Page:Hutton, William Holden - Hampton Court (1897).djvu/177

Rh royal party, as he had done in that of his sovereign. King Charles II. therefore chose Windsor, and bestowed a vast sum in beautifying the castle there, and which brought it to the perfection we see it in at this day— some few alterations excepted, done in the time of King William.

"King William (for King James is not to be named as to his choice of retired palaces, his delight running quite another way)—I say, King William fixed upon Hampton Court, and it was in his reign that Hampton Court put on new clothes, and, being dressed gay and glorious, made* the figure we now see it in.

"The late Queen, taken up for part of her reign in her kind regards to the prince her spouse, was obliged to reside where her care and his health confined her, and in this case kept for the most part at Kensington, where he died; but her Majesty always discovered her delight to be at Windsor, where she chose the little house, as it was called, opposite to the castle, and took the air in her chaise in the parks and forest as she saw occasion.

"Now Hampton Court, by the like alternative, is come into request again; and we find his present Majesty, who is a good judge, too, of the pleasantness and situation of a place of that kind, has taken Hampton Court into his favour, and has made it much his choice for the summer's retreat of the court, and where they may best enjoy the diversions of the season."

Of the Court under the first two Georges Horace