Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/531

 9<" a. IL DEC. 31,

NOTES AND QUERIES.

523

the inner hall with the circular staircase above mentioned. A large door to the lefi opens into the dining-room, which is of gooc proportions and well lighted by a large win- dow at the end, overlooking the old bowling green. The fireplace here is a modern one, the arms of the present baronet (containing eighl quarterings) being painted upon the oak mantel over it. The principal family por- traits are hung here. The first baronet, Sh Robert, is depicted dressed in a blue singlet, with laced frill round his neck, and a gold ring pendent by a silken cord. This same ring appears on the hand of another baronet. It is still in existence, and is sometimes used by Sir Kenneth. It is exceedingly heavy, being nearly half an inch wide, and over an eighth of an inch thick. The arms (three garbs within a bordure engrailed) are heavily cut on a shield, which is very crudely clamped on. This is possibly of fifteenth- century work.

There is a well-painted portrait of Sir John Kemp, the sixth baronet, who died at the age of seventeen, and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey in 1771. Another interesting portrait, dated 1607, represents a gentleman in a red gown lined with fur, with a frill round the neck, and a black skull cap on his head. His left hand rests on a skull. This is believed to be Sir Francis Bacon, "the great luminary of modern science," who in that year was appointed Solicitor-General to King James I. The Kemps and Bacons having intermarried three times, it is pos- sible that this portrait was brought to the family by marriage.

Passing from the dining-room through a large square conservatory, one enters the present smoking-room. This is most likely the oldest room in the house. The walls here are of greater thickness, and pierced by long narrow windows.

The beams and carving in the rooms above are apparently Elizabethan. By the way, there is a tradition current that Elizabeth, when on one of her progresses, halted for a time here. I have not found any record of this.

The drawing-rooms are on the south of the house, and have a good look-out upon the more modern garden and tennis court ; and at a little distance may be seen the cover, which is kept well stocked with pheasants by Sir Kenneth. The library is in the front of the house, and contains a large number of old books, documents, and family relics. Here is a grant of King John of certain lands to the family ; the seal, which is almost perfect, is set upon a tassel cut from the king's dress.

Another valuable treasure is a fine minia- ture of King Charles I. set in gold, richly decorated with enamel in several colours. JLhis was a token of royal regard to the first baronet. I here are also complete pedigrees duly authenticated by the Heralds on their visitations of the county in 1563, 1589, and 1613. On one of these all the arms, with impalmgs and quarterings, are shown from 1324 to 1563.

T\vo old carriages belonging to the family are preserved at Gissing. One of these was used by the third baronet, who died on his way to London to represent the county of buffolk in Parliament in 1734.

The present baronet prefers a dog-cart, and keeps some well-bred horses, as well as an up-to-date stud of bicycles. He is one of the most active men in the county. He is a keen sportsman, and takes a very practical interest in the farming of his several thousand acres. In addition to this he is master of the hounds, a barrister, and partner in the well-known bank of Youells, Lacon & Kemp, Norwich.

FRED. HITCHIN-KEMP. 14, Beechfield Road, Catford.

SHAKSPEARIANA.

'MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.' In the quarto of this play, printed in 1602, the following words are spoken by Falstaff upon hearing a noise, while masquerading in the park in the last act :

lie lay my life the mad Prince of Wales Is stealing his fathers Deare.

Nothing of this occurs in the folio of 1623.

The reason for this omission may be that the words were dropped out of the acting version during the reign of James I., for fear "est they should be construed as a rather tact- ess allusion to the fact that James and his eldest son were not on the best of terms. This Prince Henry seems to have resembled lis predecessor and namesake of two hundred _ ears before in several respects. He was ligh - spirited, and inclined to be wild ; popular, not only for his own qualities, but ilso on account of the contrast between limself and his father, by whom, as it seems, le was suspected and disliked, as popular leirs-apparent have often been suspected and Hsliked by envious kings.

Now the relations between Falstaff 's Prince lal and his father have nothing to do with
 * he subject of the ' Merry Wives,' and the

allusion in question was probably introduced vhen the play was first written in order to emphasize the connexion between it and