SUTTON PLACE 317 



turnips in 1545. The value of the latter "cannot be 

 over-estimated." Not content with such efforts in 

 farming, he wrote a most interesting and uncommon 

 book, published in 1645 by Milton's friend, Samuel 

 Hartlib, under the name of " Enlargement of the 

 Discourse of Husbandry used in Brabant and 

 Flanders Sir Richard Weston's Legacy to his 

 Sons." He is an enthusiast, and declares that the 

 growing of turnips will bring in an enormous profit. 

 He says: "Regina Pecunia" (" Monie is the Queen 

 that commands all "), and turnips will be the means 

 of gaining it ! 



Though Sir Richard kept himself clear of politics, 

 he was arrested for holding communications with 

 Cromwell's enemies, and was denounced for being 

 a Papist and a recusant, his estates being 

 sequestered. From the time of Sir Richard 

 Weston, the agriculturist, till to-day, the annals of 

 the Weston family are without interest, they having 

 devolved simply into those of an ordinary county 

 family. 



With the death of Melior Mary, the daughter of 

 Mrs. Weston who was so much admired by Pope 

 the last of the race passed away. For though she 

 was rich and considered a beauty, she remained 

 unmarried, and left the property and beautiful 

 old house, which for so many years it had been 

 her joy to tend and care for, to John Webbe, a 

 descendant of her aunt, Frances Weston. 



