Richard Cutts, esq. of Arkesden, in Essex, by whom he had THOMAS; John, who died young; and two daughters, Dorothy, wife of Sir Thomas Hartop, knt. of Burton Lazers, Leicester; and Eliza, m. to John Fearnley, of Creting, in Suffolk. He d. in 1636, and was s. by his son, II. SIR THOMAS BENDISH, then aged about twentynine years. He was," says Morant, "a man of great sense and resolution, and steadfastly loyal to his prince, King CHARLES I. For at the beginning of the national troubles he had a chief hand in drawing up, 18th July, 1642, and presenting to the King a declaration, and afterwards petition, both to his Majesty and the parliament, recommending an amicable accomodation, in order to stop the distractions and bloody miseries wherein this nation was most unhappily involved. For which good office he was imprisoned twenty-two months in the Tower, by order of the House of Commons; and his estate being sequestered, he was forced to pay a composition of £1,000. He also sent £3,000 to his Royal master, when under restraint at Newcastle. However, though he fell at first under the displeasure of the prevailing powers, yet so considerable was he on account of his capacities and integrity, that afterwards they made choice of him to be their ambassador to the Ottoman Porte; but no arguments of theirs could prevail with him to accept of this honourable employ without the King's commission, which his Majesty readily granted him, and also leave to carry with him such seal as the Parliament had given him, and to make such use of it as he should think fit, and might conduce to the advantage of himself and the Turkey company. He entered on his embassy in 1647, and resided at the Turkish court about fourteen years, filling up that great post with admirable sufficiency. For besides his skill in languages, he was a gentleman of consummate prudence and invincible courage. How well he understood his character, and how jealous he was of his prince's and country's honour, appears from the instances set down as follows: first, when the grand vizier would have publicly affronted him at an audience, in causing the chair to be removed out of the room that he might deliver his embassy standing, Sir Thomas made one of his gentlemen kneel down and lean on his hands, and then sat down upon him, before he would deliver his embassy. At another audience, when the grand vizier would have placed the French ambassador above him, he jostled him from his chair, and took his place, telling him that he was ambassador from a crowned head who was king of France as well as England. Another time there happening some disputes between the grand vizier and Sir Thomas, Sir Thomas rose up, and kicking from him the stool whereon he sate, said, his master was dishonored, and he would have reparation for the affront. This resolute and gallant behaviour made him only the more considerable. King CHARLES I. had such a sense of his gallant behaviour, and the eminent service he had done the Levant Company, beyond any other ambassador, that he wrote him a letter of thanks from the Isle of Wight, about November, 1648. After that King's tragical death, Sir Thomas continued firm to his son's interest, and renewed the capitulation between the Grand Signior and him, by the title of CHARLES II. King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, and this prince confirmed Sir Thomas in his commission of ambassador extraordinary. How he came to escape the resentment of the then usurping powers, and keep out of the reach of men whose hearts were found harder than those of most princes, we cannot explain, especially when Sir Henry Hyde, sent by King CHARLES II. as his agent to the Ottoman Porte, in 1649, was sentenced by the High Court of Justice March, 1650, to be beheaded. However, in 1653, Oliver, the Protector, dispatched Richard Laurence to Constantinople with letters of revocation for Sir Thomas, who shewed the value he had for the King's commission, by telling Laurence, that he was sent by the King, and would not deliver up his commission without his Majesty's order, upon which articles of high treason were exhibited to the parliament against him by one Paul Hagett, but without effect; for Sir Thomas appears to have continued in Turkey until recalled thence in 1662 by King CHARLES II., who gave him a very honourable testimonial of his loyalty and good affection, with promises of doing him service. This renowned gentleman, the chief glory and ornament of his family, after many years spent abroad, at last departed this life at Bower Hall, the place of his nativity, about the year 1674, aged 67 years. His lady, the faithful companion of his travels, died at Constantinople, and her body was brought over and buried here. She was Anne, daughter and co-heir of Henry Baker, of Shoebery, in this county. By her he had Thomas, John, Robert, Henry, Andrew, and six daughters, Dorothy, m. first, to Williams, secondly, to Bowyer; Abigail, m. to- Edwards; Anne, m. to Sir Jonathan Dawes, knt.; Elizabeth, m. to - Cartwright; Diana, m. to Sir Strensham Masters, knt.; and Susan, m. to Sir William Hooker, knt. - III. SIR JOHN BENDISH, the second but eldest surviving son and successor to his father, had by Martha, his wife, daughter and heir of Richard Batson, of London, six sons, John, Richard, Charles, Robert, all of whom died young, and HENRY; also three daughters, Anne, Martha, and Sarah, wife of John Pyke Crouch, esq. He died 1706, and was s. by his only surviving son, IV. SIR HENRY BENDISH, for many years a justice of the peace, and one of the deputy-lieutenants &c. of Essex. He m. Catherine, daughter of Sir William Gosling, knt. one of the Sheriffs of London in 1684, and by her had one son, named Henry, who lived only five months. Sir Henry d. 4th September, 1717, when the BARONETCY EXPIRED. Arms-Argent, a chevron sable, between three rams' heads erased azure, armed or. In the reigns of King EDWARD III. and HENRY IV. they gave a wild ram's head for their arms. They quartered the coats of Burghwell, Grauncestre, Bennington, Calleys, Beauchamp, Bradfield, Huntingdon, Clapton, Newport, Ford, Baker, Bateson. He m. 1. SIR SIMON BENNET, of Bechampton, in the county of Bucks, created a BARONET 17th July, 1627. Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Arthur Ingram, knt. but dying s. p. about the year 1631, the BARONETCY became EXTINCT. The manor of Bechampton devolved on (the son of his brother Richard) his nephew, SIMON BENNET, esq. of Bechampton, who m. Grace, daughter of Gilbert Moorwood, merchant, of London, and died in 1682, leaving three daughters, his co-heirs, ELIZABETH, M. to Edward Osborne, Lord Latimer, GRACE, m. to John Bennet, esq. of Abington, in FRANCES, m. to James Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Arms-Gu. a bezant, between three demi-lions rampant, arg. BENNET, OF BABRAHAM. CREATED 22nd Nov. 1660.-EXTINCT 23rd May, 1701. Lineage. THOMAS BENNET, alderman of London, younger brother of Sir John Bennet, ancestor of the Earls of Tankerville, purchased from Sir Toby Palavicini the estate of Babraham, in Cambridgeshire. He left two sons and a daughter, viz. Richard, whose daughter, by his first wife, Jane, m. the Hon. James Scudamore, eldest son of Lord Scudamore, of the kingdom of Ireland, THOMAS, of whom presently. Rebecca, m. to Sir Bulstrode Whitlock, knt. created Lord Whitlock by CROMWELL. The second son, 1. THOMAS BENNET, esq. of Babraham, in Cambridge. shire, was created a BARONET 22nd November, 1660. He m. Mary, daughter and co-heir of Levinus Monk, esq. and died in 1667, leaving a son and successor, 11. SIR LEVINUS BENNET, of Babraham, who m. Judith, daughter of William Boeve, merchant of London, and died 5th December, 1693, leaving a son and suc cessor, III. SIR RICHARD BENNET, of Babraham, who m. in 1695, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Charles Adelmare Cæsar, knt. of Bennington Place, in Hertfordshire, M.P. and by her, who wedded, secondly, James Butler, esq. M.P. of Warminghurst Park, Sussex, having a daughter only, Judith, who d. unmarried; the BARONETCY became EXTINCT at his decease, 23rd May, 1701, aged twenty-eight. The estates eventually devolved on BENNET ALEXANDER, esq. son of Edward Alexander, esq. of Ongar, by Levina, daughter of SIR LEVINUS BENNET, bart. Mr. Alexander assumed in consequence, by act of parliament in 1742, the surname and arms of BENNET. He m. Mary, daughter of Benjamin Ash, esq. and had by her, who m. secondly, Richard Bull, esq. son of Sir John Bull, knt. one son and one daughter, viz. RICHARD-HENRY-ALEXANDER BENNET, esq. of Ba braham, who sold the estate in 1765, and it ultimately became the property of General Adeane. Levina, m. 16th January, 1762, to John Luther, esq. of Myles, in Essex, M.P. for that county. (See BURKE's Commoners, vol. iv. p. 7.) Arms-Gu. a bezant between three demi lions rampant, arg. BENSLEY, OF MARYLABONNE. 1. SIR WILLIAM BENSLEY, son of Thomas Bensley, esq. of Norfolk, by Elizabeth, daughter of William Winter, esq. of the same county, entered the navy at an early age, but retiring from the service, repaired to the East Indies, whence returning in 1777, he was chosen one of the Company's directors, and created a BARONET in 1801. He m. Mary, daughter of Vincent Biscoe, esq. of London, but dying without issue, 17th December, 1809, aged seventy-two, the BARONETCY be Descended from the BARONS BERKELEY, of BERKELEY CASTLE, was SIR RICHARD BERKELEY, knt. of Stoke Gifford, in the county of Gloucester, who died in 1514, leaving issue by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Humphrey Coningsby, knt. two sons, namely, Sir John Berkeley, of Stoke Gifford, ancestor to the Lord Botetort, and SIR MAURICE BERKELEY, K. B. of Bruton, in the county of Somerset, standard-bearer to HENRY VIII. and EDWARD VI. and to Queen ELIZABETH. Of this gentleman it is mentioned, that, in the first year of Queen MARY, riding casually in London, he met with Sir Thomas Wiat at Temple Bar, and persuading him to yield himself to the queen, Sir Thomas took his advice, and, mounting behind Sir Maurice, rode to the court. Sir Maurice Berkeley m. first, Catherine, daughter of William Blount, Lord Mountjoy, and had issue, HENRY, his heir. Edward. Gertrude, m. to Edward Horne, esq. Elizabeth, m. to James Percival, esq. of Weston Anne, m. to Nicholas Poynings, esq. of Adderley. Sir Maurice m. secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony Sands, esq. and by that lady had two other sons and a daughter. He was s. at his decease by his eldest son, SIR HENRY BERKELEY, knt. of Bruton, who m. Margaret, daughter of William Lygon, esq. and had three sons, viz. 1. MAURICE, his heir. 11. CHARLES, who, for his fidelity to King CHARLES II. during his majesty's exile, and other eminent services, was created a peer of Ireland, as Baron Berkeley, of Rathdown, and VISCOUNT FITZHARDINGE, with remainder to his father and his issue male; and a peer of England, on the 17th March, 1664, by the title of Baron Botetort, of Langport, in the county of Somerset, and EARL OF FALMOUTH. His lordship m. Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Hervey Bagot, second son of Sir Henry Bagot, bart. of Blithfield, in the county of Stafford, and had an only daughter, Mary, m. to Gilbert Cosyn Gerrard, esq. eldest son of Sir Gilbert Gerrard, bart. of Feskerton, in the county of Lincoln, from whom she was divorced in 1684, and d. in 1693. Lord Falmouth fell in a naval engagement with the Dutch, 3rd June, 1665, and his remains were honorably interred in Westminster Abbey. At the decease of his lordship, his English honors EXPIRED, while those of Ireland reverted, according to the patent, to his father, Sir Charles Berkeley. III. William (Sir), governor of Portsmouth and viceadmiral of the White, killed at sea in 1666. IV. John, who succeeded his eldest brother as VISCOUNT FITZHARDINGE, was treasurer of the chamber, and one of the tellers of the Exchequer, in the reign of Queen ANNE. He m. a daughter of Sir Edward Villiers, and sister to the Earl of Jersey, governess to his royal highness William, Duke of Gloucester, and had issue, Mary, m. to Walter Chetwynd, esq. of Ingestre, in the county of Stafford, who was created in 1717 Baron Rathdown and Viscount Chetwynd, with the remainder to the heirs male of his father. Frances, m. to Sir Thomas Clarges, bart. His lordship d. on the 19th December, 1712, and thus leaving no male issue, the Irish Barony of Berkeley and VISCOUNTCY OF FITZHARDINGE became EXTINCT. Sir Charles Berkeley, upon the decease of his second son, Charles, Earl of Falmouth, succeeding to that nobleman's Irish honors, became Baron Berkeley of Rathdown and VISCOUNT FITZHARDINGE; and dying 12th June, 1688, those honors descended to his eldest son, I. SIR MAURICE BERKELEY, third Viscount Fitzhardinge, who had been created a BARONET 2nd July, 1660. His lordship married Anne, daughter of Henry Lee, esq. of Quarendon, Bucks, but dying issueless in 1690, the BARONETCY became EXTINCT, while the Viscounty and Barony devolved on his brother. Arms-Gu. a chev. erm. between ten crosses pattée SIR THOMAS BERKELEY, knt. Lord of Coston, second son of Thomas, Lord Berkeley, by Jane, his wife, daughter of William Ferrers, Earl of Derby, was living at the commencement of the fourteenth century. He m. Isabel, daughter and heir of Sir John Hamelin, Lord of Wymondham, in the county of Leicester, and was father of SIR JOHN DE BERKELEY, of Wymondham, made a knight banneret 34 EDWARD I. He left by Joan, his wife, living in 1368, a son and successor, SIR JOHN BERKELEY, knt. of Wymondham, who d. in 1374, leaving by Elizabeth, his wife, three sons, namely, The eldest son, SIR JOHN BERKELEY, knt. of Wymondham, living in 1403, was father of SIR LAWRENCE BERKELEY, knt. of Wymondham, who m. Joan, sister of Sir Robert Woodford, knt, and being slain in France in 1458, left, with two daughters, Elizabeth, m. to Sir William Hussey, lord chief justice, and Alice, m. to Thomas Woodford, esq. a son, SIR THOMAS BERKELEY, knt. of Wymondham, who m. Petronell, daughter of William Brokesby, esq. and was s. at his decease in 1488 by his son, BER SIR MAURICE BERKELEY, knt. of Wymondham, who m. Margaret, daughter of Sir John Byron, knt. of Over Colwich, and widow of Sir William Atherton, of Atherton, and left at his decease in 1522 a son and successor, SIR THOMAS BERKELEY, knt. of Wymondham, who m. Margaret, eldest daughter and co-heir of Thomas de la Laund, by Katherine, his wife, daughter and coheir of Lionel, Lord Welles, by Jane, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Waterton, and had two sons, MAURICE, his heir; and William, successor to his nephew. The elder, MAURICE BERKELEY, esq. of Wymondham, m. Margaret, daughter of Sir John Harrington, bart., and left, with a daughter, Elizabeth, m. first, to Robert Pakenham, esq. clerk of the green cloth; and secondly, to Richard Levesey; a son, JOHN BERKELEY, esq. of Wymondham, who d. s. p. and was s. by his uncle, WILLIAM BERKELEY, esq. of Wymondham, who m. Mary, daughter of Robert Baude, of Hornby, in the county of Lincoln, and d. in 1536, leaving a son and successor, MAURICE BERKELEY, esq. of Wymondham, who m. Mary, daughter of John Hall, esq. of Grantham, and died in 1600, aged seventy, leaving several children, who all d. unmarried, except one daughter, Eleanor, b. in 1563, who m. - Wingfield, esq. and one son, 1. SIR HENRY BERKELEY, of Wymondham, b. in 1566, created a BARONET in 1611. This gentleman m. first, Miss Mynne; and secondly, Katharine, daughter of Nicholas Beaumont, esq. of Cole Orton, and relict of Anthony Byron, esq.; but dying s. p. the title became EXTINCT. The estate of Wymondham Sir Henry sold to Sir William Sedley, bart. of Southfleet and Aylesford. Arms-As BERKELEY, of Bruton. BER Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Tallakerne, and by her had issue, JOHN (Sir), his successor. Lucy, m. to Sir Nicholas Pedley, knt. M.P. for the borough of Huntingdon, Mary, m. to Laurence Torkington, esq. of Great Stewkley, in the county of Huntingdon. He wedded, secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Altham, of Oxey, Herts, but had no other issue. This lady died 3rd January, 1662, and was buried in Covent Garden Church, Middlesex. Sir Francis d. in his sixty-sixth year, anno 1666, and lies interred in the north aisle of Abington Church. He was s. by his son, II. SIR JOHN BERNARD, knt. member for the borough of Huntingdon in the Restoration and the Long Parliaments. He m. first, Elizabeth, daughter of Oliver St. John, lord chief justice of the Common Pleas, and had (with five other daughters, who all died unmarried,) ROBERT, his successor. Mary, m. to Thomas Brown, esq. of Arlsey, in the county of Bedford. Johanna, m. to the celebrated Richard Bentley, archdeacon and prebendary of Ely, regius professor, and master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and had issue, Richard Bentley, a writer of some distinction; Elizabeth Bentley, m. first, to Humphrey Johanna Bentley, the Phoebe of Dr. Byron's RICHARD CUMBERLAND, the dramatist. Elizabeth-Bentley Cumberland. He wedded, secondly, Grace, daughter of Sir Richard Shuckburgh, knt. of Shuckburgh, in the county of Sir John d. in Warwick, but by her had no issue. June, 1679, and was buried in Brampton Church, where a marble monument records the event. He was s. by his only son, III. SIR ROBERT BERNARD, M. P. for the county of Huntingdon in 1688. This gentleman m. Anne, dau. of Robert Weldon, esq. of London, and had issue, JOHN, his heir. Jane. He was s. by his elder son, I. SIR RICHARD BETENSON, knt. of Layer de la Hay, who was created a BARONET by King CHARLES II. 7th February, 1666. He m. Anne, daughter of Sir William Monyns, bart. of Waldershare, in Kent, and had issue, RICHARD, who m. Albinia, daughter of Sir Christopher Wray, knt.+ and dying in the lifetime of his father, left EDWARD, successor to his grandfather. Theodosia, m. to Major-General William Farrington, of Chiselhurst, and had Thomas Farrington, commissioner of excise. Albinia Farrington, who became second wife of Robert Bertie, first Duke of An caster. Albinia, m. to William Selwin, esq. colonel of a regiment of foot and governor of Jamaica. Frances, m. to Sir Thomas Hewet, knt. of Shire Oaks, Notts. Dorothy, d. unmarried. Edward, of Lincoln's Inn, m. Catherine, eldest daughter of Sir John Rayney, bart. of Wrotham, in Kent, and dying in 1700, left an only son, EDWARD, who inherited as third baronet. Sir Richard d. 29th August, 1679, was buried at Chiselhurst, in Kent, and s. by his grandson, II. SIR EDWARD BETENSON, b. in 1675, who died unmarried 17th October, 1733, when his estates-comprising lands in Chiselhurst and Greenwich, in Kent; at Wimbledon, in Surrey; at several places in Essex; and an estate in London-devolved upon his sisters as co-heirs, and the Baronetcy reverted to his cousin, III. SIR EDWARD BATENSON. This gentleman m. Ursula, daughter of John Nicks, esq. of Fort St. George, merchant, and had |