The 1st Earl of Pembroke as (Sir) William Herbert, of the household of King Henry VIII., created 1551. Henry, 2nd Earl, was father of William, 3rd Earl, who died childless, 1630, 14 years after William Shakspeare. Philip, his brother, succeeded as 4th Earl: he died 1650, and was succeeded by his eldest son Philip, -5th Earl, deceased 1669. William, Philip, and Thomas, his three sons, followed in succession as 6th, 7th, and 8th Earls, the last named dying 1733, whose elder son, Henry, was 9th Earl: he died 1751, and was succeeded by his only son, Henry, 10th Earl; deceased 1794, whose only son succeeded as 11th Earl, who died 1827, of whom Mr. Lodge records that he was deeply lamented by those amongst whom he was in constant residence, affording employment to the numerous peasantry of his large estate at Wilton. His successor was his eldest son, Robert Henry, 12th Earl, who died 1862, and was succeeded by his nephew, George Robert Charles, as 13th Earl, born 1850, died 3rd May, 1895. The present Earl is his brother, Sidney, born 1853. The 'W. H.' to whom it is believed many of the Sonnets were addressed, was therefore Mr. William Herbert, 3rd Earl. The family motto is in French. In English it reads, 'One will I serve.' "Un je servirai" (THE MOTTO OF THE EARLS OF PEMBROKE). 'ONE WILL. I SERVE'-one only, for In His high service may I be Known as the bearer of that shield Which ever must be borne in fearYet, fearless in the tented field, As in the Council; holding dear His spotless honour, who, for me Endured captivity and made me free! |