310 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



Seldom in the history of any house is there 

 to be found a darker tragedy than that told of Sir 

 Richard Weston and his only son Francis. 



It was in the year 1526 that Francis Weston was 

 made one of the King's pages, and from that time 

 he chiefly lived at Court. The King took a great 

 fancy to Francis Weston, and played games of 

 "dyce," " Imperiall," and "tennis" with him, 

 allowing the spoilt boy often to win immense 

 sums of money. 



In old records, such as the " Chronicles of Calais 

 and the Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VIII.," 

 there are constant allusions to the expenditure of 

 "young Weston," as he is called. For instance, 

 there is an entry, " Hose for Master Weston, Mark 

 (Mark Smeaton, the musician of Anne Boleyn, who 

 shared later the same fate as Weston), and Patche, 

 the King's fool." Then later, " the King lends 

 young Weston 20" (equal to .240 nowadays). 

 Again, ;i8 is noted as lost to Weston by the 

 King, "at popes July's game" ; 45. is paid to the 

 servant " who brings the brawn and pudding from 

 Lady Weston to the King." For many years Sir 

 Richard had planned a marriage for his only son 

 with his ward, Ann, daughter and heiress of Sir 

 Christopher Pickering. The young bridegroom 

 was only nineteen when he made this brilliant 

 match. The gambling between the page and his 

 master still continued after this marriage, as much 



