148 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



desperate effort to save the property of his see, and 

 refused to relinquish his house to Sir Christopher, 

 thus calling down upon his head the well-known 

 reprimand from the Queen : " Proud Prelate ! I 

 understand you are backward in complying with 

 your agreement, but I would have you know, that I 

 who made you what you are can unmake you ; and 

 if you do not forthwith fulfil your engagement by 

 God I will immediately unfrock you. Elizabeth." 



Sir Christopher Hatton's appointment to the 

 Chancellorship was very unpopular at the time, he 

 being put above many men who had a greater right 

 to the position. His marvellous tact, however, as 

 usual smoothed his way in time. It was wittily 

 saifl " that he made up for his want of law by his 

 constant desire to do what was just ! " Perhaps 

 those who were indifferent as to justice were 

 reconciled to the Lord Chancellor by his far-famed 

 dinners, and the excellent sack which flowed at 

 them. Queen Elizabeth granted Brownsea to Sir 

 Christopher Hatton in 1576, with Corfe Castle. 

 And at the same time he was made Admiral of 

 Purbeck. The people of Poole were not best 

 pleased with this gift of the Queen's, and a dispute 

 arose between them and Sir Christopher Hatton 

 with regard to the right of the Castle to the profits 

 of the ferry between the haven points. The quarrel 

 ended in a small fight, a bark, The Bountiful 

 Gift, being fired on from Brownsea for not obey- 



