Henry stopped at nothing. His Yeomen of the Guard were even more magnificent than the rest. They rode immediately behind the King, and their horse-cloths, made of cloth-of-gold, cost £5 a yard. One of the prettiest sights in London to-day is that of the Guards riding through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace for a Court, or some other grand festival. The sunlight on their clothes looks almost as if their uniforms were made of gold as they glint in the rays; and I well remember as a child being puzzled as to how the golden men carrying the big drums ever managed to guide their horses with the reins attached to their feet. The wild freedom of the Park continued under Henry’s youthful son, Edward VI., who there entertained foreigners of distinction with hunts and banquets. A special banqueting house was erected for the French Ambassador, Marshal St. André, who was received with Royal distinction. Through the kindness of the Marquis of Salisbury, I am able to give the description of this building, preserved in the MSS. at Hatfield: “The Charges and the proporcyon as well of the banketing howse newlye erected in hyde parcke agaynste the commyng of marchiall Sainte Androwes wᵗʰ all thinges longynge to the same as also for the makyng of dyvers Stondynges in the said hide parcke and also in Marybone parke as it shall appere here after begynnyng the vjth Daye of Julie and endyng the xxviiith of the same in Anᵒ vᵗᵒ RRs Edward vjᵗⁱ as yt Apperith by the bookes of particulers for the same.” Hide Parke Imprimis the banketing howse in hid parke conteynyng in length lxij foote in wydeth xxj foote/ the Stayers cont one waye lx foote and thother waye xxxᵗⁱ wᵗʰ a greate towrett over the halpase. Item made there three Ranges if bryke for Rosting and Furneces for boylyng. Item All kynde of Tabulles formes Trestelles dressers Russhis Floʳˢ wᵗʰ suche lyke for the Furnyshing of the banketyng howse and bankett. Item in the said parke were made three small standynges of a foote thone waye and viij foote thother waye of every of them. Maribon Parke Item made in Marybone parke one standing conteynyng in Length xl foote and in bredth xviij foote/ The flowre is jestide and boorded and the Reste is Skaffold poles. Item in the said park three small standinges of x foote long and viij foote wyde every of them. Charges The hole charges of the sad banketing house and standynged in bothe the said parkes wᵗʰ all thinges to them belongyng Amontith to cccclˡⁱ ixˢ viiᵈ wherof Recevyd the vijth of Julie ij dayes before the procly macyon uppon preste after the Rate then cxxxiijˡⁱ vj viijᵈ, which wase sence payd at sondrye tymes for cxiiijˡⁱ xvjˢ xᵈ And so Remaynith to be Recevid. cccxxxvˡⁱ xijˢ ixᵈ. Sir THOMAS CAMERDEN to Sir WILLIAM CECIL.