No. VI.

ZACHARY GREY, LL.D.

DR. ZACHARY GREY was of a Yorkshire family, originally from France *. He was admitted a pensioner in Jesus college, Cambridge, April 18, 1704, but afterwards removed to Trinity hall; where he was admitted scholar of the house, Jan. 6, 1706-7; LL.B. 1709; LL. D 1720; and, though he was never fellow of that College, he was elected one of the trustees for Mr. Aylofte's benefaction to it.

"The Greys, or Grays," says Rapin, came from Gray, a town in Franche Comté, and had probably lands given them by the Conqueror, or his immediate successors, among other Normans and Frenchmen who made the possessions of the former inhabitants their prey." Several noble families of this name appeared very early, and they have continued pretty prolific, great numbers of them being dispersed all over the kingdom both in high and low life. See a letter to Dr. Grcy on this subject from the late Charles Grey, esq. in the Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica, No. II. p. 171.--Mr. Isaac Reed had a Collection of records, pedigrees, &c. of the family (bought out of the Northampton Catalogue, mentioned in p. 545), with some curious particulars of the Greys Earls of Kent; amongst others, "Sumnions to Parliament of the Lord Greys of Codnover, Wilton, Ruthyn, and the other Lords of that name, collected out of Rymer's Volumes and Dugdale's Summons ;" and also, "My Lord's expences for his houshold in seven weeks ended 5 April 1593; distinguished under the respective articles of "Buttry and Pantry," "Seller," "Spycery," "Ewery," "Wood and Cole, "Accator of Store,” "Presents," and "Redy Money." See this article in the "History of Leicestershire," vol. IV. p. 457. + It was perhaps to this election that the following letter to him alludes.

"GOOD SIR, Whitehall, Feb. 3, 1734-5. "I wrote yesterday to Mr. Barnard and Mr. Lowe, a separate letter to each, to let them know that I wished you success, and should be obliged to them for their favour to you on this occasion. Dr. Wilmot proposed to send the letters, and I suppose some others, by a messenger on purpose. I do not recollect that my acquaintance with any other of the fellows is such as will justify my writing to them. I am, Sir,

Your faithful friend and brother,

EDM. LONDON."

Dr.

Dr. Grey was rector of Houghton Conquest in Bedfordshire; and vicar of St. Peter's and St. Giles's parishes in Cambridge, where he usually passed the winter, and the rest of his time at Ampthill, the neighbouring market-town to his living*.

He had one brother (George, born in 1680), a chamber counsellor at Newcastle.

* Whilst resident in Bedfordshire he received the following letter from his Diocesan:

"GOOD DR. GREY,

Buckden, May 15, 1738.

"I am very much for making the letter of the Canons my rule, in all my administrations; especially in the article of conferring orders; and, as the 33d of our Canons expressly forbids the admission of any one to holy orders unless he hath a title, as is therein described; and as the reason of this limitation was not barely for securing the Church or the Bishop from the burthen of an indigent unprovided Clergy, but also and moreover for guarding against the scandals that might be apprehended from the extravagations of a supernumerary and unemployed Clergy; I have very rarely if ever admitted any upon the title of an estate, as it is sometimes called. Indeed, I have of late, at the solicitation of some of the Heads in the Universities, made a favourable coustruction of one clause of this Canon, with respect to Exhibitioners from Christ's Hospital, the Chartreuse, and Merchant Taylors' school, &c. But I have done this under persuasion that these Exhibitions had the nature of Fellowships, as they not only sustained their proprietors, but employed, and in some sort confined them too: which, as experience informs us, is more than can be said for that maintenance which arises from an hereditary estate. So that, if I might, without offence, offer you my advice, it should be, that you would have your candidate provided with some title, or employment, before he offers himself for orders. -- Nevertheless, as I know Dr. Grey to be as heartily concerned for the honour and service of the Church as any man, if, after what has been said, you shall have reasons for desiring this young gentleman to be ordained, before he can be provided with a better or more beneficial title, I will (upon your account, and as knowing that you will advise him usefully to employ his time) take him in, ad titulum Episcopi. I am, Good Dr. Grey, your affectionate friend and servant,

[Dr. Reynolds] R. LINCOLN."

+ I have a number of this gentleman's MS letters to Dr. Grey, by which it appears that they were both very industrious in collecting memorials of their family; which, with an ample pedigree, were in the hands of Mr. George Grey, who often mentions his brother and sister Hindmarsh" and "brother Warcop." In several of his letters he observes, that their father died at the age of sixty, and that he did not himself expect to exceed that age. He lived, however, to be at least 65. In one letter he

says,

He was of a most amiable, sweet, and communicative disposition; most friendly to his acquaintance, and never better pleased than when performing acts of friendship and benevolence.

Dr. Grey was often at Wimpole in the time of Edward Earl of Oxford; from whom he received many marks of friendship, particularly a present of a noble silver cup and ewer.

By several original Letters in my possession *, from the Duke of Bedford, the Earls of Berkshire,

says, "As to our family, you have a particular account in Dugdale's Baronage, vol. I. p. 710, viz. Henry Lord Grey of Codnover gave to Nicholas, his second son, the manor of Barton in Yorkshire, about 2 Edward II.' The posterity of Nicholas enjoyed it till the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and my greatgrandfather was a son of that family, and I believe was father to him who sold the estate. Our arms are the original arms of that; for when I first went to London, I applied to one of the Heralds of my acquaintance to get me a seal cut, and he told me it was the arms of the Codnover family; and that family, as appears by Dugdale, is the original of all the Greys." The following little circunstance, in another of his letters, dated July 30, 1731, may be worth preserving: "I had a letter lately from aunt Milton, who is very well, and lives at Namptwich. There were three widow Miltons there, viz. the Poet's widow, my aunt, and another. The Poet's widow died last summer."In another letter he says, "My grandfather Cawdrey, after he lost his fellowship, went to live with one Dr. Mason, who was master of requests to King Charles the First; but I cannot find who this Doctor was." [Of this Dr. Mason see Bibl. Topogr. Brit. No XLIII. p. 416.]

* Among these are, Mr. Christopher Anstey; Mr. Henry Astry, a London Divine, Treasurer of St. Paul's; Mr. Montague Bacon; Mr. W. Baker; John Bedford, M. B.; Mr. William Bedford; Dr. Birch; Dr.C. Byron; Mr. T. Carte; Dr. J.Chapman, archdeacon of Sudbury; Sir P. Charnocke, knt.; Mr. John Church; Mr. W. Cole, of Milton; Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bart.; Dr. Henry Dawson ; Mr. Ambrose Dickins; Dr. Francis Dickins; Mr. T. Doughty; Dr. Ducarel; Sir Henry Every, bart.; Rev. Sir John Every, bart.; Bp. Gooch; Mr Alexander Gordon; Dr. Humphrey Gower; Dr. Richard Grey; Dr. John Hildrop; Mr. John Jones; Mr. Arthur Kynnesman; Lord Chief Justice Lee; Dr. Egerton Leigh; Bp. Osbaldeston; Admiral Osborne; Mr. Joseph Pote; Mr. Thomas Potter; Mr. W. Reading; Dr. G. Reynolds, archdeacon of Lincoln; Dr. W. Richardson; Mr. Salmon; Mr. J. Slater; Mr. Robert Smyth; Dr. Snape; Mr. Matthew Symson; Dr. Cornewale Tathwall; Dr. James Tunstall; Dr. Richard Warren, archdeacon of Suffolk; Dr. William Warren, president of Trinity hall; Dr. Waterland, &c. &c.

Bristol,

Bristol, Gainsborough, Oxford, and Sandwich, Lord Trevor, Lord St. John, Lord Royston, and others *,

* A few of these, on literary subjects, shall here be given. "DEAR SIR, Cambridge, Dec. 4, 1740. "You have observed an Advertisement probably in the public papers of the last week, promising the publication of The Life of Cicero on the 2d of February; this obliges me to remind all my friends, who have been so kind as to dispose of any receipts for me, to send me the names of their Subscribers, to be inserted in my List, which I am now preparing for the press. I received some time ago, by your order, the names of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Crofts, and Mr. Clark. If you since happened to pick up any more, I should be glad to have an account of them at any time before January, distinguished by small and large paper; if not, I shall insert the three above mentioned for the small paper, and will take care to reserve one of the large for yourself, in return for the many presents of the same kind, with which you have favoured me. I am sorry, that either your affairs or your inclination should engage you to desert Cambridge; where we still flatter ourselves with the hopes of your return, which would give a sensible pleasure to all your friends, and in a particular manner to, dear Sir, Your faithful and obedient servant,

C. MIDDLETON." [This favour Dr. Middleton afterwards very amply repaid, by obtaining many subscriptions for Dr. Grey's Hudibras.]

"REV. SIR, Graystock, May 31, 1743. "I was favoured yesterday with your obliging letter, and am very sorry that I cannot return a more satisfactory answer. The account which I gave Mr. Lindsey I had from a brother of Lord Southwell, who now lives at Cockermouth. He is positive that such a MS. was left by the famous Lesley, and is in the custody of a son of his now living in Ireland; but could not tell how to direct to him. I shall see Mr. Southwell again shortly, and if I can learn any more particulars, shall not fail to acquaint you with them. In the mean time you will please to set me down among your Subscribers for a copy of Hudibras.' You may depend on my communicating the Proposals to the Booksellers of Carlisle and Penrith, the first opportunity. I heartily wish all the success to your undertaking which it must deserve; and beg the favour of you to let Mr. Rooke know that I should be glad to hear, as soon as he is able to determine, when he will be with us. My compliments attend on your good Lady, respects to honest Mr. Gay, and all friends in St. John's, from, reverend Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, E. LAW."

[Archdeacon of Carlisle, afterwards Bishop.]

"REVEREND SIR, Bishop-Thorp, June 19, 1743. "I was this morning agreeably surprized by the favour of an bliging letter from you, and think myself highly indebted to

you

it appears, that, being in the commission of the peace, and a man of respectable character, he was

you for the kind promise you are pleased to make me in return for so very small a present. It is a real satisfaction to me to be any ways instrumental in promoting so useful and entertaining a design; and, if I was as much a Critic as I am a well-wisher to the Work, I should perhaps be vain enough to let the world know, I am acquainted with Dr. Grey.—I am at present under the hospitable roof of an Archbishop, of which I can send you no regular account, for it was built at a time of day when men paid more regard to convenience than to uniformity; and therefore it would be in vain to attempt an exact description of it. The rooms are very large, and furnished in character; and that apartment where I now sit to write is ornamented with the adventures of Samson, curiously wrought in old tapestry, the work perhaps of some religious dame. In one of the bed-chambers, on each side of the chimney, there are two cherubinis, weeping most bitterly; and the story says, that when the Carver was asked by somebody how it entered into his head to represent them crying, his answer was, that he appealed to the Te Deum, for the propriety of what he had done. Upon the whole, it is a most agreeable house, and pleases me better than if it had been designed by Lord Burlington, or any other genius of the age.To-morrow we set out upon a second part of the Visitation, which will continue about ten days. I am, reverend Sir,

Your much obliged, &c.

THOMAS HERRING. "P.S. My Lord desires me to insert his compliments."

"REVEREND SIR, Kensington, April 13, 1744. "My uncle Dr. Herring, in the hurry and bustle of removing some goods, has lost his subscription to Hudibras,' and desires me to beg the favour of you to furnish him with another. I should not much care to appear in a petition of this sort, but that you know my uncle very well, and I dare say are thoroughly persuaded that it is far from being his design to make an ill use of your indulgence. When I desired you to change the name of Pery into Wm. Herring, I believe I forgot to tell you my brother is not a clergyman.-I was almost ashamed to leave the University without waiting upon you; but I came away much sooner than I intended; and indeed I could not help considering every impertinent visit to you at this juncture as an injury to the publick. I met Dr. Middleton yesterday in Westminster Hall. I hope he is come to town in order to publish his new Work. My attachment to that branch of knowledge makes me wish to see

Thomas Herring, of Bene't College, Cambridge, B. A. 1740; M.A. 1744; rector of Chevening in Kent, and Cullesdon in Surrey; treasurer of Chichester; and one of the principal registrars of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. He was nephew to Abp. Herring, and one of his executors; married a daughter of Sir John Torriano; and died at Kensington, April 28, 1774.