was re-annexed to the Abbey by Abbot de la Mare, who purchased it for 800 marks; and it continued attached till the period of the Dissolution. In the year 1541, Henry the Eighth granted it, together with other large estates, to Ralph Rowlat, Esq. who was afterwards knighted, and made Sheriff of the County in the first of Edward the Sixth, and again in the first of Elizabeth. By Mary, his eldest daughter and co-heiress, married to John Maynard, Esq. Gorhambury became the property of that gentleman; and he, about the year 1550, sold it to Nicholas Bacon, Esq. who was afterwards knighted, and made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal by Queen Elizabeth.

Sir Nicholas erected a new mansion, at a short distance westward from that which now forms the residence of Lord Grimston; and here he was frequently visited by the Queen, who dated many of her state papers from Gorhambury. This House appears to have formed a quadrangle; but the chief parts that are now standing, are the ruins of the Hall, which constituted the inner side of the court; and a high octagonal tower, commanding some good views over the surrounding country, though now too ruinous to be ascended. The entrance porch is a square projection of stone, rising to the top of the building, and fancifully ornamented. Under the pediment, are the Royal arms of Elizabeth; and below it, in niches on each side a square window, are statues of Roman soldiers: beneath the window is this inscription:

Hæc cum perfecit Nicholars Tecta Baconus,
Elizabeth Regni Lustra Frere Dvo;

Factus eques, magni custos erat ille sigilli.
Gloria sit soli tota tributa Deo.

The walls are about three feet thick, and composed of flints and brick: the window-frames are of Tottenhoe stone. The inside, which is now quite open, appears, from the Aubrey Manuscripts,

10

These remains form the principal objects in the annexed view; but several alterations in the smaller parts, have taken place since the drawing was executed.

to have been highly ornamented in the splendid style of the age. In the Hall, says Aubrey, "is a large storie, very well painted, of the Feast of the Gods, where Mars is caught in a net by Vulcan. On the wall over the chimney is painted an Oake, with akornes falling from it, with the words Nisi quid potius; and on the wall over the table, is painted Ceres teaching the soweing of corne, the words Monita Meliora." The tower is of brick, plastered. About thirty yards from it, in a niche in a broken wall, is a full-length statue of Henry the Eighth, in gilt armour, but greatly defaced, and otherwise mutilated. This wall formed part of a noble piazza, or porticus, which, according to the manuscripts just quoted, was built by the Lord Chancellor Bacon,* and is de⚫scribed by Pennant as having a range of pillars of the Tuscan order H 2 in

This was not the only essay in building made by Lord Bacon: he also erected a mansion " within the walls" of ancient Verulam, which, according to Aubrey," he had a great mind to have made a citie again; and he had designed it to be built with great uniformity."-VerulamHouse, continues this writer," was the most ingeniousely contrived little pile that ever I saw. No question but his Lordship was the chiefest architect; but he had for his assistant, a favorite of his, a St. Alban's man, Mr. Dobson, (father of Dobson the celebrated portraitpainter,) who was his Lordship's right hand."-

"This house did cost 9 or 10 thousand the building, and was sold about 1665 or 6 by Sir Harbottle Grimston, Bart. (now Master of the Rolls,) to two Carpenters for fower hundred poundes, of which they made 8 hundred poundes: there were good chimney-pieces; the roomes very loftye, and very well wainscotted; there were two Bathing-roomes, or stuffes, whither his Lordship retyred afternoons as he saw cause: all the tunnels of the chimnies were carried into the middle of the howse, and round about them were seats. From the leads was a lovely prospect to the ponds, which were opposite to the east side of the house, and were on the other side of the stately walke of trees that leads to Gorhambury House, and also over that long walke of trees, whose toppes afford a most pleasant variegated verdure, resembling the works in Irish stiches. In the middle of this howse was a delicate stair-case of wood, which was curiously carved; and on the posts of every interstice, was some pretty figure, as of a grave Divine with his book and spectacles, a men

dicant

in front.* "Opposite to every arch of this portico," continues Aubrey," and as big as the arch, are drawen by an excellent band, (but the mischief of it is, in water colours,) curious pictures, all emblematicall, with mottoes under each: for example, one I remember is a ship tossed in a storm, the motto Alter eritum Typhys. Over this portico is a stately Gallerie, whose glasse windowes are all painted; and every pane with severall figures of beast, bird, or flower: perhaps his Lordship might use them as topiques for locall use. The windowes looke into the garden: the side op

posite

dicant Friar, &c. not one thing twice: on the dores of the upper storie, on the outside, which were painted dark umbre, were figures of the Gods of the Gentiles; viz. on the south dore 2d. storie, was Apollo: on another, Jupiter, with his thunderbolt, bigger than the life, and donne by an excellent hand; the leightnings were of hatchings of gold, which, when the sun shone on them, made a most glorious show.—This was his Lordship's Summer howse; for he said one should have seates for summer and winter, as well as cloaths. The Kitchen, Larders, Cellars, &c. are under ground.

"From hence to Gorhambury is about 2 little miles, the way ascending hardly so acclive as a desk: three paralell walkes leade to Gorhambury in a straight line; in the middlemost, three coaches may pass abreast; in the wing walkes, two: they consist of severall stately trees of the like growth and height, elme, chesnut, beach, horn-beam, Spanish-ash, Cervice-tree, &c. whose tops, as aforesaid, doe afford from the walke on the howse, the finest shew that I have seen. The figures of the ponds were thus; they were pitched at the bottomes with pebbles of severall colours, which where workt into severall figures, as of fishes, &c. which in his Lordship's time were plainly to be seen through the clere water, (though) now overgrown with flagges and rushes. If a poor bodie had brought his Lordship halfe a dozen pebbles of a curious colour, he would give them a shilling, so curious was he in perfecting his fish-ponds, whiche I guess doe containe four acres. In the middle of the middlemost pond in the island is a curious Banquetting House of Roman architecture, paved with black and white marble, covered with. Cornish slate, and neatly wainscotted."

* Journey from Chester to London.