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[The Assize Intelligence, relating to the East Anglian District, has induced us te
appropriate a greater portion of the present Number, than usual, to the Magazine
department of the work.]

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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR

OF

Sir P. B. V. BROKE, BART.

CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY.

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THE " pride of ancestry" will never be disregarded, but by those who find themselves unentitled to its distinction. The honours of a noble parent wither on the brow of a degenerate son; but the glory of the ancestor is reflected, with increased lustre, if the descendant be himself great. — Sir Philip Broke, whose capture of the Shannon will ever be an object of admiration in the annals of the British Navy, enjoys at once the satisfaction of tracing his descent from an ancient and honourable family, and the still more grateful consciousness of having added to its fame-of having planted a laurel, in the shade of which his posterity may repose.

"This ancient family is descended from the Brookes, of Leighton, in Nantwich hundred, in Cheshire, of which family I find one Adam Dominas de Leighton, sub Henrico tertio, whose son was stiled William de la Brooke, of Leighton, (probably the William noticed by Camden, as master of Leighton, in 1249, being the 33d year of King Henry II.) end his son, Richard, stiled Ricardus de Doito, in an old deed in the 5th year of King Edward I. that is, Of the Brook, for Doet, in French, is a Brook in England; and under the said maner-house, in Leighton, a brook runneth, from whence their posterity assumed the sirname of Del Brook. Thomas Brook, of Leighton, gentleman, the last of that family, in the direct line, died about 1652, very aged, having issue four daughters: but he sold away the reversion of his lands to the Lady Mary Cholmondely, 6 Jacobi, 1603; which afterwards, came to Francis Cholmon

Royal, Esq. who now enjoyeth the same, 1666."*

In composing the memoir of this distin-dely, third son of Thomas Cholmondely, of Vale guished officer, the writer has been favoured by references to Journals and Letters in the possession of Sir Philip Broke's relatives and friends. He is also proud to acknowledge the prompt and obliging assistance which he has derived from Sir George Nayler, of the College of Arms. Thus, whatever may be its literary merit, the Mcmoir evidently bears the first claim to notive-the golden impress of authenticity.

From a Pedigree, now in the possession of the family, it appears, that Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke is descended from Willielmus de Doyto del Brooke, the son of Adam, Lord of Leighton, in Cheshire, who lived previously to the reign of King Hen. III. The antiquity of the family, and the origin of its patronymic, are thus curiously noticed in Sir PETER LEYCESTER'S History of Cheshire:

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From Willielmus de Doyto del Brooke, mentioned above, descended Sir Richard Broke, of London, Knight, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, in the reign of King Henry VIII. the lineal ancestor of Sir Philip.About this period, or perhaps earlier, the family appears to have been seated at Nacton, in Suffolk.

Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, Bart. is the eldest son of the late Philip Bowes

"In this township of Leighton," says KING, in his Vale Royal," is also another fine seat, which hath been possessed by a race of ancient gentlemen, the Brooks, from which house those of Norton lately are descended; but the same now also, for want of issue male, is diverted another way, and is by purchase, by Thomas Chomley, her youngest son, a gentleman of the Lady Cholmley (as is said) assured to the said much regard and towardlinesse."

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