76 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



spoils that he wonne in France " ; and the same 

 chronicler gives a description of the castle, " its 

 many fair towers" and "basse court" (the outer 

 court for stables and servants), very necessary in 

 those days of huge retinues. Sir John Cornwall 

 greatly distinguished himself at the battle of 

 Agincourt, the battle so splendidly described by 

 Shakespeare, and for ever a glorious record in 

 English history. 



In due course the lands and castle of Ampthill 

 became royal property, and Henry VIII. constituted 

 it a royal demesne and called it the " Honour of 

 Ampthill." 



James I. is supposed to have visited Ampthill in 

 1605 and 1621, but Katherine of Arragon is thought 

 by many to have been the last royal person to stay 

 within its walls : 



h Where is that Castle now, whose thick ribbed walls 



The foe's assault so oft unshaken bore? 

 Its battlements are swept away, its halls 

 Are sunk, its very ruins are no more ! 



And many a heedless foot has pressed the spot 

 Where once it stood, till yon fair Cross arose 



Telling a tale that will not be forgot, 



Of ill-starred Catherine, of her wrongs and woes. 



Yes ere their doom was sealed, on Ampthill towers 



Fortune a ray of parting glory cast ; 

 Though graced and honoured oft in happier hours, 



The noblest guest they sheltered was the last." 



