By the Rev. Canon Jaclaon, F.S.A. 



201 



a situation in the service of Mrs. Horner : and in this he so rapidly- 

 ingratiated himself with her as to become manager of her Melbury 

 and other estates. 



The following table explains the legal relation of the various 

 persons mentioned in these transactions, John Ayliffe's name being, 

 for obvious reasons, inadmissible : — 



Sir George Ayliffe. 

 Shei-ifE o£ Wilts, 1633. 



John AylifEe.=Fanshawe. Anne AylifBe,=Edw. Hyde,=:Frances Aylesbuiy. 



d. 1632, set. 



20. 



(First wife) 



afterwards 

 E. of Clar- 

 endon. 



(Second wife) 



John Ayliffe^s ideas now expanded much too magnificently for his 

 means. Finding himself a person of importance in the county of 

 Dorset as agent to the Strangways estates, he proceeded to build a 

 fine house at Blandford, which he filled with expensive furniture, 

 books, and pictures : forming altogether a collection so large as to 

 require, when his downfall came, a 4to catalogue and six days^ sale. 

 He now also began to embark in sundry wild speculations : lost 

 money in vain attempts to establish his claim on lands belonging 

 to various persons : was cheated by money lenders, and in short 

 became deeply involved. Then commenced his course of malpractices. 



