Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew vol 2.djvu/356

 was an attorney), wrote his Will, the testator’s brother, Dr. John Maximilian De L’Angle, being present. It was signed 13th June, and proved 2nd July 1693. The effects consisted only of “what shall be found of money and medals,” and of his “plate,” which was to be sold. The contingencies were, “if anything be gott of my lawsuite which I have against Mr. Lewson and my estate in France,” “what arrearages are due for my prebend of Westm$r.$,” “what is due of the Coronation.” He left to his daughter Jany, “my Chagrin Psalmes, with golden clasps,” and a diamond ring; he left to Nanny (i.e., Agnes) “my deare wife’s Neckclesse of Pearles;” his other daughters, Mary and Anne, testified to the genuineness of the Will. Jane became the wife of Rev. Robert Freind, D.D., and Mary was married to Rev. George Smalridge, D.D., afterwards Bishop of Bristol. Dean De L’Angle’s executor was his eldest son, who became the Rector of Croughton in Northamptonshire, where there is this epitaph in honour of his ancestors and of himself:—

(2.) The Rev. John Maximilian De L’Angle, younger brother of the Prebendary, was born in France about 1640. He and his wife Genevieve were naturalised in England in 1681, but he must have come over at an earlier date; for it is stated that John Maximilian De L’Angle, S.T.P., was installed Canon of Canterbury on the 27th July 1678; he had the degree of D.D., probably from a foreign university, perhaps from the Archbishop of Canterbury. He signalised himself by very solemnly and indignantly rebuking Dr. Louis Du Moulin for having become an advocate of the Independents’ theory of Church Government, and for having disparaged and scandalised the Church of England. Before his elevation to be one of the dignitaries of Canterbury Cathedral, he appears to have been Curate of Walmer. He did not become a vicar till 1683, when he obtained the vicarage of Shebbertswell, aliàs Shepherdswell, aliàs Sibbertswold, aliàs Coldred, near Dover. He was Rector of St. George’s, Canterbury, from 1686 to 1692. Finally, he settled for life as Rector of Chartham (near Canterbury), on 28th June 1695, where he lived for twenty-nine years in Delangle House, and died on 11th November 1724, aged about eighty-four, being the senior Canon of the Cathedral. His only son, Theophilus De L’Angle, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Merrick Head, D.D., third son of Sir Richard Head, Bart., by Elizabeth, daughter of Alderman Merrick, of Rochester; both husband and wife died in 1750; they had three sons, Theophilus, Merrick, and William. The second son appears in December 1748 as Captain Merrick De L’Angle, R.N., of H.M.S. Devonshire (eighty guns); he died in 1753. The third son, William, “of H.M.S. Plymouth, marriner,” died in 1744. The eldest of the three was the Rev. Theophilus De L’Angle, Vicar of Tenterden, Rector of Shargate, and minister of Goodnestone, all in the County of Kent. At his death, on 29th June 1763, he left a widow and a son. Mrs. Theophilus De L’Angle lived till 1782, and her son, with whom she spent her widowhood, was the last of the family. He was the Rev. John Maximilian De L’Angle, M.A., Rector of Danbury and Woodham Ferrers, and minister of Goodnestone, who died at Danbury (Essex) on the 30th May 1783. His library was sold by John Pridden, auctioneer, Fleet Street, London.  

This dignified and munificent clergyman was the son of the famous Charles Drelincourt, Pasteur of Charenton; his grandfather was Pierre Drelincourt, a Protestant native of Caen, who fled for refuge to Sedan. As to the dean’s grandfather, if it be true, it is no disparagement to him that he was a humble tradesman, either a shoemaker or a soap-boiler. This his adversaries proclaimed as a taunt; it at any rate embodied an admission that their information was not at all precise. It is certain that he discharged with credit the office of secretary in the court of the Duc