Cardiff central Library Manuscript No. 3.166
Transcribed from the original by Dr Hugh Stradling, 1996
"The Lords of St Donats stood at the head of the gentlemen
of their county; and were more addicted to piety and literature
than was usual among country gentlemen of their period"
Col. G T Clarke
Index
Accession of Gilbert de Clare
Account of the invention of a cross at St Donats
A cross found in the trunk of a tree at St Donats, end of the 16th Century; and picture of the said cross taken.
Advent of the Normans
A letter by Rhys Meyrick of the Cottrel
A letter by Sir Walter Raleigh
A letter of the Cromwellian period relating to St Donats
A Presumed relic from the ancient library of St Donats
Archbishop Usher at St Donats - interested in some old Mss while staying at the castle
Archbishop Usher seriously ill at St Donats
Archbishop Usher plundered on his way from Cardiff to St Donats
Archbishop Usher preaching before King Charles I at Cardiff Castle
A Stradling of St Donats ruins one of the Bussetts of Beaupre
Arms of the Stradlings
A Tradition of Oliver Cromwell staying at St Donats Castle
Barbara Gamage, heiress of Coity Castle and Estate, married at St Donats to Sir Robert Sydney
Bird and artist employed at St Donats
Cooks description of St Donats (1818)
Dr Parr at the castle of St Donats
Dr Lion Dafyd Rhys - his connection with the Stradlings of St Donats
Extraordinary robbery at Daunstey, in the family of one of the Stradlings
Further account of the Stradling Family
Haweys, the holders of St Donats on the accession of Gilbert de Clare
Haweys, in possession of large estates in the counties of Somerset and Devon
Iestyn Humphrey on the Stradlings of St Donats
Legend of St Donatus
Letters to the Merthyr Guardian
List of Vicars
Loss of the FROLIC
Llanweryd, the ancient name of St Donats
Manors belonging to Sir John Stradling Bart.
Memorials of the Stradlings in the nave of St Donats Church
Mention made of the Stradlings in State Papers
Notes on Bows and Arrows
Old Glamorganshire breed of cattle
Origin of the name St Donats
Poetry relating to the Stradlings
Public offices held by the Stradlings
Recent owners and occupiers of the castle
Roman coins found at St Donats
Roman Villa, lately discovered at Llantwit
Short Chronology of Events in the history of St Donats
Sir Edward Stradling promoting a large scheme of public utility in London
Sir Edward and others obtaining license to bring water into the City of London
Sir Edward raises an army of 1055 men in Glamorgan on the side of King Charles I
Sir Edward taken prisoner at Edgehill
Sir Edward wounded at Newbury
Sir Edward's widow marry Bussy Mansell of Briton Ferry
Sir Edward attain the rank of Major General
Sir Harry's letter to his wife from Rome
Sir Harry who fell into the hands of the sea pirate 'Colyn Dolphyn'
Sir John Stradling, the first of the indirect line
Sir Thomas Stradling imprisoned in the Tower of London
Sir Thomas Stradling, the last of the family
Smuggling on the sea coast
Song in praise of Glamorgan
Splot Farm
St Donats, visited by Mr Lethiculier in 1736
Stradling's pool
Supernatural occurrences
"The Beati Pacifi", dedicated to the Kinge James I
The Castle
The Chapel
The Estate sold in 1862
The Old Black cattle of Glamorganshire
The partition of the estate
The present church described
The Story of the conquest of Glamorgan by Fitzhammon
The Stradling Family
The Stradling Correspondence
The Stradlings of Dauncey, Wilts
The Stradlings who were members of Parliament for the county of Glamorgan
The Stradlings who were members for the Boroughs
Traditions in St Donats concerning the last of the Stradlings
Tresilian
Donats
Watch Tower at St Donats
Welsh St Donats
Wrecking
Preface
St Donats.
This seaside parish is situated in the hundred of Ogmore and
is bounded on the east by Lantwit Major, on the north by Monknash,
on the west by Marcross, while its southern side is washed by the
waters of the Bristol Channel. It has an area of 881 acres, all
enclosed and divided into nearly equal parts of arable and pasture.
The population, in common with most of the agricultural parishes of
Glamorgan, shows from 1831, a steady and continual decrease. In
the census of that year, the numbers of inhabitants was found to be
151. In 1871 they had dwindled down to 140, while 1881 showed a
further diminution of 2 and by 1891 they numbered only 126.
The parish on the whole has a southern aspect, the land
gradually sloping from the high ground at Wick to the cliffs at the
sea. The village is long and straggling, commencing at the head
of a narrow "cwm", a dale or dingle, and following its course here
and there a cottage or farm house for half a mile along the winding
road until the castle is reached and the road may be said to end.
Another road from the east ends at the same spot, but there is no
"thoroughfare" in the strict sense of the term through the village.
The spot on which the castle stands, although considerably lower
than the country immediately to the north, is of considerable
strength, as will be discovered by an examination of it from either
the south or the west. From either of these approaches its
capabilities of defence become apparent. The narrow and rather
shallow "cwm" which we are supposed to have been following from the
north has at this point deepened, until it becomes a ravine with
steep rocky banks. On the eastern side rises the castle
overlooking the ancient church, which just find room for itself and
its churchyard in the narrow valley, being barely seen until its
gate is reached; while on the western side of the "cwm" rises the
famous Watchtower - a striking building raised probably for the
double purpose of defence and observation and which command an
extensive view over land and sea.
A quarter of a mile lower down, the "cwm" ends in the sea
itself where the "sea wall" built by Sir Edward Stradling stretches
itself across the mouth and prevents any encroachment from the sea.
Castle and Watch Tower form striking landmarks as seen from the
Bristol Channel; and present a romantic picture of the fortress of
a feudal baron of the 14th century, existing intact as to outward
resemblance into the 20th century.
A spot so pleasantly situated and possessing so many natural
advantages for the feeding of sheep and kine, and the growth of
corn, must have tempted the earliest settlers - the first
inhabitants of this island to make it a place of residence.
History is silent as to who these may have been; but Roman coins (A)
having been found here, gives colour to the supposition that a
Roman Villa must have been erected here. It is known indeed that
the Romans held possession of the Glamorgan coast and the remains
of strong encampments are continually being discovered and found in
considerable number in advantageous positions (B) along the channel
side: but nothing is really known of the ownership of the soil of
this parish until the period of Fitzhammon's conquest in
Glamorganshire.
Note A - "Five miles west of Cowbridge stands St Donats castle near
which there are dug up several ancient coins among which were some
of Aemolianus and Marcus which are very scarce. The castle is at
present in the possession of the family of the Mansells and is a
large and elegant building, which makes a noble appearance, though
different parts of the structure are extremely antique".
Description of E & W in 1769.
Note B - See report on excavations near Lantwit Major in Transactions
of the Cardiff Natural Society 1887.
The Iolo manuscript tells us that the dispossessed Welsh Lord
was Einion Fawr, son of Uthrod Gach, Lord of Llanweryd - as the
place was then called - and that he bore for arms "Gules three
cocks, or"; other books say "3 lions salient, or".
It has been the misfortune of Glamorgan history that so much
fiction has been made to pass current for truth, particularly with
regard to the period of which we are now treating and in an
especial degree to the lordship of St Donats, as to make it
impossible to let even the little light there is, to shed on the
past, without clearing away the rubbish of falsehood, which from
the time of the Tudors has been studiously, laboriously and
ingeniously thrown round the subject. Col. Clarke who has had
better opportunities of sifting this story, and has bestowed more
patient study upon it than any other writer, thus speaks upon the
subject:-
"The proceedings of Fitzhammon during and upon his conquest
have been woven into a legendary tale, very neat and round,
very circumstantial, but as deficient in evidence as if it had
proceeded from the pen of Geoffrey of Monmouth himself.
The story which in South Wales is an 'article of faith',
explains the jealousy between Rhys and Lestyn -- and the
partition of the country between the conqueror and his twelve
principle followers, together with four or five Welshmen.
By whom or when this story was concocted is not known. It
was certainly accepted without challenge in the time of
Elizabeth I and could scarcely have been circulated before the
extinction of the Despencers early in the 15th century.
Probably its author was some follower of the Stradlings of St
Donats, a family somewhat given to literature, and whose
fictitious pedigree it sets forth as true".
This fictitious document, which is attributed by the earlier
writers indifferently to Sir Edward Stradling and Sir Edward
Mansell, is even quoted without question by Leland; and yet as far
as the Lordship of St Donats and the so called Lordship of East
Orchard are concerned, it is absolutely devoid of the truth.
Neither Stradling nor Berkerolles came in with the conqueror of
Glamorgan and this fact being borne in mind, we may return to the
thread of the story of St Donats.
Einion Fawr, then , had in 1091 to give up possessions,
summarily of St Donats, in favour of Hawey, of Combe Hawey (C) in
Somersetshire, one of the numerous knights who holding manors under
Fitzhammon in the honour of Gloucester, accompanied their lord upon
the expedition which ended in the conquest of Glamorganshire.
There were far more than 'twelve' of these adventurers who obtained
the reward of a 'manor' in Glamorganshire for their services in the
successful foray. St Donats was held by the Haweys family until
at least 1262, for in the 'extant' of the lordships of Glamorgan,
taken in that year, upon the accession of Earl Gilbert de Clare -
the holder of the fee of St Donats, value £10, is one of that name
who also holds one fee in Marcross with £10, which the heir of
Richard le Butler ought to hold.
Note C - The parish of Combe in Somersetshire, and afterwards known as
Combe Hawey, was part of the spoil alloted to Odo, Bishop of
Bayeaux (half brother of William of Normandy), being one of the 439
manors given him. During William's first visit to Normandy, he
was one of the two regents left in charge of the kingdom and his
cruelty during his half-brother's absence to the vanquished race,
raised such a storm that only William could quell. Later, his
ambition grew and he aimed at the papacy, being minded to enter
Italy by force, when William arrested him, clapped him in prison at
Rouen and seized all his manors. Then it was the Hawey came in
for a share of good things which the wind in its ill will of Odo,
had blown down. In Glamorganshire Hawey received St Donats and
with St Donats went the manors of Rogerston and Trewillun in Gwent.
Notes
Sir J.D.Harding, in "His Historical Account of the Castles of
Glamorganshire", says that Lanmaes was allotted by Fitzhammon as a
grange to St Donats. In the survey of 1320, St Donats is valued
at XXLI. There were VJ(?) plough lands in the lordship. Each
plough land in the lordship of Glamorganshire, pay'd in five years
after the desceased of every lord 9s 10d. A survey of 1650 gives
the manor of St Donats with many others in the country as one of
those upon which was levied the impost of Chence or Towle. In
the changes consequent upon the sudden and unexpected demise of Sir
Thomas Stradling the estate was for a short time held - forcibly
perhaps - by Mansell of Briton Ferry. Grose speaks of its being
in his possession in 1740.
Welsh St Donats.
The name of this village seems to have been imposed for the
purpose of distinguishing it from St Donats by the seaside - which
was from an early date occupied by a part of a Flemish colony,
settled at Llantwit Major.
The next 'extant' survey was taken in 1320 and by that time
Hawey has given place to Stradling. How the exchange was affected
it is impossible to say. The fictitious pedigree speaks of a
marriage with a daughter of Hawey, early in the reign of Henry I
(?means Edward I). So probably the manor was acquired by
marriage of a Stradling with an heiress of the Haweys, one hundred
and fifty years or more later than the time assigned in the
pedigree.
The Stradlings held possession of the Lordship in unbroken
succession then from a little earlier than 1320, till the year
1738, or say for 425 years. When the last of the St Donats
family, Sir Thomas Stradling died at Montpellier in France and the
estates became the subject of prolonged litigation between the
heirs at law of the desceased and Mr, afterwards Sir, John Tyrwhitt
(under whose hand young Stradling had fallen) and now claimed the
estates under an alleged agreement made between the parties that
the survivor of either should inherit the estates of the other.
The matter was eventually settled by arrangement between the
parties which received the sanction of a special act of Parliament
by which Mr Tyrwhitt received St Donats as his portion of the
spoil. From the Tyrwhitt, the estate passed to the Tyrwhitt-
Drake family, by whom in 1862 it was sold for £55,000 to Mr J.W.
Nicholl Carne.
Origin of the name
This question at once takes us into the ecclesiastical history
of the place, and in tracing it we have to step back to perhaps the
fourth or fifth century of the Christian era. At the time of
the intrusion of the ruthless Norman, the place was known as
Llanweryd - the parish then as now taking its name from the saint
to whom its church was dedicated. Within itself, the name has a
precious shred of history folded up; it tells us of some devoted
missionary coming probably from beyond the sea - in all
likelihood - to labour among the simple folk who then dwelt in the
sequestered village. The Rev.J.M.Traherne, who as antiquary and
historical student, was well read in all that related to the past
of Glamorganshire, held St Donats, its church more especially as
'almost sacred ground', believing (so it was said) that on the spot
where it stands, the gospel was probably first preached in Britain.
Ever must we regret that Mr Traherne did not seriously undertake
and accomplish the task of writing that to which he was thought he
had devoted the energies of his life, viz - The History of
Glamorgan. He certainly collected large stores of material for
that end; and he possessed opportunities of access to original
documents relating to the history of the county which will perhaps
hardly again fall within reach of any other men of tastes similar
to his own. But the opportunity was lost, and one may now look in
vain for the evidence upon which he had founded his opinions.
Therefore it must stand unsupported just for what it may be worth.
Some antiquaries following Mr Traherne's dicta have thought it
possible that in this spot one of the Apostles - St James - had
himself preached. This however may be assumed with some
confidence, that in 1091 there was a church of some antiquity in
the deep narrow valley below where the castle now stands, and that
it was dedicated to Werydd, or Gweryd. More than this is not
known. The advent of the Norman Lord brought with it a change.
He cared little for the saints of the welsh church; the building
used for worship was small and mean, and when his taste and
opulence demanded that a finer structure should be built, he, as
was the wont of his fraternity, dedicated the new building to a
saint of whom he believed himself to know more; in whose
intercessory prayers he has more confidence, who had no national
grudge against him as a supplanter of the ancient race; and to whom
perhaps some especial powers of help were attributed, of which he
stood particularly in need. The Haweys had considerable estates
in Somersetshire and Devonshire, to which they and their dependants
must have paid frequent visits, and had often to cross and recross
the channel. For the new church therefore the patronage of St
Donats was invoked, a saint who it was thought gave its direct
protection to mariners, and whose pictured representation may still
be seen in many a Norman seaman's and fisherman's cottage.
In their fondness for finding a Welsh origin for everything
found in Wales, some of our antiquaries have imagined Donat to be
the British Dunawd, and abbot or head of the college or monastery
of Bangor Iscoed in North Wales, who ended a long life (probably by
martyrdom) in the early years of the seventh century. This
supposition may be summarily dismissed for the Norman Lords when
they made a change in dedication, as they did in several well
authenticated instances, never changed from one Welsh saint to
another, but invariably from the national saint to one of foreign
extraction, yet in this case the saint had a nearer alliance to
British origin than might be imagined.
Let us see what legend says of him:-
St Donatus, Bishop of Frisoli, who died A.D.874 was according to
Tuscan tradition, a Scottish. or rather Irish pilgrim, who visited
the tomb of the Apostles at Rome. On his way home he arrived at
Frisoli, when the Bishop was dead, and people and clergy assembled
in truly primitive conclave in the church to elect his successor.
As Donatus, a man of small stature entered the cathedral, all the
bells began to ring and every lamp and candle was lighted
supernaturally. The people took this as a sign that the little
stranger was to be the new Bishop and elected him by acclamation.
But the little Bishop could perform other miracles than that of
setting the bells to ring and the lamps to shine. One day, a boy
returning from the church, home to his mother was carried off by a
wolf. The mother rushed to the church and implored help of the
Bishop, who prayed and presently the wolf brought back the boy and
laid him down unhurt upon the altar steps!
Sir John Stradling who aspired to be a poet and wrote a
lengthy book of verse, which is dedicated to James I (1623) called
"Beatifie Pacifici", takes occasion therein to speak of the saint
Donat thus:-
"A Bishop great and holy martyr old,
I much esteem him, more than all know why,
Of whom a little modicum I hold
As have done divers of mine ancestry:
Methinks he bids me mind that holy place,
Where some of them received knightly grace"
In the last line, he of course alludes to some of his
ancestors having received the knighthood at the holy sepulchre.
Later in the poem where Sir John has a vision of the heavenly host,
he again fondly returns to the patron saint of his knightly fee:-
"Among that noble martyr army one,
Above the rest I wished to behold;
Him looking well about I spi'd anon
And pressing nearer to him I was bold
To tender homage to him, for the slender fee
Which under him I hold in Chivalrie"
Notes. - In Aylesford church, diocese of Rochester is a monument
with the inscription theron - "Hie Jacet Johannes Donat,
generosus", and "Alicia uxor ejas. Ille obit A.D. 1455. illa
obit", "St Donati ora pro nobis". This is noticed in Weaver's
Ancient Monuments and there is this note thereto -" I never heard
of such a saint saving at St Donat's castle in Glamorganshire, the
fair habitation of the ancient and noble family of the Stradlings -
1631".
An enquiry having been made in regards to the above note in the
Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian 1853, the following answer was elicited
from Boviensis;
"St Donatus is patron of shipwrecked mariners. He is
portrayed with various emblems of wreck as accessories. On
print shops of any of the towns on the French coast - Dunkirk,
Calais, Bologne - his portrait may be found."
The annals of Tewkesbury put St Donats day on the 17th August.
The Church of St Donats.
The present church of St Donats may safely be assumed to be
the third which have stood upon the same spot, for in date it
cannot be earlier than the 14th century. There must as certainly
been an earlier Norman church here, as that church succeeded a
still earlier British structure. It consists of nave with tower
at western end, with porch, chancel, mortuary chapel of the
Stradling family, dedicated to St Mary, on the north side of the
chancel separated therefrom by a solid wall in which is the door of
entrance. The chancel arch is round headed, not large, but yet
possessing dignity. Towards the nave the corners of the arch are
rounded with slender shafts which at the spring of the arch have
capitals slightly ornamented. Two steps lead into the chancel.
The chancel is of large size in proportion to that of the church.
The eastern window is of three lights pointed. On the south side
are two light pointed windows, on which side also is a pointed
door, generally called the Priest's door. The Sacrarium is
raised. There is a large and somewhat unusual shaped piscina -
octagonal, attached to the south wall, while on the east wall,
north of the holy table, is a large bracket- much ornamented for
sustaining an image, probably that of the virgin.
The font is under the tower, and round and massive. It is
decorated with two rows of small and plain shields, closely joined
together. There is a holy water stoop on the left hand side of
the north door, large octagonal and projecting, with the base
richly ornamented. Opposite the north door is a doorway which
led into the churchyard but is now walled up. Two three light,
square headed windows break the wall on the south side of the nave;
they are filled with plain glass into which shields bearing the
Stradling arms are let in. This small portion of coloured glass
is very old. The roof of the nave, chancel, and chapel are of
open woodwork. Anciently there was a rood loft above chancel arch
facing the nave. The stone brackets remain which gave it
support, as do also the door and staircase which led up to it, and
the small windows north and south by which it was lighted.
Outside, the roofs are battlemented, and the tower which is square,
is also battlemented with slender pinnacles at the corners. In
the churchyard is an exceedingly fine cross, raised on a calvary of
three steps. The tall slender shaft is sculptured at the top with
a representation of the crucifixion; and happily it has escaped
all damage at the hands of the puritans in the Cromwellian raid -
when so many of the Glamorganshire crosses were either mutilated or
destroyed. The cross at St Donats has received no other damage
than that dealt it by the inevitable hand of "time".
There remains now in connection with the church, but to
describe the attached chapel of St Mary, which was built in 1573 as
the burial place for the Stradlings which had gone before, and the
resting place of successive generations of the same, closing with
Sir T Stradling, the last of the name; who as we have already
mentioned died at Montpellier in France. The chapel is entered
from the church by a door on the north side of the chancel, and on
the left hand side as you enter is a recess for holy water stoup,
which appear shaped as if for metal work to fit completely into it.
There is no ornamentation that would be given to it by the metal.
The roof of the chapel is of open woodwork and the light is
received from a three light window in the eastern end. The walls
are covered with sculptured memorials of various dates and also
with memorial pictures or panels on which are lengthy inscriptions
- all of which will be described in order. But that which
arrests the attention first of all is that large raised white
marble tomb in the centre of the chapel on which are inscribed the
names of the last two Stradlings of St Donats. This tomb is
about four feet high, six feet and some inches long and more than
three feet wide. On the one side is recorded the name of Edward
Stradling. "who died the 3rd of October 1727, aged 27 years, to the
unspeakable grief of his parents and all that knew him, being a
most accomplished gentleman in all respects". On the other, that
of Sir Thomas Stradling, the last of his name, who died 27th
September 1738 - and was buried here on the 19th March following.
On the west wall are three pictures in panels in excellent
preservation, of large size, 3ft 6in high; perhaps by 2ft 8in wide.
Their excellent condition was due as was told by the sextons wife,
on our visit to the place in 1880, to their having been sent to
London by Dr Carne to be restored. The restoration seemed to
have been most judiciously performed.
The 1st picture represents a knight in dark armour kneeling
in prayer, book in hand; facing him is his lady, richly attired,
also kneeling. Two sons kneel behind the knight, one daughter
behind the lady. A shield of arms fully quartered suspended over
each, and an inscription in small neat white lettering in centre of
the picture (D) - to the memory of Sir Harry Stradling, who was taken
prisoner by Colyn Dolphyn and ransomed at 2,200 marks, to pay which
certain manors (specified) were sold. Other incidents in the
knights life are also given. On the panel and below the picture
is an inscription in black lettering as follows:-
"Here lyeth Thomas Stradling Esquire, sonne to Sir Henry
Stradling, knight, and Elizabeth his wife (the daughter of
William Thomas of Raglan, in County of Monmouth, knight) who
died at Cardiff, in the monastery of the preaching fryers, the
8th day of September, in the year of our lord 1480; whose
bones after the dissolution of the said monastery, Thomas
Stradling, knight, his nephew caused to be taken up and
carried to St Donats, and buried in the chancel of the church
there, by his son the 4th day of June in the year of our lord
1537, and afterwards Edward Stradlinge, knight, his nephew's
sonne, the 5th of that name translated the said bones out of
the chancel to the chapel there in the year of our lord 1573,
after whose death his wyfe married with Sir Rees ap Thomas,
knight of the garter, and died at Picton in the county of
Pembroke, the 5th day of February, in the year of our lord
1533, and was buried at Carmarthen in the monastery of the
Preaching Fryers with the said Sir Rees ap Thomas, her
husband" (Editor - dates have been checked on the picture!)
The second picture has a knight bare headed clad in a suit of
white or shining armour elaborately decorated with his lady
opposite to him. Both are kneeling and each have a book in hand.
On a table in the background are placed the knight's helmet and
plume. Shields of arms in the upper part of the picture. Five
sons kneel behind the knight, four daughters behind the lady. The
painter had thrown more character into the faces of this group than
he has into that in the first picture. There is individuality
enough in them for actual portraits. At the bottom of the
picture is the following inscription in the same style of
lettering as the first:-
"Here lyeth Edward Stradlinge knight, the 4th of that name,
sone to Thomas Stradlinge Esq. and Janet his wife, the
daughter of Thomas Matthews of Radyr, in the countie of
Glamorgan, Esq; who died in the castle of St Donats the 8th
daie of Maie, in the year of our Lord 1535, and was buried in
the chancel of the church there, whose bones were afterwards
translated by his nephew, Edward Stradling knight, the 5th of
that name into the chapel there, in the year of our Lord 1573.
Also here lyeth Elizabeth his wyfe, daughter of Thomas Arundel
of Lanheydrock in the county of Cornwall, knight, who died in
child-bed at Merthyr Mawr the 20th day of February in the
year of our Lord 1513. and was buried there, - whose bones
Thomas Stradling knight her sonne, caused to be taken up and
carried to St Donats and buried in the chancel of the church
there with her husband, the 8th day of May in the year of our
Lord 1536 and afterwards by Edward Stradlinge translated into
the chapel there in the year of our Lord 1573."
D- The inscription in white lettering is as follows:-
"The undernamed Harri Stradling, knight, went on a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem, and received the order of the sepulchre there as his
father, Edward Stradling, knight, the ? of that name, and
grandfather William Stradling, knight of the same order did, and
died in the Isle of Cyprus, on his coming home, the last of August
in the year of King Edward the 4th, and is buried in the city of
Famagusta. This Sir Harri, sailed from his house in
Somersetshire, to his house in Wales, was taken prisoner by a
Briton Pirate named Colyn Dolphyn whose redemption charges stood
him 2,200 marks, for the payment whereof he was driven to sell the
castle and manor of Baseleq, in Monmouthshire and two manors in
Oxfordshire.
N.B. The 16th year of Edward IV would be 1477.
The third picture is that of a knight in dark costume with
sword at his side, a bright helmet and plume being on a table in
the background. His lady kneels opposite to him. There are no
children. Above them are shields with arms quartered and upon a
scroll the legend, - "Vertues sole praise consisteth in doing"
(1590). These are careful portraits of Sir Edward Stradlinge
then living. Beneath is an inscription in the same character as
the proceeding:-
"These pictures do represent Sir Edward Stradlinge, knight,
the 5th of the name (son to Sir Thomas Stradling, knight, and
Katherine his wife, daughter to Thomas Gamage of Coity,
knight,) and the lady Agnes Stradling his wife, (daughter to
Sir Edward Gage of Sussex, knight and Elizabeth , his wife,
daughter to John Parker of Willington, in the county of
Sussex, Esq.) which said Sir Edward now in his life time hath
set forth these monuments of his ancestors deceased, and by
God's grace meaneth hath he and his wife after their decease
to keep them bodily company in this self same place. Anno
Dom. 1590."
Above the pictures is hung the iron helmet of a knight. This
remarkable series of pictures are probably unique in monumental
art. They were obviously executed by the same hand and as the
date on the 3rd picture tells us, - "in the year 1590". Who was
the artist? The older members of the Bird family in Cardiff used
to say that the first of their family who came to Glamorganshire
was the artist who had been engaged by Sir Edward Stradling to
paint the pictures he wished placed in the mortuary chapel at St
Donats. When that commission was executed, Mr Byrd (as the name
was then spelt) liking the county, settled in Cardiff.
The oldest mural monument in the chapel is on the south side
of the east window. Its general design is elegant but the stone
has crumbled away so much that the inscription has been
obliterated. There were several shields of arms upon it, but the
chargings are now all defaced. On the north wall is a Jacobean
monument; knight and his lady kneeling in prayer at a desk
sculptured in the style which prevailed at that period. The
persons represented are Sir Edward Stradling - The subject of the
third picture above mentioned - who died May 15th 1609, and the
Lady Agnes his wife who died May 15th 1610. There is a long
Latin inscription - part of which is written upon the end of the
desk at which the pair are kneeling.
On the south wall is a fair marble monument to the memory of
William (?) Stradling and the Lady Elizabeth Hungerford his wife,
of Farley, Hungerford, Somersetshire and some of their family.
There is a long Latin inscription but only one date - namely 1683.
Within the church there are a greater number of monuments of
various dates than it might be supposed possible from a village
community composed of the tenants and retainers of the powerful
family of the Stradlings. In the nave there are the following
memorials among others:-
Richard Hyett, Steward to the last two Stradlings, -
"behaved very well in his calling and died as he lived"
10th April 1749 aged 70.
"If all men follow his example,
Their resurrection will be ample".
Catherine, his wife died in 1766.
David Hyett his son died in 1769.
"Dear wife pray weep for me no more,
And do not shed a tear;
For I am gone but just before
Unto my saviour dear."
Richard Hyett, Junior of St Donats died 1739 aged 25.
"Mourn not for me my joy begins
Bestow thy tears upon thy sins;
Out of my grave I call to thee,
Prepare to die and follow me."
"We grieve not them,
That thou to heaven art taken;
But that thou hast
Thy Friends so soon forsaken."
Edward Hyett, Practising surgeon in St George's Hospital , London,
son to Richard Hyett and Catherine Thomas his wife, died 1738 aged
24.
"The memory and actions of the just
Blooms o'er the grave and blossoms in the dust"
Abraham Mathews of Bristol, died in March 1697/8 - aged 18.
"Though Boreas blasts and Neptune's waves" etc.
William Price, Steward etc. died 1691
Mary his wife, died 1720
Mary Savours their daughter and mother of the Revd Mr William
Savours, vicar of this parish, died 1729
Robert Savours her son died 1732
There is also a monument to the Revd M Thomas, sometime vicar
of St Donats and his wife. Mrs Thomas during her long widowhood
occupied the castle and farm and died at St Donats. She was a
woman of strong character and quite ruled the parish - everyone
looking up to her as if she were owner of the estate. Her
daughters were tenants at the castle at the time of its purchase by
the late Dr Carne and were speedily turned out by him.
A tablet in the porch records the death of Francis Stych, at
the age of 108 who was buried in the churchyard Dec. 1st 1671.
John Harry was buried May 24 1792 aged 110. John had been
huntsman to two or three of the later Stradlings and was it was
understood in receipt of a pension for such service at the time of
his death.
In the churchyard on the north side of the tower is an old
incised monumental slab XIII or XIV century. Its design is a
cross, decorated with an anchor shaped base. The churchyard
itself is small, on its western boundary is a small babbling brook,
beyond which the ground rises in a steep declivity, wood covered.
Immediately eastward the ground rises yet more steeply, and from
the height above the tower and battlement of the castle front down
upon the spot. There is an entrance of ancient date from the
churchyard by a door to a steep path or flight of steps up to the
castle. The most striking feature in the churchyard is the
elegant pillared cross before spoken of, around which cluster
thickly the memorials of many past generations. On the western
side is a massive tomb which cover the remains of Sackville Turner,
Sarah his wife, and a lady relative who were cast away and drowned
on the night of the 5th Sep. 1774. They were all young people.
The Sackvilles were of a Herefordshire family and left two children
under a year and a half old.
Mrs J W Nicholl-Carne is buried at St Donats having died at
the castle. A lofty stone pillar cross of antique design stands
at the head of the grave.
The living is a discharge vicarage rated at £3:14:4d in the
kings books. Endowed with £200 Royal Bounty, net value in 1835 -
£131. There is a newly erected vicarage - The patron in 1719 was
Sir Edward Stradling - in 1831, the Tyrwhitt-Drake family - in
1881, J.W. Nicholl Carne esq.
List of Vicars.
Hugh Adam was parson of St D. 1473 when he was one of the witnesses
of a deed relating to the manor of Lamphey.
Sir Thomas Chalke, parson of St Donats, 37 Hen.VIII charged viij1--
iiij1 to subsidy.
John Cautlow "of the age of 57 years, was vicar of St D in June
1561. 'was only inducted vicar in michalmas last past." (State
Papers)
David, vicar of St Donats, appear in Golden Grove Book, p.50. He
appears to be the son of one Richard, parson of Llanfihangel, who
was grandson to a Jenkin Hoskins.
William Savours 1738. It was he who buried the last Stradling at
St Donats.
St Donats Castle.
Col Clarke, who has brought the highest engineering skill, coupled
with great and accurate archaeological knowledge to his task, has
made it a labour of love to survey all, or nearly all, the ruined
fortresses of Glamorgan and in the published results of his studies
has quite re-edified these shattered remains of antiquity. In
1871, he published "Thirteen Views of St Donats with a description
of the castle and a notice of the Stradling family". He speaks
of it as "The only military building in the county always inhabited
and preserved without material alteration; nevertheless the
fortress is not celebrated in Welsh history. The name does not
appear in the "Liber Laudavensis", nor the earlier traditionary
records". Again, in a notice of the castle accompanied by plans
in the Arch Cambrensis III series, vol XV. page 276 (of which it is
presumed he is the writer) it is stated "It is difficult to say
which predominates at St Donats, the antiquarian and archaeological
value of the buildings or the extreme beauty and dignity of its
appearance. Very few castles can compete with it in this respect;
and taken in conjunction with its gardens and precincts, its
romantic situation on the cliff of the Severn Sea, its proximity to
Lantwit, the most mysterious place in South Wales, as well as its
family history, it constitutes a whole upon the possession of which
its possessor may justly be congratulated". Notwithstanding this
high praise of its architectural beauty and that it is not
undeserved, the fascination which it has exercised over the minds
of almost every artist that views it, from the Royal Academians,
Turner and Ward, down to the but locally known painter, Wilson, is
a sufficient evidence. Still it must be confessed that its
dignity is best preserved by viewing it at a distance. The
approach to it, as well as its entrance gateway, is mean and
awkward to a degree that reaches astonishment. It is only a
visit to the place which can convince anyone who have only seen St
Donats from the south or west, what an ungainly approach there is
to such a wealth of magnificence. How an opulent family who
gathered so many retainers around them in the feudal ages could
bring themselves to submit to so much inconvenience as the
straightened and crooked principal gateway must have caused them,
raises one's highest wonder. As this great inconvenience was
submitted to generation after generation, it must be evident that
something must have compensated them for it. Perhaps there was
some additional security gained but this is not noticed by Col
Clarke.
Notes:- St Donats castle. William de Worcester, who visited
Glamorgan in 1479 and wrote an itinerary, makes no mention of St
Donats castle. He speaks of Llanblethyan and Penchlyn and
Ogmore, but St D is passed over. Leland, who passed through the
country fifty years later says:-
"From Colehow about a mile is St Donats Castle. It standeth on a
meane hill a quarter of a mile from the Severn Sea. In the which
space betwixt the castle and the Severn is a parke of red deere,
more by north west. The parke and castle belong to Stradling, a
gentleman of very fair landes in that country. Theirs from the
severn shore to the mouth of the Alien and 3 miles."
But to return to Mr Clarke's survey of the castle:- "In its
present form the castle" he says is a work of the XV century with
additions of the XVI. It is protected on two sides by a steep
natural bank and on the north and n-east, by an artificial dry
moat. The south or seaward front is formed by the wall of some
of the main buildings, the angle of the south-west being a square
structure known as the Lady Anne's tower; at the foot of which
there is a terrace below and beyond which a series of platforms
occupied by the gardens descend to a small walled paddock protected
by a breastwork from sea-rovers and from the sea itself.
Opposite the castle, on the right and higher bank of the ravine,
stands the celebrated watch tower - a detached work from the summit
of which could be seen Dunster castle on the opposite side of the
coast, and a wide sweep of the Bristol Channel: - a view of great
importance to the Stradlings when English seas were infested with
pirates of many nations, and as they once found to their cost,
possessed of considerable audacity.
No history or accurate survey of the castle exists. It can
only be stated here that in plan it is nearer a square than a
circle; about 150 feet in diameter. Enclosed towards the ravine
by a sort of levelment wall, behind the low parapet of which is a
terrace within which raises the proper wall of the castle. Where
the ditch occurs its scarf is a high embattled wall, its
counterscarf a low parapet.
The entrance on the N.E. or level side, is across a bridge now
permanent, through a gateway only portcullised into a small court.
Connected with this outer house on the south side is a good
fireplace, and other traces of early english work - the oldest
remains observed.
From the small court, the way leads through a second gateway,
also only armed, into the main court of the place, which is wholly
surrounded by buildings. On the left hand in the hall with porch
and projecting oval behind it with drawing room, kitchen and
offices and at either end a further suite of rooms. The bottom
of the court is occupied by the great dining room and parlour, the
later having a curious wreath of plaster-washed copper, as part of
the decoration of its ceilings. At the south end of the drawing
room is the main stair case leading to the saloon. On the right
hand side of the court are other rooms of one line in depth, and
also two floors. Between the hall and gateway are some more
buildings, apparently an addition containing Lady Stradling's
apartments. On the walls of one of the rooms were recently found
a complete series of arms, quaterings and matches of the family,
painted on the wall and concealed partly by panelling and partly by
white wash. In the last century part of the buildings were
allowed to fall into decay but the greater part has always
retained a roof. Since the acquisition by Dr Carne(who claimed
to be the next representative of the Stradlings) the castle has
been put in repair and is now occupied. Given with the "plan"
before spoken of which appeared in Arch. Camb. is a list of the
rooms formerly existing within the walls of the castle of which
traces still remain.
In the centre of the court yard is the base of an old fountain
which 300 years ago constantly played water. The supply was
obtained from a strong spring above the village at a considerable
elevation above the castle to which it was conveyed by leaden
pipes. The older villagers about the middle of the present
century used to speak of the pipes being cut through in digging in
gardens which lay along their course. "The book of South Wales"
again speaks of terraces leading from the castle to the shore below
to which there was formerly a covered way to an extensive series of
barracks for men and horses, surrounding an oblong nook of two
acres on all sides except that to the sea, which often dashes over
and injures the outer wall. We heard on local authority that
these barracks were occupied during a visit paid by Queen Anne (?)
to this castle. The Queen's room is still pointed out.
Some idea of ancient Welsh hospitality may be formed from the
following dimensions of fireplaces, which were used at St Donats;
width of fireplace in back kitchen 17' 3"
width of actual fireplace 7' 0
width of fireplace in great hall 9' 0
Height of mantel piece from ground 8' 0
The Watch Tower
- of which every one who writes on St Donats must
make mention, is said by Col Clarke to have been built by Sir
Harrie Stradling; he who was captured by Colyn Dolphyn. If this
is so, Col Clarke's remark that it was built to very little purpose
is much to the point. But the fact is that tradition has many
voices on this subject. One of these is positive that the tower
was built in consequence of the capture of Sir Harri (who on the
other hand is said to have made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem that year
and to have died in Famagusta in Cyprus). While another
tradition affirms that it was built to display lights that would
draw vessels to the shore where they might be wrecked and become
the prey of the Lord of the manor. Grose, who published a view
of the tower in 1776 has the following notice of it - "This
picturesque building stand in the park a small distance west of the
castle ditch, it seems to have been erected soley for the purpose
of a watch tower, for both size and form bespeak it unfit for
defence. Tradition says the Lord of the castle and manor,
constantly kept a sentinel on its top to look out and give notice
to the garrison when he saw any ships in distress, not with the
humane design of sending out assistance, but that they might be
time enough to assist the right of their lord to the wreck and to
seize the vessel with its cargo before it was demolished and
carried off by country people; who have at all times been
particularly infamous for the inhumane practice of plundering
vessels, shipwrecked on the shore; sometimes even murdering such
of the crew as have saved themselves by swimming ashore".
The view engraved in Grose's Antiquities shews the tower in a
rather perfect condition - and attached to the lower portion are
some smaller buildings which have now quite disappeared. More on the Watch Tower.
The Stradling Family.
The pretensions of the Stradling family to the honour of having
accompanied Fitzhammon in the conquest of Glamorgan are entirely
fictitious, - if the claim is to rest on their possession of the
lordship of St Donats. There is an elaborate and most
circumstantial pedigree put forth by the family, but there can be
no doubt of its having been manufactured from the fulsome and
laudatory songs and other traditions of the household bards of the
family, and stamped as authentic by being put forward as true by
the head of the house when a stir was made in the time of king
Henry VIII as to welsh pedigrees. A family in possession of a
considerable estate can always obtain from their dependants the
sort of flattery most pleasing to them, and by the year 1490 the
Stradlings really had had the manor for several generations
suppressing any sinister tradition as to their recent origin having
once existed, as no doubt there had, time enough had elapsed for
it to be utterly forgotten, and the larger traditions of the
older family of the Haweys to have been ascribed to the Stradlings.
It is no uncommon thing in much later times, to find an intruding
parvenu family quietly appropriating the traditions of the family
it has dispossessed. The traditions indeed seem to go with the
estate and as the rightful property and personal belongings of the
owner for the time being! Who needs go far to seek fro an example
in point now. But we must follow the pedigree. Monger, in
tracing the descent of the family, merely presuming that the first
L'Esterling who came to Glamorgan, was probably one of the chief
of the Flemish refugees who set up their quarters at Llantwit in
the reign of Henry I, and who got on by marriage, possibly by
marrying the heiress of the Haweys. This culminating piece of
success on the part of the Stradlings took place in the person of
Sir Peter Stradling, knight, who married the daughter of Sir Thomas
Hawey, knight, temp. Ed.I. From this marriage we may be content
to receive the Stradling pedigree in evidence.
Taliesin ab Olo in his notes to the poem of "The Doom of Colyn
Dolphyn" gives the genealogy of the Stradlings as a quotation from
a letter of the Revd G Gamage, Rector of St Athans, to Llewellyn ap
Evan, dated Nov 23rd 1726. Mr Gamage admits taking his pedigree
from the roll compiled by Sir Edward Stradling, who is supposed to
have been one of the chief hands in polishing off the spurious
pedigree.
1. Sir William Esterling, to whom was given the castle and manor
of St Donats, married Howisia or Hawys' daughter and heiress of Sir
John Talbot, by a daughter of Cynfyn ab Gwrystan, prince of Powys
and by her had a son.
2. Sir John Esterling, knight, who married Matilda, or Mallt,
daughter and heiress of Sir Robert Corbet, knight, who had issue.
3. Sir Morris Esterling, knight, who married Cecilia daughter and
heiress of Sir Pigot le Say, knt, who had a son.
4. Sir Robert Stradling, knight, the first who wrote his name in
this manner ( it is most kind of the genealogist to tell us this
interesting fact, otherwise we would have said that none of the
Esterlings had up to this time, or for a few generations later,
written their names in any form - their contemporaries could not in
a general way do so. But we must not be too incredulous for in
the later generations the Stradlings were decidedly literary in
their taste, and we ought perhaps charitably to reason the point
from this literary tendency). Sir Robert then married Howisia,
daughter of Sir Hugh Brin, knight, a chieftain of welsh blood by
his mother's side, who was the lawful heiress from failure of the
male issue to the castle and manor of St Donats. Through her the
Stradlings acquired a rightful title by just heirship to their
estate and were not a little proud of their circumstances. The
Welsh air had made them forget their (supposed) Norman manners
"ever since!" continues the genealogist, "they have successively
continued to enrol their names as Welshmen, according to the rights
of just heirship in high descent? - the son -
5. Sir Gilbert Stradling married a daughter of John Saint Owen,
knight, whose son,
6. Sir William Stradling married Cecilia daughter of Sir Hugh
Cornwallis, knight who had a son,
7. Sir John Stradling, who married Ann, daughter of Sir Hugh
Maniford, knight, who had a son,
8. Sir Peter Stradling, knight. This good knight and true
whoever his parents may have been, is the first whom we can in any
way recognise as a person upon whom the light of history shines.
As to his reputed ancestory, they are mythical to be treated as
real personages.
We will therefore renumber the branches of this genealogical
tree:-
1. Sir Peter Stradling married Joanna, daughter and heiress of Sir
Thomas Hawey, knight, and had with her besides the manor of St
Donats, two manors in Somersetshire and one in Dorsetshire.
2. Sir Edward (1) Stradling, the first of that name, quartered the
arms of Hawey with those of the Stradlings. He married Eleanor,
daughter and heiress of Gilbert Strongbow, knight, of Caldicot
castle, Monmouthshire. With her Sir Edward had two manors in
Oxfordshire. (He did homage 1314 for Compton Hawey to the Abbot of
Sherborne)
3. Sir Edward (2) Stradling (1344-69), second of the name, son of
the foregoing, married Gwenllian, one of the sisters and heiress of
Sir Lawrence Berkrolles, knight, of New Castle, St Athans,
otherwise the castle of East Orchard. Their son was -
4. Sir William Stradling, knight, (1390) who married Isabell
daughter and heiress of Sir John Burt, knight. It is melancholy
to add that he received with her, albeit that she was an heiress,
no fortune, for as the chronicler goes on to explain "the estates
of that family were entailed on male issue". This is the first
Stradling to whom the genealogist condescends to give a date to any
of his actions. Sir William journeyed to Jerusalem we are told in
the reign of Richard II and received knighthood according to the
forms and order of the Holy Sepulchre; which enact took place
"about" the year of Christ 1380. His son was -
5. Sir Edward (3) Stradling the third. He was a personage of
considerable pretensions: he quartered the arms of St Burt in the
right of his wife; then those of the Berkerolles (whose heir he
became in 1412) and with them the arms of Turberville and Iestyn ab
Gurgan. He married Jane daughter of Henry Beaufort, who became a
cardinal. This lady was descended on the mother's side from the
Arundel family. Sir Edward like his father and Grandfather made
a journey to Jerusalem to receive knighthood. (Was this a cheap
and easy way of being dubbed? It is singular that we hear nothing
of any of these valiant knights using their prowess in the tented
field) Sir John Stradling a brother of this Sir Edward married
the daughter and heiress of one Dauncey, in Somersetshire
(?Wiltshire) and had two sons from whom are numerous descendants.
Sir Edward's son was,
6. Sir Harry Stradling, knight, who married Elizabeth daughter of
Sir William Thomas of Raglan Castle and sister to Sir William
Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. This Sir Harry journeyed, like his
immediate ancestors, to Jerusalem, and was like them knighted
there. This Sir Harry had the misfortune to die on the return
journey as hath already been narrated - in the Island of Cyprus and
is buried in the city of Famagusta. He it was who fell into the
hands of Colyn Dolphyn and had to be ransomed at 2,200 marks of
which more anon. He was the last of the family who visited
Jerusalem and his son therefore appears as a plain squire.
The Watch Tower.
The building of this tower as well as the object for which it
was built has been an object of much curious speculation. The
Revd G Gamage - a connection of the Stradling family, writing in
1726 after a prolonged research in the then safely preserved St
Donats Library for materials for family history, thus writes
thereon. He is speaking of Sir Harry Stradling and of his capture
by Colyn Dolphyn, "After this event, he caused to be erected the
watch tower in the new park at St Donats in which arms were placed
and men to watch at night for the sea thief Colyn Dolphyn, who too
frequently cruised in the Severn Sea, on ship robbery intent.
On one long winter's night, the watch tower being in full
light, C.D. drew towards it, mistaking it for Dunraven place, and
struck on the Nash lands until his ship went to pieces. But he
and his men were taken, hanged, and buried under the hillocks that
are to be seen on a spot on the brink of the sea, near the
castle. For this however, Sir Harry Stradling it cannot well be
divised why, was bitterly pursued at law by Henry III. ?(VI)
Between Mr Gamage's statement and Col Clarkes's record there
is a very considerable discrepancy and both cannot be correct. If
Mr Gamage is right, then Sir Harry must have lived very much longer
than one year from the capture. While if Col Clarke is right,
then Sir Harry was not the builder of the watch tower - at least
not for the purpose stated in the narrative. Further on in the
note, however, Mr Gamage diverges from his first statement and
assigns another reason for the building of the tower. Sir John
Stradling who succeeded to the estates in 1609, is being spoken of
as having in a great measure rebuilt the old tower, which has
fallen into decay. And then he says - "This tower was originally
erected by Sir Peter Stradling, the eighth of the name" - but in
reality as we shall see, but the first of the St Donats Stradlings
- "to give light to his galley at nights when the family returned
from Cwm Hawey to St Donats - they occasionally reside in
Somersetshire, but mostly at St Donats. A report has gone
abroad that the principal motive for erecting and lighting this
tower was to decoy vessels to the dangerous rocks that extend
along the coast for some miles east and west of St Donats castle.
But this kind-hearted and charitable family were far indeed from
entertaining such intentions. It is however said that the light
in the tower led some vessels astray that were ultimately lost on
the bordering rocks, but so far were the Stradlings from plundering
the cargoes of such vessels that they preserved and protected them
to the utmost for the rightful owners offering also every succour
to the crew. Finding notwithstanding, that such accidents
resulted, the lights were therefore discontinued and the tower
fell into dilapidation; but it continued to stand till the time of
Elizabeth, when it was blown down by a tremendous storm, which
likewise threw down many large old trees in the park; besides
producing severe injuries in the country. When this tower became
generally known, it served as a beneficial beacon for upwards of
two hundred years to warn vessels off the dangerous Severn coast,
so that for one ship lost through it at first, scores ultimately
preserved, that would otherwise have inevitably been destroyed.
This consideration induced Sir John Stradling to renew it, strictly
forbidding however the use of any light. Thus restored it
remains until the present."
Return to the Family:
7. Thomas Stradling Esq. called Sir Thomas Stradling by the bards
who sang in his time and did not know that the order of knighthood
was not hereditary. The genealogist tells us this with great
candour and in a state of happy ignorance as to the liberal
adornment and enlargement which the family tree had received at the
hands of these domestic minstrels. Thomas married a daughter of
Thomas Matthews of Radyr, Esq, named Jennet by whom he had two sons
and a daughter. He died before he was twenty-six years old and
his widow afterwards married Sir Rhys ab Thomas. He was succeeded
by,
8. Sir Edward (4) Stradling who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir
Thomas Arundel, knight, Llanhydrock, County of Cornwall. There
were several children, his eldest son was,
9. Sir Thomas Stradling who married Catherine, eldest daughter of
Sir Thomas Gamage of Coity Castle, knight, whose wife was Margaret,
daughter of Sir John St John, knight of Bledso. Seven children
issued from this marriage. The successor was,
10. Sir Edward (5) Stradling who married Agnes, second daughter of
Sir Edward Gage of Sussex, knight. There was no issue of this
marriage. Sir Edward left the estates to so remote a relative as
the grandson by another descent of Thomas Stradling Esq. by which
it would appear that no male descendent remained in 1609 of either
Sir Thomas or his father Sir Edward Stradling.
11. Sir John Stradling, knighted by James I and subsequently
created a Baronet by the same king. The title and dignity of
baronet was introduced by James I (as a means of raising money)
and Sir Edward was the fifth baronet created. He married
Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Gage of Firle, Sussex, a niece of
Lady Edward Stradling (as we would now call the Lady) and who had a
family of ten children, so if one lady of the Gage family did not
provide an heir for St Donats, the other did. Sir John was a poet:
his 'Beati Pacifici' was dedicated by permission to James I. He
also wrote a song in praise of Glamorganshire. He died in 1644
and was succeeded by his eldest son.
12. Sir Edward (6) Stradling Bart. who married Mary, daughter of
Sir Thomas Mansell of Margam, Bart. In his time and person, the
family fortunes and dignity seems to have reached their highest
point. The troubles of the Civil War and all the loss and
disaster incidental to being attached to the losing side brought
down the fortunes of the family. He had nine children some of
whom died in the lifetime of the father. He was succeeded by his
eldest son,
13. Sir Edward (7) Stradling, knight, who married Catherine,
daughter of Sir Hugh Perry, Alderman of London. After his death,
which preceded that of his father, she married Bussy Mansell of
Briton Ferry. He left three children, the eldest of whom
succeeded on the death of his grandfather to the family honours and
estates.
14. Sir Edward (8) Stradling, Bart, (son of Sir Edward, knight)
married Elizabeth daughter of William Hungerford Esq. of Farley
Castle, Somersetshire. Sir Edward had six children. He died
September 5th 1685 and was succeeded by his second, but eldest
surviving son,
15. Sir Edward (9) Stradling, Bart, married Elizabeth, daughter of
Sir Edward Mansell of Margam, Bart, and had two sons, I - Edward,
born March 3rd 1699 - died October 26th 1726, and 2 - Thomas, born
July 24th, 1710. He was succeeded by his second and only
surviving son.
16. Sir Thomas Stradling, Bart, who died unmarried at Montpellier
in France, September 27th 1738, and with him the Stradling family,
that is as far as the possession of the St Donats estates are
concerned, became extinct.
A further account of the Stradling family.
Mr Gamages notes are far more copious than the foregoing
extracts from them would indicate; he is however sadly deficient
in dates. Col. Clark in the account of the family which
accompanies his "Thirteen Views", while stating little of the
marriages and collateral descents, is rich in dates and other
particulars relating to the lives of successive heads of the
houses. An attempt will be made to combine the best features of
the two sketches into one narrative.
Commencing with Sir Peter Stradling, "the eighth in descent",
of whom nothing more is said than that he obtained by his marriage
with the heiress of the Haweys, the manors of Combe Hawey and Hawey
in Somersetshire and one in Dorsetshire called Compton Hawey, in
Welsh 'Caer Gorwy'. These matters have been touched upon when Sir
Peter's name came before us in the genealogical succession, and
may therefore now be dismissed. Perhaps it may be as well to
state that Compton Hawey continued in the possession of the family
until a little before 1572, having been sold it would seem by Sir
Thomas Stradling. He who got into trouble with Queen Elizabeth's
council about the cross discovered in the trunk of an old riven ash
tree - perhaps in consequence of that trouble, while the two
Somersetshire manors were disposed of to provide money during the
political troubles of the Commonwealth period. Sir Lewis Dyre,
knight, bought them in 1644. He was a dashing Cavalier and
defended Sherborne Castle bravely but unsuccessfully against
Fairfax in 1645.
Sir Edward Stradling, the first of that name, increased the
family estates by the additions of two manors in Oxfordshire and
received with his wife. He did homage in 1314 to the abbotE of
Sherborne for the manor of Compton. In 1328 he witnessed the
concession of Merthyr Mawr by John Syward to Reginald Somerton.
By a concession in 1341 to the abbot of Neath, of an acre of land
and advowson of church, (what church!) - Sir Edward and Elena his
wife and their issue, obtained a general participation in the
spiritual good things of the abbey, and founded an obit after
their death, annually for ever. In this deed Sir Edward is
called "Dominus de Sancto Donato Anglicanus" - so that the family
had not up to that time resided in the county, nor does their name
appear in any of the earlier extant deeds. Georg, the second son
of the marriage was probably the ancestor of the Stradlings of
Kenfig.
Sir Edward Stradling, the son, married Wellian, daughter of
Sir Roger Berkerolles, by Katherine, daughter and co-heir of Sir
Richard Turberville of Coity, and eventually heir of his father's
brother. Sir Lawrence Berkerolles, by this match, the Stradlings
inherited East Orchard and Merthyr Mawr. (!!!!) Sir Edward made
a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In 1344 he was M.P. for
Somersetshire, jointly with Sir Henry Power, and the two were in
receipt of an allowance from the county of £12 for thirty days
attendance upon Parliament going , staying and returning. He was
Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1367-69 in which later year he witnessed a
deed relating to Norchard Berkerolles, Merthyr Mawr and Lamphey.
Sir William Stradling his son made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
tempo Richard II. He married Julian, (Isobel?) daughter and heir
of John St Barbe of South Brent, Somersetshire. His third son,
William was the ancestor of the Stradlings of Ruthin in Glamorgan
and of Dauncey in Wiltshire. The tragic ending of that family we
shall notice as fully as materials will permit.
E - The abbot is styled William de Sancto Donato so that he was
probably a relative of the Stradlings. " Dominus de Sancto Donato
Anglicanus". Nicholas thinks this description implies a
preceding or contemporary Wallicanus Lord of St Donats, and Sancto
Donato Wallicanus in the Lordship of Talafan, a parish to this day
called Welsh St Donats in the vernacular.
In 1390, Sir William had a release from Margaret Bawdewyn of
her claims on the lands of Peter Bawdewyn of St Donats, which Sir
William held by gift of John Winchester, Lord of Landow. In
1400, being senescal of Gower, he held inquisition into the
heirship of Richard Scurlage. Sir Edward Stradling, next Lord,
journeyed with his father to the Holy land.
In the year 1412, the family received the great good fortune
of the accession to the Berkerolles estates, mentioned in the
notice of the marriage of the grandfather of the present Sir Edward
with the daughter of the house of Berkerolles - for it was in this
year that Sir Lawrence Berkerolles died. New Castle (East
Orchard), St Athans fell without dispute to Sir Edward, but with
regard to the claims made by him to a fourth part of the lands and
hereditaments of Turbeville, the Lord of Coity, a lawsuit ensued in
the king's bench, when that fourth part was adjudged to the Lord
Gamage "because Sir Lawrence Berkerolles had not a male heir of
his own body when he died".
He married Jane, daughter of Henry Beaufort, afterwards
Cardinal Beaufort, and with her received the manor of Halsway,
county of Somersetshire. In 1402, Edward Stradling had half a
burgage in Swansea from Alice Charles. In 1429 he granted the
manor of Lamphey to Cardinal Beaufort and others, no doubt as
trustees. In 1441, a recovery was suffered in the court of
Ogmore for the manor of lamphey. Sir Edward, Jane his wife,
Cardinal Beaufort & others being parties. In 1452, an
inquisition records Sir Edward as seized of Halfway and Combe Hawey
manors, and a burgage in Watchet. In 1480-81, Joan was seized of
Compton Hawey, Combe Hawey and Halfway manors. Col Clark says
Sir Edward died at Jerusalem. He appears to have had but one
son born in wedlock, but there was a numerous family of
illegitimate children begotten by him upon various women. These
says Col Clark with the names of their mother, as is common in
Welsh pedigrees, are recorded with such scrupulous accuracy, as
shows that their characters not to have materially suffered!
Many of these children founded families.
Sir Harry, only legitimate son of the above, succeeded his
father, 1476 (16.Ed.IV.) and is the one Stradling whose adventures
are of a highly romantic cast; and the one also about whom the
statement as to his carrier so greatly vary. He married a
daughter of Sir William ap Thomas Herbert of Raglan Castle. Mr
Gamage says:- "This Sir Harry returning once by sea to St Donats
Castle from his house in Somersetshire, was taken prisoner by that
notorious sea thief Colyn Dolphyn, a native of Brittany in France
and for his release was obliged to pay 2,200 marks: to raise which
sum he was compelled to sell two manors in Oxfordshire: the manor
of Tre Gwilym in Basseleg, Monmouthshire and the manor of Sutton
in Glamorganshire". Then follows the account of the watch tower
already referred to and the capture in turn of the sea robber's
crew with the doom that befell them and the consequences thereof to
Sir Harry. Mr Clark places this event in the last year of Sir
Harry's life into which it would be impossible to crowd so many
events as Mr Gamage on what we may assume to be the best authority
ascribes to him. Consequently there is likelihood of Col
Clark's date of the event not being sufficiently early.
Tradition certainly credits Sir Harry with having had the revenge
upon the pirate and also with having to suffer for his extreme mode
of retaliating. This is extant a deed of Hugh Adam, parson of
St Donats, enfeoffing Harry Stradling and Elizabeth his wife of the
manor of Lanfey, dates 18th October 1473. In the 16th year of
Edward IV, he journeyed to the Holy Land and on his return was
seized with mortal sickness in the Island of Cyprus where he died
and is buried at Famagusta. His book of travels, says Mr
Gamage, wrote in 1726, is to be seen to this day in the study of St
Donats Castle: remarkable for an account of the events of the
journey and the views he had of the countries, cities, towns, lands
and the various places he journeyed through, together with the
customs of the inhabitants of the nations; and particularly the
condition of Jerusalem as he saw it.
In addition to this it contained four superior poems to the
Holy Sepulchre, one in Latin, another in French, another in Welsh
and a fourth in Italian, a (??), with its books much reputed at St
Donats: for in the principal schools of Italy were the sons of
this family brought up in learning from very distant generations.
This Sir Harry was the last of the family to visit the Holy Land,
but it has been said in this house and in the neighbourhood from
father to son, that many of them besides these recorded have
visited the city of Jerusalem, but the books were not carefully
attended to and consequently lost. Of all the writings of this
Sir Harry, the only one extant is a letter to his wife which must
be quoted.
Sir Harry Stradlings letter to his wife from Rome.
Right hertilyy belowyd wyfe. etc (get rest from Clark - Thirteen
Views),
The Stradlings of Dauncey, Wiltshire,
and the tragedy which swept away all but one member of the family.
Col Clark speaks of this tragedy as being well known but Sir
R.C.Hoarse makes no mention of it in his voluminous 'History of
Wilts'. DauntseyF is situated a few miles from Malmesbury in
the county of Wiltshire. The manor was given to the convent of
that place by K Ethelwolf. It is mentioned in Domesday where it
is stated to have been held temp Edward the Confessor by 'Aldwardus
qui non poterat ab ecclesia separari'. Property of this kind
often descended to heirs and tenants and was scarcely less valuable
than freehold. The family of De Dauteseseia held this estate,
several were sheriffs of the county at various times. John
Dauntesey who was sheriff 1st Henry IV appears to have been the
last of his name who held Dauntsey. A marriage with the heiress
carried the estates into the Stradling family. John Stradling who
had the good fortune to win the lady's hand, was the second son of
Sir William Stradling of St Donats, Glamorganshire and Combe Hawey,
Somersetshire, and was probably born about 1380-90. His father
was alive in 1400. Although the Stradlings must have held
Dauntsey for close on one hundred years, they make no figure in the
county records excepting the entry of the name of Sir Edward
Stradling of Dauntsey as Sheriff of Wilts in the 31st Henry VI
(1453). Anne Stradling, probably grand daughter of Sir Edward,
became sole heiress of the family through an event which has best
be told by Aubrey in his 'Beauties of Wilts':-
"Anno - Here was a robbery committed at the manor house in the
family of the Stradlings. He and all his servants except one
plough boy (who hid himself) were murthered by which the whole
estate came to Anne his sister, and that married afterwards to Sir
John Danvers, a handsome gentleman who clapped up a match before
she heard the news; he by good fortune lighted upon the messenger
first. She lived at the time in Paternoster Row at London and
had but an ordinary portion. This robbery was done on a
Saturday night. The next day the neighbours wondered none of the
family came to church. They went to see what was the matter and
the parson of the parish very gravely went along with them, who by
the bye was proved to be one of the company of robbers and was I
think hanged for his paines". The plough boy is traditionally
said to have crept into an oven and so escaped the plundering
assassins.
Sir John Danvers who married Anne Stradling was son of Richard
Danvers Esq of Culworth, Northamptonshire and died 1514. The
estate continued in the Danvers family until the Restoration when
Sir John Danvers who had joined the Parliamentary party in the
Civil War, and had taken active part in bringing about the king's
execution; he was attainted for high treason and his estates were
forfeited to the crown.
F - The older form of the name is Dauncey, the modern is Dauntsey.
Sir John Danvers who married Anne Stradling lies interred with
his wife under an altar tomb in the chancel of Dauntsey Church.
Graved upon the tomb is the following inscription: -
"Here lyeth buried Sir John Danvers, knight, sometimes lord of
this manor and patron of this church in the right of Dame Anne his
wife: the which said Sir John Danvers the iii day of the month of
January departed this life too transitorie, the year of our Lord
God MCCCCC and xiiij. (1514)"
"What vayleth yt. riches, or that possession,
Gyftes of high nature; nobles in gentry;
Daftness depuryd, on pregnant pollycy,
Sith prowes, sith power have their professions;
Fate is fatall on self succession.
That world hath nothing that smellith not frealtie,
Where most assurances is most unsuertie.
Here lyeth Dame Anne, the lady of Dauntsey;
To Sir Danvers spouse in conjunction,
To Sir John Dauntsey by lyne discencion;
Cosyn and heire, whose herytage highlie,
Hastily be firmed in Christi his mancion."
Sir John Stradling, brother to Sir Edward, 12th in descent (as
the Stradlings wished it to be understood) married with the heir of
Dauntsey in Wilts and had issue Sir Edmund who had issue John and
Edmund, John had issue Anne - Lady Danvers of whom the Danvers,
Hungerfords, Fynes, Levets and a great progenie of them are
descended; and of the said Edmund cometh Carmysoyes in Cornwall.
(?Carnsew)
Back to St Donats
Thomas Stradling Esq the son, enjoyed the possession of St
Donats but for few years for he died at the castle on the 8th
September 1480 when in his 26th year. He left three children,
Edward, Harry and Jane. Edward succeeded his father. Harry's
son eventually came into the estates and Jane married Sir William
Griffiths of Caernarfonshire and took with her as waiting woman one
Agnes, wife of David Rhys who went as gardener. The son of this
pair after a somewhat adventurous childhood and youth became the
learned Dr John Dafydd Rhys, who must presently have a
biographical chapter to himself. Thomas Stradling's widow became
the wife of Sir Rhys ab Thomas and is buried with her second
husband at Caermathen.
Sir Edward Stradling who succeeded to the estates when quite
an infant, was knighted in Tourney Church under the royal banners
of King Henry VIII on December 25th - 5th Henry VIII. He married
Elizabeth Arundel of Llanhydrock, Cornwall and had four sons and
two daughters of this marriage, besides nine or more illegitimate
children. Of the four sons by his wife, Robert the second
married the daughter of Watkin Lougher of Fythegstone; Edward the
third son married the daughter and heiress of Robert Raglan of
Llantwit Major; and John his fourth became a priest. Of the
daughters, Jane married Alexander Popham of Somersetshire and from
them descended several respectable families; and Catherine married
Sir William Palmer of Sussex and had issue.
G - See Cartae 1890 vol II p.276.
In 1528, Jevan Thomas and others on the requisition of Sir
Edward Stradling, granted to William, Sir Edwards son, certain
lands in St BridesG, with remainder to Jenkyn Stradling, his
brother James, John (a minor), Robert, Robert the elder, Edward,
Henry, Blanche, Mary and Cecilia - all brothers and sisters, with
remainder to the eight heirs of Sir Edward Stradling. These were
all Sir Edward's natural children. Sir Edward died in 1535 and
was succeeded by his eldest son.
Sir Thomas Stradling who married Catherine Gamage of Coity and
had issue two sons, Edward and David and five daughters, Elizabeth,
Thomasin, Jane, Joice nad Gwenllian. He was Sheriff 1547-8:
knighted 17th February 1549, Muster Master of the queen's army and
Commissioner of the Marches; M.P. for East Grinstead 1558,
Commissioner for the suppression of Heretics 1558. He was the
builder of the Stradling Chapel at St Donats Church. He
appeared in a deed by William
Tyler relating to Sygynsland in 1534H, and Tyler is also a party in
1544 to a deed with William Stradling of Talygarn. He appeals to
Sir John Daunce, knight, master to Henry VIII on the subject of the
dependence of Merthyr Mawr Manor and Talyfan. His will dated
December 19th 1566 was proved in London 1574. He died in 1573.
The principal event in the life of Sir Thomas and one which
however unpleasant the consequences were to himself at that time,
secured the preservation of his name at some length in the national
records was connected with an exceedingly simple matter which
occurred at St Donats. A violent storm happened March 20th in
the year 1559 which broke down, rather than uprooted, an old ash
tree in the park. In the heart of this old tree, which was
practically decayed, some curious markings were observed bearing
considerable resemblance to a cross. Popery was at this time
prescribed in England, the Stradlings had strong leanings towards
that form of religion, if their descendants did not still profess
it. At any rate they sympathised with and fraternised with
papists long after the great reformation, and this invention of the
cross was talked of far and near as if it were a special
manifestation from heaven in favour of the party which held up the
cross as a special symbol of their faith. Frude mentions this
invention in a note in 'History of England' vol vii p.339. After
the matter had been worked up by rumours into a kind of wonder and
numerous engravings of the cross had been distributed among the
disaffected, Cecil in April 1561, thought it important enough to be
enquired into. The time was critical. At this time, Philip of
Spain had demanded the release of Bishops imprisoned for refusing
the oath of Supremacy and at the same time the leading reformers
were alarmed and Protestant England with them, by reports that
Elizabeth was about to be reunited to Rome. It was then that
Cecil wrote that he thought it necessary to dull the popish
expectations by punishing mass-mongers for the rebating of their
humours. And Sir Thomas Stradling was accordingly selected to
have his humours rebated.
He was committed to the tower early in May 1561 but it was not
until June 3rd that he was indicted and convicted at the Commission
of Oyer held at Brentwood in Essex of the offence of having caused
fair pictures to be made of the likeness of a cross which appeared
in the grain of a tree blown down in his estate in Glamorganshire:
he was upon this convicted, detained as a prisoner in the tower
until about the close of the year 1563, when a pardon was granted
him. It may be noted that Sir Thomas about this time disposed of
his manor of Compton Hawey, Dorset, but whether there was any
connection between that transaction and his liberation cannot now
be determined.I
The fame of this object of piety in nature's handiwork spread
beyond the shores of England. In the 4th of the 'Lex Dialogi' of
Harpsfield, published in 1566 in Paris is an account of this
'Invention of the cross at St Donats' of which Col Clark has given
a translation in his book on St Donats from which the following
extract is made: -
This can be copied from Clark!! "In that part of our Isle---
--into a local act of piracy"
H - See Cartae 1890 vol II p.308
I - He was liberated on giving a bond to ??il 1000 marks, should he
fail to appear if called upon before the Privy Council. - Nicholas
p.103
Sir Edward Stradling who succeeded Sir Thomas was born 13th
June 1529. He was educated at Oxford but left the university
without taking his degree, and after travelling about for sometime
on the Continent, he spent some time at Rome. In 1575, two years
after his father's death, he received the honour of knighthood.
He was the first of the family who had distinctly literary tastes,
being not only a great encourager of learning and of learned men,
but having also contributed to literature himself. The tract on
the 'Winning of the Lordship of Glamorgan, or Morganwy, out of the
Welshman's hands', printed in Dr Powell's 'History of Cambria',
1584, is from his pen and though the principal statements made in
it relating to the transactions are now known to be utterly untrue,
or fabulous, they have been so long received as truth, and have
been so often quoted that the tract possesses a distinct interest
of its own, to which the quaintness of its style also contributes.
The library at St Donats which had begun to be formed before his
time, was enriched by him with many valuable Welsh manuscripts of
which he was an enthusiastic collector. He is said to have
eminently skilled in the language and antiquities of Wales; but
here we may take some leave to doubt if his historical tract on the
conquest of Glamorgan is a true specimen of his skill. Taking
that as the sole evidence of his attainments, it may be said with
some certainty that his invention, or his credulity or both went
considerably beyond the bounds of his historical researches. The
tales of the household bards for a generation or two, which had
been fabricated to make Lord and Retainer merry over their cups in
the great hall at St Donats, had perhaps been collected by some
ingenious scribe and added to the manuscripts at St Donats library,
from which with too much readiness and too implicit a credence, Sir
Edward had compiled his romantic summary of the transactions.
Let this however be said in his just praise, he was a man of large
heart and liberal hand, and made unstinted use of his wealth in the
furtherance of works of public utility, material and
intellectually, some of which will be noticed presently.
Of the whole of the Stradling family included within the XXIII
descents dear to ardent genealogists, we know more of Sir Edward
Stradling than of any other member. It is not that his life was
a starry and eventful one, it was most calm and placid, and appears
most prosaic as compared by politics - religious troubles of his
father - or the romantic episode in that of Sir harry: It is not
that the monument of his liberality are preserved, they are well
nigh forgotten - from none of these is our somewhat intimate
knowledge of the man and his doings obtained by us. If Sir
Edward had been asked by what means he would be best known three
hundred years after the era in which he lived, it is probable that
he would never have hit upon the material which should preserve his
name so well to posterity, for it arises from nothing more than the
preservation of a number of letters, not written by him, but
received by him from various correspondents. They number nearly
260 and were published in a small and handy volume by the Revd.
J.M.Traherne in 1840, at which time they were the property of
Charles George Young F.S.A. - so to this accidental circumstances
we owe their preservation while every other record of Sir Edward's
life and labours, including the library he took so much pains to
preserve and enrich, appears to have perished, is a question upon
which curiosity is not likely to be satisfied. Enough that these
letters, which are evidently but a portion only of the
correspondence of Sir Edward during the period which they cover,
have been preserved, and we may here make use of them in giving a
picture of his life.
The first letter which has biographical bearing is that
numbered LXXXII by Mr Traherne in the collection. Strange to say
Mr Traherne has fallen into an error in his arrangement by a
temporary forgetfulness that the year begin in 1575 and later on
the 25th March, is not, as it now does, on the 1st January.
Consequently the letter about to be quoted, although dated XI June
1575, is of an earlier date by seven months than that of the XXVIII
of January 1575; as the subject matter therein sufficiently
witnesses.
Letter LXXXII - Traherne, page 96
Reading this at the end of the nineteenth century, what
appears the most remarkable part of the proposition is that it
should be made to a person of the standing of Sir Edward Stradling.
He was now the owner of very considerable estates in Glamorgan
covering several parishes, had only just received the honour of
knighthood and yet here is the office of "High steward of all my
lands in Wales" being tendered to him by his noble kinsman St John,
as if it were some mark of signal favour. As far as we are
acquainted with the possessions of St John in Wales, the bulk of
the estate was comprised in that of Foumon, Penmark and Llancarfan
with outlying portions in a few other parishes. The whole fell
short in extent of the Stradling estates which they adjoined here
and there notably in the borders of the inherited Berkerolles
property.
Rightly to estimate the honour connected with the post, one
should understand what the position of High Steward was.
Whether it was anything more than a kind of Locum Tenans of the
proprietor, with the exercise of sporting privileges over the
estates and the reception of the homage of the tenants, or
whether there really were any active duties to be performed, one
could hardly comprehend the state of society in 1575 being such
that the tenants upon a large estate, superintended by a steward
and bailiffs, could stand much in need of the advice and protection
of an influential resident landowner. That it was so appears to
have been considered necessary by all parties, and Sir Edward
Stradling accepted the post, St John however interfered actively in
the management of his estates himself, and that too without any
previous consultation with the High Steward, for shortly after the
appointment is made he writes this:-
Letter LXXX - Traherne, page 94
Lord St John's anxiety to have some one of influence in the
county to look after his interests is very marked in his letters to
Sir Edward Stradling. One feels a little surprised at this
coupled with wonder at what could be the services which a high
steward of such an estate as that of Fonmon was expected or
required to perform. Letter LXXXIV of the series throws some
light on the subject and also upon the mode in which business was
done in the sixteenth century.
Letter LXXXIV - Traherne, page 99
Hawking was still in vogue in the time of Sir Edward, the
stews at St Donats must have been well filled and the hawks kept
and bred there of some repute. Mr Edward Wadham of Meere,
Somersetshire has set his heart upon having one of them and writes
thus.
Letter CXLII - Traherne, page 172
And the St Donats minstrels were also in high repute.
Letter CLXXXVIII - Traherne, page 239
Sir Edward Stradling's will.
Sir Edward died in his 80th year, May 15th 1609. His will
was proved in the prerogative court of Canterbury on the 19th of
October following. He desired to be buried in the chapel of St
Mary, built by his father adjoining the parish church of St Donats,
betwixt his Great Grandfather and Grandmother on the north side and
his father on the south side. To his loving cousin Sir John
Stradling he gives his signet or ring of gold, which he used as
seal withal and that of silver with his whole arms and crest: and
his armour and all manner of double bases, single bases, muskets,
calivers, pistols etc, pikes, steel saddles, jacks, bows and arrows
and other provision and furniture touching and for wars: and all
his library of books and writings: -
"except fifty copies of Dr John David Rhy's Welsh Grammar and
his Roman and ancient coins. He leaves £600 to the children
of his cousin Lamrock Stradling to be taken and had in his own
chest where his ready money doth remain. To this he gives his
yeoman servants coat clothes of broad black cloth and the rest
to have as well - boys as men, black clothes of frieze that
shall be good. The women servants to have gowns of the same.
His body to be carried within twenty-four hours after his
decease without pomp or great preparation."
No common dole to be dealt for him but £23 to be doled for him
shortly after amongst the poor people within such parishes only
where he has lands except Llangynor - where he was reared, twenty-
six parishes in Glamorganshire are enumerated and five in
Somersetshire. He gives to Sir John Stradling his interest in a
bond for six thousand pounds from the late Earl of Pembroke and the
Lord Lisle concerning my lady, his wife's jointure not doubting
that but he will see himself and his heirs discharged of the trust
put in me. To the poor prisoners in Cardiff gaol and the poor
people of the almshouse there two bolls and six bushels of wheat.
He recommends that his widow should continue to reside in the
castle and gives to her and to Sir John Stradling the use of the
stock, furniture, implements etc. The will contains many small
bequests to various persons. He appoints his beloved wife Dame
Agnes Stradling executrix and John Lord Lumley executor. His
wife Agnes, daughter of Sir Edward Gage of Firle in Sussex was born
in 1547, married in 1566 and was buried at St Donats February 1st
1624.
In 1610 she erected a handsome monument in St Donats church to
her husbands memory. One hundred pounds were devised by Sir
Edward's will fro this purpose. (From Revd. J.M. Traherne's
introduction to the 'Stradling Correspondence'.)
The next letter which connects the High Stewardship with the
estate affairs which we need quote is from J. Seynt John, who had
by this time succeeded his father. Sir Edward Stradling was
expected as High Sheriff to advise the tenants of the estate in all
matters arising between them and their Lord and it seems that he
had given advice to one of them which was not palatable to the
Lord. It was given to a copyhold tenant whom the Lord was
dealing with oppressively. The Seynt Johns had a natural gift for
looking after their own interest and the lofty hand he adopts in
this communication with his kinsman is worthy of note as a specimen
of the manner of the times.
Letter CVIII from Traherne page 131
Notes: "Bows and Arrows" - Nearly twenty years later than the date
of Sir Edward's death, bows and arrows appear to have been
considered as available weapons of war. In the catalogue of
state papers in 1627, there is a communication given from the
deputy Lieutenant of the county of Glamorganshire to the Lord of
the council. It is dated from Lanmaes, September 10th, 1627.
They report the levy of 100 men furnished with good broad cloth
lined through with baise. Could not supply archers owing to the
long disuse of archery, but rejoice to see that most noble weapon
begin to come into esteem again. It is impossible not to suspect
that these wworthy Glamorganshire gentlemen of indulging in a
little irony at the expense of the Lords of the Council in the
compliments they pay to the 'noble weapon'.
It is Lord Lumley's copy of Dr John David Rhys's dictionary that is
in the library of the British Museum. The copies of Sir John
Stradling's Epigrams & Divine Poems were also his. D.J.
There is no further reference to the matter of Corrock who it
may be mentioned was one of an ancient family who lived near
Cowbridge at a place in the parish of Penlline, still called by
that name. The family has long been extinct. In what manor
this property was situated of which Lord Seynt John made seizure
does not appear. The name Corrocke recurs in the list of Copy
hold tenants in the manor of Lanmaes 1640. The next letter in
the series relates to the stewardship. From the allusions in it,
it is evident that sir Edward is not in good health and that he had
left St Donats for some time.
Letter CIX from Traherne page 133
Sir Edward's answer not being according to his lovinge cosen's
desires, he thus writes him: -
Letter CX from Traherne page 134
The superscription does not name the place where Sir Edward
was staying at - probably he was in London.
Sir Edward's mother was a Gamage and in consequence of this
relationship was supposed to have a voice in the disposal of the
hand of his niece. Barbara Gamage, the only child and heiress of
Sir Thomas Gamage of Coity. The 'Stradling Correspondence' has
a curious letter from the father of one of Barbara's suitors,
entreating the good offices of Sir Edward and Lady in his son's
behalf.
Letter CXXXVII from Traherne page 163
Young Mr Johns did not succeed in his "suete" despite the
interest which was made for him by his father. Barbara, perhaps,
was wilful and had a mind of her own, for on the 23rd of September
1584 she was married at St Donats Castle to Sir Robert Sydney,
afterwards to become Earl of Leicester in the presence of Sir
Edward Stradling, Henry Earl of Pembroke and doubtless a goodly
assembly of county notables. In the midst of such magnificence
she must have left Glamorganshire and with this scene, disappeared
from our local history altogether; and her name and lineage has
now altogether vanished except from the mouth of tradition.
Earlier in order of date is a letter from Rhys Meyrick of
Cotrell, he who wrote the quaint and valuable history of Glamorgan,
which remained 250 years or more in manuscript and was then printed
by Sir Thomas Phillips in a limited edition of twenty-five copies
onlyJ. Mr Meyrick held the post of Clerk of the Peace for
Glamorganshire and was a man of literary taste in that rather
narrow circle which antiquarians tread, viz. local history and
pedigree compiling. In the later branch of archaeological
study, Meyrick's "Red Book of Cottrell" is still looked up to with
profound respect by those who claim descent from old Glamorganshire
families.
His letter is a little stiff and formal, but that is only in
accordance with the manner of the time; it was not proper to
approach a person of a rank higher than your own, except by
uttering the most painfully constructed compliments: -
Letter CXXXIX from Traherne page 167
J - A reprint of this work "A book of Glamorganshire Antiquities"
by Rhys Mehrick Esq 1578 was brought out in 1887. Edited by James
Andrew Corbett Esq of Cardiff, printed in London.
It is only bare justice to Mr Meyrick to say that his brief
history of Glamorganshire is written in a much clearer style than
that of the forgoing letter. Sir Edward was now and then
asked by distinguished strangers visiting Glamorgan to expedite
them on their way through the country. At a time when roads in
the sense we now understand them were nearly unknown. There were
recognised places where boats called in from whence they started
for ports in the English coast. Also it would seem that vessels
sailing up or down the channel could be stopped by signals at any
point desired.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert, uterine brother of Sir Walter Raleigh
being at Margam, writes thus to his worthy kinsman at St Donats: -
Letter CXXIX from Traherne page 155
Will this "stopping of the boat" in any way account for the
use to which the watch tower might occasionally be put. Poor Sir
Humphrey who was so particular about this boat from St Donats
across the channel, was lost in 1583 in the "Squirell", a vessel of
ten tons, having taken possession of Newfoundland in that year.
Most interesting is this volume of letters as showing the
manners of the time and the courtesies which a rural knight was
expected to render to his neighbours far and near. More than
request is there preserved from a knight or magistrate in a distant
country, that Sir Edward would help the bearer of the letter in
obtaining redress for some wrong committed by someone believed at
the time to be residing near St Donats; a forsaken wife brings a
letter from a Somersetshire knight to obtain help in finding a
runaway husband; a sportsman a hundred miles off has lost a dog
which he hears has got into the hands of the parson of Llangam.
Invariably the solicitor promises that he will be ready to requite
any goodly deed which Sir Edward may accomplish by performing a
like service for him when occasion may serve. Occasionally we
have the curtain raised for a moment in one of these letters and we
have a glance at the inner life of the Herberts or the "Kernes"
(Carnes). It is no more than as the opening and shutting of a
door wherein a party are discussing their private affairs, but we
have enough to know that people - comely people too - could quarrel
bitterly over petty affairs even in the reign of "Good Queen
Bess". It does not come within the scope of this history to
quote many of the letters preserved in the Stradling
Correspondence; The collection is a valuable monument of the
family history and should be read as a whole with the history of St
Donats; but there is one letter more for which a place must be
found - the writer of this letter was Dr John Davis Rhys.
No account of St Donats however brief would be worthy of the
name, if the name of this remarkable man were excluded from it.
There is a halo of romance about the name blended with the
literary honours which encircle it. The Revd Mr Gamage, whose
name has already been cited as an authority in matters relating to
the Stradlings, has epitomised the family traditions; they can
unfortunately hardly be called records - respecting Dr Rhys; and
these shall not be quoted here.
Note: Sir Walter Raleigh. A letter of Sir Walter is included in
the Stradling Correspondence. It relates to the marriage of his
relative Barbara Gamage and the part Sir Edward Stradling had in
bringing about that important event. Collier, in a brief
biographical notice of him in 'History of English Literature' says
"In 1576, a new field was opened up to his daring spirit. It was
a time when Britain began to take her first steps towards winning
the ocean crown she now so proudly wears. Among the dauntless
sailors who braved the blistering calms of the tropics and the icy
breath of the frigid seas in search of new dominions, Raleigh was
one of the foremost with his half-brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert who
perished at sea. In a later voyage he made to North America,
Raleigh returned in two years, richer in nothing but hard won
experience.
Jane, daughter of Thomas Stradling Esq., married Sir William
Griffiths of Carnarfonshire, in north Wales and it was in St Donats
church they were married. Upon their return to N.Wales, Sir
William took with him one named David Rhys to be his gardener and
his wife, Jane Stradling, took also her handmaid with her. This
David Rhys was brother to Richard ap Rhys, the bard of Merthyr
Mawr, who was tutor to Iorwerth Vynglwyd, the bard of Craig y Eos
in the parish of St Brides, and one of the domestic bards of St
Donats Castle. This David Rhys and the handmaid of Jane
Stradling, married, her name was Agnes or Annes. They had a son
whose name was John David Rhys who was the author of the Latin and
Welsh Grammar and of all the Welsh grammars that ever were written,
so far this is said to be the best - and by far the best with
regards to its instructions to Welsh bards. David ab Rhys died
and soon after that, Sir William Griffiths and his lady Agnes, with
her little son was obliged to return to St Donats. walking all the
way from Anglesea to Glamorganshire. She and her husband had
land allotted to them in Llangaethln in Anglesea but they were
obliged to turn out of it on the death of Sir William Griffiths.
The little boy. John David Rhys, was too young to walk,
consequently his mother was obliged to carry him in her arms and on
her back the greater part of the way. By the time she arrived
at St Donats, she was extremely ill and died of that sickness.
Sir Edward Stradling took the little boy to him to the castle and
placed him under the same tutors as his own son Thomas. The two
boys became reciprocally great friends, being unwilling to part
with each other nor could they at any time
be kept from each others company. After the domestic school of
the castle, the two young men were sent to the College of Sienna in
Italy, where they were brought up well in all the learning of the
place and age. After their return home, Sir Thomas married, had
a son named Edward and John David Rhys was appointed his tutor in
the Castle.
On a certain time as the young heir walked along the seashore
bordering the castle, he inadvertently remained on a place that was
higher than the rest until the influx of the tide surrounded him
too deeply to walk through it. He screamed out and his voice was
heard to the castle. Horsemen went to his immediate relief, but
no horse could be prevailed on to take the water against the waves
white with foam, whereupon casting off his upper clothes, John
David Rhys went boldly into the water against all waves and brought
the young heir uninjured to land. For this, if great his respect
before in the family, a thousand times more was it now. In the
course of time the young heir was sent to the same school in Italy
that his father had attended before him, and J.D.R. accompanied him
thither as his principal tutor. They remained there for some
years and J.D.Rhys became so famous for his great knowledge that he
graduated there Doctor of Medicine. But in the process of time he
returned to Wales a Papist from education but now a monk, and
because the monasteries had been utterly suppressed he purchased a
small property at a place called Clun hir. on the margin of
Cwmchurch at the foot of the mountain Baum Moch Demi called in
English the Breconshire Beacons. At this place he studied and
wrote his masterly grammar and Sir Edward Stradling whose life he
had saved, supported him in money and every other requisite,
showing him additionally unbounded respect. In his old age, and
very old was he - he removed to Brecon town where he ended his days
about four score years old in the time of James I.
Thus according to all that I could understand from all
records, letters and other commemorating authorities, oral and
written, that I either saw or heard of in St Donats should we
believe and that as long as the world shall continue, respecting
the real history of that great man, the profound scholar Dr
J.D.Rhys, and not give credence to the idle tales of the country,
which relates that no one knew anything of his father, but that he
wandered and begged about the country; and were taken into the
castle where the parent died - although from that circumstance
forward the account thus related of him generally corresponds with
what I have already stated. It is highly probable that the
tongue of envy was busy against him on account of the great respect
shown to him by Sir Edward Stradling whose life he rescued from the
vortex of the waves - this Sir Edward printed his grammar at his
own expense.
So far Mr Gamage, and it would be well for one's peace of mind
were it possible to accept his neat circumstantial tale without
question. However there are sketches of the life of this
noteworthy and learned man by other hands, who had perhaps better
materials. In the first place Rhys was the junior of Sir Edward
by at least five years; therefore could not have been the
playmate and college friend, and he who had saved the young heir
from a watery grave. The St Donats traditions had evidently got
rather mixed by the year 1726, and the whole account although it
has an interest of its own, has not the slightest historical value.
Not withstanding its being partly compiled from family records
"then in the library of St Donats Castle". Nor is it easy to
construct a thoroughly satisfactory account of the doctor's life
from the records of other writers. He is mentioned in Wood's
'Athenae Oxiensis'; There is a painstaking biography of him in
Parry's 'Cambrian Plutarch', and he has nearly a page and a half
allotted to him in William's 'Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen'.
Unfortunately none of these entirely agree with each other, so that
neither account can be taken as a whole. However there are
certain points upon which they all agree. He was born in 1534 -
at the age of 18 he entered Christchurch College Oxford, remained
at the university three years, upon which he left without taking a
degree and went abroad in 1535. He settled for some time at
Sienna, when he studied medicine and took a degree of Doctor of
Medicine, or Physic. Subsequently he held a scholastic
appointment at Pistoia where his mastery of the Italian language
led him to write a treatise (in Latin) on the pronunciation of
Italian, and one in Italian for the pronunciation of Latin.
Both works were thought highly of by the Italian Literati of his
day. It is thought that he remained in Italy until he was between
forty and fifty years of age, when he returned to his native
country and enjoying the friendship of Sir Edward Stradling he
settled in Brecon and practised Physic. In the limited circle of
a small Welsh town, his attainments, which would have been ranked
as considerable in any society, were the subject of wonder and
astonishments, feelings that unhappily were accompanied by those of
envy and jealousy. This lack of appreciation to call it by no
better name on the part of his countrymen was a source of annoyance
to him and it was in the midst of the disquietude occasioned
thereby that he wrote his Latin-Welsh grammar. This erudite work
was published at the cost of Sir Edward Stradling and the edition
consisted of 1250 copies. A lengthy dedication to Sir Edward is
prefixed to the volume from which several interesting particulars
respecting both Sir Edward and Dr Rhys may be gleaned. There is
also a preface to this work written by the Revd. Humphrey Prichard,
a prostestant clergyman, who makes the gratuitous statement that
the work has been written with a view of helping the native clergy
to make the scripture more intelligible to them and the people.
This statement has puzzled later writers considerably, for it is
known that Dr Rhys died as he had lived a papist and that it could
hardly have been his intention to popularize the study of the
Bible. The grammar appeared in 1592 and its publication probably
took the doctor up to London. Upon his return he wrote the letter
which has been preserved in this collection; the only one
unfortuanately which is included in it from him.
Letter CCXLVI from Traherne page 313.
Two Latin Epigrams by Sir John Stradling, the nephew of Sir
Edward, and who is mentioned in the letter, were prefixed to Dr
Rhys's work; and the same writer in a volume of Epigrams published
in 1609 again compliments Dr Rhys - and this is nearly all that is
known of him.
Williams says that he died unmarried, and places his death in
1609 - the year in which his patron Sir Edward also died. Parry
and Treherne both give him a son, who during the father's lifetime
became Vicar of Brecon and Mr Traherne (alone) states that his
death took place in 1617.
Return we now to Sir Edward Stradling. Dr Rhys in his
dedication speaks of the large sums of money expended at St Donats
on the sea wall - the greatest work there with which his name is
connected and other structures.
Thrice did he fill the office of High Sheriff of
Glamorganshire; viz. in 1574 (the year after he succeeded to the
estate), in 1583 and 1596. In 1608, John Stradling was High
Sheriff even while his uncle was yet alive. Sir Edward died May
15th 1609 and was buried with much simplicity and privacy on the
following day, according to his own request in the Stradling
chapel. He was in his eightieth year. John Stradling, the
nephew, appears to have resided at St Donats castle for many years
before his uncle's death as was perhaps fitting for one who stood
in the position of heir presumptive. That he must have held a
position of some dignity in the county during his uncle's lifetime
is evident by his being appointed High Sheriff in 1608, while yet
his fortune depended upon the demise of Sir Edward. He was of a
literary turn of mind and is known as the author of "De vita et
Morte Contemna", published at Frankfurt 1597. "Epigrammatum
Libri Quator" 1607, a collection of Latin epigram, elegies and
epitaphs, which are chiefly addressed to or composed upon persons
connected with the county of Glamorgan and which contain many
personal allusions not to be met with elsewhere.
The "Beati Pacifici", a sacred poem in English, dedicated to
James I (who perused the work in manuscript and sanctioned its
publication) is also his and was published in 1623. And a volume
of "Divine Poems" in seven several classes appeared in 1625 and was
dedicated to Charles I. He had a good reputation for great
classical attainments being considered a prodigy of learning in his
youth. His Latin writings may possibly be worthy of his fame
but his English poems are very prosaic performances. He also
wrote a poem in praise of Glamorgan which has not been published
except in a newspaper of recent date. His first effort however
appears to have been a translation of Justus Lepsius's "Two
Bookes of Constuncie" - undertaken at the request of his uncle in
1594 and presented to him on his 65th birthday on the 13th of
June of that year. The title page of the work has a Cymrie
interest for the London publisher was a Welshman, we therefore
transcribe it together with a portion of the epistle dedicatory:-
"Two Bookes of Constancie" written in Latin by Justus
Lipsius, containing principallie a comfortable conference
in common calamities, and will serve for a singular
consultation to all that are privately distressed or
afflicted either in body or mind"
Englished by John Stradling, Gentleman, - Printed at London by
Richard Johnes at the sign of the Rose and Crowne, neare St Andrews
Church in Holborne, 1595. The Epistle Dedicatory is "To the
Right Worshipful Sir Edward Stradling, knight", and is rather
lengthy. Towards the end the writer says,
"To shew my ready disposition in gratifying you, to my powers
I have reduced it into English. I fear me with more haste
than good speed, not having spent full nine weeks thereabouts
- as you very well know. Wherein I travelled with the more
paines for bringing forth this untimely birth to the end it
might receive his perfect consummation against this day of
your birth, whereunto I had respect when I took the work in
hand. And so I wish to yourself and to my good Lady your
spouse, all happiness beseeching God long to preserve you
both. From my chamber in your castle of St Donats, the xiij
of June 1594.
Your pure kinsman to command,
John Stradling."
We are giving a fuller description of this very interesting
little book since it is not mentioned in Gwilym Lleyn's "Welsh
Bibliography". The colophon at the end is a pink with half
expanded buds, around which is an ornament scroll bearing part of
the Stradling motto "Heb Dhyn, heb duin".
John Stradling is distinguished by three circumstances in the
annals of the family: (1) he was the first instance of the
indirect line of succession to the estate: hitherto it had always
passed from father to son; he succeeded his cousin; (2) He had
very pronounced literary tastes; (3) he was the first Baronet.
He was descended from Harry, second son of that Thomas Stradling
who died in his 26th year and had not received knighthood. Harry
Stradling having in a measure to shift for himself, sought out an
heiress and found one in the daughter of a learned Bristol attorney
named Jubb. A son named Francis was the issue of this marriage
and was the father of this John. The Gages, a Sussex family, had
in Lady Edward Stradling already become connected with St Donats,
the tie now became closer by the marriage of John with Elizabeth
Gage of Firle, the niece of the then Lady of St Donats. From
this marriage there issued ten children. Whether the succession
to St Donats was due to his cousin's partiality or that it came to
him partly by heirship, all interviewing and nearer descendants of
the male heirs, having died out, can not now be said, but it is
evident that for many years he had stood very high in his cousin's
esteem and had apartments for himself and family in the castle.
He was knighted in 1608, the year of his first shrievality (being
made sheriff), one year before his cousin's death, and in May 22nd
1611 was created Baronet, being the fifth gentleman whom James I
had raised to that newly formed dignity. In 1620 he again
filled the office of High Sheriff and in 1625 he was elected knight
of the shire for Glamorganshire, and perhaps it was from the
contest for that representation that the following old triplet had
come down to us:-
Tra maenyn troi mewn melin,
Tra Llong yn cario lodin;
Tra mor yn tawln ei donan i'r lan
Fi jota ar rhem y Stradlin.
Sir John was born in 1563. At sixteen he entered Brazenose
College Oxford as commoner and in 1583 graduated as a member of
Magdalen Hall, "being thus accounted a miracle for his forwardness
in learning and pregnancy of parts". Subsequently he was elected
fellow of All Souls College, after which he travelled on the
continent and on his return entered one of the Inns of Court.
During his residence in London he became acquainted with the
celebrated "Camden", Sir John Harrington, Dr Thomas Leipon (Leyson)
and other learned men and enjoyed the advantage of literary
society.
Sir John beautified and improved his estate at St Donats by
making the new park and planting many trees bith in that and the
old park, and rebuilt in a great measure the old watch tower,
solely as a land mark for ships at sea, for the kindling a light
there was, it is said, distinctly forbidden by him. Tradition
has it that it he was he who originated the breed of Old Glamorgan
Cattle which were so much favoured, and celebrated, up till the
middle of the present century. He brought over from France a
very celebrated bull, and sent it to his farm at Llanwyno, which
resulted in once:-
"Glamorgan breed of high esteem
And long the farmer's pride"
Sir John died September 11th 1637, leaving his wife Elizabeth
and seven children. The Lady Elizabeth his widow held St Donats
Castle as a dower house. These were troublous times approaching;
her martial sons and grandsons threw themselves into the thick of
the fray, and much of the Stradling blood that was shed during the
civil war was in the cause of the king. Armed men were at this
period marching to and fro and probably it was at this time that
the barracks below the castle were erected. The ruins which
still remain attest their size and importance. Naturally the
fortunes of the family suffered in the disaster which attended the
Royal Cause, and the estates were diminished in the manner taken to
raise money, first to equip the troops and secondly for the
payment of fines levied on the defeated party by the
parliamentarians. Considering how actively the Stradlings were
engaged on the side of royalty, one cannot but wonder that the
castle itself was not dismantled. Its preservation is accounted
for by tradition in the neighbourhood that Lady Elizabeth pacified
the visitors by opening the gates at their approach and making them
welcome to all that the castle afforded. There remains the
tradition that Cromwell himself visited the castle, - it used to be
said that he had one of soldiers hanged on a tree in the churchyard
for a petty theft, but the tradition of his personal presence at
the castle has been disproved. "Where there is smoke there is
fire" - and where there is a long established tradition it is fair
to infer there must have been some basis of fact for it to have
rested upon. It may well be that in this case Cromwell himself
has been identified in the popular mind with the commanding officer
who led hither the troop of parliamentary soldiers who must
assuredly did some time during the civil strife visit St Donats and
had free quarters at the castle. In the archives at Margam,
there is preserved a letter from the Lady Elizabeth we are speaking
of, to the Lady Lebright, which throws much light upon domestic
matters at the castle in 1645.
St Donats 26 November 1645.
"I have sent you six musketts and some matches. As for
weathers (?) ---- all a great many fatt (?), but I
cannot as yett get such a settlement as to sell any of
them; butt I hope before the end of Christmas I shall,
for God knoweth, - I shall be glad that they might serve
you turn than any bodies in the world; but I do yeat
(yet) buy both my mutton, beef and bread, corne and oats,
which (in private to you Lady - only) doth almost undoe
me considering my great family and resortt.
I beg your Ladys' pardon that I can not now send you your
musketts; for since the writing of my letter unto you,
I understand that they went amongst others which I sent
to Jack for Cardiff. They will be back heer on
Saturday next and by God's leave I will send them unto
you by Monday or Tuesday at the furthest."
There is no record in the books we have been able to consult
of the death of Lady Elizabeth. Col. Clark's summary of the
Stradling deeds and family position for this period may be quoted
here; "The Lords of St Donats stood at the head of the gentlemen of
their country, and were more addicted to piety and literature than
was usuall" among country gentlemen at that period. At the
dissolution of monasteries, when the leading country gentlemen
profited largely by ecclesiastical confiscations, the Stradlings
retained their old faith and resisted the temting means of
agraindisement. A century later when the Church of England had
become established and venerable and stood in danger from the
puritan onslaught, the Stradling instinct led them to take the
losing side. The head of the family, his son, his grandson, five
cadets of the house, bore arms in conspicuous position for their
king, shared the dangers of Edgehill and Newbury and incurred the
usual pecunary losses which fell on the vanquished party. They
gained the respect of all men and the affection of the neighbours.
Mr William Stradling in the letter which has several times
been referred to in this account of the family, says "several of
the family distinguished themselves fighting both by the sea and
land and although descended on the female side from the blood royal
of England, I cannot find that any of them have received any
recompense from the crown.
Sir Edward, son of the preceding Sir John was born in 1600 and
educated at Jesus College, Oxford. He received knighthood at the
hands of the king during his father's lifetime. He was a man of
active business habits apparently, and must have spent much time in
his early manhood in London where he was engaged in promoting large
schemes of public utility. His name appears with some frequency
in the state papers of the period. On 27 March 1630, he and Sir
Kenelem Digby petitioned the king for a licence "for each of them
to build a house with stables and coach houses in 'Old Witch
Close', bought by Richard Holford, and lying on the east of Drury
Lane, towards Lincoln's Inn". The licence was grante