His posterity had, during two centuries, flourished in great honour.

The head of the family at the time of the Restoration was Francis, the eleventh Earl, a Roman Catholic.

His death had been attended by circumstances such as, even in those licentious times which immediately followed the downfall of the Puritan tyranny, had moved men to horror and pity.

The Duke of Buckingham in the course of his vagrant amours was for a moment attracted by the Countess of Shrewsbury.

She was easily won.