The house and the house-keeping at Claydon; the manors and churches of the four Claydons; the early history of the Verneys, 1456-1599; the Verneys of the 17th century - the half-brothers, Sir Francis and Sir Edmund Verney; Sir Edmund's four sons - Ralph the heir; Tom Verney - a "picturesque vagabond"; Edmund the young cavalier; Henry the racing man; the Countess of Barrymore - Sir Nathaniel Hobart - Sir John Leeke - and some Irish friends; Sir Ralph's friend, James Dillon; the Lees of Ditchley and Lady Sussex; the rich "wido"; Sir Edmund with the king in the Scotch war; the Verneys in Parliament. (Part contents).
