present Memoir. Of Lord Brougham's family, in connexion with Brougham
Castle, in Westmoreland, there were many conflicting statements at the
period of his lordship's elevation to the peerage towards the close
of last year. The Chancellor is said to have had a latent claim as
heir-general to the Barony of Vaux, (whose arms are to be seen on the
tower of Brougham Castle,) and hence his creation by that title. Some
exclusive information, obligingly furnished, (at the Chancellor's
request, in reply to our application) by a relative of his lordship,
will also be found at length in the _Mirror_, vol. xvi. but for the
reader's convenience we quote its substance: "Before the time of
the Norman Conquest, the manor and lordship of Brougham (then called
Burgham) were held by the Saxon family of de Burgham, from whom the
Lord Chancellor is lineally descended. After the Conquest, William the
Norman granted to Robert de Veteripont, or Vipont, extensive rights
and territories in Westmoreland; and among others, some oppressive
rights of seigniory over the manor of Brougham, then held by Walter de
Burgham. To relieve the estate of such services, Gilbert de Burgham,
in the reign of King John, agreed to give up absolutely one-third
part of his estate to Robert de Veteripont, and also the advowson of
the rectory of Brougham. This third comprises the land upon which the
castle is built, and the estate afterwards given by Anne Countess of
Pembroke, (heiress of Veteripont,) to the Hospital of Poor Widows
at Appleby. Brougham Castle, if not built, was much extended by
Veteripont; and afterwards still more enlarged by Roger Clifford,
who succeeded, by marriage, to the Veteripont possessions. The manor
house, about three quarters of a mile from the castle, continued
in the Brougham family; and part of it, especially the gateway,
is supposed to be of Saxon architecture: at all events, it is the
earliest Norman. The chapel is also old, except the roof, which was
renewed in the year 1659. In the year 1607, Thomas Brougham, then Lord