He held the property for some years, but died without issue, temp. Henry IV., and was succeeded by his brother,

HUGH DE CALVELEY, Esq. of Lea, whose post mortem inquisition bears date 11 Hen. VI. By Maud, his wife, dau. and heir of Sir Henry Hubeck Knt., of Leicestershire, he left a son and heir,

SIR HUGH CALVELEY, Knt. of Lea, who married Margaret, dau. of Sir John Done, Knt. of Utkinton, and left at his decease (Inq. p. m. 10 HEN. VII.) a dau. Eliz. wife of John Eyton of Rhuabon, co. Denbigh, and a son and heir, SIR HUGH CALVELEY, Knt. of Lea, whose wife was Christiana, dau. and heir of Thomas Cottingham, and whose children, by her, were four daus., Alice m. to Richard Clyve of Huxley, Jane m. to Sir John Legh of Bagulegh, Dorothy m. to Robert Massey of Coddington, and Eleanor, who d. unm., and one son,

SIR GEORGE CALVELEY of Lea, Knt. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of Sir Piers Dutton of Hatton, Knt., and had besides a son and heir, SIR HUGH, four other sons and six daus., viz. Peter and George, both d.s.p., John, valet of Queen Mary, Anthony d. without lawful issue, Catharine wife of John Beeston, Esq. of Beeston, Elizabeth wife of Richard Gerard of Crewood, Eleanor, wife of John Davenport of Calveley, Christina wife of Richard Hough of Leighton, Joan wife 1st of John Edwards of Chirk, co. Denbigh, and 2nd of Sir Ralph Leycester, Knt., and Dorothy wife 1st of Robert Boswek, and 2ndly of Edward Almer. The eldest son and heir,

SIR HUGH CALVELEY of Lea, knighted at Leith 1544, m. Eleanor dau. and heiress of Ralph Tattershall of Bulkeley, and by her had, besides a dau. Eleanor wife of John Dutton Esq. of Dutton, three sons I. Sir George Calveley, Knt. of Lea, eldest son and heir, m. 1st, Margaret dau. of John Moreton of Moreton, and 2ndly, Agnes dau. and heiress of Anthony Browne of Wodhull, relict of Richard Chetwode, Esq. and by the latter only had issue two sons, George and Hugh, both d. infants. He d. 5th August, 1585. II. Hugh d. s. p.; and III. HUGH. The youngest son and eventual heir to his brother,

HUGH CALVELEY, Esq. of Lea, m. Mary dau. of Sir Ralph Leycester of Toft, Knt. and had, besides three daus., Elizabeth, m. Edward Dutton, Esq. of Dutton. Eleanor m. Henry, son of Sir Richard Lee of Lea, Knt.,

and Dorothy m. George Bostock of Holt,-a son,

SIR GEORGE CALVELEY of Lea, Knt. Sheriff of Cheshire, 1612, who m. 1st Mary dau. of Sir Hugh Cholmondeley, Knt. of Cholmondeley, and 2nd a dau of Sir W. Jones-which lady m. 2ndly Judge Littleton. By his first only, Sir George Calveley had issue, viz. Hugh, (Sir) his heir, Richard and George both d. s. p., Mary and Dorothy both d. young, Elizabeth m. Thomas Cotton, Esq. of Combermere, and Lettice m. Thomas Legh, D.D. third son of Peter Legh of Lyme, Esq. Sir George d. 19th January, 1619, and was succeeded by his eldest son and heir,

SIR HUGH CALVELEY of Lea, knighted when sheriff of Cheshire in 1642. He m. 1st, Lady Elizabeth dau. of Henry Earl of Huntingdon, and 2ndly, Mary dau. of Sir Gilbert Hoghton, Knt. of Hoghton Tower, co. Lancaster, and by the former only, had issue, a son and heir George Calveley, born in 1635, d. young. Sir Hugh d. without surviving issue, 4 April, 1648, and thus the male line of this ancient family ended. The estates were divided between the families of his sisters, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Cotton, and Lettice wife of Thomas Legh, D.D. In the division of the estates, the manor of Lea, with the lands north of the brook, passed to the Cottons, those south of the brook to the Leghs of Lyme. The first of these shares was sold by the late Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, Bart., to Mr. Joseph White of London, and the others vested in Thomas Legh, Esq. of Lyme, M.P.

Notes respecting the Life and Family of John Dyer, the Poet.

BY WILLIAM HILTON LONGSTAFFE, OF DARLINGTON.

THE biographies of the amiable and retiring author of Grongar Hill, have hitherto been so imperfect, such mere sketches, that the writer deems it but a justice to his ancestor, and a matter of some interest to the reading public, those who feel that facts throwing a light on the lives of great men, be they ever so small, should be placed on record, to give to the world all the materials in his power which may prove of service to future writers. And in the first place will be given a few notes relating to the poet's ancestors. His contemporary relatives, his and their descendants, will appear at length at the conclusion of these articles :

:

With regard to the origin of the Dyers from whom our author descended, there seems to be conflicting opinions, not among the printed lives of him, but among the family papers themselves From the papers in the hands of the Rev. Thomas Dyer, of Abbess-Roding, in the handwriting of the poet's father, Robert Dyer, Esq. of Aberglasney, it is clear that the last-named individual claimed descent from the Dyers of Somerset and Devon, and has drawn their arms beside his name, viz. or, a chief indented gules. Yet he is not uniform or steady in this statement, for in another paper, similar in other respects to the others, he states them to be of South Wales. These papers are numerous, agreeing tolerably, and systematically arranged thus:

"Non nobis nascimur.

Or, a chief indented gules quarterly with sable 3 goats passant argent (the allusion to arms is in some copies omitted,) by the name of Dyer, as in Guillim's Heraldry, are borne by Robert Dyer of Aberglasney, in the county of Carmarthen, Gent. descended from the ancient family of that name

Somersetshire,

great granddaughter

Robert Ferrars, the bishop of S. David, who was burnt at Carmarthen in the reign of Queen Mary, and his mother was descended

from

Sir William Thomas, formerly of Aberglasney+

the family of Sir Wm. Thomas, formerly of Aberglasney He married Lhewellin Voythys, formerly of Aberglasney, Esq.

the family of Lhewellin Voythys, of Aberglasney.

Catherine, daughter and coheir of John Cocks, Esq., of Comins, in the county of Worcester, by Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of Edmond Bennet, of Mapleton, in the county of Hereford, Gent."

Cocks beareth " sable, a chevron between 3 attires of a stag fix't to the scalp argent."

He states also that he got seals engraved for himself, wife, and son Robert, with the arms of Dyer; but as I have never seen or heard of these seals being in existence I know not what arms he meant.

A generation is evidently missed out here. W. H. L.

+ "This is a copy yt I left with Mr. Thomas.

"It is remarkable that the Dyers became again possessed of the estate of Aberglasney purchased by Robert Dyer (married to Miss Cocks as aforesaid) of Sir Rice Rudd Bart.-FRAN. DYER, his grandson.".

Dyer indeed himself evidently leans to this origin, for in the Fleece is the following remarkable passage. (Book 3.)

Narrating the different places of their settlement, he then goes on to specify amongst the others,

that soft tract

Of Cambria, deep embay'd, Dimetian land,
By green hills fenc'd, by oceans murmur lull'd;
Nurse of the rustic bard, who now resounds
The fortunes of the fleece; whose ancestors
Were fugitives from superstition's rage,

And erst, from Devon, thither brought the loom;
Where ivi'd walls of old KIDWELLY'S tow'rs,
Nodding, still on their gloomy brows project
Lancastria's arms, emboss'd in mould'ring stone.

Which in the first rough notes of the poem, in my possession, is represented thus:

:

Driven by ye D. of Alva,

nor brought ye Fleece alone

But various artizans allur'd they came

With all their instruments of art, their wheels

And looms and drugs of many a beauteous stain

A pretious

Inestimable Freight.

See Cary, p. 70.

From the letter in the sequel it would appear that this descent from the Dyers of Somerset and Devon was derived from one Francis Dyer; but as I think nothing of this descent, for both the Dyers of Wales and Somersetshire date in England anterior to the Duke of Alva, and no proved descent from the latter race is given, I pass on to the poet's descent from the Dyers of Wales, which I think there can be no doubt is the true one.

The Dyers of Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire rank among the most ancient lines of Wales, but the pedigrees given of them, show their extinction in the main branch in heiresses, and give not the descendants of the cadets of the house. Their arms were "Gules, an eagle displayed argent, beaked and crined or. And it must primarily be understood that the poet uniformly used the coat "Gu. 3 eagles displayed argent," and his brother Thomas's descendants bear the same. Upon the whole, this stock seems the most likely to derive our poet from, but leaving conjectures, we will now proceed to show his immediate ancestors.

The following extracts from the pleadings of the Duchy of Lancaster (anterior to Elizabeth's time) doubtless belong to our family, though they cast little lustre on it.

23 Hen. 8. Margery, late wife of William Davy, v. David Dyer, Mayor of Kydwelly.-Charge of aiding and abetting escape of murderer.— Kydwelly Lordship, Gower Lordship.-Wales.

24 Hen. 8. John Turner & ux. v. Charles Herbert, Howell Dyer, and others.-Forcible entry and tortious possession of messuage,

lands and appurtenances, and false imprisonment.-Osbaston, Monmouth Lordship.-Wales.

3 Edw. 6. James William & ux. v. Morres Dyer and others.-Tortious possession of messuages, lands, and pasture, and detention of title deeds.-Kydwelly.-Caermarthenshire.

Then will come conveniently the following letter from Rowland Hickes, a relation of the family, which gives a fair account of the Dyers

:

Sber, 1716.

Honoured Cousen, According to y' request I have made what enquiry I could, and I send it to y" if any thinge of this natur will bee searviable to y" I shall be redy to searvice, yu will finde inclosed the names of the Ald" and principle Burgesses recorded in the charter granted by King James the first, 1618, by which it can not bee considared that y" are any wayes descended from Francis Dyer yu mentioned to bee in the reigne of Queen Elizabeth, for since y' grandfather was borne is above 122, who might be 22 or 23 when the charter was had, his father was then bee before her reigne, and abot the family it can not bee denied but that they were very ancient in this towne and responsible, when five of them was named in 24, especioly att that time when the town was both populous and rich, but nothing to what it had bine in former times, it is a common tradition that they, the Fishers, Collins, Rows, Edwards, and others, were hever since the Conquest, but I rather thinke that they came with Thomas and Morris de Londres, who got and built this castle, as nowe it is (with stone), Morris Dyer was the great granfather of Wm. Dyer. Henry Fisher was y' great grandfather, and John Fisher was his brother, who was the fifth mayor by this charter. Hugh Dyer was y' gt grandfather, Dd Dyer was John Dyer, my son in law's grandfather. I supose all these Dyers died soon after, for there is noe mention of them since, nor could bee except they had bine maiors, for wee have noe records but the names of the mairs until Richard Payne was the ninth maior, since wee have records that gives account of most materiall things that was acted, this far of the Ald"

John Dyer, who is named amongst the principle Burgesses, was John Dyer's grandfather by his mother, and David Dyer was Hugh Dyer y great granf's Brother, named by David Roger Dyer and was the 13th maior there was a commission sent to Sr Gerard Bromley and Thomas Lowley, Esq. to enquire to the state of the towne in the fifth year of King James, wherein there severall of the Dyers in that Jury of 24 men. I doubt this is rather a trouble to y" than any satisfaction, and forbear any further (y' grandfather was the 21st maior) with due respects to y" and all yrs, I rest y' ever affectionat vnkle whilst

г

Ffor Mr. Robert Dyer att Aberglasney these to be left at the Nag's head in Carmarthen.

ROWLAND HICKES.

(Inclosure)

First Mayor

Thomas Babington, Esq.

First Ald'men

First Bayliffs

by the charter of Kidwelly granted by King James ye 1st, anno dno 1618.

John Howell, Morris Dyer, Henry Fisher, Master of Arts,
Hugh Dyer, David Dyer, John Aylward, William Gardener,
Griffith Bowen, John Fisher, David William, Griffith Row,
and David King.

William Gardener and Owen Bowen, Gent.
First principal Burgesses

Owen Bowen, John Dyer, David Dyer, John Phillipps, Morris
Fisher, David Mansell, Walter Rice, William Collinn, Henry
Jones, Thomas Walter, David Morton, and Morrice Rees.

First Chamberlain

Robert Joliffs. First Recorder, Henry Fleetwood.

To the above letter is appended the following note in Robert Dyer's writing—

Roger Dyer of Kidwelly.

Hugh Dyer, made alderman of Kid

welly by charter of James I.

Robert Dyer, 21 Maior of ye towne.
Robert Dyer.

Robert Dyer of Abergy.

Bp. Ferrar.

dau. married Wms, Wm's daughter married Hen. Fisher, ma'r of Arts, Vicar of Kidwelly.

1st, Robert married Eleanor, that Fisher's daughter.

Rob'. Dyer, 1st (son, I suppose, un- 2nd, Robert married Mary, dau. to

derstood)

David Wms, of Brinkarod.

3rd, Robert ma. Catherine, daughter to John Cocks, &c.

and the following endorsement.

"Letter Mr. Hicks about ye family of ye Dyers in Kidwelly, in a brē of ye 14 of ye same month he gives an acco't y't they came there with Will'm de Londres ab't ye year 1093, and conquered these p'ts and built ye Castle there with stone, and brought ye Welsh to subjection."

I have already (in the statements of Robert Dyer) introduced the poet's ancestors by the marriages of his fathers. The most distinguished one is undoubtedly the martyr, Bishop Ferrars, or Farrer, about whom I shall not here make any remarks. He has been praised and vindicated by abler hands,* and his exact relations seem hid in mystery. It admits of no doubt

See Woods's Athen. Oxon. I. 580. Also Thoresby and Whittaker's histories of Leeds, sub tit. Halifax and Wortley.

Some of the articles which he was put to answer in the reign of Edward VI. were to the last degree frivolous, &c.: viz. riding a Scottish pad with a bridle with white studs and snaffle, white Scottish stirrups and white spurs; wearing a hat instead of a cap; whistling to his child; laying the blame of the scarcity of herrings to the covetousness of the fishers, who in time of plenty took so many that they destroyed the breeders; and lastly, wishing that at the alteration of the coin, whatever metal it was made of, the penny should be in weight worth a penny of the same metal. Granger's Biog. Hist. i. 198.