more questions regarding himself, which
had best be told more fully and explicitly than in those brief replies
which the lad made to his mistress's questions.

CHAPTER II.

RELATES HOW FRANCIS, FOURTH VISCOUNT, ARRIVES AT CASTLEWOOD.

'Tis known that the name of Esmond and the estate of Castlewood, com.
Hants, came into possession of the present family through Dorothea,
daughter and heiress of Edward, Earl and Marquis Esmond, and Lord of
Castlewood, which lady married, 23 Eliz., Henry Poyns, gent.; the said
Henry being then a page in the household of her father. Francis, son and
heir of the above Henry and Dorothea, who took the maternal name which
the family hath borne subsequently, was made Knight and Baronet by King
James the First; and being of a military disposition, remained long in
Germany with the Elector-Palatine, in whose service Sir Francis incurred
both expense and danger, lending large sums of money to that
unfortunate Prince; and receiving many wounds in the battles against the
Imperialists, in which Sir Francis engaged.

On his return home Sir Francis was rewarded for his services and
many sacrifices, by his late Majesty James the First, who graciously
conferred upon this tried servant the post of Warden of the Butteries
and Groom of the King's Posset, which high and confidential office he
filled in that king's and his unhappy successor's reign.

His age, and many wounds and infirmities, obliged Sir Francis to perform
much of his duty by deputy: and his son, Sir George Esmond, knight and
banneret, first as his father's lieutenant, and afterwards as inheritor
of his father's title and dignity, performed this office during almost
the whole of the reign of King Charles the First, and his two sons who
succeeded him.

Sir George Esmond married, rather beneath the rank that a person of his
name and honor might aspire to, the daughter of Thos. Topham, of the
city of London, alderman and goldsmith, who, taking the Parliamentary
side in the troubles then commencing, disappointed Sir George of the
property which he expected at the demise of his father-in-law, who
devised his money to his second daughter, Barbara, a spinster.

Sir George Esmond, on his part, was conspicuous for his attachment and
loyalty to the Royal cause and person: and the King being at Oxford in
1642, Sir George, with the consent of his father, then very aged and
infirm, and residing at his house of Castlewood, melted the whole o