84 AUBREY'S NATURAL HISTORY OF WILTSHIRE. 



not attend to it ; but he recommended it to an ingeniouse architect, Monsieur Solomon de Caus, a 

 Gascoigne, who performed it very well ; but not without the advice and approbation of Mr. Jones : 

 for which his Lordship settled a pension on him of, I think, a hundred pounds per annum for his 

 life, and lodgings in the house. He died about 1656 ; his picture is at Mr. Gauntlet's house at 

 Netherhampton. I shall gladly surcease to make any further attempt of the description of the house, 

 garden, stables, and approaches, as falling too short of the greatness and excellency of it Mr. 

 Loggan's graver will render it much more to the life, and leave a more fixt impression in the reader. 

 [Tliis refers to one of Aubrey's contemplated illustrations. See Chap. XX. (in a subsequent page), 

 Draughts of the Seates and Prospects. J. B.] 



The south side of this stately house, that was built by Monsieur de Caus, was burnt arm. 1647 or 

 1648, by airing of the roomes. In anno 1648 Philip (the first) re-edifyed it, by the advice of Inigo 

 Jones ; but he, being then very old, could not be there in person, but left it to Mr. Webb, who 

 married his niece. 



THE PICTURES. In the hall (of old pieces) were the pictures of the Ministers of State in Queen 

 Elizabeth's time, and some of King Henry the Eighth. There was Robert, Earle of Essex, that 

 was beheaded, &c. 



At the stairecase, the picture of Sir Robert Naunton, author of " Fragmenta Regalia ; " his name 

 was writt on the frame. At the upper end was the picture of King Charles I. on horseback, with 

 his French riding master by him on foot, under an arch ; all as big as the life : which was a copie 

 of Sir Anthony Vandyke, from that at Wliitehall. By it was the picture of Peacock, a white race- 

 horse, with the groom holding him, as big as the life: and to both which Sir Anthony gave many 

 master touches. Over the skreen is a very long picture, by an Italian hand, of Aurora guiding her 

 horses, neigheing, and above them the nymphes powring down out of phialls the morning showres. 

 Here was the " Table " of Cebes, a very large picture, and done by a great master, which the genius 

 describes to William, the first earl of this family, and lookes on him, pointing to Avarice, as to be 

 avoyded by a noble person ; and many other ancient pieces which I have now forgott 



The long gallery was furnished with the ministers of estate and heroes of Queen Elizabeth's time, 

 and also some of the French. In one of the pictures of Sir Philip Sydney are these verses, viz. 



" Who gives himselfe may well his picture give, 

 Els were it vain, since both short time doe live. 1 " 



At the upper end is the picture of King James the First sitting in his tin-one, in his royall robes ; a 

 great piece, as big as the life ; by him on the right hand wall is the picture of William Herbert, first 

 earle, at length, as big as the life, and under it the picture of his little dog, of a kind of chesnut colour, 

 that starved himselfe for his master's death. Here is the picture of Henry Earle of Pembroke 

 and his Countesse ; and of William Earle of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain ; severall Earles of Oxford ; 

 and also of Aubrey Earle of Oxford, now living ; the pictures of Cardinal Wolsey ; Archy (King 



James's jester) ; , governour to Sir Philip Sydney ; Mr. Secretary Walsingham, in his 



gown and wrought cap ; Mary Countess of Pembrok, sister of Sir Philip Sydney ; the last Lady 

 Abbess of Wilton (Lady Anna Gawen), a pretty, beautiful, modest Penelope ; with many others 

 now forgotten by me and everybody else. 



[The last mentioned name must be erroneous. The Abbess of Wilton at the tune of the disso- 

 lution of monasteries was Cecily Bodenham, who had previously been Prioress of St. Mary's, 

 Kington St Michael. J. B.] 



