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sign over the village inn is a curious figure called “‘ The Trusty 
Servant,” copied from the well-known picture in Winchester 
College, the quaint appearance of which is well delineated in the 
legend beneath it, which reads :— 
‘* A trusty servant’s portrait would you see, 
This emblematic figure well survey: 
The porker’s snout—not nice in diet shows ; 
The padlock shut—no secret he’ll disclose; 
Patient the ass—his master’s wrath to bear; 
Swiftness in errand—the stag’s feet declare; 
Loaded his left hand—apt to labour saith; 
The vest—his neatness; open hand—his faith ; 
Girt with his sword—his shield upon his arm— 
Himself and master he’ll protect from harm.” 
MA.twoop. 
Leaving Minstead and its old world traits, amid its pretty gardens 
and fruit-laden orchards, we turn aside from the road and proceed 
on foot down a steep lane, cross Fleetwood stream in the bottom of 
the dell, and ascend the steep hill, through luxuriant woods and 
shrubberies, to Castle Malwood Lodge, the seat of Sir William 
Harcourt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, erected on the site of 
an ancient British or Roman entrenchment which crowns the hill. 
Permission was kindly granted to view the grounds, and with the 
situation of Malwood, the suitability of the Elizabethan character 
of the architecture to the site, and the tasteful manner in which the 
policies, extending to about 3 acres, had been laid out, the whole 
party were greatly charmed. Malwood stands on one of the highest 
points of the Forest, and commands most beautiful and extensive 
views of the surrounding country. On two sides, where the trees 
are tall, vistas have been cut through them with admirable effect ; 
and though the house itself was only built in 1886, the pillars and 
front of the balcony, and the walls of the house, were embowered in 
climbing plants in richest bloom. Among the profusion of climbers 
of the choicest kinds, a fine plant of the somewhat rare Lerbert- 
dopsis corallina, richly laden with brilliant crimson flowers, was 
much admired. That the climate of this region is mild was seen a 
few hundred yards from this spot (at Minstead as we passed), where, 
in a most luxuriant orchard, splendid figs were hanging ripe on 
standard trees in the open air. A few minutes’ walk through the 
woods, in which were noted some of the famed “White Beeches” of 
Malwood, and where the thick umbrageous canopy overhead was 
