ASHRIDGE 109 



took place, carried out with every possible magnifi- 

 cence. The parts were actually played by the 

 three children of the President, Lord Brackley, 

 Lady Alice, and Mr. Thomas Egerton, whose 

 adventure had first suggested the idea of the 

 Masque. 



Ashridge fared badly at the hands of the Parlia- 

 mentary soldiers during the Civil War ; for Lord 

 Bridgewater complained to Cromwell " that Captain 

 Washington and Captain Kemsey with their 

 soldiers entered into his park and house at 

 Ashridge, detained his servants prisoners, beat 

 down the ceilings, broke open and hewed down the 

 doors of the house, notwithstanding they had been 

 set open to them, searched his evidence-rooms, 

 studies and closets, took away plate and arms 

 besides what household stuff he knew not of." 



If this kind of damage had continued, the lovely 

 old house would have become uninhabitable, but 

 Lord Bridgewater evidently " purchased the 

 possession " of his home and was left in peace, 

 though Cromwell removed him from his appoint- 

 ments, and existing letters show that his loyalty to 

 the King across the water placed him in great 

 danger of imprisonment. 



When Charles came by his own again, he did 

 not forget the owner of Ashridge, and wrote 

 letters to him about the preservation of game. 

 The game laws in those days were terribly severe, 



