154 Abridgement of the History of the 



which that regiment was engaged, it seems probable that it was occa- 

 sioned by wounds received in that fight. His old father survived 

 but a few weeks. And John Aubrey, at that time a boy living in 

 the immediate neighbourhood, records in his loose memoranda, 

 other contemporary losses sustained by the estate — namely, the 

 destruction of its timber, "In 1645," he says, "there were felled 

 on the hills in the park of Castle Combe many a gallant oak!" 

 These were perhaps cut down for the payment of fines imposed by 

 the Commonwealth Parliament. Their loss is felt still, for though 

 the sides of the hills are well wooded, the summit levels which 

 were included in the old Deer Park are wanting in the old timber 

 which usually characterises an estate held for many generations by 

 an ancient family. 



John Scrope, the younger, was twice married : first, to Mary, 

 daughter of John Hungerford, Esquire, of Cadnam, who died in 

 giving birth to her first child, a daughter, in 1626. His second 

 wife was Helena, eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir Theobald 

 Gorges of Ashley, by Anne, daughter and heiress of Sir Henry 

 Poole of Ashley and Sapperton. Sir Theobald, however, bequeathed 

 his chief estate of Ashley, to his nephew, Richard Lord Gorges, 

 and it does not appear that his daughter Helena inherited more 

 than a chancery-suit for some dues of the Manor of Cirencester, 

 and the small estate of Clapcote, in the parish of Grittleton. This 

 lady bore her husband two sons, John and Gorges, the eldest of 

 whom was but two years old on the death of his father in 1645. 

 Shortly after which the widow remarried Thomas Jefferys, Esquire, 

 of Earl's Croome, aud subsequently William Forster of Sheldon, 

 Esquire, in whose name, jointly with his wife Helena's, the Courts 

 of Castle Combe were held during the long minority of the infant 

 heir. In 1664, this John Scrope (third of the name in succession) 

 sued out his livery and entered into possession of the estates of 

 Castle Combe and Oxendon. He had previously married Anna, 

 fourth daughter of his neighbour Charles Gore, Esquire, of Alder- 

 ton, sister to Thomas Gore of the same place, well-known as an 

 antiquary and writer on heraldry, of whom frequent mention is 

 made by his friend and brother antiquary John Aubrey. By this 

 marriage Mr. Scrope had a family of four sons and as many 



