THE FIRST DUKE 



tain them, lest some mean sentiments or foolish 

 notions and fables should steal into them, and 

 nothing was so strongly impressed upon them as a 

 sense of honour. Witness the Lord Arthur, who, 

 being about five years old, was very angry with the 

 judge for hanging men. The judge told him that 

 if they were not hanged they would kill and steal. 

 * No,' said the little boy, ' you should make them 

 promise upon their honour they will not do so, and 

 then they will not.' " 



Of the house at Badminton, we know that the 

 modern residence as it is to-day was built by 

 Duke Henry, on the site of an ancient house 

 formerly in the possession of the Boteler family. 

 The old house, as it came into the hands of 

 the Duke, was apparently quite inadequate to the 

 requirements of the large household maintained by 

 him. Chepstow and Raglan were in ruins, and 

 Duke Henry was not slow to perceive the advan- 

 tages of a family seat built on the lands of his new 

 possession. 



The church was rebuilt in 1685, and was included 

 within the boundary walls of Badminton House. 

 The park lands were of vast extent, and were ten 

 miles in circumference. 



As the builder of Badminton and the restorer of 

 the family fortunes, Duke Henry has a claim on the 

 gratitude of his successors. From his time to the 

 present day Badminton, round which the family life 

 has revolved, has been a centre of that sturdy Tory- 



63 



