[270]Quarterly, on the 1 and 4, gules on a chief argent two mullets sable [Bacon], on the 2 and 3, barry of six or and azure, over all a bend gules [ ...], a crescent on the fesse point for difference; impaling, sable, a cross engrailed between 4 crescents argent, a crescent sable on the fesse point [Barnham].
[271]Chancellor Bacon:—The learned and great cardinal Richelieu was a great admirer of the lord Bacon.
So was Monsieur Balzac: e.g.les Oeuvres diverses, dissertation sur un tragedie, à Monsieur Huygens de Zuylichen, p. 158—'Croyons, pour l'amour du chancilier Bacon, que toutes les folies des anciens sont sages et tous leur songes mysteries.'
Quaere if I have inserted[272]his irrigation in the spring showres.
VideCourt of King Jamesby Sir Anthony Welden, where is an account of his being viceroy here when the king was in Scotland, and gave audience to ambassadors in the banquetting-house.
[273]Lord Chancellor Bacon:—Memorandum, this Oct. 1681, it rang over all St. Albans that Sir Harbottle Grimston, Master of the Rolles, had removed the coffin of this most renowned Lord Chancellour to make roome for his owne to lye-in in the vault there at St. Michael's church.
[274]Sir Francis Bacon, knight, baron of Verulam andviscount of St. Albans, and Lord High Chancellor of England:—vide his life writt by Dr. William Rawley beforeBaconi Resuscitatio, in folio.
It appeares by this following inscription that Mr. Jeremiah Betenham of Graye's Inne was his lordship's intimate and dearely beloved friend. This inscription is on the freeze of the summer house on the mount in the upper garden of Grayes Inne, built by the Lord Chancellor Bacon. The north side of the inscription is now perished[275]. The fane was a Cupid drawing his bowe.
Franciscus Bacon, Regis Solicitator Generalis, executor testamenti Jeremie Betenham nuper lectoris hujus hospitii, viri innocentis et abstinentis et contemplativi, hanc sedem in memoriam ejusdem Jeremie extruxit, anno Domini, 1609.
Franciscus Bacon, Regis Solicitator Generalis, executor testamenti Jeremie Betenham nuper lectoris hujus hospitii, viri innocentis et abstinentis et contemplativi, hanc sedem in memoriam ejusdem Jeremie extruxit, anno Domini, 1609.
In his lordship's prosperity Sir Fulke Grevil, lord Brookes, was his great friend and acquaintance; but when he was in disgrace and want, he was so unworthy as to forbid his butler to let him have any more small beer, which he had often sent for, his stomach being nice, and the small beere of Grayes Inne not liking his pallet. This has donne his memorie more dishonour then Sir Philip Sydney's friendship engraven on his monument hath donne him honour. Vide ... History, and (I thinke) Sir Anthony Weldon.
... Faucet, of Marybon in the county of Middlesex, esqr., was his friend and acquaintance, as appeares by this letter which I copied from his owne handwriting (an elegant Roman hand). 'Tis in the hands of Walter Charlton, M.D., who begged it not long since of Mr. Faucet's grandsonne.
[276]
[277]Richard[278], earle of Dorset, was a great admirer and friend of the lord chancellor Bacon, and was wont to have Sir Thomas Billingsley[279]along with him to remember and to putt-down in writing my lord's sayings at table.
Edward, lord Herbert of Cherbery.
John Dun[280], dean of Paul's.
George Herbert.
Mr. Ben: Johnson was one of his friends and acquaintance, as doeth appeare by his excellent verses on his lordship's birth-day in his second volume, and in hisUnderwoods, where he gives him a character and concludes that 'about his time, and within his view were borne all the witts that could honour a nation or help studie.'
[281]Lord Bacon's birth-day:Underwoods, p. 222.
Haile, happy genius of this ancient pile,How comes it all things so about thee smile?The fire, the wine, the men! and in the midstThou stand'st as if some mysterie thou didst!Pardon, I read it in thy face, the day,For whose returnes, and many, all these pray:And so doe I. This is the sixtieth yeareSince Bacon, and my lord, was borne, and here,Sonne to the grave wise Keeper of the Seale,Fame and foundation of the English weale.What then his father was, that since is he,Now with a title more to the degree,England's High Chancellour, the destin'd heirIn his soft cradle of his father's chaire,Whose even thred the Fates spinne round and fullOut of their choysest and their whitest wooll.'Tis a brave cause of joy; let it be knowne,For 'twere a narrow gladnesse, kept thine owne.Give me a deep-crown'd bowle, that I may singIn raysing him the wisdome of my king.
Haile, happy genius of this ancient pile,How comes it all things so about thee smile?The fire, the wine, the men! and in the midstThou stand'st as if some mysterie thou didst!Pardon, I read it in thy face, the day,For whose returnes, and many, all these pray:And so doe I. This is the sixtieth yeareSince Bacon, and my lord, was borne, and here,Sonne to the grave wise Keeper of the Seale,Fame and foundation of the English weale.What then his father was, that since is he,Now with a title more to the degree,England's High Chancellour, the destin'd heirIn his soft cradle of his father's chaire,Whose even thred the Fates spinne round and fullOut of their choysest and their whitest wooll.'Tis a brave cause of joy; let it be knowne,For 'twere a narrow gladnesse, kept thine owne.Give me a deep-crown'd bowle, that I may singIn raysing him the wisdome of my king.
Discoveries, p. 101.
Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker[XII.]who was full
of gravity in his speaking. His language (where he could
spare or passe-by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man
ever[282]spake more neatly, more pres
Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker[XII.]who was full
of gravity in his speaking. His language (where he could
spare or passe-by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man
ever[282]spake more neatly, more pres
[XII.]Dominus Verulanus.
[XII.]Dominus Verulanus.
Cicero is sayd to be the only wit that the people of Rome had, equall'd to their empire,ingenium par imperio. We had many, and in their severall ages (to take in but the formerseculum) Sir Thomas Moore, the elder Wiat, Henry, earle of Surrey, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, bishop Gardiner, were for their times admirable; Sir Nicholas Bacon was singular and almost alone in the beginning of queen Elizabeth's times; Sir Philip Sydney and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew great masters of wit and language and in whom all vigour of invention and strength of judgment met; the earle of Essex, noble and high; and Sir Walter Rawleigh, not to be contemn'd either for judgement or stile; Sir Henry Savile, grave and truly letter'd; Sir Edwin Sandys, excellent in both; lord Egerton, the Chancellour, a grave and great orator, and best when he was provoked; but his learned and able (though unfortunate) successor is he who hath fill'd up all numbers, and performed that in our tongue which may be compar'd or preferr'd either to insolent Greece or haughty Rome. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits borne that could honour a language or helpe study. Now things dayly fall, wits grow downeward and eloquence growes backward, so that he may be nam'd and stand as the marke and ἀκμή of our language.
I have ever observ'd it to have been the office of a wise patriot among the greatest affaires of the state to take care of the commonwealth of learning[283], for schooles they are the seminaries of state and nothing is worthier the study of a statesman then that part of the republick which wee call the advancement of letters. Witnesse the care of Julius Caesar, who in the heate of the civill warre writ his bookes of analogie and dedicated them to Tully. This made the lord St. Albans entitle his workeNovum Organum, which though by the most of superficiall men who cannot gett beyond the title of nominalls, it is not penetrated nor understood, it really openeth all defects of learning whatsoever, and is a booke
Qui longum noto scriptori porriget aevum[284].
My conceit of his person was never increased towards him by his place or honour, but I have and doe reverence him for the greatnesse that was only proper to himselfe in that he seem'd to me ever by his worke one of the greatest men and most worthy of admiration that have been in many ages. In his adversity I ever prayed that God would give him strength; for greatnes he could not want. Neither could I condole in a word or syllable for him, as knowing no accident could doe harme to vertue but rather helpe to make it manifest.
[285]He came often to Sir John Danvers at Chelsey. Sir John told me that when his lordship had wrote theHistory of Henry 7, he sent the manuscript copie to him to desire his opinion of it before 'twas printed. Qd. Sir John 'Your lordship knowes that I am no scholar.' ''Tis no matter,' said my lord, 'I know what a schollar can say; I would know whatyoucan[286]say.' Sir John read it, and gave his opinion what he misliked which Tacitus did not omitt (which I am sorry I have forgott) which my lord acknowledged to be true, and mended it: 'Why,' said he, 'a scholar would never have told me this.'
Mr. Thomas Hobbes (Malmesburiensis) was beloved by his lordship, who was wont to have him walke with him in his delicate groves where he did meditate: and when a notion darted into his mind, Mr. Hobbs was presently to write it downe, and his lordship was wont to say that he did it better then any one els about him; for that many times, when he read their notes he scarce understood what they writt, because they understood it not clearly themselves.
In short, all that weregreat and goodloved and honoured him.
Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chiefe Justice, alwayes envyed him, and would be undervalueing his lawe, as you may find in my lord's lettres, and I knew old lawyers that remembred it.
He was Lord Protector during King James's progresse into Scotland, and gave audience in great state to ambassadors in the banquetting-house at Whitehall.
His lordship would many times have musique in the next roome where he meditated.
The aviary at Yorke-house was built by his lordship; it did cost 300li.
At every meale, according to the season of the yeare,he had his table strewed with sweet herbes and flowers, which he sayd did refresh his spirits and memorie.
When his lordship was at his country house at Gorhambery, St. Albans seemed as if the court were[287]there, so nobly did he live. His servants had liveries with his crest (a boare ...); his watermen were more imployed by gentlemen then any other, even the king's.
King James sent a buck to him, and he gave the keeper fifty pounds.
He was wont to say to his servant Hunt, (who was a notable thrifty man, and loved this world, and the only servant he had that he could never gett to become bound for him) 'The world was made for man, Hunt; and not man for the world.' Hunt left an estate of 1000li.per annum in Somerset.
None of his servants durst appeare before him without Spanish leather bootes: for he would smell the neates-leather, which offended him.
The East India merchants presented his lordship with a cabinet of jewells, which his page, Mr. Cockaine, recieved, and decieved his lord.
Three of his lordship's servants[XIII.]kept their coaches, and some kept race-horses—vide Sir Anthony Welden'sCourt of King James.
[XIII.]Sir Thomas
Meautys,
Mr.
[XIII.]Sir Thomas
Meautys,
Mr.
[288]He was[289]a παιδεραστής. His Ganimeds and favourites tooke bribes; but his lordship alwayes gave judgementsecundum aequum et bonum. His decrees in Chancery stand firme, i.e. there are fewer of his decrees reverst then of any other Chancellor.
His dowager[290]maried her gentleman-usher, Sir (Thomas, I thinke) Underhill, whom she made deafe and blind with too much of Venus. ☞ She was living since the beheading of the late King.—Quaere where and when she died.
He had a delicate[291], lively hazel eie; Dr. Harvey told me it was like the eie of a viper.
I have now forgott what Mr. Bushell sayd, whether his lordship enjoyed his Muse best at night, or in the morning.
His lordship was a good poet, but conceal'd, as appeares by his letters. See excellent verses of his lordship's which Mr. Farnaby translated into Greeke, and printed both[292]in his Ἀνθολογία, scil.
The world's a bubble, and the life of manLess then a span, etc.
The world's a bubble, and the life of manLess then a span, etc.
[293]Ἀνθολογία: Florilegium epigrammatum selectorum; Thomas Farnaby, London, 1629, pag. 8.—'Huc elegantem viri clarissimi domini Verulamii *παρῳδίαν adjicere adlubuit'—opposit to it on the other page—'quam παρῳδίαν e nostrati bona nos Graecam qualemcunque sic fecimus, et rhythmice.'
The world's a bubble, and the life of manLesse then a span;In his conception wretched, from the wombeSo to the tombe;Curst from his cradle, and brought up to yearesWith cares and feares.Who then to fraile mortality shall trustBut limmes in water or but writes in dust.Yet since with sorrow here we live opprest,What life is best?Courts are but onely superficiall scholesTo dandle fooles;The rurall parts are turn'd into a denOf savage men;And wher's a city from all vice so free,But may be term'd the worst of all the three?Domestick cares afflict the husband's bedOr paines his hed;Those that live single take it for a curse,Or doe things[294]worse;Some would have children; those that have them mone,Or wish them gone.What is it then to have, or have no wife,But single thraldome or a double strife?Our owne affections still at home to pleaseIs a disease;To crosse the sea to any foreine soyle,Perills and toyle;Warres with their noise affright us; when they ceaseW'are worse in peace.What then remaines? but that we still should cryNot to be borne, or, being borne, to dye.
The world's a bubble, and the life of manLesse then a span;In his conception wretched, from the wombeSo to the tombe;Curst from his cradle, and brought up to yearesWith cares and feares.Who then to fraile mortality shall trustBut limmes in water or but writes in dust.
Yet since with sorrow here we live opprest,What life is best?Courts are but onely superficiall scholesTo dandle fooles;The rurall parts are turn'd into a denOf savage men;And wher's a city from all vice so free,But may be term'd the worst of all the three?
Domestick cares afflict the husband's bedOr paines his hed;Those that live single take it for a curse,Or doe things[294]worse;Some would have children; those that have them mone,Or wish them gone.What is it then to have, or have no wife,But single thraldome or a double strife?
Our owne affections still at home to pleaseIs a disease;To crosse the sea to any foreine soyle,Perills and toyle;Warres with their noise affright us; when they ceaseW'are worse in peace.What then remaines? but that we still should cryNot to be borne, or, being borne, to dye.
[295]His reading of Treason.
His reading of Usurie.
Decrees in Chancery.
Cogitata et Visa: printed in Holland by Sir William Boswell, Resident there: who also there printed Dr. Gilbert's Magnetique Philosophie.
Speech in Parliament of naturalization of the Scottish nation: printed 1641.
His apothegmes, 8vo.
{ . . . . .Essaies { . . . . .{ . . . . .
Advancement of learning.
History of King Henry the 7th.
Novum Organon.—At the end of hisNovum OrganonHugh Holland wrote these verses:—
Hic liber est qualis potuit non scribere Stultus,Nec voluit Sapiens: siccogitavitHugo.
Hic liber est qualis potuit non scribere Stultus,Nec voluit Sapiens: siccogitavitHugo.
Naturall Historie.
Of ambassadors: published by Francis Thynne out of Sir Robert Cotton's library, 1650.
Speech touching duells, in the Starre-chamber: in the Bodleian library at Oxford. Reprint it.
All the rest of his lordship's workes you will find in Dr. William Rawley'sResuscitatio.
A piece of philosophy halfe as thick as the grammar set forth by Dr. Rawley, 1660.
. . . . .
. . . . , 167—.
His lordship being in Yorke-house garden lookeing on
fishers as they were throwing their nett, asked them what
they would take for their draught; they answeredso much:
his lordship would offer them no more butso much. They
drew-up their nett, and
When his lordship was in dis-favour, his neighbours hearing how much he was indebted, came to him with a motion to buy Oake-wood of him. His lordship told them, 'He would not sell his feathers.'
The earle of Manchester being removed from his place of Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas[297]to be Lord President of the Councell, told my lord (upon his fall) that he was sorry to see him made such an example. Lord Bacon replied 'It did not trouble him sincehewas madea President.'
The bishop of London did cutt-downe a noble clowd of trees at Fulham. The Lord Chancellor told him that he wasa good expounder of darke places.
Upon his being in dis-favour his servants suddenly wentaway; he compared them to the flying of the vermin when the howse was falling.
One told his Lordship it was now time to looke about him. He replyed, 'I doe not lookeaboutme, I lookeaboveme.'
Sir Julius Cæsar (Master of the Rolles) sent to his lordship in his necessity a hundred pounds for a present[XIV.]; quaere + de hoc of Michael Malet.
[XIV.]Most of these enformations I have from Sir John Danvers.
[XIV.]Most of these enformations I have from Sir John Danvers.
His Lordship would often drinke a good draught of strong beer (March beer) to-bedwards, to lay his working fancy asleep: which otherwise would keepe him from sleeping great part of the night.
I remember Sir John Danvers told me, that his lordship much delighted in his curious[298]garden at Chelsey, and as he was walking there one time, he fell downe in a dead-sowne. My lady Danvers rubbed his face, temples, etc. and gave him cordiall water: as soon as he came to himselfe, sayd he, 'Madam, I am no goodfootman.'
[299]Mr. Hobbs told me that the cause of his lordship's death was trying an experiment: viz., as he was taking the aire in a coach with Dr. Witherborne (a Scotchman, Physitian to the King) towards High-gate, snow lay on the ground, and it came into my lord's thoughts, why flesh might not be preserved in snow, as in salt. They were resolved they would try the experiment presently. They[300]alighted out of the coach, and went into a poore woman's howse at the bottome of Highgate hill, and bought a hen, and made the woman exenterate it, and then stuffed the bodie with snow, and my lord did help to doe it himselfe. The snow so chilled him, that he immediately fell so extremely ill, that he could not returne to his lodgings (I suppose then at Graye's Inne), but went to the earle of Arundell's house at High-gate, where they putt him into a good bed warmed with a panne, butit was a damp bed that had not been layn-in in about a yeare before, which gave him such a cold that in 2 or 3 dayes, as I remember he[301]told me, he dyed of suffocation.
Mr. George Herbert, Orator of the University of Cambridge, haz made excellent verses on this great man. So haz Mr. Abraham Cowley in his Pindariques. Mr. Thomas Randolph of Trin. Coll. in Cambr. haz in his poems verses on him.
[302]In the north side of the chancell of St. Michael's church (which, as I remember, is within the walles of Verulam) is the Lord Chancellor Bacon's monument in white marble in a niech, as big as the life, sitting in his chaire in his gowne and hatt cock't, leaning his head on his right hand. Underneath is this inscription which they say was made by his friend Sir Henry Wotton.
Franciscus Bacon, Baro de Verulam,Sti Albani Vicecomes, seu, notioribus titulis,Scientiarum Lumen, Facundiae Lex,sic sedebat.Qui postquam omnia Naturalis sapientiaeet Civilis arcana evolvisset,Naturae decretum explevit'Composita solvantur,'Anno Domini MDCXXVIaetatis LXVI.Tanti virimem.Thomas Meautys[XV.]superstitis cultor,defuncti admirator,H. P.
[XV.]His lordship's
secretarie, who
maried a kinswoman
(
[XV.]His lordship's
secretarie, who
maried a kinswoman
(
[303]He had a uterine[XVI.]brotherAnthony Bacon, who was a very great statesman and much beyond his brother Francis for the politiques, a lame man, he was a pensioner to, and lived with ... earle of Essex. And to him hededicates the first edition of his Essayes, a little booke no bigger then a primer, which I have seen in the Bodlyan Library.
[XVI.]His mother
was
[XVI.]His mother
was
His sisters were ingeniose and well-bred; they well understood the use of the globes, as you may find in the preface of Mr. Blundevill of the Sphaere: see if it is not dedicated to them. One of them was maried to Sir John Cunstable of Yorkshire. To this brother in lawe he dedicates his second edition of his Essayes, in 8vo; his last, in 4to, to the duke of Bucks.
[304]Blundevill'sExercises, preface:—'I began this arithmetique more then seven yeares since for that vertuous gentlewoman Mris Elizabeth Bacon, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, knight (a man of most excellent witt and of a most deep judgement and sometimes Lord Keeper of the great seale of England), and lately the loving and faithfull wife of my worshipfull friend Mr. Justice Windham, who for his integrity of life and for his wisdome and justice dayly shewed in government and also for his good hospitalitie deserved great commendation; and though at her request I had made this arithmetique so plaine and easie as was possible (as to my seeming) yet her continuall sicknesse would not suffer her to exercise herself therin.'
[304]Blundevill'sExercises, preface:—'I began this arithmetique more then seven yeares since for that vertuous gentlewoman Mris Elizabeth Bacon, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, knight (a man of most excellent witt and of a most deep judgement and sometimes Lord Keeper of the great seale of England), and lately the loving and faithfull wife of my worshipfull friend Mr. Justice Windham, who for his integrity of life and for his wisdome and justice dayly shewed in government and also for his good hospitalitie deserved great commendation; and though at her request I had made this arithmetique so plaine and easie as was possible (as to my seeming) yet her continuall sicknesse would not suffer her to exercise herself therin.'
[305]I will write something of Verulam, and his house at Gorhambery.
At Verulam is to be seen, in some few places, some
remaines of the wall of this citie[XVII.]; which
was in compass about ... miles. This magnanimous
Lord Chancellor had a great mind
to have made it a citie again: and he had designed it,
to be built with great uniformity: but Fortune denyed
it him, though she proved kinder
[XVII.]Verolamium, Virolamium, Cassivelani oppidum.
[XVII.]Verolamium, Virolamium, Cassivelani oppidum.
Within the bounds of the walls of this old citie of Verulam (his lordship's Baronry) was Verulam howse,about ½ a mile from St. Albans; which his Lordship built, the most ingeniosely contrived little pile[XVIII.], that ever I sawe. No question but his lordship was the chiefest architect; but he had for his assistant a favourite of his (a St. Albans man) Mr. ... Dobson (who was his lordship's right hand) a very ingeniose person (Master of the Alienation Office); but he spending his estate upon woemen[306], necessity forced his son William Dobson to be the most excellent painter that England hath yet bred, qui obiit Oct. 1648; sepult. S. Martin's in the fields[307].
[XVIII.]I am sorry I measured not the front and breadth; but I little suspected it would be pulled downe for the sale of the materialls.
[XVIII.]I am sorry I measured not the front and breadth; but I little suspected it would be pulled downe for the sale of the materialls.
[308]The view of this howse from the entrance into the gate by the high-way is thus. The parallel[309]sides answer one another. I doe not well remember if on the east side were bay windowes, which his lordship much affected, as may be seen in his essayOf Building. Quaere whether the number of windowes on the east side were 5 or 7: to my best remembrance but 5. This model I drew by memorie, 1656.
This howse did cost nine or ten thousand the building, and was sold about 1665 or 1666 by Sir Harbottle Grimston, baronet, (now Master of the Rolles) to two carpenters for fower hundred poundes; of which they made eight hundred poundes. Memorandum:—there were good chimney-pieces; the roomes very loftie, and all were very well wainscotted. Memorandum:—there were two bathing-roomes or stuffes, whither his Lordship retired afternoons as he sawe cause. All the tunnells of the chimneys were carried into the middle of the howse, as in this draught; and round about them were seates. The top of the howse was well leaded. From the leads was a lovely prospect to the ponds, which were opposite to theeast side of the howse, and were on the other side of the stately walke of trees that leades to Gorhambery-howse: and also over that long walke of trees, whose topps afford a most pleasant[311]variegated verdure, resembling the workes in Irish-stitch. The kitchin, larder, cellars, &c., are under ground. In the middle of this howse was a delicate staire-case of wood, which was curiously carved, and on the posts of every interstice was some prettie figure, as of a grave divine with his booke and spectacles, a mendicant friar, &c.—(not one thing twice). Memorandum:—on the dores of the upper storie on the outside (which were painted darke umber) were the figures of the gods of the Gentiles (viz. on the south dore, 2d storie, was Apollo; on another, Jupiter with his thunderbolt, etc.) bigger then the life, and donne by an excellent hand; the heightnings were of hatchings of gold, which when the sun shone on them made a most glorious shew.
Memorandum:—the upper part of the uppermost dore, on the east side, had inserted into it a large looking-glasse, with which the stranger was very gratefully decieved, for (after he had been entertained a pretty while, with the prospects of the ponds, walks, and countrey, which this dore faced) when you were about to returne into the roome[312], one would have swornprimo intuitu, that he had beheld another prospect through the howse: for, as soon as the stranger was landed on the balconie, the conserge[313]that shewed the howse would shutt the dore to putt this fallacy on him with the looking-glasse. This was his lordship's summer-howse: for he sayes (in his essay) one should have seates for summer and winter as well as cloathes.
From hence to Gorhambery is about a little mile, the way easily ascending, hardly so acclive as a deske.
From hence to Gorambury in a straite line leade three parallell walkes: in the middlemost three coaches may passe abreast: in the wing-walkes two may. They consistof severall stately trees of the like groweth and heighth, viz. elme, chesnut, beach, hornebeame, Spanish-ash, cervice-tree, &c., whose topps (as aforesaid) doe afford from the walke on the howse the finest shew that I have seen, and I sawe it about Michaelmas, at which time of the yeare the colour of leaves are most varied. The manner of the walke is thus:—
[314]The figures of the ponds were thus: they were pitched at the bottomes with pebbles of severall colours, which were work't in to severall figures, as of fishes, &c. which in his lordship's time were plainly to be seen through the cleare water, now over-grown with flagges and rushe.
If a poor bodie had brought his lordship halfe a dozen pebbles of a curious colour, he would give them a shilling, so curious was he in perfecting his fish-ponds, which I guesse doe containe four acres. In the middle of themiddlemost pond, in the island, is a curious banquetting-house of Roman architecture, paved with black and white marble; covered with Cornish slatt, and neatly wainscotted.
(a) = cutt hedge about the island.
(b) = walke between the hedge and banquetting-howse.
Memorandum:—about the mid-way from Verolam-house to Gorambery, on the right hand, on the side of a hill which faces the passer-by, are sett in artificiall manner the afore-named trees, whose diversity of greens on the side of the hill are exceeding pleasant. These delicate walkes and prospects entertaine the eie to Gorambery-howse, which is a large, well-built Gothique howse, built (I thinke) by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, father to this Lord Chancellor, to whom it descended by the death of Anthony Bacon, his middle brother, who died sans issue.[315]The Lord Chancellor made an addition ofa noble portico, which fronts the garden to the south: opposite to every arch of this portico, and as big as the arch, are drawen, by an excellent hand (but the mischief of it is, in water-colours), curious pictures, all emblematicall, with mottos under each: for example, one I remember is a ship tossed in a storme, the motto,Alter erit tum Tiphys. Enquire for the rest.
Over this portico is a stately gallerie, whose glasse-windowes are all painted; and every pane with severall figures of beast, bird, or flower: perhaps his lordship might use them as topiques for locall memory. The windowes looke into the garden, the side opposite to them no window, but that side is hung all with pictures at length, as of King James, his lordship, and severall illustrious persons of his time. At the end you enter is no windowe, but there is a very large picture, thus:—in the middle on a rock in the sea stands King James in armour, with his regall ornaments; on his right hand stands (but whither or no on a rock I have forgott), King Henry 4 of France, in armour; and on his left hand, the King of Spaine, in like manner. These figures are (at least) as big as the life, they are donne only with umbre and shell gold: all the heightning and illuminated part being burnisht gold, and the shadowed umbre, as in the pictures of the gods on the dores of Verolam-house. The roofe of this gallerie is semi-cylindrique, and painted by the same hand and same manner, with heads and busts of Greek and Roman emperours and heroes.
In the hall (which is of the auncient building) is a large storie very well painted of the feastes of the gods, where Mars is caught in a nett by Vulcan. On the wall, over the chimney, is painted an oake with akornes falling from it; the word,Nisi quid potius. And on the wall, over the table, is painted Ceres teaching the soweing of corne; the word,Moniti meliora.
The garden is large, which was (no doubt) rarely planted and kept in his lordship's time: vide vitam Peireskii de domino Bacon. Here is a handsome dore, which opensinto Oake-wood; over this dore in golden letters on blew are these six verses[316].
[317]The oakes of this wood are very great and shadie. His lordship much delighted himselfe here: under every tree he planted some fine flower, or flowers, some wherof are there still (1656), viz. paeonies, tulips,....
From this wood a dore opens into ..., a place as big as an ordinary parke, the west part wherof is coppice-wood, where are walkes cutt-out as straight as a line, and broade enoug for a coach, a quarter of a mile long or better.—Here his lordship much[318]meditated, his servant Mr. Bushell attending him with his pen and inke horne to sett downe his present notions.—Mr. Thomas Hobbes told me, that his lordship would employ him often in this service whilest he was there, and was better pleased with hisminutes, or notes sett downe by him, then by others who did not well understand his lordship. He told me that he was employed in translating part of the Essayes, viz. three of them, one wherof was that of the Greatnesse of Cities, the other two I have now forgott.
The east of this parquet (which extends to Veralam-howse)
was heretofore, in his lordship's prosperitie, a
paradise; now is a large ploughed field. This eastern
division consisted of severall parts; some thicketts of
plumme-trees with delicate walkes; some of rasberies.
Here was all manner of fruit-trees that would grow in
England; and a great number of choice forest-trees; as the
whitti-tree, sorbe-, cervice-, etc., eugh[319]. The walke, both
in the coppices and other boscages, were most ingeniosely
designed: at severall good viewes[320], were erected elegant
sommer-howses well built of Roman architecture, well
wainscotted and cieled; yet standing, but defaced, so
that one would have thought the Barbarians had made
a conquest here. This place in his lordship's time wasa sanctuary for phesants, partridges, etc. birds of severall
kinds and countries, as white, speckled etc., partridges. In
April, and the springtime, his lordship would, when it rayned,
take his coach (open) to recieve the benefit of irrigation,
which he was wont to say was very wholsome because of
the nitre in the aire and theuniversall spirit of the world.
His lordship was wont to say,I will lay my mannor of Gorambery on't, to which Judge ... made a spightfull reply, saying he would not hold a wager against that, but againstany othermannour of his lordship's he would. Now this illustrious Lord Chancellor had only this mannor of Gorambery.