Unlades, who also held some appointment in the
establishment.
As the ensuing narrative is occasionally somewhat obscure, owing to
its want of method and arrangement, it may be useful to prefix a brief
summary of the history of the mansion, with reference to dates, names,
and other necessary particulars.
William Herbert, the founder of this branch of the family, married
Anne, sister to Queen Katharine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII. He
was knighted by that monarch in 1544, and in the same year the
buildings and lands of the dissolved Abbey of Wilton, with many other
estates in different counties, were conferred upon him by the King.
Being left executor, or "conservator" of Henry's will, he possessed
considerable influence at the court of the young sovereign, Edward
VI.; by whom he was created Earl of Pembroke (1551). He immediately
began to alter and adapt the conventual's buildings at Wilton to a
mansion suited to his rank and station. Amongst other new works of his
time was the famous porch in the court-yard, generally ascribed to
Hans Holborn (who died in 1554). To what extent this nobleman carried
his building operations is not known. He was succeeded in 1570 by his
son Henry, who probably made further additions to the house. This
nobleman married Mary, the sister of Sir Philip Sidney, a lady whose
name is illustrious in the annals of literature. He died in 1601.
William, his son (the second Earl of that name), who has been fully
noticed in the last Chapter, succeeded him in the title, and was
followed in 1630 by his brother Philip, who, in 1633, at the
instigation of King Charles I.
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