The Stately Homes of EnglandJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The Stately Homes of England
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Historic buildings -- England
The GALLERY extends the whole length of the south front; it is about
60 feet long and 20 feet wide. The ceiling is of remarkable beauty,
and of the finest examples of a period that was most prolific in such
designs. The walls are panelled with oak, and are profusely carved.
The LIBRARY, of equal dimensions with King James’s Room, is enriched
over the chimney-piece with a fine mosaic portrait of the first Earl
of Salisbury—1608. The collection of books and MSS. is of extreme
interest and value. Here, among other treasures, are preserved “the
forty-two articles of Edward VI., with his autograph;” Cardinal
Wolsey’s instructions to the ambassador sent to the Pope by Henry
VIII., with Wolsey’s autograph; and a pedigree of Queen Elizabeth,
emblazoned, tracing her ancestry to Adam. The state papers in the
collection extend through the successive administrations of Lord
Burleigh and his son, the first Earl of Salisbury, and include
documents which came into Lord Burleigh’s hands through his connection
with the court. Here are no fewer than 13,000 letters, from the reign
of Henry VIII. to that of James I. Among the earlier MSS. are copies
of William of Malmesbury’s and Roger de Hoveden’s English History;
a splendid MS., with miniature of Henry VII.; another, with the
autograph of Henry VI.; a treatise on Councils, by Archbishop Cranmer;
the original depositions touching the divorce of Anne of Cleves; the
proclamation of Edward VI. on ascending the throne; the original
council-book of Queen Mary I.; historical MSS. by Lord Burleigh;
the Duke of Norfolk’s book of copies of his letters on the affairs
of Mary Queen of Scots; accounts of the Earl of Northumberland’s
conspiracies, and the actual draft, in the handwriting of Sir Robert
Cecil, of the proclamation declaring James of Scotland King of England,
as well as the papers relating to the gunpowder plot, and to the
Raleigh conspiracy, &c. Here are also many autograph letters of Queen
Elizabeth, and the famous Cecil papers, “the oak cradle of Queen
Elizabeth, the pair of silk stockings presented to her by Sir Thomas
Gresham, and the purse of James I.”
The CHAPEL is a remarkably fine and interesting room, with a
richly-painted window, and a gallery decorated with paintings of
scriptural subjects.
The Park and grounds are full of fine trees, which from many points
offer beautiful pictures, more particularly when seen in combination
with the house or garden-terraces. Among the grand old trees in the
park are the “Lion Oak,” nearly 60 feet in girth, and a thousand years
old; and “Queen Elizabeth’s Oak,” under which she is said to have been
sitting when she received the news of her accession to the throne. The
Gardens and Vineyard are remarkably beautiful and interesting. The
latter, which is entered through an avenue of yew trees forming a
picturesque wall on either side, and cut so as to give the appearance
of walls and towers, with loopholes and battlements, is immortalised by
Pepys.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account