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Robert, Duke of Normandy, in asserting his claim to the crown of England, was, in consequence, deprived of all his honours, and outlawed by the reigning monarch. After this, the king settled the castle on Adeliza, his second queen, as part of her dower: and here she continued to reside during the remainder of her life. Upon the accession of King Stephen, Adeliza, refusing to countenance his usurpation, received the Empress Matilda into her castle of Arundel, wherein she was closely besieged by Stephen. There was an air of gallantry mixed with the warlike proceedings of this period, scarcely to be expected. Upon this occasion, intimation being given to Stephen that the Dowager Queen had received the Empress upon terms of hospitality rather than of hostility against him, Stephen suspended the siege, allowed Matilda to go forth, and gave her safe conduct to Bristol. Adeliza afterwards married William de Albini, one of the most accomplished men of his age.

Arundel Castle continued in the family of Albini until the death of Hugh, the last male heir, in 1243, when his estates were divided among his four sisters. In consequence of this division, the castle and manor of Arundel went to Isabel, wife of John Fitz-Alan, who thereupon assumed the title of Earl of Arundel. Edmund, fourth Earl of Arundel, in descent from John Fitz-Alan, forfeited all the honours and estates of his family, in consequence of having joined the barons in their opposition to the favourites of Edward II., which was considered as an act of rebellion. The king afterwards made a grant of Arundel Castle to Edmund Woodstock, his uncle. The act of attainder was however reversed upon the accession of Edward III., and Richard Fitz-Alan, son of the last possessor, was reinstated. The Earls of Arundel, from their influence, were led to participate in all the principal events of English history. Richard, Earl of Arundel, was accused of joining in a conspiracy to dethrone Richard II., and, being found guilty of high treason, was beheaded. The estates of this unfortunate nobleman were confiscated, and given as a reward for services to the Earl Marshal, on whose testimony he had been convicted. But this act of attainder was soon after reversed by Henry IV., and his son Thomas Fitz-Alan recovered possession of the family estates. This nobleman died without issue in 1415, when the castle devolved upon his cousin, Sir John Fitz-Alan, commonly called Sir John Arundel. About this time a dispute arose respecting the title of Earl of Arundel. The contending parties were this Sir John Arundel, who claimed a seat in the Upper House, in right of his tenure of the castle, and John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, who preferred the same claim. Judgment was given in favour of the former, and an act of parliament was passed to the effect, that the possession of this castle and honour conferred the dignity of Earl without creation. The last male heir of the Fitz-Alans, who died in the reign of Elizabeth, left an only daughter, who married Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, and thus conveyed the earldom and estate into that distinguished family, in which they have ever since remained.

At the time of the great rebellion, Arundel Castle was at first in the hands of the Parliament, but was taken from them, after sustaining a siege of three days, by the Lord Hopton. Sir William Waller regained possession of it for the Parliament, with equal facility, about six months after. The famous Chillingworth acted as engineer on this

occasion.

Bernard Edward Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk of the Howard family, Earl Marshal, and Hereditary Marshal of England, Earl of Arundel, Surrey, and Norfolk; Baron FitzAlan, Clun and Oswaldestre, and Maltravers, F. R. and A. S., premier Duke and Earl next the Blood Royal, was born in 1765, and succeeded Charles, the late Duke, to whom he was fourth cousin, in December, 1815. In 1789 his Grace married Elizabeth, second daughter of Henry Belasyse, second and last Earl of Fauconberg, and by her had issue Henry Charles, Earl of Surrey, born in August, 1791, and who married, in 1814, Charlotte Sophia Leveson Gower, eldest daughter of George, Marquis of Stafford, K. G., by whom he has issue. His Grace, being a Roman Catholic, was incapacitated from discharging the duties attached to the office of Earl Marshal until June, 1824, when an act was passed, specially granting that privilege.

Motto:-Sola virtus invicta.

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Petworth House, Sussex;

THE SEAT OF

THE EARL OF EGREMONT.

THE honour of Petworth, at an early period of our history, was settled on the house of Percy, and remained for centuries in the possession of that noble family. In 1682, the estate devolved to Charles, sixth Duke of Somerset, who married the Lady Elizabeth, sole daughter and heiress of Josceline Percy, the last Earl of Northumberland of that family. The Duke of Somerset, on the site of the old mansion, raised the present edifice upon a splendid plan, correspondent in every respect with his usual munificence; and his princely fortune. The front is of freestone, and admits twenty-one windows in each story.

The interior arrangements are peculiarly remarkable for magnificence and elegance. The principal apartments are profusely embellished with pictures by the most eminent masters, both ancient and modern: here is also a Gallery of Antique Statues and Busts, some of which are of first-rate excellence; a very extensive Museum also claims the attention of naturalists. In the Armory are several pieces of great antiquity, particularly a sword, which, it is said, Henry Hotspur used at the battle of Shrewsbury. It may be truly said, this noble seat and surrounding domain display a degree of patrician magnificence seldom met with. In front, a beautiful lawn extends a considerable way into the Park, and slopes gradually to a fine expanse of water.

The Park is very extensive, the walls being at least twelve miles in circumference: it commands delightful views of the Downs of Surrey and Sussex, and is well stocked with deer and game of every species.

The Mansion is situated close to the town of Petworth, six miles south of the northern boundary of the county, and eleven miles north-east of Arundel,

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THE SEAT OF

SIR GODFREY VASSAL WEBSTER, BART.

THE ancient Abbey of Battle, a memorial of one of the most important events recorded in English history, was built on a plain called Heathfield, about seven miles from Hastings. The landing of William the Norman on the Sussex coast, and the subsequent defeat and death of Harold, the last Saxon king, in a pitched battle on this plain, are well-known historical facts. It would appear, however, that previous to the engagement, William made a vow to found a monastery in honour of St. Martin, if victory crowned his arms with success. He was, therefore, no sooner established on the throne of England, than, in pursuance of his vow, he built this Abbey, which he filled with Benedictine Monks from Normandy, who were to pray for the souls of those who fell in the encounter. The endowment was rich, consisting of the manors of Aldsiston, in Sussex; Lymsfield, in Surrey; How, in Essex; Craumere, in Oxfordshire; Briswalderton, in Berkshire; together with all the land a league round the house; they had besides the churches of Radings and Colunton, in Devonshire, and St. Olave, in Exeter. Many privileges and immunities were granted to the monastery; the chief of which were-exemption from episcopal jurisdiction, treasure-trove, and free-warren; it was also a place of sanctuary. The abbot enjoyed the distinction of the mitre, and possessed the peculiar power of pardoning any felon that he saw going to be executed.

Battle Abbey experienced the same fate as other monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. It was dissolved, and a grant of the site made to Richard Gilmer, who soon afterwards pulled down the greater part of the buildings, and disposed of the materials. Gilmer afterwards sold the estate to Sir Anthony Browne, whose descendants first thought of converting what remained of the old Abbey into a convenient mansion-house; this design was not, however, fully accomplished until it became the property of Sir Thomas Webster, ancestor of the present proprietor.

A large square gothic building, embattled at the top, with a handsome octagon tower at each corner, constitutes the grand entrance. The front of the gateway faces the town, and is adorned with a series of arches and neat pilasters. The remains of the Abbey occupy nearly three sides of a large quadrangle; the fourth, it is conjectured, having been taken down when the opposite side was converted into a modern habitation, in order to open a view of the country. The side of the square occupied at the present time by the dwelling-house, has undergone the greatest alterations. The remaining side, namely, that opposite to the gateway, consists of two low parallel walls, which formerly supported a suite of chambers, and terminated in handsome turrets; this was formerly part of another gate. On the outside of the house appear nine elegant arches, which are the only remains of the old Abbey church, and in all probability belonged to the inside of a cloister. This portion of the building is included in our View. The other ruins consist of a great hall or refectory, standing contiguous to the church: but what creates the greatest interest, as being by far the most beautiful part of the present remains, is a detached building, now used as a barn. It has twelve windows on one side, and six on the other. Under the hall is a curious vaulted building, in the gothic style, formed by crypts of freestone, divided by elegant pillars and springing arches.

Sir Godfrey Vassal Webster, the fifth Baronet, was born in October, 1789, and succeeded his father, the late Sir Godfrey, in June, 1800. In August, 1814, he married Charlotte, the eldest daughter of Robert Adamson, Esq. A son, born in April, 1819, is heir to the title and estates.

Sir Godfrey Webster, upon whom the dignity of a Baronet was conferred in May, 1703, was a descendant from the Websters, who, about the middle of the fourteenth century, were seated at Lockington, in the county of York.

Arms: Azure, on a bend, argent, cottised, or, between two demi-lions rampant, ermine, a rose, gules, seeded and leafed proper, between two boars' heads, couped, sable.

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