Here the original Sir Roger built his castle on the summit of the range of rock, with huts for his followers; and became known directly all over the country as Sir Roger de Rockville, or Sir Roger of the hamlet on the Rock.  Sir Roger, no doubt, was a mighty hunter before the lord of the feudal district:  it is certain that his descendants were.  For generations they led a jolly life at Rockville, and were always ready to exchange the excitement of the chase for a bit of civil war.  Without that the country would have grown dull, and ale and venison lost their flavor.  There was no gay London in those days, and a good brisk skirmish with their neighbors in helm and hauberk was the way of spending their season.  It was their parliamentary debate, and was necessary to thin their woods.  Protection and Free Trade were as much the great topics of interest as they are now, only they did not trouble themselves so much about Corn bills.  Their bills were of good steel, and their protective measures were arrows a cloth-yard long.  Protection meant a good suit of mail; and a castle with its duly prescribed moats, bastions, portcullises, and donjon keep.  Free Trade was a lively inroad into the neighboring baron’s lands, and the iportation thence of goodly herds and flocks.  Foreign cattle for home consumption was as sticking an article in their markets as in ours, only the blows were expended on one another’s heads, instead of the heads of foreign bullocks—­that is, bullocks from over the Welch or Scotch marches, as from beyond the next brook.

Thus lived the Rockvilles for ages.  In all the iron combats of those iron times they took care to have their quota.  Whether it were Stephen against Matilda, or Richard against his father, or John against the barons; whether it were York or Lancaster, or Tudor or Stuart, the Rockvilles were to be found in the melee, and winning power and lands.  So long as it required only stalwart frames and stout blows, no family cut a more conspicuous figure.  The Rockvilles were at Bosworth Field.  The Rockvilles fought in Ireland under Elizabeth.  The Rockvilles were staunch defenders of the cause in the war of Charles I. with his Parliament.  The Rockvilles even fought for James II. at the Boyne, when three-fourths of the most loyal of the English nobility and gentry had deserted him in disgust and indignation.  But from that hour they had been less conspicuous.

The opposition to the successful party, that of William of Orange, of course brought them into disgrace:  and though they were never molested on that account, they retired to their estate, and found it convenient to be as unobtrusive as possible.  Thenceforward you heard no more of the Rockvilles in the national annals.  They became only of consequence in their own district.  They acted as magistrates.  They served as high sheriffs.  They were a substantial county family, and nothing more.  Education and civilization advanced; a wider and very different field