The bookplate of William Wilberforce is
from a fine large volume all in manuscript, giving a very full account of the Yorkshire election contest, the poll opening on 20th May, 1807, and only finally closing on the 5th June. This volume belongs to Mr. Edward Feetham Coates, as does also an exquisite volume in pen-and-ink, the work of the late Dr. Howard, who has taken Glover’s visitation of Yorkshire, from MSS. Harl., No. 1,394, and besides drawing the arms most exquisitely, and “Wilberforse” among the rest, has given most ample pedigrees and an index. Dr. Howard gives the field argent and the eagle sable; but otherwise Old Guillim’s account of Cotton would nearly hold good:—
“The field is sapphire, an eagle displaied; Pearle, Membred Gules. These armes appertaine to the Right worthy Sir Robert Cotten, of Connington, Knight, a learned Antiquary, and a singular fauorer and preseruer of all good learning and antique monuments. The eagle ... continually practiseth that course of life whereunto nature hath ordained her: ... her sharpnesse and strength of sight is much commended; and it is a greater honour to one of noble offspring to be wise and of sharpe and deepe understanding, then to be rich or powerfull, or great by birth.”
William Wilberforce, the owner of this plate, was born in the High Street, Hull, on the 24th August, 1759, and came of a family settled at Wilberfoss, eight miles from York, for many centuries. The election which this volume above-named commemorates was very remarkable. Wilberforce had a few months earlier had the satisfaction of seeing his Bill for the abolition of the slave trade finally passed into law. Lord Milton and Mr. Lascelles, who had been Wilberforce’s colleagues from 1796 to 1806, opposed him. A subscription of £64,455 was voluntarily raised to pay his expenses. At the end of fifteen days he had scored 11,806 votes against his opponents’ 11,177 and 10,989. The story of Miss Wilberforce recognised driving through York at election time is too redolent of Wilberforce’s ready humour and Yorkshire heartiness to be forgotten. The crowd welcomed her with the cry: “Miss Wilberforce for ever!” She rejoined: “Not Miss Wilberforce for ever, thank you!”
A fine plate is the circular armorial ex libris of “Charles, Marquis of Northampton.” The owner of this plate came of a noble house, worthy, indeed, of a fine bookplate. A few notes about his forefathers may be recorded.
Edmund de Compton’s son, Sir William Compton, Knight, was employed about the household of bluff Harry the Eighth when Duke of York, and thus winning his confidence, became the king’s companion in tournaments. Sir William held high offices under the king, and fought with great bravery in the Battle of Spurs. He died in 1528, leaving one son to succeed him, who again left a son, Sir Henry Compton, Knight, who, in 1572, was summoned to Parliament as Baron Compton of Compton. He married first a daughter of the Earl of Huntingdon, and secondly a daughter of Sir John Spencer of Althorp. By his first wife he left a son, William, who inherited the title, and was in 1618 created Earl of Northampton and installed Knight of the Garter. A letter bearing date 2nd July, 1630, tells of his death: “Yesterday se’nnight the Earl of Northampton, lord president of Wales, after he had waited on the king at supper and had also supped, went into a boat, with others, to wash himself in the Thames; and so soon as his legs were in the water but to his knees, he had the colic, and cried out—Have me into the boat again, for I am a dead man.” His son, Spencer Compton, the second Earl of Northampton, risked and gave all for his sovereign’s cause. On March 19th, 1643, he marched his men out of Stafford and fought the Parliament forces on Hopton Heath. Although he had so few troops he routed the enemy’s cavalry and took from them eight guns; but their infantry stood firm, and finally he was himself killed, proudly refusing to surrender to base rogues and rebels. He left three sons to nobly emulate, as brave cavaliers, their father’s loyalty and valour. The second of them was at Edgehill and Hopton Heath; and later, after engaging in many fights, he, disguised and with only six men, surprised Beeston Castle in Cheshire, cut down the drawbridge, seized the governor’s troop-horse, and took thirty soldiers prisoners in their beds.
There is also a Northampton monogram bookplate. Above is an earl’s coronet, and below a vast “N,” with the name “Castle Ashby” engraved across it. In 1695 King William III. visited the Earl of Northampton at Castle Ashby.