FRANCES, DAUGHTER OF ROBERT, EARL OF ESSEX, MARCHIONESS OF HERTFORD AND DUCHESS OF SOMERSET. From a Picture at Petworth, by kind permission of the late Lord Leconfield. MONUMENT ERECTED IN GREAT BEDWYN CHURCH TO FRANCES, DAUGHTER OF ROBERT, EARL OF ESSEX, AND WIFE OF WILLIAM, EARL AND MARQUIS OF HERTFORD AND SECOND DUKE OF SOMERSET. Civil War, towards the close of which his health became seriously injured. He was He was employed frequently in visiting the West of England, communicating with the King's friends, and sending in reports as to the state and feeling of the country. In 1651 he was taken by the Parliament and sent to the Tower to be kept a close prisoner for ten days for treason (April 9). His imprisonment, however, was of much longer duration, for, April 16, he was examined by order of the Council of State, who at his request allowed him to see his physician in the presence of the Lieutenant of the Tower; April 17, he was permitted to engage a servant, provided the latter was vouched for by the Lieutenant of the Tower, and his further examination was put off for a week; April 24, he petitioned to be allowed to take exercise about the Tower, a request that was granted on the 28th. At the same time Lady Beauchamp with her maid were allowed to join him for ten days on condition they did not leave the Tower and spoke to no one except in the presence of the Lieutenant. On May 6, Lady Beauchamp was permitted to remain with her husband, on the same conditions, until further notice. September 9, Lord Beauchamp was bailed out on a bond of £10,000, with two sureties of £5,000 each. September 17, he was granted permission to go into the country.* During this time his health had broken down completely and, hoping a greater change might bring about a recovery, he went over to France soon after his release, and died there in 1654. He had married Mary, daughter of Arthur, Lord Capel of Hadham, by whom he had one son and three daughters, viz. :— William Seymour, born 1651, who became third * State Papers, Domestic. |