Political
SIR GILBERT TALBOT RECOMMENDING THE VICAR OF LACOCK FOR A POST
TALBOT
(Sir Gilbert, circa 1606-1695, Dipomat and Royalist)
Fine Letter signed recommending the vicar of Lacock for the parsonage of Broughton Gifford
saying that When I last had the honour to wayte upon yr Lp at London I took the boldness to recomend to yr Lps favour our worthy vicar of Laicock Mr Isaac Sympson for the reversion of the parsonage of Broughton Gifford within this County and in yr Lps guift when vacant. The present incumbent Dr Proby is very aged and infirme and is kept soe close up by his Curate, ye none else can know whether he be living or dead. This extraordinary concealment giveth just ground to suspect that the designe is either to reape yo profitts of the living for some time after his death or at least to gett the start of all other pretenders to yr Lps favour in petitioning for the living when it falls. To wch end I heare he hath bespoke the hands of the parishioners, and two neighbour Justices to give yr Lp a fayre testimoniall of his merite. I thought it requisite to give yr Lp this advertisement that you may not be surprised by any such importunity wch might otherwise make yr Lp forgett yr promise soe long since enterd in yr table book. I have cauled Mr Simpson to follow yr Lps directions to procure the Bps Certificat of his loyalty, orthodox... and exemplary life wch he keepeth by him, till upon the vacancy he shall waite upon yr Lp with it for yr presentation wch will oblige to yr Lp a very deserving Churchman, and give yr Lp a... title to the thanks of this family and in particular of yr Lps most obedent and more faithfull servant..., 1 side 4to., Lacock, 15th August
Item Date: 1683
Background
He held offices in the Republic of Venice from 1634 to 1645, then Denmark-Norway from 1664 to 1666. He was Member of Parliament for Plymouth, from 1666 to 1679. During the 1642 to 1646 First English Civil War, he unsuccessfully negotiated with the Venetians to provide Charles I financial support. He returned to England in January 1645, and was knighted; he avoided involvement in the 1648 Second English Civil War, but was arrested for conspiracy in 1650. After his release, he joined Charles II in exile. Following the 1660 Restoration, he was appointed Master of the Jewel Office, and served as special Envoy to Denmark during the 1664 to 1667 Second Anglo-Dutch War. A long-time Stuart loyalist, he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire by James II in 1688. In his later years, he lived at Lacock Abbey, where he died in 1695, and later buried in the family vault at Salwarpe. He had never married
Stock No. 43597