48 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1642. 



becomes intimately associated with events then appa 

 rently only concerning his father, but which really are 

 those most seriously affecting that turn in events which 

 colour all his future history, whether as regards his 

 early military career or his later cheerless destiny. 



Eaglan Castle was then in its glory ; it was often 

 gay with numerous noble visitors. Lord Herbert re 

 sided there with his lady, particularly at that disturbed 

 period ; his father too had a numerous family and 

 household. Although rather isolated in position, it 

 must have been a place possessing considerable internal 

 comfort. The good old Marquis was constituted to 

 make all around him as happy as circumstances would 

 permit ; with strong religious and moral principles he 

 combined the strictest possible sense of honour, of a 

 gentlemanly and military bearing, with a joyous tem 

 perament that refused no source of accidental innocent 

 amusement, turning the very ills of life to sources either 

 of merriment or moral reflection as the case might be : 

 which, with his princely means and liberal spirit, must 

 have largely contributed to the promoting of good 

 feeling and hilarity within the fortress of Eaglan. 



The Castle crowns one of the many broad low ver 

 dant hills occupying a valley of immense extent in 

 Monmouthshire. It is at present so embowered in a 

 forest of ancient lofty trees, as to be all but hid from 

 view within the circuit of a mile radius. There is 

 just one point from which may be seen at the same 

 time towering above the foliage the Tower of Gwent or 

 Citadel on the right, and the Closet Tower on the left. 

 The Citadel, which in reality stands outside the Castle, 

 as being the loftiest object, is visible from the village, 

 the Warrage, and other points of view. In its palmy 

 days there were attached to the Castle an extensive, 

 well-wooded and highly picturesque home-park, with 



