"A celebrity has recently been given (we quote the learned historian of Yorkshire, the Rev. Joseph Hunter,) to the romantic beauties of Rokeby,' by Sir Walter Scott. Few persons visit the neighbourhood without observing with what extreme accuracy of observation and felicity of expression the bard has described the passage through the glen: A stern and lone, yet lovely road, or view Egliston's grey ruins,' or Rokeby's turrets high,' without feeling that the charm of poetry is thrown over them." The poet has touched upon the historical interest which belongs to Rokeby and Mortham, and has given what professes to be a pedigree of their ancient lords, but it was no part of his plan to enter critically into their history. We shall endeavour to do so more minutely, and present the reader with more definite information on the antiquity, the character, and eminent services of the family who held for many centuries this now classic spot. At the period of the Conquest, all the territory abutting on the Tees, at their northern border, was granted to Alan, Earl of Bretagne, and formed his English Earldom of Richmond. These broad lands were partioned among the junior members of his family and his followers, and in the distribution, Rokeby became part of the possessions of the Fitz Alans, a northern baronial house, whose chief seat was at Bedale. But their interest at Rokeby was scarcely more than nominal for, beneath them, was a subinfeudation, in favour of a family which, residing on the lands of Rokeby, was usually described as " De Rokeby," and eventually assumed that name as a personal appellative. Tradition asserts that the family had been seated on these lands in Saxon times, but it first appeared prominent in public affairs in the person of THOMAS DE ROKEBY, whose rise in royal favour is circumstantially related by Froissart. "In the 1st year of the reign of EDWARD III." says the old Chronicler," the Scots, under the command of the Earl of Moray and Sir James Douglas, ravaged the country as far as Newcastle. Edward was in those parts with a more powerful army, and an engagement was expected and wished for, when the Scotch army suddenly disappeared, and no information could be gained respecting the route they had taken. The young king caused it to be proclaimed throughout the host, that whoever should bring certain intelligence where the Scotch army were, should have one hundred pounds a year in land, and be made a knight by the king himself. Immediately fifteen or sixteen knights and esquires passed the river with much danger, ascended the mountains, and then separated, each taking different routes. On the fourth day, Rokeby, who was one of them, gave the king exact information where the Scotch army lay." This," continues Hunter," is not a legendary story invented by some family annalist or doating chronicler of public affairs, the veracity of the narrative being here supported by the most authentic records of the realm; and it is a gratifying fact that we are so often enabled to prove circumstan ces in our old Chronicles, (which on a first view hare an air of romance and fable,) by fiscal documents, where least of all anything imaginatory is to be found In the Patent Rolls, 1 EDWARD III. m. 7, is a grant to Thomas de Rokeby of £100, to be taken annually from the Exchequer 'till £100 lands shall be provided for him, in which the service is described nearly as it is related by Froissart, and in the same rolls, 5 EDWARD III. m. 7. is a grant to him in fee of the manor of Paulinesgray, in Kent, with lands in the North which had lately belonged to Michael and Andrew de Harcle, forfeited, in release of his £100 annuity from the Exchequer. Sir Thomas Rokeby subsequently held com mands against the Scots, was twice high sheriff of Yorkshire, and became (12 and 13 EDWARD II ge vernor of the castles of Berwick, Edinburgh, and Stirling. In 1346, he pre-eminently distinguished himself at the battle of Neville's Cross, and was one of the few magnates present at that engagement to whom the letter of thanks was addressed, of which a copy is to be found in the Foedera. In 1349, he went to Ireland as lord justice, and held that appointment until 1355, when Maurice Fitz Thomas, Earl of Des mond, succeeded him. The administration of Sir Thomas Rokeby, in Ireland, is famous for the attempt he made to abolish the custom of coigne and livery, a species of arbitrary purveyance for the persons in authority there, and a tradition has been handed down attested by Hollinshead, that being once censured for using wooden dishes and cups, as not befitting his de gree, Sir Thomas replied, that he would rather drink out of such cups and pay gold and silver, than drink out of gold and silver and make wooden payments. In the latter transactions of his life, Sir Thomas ap pears with the addition, "the Uncle," to his name; and another Sir Thomas Rokeby occurs, styled “ the Nephew." He seems to have participated in the triumph of Neville's Cross, and to have accompanied the elder Rokeby to Ireland. A third SIR THOMAS ROKEBY, was high sheriff of Yorkshire, Sth HENRY IV. and during the year of his shrievalty, the Earl of Northumber land made his last attempt to dethrone King HENRY. Sir Thomas collecting the posse comitatus, met the earl at Bramham Moore, and a conflict ensued, which Nothumberland and the Lord Bardolph were slain. The next Rokebys, distinguished in state affairs, were WILLIAM ROKEBY, lord chancellor of Ire land and Archbishop of Dublin, who died in 1521, and Sir Richard Rokeby, his younger brother, comptroller to Cardinal Wolsey. The archbishop was interred i a sepulchral chapel built by himself at Sandal Parva, in Yorkshire, and his tomb still remains. While this eminent churchman was running the race of high pre ferment, the eldest branch of the family remained quietly on the hereditary patrimony of Rokeby and Mortham. In the reign of HENRY VII. the head of the house was another SIR THOMAS ROKEBY, who had three sons; the two younger were the ancestors of families of the name re sident at Marske and Staningford. The eldest son, RALPH ROKEBY, esq. of Mortham, who succeeded to the paternal inheritance, was living in the reigns of HENRY VII. and HENRY VIII. The era of the "jargon" of the Felon Sow of Rokeby, which may be seen in the notes to the poem of Rokeby, refers to the time of this Ralph, and the Mrs. Rokeby mentioned in it, is sup posed to be his wife, Margaret, eldest daughter and co heir of Robert Danby, esq. of Yafforth, and also cousin and co-heir of Sir Richard Conyers, kat. By this lady he had issue, THOMAS, his heir. John, D.C.L. a learned divine and civilian. Richard, a soldier under Lord Scroop, of Bolton, whose standard he is said to have borne at Flodden. He m. a daughter of Ellerker, of Risby, and had a son Thomas, a military officer, who d. s. p. Ralph, of Skiers, an eminent lawyer, made serjeant-at-law 6 EDWARD VI. He m. Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Danby, esq. and had issue, 1. William, of Skiers, in Yorkshire, in the commission of the peace, m. Mary, daughter and heir of John Rokeby, esq. of Kirk Sandal, and had issue, Thomas, whose only daughter and heir William, a soldier in the French wars. Robert, slain in France. Dorothy, m. to William Rokeby, esq. of 2. Ralph, who left behind him a MS. history of the ancient family of which he was a member. He m. first, Douglas, daughter of William Ferne, esq. of Doncaster, by whom he had no child, and secondly, Joan, daughter of John Portington, esq. of Portington, by whom he had a daughter, ANN, m. to Sir John Hotham, of Scarborough. 3. George, who m. first, Joan, second daughter and co-heir of Henry Rokeby, esq. of Kirk Sandall, and secondly, Elizabeth Ferne, widow of Anthony Rothwood, by both of whom he had issue. 4. John, whom. Margery, daughter of Thomas Westby, esq. of Ranfield, and had, with two daughters, Margaret and Faith, one son, Thomas, who m. Mrs. Smith, of Bever- 1. Grace, m. to George Mackworth, esq. of 2. Frances, m. to the Rev. John Latham. 3. Jane, m. to Robert Byard, gent. 4. Mary, m. to William Puleston, esq. 5. Margery, m. to William Headley. be eldest son, THOMAS ROKEBY, esq. of Mortham is described by Ralph Rokeby, the historian of the family, as a plain an as might be, whose words came always from his Smart without faining, a trusty friend, a forward gen. eman in the field, and a great housekeeper, whereby e reigned so in the heart and good will of his counrymen, that his son and heir, Christopher Rokeby, ing assaulted at a quarterly race by Christopher Ne ille, brother to the mighty Earl of Westmoreland,) hom the earl had sent thither with two men to kill , was both defended and guarded from the violence of adversaries, and was able so to have rebounded the lows given him by them, that should have spilt the est blood in their bodies, of his part had been willing, for then not a gentleman in the field but cried a Rokeby: but the good old Thomas, being then in he commission of the peace, commanded and entreatpeace, (as he said,) it grieves me to see him bleed that bleeds, yet keep the peace." Thomas Rokeby, m. daughter of Robert Constable, of Cliff, in Yorkshire, nd had, with a daughter m. to Wycliffe, of Wycliffe, four sons, 1. CHRISTOPHER, of Mortham, who m. Margaret, daughter of Sir Roger Lascelles, of Brackenburgh, and had, with daughters, two sons. The younger, Roger, d. .s. p. the elder, JOHN, of Mortham, appears by the visitation of Yorkshire, 1584, to have been then in prison in the Fleet, "religionis causâ." He m. a daughter of the ancient family of Thweng, and was succeeded by his son, who bore the favourite family name of THOMAS, and was knighted. Of his descendants little more than their names are recorded. It would, otherwise have been gratifying to have known something of the personal habits and actions of those in whose time the chief line of the ancient family of Rokeby fell to decay, and especially of Sir Thomas Rokeby himself, whose necessities must have been great, (it may be presumed) when he disposed of the domain at Rokeby. The purchaser was William Robinson, esq. and it remained with the Robinsons until sold to the father of the present proprietor, JoHN B. S. MORRITT, esq. 1. Ralph, master of St. Katherine's, and one of the masters of requests to Queen ELIZABETH. 11. THOMAS, of whose line we have to treat. IV. Anthony. The third son, THOMAS ROKEBY, esq. is thus described by Ralph Rokeby, the historian of the family, to whom we have already referred. "Thomas Rokeby I will mention with reverence, for he beareth about him continually an arre and ensign of valour and honourable service done to his country; for being at Norram Chase, lieutenant to his brother, Christopher, he had a spear broken in his face; after, in the chase, he dismounted himself to mount his captain, who had his horse slain under him, where exposing himself to all danger for his brother's deliverance, he was taken prisoner when others fled." Thomas Rokeby married Katherine Leigh, and had issue, WILLIAM, his heir. Ralph. Elizabeth, m. to Richard Vincent, of Frisby. Susan, m. to William Cartwright, of Normanby. The elder son, WILLIAM ROKEBY, esq. of Hotham, in Yorkshire, aged twenty-eight in 1584, m. Dorothy, daughter of William Rokeby, esq. of Skiers, and had four sons and one daughter, viz. 1. WILLIAM, his heir. 11. Alexander, who m. Susan, daughter of Gervase Bosville, esq. of Edlington, and had issue, William, of Sandall, living in 1661. Alexander, who died at Trinity College, Cambridge, aged about seventeen. 1. Thomas, of Barnby (slain at Dunbar in 1650), m. Elizabeth, sister of Sir William Bury, of Grantham, in Lincolnshire, and had, with six daughters, five sons, viz. William, of Ackworth Park, whose male elder, Elizabeth, m. to John Buxton, esq. and the younger, to Richard Wyndlow, esq. of York,) an only son, JOSEPH, of New Building and Sandal, in the county of York, in whom vested the representation of the family from 1706 to 1741, in which year he d. s. p. Benjamin, who m. Rebecca, only daughter and heir of Thomas Langham, esq. of Arthingworth, in Northamptonshire, by whom he acquired that estate, and had an only son, LANGHAM ROKEBY, esq. of Arthingworth, whom. Catherine, daughter of Major Morgan, and was s. by his son, THOMAS ROKEBY, esq. of Arthingworth, who m. in 1745, Elizabeth, only daughter and heir of Col. John Scott, of Galashiels, and dying 8th September, 1796, left, with four daughters, of whom the second, Catherine, m. Joseph Jekyll, esq. of Bath, a son and successor, THE REV. LANGHAM ROKEBY, of Arthingworth, whom. in 1780, Maria Isabella, daughter of Somerset Davies, esq. of Wigmore Hall, Herefordshire, and d. 26th December, 1826, having had issue, LANGHAM, his heir. Henry-Ralph, b. in 1788, rector of SENTATIVE OF THE ANCIENT HOUSE OF IV. Philip, who m. Jane, daughter of William Godfrey, esq. of Thunnock, in Lincolnshire, and had issue, 1. Joseph. 2. Philip. 3. Nathaniel. 1. Catherine. 1. Mary, m. to Christopher Legard, esq. of Anlaby. The eldest son, I. WILLIAM ROKEBY, esq. of Skiers, in Yorkshire, was created a BARONET 29th January, 1660-1, He m. Frances, daughter of Sir William Hickman, knt, of Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire, and had with three daughters, Elizabeth, Mildred (wife of William Sandford, esq. of Askham), and Bridget (m. to Alexander Montgomery, esq. of Welton), two sons, viz. ALEXANDER, who m. Margaret, daughter of John Coke, esq. of Holkham, in Norfolk, and dying v. p. left an only son, WILLIAM, successor to his grandfather. WILLOUGHBY, successor to his nephew, as third baronet. Sir William was s. by his grandson, 11. SIR WILLIAM ROKEBY, of Skiers, aged nine in 1665, who m. Dorothy, daughter and heir of Edward Darcy, esq. but dying s. p. in April, 1678, was s. by his uncle, III. SIR WILLOUGHBY ROKEBY, of Skiers, at whose decease in the July of the same year, the BARONETCY became EXTINCT. The representation of the family now vests in LANGHAM ROKEBY, esq. of Arthingworth. Arms Arg. a chev, sa. between three rooks ppr. Sidney, in his Treatise on Government, affirms that, in antiquity of possession and name, few of the nobility equal the family of Bayntun. From a very curious pedigree preserved in the Museum, it appears that, in the time of HENRY II. the Bayntuns were knights of St. John of Jerusalem. Sir Henry Bayntus was knight-marshal to the king, an office of high as thority in those days, and his second son, Henry, a knight of St. John, was slain in Bretagne in 1991. Temp. HENRY IV. Sir Henry Bayntun taking part with the Earl of Northumberland, was beheaded at Berwick; and in 1471, Sir Robert Bayntun fought against the king at Tewkesbury, was made prisoner, and attainted. The Bayntuns were long settled at Falston, in Wiltshire; but upon the demise of Richard Beauchamp, Lord St. Amand, JOHN BAYNTUN, esq. (son of the attainted Sir Robert Bayntun), who was his cousin and heir, removed t Brombam, anciently the seat of the Roches. This John Bayntun, who was restored in blood 19 HEET VII. m. Jane, daughter of Thomas Digges, esq. of Chilham, in Kent, and had issue, EDWARD, his heir. Thomas. Eleanor, married to Richard Hill, esq. of Vichad Dean. Elizabeth, a nun at Laycock. Margaret. Margery, m. to Knighton, of Sussex. He died 31st October, 1516, was buried in Bromham Church, and s. by his son, SIR EDWARD BAYNTUN, knt. of Bromham, who ree high in favour with HENRY VIII. and was vice-chamberlain to three of his queens. By King HENRY, Si Edward was deputed to use his private friendship with Cardinal Pole, his cousin, to bring over the prelate to his majesty's views, but all his endeavours proved unavailing. He attended his royal master in his expeditions to France, and is supposed to have died there. He m. first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Sulliard, knt. chief justice of the Common Pleas, and had by her ANDREW, who m. Philippa Brulet, and had a Anne, m. first, to Henry Poole; and secondly, Bridget, m. to Sir James Stumpe, of Malmesbury Ursula, m. first, to Thoresby, of Norfolk; and -- Sir Edward m. secondly, Isabel, sister of Sir Jetr Alley, of Stockwell, in Surrey, and had by that isdy, who survived him, two sons and a daughter, viz. Henry, who m, a daughter of Sir Richard Cavendish, of Nottingham, and had issue, James. Edward, d. in Ireland s. p. Ferdinand, of Sarum, living in 1623, who m. Jane, daughter of John Weare, alias Browne, of Calne. Elizabeth. Francis. Ann, d. young. Sir Edward d. in 1545, and was s. by his son, SIR EDWARD BAYNTUN, knt. of Bromham, who died n 1593, leaving by Agnes, his wife, daughter of Grif ith Rice, of Carew Castle, in Pembrokeshire (son of Sir Rice ap Thomas, knight of the Garter temp. HEN¡Y VII.), a daughter, Anne, m. to Sir William Eyre, .nt. of Wilts, and a son and successor, SIR HENRY BAYNTUN, knt. of Bromham, who m. acy, daughter of Sir John Danvers, knt. of Dantsey, a Wiltshire, and d. 24th September, 1616, leaving, esides a daughter, Elizabeth, m. in 1619, to John Jutton, esq. of Sherborne, a son, SIR EDWARD BAYNTUN, knt. of Bromham, baptized t Bremhill 5th September, 1593, who m. first, Elizaeth, daughter of Sir Henry Maynard, of Eston, in Essex, and by her, who d. 30th March, 1635, had, with ther issue, ANNE BAYNTUN, who m. first, Edward Rolt, esq. M.P. of Sacombe Park, Herts, son and heir of Sir Thomas Rolt, knt. and by him, who died in December, 1722, had issue, Thomas Rolt, of Sacombe, who m. Ann, daughter Thomas, killed at St. Cass in 1758. Mary, m. to Timothy Caswall, esq. LL.D. and had a son, GEORGE CASWALL, esq. of Sacomb EDWARD ROLT, successor to the Bayntun estate. John Rolt, rector of Bromham and Yatesbury, in Wiltshire, married and had issue. Henry Rolt, d. unm. James Rolt, living in 1761. Elizabeth Rolt, m. to Brigadier General John Prideaux, son of Sir John Prideaux, bart. and had issue. Anna-Maria Rolt, d. unm. in 1723. She wedded, secondly, James, Lord Somerville, and by his lordship had James Somerville. Hugh Somerville. Ann Somerville, m. to George Burgis, esq. commissioner of excise. The heiress of the Bayntuns d. in 1734, and was s. by her second son, 1. EDWARD ROLT, esq. of Spye Park, Wilts, M.P. for Chippenham, groom of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, and finally surveyor of the duchy of Cornwall. He assumed the additional surname of Bayntun, and was created a BARONET in 1762, as Sir Edward Bayntun-Rolt, of Spye Park. He m. Mary Poynter, of Herriard, Hants, and had issue, ANDREW, his heir. Constantia, m. to Richard Foster, esq. Sir Edward died in January, 1800, and was s. by his only son, II. SIR ANDREW BAYNTUN-ROLT, of Spye Park, who m. first, in 1777, Lady Mary-Alicia Coventry, eldest surviving daughter of George William, sixth Earl of Coventry; and secondly, Anna-Maria Maude. He d. 12th August, 1816, when the BARONETCY became EXTINCT, but the estates devolved on Sir Andrew's only daughter and heiress (by his first wife), MARIA-BARBARA, m. in 1797, to the Rev. John Starky, D.D. rector of Charlinch, Somersetshire, and had, with many younger children, a son and successor, the present JOHN-EDWARD-ANDREW STARKY, esq. of Bromham, Wilts, b. 6th March, 1799, who m. 17th April, 1833, Charlotte, fifth daughter of William Wyndham, esq. of Dinton, Wilts, and has issue. Arms-Sa, a bend lozengy arg. for BAYNTUN, quar. terly with arg. a bend sa. charged with three dolphins embowed of the first, for ROLT. ROTHWELL, OF EWERBY AND STAPLEFORD. CREATED 16th Aug. 1661.-EXTINCT in 1694. Lineage. 1. RICHARD ROTHWELL, esq. of Ewerby and Stapleford, in Lincolnshire, was created a BARONET in 1661, but died without male issue in 1694, when the title became EXTINCT. The family of Rouse appears to have been established in England by one of the companions in arms of the CONQUEROR, and the name of its patriarch is to be found on the roll of Battle Abbey. In 1641 a BARONETCY was conferred on 1. THOMAS ROUSE, esq. of Rouse Lench, in Worcestershire, son and heir of Sir John Rouse, knt. of the same place, who died in 1645, by Esther, his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Temple, of Warwickshire. Sir Thomas m. first, Jane, daughter of Sir John Ferrers, of Tamworth Castle, in that shire, by whom he had a son, EDWARD, his heir. His second wife was Frances, daughter of David Murray, esq. and by her he had FRANCIS, successor to his half-brother. Sir Thomas married a third time, but by that marriage had no issue. He died 26th May, 1676, and was s. by his son, II. SIR EDWARD ROUSE, of Rouse Lench, who mar ried Elizabeth, daughter of John Lisle, esq. of Moxhull, in Warwickshire, but died without issue 5th November, 1677, when he was succeeded by his halfbrother, III. SIR FRANCIS ROUSE, of Rouse Lench, who m. Frances, daughter of Thomas Archer, esq. of Umberslade, in Warwickshire, but by her (who wedded, secondly, John Chaplin, esq. of Tathwell, in Lincolnshire,) had no issue. He d. 31st July, 1687, and was s. by his brother, IV. SIR THOMAS ROUSE, of Rouse Lench, who m. Anne, daughter of Charles Hooker, esq. and had two sons, who died in their infancy. Sir Thomas died himself in 1721, aged fifty-seven, when the BARONETCY became EXTINCT, and his estate passed to his only surviving sister, ELIZABETH, at whose decease unmarried in 1729, THOMAS PHILLIPS, esq. inherited, and assumed the surname of ROUSE only. He served as sheriff of Worcestershire in 1733, and died unmarried in 1768, bequeathing his property to CHARLES-WILLIAM BOUGHTON, who took the name of ROUSE. His son, the present proprietor of Rouse Lench, is SIR WILLIAM-EDWARD ROUSE-BOUGH- Arms-Sa. two bars engrailed arg. Lineage. The first of the name of RUDD who settled in the county of Carmarthen, ANTHONY RUDD, Bishop of St. David's, purchased a good estate there, and erected a handsome seat in the parish of Langathen, which he called Aberglazeny. The learned prelate was of the ancient family of Rudd of Yorkshire; he was some time fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and was advanced to the see of St. David's in 1593. He m. Anne Dalton, and had two sons, Anthony, who married, but d. s. p. The bishop d. 7th March, 1614, and was interred in a vault in the church of Langathen. His only sur viving son and heir, 1. RICE RUDD, esq. of Aberglassney, in the county of Carmarthen, was created a BARONET 8th December, 1628. Sir Rice m. first, Jane, daughter of Thomas ap Rice, esq. of Richeston, in the county of Pembroke, and had three sons, viz. ANTHONY, who m. Judith, daughter and sole heir of Thomas Rudd, esq. of Higham Ferrars, in the county of Northampton, and dying before has father, left a son, RICE, successor to his grandfather. Urian. THOMAS, whose son, ANTHONY, inherited as third baronet. He m. secondly, Elizabeth, sister of Sir John Aubrey, of Llantrithyd, but by that lady had no issue. Hrd. in May, 1664, and was s. by his grandson, 11. SIR RICE RUDD, who was elected knight for the county of Carmarthen in 1680, and continued its r presentative until his decease in July, 1701. He m Dorothy, sister of Sir Francis Cornwallis, knt of Abermarles, in the same shire, but dying s. p. was by his cousin, III. SIR ANTHONY RUDD, who . first, Magdalen. daughter of Sir Henry Jones, knt. of Abermarles; and | secondly, Beatrice, daughter of Sir John Barles, bart. of Slebetch, in the county of Pembroke, and heir of her mother, Beatrice, elder daughter of Sir John Lloyd, bart. of Forrest, in Carmarthenshire. By the former he had no issue; by the latter (who . secondly, Griffith Lloyd, esq.) he had two sons and a daughter, viz. JOHN, his heir. Anthony, d. s. p. Anne, m. to Richard Gwynne, esq. of Tallaris, in Sir Anthony was s. by his elder son, IV. SIR JOHN RUDD, who died issueless 15th July, 1730, when the BARONETCY EXPIRED. Arms-Az. a chevron erm. between three bells arg |