During the civil commotions, Charles made several visits to Ragland castle, where he was entertained with the greatest magnificence,[1] and on those occasions particularly distinguished the young Lord Herbert. On an open rupture taking place between the King and Parliament, his Majesty invested Lord Herbert with the command of a large body of troops then raising in his native country, and an opportunity was soon offered for calling his military talents into action. Prince Rupert, shortly after the battle of _Marston Moor_, directed his attention towards the Marches of Wales, which awakening the jealousy of the Parliamentary General Massey, he by a feigned counter-movement surprised the city of Monmouth, which had always been considered as the key of South Wales, and thus threw the inhabitants of Ragland into the greatest confusion and alarm. [1] Some idea of the almost REGAL splendour of the noble possessor of Ragland castle at this period, and an interesting picture of baronial manners in the early part of the seventeenth century, may be found in the following authentic document, which has been accurately copied from the original MS. LIST OF THE HOUSEHOLD, &C. At eleven o'clock in the forenoon the castle gates were shut, and the tables laid, viz. two in the dining-room, three in the hall, one in Mrs. Watson's apartment, where the chaplains eat, (Sir Toby Matthews being the first,) and two in the house-keeper's room, for the ladies women. The EARL entered the dining-room attended by his gentlemen. As soon as he was seated, Sir Ralph Blackstone, steward of the house, retired. The comptroller, Mr. Holland, attended with his staff, as did the sewer, the daily waiters, and many gentlemen's sons, with estates from two to seven hundred pounds a year, who were bred up in the castle: and my lady's gentlemen of the chamber. _At the first table, sat_ The noble family, and such of the nobility as came there. _At the second table, in the dining-room, sat_ Knights and honourable gentlemen, attended by footmen. _In the hall, at the first table, sat_ Sir Ralph Blackstone, Steward--The Comptroller. The Secretary--The Master of the Horse--The Master of the Fish Ponds, my Lord Herbert's preceptor, with such gentlemen as came there under the degree of a knight, attended by footmen, and plentifully served with wine. _At the second table in the hall, served from my Lord's table, and with other hot meats, sat_ The Sewer, with the gentlemen waiters, and pages, to the number of twenty-four. _At the third table in the hall, sat_ The Clerk of the Kitchen, with the yeomen, officers of the house, two grooms of the chamber, &c. _The other officers of the household, were_