Note.
[FA] A more exact rendering is:—
'O woe is me (God) for shame,
That my father is a miller
And that my mother is a miller's wife,
And that I am a peeress.'
William Herbert, 1st earl of Pembroke (1507-1570).
[1176]William[FB], earle of Pembroke, the first earle of that family, was borne (I thinke I have heard my cosen Whitney say) in ... in Monmouthshire. Herbert, of Colbrooke in Monmouthshire, is of that family.
He was (as I take it) a younger brother, a mad fighting young fellow. 'Tis certaine he was a servant to the house of Worcester, and wore their blew-coate and badge. My cosen Whitney's great aunt gave him a golden angell[1177] when he went to London. One time being at Bristowe, he was arrested, and killed one of the sheriffes of the city. He made his escape through Back-street, through the (then great) gate, into the Marsh, and gott into France.
Memorandum:—upon this action of killing the sheriffe, the city ordered the gate to be walled-up, and only a little posterne gate or dore, with a turnestile for a foot-passenger, which continued so till Bristowe was a garrison for the king, and the great gate was then opened, in 1644, or 1645. When I was a boy there, living with my father's mother, who was maried to alderman John Whitson[LXXXVI.] (who was my god-father), the story was as fresh as but of yesterday. He was called black Will Herbert.
[LXXXVI.] He was the greatest benefactor to the city that haz been since the Reformacion. He gave 500 li. per annum at least to the city to maintain ... blew-coates, boies and maydes. He dyed about 1629; vide register.
In France he betooke himself into the army, where he shewd so much courage, and readinesse of witt in conduct, that in short time he became eminent, and was favoured by <Francis I> the king, who afterwards recommended him to Henry the VIII of England, who much valued him, and heaped favours and honours upon him.