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160 him best. So, when the cause of his unfortunate master broke down, these seemed to have supported his petition to Protector Cromwell, which, dropping his new title, he preferred under the simple, puritanic name of Humble Ward; and, it is just possible, he then assumed it for the first time. To attach himself more closely or apparently to the ascendant cause, he contracted a double marriage between his family and that of Sir William Brereton, the Parliamentary general. So he succeeded in winning all the merit and the profit of fidelity to both Charles and Cromwell, bringing out of the revolution both his title and estates safe and sound. It is an interesting circumstance that the successive generations of his house have never sunk the name of Humble. A brother of the present Earl is Humble Dudley Ward; and doubtless that prefix of humility will be given to many a son on the descending line of the house.

The present Earl of Dudley came into possession of the family estates in 1845. It is said that for twelve years prior to this date, about £80,000 of the income of the property had been invested in real estate, including the princely establishment of Witley Court, in Worcestershire, the Earl's present country residence. It is estimated that his yearly income is the second if not the first in amount received by any nobleman or other