Before coming to the history of Northumberland House as it appeared from the middle of the seventeenth century--when great changes were made in its structure--until its demolition in 1874, it is interesting to note that one of the quaintest, and, in some respects, most charming of the old English poems had its origin in the marriage of Roger Boyle, Lord Broghill, the first Earl of Orrery, to Lady Margaret Howard, daughter of the first Earl of Suffolk, the builder of Northampton House. This is the event which called forth, in 1637, Sir John Suckling's _Ballade upon a Wedding_, in which one of the prettiest conceits in the English language occurs. The verses are too long to quote _in extenso_, but some extracts may be given, as they are germane to the matter of this particular history. The wedding is supposed to be described by a rustic, writing to his friend in the country:-- "I tell thee, Dick, where I have been, Where I the rarest things have seen. * * * * * At Charing-Crosse, hard by the way Where we (thou know'st) do sell our hay, There is a house with stairs; And there did I see comming down Such folk as are not in our town, Vorty, at least, in pairs. * * * * * Her finger was so small, the ring Would not stay on which they did bring, It was too wide a peck. And to say truth, for out it must, It looked like the great collar, just, About our young colt's neck. Her feet beneath her petticoat, Like little mice stole in and out, As if they feared the light. But oh! she dances such a way, No sun upon an Easter day Is half so fine a sight. * * * * * Her cheeks so rare a white was on, No daisy makes comparison, Who sees them is undone; For streaks of red were mingled there, Such as are on a Katherine pear, The side that's next the sun. Her lips were red, and one was thin; Compared to that was next her chin, Some bee had stung it newly; But Dick, her eyes so guard her face, I durst no more upon them gaze, Than on the sun in July. Her mouth so small when she does speak, Thoud'st swear her teeth her words did break, That they might passage get; But she so handled still the matter, They came as good as ours or better, And are not spent a whit."