ABSTRACT
George Villiers, future Duke of Buckingham, was born at Brooksby Hall in Leicestershire on 28 August, 1592. The Villiers were indeed an ancient family, although Buckingham's enemies were only too eager to pour scorn upon his descent and to comment, sourly, that there was 'nothing more proud than basest blood when it doth rise aloft'. Alexander de Villiers married the heiress to Brooksby, some nine miles due south, and is recorded in 1235 as holding land there, the first Villiers to be seated in Leicestershire. John Villiers, for example, served as sheriff for Leicestershire under Henry VII and was knighted for his pains. His son, another John Villiers, also served as sheriff and received the honour of knighthood, this time from the hands of Henry VIII. The second Sir John had no male heirs, and was succeeded by his brothers, the third of whom, William Villiers, married Collett, the widow of another Leicestershire gentleman, Richard Beaumont of Cole Orton.
