THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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battle of Worcester, 1651; and on his release lived in retirement in London
and Bengy, Herts, mainly occupied in literary work. His translation of
Guarini's "Il Pastor Fido" appeared in 1647, and as many as five editions
subsequently appeared ; in 1652 translations of Horace and Virgil; and in 1655
the folio "Lusiad of Camoens, newly put into English "—Mr. Fanshawe has
now in his possession a small folio MS. of this on vellum, beautifully penned
by himself, with exquisite drawings and portrait, evidently a labour of love—in
1658, "La Fida Pastora," a Latin translation of Fletcher's "Faithful Shepherd,"
a rare little octavo, with engraved title and curious device of the name Fanshawe.
At the Restoration, he again emerged, and soon was sent as Envoy Extraordinary,
and subsequently as Ambassador, to Portugal, where he arranged the marriage
of King Charles II, with the Infanta Catharine of Braganza in 1662. Return-
ing the next year, he was made a Privy Councillor, and sent Ambassador to the
King of Spain.3 He died in Madrid, 1666, of a fever, in the fifty-ninth year
of his age ; "from which place his bodie was brought by his disconsolate Ladie," 4
and subsequently buried at Ware. A handsome monument with Latin inscrip-
tion, which cost £200, was erected by Lady Fanshawe, who was also buried there
in 1679-80. They had fourteen children, but most of these died when young.
Their ''dear and only son" died unmarried in 1694, and the Baronetcy became
extinct.
His wife wrote the well-known "Memoirs of Lady Fanshawe," the original
MS. of which, in folio, is still in Mr. Fanshawe's possession. It is bound in old
red leather, and bears on either side the device of the Fanshawe arms, quartered
with the augmentation granted in 1649, in remembrance of the loyalty of the
family and the sacrifices they had sustained. The second motto, "In Cruce
Victoria," was adopted at this time, and to this a touching reference is made in
the MS. A large folio copy of this memoir, illustrated with engravings, prints,
etc., of people and places mentioned, and bound in morocco, with silver clasps
and designs exquisitely chased, has been made by the present owner. The
original MS was written in 1676 for the instruction of her only surviving
son, and contains description of her husband and his career, pedigrees of both
the families, and record of their lives and travels. It remained in MS. till 1829,
when it was published from a very imperfect copy, edited by Sir N. Harris
Nicolas. Her portrait, from the Parsloes original, was engraved as a frontispiece.
It was well received, and a new edition came out in 1830. She was indeed a
notable woman, intellectual like her husband, and for over twenty years his true
"helpemeet" ; enduring with firmness privations and dangers—the lot of all
who espoused the Royalist cause—reminding us of the lines in his own song,
"The Royalist," 1646 :
"We do not suffer here alone,
Though we are beggax'd, so's the King."
It would take too much space to give even the bare titles of the books
which have been written by or on the family of Fanshawe. In the catalogue
of the British Museum there are about thirty-four entries. A fine engraving of
Sir Richard, from an unknown original, was done by Faithorne.
It is somewhat strange to find that the knightly and lordly branches of this
distinguished family have all died out, their estates sold, the mansions demolished,
and all the portraits, MSS., and books, etc., preserved in the house of Parsloes,
the seat of a branch which never claimed or had a title.
Unfortunately', the mansion is not in occupation; all the hoarded treasures
which have, in my remembrance, adorned its antique walls, have been removed.
"And the shadows are lying grim and tall,
 Alone in the stillness here ;
And the burying dust creeps over all,
And a hush is everywhere."
3 In John Evelyn's Diary, there may be found many entries referring to my "my cousin,
R. Fanshawe," whom he appears to have greatly esteemed.
4 Funeral Certificate in the Heralds' College.