308 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



as having taken no small part in State affairs. And, 

 marvellous to relate, he kept the King's favour 

 even more wonderful, his affection for over thirty- 

 two years, never once incurring his displeasure ; an 

 extraordinary achievement, considering Henry's 

 fickle temperament. Doubtless Weston was most 

 useful to the King in secret affairs, and also to the 

 ambitious Wolsey ; taking part in many a dark 

 tragedy. He writes to the Cardinal as his most 

 humble servant, "through whose goodness and 

 medyacion all that I have now proceeded and 

 came." 



Sir Richard was a soldier, ambassador, Privy 

 Councillor in fact, a "new man," meaning a man 

 after Henry's own heart ; not over-scrupulous, 

 grasping, and an absolute time-server, but ever 

 faithful to his Royal master and his own friends. 



Such was the man who built the beautiful House, 

 and who was supposed by many to have been 

 his own architect. " Sutton Place," says Mr. 

 Frederic Harrison in a most interesting article 

 upon the House, "is indeed one of the very earliest 

 extant examples in England of a house designed 

 and built with a purely domestic character without 

 any trace of fortification or military purpose. It is 

 singular also in that its northern and southern 

 faades are entirely the work of one hand, con- 

 taining no earlier structure and no later additions. 

 It may be said to be unique in showing Gothic 



