the refugee sister of Baron Hervart, was the mother of Lady Eland. The Marquise’s mother, Madame Esther Hervart (née Vimar) was also a refugee. The young lady became a widow in 1688, and succeeded to her husband, Baron Eland’s, property, notwithstanding the opposition of his father, the Marquis of Halifax. Lady Eland died in 1694, her grandmother in 1697, and her mother in 1722. Esther, wife of Henry Savile, Lord Eland, was buried in Westminster Abbey on 26th May 1694 (having died in her 28th year); and in the same vault were interred Mrs Hester Hervart, 7th December 1697, and the Marchioness De Gouvernet on 10th July 1722 (she having died on the 4th, aged 86).
Notes.
John Evelyn, under date 6th July :686, names the Marchioness, whom he calls Madame De Governé, and says of her, “This lady was of great family and fortune, and had fled hither for refuge. . . . Her daughter was married to the Marquis of Halifax’s son.”
I have sufficiently described the will of the Marchioness. I may now give the exact words of her allusion to herself (the will was made nearly four years before her death):— “While I yet enjoy a tolerable measure of health, and God has preserved to me the free use of my senses, I have thought fitt to make my Will, in order to dispose of what estate I have here. But, first, I commit my soul to God, in whose mercy I put my trust through the alone merits ol my Saviour Jesus Christ, and as touching my body, I will that after it has been decently kept, it be buried in my vault at Westminster, near my dear mother and my dear daughter Eland, in a plain manner, without any ceremony, willing that there be no rooms of my house hung in mourning.” The will is “translated from the French.”
As a specimen of the goods and chattels of a refugee lady of rank, I present my fair readers with her own inventory of moveables:—
Memorandum or Codicil annexed to my Will, and making part thereof, containing a list of the precious stones and other Jewells, silver plate, and moveables bequeathed to my grandson, Charles de La Tour, Marquis de Gouvernet.
- One string of fourscore and eight round pearls, weighing six grains and three-quarters each.
- One string of threescore and two round pearls, weighing eleven grains each.
- One string of threescore and twelve round pearls, weighing five grains each.
- One string of threescore and fifteen round pearls, weighing four grains and three-quarters each.
- One string of threescore and nine round pearls, weighing four grains and a half each.
- Thirty-four brilliant diamonds.
- Eight brilliant diamonds.
- Thirteen emeralds.
- Two diamonds in shape of a heart.
- Two facet[1] diamonds.
- Two pearl drops, weighing two hundred and eight grains.
- Two pearl drops, weighing one hundred and seventy-two grains.
- Two pearl drops, weighing one hundred and ninety-six grains.
- Two round pearl buttons, weighing one hundred and twenty grains.
- One flat diamond, set in a locket ring over the hair of my Lady Eland.
- One square half-brilliant diamond.
- One oriental topaz ring.
- Four middling saphyrs and one German topaz.
- Two emerald drops.
- ↑ Diamand taillé en facette. — Boyer.
