90 



Some Notice of William Herbert, 



called Holbein's Porch, is of the period of the original work, and 

 stood formerly within the quadrangle. Holbein is said to have been 

 employed to design all these early buildings, but probably without 

 sufficient reason. Holbein is now known to have died in 1543. Sir 

 William Herbert only had the grant of the abbey in 1542. Besides 

 this, there is nothing in the work which makes it probable. As 

 well as being a great painter, Holbein, like many other artists of 

 the renaissance period, designed goldsmith's work, and decorations 

 of a refined character, but these things had little in common with 

 the architectural buildings which are sometimes ascribed to him. 



Besides his residence at Wilton, Sir William Herbert had after- 

 wards the grant of Baynard's Castle, a magnificent mansion standing 

 on the banks of the Thames, near the spot now knows as Paul's 

 wharf, in the city. It is described in the grant as being parcel of 

 the possessions of the Lady Katharine, late Queen of England, 

 " like as the same hath always been reserved to the Queenes of this 

 realm for their lodging when it hath pleased them to repair to the 

 same, with the gardens, courts, grounds, edifications, buildings, and 

 other appurtenances /' Stowe, in his survey of London, says 

 " Henry VII. repaired or rather new builded this house, not im- 

 battled, or so strongly fortified castle-like : but farre more beautif ull 

 and commodious for the entertainment of any Prince or great estate. 

 In the 20th Henry VII., the said King, with his Knights of the 

 Order, all in the habit of the Garter, rode from the Tower of London 

 through the city unto the Cathedral Church of St. Pauls, and there 

 heard evensong, and from thence they rode to Baynard's Castle, 

 where the King lodged. The same yeere the King of Castile was 

 lodged there/ - ' 



January 24th, 1543-4, Herbert had a grant of the office of captain 

 of the castle and town of Aberystwith, also the custody of Carmarthen 

 Castle for life. In this year, too, he received the honor of knighthood # 



Henry VIII. died in January, 1547, his son, Edward VI., being 

 then only nine years old. Sir William Herbert was one of the 

 executors of the will of the late king, together with some other 

 principal personages of the court. This carefully-prepared document 

 was to some extent set aside by the appointment of Hertford 



