"Now! Quickly! Look to the left, and see the building with the gateway and square, blackened towers and battlements. That's Lambeth Palace," she added, "which has been the residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury (or the 'Primates of England,' as they are called) for six hundred years. It's a delightful old place, with its fine library, and its several court-yards! It's very historic as well, for in one of those towers, according to some people, the Lollards or followers of the religious reformer, Wycliffe, are said to have been tortured. Queen Elizabeth's favorite, the unfortunate Earl of Essex, was imprisoned there, too. "Here on our left was the famous amusement-park, Vauxhall, which was so popular in the eighteenth century. Some day when you read Thackeray's novels you will find it mentioned. There on the right is Chelsea, where was Sir Thomas More's home. I think his grounds bordered on the river, and he used to walk down to the bank, step into his boat, and his son would row him to the city. At his house there he was often visited by Henry VIII, Holbein, and the great Dutch scholar, Erasmus. Just behind those trees is Cheyne Walk, where Thomas Carlyle's house still stands. (There's the old Chelsea Church, which is most interesting, and Chelsea Hospital for old pensioners.) There have been many famous residents of Chelsea in more recent days; among them George Eliot, the great novelist, who died there; Edward Burne-Jones, the artist; Rossetti, the poet; Swinburne, Meredith, and Whistler. There! now I'll leave you in peace to enjoy your boat-ride, and the music." They now came to a part of the river which is neither especially historic nor attractive, and the young people amused themselves for a while in talking, or listening to the rather crude music of some old musicians on the boat. It was not long, however, before the banks again became green and beautiful, and they passed odd little villages, and comfortable country-houses, whose smooth terraces slope down to the river. On the arrival of the boat at Kew, they went on shore and walked towards the celebrated Gardens. "Have Kew Gardens any story or history to them, or are they just famous because of their flowers?" inquired Betty, as they passed through the gateway, and caught glimpses of bright blossoms within. "Oh, rather!" replied Mrs. Pitt. "You'll find plenty of history about here, Betty. Let's look at the flowers first, though."