. Devonshire characters and strange events. herightful line from their inheritance. He makes a gallantappearance and brings with him some of the glamourof the Restoration Court, for he was a member ofthe Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, or,as they were then called, Gentlemen Pensionersof Charles II—a band of fifty gentlemen of bloodand fortune who formed the Kings nearest guard. Richard was not, indeed, possessed of any estate ;but he was related to the Grenvilles, Stukeleys, andother influential families. He probably learned thetrade of arms under his father, Francis Weekes, ofBroadwood
. Devonshire characters and strange events. herightful line from their inheritance. He makes a gallantappearance and brings with him some of the glamourof the Restoration Court, for he was a member ofthe Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, or,as they were then called, Gentlemen Pensionersof Charles II—a band of fifty gentlemen of bloodand fortune who formed the Kings nearest guard. Richard was not, indeed, possessed of any estate ;but he was related to the Grenvilles, Stukeleys, andother influential families. He probably learned thetrade of arms under his father, Francis Weekes, ofBroadwood Kelly, who in 1635 commanded the 2ndRegiment of trained soldiers of the North Divisionof county Devon. Possibly his uncle. Dr. John Weekes, Dean of Burian,chaplain to the Duke of Buckingham, or Dr. JasperMayne, the Court playwright (a native of Hatherleigh),may have had a hand in his promotion. The Merry Monarch was, however, a bad pay-master ; and Richard focussed a covetous gaze on theNorth Wyke property. The owner was a sickly youth,. 1 . < RICHARD WEEKES 711 ill qualified to cope with the entanglements of debtsand mortgages with which his father and grandfather,in their devotion to the Royalist cause, had encumberedthe estate. His mother and sister, both strong-willedwomen, wielded masterfully the reed they could notlean upon. Richard ingratiated himself with them,and making much of his alleged near relationship,which they afterwards repudiated, and which does notappear to have been established, seems to have per-suaded them that their own interests, and the desireof the childless young John, that North Wyke shouldcontinue in the name of Weekes, could best be servedby inducing the said John to constitute him, RichardWeekes, his heir, on condition of giving the motheran annuity of ;^ioo, and the sister a marriage portionof ;^20oo, besides paying young Johns debts, amount-ing to ;£5ooo, and his funeral expenses. Now the rightful heir was young Johns uncle, JohnWeekes o
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