Through England on a side saddle in the time of William and MaryFiennes, Celia
History
Through England on a side saddle in the time of William and Mary
Fiennes, Celia
England -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
A great many descenters are in this Citty, the Gentlewoman that was my
acquaintance there dyed 10 dayes before I came thither so I made no
great stay there but to see about y^e town.
Thence I went to Windham a Little market town 5 miles, mostly on a
Causey y^e Country being Low and moorish, and y^e Road on y^e Causey was
in many places full of holes tho’ its secured by a barr at which
passengers pay a penny a horse in order to the mending y^e way, for all
about is not to be Rode on Unless its a very dry summer. Thence we went
mostly through Lanes where you meete y^e ordinary people knitting 4 or 5
in a Company under the hedges. To Attlborough, 5 mile more to a Little
village, still finding the Country full of spinners and Knitters: thence
to Thetford 6 miles more, w^{ch} was formerly a large place but now much
decay’d and the ruines only shews it dimentions. There is a very high
hill quite round stands up on one side of it and Can scarcely be
ascended so steep. Here I Lay, w^{ch} is still in Norfolk. Next day I
went to Euston Hall w^{ch} was y^e Lord arlingtons and by his only
daughters marriage w^{th} y^e Duke of Grafton is his sons by her. Its
two mile from thetford, it stands in a Large parke 6 miles about. Y^e
house is a Roman H of brick: 4 towers w^{th} balls on them; the windows
are Low and not sashes Else y^e roomes are of a good size and height, a
good stair case full of good pictures, a Long gallery hung w^{th}
pictures at Length, on y^e one side the Royal family from K: Henry y^e
7^{th} by y^e Scottish race, his Eldest daughter down to y^e present
King William and his queen Mary. The other side are forreign princes
from y^e Emperour of Moroccoe, y^e Northern and Southern princes and
Emperour of Germany. There is a square in y^e middle where stands a
billiard table, hung w^{th} outlandish pictures of Heroes; there is
Count Egmint and Horn &c &c, but y^e End of y^e Roome is y^e Duke and
Dutchess of Grafton’s picture at length. Thence I enter’d into dineing
and drawing roome and bed Chambers of a very good size and good fret
work on y^e Cieling: in one of the roomes was y^e Dutchess of
Cleavelands picture in a sultaness dress, the Duke of Grafton being King
Charles y^e seconds base son by her. There was also another picture of
y^e Royal family. K Charles y^e firsts 5 Children altogether. I have
often seen 3 w^{ch} was K: Charles y^e second, K: James and y^e Princess
of Orange; but here was also y^e Lady Elizabeth and y^e Duke of
Glocester a Little Infant on a pillow. In another place there is the
queen mothers picture the Lady Henrietta drawn Large. There is a fine
hall and parlour below pav’d w^{th} free stone. There are good gardens
w^{th} fountaines and some stone statutes, a Cannall by y^e side, a
Large Court at y^e Entrance w^{th} 3 Iron barr gates w^{ch} open to y^e
ffront, divided w^{th} stone pillars and balls. Y^e Court w^{th} out is
walled round and y^e wall is Carry’d a great Length round y^e back
yards.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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