Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/57

 WILLIAM, LORD BURGHLEY 41

strain myself to more charges than building is. And yet not without some special direction of her Majesty. Upon fault found with the small measure of her chamber (which was in good measure for me), I was forced to enlarge a room for a larger chamber : which need not be envied of any for riches in it, more than the show of old oaks and such trees, with painted leaves and fruit." His domestic biographer also tells us of Theobalds that " at the first he meant it but for a little pile, as I have heard him say, but after he came to entertain the Queen so often there, he was enforced to enlarge it, rather for the Queen and her grand train, and to set poor on work, than for pomp and glory."

The first two courts completing, probably, the original plan of the house were completed about 1570, and Cecil entertained Elizabeth there in September, 1571. The final enlargement was made between 1584 and 1588.

In every detail of these operations, both in the building of the house and the laying out of the grounds, Cecil was keenly and personally interested. He frequently asked his corre- spondents abroad to send him new books on architecture and gardening, as well as " things meet for his garden." l "He greatly delighted in making gardens, fountains and walks," says his

1 Thus, on one occasion, Windebank, Thomas Cecil's tutor, sent him, at his request, from Paris, " a lemon-tree in a tub, costing 15 crowns, and 2 myrtle trees in pots, costing a crown each, with ample and curious directions for the culture of these plants " (Cal. S. P. Dom., March 25th and April 8th, 1562).

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