136 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



the ruins, and "The boy, Ascanius," was depicted look- 

 ing up at his father. This was a copy of the Vatican 

 picture. Over the fireplace was a picture of Tomyris, 

 Queen of the Scythians, receiving the head of the great 

 Cyrus, which she had ordered to be thrown into a vessel 

 of human blood, after she had defeated and killed him, 

 with the words, " Satia te sanguine qucm semper sitisti." 

 Two other large paintings filled the remaining compart- 

 ments, representing Mercury and Argus ; and over the 

 door was a recumbent Venus with a Cupid holding back 

 the drapery — a grand picture in life-size. The grate was 

 brought from a house built for Nell Gwynne by 

 Charles II., and was a peculiarly handsome one. On 

 a gable outside the room was the date in large iron 

 figures, 1663. 



The circumstances under which this room in the 

 White Hart was built are these. Clarendon, in his 

 History of the Great Rebellion^ relates that — 



''When he (Rochester) returned from the north he lodged 

 at Aylesbury ; and having been observed to ride out of the way 

 in a large ground, not far from the town, of which he seemed 

 to take some survey, and had asked many questions of a 

 country fellow who was there (that ground in truth belonging 

 to his own wife), the next Justice of the Peace had notice of 

 it ; who, being a man devoted to the Government, and all that 

 country very ill affected always to the King, and the news of 

 Salisbury and the proclamation thereupon having put all men 

 on their guard, came himself to the town where the Earl was; 

 and being informed that there were only two gentlemen above 

 at supper (for Sir Nicholas Armorer was likewise with the Earl, 

 and had accompanied him in that journey), he went into the 

 stable; and upon view of the horses, found they were the 



