482 ^^ Royal Families'' — Whence Came Tlieyf [October, 



his friends for the partner he had chosen. Her calm self-possession, 

 and native strength of character, gave her a dignity of manner, that 

 no mere breeding could confer, while her sound sense and extreme 

 quickness of perception enabled her to fill her place at her husband's 

 table with an easy grace that did him credit and herself honor. 



As time passed on, the dignity of Mr. Aylesbury's position re- 

 ceived a gradual increase. He became a city Alderman, and sub- 

 sequently Sheriif of the city of London, a position of no trifling 

 distinction ; and by virtue of this latter elevation received the honor 

 of knighthood. The holding of this important station called upon 

 him the attention of king Charles, I. — There, we have revealed the 

 period of which we write ! — who was then, on account of political 

 turbulence, anxious to conciliate the good will of the citizens of his 

 capital. To this end the brewer-knight received the further honor 

 of a baronetcy by grant of king Charles. 



We must now return a little in order to make statement of an im- 

 portant item running into the web of history, and connected with the 

 matter of Royal Families, and whence they come. During i\\e second 

 year of her married life, our poor country girl, now Lady Aylesbury, 

 gave birth to a daughter, who proved to be the only child of this 

 marriage; and around her the afi'ections and hopes of her parents 

 were entwined. His daughter had only reached her seventeenth year 

 when her father died, leaving behind him one of the greatest fortunes 

 of England. It was presumed, at first, that his widow and daughter 

 must inherit this without the shadow of controversy: but it proved 

 otherwise. The immensity of the estate prompted certain relatives 

 of the deceased brewer to assert a claim by virtue of a will made in 

 their favor before Mr. Aylesbury's marriage, and while yet childless. 

 With her usual firmness of character. Lady Aylesbury now refused 

 to yield, or compromise, to their claim, and took immediate steps for 

 the vindication of her own and her daughter's rights. As her legal 

 adviser, she fixed upon a young lawyer named Hyde, who had been 

 a frequent guest at her husband's table, and of whose abilities she 

 entertained a high opinion. Edward Hyde was indeed a young man 

 of distinguished ability. Though then only twenty-four years old, 

 and though he had spent much time in gay and fashionable society, 

 yet he had not neglected the professional pursuits to which his fam- 

 ily's wishes and his own feelings inclined him. But it was with 

 much diffidence and anxious trepidation that he consented to receive 

 Lady Aylesbury's retainer in a case of such moment and magnitude. 



