VII. From this slight history of the authors, and collectors of the Tixall Poetry, the reader will perceive, that they were individuals of five distinct families, inhabiting a line of country in the very centre of England, and none at a very great distance from the others. The Priory of St Thomas, is three miles from Tixall, which is five from Bellamore; and from that to Canwell is fifteen, which places are all in Staffordshire. From Canwell to Irnham, in Lincolnshire, is about five and thirty miles. They were all Roman catholics; and, what is remarkable, they are all, in the male line at least, become extinct.[1] Their very names and dwellings have perished!
VIII. With respect to the share which the different individuals just enumerated had in the composition of the original, and hitherto
unpublished, poems in this volume, I have already given some infor-
- ↑ It may gratify the curious reader to be informed what are the families which have succeeded them. (1.) To Fowler of St Thomas, has succeeded Earl Talbot of Ingestrie, who, in that place, has also succeeded to the ancient family of Chetwynd. The Priory of St Thomas is demolished, and a farm house occupies the scite of it. (2.) To Aston of Tixall, has succeeded Thomas Clifford, Esq. who is great grandson of Walter, fourth Lord Aston, great grandson of Sir Walter Aston, the friend of Drayton. (3.) To Aston of Bellamore, has succeeded Edward Blount, Esq., who stands in the same degree of relationship to Sir Walter Aston; through his mother, the late Honourable Lady Blount, eldest daughter of James, fifth Lord Aston. (4.) To Persall of Canwell has succeeded Sir Robert Lawley, Bart. The old house no longer exists. (5.) To Thimelby of Irnham has succeeded the Right Honourable Lady Clifford. The old house at Irnham is still standing, and is a venerable structure. I had entertained great hopes that some valuable ma» nuscripts of the Thimelbyes, together with the poems, and letters, of Herbert Aston, might have been preserved at Irnham; but the Honourable Hugh Clifford, and the Honourable Everard Arundel, who both did me the favour to search the house for that purpose, could discover nothing of the kind.
