records. He seemed to have more reverence for the opinions of his forefathers, than for the modern advice of lawyers and agents. It was part of our education to examine and copy out the memoranda that he required, and in this manner, we had become so intimately mixed up with the chronicles of the family, that they were almost as familiar to us as if we had lived, loved, and suffered with them.

The habits and thoughts of those from whom we were descended appeared so strangely like our own, we scarcely remembered the lapse of time, but the more readily inherited the family ways, as well as name and blood. It did not appear that we were or ever had been conspicuous for eminent virtues or startling vices. There was no legend of chivalry, no romance of loyalty, no tradition of life laid down at the shrine of religion, country, or king. At the same time, there was not the trace of a stain on the name of any Lovell con

nected with us. We appeared to have been always respected, and if not much beloved, it would seem we deserved little, because we gave none out of our own family. Without being self-sufficient or cynical, the sin of our race appeared to be seclusion from the rest of the world, -not arising from churlishness or austerity, but the rather from an indolent shyness. From the opening remark of our ancestor, Sir Linton, this sin can be traced through every record up to our grandmother.

"It hath pleased God our Father to give peace in this realm of England, with a rightful king to rule the land. I design then to use my moneys for the good purpose of buying an estate, that my son and lawful heirs may think well of me. It hath long pleased mine eye, this land of Lovel-Leigh; it is furnished with fair pasturage, and a goodly house, and much richness of fair wood, with great trees; and is the more desirable through a

furnishing of fair water, running with a. gentle speed through the land. Also, to my mind, it is well that it stands alone, unneighboured by house or burgh, wherein might be much ill-comfort, seeing that we have no means to move, and that our fair house and goodly pasture might ill-content us, through the villain ways of those from whom we may not be rid; and so my moneys had well remained in my coffer, seeing that out of it they brought me nought but vexation and great troubling of spirit. For my mind is to dwell at peace, with my good wife, and my fair children, seven in all, with the two serving wenches, Gregory my servitor, with Dickon the boy. To which I mind to add another wench, and a hind for my land, with a good worthy upper man to guard and watch all for me, as my second self, and who shall serve as pot-fellow, when my mind is for company. And my wife will have her wenches, and the little

maidens her daughters, and much labour and contentment of ordering her house, which is a fair large one, and so will haply catch time in pleasant works."

Forty years later, his son and successor writes thus:

"It hath happed that this hath been a time of grievous dolour to my wife and me. Nathless the sin is not of ours, inasmuch as we sought not that which came to us; but out of good hearts and godly fellowship welcomed our worshipful neighbour of Warleigh, who journeyed in his coach from his own house, to give us gracious greeting as he saith; and madam his lady, journeyed with him, together with the young gentleman their son, and the three young misses their daughters; and waiting on them were servant wenches two, with a man, a horse, of which it was needful for so great a journey to take six. And besides this notable company there were of running footmen two, a goodly number

for mine house in orderly times; but as it then fared, we were in no manner of ways fitted for the half of them. But insomuch as they had insensed us betimes that such was their purpose, sending a before man on a pad over-night, it did seem as it would be right discourtesy and evil mannered to say them nay. But the entertaining of company was never to my mind or that of my good wife; we did think this life but too short to entertain each other, and had so much complacency one for the other, we could never too much oblige each with the company of the other. In verity we thought that day a lost one, in which we missed a pleasant parlance together; and did send our little varlets with their sisters early to roost, that we might more evenly converse. But as the worshipful Squire of Warleigh did say in that writing, wherein he did advise us of his coming:

"What cheer, neighbour Lovel, what cheer? but six miles parted, and my dame