requyring, with very good and dutiful words, to have their comyng hether, at this tyme, excused (if it so might be) in respect of the earnest busynes that they have about their own causes, at this present time; and, for that the words of ther letters shew an entent of ther comyng, if they may not be excused, I presently depeched a pursuyvant, with other letters to ether of them, the copie whereof I send unto you

a shiere or two, yea, of all the realme, if the rest would adventure as madly as you. For the case of religion: doth any man knowe that ever he pretended any religion or conscience at all, till now hee maketh an apishe counterfaityng of fayned popishe devotion? And now yet, by your good judgement, hee that knoweth neither religion, faith, nor learnyng, must come to comptroll the judgement, learning, and faith, of the Queenes majestie, her counsell and all her clergie."

Addressed-" To the Quenes majesties poore deceived subiectes of the North Countre drawen into rebellion by the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland. Written by Thomas Norton, and newly perused and encreased.'

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