Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/75

 WILLIAM, LORD BURGHLEY 55

had made in commemoration of the coronation of Edward VII. 1

The grounds were originally laid out on a large scale. There were enclosed courts on three sides of the house, and on the south extensive pleasure- gardens, formally arranged and including several ponds, a bowling-green, a mount, the " Bantam Grove," wilderness, pheasantry, melon-ground and wilderness. Beyond was the park of 1,500 acres, planted with long and wide avenues, the whole forming a dignified and beautiful setting to the house. All of this was ruthlessly swept away by " Capability " Brown, who destroyed so many of our finest gardens in the last half of the eighteenth century, and the house now rises baldly out of the grass. 2

Burghley's incessant work was already telling on his health. He had always been subject to attacks of gout and fever, and in the spring of 1572 he had a serious illness, so that at one time his life was despaired of. After this attacks became more and more frequent, and he was inundated with extraordinary remedies for gout sent him by various correspondents. In 1575 he went to Buxton, where he met the Queen of Scots, who had received permission to visit that watering- place for the benefit of her health. Burghley's enemies at Court took the opportunity to insinuate

1 See Victoria County History, Northamptonshire, II. 524 526.

J The present Lord and Lady Exeter have done something to remedy the evil ; they have made a formal garden on the south of the house, a new rose garden and other improvements.

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