2 4 o JOHN EVELYN 



Majestie came on purpose to see and contemplate with 

 much satisfaction. He had also contriv'd an hollow 

 statue which gave a voice and utter'd words, by a long 

 conceal'd pipe that went to its mouth, whilst one speaks 

 through it at a good distance. 



In the afternoone we went to Wilton, a fine house 

 of the Earl of Pembroke, in which the most observable 

 are the dining-roome in the modern built part towards 

 the garden, richly gilded and painted with story by 

 De Creete ; also some other apartments, as that of 

 hunting landskips by Pierce; some magnificent chimny- 

 pieces after the best French manner ; a paire of artificial 

 winding-stayres of stone, and divers rare pictures. 

 The garden, heretofore esteem'd the noblest in 

 England, is a large handsom plaine, with a grotto 

 and water-works, which might be made much more 

 pleasant were the river that passes through cleans'd 

 and rais'd, for all is effected by a meere force. It has 

 a flower garden not inelegant. But after all, that 

 which renders the seate delightful is its being so 

 neere the downes and noble plaines about the country 

 contiguous to it. The stables are well order'd and 

 yeild a gracefull front, by reason of the walkes of lime- 



