SIR ANTHONY, SIR ROBERT, AND SIR THOMAS SHERLEY.

THE author of "The Genealogies of the Sherley Family," a Latin manuscript in the British Museum, in his enthusiastic attachment to that house, traces it from the time of Edward the Confessor, in the male line, to the illustrious scions above named, and assures us that it has had the honor to be allied not only to the royal blood of England, both Saxon and Norman, but likewise to that of France, Scotland, Denmark, Arragon, Leon, Castile, the sacred Roman Empire, and almost all the princely houses in Christendom; and amongst the English nobility to the Dukes of Norfolk and Buckingham, Earls of Arundel, Oxford, Northumberland, Shrewsbury, Kent, Derby, Worcester, Huntingdon, Pembroke, Nottingham, Suffolk, Berkshire, and the Barons of

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Berkley and if we are to believe him, their achievements have been as noble and as various as their alliances. The actions of the three brothers of that house, whose lives and adventures are the subject of these pages, deserve to be placed by the side of those of the most illustrious of their progenitors. Perhaps no three persons of one family ever experienced adventures at the same time so uncommon and so interesting. Sir Thomas, Sir Anthony, and Sir Robert Sherley, were the sons of Sir Thomas Sherley of Wisneston, or Wiston, in Sussex, by Anne his wife, the daughter of Sir Thomas Kemp, Knight. As Sir Thomas Sherley, though the first in age, was the last in distinguishing himself, "men's activity," as Fuller says, "not always following the method of their register," we shall so far invert the order of chronology as to end instead of beginning with him.

Anthony Sherley, the second son, was born about 1565. He was sent to Hart Hall, Oxford, where he was matriculated in 1579, was admitted Bachelor of Arts in 1581, and, in November in the same year, elected Probationer of All Souls' College, being related to the founder of this College by his mother's side; but he left the University, without taking the degree of Master of Arts*. "In my first years," says he,

*Fuller, Wood, Birch.

in the "Relation of his Travels*," 99 66 my friends bestowed on me those learnings which were fit for a gentleman's ornament, without directing them to an occupation; and when they were fit for agible things, they bestowed them and me on my prince's service, in which I ran many courses of divers fortunes, according to the condition of the wars, in which, as I was most exercised, so was I most subject to accidents. With what opinion I carried myself (since the causes of good or ill must be in myself, and that a thing without myself) I leave it to them to speak; my places yet in authority, in those occasions were ever of the best; in which, if I committed error it was contrary to my will, and a weakness in my judgement; which, notwithstanding, I ever industriated

* "Sir Anthony Sherley, his Relation of his Travels into Persia, the Dangers and Distresses which befel him in his Passage, both by Sea and Land, and his strange and unexpected Deliverances, his magnificent Entertainment in Persia, his honorable Imployment there-hence as Embassadour to the Princes of Christendome, the Cause of his Disappointment therein, with his Advice to his Brother, Sir Robert Sherley. Also a true Relation of the great Magnificence, Valour, Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and other manifold Virtues of Abas, now King of Persia, with his great Conquests, whereby he hath enlarged his Dominions.Penned by Sir A. Sherley, and recommended to his Brother, Sir Robert Sherley, being now in Prosecution of the like honorable Imployment.-London: Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and Joseph Bagfet. 1613."

myself to make perfect, correcting my own oversights by the most virtuous examples I could make choice of: amongst which, as there was not a subject of more worthiness and virtue, for such examples to grow from, than the ever-living in honour and condign estimation, the Earl of Essex, as my reverence and regard to his rare qualities was exceeding; so I desired (as much as my humility might answer, with such an eminency) to make him the pattern of my civil life, and from him to draw a worthy model of all my actions. And as my true love to him did transform me from my many imperfections, to be, as it were, an imitator of his virtues; so his affection was such to me, that he was not only contented I should do so, but in the true nobleness of his mind gave me liberally the best treasure of his mind in counselling me; his fortune to help me forward; and his very care to bear me up in all those courses, which might give honour to myself and inworthy the name of his friend."

Sir Anthony first embarked in the wars in the Low Countries, where he had a command, and was present at the battle of Zutphen in 1586. He appears also to have been engaged in the war in France, and probably accompanied the Earl of Essex when he was sent with a body of four thousand men to the assistance of the King of France

against the Confederates of the League. As a reward for his services, Henry the Fourth bestowed the order of St. Michael upon him, to the great displeasure of Queen Elizabeth, who said, that as a virtuous woman ought to look on none but her husband, so a subject ought not to cast his eyes on any other sovereign than him God had set over him. “I will not,” said she, “have my sheep marked with a strange brand; nor suffer them to follow the pipe of a strange shepherd*." She immediately commanded Sir John Puckering and Lord Buckhurst to inquire into the circumstances of the alleged breach of allegiance, who made the following Report on the subject:

"Touching Sir Anthony Sherley and the Order of St. Michael:

"To our very good and honourable friend, Sir John Woolley, Knight, of her Majesty's Privy Council.

“After our very hearty commendations, according to her Majesty's commandment we have called before us Mr. Anthony Sherley; and having strictly examined him, and required him upon his allegiance truly to declare the manner of his acceptance of the