OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY.

SECOND SERIES.-No. 20.

JAMES, BARON TALBOT DE MALAHIDE, D.C.L., T.C.D., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.G.S., M.R.I.A.

THE historic family of the Talbots of Malahide, now so worthily represented by the present Lord Talbot, is the only one in Ireland which has continued, since the time of Henry II., to retain possession of their estates in the male heirs and name of him to whom it had been originally granted. Sir Bernard Burke, who calls attention to this remarkable fact, further observes that, of the ancient seigniorial estates in Ireland whose lords were vested with the dignity of parliamentary barons, not one can be traced to have been held directly and immediately under the Crown but the lordship of Malahide. In these respects the estate of Malahide appears to be unique in Ireland; and its lords, pursuant to the nature of their original tenure, and the terms of their royal charters, never rendered homage, suit, nor service, to any but the crown, nor acknowledged any superior but the King alone.*

In tracing the early history of this family, we find that Richard de Talbott, mentioned in Domesday Book, was the common ancestor of the Lords of Malahide and the Earls of Shrewsbury; and in consequence of the well-known affinity of these two branches, the family in Ireland, by ancient entails and settlements, frequently made the members of the house of Shrewsbury next heirs in remainder to their Irish estates.

Richard Talbot was Lord of Malahide in the reign of Henry II., and after that monarch conferred the dominion of Ireland on his son (Prince, subsequently King) John, the said Richard Talbot obtained a confirmatory grant of his lordship, with sach and sech, tol and them, infangthef, and the judgment of water and of iron, the duel, the pit, the gallows, and all other the appendages of civil and criminal jurisdictions as possessed by the baronage of that day, to hold to him and his heirs by rendering to the King the service of one archer with a horse and coat-ofmail for ever.

Sir Richard Talbot distinguished himself in the reign of Edward II., by his gallant services in defeating the Scots under Bruce, who had then invaded Ireland. His son, Thomas Talbot, was by patent dated at Westminster, 20th May, 1352, exempted from juries or assizes, or from being made sheriff, escheator, or other minister against his will-an exemption of no small consequence in those days, when even peers were liable to be called on to fill these offices.

*Sir Bernard Burke's "Peerage and Baronetage."