Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/87

Morley a grant of arms in 1722, he assumed for his crest the figure of a butcher holding a poleaxe bend-wise. He became a sort of business agent for the Harleys, and in 1713, to the great contentment of Robert Harley, he negotiated the marriage between Edward Harley, afterwards second earl of Oxford [q. v.], and Lady Henrietta Holles, only daughter and heiress of the fourth Duke of Newcastle. He received a two and half per cent, commission on the dowry, or, in other words, 10,000l. Swift formed a low estimate of him. Writing to Barber in 1738, he said: 'I remember a rascally butcher, one Morley, a great land jobber and knave, who was his lordship's manager, and has been the principal cause of my lord's wrong conduct.' A vivacious sketch of Morley's character forms the staple of Matt Prior's diverting ballad of 'Down Hall,' 1723. The jobber is probably the 'hearty Morley' of Gay's 'Welcome.' Pope, to whom he occasionally sent presents of oysters and eringo roots, was most friendly with him, and when he was seriously ill during 1725-6, sent him a sympathetic and caressing letter. Morley bought about 1700 the messuage and house of Munchensies, in his native parish of Halstead; he rebuilt the house in 1713, and he died there on 20 Jan. 1732. He was buried beneath an altar-tomb in Halstead church, the arms of the Butchers' Company being blazoned above. Though so long 'dry nurse to estates and minors,' he seems to have behaved generously to his native place; and possessing the patronage of Gestringthorpe in Essex, he shortly before his death united with the rector, Moses Cooke, to augment the living by adding 200l. to Queen Anne's Bounty. Prior was a frequent visitor at Munchensies, and at Morley's request commemorated in verse the rebuilding of Halstead steeple. Morley married the 'Thalestris' of the 'Rape of the Lock,' a daughter of Sir George Brown of Berkshire (Sir Plume). Both a son and a grandson bore his name. The latter, a physician, who was owner of Munchensies in 1768, is separately noticed. A portrait of the 'land jobber' was painted by Kneller, and was engraved by Simon.

 MORLEY, JOHN (d. 1776?), medical writer, was grandson and eventual heir of John Morley (1655–1732) [q. v.] of Halstead, Essex (, Essex, i. 466, 470). He died in either December 1776 or January 1777, and was buried with his grandfather in Halstead churchyard (Gent. Mag. 1777, p. 47). By his wife Elizabeth, who survived him, he had three sons: John Jacob, Hildebrand, and Allington; and a daughter, Dorothy, married to Bridges Harvey. To his eldest son he bequeathed as an heirloom the coronation cup and cover of George I. (will proved on 27 Jan. 1777, and registered in P. C. C. 30, Collier).

A method of treating scrofula and kindred diseases having been imparted to Morley, he published it for the public benefit in 'An Essay on the Nature and Cure of Scrophulous Disorders,' 8vo, London, 1767 (11th edit., 1774). The principal cure, it appears, was a preparation of vervain root. He gave advice to all who sought it, without fee.

 MORLEY, ROBERT, second (1296?–1360), born about 1296, was eldest son of William, first baron Morley, who served with distinction in the Scottish wars, and was summoned to parliament as baron from 29 Dec. 1299 to 3 Oct. 1306 (Parl. Writs). Robert was first summoned to parliament in 1317, when he probably came of age. He appears to have joined Lancaster in his opposition to the king (cf., . i. passim). On 21 Dec. 1324 he was summoned to serve in Gascony, but probably never went. In October 1326 he was at Bristol, when Prince Edward was declared 'guardian of the realm' (cf., ii. 375; , i. ii. 646). In April 1327 he was summoned to serve in Scotland. In right of his wife, daughter of William, lord Marshal, of Hingham, Norfolk, Morley had claims to the hereditary marshalship of Ireland, whither he was sent on 15 Oct. 1331. In March 1332-3 he was ordered to oppose the Scottish invasion. In August 1336 he was summoned to consult about the negotiations with Bruce and the king of France. In December 1338 he was commissioned to guard Yarmouth, Norfolk, from the French ships, and soon after was appointed admiral of the fleet from the Thames to Berwick. In that capacity, after having attempted to dissuade Edward from crossing from Orwell on 22 June (, p. 311), he commanded at the battle of Sluys on 24 June 1340, when, breaking the first, second, and third lines of the