Note FQ — THE 'LIVES' (continued 6)

(P. 331.) On fol. 34v of MS. Aubr. 9, Aubrey has the following account of Gorhambury:—

'Memorandum in my Liber B[1675]. I have sett downe an exact description of this delicious parquet[1676], now (1656) plowed up and spoil'd. The east part of it which extends towards Verulam-house (pulled downe, and the materialls sold by Sir H<arbottle> Grimston, about ten yeares since) consisted of severall parts, viz. some thickets of plumme-trees, with fine walkes between; some of rasberies. Here were planted most fruit-trees which would grow in our climate; and also severall choice forest-trees. The walkes both of boscages and fruit-trees; and in severall places where were the best prospects, were built elegant summerhouses[1677] of Roman architecture, then standing (1656) well[1678] wainscotted, but the paving gonne. One would have thought the most barbarous nation had made a conquest here. This place was, in his lordship's time, a sanctuary for phesants, partridges, and those of severall kinds and nations, as Spanish, &c. speckled, white, etc. I have, in this lib. B., four leves in fol. close written of the two houses, gardens, woods, &c. and of his lordship's manner of living and grandarie, which perhaps would doe well in a description of Hartfordshire, or, perhaps[1679], in his lordship's life.'