Natural history -- England -- Wiltshire; Wiltshire (England) -- History
At the stairecase, the picture of Sir Robert Naunton, author of
“Fragmenta Regalia;” his name was writt on the frame. At the upper end
was the picture of King Charles I. on horseback, with his French riding
master by him on foot, under an arch; all as big as the life: which was
a copie of Sir Anthony Vandyke, from that at Whitehall. By it was the
picture of Peacock, a white race-horse, with the groom holding him, as
big as the life: and to both which Sir Anthony gave many master
touches. Over the skreen is a very long picture, by an Italian hand, of
Aurora guiding her horses, neigheing, and above them the nymphes
powring down out of phialls the morning showres. Here was the “Table”
of Cebes, a very large picture, and done by a great master, which the
genius describes to William, the first earl of this family, and lookes
on him, pointing to Avarice, as to be avoyded by a noble person; and
many other ancient pieces which I have now forgott.
The long gallery was furnished with the ministers of estate and heroes
of Queen Elizabeth’s time, and also some of the French. In one of the
pictures of Sir Philip Sydney are these verses, viz.-
“Who gives himselfe may well his picture give,
Els were it vain, since both short time doe live.”
At the upper end is the picture of King James the First sitting in his
throne, in his royall robes; a great piece, as big as the life; by him
on the right hand wall is the picture of William Herbert, first earle,
at length, as big as the life, and under it the picture of his little
dog, of a kind of chesnut colour, that starved himselfe for his
master’s death. Here is the picture of Henry Earle of Pembroke and his
Countesse; and of William Earle of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain; severall
Earles of Oxford; and also of Aubrey Earle of Oxford, now living; the
pictures of Cardinal Wolsey; Archy (King James’s jester);……, governour
to Sir Philip Sydney; Mr. Secretary Walsingham, in his gown and wrought
cap; Mary Countess of Pembrok, sister of Sir Philip Sydney; the last
Lady Abbess of Wilton (Lady Anna Gawen), a pretty, beautiful, modest
Penelope; with many others now forgotten by me and everybody else.
[The last mentioned name must be erroneous. The Abbess of Wilton at the
time of the dissolution of monasteries was Cecily Bodenham, who had
previously been Prioress of St. Mary’s, Kington St. Michael.—J. B.]
I was heretofore a good nomenclator of these pictures, which was
delivered to me from a child eight yeares old, by old persons relating
to this noble family. It is a great and a generall fault that in all
galleries of pictures the names are not writt underneath, or at least
their coates of armes. Here was also the picture of Thomas Lyte, of
Lytes Cary; and a stately picture of King Henry the eighth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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