180 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



of great decorative value in a row of oval niches 

 above the ground-floor windows on the river 

 front, filled with lead and stone busts. 



The Murray family were the next owners of 

 Ham, becoming possessed of it in a strange fashion. 

 Thomas Murray was tutor to Henry, Prince of 

 Wales, and King James borrowed money from 

 him (being always sorely in need of it), and in 

 return made Murray Provost of Eton, he being 

 the only layman who has ever held the post. 

 Through Thomas Murray his nephew, William 

 Murray, was made "whipping boy" to Prince 

 Charles an undignified post much sought after, 

 leading, as it often did in later years, to the 

 highest honours and distinctions, as in Murray's 

 case. 



Charles I. never forgot his "whipping boy," 

 making him, soon after he became King, a Gentle- 

 man of the Bedchamber. Bishop Burnett, if he 

 is to be trusted, makes William Murray appear 

 far from a desirable character ; in fact, the pungent 

 pen of the writer of the history of his own times 

 has no good to tell of the Murray family. He 

 writes : " Murray of the bedchamber had been 

 page and whipping boy to Charles I., and had 

 great credit with him, not only in procuring private 

 favours, but in all counsels. Well tuned for Court, 

 very insinuating, but very false and very revenge- 

 ful. Generally believed that he discovered most 



