,,the ,,baronial ,,halls1 ,,and ,,ancient ,,picturesque ,,edifices ,,of ,,england4 ,,from ,,drawings ,,by ,j4 ,d4 ,,harding1 ,g4 ,,cattermole1 ,s4 ,,prout1 ,w4 ,m,,ller1 ,j4 ,,holland4 ,,and ,,other ,,eminent ,,artists4 ,,executed ,,in ,,coloured ,,lithotints1 ,,by ,,day ,,and ,,son ,,and ,,hanhart4 ,,the ,,text ,,by ,s4 ,c4 ,,hall1 ,p4,s4,a4 ,,embellished ,,with ,,numerous ,,engravings ,,on ,,wood4 ,,in ,,two ,,volumes4 ,,vol4 ,i4 ,,london3 ,,willis ,,and ,,sotheran1 #acf1 ,,strand4 ,,mdccclviii4 ,,contents ,,of ,,volume ,i4 ,,holland ,,house ,,middlesex ,from a ,drawing by ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,holland ,,house1 ,,interior ---- ---- ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,blickling ,,hall ,,norfolk ---- ,j4 ,d4 ,harding4 ,,burghley ,,house ,,northamptonshire ---- ,t4 ,allom4 ,,castle ,,ashby ---- ---- ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,,kirby ,,hall ---- ---- ,j4 ,d4 ,harding4 ,,wollatton ,,hall ,,nottinghamshire ---- ,t4 ,allom4 ,,benthall ,,hall ,,shropshire ---- ,j4 ,c4 ,bayliss4 ,,pitchford ,,hall ---- ---- ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,,montacute1 ,,great ,,chamber ,,somersetshire ---- ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,caverswall ,,castle ,,staffordshire ---- ,h4 ,l4 ,pratt4 ,,ingestrie ,,hall ---- ---- ,j4 ,a4 ,hammersley4 ,,the ,,oak ,,house ---- ---- ,a4 ,e4 ,everitt4 ,,throwley ,,hall ---- ---- ,w4 ,l4 ,walton4 ,,trentham ,,hall ---- ---- ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,,helmingham ,,hall ,,suffolk ---- ,j4 ,d4 ,harding4 ,,hengrave ,,hall ---- ---- ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,west-,,stow ,,hall ---- ---- ,w4 ,mller4 ,,ham ,,house ,,surrey ---- ,henry ,mogford4 ,,loseley ,,house ---- ---- ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,,arundel ,,church ,,sussex ---- ,samuel ,prout4 ,,boxgrove ,,church ---- ---- ,s4 ,prout4 ,,aston ,,hall ,,warwickshire ---- ,a4 ,e4 ,everitt4 ,,beauchamp ,,chapel1 ,,warwick ---- ---- ,george ,cattermole4 ,,charlecote ---- ---- ,j4 ,g4 ,jackson4 ,,charlecote1 ,,interior ---- ---- ,j4 ,g4 ,jackson4 ,,combe ,,abbey ---- ---- ,j4 ,g4 ,jackson4 ,,warwick ,,castle ---- ---- ,j4 ,d4 ,harding4 ,,wroxhall ,,abbey ---- ---- ,j4 ,g4 ,jackson4 ,,brougham ,,hall ,,westmorland ---- ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,,sizergh ,,hall ---- ---- ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,,charlton ,,house ,,wiltshire ---- ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,the ,,duke',s ,,house ---- ---- ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,westwood ,,house ,,worcestershire ---- ,f4 ,w4 ,fairholt1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,fountains ,,hall ,,yorkshire ---- ,william ,richardson4 ,,helmsley ,,hall ---- ---- ,william ,richardson4 ,illustration3 ,day c ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,holland ,,house1 ,,middlesex4 ,holland ,house stands upon rising ground1 a little to the north of the high-road which leads from ,kensington to ,hammersmith4#a ,it is interesting to all passers-by1 as affording a correct idea of the baronial mansions peculiar to the age of ,james ,i42 and1 from its vicinity to the metropolis1 its examination is easy to thousands who rarely obtain opportunities of viewing the 8old houses10 with which are associated the records and pictures of ,english hospitality as it existed in the olden time4 ,although modern dwellings of all shapes and sizes have grown up about it1 the house retains so much of its primitive character--its green meadows1 sloping lanes1 and umbrageous woods1 in which still sings the nightingale2 with gables and chimneys bearing tokens of a date two centuries back--that few traverse the highway without a word of comment1 and a sensation of pleasure1 that neither time nor caprice have yet operated to remove it from its place1 or even to impair its imposing and impressive features4 ,it is almost alone in its 8old grandeur10 in a vicinity at one period crowded with ancient houses2 the baronial halls have1 with this exception1 that of ,campden ,house1#b adjacent1 and ,kensington ,palace1 a comparatively recent structure1 been removed1 to make way for 8detached villas0 and streets of narrow dwellings2 and there are many sad surmises that1 ere long1 the park1 and gardens1 and venerable mansion1 will be also displaced1 to supply building-ground for speculators in brick and mortar4 ,this will be a grievous outrage on taste1 and a sore mortification to the antiquary1 and be another terrible inroad on the picturesque in a district which1 within living memory1 was as primitive in character as if ,london had been distant a hundred miles4 ,the approach to ,holland ,house is by an avenue of venerable elms2 the entrance-gates are examples of wrought iron1 remarkably elegant in design and fine in execution4 ,within the demesne1 small although it be1 all sense is lost of proximity to a great city3 the close foliage completely shuts out the view of surrounding houses1 and the birds are singing among the branches1 as if enjoying the freedom of the forest4 ,yet ,holland ,house is now enclosed on all sides--north1 south1 east1 and west--by brick houses of all sorts and sizes1 upon which it seems to look down1 from its elevated position1 with supreme contempt for the convenient 8whimsies0 of modern architects4 ,before we conduct the reader about the grounds and into the mansion1 it will be well to give some history of the several personages through whose hands they have passed4 ,as we have shewn in a note1 the manor1 during the reign of ,elizabeth1 became the property of ,sir ,walter ,cope1 a knight who became high in favour with her successor1 ,james ,i41 and who obtained1 partly by grant and partly by purchase1 considerable possessions in and around ,kensington4 ,by him the house1 subsequently called 8,holland ,house10 was built4 ,his daughter1 ,isabella1 having married ,sir ,henry ,rich1 the second son of ,robert ,rich1 first ,earl of ,warwick1 this ,sir ,robert inherited the estates in right of his wife2 in #afbb he was created ,baron ,kensington2 and in the #bb;d ,james ,i4 was elevated to the dignity of ,earl of ,holland1 and installed a ,knight of the ,garter4 ,having taken part with the king during the civil wars1 he was tried by the ,parliament1 condemned to death1 and beheaded on the #ith of ,march1 #afdi4c ,his lady was1 however1 permitted to return to ,holland ,house1 where she brought up her family1 and where she was succeeded by her son1 ,robert1 the second earl1 who1 in #afgc1 became also ,earl of ,warwick1 by the death of ,charles1 the fourth earl4 ,he was succeeded by his son1 the third earl1 who married ,charlotte1 only daughter of ,sir ,thomas ,middleton of ,chirk ,castle1 ,denbighshire1 who survived1 and subsequently took for her second husband1 in #agaf1 the renowned ,joseph ,addison2 8but10 writes ,dr4 ,johnson1 8,holland ,house1 although a large house1 could not contain ,mr4 ,addison1 the ,countess of ,warwick1 and one guest--,peace30 they lived on ill terms1 which probably hastened the death of ,addison2 an event which took place in the mansion on the #agth of ,june1 #agai4d ,edward ,henry1 the fourth ,earl of ,holland1 dying unmarried1 his cousin1 ,edward1 succeeded as fifth earl2 but he dying without issue1 in #agei1 his honours and titles became extinct2 but the family estates were inherited by ,william ,edwardes1 ,esq41 son of the sister of ,edward1 the third earl1 created ,baron ,kensington of the kingdom of ,ireland in #aggf4 ,holland ,house came into the possession of the family to whom it now belongs 7the family of ,fox71 first about the year #agfb1 when the ,right ,hon4 ,henry ,fox1 ,secretary of ,state 7soon afterwards created ,lord ,holland71 became a tenant of the mansion1 which he subsequently purchased1 together with the manor1 from ,mr4 ,edwardes4 ,here the first ,lord ,holland resided until his death in #aggd1 and was succeeded by his son1 ,stephen1 the second peer1#e who died the year following1 and was succeeded by his son1 ,richard ,vassal2 during whose long minority the house was let to the ,earl of ,roseberry and ,mr4 ,bearcroft4 ,on his death in #ahdj1 he was succeeded by the present peer1 ,henry ,edward ,fox1 the fourth ,lord ,holland4 ,during the lifetime of the late peer1 ,holland ,house obtained a certain degree of fame as the occasional rendezvous of the wits of the age2 and the ftes at which they were assembled furnished brilliant themes for the exercise of poetical talent2 but the records of genius there fostered and encouraged are singularly few4 ,the historian1 the poet1 the artist1 and the man of science1 became guests in the mansion when they had acquired fame1 but those who were achieving greatness1 and stood in need of 8patronage10 were not permitted to share its enjoyments and advantages4 ,the grounds and gardens of ,holland ,house have been skilfully and tastefully laid out2 the trees are remarkably fine1 and give a character of delicious solitude to the place1 keeping away all thought of the vast city1 the distant hum of which is at all times audible2 and1 although 8prospects fresh and fair0 are in a great degree shut out1 imagination may easily follow the steps of ,addison into this calm retreat1 and quote the lines of ,tickell on the poet's death1 as applicable to the present day as they were to a century back3-- 8,thou hill1 whose brow the antique structures grace1 ,rear'd by bold chiefs of ,warwick's noble race2 ,why1 scene so lov'd6 where'er thy bower appears1 ,o'er my dim eyeballs glance the sudden tears8 ,how sweet were once thy prospects fresh and fair1 ,thy sloping walks1 and unpolluted air6 ,how sweet the gloom beneath thy aged trees1 ,thy noontide shadow1 and thy evening breeze2 ,his image thy forsaken bowers restore1 ,thy walks and airy prospects charm no more4 ,no more the summer in thy glooms allay'd1 ,thy evening breezes and thy noon-day shade60 ,the prospect1 however1 notwithstanding the multiplicity of houses by which the grounds are surrounded1 is not all destroyed2 vistas are here and there formed between the trees1 which command extensive views2 and garden-seats still exist1 to wile the visitor into 8shady places10 where the hill of ,harrow and other striking objects are seen in the distance1 while the surrounding shadow enhances the value of the bright scene beyond3-- 8,for loftie trees1 y'clad with summer's pride1 ,did spread so broad1 that heaven's light did hide1 ,not pierceable with power of any starre2 ,and all within are paths and alleies wide1 ,with footinge worne1 and leading inward farre40 ,but judgment1 tastefully exercised1 has made many openings among those thick woods2 and those who wander among them enjoy the feelings of entire solitude--a feeling augmented if the time be evening2 for1 as we have intimated1 although scarcely two miles distant from the heart of ,london1 here the nightingale 8,supplies the night with mournful strains1 ,and melancholy music fills the plains40 ,illustration ,the beautiful gates which open upon the avenue that leads to the principal entrance to the mansion are pictured in the appended woodcut2 they were brought from ,belgium by the late ,lord ,holland1 and placed in their present position about twelve years ago2 they are of wrought iron1 and are considerably impaired by time4 ,recently they have been repainted1 and picked out with gold2 and they now make a gay appearance2 they are1 however1 of a much later date than the venerable structure1 with which they would be out of 8keeping10 but that they are separated from it by considerable space--a long avenue of ancient and finely grown elm-trees1 which shadow the broad path that conducts to the house4 ,the immediate entrance is between two piers of ,portland stone1 designed by ,inigo ,jones1 and 8executed by ,nicholas ,stone in #afbi1 for which he was paid #ajjl420 they have no peculiar merit1 but serve the purpose of supporting 8the arms of ,rich quartering ,bouldry1 and impaling ,cope40 ,the pleasure-grounds are behind the house1 8falling abruptly to the north-east30 they were laid out by ,mr4 ,hamilton in #agfi4 ,scattered in various parts are memorials to some of the personal friends of the late ,lord ,holland3 among others1 the author of 8,the ,pleasures of ,memory0 is honoured by this poor couplet3-- 8,here ,rogers sat1 and here for ever dwell ,to me those pleasures that he sings so well40 ,some lines1 scarcely better1 have been appended by ,henry ,luttrell1 ,esq42 but the genius of the place has essayed a flight no higher than that which might grace a school-girl's album4 ,nature has done more for the domain than art2 from various points1 fine views are obtained of the country that surrounds ,london2 and although1 of late years1 they have been sadly narrowed by 8endless piles of brick10 when ,tickell wrote his lines on the death of ,addison1 no doubt they were 8,fresh and ,fair40 ,considerable alterations internally were made to the building by ,inigo ,jones4 ,the entrance-hall1 the two staircases1 and the parlour leading out of the principal staircase1 are the only parts of the mansion on the ground-floor that still retain their original character4 ,on the first floor1 beside the ,gilt ,room1 is a noble long gallery1 now the library1 and the late ,lady ,holland's drawing-room or boudoir4 ,all these rooms preserve their ancient decorations1 and are in the purest taste and the most costly style of execution4 8,the ,gilt ,room10 which forms the subject of the appended print1 is approached from the entrance-hall by a richly ornamented oak staircase4 ,from the style of the details it would appear that it was the work of ,john ,thorpe1 and that the painted decorations were the produce of ,francis 7or ,francesco7 ,cleyn1 a favourite artist of the time1 who was employed largely by the kings ,james ,i4 and ,charles ,i41 from whom he derived an annuity of #ajjl41 settled on him during his natural life1 and which he enjoyed till the ,civil ,war4 ,the ceiling of the room was originally painted by him in the same style as the other portions of the apartment2 being out of repair during the minority of his late lordship1 it was removed1 and a plain one put up in its stead4 ,in the view here given1 ,mr4 ,richardson has supplied it from such fragments and sketches as were obtainable several years ago4 ,illustration ,notwithstanding the loss of its painted ceiling1 the room presents an appearance of elaborate magnificence1 and of unique singularity--carrying us back at once to that luxurious period1 the early part of the reign of ,charles ,i4 ,the paintings1 the figures over the fireplaces1 deserve great praise1 although we cannot entirely coincide with ,horace ,walpole1 who declares 7in his life of ,cleyn7 that they are not unworthy of ,parmigiano4 ,the paintings--such as remain over the fireplaces and soffites of the arches--certainly are masterly1 though the architect might discover a little of the 8contract style0 about them4 ,cleyn was employed by ,charles ,i41 whose good taste led him to patronise only the most eminent men in art4 ,the painter was denominated 8,il famosissimo pittore ,francesco ,cleyn1 miracolo del secolo1 e molto stimato del ,re ,carlo della ,gran ,britania40#f ,this cut represents some of ,cleyn's painting in the soffite of one of the arches in the gilt-room2 it is roughly painted--although in a free and masterly style--in umber1 on a white ground2 the drapery1 dress1 and hair of the figures1 are gilt4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,c4 ,f4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,day ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,the ,,gilt ,,room1 ,,holland ,,house4 ,the decorative panelling of the ,gilt ,room is continued round the four sides1 and in the large recess in the centre 7immediately above the entrance-porch72 the interior of each panel has a small raised fillet1 about an eighth of an inch in thickness1 forming an ornamental border3 this is gilt4 ,in the centre of the panels are painted alternately cross-crosslets and fleur-de-lis1 charges in the arms of ,cope and ,rich2 they are surmounted by an earl's coronet1 with palm or oak branches1 in gold1 shaded with bistre4 ,the figures over the fireplaces have the flesh painted1 the rest is gold shaded2 the lower columns of the fireplaces are painted black1 the upper being of ,sienna marble3 both have gilt ornaments at the lower part of the shaft1 and their caps and bases gilt3 for the rest1 all the prominent mouldings1 the flutes1 caps1 and bases of the pilasters are gilt2 the cima recta of the great entablature has a painted leaf enrichment1 with acorns between1 the latter of which are gilt4 ,the groundwork of the whole is white4 ,the busts in the room were placed there by his late lordship3 over the fireplaces are those of ,king ,william the ,fourth1 and ,george the ,fourth when ,prince ,regent4 ,arranged on pedestals round the room are busts of the late ,lord ,holland1 ,francis ,duke of ,bedford1 ,henry first ,lord ,holland1 the late ,duke of ,sussex1 ,john ,hookham ,frere1 the ,duke of ,cumberland 7of ,culloden71 ,napoleon1 ,henry the ,fourth of ,france1 the ,right ,hon4 ,charles ,james ,fox1 by ,nollekens1 a duplicate made for the ,empress ,catharine of ,russia4 ,in the bow-recess are models of ,henry ,earl of ,pembroke1 and ,thomas ,winnington1 ,esq4 ,the painted shields in the corner of the room bear the arms of ,rich of ,warwick1 and ,cope and ,rich4 ,of the ancient furniture of the ,illustration ,illustration ,gilt ,room two chairs alone remain2 these are mentioned by ,horace ,walpole as being the work of ,francesco ,cleyn3 they are painted white1 and partly gilt4 ,a large bench1 formed by three of these chairs placed together1 with one arm only at each end1 was discovered by the artist some years ago1 in a lumber-place over the stable1 where1 probably1 it still remains4 ,the ,gilt ,room1 during the lifetime of his late lordship1 was used as the state dining-room3 the state drawing-room1 lined with silk1 and hung with paintings1 led out of it by the door on the right--seen in the print4 ,parallel to these rooms1 at the back of the ,illustration building1 is another line of drawing-rooms1 modernised1 but which contain a valuable collection of paintings4 ,among them is a celebrated one by ,hogarth--the amateur performance1 by children of the nobility1 of 8,the ,beggar's ,opera40 ,this painting is very large3 the whole of the figures are portraits4 ,another painting by ,hogarth is in the collection1 which has never been engraved4 ,it is a view of the entrance to ,ranelagh ,gardens1 ,chelsea4 ,the collection contains a few very fine ,sir ,joshua's4 ,among them is his portrait of ,joseph ,baretti1 well known from the engraving4 ,there are likewise a few first-rate pictures of the old masters4 ,the library contains a series of portraits of political and literary friends of his late lordship2 and1 in the boudoir1 are the series of the late ,j4 ,stothard's most exquisite compositions to illustrate ,moore's poems4 ,these drawings are very highly finished1 and are twice the size of the engravings which were made from them4 ,in 8,lady ,holland's ,boudoir10 among other curiosities1 are two candlesticks formerly belonging to ,mary ,queen of ,scots2 they are of brass1 each of eleven and a half inches in height4 ,they are of ,french manufacture2 the sunk parts are filled up with an inlay of blue1 green1 and white enamel1 very similar to that done at ,limoge4 ,these candlesticks are extremely elegant2 one of them is represented in the above woodcut4 ,illustration ,the accompanying woodcut represents the fireplace in 8the ancient parlour20 leaving the principal staircase in the ground floor2 the door on the left leads into this room4 ,it is supposed to have been painted in a similar style to the great chamber above-stairs4 ,the fireplace in this room is of the most excellent design and capital execution4 ,a portion of the framing of the room is shewn by the side of the fireplace3 this is likewise very elegant4 ,one of the ancient windows of this apartment is blocked up1 and an ornamental arch placed in front of it by ,inigo ,jones4 ,it was in this room that plays were performed by the direction of the first ,lady ,holland1 when the theatres in ,london were shut up by the ,puritans3 it is commonly called 8,the ,theatre ,room40#g ,the other rooms will require but a brief notice4 8,the ,journal ,room0 is so named because a complete set of the journals of the ,houses of ,lords and ,commons are there preserved3 it contains several portraits1 among which are three or four by ,sir ,joshua ,reynolds4 ,this is on the ground-floor4 ,underneath the hall is the ancient kitchen1 not long ago fitted up as a servants' hall4 ,in the north-east wing is a large apartment1 formerly the chapel of the mansion3 it has been disused for half a century1 having been converted into a bath-room4 ,the ,libraries are spacious and 8well stocked20 the principal1 which forms the west wing of the house1 is styled the ,long ,gallery2 it is1 in length1 one hundred and two feet1 and1 in breadth1 seventeen feet four inches4 ,according to ,mr4 ,faulkner 78,history of ,kensington071 whose account was written under the superintendence of the late ,lord ,holland1 in the year #agdf1 this fine apartment was entirely out of repair1 and even 8unfloored30 it was1 however1 at that period completely restored1 and converted from its ancient use1 as the gallery for exercise1 into a receptacle for books1 of which it contains a rare selection4 ,the first ,lord ,holland had fitted it up for pictures2 blocking up many of the windows1 and opening in lieu of them a large bow-window on the west side4 ,the 8,west ,library0 and the 8,east ,library0--two rooms of moderate extent--contain also several valuable folios--curious treasures of antiquity4 ,mr4 ,faulkner enumerates some of the more remarkable of the contents of the eastern library1 which cannot fail to interest the reader3-- 8,a curious copy of ,camoens1 to which the praises of ,mr4 ,de ,souza1 the patriotic editor of the late splendid edition of that poet1 have given extraordinary celebrity4 ,it is a copy of one of the earliest editions1 and ,mr4 ,de ,souza alleges that it must have been in the hands of the poet himself4 ,at the bottom of the title-page the following curious and melancholy testimony of his unfortunate death is written in an old ,spanish hand1 which states that the writer saw him die in an hospital at ,lisbon1 without even a blanket to cover him4 8#8,que coza mas lastimosa que ver un tan grande ingenio mal logrado6 yo lo bi morir en un hospital en ,lisboa1 sin tener una sauana con que cubrirse1 despues de aver triunfado en la ,india oriental1 y de aver navigado #eejj leguas por mar3 que auiso tan grande para los que de noche y de dia se canan estudiando sin provecho1 como la arana en urdir tellas para cazar moscas6' 8,specimens of all the types in the ,vatican ,library1 printed in the ,propaganda press1 ,a4,d4 #afdj1 on silk4 8,the music of the #8,olimpiade1' an opera of ,metastasio1 well authenticated to have been transcribed by ,j4 ,j4 ,rousseau1 when that extraordinary man procured his livelihood by copies of this kind4 ,the hand-writing is so beautiful that it resembles copper-plate engraving4 8,four volumes of ,,ms4 ,plays of ,lope de ,vega1 the first containing three plays in his own hand-writing1 with the original license of the censor4 8,the original copy1 in ,,ms41 of the #8,mogigata1' a favourite play of the celebrated ,moratin1 the first writer of ,spanish comedy now living1 but who has been proscribed and exiled by ,ferdinand the ,seventh4 8,there are several others of nearly equal interest1 and among the ,,mss4 there are many curious autographs of ,philip the ,second1 ,prince ,eugene1 ,pontanus1 ,sannazarius1 and others1 and three original letters of ,petrarch4 8,also a voluminous ,,ms4 collection of the proceedings in ,cortes1 from the earliest period1 copied from the archives of the ,king of ,spain4 ,the original correspondence of ,don ,pedro ,ronquillo1 the ,spanish ambassador1 resident in ,london at the time of our ,revolution2 part in cypher1 with the translation by the side1 with several others of equal value and curiosity40 ,the ,long ,gallery is ornamented with portraits of the ,lenox1 ,digby1 and ,fox families2 ,dryden and ,addison2 ,sir ,c4 ,h4 ,williams2 ,admiral ,lestock2 ,sir ,robert ,walpole2 the ,right ,honourable ,thomas ,winnington2 ,cardinal ,fleury1 by ,rigaud2 and ,van ,lintz1 by himself4 ,scattered throughout the apartments are ,king ,charles ,,ii4 and the ,duchess of ,portsmouth2 ,sir ,stephen ,fox1 by ,sir ,peter ,lely2 ,henry1 ,lord ,holland2 ,stephen1 ,lord ,holland1 by ,zoffany2 the late ,right ,honourable ,c4 ,j4 ,fox1 when an infant2--when a boy1 in a group with ,lady ,susan ,strangeways and ,lady ,mary ,lenox 7by ,sir ,joshua ,reynolds72 and a fine picture of him in more advanced life by the same artist4 ,there are two busts1 also1 of him1 by ,nollekens1 one of which was taken not long before his death2 and a statue1 seated in the entrance-hall4 ,we may not take leave of this fine old mansion without expressing a fervent hope that the interesting work of two centuries may endure for many centuries to come2 that modern improvements--although they may place the suburb of which it is the crowning gem in the centre of the ,metropolis--will not displace it to make room for petty structures of a day1 but that the tale of the ,olden ,time may be there told to our descendants as it has been there told to our ancestors4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,j4 ,d4 ,harding ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,blickling ,,hall4 ,,norfolk4 ,,blickling ,,hall1 ,,norfolk4 ,journeying a dozen miles north of the city of ,norwich1 the ,tourist reaches the old town of ,aylsham4 ,a mile hence is the very ancient manor of ,blickling#h--;famous so far back as the time of the ,confessor1 when it was in the possession of ,harold1 ,king of ,england2 remarkable1 in after times1 when occupied by the ,bishops of the ,see1 and celebrated1 in the history of various epochs1 as a seat of the noble families of ,dagworth1 ,erpingham1 ,fastolff1 ,boleyne1 ,clere1 and ,hobart4 ,from this ancient house1 ,henry ,,viii4 married the unfortunate mother of ,queen ,elizabeth2 here the virgin queen herself is said to have been a guest1 and here ,charles ,,ii4 and his consort were visitors--events referred to by the court-poet1 ,stephenson3 8,blickling #b monarchs and #b queens has seen2 ,one king fetch'd thence1 another brought1 a queen40 ,the mansion--,blickling ,hall--is one of the most perfect examples remaining of the time of ,james ,i42 the exterior has undergone few changes2 the bridge1 the moat1 the turrets1 the curiously-formed gables1 and the double row of spacious and convenient out-offices--connected with the mansion by an arcade--are characteristic of the period1 while elaborate finish and costly ornament indicate the wealth and rank of its noble owners4 ,the high-road passes the gates1 and runs within a few yards of the house2 a small green sward only separating it from the public pathway4 ,the moat is crossed by a ,bridge of remarkably light and graceful proportions2 on either side of this bridge are ,pedestals with bulls 7the heraldic crest of the ,hobarts7 bearing blank shields4 ,the entrance-porch is exceedingly beautiful2 the design is simple and elegant2 8it may be regarded10 according to ,mr4 ,shaw1 8as one of the earliest attempts at the restoration of classical architecture1 and appears to be formed upon the model of the ,arch of ,titus at ,rome40 ,in the spandrels are sculptured figures of ,victory4 ,over the entablature1 supported by two ,doric columns1 is an enriched compartment1 bearing the arms and quarterings of ,sir ,henry ,hobart1 ,bart4 7by whom the stately mansion was erected74 ,a massive ,oak ,door contains the date #afbj2 the knocker of this door is peculiarly quaint2 a copy of it acts as the initial letter commencing this description4 ,passing a small quadrangular court1 we enter the ,hall1 from which opens the grand ,staircase of ,oak1 the newels of which are crowned with figures4 ,unhappily1 the oak has been covered with paint2 and time having removed some of the figures1 their places have been supplied by others out of harmony with the character of the venerable structure4#i ,of the several apartments1 the only one that demands particular notice is the ,library--a noble room1 filled with the rarest and most valuable books4 ,it measures one hundred and twenty-seven feet2 the ceiling is a magnificent collection of works of art1 unsurpassed by anything of the kind in ,great ,britain4 ,it consists of a series of models1 representing the ,senses1 the ,passions and the ,elements1 in low relief--comprising a very large number of subjects1 no two of which are alike4 ,the library is--as a private collection--extensive2 the books it contains are generally 8large paper copies10 and in the finest possible state4 ,some of its treasures are unique--here are a volume of ,saxon ,homilies1 and a ,latin ,,ms4 of the ,psalter1 certainly as ancient as anything we possess in the ,latin tongue1 and several others1 with and without illuminations1 of very remote dates4 ,here also are two copies 7imperfect7 of the ,coverdale ,bible2 an uncut copy of the diminutive ,sedan ,new ,testament1 and a vast assemblage of the choicest productions of the early ,english press4 ,it was formed by ,maittaire for ,sir ,richard ,ellys1 ,bart41 of ,norton1 in ,lincolnshire1 to whom he dedicated his 8,anacreon10 in #agbe4 ,the curiosities of the library were shown to us by the ,rev4 ,james ,bulwer1 whose own family seat of ,heydon is in the neighbourhood of ,blickling ,hall4 ,mr4 ,harding's print of this fine old mansion affords an accurate idea of its elegance and grandeur4 ,its form is quadrangular--having a square turret at each angle4 ,viewed from any point it is highly picturesque4 ,the ,park1 which surrounds it on three sides1 contains above #ajjj acres4 ,its trees are celebrated for their exceeding beauty and prodigious growth4 ,a remarkably fine piece of water1 shaped like a crescent1 adjoins the house1 extending nearly a mile in length4 ,nature and ,art have both contributed to adorn this artificial ,lake2 gentle acclivities rise from its sides1 here and there fringed with evergreens infinitely varied1 while gigantic oaks1 and elms1 and beeches1 rising at intervals1 seem the guardians of its banks4 ,we may sum up our account of ,blickling ,hall in the words of old ,blomefield3--8,the building is a curious brick fabric1 four-square1 with a turret at each corner2 there are two good ,courts1 with a fine ,library1 elegant ,wilderness1 good ,lake1 ,gardens1 and ,park2 it is a pleasant1 beautiful seat1 worthy the observation of such as make the ,norfolk ,tour40 ,the erection of the existing structure was commenced by ,sir ,henry ,hobart1 ,bart41 during the reign of ,james the ,first1 but was not finished until the year #afbh1 when 8the ,domestic ,chapel was consecrated40 ,the building1 however1 retained its original character1 varying very little1 in external appearance and internal arrangements1 from the old ,mansion in which ,queen ,anne ,boleyne was born1 and which had been famous for centuries4 ,when the ,domesday ,survey was made1 one part of the ,manor belonged to ,beausoc1 ,bishop of ,thetford 7the seat of the ,see until #ajhh71 the other part being in possession of the ,crown4 ,both moieties were invested with the privileges of ancient demesne1 were exempt from the hundred 7of ,south ,erpingham7 and had the lete with all royalties4 ,having successively passed through the hands of many distinguished families1 in #adca it was the property of ,sir ,thomas ,de ,erpingham1 by whom it was sold to ,sir ,john ,fastolff1 who1 about the year #adeb1 sold it to ,sir ,geoffrey ,boleyne1 ,knt41 who was ,lord ,mayor of ,london in #adeh1 and who made ,blickling his country-seat4 ,from him inherited his second son1 ,sir ,william ,boleyne1 ,knight1 ,illustration who married ,margaret1 sister of ,james ,butler1 ,earl of ,ormond2 dying in #aeje1 he was succeeded by his son1 ,sir ,thomas ,boleyne1 who1 the #ahth of ,henry ,,viii41 was raised to the peerage by the title of ,viscount ,rochford1 and three years afterwards was created ,earl of ,wiltshire4 ,his daughter1 ,anne1 was privately married to ,henry ,,viii41 on the #eth of ,january1 #aecc4 ,on the #aith of ,may1 #aecf1 she was beheaded2 her dismal fate having been shared by her brother1 ,viscount ,rochford2 and the old ,earl died in #aech--;it is believed of a broken heart4 ,soon afterwards the estate of ,blickling1 having been for a short time in the family of the ,cleres1 was purchased by ,sir ,harry ,hobart1 ,bart41 8a fortunate lawyer10 who became ,lord ,chief ,justice of the ,common ,pleas4 ,he was succeeded by his son and grandson1 the second and third ,baronets2 the fourth ,baronet was created1 by ,george ,,ii41 ,lord ,hobart of ,blickling1 in #agbh2 and in #agdf1 ,earl of ,buckinghamshire4 ,his son1 the second ,earl1 died without male issue1 but left four daughters1 one of whom married the late ,marquis of ,londonderry1 another ,william ,lord ,suffield1 the third ,lord ,mount ,edgcombe1 and a fourth the ,marquis of ,lothian1 whose surviving son1 the fifth ,marquis1 died at ,blickling in #ahda1 leaving a son1 an infant1 who is heir-apparent to the estate1 now in the possession of his great aunt1 the ,dowager ,lady ,suffield4 ,illustration ,illustration ,the venerable ,church of ,blickling adjoins the mansion4 ,it is built--in the style of nearly all the ,norfolk ,churches--of flint1 a material that essentially impairs the solemn dignity of the structure4 ,many of the ,brasses and ,tombs are of high interest2 the one of which we append an engraving 7on the preceding page7 is to the memory of ,edward ,clere4 ,it is described by ,blomefield as 8a most curious ,altar ,tomb1 placed between the ,chancel and ,boleyne's ,chapel4 ,the ,effigy which laid upon it is now gone2 but there remain the ,arms and ,matches of his family1 from the ,conquest to the time that his son and heir1 ,sir ,edward ,clere1 erected this tomb40 ,as a work of art1 the ,tomb possesses considerable excellence4 ,the carved ,armorial ,bearings retain much of the original brilliancy of their colouring4 ,among the ,brasses is one for ,anne ,boleyne1 aunt of the unfortunate ,queen1 and another of ,isabella ,cheyne1 7date #adhe7 remarkable as exhibiting the earliest authentic example of the necklace4 ,an elaborately-wrought ,oak ,chest1 of great size1 strongly banded with iron1 and secured by five curiously formed locks and keys1 is preserved in ,blickling ,church2 but a relic still more curious and unique is a ,poor-box1 of very primitive character1 heart-shaped1 and painted blue1 the letters1 8,pray remember the ,pore10 being gilt4 ,we give engravings of both these peculiar and very interesting antiquities4 ,illustration ,,burghley ,,house1 ,,northamptonshire4 ,burleigh1 or ,burghley ,house1 the princely seat of the ,marquis of ,exeter1 is one of the most magnificent mansions of its period2 it has come down to us intact1 and is perhaps more interesting--from its associations with the 8glorious days0--than any other edifice now remaining in the kingdom4 ,the halls are still standing where the famous ,lord ,treasurer entertained his ,sovereign and her dazzling court2 while ,nonsuch1 ,theobalds1 and ,cannons have vanished--their sites are ploughed over2 and ,kenilworth has become a venerable antiquity1 a moss-covered ruin4 ,in the reign of the ,confessor1 ,burghley was let to farm by the ,church of ,burgh1 to ,alfgar1 the king's chaplain1 for his life4 ,the crown having seized it at his death1 ,abbot ,leofric redeemed it for eight marcs of gold4 ,in ,doomsday ,book it is rated at #djs4 ,as usual in the feudal ages1 it often changed hands1 when treasons and rebellions were every-day occurrences4 ,in the #ith of ,edward ,,ii4 ,nicholas de ,segrave was possessed of ,burleigh1 which had descended to ,alice de ,lisle1 as part of the inheritance of ,john de ,armenters4 ,the successor of ,nicholas de ,segrave was ,warine de ,l',isle4 ,he was one of the great men who1 in the #adth of ,edward ,,ii41 took up arms against the ,king1 under the command of ,thomas ,earl of ,lancaster2 was made prisoner with him at the battle of ,barrow ,bridge1 and the week following executed at ,pontefract4 ,in the #ast of ,edward ,,iii41 ,gerard de ,lisle1 son of the above ,warine1 was restored to his father's possessions1 and accompanied several times the ,king in his wars with ,scotland and ,france4 ,after undergoing many of the usual changes to which property was subjected in such uncertain times1 it finally passed into possession of a family named ,cecil1 as we now spell it1 although it appears to have enjoyed many variations of orthography in its transition4 ,the founder of the house and family was a gentleman named ,william ,cecil1 who accompanied the ,duke of ,somerset to ,scotland4 ,at the battle of ,musselburgh field he narrowly escaped being killed1 a gentleman who out of kindness pushed him out of the level of a cannon1 having his arm shattered as he withdrew it4 ,on his return he was made ,secretary of ,state1 and in some political trouble was sent prisoner to the ,tower3 but no charge being brought against him he was released from his captivity1 again made ,secretary of ,state1 became a ,privy ,councillor1 and received the honour of knighthood4 ,during the reign of ,mary1 he attached himself much to the fortunes of her younger sister1 ,elizabeth4 ,when she ascended the throne1 fresh honours were lavished on him3 he became ,chancellor of the ,university of ,cambridge1 ,master of the ,court of ,wards1 ,baron ,burleigh1 ,lord ,high ,treasurer1 and ,knight of the ,garter4 ,he was much afflicted with gout in his latter years1 and on one occasion when he was confined with an attack of it1 at his house in the ,strand 7called ,burleigh ,house1 where a street of that name is now built71 the ,queen condescended to visit him4 ,on one of these occasions1 coming with a high head-dress1 and the servant1 as she entered the door1 desiring her to stoop2 she replied1 8,for your master's sake ,i will stoop1 but not for the ,king of ,spain40 ,he died in #aeih1 having been ,lord ,high ,treasurer twenty-six years1 and was buried in the parish-church of ,st4 ,martin1 ,stamford4 ,a superb white alabaster monument1 sixteen feet high1 is raised over his tomb2 his figure lies under a canopy supported by several black marble columns4 ,it is in the style of the period1 and stands under the arch of the north aisle and body of the church4 ,thomas1 ,lord ,burghley1 the ,lord ,treasurer's eldest son1 was created ,earl of ,exeter in #afje2 and ,henry1 tenth ,earl of ,exeter and eleventh ,lord ,burghley1 his lineal descendant1 was created ,marquis of ,exeter in #ahja4 ,his son1 ,brownlow ,cecil1 the second ,marquis1 who succeeded his father in #ahjd1 is the present possessor of the princely mansion and estates4 ,the mansion we are about to notice is built on ground where there is but little undulation of surface1 and stands about a mile and a half from the old town of ,stamford1 in ,northamptonshire1 separated from ,lincolnshire by the river ,welland1 which runs through ,stamford4 ,at the northern extremity of the domain stand the park lodges3 they are extremely handsome erections1 and more than usually important buildings for such purposes4 ,although built so recently as the year #ahja1 by ,henry the tenth ,earl1 they are in perfect harmony of design with the main edifice4 ,the cost of their erection exceeded #ejjjl4 ,the park is about two miles in length and a mile and a half in width4 ,it was arranged and planted by the famous 8,capability ,brown10 and is well adorned with fine ash1 elm1 chestnut1 and other trees1 as well as plantations of shrubberies4 ,a temple1 grottos1 and picturesque buildings for domestic or agricultural services1 add to its beautiful character4 ,it is well stocked with deer4 ,on entering the park to proceed to the house1 a noble piece of water1 three quarters of a mile in length1 is spanned by a handsome bridge of three arches1 having the balustrades decorated with four statues of lions couchant4 ,in the park enclosure are the remains of the ancient ,roman road1 called ,ermine ,street1 from ,stilton through ,castor to ,stamford3 it is easily traceable in many parts4 ,illustration ,on arriving opposite the mansion1 the eye is bewildered at its unusual extent3 its numerous turrets1 and the spire of the ,chapel rising above the parapets1 give it the aspect of a town comprised in comparatively diminished area1 rather than a single abode4 ,the appended engraving exhibits a portion of the west front4 ,the mansion stands in an extensive lawn4 ,mr4 ,gilpin1 in his 8,tour to the ,highlands10 thus describes it3--8,burghley ,house is one of the noblest monuments of ,british architecture of the time of ,queen ,elizabeth1 when the great outlines of magnificence were rudely drawn1 but unimproved by taste4 ,it is an immense pile1 forming the four sides of a large court1 and although decorated with a variety of fantastic ornaments1 according to the fashion of the time1 before ,grecian architecture had introduced symmetry1 proportion1 and elegance into the plans of private houses1 it has still an august appearance4 ,the interior court is particularly striking3 the spire of the ,chapel is neither1 ,i think1 in itself an ornament1 nor has it any effect1 except at a distance2 when it contributes to give this immense pile the consequence of a town40 ,horace ,walpole says1 ,john ,thorpe was the architect2 and that he superintended the erection of the greater part of this stupendous building4 ,this assertion is corroborated by the plans1 still extant1 in this celebrated architect's collection of designs1 now in the ,soane ,museum4 ,it is built of freestone and forms a massive parallelogram1 enclosing a court #aaj feet long and #gj feet wide4 ,the principal entrance is on the north side1 ,illustration and offers a frontage of nearly #bjj feet1 pierced with three ranges of large square-headed windows1 divided by stone mullions and transoms4 ,the outline is varied by towers at the angles surmounted by turrets with cupolas2 the frontage is varied by advancing bays between the towers2 a pierced parapet1 occasionally embellished with ornaments that mark the ,elizabethan era1 crowns the walls4 ,the chimneys are constructed in the hollows of ,doric columns1 which are in groups1 connected by a frieze and cornice of the order2 as they are very numerous1 and of fine proportions--rising loftily in the air--they combine with the turrets1 c4 to give a great variety of forms to the superior portion of the main design4 ,in the arched roof under the passage to the interior court1 which was in the first instance intended to be the chief entrance1 are escutcheons of the family arms1 on one of which is inscribed 8,w4 ,,dom de ,burghley1 #aegg10 being the year when that part of the house was built4 ,on the opposite side of the court1 over the dial and under the spire1 is carved the date #aehe1 which indicates when that part was erected2 and on the present entrance1 on the northern side1 stands the date #aehg between the windows4 ,the house has been much adorned by various successive possessors1 and at the present time few seats1 either in ,england or on the ,continent1 can vie with ,burghley ,house4 ,queen ,elizabeth frequently visited her favourite minister1 her ,lord ,treasurer1 here2 and on ,april #bc1 #afjc1 ,james ,i41 on his journey from ,scotland1 came to ,burghley3 the next day1 being ,easter ,sunday1 he attended divine worship at the parish church1 ,st4 ,martin's1 ,stamford1 when the ,bishop of ,lincoln preached before him4 ,illustration ,entering the court1 the beauties of the architecture become apparent4 ,the appended engraving represents the entrance from the courtyard4 ,the eastern side is the most highly decorated1 and its three stories adorned with the ,doric1 ,ionic1 and ,corinthian orders1 in super-position4 ,above the last are two large stone lions1 supporting the arms of the family4 ,over an arch before the chapel is a bust of ,king ,william ,,iii42 the balustrades are enriched with a variety of sculptured vases4 ,four large gates from the various sides open into the court1 and give entrance to the several portions of the building1 which contains nearly one hundred and fifty apartments1 many of them of great dimensions1 all furnished suitably for their purpose1 and a considerable number in gorgeous profusion of decorative ornament and splendid furniture4 ,it is one of the few palatial mansions of a refined1 gay1 and brilliant period1 which remain carefully preserved1 and undisturbed by modern upholsterers4 ,it is impossible to speak too highly of the elegance and splendour of the interior4 ,the first apartment on entering is the spacious ,hall3 from some of the remaining features of its construction1 it has been imagined that the great ,lord ,treasurer did not build a new house from the foundation1 but that an edifice existed to which he imparted vastness by the additions he made4 ,the dimensions of this ,hall show at once that it includes a noble space1 being sixty-eight feet long and thirty feet broad4 ,it receives light from two large windows1 and has a fine open-worked timber roof1 springing from corbels1 very similar in idea to the roofs of ,westminster ,hall1 and the ,parliament ,house at ,edinburgh4 ,the chimneypiece is in perfect keeping with the ,baronial ,hall1 and is of stone1 finely sculptured1 bearing for its principal device in the centre the shield and supporters of the founder of the family2 it is also ornamented by a number of pictures1 some of which are portraits4 ,there are statues in marble of life size1 one of which1 very much esteemed1 represents ,andromeda chained to the rock1 and the ,sea-monster4 ,it was purchased in ,rome1 a century ago1 by the fifth ,earl of ,exeter1 for #cjjl4 8,drakard's ,guide0 attributes it to ,peter ,stephen ,monnot2 but ,brydges1 in his 8,history of ,northamptonshire10 says it is by ,domenico ,guidi4 ,from the ,hall1 visitors pass through the ,saloon1 and up the ancient grand vaulted stone staircase in the north-west part of the house1 to an apartment called the ,chapel ,room1 which contains nearly fifty pictures1 mostly of sacred subjects4 ,a true description of the numerous pictures in the different rooms is sadly wanted1 as we find one here called ,titian's ,wife and ,son1 attributed to ,teniers6 in 8,drakard's ,guide10 published at ,stamford4 ,here also stands a model of the ,holy ,sepulchre at ,jerusalem1 curiously inlaid4 ,the ,chapel1 to which the preceding serves as an ante-room1 is spacious1 being forty-two feet long1 thirty-five feet wide1 and eighteen feet high4 ,the ceiling is panelled and studded with devices2 the side-walls are wainscoted half-way up1 and at intervals are placed1 on pedestals1 ten antique bronzed figures1 of life size1 each holding a lamp4 ,festoons of fruit and flowers1 carved by ,grinling ,gibbons1 are its principal ornaments4 ,many of the finest apartments in the house1 such as chimneypieces1 are profusely decorated with his valuable carving4 ,a seat on the left-hand side1 nearest to the altar1 is pointed out as having been occupied by ,queen ,elizabeth when on a visit to ,burghley4 ,there are some large pictures placed on the walls of another space1 which forms also a portion of the ,chapel at the western end4 ,this part1 thirty-one feet long and twenty-four feet broad1 is wainscoted to the ceiling1 and is filled with open seats1 for servants and others connected with the family to attend divine service4 ,the gorgeous ,ball-room succeeds1 fifty feet in length1 twenty-eight in width1 and twenty-six in height4 ,the walls are painted with historical and other subjects by ,laguerre4 ,the candelabra1 which are placed on pedestals of japan gilt about two feet high1 are truly splendid4 ,two of them1 placed by the sides of the lofty bow-window1 are the figures of ,negroes kneeling1 and supporting the lights on their heads4 ,the ,brown ,drawing-room1 filled with pictures and a carved chimneypiece by ,gibbons1 leads to the ,black ,bedchamber1 so called from the hangings of the bed1 which are of black satin lined with yellow2 the chimneypiece here is also by ,gibbons4 ,the west ,dressing-room has in the window recess a toilette-table1 set out with richly gilt dressing-plate4 ,the north-west ,dressing-room is hung with pictures2 indeed every one of the principal rooms boasts of pictorial decoration1 and among the profusion are many fine examples of ancient art4 ,in a small apartment called the ,china ,closet is an extensive gathering of varied specimens of antique ,chinese1 and ,indian porcelain4 ,queen ,elizabeth's ,bed-room is hung with tapestry1 and contains an ancient state bed with hangings of green embossed velvet1 on a ground of gold tissue2 with chairs to correspond4 ,the toilette-table is set out with richly chased dressing-plate4 ,a number of other apartments in this range follow1 similarly furnished and adorned4 ,on the south side of the house there is another suite of grand apartments called the ,george ,rooms1 which were decorated in #aghi1 under the express direction and control of ,brownlow1 earl of ,exeter1 who selected the whole of the ornaments from publications of ancient architecture in the library at ,burghley4 ,his lordship directed the whole1 without the assistance of any professional person4 ,the rooms are wainscoted with the finest ,dutch oak1 of a natural colour2 the ceilings are mostly painted by ,verrio1 in mythological subjects2 carving1 gilding1 and tapestry1 are profusely employed2 the furniture is of corresponding magnificence2 and pictures1 sculptures1 and antiquities are dispersed1 to add to the general embellishment4 ,the ,dining-room contains two superb sideboards laden with massive silver-gilt plate2 a silver cistern weighs #cdjj ounces1 and a lesser one #fef ounces3 there are also coronation dishes1 ewers1 c4 ,two apartments are ,libraries2 they are filled with many ,,mss41 fine and rare books1 antiquities1 and an extensive collection of ancient coins4 ,the new ,state ,bed-room1 in the suite of ,george ,rooms1 contains a state bed1 which has the reputation of being the most splendid in ,europe4 ,it stands on a base or platform1 ascended by a couple of steps4 ,a canopy1 richly carved and entirely gilt1 is supported at the angles by clusters of columns rising from elaborate tripods1 which support the canopy or dome4 ,the height of this construction1 which resembles a temple1 is twenty feet from the ground2 #bej yards of striped silk coral velvet and #ijj yards of white satin are employed in the hangings4 ,the bed is a couch1 which stands under the temple4 ,the fifth ,george ,room is called 8,heaven10 from the multitude of ,pagan deities with which ,verrio has covered it2 and the grand staircase 7not the vaulted one7 is usually called 8,hell10 in consequence of the painted ceiling representing the poetic ,tartarus4 ,it would be vain to attempt a minute description of all that interests the learned or accomplished visitor2 a volume has already been published1 which in itself is but an abridged account4 ,every faculty of rational enjoyment is gratified to repletion in viewing the gorgeous halls of ,burghley ,house4 ,illustration3 ,,castle ,,ashby1 ,,northamptonshire ,,castle ,,ashby1 ,,northamptonshire4 ,castle ,ashby1 the venerable and deeply interesting seat of the ,most ,noble the ,marquess of ,northampton1 is situate about eight miles from the town of ,northampton4 ,much curious information exists concerning the early history of the manor2 to which1 however1 we shall not be able to enter at any length4 ,no mention is made of the ,saxon lord of 8,asebi20 but in the time of the ,confessor it was rated at twenty shillings yearly3 this yearly value had quadrupled at the time of the ,domesday ,survey1 when the estate 8was held by ,hugh1 under the countess ,judith40 ,in the reign of ,henry ,,iii41 the manor was seized under a forfeiture1 incurred by ,david de ,esseby1 for aiding the confederate barons against the king4 ,after the battle of ,evesham1 the estates of all these barons were confiscated2 but by the subsequent conciliatory policy of the sovereign1 the offenders were allowed to redeem their lands by payment of five years' value within three years4 ,this boon led to much disputation and some violence between the de jure and de facto holders2 and in the case of ,esseby 7,ashby71 ,alan la ,zouch1 the then holder1 died of fever induced by wounds inflicted on him before the king's justices in ,westminster ,hall1 by ,earl ,warren 7guardian of ,isabella1 grandchild of ,david de ,esseby71 who sought to recover the estates for his ward4 ,immediately after this outrage ,earl ,warren fled1 but was pursued by ,prince ,edward1 son of the king1 who captured him1 and it was only by much crying for mercy1 and many protestations of making such reparation as he could1 that he saved himself from immediate punishment4 ,it is not necessary to trace the various hands through which ,castle ,ashby passed subsequently to this period1 until we arrive at the fifteenth century1 when the estates became the property of the ,compton family1 ancestors of the present noble possessor1 who only succeeded in establishing a claim by a re-purchase in #adfe1 after fifty years' possession1 in consequence of 8rival nuncupative wills0 made by previous owners4 ,sir ,william ,compton1 the purchaser1 was the head of a family long settled at ,compton ,winyate1 in ,warwickshire1 from which place the family name was derived2 at the death of his father1 ,sir ,william had not attained his majority1 and being in ward to ,henry ,,vii41 was chosen by the king to attend his son ,prince ,henry1 who1 on subsequently ascending the throne1 gave him an appointment as groom of the bed-chamber4 ,sir ,william1 then ,mr4 ,compton1 soon became a favourite with the sovereign1 one of whose freaks was to attend incog4 a tournament got up by some of the courtiers1 on which occasion he was attended by his favourite1 ,mr4 ,compton1 who received a dangerous wound by an accidental collision with ,sir ,edward ,nevill4 ,in ,november #aeaj1 the king proclaimed a tournament1 8at which he with his two aids1 ,charles ,brandon1 afterwards ,duke of ,suffolk1 and ,william ,compton1 gave an universal challenge with the spear at tilt one day1 and at tourney with the sword the other40 ,magnificently accoutred1 the royal party entered the lists1 gained great distinction1 and received the prize4 ,afterwards1 in #aeaa1 the king granted to ,william ,compton ,esq41 8his trusty serv'nte and true liegman1 for the good and 7acceptable7 s'vyce whiche he hathe doone to his ,hignesse1 and durynge his lyfe entendithe to doo10 the manor of ,tottenham1 in ,middlesex1 and he was honoured1 in the following year1 with an armorial augmentation out of the royal arms4 8,mayster ,compton10 as he is called in an old ,,ms41 became ,sir ,william in #aeac1 being knighted by the king after the battle of the ,spurs 7#e ,hen4 ,,viii474 ,he died in #aebh1 after retaining through life the confidence and regard of his wayward master1 from whom he received many valuable marks of attachment4 ,his son ,peter1 who was only six years of age1 became the ward of ,cardinal ,wolsey1 and afterwards of the ,earl of ,shrewsbury1 to whose daughter he was married4 ,he died in his minority1 leaving one son1 ,henry ,compton1 who was knighted by the ,earl of ,leicester in #aeff1 and summoned to parliament by writ1 as ,baron ,compton1 in #aegb 7#ad ,eliz474 ,about this time another attempt was made to wrest the estate of ,ashby from the ,compton family1 which1 however1 ended in a compromise between the contending parties1 each making some concessions1 8for the finall endinge of all sutes and controversies40 ,lord ,compton was one of the ,commissioners deputed to sit in judgment on ,mary queen of ,scots4 ,william1 second ,lord ,compton1 married the daughter and heiress of ,sir ,john ,spencer1 alderman of ,london1 and thus obtained a large addition to his possessions4 ,this union would appear to have been made secretly1 and without the consent of the lady's father2 it took place at the church of ,st4 ,catharine ,colman1 ,fenchurch ,st41 as the register shews3 8#ah ,apr4 #aeii1 ,william ,lorde ,compton1 and ,elizabeth ,spencer1 maryed1 being thrice asked in the churche40 ,lord ,compton1 by reason of zealous service1 was regarded with great favour by ,james ,i41 who made him ,president of the ,council within the marches of ,wales1 to which he added the honour of ,lord ,lieutenant of the ,principality1 and the counties of ,worcester1 ,hereford1 and ,salop4 ,in #afag he was created ,earl of ,northampton4 ,he died in #afcj1 and was succeeded by his only son ,spencer1 who became one of the most distinguished men of the age4 ,he was an accomplished linguist1 and filled posts of much distinction about the person of the king2 ultimately taking an active part in the great civil war1 and after many brilliant feats of arms he was killed at ,hopton ,heth4 ,he left six sons1 all worthy of their heroic father1 distinguished like him for their devotion to the royal cause4 ,james1 the eldest son of the loyal and gallant peer1 became his successor--the third ,earl of ,northampton4 ,at ,hopton ,heath he was carried wounded from the field1 immediately before his father received his death-wound3 afterwards1 he greatly distinguished himself in the king's service1 particularly at ,lichfield4 ,on the ,restoration he headed a troop of two hundred gentlemen1 8clothed in grey and blue10 at the entry of ,charles ,,ii4 into ,london2 and 8his loyalty was subsequently rewarded with several honourable appointments1 which he held till his death1 at ,castle ,ashby1 ,december #ae1 #afha40 ,george1 fourth ,earl1 died in #agbg1 and was succeeded by his eldest son1 ,james1 fifth earl1 who was summoned to the ,house of ,peers1 by writ1 in #agaa4 ,he married ,elizabeth ,shirley1 ,baroness ,ferrars1 of ,chartley1 by whom he had issue1 and left ,charlotte1 his only surviving child1 who married the first ,marquess ,townshend4 ,george1 the sixth earl1 after enjoying his title but four years1 died without issue1 and was succeeded by his nephew1 ,charles1 seventh earl1 a nobleman of considerable accomplishments1 who was made ambassador extraordinary to ,venice in #agfc4 ,he died at ,lyons1 on his way home1 leaving an only daughter1 ,elizabeth1 wife of the late1 and grandmother of the present1 ,earl of ,burlington4 ,spencer1 eighth earl1 brother of the preceding1 was succeeded1 in #agig1 by his only son1 ,charles1 ninth earl1 who was created ,baron ,wilmington1 ,earl ,compton1 and ,marquess of ,northampton in #ahab4 ,on his death1 in #ahbh1 the titles and estates devolved on his only son1 ,spencer ,joshua ,alwyne ,compton1 born in #agij1--the present ,marquess of ,northampton4 ,the noble marquess is not alone distinguished by high descent and lofty position2 few persons of the age have more assiduously cultivated science and letters4 ,his lordship is president of the ,royal ,society1 and member of various other learned ,institutions2 and his 8annual gatherings0 of distinguished or accomplished men at his mansion in ,london1 have been among the most gratifying and beneficial events of a period which recognises genius as a distinction1 and gives its proper status to mind4#aj ,castle ,ashby is about two miles from the ,white-,mill ,station1 on the ,northampton and ,peterborough ,railway1 from which a convenient road offers facilities to vehicles1 while pedestrian visitors may shorten the distance1 and enjoy extensive prospects of scenery1 by taking a footpath over the hills--thus at once saving time and augmenting enjoyment4 ,on ascending the first of these hills1 he sees before him an extensive valley2 on the opposite hill is placed the castle1 of which1 however1 as yet he can obtain no glimpse1 being hidden from his view by a dense mass of noble trees1 which protect it from the northern winds4 ,illustration ,from this point the church is an object of much beauty in the landscape1 and being partially screened by fine trees1 offers1 as the visitor proceeds towards it1 many pleasing and picturesque combinations4 ,emerging suddenly from under thick foliage1 we tread upon an extended lawn1 and the whole of the southern front of the mansion is at once in sight3 its symmetrical regularity1 its not unhappy marriage of ,english with ,italian1 its stately octangular towers1 and the silvery grey of its time-bleached walls1 all combine to produce a most agreeable impression4 ,it is placed on the crest of the hill1 the slope in its rear1 a large tract of table land in front2 at right angles with the front a most magnificent avenue of noble trees passes far into the distance1 terminating on the northern side of ,yardley ,chase4 ,mr4 ,robinson1 in the 8,vitruvius ,britannicus10 relates all that is known regarding the erection of the house4 8,the castle1 embattled by license to ,bishop ,langton1 in the reign of ,edward ,i41 was the occasional residence of successive proprietors4 ,sir ,william de la ,pole1 and ,margaret ,peveril1 his wife1 in #aceh1 dated a feoffment of their manors of ,ashley and ,little ,brington at 8,castell ,assheby20 but when acquired by the family of ,grey de ,ruthyn1 in the fifteenth century1 its proximity to their patrimonial seat at ,yardley ,hastings1 would naturally lead to its partial and1 ultimately1 entire desertion4 ,a century had scarcely elapsed before ,leland thus recorded its desolate condition4 8,almost in the middle way betwixt ,welingborow and ,northampton ,i passed ,assheby1 more than a mile off on the left hand1 wher hathe bene a castle1 that now is clene downe1 and is made but a septum for bestes40 ,by a survey in #aefe1 it appears that ,george ,carleton1 ,esq41 under a lease granted by ,sir ,william ,compton for sixty-one years1 held the site of the manor and farm of 8,asheby ,david10 with all the demesne lands1 8whereunto pertaineth the old ruined castle40 ,camden1 in his 8,britannica10 says3--8,from hence 7,northampton7 men maketh haste away by ,castle ,ashby1 where ,henry ,l4 ,compton began to build a faire sightly house40 ,the commencement of the present stately edifice may1 therefore1 be safely dated between the expiration of the lease in #aehc and the death of this nobleman in #aehi4 ,one of the requests of the rich heiress of ,spencer to her lord was1 to 8build up ,ashby ,house40 ,and the original pile may be presumed to have been completed when ,king ,james ,i4 and his queen favoured its noble owner with a visit in #afje4 ,the dates of #afbd on the east front and on the two turrets1 must have reference to the subsequent alterations and erections by ,inigo ,jones4 ,illustration ,the castle buildings occupy a huge quadrangle1 with a garden court in the centre4 ,the most important apartments are on the northern and the southern sides4 ,the north front is of pure ,elizabethan architecture1 plain1 but of massive design1 combined with a grandeur and impressiveness not often attained with such unadorned simplicity4 ,the principal1 or southern front1 is remarkable for the curious anomaly it presents in the mixture of ,elizabethan with ,italian architecture4 ,pure taste1 of course1 rejects such experiments1 but if they be at all allowed1 perhaps it would hardly be possible to find an instance in which the incongruous association is less offensive than in this front2 arising1 no doubt1 from no attempt having been made to engraft the one style upon the other1 both being kept distinct4 ,the ,italian faade was added to enclose the court1 and complete the quadrangle3 it was designed by ,inigo ,jones1 and may be considered a good example of its peculiar character4 ,in contrast with the plain1 massive1 ,elizabethan wings1 the work of ,jones may1 perhaps1 justly be charged with something of a petite character2 but1 nevertheless1 taking the whole together1 it forms a composition by no means unpleasing4 ,on entering the castle the visitor is ushered into the ,great ,hall1 a room of noble dimensions1 and which formerly possessed many claims to admiration1 but1 unfortunately1 it has been modernised1 and1 therefore1 after noting the fine pictures it contains1--chiefly old family portraits1#aa--we pass on to the ,dining-,room1 which also contains some choice pictures2 the most striking are portraits of the present noble marquess and his lady1 apparently by ,hoppner1 and some choice gems of the ,dutch school4 ,hence we pass into the ,billiard-,room1 where1 after admiring the table and a few good pictures1 there is nothing to detain us1 and we enter the ,drawing-,room1 in which is an excellent large picture of landscape1 with cattle and figures1 the painter of which is not known4 ,presently we come to the ,great ,staircase1 which may be admired for its rich old oak1 carved1 according to the fashion of ,elizabeth's time1 into a variety of geometrical forms1 intermingled with wreaths of fruit and flowers1 some parts of which argue no mean skill in the artisan4 ,from hence we gain entrance to an ante-room1 containing tapestry1 said to have been presented by ,queen ,elizabeth2 and on leaving this room we pass into the gallery of the ,great ,hall1 whence we must pause awhile to examine a portrait of ,mrs4 ,chute1 by ,reynolds1 a most valuable picture of an excellent lady2 the dress is white1 the picture is in a light key1 clear1 broad1 and harmonious1 and of perfect execution4 ,the next room is the ,octagon1 where are two life-size figures1 in marble1 of ,mercury and the ,venus de ,medici1 and also various other statues1 of minor size and merit4 ,king ,william's ,room next engages attention3 it is of large dimensions1 and is chiefly remarkable for its ceiling1 of which we have given one of the enrichments as our initial4 ,there are two magnificent bay-windows in this room4 ,the ,long ,gallery is contained in the upper part of ,inigo ,jones' faade1 or screen1 of which it runs the entire length--ninety-one feet4 ,it is not remarkable for any peculiar attractions4 ,it contains a few good pictures1 one of which is of interest1 8,the ,battle of ,hopton ,heath10 where1 as we have seen1 several members of the ,compton family were distinguished4 ,it will be at once understood that our remarks and enumeration of objects refer solely to matters of artistic or antiquarian interest2 we therefore pass over much that might greatly interest general readers4 ,on the whole1 the interior does not sustain the rich promise of the exterior2 the plan does not seem to have been carried out with the fulness and determination so marked in many of our ,baronial ,halls4 ,the gardens do not present any remarkable features3 the grounds are picturesque1 and contain a large artificial lake1 formed by the famous landscape gardener ,brown1 to whom so many of our nobility entrusted their estates for such aids as art can supply to nature4 ,the grounds of ,castle ,ashby needed1 however1 but little of such help2 they are naturally of a kind which art cannot create1 nor do much to improve4 ,illustration3 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,kirby ,,hall1 ,,northamptonshire ,,kirby ,,hall1 ,,northamptonshire4 ,kirby ,hall4--,although now deserted1 this very venerable and exceedingly beautiful ,mansion ranks among the finest of the kingdom4#ab ,for upwards of two centuries1 it was the seat of 8the ,hattons10--the famous ,sir ,christopher and his lineal descendants1 the ,earls of ,winchelsea4 ,it was built by ,humphrey ,stafford1 the ,sixth ,earl of ,northampton2 the ,architect was ,john ,thorpe1 and two plans of the building are preserved among his collection of sketches in the ,museum bequeathed to the nation by the late ,sir ,john ,soane2 one of them is thus distinguished3--8,kirby1 whereof ,i layd the first stone1 #aegj40 ,not long afterwards1 it came into the possession of the ,lord ,chancellor ,hatton1 who obtained it from ,queen ,elizabeth in exchange for that of ,holdenby--a superb structure erected by him1 and which ,camden describes as 8a faire pattern of stately and magnificent building which maketh a faire glorious show10 and as 8not to be matched in this land40#ac ,it is more than probable that ,kirby was largely added to--perhaps finished--by ,sir ,christopher2 but that it was commenced by the unhappy family of ,stafford1 is evidenced by the 8,boar's head out of a ,ducal ,coronet10 and the name 8,humfree ,stafford10 to be found on several parts of the building4 ,the front was decorated by ,inigo ,jones about the year #afch4 ,the mansion is the property of the present ,earl of ,winchelsea1 who was born there4 ,it remains in a comparatively good state of preservation2 but it is certain that in its now neglected and deserted condition1 the encroachments of ,time will not be withstood much longer4 ,its situation1 like that of so many structures of the same date in ,england1 is unfortunately low1 and the difficulty of drainage 7it is liable at times to be flooded7 offers some excuse for removal to a more eligible site4 ,the approach is through an avenue of finely-grown trees1 extending above three quarters of a mile4 ,the first ,court-yard resembled that of ,holdenby--a balustraded inclosure1 with two grand archways4 ,the external front is the work of ,inigo ,jones1 by whom also much of the interior was considerably altered4 ,passing through this1 the visitor enters the principal ,quadrangle 7which forms the subject of ,mr4 ,richardson's drawing74 8,on each side of the arched entrance are fluted ,ionic pilasters1 with an enriched frieze and entablature2 the arched window above1 opening upon a ,gallery supported by consoles1 has a semicircular pediment1 broken in the centre1 and inclosing a bracket for a bust1 with the date #afch40 ,the window is1 however1 an insertion by ,inigo ,jones2 and being of a much later date than the other parts of the front1 sadly mars the effect of the architecture of old ,thorpe4 ,the third story contains the motto and date 8,je4 ,seray #aegb1 ,loyal40 ,the ,garden front has a raised ,terrace--now a corn-field--in which the slopes and a few ornamental seats yet remain4 ,this front supplies one of the grandest examples of ,elizabethan architecture existing in ,england4 ,it was built by ,thorpe1 and essentially agrees with the ,german ,school of ,architecture of that day--which the ,british ,architect had evidently studied4 ,the ,garden seats1 vases1 c41 of which there endure only broken fragments1 are in the style1 and believed to be the works1 of ,inigo ,jones4 ,the ,garden was terminated by a remarkably picturesque little bridge1 ornamented with a balustrade and scroll work1 now1 like all other objects about the structure1 or connected with it1 submitted to the wanton assaults of every heedless passer-by4 ,modern ,vandalism has1 indeed1 been very busy everywhere within and around this venerable ,mansion2--a farmer occupies a suite of rooms1 the decorations of which would excite astonishment and admiration in a ,london ,club-house2 farm-servants sleep surrounded by exquisite carvings2 one room in the south side of the ,quadrangle1 decorated with a fine old fire-place1 in which are the arms of the ,lord ,chancellor1 served1 at the time of the artist's visit1 the purpose of a dog-kennel2 and an elegant ,chapel1 constructed by ,inigo ,jones1 is entered with difficulty through piles of lumber and heaps of rubbish4 ,our initial letter is copied from one of the ,finials1 which crown the pilasters and gables in the ,quadrangle4 ,they formerly held staves with moveable vanes 7in metal71 8turning with every winde40 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,t4 ,allom ,day ,son1 ,lith44 to ,the ,queen4 ,,wollatton ,,hall1 ,,nottinghamshire4 ,wollatton ,hall1 the seat of the ,right ,hon4 ,digby ,willoughby1 the seventh ,baron ,middleton1 is situate three miles west of ,nottingham1 in the centre of a finely wooded park1 remarkable for a judicious combination of wood and water4 ,it stands on a considerable elevation1 and is seen from all parts of the surrounding country2 of which1 consequently1 it commands extensive views--not only of rich and fertile valleys1 but of one of the busiest and most populous of manufacturing towns4 ,we give on this page an engraving of the north entrance to the mansion4 ,the mansion was erected by ,sir ,francis ,willoughby1 ,knt41 towards the close of the sixteenth century1 as we learn from an inscription ,illustration over one of its entrances4 ,in the old history of the county of ,nottingham by ,thoroton there is a descent of this family1 down to the builder of the present ,mansion1 whose daughter ,bridget married ,sir ,percival ,willoughby1 of another branch of the family4 ,sir ,percival left five sons1 the eldest of whom1 ,sir ,francis1 who died in #affe1 was father of ,francis ,willoughby1 ,esq41 one of the greatest virtuosi in ,europe4 ,his renowned history of birds was published in ,latin after his death1 in #afgf4 ,he died in #afgb1 leaving two sons and one daughter4 ,the latter1 ,cassandra1 was married to ,james ,duke of ,chandos4 ,the eldest son died unmarried1 in his twentieth year4 ,the second son was created a peer in the tenth of ,queen ,anne1 ,a4,d4 #agaa4 ,in #agha1 on the death of ,thomas ,lord ,middleton without issue1 the estate and its honours descended to ,henry ,willoughby1 ,esq41 of ,birdfall1 county of ,york4 ,it is a remarkable circumstance1 that up to the present time the heir-at-law1 in consequence of there being no proximate issue1 has always been a remote member of the family4 ,the exterior of the mansion is peculiarly grand and imposing4 ,it is in the fashion of ,queen ,elizabeth's reign1--or rather the fashion just then beginning to be introduced1--and is in the ,italian style1 but of ,gothic arrangement4 ,it is square1 with four large towers adorned with pinnacles2 and in the centre the body of the house rises higher1 with projecting coped turrets at the corners4 ,the front and sides are adorned with square projecting ,ionic pilasters2 the square stone pillars are without tracery2 and 8the too great uniformity of the whole is broken by oblong niches1 circular ones filled ,illustration with busts of philosophers1 c41 and some very rich mouldings20 8,in the richness of its ornaments it is surpassed by no ,mansion in the kingdom40 ,the accompanying engraving represents the ,terrace and south entrance to the mansion4 ,the ,hall is lofty1 and the roof1 which is supported by arches somewhat like ,westminster ,hall1 has a very noble appearance4 ,the screen in the ,hall is supported by pillars of the ,doric order3 there is a variety of quaint devices under the beams1 in conformity with the taste of the time2 such as heads of satyrs1 chimeras1 c4 c4 ,the walls and ceilings were painted by ,laguerre4 ,the rooms in general are on a grand scale1 lofty and spacious4 ,the fabric1 taken as one built by a commoner1 exceeds the loftiest ideas of magnificence4 ,it is wholly of stone1 and must have cost an immense sum in its erection4 ,indeed the learned ,camden1 in the first edition of his 8,britannia10 pays to the builder a somewhat equivocal compliment1 asserting that by the time it was finished he had sunk in its erection 8three lordships20 8this ,sir ,francis10 he adds1 8at great expence1 in a foolish display of his wealth1 built a magnificent and most elegant house with a fine prospect40 ,illustration3 ,,benthall ,,hall1 ,,shropshire4 ,,benthall ,,hall1 ,,shropshire4 ,benthall ,manor1#ad ,shropshire1 is in that part of ,wenlock hundred which was comprised in the ,saxon hundred of ,patintune2 a division which became obsolete soon after the compilation of ,domesday ,book4 ,though in the present day ,benthall constitutes a parish in itself1 it was included in that of ,wenlock till the latter end of the seventeenth century4 ,in the reign of ,edward the ,confessor--and1 probably1 from a much earlier period--this estate belonged to the priory of ,wenlock2 and when ,william1 the successor of that pious king1 distributed lands among his ,norman followers1 at the expense of the ,saxon nobles1 he had too much regard for his reputation to deprive the ,church of her possessions4 ,reconciling1 however1 his piety to worldly policy1 ,king ,william made the priory of ,wenlock subservient to the abbey of ,rheims1 and thus contrived to reward the latter establishment for successful prayers made in favour of his expedition1 and at the same time to raise a ,norman influence over possessions of the ,english ,church4 ,the abbots of ,rheims1 like modern non-resident landlords1 had cause to regret their absence2 for we find that in the reign of ,richard ,i4 the ,prior of ,wenlock dealt with his lands as if the ,norman abbot had no concern with them3 and when1 at length1 in the reign of ,edward ,,iii41 the ,abbot of ,rheims obtained the king's charter1 confirming to him and his successors all the ,english lands which belonged to his abbey1 the interposition of the sovereign was ineffectual as far as it related to ,benthall1 that estate having been in the meantime irrevocably disposed of4 ,in a series of charters possessed by the ,benthall family1 some of which are written in the ,saxon language1 though without date1 it appears that the manor was owned many years by a family who took their surname from this estate1 and these are referred to in the hundred-rolls of the reign of ,king ,henry ,,iii41 as having been the ancestors of ,phillip de ,benethall1 then ,lord of ,benethall1 who held certain lands under the ,prior of ,wenlock4 ,early in the following reign1 however1 on ,phillip's forfeiting his lands1 ,benthall was re-granted to ,robert ,burnell1 ,bishop of ,bath and ,wells and ,lord ,chancellor1 whose annexation of this and numerous other estates to his neighbouring castle of ,acton ,burnell is not free from suspicion4 ,the chancellor's object seems1 however1 to have been the preferment of his family1 and1 perhaps1 an addition to his local influence1 rather than an increase to his own revenue1 for no sooner had he acquired the manor than he subgranted it to his kinsman1 ,john ,burnell1 who describes himself ,lord of ,benethall1 and appears to have resided here many years2 but on his succeeding his son ,henry1 as ,abbot of ,buildwas1 his eldest son1 ,phillip ,burnell1 received possession of his father's lands1 and1 dropping the patronymic of ,burnell1 assumed the surname of ,de ,benethall4#ae ,several acts of liberality on the part of this ,phillip towards the fraternity at ,buildwas are recorded to his credit2 and his father appears to have been a considerable benefactor of the abbey4 ,the descendants of this ,phillip de ,benethall1 and his wife ,maude1 daughter of ,nicholas ,forrer1 of ,lynley1 continued to hold the lordship of ,benthall1 with other lands1 upon conditions of feudal service to the elder branch of the ,burnell family1 namely1 the descendants of ,sir ,hugh1 the eldest brother of the chancellor2 among whom are included the ,handloes and the ,lovells1 descended from ,maud1 sister and heiress of ,edward ,lord ,burnell1 the grandson of ,sir ,hugh1 until ,francis ,viscount ,lovell1 ,lord ,chamberlain of the ,household and ,chief ,butler of ,king ,richard ,,iii41 having fought for his sovereign at ,bosworth ,field1 his estates were forfeited to the ,lancastrian king1 ,henry ,,vii4#af ,on the loss of the battle1 with which ,king ,richard lost his life as well as his ill-gotten crown1 ,lord ,lovell escaped to ,saint ,john's ,abbey at ,colchester1 and afterwards to ,flanders1 where ,margaret1 duchess of ,burgundy1 sister to the late ,king ,edward ,,iv41 supplied an army of two thousand men2 with which1 and associated with ,john de la ,pole1 ,earl of ,lincoln1 he invaded ,england1 and was killed at the battle of ,newark-upon-,trent1 in the third year of ,king ,henry ,,vii4 ,robert ,benthall1 the seventh in descent from ,phillip ,burnell1 was owner of the estate at this time1 and continued to enjoy it1 notwithstanding ,lord ,lovell's forfeiture4#ag ,from this circumstance there can be no doubt that ,robert had proved himself of ,lancastrian politics2 and it is probable that he was one of the party of eight hundred gentlemen and others of ,shropshire who were collected by his cousin1 ,sir ,richard ,corbet1 and accompanied the ,earl of ,richmond from ,shrewsbury to ,bosworth4 ,from this period the family of ,de ,benethall1 or ,benthall1 held the manor immediately under the crown1#ah till the death of ,richard ,benthall1 ,esq41#ai in #agbj1 who1 by his will1 gave this estate1 together with other lands1 to his affianced cousin1 ,elizabeth1 daughter of ,ralph ,browne1 ,esq41 of ,caughley1 who was high-sheriff of the county anno #aefg1 by ,catherine1 the daughter and sole heiress of ,edward ,benthall4 ,by the will of ,ann1 widow of ,ralph ,browne1 ,esq4 7who was a son of the before-mentioned ,ralph71 the manor of ,benthall was entailed1 in the year #agfh1 on ,lucia1 the only daughter and heiress of ,francis ,turner ,blythe1 ,esq41 afterwards the wife of the ,rev4 ,edward ,harries1 ,rector of ,hanwood1 and ,vicar of ,cleobury ,mortimer1 from whose eldest son1 ,thomas ,harries1 ,esq41 of ,cructon ,hall1 the estate has been recently purchased by ,john ,george ,weld1 second ,lord ,forester4 ,about twelve miles from ,shrewsbury1 and three from ,wenlock1 lies ,benthall ,hall1 built by ,william ,benthall1 ,esq41#bj ,a4,d4 #aece1 on the site of a former house1 which1 as well as the adjacent manor chapel1 is mentioned in the reign of ,henry ,,iii41#ba as being then the property of ,phillip de ,benethall2 the chapel1 however1 which was of early ,english architecture1 remained until ,a4,d4 #afff1 when it was destroyed by fire1 and in its place the modern chapel1 now the parish church of ,benthall1 was erected4 ,the situation of ,benthall has at all times enabled its proprietor to exercise considerable influence over elections in the borough of ,wenlock1 the franchise of which extends over the whole of this manor2 but few of the preceding residents at the ,hall have aspired to the office of bailiff1 the chief magistrate of this borough--an office which1 nevertheless1 is of importance1 since the liberties of ,wenlock are more extensive1 it is said1 than those of any other borough in ,england4 ,there is1 however1 in the ,bodleian ,library1 a curious manuscript account of the honourable reception which ,edward ,sprott1 deputy to ,richard ,benthall1 of ,benthall1 the bailiff1 and ,richard ,lawley1 gave1 on the #afth ,july1 #aeed1 to the ,lord ,president of the ,marches of ,wales1 on his visiting ,wenlock with ,justice ,townsend4 ,mr4 ,sprott was a member of an ancient family1 who long held a considerable property1 called 8,the ,marsh10 in the borough of ,wenlock4 ,richard ,lawley was a son of ,mr4 ,thomas ,lawley1 who had purchased the then lately dissolved priory of ,wenlock1 and had converted it to a residence for himself4 ,he was the ancestor of the present 7anno #ahdg7 ,lord ,wenlock and ,sir ,francis ,lawley1 ,bart41 to the latter of whom the extensive property of the ,lawley family in this neighbourhood now belongs4 ,richard ,benthall was eldest son and heir of ,william1 who has been before noticed4 ,he married ,jane1 daughter of ,lawrence ,ludlow1 ,esq41 of the ,morehouse in this county4 ,the ,hall stands on one of a chain of wooded hills called ,benthall ,edge1 which rises from a sheet of water in front of the house to a point at some distance in its rear4 ,in this direction the table of the hill is terminated by a precipitous wood1 which skirts the river ,severn1 and1 at the left1 commands a distant view of mountains in ,montgomeryshire1 while the ,severn is seen winding its course through the vale of ,shropshire4 ,in the foreground the river passes beneath the ,wrekin hill1 and washes the ruined walls of ,buildwas ,abbey4 ,these objects are presented from a natural terrace raised some hundred feet above the ,severn1 which here1 pent in by opposing hills1 glides rapidly towards ,bridgnorth4 ,the oak carving in the hall1 dining-room1 and drawing-room of the manor-house1 were executed by order of ,john ,benthall1 ,esq4 7a grandson of ,william71 about ,a4,d4 #afah1 and the arms of ,cassey were impaled with those of ,benthall in the ornamental panels1 as a compliment to that family1 upon the recent marriage of ,lawrence1 the heir of ,benthall1 with the daughter of ,thomas ,cassey1 ,esq41#bb of ,whitefield and ,cassey ,compton1 in ,gloucestershire4 ,during the ,parliamentary wars1 ,lawrence impoverished himself by his zeal in support of ,king ,charles2 he was one of a list of thirty-two principal gentlemen of ,shropshire 7headed by the sheriff7 who1 in ,november #afdb1 entered into a mutual undertaking to raise a troop of dragoons for his ,majesty's service2 a step deemed necessary in consequence of the additional strength which the ,parliamentary party had acquired in the county1 by ,colonel ,mitton's capture of ,wem1 in the preceding month of ,august2 but the cause of the ,royalists sustained a far severer blow eighteen months afterwards in the loss of ,shrewsbury1 which borough1 after having voluntarily expended nearly all its resources in aid of the king1 was surprised in the night of #bast ,february1 #afde1 through the treachery of one of its inhabitants4 ,after an ineffectual defence1 the town was carried by the rebels1 and among the prisoners whom they took on that occasion1 was ,ensign ,cassey ,benthall1 the eldest son of ,lawrence4 ,the young officer was fortunate enough1 however1 to make his escape1 and1 pursuing his loyal course1 had attained the rank of colonel1 when he was killed1 fighting for ,charles ,i41 at ,stow-in-the-,wold1 in ,gloucestershire4 ,colonel ,benthall had enlisted in his regiment many of the yeomen in the neighbourhood of his father's estate1 and among those who were killed at ,stow was ,thomas ,penderel1 a brother of the famous ,richard ,penderel1 who was the attendant and guide of ,charles ,,ii4 in his wanderings after the battle of ,worcester4 ,the loyalty of ,lawrence ,benthall was well known to ,richard ,penderel1 and nearly procured for the former the honour of aiding the king to escape2 for the royal fugitive1 having been conducted by ,richard to the town of ,madeley1 would have crossed the ,severn by the ,benthall ferry1 but his intention had been anticipated by the ,parliamentary soldiers1 who had taken possession of the boat4 ,charles1 therefore1 remained concealed at ,madeley1 in a barn of ,mr4 ,woolf1 a worthy loyalist1 who entertained him there a night and a day2 and from thence the unfortunate king retreated to ,boscobel wood1 where he had the well-known adventure which has made the oak-leaf sacred to his memory4 ,many were the damages sustained by the houses of the gentlemen of ,shropshire at this troublesome period1 through wanton acts of violence2 but ,benthall ,hall remained in tolerably perfect preservation till ,a4,d4 #ahah1 when it was partly destroyed by fire1 from which1 however1 the principal rooms escaped without injury4 ,illustration ,the exterior of the mansion1 though it would be commonly denominated ,elizabethan1 affords an example of the domestic architecture which was antecedent to the pure ,elizabethan style4 ,the landscape view of the front presented to the reader is taken from the avenue1 which has been unfortunately deprived of its most stately trees by its present noble proprietor4 ,the building is of stone2 the extent of frontage being relieved by a slight projection on the left1 and by two tiers of bay-windows1 which are placed at equal distances on either side of a porch4 ,all the windows have stone compartments and lozenge-panes4 ,the roof is gabled without finials1 and the chimneys1 which are tastefully placed1 are lofty1 with ornamented shafts and mouldings4 ,the porch stands somewhat out of the centre of the frontage1 so as agreeably to subdue the regularity of the building1 and surmounted by a windowed room1 harmonises with the other projections4 ,the front entrance is a round arched door1 on the left of the porch4 ,the rooms in the interior are lofty4 ,the entrance-hall has unfortunately lost all its wainscoting1 except some carved oak over the chimneypiece1 which represents the ,benthall ,illustration coat of arms with that of ,cassey impaled4 ,on the right is the ancient with-drawing-room1 completely wainscoted1 and containing an oak chimneypiece1 which is executed in the diminutive ,grecian style essential to ,elizabethan architecture4 ,the uppermost tier of columns1 which have ,ionic capitals1 enclose the ,benthall coat of arms with that of ,cassey impaled1 and immediately beneath it is the coat of ,harries1 enclosed by a tier of ,roman ,doric columns4 ,this room has an elegant bay-window1 and a decorated ceiling2 further on the right is a spacious1 but modern dining-room1 built by ,francis ,blythe ,harries1 ,esq4 of ,broseley ,hall1 who resided here many years4 ,on the left of the entrance-hall is the principal staircase-lobby1 forming a passage to the ancient dining-room4 ,this room is fully and richly wainscoted1 and has a handsome oak chimneypiece extending to a decorated ceiling1 and exhibiting on its panels the ,benthall and ,cassey coats of arms4 ,the staircase is also of oak1 and elaborately worked1 in the angle of which a panel tastefully1 though somewhat fantastically carved1 represents a leopard1 the crest of ,benthall4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f ,w ,hulme4 ,day ,son4 ,lith to ,the ,queen ,,pitchford ,,hall1 ,,shropshire ,,pitchford ,,hall1 ,,shropshire4 ,pitchford ,hall4 ,this very curious and interesting example of the half-timbered houses of the time of ,henry ,,viii4 is situate in the hundred of ,condover1 and about six miles south of ,shrewsbury4 ,its position is singularly felicitous1 being placed in one of the pleasantest and most fertile parts of that most beautiful county1 ,shropshire4 ,from ,shrewsbury it is approached by a sort of 8cross-country0 road1 passing through rich tracts of corn-growing land1 up and down1 in and out2 and the first view of its chequered walls and clustered chimneys is gained from a distance of about half a mile1 looking up the well-wooded slopes of a rich valley of pasture land4 ,the road traverses one side of the vale2 the ,hall occupies a commanding position on the other1 presenting to the tourist new combinations of beautiful scenery at almost every step he advances1 all marked by a happy unity of impression4 ,no railway comes near it1 to break its quiet with the din and clatter of the too-busy world4 ,the best general view of the house is from the public road1 seen from a point nearly opposite the principal front3 at a distance1 the somewhat harsh contrast of the vivid interlacings of black and white is toned down into harmony with the general effect1 still leaving point enough to give value to the full1 rich masses of wood1 by which three of its sides are encompassed4 ,the house is highly picturesque2 the walls seem to be composed1 for the most part1 of strongly framed timber1 raised on a substructure of stone and brick4 ,the whole is in a surprising state of preservation for its age1 and seems to have suffered but little from the progress of time1 or the assaults of 8improvers40 ,in front of the ,hall a small stream of water flows1 passing under a bridge1 on one side of which it has been raised by means of a weir4 ,this serves a double purpose--it gives the upper part of the stream a broad river-like appearance1 and at the same time is an admirable defence to the extensive gardens1 which skirt its banks for a considerable distance4 ,the interior contains nothing peculiarly remarkable2 it has some good rooms1 wanting in height1 however1 as is almost invariably the case in houses of this description4 ,pitchford is said to have derived its name from 8a bituminous well1 one of the greatest natural curiosities of the county1 on the surface of which constantly floats a sort of liquid bitumen1 in nature resembling that which floats on the ,lake ,asphaltites in ,palestine40#bc ,the earliest possessors of ,pitchford of whom we find mention1 were a family who derived their name from the place2 of whom one ,ralph de ,pitchford1 says ,camden1 8behaved himself so valiantly at the siege of ,bridgnorth1 that ,king ,henry ,i4 gave him ,little ,brug near it1 to hold by the service of finding dry wood for the ,great ,chamber of the castle of ,brug1 or ,bruggnorth1 against the coming of his sovereign lord the king40 ,the ,hall is now the property and residence of the ,earl of ,liverpool1 to whom it was devised in #ahjf by ,mr4 ,oteley1 in whose family the estate had been for nearly four centuries4 ,william ,ottley ,esq41 as the name was then spelt1 was high-sheriff for the county of ,salop in the #aeth of ,henry ,,vii41 and again in the #eth of ,henry ,,viii41 in whose reign the present ,hall is supposed to have been built4 ,robert ,ottley is mentioned as the lord of the manor in the time of ,queen ,elizabeth4 ,during the ,civil ,war1 members of this family gained much distinction as active and zealous1 but not always successful1 adherents of the royal party4 8,sir ,francis ,ottley was successively governor of the towns of ,shrewsbury and ,bridgnorth2 the latter he surrendered1 after a siege in #afdf1 to the ,parliamentary forces40 ,in the articles of capitulation1 still existing at ,pitchford1 it is stipulated1 that 8,sir ,francis ,ottley be permitted to retire with his family and baggage to his home at ,pitchford1 or at the ,hay10 another possession of the family4 ,close to the ,hall1 screened on all sides by thick plantations1 is the church1 a plain1 neat1 8respectable0 structure1 of great age4 ,it contains some interesting monuments of various members of the ,ottley family1 and also 8a fine and curious oaken figure of a ,knight ,templar1 a ,baron de ,pitchford1 a crusader1 who was buried here40 ,in ,october1 #ahcb1 ,pitchford ,hall was visited by her ,majesty the ,queen 7then ,princess ,victoria7 and her august mother1 the ,duchess of ,kent2 8on which occasion10 says the loyal and zealous county historian1 8it was the scene of genuine ,shropshire hospitality and festivity40 ,illustration3 ,from a sketch by ,c ,j ,richardson ,day ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen ,,the ,,great ,,chamber ,,montacute ,,montacute1 ,,somersetshire4 ,montacute4 ,the village of ,montacute is one of the most primitive and picturesque of the villages of ,england4 ,it consists of a large ,square1 a ,market-place1 with its simple and beautiful ,school-house1 an erection which dates so far back as the time of ,henry the ,seventh1--a very rare and fine example in a remarkably good state of preservation1 which formerly stood against a quaint old ,market-house1 now destroyed4 ,the principal street consists of stone hovels1 built in a rude style1 but still retaining proofs that the comforts of the inmates were duly weighed and considered4 ,the village and its vicinity are flourishing1 in consequence of the ample employment which the women obtain at glove-making1 at which they are nearly all occupied in their own cottages4 ,it is situated within four miles west of the town of ,yeovil1 and about the same distance south of ,ilchester4 ,montacute derives its name from a conical hill 7mons acutus7 which overlooks the ,illustration village1 and on which is a round tower1 commanding an extensive view of the ,vale of ,somerset1 and the ,british ,channel4#bd ,the prospect thence is1 indeed1 not only extensive but exceedingly magnificent2 including 8the hills below ,minehead and ,blackdown1 ,taunton1 ,quantock ,hills1 ,bridgewater ,bay1 and the coast of ,wales2 ,brent ,knoll1 the whole range of ,mendip1 with the city of ,wells and ,glastonbury ,torr2 ,cheech and ,knowl ,hills1 ,alfred's ,tower1 and the high lands about ,shaftesbury2 also the ,dorsetshire ,hills1 and ,lambert's ,castle near ,lyme40 ,at the foot1 is the site of a ,priory of black ,cluniac monks1 suppressed in the time of ,henry the ,eighth1 of which only the ,gatehouse endures2 it is here pictured from a drawing by ,mr4 ,richardson4 ,it is somewhat extensive1 and contains one room1 little injured by time1 with a good oak ceiling of peculiarly bold character4 ,montacute ,house1 and the estates adjoining1 have been for several centuries the property of the family of ,phelips2 who originally 8came over0 with the ,conqueror1 and in consideration of military services were requited with large grants of lands in ,wales1 where they were long settled4 ,in the fourteenth century they 8migrated0 into ,somersetshire1 residing for many years at ,barrington1 not far from the present seat4 ,the 8spacious and noble building0 was commenced in #aeej1 and finished in #afja1 for ,sir ,edward ,phelips1 ,knight1 ,queen's ,serjeant1 the third son of ,sir ,thomas ,phelips4 ,its cost is said to have exceeded the sum of #ai1ejj4 ,it has since continued in the family of the founder1 in the following line of succession4 ,sir ,edward ,phelips1 ,master of the ,rolls1 ,chancellor to ,henry ,prince of ,wales1 and ,speaker of the ,house of ,commons1 in the reigns of ,elizabeth and ,james the ,first2 ,sir ,robert ,phelips1 his son1 in the reigns of ,james the ,first and ,charles the ,first2 ,colonel ,edward ,phelips1 during the ,commonwealth1 and in the reign of ,charles the ,second2#be ,sir ,edward ,phelips1 ,knight1 in the reigns of ,james the ,second and ,william the ,third2 his nephew1 ,edward ,phelips1 ,esq41 in the reigns of ,anne and ,george the ,first2 ,edward ,phelips1 ,esq41 in that of ,george the ,second2 ,william ,phelips1 ,esq41 in that of ,george the ,third2 and ,john ,phelips1 ,esq41 in that of ,george the ,fourth2 the present possessor is a minor4 ,but1 unhappily1 the ,mansion1 so long the scene of comparatively uninterrupted hospitality1 has been1 of late years1 deserted2 stripped in a great degree of its internal decorations2 and left to the mercy of time4 ,it presents1 however1 one of the finest and most interesting examples of the architecture of the period1 yet existing in the kingdom2 8combining simplicity of design with richness of ornament10--8a magnificent specimen of the style of ,elizabeth's reign40 ,the form of the building is that of the ,roman letter ,e2 a form which the founder is said to have adopted in compliment to his ,royal mistress4 ,it is built entirely of brown stone1 found on the ,estate4 8,the length of the ,eastern or principal front10 according to ,mr4 ,shaw1 78,elizabethan ,architecture107 is one hundred and seventy feet2 it is three stories in height1 and is surmounted by gables and a parapet1 crowned with pinnacles4 ,each story is marked by its entablature2 the bays of its numerous windows are divided by stone mullions2 and between each window of the uppermost story are recessed niches1 containing a series of statues1 the size of life1 in ,roman armour1 resting on their shields40 ,the wings1 twenty-eight feet in width1 are crowned by ornamental gables2 the space between them being occupied by a terrace ascended by a flight of seven steps4 ,the ,western ,front--we learn from the same source--was greatly improved1 in #agfj1 by the acquisition of an ancient screen1 removed from ,clifton ,house1 near ,yeovil2 8it is placed between the wings in front of the original edifice2 surmounted by finials1 crowned with grotesque figures rising from turrets connected by a pierced parapet40 ,the ,court1 upon the ,eastern front1 is 8a fine and appropriate accessory0 to this stately ,mansion4 ,it contains two picturesque square ,pavilions1 or ,lodges1 at the angles facing the building4 ,the sides are formed by an open balustrade1 having a small circular temple in the centre of each2 these latter are twenty-five feet in height1 from the level of the ,court4 ,the whole composition exhibits great beauty4 ,over the arched entrances in the centre compartment are the arms of the family--argent1 a chevron between three roses1 gules1 seeded or1 barbel vert1 with lions rampant as supporters4 ,over the principal door of the building is the following couplet1 indicative of the hospitality of its high-born owners3-- ,through this wide opening gate1 ,none come too early1 none return too late4 ,this1 however1 is not the only inscription to convey their sense of duty to their guests4 ,over the ,north ,porch is the following3-- ,and yours my friend4 ,and on one of the lodges1 ,welcome the coming ,speed the parting guest4 ,the interior is divided into suites of handsome and spacious apartments4 ,the staircase is of the construction usual in the time of ,elizabeth--stone steps round a ,illustration huge solid mass of stone4 ,in the ,hall1 is a fine stone screen2 and1 at the end1 a bas-relief1 four feet six inches in height1 representing the ancient custom of 8skimmitting or stang-riding40#bf ,the ,hall contains also a curious old chest--the work1 probably1 of some ,italian or ,french artist of the time of ,henry the ,eighth4 ,the ,rooms are generally panelled with oak2 but the ceilings throughout1 and the staircase1 are quite plain2 the walls of the principal apartments are1 however1 lined with finely-carved wainscotting to within a few feet of the ceiling--the intervening space being ornamented by rich plaster-work1 which has a fine effect4 ,the screen1 which ,mr4 ,richardson has pictured in the appended print1 belonged originally ,illustration to the entrance to the ,dining-room1 and was removed to its present position by one of the later proprietors of the ,mansion4#bg ,although the ,mansion at ,montacute supplies us with many subjects for illustration by the pencil1 we have preferred to introduce a copy of the graceful and venerable ,school-house--one of the most striking and interesting remains of a remote period1 and one with which no other than agreeable memories can be associated4 ,the initial letter is part of the sculpture of the western front4 ,unhappily1 the ,destroyer is busily at work about this fine old ,mansion--one of the grandest1 most original1 and most auspiciously situated of the few unimpaired structures of the reign of ,queen ,elizabeth by which the kingdom is still enriched4 ,although its present possessor is the direct descendant of its founder1 and 8the line0 has been unbroken for nearly three centuries1 it is now deserted4 ,all its glories are of ancient dates3 the 8wide opening gate0 gives admission to no gay revellers2 and the yet existing motto seems a solemn mockery-- ,welcome the coming ,speed the parting guest4 ,illustration3 ,from a sketch by ,j4 ,l4 ,p4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen ,,caverswall ,,castle1 ,,staffordshire4 ,,caverswall ,,castle1 ,,staffordshire4 ,caverswall ,castle4--,the pretty and secluded village of ,caverswall is seated in the centre of a rich level vale1 through which runs the river ,blithe1--here1 not far from its source1 a narrow stream1 which gradually swells into size and strength4 ,the venerable ,castle of ,caverswall1 one of the most striking1 picturesque1 and interesting remains of a distant age1 towers above this pleasant and appropriately named streamlet1 overlooking the broad valley1 the whole of which it completely commands1 and of which it was formerly the guardian and the glory4 ,in the twentieth year of ,william the ,conqueror1 ,caverswall was held of ,robert de ,stadford by ,ernulfus de ,hesding2 but in the time of ,richard ,cur de ,lion1 one ,thomas de ,careswell was lord of this demesne1 from whom it descended to ,sir ,william de ,caverswell1 ,knight1 most likely the same who was sheriff of ,staffordshire towards the close of the reign of ,henry ,,iii41 and whose descendant1 probably grandson1 of the same name and title1 in the latter end of the reign of ,king ,edward ,,ii41 built ,illustration a large and strong stone castle here1 surrounded by a deep moat4 ,as additional security1 when safety was worth a costly purchase1 we are told he gave it the further defence of square turrets at the heads of extensive pieces of water4 ,this is 8the castel or prati-pile of ,caverwell0 of ,leland's time4 ,of its founder1 we know nothing more than is revealed to us by his marble monumental slab1 now reduced to the level of the church-floor at the entrance into the chancel--strange transition6--to be trodden on by every foot that passes4 ,this 8goodly castle10 as ,erdeswick terms it1 in his time1 about two hundred and fifty years ago1 he tells us1 8was lately in reasonable good repair1 but is now quite let to decay by one ,browne1 farmer of the demesnes1 which he procured 7if a man might guess at the cause7 lest his lord should take a conceit to live there1 and thereby take the demesnes from him40 ,now1 it is probable no remnant of this ancient ,castle is extant1 unless in the chiselled stones which give support to garden-hedges about the village4 ,still1 the lower portions of the wall which surrounds the platform of the ,castle1 with its graduated buttresses1 and perhaps also the foundations of some of the turrets1 give indications of an architecture at least much anterior to the present building4 ,we are inclined to refer this ancient wall to the period of the original ,castle4 ,the lordship descended from the ,caverswells1 who enjoyed it until the nineteenth of ,edward ,,iii41 when by the heir-general it passed to the ,montgomerys1 and subsequently to the ,giffards1 the ,ports1 the family of ,hastings1 ,earls of ,huntingdon1 who were owners of it in the seventeenth century2 and1 by purchase1 to ,matthew ,cradock1 ,esq41 whose father1 we are told in a celebrated letter of ,sir ,simon ,degge's1 was a wool-buyer at ,stafford4 ,in the reign of ,james ,i41 this latter proprietor1 it is said1 employed the skill of the celebrated ,inigo ,jones to erect the present castellated mansion4 ,the site of this solemn fortress-like structure1 enriched by the dark-grey tints of age1 is the rock which gave foundation to ,sir ,william de ,caverswell's ,castle4 ,the grit-stone of which it is built has been excavated from the moat that surrounds the whole2 the same being the case no doubt with the materials of the earlier building1 for the circumstance1 as we shall see1 is alluded to in the ,latin lines on the founder's tomb4 ,the ,castle is placed upon an elevated quadrangular platform1 which is defended by a curtain running along each side1 having a number of graduated buttresses rising from the moat1 and by an octagonal turret1 with its base dipping in the fosse1 at each angle4 ,the pointed arched gateway1 approached by a stone bridge1 is flanked by an additional turret on each side1 like the others1 balustraded at the top4 ,this balustrade formerly was carried round the top of the ,castle also4 ,its removal in recent times has been injurious to picturesque effect2 hence the artist has retained this proper mark of style in our lithotint4 ,the quadrangle of the ,castle is laid out in gravelled walks1 shaded by fine hedges of hornbeam1 and a beautiful flower-garden1 exhibiting many of the gems of ,flora's chaplet1 and some remarkably fine specimens of ,cotoneaster trained along the walls4 ,the building itself is chiefly interesting as presenting the ideal of the great architect of the transition from the ancient castle to the baronial mansion4 ,the keep may be said to be still retained in the lofty square tower1 which overtops the building at its western end4 ,two great bays ascend1 one on each side1 to the top of the building1 which break the plainness of the front1 and afford additional light to the apartments4 ,the numerous windows are all large1 divided by deep mullions2 and in a winter's evening1 when most of the rooms are occupied1 a distant spectator might conceive there was an illumination in the ,castle4 ,the rooms are plain1 and afford nothing worthy of particular note4 ,the square tower is chiefly occupied by staircases4 ,the turrets have been converted into apartments of residence4 ,whilst around the whole1 flow the dark yet clear waters of the moat1 which expands on the western side into a small lake4 ,this moat is supplied by a number of springs and a limpid rill that runs into it4 ,its outer margin receives the shade of some fine limes4 ,as if in pointed contrast to all this panoply of defence1 on the inner margin of the fosse there is seen a pretty little flower-border1 occupying the recesses between the buttresses which support the platform4 ,we have here an indication of the peaceful1 unwarlike purpose to which this sombre fortress is now devoted4 ,on the decease of ,matthew ,cradock1 ,esq41 who built the present ,castle1 it came into the hands of his son1 ,george ,cradock1 ,esq41 who died in #afdc1bh with whose descendants it remained only till #afee4 ,from them it passed to ,sir ,william ,jolliffe1 ,knight2 and from him1 by marriage with his daughter1 to ,william ,viscount ,vane1 of ,ireland4 ,it subsequently passed into the hands of the family of ,parker1 one worthy descendant of which house1 ,thomas ,hawe ,parker1 ,esq41 resides at ,park ,hall1 near the village1 and still retains the manor4 ,during the disastrous wars of the ,french ,revolution1 it was purchased for the retreat of a religious community from ,ghent1 in ,belgium1--the ,benedictine ,dames1--who emigrated hither in #ahaa1 having previously settled at ,preston1 in ,lancashire4 ,these ladies1 in their antique black dresses and hoods1 as they traverse the terraces on the platform of the ,castle1 or engage in the cultivation of their flower-gardens1 give an air of surprising interest1 of living reality1 to this castellated mansion of other ages4 ,they have erected a good-sized chapel on the eastern side of the house1 in which is a large picture over the altar representing ,st4 ,benedict and ,st4 ,scholastica praying to the virgin2 and they devote much of their time to the purposes of education4 ,on the opposite side of the moat1 amidst the shade of surrounding trees1 we perceive the final resting-place of the sisterhood4 ,in this neat little plot is a number of tombstones1 two of which are distinguished from the rest by bearing the cross and pastoral staff--emblems of ghostly superintendence4 ,they mark the graves of ,lady ,abbesses4 ,one lay sister1 now rapidly descending the vale of years1 is the only religieuse who came over with the original refugees4 ,a doorway1 now closed1 formerly led from the ,castle to the ,church1 which is close by4 ,it is a spacious village church1 dedicated to ,st4 ,peter1 embosomed in a grove of ,illustration sycamores1 and presenting1 like many others1 indications of great antiquity--indications which are almost overgrown with the additions and reconstructions of nearly every period since its foundation4 ,the piers of the nave1 which give support to a series of semicircular arches1 from their plainness most probably belong to the ,norman style4 ,the decorated finds its representatives in the belfry arch1 and the two aisles of the nave2 whilst the perpendicular is fairly displayed in the handsome eastern window of the tower4 ,this tower and the aisles may be referred to the fourteenth century4 ,the beauties and harmonies of the whole have been sadly marred1 especially by the low flat ceilings1 which extend from the tower to the chancel1 in different stages of degradation4 ,the nave contains some plain low oaken stalls1 very ancient4 ,some pews also and the pulpit exhibit specimens of carving in oak in a pleasing style--an illustration of which forms our initial letter4 ,the ,church is rich in monuments4 ,beyond mentioning a fine evidence of ,chantrey's skill1 in a monumental figure to the memory of the ,countess of ,st4 ,vincent1--the lady kneels in an attitude of submissiveness to the inevitable stroke1 her coronet being laid aside1--beyond this mere mention1 and that the family vaults and monuments of the ,parker family1 of ,park ,hall1 the patrons of the living1 exist here1 we shall confine ourselves to the memorials of the two founders of the ancient and more modern ,castles of ,caverswall4 ,at the entrance to the chancel1 near to the foot of the pulpit stairs1 is a massy slab of grey marble1 laid in the floor4 ,this is all that now remains of the monument of ,sir ,william de ,caverswell1 the builder of the ,castle in the time of ,edward ,,ii41 about ,a4,d4 #acjj4 ,it has originally contained a large and elegant cross-fleurie1 stretching over the entire length of the slab1 a shield on each side1 and an inscription running along the head and the two sides1 all in inlaid brass4 ,erdeswick1 the ,staffordshire antiquary1 who described it about two hundred and fifty years ago1 tells us that then the metal had been taken out4 ,he adds1 in a parenthesis1 8such is the iniquity of this day20 but yet he was able to perceive what the letters were4 ,these letters are in a fine character of the period1 before black-letter was employed4 ,having carefully examined them1 we were still able to decipher the whole1 and now present a more correct reading than has ever before appeared1 which1 together with the accurate drawing of this rich and finished tablet 7printed on the front page of this article7 by our artist1 ,mr4 ,f4 ,hulme1 will1 we trust1 preserve a faint memory of the original4 ,the inscription commences at an ornamental cross near the top on the left side1 and ends at one opposite4 ,hic3 jacet3 ,wills3 de3 ,kaverswelle3 miles4 ,then follow these lines along the two sides3-- 8,castri3 strvctor3 eram3 domibvs3 fossis3 que3 cemento4 ,vivvs3 dans3 operam3 nvnc3 clavdor3 in3 hoc3 monvmento40 ,which ,dr4 ,plot informs us was ,englished thus3-- 8,sir ,william of ,caverswall1 here lye ,i1 ,who built the ,castle1 and made the pooles by40 ,in a spirit not altogether inaccordant with the original1 another hand added this couplet1 as ,dr4 ,plot further says3-- 8,sir ,william of ,caverswall here you lye1 ,your ,castle is down1 and your pooles are dry40 ,in the south wall of the chancel is a mural tablet in memory of ,matthew ,cradock1 ,esq41 the founder of the present ,caverswall ,castle4 ,in its style1 this monument bears ,illustration marks of the age in which it was constructed1--the reign of ,charles ,i4 ,it is worthy of note1 however1 that1 whilst the hand of man1 as well as his foot1 has continually warred against the monumental memorial of his great predecessor for more than five hundred years1 without being able to obliterate the recognition of his name and merits1 the inscription on that of ,matthew ,cradock1 although not of half the antiquity1 protected and even partially renewed1 is now1 in the main1 irrevocably effaced4 ,it has commenced in these terms1 8,hic sepelitvr ,matie ,cr rmig40 ,the rest is so greatly defaced1 as only to allow us to make out that he married ,elizabeth1 the daughter of a ,salopian esquire1 and that his first-born child married the daughter of ,john ,saunders1 ,m4,d41 which agrees with the inscription on the mural tablet of ,george ,cradock1 ,esq4 ,some lines in white paint below profess to have derived their origin from 8 ,i4 ,m4 ,r4 ,e4 de ,stoke40 ,matthew ,cradock1 we believe1 was a merchant1 and was returned to ,parliament1 ,a4,d4 #afdj1 #ae ,charles ,i41 for the ,city of ,london4 ,his arms appear upon the tablet4 ,at an early period of the contest between ,charles and his ,parliament1 ,caverswall ,castle seems to have excited notice1 and was garrisoned for the ,parliament2 the family1 no doubt1 took this side4 ,from the following entry of the ,committee at ,stafford1 the widow of ,george ,cradock1 ,esq41 appears to have received some marks of respect amidst this military intrusion4 8,dec4 #d1 #afdc4--;,it is ordered that ,captain ,john ,young shall forthwith repayre to ,carswall ,house1 and safely keepe the same for the use of the ,king and ,parliament1 until he shall have order to the contrarie4 ,but he is to leave his horses behind him at ,stafford2 he is likewise to use ,mrs4 ,cradock with all respect1 and not suffer any spoyle or waste made of her goods40 8,it is ordered that ,mrs4 ,cradock shall have1 towards the fortification of her house at ,carswall1 liberty to take1 fell1 cut downe1 and carrie away any timber1 or other materials1 from any papist1 delinquent1 or malignant whatsoever40 8,march #a1 #afdc-d4--;,it is ordered that ,carswall be made unservisable40 ,this last order does not appear to have been fulfilled to the letter2 for ,caverswall ,castle still remains unimpaired1 sombre and venerable1 to grace the verdant meads amid which it is situated--to shelter the religieuses who have succeeded the refugees from the ,low ,countries--and to show the pilgrim1 who wanders through shady dells and by babbling brooks1 catching the bland whisperings of the spirits of the past1 that-- 8,time ,has moulded into beauty many a tower1 ,which1 when it frown'd with all its battlements1 ,was only terrible40 ,illustration3 ,,ingestrie1 ,,staffordshire4 ,,ingestrie ,,hall1 ,,staffordshire4 ,perhaps there are few districts so rich in historical interest as that in which is situated this venerable ,mansion4 ,the manors of ,shugborough1 ,sandon1 ,chartley--with its ruined ,castle--,heywood1 ,blithfield1 and ,wolseley1 are all within view2 ,tixal ,heath1 with its abundant legends1 is close at hand2#bi and the ancient ,town of ,stafford is distant about three miles4 ,ingestrie1 or1 as now more commonly written1 ,ingestre1 and anciently ,ingestrent 7from ing1 in ,danish1 a meadow1 that is1 ,trent ,meadow71 and in ,domesday-book called ,gestreon1 was a part of the ,great ,barony of ,stafford1 and granted to ,robert de ,toeni by ,william the ,conqueror1 being then valued at #aes4 #e;d4 ,in the reign of ,henry the ,second1 it was held by ,eudo1 or ,ivo de ,mutton1 or ,mitton1 who gave certain lands in ,ingestre to the ,priory of ,st4 ,thomas ,becket near adjoining1 and then newly-founded3 he afterwards became a lay-brother there1 leaving his possessions to his son1 ,sir ,ralph de ,mutton1 who had issue ,adam and ,philip1 both knights4 ,sir ,adam was also a benefactor to the fore-named convent1 and had the presentation of a canon granted to him and his heirs for ever1 to celebrate ,divine ,service for the souls of ,sir ,philip de ,mutton1 his brother1 his own soul1 and those of his ancestors and successors3 he died in the fortieth year of the reign of ,henry the ,third1 leaving by ,isabella1 his wife1 ,ralph1 his son1 who died without issue1 and ,isabella1 his only daughter1 married to ,sir ,philip de ,chetwynd4 ,after the death of ,sir ,philip de ,mutton without issue1 ,philip de ,chetwynd1 son of ,sir ,philip and ,isabella1 became sole heir to that family 7the ,muttons7 in his mother's right1 and was possessed of ,ingestre1 c41 c42 which1 by a continued succession1 descended to ,walter ,chetwynd1 ,esq41 who1 dying without issue1 his estates devolved to ,captain ,chetwynd1 his near relation1 whose descendants were created ,barons of ,ingestre and ,talbot4 ,in #aghd1 ,john ,chetwynd ,talbot1 who succeeded his uncle ,william in the barony1 was raised to the dignity of an ,earl of the ,united ,kingdom by the style and title of ,earl ,talbot of ,ingestre4 ,his successor was his son1 ,charles ,chetwynd1 ,earl ,talbot of ,ingestre1 whose seat is still the noble old ,hall of his ancestors4 ,none of the nobles of the kingdom are more universally esteemed or respected4 ,he has extensive estates in the immediate neighbourhood in his own holding2 and is distinguished by his active promotion of agricultural improvements4 ,the nobility and gentry of the surrounding district frequently assemble to witness the success of his experiments1 and to participate in the hospitality of this noble 8,english farmer40 ,his ,lordship1 however1 has not altogether eschewed public life4 ,for some time he was the ,irish ,viceroy4 ,the manor and estate of ,ingestre have recently received a large accession by the purchase of the ,tixal ,estate1 from ,sir ,clifford ,constable1 by the present ,earl ,talbot4 ,ingestre ,hall is pleasantly situated on a gentle declivity1 sloping towards the river ,trent1 in a large and richly wooded park1 which contains some remarkably fine beech and other trees4#cj ,the house has a stately and venerable appearance4 ,it is in the style which prevailed during the reigns of ,elizabeth and ,james the ,first--having various projections1 bay windows1 and others with stone mullions4 ,the north front was built by the present ,earl1 corresponding in character with the south front2 and like that also of brick and stone2 by which means several elegant rooms and a grand staircase have been added4 ,the north side has a terraced flower-garden ornamented by fountains1 a stone balustrade1 c41 which add much to the elegance of this part of the building4 ,the interior well agrees with the exterior--consisting of large and well-proportioned apartments1 the principal of which is the ,library1 an elegant room occupying the western portion of the ,mansion1 containing a valuable collection of ,books1 placed in handsome oak cases1 with pilasters1 c41 of the ,corinthian order2 also a beautiful marble fire-place4 ,the ,billiard-room is wainscotted with oak1 one-third of its height1 containing a variety of grotesque heads in small panels4 ,the grand ,staircase has a massive oak railing of arabesque character4 ,the interior1 however1 has been greatly modernised2 and its chief attraction to the antiquary will arise from the ,family ,portraits1 which possess considerable interest4 ,but the ,mansion contains a rich treasure of historical and antiquarian lore3 in the ,library are preserved five ,volumes in ,manuscript1 collected by ,walter ,chetwynd1 ,esq41 consisting of ,letters1 ,pedigrees1 c41 c4#ca ,the present ,church of ,ingestre is situate very near the ,hall1 on the ,s4,e4 side 7the ancient ,church was on the ,s4,w4 side of the house71 and is a plain but handsome structure in the ,grecian style of architecture--consisting of a ,tower2 a ,nave1 with side aisles2 and a ,chancel2 the ,ceiling of the ,nave being much enriched with festoons of fruit1 flowers1 c4--and that of the ,chancel with shields of arms1 c4 ,the ,nave is separated from the ,chancel by an appropriate ,screen1 having the ,royal ,arms in relief over the ,entrance1 and1 together with the ,pulpit1 c41 is of ,flanders oak4 ,the ,chancel contains several mural ,monuments of the ,chetwynd ,family1 and ,busts of the late ,countess and a little ,boy4 ,there is an interesting mural ,tablet for the late unfortunate ,charles ,thomas ,viscount ,ingestre1 who was lost in a ,morass1 near ,vienna1 on the #bcrd of ,may1 #ahbf1 being twenty-four years of age2 it represents the extrication of his dead body4 ,there is also a figure exhibiting ,religion with a chalice in the hands4 ,this is placed on a ,monument to the present ,earl's brother1 the late ,rev4 ,john ,talbot1 ,rector of ,ingestre1 c4 ,the ,church has six fine ,bells1 and an ,organ2 and was built by ,walter ,chetwynd1 ,esq41 in #afgc4 ,a full account of the building and consecration of the ,church is given by ,dr4 ,plot1 in his 8,natural ,history of ,staffordshire40#cb ,the neighbourhood of ,ingestre is full of historical interest4 ,on ,hopton ,heath 7now inclosed71 distant about a mile and a half1 a bloody battle was fought on ,sunday1 the #aith of ,march1 #afdc1 between the ,king's troops1 commanded by ,spencer ,compton ,earl of ,northampton1 and the ,parliamentary ,forces under ,sir ,john ,gell and ,sir ,william ,brereton2 in which the ,earl1 with six captains and about #fjj soldiers1 were all killed4 ,human bones and fragments of military weapons have been turned up by the plough on this spot4 ,one of the most interesting of several ancient remains in the vicinity is that of ,chartley ,castle4 ,it has been a ruin for more than a century4 ,the ,park contains a thousand acres1 inclosed from the ,forest of ,needwood1 and never submitted to the plough4 ,it has long been inhabited by a noble herd of 8wild cattle10 descended1 in a direct line1 from the wild cattle of the country which roamed at large in ancient times over the ,forest of ,needwood--probably a corruption of ,neat's ,wood1 or the ,wood of ,cattle4 ,chartley ,castle was one of the prison-houses of ,mary ,queen of ,scots4 ,on the #bast of ,december1 #aehe1 she took her final leave of ,tutbury1 and was removed to ,chartley4 ,it was during her residence at the latter place1 that what has been denominated 8,babington's ,plot10 was matured2 which1 on its discovery1 led to the execution of no less than twelve persons engaged in it4 ,the discovery of this plot1 likewise1 in which ,mary herself was intimately involved1 hastened the fate of the unhappy queen4 ,it was whilst ,mary was on horseback1 enjoying the sports of the field1 in this neighbourhood1 that she received the messenger who communicated the discovery of her guilt4 ,the announcement of the fatal intelligence which ,sir ,thomas ,gorges conveyed1 suddenly extinguished the fond expectations which had been so long cherished4 ,she instantly directed her horse's head homewards2 but was not permitted to return thither4 ,she was conveyed to ,fotheringay--the last sad scene of her eventful history4 ,illustration3 ,from a sketch by ,a4 ,e4 ,everitt4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,the ,,oak ,,house1 ,,west ,,bromwich1 ,,staffordshire4 ,,the ,,oak ,,house1 ,,west ,,bromwich1 ,,staffordshire4 ,west ,bromwich--a village distant a few miles from busy ,birmingham--supplies a curious and interesting example of the half-timbered houses1 of which many still remain in the ,midland ,counties of ,england4 ,it is commonly known as 8,the ,oak ,house10 is situated on the borders of the great ,staffordshire coal-bed1 and is now surrounded by collieries1--creating a dense and murky atmosphere1 which almost hides the ancient mansion from sight4 ,yet the site was well chosen2 for at the period of its erection it commanded extensive views of a picturesque and fertile country1 now absolutely covered with iron-works and other results of the traffic peculiar to the district4 ,far as the eye can reach1 it encounters only the smoke and steam which indicate busy labour2 the few trees that endure to grace the landscape are stunted and sickly1 and even the fields seem never to have borne a coating of natural green4 ,nevertheless1 although the eye may turn away unrefreshed from a scene which exhibits ,nature expelled by ,commerce1 the mind will be cheered to know that in these unsightly mountain-heaps1 8dug from the bowels of the harmless earth10 originates the true supremacy of ,england4 ,the coal-fields of ,staffordshire and ,warwickshire render available the gigantic discoveries which have made the present century already famous4 ,without their aid1 science and manufacture could have achieved comparatively little2 it is by such auxiliaries only we can set at work the forge and the foundry1 where 8,incessant1 day and night1 each crater roars1 ,like the volcano on ,sicilian shores3 ,their fiery wombs each molten mass combine2 ,thence1 lava-like1 the boiling torrents shine2 ,down the trenched sand the liquid metal holds1 ,shoots showers of stars1 and fills the hollow moulds40 ,the 8,poet of ,science0 seems to have had in view the locality to which we refer2 at least1 to no part of ,england are his lines more strictly applicable4 ,little is known of the ancient possessors of the ,oak ,house1 notwithstanding that the direct descendants of the earliest occupants continued to inhabit it until towards the close of the last century4 ,the only author who appears to have taken any note of them is the ,rev4 ,stebbing ,shaw1 who in his 8,history of ,staffordshire10 under the head of ,west ,bromwich#cc states1 that the ,oak ,house belonged for several generations to a branch of the respectable old family of ,turton1 of ,abrewas1 near ,lichfield2 and the first mentioned in this parish was ,john ,turton1 in the freeholders' book1 ,a4,d4 #afec4 ,amongst the inscriptions formerly in the ancient ,church of ,st4 ,clement1 here1 was one to the memory of ,william ,turton1 of the ,oak1 gent41 who died ,a4,d4 #afhb 7son of that ,john71 and ,eleanor his wife1 daughter of ,robert ,page1 of ,leighton1 in the county of ,huntingdon1 who died ,a4,d4 #afif1 tat4 #fa2 and one also to ,john ,turton1 of the ,oak1 gent41 the eldest son of the above ,william1 who died ,december #fth1 #agje1 tat4 #de4 ,this is the same ,john1 no doubt1 who1 with ,william his brother and ,sarah their sister1 are mentioned in the will of ,sir ,john ,turton1 of ,abrewas1 as his cousins4 ,either from the first mentioned ,john1 or from another of that name settled at ,rowley ,regis1 a few miles off1 was1 according to ,shaw1 descended the eminent physician ,dr4 ,turton1 of ,london1 whose ancestors had for some years resided in an old house called 8,the ,hall10 at ,wolverhampton4 ,the house and estate afterwards came into the possession1 by will1 of a ,mrs4 ,whylie1 who left it to the present owner1 ,j4 ,e4 ,piercy1 ,esq41 of ,warley ,hall2 and it is now inhabited by his agent1 ,mr4 ,samuel ,reeves4 ,illustration ,the general character of the building is that of the later years of the reign of ,elizabeth2 this will be sufficiently apparent from the drawing of the north front1 which supplies our principal plate4 ,the groups of tall chimneys1 and the minor details of the doors1 windows1 c41 are all of that age2 while evidence of its date is confirmed by the south or garden front 7as will be seen by the accompanying vignette71 built chiefly of red brick1 and containing the pediments and square stone mullions of the period4 ,upon entering the house1 through the porch1 we reach a narrow passage1 formed by a small room1 abstracted from 8the ,hall0--the spacious hall of former times4 ,at the termination of this passage a door leads into the present hall1 of far more limited extent1 from which a broad flight of stairs conducts to the upper apartments4 ,these apartments1 however1 having been long disused1 exhibit the melancholy aspect of desertion and decay4 ,the stairs consist of four flights1 and the balusters of the whole are curiously carved2 the small pendant hanging from the upper flight1 ,illustration as seen from the first-floor landing1 supplies our initial letter4 ,on the ground-floor there are four of the rooms pannelled with oak1 the chimney-pieces being carved in arabesques4 ,the peculiar feature of this house1 however1 is the very curious timber turret or lantern which rises nearly from the centre of the roof1 and has its principal frontage towards the north4 ,it is square1 and forms one small room1 to which a subsequent addition appears to have been made4 ,the parish ,church 7dedicated to ,st4 ,clement7 is distant from the ,house about two miles4 ,modern 8improvement0 has been busily at work in mutilating and defacing it2 yet 8ignorant churchwardens0 have been unable to deprive it entirely of the venerable character it derives from age4 ,from the little that remains of ancient work1 the whole ,church seems to have been built during the later period of the ,decorated style of architecture1 with here and there additional portions of a later date4 ,on the south side there is a small chapel but whether used as a chantry or not is uncertain1 the date upon it being as late as #afah4 ,it is most probable that it was used as the burial-place of the ,whorwoods2 an old family1 who inhabited a mansion built on the site of the ,priory of ,sandwell1 which stood at a short distance from the ,church4 ,the ,tower of the ,church is square1 of two stories1 and has an octagonal turret on its northern side4 ,the ,font also is octagonal1 with the sides pannelled1 and containing shields4 ,it stands at the west end of the north aisle4 ,in the immediate neighbourhood of the ,church are several old houses1 which seem to belong to the seventeenth and early part of the eighteenth centuries1 and originally formed the village of ,west ,bromwich1 which at that period must have been a very inconsiderable place2 but1 from its situation near the main-road through the mining district1 and the rapid increase of coal and iron works in its vicinity1 it has become of considerable note2 the whole of the distance between the ,oak ,house and the ,church being thickly covered with houses1 among which are three new churches1 several meeting-houses1 and the other ordinary accompaniments of a modern town4 ,within about the distance of a mile1 at a place where three lanes meet1 is a wayside inn1 bearing the sign of 8,the ,stone ,cross20 of the cross which formerly existed there1 barely a trace is left4 ,amongst the other timber houses in the immediate vicinity of ,birmingham1 there are but few remarkable for any peculiarity of construction2 such as still exist have been in nearly all cases subjected to the 8improvements0 which destroy early and valuable character2 perhaps the only exception is an old house1 situated on the north side of the churchyard at ,kingsnorton 7a village in the county of ,worcester71 about five miles distant from ,birmingham1 which is still retained for the use of a ,free ,school1 founded there by ,king ,edward ,,vi41 but which1 from having a window at its east end1 that clearly belongs to the decorated period of ,english architecture1 was most probably used as a residence for the priest of the adjacent church4 ,but although the neighbourhood is so deficient in good examples of ancient timber houses1 there will be found several mansions worthy of observation2 we need mention only the names of ,new ,hall1 near the little town of ,sutton ,coldfield2 ,castle ,bromwich ,hall1 the seat of the ,earl of ,bradford1 erected in #aehj2 the ancient ,castle of ,maxtoke1 which remains1 for the greater part1 in good preservation2 and the magnificent pile of ,aston ,hall--one of the finest and best preserved ,halls yet existing in the ,kingdom4 ,illustration3 ,from a sketch by ,h4,l4 ,prout4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,throwley ,,hall1 ,,staffordshire4 ,,throwley ,,hall1 ,,staffordshire4 ,throwley ,hall4 ,in the ,north-,east corner of the ,county of ,stafford there exists an elevated region of limestone hills2 one of which1 the ,bunster1 rises to the height of twelve hundred feet above the level of the sea4 ,their scanty soil1 pierced in many places by the naked rock1 bears a rich verdure1 which is cropped by numerous herds of cattle and sheep4 ,the bottoms of the intervening valleys are occupied by clear streams1 which dash along their stony beds1 and give fertility to the various shrubs and trees growing upon their margins4 ,in a concavity1 about midway down one of these hills1 stands the old ,hall of ,throwley4 ,in the vale below1 the superterranean or surface course of the river ,manyfold winds its devious way4 ,this stream1 like its fellow1 the ,hamps1 sinks into fissures of the rocks1 and flows through caverns hid in the earth1 for some miles1 whilst the remaining portion of the waters1 especially during floods1 occupies the bed we have pointed out4 ,the valley of the ,manyfold1 opposite ,throwley ,hall1 is marked by an umbrageous wood1 exhibiting a highly luxurious foliage of varied tints4 ,this picturesque spot1 environed by the neighbouring hills of such great altitude1 was chosen for the foundation of a house at a remote period4 ,at the time of ,erdeswick1 we find him recounting that 8,throwley is a fair1 ancient house1 and goodly demesne2 being the seat of the ,meverells1 a very ancient house of gentlemen and of goodly living1 equalling the best sort of gentlemen in the ,shire40 ,in the fifth year of the reign of ,king ,john1 ,oliver de ,meverell was settled here4 ,in the second of ,edward the ,first1 ,thomas de ,meverell married ,agnes1 one of the five daughters and co-heirs of ,gerebert de ,gayton4 ,in a deed given at ,fredeswall1 now ,fradswell1 another manor of the ,meverells1 in the seventeenth year of ,edward the ,third1 we find the name of ,thomas de ,meverell1 ,lord of ,throwley4 ,the following inscription occurs on an alabaster monument in the south aisle of the chancel of ,ilam ,church1 in which parish ,throwley is situated3--8,here lyeth y bodies of ,robert ,meverell ,esqv ,eliz3 his wife1 ,davghter ,illustration of ,s ,tho3 ,fleming ,kni ,lord ,cheife ,ivstice of y ,kings ,bench1 by wh he had issve only one davghter1 who maried ,tho3 ,lord ,cromwell1 ,visconte ,lecaile2 w ,robert died y #eth of ,febr an #afbf ,elizab departed y #eth of ,avgvst #afbh40 ,upon a slab are placed the effigies of this ,robert1 the last male of the ,meverells1 and ,elizabeth his wife1 in the magnificent ruffs and other costume of the period--the husband wearing a vast pair of boots with spurs on them1 the former falling in thick wrinkles from the ankle to the knee1 and terminating in a peak about the middle of the thigh4 ,in a recess in the wall above is the kneeling figure of their daughter and heir1 ,lady ,cromwell1 wearing her coronet1 and her four children by her4 ,there are shields of arms emblazoning those of ,meverell1 viz41 argent1 a griffin segreant sable1 armed gules1 with the alliances enumerated2 and above the tomb is suspended a helmet having a pointed visor4 ,we are enabled to trace this heiress of the ancient ,house of ,meverell to her last resting-place1 for in the floor near the altar in ,fradsivell ,church is a flat stone1 inscribed1 8,dame ,cromwell40 ,and on an old ,tablet in the ,chancel may still be read3 8,iana ,cromwell3 ,ex nobilibus ,familys ,cromwellorum et ,meverillorum40 #afdg4 ,from the family of ,lord ,cromwell1 ,viscount ,lecaile1 and first ,earl of ,ardglass1 in ,ireland1 ,throwley subsequently passed to ,edward ,southwell1 the last ,baron de ,clifford2 and was sold by him in #agij to ,samuel ,crompton1 ,esq41 whose son1 ,sir ,samuel ,crompton1 ,bart41 of ,wood ,end1 near ,thirsk1 is now the proprietor of it4 ,the ,hall is occupied by a worthy family of the name of ,phillips4 ,the 8fair ancient house of ,throwley0 has undergone many mutations since the days of ,erdeswick4 ,it still1 however1 presents a diversity of outline which corresponds admirably with the imposing site it occupies4 ,it is built of the limestone of the neighbourhood1 quoined with larger gritstones2 and its walls bear a very time-worn appearance4 ,on the ,eastern side1 its gables1 large bayed window of many lights1 divided by stone mullions1 terminating in depressed arches1 and its strong square tower1 carry us back to the ,sixteenth ,century--the period of its erection4 ,whether it was the work of ,robert1 the last male of the ,house of ,meverell1 or one of his predecessors1 we are not enabled to ascertain by any positive evidence2 yet there is little doubt the latter surmise is most correct4 ,on the western side of the ,house there formerly stood a large ,chapel1 with a lofty ceiling to the roof2 a stone of which1 still preserved1 bears the initials 8,f4 ,m401 most likely pointing to the founder of the entire structure4 ,the little turret contains a circular stone stair1 that conducts to the roof of the tower1 the leads of which bear many a mark of visitors long since departed--most of them to an eternal home4 ,the view here1 as it takes in a large reach of the valley in both directions1 and ,castern on the opposite hill1 is very fine4 ,the principal entrance to the ,house of ,throwley has been on the north1 and leads first to a small ,entrance-,hall1 and next1 to the great ,hall2 which in the strange transmutations it has undergone1 retains only a portion of its wainscot and the massive beams of oak that support the ceiling4 ,this ,hall is lighted by the lower window in the large bay to the left of our litho-tint4 ,a fine room of equal size1 above1 entered by a pair of oaken folding doors1 has been richly finished1 its ceiling still bearing a beading that has been gilt1 disposed in an elegant device of octagons and stars4 ,this chief apartment has had a large bay-window1 containing two rows of six lights each1 to the ,south1 as well as the ,eastern bay apparent in the engraving4 ,all these windows are rendered secure by upright bars of iron1 bearing cross-bars at short intervals4 ,they have formerly contained some stained glass1 the only remains of which1 the arms of ,lord ,thomas ,cromwell quartering the sable griffin segreant of the ,meverells1 are now placed in the neighbouring farm-house of ,mr4 ,parramore4 ,an upper wainscotted room in ,throwley ,hall still retains an appropriate memorial of its former lordly occupants in the armorial bearings of the ,house of ,ardglass1 elaborately carved in high relief in oak1 now enriched by the tints of age1 with the supporters1 two fierce winged bulls4 ,at a short distance behind the house stands a stately pile of ancient stabling1 two lofty stories in height1 topped with a high-pitched roof4 ,the entrances are so tall1 that we might conclude the lords and dames of other days had mounted their steeds before they issued to the chase or other amusements--among which we may presume that of falconry would be no infrequent pastime amid these wild hills4 ,of the ancient owners1 the ,meverells1 almost the only additional historical notice we can regain1 is1 that ,arthur ,meverell of ,throwley was the last ,prior of ,sutbury4 ,at the period of the ,dissolution1 ,a4,d4 #aech1 he1 together with eight monks1 surrendered the ,priory1 with all its possessions1 into the hands of ,henry ,,viii42 the original deed still remaining in the ,augmentation ,office1 with the signatures of the ,prior and brotherhood1 and the common seal of the ,convent attached4 ,in consideration of this surrender1 ,arthur1 the ,prior1 had an annuity of fifty pounds4 ,besides the remarkable natural phenomenon before alluded to1 of the disappearance of the rivers ,hamps and ,manyfold in this vicinity1 the vast caverns in the limestone rocks present to our notice objects of great interest4 ,one of these1 within a short distance of ,throwley1 has long been distinguished by the name of 8,thor's ,house40 ,both rivers and caves are happily alluded to by the poet3-- 8,still the nymphs emerging lift in air ,their snow-white shoulders and their azure hair2 ,sail with sweet grace the dimpling streams along1 ,listening the shepherd's1 or the miner's song2 ,but when afar they view the giant cave1 ,on timorous fins they circle on the wave1 ,with streaming eyes1 and throbbing hearts' recoil1 ,plunge their fair forms1 and dive beneath the soil40 ,by following the valley from ,throwley about two miles1 we reach the beautiful gardens of ,ilam ,hall1 its ivy-covered ,church1 and the village itself4 ,passing over the chaste productions of modern art crowded into this graceful spot1 which is equally marked as the opening1 round the base of the mighty ,bunster1 of the most romantic portion of ,dovedale1 we can scarcely refrain from noticing1 as we depart1 the two fragments of ancient crosses1 covered with sculpture forming rude devices1 in the churchyard2 the curiously-figured ,norman font2 and the plain but handsome altar-tomb in the ,church1 which is pierced at the sides with large quatrefoils1 and bears the designation of 8,bartram's ,tomb40 ,this latter attracted ,dr4 ,plot's attention1 who referred it to ,st4 ,bertelline4 ,he was the son of a king1 and a hermit1 who is related to have lived on an island where the present town of ,stafford is situated1 till he was disturbed1 when he removed into some desert mountainous place1 where he ended his life4 ,plot has concentrated-- 8,tradition's dubious light1 ,that hovers 'twixt the day and night1 ,dazzling1 alternately1 and dim1--0 upon the wild hills and dells which abound round ,throwley1 ,ilam1 and ,dovedale4 ,he enumerates1 as corroborative testimony1 this tomb1 which he considers may have been renewed1--as undoubtedly it must have been if it have reference to the legend2 a well1 and an ash tree near it1 on the western side of ,bunster1 towards the base2--all of them being then and still popularly appropriated to ,st4 ,bertram4 ,st4 ,bertram's ash has been cut down in the memory of many living in the village2 whilst the water of ,st4 ,bertram's ,well1 8clear as diamond-spark10 still rills out of the base of the mighty hill4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,w4 ,f4 ,hulme4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,trentham ,,hall1 ,,staffordshire4 ,,trentham ,,hall1 ,,staffordshire4 ,trentham1 the home or settlement on the ,trent1 has been a village since the days of the ,saxons1 who adopted this fertile nook on the banks of a beautiful stream as a fit abode for man4 ,here1 in this well-selected spot1 they were led by their religious impulses to found an ,abbey1 over which presided no less a personage than ,werburg1 daughter of the ferocious ,wulphere1 king of ,mercia1 whose palace was hard by1 at ,berry-,bank1 and whose wicked murder of his two sons1 ,wulfard and ,rufin1 on suspicion of their conversion to ,christianity1 was perpetrated at ,bursson and at ,stone1 where subsequently religious houses were erected as memorials of their martyrdom4 ,st4 ,werburg1 for she was canonized1 and was1 moreover1 sister to ,king ,ethelred1 died at ,trentham or at ,hanbury1 in the year #fhc1 was buried at the latter place1 and her body was in the year #hge removed to ,chester ,cathedral1 where the rich decorated stone case of her shrine now forms the bishop's throne4 ,of the ,saxon abbey of ,trentham no records remain2 of its 8ancient glories0 there exists not a trace4 ,in the time of ,king ,stephen1 ,illustration ,ranulph1 the second of the great ,earls of ,chester who bore that name1 refounded the monastery of ,trentham for canons of ,st4 ,augustine4 ,in the present church1 which closely adjoins to ,trentham ,hall1 and which1 by the munificence of the ,duke of ,sutherland1 has been within these three or four years carefully and judiciously restored in every part1 under the charge of ,mr4 ,barry1 we have still some slight but interesting remains1 reaching back nearly to the time of its foundation4 ,these consist of the tall1 round1 ,norman piers of the nave1 with their quaint capitals1 and the bold and lofty pointed arches to which they give support4 ,illustration ,the appended woodcut exhibits the interior of the church--the screen1 of carved oak1 being one of very considerable beauty4 ,at the ,dissolution1 the ,monastery had only seven religious1 and was granted by ,king ,henry ,,viii4 in #aeci1 to ,charles ,brandon1 duke of ,suffolk4 ,it afterwards came into the possession of the ,levesons1 a ,staffordshire family of great antiquity1 seated at ,willenhall4 ,nicholas ,leveson1 lord-mayor of ,london1 died in the year that ,trentham was granted to the ,duke of ,suffolk4 ,his great-grandson1 ,sir ,john ,leveson1 left two daughters only1 co-heiresses2 one of whom1 ,frances1 by marrying ,sir ,thomas ,gower of ,sittenham1 carried ,trentham and other extensive possessions into this ancient ,yorkshire family1 which dates from the ,conquest4 ,sir ,john ,leveson-,gower was elevated to the peerage in #agjb-c1 as ,baron ,gower of ,sittenham4 ,his son ,john1 the second ,baron1 was constituted ,lord ,keeper of the ,privy ,seal1 and was repeatedly one of the ,lords of the ,regency during the absences of ,george ,,ii4 on the ,continent4 ,in #agdf he was created ,viscount ,trentham of ,trentham1 and ,earl ,gower4 ,he died in #agee1 and was buried at ,trentham4 ,he was succeeded by his eldest son1 ,granville1 the second ,earl1 who was ,member of ,parliament for the city of ,westminster4 ,on the occasion of his appointment as one of the ,lords of the ,admiralty1 his re-election was strongly opposed by ,sir ,george ,vanderput1 who was defeated by a small majority4 ,in consequence1 a scrutiny ensued2 and there occurred several riotous proceedings recorded in the journals of the time4 ,he filled the high offices of ,lord ,privy ,seal1 ,lord ,chamberlain1 and ,lord ,president of the ,council4 ,he was installed ,knight of the ,garter1 and created ,marquis of ,stafford in #aghf4 ,his eldest son1 ,george ,granville1 also a ,knight of the ,garter1 married the late estimable ,countess of ,sutherland in her own right1 and was created ,duke of ,sutherland in #ahcc4 ,this peerage1 according to some of the ,scottish writers1 is the most ancient of any in ,north ,britain4 ,the ,duke did not long survive to enjoy his new dignity1 but died in the same year1 carrying with him the sincere regret of his numerous tenantry4 ,the latter1 to testify their respect for ,his ,grace's memory1 commissioned ,sir ,francis ,chantrey to execute a colossal statue of their noble landlord1 which occupies a neighbouring height of great elevation1 immediately in front of ,trentham ,hall across the lake1 and forms a very conspicuous object in the surrounding scenery4 ,of the present noble possessor of the title1 ,george-,granville-,sutherland-,leveson- ,gower1 the second ,duke of his family1 it will not be necessary to add much4 ,after sitting in the ,commons for ,staffordshire1 he was summoned to the ,house of ,peers in the lifetime of his father1 as ,earl ,gower1 and is distinguished for the gracious dignity with which1 during the whole of his career1 he has sustained the honours of so many ancient and noble families1 concentrated1 as it were1 in his own person4 ,to the ,levesons we may be allowed to recur4 ,sir ,richard ,leveson was distinguished as a naval commander4 ,he is considered to be the subject of that fine old plaintive ballad1 8,the ,spanish ,lady's ,love10 which relates the woes of a captive maid1 8by birth and parentage of high degree10 at being about to be separated for ever from her detainer-- 8,full woe is me1 ,o let me still sustain this kind captivity6 99 99 99 99 99 ,my heart in prison still remains with thee60 for he accompanied the ,earl of ,nottingham1 in #aeif1 in his expedition against ,cadiz1 when he was twenty-seven years of age4 ,he was married to the daughter of this famous ,earl1 who was the ,lord ,high ,admiral and ,commander in ,chief of the ,english fleet which defeated the so called 8invincible0 ,spanish ,armada4 ,sir ,richard ,leveson1 who was in this engagement as well as many others1 in #afja was made ,vice-,admiral1 and died early in life in #afje4 ,in the ,collegiate ,church at ,wolverhampton a noble bronze statue1 richly gilt1 supported by a stately monument in black marble1 was erected to his memory2 by which were two brass plates1 the one inscribed with the chief events of his life1 registered at length in ,latin1 terminating in these words--8,e vita pie discessit ,illustration sine prole1 sed non sine magno multorum luctu1 auro dignus1 re contentus20 and the other in ,english4 ,he was succeeded by ,sir ,richard ,leveson of ,trentham1 ,knight of the ,bath1 who erected this splendid memorial to the ,admiral's fame4 ,it was executed by ,le ,sueur for #cjjl41 and the original contract in ,french is still preserved at ,trentham4 ,during the contest between ,royalty and the ,parliament1 this bronze effigy was ordered by the ,committee of ,sequestrations at ,stafford to be taken away and cast into cannon2 but by the timely interposition of ,lady ,leveson1 the ,admiral's widow1 it was redeemed for a sum of money1 and deposited in ,lilleshall ,church till the strife was over4 ,the marble monument being destroyed1 it now occupies a niche in the church at ,wolverhampton4 ,a copy of the effigy is placed in a recess in the court-yard at ,trentham ,hall of which we give an illustration4 ,the above ,sir ,richard ,leveson1 ,knight of the ,bath1 was member of parliament for the county of ,salop1 and afterwards for ,newcastle-under-,lyme1 and was devoted to the cause of ,charles ,i4 ,he made his residence at ,trentham1 8being accounted one of the best house-keepers and landlords in the county40 ,in consequence of his adherence to the royal cause1 his property was sequestrated1 for which he compounded by the payment of more than #fjjjl41 the largest composition obtained4 ,there remains a letter from him to the ,governor of ,shrewsbury1 which strikingly indicates the distresses sustained1 by persons of distinction even1 during those troubled times3-- 8,s1 8,since the unhappy surprise of ,stafford by the rebelles1 the place where ,i am is not safe1 either for myself or my goodes1 and therefore ,i have sent #b wagons loaded with some household stuffe1 which ,i desire1 with your dispensac'on1 may bee received into your towne of ,shrewsbury1 into a roome which ,i have longe reserved in myne owne handes for this purpose against a tyme of neede2 and that to this effecte you will please to give order unto your watch for free passage to and fro1 whereby you will oblige mee more and more to remayne 8,yo ever affectionate frende1 8,r4 ,,leveson40 8,lilleshall ,lodge1 #af ,may1 #afdc4 8,to my muche respected frende1 ,s ,francis ,oteley1 ,kt4 ,governour of ,shrewsburye4 ,haste these40 ,sir ,richard ,leveson built the old hall at ,trentham in #afcc1 two views of which are given in ,dr4 ,plot's singular 8,natural ,history of ,staffordshire40 ,he died in #affa4 ,his widow1 ,lady ,catherine ,leveson1 was a great benefactress to the parish1 and died at ,trentham in #afgh4 ,the present ,hall1 previous to the recent most happy and successful 8transformation0 under the direction of ,mr4 ,barry1 was built on the model of ,buckingham ,house1 in ,st4 ,james's ,park4 ,it has now become1 by the addition of the semicircular colonnade1 rich carriage porch surmounted by the ducal arms1 and baronial tower1 an imposing and stately mansion1 enriched with much diversity of outline4 ,a massy structure near the ,hall was erected by the late ,marquis of ,stafford as a family mausoleum1 in the ,egyptian style2 the grounds around it being planted with various species of yew and other sombre plants1 of a lofty1 pointed1 and pyramidal form4 ,the ponderous architecture1 the deeply-tinted foliage and heavenward aspect of the evergreens1 form most appropriate emblems1 both of human frailty and of the brighter hopes of the ,christian4 ,the park is marked by the unrestrained native beauties of the neighbouring wood of oaks1 8wild above rule or art10 and by the river ,trent expanding into a goodly lake3-- 8,a gentle stream1 ,adown the vale its serpent courses winds1 ,seen here and there through breaks of trees to gleam1 ,gilding their dancing boughs with noon's reflected beam40 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,j4 ,d4 ,harding4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,helmingham ,,hall1 ,,suffolk4 ,,helmingham ,,hall1 ,,suffolk4 ,helmingham ,hall may be classed among the most remarkable and interesting edifices in the ,kingdom2 for1 although it has undergone many changes1 and been subjected to a variety of 8improvements10 the leading characteristics of the ancient structure are retained2 it still exhibits a connecting link between the strong castles of the old ,barons1 and the embattled mansions which succeeded them4 ,the ,hall is distant about eight miles from the venerable town of ,ipswich4 ,the ,park contains about five hundred acres1 and is largely stocked with deer4 ,the ,entrance-gate--which forms the initial letter to this ,chapter--is placed between two ,lodges--modern1 but in admirable keeping with the old ,house4 ,an ,avenue1 arched by magnificently grown trees1 conducts to the ,south ,illustration ,front of the ,mansion2 in which is the principal ,entrance1 approached by a ,bridge thrown across the ,moat4 ,the ,moat encompasses the building2 which is surrounded also by a ,terrace4 ,both are kept in excellent repair2 and the former is well supplied with fish4 ,the ,drawbridges are maintained in all their primitive formality1 and are1 we understand1 even to this day1 raised every night4 ,the appended print exhibits the picturesque interior of one of the two 8,gate-houses10 in which these ancient appendages still remain1--showing also the rude machinery by which it was elevated or depressed4 ,it is an object now very rarely encountered3 one of the most impressive records of 8the state0 7using the term in its double sense7 in which our ancestors lived--keeping perpetual watch and ward4 ,all praise be to the existing ,lord of this ,mansion1 who has taken especial care to prevent ,time from destroying so peculiar a relic of a remote age4 ,the present representative of the ,tollemaches--,john ,tollemache1 ,esq4--has indeed manifested continual zeal to protect from injury the seat of his ancestors--restoring with judgment1 skill1 and taste1 where injuries have resulted from years1 but so as in no ,illustration degree to impair its original character2 neither adding to1 nor taking from1 its early and 8fair0 proportions4 ,notwithstanding these solemn tokens of gone-by days1 so intimately associated with times of peril1 the external appearance of the building is peculiarly light and graceful--a character which it derives1 chiefly1 from four large ,bay ,windows1 with projecting cornices and embattled parapets2 ,gables profusely ornamented with richly wrought finials2 and a multiplicity of ,chimneys similarly enriched1 with reticulated and indented mouldings4 ,the structure is quadrangular4 ,the ,courtyard1 with its several dependent buildings1 has been restored with remarkably good taste and imposing effect4 ,the ,eastern ,entrance to these buildings is here pictured4 ,crossing this ,court1 the ,hall is reached#cd2 the ,state ,apartments are limited to the ,western ,front4 ,they have been arranged with greater care to comfort than to ,baronial grandeur2 due attention has been paid1 however1 to the 8furnishing10 and the taste of the ,tudor age harmoniously prevails throughout the ,mansion4 ,until very lately1 the ,hall had been completely deserted by the family1 and was rapidly falling to decay4 ,when it became the residence of the present proprietor1 it was completely renovated2 the ,garden or ,west ,front1 which had become dilapidated1 having been entirely rebuilt4 ,the ,hall and several of the ,apartments are adorned with ,portraits of the ancient and noble ,family2 among them are some fine paintings by ,lely1 ,kneller1 and ,reynolds4 ,a relic of exceeding interest is contained in one of the rooms4 ,it is the ,lute which ,queen ,elizabeth presented to an infant scion ,illustration of the ,house1 to whom her ,majesty stood ,godmother4 ,it has the date1--#aehj1--;and the inscription1 8,cymbalum ,deca chordon40 ,it is preserved in a glass-case1 which also encloses a variety of rare and curious coins2 and in the same chamber is a spinette--believed to have been once the property of the ,virgin ,queen4 ,the very ancient ,family of ,tollemache resided for many generations at ,bentley in ,suffolk4 ,in their old ,manor ,house there was 8to be seen until lately10 7within the present century1 perhaps71 the following inscription3-- ,when ,william the ,conqueror reigned with great fame1 ,bently was my seat1 and ,tollemache was my name4 ,they boast their descent from ,tollemache1 a ,saxon ,lord of ,bentley and ,stoke ,tollemache in ,oxfordshire1 in the sixth century4 ,in the ,domesday ,book1 the name is written ,toolmag1 and subsequently ,thalemache1 ,tolemache1 ,talmage1 ,tallmash1 and ,tollemache4 ,for nearly thirteen hundred years1 the ,family has dwelt in ,suffolk county1 flourishing in uninterrupted male succession1 until so recently as #ahba1 when1 by the death of the late ,earl of ,dysart1 the title became extinct1 and with it the direct male line of the long famous race4 ,they acquired the rich estate at ,helmingham by the marriage of ,lionel ,tollemache1 of ,bentley1 ,esquire1 with ,edith1 daughter and sole heiress of ,william ,joyce1 of ,crekes ,hall1 in ,helmingham1 who in the first year of the eighth ,henry was found1 by requisition1 to hold the ,manor of ,bentley by knight's service4 ,he served the office of ,high ,sheriff of ,norfolk and ,suffolk in the fourth year of the same reign4 ,by this ,lionel ,tollemache1 ,helmingham ,hall was built4 ,he died in the early part of the reign of ,edward the ,sixth1 and was succeeded by his son1 ,lionel ,tollemache1 ,esq41 who was knighted by ,queen ,elizabeth1 who1 during her progress through the counties of ,suffolk and ,norfolk in #aefa1 honoured him with her presence at ,helmingham ,hall1 on ,august #adth and four following days1 8where she was entertained with great splendour and hospitality40 ,during the visit1 ,her ,majesty stood ,godmother to her ,host's eldest son1 ,lionel3 to commemorate this event1 she presented to him1 as we have stated1 a ,lute1 still preserved as an heir-loom in the ,family4 ,his son1 the first ,baronet1 was advanced to the dignity by ,james the ,first1 in #afaa4 ,he died at ,helmingham on the #eth of ,september1 #afab1 and was buried there on the same day 7in the ,parish ,register the interment is entered1 8,et eodem die sepultus fuit740 ,helmingham ,hall continued in his male descendants until the death of ,wilbraham ,tollemache1 ,earl of ,dysart1 in #ahbace1 when it devolved upon his sister ,louisa1 ,countess of ,dysart1 and upon her death in #ahdj1 to the present proprietor1 ,john ,tollemache1 ,esq41 ,m4,p4 for ,north ,cheshire1 eldest son of the late ,admiral ,tollemache1 grandson to ,lady ,jane ,halliday1 sister to ,lionel1 fifth ,earl1 and ,wilbraham1 sixth and last ,earl of ,dysart4 ,the ,earldom of ,dysart came to the family by the marriage of ,sir ,lionel ,tollemache1 ,bart41 with the ,lady ,elizabeth ,murray1 eldest daughter and heiress of ,william ,murray1 first ,earl of ,dysart2 upon the death of her father she succeeded to the title4 ,sir ,lionel died in #affi1 and was buried with great pomp at ,helmingham on the #beth of ,march1 in the same year4 ,the ,countess married secondly at ,petersham1 in ,surrey1 ,february #ag1 #afga-b1 to ,john ,maitland1 ,duke of ,lauderdale1 and ,knight of the ,garter4 ,the ,tollemaches--although classing amongst the most ancient families of the realm1 and for centuries preserving an unbroken link--appear never to have been very emulous of distinction4 ,the name scarcely appears upon the ,roll of ,fame3 neither in the ,senate nor at the ,bar have they achieved for it high repute2 nor does it occupy a conspicuous place in the annals of war of any period--from the ,conquest down to the existing age#cf4 ,in the immediate vicinity of the ,hall1 are several primitive and highly picturesque ,cottages1 many of which are of a date coeval with that of the ,mansion3 and the very ancient and venerable town of ,ipswich is inconceivably rich in architectural antiquities4 ,,helmingham ,,church stands by the south side of the ,park4 ,the ,tower was built in #adhg1 as appears by the copy of an agreement now in the ,church chest1 between 8,john ,talmage1 ,esquier1 ,maistress ,elizabeth1 his wyff1 ,edmund ,joyce1 ,gent41 ,john ,wythe1 and ,william ,holme on the one part1 and ,thomas ,aldrych1 of ,north ,lopham1 ,mason1 on the other1 for thirty pounds40 ,it is not known by whom the ,church was built2 but in #abeh1 ,dame ,margaret ,creke1 who founded the ,nunnery of ,flixton1 near ,bungay1 presented to it2 and the ,prioress and ,nuns of ,flixton presented to it till #acab1 when she exchanged the patronage for that of ,flixton1 with the ,bishop of ,norwich2 from that time the ,bishops presented to it till the ,reformation1 when the ,crown claimed and has presented to it ever since4 ,it is dedicated to the ,virgin ,mary4 ,about a foot and a half from the ground1 on the south side of the steeple1 carved in stone letters of a foot high1 is the following inscription1 in old ,english letters3-- 8,scandit ad ethera1 ,virgo1 puerpera virgula ,jesse40 ,illustration ,the ,steeple is a square tower of ,flints1 embattled on the top3 on the south side are the arms of ,tollemache--three shields--of the date #aedc1 when it was built4 ,it is supported by four buttresses1 all standing diagonally4 ,on the west side1 near the ground1 was an inscription1 now gone4 ,the ,nave of the ,church is of the date of the fourteenth century1 and contains a fine ,south ,door of the then prevalent style of architecture4 ,the ,windows1 as well as the ,roof1 are of a later age--probably about #aedj4 ,the ,chancel is quite modern1 but is now undergoing alterations and repairs2 the result of which will be to assimilate it with other parts of the venerable building4 ,in reference to this matter1 also1 high praise is due to the present proprietor of ,helmingham1 inasmuch as he is removing many of the blots left upon the sacred edifice by the bad taste or heedless indifference of his predecessors4 ,both the ,chancel and ,nave are crowded with monuments commemorating the heroic deeds of members of the ,family of ,tollemache4 ,the most remarkable and interesting fills nearly the whole of the southern side of the nave2 and it is so lofty1 that part of the roof has been displaced to make room for it4 ,it contains1 in niches1 four figures of men kneeling with their hands clasped and erect before them1 the three first in a row1 the fourth above them2 they are bareheaded1 with swords by their sides1 and in the dress of the #agth century4 ,we learn from a rhymed inscription underneath each figure that these are the effigies of the four first of the ,tollemaches who settled at ,helmingham--the monument to their honour being erected by the fifth4#cg ,illustration3 ,from a sketch by ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,hengrave ,,hall1 ,,suffolk4 ,,hengrave ,,hall1 ,,suffolk4 ,hengrave ,hall1 8an embattled ,manor-house1 with ,turrets of singular design and a ,gate-,house of acknowledged beauty0--is situate about two miles from the ancient and venerable town of ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds4#ch ,the founder of the building was ,sir ,thomas ,kytson1 a wealthy cloth-merchant of ,london1 by whom it was erected1 between the years #aebe and #aech1 probably upon the site of a mansion still older1--the ancient hall of the ,de ,hemegraves4 ,a brief history of the several families through whose hands the ,manor has passed into those of its present possessor1 ,sir ,thomas ,gage1 ,bart41 may interest the reader4#ci ,in the reign of ,edward the ,confessor1 it formed part of the territory of ,st4 ,edmund1 by whose monks it was held at the ,conquest4 ,about the middle of the twelfth century it was granted by ,anselm1 the seventh ,abbot1 to 8,leo and his heirs20 and by them was assumed the surname of ,hemegrave4 ,the ,de ,hemegraves filled the highest offices in ,suffolk for upwards of two centuries1 when the race was extinct1 and the estate became1 by purchase1 the property of the ,hethes4 ,in failure of male issue1 it passed--in the nineteenth of ,henry ,,vi4--by purchase1 to the ,staffords4 ,in #aebb1 consequent upon the attainder of ,edward1 ,duke of ,buckingham1 it was sold to ,sir ,thomas ,kytson1 8citizen and mercer of ,london1 otherwise called1 ,,kytson ,,the ,,merchant20 so he is styled in an ,act of ,parliament which confirmed him the purchaser of ,hengrave4#dj ,he was succeeded by a posthumous son1 who left no male issue2 he had1 however1 three daughters1 one of whom married ,thomas ,lord ,darcy1 created ,viscount ,colchester and ,earl ,rivers1 and who1 in right of his wife1 became entitled to1 and resided at1 ,hengrave4 ,from her inherited a daughter1 ,penelope1 who married ,sir ,john ,gage1 ,bart41 of ,firle1 in ,sussex4#da ,in this family ,hengrave has since continued2 its present proprietor being ,sir ,thomas ,gage1 the eighth ,baronet1 born on the #bjth of ,march1 #ahab4 ,the ,mansion1 which seems to have undergone very little change since its erection1 and may be classed among the most unimpaired domestic structures of the kingdom1 is of considerable size1 8covering #ah1ejj square feet of ground10 although by the removal1 in #agge1 of a mass of building which projected at the east and north sides1 together with a high ,tower1 it has been reduced one-third at least from its original extent4 ,several ancient family documents which still exist1 and of which copies are given by ,mr4 ,gage1 inform us that the whole cost of the structure did not much exceed #cjjj4db ,from these interesting documents we learn also that the ,mansion at ,hengrave was furnished with all necessaries from sources within its own boundaries--a mill1 a forge1 and a farm2 a dovecote1 a grange1 a barn2 a great and little park1 a vineyard1 an orchard1 a hop-ground1 and a hemp-ground4 ,there were butts for the ,archers1 78still visible in the upper part of the ,park072 mews for the hawks1 and kennels for the hounds4 ,there was a bowling-green also2 and the neighbouring ponds were well stocked with fish to divert the ,angler and supply the 8,fast-day meal40 ,the ,inventory of household goods1 taken in #afjc1 enumerates among other items1 now familiar only to the ,antiquary1 8the ,shovelboard10 a table for playing a fashionable game2 of ,armour1 the 8,almain ,rivetts10 8the ,privye ,coats0 of ,mail2 the 8,jackes of ,plate10 the 8,mayle ,gorgetts10 the 8,spanish ,burgenetts10 the 8,dagges10 7short ,hand-guns72 8,snaphaunces10 7,firelocks17 ,pethernells1 7a kind of ,harquebuss17 and ,ptyzens1 7,partizans17 both 8ordinary and very fayre40 ,of ,musical ,instruments1 the ,recorder1 the ,cornute1 the ,bandore1 the ,cittern1 the ,curtall1 and the ,lysarden--all 8in ye chamber where ye ,musicyons playe20 with books1 8covered with parchment10 containing pavines1 galliards1 measures1 levaultoes1 corrantoes1 and ,italian fa-laes4 ,the beautiful and long-famous ,gate-way of ,hengrave ,hall is pictured in the accompanying print4 ,it is a splendid example of 8,tudor magnificence20--8of such singular beauty10 says ,mr4 ,gough1 8and in such high preservation1 that1 perhaps1 a more elegant specimen of the ,architecture of the age in which it was erected cannot now be seen40 ,we borrow our description of it from ,mr4 ,gage4 ,the structure has an arch obtusely pointed2 in the spandrels appear the ,kytson ,crest1--a unicorn's head erased4 ,the space above is filled by a triple bay window1 the domes of which are rich in scale work and crockets1 and have basements or brackets elegantly terminated in pendant corbels2 each square compartment in the lower division of the window contains a ,shield1 bearing the ,arms of some member of the family of the founder4 ,on the frieze below two of these ,shields are these words3-- ,opus hoc fieri fecit ,tome ,kytson4 ,ano ,dni4 ,,mccccc4 ,tricessimo ,octavo4 ,the battlements of the ,gate-house1 assuming the appearance of small gables1 the points of which1 crowned with richly carved hoop garlands and vanes1 correspond with those of the triple dome below1 give height to the whole1 and complete the beauty and harmony of the design4 ,the ,inner ,court of fine masonry1 embattled1 appears in its original state2 and is distinguished by the bay window of the ,hall on the north side4 ,the interior of the ,mansion has little of its primitive character2 but 8the florid style of architecture which prevailed1 is still conspicuous in the fair tracery1 pendant1 and spandrels of the bay window10 which retains its early beauty4 ,of the number and variety of the apartments at ,hengrave1 and of the splendid luxury of its domestic arrangements1 some judgment may be formed from the 8,inventory10 dated #afjc1 of which ,mr4 ,gage prints a copy4 ,here we read of the ,queen's ,chamber1 the ,chiefe ,chamber1 the ,great ,chamber1 the ,armoury1 the ,gallery at the ,tower1 the ,dyning ,chamber1 the ,chapell ,chamber1 the ,chamber in which the muscycions playe1 and a host of others--all magnificently furnished4 ,the ,great ,chamber was hung with eight large pieces of fine arras--8parke worke with great beasts and fowls1 #afj yards20 the cheyres and stooles were covered with coloured clothe of silver2 the carpetts were of ,turkeye worke4 ,the ,dyning ,chamber had its tapestrye--8of the story of ,danea40 ,the ,wynter ,parlor1 its 8pfuming frame of brasse0 and 8chesse boorde1 w men to it40 ,to the furniture of the ,armoury and the ,musicians' ,chamber we have adverted4 ,the contents of the 8,sadler's ,shopp10 however1 denotes more pointedly the wealth and luxury of the family4 ,the saddles were of sumptuous character--8layed with gould lace20 8fringed with gould and silke20 8embroidered with goulde and purle20 and so forth4 ,towards the close of the last century1 the ,mansion was the abode of a sisterhood of expatriated nuns4 ,they belonged to the ,english ,convent of ,austin ,nuns at ,bruges1 and obtained an asylum here by the generosity of ,sir ,thomas ,gage1 himself a ,roman ,catholic4 ,they subsequently returned to ,france2 but the mortal remains of many of the persecuted ,sisters lie in the ,churchyard of ,hengrave--among others1 those of their ,abbess1 the venerable ,mary ,more1 one of the heirs-general1 and the last lineal descendant1 in the paternal line1 of the great ,chancellor1 ,sir ,thomas ,more4 ,hengrave ,church is very close to the ,hall1 and would appear1 indeed1 to have been originally attached to it4 ,it has ,illustration long ceased to be used for the purpose of worship1 but is kept in repair as the ,burial-place of the family4 ,it is of small structure1 built of the materials common to sacred edifices in the counties of ,norfolk and ,suffolk--rough flint1 with cement and free-stone in the battlements1 parapets1 groins1 buttresses1 windows1 and arches4 ,the round ,tower1 indicated in the accompanying print1 is curious1 and of remote antiquity4 ,its external aspect is peculiarly venerable1 covered with ,ivy-trees1 the growth of centuries4 ,the interior where1 it is said1 no religious service has been performed since the ,reformation1 the family having adhered1 through all changes1 to the old faith1 is without pews1 and contains many richly-sculptured ,monuments4 ,among them is a superb ,tomb of marble and coloured free-stone1 to the memory of ,margaret1 ,countess of ,bath1 and her three husbands2 the first of whom was ,sir ,thomas ,kytson--the citizen-founder of ,hengrave--who died ,september #acth1 #aede1 aged #ee years4 ,the other principal ,tombs are in memory of ,sir ,thomas ,kytson1 the younger2 ,sir ,thomas ,darcy2 the ,bourchiers1 ,earls of ,bath2 the ,cornwallys2 and the ,gages4 ,altogether1 there are few of the ,baronial ,mansions of ,england so little spoiled by time--so comparatively uninjured by modern taste and injudicious improvement4 ,hengrave ,hall is 8a fair and1 in some respects1 a unique example of the domestic architecture of the period of its erection40 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,w4 ,mller4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,west-,,stow ,,hall1 ,,suffolk4 ,,west ,,stow ,,hall1 ,,suffolk4 ,within four miles--north-west--of the venerable town of ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 the traveller may notice1 not far from the road-side1 the turrets of an ancient ,house1 now decayed1 but which1 in the palmy age of ,england1 was classed among the stateliest of its 8stately ,homes40 ,unless attention is directed to it1 however1 it will attract no passers-by2 for very humble are now the pretensions of the ,palace-,hall1 in which resided ,charles ,brandon1 ,duke of ,suffolk1 and his ,royal wife1 the youngest daughter of ,henry ,,vii41 sister to ,henry ,,viii1 and widow of ,louis ,,xii41 ,king of ,france4 ,the ,old ,hall is situated in the very centre of a host of picturesque antiquities2 in all directions around it exist objects of exceeding interest1--as relics of the olden time and imperishable illustrations of ,british ,history4 ,it would be difficult to find in the kingdom so many remains of architectural splendour within a circuit of four or five miles4 ,bury contains the most interesting of our monastic ruins4 ,among them are those of the famous 8,norman ,tower0 7still comparatively unimpaired71 erected in the reign of the ,conqueror1 as the ,grand ,portal to the magnificent church of ,abbot ,baldwin2--the ,charnel ,chapel1 in which ,lidgate wrote1--the ,church which for centuries enshrined the miracle-working bones of ,st4 ,edmund1--and the walls of the ,chamber where1 on the #bjth of ,november1 #abae1 8the ,barons0 pledged 8the repose of their souls0 to extort the ,charter of ,freedom from the tyrant ,john4 ,the road to ,west ,stow is scarcely less rich in historic sites than the town of ,bury4 ,without the north-gate are the remains of the ,gateway to ,st4 ,saviour's ,hospital1 where1--during the ,parliament of #addf1 assembled at ,bury1 by ,henry ,,vi41--the 8good ,duke ,humphrey0 was murdered by ,cardinal ,beaufort and ,de la ,pole2 half a mile beyond1 we cross the ,old ,toll-gate ,bridge of the mitred ,abbots of ,st4 ,edmunsbury2 at a short distance1 an ivy-clad ,tower is all that remains of the ,church of ,fornham ,st4 ,genevieve2 but tumuli still endure to indicate where the ten thousand ,flemings were buried by 8sloven-hands10 after the bloody battle which gave to the second ,henry peaceable possession of the crown4 ,by other roads we pass objects equally fertile of history4 ,the ,round ,towers of ,saxham are within ken2 ,risby and ,hengrave ,churches are close at hand2 and very near us are some of the grandest and most beautiful of the ,baronial ,halls of ,england--,coldham1 ,rushbrooke1 and ,hengrave among the rest4 ,all who visit the ancient mansion of ,west ,stow1 will first enter the venerable ,church1 to which a footway leads through a field from off the main road4 ,it is a fine example of a very early age4 ,the ,tower is square and embattled2 the ,chancel1 apparently of a more recent date than the ,nave1 contains an enriched ,piscina1 of the fifteenth century1 and many mural monuments and grave-stones of the once illustrious family of ,crofts--a family now known in ,suffolk only by history and these cold records of their fame4 ,the ,nave has an open roof2 the brackets that support the principals are ornamented with armorial bearings of 8many ancient ,lords of this ,manor1 with their alliances40 ,of ,west ,stow ,hall very little is known4 ,the assertion that it was formerly the residence of ,charles ,brandon1 ,duke of ,suffolk1 and the ,royal widow he had married1 is supported mainly by tradition and their armorial bearings1 which still exist1 carved upon a stone1 over the porch4 ,of the once extensive pile nothing now remains1 except the ,turrets we have pictured2 and a long ,corridor1 reaching to a modern house--the comfortable home of a substantial farmer4 ,the former bears ample evidence that its date is of the time of ,henry ,,viii42 that of the ,corridor is not so remote by a century4 ,it is certain that1 after the romantic marriage of ,charles ,brandon with the beloved of his younger days1 when death had freed her from her state-contract with ,louis ,,xii41 and her early lover had become a widower1 they lived for many years in comparative seclusion in ,suffolk2 and1 although 8,mary ,tudor died at the ,manor of ,westhorpe in this county1 in #aecc10 it is more than probable that ,west ,stow was one of their mansions4 ,it was evidently of great extent2 there are persons still living1 who recollect a quadrangular court and extensive out-buildings2 and the wide ,moat by which it was surrounded was filled up only two years ago4 ,the ,tower is partially of a defensive character2 the interior consists of several small chambers1 one of which contains some singular paintings in distemper1 the principal objects in which are these3--,a boy hawking1 with an inscription in old ,english letters1 8,thus doe ,i all the day20 a young man making love to a maiden1 inscribed--8,thus doe ,i while ,i may20 a middle-aged man1 looking on--the inscription1 8,thus did ,i when ,i might20 an aged man1 hobbling onward--the inscription1 8,good ,lord1 will this world last ever80 ,the drawings are rude1 but they are of the age of ,elizabeth4 ,they were recently exposed to view by the removal of a skirting of oak2 and are as fresh as if painted yesterday4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,henry ,mogford4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,ham ,,house1 ,,surrey4 ,,ham ,,house1 ,,surrey4 ,ham ,house4--,few mansions are more pleasantly situated than this--the dwelling of the ,tollemaches1 ,earls of ,dysart4 ,it stands on the south bank of the ,thames2 distant about twelve miles from ,london2 the pretty village of ,twickenham is immediately opposite2 to the left is 8,eel-pie ,island10 famous as a holiday resort of many who 8in populous city pent0 covet periodical acquaintance with clear streams and green lanes2 to the right is far-famed ,richmond ,hill1 which1 although distant a mile perhaps1 seems1 from the tortuous winding of the river1 to form a part of the demesne2 while the back ground is supplied by ,richmond ,park1 with its graceful slopes and its thick masses of rich underwood mingled among groups of magnificent forest trees4 ,the ,house was erected early in the seventeenth century--the date1 #afaj1 still stands on the door of the principal entrance4 ,it is said to have been built for the good ,prince ,henry1 eldest son of ,james the ,first2 and a tradition exists that the illness of which he died was the result of bathing too freely in the adjacent river4 ,it is1 however1 unlikely that the ,prince ever resided here2 and it is certain that the builder was ,sir ,thomas ,vavasor1 ,knight ,marshal1 appointed1 in #afaa1 together with ,sir ,francis ,bacon1 ,judge of the ,marshal's court1 and to have been 8surrendered by him1 together with certain customary lands1 to ,john 7,ramsay71 ,earl of ,holderness1 who died in #afbd or #afbe40 ,we follow the authority of ,manning1 the ,county ,historian1 who states that by this ,earl1 or1 more probably1 his heirs1 the ,house and ,lands were 8sold to ,william ,murray--groom of the bed-chamber to ,james the ,first1 and afterwards created1 in #afdc1 by that monarch ,earl of ,dysart#dc--8whose widow1 ,katherine1 on the #bbnd ,may1 #afea1 surrendered them to the use of ,sir ,lionel ,tollemache and ,elizabeth his wife1 her daughter1 who in the year following surrendered them to the use of ,sir ,lionel's will40 ,this daughter1 to whom the honour of the ,earl--8such it was10 writes ,burnet--descended1 having outlived ,sir ,lionel1 married a second time 7being then ,countess of ,dysart7 the ,earl1 afterwards ,duke1 of ,lauderdale4#dd ,the ,house and ,estates of ,ham were inherited by 8her heirs by her first husband20 in whose possession they have since continued1 being now the property of ,lionel ,william ,john ,tollemache1 the sixth ,earl of ,dysart1 and the residence of his ,lordship's brother4 ,the ,duchess of ,lauderdale--famous during the reigns of four monarchs2 the ,first and ,second ,james1 and the ,first and ,second ,charles2 and through the ,protectorship of ,cromwell--refurnished the ,house at ,ham2 where she continued to reside1 until her death at a very advanced age4 ,the ,interior1 with its gorgeous1 yet remarkably tasteful 8furnishing10 has been scarcely altered since the aged dame occupied the ,mansion4 ,time has dimmed the splendour of the 8hangings10 and tarnished the costly draperies of the rich looms of ,france2 but they remain--in some places tattered and torn--to supply indubitable evidence that the 8woman of great beauty1 but of far greater parts10 had at all events a refined taste1 and that at least a portion of the money she was 8wanting in ,illustration no means to obtain10 was judiciously expended in the adornment of her ,house4 ,among other untouched relics of gone-by days1 is a small ,antechamber1 where1 it is said1 she not only condescended to receive the ,second ,charles1 but1 if tradition is to be credited1 where she 8cajoled0 ,oliver ,cromwell4 ,there still remain the chair in which she used to sit1 her small walking-cane1 and a variety of objects she was wont to value and cherish as memorials of her active life and the successful issues of a hundred political intrigues4#de ,the ,exterior of the ,mansion derives singularity chiefly from the adornment the outer walls receive from a collection of ,roman busts2 some of which1 however1 having been removed by time1 have been replaced by those of ,poets of the age of ,anne4 ,immediately in front stands the statue ,illustration of 8,father ,thames0--copied from the well-known work of the elder ,bacon in the ,courtyard of ,somerset ,house4 ,the ,hall-door 7which supplies our initial letter7 is of very elegant and elaborate workmanship4 ,the ,hall is surrounded by an open gallery2 the rooms on the ground floor contain little to interest1 except the ,chamber and ,dressing-room of the famous ,duchess--the room in which her descendant1 the late venerable ,countess of ,dysart1 also died4 ,passing a small ,chapel1 the ,chambers on the upper floor are reached by a staircase of peculiar character and very considerable beauty4 ,the balustrades are of walnut-tree1 richly carved into representations of armour and military trophies of various countries and epochs4 ,the ,state ,apartments are1 as we have intimated1 little changed4 ,on either side of the ,landing are the ,state ,illustration ,bed-rooms--one of which1 containing copies in tapestry of some of the ,cartoons1 the young ,prince ,henry is said to have occupied2 the bed and furniture are certainly of the period4 ,the several ,drawing-rooms contain valuable and interesting relics of antiquity2 and a small closet is amazingly rich in the choicest and rarest objects of virt--,miniature ,paintings by ,philip ,wouvermans1 carved ,frames by ,grindling ,gibbons1 carved ,cupids by ,fiamingo1 ,conversation ,scenes by ,watteau1 ,miniatures by ,cooper--in short1 the assemblage here is of immense value and of surpassing interest4 ,among its other treasures may be mentioned a ,lock of ,hair of the unhappy ,devereux1 ,earl of ,essex--the authenticity of which admits of no dispute2 a ,prayer book1 the gift of ,charles the ,first2 and1 in the ,library1 no fewer than sixteen uninjured ,caxtons4 ,the 8,long ,gallery0--ninety-two feet in length--is hung with ,portraits1 the majority of which are original works of the great ,masters who conferred honour and glory on the ,courts of the ,first and the ,second ,charles4 ,leading from the ,long ,gallery is the famous 8,cabal ,chamber10#df the chairs and tables and other furniture in which have been untouched since the notorious 8five0 here met in secret to arrange and carry out their plans4 ,so unchanged is the character of the ,mansion1 that little effort of imagination will be required to people it with the gay courtiers and light dames of the reign of the second ,charles1 when the 8,house at ,ham0 was in its glory4 ,every object it contains is in keeping with the period2 of modern furniture there is nothing2 but all the tables1 chairs1 footstools1 fire-dogs1--from things of curious and rare value down to the minutest matters of daily use1--are of an age gone by4 ,this advantage is mainly attributable to the fact that since the ,restoration the venerable dwelling has had but few occupants--two of them1 the ,duchess of ,lauderdale and the late ,countess of ,dysart1 having died there when their years numbered upwards of fourscore4 ,according to ,hume1 ,james the ,second was 8ordered to retire to this house10 on the arrival of the ,prince of ,orange in ,london1 but 8thinking himself unsafe so near the ,metropolis1 he fled privately to ,france40 ,subsequently the 8,manor ,house at ,ham0 ceased to possess any public interest2 fortunately there has been no wish on the part of its noble owners to effect 8restorations0 of any kind2 it has been consequently suffered to retain its solemn aspect and somewhat gloomy character2 and remains a striking and impressive monument of the period of its erection4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,losely ,,house1 ,,surrey4 ,,loseley ,,house1 ,,surrey4 ,loseley ,house4 ,this ancient ,mansion--the residence of ,james ,more ,molyneux1 ,esq41 the lineal representative of two families1 famous in old times--although sadly impaired by time and neglect--cannot fail1 while one stone remains above another1 to retain the interest that arises from venerable antiquity1 in association with renowned names4 ,it is situated about two miles south-west of ,guildford4 ,a long ,avenue1 perfectly bare of trees1 leads from the public road to the ,house4 ,the old ,hall has been shorn of its proud and graceful proportions2 repairs have been made by sloven hands2 parts of the ,moat have been filled up1 but so coarsely1 as to seem the result of accident rather than design4 ,the principal approach is over a bridge between clumsy stables and storehouses4 ,the odious face of a modern clock covers the antique ,horologe1 of which many of its old admirers make honourable mention2 the ,porch1 which bears the date of #ahab1 over which is still inscribed1 in ,roman capital letters1 the sentence-- 8,,invidi1 ,,claudor1 ,,pateo ,,sed ,,semper ,,amico10 is of a nondescript character1 utterly out of keeping with the structure2 a deformity which--following absurdities of outhouses and unseemly patches--carries conviction that 8,something ails the place40 ,nor is the impression removed upon entering the venerable ,hall--venerable only from its age--for bad taste appears to have studied how most effectually to deface it4 ,a patent stove1 of ,birmingham manufacture1 stands a few feet from the embayed window1 illuminated with the 8,household ,coats of the ,family1 emblazoned in the gorgeous tinctures of ,heraldry on the glass20 a 8thin0 ,gallery1 which the gauntleted hand of one of the grim ,knights of old times might shiver into fragments at a single blow1 leads to some upper chambers2 above the sturdy arched ,doorway hang some double-handed swords1 glaives1 partisans1 and rusty helmets1 relics of the once heroic masters of the place1-- 8,the treasures of a soldier1 bought with blood1 ,and kept at life's expense10-- mingled with the bugles of a brass band1 and the drumsticks of a corps of ,yeomanry4 ,these unequivocal signs of neglect and tokens of indifference towards ancient honours and long-ago renown are mournful indications--grieving the heart of the antiquary1 and nullifying the belief that a proud name is a noble heritage because a stimulus to rivalry in honour and in fame4 ,it has been our bounden duty thus to notice this modern vandalism--for the humblest writer may contribute somewhat to increase a love for what is excellent by aiding to censure what is evil4 ,of its internal decorations there are some interesting and valuable remains1 which have neither been removed nor defaced4 ,mr4 ,shaw1 in his 8,details of ,elizabethan ,architecture10 publishes an engraving of the beautiful and elaborately-carved ,chimneypiece of the ,dining ,room4 8,the compartment above the mantel is entirely devoted to a very full display of heraldic insignia1 recording the descent and alliances of the family ,illustration of ,more2 the rich effect of which is increased by the spirited carvings of the styles1 and of the six variously-formed panels in which the several shields are inserted4 ,these ornaments are all executed in fine stone1 and skilfully wrought40 ,the ceilings at ,loseley are also of remarkable character4 ,that of the ,drawing ,room is especially fine4 ,it is adorned with 8,gothic tracery and pendant corbels40 ,in one of the cornices is inserted a mulberry-tree1 on one side of which is inscribed 8,morus tarde ,moriens20 on the other1 8,morum cito ,moriturum0--being a rebus on the name of the family4 ,the ceiling of the ,bed ,room1 of which a portion is shown in the wood-cut annexed1 is also very beautiful4 ,in several of the compartments are introduced the ,moor-cock and ,moor-hen--badges of the race of ,more4 8,the ,manor of ,loseley10 according to ,mr4 ,kempe1 in his introduction to 8,the ,loseley ,manuscripts10#dg 8bore its present appellation from the ,saxon times40 ,osmond gave it to ,king ,edward the ,confessor2 the ,conqueror gave it to ,roger de ,montgomery1 ,earl of ,arundel and ,shrewsbury1 a stout leader of the ,normans at ,hastings fight2 and after passing into the possession of various persons by inheritance or purchase1 it was1 early in the reign of the ,eighth ,henry1 bought by ,christopher ,more1 ,esq41 whose grandfather was ,thomas ,more1 of ,norton1 in the ,county of ,derby1 ,gent41 with whom the pedigree of ,more of ,loseley1 in the ,books of the ,heralds' ,college1 begins4 ,his son and successor1 ,william1 who was knighted by the ,earl of ,leicester--8the ,queen being present at the ceremony0--built the ,mansion at ,loseley1 commencing the work in #aefb--;it is conjectured 8to the north of an older edifice40 ,it was evidently intended to form three squares of a quadrangle1 if not a complete square4 ,the centre of the building1 which remains to this day1 was completed in #aefh4 ,the ,gallery and ,chapel were added subsequently1 but these have been 8of late years demolished40 ,the accompanying wood-cut is of the ,south front2 and1 fortunately for the picturesque effect of the subject1 a group of trees on the ,illustration lawn conceals from view the ungainly modern porch1 and some other monstrous additions to the venerable building of the sixteenth century4 ,to ,sir ,william ,more succeeded1 in #afjj1 ,sir ,george ,more1 who had been knighted by ,queen ,elizabeth2 and who1 under ,james the ,first1 was ,chancellor of the ,order of the ,garter1 ,lieutenant of the ,tower1 and ,receiver-,general and ,treasurer to ,henry ,prince of ,wales4 ,the last male heir of the ,mores dying in #afhi1 the estate devolved to ,margaret his sister1 who married ,sir ,thomas ,molyneux1 ,knight1 the ancestor of the present possessor of ,loseley--a name even more renowned than that with which thenceforward it became united4 ,it was during the ,lordship of ,sir ,george ,more--between the years #afjj and #afcb--that the history of ,loseley became deeply interesting1 as associated with some of the most remarkable events and illustrious worthies of the epoch4 ,the famous ,dr4 ,donne--,poet1 ,scholar1 and ,divine--privately married the daughter of ,sir ,george4 ,donne was at that time ,secretary to the ,lord ,chancellor ,egerton1 the husband of the ,lady's aunt4 ,the marriage was 8to ,sir ,george so immeasurably unwelcome10 that he successfully exerted his influence to procure the ,poet's dismissal from his honourable and profitable service1 and consigned to a gaol the clergyman by whom the knot had been tied4 ,his father-in-law--although earnestly intreated in a letter1 still preserved at ,loseley1 8so to deal in the matter as the persuasions of nature1 reason1 wisdome1 and ,christianity should dictate0--separated the couple1 imprisoning one 8offender10 and involving the other in a tedious and ruinous law-suit1 for the recovery of his 8deare life40 ,his friend and biographer1 exquisite ,izaak ,walton1 has in his own simple and natural manner recorded the story of this young affection1 and of the sad trials and pecuniary difficulties in which the ,poet and his wife were for a long period involved2 presenting us with a beautiful though a mournful picture of a high and generous mind struggling against the most galling of all troubles2 to him the more intolerable1 because of her whom he had 8transplanted into a wretched fortune1 which he laboured to disguise from her by many honest inventions40 ,at length1 however1 fate was not only borne but conquered2 ,dr4 ,donne entered into holy orders1 became a prosperous man--,king's ,chaplain and ,dean of ,st4 ,paul's--and the gates of ,loseley did not for ever remain closed against him4 ,other names--equally immortal--are associated with this ancient house4 ,sir ,george ,more was the guardian of ,lord ,herbert of ,cherbury--the ,knight 8whose chivalry was drawn from the purest founts of the ,fairy ,queen0--the history of whose life is a brilliant romance4 ,queen ,elizabeth paid frequent visits to ,loseley during her 8progresses20 and among the 8manuscripts0 there exists a letter1 not very complimentary to the hospitality of the ,mansion1 in which ,sir ,anthony ,wingfield warns his friend ,mr4 ,more that he will find the visit 8a very great trouble and hinderance10 and advises him how to get himself excused from the honour4 ,it is certain1 however1 that her ,majesty did receive entertainment there1 several times4 ,there are letters from ,sir ,christopher ,hatton1 in #aehc1 and from ,lord ,hunsdon1 in #aeia1 ordering ,sir ,william ,more that his house be 8kept sweete and cleane0 to receive her ,highness--and the former intimates1 that a past excuse will not again serve a turn2 8for10 writes ,sir ,christopher1 8,i have been heretofore informed that you had some sycke of the infectione the last yeare1 and of other dangerous diseases of late in it1 w'ch is now reported here as a misinformacion and for otherwise than the brute 7bruit7 declared40 ,the letter is addressed 8from the ,court at ,otlands1 to the ,right w'ship my very good frende1 ,s ,will'm ,more1 ,knight40 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,s4 ,prout4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,arundel ,,church1 ,,sussex4 ,,arundel ,,church1 ,,sussex4 ,the church at ,arundel--of which we give a print of the interior from a drawing by ,mr4 ,prout--is of very ancient date4 ,for a series of years down to our own time1 it was suffered to fall into decay2 and age was gradually removing all tokens of its former splendour4 ,the roof had disappeared from the chancel2 and ivy had overgrown its carved pillars and mullioned windows2 the few repairs to which it had been subjected had been carried out in bad taste2 and for a long period it remained a discreditable evidence of the apathy of successive ,dukes of ,norfolk1 rather than a monument to record the honours and glories of the race4 ,it is now1 however1 in progress of restoration2 its ,illustration claims upon the noble family have been recognised2 the inroads of time have been effectually arrested2 and it is undergoing such necessary changes 7at the cost of the present ,duke7 as are dictated by judgment and good sense4 ,the church occupies an elevated position north of the town1 and nearly opposite the principal entrance into the ,castle4 ,its exterior has many traces of antiquity1 and not a few remains of early beauty4 ,age1 and the slovenly hands of stonemasons1 have1 however1 materially injured its venerable character and imposing effect--its principal injury having been sustained by the addition of a wooden spire placed above a low square tower which rises from the centre of the edifice4 ,the church is of large size1 and consists of a double arcade1 dividing the nave from the aisles1 above which are placed1 8in what in the architecture of the age was termed the cleoestory1 a row of circular windows enclosing quatrefoils--a shape of rare occurrence40 ,the south transept was1 we are told1 formerly occupied by the parochial altar2 it now contains the communion-table and the font2 the latter being octagonal upon an octagonal shaft1 with a corresponding pedestal4 ,it is composed of ,sussex marble1 and is of very early date4 ,in the north transept was 8the chantry of ,st4 ,christopher1 commonly called ,salmon's0--to which was attached a priest whose endowment was the appropriation of the ,church of ,rudgwick1 8with two acres of land1 one in ,rudgwick for his use1 the other in ,arundel for the site of his residence40 ,the foundation of this chantry was created by the benefaction of ,edward ,mille1 ,esq4 8,the first incumbent1 ,william ,baynton1 took possession of the benefice on the #ith ,may1 #addj40dh ,the original ecclesiastical foundation was that of the alien priory1 or cell1 dedicated to ,st4 ,nicholas1 established by ,roger de ,montgomery1 ,earl of ,arundel1 soon after the ,conquest1 and subjected to the ,benedictine ,abbey of ,seez1 or ,de ,sagio1 in ,normandy4 ,it consisted only of a ,prior and three ,illustration or four ,monks1 who continued to conduct the establishment for nearly three centuries1 until the #crd year of the reign of ,richard ,,ii41 when ,richard ,fitz-alan1 ,earl of ,arundel1 obtained a license to extinguish the ,priory and to found a ,chantry for the maintenance of a master and twelve secular canons with their officers4 ,upon this change1 it was styled 8the ,college of the ,holy ,trinity40#di ,the ,collegiate church being intended as the mausoleum of his family1 the founder supplied ample means to enrich it with examples of monumental splendour4 ,the tomb of his son ,thomas ,fitz-alan and his wife ,beatrix1 daughter of ,john1 ,king of ,portugal1 was the earliest of those placed in the church4 ,it is of alabaster1 finely sculptured4#ej ,it was formerly painted and gilt4 ,it contains the effigies of the ,earl and his ,lady2 at the feet of the ,earl is a horse1 the cognizance of the ,fitz-alans1 and at those of the ,lady are two lap-dogs4 ,around1 in niches1 are small standing figures of ecclesiastics or pleureurs1 with open books1 as performing funeral obsequies1 and above them as many escutcheons1 the emblazoning of which is nearly obliterated4 ,other 8stately tombs0 are erected to the memories of ,john ,fitz-alan and ,eleanor his wife2 ,thomas1 ,earl of ,arundel1 and his wife1 8one of the eyres of ,richard ,wodevyle ,earl ,rivers1 sister to ,elizabeth ,queen of ,england1 sometime wife to ,king ,edward ,,iv40--recording the date of the ,earl's death1 #aebd2 and to ,henry1 ,earl of ,arundel1 the last of the ,fitz-alans1 erected by his son-in-law1 ,john1 ,baron ,lumley1 with a ,latin inscription1 of which the following is a translation3-- 8,the magnanimous hero1 whose effigy is here beheld1 and whose remains are deposited beneath this monument1 was the ,earl of this place1 the last of a family deriving its lengthened descent from the son of ,alan4 ,his name was ,henry1 ,lord and ,baron ,maltravers1 ,clunne and ,oswaldestre1 senior knight of the most noble ,order of the ,garter1 only son and successor of ,william1 ,earl of ,arundel1 and the worthy representative of his father's virtues4 ,to ,henry1 ,edward1 ,mary1 and ,elizabeth1 he discharged the duty of ,privy ,councillor4 ,under the first1 he was ,governor of ,calais1 ,marshal of the army at the siege of ,boulogne1 and afterwards ,lord ,chamberlain4 ,at the coronation of ,edward1 he officiated as ,earl ,marshal2 at that of ,mary1 as ,lord ,high ,constable4 ,to the former1 as to his father1 he was ,lord ,chamberlain3 to the latter1 as well as to her sister1 ,queen ,elizabeth1 he was ,lord ,high ,steward1 and ,president of the ,council4 8,thus1 this man1 illustrious in his descent1 more illustrious in his employments1 and deemed most illustrious both at home and abroad1 rich in honour1 but broken with labour and worn out with age1 having attained his sixty-eighth year1 calmly and piously fell asleep in the ,lord1 in ,london1 on the #beth of ,february1 #aegi4 8,to the kindest of fathers-in-law1 and the best of patrons1 here interred1 ,john ,lumley1 ,baron ,lumley1 his affectionate son-in-law and executor1 with many tears1 and as a last testimony of his love1 has consecrated this monument1 and adorned it with his own armour1 not for the sake of preserving his memory1 which his virtues have rendered immortal1 but for the sake of that mortal body1 which is here deposited1 in the hope of a happy resurrection40 ,there is one monument of a peculiarly striking character2 it occupies an opening cut in the wall1 between the chancel and the ,lady's chapel--the chapel which forms the subject of our principal engraving4 ,they are divided by low arches4 ,the tomb is an open feretrum or bier1 carved in alabaster1 and formerly painted1 under which lies an emaciated figure extended on a shroud4 ,upon the upper slab is an effigy in plate armour1 with a close tabard1 emblazoned with ,fitz-alan and ,maltravers1 quarterly1 the feet resting on a horse4 ,two angels support the head4 ,it represents ,john ,fitz-alan1 ,earl of ,arundel1 who died at ,beauvais of wounds received at the siege of ,gerberoy1 in #adce4 ,he had selected this spot as the place of his interment2 and although his remains were buried in the ,cathedral of ,beauvais1 this singular monument was erected to his memory here4 ,the church encloses several monuments in addition to those we have enumerated2 and in the chancel are many brasses1 containing epitaphs 8in obsolete ,latin and monkish verse0 to masters and fellows of the college and to servants of the noble families--the ,montgomeries1 the ,albinis1 the ,fitz-alans and the ,howards--who have held sway over ,arundel for centuries1 for-- 8,since ,william rose and ,harold fell1 ,there have been ,counts of ,arundel2 ,and ,earls old ,arundel shall have ,while rivers flow and forests wave40 ,the decorations of the church and its magnificent tombs were either seriously injured or destroyed by soldiers quartered in the church during the siege of the castle in #afdc4 ,the windows were formerly filled with richly stained glass1 the eastern window containing a series of kneeling figures1 male and female1 in coat armour and mantles1 with their respective armorial bearings4#ea ,it is to the honour of the present ,duke of ,norfolk1 that although a member of the ,roman ,catholic ,church1 he has deemed it his duty to restore this ancient and venerable edifice from the state of dilapidation in which it has for many years existed4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,j4 ,d ,harding4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,boxgrove ,,church1 ,,sussex4 ,,boxgrove ,,church1 ,,sussex4 ,the ,priory1 ,boxgrove--part of which is now in ruins1 but portions of which are still used as the ,parish ,church--was founded by ,robert de ,hai1 ,lord of ,halmacro1 ,a4,d4 #aaag1 in the reign of ,king ,henry the ,first1 in honour of the ,virgin and ,st4 ,blaise1 for three monks only of the ,benedictine order4 ,the sole daughter of the founder was married to ,roger ,st4 ,john1 who added three more2 and the number was augmented to fifteen1 by their two sons1 ,william and ,robert1 in the reign of ,king ,stephen4 ,it remained1 however1 subordinate to the ,abbey of ,l',essay1 or ,de ,exaquio1 in ,normandy1 ,a4,d4 #aadi4 ,before the suppression1 the monks were reduced to nine4 ,but when ,edward the ,third assumed possession of other alien ,priories1 that of ,boxgrove secured the privilege of being 8indigena10 by which it was rendered independent1 and retained its endowment--considerable in proportion to the extent of the establishment4 ,in the year #aece1 its annual revenue was #ahe #ais41 without including the income derived from fines and renewals4 ,the ,ruins of ,halnacre1 or ,halnaker1 ,house1 the mansion of ,robert de ,hai1 or ,de ,haye1 still exist in the grounds of ,goodwood1 the seat of his ,grace the ,duke of ,richmond4 ,to this 8worthie and valourous knight10 the estate was given by ,henry the ,first2 from his descendant it passed1 by marriage1 to the family of ,st4 ,john4 ,in the reign of ,edward the ,third it was transferred1 also by marriage1 to the ,poynings2 subsequently1 it passed through the hands of the ,bonvilles into those of the ,lords de la ,warr1 who gave it to ,henry the ,eighth in exchange for the ,abbey and lands of ,wherwell1 in ,hampshire4 ,halnacre remained an appanage of the ,crown until towards the close of ,queen ,elizabeth's reign1 when the ,morleys received a grant of it4 ,in #agja1 it became the property of ,mary1 ,countess of ,derby1#eb who inherited from her father1 ,sir ,william ,morley4 ,at her death in #ageb1 it devolved to her cousin1 ,sir ,thomas ,ackland1 ,bart41 who sold it for the sum of #ej1jjj to the ,duke of ,richmond4 ,the ,remains are of very limited extent2 sufficient1 however1 to indicate the former magnitude and splendour of the edifice4 ,of the conventual buildings 7the great extent of which may be estimated by the old walls which form enclosures to neighbouring farm-yards7 little remains except the ,refectory1 now used as a barn2 and the present ,parish ,church1 supposed to be the ,choir of the original building4 ,some portions of the ancient ,nave1 which appears to be of a ,illustration more remote era1 may be traced in the broken arches westward of the ,church2 and the ,chapter-house is attached1 externally1 to the ,north ,transept1 having a ,norman doorway1 with arches on each side of it1 leading1 it is believed1 to a ,cloister which extended to the ,refectory and the habitation of the monks4 ,it is this fine relic of the once extensive and richly-decorated structure which ,mr4 ,prout has pictured in the appended ,print4 ,a considerable portion of it has been removed by time2 and the ,church is now separated from the ,refectory by a huge gap1 where sheep were feeding quietly at the time of our visit4 ,marks of a ,piscina1 and a place for the ,bell1 may still be detected by a minute scrutiny4 ,in an old ,,ms41 which came accidentally into our hands1 it is surmised that this portion of the edifice was the ,private ,chapel of the monks4 ,the exterior of the ,church 7represented on the opposite page7 is of very imposing character1 bearing indubitable tokens of remote antiquity4 ,the ,tower is low1 with windows2 in its general form it resembles that of ,winchester1 and seems to be of the era of ,henry the ,second4 ,the interior consists of a ,nave and ,chancel1 without division1 with aisles on each side1 north and south ,transepts2 and a space1 westward of the ,tower1 which is certainly the most ancient part of the structure4 ,in length it is #abf feet2 the width of the ,nave being #bd feet1 and that of the aisles each #ac feet #f inches4 ,the ,eastern ,window1 of three large lights1 is separated internally by tall shafts and flourished capitals1 and is ornamented1 externally1 with the nail-head moulding4 ,this mixture of ornament affords almost conclusive proof that the structure is of the date of ,stephen or ,henry the ,second1 when the round ,norman arch was first abandoned1 and several novelties1 which prevailed only in a few instances1 were introduced4 ,pillars1 somewhat similar in character1 support the roof2 but they have been consigned1 from time to time1 to the hands of the 8white-washer10 who has effectually hidden the fine ,purbeck ,illustration marble of which they are composed4 ,the sepulchral remains in the ,church of ,boxgrove are remarkable1 and worthy of investigation1 although it is difficult to ascertain with any degree of certainty to whom the ,tombs severally belong4 ,they are six in number1 two situated against the north wall of the north aisle1 and another of large dimensions under one of the arches which divide the ,chancel from the north aisle2 and three others1 placed against the south wall of the south aisle4 ,two of these probably contain the bodies of a sister and daughter of ,william de ,albini1 ,earl of ,arundel1 who left a donation to the ,church for prayers to be made 8pro anim ,adeliz regin 7his mother1 and ,queen-,dowager of ,henry the ,first71 et pro animabus ,olivi2 sororis me1 et ,olivi fili me1 qu ibi jacent40 ,out of this circumstance has probably arisen a tradition1 that ,queen ,adeliza was here interred2 but there is sufficient evidence to prove that her remains were deposited in the ,conventual ,church of ,reading4#ec ,dugdale asserts1 but erroneously1 that ,gundreda1 wife of ,william ,earl ,warren1 was here buried2 her husband1 it is believed1 was a benefactor to the establishment4 ,thomas de ,poynings and ,philippa his second wife 7daughter of ,edmund ,mortimer1 ,earl of ,march1 ,countess ,dowager of ,arundel and ,pembroke71 are also said to have been here interred2 and upon the key-stone of one of the tombs in the north aisle are the arms of the family of ,st4 ,john 7argent in a chief gules1 two mullets pierced or7--the tomb possibly of ,thomas de ,poynings1 summoned as ,lord ,st4 ,john of ,basing1 #acfi1 7#db ,edw4 ,,iii471 obit4 #adbi4 ,it is left mainly to conjecture1 aided by the uncertain light of tradition1 to determine whose dust is covered by these stones4 ,there is1 however1 one ,monument1 concerning which no doubts can exist4 ,it is a ,sacellum1 or ,shrine1 belonging to the family of ,west1 or ,la ,war4 ,the date1 as may be seen on the pendant ornament between the two north-eastern arches1 is #aecb1 which was during the lifetime of ,thomas ,west1 second ,baron ,la ,war and ,cantilupe2 but it is supposed to have been erected after his death by his daughter1 ,dorothy1 who married ,sir ,edward ,owen4 ,the inscription under the ,altar in the ,shrine-- ,of y charite pray for y souls of ,thomas ,la ,ware and ,elyzabeth h wyf1 seems to sanction the supposition4 ,in other parts of the ,shrine may be read the words1 ,thomas ,la ,war ,anno ,dni ,,mvxxxii4 and ,elizabeth ,la ,war4 ,between the niches of the ,shrine1 over the arcades1 are four coats of arms1 supported by angels1 with the quarterings of ,la ,war1 ,cantilupe1 ,mortimer1 ,st4 ,john1 ,poynings1 ,bonville1 ,wingfield1 c4 ,the ,tomb is a peculiarly interesting and remarkably beautiful object4 ,it has recently been cleaned and repaired by order of the ,duke of ,richmond--somewhat clumsily1 however1 for the workman has disarranged several of the decorations1 and one of the figures he has placed 8upside down40 ,it is richly carved in stone1 and abundantly ornamented4 ,mr4 ,prout has introduced it into the ,drawing which exhibits the ,interior of the venerable ,church1 with its ,pulpit of carved oak1 black with age4 ,an ancient ,font has been recently removed from the ,nave to the foot of the ,pulpit4 ,in the ,chancel are many encaustic tiles--one of which supplies us with an initial letter4 ,the ,church is situated about eight miles west of ,arundel1 a short distance out of the road to ,chichester1 from which it is distant about four miles4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,a4 ,e4 ,everett4 ,day ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,aston ,,hall1 ,,warwickshire4 ,,aston ,,hall1 ,,warwickshire4 ,aston ,hall1 the residence of ,james ,watt1 ,esq4--whose name has been rendered 8famous for all time0 by the genius and enterprise of his great father--is situate about two miles from the town of ,birmingham1 on an eminence which overlooks the river ,tame4 ,although erected during the reign of ,james the ,first and his successor1 it is certain that a baronial mansion previously existed adjacent to the present edifice3 authorities are conclusive on this point1 and its site was indicated until recently by some venerable trees1 the relics of at least three centuries4 ,prior to the ,norman conquest 7according to ,dugdale7 the manor of ,aston1 or1 as it was then written1 ,estone or ,east ,town1 was possessed by ,edwin earl of ,mercia4 ,upon the distribution of lands which followed that event1 it was bestowed by the ,conqueror upon ,william ,fitz-,ausculf1 lord of the neighbouring castle of ,dudley1 for whom it was held by one ,godmund4 ,it was certified to contain1 at that time1 viii4 hides of land1 valued at #ajj shillings1 a mill rated at iiis41 a church1 and woods extending three miles in length and half a mile in breadth4 ,after passing through the hands of several successive lords of ,dudley1 it was presented by one of them1 named ,ralph ,someri1 in the beginning of the reign of ,king ,john1 to ,william de ,erdington and his heirs for ever2 and we find the following curious grant respecting it1 viz4 8,that the manour-house and demesne at ,estone1 with divers tenements thereto belonging1 should be held by him1 by the service of a pair of gilt spurs1 or the value thereof1 viz4 vid41 payable yearly at ,easter1 for all services or demands whatsoever40 ,from the ,erdingtons it passed to the family of ,maidenhache1 whose daughter ,sibel conveyed it by marriage to ,adam de ,grymesurwe1 whose daughter sold it in #acfg to ,john ,atte ,holt of ,duddeston near ,birmingham1 and in whose family it subsequently continued for upwards of four hundred years4 ,originally of the people1 they became powerful and wealthy 8lords of the soil10 eminent for worth and probity1 and occupying offices of high trust in ,warwickshire and the neighbouring counties4 ,thomas ,holt is especially mentioned as an eminent lawyer in the reign of ,henry the ,eighth2 he was ,justice of ,north ,wales1 and in commission as a justice of the peace for his native county during the greater part of that monarch's sovereignty4 ,to this 8worthie gentleman0 succeeded his son ,edward1 who1 dying in the thirty-fifth of ,elizabeth1 was succeeded by his son ,thomas1 who was ,sheriff of ,warwickshire in the forty-second of ,elizabeth1 was knighted by ,king ,james on his accession to the throne1 and in the tenth year of his reign advanced to the dignity of a baronet4 ,it was this ,sir ,thomas who enclosed the spacious park1 and erected the present mansion4 ,the date and circumstances of the building are thus recorded over the entrance doorway3-- 8,sir ,thomas ,holte1 of ,duddeston in the countie of ,warwick1 ,knight and ,baronet1 began to build this house in ,aprill1 ,anno ,domini #afah1 in the #afth yeare of the raigne of ,king ,james of ,england1 c41 and of ,scotland the one and fiftieth2 and the said ,sir ,thomas ,holte came to dwell in this house in ,may1 in ,anno ,domini #afca1 in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne ,lord ,king ,charles1 and he did finish this house in ,aprill1 ,anno ,domini #afce1 in the eleventh yeare of the raigne of the sayde ,king ,charles4 8,,laus ,,deo40 ,we may hence infer that 8,sir ,thomas ,holte of ,duddeston10 until the building of the mansion1 chiefly resided at the old house at ,duddeston1 which1 though still standing1 is so completely altered that barely a trace of its ancient character remains4 ,it is now used as a public place of recreation under the title of 8,vauxhall40 ,sir ,thomas was emphatically a good man and a loyal subject4 ,he endowed alms-houses1 which1 to this day1 give shelter to some aged people2 and though too old to appear in arms for his sovereign during the wars of ,charles with the ,parliament1 he was represented by his son in the army of the king1 whom he received and entertained in his house a few days prior to the battle of ,edgehill4 ,for his devotion to his master he1 of course1 endured persecution2 heavy fines were levied on his estate1 and his mansion was more than once plundered4 ,sir ,thomas was succeeded by his grandson and heir1 ,sir ,robert ,holt2 subsequently the estate came into the possession of ,sir ,lister ,holt1 who1 dying without issue the #hth of ,april1 #aggj4 was succeeded by his eldest brother ,charles1 from whom it passed into the family of ,bracebridge2#ed by them it was sold a few years ago to some parties in the neighbourhood of ,warwick1 who leased it to its present occupier4 ,the mansion1 which is built of brick1 with stone quoins and dressings1 forms three sides of a square1 and bears some resemblance to the letter ,e1 a practice which originated in compliment to ,queen ,elizabeth1 and was not altogether in disuse during the reign of her successor4 ,the eastern or principal front derives its principal features from the massive character and judicious display of details2 and a highly pleasing effect is given to the structure by its gables1 numerous picturesque chimneys1 bay windows to the wings1 and1 especially1 the stately grandeur of the central and side towers4 ,the south1 or garden front1 is also an interesting portion of the structure2 the appended vignette affords a correct idea ,illustration of it4 ,it will be seen that its principal feature is an open arcade1 around which are several antique carved seats1 so placed as to facilitate views of the garden1 with its quaint and venerable trees and shaded walks4 ,passing through a small door at the termination of this arcade1 we step upon a noble terrace1 which extends the whole length of the back or western front of the edifice4 ,from this point we obtain an unbroken view of the park in nearly its whole extent4 ,the house is1 from this side1 very imposing1 from its great width and massive character4 ,returning to the principal front1 passing through the great doorway1 which is elevated on four steps and is of good character1 we enter the great hall4 ,it is richly decorated2 the fireplace is remarkably fine2 along the sides are ranged various old pictures1 which1 combined with antique furniture profusely scattered about1 take us back to the days of its early grandeur1 when the mansion was the residence of a true and hospitable baronial lord4 ,the apartments are fitted up in good keeping2 the dining and drawing-rooms1 entered from the hall1 retain their ancient aspects2 the panelling and ceilings are in excellent preservation1 the chimneypieces comparatively unimpaired by time1 and the whole interior is of a character sound and true4 ,we must not omit to mention that the fine oak staircase received considerable injury during the great civil war4 ,it appears that a cannon was fired from a little eminence at a short distance from the south side of the house1 the shot from which1 after passing through two strong walls1 lodged on the first landing of the great staircase1 shattering in its course a considerable portion of the richly-carved balustrade--which1 as a memorial of the event1 has not been since repaired4 ,the house is reached from the main road by a noble avenue of finely-grown trees2 these extend for nearly half a mile4 ,illustration ,the entrance gates1 of which we append an engraving1 are directly opposite the very venerable church2 and this church must be associated with the mansion1 for it is the resting-place of nearly all its ancient owners4 ,it is dedicated to ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul1 and consists of a nave with north and south aisles1 a spacious chancel1 and a substantial tower1 surmounted by a tall spire1 at the western extremity of the nave4 ,the church bears evidence of being built at two distinct periods1 or1 at least1 of having undergone considerable alterations4 ,we find1 according to ,dugdale1 that the south aisle was built by ,henry de ,erdington2 for in the #abth ,edward ,,ii4 he gave a certain rent-seck of vid4 per annum to the maintenance of the gutter betwixt the church and it4 ,in this grant he terms it 8,nova capella beat ,mari de ,aston20 thus proving it to have been 7with the north aisle1 which is precisely similar7 erected during the prevalence of the decorated style4 ,but1 unfortunately1 owing to some injudicious repairs a few years since1 the whole of the windows1 of which there are three1 on each side1 and one larger1 at the eastern and western ends1 were deprived of both mullions and tracery1 and1 no doubt1 at the same time of several interesting portions of stained glass1 of which we have a description in ,dugdale1 but which is now nowhere to be found4 ,this1 combined with the loss of the high-pitched roofs1 gives a poor appearance to the interior4 ,the tower and spire are by far the finest portions of the building1 and add greatly to the beauty of the whole4 ,the tower is of four stories1 with battlements and pinnacles2 but its chief peculiarity is the belfry story1 which is decorated on three sides by six long and narrow compartments1 the two centre ones of which are pierced1 and have louvre boards for the better distribution of sound2 on the fourth or south side are only four of these compartments1 the space for the two others being taken up by an octagonal turret staircase1 that adjoins this portion of the tower4 ,the spire is octagonal1 plain1 but of a good substantial character2 and from its details1 with those of the tower1 which exhibit some deviations from the true principles of pointed architecture1 we may safely trace their erection to the early portion of the sixteenth century4 ,the pillars and arches of the nave1 of which there are four on each side1 seem to belong1 like the exterior1 to a transition period1 as their general character is decorated1 whilst there are several mouldings that may be ascribed to the early ,english period4 ,among the modern barbaric 8restorations and improvements0 to which this fine church has been subjected1 may be mentioned the plaster ceilings1 the altar-screen of ,roman design1 and an odious assemblage of pews of all shapes and sizes2 but it may be hoped1 from the good spirit that has lately directed the introduction of some ancient stalls from ,leicester at the entrance of the chancel1 a richly-carved lecturn1 and last1 though not least1 the establishment of a choral service1 that in a few years this noble edifice may resume its pristine splendour and magnificence4 ,in monumental architecture this church will be found to possess an interesting series4 ,the most ancient1 from the character of its design1 evidently belongs to the latter part of the fourteenth century2 it is supposed to be to the memory of one of the now extinct but once powerful family of ,arden4 ,it is an altar-tomb of alabaster1 supporting effigies of a knight and lady1 and is situated against the north wall of the chancel4 ,towards the eastern end of the north aisle are two monuments that will next require our attention4 ,the first1 an altar-tomb1 around the side of which are angels bearing shields1 and still retaining traces of their original painting and gilding2 on the top are the painted effigies of ,william ,holt1 ,esq4 and ,joan his wife1 and the inscription 7now obliterated7 originally bore the date of #adbc4 ,against the north wall1 near this tomb1 is a mural monument containing the effigies of ,edward ,holt1 ,esq4 and ,dorothy his wife1 under an arch of ,roman design1 kneeling one on each side of a small lecturn or desk4 ,this monument bears the date of #aeib4 ,in the pavement near is a large slab1 containing the effigies in brass of the ,thomas ,holt and his wife ,margaret1 who1 as we have mentioned1 was ,justice of ,north ,wales during the reign of ,henry the ,eighth4 ,the next monument demanding notice is situated against the north wall ,illustration of the chancel1 and forms the subject of the accompanying vignette3 it is of a bold character1 but1 in its minor parts1 exhibits a sad falling off in execution as compared with the more ancient ones to which we have referred4#ee ,it is to the memory of ,edward ,devereux1 ,esq4 of ,castle ,bromwich ,hall in this neighbourhood 7a seat now possessed by the ,earl of ,bradford71 and the ,lady ,katherine his wife1 and was erected ,a4,d4 #afbg3 it bears their effigies1 with those of their children1 painted and habited in the costume of the early part of the seventeenth century4 ,there are also two other monuments1 which1 though not immediately connected with the text1 may not be left unnoticed4 ,one of these bears the effigies of ,sir ,thomas de ,erdington and his lady1 ,joyce2 the other is also supposed to belong to a member of the same family4 ,they originally stood in the south aisle1 which was erected by their ancestor1 ,henry de ,erdington1 in the reign of ,edward ,,ii41 and used as a chanting chapel for the family1 but were removed a few years since to their present position on the south side of the chancel4 ,they are both good specimens of the monumental sculpture of the middle ages4 ,recently a beautiful memorial window of stained glass has been erected at the west end of the south aisle1 which for excellence of design and richness and harmony of colour1 is hardly surpassed by the best specimens of ancient days4 ,among the very numerous series of mural monuments with which this church abounds1 we need only observe that there are several to the different members of the ,holt family1 and one1 in particular1 to the good and worthy knight ,sir ,thomas1 the builder of the present hall2 but from their wholly unsuitable character for a ,christian temple1 and from their abounding in pagan emblems and decorations1 they serve only to disfigure the walls of the sacred and very venerable edifice4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,g4 ,cattermole4 ,day ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,the ,,beauchamp ,,chapel1 ,,warwick4 ,,beauchamp ,,chapel1 ,,warwick4 ,beauchamp ,chapel ranks among the most exquisitely beautiful examples of sacred edifices in ,great ,britain4 ,it was founded by that famous ,earl of ,warwick1 who1 early in the fifteenth century1 upheld the glories of his line1 and transmitted his abundant honours unimpaired to his posterity1--the ,talbots1 the ,dudleys1 the ,willoughbys1 the ,grevilles1 and the ,nevils4#ef ,the purpose of its erection was to supply a fitting mausoleum for the noble family of its founder2 yet few of his successors are there interred2 for1 having subsequently become entitled to the patronage of the ,holy ,abbey of ,tewkesbury1 they preferred it as their place of sepulture--and the great ,earl is nearly the only one of his proud and lofty race whose ashes moulder beneath the fretted roof of the graceful and magnificent structure4 ,it was commenced #bast ,henry ,,vi4 and finished #c;d ,edward ,,iv42 occupying a period of twenty-one years1 and costing #b1dha #ds4 #g;d4--an enormous sum1 of which some idea may be formed from the fact1 that1 at the time1 8the value of a fat ox was #acs4 #d;d40 ,the ,chapel was not1 however1 consecrated until the #aeth ,edward ,,iv41 when ,john ,hales1 ,bishop of ,coventry and ,lichfield1 was specially commissioned for the purpose by ,john ,carpenter1 ,bishop of ,worcester4 ,the ,church of ,st4 ,mary1 ,warwick--to which the ,beauchamp ,chapel is attached--is of very early date4 ,of its foundation1 prior to the ,conquest1 there is conclusive evidence2 for in 8the ,survey10 it was certified to have 8one hyde of land in ,myton1 given to it by ,turchil de ,warwick1 which land was then valued at ten shillings40 ,it was made collegiate by ,hen4 de ,newburg1 first ,earl of ,warwick2 and his son ,roger1 in #aabc1 largely augmented its revenues4 ,the riches and piety of subsequent ,earls of ,warwick contributed to its grandeur and importance2 and at the survey1 #bfth ,hen4 ,,viii41 previous to the dissolution1 its revenues were certified to amount to #ccd #bs4 #c;d4 ,a fire1 in #afid1 destroyed the whole of the edifice1 except the choir and the ,beauchamp ,chapel2 and when the ,church was rebuilt it was from a design of ,sir ,christopher ,wren4 ,it is1 nevertheless1 conspicuous for no architectural beauty1 except the fine proportions of its ,tower4 ,the choir--a part of the ancient church--is a rare example of the architecture of the period4 ,it was built by ,thomas de ,beauchamp1 about the #dcrd ,edward ,,iii42 and his remains1 with those of his ,countess1 a daughter of ,roger ,mortimer1 ,earl of ,march1 were interred in a sumptuous tomb1 placed in the centre of the edifice erected for their reception4 ,nearly five hundred years have passed since the ,earl was laid there1 and the mason1 the gilder1 and the sculptor1 laboured to perpetuate the memory of a great soldier1 who led the van at ,crecy1 bled at ,poictiers1 8did great service in a sea-fight10 8warred against the infidels10 and drove a besieging army from before ,calais1 by the mere sound of his name1--yet the monument endures almost unimpaired by time2 telling its high tale of glory after a lapse of half a thousand years4#eg ,a vaulted corridor extends from the transept nearly the whole length of the choir on its north side4 ,this has been divided by a screen of blank panelling1 and the eastern portion formed into a 8,vestrie40 ,the remainder is used as a north entrance to the ,church1 having also an entrance into the ,chapter ,house4 ,this building is hexagonal on its exterior end1 and is now appropriated as a mausoleum1 to which those who love the muse will resort as to a place of pilgrimage1 for here repose the earthly remains of that 8servant to ,queen ,elizabeth1 ,chancellor to ,king ,james1 and friend to ,sir ,philip ,sidney10 whose name will be as imperishable as that of the dear brother of his heart1 whose friendship was the climax of his fame1 and the consummation of all his ambitious hopes4 ,the monument to the memory of ,fulke ,grevill consists of a sarcophagus1 placed beneath a heavy canopy1 supported by ,corinthian columns4 ,it is a heavy and ungraceful erection--rendered picturesque1 however1 by the ancient helmets and glaives laid upon it1 and the moth-eaten banners1 and rusted armour1 that hang above the tomb4 ,the entrance to the ,beauchamp ,chapel is by a descent of several steps1 from the south transept of the ,church1 beneath a doorway of finely-carved stone--the work of a ,illustration native artist1 8a mason of ,warwick10 in #agjd4 ,entered1 the spectator beholds a sepulchral chapel1 built in the 8style of the later ,gothic10 of limited extent--its size being #eh feet in length by #be in breadth1 and its height being #cb feet--but of surpassing beauty4 ,the light is supplied by three large windows in the upper part of the side walls 7north and south71 on the west by a window which looks into ,st4 ,mary's ,church1 and by a large window on the east4 ,formerly1 they were all richly adorned with painted glass1 of which some valuable relics yet remain4 ,the east window is1 however1 even now1 nearly perfect1 and may be considered one of the finest examples of the art to be found in the kingdom4 8,indeed10 7we quote from a writer in 8,the ,antiquarian and ,architectural ,year ,book107 there are few windows of painted glass remaining in ecclesiastical or other buildings ,illustration in ,england that can1 for its dimensions1 exceed1 either in beauty or general treatment1 this ,eastern ,window of the ,beauchamp ,chapel40 ,its value has been diminished by carelessness in repairs2 some parts having been displaced3 but the figures1 which form its primary objects1 are gorgeous specimens of art1 on many accounts of rare value to the antiquary4 ,the ceiling of the ,chapel is ornamented with groined ribs1 at the intersections of which are bosses elegantly painted and gilt4 ,old oak seats1 richly carved1 antique desks1 niches--which1 according to ,dugdale1 formerly held images of gold1 each of the weight of #bj lbs4--and various other objects--minor1 though of considerable interest--demand attention2 but their examination may be postponed until a small oratory--of exquisite beauty--has been inspected4 ,it is reached by a short flight of stone steps--the roof is fan-work1 groined--peculiarly light and elegant2 and a range of high and narrow windows open into the ,chapel4 ,scattered about are some reliques--save for their antiquity1 out of keeping with the peaceful and secluded character of the small confessional--glaives and head-pieces--one of which bears indisputable evidence that the wearer died not in his bed4 ,from this oratory1 some half-dozen steps1 8worn by the knees of fervent devotees10 afford ascent to a small confessional1 formed in the thickness of the south wall of the choir4 ,both these interesting objects1 are represented1 by woodcuts1 on the preceding page4 ,the ceiling and sides partake of the elegant character already described2 and here could the holy father1 through a small opening1 unseen1 witness the elevation of the ,host1 or listen to the o'erburthened penitent4 ,illustration ,the grand object of attraction in the ,beauchamp ,chapel1 however1 is the gorgeous tomb of its founder4 ,it is an altar-tomb1 of ,purbeck marble1 bearing the recumbent effigy of the ,great ,earl1 in fine latten brass1 gilt4 ,his head1 uncovered1 rests upon a helmet1 and at his feet are a ,bear and a ,griffon4 ,the tomb is surmounted by one of the few 8hearses0 that yet remain in our churches4 ,it consists of six hoops of brass1 kept extended by five transverse brass rods1 on which formerly was hung a pall 8to keep the figure reverently from the dust40 ,around the tomb1 in niches1 are fourteen figures1 in 8divers vestures1 called weepers0--friends and relatives of the deceased1 who mourn his loss4 ,between each weeper are smaller niches1 raised upon pillars1 containing whole length figures of angels1 holding scrolls inscribed-- ,sit deo laus et gloria3 defunctis misericordia4 ,the following inscription is on the edge of the tomb1 running twice round1 in the old ,english character1 and freely interspersed with the ,earl's crest1 the bear and ragged staff3-- 8,preieth devoutly for the ,sowel whom god assoille of one of the moost worshipful ,knyghtes in his dayes of monhode and conning ,richard ,beauchamp late ,eorl of ,warrewik lord de spenser of ,bergavenny1 and of mony other grete lordships1 whos body resteth here under this tumbe1 in a fulfeire vout of ,stone set on the bare rooch1 thewhich visited with longe siknes in the ,castel of ,roan therinne decessed ful cristenly the last day of ,april the yer of oure lord god ,m4 ,c,c,c,cxxxxix1 he being at that tyme ,lieutenant gen'al and governer of the ,roialme of ,fraunce and of the ,duchie of ,normandie4 by sufficient ,autorite of oure ,sov'aigne lord the ,king ,harry the vi4 thewhich body with grete deliberacon' and ful worshipful condiut ,bi ,see ,and by lond was broght to ,warrewik the iiii day of ,october the yer aboueseide1 and was leide with ful ,solenne exequies in a feir chest made of ,stone in this ,chirche afore the west dore of this ,chapel according to his last will ,and ,testament therein to rest til this ,chapel by him devised i' his lief were made4 ,al thewhuche ,chapel founded ,on the ,rooch1 ,and alle the ,membres thereof his ,executours dede fully make and ,apparaille by the ,auctorite of his ,seide last ,wille ,and ,testament ,and thereafter ,by the same ,auctorite ,they dide ,translate fful worshipfully the seide ,body into the vout aboveseide1 honured be god therfore40#eh ,the effigy may be considered as one of the finest works of this class executed during the middle ages1 and it derives additional interest from the fact of the original contract for its construction being still in existence4 ,of this beautiful work the late ,c4 ,a4 ,stothard executed four views1 in his magnificent volume on the ,monumental ,effigies of ,great ,britain1 in a spirit worthy of so fine a subject4 ,he ascertained that the ponderous figure of latten or bronze which lay upon the altar-tomb was loose1 and with considerable effort succeeded in turning it over1 when the armour at the back was found to be as carefully and accurately represented as in front1 having all the parts of a suit1 its straps and fastenings1 displayed with singular minuteness4 ,it is1 in this respect1 a perfectly unique effigy1 and of great value to the historic painter1 or student in ancient armour4 ,on the preceding page we have given the two views of the effigy1 as pictured by ,mr4 ,stothard4 ,the ,chapel contains other monuments of rare beauty and exceeding interest4 ,the most remarkable is that to ,robert ,dudley1 ,earl of ,leicester--8,queen ,elizabeth's ,leicester0--and his ,countess4 ,it is erected against the north wall1 and consists of a heavy canopy1 profusely ornamented1 supported by ,corinthian pillars1 beneath which is an altar-tomb supporting the recumbent figures--that of the ,earl being in armour1 over which is a mantle bearing the badge of the ,order of the ,garter on the left shoulder1 the ,french order of ,st4 ,michael on the left breast1 and the ,garter is round the knee--that of the ,countess is attired in the robes of a ,peeress1 a circlet of jewels round the head1 and wearing the high ruff of the period4 ,a ,latin inscription gives us in full the proud titles of the famous favourite of the 8,maiden ,queene10 who 8gave up his soule to ,god his ,saviour on the #dth day of ,september1 in the year of ,salvation1 #aehh10 and informs us also that 8his most sorrowful wife1 ,ltitia1 daughter of ,francis ,knolles1 ,knight of the ,order of the ,garter1 and ,treasurer to the ,queen1 through a sense of conjugal love and fidelity hath put up this monument to the best and dearest of husbands40 ,of the other tombs 8of note10 may be mentioned that to ,ambrose ,dudley1 the virtuous brother of ,elizabeth's ,peer2 that to the infant son of ,robert ,dudley1--8a noble impe10 a 8childe of grete parentage1 but of farre greter hope and towardnes20 and that to the ,lady ,katherine ,leveson1 one of the ,dudleys1 who 8taking notice of these ,tombes of her noble ,ancestors being much blemisht by consuming time1 but more by the rude hands of impious people1 were in danger of utter ruine by the decay of this ,chapell1 if not timely prevented1 did in her life time give fifty pounds for its speedy repair40 ,in all respects the ,beauchamp ,chapel ranks among the most interesting of the venerable ,ecclesiastical remains yet existing in ,great ,britain4 ,time has done it little injury2 and it escaped the perils incident to the civil war--when all external tokens of piety were considered insults to the ,deity they were designed to honour4 ,moreover1 its history is nearly perfect3 the very estimates1 bills1 and discharges of the builders1 the gilders1 and the glaziers may be examined1 in the actual presence of the works they executed centuries ago4 ,viewed in association with 8the ,castle10 of which it may be said almost to form a part1 its importance is greatly enhanced4 ,and1 in reference merely to actual beauty of the design1 and the exquisite character of the work1 it may be said to vie with any structure of the kind1 not only in ,great ,britain1 but in ,europe4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,charlecote1 ,,warwickshire4 ,,charlecote1 ,,warwickshire4 ,charlecote--famous in association with the early history of ,william ,shakspere--has undergone little change since he who was 8for all time0 wandered along the thick-hedged lanes4 ,so primitive is the 8ancient neighbourhood10 that ,fancy may1 almost unbidden1 call up the old glories of the place1--may hear the voice of ,sir ,thomas ,lucy chiding his keepers for the loss of his fallow-deer1 and the half-suppressed 8chuckle0 of an unnoticed bystander who1 thereafter1 was to fill the world with his fame4 ,the ,mansion seems quite unaltered2 the village church precisely as it was at 8the ,reformation20 the humbler dwellings1 of red brick1 are only a little older the park palings merely made picturesque by overgrowing lichen2 and the ,park1 as well as the 8sweet ,avon10 exactly as they were two centuries and a half ago2 the one ,illustration 8flowing gently20 the other supplying1 as of yore1 many-- 8,an oak1 whose boughs are moss'd with age1 ,and high top bald with dry antiquity20 while the same deer--8dappled fools0--only look more conscious than they did1 of assured safety in 8their assigned and native dwelling place40 ,art and ,nature seem both to have stopped short of all 8improvement20 there has been no need of the one to disturb the renown which the locality receives from the other2 even the 8stocks0 that stand under a group of 8,patrician trees0 at ,hampton ,lucy1 are suffered to die of natural decay2 and it is as certain that the 8bonny sweet ,robin10 whose song we heard from the hawthorn in the churchyard is the progeny of him who sung there when ,elizabeth was queen1 as that the lord of the mansion is the descendant of that very ,sir ,thomas ,lucy who sat in judgment upon the youth who 8obscur'd his contemplation ,under the veil of wildness40 ,this unity of character has been most carefully preserved in the new buildings erected on the estate1 of which the annexed wood-cut will afford evidence4 ,illustration ,it is difficult to descend to simple facts while describing a neighbourhood so suggestive of thought--so redolent of fancy4 ,the ,lucys1 who occupy to-day the manor in which they lived three hundred years ago--8good old ,english gentlemen0 of the present1 as of the olden time--have inherited1 without break1 from father to son2 adding little to their hereditary property1 and losing no part of it by carelessness1 profusion1 or vice2 generally1 they seem to have been peaceable and liberal manorial lords1 studious to make their tenantry prosperous and their dependants comfortable2 dwelling apart from the bustle of action1 and the stir of contentious life1 even rumours of 8oppression and deceit0 seem rarely to have reached them2 8exempt from public haunt10 they passed their days happily and slept together--a long line of kindly1 if not great1 men--under the roof tree of the little church where monuments loftier than their own ambitions have been raised to perpetuate their names4#ei ,the history of ,charlecote and its ,lords1 is given with great minuteness by ,dugdale4 ,charlecote1 ,cherlecote1 or ,cerlecote1 as it is written in ,domesday ,book1 was1 previous to the ,conquest1 in the possession of one ,saxi1 but afterwards became the property of the ,earl of ,mellent1 and doubtless came from him to ,henry de ,newburgh1 ,earl of ,warwick1 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f4,w4 ,hulme4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,charlecote ,,great ,,hall4 whose son1 ,roger1 7#bcrd ,henry ,i471 gave half a hide of land lying in ,cherlecote1 with the tithes of the whole lordship1 and 8two mills0 to his newly founded ,collegiate ,church of ,warwick4 ,he also enfeoffed ,thurlestane de ,montfort of large possessions in this county1 whose son1 ,henry1 with ,alice de ,harecourt1 the widow of ,robert de ,montfort1 his elder brother1 gave all the village of ,cherlecote to ,walter the son of ,thurlestane de ,cherlecote1 which grant was confirmed to him and his heirs by letters patent from ,richard the ,first1 with divers immunities and privileges thereto3 all of which were ratified by ,king ,john1 in the fifth year of his reign4 ,from this ,walter de ,cherlecote 7who was a knight71 by ,cecily1 his wife1 descended ,william1 who assumed the name of ,lucy1 she perhaps being heir to some branch of that family4 ,our space may be better occupied than in carrying their history from this remote age to the present day4 ,the ,mansion was erected in #aeeh1 by ,thomas ,lucy1 who1 in #aeic1 was knighted by ,illustration ,queen ,elizabeth4 ,it stands at a short distance from1 and at some little elevation above1 the river ,avon4 ,the building occupies three sides of a quadrangle1 the fourth being formed by a handsome central ,gatehouse1 which1 with its octangular turrets and oriel window1 constitutes an interesting portion of the faade1 and as seen in the accompanying view1 backed out by the ,mansion and connected by the terrace wings1 presents a very pleasing and picturesque appearance4 ,the ,house retains its gables and angular towers1 but has suffered from the introduction of the large and heavy sash-windows of the time of ,william ,,iii41 or ,george ,i4 ,the entrance porch runs the whole height of the building1 and is ornamented by pilasters and a pierced parapet1 having over the arched entrance the family arms and the crest at each angle4 ,from this porch or loggia1 you enter the ,hall1 of which ,washington ,irving in the 8,sketch-book0 gives a graphic description as it existed at the period of his visit4 ,the present apartment1 however1 forms a portion of the extensive alterations and additions carried into effect by the refined taste of the late ,mr4 ,lucy4 ,the 8,gallery0 and 8,organ0 are gone1 but the large and lofty proportions of the room1 as also the huge ,bay ,window1 are preserved4 ,the interior--of which we have given an engraving--will convey an accurate idea of this fine ,hall4 ,in the centre1 on a highly polished marble floor1 stands a most elaborate and splendid table1 purchased at the price of #aejj guineas from the late ,mr4 ,beckford's collection at ,fonthill1 composed of lapis lazuli1 jasper1 c41 intermixed with the rarest marble3 it is a worthy rival to that at ,warwick ,castle4 ,the room contains many family portraits--the most interesting of the collection being one which represents ,sir ,thomas1 his lady1 and his children1 painted by ,cornelius ,jansen4#fj ,the ,fire-place is modern1 but of ,elizabethan design1 and finely carved4 ,above are busts of ,sir ,thomas ,lucy the elder1 and his son1 and in the centre is one of ,queen ,elizabeth4 ,the chairs1 tables1 c41 are all handsome1 and strictly according in style with the ,hall1 which is connected by folding-doors with a fine oak staircase4 ,the new apartments consist of a dining-room and drawing-room1 serving also as a library4 ,from the ,house we cross the quadrangle4 ,this is laid out as an ornamental flower-garden1 with very charming effect4 ,from thence the ,park is entered1 which is agreeably diversified by hill and dale1 wood and water4 ,the ,avon winds its way irregularly through the plain1 while ever and anon the 8careless herd0 come sweeping by1 calling up involuntarily to the mind remembrances of the 8melancholy ,jaques0 and his sad musings1 as1 in 8the forest of ,arden10 8he lay along ,under an oak1 whose antique root peeps out ,upon the brook that brawls along the wood40 ,under a close avenue of trees a private walk leads to a corner of the ,park1 where1 snugly embosomed among 8scented limes0 stands the little ,church of ,charlecote--with ,illustration its belfry1 simple as a dovecote1 and its somewhat grotesque exterior4 ,there are three monuments--each being of an elaborate and costly character1 with no inconsiderable pretensions to merit as works of art4 ,the one nearest the altar is that of the ,sir ,thomas ,lucy who is reported to have 8threatened0 ,shakspere with punishment for deer-stealing1 and is said to have been the object of a lampoon penned by the 8immortal bard40#fa ,the grave underneath contains also the ashes of his lady4 ,they are represented in the usual recumbent posture1 on a tomb of variegated marble1 their hands uplifted in prayer4 ,he is clad in armour1 the lady in the ruff and dress of the period4 ,two smaller figures are kneeling below1 and a tablet of black marble in the recess above their tomb has the following touching and beautiful inscription3-- ,illustration 8,here entombed lyeth the ,lady ,joyce ,lucy1 wife of ,sir ,thomas ,lucy1 of ,cherlecote1 in the ,county of ,warwick1 ,knight1 daughter and heir of ,thomas ,acton1 of ,sutton1 in the ,county of ,worcester1 ,esquire1 who departed out of this wretched world to her heavenly kingdome1 the tenth day of ,february in the year of our ,lord ,god #aeie1 and of her age lx and three4 ,all the time of her life a true and faithfull servant of her good ,god1 never detected of any crime or vice2 in religion most sound2 in love to her husband most faithfull and true2 in friendship most constant2 to what in trust was committed to her most secret2 in wisdome excelling2 in governing of her house and bringing up of youth in the feare of ,god that did converse with her1 most rare and singular4 ,a great maintainer of hospitality2 greatly esteemed of her betters2 misliked of none unless of the envious4 ,when all is spoken that can be said1 a woman so furnished and garnished with virtue as not to be bettered1 and hardly to be equalled by any4 ,as she lived most virtuously1 so she dyed most godly4 ,set down by him that best did know what hath been written to be true4 8,,thomas ,,lucy40 ,except the effigy1 there is no tribute of any kind to the memory of ,sir ,thomas himself4 ,on the opposite side of the chancel1 in a small vestry1 or chapel1 stands the tomb of his son ,thomas1 erected by ,dame ,constance1 his lady1 daughter and heiress to ,richard ,kingsmill2 but having no inscription4 ,it is one of the painted monuments of the period1 and represents him armed1 and in the usual recumbent attitude4 ,on a pedestal in front1 is a smaller-sized kneeling effigy of his lady1 and in two panels1 one on either side1 are the figures of eight daughters and six sons in low relief4 ,in the chancel1 also1 is another monument carved very elaborately2 where1 under marble pillars and arches1 are the figures of his son ,thomas and ,alicia his wife1 daughter and heiress of ,thomas ,spenser1 ,esq41 of ,claverdon4 ,the figures are gracefully disposed1 and most beautifully executed2 all the details being highly finished4 ,behind1 on one panel1 is a bas-relief of a figure on horseback1 and in a corresponding niche are sculptured shelves1 on which are placed the works of various authors1 the central niche being occupied by a very long ,latin inscription1 recording his virtues and death1 which happened the #hth ,december #afdj4 ,a further inscription states that the monument was erected by his lady4 ,in the church there are a circular plain font1 apparently of very early date2 two small brasses of the #afth century1 on the floor of the nave1 and two bells in the wooden turret1 one bearing the date of #afbe4 ,beyond these it contains nothing worthy of notice4 ,yet1 as long as one stone shall stand upon another1 will the little plain ,church of ,charlecote be linked with a glorious memory of the past2 the lofty trees that grow around it conceal it effectually from sight2 not so the ,hall1 which1 standing on a gentle elevation above the ,avon1 is seen from all points of the adjacent scenery4 ,it adjoins the pretty village of ,wellsbourne2 near to which1 on the road between ,warwick and ,stratford1 commences a double avenue of finely-grown elm-trees1 which reaches1 for more than half a mile from the public road1 to the house2--from ,warwick it is distant six miles1 and from ,stratford five4 ,the ,avon winds immediately around the mansion1 ,illustration through the ,park2 close to the entrance-gate it is crossed by a pretty bridge1 which heightens the striking effect of the landscape4 ,the whole neighbourhood1 indeed1 between ,wellsbourne and ,stratford1 is full of beauty2 the land seems passing rich2 while1 here and there1 distant glances are caught of the ,avon1 or it accompanies the wayfarer along the road2 there are few more delightful walks in ,england--and none so pregnant with 8happy and glorious0 associations4 ,amid these dells and by these hill-sides1 was ,shakspere taught of ,nature4 8,here1 as with honey gathered from the rock1 ,she fed the little prattler1 and with songs ,oft sooth'd his wondering ears2 with deep delight ,on her soft lap he sat and caught the sounds40 ,every step to the pilgrim seems 8hallowed ground20 he crosses the bridge1 built by ,sir ,hugh ,clopton during the reign of the #gth ,harry1 and is at once 8at home0 with ,shakspere1 who must have trodden upon these stones daily when a boy1 and passed them often during his occasional visits to his birth-place1 or when--8good easy man0--he retired hither from busy life1 to die like the deer where he was roused4 ,the very mystery in which his whole career seems inextricably involved1 gives the fancy greater freedom3 there is no check upon imagination as we tread the streets of the ,avon's old town of ,stratford1 muse in the small chamber where he was born1 think in the school-house where he was taught1 or ponder in the church where his bones have lain for two centuries and a half1 8unmoved40 ,yet the often-quoted passage from ,steevens is almost as correct to-day as it was when he wrote it--notwithstanding every 8hole and corner0 in ,england has been ransacked in the hope to find something that concerns him--8all that is known with any degree of certainty concerning ,shakspere is--that he was born at ,stratford-upon-,avon--married1 and had children there--went to ,london1 where he commenced actor1 and wrote poems and plays--returned to ,stratford1 made his will1 died1 and was buried40 ,of all the poet wrote1 during a long and busy life1 no scrap remains to our time2 and of his autographs but five are known to exist1 three of which are affixed to his will in the ,prerogative ,office1 ,doctors' ,commons4 ,one of the latter is written in one corner of the three sheets of paper which form that document1 and is much injured in consequence1 the christian name only being in any degree perfect2 the other two are rather cramped in style1 and one is much confused in the last letters1 as if an error had been made in the spelling4 ,the finest and clearest autograph is that upon the fly-leaf of the ,montaigne of ,florio1 in the ,british ,museum1 which has been known but a few years1 and was secured to the ,national ,library at the cost of one hundred pounds4 ,the fifth is in the ,library of the ,city of ,london at ,guildhall1 affixed to a deed of bargain and sale of a dwelling-house1 in the precinct of ,blackfriars1 to one ,henry ,walker1 dated #aath ,march #afac2 it is written on the slip of parchment inserted to hold the seal1 and is therefore cramped2 it1 however1 cost the ,corporation of ,london forty-five pounds more than was paid for that now in the ,british ,museum4 ,there was a sixth known to be in existence to the counterpart of this deed1 of which a fac-simile was published by ,malone1 and which came into the possession of ,garrick1 at whose death it could not be found4 ,the small chamber of the humble house in which he was born is still preserved1 comparatively unimpaired4 ,it stands in ,henley-street1 and is kept as 8a show house10 by an aged woman who lives in the back apartments4 ,it was some years ago a butcher's shop1 and in possession of ,mrs4 ,hart1 a lineal descendant of ,shakspere by his sister's side1 who1 upon leaving the house1 whitewashed the room to obliterate the names which were pencilled over the walls by the many visitors4 ,as this was done 8at the last pinch0 in the evening before quitting1 no size was mixed with the wash1 and the next occupant1 with great patience1 re-washed the walls1 took off the coat of white1 and the pencilled names became again visible2 among them are those of ,byron1 ,scott1 the ,countess ,guccioli1 ,washington ,irving1 and a host of others2 the effect of the pencilling upon the walls and ceiling1 which is very low1 is singularly curious3 it looks as if they were covered with fine spider-web1 so very close is the writing of the various names4 ,of ,shakspere's house1 8,new ,place10 where he retired after the turmoil of ,london life1 in the gardens of which he planted the famous mulberry-tree1 and from whence he was borne to his last home in the venerable church1 was totally destroyed in #ageg by a certain 8,rev4 ,mr4 ,gastrell10 whose want of reverence to all the world holds dear1 will ever deprive his name of any other share of it than the prefix it bears4 ,the whole history of the transaction is disgraceful in the highest degree--the more so as the man was in holy orders4 ,the house was sold to him in #agea1 on the death of ,sir ,hugh ,clopton1 who had resided in it4 ,five years afterwards1 ,gastrell became tired of showing the mulberry-tree1 which ,sir ,hugh delighted in possessing1 and by way of saving himself any further trouble1 as well as to vex the ,stratford people1 with whom he was not on good terms1 he cut it down1 and sold it for firewood4 ,in the year following he rased the house to the ground for the most discreditable of reasons--a refusal to pay poor's rates4 ,but the church--the church in which1 in #aefd1 he was baptised1 and where in #afaf1 just #eb years afterwards1 he was buried--still exists1 not only uninjured but skilfully and judiciously renovated4 ,here the great object of attraction is the famous bust1 8by ,gerard ,johnson40 ,it was executed1 doubtless1 by a literal copyist1 who1 if he had not the high talent of a great sculptor who endows his work with traces of the mind1 will1 at least1 faithfully preserve all peculiarities of form and feature4 ,the head as here given1 if not lit up with the soul of the great ,poet1 is not unworthy of his calmer moments2 the forehead is ample1 and the brain large1 well-developed1 and altogether characteristic of that evenness of temper which1 combined with unequalled genius1 gave him the title of 8the gentle ,shakspere40 ,the great breadth of the upper lip1 which might be objected to as unnatural1 finds its fellow in that of another genius1 the ,shakspere of the ,north--,walter ,scott4 ,the 8bones0 moulder underneath the chancel2 and the memorable inscription remains uninjured upon the slab1-- 8,good frend1 for ,jesus sake forbear1 ,to digg the dust encloased hear2 ,blest be ye man yt spares the stones1 ,and cvrst be he yt moves my bones40#fb ,although the history of ,shakspere is not necessarily connected with our subject--a visit to ,charlecote1 the seat of the ,lucys--it was impossible to consider the neighbourhood apart from the great genius who has made it famous for all time4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,j4 ,g4 ,jackson ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,combe ,,abbey1 ,,warwickshire4 ,,combe ,,abbey1 ,,warwickshire4 ,combe ,abbey1 the ancient and venerable seat of the ,earls of ,craven1 is situate in a pleasant valley on the banks of the river1 about five miles from ,coventry4 ,the ,lordship of ,smite1 of which the manor at the time of the ,conquest formed part1 was1 during the reign of 8the ,confessor10 in the possession of ,richard de ,camvell1 who1 according to ,dugdale1 8being a devout and pious man1 and much affecting the ,cistertian ,monks1 whose ,order had then been but newly transplanted into ,england2 and finding that part thereof which is situate in the valley to be full of woods1 and far from any public passage2 as also low and solitary1 and so1 consequently1 more fit for religious persons1 gave unto ,gilbert1 ,abbot of the ,monastery of our blessed ,lady of ,waverley in ,surrey1 and to the ,convent of that place1 all this ,lordship of ,smite1 there to found an ,abbey of the ,cistertian ,order4 ,whereupon they presently began to build1 and out of their own convent planted some monks here1 dedicating the church thereof to the blessed ,virgin also1 and calling it the ,abbey of ,cumbe1 in respect of its low and hollow situation2 the word ,cumen in the ,british signifying ,vallis or ,convallis1 as doth ,cumbe and ,combe in the ,saxon40 ,the monastery having been thus founded1 its power was augmented by various other 8pious and bountiful gifts20 among the rest1 in the time of ,henry ,,ii41 the ,earl of ,leicester became so liberal a patron1 8that the monks allowed the said earl to be reputed the principal founder10 and agreed to 8perform for him and his heirs such duties in his life-time and death as for their chief founder40 ,thus richly endowed1 and pleasantly placed among fertile fields1 thick woods1 and beside a productive river1 the monks of ,combe continued to enjoy life until the 8killing frost0 of the dissolution not only nipped the shoots1 but destroyed the root1 of the flourishing tree4 ,the abbey with its estates then became the property of the ,earl of ,warwick1 to whom it was granted by ,edward ,,vi42 and after his attainder1 a lease of 8the site1 and divers lands belonging thereto10 was granted to ,robert ,keylway1 who dying 7#bc;d ,elizabeth71 left a sole daughter and heir1 who married ,john ,harrington1 ,esq41 afterwards ,lord ,harrington1#fc whose daughter inheriting1 became the wife of ,edward ,earl of ,bedford2 from her1 8in consequence of the profuse expenditure in which she indulged10 ,combe ,abbey passed by purchase into the family of ,craven1 in whose possession it has since remained4 ,the family of ,craven was1 at a very early period1 seated at ,appletreewick1 at ,craven in ,yorkshire4 ,in #afaa1 ,sir ,william ,craven1 knight and alderman1 was ,lord ,mayor of ,london2 his son1 ,william1 having served in the army with distinction1 was knighted in #afbf2 soon afterwards elevated to the peerage as ,baron ,craven of ,hampstead ,marshall1 ,berks2 and in #affc created ,earl of ,craven4 ,this heroic ancestor of the family is immortal in romance as the leading champion of ,elizabeth1 ,queen of ,bohemia1 the eldest daughter of ,james ,i41 who1 having married ,frederic1 the ,elector ,palatine1 became for a short time a queen1 when the revolted states1 in their attempt to shake off the yoke of the ,emperor ,ferdinand ,,ii41 advanced her husband to the regal dignity4 ,the battle of ,prague was fatal to their fortunes1 the result having been to deprive the elector of his hereditary rank as well as his crown1 and to send him forth an outcast and a wanderer1 asking the aid of such cavaliers as sympathised with fallen greatness4 ,the appeal was answered by many brave knights1 called around the banner of the dethroned monarch chiefly by the charms and virtues of his ,british wife2 and foremost among them was the ,lord ,craven4 ,they were foiled in their hopes1 however2 the unhappy king died1 and his widow returned to ,england1 where1 it is said1 she privately married her gallant champion1 and to whom she bequeathed a fine collection of paintings1 chiefly portraits1 which still adorn the long gallery at ,combe ,abbey4 ,the earldom became extinct in #afij1 but the barony continued in the family2 to which succeeded1 in #agfi1 the sixth baron1 who married ,elizabeth1 daughter of ,augustus ,earl of ,berkeley1 afterwards the ,margravine of ,anspach4 ,william1 his son1 the seventh baron1 was1 on the #acth of ,june1 #ahja1 created ,viscount ,uffington and ,earl ,craven2 in #ahjg he married ,louisa1 daughter of ,john ,brunton1 ,esq4 of ,norwich--a lady who had previously 8graced the ,british stage10 whose talents and virtues gave additional lustre to the position to which her marriage raised her1 and whose name was not more honoured and respected when elevated to high rank than it had been when fulfilling the duties of a comparatively humble station4 ,this estimable lady became a widow in #ahbe2 when1 the ,earl of ,craven dying1 he was succeeded by his son1 the present earl1 who in #ahce married the ,lady ,emily ,grimston1 the second daughter of the ,earl of ,verulam4 ,the ,abbey is1 as we have stated1 distant from ,coventry about five miles2 a plain but neat stone erection forms the entrance lodge4 ,for a short distance the road winds through pleasant and truly ,english park scenery1 interspersed with clumps of trees of various sizes and forms2 while herds of deer sweeping across the path1 give life and animation to the scene4 ,adjacent to a large sheet of water stands the house1 which forms three sides of a quadrangle1 originally the cloisters of the ,abbey of ,combe4 ,on the east side of these cloisters five highly ,illustration enriched arches still remain of the later ,roman character1 the most northern being of the transition period4 ,the openings towards the court 7now glazed7 are of later date1 probably about the fourteenth century4 ,after the ,reformation1 on the property falling into the hands of the first ,lord ,harrington1 he built the ,elizabethan portion of the mansion1 preserving1 no doubt1 the cloisters as a means of communication with the several apartments2 and1 on the whole1 with the manors of ,combe1 ,smite1 and ,binley1 being transferred by sale from his daughter and heiress1 ,lucy ,countess of ,bedford to ,dame ,elizabeth ,craven1 widow of ,sir ,john ,craven 7which transfer bears date #bdth ,october1 #afbb72 it fell in due time into the hands of the famous ,william ,earl ,craven1 her son1 who made considerable additions to the building1 his architect1 it is said1 being the no less famous ,inigo ,jones4#fd ,to attempt a formal description of the rooms would far exceed our purpose and limits2 we shall1 therefore1 content ourselves with pointing out a few of the more remarkable objects1 commencing with the north parlour1 a very handsome room1 in which are the fire-dogs1 forming the subject of the annexed vignette4 ,this room contains very fine whole-length ,illustration portraits of the ,king and ,queen of ,bohemia1 by ,c4 ,honthorst2 and of ,charles ,i4 and the ,princes ,maurice and ,rupert1 by ,vandyck4 ,there is also a very fine bust of the present earl1 by ,behnes4 ,adjoining this room is the grand staircase1 the ceiling of which is enriched by an oval garland of fruit and flowers1 modelled with the most exquisite taste and delicacy of execution4 ,around the walls of the landing are suspended whole-lengths of ,william the first ,earl ,craven1 ,charles ,,ii41 ,james ,i4 and ,,ii41 and others4 ,from thence we enter the ,elizabethan room1 the subject of our illustration4 ,it is said to have been fitted up for the reception of ,queen ,elizabeth1 and is well worthy of such repute4 ,the fire-place1 of most elaborate design and execution1 contains on each side the initials ,e4 ,r4 ,the ceiling is richly ornamented1 and on the walls are hung five very fine landscapes1 by ,j4 ,lootens1 with other pictures of considerable merit4 ,in the window is the bust of the ,princess ,elizabeth1 with the following inscription3-- 8lis ,reg4 ,boh ,fil ,jac ,rex ,mag ,brit #afda40 ,and also another bust1 on the base of which is carved1-- 8,la ,sereniss ,princ ,sophia ,pal4 ,fig3 ,di3 ,fred4 ,a ,d #afdc ,re ,di ,boenia ,s #ag40 ,from thence1 passing a small ante-room1 which contains a most curious picture of the 8,decollation of ,john the ,baptist10 ,illustration said to be by ,albert ,durer1 the long gallery is entered--one of those apartments so judiciously attached to the houses of the wealthy of this period1 for the purposes of recreation and exercise during inclement weather4 ,it is about one hundred feet in length and sixteen in width1 lighted from the court-yard side1 and filled with portraits of the early part of the sixteenth century4 ,m4 ,mirveldt and ,g4 ,honthorst are the principal contributors1 and in the historical series here presented to view are subjects for much reflection4 ,the ,queen of ,bohemia1 whose destiny seems so closely interwoven ,illustration with the house of ,craven1 appears more than once4#fe ,the gallant and chivalrous ,william ,earl ,craven--the wise ,chancellor ,oxenstern--,charles ,,xii4 of ,sweden1 grim1 stern1 and forbidding--,archbishop ,laud1--all are here2 and last1 not least1 are the painters2 besides many others1 whose names are registered in the pages of history4 ,connected with this apartment is the elegant porch which forms the subject of our vignette1 and was1 no doubt1 a garden-approach to the principal apartments4 8,it is constructed of very friable stone1 the same apparently as that used in the principal buildings at ,coventry4 ,some of its enrichments can no longer be made out40 ,descending to the opposite wing we find the dining-room1 which is fitted up in panelled compartments of oak1 and contains some beautiful carving in the sideboard1 c4 ,fine portraits of the ,craven family1 the ,duke of ,richmond1 and ,prince ,henry 7son of ,james ,i471 adorn the apartment1 which also contains two transcendent pictures by ,rembrandt4 ,adjacent to this room is a very handsome ,illustration apartment1 ornamented by columns1 and containing two pictures by ,canaletti1 which may be classed with the finest examples of that master4 ,there are numerous other rooms particularly rich in old carved fire-places1 bedsteads 7of which we give a specimen71 tapestry1 antique furniture1 and all things which correct taste and refined judgment could accumulate4 ,we may recur to the almost romantic interest which attaches itself to this house1 from the chivalrous exertions of one of its early possessors in behalf of the illustrious but unfortunate princess1 who is frequently recalled to memory within its walls4 ,at each step we are reminded of the fact2 and it is a melancholy1 yet most pleasant reflection1 in looking back through the vista of two centuries1 to find the youthful and early devotion of ,earl ,craven not merely a transient and evanescent impulse1 but enduring to the end1 and manifesting itself in studious care to protect and soothe that royal lady in the decline of her fortunes and the close of her life4 ,well did he establish the truth of his family motto1-- ,,virtus ,,in ,,actione ,,consistit4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,j4 ,d4 ,harding4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,warwick ,,castle1 ,,warwickshire4 ,,warwick ,,castle1 ,,warwickshire4 ,the early history of the town of ,warwick is involved in the mists of past ages1 and carries us back to the period prior to the invasion of ,britain by the ,romans2 if ,rous and other old historians of the county be correct1 who declare it to have been a ,british town of considerable importance before that great event4 ,dugdale says1 8as it hath been the chieftest town of these parts1 and whereof the whole county1 upon its division into shires1 took its name1 so may it justly glory in its situation beyond any other1 standing upon a rocky ascent1 from every side1 and in a dry and fertile soil1 having the benefit of rich and pleasant meadows on the south part1 with the lofty groves and spacious thickets of the woodland on the north3 wherefore1 were there nothing else to argue its great antiquity1 these commodities1 which so surround it1 might easily satisfy us1 that the ,britons made an early plantation here to participate of them40 ,the reader will not be expected to place implicit reliance on the statements of ,dugdale concerning its foundation by ,cymbeline1 by whom it was termed ,caerleon1 and its destruction by the ,picts and ,scots1 8till ,caractacus1 the famous ,british ,prince1 rebuilt it1 making a mansion-house therein for himself40 ,after the defeat of ,caractacus in ,a4,d4 #ej1 the ,romans1 in order to secure their conquests in ,britain1 erected several fortresses on the banks of the ,severn and ,avon1 and ,warwick is said to have been one of these1 but this is not very clearly proved4 ,during the ,saxon period the town was included in the kingdom of ,mercia1 and fell under the dominion of ,warremund1 who rebuilt it and called it ,warrewyke1 after his own name4 ,warwick was subsequently destroyed by the ,danes1 and1 according to ,dugdale1 8so rested until the renowned ,lady ,ethelfled1 daughter to ,king ,alfred1 who had the whole ,earldom of ,mercia given her by her father to the noble ,etheldred in marriage1 repaired its ruins1 and in the year of ,christ ,,dccccxv1 made a strong fortification here1 called the doungeon1 for resistance of the enemy1 upon a hill of earth artificially raised near the river side20 and this forms the most ancient part of the present building4 ,but the most important reparations of the castle were the work of the famous ,guy1 ,earl of ,warwick1 although ,dugdale tells us that the great tower at the north-east corner1 called ,guy's ,tower1 the walls whereof are ten feet thick1 was built by ,thomas1 ,earl of ,warwick1 about the #agth of ,richard the ,second1 on whose banishment the custody of it was granted to ,john de ,clinton1 and in a short time after to ,thomas ,holland1 ,earl of ,kent4 ,in the reign of ,henry the ,third1 the extraordinary strength of this building was alleged as a reason for particularly prohibiting the widowed ,countess of ,warwick from re-marrying with any other than a person approved by the ,king2 but in the furious contests which occurred in the latter years of this reign1 ,william ,mauduit1 the then ,earl1 neglecting to keep proper guard1 the fortress was surprised1 and all the building1 except the towers1 levelled with the ground1 while himself and his ,countess were carried prisoners to ,kenilworth4 ,the family of ,beauchamp shortly succeeded to the ,earldom1 and by ,thomas ,beauchamp1 in the reign of ,edward the ,third1 the castle was repaired1 strong gates were added1 and the gateways fortified with embattled towers4 ,thomas de ,beauchamp1 his son and successor1 passed a great portion of his time here1 during his exile from ,court2 he had1 thus1 leisure to repair and strengthen the castle2 and he it was who built the tower as stated above1 on which he bestowed the name of ,guy's ,tower2 it is a fine relic of early castellated building1 and is represented in our initial letter4#ff ,the daughter of this ,richard ,beauchamp married ,richard ,nevil1 son and heir of the ,earl of ,salisbury1 and in consequence of this marriage the ,earldom of ,warwick came into the possession of the ,nevils4 ,this powerful ,earl played a conspicuous part in the wars of the ,roses1 and has been immortalised by ,shakspeare1 in his drama of ,king ,henry ,,vi42 and1 after a life of strange vicissitude and high excitement1 he was killed in the battle of ,barnet1 ,a4,d4 #adga4 ,his estates were forfeited1 his widow was deprived of all power1 8as if she had been naturally dead10 and her vast inheritances were settled upon her daughters1 ,isabel and ,anne1 the latter of whom was married to ,george ,duke of ,clarence1 created ,earl of ,warwick by his brother1 ,king ,edward the ,fourth4 ,he chiefly resided at ,warwick ,castle1 and added much to the strength and beauty of its works4 ,on the accession of ,henry the ,seventh1 the jealousy of that monarch to his son ,edward1 the last of the male ,plantagenets1 induced him to compass his death1 by holding out to him fair promises and a hope of liberty 7for he had been imprisoned in the ,tower on a groundless charge1 to keep him secure71 to confess a connection with ,perkin ,warbeck1 after which confession he was beheaded on ,tower-hill4 ,from this time until the #ast of ,edward the ,sixth there was no ,earl of ,warwick2 until ,john ,dudley having been advanced to the dignity of ,viscount ,l',isle1 was so created through the favour of the ,duke of ,somerset1 the powerful ,protector2 and on the failure of that line1 the title was revived by ,james the ,first1 in the person of ,robert ,lord ,rich1 in whose posterity it continued till the year #agei1 when it passed into the family of the ,grevilles1 who now hold the title of ,earl ,brooke and ,earl of ,warwick1 their seats being ,warwick ,castle and ,brooke ,house1 ,dorset4 ,the ,castle occupies the summit of a steep hill1 which greatly aided its artificial defences in 8the olden time40 ,the present approach is ,illustration by a narrow passage1 cut through the solid rock1 and extending to the main entrance from the ,porter's ,lodge1--the ,lodge itself1 however1 being a place of attraction which few will leave unvisited1 for here are collected the marvellous relics of the great ,earl--a rib of the dun cow1 a tusk of the wild boar1 with horse armour1 a helmet1 breast-plate1 tilting-pole1 and walking-staff1 of such prodigious size and weight that they could have suited only a giant and his steed4 ,of the two famous ,towers1 that of ,guy is to the right1 while that of 8,csar0 7here represented7 is to the left3 they are connected by a strong embattled wall1 in the centre of which is the ponderous arched ,gateway1 flanked by ,towers1 and succeeded by a second arched ,gateway1 with ,towers and ,battlements1 8formerly defended by two portholes1 one of which still remains2 before the whole is now a disused ,moat1 with an arch thrown over it at the ,gateway1 where was once the drawbridge40#fg ,passing the double ,gateway1 the court-yard is entered4 ,thus seen1 8the castellated mansion0 of the most famous of the feudal ,barons has a tranquil and peaceful aspect2 fronting it is a green sward1 and the 8frowning keep0 which conceals all its gloomier features behind a screen of ivy and evergreen shrubs4 ,it is only when viewed from the river1 when the battlements of the old ,castle seem literally towering in air1 that a notion is obtained of its prodigious strength4 ,the slopes1 however1 are now clothed with gently-growing trees2 several unscathed cedars speak of long years of rest from strife2 the gardens are among the fairest and most fertile of the kingdom2 and in one of the conservatories of the rich ,park1 is deposited 8the ,vase10 which may be said to have given a second immortality to the name of ,warwick4 ,the interior of ,warwick ,castle demands but a brief notice4 8,the ,hall0 is a restoration2 and the apartments1 generally1 have been subjected to the deleterious influence of the fashionable upholsterer4 ,the rooms contain1 however1 many rich treasures of art2 the collection of pictures1 although of limited extent1 is of rare value1 comprising1 perhaps1 some of the best examples to be found in ,england of ,vandyck and ,rubens2 and there is a fine assemblage of costly garderobes1 cabinets1 encoigneurs1 tables ,illustration of ,buhl and ,marquetrie1 vases1 and bronzes1 with many veritable antiques4 ,an object of much interest is pictured in the appended wood-cut4 ,it is 8the ,warder's ,horn40 ,its history is told by the following inscription3-- ,,phil4 ,,thomassinus4 ,,fec4 ,,et ,,excud4 ,,cum ,,privil4 ,,summi4 ,,pontificis ,,et ,,superior4 ,,licentia ,,rom4 ,,floruit #aeih4 ,it measures two feet two inches across1 and three inches and three-quarters diameter at the mouth4 ,in all respects ,warwick ,castle holds rank among the most remarkable of our existing remains of the dwellings of the ,feudal ,barons4 ,its history is deeply interesting2 and from the few changes it has undergone1 we require little aid from fancy to read there a full and perfect record of the leading incidents of by-gone ages4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,j4 ,g4 ,jackson4 ,day ,son4 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,wroxhall ,,abbey1 ,,warwickshire4 ,,wroxhall ,,abbey1 ,,warwickshire4 ,wroxhall ,abbey4 ,of ,wroxhall there is no particular mention in the ,conqueror's survey--a circumstance for which ,dugdale accounts by 8the barrennesse of the soil10 which now vies in fertility and beauty with the choicest districts of ,england4 8,a monastery of nuns0 was founded here so early as 8,king ,stephen's time40#fh ,the founder endowed it with 8totam terram loci de ,wrocheshale--with large proportions of lands and woods thereabouts3 together with the church of ,hatton and whatsoever belonged thereto1 and so much of his royalty in ,hatton as lay betwixt the two little brooks there40 ,it also received large benefactions from other parties1 and sundry immunities and privileges4 ,at the dissolution its value extended to #gbl4 #abs4 #f;d4 8above all reprises20 the then prioress received a pension of #gl4 #ajs4 per annum2 and the site thereof1 8with church1 belfrey1 and all the lands thereunto belonging10 were given to ,robert ,burgoyn and ,john ,scudamore1 and their heirs4 ,the present structure is on the original site1 the southern and eastern sides having been adapted as offices1 and the western front was rebuilt by ,robert ,burgoyn1 and has been subjected to alterations of a later date1 as will be seen in our view4 ,the mansion was purchased from the ,burgoyn family1 in #agac1 by the famous ,sir ,christopher ,wren4 ,it is1 however1 doubtful whether he resided here1 as he was at that period actively employed in his official capacity4 ,his son1 ,christopher ,wren1 died in #agdg4 ,he was buried here1 and most probably on this spot he compiled with so much care and diligence the papers of the 8,parentalia10 afterwards published under this title in #agej by his son ,stephen4 ,illustration ,the mansion1 as will be perceived1 has a picturesque appearance1 and some of the old wainscotting remains in the principal rooms1 with some good carving round the chimney-pieces4 ,the ,chapel seems to have been formed from part of the cloisters3 it is on the north side of the house1 and contains some monuments of the ,wren family and some good stained glass4 ,it is at present in the possession of ,mrs4 ,wren1 a lady who derives her position as well as her property from marriage with the latest male descendant of the great architect4 ,she resolutely closes the doors1 not only of the mansion but of the adjacent chapel1 against the entrance of all applicants for admission to examine either2 and her discourtesy is consequently a proverb in the neighbourhood4 ,we may add to this imperfect description an expression of satisfaction at the probable reversion of the estate into the hands of ,chandos ,wren ,hoskyns1 ,esq41 a gentleman whose acquirements are such as to render him a worthy successor of the great man whose name has imparted interest to this mansion4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,day ,son4 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,brougham ,,hall1 ,,westmoreland4 ,,brougham ,,hall1 ,,westmorland4 ,brougham ,hall--the seat of ,henry1 ,lord ,brougham and ,vaux--is situated about a mile south of ,penrith1 on the high-road from ,lancaster to ,carlisle4 ,it is a structure of mixed character--half castle and half mansion--of which there are many examples in the northern districts of the ,kingdom4 ,its origin dates from a remote period2 and it has1 no doubt1 largely participated in the perils that arose from close proximity to 8the ,border40 ,the remains of a castle still more ancient than the greater part of the building1 and1 apparently1 of far greater strength1 stand at a short distance from the ,hall1 in the midst of 8pleasant scenery0--fruitful fields and a gentle and generous river1 the river ,eamont4 ,the earliest mention we find of ,brougham occurs in the 8,itinerary0 of ,antoninus1 and in the 8,notiti10 from which we gather that it was a ,roman station of considerable importance4 ,the remains of the camp may still be traced near the present house1 and a field close by appears to have been the burial-place 7as usual1 without the walls71 many tombs and altars having been1 from time to time1 discovered there4 8,although10 according to ,camden1 8time hath consumed its buildings and its splendour1 the name remains almost entire1 for at this day we call it ,brougham40 ,and this so clearly resembles the ,roman ,brovocum or ,brocovum 7for it is spelt both ways7 that the etymology may be considered settled1 although for many centuries both the place and the family were called ,burgham--a name considered by ,horsley 7in his 8,roman ,antiquities of ,britain07 as of ,saxon derivation1 compounded of ,burgh1 castle1 and ,ham1 town4 ,stukeley in his 8,itinerary10 7#agbe7 says1--8,the trace of the ,roman city is very easily discovered1 where the ditch went between the ,roman road and the river4 ,i saw many fragments of altars and inscriptions at the ,hall near the bridge1 all exposed in the court-yard to weather and injuries of every sort40 ,in the earliest records belonging to the family1 or to be found in the ,tower of ,london1 the place is spelt ,broham and ,bruham2 and this1 singularly enough1 while it differs from the spelling of the ,roman word 7which1 as ,camden says1 was in his time changed into ,brougham71 yet in sound it is absolutely identical with the pronunciation1 which has probably always been1 and certainly is at the present day1 given to the name4 ,we are enabled from original documents preserved in the ,charter-room at ,brougham1 in the ,tower1 ,state-paper ,office1 ,rolls ,chapel1 and ,chapter-house1 and from other authentic sources1 to trace with accuracy the descent of ,brougham in a family of the same name1 who have been settled there from times long antecedent to the ,norman conquest4 ,an ancient pedigree preserved in a copy of ,cranmer's great ,bible 7#aedj71 now at ,brougham1 states ,walter de ,broham to have held ,brougham in the time of ,edward the ,confessor2 he was succeeded by ,wilfred2 and he by ,udard1 who was appointed keeper of ,appleby ,castle on the degradation of the previous governor1 in consequence of his participation in the death of ,thomas ,beckett4 ,this border-fortress was held by ,udard until #aage1 in which year he was defeated and the castle taken by ,william1 king of ,scotland4 ,soon after this we find him taking part against ,henry ,,ii4 for which he was fined eighty marks1 8because he was with the king's enemies40 ,udard was succeeded by ,gilbert1 who1 in the year #abjj1 8made fine with the king0 that he might not go with him to ,normandy4 ,this ,gilbert1 to get rid of the burden of ,drengage1 gave up to ,king ,john no less than one half of the town of ,brougham1 together with the mill1 the advowson of the church of ,brougham1 a great part of the forest of ,whinfell1 and the tower which formed the original building of ,brougham ,castle4 ,the name was at this period changed from ,broham to ,burgham4 ,from ,gilbert1 after ,henry and ,thomas1 we come to ,daniel1 who commanded the king's forces against ,roger ,mortimer in ,kent4 ,in #acgh1 ,sir ,john ,burgham was ,lord of ,brougham1 and settled the boundary of the ,lordship with ,sir ,roger ,clifford2 the record of which1 after noting the particulars of the agreement1 thus ends3--8,and so thys ambulacyon was veiwyd and merkett in the secund yeare of ,king ,richard the ,secund1 by the assentt and consentt of ,sr4 ,rogere ,clifforth1 knight1 and ,sr ,john ,burgham1 in thayre time40 ,in #achc1 ,sir ,john ,burgham was member for ,cumberland4 ,he was succeeded by his son ,john1 who represented ,carlisle4 ,his son1 ,thomas1 was one of the king's judges in #adcc1 as appears by a record of assize taken at ,penrith in the #abth ,henry ,,vii4 ,john1 the son of the above ,thomas1 was member for ,cumberland1 and was succeeded in the fourth generation by ,thomas1 who in #aeec married ,jane1 heiress of ,john ,vaux of ,cattulun and ,tryermagne4 ,the next possessor of the name was ,henry1 who signalised himself in the family records by alienating part of the ancient estate2 which1 however1 was repurchased in #agbf by ,john ,brougham1 the then representative of the family4 ,henry was succeeded by his son ,thomas1 whose name we now find changed from ,burgham into ,browgham1 according to the spelling of the place in the deed of #aefg2 he died in #afjg1 and was buried in the chancel at ,brugham3 his widow1 ,agnes1 having ,brugham assigned to her for her life1 by a deed dated #bith ,march1 #afjh4 ,the heir-male of ,thomas was ,henry ,browgham1 of ,scales ,hall in ,cumberland1 who married a ,wharton4 ,his son1 ,thomas1 married a ,fleming2 and in the deeds of that time his name is spelt ,browham4 ,his son1 ,henry1 married the daughter of ,lamplugh of ,lamplugh1 ultimately heir-general of that ancient family 7and whose descendant1 ,peter ,lamplugh ,brougham1 enjoyed their estates74 ,from him descended ,john ,brougham1 of ,brougham in ,westmorland1 and ,scales ,hall in ,cumberland1 who1 dying without issue1 was succeeded by his nephew1 ,henry ,richmond ,brougham1 owner also of ,highhead ,castle1 derived from his mother1 the heiress of the ,richmonds1 and dying in #agdi was succeeded by ,henry ,brougham1 the grandfather of ,henry1 ,lord ,brougham and ,vaux1 the present owner of ,brougham1 ,scales ,hall1 and ,highhead ,castle2 a nobleman to whose genius the world owes much1 and by whose active industry1 science and literature have been so extensively served1 and so largely promoted1 for nearly half a century4 ,the castle-mansion is irregularly built1 and with the court-yards and outer offices covers a vast extent of ground4 ,the garden-court comprises on two of its sides nearly the whole of the buildings occupied by the family4 ,at the lower end of this court is a massive arched entrance-gateway1 which1 together with the surrounding buildings1 is very old and picturesque1 clothed with a garb of most luxuriant ivy3 of this we append an engraving4 ,illustration ,in our lithotint print is shewn the western side of the ,hall1 considered to be the most ancient part of the structure4 ,it is singularly solid in construction1 the works being several yards in thickness4 ,the large tower in the perspective contains the apartment formerly the ,armoury4 ,the terrace commands an extensive view of scenes rich in historic interest1 and of great natural beauty2 comprising in the distance the whole of the mountains of the ,lake district1 which rear their airy summits1 chain upon chain1 peak above peak1 in almost countless numbers4 ,nearer1 the eye ranges over thick woods1 chequered here and there with grey rocks and quiet holms2 while nearer1 unseen1 but plainly heard1 the ,lowther brawls over its rocky bed and through the wide arches of ,lowther ,bridge--a famous and most picturesque structure4 ,higher up the river1 the ,lancaster and ,carlisle ,railway passes over an immense viaduct1 of which the three or four most central arches are distinctly visible from the ,hall4 ,nothing can exceed the beauty of this scene on a clear sunny afternoon1 when the dull red bridge is in shade2 the light touched clearly but delicately along the parapet and down the inner sides of the shafted piers3 the whole framed1 as it were1 in ponderous masses of richly coloured foliage1 subdued and harmonised by ever-recurring passages of most delicious shade4 ,illustration ,the interior contains many apartments of high interest3 several of them having been renovated in the best possible taste1 and in perfect harmony with the edifice4 ,our space will not permit us to describe them in detail4 ,the ,great ,hall 7of which we append an engraving7 is a double cube forty feet by twenty1 and twenty high2 the roof supported by arches1 with open spandrels1 made of walnut-wood4 ,the ceiling has been lately restored1 having 7at least the greater part of it7 fallen to pieces through age and decay4 ,the fireplace also has been restored4 ,the windows 7six in number7 are filled with very fine stained glass1 chiefly of the end of the #aeth and beginning of the #afth century2 the colours are singularly rich3 it appears to be of ,german manufacture1 and closely resembles the old glass at ,nuremberg4 ,there is a good deal of curious armour here2 especially a very old and very perfect suit of ,edward ,,iv4 or ,richard ,,iii4's time4 ,the ,armoury was a room about sixteen feet square at the top of the highest tower1 with a fine oak roof1 but is now used as a bed-room4 ,all its contents were recently moved into the ,hall1 where1 although seen to greater advantage1 they have no longer the picturesque effect they must have had in their original situation4 ,in the ,hall is a very old iron chest1 with a lock in the lid which shoots twelve bolts by one key1 that turns in the centre of the lid4 ,this was probably used in ancient times to keep the vessels belonging to the chapel4 ,the most curious relic in the ,hall is an ivory horn 7introduced as the initial letter71 of very early workmanship1 and used 7as is believed7 in the service of ,cornage--an ancient border service1 by which certain of the lands of ,brougham are held4 ,in former times this service consisted in blowing a horn from the top of the high tower1 to give notice of the approach of an enemy 7most usually the ,scotch71 so that the neighbouring barons might be prepared to resist the threatened attack2 or the nearest beacon 7which is on the top of ,penrith ,fell1 and still in existence7 might be lighted up to alarm the country4 ,this service in later times was changed into a ,corn rent1 and hence it has been erroneously supposed that it was called ,cornage3 the original service1 however1 was that of blowing the horn4 ,from its workmanship and ornaments this horn is evidently of ,saxon times1 and was probably used before the introduction of the cornage tenure as a warder's horn4 ,over the chimney-piece in the old drawing-room are the arms of ,edward ,,vi4 ,this room and many others in the house are rich in tapestry and old stamped leather4 ,illustration 8,at the mansion of ,browham stands a chapel of very ancient erection4 ,in the year #acgg1 #8,johannes de ,burgham' is said to have had #8,capellam apud ,browham1 ,sancto ,wilfrido sacrum1 ab antiquis temporibus fundatam1' and that a ,chaplain attended divine offices at it4 ,through process of time it becoming ruinous and neglected1 it was lately repaird and beautify'd by the piety of ,anne1 ,countess of ,pembroke1 ,a4,d4 #afei40fi ,in this chapel there was formerly a holy well1 dedicated to ,st4 ,wilfred1 which rose through the ancient font by a hole bored through the shaft 7in which also was the waste-pipe7 into the bowl4 ,the hill near the chapel was cut through about fifty years ago1 for the purpose of lowering the road1 and from that time the spring which supplied the well was cut off1 so that the water now only rises to the height of the chapel-floor3 the loss of this singular remnant of antiquity is much to be lamented4 ,there still remains the shrine1 or a considerable portion of it1 now fixed at the west end of the chapel1 noticed by ,leland in his 8,itinerary10 and to which he says there was a great pilgrimage4 ,the shrine at the east end consists of three compartments1 of very remarkable carving1 said to be by ,albert ,durer1 but apparently1 from the architecture of the canopy work1 of an earlier date4 ,it is said to have come from the church of ,st4 ,cunegonde at ,cologne4 ,the windows at the east end are early ,anglo-,norman1 and are filled with the earliest stained glass known in ,england4 ,two appear to have been repaired1 and the broken parts replaced with glass of a more modern date4 ,at one side of the altar1 in the north wall1 is the ancient 8ambrie10 or small cupboard cut in the solid wall1 in which were kept the vessels2 some of these are still preserved1 and are of great curiosity--the pix1 now very rarely to be met with2 the remonstrance1 a small oblong box1 either used as a reliquary1 or1 more probably1 to contain the cruet or phial of sacred oil4 ,these are gilt and finely enamelled1 and are in a state of good preservation4 ,the chalice and paten 7silver gilt7 are of great antiquity1 and are also well preserved4 ,the door of the ambrie is of black oak1 curiously carved2 on the back is fixed a very singular gilt and enamelled crucifixion1 with a very remarkable representation of a glory above the head of our ,saviour3 this cross is of the very earliest age1 probably of the sixth or eighth century4 ,the sedilia1 of black oak1 still stands upon the raised part of the floor1 on the south side of the altar2 and the old drain1 or piscina1 is still to be seen4 ,the oak carving1 especially some of the stall ends1 and the screen1 are very fine1 but have been extensively repaired4 ,some of the oak and stained glass1 which appear formerly to have belonged to the chapel1 are now in the great dining-hall2 but what is left1 still shews a richness and abundance of carving rarely to be met with in so small a space4 ,service is performed here whenever the family are resident1 and generally by the ,rector1 after his duty at the parish church is over4 ,the situation of the parish church is remarkable4 ,it is placed on the borders of a meadow1 close to the river ,eamont1 at a point where there is a ford1 in a direct line from the ,roman way to ,carlisle1 and nearer than by ,brovoniacum4 ,it is above two miles from the nearest village1 called ,woodside1 and still further from the place where the town of ,brougham formerly stood3 there is no trace of any habitations having ever existed near it4 ,stukeley1 who visited this part of ,westmorland about #agbd1 and wrote his account of it in #agbe1 after describing the ,british circus or camp on the banks of the ,lowther1 called ,king ,arthur's ,round ,table1 directly opposite to ,brougham1 says1--8,this is the most delightful place that can be imagined for recreation2 the rapid river ,louther runs all along the side of it3 the ,eamont joins it a little way off in view4 ,beyond is a charming view of a vast wood1 and of ,brougham2 beyond that the ancient ,roman city1 and the ,roman road going along under the high hill1 whereon is the beacon40--,vol4 ,,ii4 p4 #dc4 ,after describing various ,british remains which abound in this neighbourhood1 he proceeds3--8,in the pasture on the eastern bank of the ,louther1 in the way to ,clifton1 are several cairns1 or carrachs as the ,scotch call them1 made of dry stones heaped together2 also many other monuments of stones1 #c1 #d1 #e1 set upright together4 ,they are generally by the country-people said to be done by ,michael ,scott--a noted conjuror in their opinion1 who was a monk of ,holme ,abbey1 in ,cumberland4 ,they have a notion1 too1 that one ,turquin1 a giant1 lived at ,brougham1 and that ,sir ,lancelot du ,lake lived at ,mayborough and slew him40--,p4 #de4 ,stukeley accompanies his description by a view of ,brougham1 as seen rising from the midst of fine old trees 7most of which are now cut down71 with ,king ,arthur's ,round ,table in the foreground4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f4 ,w4 ,hulme4 ,day ,son4 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,sizergh ,,hall1 ,,westmorland4 ,sizergh ,hall1 with its venerable towers1 presents to the traveller journeying from ,lancaster to ,kendal an appearance peculiarly impressive4 ,after passing ,levens ,hall1 famous for its antique gardens and other vestiges of the olden time1 two miles bring us to ,sizergh1 which a sudden turn presents to view1 standing about half a mile from the main road1 on a fine natural terrace of considerable elevation above the general level of the surrounding country4 ,fine time-honoured trees are thickly spread around2 among them are some noble elms1 whose stateliness is1 however1 rapidly giving way before the inroads of age4 ,the park is small1 and not particularly well ordered2 it has also the appearance of being much diminished in size1 the main turnpike-road having1 in all probability1 been cut through it1 as in the case of ,levens1 where the house is on one side of the road and the park on the other4 ,the palmy state of this place belongs to other days2 nevertheless much is left to shew what it has been1 with the added interest of increasing years and antiquity to throw its halo of mystery around the scene4 ,the hall front faces the east3 the lithotint view will shew that it is singularly irregular and picturesque in its general outline1 the whole being a collection of parts belonging to various eras2 exhibiting here and there incongruities of style1 particularly in the ugly modern windows1 which1 about eighty years ago1 were introduced to supplant those that were mullioned4 ,these abominations1 we were informed1 are shortly to be removed1 and their places supplied by windows in keeping with the structure4 ,by far the oldest parts of the building are the two southern towers1 of the erection of which1 it is said1 no record remains2 these towers are embattled1 and are of amazing strength1 the walls and the floors that divide the several stories being of great thickness and solidity1 displaying a lavish use of materials in their construction3 the beams are particularly remarkable in this respect4 ,the smaller tower rises considerably above the other3 in the upper part there is a guard-chamber1 capable of containing a dozen men--a necessary precaution in feudal times to prevent sudden attacks4 ,behind1 is a large square courtyard1 one hundred and eighty feet from side to side1 and enclosed on three sides by the back buildings of the mansion4 ,these large yards were a necessary part of the old ,border strongholds2 they were generally large1 as in this case1 fortified by strong walls1 and were used to protect the cattle1 which were regularly secured therein at night1 and during the frequent inroads of the turbulent and ever-watchful enemy1 whose visits were not by any means either few or far between4 ,in front a double flight of steps leads from the garden-terrace to a second terrace1 leading direct into the ,hall1 a large room fifty feet in length1 hung with rich tapestry and some good family pictures1 many of the latter being of considerable artistic merit1 as well as of historical interest4 ,among these the most 8noticeable0 are--,sir ,robert ,strickland1 a zealous adherent of the ,royalist party in the civil wars of the time of ,charles ,i42 ,sir ,thomas ,strickland1 knight-banneret1 and one of the privy council to ,james ,,ii42 and of his third son1 ,roger ,strickland2 ,thomas ,strickland1 bishop of ,namur1 and ambassador to ,england from the ,emperor ,charles ,,vi41 by ,rigaut4 ,there is also a good portrait of ,mary ,queen of ,scots1 said to be by ,more4 ,the drawing-room contains portraits of ,james ,,ii4 and his queen1 and one of ,charles ,,ii41 a royal gift from ,james himself to the family4 ,illustration ,in the ,great ,tower are two rooms of much beauty and importance2 one is the drawing-room1 the other is called the ,queen's ,chamber4 ,both these rooms are profusely decorated with rich carving1 particularly in the chimneypieces4 ,of that in the drawing-room we procured a sketch4 ,it is exceedingly rich and quaint1 the centre compartment being occupied by a well-executed carving of the arms of the ,stricklands4 ,the fireplace is1 as the reader will perceive1 of recent date1 and quite out of harmony with the more ancient part above4 ,there is scarcely a room of any importance in the ,hall that is not decorated with a rich chimneypiece and other carvings1 all of great merit1 and some of them of rare beauty and originality4 ,these carvings are of the time of ,elizabeth1 in whose reign ,walter ,strickland1 ,esq41 the then owner1 refitted the greater part of the rooms4 ,they are all exceedingly interesting4 ,the ,inlaid ,chamber--a bedroom in the great tower--is1 perhaps1 the most curious of all2 it is panelled with rich dark oak1 inlaid with holly in curious arabesque devices4 ,the bed is of the olden time1 exceedingly massive1 and magnificently furnished1 the pillars being quaintly carved and very elaborate1 supporting a canopy covered with rich draperies4 ,there is not much old movable furniture1 but some chairs attracted our attention2 on the back of one was carved the date #aega4 ,in one angle of the tower we were shewn a deep dark hole1 constructed in the wall1 with which tradition has connected some strange stories of secret violence committed in times when might was right2 of which1 however1 there is no more direct evidence than rumour and the suspicious look of the place4 ,no ancient ,baronial ,hall could be complete without its ample kitchen1 and accordingly we find ,sizergh in this respect well supplied4 ,the important adjunct to hospitality is of large dimensions1 with an enormous fireplace1 in which1 no doubt1 was once placed an old-fashioned and most capacious cooking apparatus3 all this has given way to the modern range1 which had a look so undeniably recent and patent as to preclude all particular examination from us4 ,the kitchen is low1 and approached from the corridor by a broad flight of stairs4 ,sizergh ,hall has been for many centuries the property and place of residence of the ,strickland family4 ,at what time they first came here is not exactly known2 they were originally from ,great ,strickland1 in the parish of ,moreland4 8,the son and heir of ,walter de ,stirkland was a hostage1 in #abae1 for the good behaviour of ,roger ,fitz-,reinford40 ,the erection of the great tower is attributed to ,sir ,walter de ,stirkland1 in the reign of ,edward ,,iii41 during which he procured from the king a license 8to enclose his ,wood and ,demesne ,lands on this estate1 and to make a ,park here40 ,this supposition is supported by the sculptured shield of arms on the north side of the tower1 8placed corner-wise1 ,d',aincourt quartering ,strickland3 three escallops1 the crest a full-topped holly-bush on a close helmet40#gj ,sir ,walter was thrice returned to ,parliament1 an honour which several of his descendants also enjoyed4 ,this was in the time of ,edward ,,iii41 when the name was spelt ,sirezergh4 ,the family took part in the ,border ,wars2 and it is said that in the time of ,henry ,,vi4 they mustered 8bowmen1 horsyd and harnessed1 lxix2 bylmen1 horsyd and harnessed1 lxxiiii2 bowmen1 without hors harnesse1 lxxi2 bylmen1 without hors harnesse1 lxxvi2 totalis numerus1 cclxxxx40 ,the ,sir ,thomas ,strickland1 whose portrait is mentioned above1 went into ,france with the king1 where he died1 and was buried in the church of the ,english nuns at 8,roan0 in ,normandy4 8,his third son1 ,roger ,strickland1 was page to the ,prince of ,cond1 when he went from ,france to be elected king of ,poland40 ,the fourth son was the already mentioned ,bishop of ,namur4 ,in ,kendal church1 8,strickland's ,aisle0 contains tombs of members of this family2 8one of them is remarkable for the figure of ,walter ,strickland1 a fat lad in a loose gown1 with a most fulsome epitaph1 dated in #afef40 ,there is a tradition that ,sizergh was once the property of the ,crown2 and this supposition seems in some degree supported by the fact of the royal arms being placed among the decorations of one of the chambers1 and placed there it is said by ,catharine ,parr3 but for this there is no sufficient authority4 ,for some years ,sizergh has been the residence of ,d4 ,crewdson1 ,esq41 in whom the old ,hall has had a worthy and careful keeper1 shewing its various matters of interest with a courtesy and kindness not too common among custodians of ,english antiquities4 ,there is a moat in front of the house4 ,this place was visited by the poet ,gray when on his tour of the ,lakes1 in #agfi1 and its fine situation and antique appearance seem to have had a powerful impression on his mind--proved by his letters to ,dr4 ,wharton4 ,from the ,hall two avenues diverge to the highway1 one towards ,kendal1 and the other southward1 in the direction of ,levens1 ,milnthorpe1 and ,lancaster4 ,the gardens are on the southern end of the terrace1 and contain1 in addition to the usual modern flowering plants1 some fine old trees1 clipt into the fantastic forms of other times1 and also an old summer-house1 fast falling to decay4 ,altogether the old place is a deeply interesting relic of times now happily gone by4 ,the feudal tower--the varied and somewhat rude magnificence of the time of ,elizabeth and ,james--the spoliating barbarism of the eighteenth century--all mingle here in curious contrast2 carrying the mind rapidly through a long series of years1 and exhibiting1 as if in mockery1 memorials of men1 whose works remain1 but whose hands--many of them1 at least--had mingled with the dust before the arrival of periods of which even the antiquary speaks as 8the past40 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,day ,son1 ,lith4 to ,the ,queen4 ,,charlton ,,house1 ,,wilts4 ,,charlton ,,house1 ,,wiltshire4 ,charlton ,house1 the seat of the ,earl of ,suffolk and ,berkshire1 stands in the centre of a spacious park1 a short distance from the ancient town of ,malmesbury4 ,the manor in 8old times0 belonged to the abbey of ,malmesbury1 and subsequently passed to the family of ,knevit4 ,thomas ,howard1 the first ,earl of ,suffolk1#ga having married ,catherine1 eldest daughter of ,sir ,thomas ,knevit1 the estates became the property of that noble house2 and the ,earl1 soon after entering into possession1 commenced building the mansion we here engrave4 ,it is considered an excellent example of the style of architecture of the time of ,james ,i42 the house was1 however1 enlarged and modernised by ,henry ,earl of ,suffolk and ,berks41 who was ,secretary of ,state for the ,northern ,department1 in the reign of ,george ,,iii4 ,the principal front is ancient1 with the exception of the attic over the centre portion between the two towers4 ,a plan of the building preserved by the family shews the colonnade quite open1 and forming one side of a large quadrangular court1 sixty-five feet square1 in the centre of the building3 at the end of this court was the porch leading into the entrance-hall1 which appears to have been in the style of ,inigo ,jones 7the reputed architect of the building74 ,this court-yard is now enclosed1 and is formed into a saloon1 which still remains unfinished1 the works before their completion having been suddenly interrupted1 probably by the death of the ,earl in ,march #agii4 ,the only portion of the interior retaining its original character is the gallery2 it runs through the whole front of the building immediately over the colonnade3 the ceiling1 which is ancient1 is an extraordinary specimen of elaborate decoration2 it is #aae feet in length1 and between the edges of the cornice1 #ag feet in width4 ,an old fire-place1 with the arms of the first ,earl of ,suffolk1 brought from the ,charter ,house1 ,london1 has been placed here4 ,a collection of superb full-length portraits of this illustrious family adorn this fine apartment4 ,it is said that the ceiling of this gallery once saved the building from destruction3 previous to the alterations1 the ,earl1 not liking the situation of the house1 thought of having it pulled down1 and rebuilt in another part of the park2 the impossibility1 however1 of removing the ceiling determined the rejection of the idea4 ,the additions externally 7with the exception of one front7 are closely copied from the older portions of the structure4 ,the house abounds in furniture of antique character1 in harmony with the character of the interesting building4 ,one of these examples1 consisting of a clock and cabinet1 we here engrave4 ,illustration ,the architect under whose directions the repairs and additions were made1 is well known among the profession as an 8,architectural ,plagiarist10--one who was accustomed to affix his name to the designs of other men4 ,this person1 thinking probably that the architecture of ,james ,i4 would never be studied1 put up the following inscription at ,charlton2 it is inscribed on an iron plate inserted in the wall above the roof of the saloon3-- 8,this edifice was rendered such as it is under the skilful direction of ,matthew ,brettingham1 ,architect1 and the careful superintendence of ,james ,darley1 ,clerk of the ,works4 7,thomas ,carter1 ,steward47 ,began ,a4,d4 #aggb1 finished ,a4,d4 #aggf1 by ,henry1 ,earl of ,suffolk and ,berkshire1 the principal ,secretary of ,state to the best of ,princes40 ,the mansion1 taken altogether1 is of fine character and of very considerable interest3 as the baronial residence of the noble representative of an illustrious family1 it retains some of the most striking and important of its ancient features1 conveying the 7at all times pleasant7 idea1 that antiquity is reverenced for its actual worth4 ,illustration3 ,from drawing by ,c4 ,j4 ,richardson1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,day ,son ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,the ,,duke',s ,,house1 ,,wiltshire ,,the ,,duke',s ,,house1 ,,wiltshire4 ,the ,duke's ,house1 at ,bradford1 in ,wiltshire1 is so called from the ,duke of ,kingston1 to whom it formerly belonged4 ,it subsequently descended to ,earl ,manvers4 ,it is now a dilapidated farm-house2 but even in its present condition of neglect1 approaching ruin1 it exhibits interesting indications of its early architectural character4 ,in its pristine state1 when the whole of its ornaments were perfect1 it must have presented an appearance peculiarly imposing and grand2 for it is seated on the side of a steep hill1 with a lofty terrace in front1 approached by a flight of steps1 adorned with balustrades and vases3 there were other terraces1 walled gardens also1 and orchards in the rear and on either side of the house1 which is built of the fine white stone of the district4 ,the principal front--to the south--exhibited in the annexed view1 is divided into two stories1 with attics in the gables4 ,the entire front is1 as it were1 one window3 the three projecting bays are crowned with boldly sculptured open balustrades4 ,the effect is remarkably striking and picturesque4 ,the windows have all the mullions and transomes of stone like the rest of the building4 ,the centre bay1 on the ground-floor1 serves as a porch1 and has a fine large sculptured doorway1 the upper part of which is seen in the print4 ,at the time ,john ,aubrey visited ,bradford1 in #afhf1 he described this house as inhabited by ,john ,hall1 a wealthy clothier of the town1 connected by marriage with the family of ,sir ,john ,thynne1 of ,longleat4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,britten supposes that ,bradford ,house was built by the architect who erected the grand mansion of ,longleat1 the foundation of which was laid in #aefg2 but the style of the building is that of a much later period2 it was probably built by the ,duke of ,kingston4 ,a shield of arms1 with what appears to be a ducal coronet above it1 is over the fireplace in the entrance-hall1 and the same shield is repeated in the other apartments4 ,this shield1 no doubt1 belongs to the nobleman who erected the mansion4 ,the palace at ,longleat is a structure in style almost pure ,italian1 and the architect is well known to be ,john of ,padua1 a very celebrated man4 ,it is the fashion with the antiquaries in ,wilts1 so proud they are of the name1 to ascribe to him every building and every separate fragment of ,elizabethan architecture in the county2 but the ,duke's ,house is not by him3 it is pure ,english architecture1 of the latest and most polished period of the style of ,james ,i4 ,aubrey's description of the house is curious2 he calls it 8the best house for the quality of a gentleman in ,wiltshire40 ,the house has two wings2 two1 if not three1 elevations or ascents to it1 adorned with terraces1 having either rails or stone balustrades4 ,illustration ,the interior contains numerous fragments of the old building3 the entrance-hall has a noble stone fireplace in two stories2 one of the upper rooms had1 till within the last few years1 a very handsome oak and stone fireplace1 elaborately carved4 ,some of the rooms contain oak panelling2 and there are a few ornamented ceilings1 in which are pomegranates1 the fleur-de-lis1 ,english rose1 c4 ,the desertion of the house appears to have been caused by the increase of the town1 which rendered it anything but a rural retreat4 ,bradford is situated on the banks of the ,avon1 near the middle of the western boundary of ,wiltshire1 on the borders of ,somersetshire1 within a cove formed by the surrounding small hills1 which screen the town from the cold northern winds4 ,the ,avon here is generally called the ,lower ,avon1 and is considerably increased by the waters of the ,were from ,trowbridge4 ,the name is supposed to be derived from the ,saxon word ,bradenford1 signifying the broad ford4 ,over this ford there is now a handsome stone bridge4 ,the ,duke's ,house is close to the town1 which contains more than #aj1jjj inhabitants1 of whom the greater part are employed in the cloth-manufactories4 ,the church is a large and ancient building1 in the chancel of which is an antique altar-piece1 coarsely ornamented with a painting that was intended to represent the ,last ,supper4 ,in the church are two windows of painted glass1 said to exhibit the actions of ,christ and ,his ,apostles4 ,these windows were a present from ,john ,ferret1 ,esq41 of ,london1 a native of ,bradford1 who died in #aggj4 ,near the church is a charity-school1 for the education of sixty-five children1 which was opened in ,january #agab4 ,there is an almshouse at the west end of the town1 founded by ,john ,hall1 ,esq41 the last of a family which had resided at ,bradford ever since the reign of ,edward ,i4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f4 ,w4 ,fairholt1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,day ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,westwood1 ,,worcestershire ,,westwood ,,house1 ,,worcestershire4 ,within two miles of the ancient town of ,droitwich1 whose salt-springs have been famous since the time of the ,romans1 stands ,westwood ,house1 in the centre of an extensive park1 well wooded1 and consisting of about two hundred acres4 ,to the east of the house is a lake extending over sixty acres1 but which was originally intended to cover one hundred acres of ground4 ,the principal front of the house commands a view of this lake2 and being situated in the centre of the park1 commanding on all sides the vistas produced by the fine old trees1 whose radiating avenues surround it1 it is as happily placed as any mansion in the kingdom4 ,nash1 in his 8,history of ,worcestershire10 thus describes it3--8,westwood ,house consists of a square building1 from each corner of which projects a wing in the form of a parallelogram1 and turretted in the style of the ,chteau de ,madrid near ,paris1 or ,holland ,house4 ,it is situated on a rising ground1 and encircled with about two hundred acres of oak timber4 ,the richness of the wood combining with the stateliness of the edifice forms a picture of ancient magnificence1 unequalled by any thing in this county40 ,the house is of brick1 with stone quoins and parapets1 and bears a striking resemblance to an old ,norman chteau4 ,our plate exhibits the peculiarities of its design as seen in the principal front4 ,the body of the house is a solid square of three stories in height1 the saloon occupying the first floor1 and being lighted by large bay-windows4 ,wings project in a line from the centre of each corner of the house1 and communicate by doors with each floor of the central building4 ,opposite each wing1 at some distance from them1 are erected small square towers1 which were originally connected with the main building by walls1 which have now been removed1 and the small garden surrounding the house entirely thrown open4 ,this garden is encircled by an open railing1 and immediately in front of the house1 and still further in advance1 is the entrance-gate4 ,our cut exhibits the construction of the central pile as it appears from the garden1 with the principal front and one side1 taking in a view of three of the wings4 ,the offices and stabling are at some short distance in the rear of this1 and where the kitchen-garden now stands originally stood an ancient nunnery1 of which no remains exist2 but ,nash tells us that1 in digging1 they sometimes find stone coffins and foundations of buildings4 ,illustration ,eustachia de ,say and her son ,osbert ,fitzhugh1 having given the church here to the abbey of ,font-,evraud in ,normandy1 an abbey closely connected with our ,norman kings1 and where several lie buried1 and having1 during the reign of ,henry ,,ii41 granted them various lands1 ,osbert is styled the founder of the church of ,st4 ,mary at ,westwood1 in the ancient deeds4 ,shortly afterwards was erected a small priory1 dedicated to the ,blessed ,virgin1 for six nuns of the ,benedictine order1 which1 when once established1 shared the usual favours bestowed on such foundations during the middle ages2 it ultimately numbered seventeen or eighteen inmates4 ,the grants of property1 as recited by ,nash1 do not appear to have been of such great value as ever to have given great riches or importance to the priory1 but they were of a kind to ensure a certain amount of comfort and worldly prosperity to the nuns who inhabited it2 and some of the grants are curious1 inasmuch as they shew the kindliness of feeling with which they were regarded1 and the simple usefulness of many donations2 all indicative of a period when the necessities of life were more dependent on the interchange of individual courtesies than they are at present4 ,thus1 8,jocelyn ,fitz ,richard1 of ,wich 7,droitwich71 gave them free passage for corn and hay over the bridge of ,brerhulle1 as far as his meadow extended1 from hay-time to ,michaelmas1 and for wood from hay-time to ,all ,saints40 ,others made them various grants for things in return1 which they wanted1 and which1 being of considerably less value1 became a profitable quit-rent4 ,thus 8,stephen de ,elmbrug gave land in ,ruinestreet1 ,droitwich1 for one pound of cummin or pepper yearly1 at ,michaelmas2 which was confirmed at his death by his son ,inard40 ,ralph ,hacket1 8a dole of salt1 with a salt-pit and wood-place1 for three shillings and a mit of salt2 ,ralph ,huson confirmed this1 and gave an acre in ,broadmead1 with seven butts adjoining1 for a mark of silver 7#acs4 #d;d472 also six sellions of land without ,guerston ,ditch1 belonging to their church of ,st4 ,nicholas1 at ,wich4 ,osbert ,fitz ,osbert ,bende1 of ,wich1 gave lands in ,wich1 which he held in fee of ,derhurst1 with two helflings 7four pounds7 and a half of salt at ,northernmost ,wich1 for a pair of white gloves yearly to his heirs1 and fourpence halfpenny and six baskets of salt40 ,other lands were also held by the same grant of salt from ,droitwich1 and remittances of rent by the same means4 ,the change in the value of money is strikingly visible in some grants2 thus1 8,william ,fitz ,aldred ,fikemore gave #d;d4 yearly rent10 and 8,adam ,fitz ,adam ,luveton1 of ,wich1 gave #ab;d4 yearly rent20 sums which now appear almost ludicrous4 ,of the various prioresses of this retired and remote establishment1 but few notices or even names occur4 ,the only noted one was ,isabella1 who ruled between #acfj and #acgj1 and died under excommunication1 for having joined with the antipope ,clement ,,vii4 ,the last prioress1 ,joice ,acton1 received at the dissolution1 in #aeec1 an annual pension of #ajl4 ,at this period the revenues were valued at #ghl4 #hs4 in the whole1 and #agel4 #ahs4 #aa;d4 clear1 which is ,dugdale's valuation4 ,after the dissolution of religious houses1 ,westwood with its demesne lands was granted1 in the thirteenth year of ,henry ,,viii41 to ,sir ,john ,pakington1 knight1 in whose descendants it still continues4 ,the ,pakingtons resided first in their mansion at ,hampton ,lovet2 when that was much damaged in the civil wars1 they enlarged the house at ,westwood1 which had been built in the reign of ,queen ,elizabeth1 as a lodge or banquetting-house1 and made it the place of their abode4 ,illustration ,one of the most interesting features of the place is the gate-house immediately in front of the mansion2 it consists of a double lodge of red brick1 with ornamental gables and pinnacles2 the gate in the centre is ornamented with the heraldic bearings of the family1 the mullet or star of five points1 and garb or wheatsheaf2 their arms being1--8party per chevron1 sable and argent1 in chief three mullets1 or1 in base as many garbs1 gules40 ,these bearings are again sculptured on the parapets1 the wheatsheafs doing duty as pilasters1 and the mullets serving in place of balusters4 ,the timber work over the gate1 with its high pointed roof and pinnacle1 is exceedingly picturesque and striking2 and is all the more interesting from the rarity of such examples4 ,illustration ,passing through the gate and crossing the small lawn we reach the principal door1 to which a flight of stone steps lead4 ,the stone portico is decorated in the style of the ,renaissance1 but is more purely ,italian in its taste than is usually the case in works of that period4 ,an open balustrade is on each side of the steps4 ,over the centre arch is a regal figure on an eagle4 ,it was probably erected after the civil wars1 when ,westwood was enlarged and improved4 ,illustration ,from the hall1 which is an oblong room1 presenting no particular features of interest1 and from which the library1 containing many choice and curious volumes1 is reached1 and which is situated in the wing to the left1 the principal apartments are reached by the staircase1 a view of which is here given1 and which is chiefly remarkable for the ,corinthian capitals1 supporting globes1 which are placed on the banister4 ,the whole of this staircase is of carved oak1 in a fine state of preservation1 and exhibiting great finish in execution4 ,by this stair we reach the saloon1 a noble apartment1 with a double bay-window situated immediately over the hall1 and having its walls hung with fine old tapestry of the ,elizabethan era1 filled with symbolical representations of various kinds1 and resembling1 in style and character1 that exhibited in the great hall at ,hampton ,court4 ,a magnificent fireplace of elaborate detail1 decorated with the royal arms1 is in the centre4 ,the roof is of plaster1 but is not the original one2 it is very florid and elaborate1 in the style of ,louis ,quatorze1 yet1 however good as a specimen of that peculiar taste1 it does not harmonise with the rest of the building4 ,from the windows of this room a noble view of the country is obtained1 which is very undulatory and beautiful2 the lake1 the avenues1 and the antique oaks which surround the house1 also add to the beauty of the prospect4 ,the effect of the pavilion opposite each wing of the building is here seen to good effect1 surrounded as they generally are with trees and flowers4 ,we engrave one of them4 ,the chimney upon its exterior bracket is a peculiar feature in their design4 ,among the portraits preserved in the mansion may be noticed particularly a curious one of ,sir ,john ,perrott1 ,knight of the ,bath1 and ,lord ,lieutenant of ,ireland from #aehc to #aehh1 who was descended from a very ancient family in ,pembrokeshire2 his mother was ,mary1 daughter of ,james ,berkeley1 ,esq41 second son of ,lord ,berkeley4 ,sir ,robert ,naunton1 in his 8,fragmenta ,regalia10 intimates that he was a natural son of ,henry ,,viii4 8,if we compare10 says he1 8his picture1 his qualities1 gesture1 and voice1 with those of the king1 which memory retains yet amongst us1 they will plead strongly that he was a surreptitious child of the blood-royal40 ,his first appearance at court was early in the reign of ,edward ,,vi4 ,he was arraigned of high treason at ,westminster1 ,april #ag1 #aeib1 and received sentence of death2 but did not suffer1 for he died five months after in the ,tower4 ,he left one son1 ,sir ,thomas ,perrot1 knight1 who married ,dorothy1 sister to the favourite ,earl of ,essex1 by whom he had one or more daughters4 ,sir ,thomas dying early1 his widow married ,henry ,percy1 the ninth ,earl of ,northumberland1 and his estate came afterwards by marriage to the ,pakingtons4 ,sir ,john ,pakynton1 knight1 son of the first grantee1 was sheriff of this county in the reign of ,elizabeth1 and a favourite with that queen1 who first took notice of him in her progress to ,worcester2 he followed her to court1 and was made a ,knight of the ,bath4 ,on one occasion he betted with three courtiers1 for #cjjjl41 to swim against them from ,westminster to ,greenwich1 but the queen1 by her especial command1 prevented it4 ,his only court favour on record was a monopoly of starch4 ,fuller says of him1 that1 8being a fine but no assiduous courtier1 he drew the curtain between himself and the light of the queen's favour1 and then death overwhelmed the remnant1 and utterly deprived him of recovery2 and they say of him1 that had he brought less to the court than he did1 he might have carried away more than he brought1 for he had a time of it1 but was no good husband of opportunity40 ,he died of gout at the age of seventy-seven1 and was buried at ,aylesbury1 #afbe4 ,sir ,john ,pakyngton1 ,bart41 knight of the shire #ae ,charles ,i41 was a confirmed loyalist1 and was tried for his life by the ,parliament1 his estates were sequestered1 and he was plundered for his loyalty1 but he ultimately compounded with the parliamentary committee for #ejjjl41 and died in #afgi4 ,his house was an asylum for all learned men in these troublesome times4 ,nash says1 8,dr4 ,hammond1 ,bishops ,morley1 ,fell1 ,gunning1 and others1 always met with hospitable entertainment here1 during the troubles of the kingdom4 ,in concert1 with some of these1 ,dorothy1 8the good ,lady ,pakington0 as she was called1 is supposed to have written 8,the ,whole ,duty of ,man10 one of the most popular of religious volumes4 ,in defence of her supposed authorship1 it is said that ,lady ,pakington's letters and prayers are marked with the easy familiar language of that book2 and it has been asserted that the original ,,ms4 in the handwriting of this lady1 and interlined with corrections by ,bishop ,fell1 was sometime in possession of her daughter1 ,mrs4 ,ayre1 of ,rampton1 who often affirmed it to be the performance of her mother1 adding that she was also the authoress of the 8,decay of ,christian ,piety10 another celebrated religious work4 ,but 8upon the whole10 adds ,nash1 8it still remains a doubt1 and it is much easier to prove who was not the author than to assert who was40 ,at the ,revolution1 the doors of ,westwood were open to some persons who scrupled to take oaths to ,king ,william4 ,dean ,hickes wrote here great part of his 8,linguarum ,septentrionalium ,thesaurus20 and the preface to his 8,grammatica ,anglo-,saxonica0 is dedicated to ,sir ,john ,pakington4 ,in it he gives the following declamatory description of ,westwood1--8,ibi porticus1 atria1 propyla1 horti1 ambulacra clausa et subdialia1 recta et sinuosa1 omnia studiis commoda2 ibi luci1 silv1 nemora1 prata1 saltus1 planities1 pascua1 et nihil non1 quod animum pene a literis abhorrentem et legendum1 audiendumve1 et quovismodo discendum componere1 et conciliare potest40 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,w ,richardson4 ,day ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,fountains ,,hall1 ,,yorkshire ,,fountains ,,hall1 ,,yorkshire4 ,fountains ,hall is situated about five miles west of ,ripon1 in the ,west ,riding of ,yorkshire1 and 8within two hundred yards0 of the famous ,abbey1 the name of which it 8borrowed10 as well as the stones of which it is built4 ,the hall was1 indeed1 formed out of the ruins of the time-honoured structure2 and ,sir ,stephen ,proctor1 by whom it was erected1 thought1 no doubt1 he was dedicating to 8right uses0 the precious relics he had bought1 which supplied him with a 8quarry0--plentiful and easy of access4 ,it has since passed through various hands2 the descendants of the builder held it but a short while3 the daughter of ,sir ,stephen conveyed it1 with the manor1 to ,john ,messenger1 ,esq41 whose descendant sold it to ,william ,aislabie1 ,esq42 recently it was the property of the late ,miss ,lawrence of ,studley-,royal2 and now1 we believe1 belongs to the ,earl de ,grey4 ,farther than this1 little is known of the mansion or its history2 and its interest is derived principally1 or solely1 from the ruined structure--magnificent and beautiful in decay--which it adjoins1 and out of the broken columns of which it was raised4 ,illustration ,fountains ,abbey#gb ranks among the most picturesque and interesting of the monastic ruins of ,england4 ,it was founded early in the twelfth century for monks of the ,cistercian ,order2 the locality being then an 8uncouth desert10 which supplied no better shelter than 8seven yew-trees10 under which the monks made their habitation while their magnificent house was progressing4 ,yet1 long after the stupendous structure was deserted and unroofed1 their first dwelling continued in existence2 for1 so late as the year #ahaj1 six of the seven trees were flourishing above the ground where the builders had congregated1 and formed their projects for a great future4 ,in process of time the abbey became richly endowed3 such was its repute for sanctity1 that princes and nobles 8purchased with immense donations0 the right of sepulture within its walls2 the most illustrious of the northern families were among its benefactors4 8,popes and kings seemed to emulate one another in granting to the monks privileges and immunities20 its possessions 8stretched from the foot of ,pinnigant to the boundaries of ,st4 ,wilfred of ,ripon1 without interruption40 ,fountains-fell still retains the name of its ancient possessors2 8all the high pastures from thence to ,kilnsey were ranged by their flocks and herds20 and 8their lands in ,craven0 amounted to sixty-four thousand acres4 ,at the dissolution1 its revenues exceeded a thousand pounds per annum2 its site1 with the estates thereunto belonging1 were sold by the sovereign spoiler to ,sir ,richard ,gresham1 who resold them to ,sir ,stephen ,proctor 7the builder of the ,hall out of the ,abbey stones72 and the ,abbey became a ruin--of deep interest to the antiquary1 the artist1 and the lover of the picturesque4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,f4,w4 ,hulme4 ,day ,son1 ,lith to ,the ,queen4 ,,helmsley ,,hall1 ,,yorkshire4 ,,helmsley ,,hall1 ,,yorkshire4 ,helmsley ,hall is situate about six miles from ,kirby-,moorside1 in the ,north ,riding of ,yorkshire4 ,the date is early in the seventeenth century2 but it occupies the site1 and is1 indeed1 chiefly built from the relics of a structure of far more remote antiquity4 ,the manor is in ,domesday called ,elmeslae1 8from elm1 and slae1 a narrow vale10 and was given by the ,conqueror to the ,earl of ,morton4 ,not long after the ,conquest it became the property of ,sir ,walter de la ,espee1 from whom it passed to the noble family of ,ross or ,roos1 and from them to the ,earls of ,rutland4 ,catherine1 daughter of the sixth earl1 married ,george ,villiers1 first ,duke of ,buckingham1 to whom was thus transferred the estate1 which the second ,duke wasted by a career of profligacy and vice4#gc ,from his trustees1 ,helmsley was purchased by ,sir ,charles ,duncombe1 from whom it has descended to the present ,lord ,feversham4 ,helmsley ,castle1 once a place of formidable strength1 was built about the year #abjj by one of the family of ,ross--one who1 it is said1 forfeited by rebellion during the reign of ,richard ,i41 but regained his estates by favour of ,richard's successor1 the infamous ,john4 ,the remains are still imposing1 and give indications of having formerly covered immense space4 ,they are thus described by the ,rev4 ,w4 ,eastmead3--8,the grand entrance on the south has been very strong4 ,without the outer wall is a ditch1 which has added to the strength of the fortification2 then the gateway leading into the first court or ballium1 which measures twenty feet in thickness4 ,after that a second gateway1 leading to the inner court1 where were the lodgings1 c42 and then the keep1 ninety-five feet high1 under which was the dungeon3 and these walls were defended by a number of towers1 which were strong and magnificent4 ,the walls of this castle were extremely well built1 and the vast masses of them which were thrown down yet hang together with amazing firmness4 ,besides the south gate the remains of two others are yet visible1 one on the north and another on the west2 and it is said that the waters of the ,rye were conducted through the ditches which surround the building4 ,during the ,civil ,wars the castle1 after a severe conflict1 was taken by the ,parliament forces under the command of ,sir ,thomas ,fairfax1 who1 during the siege1 was wounded in the shoulder4 ,it was soon afterwards dismantled by order of ,parliament40 ,the ,hall1 as we have intimated1 was built out of parts of the ancient castle4 ,the apartment pictured by ,mr4 ,richardson is the principal drawing-room1 but the house has ceased to be inhabited by any member of the family to whom it belongs2 it is1 nevertheless1 a good subject for the artist1 and one which he is bound to rescue from the grasp of time4 ,this 8state chamber0 is approached by stone steps from the courtyard2 several smaller apartments are contiguous to it1 but are without decorations1 unless their ample bay-windows may be so called4 ,a lofty tower at the south-east angle has been divided into several stories1 but the stairs and various floors are gone4 ,helmsley ,hall is rapidly decaying1 and will be ere long1 like its far more powerful parent and neighbour 8the ,castle10 but a relic of the past2 it will1 however1 always possess considerable interest4 ,here revelled the licentious ,buckingham1-- 8,that life of pleasure and that soul of whim60 ,and these now lonely walls suggest many a thought to connect the surrounding scenery with the brilliant career of the most famous of ,helmsley's lords4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,holland ,house is the manor-house of ,abbots ,kensington4 8,in ,domesday ,book 7our extract is from ,lysons7 the place is called ,chenisitun1 in other ancient records ,kenesitune and ,kensintune4 ,chenesi is a proper name2 a person so named held the manor of ,huish in ,somersetshire1 in the reign of ,edward the ,confessor4 ,kensington manor1 which had been the property of ,edward1 a thane of ,king ,edward's1 was granted by the ,conqueror to ,geoffrey1 bishop of ,constance1 ,chief ,justiciary of ,england1 under whom it was holden 7when the survey of ,domesday was taken7 by ,alberic or ,aubrey de ,vere1 ancestor of the ,earls of ,oxford4 ,the manor10 says the ,survey1 8is taxed at #aj hides1 and contains #aj caracutes2 on the demesnes are four ploughs1 the villans have five1 and might employ six4 ,there are #ab villans1 holding each a virgate1 and #f who hold #c virgates jointly4 ,the priest has half a virgate1 and there are seven slaves1 meadow equal to two plough lands1 pasture for the cattle of the town1 pannage for #bjj hogs and three acres of vineyards1 valued altogether at #ajl4--in ,king ,edward's time at the same4 ,the manor was afterwards the absolute property of the ,vere family1 and was held by them in capite for several generations1 being parcel of their barony by virtue of their office of ,high ,chamberlain4 ,in #abfd1 on the death of ,hugh de ,vere1 the demesne was valued at #d;d4 an acre1 and the meadow-land at #c;d42 a dovehouse at #cs41 a court and vineyard #cs41 fishpond and moat #bs4 ,in #abif the whole value of the manor was #ail4 #acs4 #f;d4 ,in #acca it was somewhat less4 ,aubrey de ,vere1 grand justiciary of ,england1 was created ,earl of ,oxford by the ,empress ,maud1 and afterwards confirmed in that title by ,henry ,,ii4 ,upon the attainder of ,john1 the twelfth earl1 who was beheaded in #adfa for his adherence to the house of ,lancaster1 the manor was seized by the crown and given to ,richard1 duke of ,gloucester4 ,it came afterwards into the hands of ,william1 marquis of ,berkley1 who gave it to ,sir ,reginald ,bray4 ,john1 earl of ,oxford1 son of the attainted earl1 having been restored to his honours1 recovered 7probably by purchase7 the ancient inheritance of his ancestors1 and by his will1 bearing date #aeji1 left it to ,john1 his nephew1 the next heir to the title4 ,subsequently it passed to ,sir ,walter ,cope1 and from him to ,henry ,rich1 earl of ,holland1 to whose descendant maternally1 ,lord ,kensington1 it now belongs4 ,in #aggf the only surviving son of ,francis ,edwardes1 ,esq41 who married ,elizabeth1 daughter of ,robert ,rich1 earl of ,warwick and ,holland1 was created an ,irish peer by the title of ,baron ,kensington40 #b ,campden ,house1 now a ladies' school1 was built about the year #afab1 by ,sir ,baptist ,hickes1 an eminent citizen of ,london1 afterwards ,viscount ,campden4 ,in #afia1 it was the residence of ,anne1 then ,princess of ,denmark1 who lived here for about four years with her son1 the ,duke of ,gloucester1 who1 unhappily1 died at the age of eleven years4 ,here1 it is said1 a regiment of boys about his own age was formed for his amusement1 8with whom he sported in military evolutions40 ,the house has undergone many alterations1 but retains many of its original features4 ,the palace of ,kensington was chiefly built by ,william ,,iii41 but 8considerably enlarged and altered by succeeding monarchs40 ,until his death1 it was the residence of his late ,royal ,highness the ,duke of ,sussex4 #c ,clarendon1 in his 8,history of the ,rebellion10 has drawn the character of this peer3--8,he was a very handsome man1 of a lovely and winning presence1 and genteel conversation1 by which he got so easy an admission into the ,court of ,king ,james10 that he abandoned the life he had previously led--that of a soldier4 ,the favour of ,james was continued to him by his successor1 ,charles ,i42 and 8whilst the weather was fair1 he continued to flourish above any man about the court2 but the storm did no sooner arise1 but he changed so much1 and declined so fast from the honour he was thought to be master of10 that he grew distrusted by the two ,state parties1 and alternately deserted and betrayed both4 ,ultimately1 however1 he took part with the king1 was taken prisoner at a skirmish near ,kingston1 tried1 and sentenced to death3 8the house being divided upon the question1 whether he should be reprieved or not1 and the ,speaker giving the casting vote against him40 8,thus10 says ,lord ,orford1 8perished the once gay1 beautiful1 and gallant ,earl of ,holland1 whom neither the honours showered upon him by his prince1 nor his former more tender connexion with the queen1 could preserve from betraying and engaging against both4 ,on the scaffold he appeared sunk beneath the indignation and cruelty he received from men1 to whom and from whom he had deserted40 #d ,the death of ,addison is thus touchingly described by ,dr4 ,young3--8,after a long and manly1 but vain struggle1 with his distemper1 he dismissed his physicians1 and with them all hopes of life2 but with his hopes of life1 he dismissed not his concern for the living1 but sent for a youth nearly related1 and finely accomplished 7the young ,earl of ,warwick71 yet not above being the better for good impressions from a dying friend4 ,he came1 but life now glimmering in the socket1 the dying friend was silent3 after a decent and proper pause1 the youth said1 #8,dear sir1 you sent for me2 ,i believe and ,i hope that you have some commands2 ,i shall hold them most sacred4' ,forcibly grasping the youth's hand1 he softly said1 #8,see in what peace a ,christian can die4' ,he spoke with difficulty1 and soon expired40 ,dr4 ,johnson states that 8,addison had been tutor to the young ,earl1 and anxiously1 but in vain1 endeavoured to check the licentiousness of his manners4 ,as a last effort1 he requested him to come into his room when he lay at the point of death1 hoping that the solemnity of the scene might work upon his feelings4 ,when his pupil came to receive his last commands1 he told him that he had sent for him to see how a christian could die40 #e ,the second son of the first1 and brother of the second1 ,lord ,holland1 was ,charles ,james ,fox1 much of whose early life was passed at ,holland ,house4 #f ,francis ,cleyn was born at ,rostock1 and was originally in the service of ,christian ,,iv4 of ,denmark4 ,for a proper education in art he visited ,italy1 and there became known to ,sir ,henry ,wotton1 by whom he was introduced to ,prince ,charles1 afterwards ,charles ,i4 ,soon after his arrival in ,england he was employed to give designs1 8both in history and grotesque10 for the tapestry manufacture then recently established at ,mortlock4 ,at ,somerset ,house he painted a ceiling of a room near the gallery1 with histories and compartments in gold2 the entrance of ,wimbledon ,house he painted in fresco2 ,bolsover in ,nottinghamshire1 ,stone ,park in ,northamptonshire and ,carew ,house at ,parson's ,green1 were ornamented by him4 ,he also executed several books for carvers1 goldsmiths1 c41 8made designs for various artists10 and was the master of ,dobson4 ,his two sons also were esteemed painters4 ,he died in ,london--8a most pious man10 according to ,evelyn--in #afeh4 #g ,whilst mentioning the drama as connected with ,holland ,house1 it is worthy of notice that the tragedy of 8,jane ,shore0 was acted there in the 8late ,lord ,holland's time0 7,dodaley's 8,old ,plays10 vol4 xii4 p4 #cde74 ,the late ,mr4 ,fox supported the character of ,lord ,hastings2 his brother1 the ,general1 was ,bishop of ,ely2 ,lady ,sarah ,bunbury1 ,jane ,shore2 and ,lady ,susan ,o',brien1 ,alicia4 #h 8,the name ,blickling10 according to ,blomefield1 8seems to signifie the low meadows at the ,beck40 #i ,among these odd substitutes for ancient heroes1 are carved copies of foot-soldiers of the time of ,george ,,iii4 ,it would seem as if the ,earl of ,buckingham--writing in #agfe--;had actually contemplated the 8improvements0 indicated in the following letter4 8,i have10 he writes1 8determined what to do with the ,hall4 ,some tributary sorrow should1 however1 be paid to the nine ,worthies--but ,hector has lost his spear and his nose2 ,david his harp2 ,godfrey of ,boulogne his ears2 ,alexander the ,great his highest shoulder2 and part of ,joshua has fallen in4 ,as the ceiling is to be raised1 eight of them must have gone2 and ,hector is at all events determined to leave his niche4 ,you will forgive my replacing them with eight worthies of my own times1 whose figures are not yet essentially mutilated1 viz41 ,dr4 ,shebbeare1 ,mr4 ,wilkes1 ,dr4 ,hill1 ,mr4 ,glover1 ,mr4 ,deputy ,hodges1 ,mr4 ,whitfield1 ,justice ,fielding1 and ,mr4 ,foote2 and as ,anne ,boleyn was born at ,blickling1 it will not be improper to purchase her father ,henry1 the eighth figure 7which by order is no longer to be exhibited in the ,tower71 who will fill with credit the space occupied by the falling ,hector40 #aj ,we borrow a passage from ,mr4 ,robinson's 8,vitruvius ,britannicus10 which conveys a compliment as justly merited as it is well expressed4 8,on the resignation of the ,duke of ,sussex1 the ,marquess of ,northampton was elevated to the chair of the ,royal ,society2 and if ardent zeal in the promotion of scientific truth1 unaffected affability of manners1 liberal and unostentatious hospitality1 and exemplary private character1 are deemed qualifications for the blue riband of science1 his lordship's claim to the distinguished honour must be universally admitted40 #aa ,among the pictures are portraits of ,bishop ,compton1 ,sir ,stephen ,fox1 a 8conversation piece10 by ,west1 including the eighth ,earl of ,northampton1 his lady1 and two children4 ,there is also a portrait of ,spenser1 second earl 7in armour71 who1 as we have seen1 devoted himself so bravely to the royal cause in the civil wars1 and was killed at ,hopton ,heath3 at an advanced age he raised a regiment of foot and a troop of horse at his own expense4 ,other portraits at ,castle ,ashby are1 a curious and finely-painted head of ,villiers1 ,duke of ,buckingham1 who was killed by ,felton4 ,in the ,long ,gallery are portraits of ,john ,talbot1 ,earl of ,shrewsbury1 and his countess1 painted on panel2 these are valuable as examples of the art of the time of ,henry ,,vi4 ,this ,talbot was one of the most renowned heroes of his time1 having gained no less than forty battles and skirmishes4 ,at his death he was above eighty years of age4 ,walpole ranks these pictures among the most ancient specimens of ,english painting4 #ab 8,kirby ,hall is situated in ,corby ,hundred1 about nine miles north-west of ,oundle1 partly in the ,parish of ,bulwick1 and partly in that of ,gretton--the ,church of which contains several monuments to members of the family of ,hatton40 #ac ,the family of ,hatton is stated to be descended from ,ivon1 a noble of ,norway1 whose sixth son1 ,wolfaith1 obtained the ,manor of ,hatton1 in ,cheshire4 ,sir ,christopher ,hatton is said to have danced himself into ,court favour2 mightily pleasing the fancy of 8the virgin ,queen0 by the graces of his person2 and consequently rising with great rapidity through the several offices of ,captain of the ,guard1 ,vice ,chamberlain1 ,privy ,councillor1 c41 until1 in #aehg1 he obtained possession of the seals as ,lord ,chancellor4 ,he died not long afterwards--and1 it is believed1 of a broken heart1 in consequence of a demand1 on the part of his fickle and heartless mistress1 for the payment of an old debt1 which he was unable to discharge4 ,he was a liberal patron of learning1--one of the worthies of the ,elizabethan age2 8so great1 that his sentence was a law to the subject2 and so wise1 that his opinion was an oracle to the ,queen40 #ad ,the name has been said to be compounded of ,bent1 an old ,english word for brow of a hill1 and the ,celtic al1 or hal 7,lat4 altus71 a termination commonly found in names of hills4 ,the motto of ,benthall1 8,tende ,bene et alta pete10 seems to allude to this interpretation of the name2 but as1 in ,domesday ,book1 the name is spelt 8,benhale10 the first syllable may be derived from the ,gaelic word ,en1 or ,an--water1 the letter ,b being only the prefix importing the article the4 ,this suggestion receives some weight from the fact that the ,benthall estate1 and one of the same name in another part of ,shropshire1 are washed by a river--the ,severn4 ,the derivation of the second syllable is too plainly correct to be interfered with4 #ae ,benthall ,,mss4 ,dugdale's 8,monasticon40 #af ,polyd4 ,virg4 #ag ,heralds' 8,visitations of ,salop40 #ah ,it is remarkable that a superior seigniory or lordship in this estate was retained by the ,burnell family till so late a period as the close of the reign of ,richard ,,iii41 while the ,benthalls1 the subtenants1 were lords of the manor1 as appears by their descriptions in deeds and on the court-rolls4 ,so early as in the reign of ,edward ,,iii41 lords of manors began to neglect the military services1 on condition of which they held their lands under the tenant in capite 7in most instances a powerful baron71 who1 on his part1 owed and neglected services to the king1 the supreme owner of the lands4 ,the rights of the superior or intermediate lords becoming disused1 the lords of manors gradually acquired the tenure which1 in the present day1 supposes only a superior right in the sovereign2 yet it was not till ,henry ,,vii4 had grasped the sceptre that the feudal system of military service was totally suppressed4 ,in effecting national improvement1 that sagacious monarch acted on the just conviction that his own paid army was better to be relied on than the retainers of his nobles3 he wisely conceived that1 having already dethroned their sovereign1 they might be little scrupulous of removing his successor1 whose personal pretensions to the throne1 though strengthened by his marriage1 were by no means universally admitted4 #ai ,buried in the family vault1 near the altar of ,benthall ,chapel4 #bj ,this gentleman and his wife1 ,ann1 daughter of ,piers ,cariswall1 ,esq4 of ,lilleshall1 were interred in ,st4 ,clement's ,chapel1 in the south aisle of the parish church of ,much ,wenlock4 ,there is a small estate in the parish belonging to their descendants1 the ,benthalls of ,buckfast1 in ,devonshire4 #ba ,rot4 ,hund4 #bb ,at that time the head of the family of ,cassey of ,wightfield1 ,cassey ,compton1 and ,kilcot1 in the county of ,gloucester4 ,these manors descended to ,john ,cassey1 ,chief ,baron of the ,exchequer in the reign of ,henry ,,iv41 and from him to ,thomas1 the subject of this note1 who died while on a visit to his son-in-law at ,benthall1 ,a4,d4 #afcd1 and was buried in ,wenlock ,church4 #bc ,hulbert's 8,history of ,shropshire40 #bd ,this tower was erected by one of the family of the ,phelips4 ,the ascent to it is so gradual1 that he is said1 upon one occasion1 to have visited the summit in his coach and four4 ,the road winds round the hill4 #be ,the family suffered considerably1 in consequence of their devotion to the royal cause during the unhappy reign of ,charles the ,first2 and1 afterwards1 their loyalty being unchilled by their losses1 ,colonel ,richard ,phelips united with ,colonel ,wyndham in secreting1 and subsequently conveying out of the kingdom1 the ,second ,charles4 #bf 8,skimmitting1 or1 as it is called in the north of ,england1 stang-riding1 is still kept up in many parts of the kingdom1 for the purpose of exposing to shame and ridicule1 the man who has been guilty of cruelty or infidelity towards his wife40 ,in the basso-relievo at ,montacute1 the wife1 accompanied by a crowd of villagers1 is represented bestowing a few sound blows with her shoe upon her faithless partner1 and 8the artist has with happy effect introduced a church in the back-ground1 to intimate that certain vows and promises which had been there solemnly pledged ought to have been kept in remembrance40 #bg 8,it would appear from the introduction of the elegant screens or door-cases in the principal living rooms1 that the cold draughts of air1 caused by the long passages1 the extent of the rooms1 and the great size of the windows1 must have been felt even in the time of ,elizabeth2 these screens could have been made only for warmth and comfort4 ,they are beautifully painted1 and their effect is very quaint and pleasing40--,c4 ,j4 ,,richardson4 #bh ,on a mural monument in the chancel of ,caverswall ,church1 adjoining that of his father1 which we have engraved1 is the following singular inscription to his memory3-- 8,m4,s4 8,george ,cradock1 ,esq41 7for his great prvdence in y common lawes well worthy to be beav-,clarke of y assizes for this ,circvit71 did take to wife y most amiable1 most loving ,dorothy1 y davghter of ,john ,savnders1 ,doctor of ,physicke1 by whom he had a ,pair-royall of incomparable davghters1 to wit1 ,dorothy1 ,elizabeth1 and ,mary4 8,it is easie to gvess that he lived in a splendid degree1 if ,i shall bvt recovnt vnto you that ,s4 ,thomas ,slingsby1 ,baronet1 ,dorothy y ,right ,hon ,robt4 ,lord ,cholmondely ,maried ,elizabeth ,coheir4 ,s4 ,john ,bridgeman1 ,baronet1 ,mary 8,but6 but6 to our grief1 ,george ,cradock is assavlted by death in y meridjan of his age1 not far off from his ,castle of ,caverswal 7lately bvilt1 even to beavty1 by ,mathew ,cradock1 ,esq41 his father1 who lies inter'd near this place74 8,and dying of y small pox y #afth of ,april1 #afdc1 he tooke himselfe to y private masion of this tombe1 erected for him at y cost of ,dorothy1 his obseqviovs wife1 where he now rests 7vnder the protection of an ,essoine7 vntil he shall be svmmon'd to appeare at y last great and general ,assizes40 ,the ,sir ,thomas ,slingsby1 of ,scriven1 ,bart41 who married ,dorothy1 the eldest of this 8pair-royal10 was beheaded by ,oliver ,cromwell4 #bi ,william ,chetwynd1 who was ,gentleman ,usher of the ,chamber to ,henry the ,seventh1 in the ninth year of that king's reign was barbarously and treacherously assassinated on ,tixal ,heath1 near ,ingestre1 by ,sir ,humphrey ,stanley1 of ,pipe1 from motives of jealousy1 having inveigled him from his house by a counterfeit letter4 ,pennant says3--8,it does not appear that justice overtook the assassin1 although his widow perseveringly evoked it40 #cj ,the fertility and other natural advantages of 8the vale10 and1 we may believe1 its picturesque beauties also1 in remote times1 determined the ancient nobility of ,staffordshire to make it their chosen seat4 ,this1 and a lower portion of the river1 are adorned with that graceful bird the swan4 ,ingestre1 and the neighbouring royalties1 have had 8games of swans0 immemorially4 ,amongst the distinguishing marks on the beaks of the birds used in #aghe in the several royalties adjoining the ,trent1 enumerated by ,dr4 ,s4 ,shaw1 we find that of 8,earl ,talbot1 ,ingestre2 two notches on the right side40 #ca ,walter ,chetwynd1 ,esq41 of ,ingestre1 the celebrated antiquary1 was the son of ,walter ,chetwynd1 ,esq41 and married ,ann1 daughter of ,sir ,edward ,bagot1 ,bart41 ,august1 #afeh4 ,he introduced the learned ,dr4 ,plot1 from ,oxford1 into ,staffordshire1 to write its ,natural ,history4 ,dr4 ,plot exhibits in his work 7#afhf7 a ,plan of ,ingestre ,hall1 and gives an account of the rebuilding of ,ingestre church by his patron4 ,the first person who undertook to write upon the history and antiquities of ,staffordshire was ,sampson ,erdeswick1 ,esq41 of ,sandon1 near ,ingestre1 venerand antiquitatis cultor maximus1 as ,camden describes him2 i4 e4 an eminent encourager of venerable antiquity4 ,he died in #afjc1 and was buried under a handsome monument1 having his effigy1 8cut to life10 erected by himself in his lifetime1 in ,sandon church4 ,his ,,ms4 papers fell into the hands of ,walter ,chetwynd4 ,this latter gentleman obtained in addition the collections of ,mr4 ,ferrers1 of ,baddesley1 and of ,william ,burton1 the ,leicestershire historian1 and brother of the ,anatomist of ,melancholy4 ,to these he added very large collections of his own4 ,all these ,,mss41 upon the repairing of ,ingestre ,hall1 were put in a box1 for safety1 by the ,rev4 ,james ,milnes1 rector1 and were unfortunately lost4 ,they were1 however1 subsequently found at ,rudge2 but continued in obscurity1 till rediscovered at ,ingestre1 when they were placed in the hands of ,dr4 ,stebbing ,shaw1 the learned and indefatigable historian of the county1 whose premature decease unhappily interrupted his elaborate work4 ,there is a good portrait of ,walter ,chetwynd1 ,esq41 the antiquary1 by ,lely1 at ,ingestre ,hall4 #cb ,one member of the ,talbot family1 ,charles ,talbot 7son of the ,lord ,chancellor71 who died in #agcc1 made the tour of ,europe with ,thomson1 the author of the 8,seasons10 to whom ,lord ,talbot was a liberal patron and kind benefactor4--,his poem on 8,liberty10 which was conceived during their travels1 opens with an affectionate tribute of sorrow to the memory of his friend4 8,o my lamented ,talbot6 while with thee1 ,the ,muse gay roved the glad ,hesperian round1 ,and drew th' inspiring breath of ancient arts2 ,ah6 little thought she1 her returning verse ,should sing our darling subject to thy shade6 ,and does the mystic veil from mortal beam ,involve those eyes1 where every virtue smiled1 ,and all the father's candid spirit shone8 ,the light of reason1 pure without a cloud2 ,full of the generous heart1 the mild regard2 ,honour disdaining blemish1 cordial faith1 ,and limpid truth that looks the very soul40 ,thomson also composed a poem 8,to the memory of ,lord ,talbot10 which is equally creditable to the ,chancellor and the ,poet1 and reflects great honour on ,lord ,talbot's family1 to whom it is addressed4 #cc ,the village of ,west ,bromwich is remarkable as the birthplace of ,walter ,parsons1 porter to ,king ,james ,i41 who appears to have been equally distinguished for extraordinary strength and equanimity of temper4 ,his stature was but little above the common size2 yet such was the prodigious power of his arm1 that he could easily 8take up two of the tallest yeomen of the guard and carry them where he pleased1 in spite of their attempts to free themselves from his iron grasp40 #cd ,over the entrance of the ,porch leading to the ,great ,hall from the ,court ,yard1 is a shield cut in stone1 with these seven quarterings3-- #a4 ,tollemache1 ,argent1 a ,frett ,sable4 #b4 ,joyce ,argent on a ,chevron ,gules1 #c escallops1 ,or4 #c4 ,joyce ,or1 a ,lion rampant1 ,azure armed ,gules4 #d4 ---- ,gules1 a ,fesse between #c buckles1 ,or4 #e4 ,visdeliea ,argent1 #c ,wolves' heads1 couped ,gules4 #f4 ,curzon ,ermine a bend checky1 ,argent and ,sable4 #g4 ,peche ,argent1 a ,fesse between #b ,chevrons ,gules4 #ce ,during the lifetime of this ,earl1 old ,english hospitality was kept up in a most primitive style1 whenever he was residing at the ,hall4 ,the tenants and tradesmen employed by his ,lordship were allowed to visit the ,hall whenever they pleased1 and many yet living remember with grateful pleasure the entertainment afforded them there4 #cf ,the exception should1 however1 be made in favour of ,general ,thomas ,tollemache4 ,in the ,church1 there is a sarcophagus of white marble1 in which stands1 upon a pedestal1 a bust1 and behind it an obelisk of reddish marble1 surrounded by military trophies4 ,on the face of the sarcophagus is this inscription3--8,thomas ,tollemache1 ,lieutenant-,general 7descended of a family more ancient than the ,norman ,conquest17 second son of ,sir ,lionel ,tollemache1 ,bart41 by his wife1 ,elizabeth ,murray1 ,countess of ,dysart in her own right4 ,his natural abilities and first education were improved by his travels in foreign nations1 where he spent several years in the younger part of his life1 in the observation of their genius1 customs1 politics1 and interest2 and in the service of his country1 abroad in the field1 in which he distinguished himself to such advantage by his bravery and conduct1 that he soon rose to considerable posts in the ,army4 ,upon the accession of ,king ,william ,,iii4 to the ,throne1 he was made ,colonel of the ,coldstream ,regiment of ,foot ,guards1 and soon after advanced to the rank of ,lieutenant-,general4 ,in #afia1 he exerted himself with uncommon bravery in the passage over the river ,shannon1 and the taking of ,athlone1 in ,ireland1 and in the battle of ,aghrim4 ,in #afic1 he attended the ,king to ,flanders2 and at the battle of ,landen1 against the ,french1 when ,his ,majesty himself was obliged to retire1 he brought off the ,english ,foot with great prudence and success4 ,in #afid1 he was ordered by the ,king to attempt the destroying of the harbour of ,brest in ,france2 but on his landing at the head of six hundred men1 he was so much exposed to the enemy's fire1 that most of his men were killed1 and himself shot through the thigh1 of which wound he died a few days after4 ,thus fell this brave man1 extremely lamented1 and not without suspicion of being made a sacrifice1 in this desperate attempt1 through envy of some of his pretended friends2 and thus failed a design1 which1 if it had been undertaken at any time before the ,french were so well prepared to receive it1 might have been attended with success1 and followed with very important effects40 #cg ,these rhymes are curious and interesting1 and possess sufficient merit to justify our devoting to them the space necessary4 ,i4 ,baptized ,lyonel ,tollemache1 my name1 ,since ,norman's conquest of unsoyled fame1 ,shews my descent from ancestors of worth2 ,and that my life might not belye my birth1 ,their virtues' track1 with heedful steps ,i trod3 ,rightful to men1 religious towards ,god4 ,train'd in the law1 ,i gain'd the bar and bench1 ,not bent to kindle strife1 but rather quench2 ,gentle to clients1 in my counsels just2 ,with ,norfolk's great ,duke1 in no little trust2 ,sir ,joyce his heir was my fair faithful wife1 ,bentley my seat1 and seventy years my life4 ,,ii4 ,heir of my ,father's name1 surname1 and seat1 ,lands1 goods1 and goodness towards small and great2 ,by ,heaven's dear blessing on my best endeavour1 ,in his fair footsteps did ,i well persevere2 ,amongst the best1 above the most admir'd1 ,for all the parts my race and place requir'd4 ,high sheriff of ,suffolk once1 of ,norfolk twice1 ,for both approv'd1 right1 gentle1 just and wise2 ,frank house1 frank heart1 free of my purse and port ,both lov'd1 and loving towards every sort2 ,lord ,wentworth's daughter was my lovely ,pheer1 ,and fourscore1 six less1 lived ,i pilgrim here4 ,,iii4 ,my stile and state 7least any question should7 ,my ,sire and ,grandsire have already told2 ,my fame and fortune not unlike to theirs1 ,my life as fair as human frailty bears2 ,my zeal to ,god1 my love to ev'ry good1 ,my ,saviour knows1 his saints have understood4 ,my many virtues moral and divine1 ,my liberal hand1 my loving heart to mine1 ,my piety1 my pity1 pains and care1 ,my neighbours1 tenants1 servants1 yet declare4 ,my gentle bride ,sir ,ambrose ,jermyn bred2 ,my years lack five of half my grandsire's thread4 ,,iv4 ,here1 with his father1 sleeps ,sir ,lyonel1 ,knight1 ,baronet1 all honours worthy well2 ,so well the acts of truth1 his life exprest ,his elders' virtues1 and excell'd their best2 ,his prudent bearing in his public place1 ,suffolk's high sheriff twice1 in sixteen years space4 ,his zeal to ,god1 and towards ill1 severity2 ,his temperance1 his justice1 his sincerity2 ,his native mildness towards great and small1 ,his faith1 his love to friends1 wife1 children all1 ,in life and death2 made him belov'd and dear1 ,to ,god and man1 happy in ,heaven and here4 ,happy in soul and body1 goods and name2 ,happy in wedlock with a noble dame1 ,lord ,crumwell's daughter2 happy in his heir1 ,whose spring of virtues sprouts so young and fair3 ,whose dear affection1 to his founders debtor2 ,built them this tomb1 but in his heart a better4 #ch ,hengrave is called in ,domesday ,book 8,hemegretha40 ,in several ancient deeds it is variously spelt ,hemegreth1 ,hemegrede1 ,hemegrave1 and ,hengrave4 #ci ,this information we condense1 chiefly from a costly volume in quarto1 published by the late ,john ,gage1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a41 entitled 8,the ,history and ,antiquities of ,hengrave40 #dj ,his portrait1 by ,holbein1 is among the family portraits at ,hengrave4 ,it is that of a fine portly citizen1 with a stern1 but intellectual1 countenance4 ,he was ,sheriff of ,london in #aecc having been previously knighted4 ,his mercantile transactions were principally carried on 8at the cloth fairs or staples holden at ,antwerp1 ,middleburg1 and other places in ,flanders1 by the ,merchant ,adventurers1 to which company he belonged40 ,his wealth must have been enormous1 for he purchased estates in the counties of ,suffolk1 ,devon1 ,dorset1 ,somerset1 and ,nottingham4 #da ,it is said that ,sir ,george ,trenchard1 ,sir ,john ,gage1 and ,sir ,william ,hervey1 each solicited at the same time the hand of the wealthy heiress2 and that1 to keep peace between the rivals1 she threatened the first aggressor with her perpetual displeasure2 8humorously telling them that1 if they would wait1 she would have them all in their turns--a promise which the lady actually performed40 ,her first husband was ,sir ,george ,trenchard1 her second ,sir ,john ,gage1 and her third ,sir ,william ,hervey4 ,she left issue only by her second husband4 #db ,several documents relative to 8the raising of ,hengrave0 are still preserved4 ,among others1 is the contract with ,john ,eastowe1 the mason1 to 8macke a house at ,hengrave of all manor of mason's worck10 c4 c4 8,the said ,john must have for ye sayd worck1 and finishing thereof1 iic4 li4 7#bjj71 to be paid1 x li4 when he begins the foundacyon thereof1 and afterwards always as xx li4 worth of worke is wrought by estymacion40 ,the plasterer's contract is for #aaf 8of lawful money of ,ingland40 ,among other items are these--8,for a lode of tymber1 vi s420 8,the glasyar1 for making of all the glass wyndowes of the manour place1 with the solar1 and for xiii skuttchens with armes1 iiii li40 7four pounds47 #dc ,burnet gives a character of the first ,earl of ,dysart by no means flattering4 8,he was well turned for a ,court2 very insinuating1 but very false2 and of so revengeful a temper that rather than any of the counsels given by his enemies should succeed1 he would have revealed them1 and betrayed both the ,king and them4 ,he had one particular quality1 that when he was drunk1 which was very often1 he was upon a most exact reserve1 though he was pretty open at all other times40 #dd ,the ,duchess of ,lauderdale was one of the 8busiest0 women of the busy age in which she lived4 ,burnet insinuates1 that during the life-time of her first husband 8she had been in a correspondence with ,lord ,lauderdale that had given occasion for censure40 ,she succeeded in persuading him that he was indebted for his escape after 8,worcester fight0 to 8her intrigues with ,cromwell40 8,she was a woman10 continues the ,historian1 8of great beauty1 but of far greater parts4 ,she had a wonderful quickness of apprehension1 and an amazing vivacity in conversation4 ,she had studied not only divinity and history1 but mathematics and philosophy4 ,she was violent in every thing she set about2 a violent friend1 but a much more violent enemy4 ,she had a restless ambition1 lived at a vast expense1 and was ravenously covetous2 and would have stuck at nothing by which she might compass her ends40 ,upon the accession of her husband to political power1 after the ,restoration1 8all applications were made to her2 she took upon her to determine everything2 she sold all places2 and was wanting in no methods that could bring her money1 which she lavished out in a most profuse vanity40 #de ,lysons1 writing more than half a century ago1 describes the furnishing of the ,mansion in terms which suit exactly to describe its present state4 8,it is10 he says1 8a curious specimen of a mansion of the age of ,charles the ,second4 ,the ceilings are painted by ,verrio1 and the rooms are ornamented with that massy magnificence of decoration then in fashion4 ,the furniture is very rich2 even the bellows and brushes1 in some of the apartments1 are of solid silver1 or of silver filigree4 ,in the closet adjoining the bed-chamber1 which was the ,duchess of ,lauderdale's1 still remains the great chair in which she used to sit and read2 it has a small desk fixed to it1 and her cane hangs by the side4 ,the furniture of the whole room is such that one might almost fancy her ,grace to be still an inhabitant of the house40 #df ,the ministry1 popularly known as the ,cabal1 came into power at the latter end of the year #affg1 when ,clarendon was turned out of office1 and impeached by ,parliament4 ,that minister had raised a host of enemies at ,court1 by preserving a state and decorum foreign to their reigning habits4 ,evelyn says1 8,he kept up the form and substance of things in the nation with more solemnity than some would have had4 ,the ,parliament had accused him1 and he had enemies at ,court--especially the buffoons and ladies of pleasure--because he thwarted them1 and stood in their way40 ,there were1 however1 grave charges brought against him as ,chancellor1 and he was obliged to fly the kingdom1 dying an exile in ,france about seven years afterwards4 ,the ministry that succeeded him consisted of five noblemen1 the initials of whose names formed the word ,cabal1 to which their actions in many instances too well answered4 ,these noblemen were ,sir ,thomas ,clifford1 first commissioner of the ,treasury1 afterwards ,lord ,clifford and high treasurer2 the ,earl of ,arlington1 secretary of state2 the ,duke of ,buckingham2 ,lord ,ashley1 chancellor of the ,exchequer1 afterwards ,earl of ,shaftesbury and lord chancellor2 and the ,duke of ,lauderdale4 ,during the ascendancy of these ministers1 ,charles grew more reckless than ever4 ,as none of them possessed the power ,clarendon had of restraining him1 he became much more despotic1 treated ,parliament more contemptuously1 and allowed himself to become the pensioner of the ,french king4 ,the passing of the ,test ,act in #afgc first disunited 8the ,cabal10 on which occasion ,clifford1 the ,popish lord treasurer1 resigned his staff4 ,soon after the ,prorogation of ,parliament1 on the fourth of ,november in the same year1 the ,king took the great ,seal from ,shaftesbury1 and gave it to ,sir ,heneage ,finch1 as ,lord ,keeper4 ,the other members of the ,cabal ministry1 ,arlington1 ,buckingham1 and ,lauderdale1 were in seeming odium at court2 and ,clifford was unexpectedly succeeded by ,sir ,thomas ,osborn1 who was created ,lord ,treasurer and ,earl of ,danby2 he became in effect prime minister1 and the ,danby administration was in many respects more iniquitous than that of the ,cabal4 #dg 8,manuscripts and other rare documents illustrative of some of the more minute particulars of ,history1 ,biography1 and ,manners1 from the reign of ,henry ,,viii41 to that of ,james ,i41 preserved in the muniment room of ,james ,more ,molyneux1 ,esq41 at ,loseley ,house1 in ,surrey4 ,edited by ,alfred ,john ,kempe1 ,f4,s4,a41 #ahcf40 ,this curious and very interesting volume contains many singular documents1 8connected with passages in history and biography1 with the entertainment of the ,court1 with the internal regulations of the magistracy1 and in some instances with the minor relations of domestic life0--affording very considerable help to arrive at correct ideas and just estimates of the state of society and political government in the #afth and early part of the #agth centuries4 ,the editor intimates that the manuscripts were discovered in the muniment room at ,loseley1 8of which the key had been lost1 and its existence disregarded during an interval of #bjj years40 ,one of its earliest documents is a summons to ,christopher ,more1 to come to ,london to welcome ,anne of ,cleves1 with six servants in his company1 to ride amongst other gentlemen in 8cotes of black velvet1 with cheines of gold about their neckes1 and with gownes of velvet or some other good silke for their chainge40 #dh 8,in #aeaa1 a dispute arose between the college on the one part1 and the mayor1 burgesses1 and parishioners on the other1 as to the liability of their respective bodies to repair the transepts and tower1 with the bell and other appurtenances belonging to the latter4 ,by consent of the parties1 the point at issue was referred to the arbitration of ,thomas1 ,earl of ,arundel1 and ,robert ,sherburne1 ,bishop of ,chichester2 and an award was soon after published1 by which the burthen was equally divided between the college and the town4 ,to the former1 the duty of repairing the south transept1 commonly called #8the chancel of the parish1' was assigned2 to the latter1 the obligation of attending in the same manner to the north transept2 while the expense of upholding the tower1 and the emoluments to be derived from the use of its bells1 were thenceforth to be shared equally by both40 #di ,at the suppression1 it was endowed with a yearly revenue of #bfcl4 #ads4 #i;d4 #ej ,by this ,thomas ,fitz-,alan and his wife ,beatrix was founded a hospital called 8,maison ,dieu10 for the maintenance of as many poor as the revenues with which it was endowed1 would support4 ,at the ,dissolution1 these were valued at #dbl4 #cs4 #h;d4 per annum4 #ea ,in one of the chapel windows is the figure of a swallow on the wing1 which is considered to intimate the original of the name of the castle2 8for history and geography10 says ,mr4 ,tierney1 8the realms of fancy and romance1 have all been explored in order to discover its etymon40 ,one author has amused himself with a rebus founded on the resemblance between the words ,hirondelle and ,arundel2 and 8it is not improbable10 writes ,dr4 ,beattie1 8that the migratory bird1 here introduced1 may have been selected as an appropriate emblem for the chapel window4 ,the conjecture is1 at least1 as plausible as another that has been advanced2 namely1 that ,arundel is derived from ,hirondelle--the name of ,bevis's ,horse40 #eb ,this ,countess of ,derby was the daughter of ,sir ,william ,morley1 ,k4,b41 and her mother was a daughter of ,sir ,john ,denham1 the ,poet4 ,on the north side of the ,chancel is a marble ,monument to her memory4 ,she died in #ageb1 at the age of #he4 ,she was distinguished by charitable deeds and on her tomb is represented sitting under an oak1 relieving poor travellers1 and pointing to a building she had founded in the ,parish--a ,hospital endowed in #agda1 as the inscription informs us1 8the ,alms-houses for the habitation and support of poor aged and infirm women1--the ,school for the habitation and maintenance of a school-master1 and the education of poor boys and girls--the women and children to be chosen out of the parishes of ,boxgrove1 ,east ,lavant1 and ,tangmere40 #ec 8,this ,adeliza10 writes ,camden1 8was daughter to ,godfrey ,barbatus1 of ,lovaine1 who had for her dowrie ,arundell ,castle and all the forfeited lands of ,robert de ,belismo1 the ,earle1 when the ,king 7,henry the ,first7 took her for his second wife4 8,in her commendation1 a certaine ,englishman in that unlearned age wrote some unlearned verses10 of which these lines are the commencement3-- 8,when ,muses nine thy beauties rare 7faire ,adeliza ,queene ,of ,england7 readie are to tell1 they starke astonied beene2 ,what booteth thee so beautifull1 gold-croune or pretious stone1 ,dimme is the diadem to thee1 the gemme hath beautie none40 ,after the ,king's death she married ,william de ,albini2 8who1 taking part with ,maude the ,empresse against ,king ,stephen1 and defending his castle 7of ,arundel7 against him1 was1 in recompense of his good service1 by the saide ,maude1 the ,empresse and ,ladie of ,englishmen 7for this title she used71 created ,earle of ,arundel2 and her son1 ,king ,henry1 gave the whole ,rape of ,arundel to that ,william1 to hold of him by the service of fourscore and foure knights' fees and one halfe40 ,during her contest with ,stephen1 ,maud was lodged in the ,castle of ,arundel1 which the ,king besieged4 ,the ,earl1 however--or1 it is said1 his ,countess--by diplomacy1 contrived to facilitate the escape of the ,empress to ,bristol1 from which she took shipping1 and returned to the ,continent4 8,a small ,chamber1 over the inner gate of ,arundel ,castle1 enjoys the traditionary fame of having been her sleeping-room1 during her sojourn there4 ,it is a low square apartment1 such as the ,castellan might have occupied during a siege40 ,the ,bedstead on which the ,empress is reported to have slept is still preserved there4 8,its massive wallnut posts are elaborately carved1 but so worm-eaten that1 unless tenderly scrutinized1 the wood would be apt to fall into powder in the hands of the visitor40 ,we have quoted this brief account from ,dr4 ,beattie's ,history of ,arundel4 ,from the engraving that accompanies it1 there can be little doubt that this relic is no older than the reign of ,henry the #hth1 if so old4 #ed ,hutton1 in his 8,history of ,birmingham10 states that ,sir ,lister ,holt1 taking advantage of his brother's necessities1 induced him to cut off the entail1 in order that the estate might pass away from his family4 ,thus1 he adds1 8an ancient race1 which sprung from the anvil1 and sported upon an estate of #ab1jjjl4 a-year1 is now sunk into its pristine obscurity2 for its head1 ,thomas ,holt 7perhaps ,sir ,thomas71 at this day 7#ahab7 thumps at the anvil for bread1 in the fabrication of spades--as amiable a man as any of his race2 and the only baronet who ever shaped a shovel may take a melancholy ramble for many miles upon the lands of his ancestors1 but cannot call a single foot of it his own40 #ee ,for the several drawings which accompany and illustrate this account of ,aston ,hall and the church1 we are indebted to ,mr4 ,allen ,edward ,everitt1 an excellent artist of ,birmingham4 #ef ,richard de ,beauchamp was born on the #bhth of ,january4 #acha1 and succeeded his father in the ,earldom of ,warwick in #adja4 ,at the coronation of ,henry ,,iv41 he was created a ,knight of the ,bath1 being then only #ai years of age4 8,when scarce more than a youth10 he suppressed the rebellion in ,wales1 under ,owen ,glendower1 whose standard he took in battle4 ,during the whole of the reign of the fourth ,henry1 he was one of the most prominent1 honourable1 and useful 8pillars of the state20 and1 at the coronation of ,henry the #eth1 he was constituted ,lord ,high ,steward2 in #adae1 he was declared ,captain of ,calais1 and ,governor of the ,marches of ,picardy3 subsequently1 he became tutor to the young ,prince ,henry1 and on the death of the ,duke of ,bedford--#ad ,hen4 ,,vi4--he was appointed ,regent of ,france1 and ,lieutenant-,general of the ,king's forces in that realm and the ,duchy of ,normandy4 ,he died in the ,castle of ,rouen1 ,april #cj1 #adci--ag ,henry ,,vi4 ,his body was conveyed to ,england1 and deposited in the ,church of ,st4 ,mary1 8in a fair chest made of stone40 until the ,chapel was prepared for its reception4 #eg ,thomas de ,beauchamp died of the pestilence at ,calais1 on the #acth of ,november1 #acgj1 at the age of #fc4 ,he had retired from public life1 but hearing that the ,english army1 under the ,duke of ,lancaster1 lay in camp1 perishing from famine and disease1 and refused to fight the ,french1 by whom they were surrounded1 he instantly embarked for ,france1 where his 8bare appearance so alarmed the enemy1 that they commenced an instant retreat40 ,recumbent figures of the ,earl and his ,countess--finely sculptured--are laid upon the monument which occupies the centre of the choir4 ,a fine brass of his second son1 ,thomas1 and ,margaret1 his wife1 was preserved from the fire of #afid1 and is now placed against the east wall of the transept1 and near the entrance to the ,chapel4 ,it is a beautiful specimen of the costume of the period1 and has been engraved in ,waller's recent publication4 #eh ,dugdale has preserved a curious and interesting document in connexion with the ,chapel1 being the 8,covenants of ,agreement between the ,executors of ,richard ,beauchamp1 ,earl of ,warwick1 viz4 ,thomas ,huggeford1 ,nich4 ,rodye1 and ,wm4 ,berkswell1 and the severall ,artists that were employed in the most exquisite parts of its fabrick and ornaments--as also of the costly ,tombe before specified1 bearing date xiii ,junii1 #cb ,h4 #f40 ,these are the covenants of ,john ,essex1 ,marbler2 ,will4 ,austen1 ,founder2 ,thomas ,stevyns1 ,coppersmith2 ,bartholomew ,lambespring1 ,dutchman and ,goldsmith4 ,john ,prudde1 of ,westminster1 ,glasier1 further covenanted to glase all the windows in the new ,chappell in ,warwick1 with ,glasse beyond the ,seas1 and with no ,glasse of ,england2 and that in the finest wise1 with the best1 cleanest1 and strongest glasse of beyond the ,sea that may be had in ,england1 and of the finest colours of blew1 yellow1 red1 purpure1 sanguine1 and violet1 and of all other colours that shall be most necessary1 and best to make rich and embellish the matters1 ,images1 and stories that shall be delivered and appointed by the said ,executors by patterns in paper1 afterwards to be newly traced and pictured by another ,painter in rich colour at the charges of the said ,glasier4 ,all which proportions the said ,john ,prudde must make perfectly to fine1 glase1 eneylin it1 and finely and strongly set it in lead and souder1 as well as any ,glasse is in ,england4 ,of white ,glasse1 ,green ,glasse1 black ,glase1 he shall put in as little as shall be needfull for the shewing and setting forth of the matters1 ,images1 and storyes4 ,and the said ,glasier shall take charge of the same ,glasse1 wrought and to be brought1 to ,warwick1 and set up there1 in the windows of the said ,chapell2 the ,executors paying to the said ,glasier for every foot of ,glasse ii s4 and so for the whole xci li4 i s4 x d4 #ei ,while standing among the graves of generations of the family1 and noting down the words in which were recorded their claims to live in memory1 we heard suddenly from a young woman who guided us to the church--and who conveyed the sad intelligence with tearful eyes--that on the very morning of our visit another of the ,lucys had been summoned to take his place among the dead4 ,george ,lucy1 ,esq41 the ,lord of ,charlecote1 died on the #ast of ,july1 #ahde--somewhat suddenly2 leaving1 however1 a son1 not yet of age1 to inherit the honours and estates4 ,the circumstance was to us peculiarly unfortunate2 for ,mr4 ,lucy had courteously offered to supply us with all the information in his power to give1 concerning the neighbourhood and its several associations4 ,we found that his loss was felt in the cottages almost as bitterly as in the mansion2 and obtained certain assurance that he1 like his progenitors1 had been a generous landlord1 and a kind friend to the poor4 #fj ,the painting is so well described by ,washington ,irving that we quote his words3-- 8,the picture gives a lively idea of the costume and manners of the time4 ,sir ,thomas is dressed in ruff and doublet2 white shoes with roses in them1 and has a peaked yellow1 or1 as ,master ,slender would say1 a cane-coloured beard4 ,his lady is seated on the opposite side of the picture1 in wide ruff and long stomacher1 and the children have a most venerable stiffness and formality of dress4 ,hounds and spaniels are mingled in the family group2 a hawk is seated on his perch in the foreground1 and one of the children holds a bow2 all intimating the knight's skill in hunting1 hawking1 and archery1 so indispensable to an accomplished gentleman in those days40 #fa ,it is now generally admitted1 however1 that the lines beginning-- 8,a parliament member1 a justice of peace1 ,at home a poor scarecrow1 in ,london an asse10 were--neither the whole nor a part--written by ,shakspere1 the lampoon containing no indications of genius2 it is a libel on the memory of the poet to assert that they were the offspring of his mind--to say nothing of the 8poorspite0 they would have manifested1--a feeling totally away from so great a soul4 ,the story of ,shakspere's early transgression and its consequences is thus related by ,rowe3 8,an extravagance that he was guilty of first forced him out of his country1 and that way of living which he had taken up2 and though it seemed at first to be a blemish upon his good manners1 and a misfortune to him1 yet it afterwards happily proved the occasion of exerting one of the greatest geniuses that ever was known in dramatic poetry4 ,he had1 by a misfortune common enough to young fellows1 fallen into ill company1 and1 amongst them1 some that made a frequent practice of deer-stealing1 engaged him more than once in robbing a park that belonged to ,sir ,thomas ,lucy1 of ,charlecote1 near ,stratford2 for this he was prosecuted by that gentleman1 as he thought somewhat too severely2 and1 in order to revenge that ill-usage1 he made a ballad upon him40 ,that ,shakspere engaged in a frolic similar to the one related of him1 is by no means improbable2 freaks of the kind are common enough to 8young fellows20 and although it is impossible to imagine that the poet took part in this1 from any motive other than that love of risk and adventure inseparable from great minds in the bud1 we may readily believe tradition to be in the main correct4 ,that ,sir ,thomas ,lucy was not a man of even poor understanding is sufficiently proved by the epitaph to the memory of his wife4 #fb ,mr4 ,wheeler1 a most intelligent gentleman of ,stratford1 who has given much time and thought to all subjects connected with ,shakspere's history1--and by whom we had the advantage of being accompanied to the church--directed our attention to the fact1 that formerly a charnel-house adjoined the chancel1 from which there was a communicating door4 ,here the bones of the neglected or forgotten were gathered3 8,the vault ,to whose foul mouth no healthsome air comes in1 99 99 99 99 99 99 an ancient receptacle1 ,where for these many hundred years1 the bones ,of all my buried ancestors are packed40 ,and it is by no means unlikely that the frequent contemplation of a scene so humiliating1 and of objects so revolting1 may have induced the anathema1 8,cvrst be he yt moves my bones40 #fc ,it was part of the plot of the conspirators implicated in the ,gunpowder ,plot to hasten into ,warwickshire1 seize the person of the ,princess ,elizabeth1 daughter of ,james ,i41 and proclaim her ,queen2 and1 on the discovery of the plot1 they did so 8hasten into ,warwickshire0 7it is surmised to ,combe ,abbey1 where probably the princess then was72 but the vigilance of ,sir ,john ,harrington secured her from their hands4 ,in a work published in #ahcc--8,lives of ,eminent and ,illustrious ,englishmen10 edited by ,j4 ,g4 ,cunningham--we find the following interesting particulars relative to the son of this ,lord ,harrington3-- 8,john1 ,lord ,harrington1 born #aeia1 died #afac1 was eldest son of that ,lord ,harrington to whose care ,king ,james committed the education of his daughter ,elizabeth4 ,while a boy1 he spoke ,french and ,italian with fluency1 and was distinguished for the extent1 variety1 and accuracy of his learning4 ,during a tour which he made on the ,continent1 he is said to have excited the deadly enmity of the ,jesuits by his ardent attachment to the reformed doctrines1 and by his bold and eager avowal of them in public2 and it was supposed his premature death was occasioned by poison1 administered during his residence abroad2 but it is extremely probable the whole of this statement may be referred to the violent religious prejudices and antipathies of the times4 ,on succeeding to the family title and estates1 he honourably discharged all the debts which his father had contracted by his magnificent style of housekeeping4 ,he was eminently pious1 spending great part of the day in religious meditation and exercises1 and devoting the tenth part of his income to charitable purposes40 ,he died in the twenty-second year of his age1 and his estate descended to his two sisters1 ,lucy1 ,countess of ,bedford1 and ,anne1 wife of ,sir ,robert ,chichester40 #fd ,mr4 ,richardson makes the following observations on this controverted point3 8,great portion of the present building was raised by ,lord ,harrington2 of the ancient monastic pile a portion of the cloisters only remains2 these form a fine corridor1 which ranges along the lower division of the building4 ,on the west side of the house is a large addition1 said to be by ,inigo ,jones1 but which is more probably the work of ,captain ,william ,winde1 the pupil of ,sir ,balthazar ,gerbier2 at least1 it is ascribed to him by ,horace ,walpole 7see his #8,anecdotes1' vol4 iii4 p4 #afi1 ,dallaway's edition740 #fe ,the ,princess ,elizabeth was married to the ,elector ,palatine at the early age of sixteen4 ,her virtues1 talents1 and sweetness of temper1 combined with exceeding gaiety of disposition1 together with her personal charms1 made her almost an object of idolatry with the cavaliers of her age4 ,she was usually styled 8the queen of hearts20 and it was to her that ,sir ,henry ,wotton addressed the elegant lines commencing-- 8,you meaner beauties of the night1 ,that weaklie satisfie our eies1 ,more by your number than your lighte1 ,like common people of the skies1 ,what are you when the moon doth rise80 ,immediately after her marriage to the ,elector1 they proceeded to their palace at ,heidelberg1 which became the focus of the chivalry of the period4 ,this scene of their enjoyment and happiness they quitted when the ,elector became king of ,bohemia1 and thenceforward evil destiny pursued their steps4 ,the deposed sovereign died of a broken heart1 at the early age of thirty-six2 and after his death the queen remained at the ,hague1 living in privacy and poverty1 but exerting the energies of her fine mind to educate her children1 of whom she had several4 ,the management of her affairs she confided entirely to her gallant defender the ,earl of ,craven1 who had entered the military service of the states to be near her1 and to whom she is understood to have been privately married4 ,on the ,restoration she was invited by her nephew1 ,charles ,,ii41 to pass the remainder of her life in ,england1 a proposal which she gladly accepted4 ,she arrived in ,london on the #agth of ,may1 #affa1 with ,lord ,craven1 and took up her residence at his house in ,drury ,lane1 where she remained till the following ,february1 on the #hth of which month she removed to ,leicester ,house1 and died there on the #acth1 only five days after she had entered it4 ,she was buried in ,westminster ,abbey1 in a vault made for the interment of her brother ,henry1 prince of ,wales4 ,that her ambition principally induced the downfall of her husband1 there is little doubt4 ,on this subject we borrow an eloquent passage from ,mrs4 ,jamieson3 8,one of the most interesting monuments of ,heidelberg1 at least to an ,english traveller1 is the elegant triumphal arch raised by the ,palatine ,frederick ,v41 in honour of his bride--this very ,elizabeth ,stuart4 ,i well remember with what self-complacency and enthusiasm our chief walked about in a heavy rain1 examining1 dwelling upon every trace of this celebrated and unhappy woman4 ,she had been educated at his country seat2 and one of the avenues of his magnificent park yet bears her name4 ,on her fell a double portion of the miseries of her fated family4 ,she had the beauty and the wit1 the gay spirits the elegant tastes1 the kindly disposition of her grandmother1 ,mary of ,scotland2 her very virtues as a wife and woman1 not less than her pride and feminine prejudices1 ruined herself1 her husband1 and her people4 ,when ,frederick hesitated to accept the crown of ,bohemia1 his spirited wife exclaimed1 #8,let me rather eat dry bread at a king's table than feast at the board of an elector4' #ff ,the legend of ,guy of ,warwick was extremely popular in the middle ages2 and his encounter with the ,danish champion ,colbrand1 as well as his victory over the ,dun ,cow1 was the favourite subject of the wandering minstrel4 ,dugdale has given the narrative of his battle with ,colbrand1 which he seems inclined to believe to be true in the main features1 although 8the monks may have sounded out his praises hyperbolically40 ,according to him1 8in the #c year of ,king ,athelstan1 ,a4,d4 #hbf1 the ,danes having invaded ,england cruelly wasted the countrys where they marcht1 so that there was scarce a ,town or ,castle that they had not burnt or destroyed almost as far as ,winchester10 where the ,king resided1 and to whom they sent a message1 requiring him to resign his crown to their generals1 holding his power at their hands1 and paying them yearly tribute for the privilege of ruling2 or1 that the whole dispute for the kingdom be determined in a single combat1 by two champions1 for both sides4 ,the ,king having chosen the latter alternative1 enjoins a fast for three days1 and in great anguish of heart that ,guy1 the famous warrior1 is absent on a pilgrimage to the ,holy ,land1 prays ,heaven for assistance4 ,an ,angel appears to the ,king as he lies on his bed1 and directs him to arise early on the morrow1 and take two bishops with him to the ,north gate of the city1 and stay there 8till the hour of ,prime10 until the poor people and pilgrims arrive1 among whom he must choose a champion1 and the choice must fall on him who goes barefooted1 with a wreath of white roses on his head4 ,the ,king goes1 and meets the ,pilgrim1 accosts him1 and asks his championship1 which he hesitates to give1 excusing himself on the ground of his weakness with much travel1 and exhorts him to seek a fitter help4 ,to this the ,king bitterly answers1 8,i had but one valiant knight1 which was ,earl of ,warwick1 called ,guy1 and he had a courageous servant1 named ,sir ,heraud de ,ardene2 would to ,god ,i had him here1 for then should this duel be soon undertaken1 and the war finished1 and as he spake these words the tears fell from his eyes40 ,the ,pilgrim is moved1 and ultimately consents1 and after three weeks spent in prayer and preparation1 the battle begins4 ,colbrand 8came so weightily harnessed that his horse could scarce carry him1 and before him a cart loaded with ,danish axes1 great clubs with knobs of iron1 squared bars of steel1 lances1 and iron hooks1 to pull his adversary to him40 ,the giant uses a bar of steel in the combat1 which lasts the whole day--,guy in the end proving victorious1 and taking a farewell of the ,king to whom he declares himself1 goes towards ,warwick1 and thence to a hermit in its neighbourhood1 living with him till his death1 and succeeding him in his cell until his own decease4 ,the spot is still pointed out1 and bears the name of ,guy's ,cliff4 ,but this is not the only ,giant story connected with the family4 ,their well-known crest or cognisance is said to come from one ,morvidus1 an ,earl of ,warwick in the days of ,king ,arthur1 8who being a man of great valour slew a mighty giant in a single duell1 which gyant encountered him with a young tree pulled up by the root1 the boughs being snag'd from it2 in token whereof1 he and his successors1 earles of ,warwick1 in the time of the ,brittons1 bore a ragged staff of silver in a sable shield for their cognisance40 ,such were the old fables with which our ancient family histories were obscured1 or rendered romantic and wonderful to the subordinate classes4 #fg ,from the top of ,guy's ,tower1 ascended by #acc steps1 the view is most fine and most extensive4 ,far stretching in the distance are seen the tall spires of the ,churches at ,coventry2 nearer is the ruined ,castle of ,kenilworth2 still nearer1 are ,guy's ,cliff and ,blacklow ,hill1 famous in legend and story2 ,leamington appears lying at our feet2 while 8,stratford-on-the-,avon0 seems almost 8within arms-reach20 far off are the hills of ,shropshire2 on all sides are fertile plains1 of seemingly illimitable extent1 with here and there dark woods and forests2 the ,panorama is inconceivably beautiful and grand4 #fh ,the following legend is given by ,dugdale1 as extracted from a ,,ms4 penned about the time of ,edward ,i,vth3--8,hugh the son of one ,richard1 holding the lordship of ,hatton and likewise this place of ,wroxhall1 of ,henry earl of ,warwick1 was a man of great stature2 which ,hugh going to warfare in the ,holy ,land was taken prisoner1 and kept in great hardship for #g years3 at length he addressed his prayers to ,st4 ,leonard1 the patron of his church1 who appeared to him in a dream1 in the habit of a black monk1 and bade him arise and go home and found at his ,church a house of nuns of ,st4 ,benet's order4 ,he treated it as a dream1 but on its repetition joyfully made a vow to ,god and ,s4 ,leonard that he would perform his commands3 which vow was no sooner made than he was miraculously carried thence with his fetters1 and set in ,wroxall woods1 not far from his own house1 yet knew not where he was1 until a shepherd of his own accidentally found him1 and though much affrighted 7in respect of his being overgrown with hair71 after some communication discovered all to him4 ,his lady and children being apprised of the circumstance1 came forthwith to him1 but believed not that he was her husband till he shewed her a piece of a ring that had been broken between them4 ,having given thanks to ,god1 our ,lady1 and ,s4 ,leonard1 and praying for some divine revelation as to the site for his monastery1 he was specially directed by certain stones pitched into the ground in the very place where the altar was afterwards set4 ,on its completion two of his daughters were made nuns therein1 one of the nuns of ,wilton being fetched to direct them in their rule of ,s4 ,benedict40 #fi ,extract from a ,,mss4 written about #afij1 by ,dr4 ,markhouse1 a prebendary of ,carlisle1 upon the 8,deanery of ,westmorland10 and containing much curious information upon ecclesiastical matters in that county4 #gj 8,sir ,william ,stirkland in the reign of ,king ,john or ,henry ,,iii4 married ,elizabeth1 only daughter and heiress of ,ralph ,d',aincourt and his wife ,helen40 8,this piece of sculpture is one of the earliest instances of the quartering of arms1 and is a curious example of the preference given to the heiress with whom the family had become allied1 the arms of ,d',aincourt being placed first--a circumstance which often occurred at that early period of heraldic art4 ,the quartered coat was not in use before the time of ,edward ,,iii40 #ga 8,the family is a branch of the ,howards1 ,dukes of ,norfolk3 the first ,earl was only son of the fourth ,duke of ,norfolk by his second marriage1 and was a distinguished naval commander temp4 ,elizabeth4 ,in #afje this peer was employed in the search about the houses of ,parliament1 which terminated in the discovery of the ,gunpowder ,plot2 in #afac he was ,lord ,high ,treasurer of ,england4 ,his second son was the first ,earl of ,berkshire40--,,dodd',s ,peerage4 #gb 8,the reason why the name of ,fountains was given to this ,abbey is a matter of some doubt4 ,it is not an improbable conjecture that the monks might think it conducive to their honour1 and that of their house1 to give it the appellation of the place where their founder1 ,st4 ,bernard1 drew his first breath--,fountaines in ,burgundy4 ,this opinion is also corroborated by the consideration that no remarkable springs break out on this spot which could have given rise to the appellation4 ,but the learned and ingenious historian of ,craven1 ,whitaker1 has given another derivation of the word4 ,skell1 the rivulet that washes its walls1 signifies a fountain2 and he observes that the first name assigned to this house was the ,abbey of ,skeldale2 but the monks1 who always wrote in ,latin1 translated it #8,de ,fontibus2' and afterwards1 when the original name was forgotten1 it was translated #8,fountains4'0 #gc ,george ,villiers1 ,duke of ,buckingham1 died at a small inn at ,kirby-,moorside1 on the #aeth ,april1 #afhg4 ,he was buried in the churchyard1 but the precise spot is unknown4 ,the following is a literal extract from the register which records his burial3-- 8#afhg1 ,april #ag4 ,gorges vilaus ,lord dooke of bookingam40 ,he must have gone to the grave unattended except by the parish officials4 ,the ,earl of ,arran accidentally passing by the inn while he was dying1 gave1 indeed1 directions to see him 8decently interred40 ,but the memory of his grave has faded2 there is not only no stone to preserve his name1 but even tradition cannot point out the spot upon which to place it1 so that his ashes may be covered by a poor monument4 ,the reader will recall the famous lines of ,pope3-- 8,in the worst inn's worst room10 c4 ,the room is still shewn to the curious2 it is a small and poor chamber1 not the 8worst0 in the house1 although a strange contrast to the princely halls the licentious duke had so long inhabited3-- 8,no wit to flatter left of all his store1 ,no fool to laugh at1 which he valued more2 ,there1 victor of his health1 his fortune1 friends1 ,and fame1 this lord of useless thousands ends40