Communicated by Mr. James Waylen. 



101 



Thus both the sisters suffered terribly, though from opposite 

 quarters. Lady Ellen Drake, having been " totally ruined and un- 

 done by the King's forces/ 7 such is the language of the Commons? 

 Journals, yet being for the present on the winning side, obtained in 

 Loudon partial compensation in various forms, as set forth in the 

 said Journals, September, 1644, and March, 1647-8; and in the 

 settlement of Lord Pawlet's fine, the sum of £1500 was handed over 

 to her. The Countess of Marlborough's turn for recovered prosperity 

 had to come somewhat later, namely, at the Restoration, when her 

 husband speedily enjoyed the royal favour. At the same time it 

 was deemed advisable that the Drakes, representing as they did the 

 illustrious Sir Francis, should not be subjected to political eclipse, 

 and a baronetcy was accordingly conferred on Mr. Drake, who 

 thereupon re-built the mansion of Ashe. But there was another 

 Countess of Marlborough prominent at this crisis, whose action 

 next demands our notice. This was the widow of 



Sir Henry Ley, of Teffont Ewyas, Second Earl op Marl- 

 borough, who himself dying just before the war broke out, left, 

 together with the widow aforesaid, two children, Elizabeth, who 

 died unmarried very shortly after, and James, his son and successor. 

 The widow was Mary, daughter of Sir Arthur Capel, of Hadham, 

 Kent. Eventually she became the wife of Colonel William Wancklyn, 

 of Westbury ; of which more hereafter. 



Sir James Ley, of Teffont Ewyas, Third Earl of Marlborough. 

 This nobleman, comparatively a mere youth when hostilities com- 

 menced, was for awhile riding in arms along with his kinsman, 

 Lord Seymour, of Marlborough Castle ; but adopting the naval 

 profession he ceased to be conspicuous on land. He was one of that 

 small band of officers of the fleet who refused to acknowledge the 

 ascendancy of the Parliament j and getting possession of two or 

 three ships he continued for many years to play the part of a sea- 

 rover in the King's name. While thus engaged he left his small 

 estate in Wiltshire to the care of his mother and of his sister 

 Elizabeth ; and the following petition presented by that mother to 

 the Goldsmiths' Hall Committee will sufficiently exhibit what was 

 passing in his desolate home ; — 



