Chapter XV: Part 15

Ffrom Newhouse I Came over Maubern Hills which are Like the Alps and have had much wet, the roads deep and difficult, to upton in Worcester 10 mile, where I pass the severn on a stone bridge—here it is not broad. Thence Pursha 5 mile, thence Esham 4 and Weston 4, in Glocestershire to my Cos’n Ffiennes, thence to Morton Hindmost up a vast stony high hazardous hill of neare two mile Long ascending all the way from Weston—this is in sight of Cambden—so to Morton, 6 miles down as steep a stony hill 2 mile before I Came to my aunts. Thence to Broughton in Oxfordshire passing by 4 shires stone—Warwick, Worcester, Glocester and Oxfordshire, and so by Kingston; thence to oxford 18, Abbington where is a fine town Hall for the Judges, two barrs and all seates aboute set on stone pillars, the staires to the top is about 100, y^e Leads fine and gives a Large prospect all about. There is halfe way the staires, a place to go in and in Gallerys round Company may stand to heare Causes all above the Judges heads—this is Buckinghamshire. Then to Newbery by Market Hillsly its 16 mile, which town has been famous for whipps and presents a King or Queen when they pass through it with one of great price and also w^{th} a purse of Gold. From thence to Way hill through Lanes and woods 14 mile, this is in Hampshire, thence to Newtontony in Wiltshire 6 mile.

Some account of Epsome in Surrey about ten miles from London. Its on Clay and Gravel, the waters are from Alum. The well is Large without Bason or Pavement, on the bottom it is Covered over with timber and is so darke you Can scarce Look down into it for which Cause I do dislike it. Its not a quick spring and very often is dranke drye, and to make up the defficiency the people do often carry water from Common wells to fill this in a morning; this they have been found out in which makes the water weake and of Little opperation unless you Can have it first from the well before they Can have put in any other. The usual way of drinking them is by turning them with a Little milk. There is a walk of trees by it, but not very pleasant, there is a house built in which the well is and that is paved with brick to walke in in the wet weather, and where people have Carrawayes sweetemeates and tea &c, but it Look’d so dark and unpleasant more Like a Dungeon, y^t I would not Chuse to drinke it there, and most people drink it at home. There are severall good Buildings in Epsome for Lodgings and good Gardens behind them for walking. There is a good house of the L^d Bartlets in a parke at the End of the town Looks very well. The Greatest pleasure of Emson is Either Banstead Downs where is good aire and good rideing for Coaches and horses, with a pleasant view of y^e Country, or Else Box Hill which is 6 or 7 miles off and is the Continuation of the Ridge of hills I mentiond by Maidstone; its a Greate height and shows you a vast precipice down on the farther side, and such a vast vale full of woods Enclosures and Little towns. There is a very good river that runs by a Little town Called Darken just at the foote of this hill, very famous for good troutts and great store of ffish. On this hill the top is Cover’d with box whence its name proceeds, and there is other wood but its all Cutt in Long private walks very shady and pleasant, and this is a great diversion to the Company and would be more ffrequented if nearer Epsom town.

About 4 miles off is S^r Robert Howards house which I went to see, its a Square building, the yards and offices very Convenient about it, and severall Gardens walled in. All the windows are sashes and Large squares of glass; I observ’d they are double sashes to make y^e house the warmer, for it Stands pretty bleake. Its a brick building. You Enter a hall which opens to the Garden, thence to two parlours, drawing-roomes and good staires, there are abundance of Pictures, above is a Dineing roome and drawing roome with very good tapistry-hangings of Long standing. There is severall bed Chambers well ffurnish’d, good damaske beds and hangings and window Curtaines of the same, and so neatly kept ffolded up in Clean sheets pinn’d about the beds and hangings. There are severall other good beds and ffurniture, one roome all y^e bed and hangings are of a fine damaske made of worsted, it Lookes pretty and with a Gloss Like Camlett, of a Light Ash Coullour. There are good pictures of the family, S^r Robert’s Son and Lady, which was a Daughter of the Newport house, with her Children in a very Large Picture. There is fine adornements of Glass on the Chimney and fine marble Chimney pieces, some Closets with Inlaid floores, its all very neate and fine with the several Courts at the Entrance—this I thinke was all remarkable at Epsome which is 14 mile to London.

Another Journey to Broughton in Oxfordshire, my brother’s, and now my nephew’s house, the Lord Say and Seale. I went by Hartfordshire and Bedford from London to Wane 20 mile, thence to Hitching 14 miles, most in Lanes and deep Land, and in the winter bad Roads, but very good Land—good Corn—the wheate Look’d well but Grass and Summer Corn wanted rain, being a drye Spring. Thence to Bedford town 12 mile more, these miles are Longer than those about London and much in Lanes and woods.

Bedford town is an old Building, its wash’d by the river Ouse which Comes from Buckingham and is here Broader than in most places till it reaches Yorke; its stored with very good ffish and those which have Gardens on its brinke keepes sort of trunck or what they Call them. Its a Receptacle of wood of a pretty size full of holes to Let the water in and out, here they keep the ffish they Catch as pike, perch, tench &c, so they have it readye for their use, this is of mighty advantage Especially for the Publick houses—you see the ffish taken out ffresh for supper or dinner. The river runns twineing about and runns into severall notches of Ground w^{ch} is sett full of willows, and many Little boates Chained to the sides belonging to y^e people of the town for their diversion. It runns by a Ground which is made into a fine bowling-green, its upon a hill and a pretty ascent from the river that is besett with willows all round beneath; y^e bowling green is well kept with Seates and summer houses in it for the use of the town and Country Gentlemen of which many resort to it Especially the market dayes. At the Entrance of the town you pass over y^e river on a bridge which has a gate on it and some houses—this river beares barges. These truncks or Baskets which keepes the ffish are ffastned by Chaines to the sides of the Banks in each mans Garden. There is nothing worth notice in the town, severall streetes small and old, the middle streete which runns from y^e Bridge is pretty broad, wherein stands y^e market place and house which is on severall stone pillars and raill’d in. There is above it roomes which were design’d for the session and publick Buissness of the town by the Lord Russell that built it, but his untimely death, being beheaded, put a stop to its ffinishing. They now put it to noe use but spinning haveing begun to set up the woollen worke, but its Just in its Infancy. Over this is the top which is flatt rooff’d Leaded and railed in, from thence you see the whole town and Country round.

There is a pretty many Gentry about y^e Country neare neighbours, and many Live in the town tho’ in such old houses. From thence I went to Asply 8 mile where the Earth turns wood into stone and had a piece of it; it seemes its only one sort of wood the Aldertree which turns so, and Lay or drive a paile or Stake into the ground there in seven yeares its petrify’d into stone, from thence to Onborn w^{ch} is 3 mile more.

Here is the Duke of Bedfords house which I had seen before with the fine Gardens and parke, so proceeded on to Dunstable 9 miles ffarther where I staid and dined with my kinswoman my aunt Woolsley’s Daughter marry’d to a D^r of physick D^r Marsh, and from thence I went to Laighton Buserd and thence to Whinslow about 12 mile—this is in Buckinghamshire—thence to Broughton in Oxfordshire 17 mile, and staid a weeke and then returned through oxfford Citty 18 mile, and so to London 48 mile more.

_A FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF EPSOME HAMPTON COURT AND WINDSOR_

Epsom is 15 miles from London, there are great curiosityes in cut hedges and trees almost before all doores. They have trees in rows which they cut up smooth and about 3 or 4 yards up, they Lay frames of wood in manner of a pent house, so plat the branches on it and cuts it smooth, they leave the stem of the tree to run up and then cut it clear to the top w^{ch} they cut in round heads. There are severall good houses in or about Epsham—S^r Rob^t Howard’s w^{ch} I have described, M^r Wessell’s now M^r Scawen’s. There is Lord Baltimores in Woodcut Green Encompass’d w^{th} a wall at the Entrance—a breast wall with pallisadoes. Large courts one within the other and a back way to y^e stables where is a pretty horse pond. The house is old but Low, tho’ Large,—run over much ground. In ffront 6 windows and in the top just in the middle 12 Chimneys in a row, being 3 and 3 below Joyning back to back and 3 and 3 above; the others Looke into a Court w^{ch} is built round. As I drove by the side saw broad Chimneys on the End, and at due distance on the side on both Ends y^e sides of a Court, w^{ch} is terminated in a building on w^{ch} is a Lead w^{th} railes and Barristers.

That house which is now Lord Guilfords at another side of Epsham, Lookes nobly in a fine parke pailed round. Severall rows of trees in the front of all sorts—Lofty, and some cut Piramidy, some suger-Loafe or rather Like a mushrom-top. The front has 6 Large windows and the doore w^{ch} is glass, as many on the next story. You Enter by a Large Court w^{ch} is on y^e Left side—Stable court; to the right into y^e Gardens, fore right you Enter a broad tarass railed in and Paved with stone, you enter a noble Lofty hall, plaine but neate, painted white. On y^e right is a Little parlour, the lesser hall hung w^{th} armes, a butler’s office, with bedchambers and Closets, thence goes y^e Kitchen, schullery, bakeing room and Laundry into a Court of all y^e offices and the stable yard. Out of y^e Little parlour goes into a pretty Chappel which has a balcony closet looking into it for the Lord and Lady.

The Left hand of y^e hall Led into a great parlour w^{ch} runnes to the End of the house, and makes the ffront, and short again into another great parlour or dineing roome which makes y^e End ffront of the house; this also opens into y^e staircase, it Leads on to a drawing roome, Closet, bed Chamber, two dressing roomes, w^{ch} with y^e great staircase makes up y^e ffront backward and the other End ffront, w^{ch} Lookes into y^e stable yard and a garden railed in w^{th} a Large pond or Cannall. The back ffront goes out into a garden or Court w^{th} Gravel walks round, and a Crosse w^{ch} cuts it into 4 grassplotts where are Brass statues, and Leads out through fine jron Carved gates as at the ffront out into y^e highway. The right End ffront of y^e house is into y^e Garden. Out of both of y^e great parlours and drawing roome two Entrances at an Equal distance upon gravell walks. This garden is gravell’d round. Y^e two middle walks run up to a double mount which cast the garden into 3 Long grass walks w^{ch} also are very broad, w^{th} 3 flower potts. There are two degrees of stepps to Each of these Gravell walks, the first lands on a Gravell that turns in a 3 side square w^{ch} shapes y^e upper mount. The Long gravell walke to y^e right hand runns aCrosse the mount to a thicket that Enters y^e Grove and is Lost. The other to the Left runns up the whole Length of y^e grove up to white gates and open views into y^e parke. The two Ends of the Little square gravel walke round the first mount terminates on the right in same thicket or Grove, and has only for show a Carved frame as a gate, w^{th} wood carv’d Like Cage work painted white, with an arch Entrance in the middle for form sake, to make it Look uniforme to the Like on y^e Left, w^{ch} Leads to a walk as Long as the Gravell up to the wall, and is directly arbour. Like high trees, Cut up to the top and with heads which close in an arch—in the middle is Long white seates. There are two or three Lesser walks w^{ch} run across it to y^e right into the Grove and Lost in the maze; to the Left to another Long walk w^{ch} Leads to a Grotto and runs parralel w^{th} y^e gravel walke to the top. You Enter a space paved and open arch’d round in seates like a Court, and thence you Enter the Grotto, an arch Entirely dark but at the Entrance it is so Large as 6 arched seates, and between carv’d stone very fine of all sorts of flowers, ffigures, ffruites; y^e Pillars or Peers pretty broad. this ran up to a sumerhouse at the End, w^{ch} is grown over with greens cut smooth—windows all round. Below this is a broad green walke w^{ch} begins at the first Garden and so continues round w^{th} y^e wall quite to that broad Gravel walke, and is continued by y^e wall quite Encompassing y^e maze, in w^{ch} are some slaunt cut wayes, and it terminates in the other side of the first Garden just by a garden railed in in which is a Large pond, square in nature of a cannall, the bank green Cut fine, and borders for flowers and greens, and a Breast wall to the first Garden, on w^{ch} are flower potts. On the upper mount—all the grass and bank Even cut—Stands 4 flower potts painted blew—Some red on y^e 3 divisions—y^e gravell Cut out as on the Margin.

Ffrom the Hall you go to y^e staircase, there is also a doore out of the second parlour. This is noble and Lofty all plain wanscoate, only y^e halfe paces inlaid. The first is a window the whole height, 13 Large pannells in Length, 5 in breadth, which Lookes into one of the Courts where the pond is and stable yard. The next half pace Leads you on y^e Left hand to the private appartment that is not so Lofty, over y^e Least hall to an anty roome, thence a dineing roome, soe drawing roome 5 bed Chambers and Closetts. The Last Closett goes into a balcony w^{ch} runs aCross y^e middle of said Lofty window, and Looks into the staircase. Out of y^e Eating or dineing roome goes a Closett for y^e Ladyes into y^e Chappell w^{th} very good back staires up to y^e top roomes. Y^e great staires continues up to the Gallery and turns in a long halfe pace, w^{ch} Enters it at two doores in Equal distances. Its a Lofty, Large as well as Long roome, noe painting or frettwork. At Each End are severall handsome bedChambers and Closetts but none ffurnish’d, but y^e private appartments has pladd Chamlet damaske neatly made up, not new, Glass sconces, and over the Chimney, looking glasses in frames. The parke is fine but not stock’d, w^{ch} when it is and house ffurnish’d will be a noble seate.

There is another house of M^r Ruths who married Lady Dennagall is new and neate. The Entrance is a space the breadth of y^e Court and ffront, rail’d in and opening in y^e middle w^{th} sort of wicket, two such at Each End w^{th} heavye Latches to pull up, and the gate swings both wayes. There is a brick wall w^{th} peers and breast high, and jron pallisadoes of a good breadth Each side the gate, w^{ch} is Carv’d jron work w^{th} a Deer on the top of a Cypher, and an oaken tree Cut a top; the two first peers are w^{th} Great flower potts, those on y^e Peeres Each side y^e jron works Lesser flower potts. Beyond are the gates into the coach yard, w^{ch} with the Stables is a neate Pile of Buildings by it self. Just on y^e other side is such a building the kitchen and offices and little Laundry Court, and here is the back Entrance through a Long brick Entry open on one side, but a wall to y^e Court side and house, and Enters into a passage that Leads to a little hall brick’t, w^{th} roomes for y^e buttler and a batheing roome. By it is a Large hall paved w^{th} stone and thence is one way into the garden. Under the staires and balcony that descends from y^e dineing roome in y^e first passage are staires w^{ch} brings to a space that turns up to the Great staires and roomes.

The ffront Entrance is into a handsome Court, one Large paved walke in the middle between Grass, the borders round of flowers, y^e wall w^{th} trees. You ascend some stepps to a broad terrass paved and with a breast wall sett w^{th} flower potts. This is the breadth of the house and at Each End two Large white seates w^{th} arches over y^e head. You Enter a step or two to this space w^{ch} Leads to y^e staires on y^e Left to a little parlour wanscoted, white in veines and gold mouldings, a neat Booffett ffurnish’d with Glasses and china for the table, a Cistern below into which the water turn’d from a Cock, and a hole at bottom to Let it out at pleasure. W^{th} in this roome was a Large Closet or musick roome, on the other side was a dineing room w^{th} a balcony door w^{ch} has staires to y^e garden in a round with half paces and jron railes. Thence is a drawing roome, beyond that a Closet that comes out into a little passage to the staircase, w^{ch} is Large and makes the fourth part of the house; they are wanscoate varnish’d and the Lower step or two Larger, and y^e other End is in a turn. The half paces are strip’d, the wood put w^{th} y^e Graine, the next slip against the Graine, w^{ch} makes it Looke pretty as if Inlaid.

You Enter one roome hung with Crosstitch in silks, the bed the same Lined w^{th} yellow and white strip’d sattin, window Curtaines white silk damaske w^{th} furbellows of Callicoe printed flowers, the Chaires Crosstitch and two stooles of yellow Mohaire w^{th} Crostitch, true Lower knotts in straps along and a Cross, an Elbow Chaire tentstitch; Glasses over all y^e Chimneys and Marble pieces. The windows in all the roomes had Cusheons. The next roome was Lady Dennagalls Chamber and Closet hung w^{th} very rich tapistry, the bed Crimson damaske Lined w^{th} white Jndia sattin, w^{th} Gold and Crimson flowers printed; the Chaires, one red damaske, the other Crostitch and tentstitch very Rich, soe round the roome. The Closet, Green damaske Chaires, and many fine pictures under Glasses, of tentstitch sattin stitch Gumm and strawwork, also jndia flowers birds &c. The roome over the Little parlour was M^{rs} Ruths, a pladd bed Lined w^{th} Jndian Callicoe, and an Jndia Carpet on the bed—w^{th} in was her Closet. Over this are good Garretts and staires to the Leads w^{ch} shews you all about the town.

The first garden is square, the walls full of trees and nail’d neate, an apricote, peach, plumb, necktarine, w^{ch} spread but not very high; between Each is a cherry stript up to the top and spreads, Composeing an arch over the others. There are borders of flowers round and a handsome Gravel round. The Grass plott is Large; in the middle a little Gravel in an oval or round, where is a Large fountain of stone full of stone Images to spout the water. This Garden is the breadth of the dwelleing house—the dineing roome and drawing roome Looke into it.

Out of this (which is ffenced by a breast wall w^{th} jron pallasadoes painted blew w^{th} Gilt topp) you ascend severall stepps through an jronwork’d gate to a ground divided into Long grass walks, severall of w^{ch} ascends y^e hill and between the Ground improv’d w^{th} Dwarfe trees of ffruite and flowers and greenes in all shapes, intermixt w^{th} beds of strawberyes for ornament and use. Thus to another bank w^{th} stepps to a Green Cross walke, and then more trees and devices. Thence to two mounts cut smoothe—between is a Cannall. These mounts are severall stepps up under which are jce houses; they are a square fflatt on the top ffenced with banks round and seates, beyond which is a summer house in a tree, which shews a great way off the Country. There are Low Cut hedges on Each bank, and painted sticks w^{th} Gilt tops in y^e greens and flower potts, and thus is one terrass above another. Over their stables are Chambers for y^e men, over the Kitchen and Dairy and buttery and scullery are roomes for Laundry, and for the maids.

S^r Thomas Cooke’s house has such an Enclosed walk before the gate, w^{th} swinging gates at Each End and a Larger in the middle.

Without it is a Row of oakes w^{th} thick heads w^{ch} makes it very shady. You Enter a Close gate into a Court, w^{th} a broad paved walk between two Large Grass-plotts, besett w^{th} Green Cyprus yew and holly in Piramids, and two Large Statues in the middle, the wall Clothed w^{th} box holly filleroy cut even. The ffront is two juttings out at the Ends flatt in the middle Like a half Roman H. You Rise a step or two into a good Hall pav’d w^{th} black and white marble, the sides painted black and white resembling nitches or arches for seates. On the Right hand is a good Dineing roome wanscoated oake without varnish, the pannell Large, and within a drawing roome w^{ch} Lookes into the garden, wanscoated. Over, Right, another square one. Between these runs an Entry, where in are Closets, and y^e Butlers office, to y^e Kitchen and offices, into y^e Stable, Coach yard and into a Laundry Court. In the Middle ffronting y^e Entrance is a Door into y^e garden. Just by is a Servants hall and way to y^e Cellars under. The Great Staires noble and Lofty, all wanscoate, hung w^{th} very good pictures. Above in the rooffe is frettwork and an oval Curiously painted with angells and ffigures.

Here are two very Good appartments, bed Chambers dressing-roome, Closets and presses; besides there are two other good Chambers w^{th} Closets, and one Large roome—y^e frame of y^e Chimney piece carv’d with all variety of fruites, herbes &c painted proper and all hollow work. Very good Pictures in all y^e roomes over Chimneys and doores, all fix’d into y^e wanscoate,—noe ffurniture. There is a very good p^r of back staires goes hence up to y^e Garret’s, one very Large, 6 other, besides Little room. There you ascend into a Cupilow, windows round shews a vast prospect of the place; from thence you may descend another such a good p^r of back staires to y^e kitchen. The Garden is in forme as M^r Ruth’s first flatt, but Larger, w^{th} a Larger fountaine, walled in w^{th} ffree stone, a pedistal w^{th} Little Cupids and Dolphins and shells on w^{ch} are Images, and on y^e top a Crown made all to spout out water. The walls full of fruite, in y^e middle you ascend severall stepps to a bank on w^{ch} are jron painted pallasadoes w^{th} Gilt top; gates to the same. Here is a Large square w^{th} green walks and gravell and ovall in the middle, with devices of Little paths of gravell to Cut the grass into shapes, squares and 3 squares. In the middle stands a Gladiator on a pedistal, and on y^e walls are Cupids at each riseing of the walls for the bank. On the Left side is a summer house w^{th} paints of the seasons of y^e yeare. Thence into another Garden for kitchen stuff and hott beds, with convenient houses. From this great fflatt you ascend severall stepps at three places—equal distance, and then Long green walks between borders of strawberies, dwarf trees, and some w^{th} green squares sett with Cyprus, Mirtle, yew, Holly cut fine and flowers, thus three severall bancks, the spaces so adorn’d. Then you pass on to a long green walke, the Right side or End is a fine summer house, the bank all along guarded with dwarffe trees; the other to y^e field side rowes of tall walnuts, with quick sett hedges cutt. This Carryes on not only the breadth of the house but the Length of the whole ground, w^{ch} is for y^e other garden for use; and just at the End of the pleasure garden begins a Large and Long pond or Cannall—y^e Length of the walke, w^{ch} is its bank cut fine. There is another great pond on the Right side of the house, and two more in the grounds belonging to it on the Left.

M^{rs} Steeven has a very pretty neate house and gardens, before the doore is a part railed in as before, only this is Close at Each end w^{th} high wall and seates. In the middle is a gate w^{ch} Leads to the gate of the Court, grass walled round, a broad pavement to the house, and round Stepps—4 or 5. You Enter into a passage w^{ch} Leads to a little parlour, thence a step or two down to an Entry, w^{ch} Leads away to a Little Court or passage, which runs to the streete and back to y^e garden.

On one side is a building, a summer parlour for a still roome, w^{th} brick kitchen and offices and Coach house and stables, w^{th} Chambers over for the men. There is in the first parlour a Large Closet, on the Left is a Large parlour and drawing-roome, all very neate and well wanscoated. Under the staircase is a little roome for a butler, thence the staires to the Cellars; this is between the back staires w^{ch} are very good and light, and wanscoated up to the garrets, and the great staires w^{ch} are very handsome painted white, the Rooffe an oval of Cupids. Here are two handsome Chambers with dressing-roomes and light and dark Closets and presses. Next floore is to such appartments againe. Over all are three good Garrets and two roomes for stores, and it is sashed up to the top w^{th} Low windows to sit in. Every Corner is improved for Cupboards and necessarys, and the doores to them made suiteable to y^e wanscoate. The garden goes out opposite to y^e Entrance the walls full of all fruite neately kept. Here are six Grass walks three and three, guarded w^{th} dwarfe fruite trees, a Large gravell walk round by the wall, and gravell between Each Grass walk. The front is a breast wall w^{th} a yew hedge cut neate, and jron pallisadoes painten and Gilt tops, with gates Leading to another Garden of grass Cut in shapes and knotts, w^{th} flowers and all sorts of greens cut in shapes, w^{th} paths of Gravel to fform them. On the Left side a Coddling hedge secured a walke of orange and Lemmon trees in perfection. This is Closed with a green house all the breadth of the garden, through w^{ch} you Enter another of fflowers; thence into orchard and kitchen garden w^{ch} is Cast in Exact forms to Look neate. In the green Garden was Large alloes plants and all sorts of Perpetualls as well as annualls.

There are abundance of houses built of brick, with fine gardens and Courts, w^{th} open gates and railes to view, w^{ch} are used as Lodgings for the Company; and now the wells are built about, and a Large Light roome to walk in brick’d, and a pump put on the well. A Coffee house and two roomes for gameing, and shops for sweetmeates and fruite. Monday morning is their day, the Company meete and then they have some Little diversion, as raceing of boys or Rabbets or Piggs. In the Evening the company meete in the Greenes, first in the upper Green many steps up, where are Gentlemen Bowling, Ladyes walking. There are Little Shopps and a gameing or danceing roome, the same man at the wells keepes it, sells Coffee there also. The Lower green is not farr off—just in the heart of the town: its a much neater green and warmer. The whole side of this is a very Large roome w^{th} Large sashe windows to the green, w^{th} Cusheons in the windows and seates all along. There are two hazard boards; at the End is a Milliner and China Shop, this is belonging to the Great tavern or Eateing house, and all the Length of this roome to the street ward is a Piaza wall, and a row of trees Cutt and platted together as the ffashion of the place, w^{th} tops running up a top with heads. The Crosse in the Streete has a Good Clock.

On the hill where is the race posts they have made a ring as in Hide Parke, and they Come in Coaches and drive round, but it is only Lords day nights and some nights. There has been 40 Coaches and six which are the Gentlemen in the County round, and 20 and 2 horses. The Company in y^e town Epshum shall be Clutter’d w^{th} Company from Satturday to Tuesday and then they many times goe, being so neare London, so come againe on more Satturdays.

Ffrom Epsham I went to Banstead where the parson of the Parish has diverted himself in his garden these fifty yeares, is now old and doates, but has Curious hedges, one Garden w^{th} Grass plotts and Earth walks Cut and wedd. His grass plotts has stones of divers fformes and sizes which he names Gods and Goddesses; and hedges and arbours of thorn soe neately Cut, and in all ffigures in great rounds. One is a Large arbour: You Enter a straite passage as unto a Cell, but within a roome, round y^t by a narrow Entry you Come to a Large Square with trees and seates, all quick sett hedges cut fine. One is a tree w^{ch} the ivy has Covered and there are staires up directly upright, and on y^e top is an Eight square Bench—round, the Green grows up Close about it cut even, this he Calls “Tenneriff” being in that fform. Next it is another tree, there is a fflatt and on it is a table or stoole on w^{ch} is a Great white stone in form of some statue that apole w^{th} 9 stones round less the muses—this is Parnassus. There are severall heads painted w^{ch} are named Mogul Grand Seignior, Cham of Tartary, Zarr of Muscovy, placed in severall places. Another Garden is Grass plotts w^{th} yews and holly Lawrells, round this on the bank is sett stones very thick, some very much bigger for officers, this is the whole Confederate army and their Generalls. Here is a trumpeter, Hercules and Bacchus and a hedge of Lawrell 7 foote broad. Here are also two trees Cover’d with Ivy and thorne Cut smooth and made in ffashion of two great pillars for Hercules pillars. There is in y^e middle some platted together and makes a Cover to a seate below, and there is a Rose Cut out—you may talk as under the Rose. In his house he has many Curiosetyes of stones, one like a brick of bread, another Like a shoulder of mutton, a piece of wood from an old tree as Like a mounteer capp w^{th} a button on the top, another like a furbellow’d peticoat, another stone like an apple paired and a piece Cut out and grown Deadish—its said this is Petrify’d into stone as the moss in Knarsborough and the wood at Apsley in Bedfordshire; here were many Shells, Birds, jndian shoes, bootes, purses &c.

Ffrom Epsham to Leatherhead 3 mile, we pass by S^r Robert Howards which I have described. Here is a little town where they make much Leather, and other little trades, many Butchers which supply Epsham. Here it is that the water which sinks away at Swallow hole at Mole under Box Hill which is 7 mile off, and here it Bubbles up in twenty places from a hill, and Compases a great river half a mile off, over which a long bridge of 14 great arches of stone by their Height shews sometimes the water to be very deep. A little farther its so deep as cannot be fforded, here the Channell is not so broad, only four Large Arches. We goe over thence a mile and halfe to M^r Moores ffine house on a hill, its built w^{th} brick and stone Coyned, and the windows Stone, nine sashes to the Garden; the jutting out in the middle is three windows. The top is in a peak painted frisco, and a Cornish round on Each side; a low building Each End Like Wings w^{th} same Cornish Leaded and flower potts on it, w^{ch} are the offices on one Side, and Lead to a summer House and backward to the private Entrance, a Court y^t you ascend by steps of stone and jron barristers with turnings and halfe paces to the part of y^e house in Constant use. The ffront in the Entrance is as the Garden, only here are but Eight windows, only two in the middle jutting the top, and that here you see not those two Low wings. You Enter by the Church yard, noe great Court or roome for it, a very Little court w^{ch} on the right hand Leads into y^e garden on a banck green walke, to a seate or summer house finely painted and stands on four pillars. Within this Leads into a gravel walk w^{ch} goes round y^e first Garden. The summer house you might pass through to the same green banck walk, which Leads to a broad Grass walk on the right hand up the hill near a quarter of a mile, Each side planted w^{th} trees, and y^e ground some for kitchen gardens orchards hott beds. The top of the hill has two white seates and a summer house, this has white open gates, Large as the walk. Here is a very fine pond runs across the breadth of the gardens and orchards. The Garden at the house is all flatt, much in Grass walks and bancks sett w^{th} green, most yews. There is a great gravel walk to the fountain from the middle of the house, w^{ch} is filled by a Long Cannall as broad as the walk; at the farther End is a trion gilt, with a horn w^{ch} can blow the water 20 yards. Here are seates on the bancks, and y^e ground is set much in Grass walks w^{th} dwarfe greens, which Cutts the grass plotts into four, which are Cutt into fflower deluces and Severall Devices w^{th} paths of Gravell, borders of mould, in which are greens of all sorts, Piramids and then round jnterchangeable. Beyond this is another space as Large, w^{th} a round space w^{th} a Large stone ffigure, and severall Less ffigures of brass in the little squares and strapps of grass, w^{ch} was fform’d by Cross and round gravell walks. There is two broad Gravell walks runns aslaunt like two wings from the first garden, as it were parrallel w^{th} the Cannall, and these terminate in a wood w^{ch} has a Glide through trees Cut aslant, agreable to the walks to give the view quite to Hampton town.

* * * * *

Thence to Hampton Court by Kingston 6 mile, all by the park, the palace Enters just by the Thames. On the gate is Lyon, Unicorn and fflower potts, the Starre and garter and Draggon y^e thistle and rose Carv’d. Here is a space where the Stables on one side and houses for suttlers for to provide for the servants. The front is in a Demy Circle—At the gates four towers of Brick. Beyond the half moone are two straite buildings in w^{ch} are gates, at the Ends two such brick towers, soe you Enter through those four towers. The guard Court on the Left goes to y^e old Buildings. On the Right you enter a long paved Entry; on one side are Lodgings, at the End are Cloysters round a Court which has a Large ffountaine in Grass, and at Each Corner a painted post for balls or Statues. The grass is planted round with Lawrell and yew, ffilleroy and Cyprus, cut a round head, and a Piramid. The Cloysters Lead to the royal Staircase which is very Lofty and spacious w^{th} arches for seates, the steps jron railes Carv’d and gilt, the wall black and gold painted w^{th} armory like a wanscoate. Over that is Curious paintings, the twelve Cæsars, over that the banquet of the Gods, all at Length, with Ceres over y^e side board w^{th} plenty. The rooffe is angells and Cherubims, the ffront on the halfe pace is Julian and the spectre that appear’d to him, in a tent of green, the Curtain drawn soe bold as if real w^{th} gold ffringe. Here you Enter y^e guard Chamber adorn’d with pikes, Halberts, Biounetts Daggers and Pistolls and gunns, w^{th} Bandeleers or pouches for amunition, all set in workes and ffigures about the Wanscoate, over y^e Chimney Pistolls and Daggers sett like the starre in the garter. Thence you go into an anty room hung w^{th} tapestry, thence into y^e Common audience roome where was a throne and Cannopy, crimson Damaske with Gold ffringe; the form the same round the roome. Here was King Charles y^e firsts Picture on horseback over the mantlepiece. All the rooffes of the roomes are Curiosly painted w^{th} different storyes. Out of this you Enter the Grand state roome which has King Williams Picture at Length on the Mantlepiece, ffine Pictures over all doores and Carvings in wood. The throne and Cannopy here was Scarlet velvet with Rich Gold orrice and window Curtains. Thence into the dineing roome where hangs in y^e middle a Chrystall Branch for Candles. Its hung with tapistry, I think its here the Queen of Bohemias Picture is over the Chimney piece—Sophia’s mother. The window Curtaines flower’d Crimson Damaske w^{th} gold ffringe; thence the drawing roome w^{ch} has a Silver branch in the middle, and sconces and Queen Marys Picture—here is Crimson velvet. Out of this is the presence Chamber w^{th} a Low screen across the roome to keep company off the bed w^{ch} is scarlet velvet w^{th} gold orrice and hung w^{th} fine tapistry. Out of y^e bedchamber goes the dressing roome hung w^{th} yellow damaske and Chaires the same. Here was the queen mother Dutchess of Yorks Picture over the Chimney, here is a doore into the private Lodgings where there is 2 bed Chambers, one Jndian Embroydery the other a mixt damaske; and Closets and antyroomes to the galleryes and backstaires.

Out of the dressing roome is the Queens Closet, the hangings, Chaires, Stooles and Screen the same, all of satten stitch done in worsteads, beasts, birds, jmages and ffruites all wrought very ffinely by Queen Mary and her maids of honour.

From thence into a Large Long gallery Wanscoated, and pictures of all the Roman warrs on one side, the other side was Large Lofty windows, two marble tables in two peers w^{th} two great open jarrs on Each side, Each table two such; at the End the same for to put potts of orange and mirtle trees in. The window Curtaines and couches or fformes all green and white rich damaske.

Out of this into a Long gallery, plain wanscoate without any adornment, which is for people to waite in, Either of the servants of the houshold or who waites in buissness of the ordinary sort, and here are doores that Lead to the back staires and to private Lodgings. This Leads at the End into the part was design’d for the Kings side, into a noble Gallery w^{th} Curious Pictures of y^e scriptures painted by the Carthusion.

The King of Ffrance offer’d 3000 pound apiece for them, or indeed any money. Here are green and white Damaske window Curtaines and Couches as the other was. This Leads to roomes not ffinished in the same number as on the queen’s side—one is begun to be painted on the top. The sides of the walls are painted just Like pieces of tapestry here is Prince Georges picture at Length, w^{th} his Dukall Corronet, and an Anchor as High Admirall, and thus to the other roomes, to y^e guardroome and Royal Staircase as on the Queens side, but none here ffinish’d. The Leads gives a vast sight all about of the parke and gardens, the ffront of the house to the garden has four Large stone ffigures Hercules, jupiter, Mars, Neptune.

There is a long Cannall runs from the ffront a great way, and a Large ffounttaine next the house in the first garden, w^{th} a broad Gravell and a Cross. till I came almost to Windsor—I drove by some of the fforest and the parke and came in another way into town by y^e Castle across K: Charles’s Walk. jn the Castle yard is a Little box the queen has bought of Lord Godolphin. The garden joyns to the Duke of S^t Albans for a little retreate out of y^e Palace. You Enter a Brick Court, on the Left is a Little Guard roome, on y^e Right a Row of roomes w^{th} Chambers over them for the Kitchen and Pastry and Butteryes, and a Little garden pailed in. Then you go on, and on the Left hand Enter the house into an Entry: on the Left is a little parlour for y^e Ladies of honour to dine in, beyond that Back Staires Pantry and a Cistern or Place to Wash things in; by that is the guard roome, under it the Cellars.

On the Right hand is a Large Antyroome for persons to wait, where are Marble tables in y^e Peeres between the windows; white damaske window curtaines and cane chaires. Next it is the Dineing roome some stepps down, where was red silk Curtaines Chaires and stooles, and Benches round the roome all red silk, w^{th} same coull^d orrice Lace; here was a white marble table behind the doore as a sideboard, and a Clap table under y^e Large Looking Glass between the windows. Next this was a drawing roome; both these roomes were hung w^{th} small Jmage tapistry very Lively and ffresh, here was Crimson Damaske window Curtaines, Chaires and stooles. The next was what was Prince George’s dressing roome, hung, and window Curtaines Chaires and stooles, all w^{th} yellow damaske, w^{th} marble Chimney pieces as all y^e Roomes have of Differing Coull^{rs} black white, grey, rance &c &c. Large Looking-glasses; all the roomes in all y^e house is plaine unvarnished oake Wanscoate which Lookes very neate. W^{th}in the dressing roome is a Closet on one hand, the other side is a Closet y^t Leads to a little place w^{th} a seate of Easement of Marble w^{th} sluces of water to wash all down. There is a back doore in y^e dressing roome, to a little anty roome with presses, a little Wanscoate table for tea, cards or writeing, so to a back staires;—the Queen’s appartment is over it. From y^e Greate Staire at the Entrance of the house Lands you in a passage that Enters—the anty roome is Crimson damaske curtains. Great chaire and Stooles and Benches; the same next it. The presence roome here is ffigured Crimson Velvet window Curtaines, Chaires and stooles; here is the Q. A Wife to K. James the First at Length in her Rideing habit, by her horse and three or four Couple of hounds—these were hung w^{th} ffine tapistry as the two below.

Next this was the Queen’s bedChamber, hung, the bed, window-curtaines the same, all Rich Crimson Damaske. Here was the screen round the bed as the manner is to all the Souveraignes beds. Over the Chimney was Prince George’s Picture and by the side of the bed was the Duke of Glocester’s in an oval. Thence into a Dressing-roome hung with Divers Coull^d flowered sattin, chaires and stooles the same, ffine fflower’d muslin window curtaines, A fine Little high screen burnt jappan of 4 Leaves, another Chimney screen w^{th} 4 Leaves of the stone work in ffigures—jndian. Out of this was y^e Queens Closet just over Prince Georges but y^t was Locked. The other side was a little waiting roome to Just such marble seates of Easem^t w^{th} the sluces of water as that below was in the Queens bedChamber. Overright y^e Entrance of the dressing-roome was another Little Closet with the tea Equipage, and under that was such a Little tea roome within y^e drawingroome. Here in the dressing roome was a backway to a little waiting passage, with presses and such little wanscoate tables; this Leads to the back staires where there is one bedchamber. The Queen’s appartment ffronts the garden; out of the drawing roome you come on a terrass of Gravell, then descend stepps down a green banck to a large green space that has 4 bench seates painted white; behind them is a Green bank, and a Large space of green on Either end fill’d with trees, Lawrell ffrilleroy, Cyprus, yews, heads a Pirramids, and Mirtles. This is ffenced with jron palasadoes painted, to another garden cut in squares and figures, with all sorts of fflowers and greens, which has at y^e End a Cut hedge and Leads on to a sort of orchard with dwarfe trees. These gardens and orchards is in Gravel Walks and Long green walks, in variety as such a thing in miniature can admitt.

I drove through another part of Windsor to see a Race run by two ffootemen—an English and Scotch—the fformer a taller Bigger man than the other. The ground Measur’d and Cut even in a round ring, was almost four mile; they were to run it round so often as to make up 22 mile, which was the distance between Chareing Cross and Windsor Cross—that was five times quite round and so farre as made up the odd miles and Measure. They ran a round in 25 minutes. I saw them run the first three rounds and halfe another, in an hour and seventeen minutes, and they ffinished it in two hours and a halfe. The English gain’d the second round the start, and kept it at the same distance y^e five rounds, and then the Scotchman came up to him and got before him to the post. The Englishman fell down within a few yards of the post. Many hundred pounds were won and lost about it, they ran both very neately, but my judgment Gave it y^e Scotchman because he seem’d to save himself to y^e Last Push.

I drove home by a fine house of Lord Rawnelaughs, 14 windows in the ffront, a square building—much gardening and Curious they say, but that Ladyes Pride is, none must see them, and soe Drove a fine Gravell road cut with rows of trees. In a mile you come to a broad open way to Windsor on the Left hand, on the Right to a little house of y^e Duchess of Marlboroughs, which is very exact gardens and ffountaines, Cut hedges and Groves, pail’d in; ffrom this house is the ffine Gravell walke continued very broad between high rows of trees—on one hand a ffine Grove of straite trees.

This is three mile to Windsor all a Clear visto to the Castle, to that which is K. Charle’s Walke for Shooting, which you Enter by a Broad Pallasadoe-ffences the whole breadth of the road. So at y^e other End which is a mile and goes out into the road w^{ch} comes ffrom Hampton Court which you Cross into the yards and Courts that lead up into the Castle.

“FINIS.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOME PLACES MENTIONED.

--------------

Newtontony. Wiltshire. Nath^l Fiennes.
Sarum.
Ffisherton.
Malbrough.
Devizes.
Warminster.
Wilton house. Earle of Pembroke’s house.
Blandford. Dorsetshire.
Merly.
Wimborn.
Sir William Constantine’s house.
Poole.
Brownsea jsland.
Isle of Purbeck.
Corffe Castle.
Quare. M^r Collier’s house.
Sonidge.
Sea Cuine.
Kingston. Sir William Muex’ house.
Income. M^r Coliffords house.
Doonshay. M^r Dolling’s house.
Finnum. Lady Larences house.
Brindon.
Piddle. M^r Oxenbridg’ house.
Dorchester.
Burport.
Woolfe. M^r Newbery’s house.
Colway. M^r Hendley’s house.
Lime. Somersetshire.
Lizard Point.
Blandford Woodbery hill.
Cherbery.
M^r Earle’s house.
Shaftesbury.
Andover.
Winchester.
Amesbury.
Stoneage.
Salsebury plaine.
Evell.
Meer and Castle.
Wincauton.
Castle Cary.
Alford.
Queen Camell.
Bruton.
Willdeng.
Breackly.
Philip Morton.
Bath.
Hungerford.
Lamborn.
Ffarington.
Kadcote.
Coalsell. Sir George Pratt’s house.
Vale of Whitehorse.
Norton. L^d Say and Seale’s house.
Broughton. L^d Say and Seale’s house.
Banbery.
Shettford.
Edgehill.
S^r Robert Dashwood’s house.
Adderbery.
S^r Thomas Cobb and Ly Rochester’s house.
Roxton. the Lord Guilfford’s house.
Banbury.
London.
Alesbury.

Durly.
Nurstead. M^r Holt’s house.
Petersffield.
Maple Duram.
Guilford.
Kingston on Thames.
Colebrooke.
Maidenhead.
Winsor Castle.
Eaton Colledge.
Cliffton house. Duke of Buckinghams.
Redding.
Veale.
Newbery.
Wayhill.

Sutton.
Baseing Stoke.
Basen. Duke of bolton’s house.
Sir Robert Hendly’s house.
Hartfford bridge.
Bagshott.
Eggum.
Staines.
Houndslow.
Brandford.
Turnumgreen.
Hammersmith.
Kensington.

Great Horrwood.
Hillsdon. M^r Denton’s house.
Thorndon. S^r Thomas Tyrrell’s house.
Stow. S^r Rich^d Temple’s house.
S^r Ralph verney’s house.
Buckingham.
Morton Hindmost.
Hayles. Lord Tracy’s house.
Rowlestone.
Astrop.
Sutton.
Oxfford.
Abington.
Elsly.
Newbury.

Chichister.
Petersffield.
Nurstead. M^r Holt’s house.
Lord Tankervaile’s Park.
Billinghurst.
Arundell. Duke of Norfolke’s house.
Dorken.
Leatherhead.
Moles.
Kingston.
Richmond parke.
Hampton Court.
Wanstead.
Clapham.
Lambeth.
Chealsey Colledge.
Westminster.
Southwarke.

Uxbridge.
Islip.
Woodstock.
Morton Hindmost.
Broadway hill.
Parshur.
Upton.
Mauborn.
Worcester.
Newhouse.
Lady Hopton’s house.
Cannon ffroome.
Bishop’s ffroome Castle.
Herriford.
Stoake. M^r Paul folie’s seate.
Eghum.
Vale of Red horse.
Weston.
Parsonage of Pharamus Fiennes.
Parsonage of M^r Browne.
Camden Town.
Brailes.
Alsbury.

Newfforest. Hampshire.
Ffarnum.
Aberston. Duke of Bolton’s house.
Ffarnum Castle. Bis^p of Winchester.
Alton.
Alsford.
Winchester.
Woolsey.
Maudline Hill.
Redbridge.
Buckland. Sir Robert Smith’s house.
Limington.
Lindhurst.
Newparke.
Isle of Wight.
Yarmouth.
Hurst Castle.
Sandumffort.
Newport.
Casbrooke Castle.
Cowes.
Knighton. S^r R. Dilington’s house.
Nunwell. Sir J. Oglanders house.
Sir Robert Worstly’s house.
Sir Robert Holme’s house.
Mottstone.
Spitthead.
S^t Hellens point.
Portsmouth.
Ride.
Redbridge.
Southsea Castle.
Porchester down.
Southwicke. Col Nortons house.
South hampton.
Cashot Castle.
Bewly.
Rumsey.
Sir John S^t Barbe’s house.
White Parish and Toy Church.
Lord Coalrain’s house.
Y^e Lady Brooks seate.
Ffordingbridge.
Kingwood.
Christchurch.
Rumsy.
Lockerly.
East Titherly. S^r Francis Rowle’s house.
Dean. Sir John Evlings house.
Norman’s Court. M^r Whiteheads house.
West Titherly.
Stockbridge.
Sutton.
Basinstoake.
Hackwood. Duke of Bolton’s house.
Harfordbridge.
Bagshott.
Egum.
Staines.
Hampton Court.