HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION, 
 
 <PrnpI)ic illustrations, 
 
 CASSIOBURY PARK, 
 
 HERTFORDSHIRE 
 
 THE SEAT 01- 
 
 T HE E A R L O F ESSE X 
 
TO 
 
 THE EIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 T II E EARL OF ESS E X, 
 
 MY 1,0 HD, 
 
 Thirty-eight years have elapsed since I had the gratification of first meeting your Lordship, at 
 Hampton Court, in Herefordshire; and, from that time to the present, I have been zealously occupied in 
 developing the histories, and illustrating the architectural features of many of our splendid Cathedrals, and 
 other national Antiquities of various kinds. Your attention, my Lord, has been usefully directed, during the 
 same period, to the numerous changes which have taken place in the political, literary, and graphic condition of 
 our own and of other kingdoms. Those changes have been more remarkable and rapid within the present 
 century, in advancing Art, Science, and Literature; and in promoting the moral amelioration of mankind, than 
 during any corresponding period of time in the annals of the world. We shall find many evidences of this fact in 
 the well-stored Library, and in the works of Art at Cassiobury; whilst your Lordship’s intercourse with the 
 Statesmen, Literati, and Artists, who have frequented that hospitable mansion, must have afforded other proofs. 
 As a review of past times enables us to ascertain what has been done on these subjects in our own country, a 
 contemplation of the present state of political affairs—of the great and glorious reforms which have been effected, 
 and are in progress—and of the moral and mental improvements now operating in this rich and enterprising 
 kingdom—must at once be a source of congratulation and pride to Englishmen. Anticipating a continuation of 
 corresponding advancement for the next half century, the effects must be marvellous. The science of Man 
 will bring nearly all the elements of Nature under his control and dominion; and whilst he is enabled to travel 
 from one end of the island to the other, and also across the ever-restless ocean, by the aid of steam-power and 
 machinery, with a rapidity almost equal to the aerial course of a bird, it may not be impossible that his 
 inventive faculties will render him competent to imitate the feathered race, by flying in the same element. The 
 human mind has already achieved vast conquests over the subtle principles involved in the composition of 
 material bodies—in Chemistry, Geology, Physiology, Astronomy—indeed in the whole Cyclopaedia of Science— 
 and who can circumscribe or define the limits of its powers ? 
 
 That your Lordship may live many years in good health, to witness the realization and substantial effects 
 of the national and moral reforms now in progress in this country, and continue to derive solace and pleasure 
 from the beauties of Nature and Art, as well as from association with men of political integrity, moral worth, 
 and mental attainments, is the sincere wish of 
 
 Your Lordship’s 
 
 Obedient servant, 
 
 Burton 
 
 
 J. BRITTON. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Topography is to Geography what Biography is to History: — the first is particular, local, and of limited compass ; 
 —the second is general, and comprehends a wide extent;—the third shews man in his individual actions and 
 relations; whilst the fourth embraces the annals of nations as influenced by governments and social inititutions. 
 
 Topography is the associate of Geography, Geology, Natural History, and Arclnvology. That it is entitled 
 to the unprejudiced attention of men of learning and of taste may be inferred from the fact that a Walpole 1 , a 
 Whitaker*, a Warton 3 , a Blore 4 , a Gage 5 , a White 6 , a Scott 7 , a Todd 8 , a Hunter 9 , a Baker 10 , and many other 
 
 1 This voluminous and very pleasing “ Noble author” wrote accounts of Houghton Hull, Norfolk, and Strawberry Hill, Middlesex; but did 
 not display much of his usual literary talents on either of those subjects. 
 
 s There were two authors of this name; both topographers, antiquaries, and divines; both inen of genius and learning; but both intemperate 
 partisans in politics ^nd polemics; as well as being harsh literary critics. 
 
 s The Rev. Jjjs. Warton, poet laureat, the learned historian of English poetry, was author of a very interesting topographical volume on 
 “ The History of Kuldington." 4to. 3d edit. 1815. Of the first edition, 1782, only twenty copies were printed. 
 
 4 Tiiomas Blore, father of Edward Blore, now an eminent architect, wrote a “ History of South Winfield," 4 to. 1793, and a volume on a part 
 of the County of Rutland, folio, 1811, both of which evince much knowledge of family history, topography, and antiquities. 
 
 s This gentleman’s “ History of Ilengrave,” 4to. 1822, is a valuable specimen of topography, and shews how much of general interest often 
 belongs to a single family seat. 
 
 0 The well known “ History of Selborne," by this author, is a peculiar topographical work ; being almost wholly devoted to the natural history 
 of the parish, which is rendered exceedingly interesting and amusing. It has passed through several editions. 
 
 7 “ The Harder Antiquities,” and indeed all the publications of this fascinating and popular author, show his vast and commanding powers in 
 antiquarian and topographical, as well as in poetical and didactic literature. 
 
 B The Rev. IT. J. Todd, the learned editor and improver of Dr. Johnson’s Dictionary, has produced a most valuable and delightful 
 topographical volume in “ The History of the College of Bonhommes, at Ashridge,” folio, 1823, with several beautiful engravings. Of this rare and 
 well written work only seventy copies were printed (for private distribution) at an expense of about £.5000. 
 
 9 In the Histories of Hallamskire, 1819, of South Yorkshire, 1828, &c. the Rev. Jos. Hunter has manifested extraordinary zeal and abilities. 
 
 10 The History of Northamptonshire, folio, now in progress, by George Baker, may be referred to as replete with information respecting 
 those parts of the county which are published. 
 
 In addition to these brief remarks on a few of the English topographers, the author is desirous of referring to a new work, which very much 
 resembles the present in size, subject, and mode of treatment. Mr. Robinson’s “ New Vitruvius Britannicus,” contains historical and descriptive 
 accounts, with plans, elevations, views, &c. of Woburn Abbey, 1827, of Hardwicke Hall, 1833, and of Hatfield House, 1835: and it is hoped that 
 the author may be encouraged to illustrate others of the English mansions in the same judicious and accurate style of execution. 
 
 The Duke of Bedford has had printed a most splendid volume on the Woburn Abbey Marbles, folio, 1822; which it is to be regretted is so 
 limited in distribution, as to be almost a sealed casket. Its beautiful and accurate illustrations, with the classical and erudite style of its literary 
 contents, evidently by a most accomplished scholar and critic, place it amongst the very first class of embellished books. 
 
 Fonthill Abbey may be noticed amongst the romances of modern architecture. Its proprietor was a natural necromancer: with the Aaron’s 
 rod of wealth he struck the rock and turned it to a splendid palace. As it sprung up with mystery and rapidity, so it sunk to ruin with more than 
 corresponding celerity. On this extraordinary edifice, and its more extraordinary master, the writer of this work published a quarto volume in 
 1823 in the dedication of which is an account of other publications devoted to particular mansions. 
 
 Nearly contemporary in time of erection with that “ Gothic Seat" was Eaton Hall, in Cheshire, belonging to the Marquess of W estminster, 
 built from the designs of Wm. Porden, architect. On this noble modern house, in a park of vast extent, and placed on the confines of England and 
 Wales a handsome volume of lithographic views, with a plan and descriptive account, by Messrs. J. and J. C. Buckler, has been published, in a 
 size and style somewhat resembling the present work. 
 
 Another topographical volume, devoted to an interesting ancient mansion, demands notice and commendation in this place:—“ The History of 
 Audley-End,” by Richard Lord Braybrooke, 4to. 1836. Besides embracing much valuable information respecting that fine specimen of the 
 architecture of King James’s reign, it contains an account of Saffron Walden, and several engravings illustrating the general design and details of 
 the house. 
 
 b 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 6 
 
 authors have by their labours in this branch of literature secured fame to themselves, and conferred it also 
 on the respective localities which their writings are intended to illustrate. That this science is worthy of 
 diligent and skilful prosecution will be readily admitted by every person of liberal and cultivated mind ; for it 
 brings into comparative life and light long-lost, dark, and neglected events, and persons of former ages. It is a 
 mirror reflecting the men and manners, the customs, conditions, and states of society of our ancestors through 
 all the revolutions of time: shewing to “the mind’s eye” the aboriginal natives of the soil, as well as the 
 other varied classes and nationalities of people who successively waged war against them, and amongst each 
 other. By recording the remote annals of the Britons, the Romans, the Saxons, the Danes, the Normans, 
 and other clans and dynasties, who alternately wielded the sceptre of the whole, or portions of our island, it 
 supplies important aids to our national history, and both tends to enhance its value and give it permanence. On 
 these grounds, and others which might be adduced, the Author ventures to advocate the utility, with the 
 capabilities of Topography; and although every district cannot involve the whole of its elements, there is 
 scarcely any town or parish in Greaf Britain but contains within its area many of them, and affords ample matter 
 for the investigation and exercise of the discriminating talents of the local historian. The natural surface of 
 the earth and its scenic features,—the geology, and the varied effects resulting from the cultivation of the soil,— 
 the civil, military, and religious vestiges which some of its occupants have left behind them, are so many branches 
 and ramifications of the topographic tree. 
 
 After many years devotion to this class of literature, and after deriving from it, both as a study and as a 
 professional pursuit, numerous gratifications, the Author was tempted to undertake the present volume as a matter 
 of amusement and relaxation, rather than as a task of labour. It originated in the Earl of Essex having presented 
 to the author several engraved copper plates, which had been executed for his Lordship when Cassiobury was 
 frequented by some of the first artists of the age (see page 24). Possessing these, the Author was induced to 
 make frequent visits to the place—to procure drawings and engravings of other subjects—and to resort to, as well 
 as to investigate every available source of information. The result is now laid before the reader with an earnest 
 wish that it may be approved. Limiting the number of copies to one hundred and seventy, the Author cannot 
 expect a remunerating profit for labour and money expended, but he will venture to indulge a hope that the 
 volume may not derogate from the small portion of fame that has been awarded to his former literary labours. 
 
 The Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain, and the Cathedral Antiquities of England, have been to the Author 
 objects of great personal and mental toil—they demanded much close study and “ stay-at-home” application, 
 besides repeated journeys to, and residences at the different cities and districts which contain the respective 
 edifices. But, although the whole of these pursuits were highly interesting, and often gratifying, he must 
 acknowledge that the beauties of nature—the ever changing landscape, the flower garden, the grove, the park, 
 the river, the glen, and every page in nature’s volume, have still greater attractions to his eye and fancy. He 
 therefore eagerly undertook to write an account of Cassiobury, as it would necessarily induce him to visit a place 
 so near to the metropolis, and which comprised the objects here enumerated. Several summers have passed 
 away since the generous proprietor of the seat alluded to presented most of the plates published in this volume: 
 and the Author’s reasons for not giving them to the world sooner are, other literary and more urgent engagements, 
 with a desire to obtain more information, and a natural inclination to prolong the pleasures of preparation and 
 anticipation. He could easily have extended the volume with more detailed accounts of persons and objects, 
 but has rather restrained than given latitude to his pen. 
 
 In conclusion, the Author has the pleasure to express his obligations and thanks to the Earl ok Essex, 
 for many years of continued patronage, and particularly for the very generous presentation of the copper 
 plates, impressions from which adorn this volume. He also tenders, and here records his thanks to the 
 Rev. Joseph Hunter,— to George Appleyard, Esq.— to Edward Wbdlake Brayley, Esq.— to 
 Richard Ford, Esq.— to Henry Woodtiiorpe, Esq.— and to Mr. Fellows. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Title (with View of Entrance Lodge). 
 
 Dedication to the Earl of Essex (with Monogram of S. X.).3 
 
 Preface (with View of Swiss Cottage) .5 
 
 List of Illustrations. 7 
 
 List of Subscribers ...... # , ......... . .... 8 
 
 Chap. I. On local History.—The Cassii, Cassio, and Cassiobury.—Julius Ctesar and Cassibelanus.—Connection of Cassio with Verulamium, 
 
 and with St. Alban’s Abbey.—History of the Manor, ( with Views of Thorn, and Cassio-bridge Cottages ) . . . . .9 
 
 Chap. II. Brief Memoirs, with Pedigrees, of the Morrisons and Capels, Lords of the Manor of Cassio, (with the Capel Arms, and Views of 
 
 Bussell, and Ridge Lane Cottages ) .18 
 
 Chap. III. Topographical Description of Modern Cassiobury, with Accounts of the Park, the Gardens, the House and its Pictures, the 
 
 Cottages, Lodges, &c. ( with Plans of Cottages and Lodges, and Views of Great Beech Tree Cottage, and Russell Farm Lodge ) 25 
 
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Subjects. 
 
 
 
 Drawn by 
 
 Engraved by 
 
 I. 
 
 Ground Plan of the House .... 
 
 
 
 R. W. Billings 
 
 R.W. Billings 
 
 II. 
 
 Plan and Views of the old House 
 
 
 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 III. 
 
 West Front of the old House (since pulled down) 
 
 
 
 H. Edridge 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 IV. 
 
 View of the present House from the North West 
 
 
 
 J. M. W. Turner 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 V. 
 
 View from the South West .... 
 
 
 
 W. Alexander 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 VII. 
 
 View at the South West Angle 
 
 
 
 J. M. W. Turner 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 VIII. 
 
 View of the East Front ..... 
 
 
 
 II. Edridge 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 IX. 
 
 View of Part of the Offices .... 
 
 
 
 H. Edridge 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 X. 
 
 View at North East Angle .... 
 
 
 
 H. Edridge 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XI. 
 
 Distant View of the House from the West . 
 
 
 
 J. M. W. Turner 
 
 R. Havell 
 
 XII. 
 
 Interior View of the Great Cloister . 
 
 
 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Interior View of the Great Library 
 
 
 
 A. Pugin 
 
 F. Lewis 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Portrait of Algernon Percy, tenth Earl of Northumberland 
 
 
 Vandyke 
 
 E. Scriven 
 
 XV. 
 
 View of the Swiss Cottage .... 
 
 
 
 A. Pugin 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Plan and Elevations of the Swiss Cottage 
 
 
 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XVII. 
 
 ^ View of the Keeper’s Lodge, or Shepherd’s Cottage 
 
 View of the Navigation Bridge. 
 
 • • • ) 
 
 . . . $ 
 
 A. Pugin 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Views of an Oak and an Elm in the Park . 
 
 
 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Views of Two Firs in the Park .... 
 
 
 
 H. Villiers 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XX. 
 
 Two Views in the Flower Garden 
 
 
 
 A. Pugin 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Interior View of Monumental Chapel in Watford Church 
 
 WOOD CUTS. 
 
 Plans of 
 
 Views 
 
 W. Hunt 
 
 R.W. Billings 
 
 
 Ten Cottages (for accounts of them see page 31) 
 
 No. I. Park Keeper’s 
 
 
 
 II. Fellows 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 II. Thorn. 
 
 View, in 
 
 page 9 . 
 
 W. Hunt 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 III. Shepherd’s, or Keeper's Lodge . 
 
 View, in 
 
 Plate XVII. 
 
 A. Pugin 
 
 J. Hill 
 
 
 IV. Entrance Lodge .... 
 
 View, in 
 
 Title Page . 
 
 R. W. Billings 
 
 J. Wright 
 
 
 V. Ridge Lane. 
 
 View, in 
 
 page 24 
 
 A. Pugin 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 VI. Great Beech Tree .... 
 
 View, in 
 
 page 25 
 
 W. Hunt 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 VII. Russell Farm Lodge .... 
 
 View, in 
 
 page 32 
 
 J. R. Thompson 
 
 J. Wright 
 
 
 VIII. Russell. 
 
 View, in 
 
 page 18 
 
 W. Hunt 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 IX. Cassio-bridge. 
 
 View, in 
 
 page 17 
 
 R. Ilavell 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 X. Swiss Cottage, (in Plate XVI.) . 
 
 View, in 
 
 Preface, p. 5 
 
 R. W. Billings 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 Monogram of Essex (in Dedication) 
 
 
 
 J. Britton 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 
 Arms of the Earl of Essex (in page 21) 
 
 
 
 S. Williams 
 
 S. Williams 
 
ILargr llapcr. 
 
 HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT, 
 
 tVHO COMMANDED SIR JOHN CONROY TO INFORM THE AUTHOR, THAT SHE “ HAD GREAT PLEASURE IN BECOME 
 
 SUBSCRIBER TO HIS HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY J AND THAT IT WAS VERY GRATIFYING TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS TO A! 
 TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A PLACE WHERE SHE WAS ONCE MOST KINDLY RECEIVED BY ITS NOBLE OWNER.” 
 
 His Grace the Duke of Bedford. 
 
 His Grace the Duke of Sutherland. 
 
 The Most Noble the Marquess of Westminster. 
 
 The Right Honourable the Earl of Essex —two copies. 
 
 The Right Honourable Lord Farnborodqh. 
 
 patroness and 
 
 LLOW HER NAME 
 
 Messrs. Artaria, Manheim. 
 William Beckf'ord, Esq. 
 
 R. S. Berry, Esq. 
 
 Henry Broadley, Esq. M. P. 
 David Haliburton, Esq. 
 George Hibbert, Esc 
 
 H. T. Hope, Esq. M. P. 
 Jonathan King, Esq. 
 William Knight, Esq. 
 Mr. Rodwell, Bookseller. 
 W. Stuart, Esq. 
 
 J. Williams, Esq. 
 
 * # * To the Public Li 
 R. Abraham, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Mr. Anderson. 
 
 Charles Andrews, Esq. 
 
 Messrs. J. and A. Arch. 
 
 Messrs. Artaria, Manheim. 
 
 Charles R. Ayres, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Mr. Barnard. 
 
 C. Barry, Esq. Architect. 
 
 G. P. Bidder, Esq. 
 
 Mr. H. G. Bohn, Bookseller. 
 
 Messrs. T. and W. Boone, Booksellers. 
 W. J. Booth, Esq. Architect. 
 
 E. W. Brayley, Esq. F. S. A. 
 
 W. Brockedon, Esq. F. S. A. 
 
 D. Burton, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Sir Francis Chantrey, R. A. 
 
 Mrs. M. Clutterbuck. 
 
 The late T. Clutterbuck, Esq. 
 
 William Cole, Esq. 
 
 John Coles, Esq. 
 
 Messrs. Colnaghi, Booksellers. 
 
 Mr. Colnaghi. 
 
 T. Cubitt, Esq. 
 
 W. Cubitt, Esq. 
 
 L. Cubitt, Esq. 
 
 The Hon. and Rev. H. C. Cust. 
 
 B. R. Davies, Esq. 
 
 H. Davies, Esq. 
 
 J. Dickinson, Esq. 
 
 J. Dobson, Esq. 
 
 F. Edwards, Esq. Architect. 
 
 H. Eginton, Esq. Architect. 
 
 H. Fellows, Esq. 
 
 L. Gage, Esq. 
 
 J. Bull Gardiner, Esq. Architect. 
 
 C. W. Green, Esq. 
 
 Gregory Gregory, Esq. 
 
 H. Gwyn, Esq. 
 
 D. Hamilton, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Mr. R. Have 
 
 Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart 
 
 * To the British Museum —given by Act of Parliament. 
 
 *maU IJaprr. 
 
 His Grace the Duke of Northumberland. 
 
 The Right Honourable the Earl of Essex— -four copies. 
 
 The Most Noble the Marquess of Northampton. 
 
 The Right Honourable Earl Spencer. 
 
 The Right Honourable Earl De Gr 
 The Right Honourable Lord Farnroroucii. 
 
 The Right Honourable Lady Viscountess Beresford. 
 ries of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Dublin, compelled by Act ofParlia 
 
 nt. 
 
 J. Holmes, Esq. 
 
 Adrian Hope, Esq. 
 
 Alexander Hope, Esq. 
 
 James Hopkinson, Esq. 
 
 Thomas Hopper, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. 
 
 The Rev. Jos. Hunter, F. S. A. 
 
 W. Hurst, Esq. Architect. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Ingram. 
 
 W. Jerdan, Esq. 
 
 F. Johnson, Esq. Architect. 
 
 E. H. Kendall, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Charles Knight, Esq. 
 
 C. H. C. Lang, Esq. M. I). 
 
 Mr. Langley, Bookseller. 
 
 Peter Legli, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Lilly, Bookseller. 
 
 Mr. Lindsell, Bookseller. 
 
 Messrs. Lloyd, Booksellers. 
 
 Charles Longman, Esq. 
 
 Messrs. Longman and Co. 
 
 J. C. Loudon, Esq. 
 
 G. P. Manners, Esq. Architect. 
 
 John Martin, Esq. 
 
 F. G. Moon, Esq. 
 
 George Moore, Esq. Architect. 
 
 George Morant, Esq. 
 
 J. Morice, Esq. 
 
 J. Morrison, Esq. M. P. 
 
 Edward Moxon, Esq. 
 
 J. Moyes, Esq. 
 
 J. Murray, Jun. Esq. 
 
 Win. C. Murray, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Nash, Bookseller. 
 
 J. Newman, Esq. Architect. 
 
 J. B. Nichols, Esq. F. S. A. 
 
 Mr. Nidderv, Bookseller. 
 
 Alexander Nicholson, Esq. F. S. A. 
 Thomas Lister Parker, Esq. F. S. A. 
 Messrs. Pavne and Foss, Booksellers. 
 
 Mrs. Platt. 
 
 S. Rawson, Esq. 
 
 H. Rhodes, Esq. Architect. 
 
 C. J. Richardson, Esq. Architect. 
 
 D. Roberts, Esq. 
 
 P. F. Robinson, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Jesse Watts Russell, Esq. 
 
 W. W. Salmon, Esq. 
 
 Thomas Sampsou, Esq. 
 
 J. Sams, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Setchell, Bookseller. 
 
 Sir Robert Smirke, Architect, R. A. 
 Timothy Smith, Esq. 
 
 J. C. Smith, Esq. 
 
 Arthur Taylor, Esq. 
 
 Mr. J. Taylor. 
 
 Mr. P. Thompson, Bookseller. 
 IthielTovvn, Esq. Architect, New York. 
 C. Hanbury Tracy, Esq. 
 
 Edmund Treherne, Esq. 
 
 Thomas Trubshaw, Esq. Architect. 
 
 P. Turnbull, Esq. 
 
 The Rev. T. S. Turnbull. 
 
 George Vivian, Esq. 
 
 Lewis Vulliamy, Esq. Architect. 
 Robert Wallace, Esq. Architect. 
 
 The Rev. John Ward. 
 
 R. Watson, Esq. 
 
 J. M. Watt, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Weale, Bookseller, six copies. 
 
 E. J. Willson, Esq. Architect. 
 
 C. Whittingham, Esq. 
 
 James Williams, Esq. 
 
 E. Williams, Esq. 
 
 Mr. J. Williams, Bookseller, six copies. 
 Mr. George Williams. 
 
 A. B. Wright, Esq. 
 
 Thomas Wyatt, Esq. 
 
 Sir Jeffry Wyatville, Architect, R. A. 
 
 F. R. S. 
 
HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ON LOCAL HISTORY.—THE CASSII, CASSIO, AND CASSIO-BURY.—JULIUS CiESAR AND CASSIBELANUS.—CON¬ 
 NECTION OF CASSIO WITH VERULAMIUM, AND WITH ST. ALBAN’s ABBEY.— HISTORY OF TIIE MANOR. 
 
 T ii F. history of a city, a town, or a rural manor ; of a parish, or even of an ancient fortress ;—like that of a nation, 
 a monarch, or an humble individual, is susceptible of more or less of general interest according to the intrinsic and 
 relative importance of the subject, and to the manner in which it is addressed to the sympathy of the reader. To 
 every place there is a history, were it but duly recorded. Some districts, however, are associated with events 
 well known and of more attractive and commanding consequence than others; and of these the demesne of 
 Cassiobury may be given as an instance. Thebes, Athens, Jerusalem, and Rome are encircled with halos of 
 renown, whence their respective histories cannot fail to secure the attention and animate the feelings of every 
 reader. It is the same with the Yerulamium, the Londinium, and the Camalodunum ol Roman Britain, and 
 other places of later formation ; which, together with the Castles of Dover, of W indsor, and of W arwick, abound 
 in materials for the historian and the antiquary. 
 
 “ Antiquarian research,” says the late eloquent and learned Dr. Whitaker, “ and even poetry itself, have of 
 late been turned to the elucidation of ancient manners: and the pursuit is a decisive proof of the superior 
 intelligence and curiosity which belong to modern times. Heretofore, when an antiquary had given a tolerable 
 view of the ruins of a religious house, the name of the founder, and the date of the foundation, with the manors 
 and carucates which it possessed, in faithful and dull detail, his office was performed, and his readers were 
 satisfied. Meanwhile it never occurred to the one or to the other that all this was the body only, not the soul, of 
 monastic history: that monkish manners, a system of life not only picturesque and magnificent, but combined 
 in some degree both with piety and usefulness, was a study for philosophers; that all its varieties are yet 
 accessible, and what is better, accessible not by direct and formal narrative, but through the medium of 
 inference and deduction (one of the most delightful exercises of an intelligent antiquary) in the compotuses of 
 the religious houses 1 .” 
 
 The Estate and Mansion of Cassiobury, which we are about to illustrate and describe, will be found worthy 
 of diligent study and rational admiration: for they comprise some of those beauties of nature and art which 
 always administer to the Pleasures of Memory, as well as to the Pleasures of Imagination. The name of the 
 place, its connexion with ancient Yerulamium, with the famous monastery at St. Alban’s, and subsequently with 
 
 History of Richmondshire: —Prospectus. 
 
10 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 men of distinguished patriotism and merit, jointly and severally give it the impress of importance. It is true that 
 to the common observer, Cassiobury may appear merely the country seat of a distinguished nobleman ; but as the 
 poet’s imagination “ bodies forth the forms of things unseen,” which with his pen he “ turns to shapes, and gives 
 to airy nothing a local habitation and a name,” so the topographer, in searching for the evidences which lie 
 hidden in the maze of former days, often brings to light important circumstances calculated to impart interest 
 to the locality he illustrates. 
 
 Cassiobury is situated within the hundred and manor of Cassio, and county of Hertford, at a distance of 
 sixteen miles north of London, and one mile from the town of Watford, with which it is ecclesiastically connected. 
 As the chief seat of the manor, and as retaining in its present title a decided indication of an aboriginal 
 descent, the topographer has no reason to doubt of its remote occupancy by a warlike clan of natives, and 
 of its consequent local and general influence:—he cannot hesitate in associating it with a race of Britons, 
 whose numbers, military prowess, and discipline, exercised, and occasionally baffled, the renowned skill of 
 those ancient Romans; who, in their ambitious views of universal conquest, fiercely attacked the unoft'ending 
 inhabitants of this island. A short review of the tribe to which we allude, and of the early annals of the 
 country, as connected with this district, will be useful: for although the remoteness of the period in which 
 the former had independent authority may deprive them of the common sympathies of some readers, others 
 will take a deep interest in ascertaining every possible fact relating to persons who may be properly regarded 
 as the patriots, heroes, or philosophers of an ancient province or a kingdom. Cassibelanus, the chieftain, or 
 prince of the Cassii, a tribe of people who occupied this part of Britain, and whose name is immediately 
 associated with the seat about to be described, is pointed out in Ceesar’s Commentaries as a man of importance, 
 of great bravery, and of military skill. The state of society and the population of this district are also noticed in 
 the same work with such distinctive particulars as cannot fail to interest the historical student. Long before 
 the Roman invasion and colonization of this island, it is admitted to have been occupied by different tribes, or 
 governments, which had been frequently engaged in warfare with each other; but most of whom united and 
 cooperated to resist the foreign invader. Ca?sar tells us, that on his second visit to Britain, (which was in the fifty- 
 fourth year before the nativity of Christ), he landed on the eastern coast of Cantium (the modern Kent); and, 
 having left ten cohorts, with three hundred horse, to guard his fleet, he set out about midnight in quest of the 
 enemy, whom he descried, after twelve hours march. They were advantageously posted behind a river, (probably 
 the Stour) with their cavalry and chariots, but were soon repulsed by the Roman horse, and driven “ into a place 
 strongly fenced both by nature and art, and which, in all probability, had been fortified before on occasion of 
 some domestic war; for all the avenues were secured by strong barricadoes of felled trees 5 .” lie proceeds 
 to say that “ the chief command and administration of the war was, by common consent, conferred on 
 Cassibelanus, whose territories were divided from the maritime states by the Thames, and Avere eighty miles 
 distant from the sea 3 . This prince had hitherto been engaged in almost continual wars with his neighbours; but 
 the terror of our arrival making the Britons unite among themselves, they intrusted him with the whole conduct 
 of the war 1 .” Battles and skirmishes ensued, and the Roman historian admits that the “barbarians,” as 
 he calls the Britons, were formidable, and accustomed to warfare. Whilst the invaders were fortifying 
 their camp, near the Thames, the Britons sallied from the woods, attacked their enemies, and killed several, 
 amongst whom Caesar names Q. Laberius Durus, a military tribune. Many of the Roman cohorts were 
 called into action on that occasion. On the succeeding day, three of the Roman legions, Avith all the cavalry, 
 were sent out to forage, Avhen the Britons fell suddenly upon them, and even attacked the standards; but the 
 disciplined troops received them Avith firmness, and ultimately repulsed them Avith great slaughter. This defeat 
 induced many of the confederated tribes to return to their homes, leaving Cassibelanus to defend his oavii 
 province. In this juncture the chieftain retreated across the Thames into his OAvn dominions, and, fortifying Avith 
 sharp stakes the banks and the bed of the river, at a fording place, he stationed the remainder of his army 
 behind some palisades on the left, or northern bank. But the contest which had dispirited the Britons, served to 
 inflame the ardour of the invaders, who quickly forced a passage across the river, and, by superior military skill, 
 compelled the Britons to quit their station, and precipitately retreat to another, and probably a stronger post 5 . 
 
 * Ctesar’s “ Commentaries of his Wars in Gaul,” translated by Duncan, Book v. sec. viii. 
 
 3 These words evidently imply that the river, where it bounded the territories of Cassibelanus, was eighty miles distant from that part of the 
 coast where Ctesar had landed. 'Ihe original passage is as follows:—“ Summa imperii belliq; administrandi, communi concilio permissa est 
 Cassivellauno: cujus fines ii maritimis civitatibus flurnen dividit, quod appellatur Thamesis, a ruari circiter millia passuum ixxx." De Bello 
 Gallico, by Boxhornius, 1635, p. 53, from Frankfort edit. 1575. It is probable that the march was directed westward, through the district of 
 country now called Kent, and Surrey, and that the Romans reached the Thames near to, or west of Kingston. Carte, in his valuable “ General 
 History of Enyland,'' after shewing that Ciesar could not have devoted more than twenty days to his expedition against Cassibelanus, describes 
 the route to have been —“ by Lenham, Maidstone, Keston-heath, and Woodcote, to Oatlands and Cowey-stakes.” Vol. i. p. 91, 96. Antiquaries 
 are of various opinions respecting the point where Cresar crossed the Thames, as well as the ports whence he embarked from Gaul and landed in 
 Britain. On these subjects the reader is referred to Baxter’s Glossariurn Britunnicum v. Cassii, and Suellaniacis; — Camden’s Britannia, Surrey, 
 edit. 1789, vol. i. p. 167, in which volume at p. 174 are Gough’s comments on Camden and on other writers who have published opinions on the 
 subject. See also Horsley's Britannia Romana, p. 14, Gentleman's Magazine for March, 1797; Kennett’s Parochial Antiquities, p. 3; and 
 Archaologia, vol. i. p. 183. 
 
 * Ceesar’s Commentaries, Book v. sec. ix. 
 
 3 According to Caasar, “ the cavalry plunged into the river; the infantry followed, though the water reached to their shoulders, and the 
 Britons, intimidated by the intrepid aspect of the invaders, fled to the woods.” Polycenus attributes Csesar’s success to the panic caused by the 
 sight of an elephant, at the appearance of which enormous animal, covered with scales of polished steel, and carrying on his back a turret filled with 
 
BRITISH AND ROMAN ANNALS. 
 
 11 
 
 Cassibelanus, retaining only four thousand chariots (such is the admission of Cassar), adopted a cautious march, in 
 retreating before the forces of the Romans, by sheltering himself in woods and places of difficult access, whither 
 he likewise withdrew his subjects, laying waste the country, to annoy and harass the invaders. But the gradually 
 increasing progress of Caesar induced the Trinobantes, the inhabitants of the district now comprising Middlesex 
 and Essex, to appeal to him for protection. This tribe had previously been at war with the Cassii, and their 
 allegiance was therefore readily accepted by Caesar, who hoped to turn their ancient feud to his own purpose. 
 He accepted hostages for their submission, and thus secured greater advantages than he could have 
 obtained by force of arms; for, impatient of the superior power of Cassibelanus, and finding, from the 
 example of the Trinobantes, the immunities to be derived from submission, the Cenimagni, the Segontiaci, 
 the Ancalites, the Bibroci—other British tribes,—and even part of the Cassii, in whose territory Caesar was 
 placed, sent ambassadors to his camp, to solicit protection and peace. This was of course immediately granted, 
 and from his new allies he received intelligence that Cassibelanus, with numbers of the Britons who remained 
 faithful to his cause, had retired with their cattle into the chief fortress, or capital of that chieftain, which 
 was not far distant. This, supposed to be the Roman Verulamium, is described by Caasar, to be a thick wood, 
 fortified with a ditch and rampart, extremely strong both by art and nature, and situated amongst woods and 
 marshes. It was attacked by the Romans, and the barbarians “ were obliged at last to give way, and retire by 
 another part of the wood. Vast numbers of cattle were found in the place; and many of the Britons were 
 either made prisoners or lost their lives in the pursuit 6 .” Thus, although Cassibelanus himself escaped, all 
 obstacles to the further progress of Ctesar were removed; and the failure of an attack upon the Roman fleet, 
 on the coast (made by the order of Cassibelanus) produced a termination of the campaign: for that chieftain, 
 “ discouraged by so many losses, the devastation of his territories, and, above all, the revolt of the provinces,” 
 sent ambassadors to Cmsar to sue for peace. The conqueror demanded hostages, appointed the yearly tribute 
 which Britain was to pay to the Romans, commanded Cassibelanus to offer no injury to the Trinobantes, 
 and then returned to Gaul. 
 
 Such is a brief account of the celebrated invasion by Ctesar; and such are the only authentic particulars 
 extant relating to Cassibelanus, in connexion with the territory of which we are treating. With respect to the 
 invasion itself, we cannot but be struck with the insignificance of its results, and with surprise that advantages 
 so trifling, and obtained with so much difficulty, should have been dignified by the countrymen of Caesar with the 
 name of a conquest. He had not been long enough in the country to have accomplished much (the whole 
 campaign occupying only a few weeks); he had gained only the possession of some prisoners; he left no 
 garrison in the island ; he had stipulated a tribute, which does not appear to have been paid with regularity; 
 and, by his own admission, he had lost a great number of men. Indeed the Romans cannot be said to have 
 subdued Britain until nearly a century after the time of Julius Csesar. 
 
 The character of Cassibelanus has been variously represented, according to the prepossessions or prejudices 
 of different authors. By some he is characterized as an arbitrary tyrant, remarkable for his rancorous 
 habits and vindictive temper, taking advantage of his appointment to the command of the Britons to 
 consummate his private revenge by the murder of Immanuentius, a prince of the Trinobantes; and by thus 
 incensing that tribe, and ultimately deserting his allies when severely pressed by Ceesar, he is said to have 
 been the principal cause of that warrior’s success. But the accounts by Cajsar himself, avIio had no inducement 
 to flattery, and by other and more impartial historians, are calculated to depict a very different character. These 
 authorities no otherwise impeach Cassibelanus than in his murder of Immanuentius; and this is very slightly 
 and incidentally mentioned. It is stated that he was killed before CEesar’s arrival in Britain; and, as some 
 assert, in one of the conflicts between the Cassii and the Trinobantes. With this exception every recorded 
 action of Cassibelanus points him out as the heroic and patriotic defender of his country against the attacks of 
 an ambitious and rapacious enemy; as a soldier well versed in the tactics of a wild, irregular warfare; 
 committino- the greatest devastation amongst the troops of the invaders, and judiciously protecting his own army 
 in retreat; pursuing the same conduct against all the disadvantages of superior numbers and discipline; and 
 surrender! n<>’ only after every possible means of defence had failed. He retained the command of the Cassii 
 after the retreat of Caesar, but we have no further particulars respecting the remainder of his dominion or 
 existence. 
 
 In order to connect this apparent digression with the locality to the illustration of which the present volume 
 is devoted, it will be proper to offer a remark or two upon that class of the Britons called by ancient writers the 
 Cassii. They are distinctly mentioned under the above name both by Julius Casar, as already mentioned, and 
 by Richard of Cirencester 7 . Uniting with another tribe of natives, called the Dobuni, they obtained the name of 
 
 armed men, the Britons fled. viii. 737. Lug. Bat. 1691. At the present time there are many parts of the Thames, 
 Westminster, which might be forded at low water. 
 
 low down as 
 
 6 Ccesar’s Commentaries, b. v. sec. xvii. 
 
 J According to Richard of Cirencester, the dominions of the Cassii were bounded to the south by the Thames; to the west by their allies the 
 Dobuni, whose territories extended to the river Severn; to the north by the Camabii, another British tribe; and to the east by the nver Brent. 
 The latter however, is probably too small and insignificant a stream to have constituted a provincial boundary. 1 he same writer states that 
 their chief cities were those since termed Forum Diame (Dunstable), and Verulamium (old St. Alban's); and that “ the Cassii were 
 conspicuous above the other nations of the island. In quoting from, or referring to Richard of Cirencester, the author is aware of the suspicion 
 attached to his authority, and of the doubtful authenticity of the manuscript from which h.s treatise “ de bitu Britannia: was printed. An 
 interesting translation of, and commentary on it were published in 1809, by Mr. II. Hatcher, of Salisbury, who vindicates its genuineness. 
 
12 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 Catieuchlani, and inhabited the district now known as the hundred of Cassio, with parts of the adjoining country. 
 Writers differ in opinion respecting the origin and descent of the Cassii, as indeed they do, and ever will, on all 
 matters and persons of so remote an age. It is, however, of little consequence whether they were descendants 
 from the aboriginal Celtic inhabitants of the island, as asserted by Clutterbuck; or (as related by Carte and 
 Baxter) a tribe of the Belga?, who invaded the southern part of Britain, and occupied it for a long time 
 before Caesar visited the eastern coast. Their chief town, or station, is generally admitted to have been the place 
 afterwards so famous under the name of Verulamium, of which town extensive remains are still to be traced 
 adjoining the present St. Alban’s, which is distant eight miles north from Cassiobury. 
 
 Of Cassio-bury itself we may observe, that although its name has not been found in any document 
 older than the sixteenth century, yet the affix bury is alone sufficient to denote its antiquity. The meaning 
 of this word is not accurately defined : it was frequently employed by the Saxons in the names of places in 
 England, and is still very extensively retained. The most plausible conjecture is, that it originally signified 
 an assemblage of dwellings surrounded by a wall or other fortification; or in some instances a hill with 
 intrenchments. The modern words burgh and borough, are derived from the same source. Being, as its name 
 implies, the only bury within the manor of Cassio, during the Saxon era, it might have been either the seat of 
 justice for- the hundred 8 (for the name bury will admit of this construction), or an occasional retreat of some 
 of the British princes residing at Verulamium, of whom Cassibelanus was one. The latter view of the subject 
 is more probable than to state, in the absence of evidence (as Chauncy and Clutterbuck do not scruple to do), 
 that Cassiobury was the actual seat or home of Cassibelanus. 
 
 After his time we meet with a few occasional notices of the Cassii and their territories. Under the famous 
 Cunobelin (the Cymbeline of Shakspeare), and the still more illustrious Caractacus, both of whom were 
 successively rulers of the Cassii, that tribe is related to have increased in power and influence, and to have 
 entirely subdued their ancient foes, the Trinobantes. But the struggles of the Britons against the forces of the 
 Roman Emperor, Claudius, were totally unavailing, and Verulamium, the capital of the Cassii, became a military 
 station of those conquerors. With the usual policy of their nation, the Romans secured to the place the rank of a 
 municipium, or free town, granting to its inhabitants their former rights, with the privilege of nominating local 
 magistrates. This measure plainly indicates the previous consequence of the town, as only a few places in 
 Britain had this distinction conferred upon them by the Romans. During the remainder of the Roman 
 dominion in Britain, Verulamium, though possessing peculiar advantages from the protection of its rulers, was 
 subjected to the hostility of certain British tribes who continued opposed to the foreign invaders. Boadicea, 
 the warlike queen of the Iceni, after subduing the inhabitants of Camalodunum and Londinium, attacked those 
 of Verulamium, whom she conquered, and also plundered the town. But on the return of Suetonius, with the 
 Roman forces, after a short absence, the Iceni were again expelled, and the town restored to its former 
 condition. In these struggles the district now called Cassiobury doubtlessly participated, and it is reasonable 
 to conclude that it continued dependent on, and connected with the Municipium until the Romans abandoned the 
 island, about the year 420. 
 
 After that event the part of the country whose history we are detailing, must have been variously influenced 
 by the great national conflicts with the Piets and Scots, and afterwards with the Saxons. As early as the middle 
 of the fifth century Verulamium is recorded to have been subjected to, and occupied by the Saxons, but 
 was recovered from them in a battle fought there by the Britons under their chieftain Uter Pendragon, who 
 appears to have possessed it only for a short time. The influence and dominion of the Saxons steadily 
 increased, and when most of the kingdoms forming the Heptarchy had been established, that of Mercia was 
 founded in the year 586, by Creda, its first monarch ; and the western, or greater part of the modern county 
 of Hertford (including the modern Cassiobury) was then, or soon afterwards, seized upon by the conquerors 
 as a part of that extensive kingdom. 
 
 During the reign of Peada, the great grandson of Creda, the Christian religion was revived in Mercia. It 
 had been promulgated in Britain at a very early period, and at the beginning of the third century was generally 
 established in the island. The Emperor Diocletian commenced a persecution of the British Christians, on 
 which occasion it was that Albanus, or St. Alban, the first British martyr, suffered death by decapitation 
 on account of his religion. This event occurred at Verulamium, about the year 300. Fortunately, however, 
 
 Dr. Stukcley first gave it the British nation in 1757, in the form of a quarto pamphlet, under the title of “ An Account of Richard of Cirencester, 
 Monk of Westminster, and of his Works; with his ancient Map of Roman Britain, and the Itinerary thereof. Read at the Antiquarian Society, 
 May 18, 1756.” This treatise was sent from Copenhagen in a series of letters by C. J. Bertram to Dr. Stukeley, after a long correspondence 
 between them. The former affected much mystery about it, and never gave a satisfactory account of the manner he obtained the manuscript, 
 excepting that it was “ in a friend’s hands,” alluding to Mr. Gramm, privy councillor and librarian to the King of Denmark. The learned, but too 
 credulous Doctor calls the treatise “an invaluable curiosity,” adding that the whole “ is wrote with great judgment, perspicuity, and conciseness, 
 as by one that was master of his subject.” Mr. Rickman, of the House of Commons, and the Rev. Joseph Hunter, the learned and discriminating 
 historian of South Yorkshire, with other able topographical antiquaries, have expressed themselves suspicious of the genuineness of the treatise. 
 The author of the present volume has lately obtained possession of a large mass of manuscripts belonging to the late Dr. Stukeley, amongst which 
 are Bertram’s letters, which show precisely the amount of information given to Dr. Stukeley, and also that, if there was any imposition, 
 the Doctor was not a party to it. He could never bring Bertram to the point either of producing the manuscript, or of saying where it might be 
 seen. The question is worthy of diligent inquiry and development, and it would afford the author much pleasure to render every assistance in his 
 power towards effecting its solution. 
 
 That Cassiobury was the seat of justice for the hundred is rendered more probable by the fact that the hundred courts are now held at 
 Watford, to which place they would naturally have been transferred when it assumed the rank of a town. 
 
ANGLO SAXON ANNALS. 
 
 13 
 
 Diocletian resigned his command and authority, and, under Constantine the Great, Christianity was again 
 protected. English bishops were present at the Council of Arles, in the year 314, and both monks and 
 monasteries prevailed in Britain at the beginning of the fifth century. On the arrival of St. Augustine, in the 
 year 596, the conversion of the Saxons commenced, although it was not until after 640 that Peada, king of 
 Mercia, as already stated, adopted the Christian faith, and aided in its diffusion throughout his kingdom. 
 Henceforward Christianity prevailed in Mercia, probably more than in any other part of the island; for 
 ecclesiastical synods were held at Hertford, and at Hatfield, and the seat of a bishop of Mercia was fixed 
 at Lichfield. Offa, who governed this province in the eighth century, was the most powerful prince of the 
 Heptarchy. He procured, for a short time, the title of an archbishopric for the see of Lichfield, and continually 
 endeavoured, by an excess of superstitious devotion, to atone for the crimes into which he was led by his 
 ambition. Acting upon this principle, after he had treacherously murdered Ethelred, king of East Anglia, he 
 pretended that the grave of Albanus had been discovered to him in a vision, and that he was impelled to found a 
 monastery on the site of his martyrdom. Accordingly, in the year 793, he visited Rome, procured the 
 canonization of St. Alban, and his own absolution, returned to England, and established the celebrated monastery 
 of St. Alban’s, adjoining the ancient town of Verulamium ; or, as it was called by the Saxons, V erlamcester. 
 
 Amongst the numerous possessions with which Offa endowed this Abbey were the manor and tithe of 
 Cassio 9 . This is another proof of the continual dependence of this manor upon the town of Verulamium, and 
 from the authority which Offa appears thus to have assumed over it, we may reasonably suppose that on 
 the establishment of the Mercian dynasty, and throughout its continuance, Cassio and its judicial rights and 
 privileges, as well as those of Verulamium, were possessed by the Mercian monarchs as royalties. 
 
 Under the government of Offa, the kingdoms of Kent, of the East Saxons, and of East Anglia became subject 
 to Mercia ; but about the year 827, the whole of England became united under the dominion of Egbert, king of 
 Wessex. The manor of Cassio, as will be seen hereafter, remained a part of the possessions of St. Alban’s 
 Abbey until the dissolution of the religious houses by Henry VIII. 
 
 Having occasionally mentioned the county of Hertford, the hundred of Cassio, and other territorial denomi¬ 
 nations, it may be proper to offer a few remarks on the ancient political divisions of land. The countries 
 occupied by the Saxons before they passed into Britain are described by Roman historians as being divided into 
 shires and townships, or hundreds, and it is therefore presumed that immediately that people had permanently 
 settled themselves in this island they apportioned it in a similar manner: such arrangements are mentioned by 
 Bede, and by William of Malmesbury, as existing some time before the Saxon heptarchy was consolidated into 
 one kingdom. But whether this was the case or not, it is quite certain that the whole realm was surveyed by 
 Alfred the Great, and its civil divisions remodelled and improved. That celebrated monarch divided England 
 into a number of shires, or counties, nearly corresponding in name, situation, and extent with those at present 
 subsisting; these counties were again subdivided into centuries, or hundreds, each of which contained about a 
 hundred families; and every hundred was again divided into decennaries, or tithings, of about ten families each. 
 When an entire hundred was granted to a particular person, or body, as a franchise, it was usually called a 
 liberty. The manors, baronies, or lordships of each hundred were particular tracts of land granted by the kino- 
 to his thanes, or nobles, for certain payments, or warlike services, to be rendered in time of need, and were 
 independent of the abovementioned political divisions. 
 
 The members of each respective tithing, or free borough, formed a court at which disputes were adjusted, 
 and which was placed under the control of the chief member of the tithing, who was called the tithing-man, or 
 head-borough. Of higher importance were the hundred-courts; formed by an aggregation of all the tithings in each 
 hundred, and presided over by the hundredor, who was a thane possessing property in the hundred, and receiving 
 a portion of all the fines he inflicted: and the principal local courts of the kingdom were the shiregemots, or 
 county-courts. Of the latter the chief officer was the principal earl, or thane, of the shire, who was assisted at the 
 sittings of the court by a deputy called the shiregcrieve, and by the bishop and other eminent personages of the 
 county. His court was an important tribunal, being open for the determining of military and ecclesiastical, as 
 well as civil questions. The lords of manors, or baronies, had also the privilege of holding courts-baron for 
 their limited localities. 
 
 The institution of parishes was an ecclesiastical measure, independent of, and of subsequent date to all the 
 former. Originally the word parish was synonymous with the diocese of a bishop ; but when the lords of manors 
 built churches on their own lands, they compelled the tenants to appropriate their tithes to the minister of such 
 church alone, and not to the clergy of the diocese in general; and the tract of land, of which the tithes were thus 
 appropriated, was termed a parish. The extent of parishes seems to have been originally determined by that of 
 manors ; for although there are often many manors in a parish, yet a manor seldom extends beyond a parish. 
 
 To illustrate the foregoing remarks, we may observe that the hundred of Cassio, forming with seven other 
 hundreds the county, or shire of Hertford, was probably founded either by, or before the time of Alfred the 
 Great 10 . The manor of Cassio was probably so first constituted when it was granted by Offa to the abbey of 
 
 9 Newcome, “ History of the Abbey of St. Alban,” p. 515. The original charter of Offa, given in the Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 223, has only 
 the words “ ubi dicitur Aetcaeyesho, mansiones xxxiiij.” 
 
 10 At the time of the Norman conquest it was called the hundred of Albanestone, which had probably been its denomination from the time 
 St. Alban’s became its chief town. 
 
14 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 St. Alban's ; but of the time when the parish of Watford was established, and embraced and absorbed the hamlet 
 of Cassiobury, it is difficult to speak. Parishes in general are known to have been extant in the tenth century, 
 and that of Watford was in all probability formed at the time of the erection of the first church there, the 
 date of which was anterior to the time of Henry II. Agreeably to the practice already noticed, the parish 
 of Watford contains several manors besides that of Cassio, none of which extend into any of the adjoining 
 parishes. 
 
 From the time of founding the abbey of St. Alban’s until after the Norman conquest, we have no notice 
 of this place ; but it is not improbable that both before and after that event either the successive abbots or some 
 of their officers occasionally resided at Cassiobury. On its condition and appearance so many centuries 
 ago, it would be a waste of time and space to offer any speculations. If at any time a dwelling had been 
 erected for the use of the monastic officers, all evidences of it are lost. Indeed, vague as it is, the most authentic 
 information we possess respecting the manor at this period is contained in the following extract from the 
 celebrated Domesday Survey, which thus notices it, in translated language, “ The abbot of St. Alban s holds 
 Caissou. It answers for twenty hides; of these the abbot holds nineteen. There is land for twenty-two ploughs. 
 Six hides are in demesne, and there are five ploughs, and a sixth may yet be made. Three foreigners and 
 thirty-six villanes, with eight bordars, have there fifteen ploughs, and one may yet be made. There are, moreover, 
 three bordars, and two bondmen, and four mills of twenty-six shillings and eight pence. Meadow for twenty-two 
 ploughs. Pasture for the cattle. Pannage for one thousand hogs. Its whole value is twenty-eight pounds ; 
 when received twenty-four pounds; and in King Edward's time thirty pounds. St. Alban held and holds this 
 
 manor in demesne 11 .” _ 
 
 Our next notice states that Geoffrey de Gorham, abbot of St. Alban’s from 1119 to 1146, in his regulations 
 for managing the abbey revenues, which are detailed by Matthew Paris (p. 1008), specifies the festival dues from 
 Kniao (Cassio) as follows, viz. at Christmas, two shillings and twenty-four hens; at Easter, two shillings and six 
 hundred eggs; and on St. Alban’s day, two shillings and twenty-four cheeses. On rebuilding a cell for nuns at 
 CaddingtoiTin Bedfordshire, this abbot endowed it with the tithes of Cassio, and two parts of the tithes of the 
 whole parish of Watford, “ without the consent of the convent, and, as it were, by force 1 -.” Geoffrey was also 
 the first abbot to whom a grant of the liberty of Cassio was formally made, by King Henry I.; “ that is, the great 
 civil power of holding pleas, and taking cognizance of all less crimes and offences, which had been punishable 
 only in the leets, the hundred, and the county-courts, with a power of appointing a seneschalhts, or steward of the 
 hundred; and of receiving, for the use of the abbey, all fines and amercements. But though there was an 
 hundred court here before, yet the powers now granted were, the privilege of resembling the county-courts, and 
 holding the same pleas with them 13 .” 
 
 By the return to an inquisition, 6th Edw. I. 11 it is stated that the manors of “ Cashio, Bykemeresworth, and 
 Saundrid< r e, were ancient demesne, and were held of the king, time out of mind before the conquest of 
 England.” This manor and six others were then held by the abbot, in capite, by the service of four knights’ fees 
 and a half. These facts tend to exemplify the right which Offa assumed on founding the monastery 15 . 
 
 By various Acts of Parliament passed between 1530 and 1540, and other legislative and royal measures, 
 the gradual but total separation of the church of England from that of Rome was effected. Commissioners were 
 appointed by King Henry VIII. to visit all the religious houses of the kingdom, to take accounts of their 
 possessions, and ultimately to enforce their suppression, and transfer their revenues to the crown. The abbot 
 of St. Alban’s appears to have refused to surrender his abbey in 1537 16 ; but, dying in the succeeding year, 
 Richard Boreman, otherwise Stevenage, was appointed in his stead; who, on the 5th of December 1539, 
 delivered up the whole revenues of the monastery to the royal Commissioners. 
 
 In the Valor Ecclesiasticus 17 (1535) the vicarage of Watford is thus noticed :— 
 
 “ Watford Vicaria £. s. d. 
 
 p ann’ clare.xxij xij — 
 
 X me inde.— xliij ij ob.” 
 
 11 Liber Domesday, n. 10, fo. 136. A copy of the original Latin is given by Chauncy and by Clutterbuck. The word francigena is correctly 
 translated foreigner, as it was not exclusively applied to Frenchmen, but to all persons who were not natives of England. Villanes, bordars, and 
 bondmen were the subordinate tenants of the land. The latter are sometimes called pure villanes, or villanes in gross, and were the absolute slaves 
 of their lord, alienable and transferable at his pleasure. The first named, or villanes regardant, were on the other hand appurtenances of the 
 manor, which they accompanied in all its descents. For certain menial services, and the payment of a small rent, they were allowed the possession 
 of a house and land: whence their name was derived (villa, a farm.) The bordars, or borderers, were so called from holding a small house, or bord, 
 on the manor, or on its borders; or else because their tenure depended on their supplying their lord’s board, or table, with certain provisions. 
 Pannage for hogs signifies the mast of the forest, i. e. the fruit of the oak and beech. The circumstance of so small a portion of the manor as one 
 hide out of twenty being granted by the abbey to a tenant, implies that Cassiobury was retained by the abbots as a residence. 
 
 ■2 Newcome’s History of the Abbey of St. Alban, p. 60. See Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, new edit. vol. ii. p. 135. 
 
 13 Newcome, ut supra, p. 61. '* Rot. 33 Cur. recept. in scacc. (cited by Chauncy and Clutterbuck.) 
 
 15 The judicial rights of the abbey were exercised by a civil officer called the liundredor, whose privileges were confirmed and extended by the 
 charters of several successive monarchs; and on the dissolution of the abbey the office became vested in the crown. It remained dormant until the 
 ninth year of James the First, when “all our hundred ofCaishew, with its rights, members, liberties, and the office of hundredor,” &c. was 
 granted by the king to George and Thomas Whitmore, of London, Esqrs. The same was afterwards conveyed by purchase to the Earls of 
 Salisbury, and now belongs to the present Marquis of Salisbury. Newcome, p. 543. 
 
 16 See Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum, new edit. vol. ii. p. 249. 
 
 Vol. i. p. 451. 
 
CASSIOBURY IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 
 
 15 
 
 In the Roll of the 35th Henry VIII. (1544), when a more particular survey of the abbatial property was 
 made, the localities we are illustrating are specified and valued as follows: 
 
 Caisho Manor, and Watford. John, Lord Russell, Great Admiral of all England, Bailiff 18 . 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 By free Tenants. 1492 
 
 Tenants at will.0 15 4 
 
 Rent in oats, one quarter.016 
 
 Manor of Caissho, let to William Dauncey, Esq. . 14 2 0 
 
 The Ley in Watford.300 
 
 Rectory of Watford.18 13 4 
 
 Perquisites of courts .1 13 6 
 
 £. , 9 . d. 
 
 By customary tenants.41 11 6£ 
 
 Lands part of Rectory of Watford.0 7 9 
 
 Harwood’s, a messuage in Watford, let to Roger 
 
 Weedon.8 13 4 
 
 Water mill, with toll.13 0 0 
 
 Portions of tithe in Watford. 1120 
 
 On the 29th of August, 1546, only five months before the death of King Henry the Eighth, that monarch 
 granted the manor of Cassio to Sir Richard Morrison, Knight, by letters patent, of which the following is an 
 abstract.—His Majesty, in consideration of certain property in Yorkshire and Worcestershire, and of the sum 
 of 176/. 17«- 6cl. in money, granted to Sir Richard Moryson “ the lordship or manor of Caysliobury,” formerly 
 belonging to the monastery of St. Alban’s, with Wheppinden-Grove, and Cayshobury-Grove, “ in the parish of 
 Watford and Cayshobury;” and all woods, underwoods, and trees, with the land and soil of the same: also all 
 messuages, mills, houses, courts leet, courts baron, view of frankpledge, villains, with their offspring, knights’ 
 fees, waifs, estrays, &c. thereto belonging, in as complete a manner as the abbots and priors of the said 
 monastery had held the same: which manors, See. then amounted to the clear annual sum of 56/. 5s. 4 d. 
 To hold the same of the crown by the service of the tenth part of a knight, and paying for the same 
 yearly 51. 12s. 6\d. 
 
 Although Cassiobury was evidently of some importance prior to the date of the above grant, yet in an 
 historical or political point of view it had not attained any distinguished eminence. Before the Norman conquest 
 it was subordinate to Verulamium, and when Henry I. gave to the adjoining town of Watford a weekly 
 market, the latter began to assume that preeminence over the hamlet of Cassiobury, which it still retains 19 . 
 
 The grant of the lordship to Sir Richard Morrison brings us to an epoch whence we may confine our views 
 and notices to the demesne of Cassiobury, and which identifies it as the seat of a private individual. Soon after 
 Sir Richard had obtained possession, he commenced the erection of “ a fair and large house, situated upon a dry 
 hill, not far from a pleasant river in a fair park ; and had prepared materials for the finishing thereof, but before 
 the same could be half built, he was forced to fly beyond the seas* 0 .” His works were in progress in 1553, and 
 the house appears to have been completed by his son, Sir Charles Morrison, who died in 1599- Of this building 
 it will not be very difficult to imagine the general architectural appearance. It may be presumed that the 
 knight’s long residence abroad would induce him to adopt a foreign character in his habitation at home. 
 In the “ Baronetage,” of 1720, the house built by the Morrisons is briefly described as having been “ a 
 stately structure, in the midst of a park, with beautiful gardens and wood-walks.” The majority of mansions 
 built during the latter half of the sixteenth century were of brick, surrounding a square court, with an 
 ornamental gateway. Their marked exterior features were bay-windows, acute gables, and elaborate chimney 
 shafts, whilst small cupolas, or turrets, balustraded terraces, and other forms and details, marked a gradation 
 between the ecclesiastical architecture and that cinque-cento, or Anglo-Italian style of building, which has been 
 lately called the Elizabethan 21 . 
 
 On the marriage of Elizabeth Morrison (the only surviving child of Sir Richard’s grandson), the family 
 property passed to her husband, Arthur, Lord Capel; from whom the present possessor of Cassiobury is lineally 
 descended. This seat, however, appears to have been neglected by Lord Capel, in favour of his family 
 residence, at Hadham, in the same county ; to which place he was doubtlessly attached by a variety of 
 associations. His son and successor, the first Earl of Essex, for a time resided at the same seat; but after 
 his return from Ireland, in 1677, he resolved to reside at Cassiobury, which, it may be presumed, required 
 material reparations. It is related that he not merely repaired the house, but rebuilt the whole excepting the 
 north-west wing. In laying out the gardens, in the formal style of those at Versailles, &c. he employed Moses 
 Cook, who published a volume on “ Forest Trees” in 1675**. 
 
 18 Newcome’s History of St. Alban, p. 487. 
 
 19 The Vicarage of Watford was part of the possessions of the abbey of St. Alban’s, and prior to the grant of the manor to Sir Richard 
 Morrison, the impropriate rectory and advowson of the vicarage had been bestowed by Henry VIII. on John, Lord Russell. From that nobleman 
 they descended to Francis, the second Earl of Bedford, who, by a deed, dated June 5, in the fifth year of Queen Elizabeth, sold them to Sir Charles 
 Morrison, of Cassiobury: since which time they have always accompanied the manor of Cassio. 
 
 20 Chauncy’s “ Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire,’’ edit. 1826, vol. ii. p. 353. 
 
 21 The character of “ a palace,” or country mansion, as described by Francis Bacon, Lord Verulara, may be considered as applicable to the 
 most eminent houses of the time when he wrote (about 1597). In recommending, and that most wisely, attention to site, soil, water, air, prospects, 
 roads markets woods, lawns, navigable rivers, neighbourhood, and other matters conducive or repugnant to domestic comforts and luxuries, he 
 says/“ houses are built to live in, and not to look on: therefore let use be preferred before uniformitie; except where both may be had.”— 
 Bacon’s “ Essays and Counsels,” Essay XLV. On Building. 
 
 22 Some writers have stated that Le Notre was employed at Cassiobury, and Clutterbuck says that Rose laid out the grounds and gardens: 
 the latter was head gardener to the Earl at Essex-house in the Strand. 
 
16 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 The following interesting description of the house and grounds, extracted from the first volume of Evelyn’s 
 Memoirs (p. 517), under the date of the 18th of April, 1680, is told with all the characteristic quaintness of that 
 author’s manner :—“ On the earnest invitation of the Earle of Essex I went with him to his house at Cashioberie, 
 in Hartford-shire. It was on Sunday, but going early from his house in the square of St. James, we arriv’d by 
 ten o’clock; this he thought too late to go to church, and we had prayers in his chapell. The house is new, a 
 plaine fabric, built by my friend Mr. Hugh May* 3 . There are divers faire and good roomes, and excellent 
 carving by Gibbons, especialy the chimney-piece of y° library. There is in the porch or entrance a painting by 
 Verrio, of Apollo and the Liberal Arts. One room parquetted with yew, which I lik’d well. Some of the 
 chimney mantles are of Irish marble, brought by my Lord from Ireland when he was Lord Lieutenant, and 
 not much inferior to Italian. The tympanum or gabal at the front is a bass-relievo of Diana hunting, cut 
 in Portland stone, handsomely enough. I did not approve of the middle dores being round, but when the 
 Hall is finish’d as design’d, it being an oval with a cupola, together with the other wing, it will be a very noble 
 palace. The Library is large, and very nobly furnish'd, and all the books are richly bound and gilded; but 
 there are no MSS. except the Parliament Rolls and Journals, the transcribing and binding of w ch cost him, 
 as he assured me, 500/. No man has ben more industrious than this noble Lord in planting about his seate, 
 adorn’d with walkes, ponds, and other rural elegancies; but the soile is stonie, churlish, and uneven, nor is the 
 water neere enough to the house, tho’ a very swift and cleare streame run within a flight shot from it in the 
 vally, which may be fitly call’d Coldbrook, it being indeede excessive cold, yet producing fair troutes. ’Tis 
 pitty the house was not situated to more advantage, but it seemes it was built just where the old one was, 
 which I believe he onely meant to repaire; this leads men into irremediable errors, and saves but a little. The 
 land about it is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldnesse of the place hinders the growth. Black cherry- 
 trees prosper even to considerable timber, some being eighty foote long* 4 ; they make also very handsome 
 avenues. There is a pretty oval at the end of a faire walke, set about with treble rows of Spanish chesnut trees. 
 The gardens are very rare, and cannot be otherwise, having so skilful an artist to govern them as Mr. Cooke, 
 who is, as to y B mechanic part, not ignorant in Mathematics, and pretends to Astrologie. There is an excellent 
 collection of the choicest fruit. As for my Lord, he is a sober, wise, judicious, and pondering person, not 
 illiterate beyond the rate of most noblemen in this age, very well vers’d in English historie and affaires, 
 industrious, frugal, methodical, and every way accomplish’d. His Lady (being sister of the late Earle of 
 Northumberland) is a wise, yet somewhat melancholy woman, setting her heart too much on the little lady her 
 daughter, of whom she is over fond. They have an hopeful son at y* Academie. My Lord was not long since 
 come from his Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland, where he shew’d his abilities in administration and government, as 
 well as prudence in considerably augmenting his estate without reproch. He had been Ambass r Extraordinary 
 in Denmark, and, in a word, such a person as became the sonn of that worthy Hero his father to be, the late 
 Lord Capel, who lost his life for K. Charles I. Y r e spent our time in the mornings in walking or riding, and 
 contriving [alterations], and the afternoones in the Library, so as I pass’d my time for 3 or 4 daies with much 
 satisfaction. He was pleas’d in conversation to impart to me divers particulars of state, relating to the present 
 
 times. He being no great friend to the D- [Duke of York] was now laid aside, his integritie and abilities 
 
 being not so suiteable in this conjuncture. 21. I returned to London.” 
 
 Of the Gardens generally, at this period, we may observe, that they were strictly in the French style, so 
 much admired by Sir William Temple, at Moor Park, in Hertfordshire* 5 ; their principal features being regular 
 parterres, with fountains and statues; terraces communicating with each other by flights of steps, summer houses 
 and grottoes, rock work, artificial cascades, &c. Lord Capel, the father of the first Earl of Essex, appears to 
 have cultivated many choice foreign plants with great care at Kew ; the brother also of the earl, (Sir Henry 
 Capel, afterwards Lord Capel of Tewkesbury), is repeatedly mentioned by contemporary writers as an industrious 
 and skilful gardener; whilst the partialities and qualifications of the earl himself are sufficiently proved by his 
 works at Cassiobury. The gardens had been previously laid out by the Morrisons, in a style and manner 
 corresponding with the fashion of the age, which is well described by Aubrey* 6 , and noticed by Lord Verulam in 
 the forty-sixth of his “ Essays, or Councils, Civil and Moral.” The bird’s eye view of Cassiobury, engraved by 
 J. Kip, from a drawing by Knyff, displays the house, park, and gardens as they appeared about a. d. 1680. 
 
 Moses Cook, gardener to the first Earl of Essex, in the dedication to his lordship of the volume “ on 
 the raising of Forest Trees* 7 ,” compliments his patron in the following terms, on the improvements which 
 his lordship had effected at Cassiobury:—“ To your eternal Praise be it spoken, there is many a fine Tree which 
 you have nursed up from Seeds sown by your own Hands, and many Thousands more which you have 
 
 ” Evelyn is the only authority for the name of this architect. In a note to Cresy’s translation of Milizia’s “ Lives of the Architects” (vol. ii. 
 p. 165), Cassiobury house is erroneously said to have been the production of Inigo Jones. 
 
 °* Cook, the earl’s gardener, mentions one which on measuring he found to be eighty-five feet high. Cook’s Forest Trees, p. 92. 
 
 “ See the folio edition of that author’s works, vol. i. p. 185. This splendid seat is now the property of the Marquess of Westminster. 
 
 96 See MSS. in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, printed in “ Letters, &c. from the Bodleian Library,” 3 vols. 8vo. 1813. 
 
 97 “The Manner of Raising, Ordering, and Improving Forest-Trees: with Directions how to Plant, Make, and Keep Woods, Walks, Avenues, 
 Lawns, Hedges, &c. Also Rules and Tables shewing how the Ingenious Planter may measure Superficial Figures, divide Woods or Land, and 
 measure Timber and other solid Bodies, either by Arithmetick or Geometry: With the Uses of that excellent Line, the Line of Numbers, by 
 several new Examples; and many other Rules, useful for most Men. Illustrated with Figures, proper for Avenues, Walks, and Lawns, &c. By 
 Moses Cook, Gardiner to the Earl of Essex at Cashioberry.” Third Edition, corrected. 1724. 8vo. Printed for Elizabeth Bell, &c. 1st edit. 1675. 
 
GROUNDS AND GARDENS. 17 
 
 commanded me to raise.” “ The large Plantation you have made will abundantly testify your Ability and 
 Promptitude in promoting the planting and improving of Forest-Trees.” The humble gardener is jocosely 
 allegorical in part of his dedication, by saying “ your Excellency knows full well how to prune young trees, yet I 
 hope you will pass by the impertinent and superfluous lines in this my plantation; which though I have 
 endeavoured to keep as well pruned from errors, and as clean from weeds as I could, yet ’tis possible there may be 
 some things in it which some may term as ill: But to you all things in it are so well known that I hope both it 
 and I shall find such shelter and support by your favourable aspect as that we need not to fear the storms of the 
 ignorant or negligent planters.” 
 
 Again, in 1715, the same gardens are eulogised by Stephen Switzer, in his curious volume entituled “ The 
 Nobleman, Gentleman, and Gardener’s Recreation; or, an Introduction to Gardening, Planting, Agriculture, 
 and the other Business and Pleasures of a Country Life.” (8vo.) lie says, “ It must not be pass’d by, that 
 Cashiobury was one of the first places in England where the polite Spirit of Gardening shone the Brightest; for 
 altho’ there have been great Additions made there within a few Years last past, the main Foundation was laid by 
 that Worthy and Honorable Patriot of his Country, under the more immediate conduct of Mr. Cook, his 
 Gardener, yet living; who has likewise oblig’d the World with a Discourse concerning the raising of Forest 
 'Frees, &c. which is still extant. I must confess I never see that truly delightful Place without being more than 
 ordinarily ravish’d with its Natural Beauty.” p. 4G. 
 
 The latter quotation, written after the death of Algernon, the second Earl of Essex, intimates that various 
 alterations had been made in the gardens by that nobleman ; and it is believed that some parts of the original 
 mansion, not rebuilt by the first Earl, were restored by his successor: but with the exception of those, and 
 a few other occasional repairs, the house remained as it was left by the first Earl of Essex until the beginning of 
 the nineteenth century, when the present nobleman again rebuilt the greater part from the designs of James 
 Wyatt, Esq. 
 
 A brief notice of this building, and its contents, with an account of the park, gardens, and grounds, will be 
 found in the concluding chapter of the present volume. 
 
18 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 UTil EF MEMOIRS, WITH PEDIGREES, OF THE MORRISONS AND THE CAPEI.S, LORDS OF THE MANOR OF CASSIO. 
 
 In the preceding chapter it has been stated that, after the dissolution of the abbey of St. Alban’s, King 
 Henry VIII. granted the manor of Cassio to Richard Morrison, Esq . 1 who was subsequently knighted : and, as it 
 was through that distinguished individual and his successor that the seat attained its future consequence, it is 
 presumed that a Pedigree and a brief memoir of the family cannot be irrelevant, or uninteresting. 
 
 PEDIGREE OF THE MORRISONS', LORDS OF THE MANOR OF CASSIO. 
 
 Ann'i i vi , 11 o\<1. for died—mar. married—bo. born—bur. buried—Will. Watford—dau. daughter. 
 
 WILLIAM MORRISON, of Clmrdwoll, Yorkshire. 
 
 Willi '" MnnmsuN, of Chard well. —Elizabeth, dan. of Roger Leigh, of Preston, Yorkshire. 
 
 i This Pedigree is compiled from .lekyll's '• .MS. Acconnl of the earlj Baronets,” Hnrl. MSS. No. 5188, f. 20, in the British Museum from the Monuments in Watford cliorcb, &c. 
 - Fur an account of the marriages with the Russell family, see W illeu's very handsome and interesting ■■ lliitoriail Memoirs of the House of Russell," 2 rols. royal 8ro. 1883. 
 
 1 The modern orthography of this name, adopted above, differs from that of old. Sir Richard Morrison signed his letters and dispatches 
 “ Morysittebut the word is spelt as above, in MSS. at Cassiobury, dated in 1(157, in Clutterbuck's “ History of Hertfordshire," and by other 
 modern writers. 
 
ACCOUNT OF THE MORRISONS. 
 
 19 
 
 According to Jekyll®, William Morrison, or Morysine, resided at a place called Chardwell, in the county of 
 York, about the time of Henry VI. His grandson, Thomas Morrison, of the same place, removed into 
 Hertfordshire, and was father of the above mentioned Sir Richard Morrison. Of this eminent scholar 
 and statesman we are unable to state either the exact time or the place of his birth. Wood, in his Atherue 
 Oxomensis 5 * * 8 , and Sir Richard Baker, in his Chronicle*, assert that he was born in Oxfordshire; whilst Fuller 5 , on 
 the authority of Bale 6 , and Lloyd, in his Worthies , are in favour of Essex. The groundwork of his learning was 
 laid at Eton 7 and at Oxford ; at the latter, according to Wood, he took a degree in arts, and acquired an 
 extensive, if not a critical knowledge of the classic languages. After becoming a member of the inns of court, 
 and studying the common and civil law, he travelled to Padua; and, on returning to England, in 1537, 
 succeeded Reginald (afterwards Cardinal) Pole, in the prebend of A'atminster-Secunda, in Salisbury Cathedral. 
 In his literary works he strenuously advocated the cause of the King through all the political and religious 
 disputes of the period; firmly opposing the supremacy of the Pope, urging the propriety of the King’s divorce 
 from Queen Katherine, and embracing every opportunity of administering to his royal master’s inordinate love 
 of flattery 8 . 
 
 In the year 1539, he was appointed ambassador to Charles V. Emperor of Germany; but it is probable that 
 he was in England in 1546, when the grant of Cassiobury was made to him, and that he remained in this 
 country until the accession of Edward VI. In his mission on the continent he appears to have been accompanied 
 by Roger Ascham, and afterwards by Sir Thomas Chamberlayne ; and Mr. Lodge, in his “ Illustrations of British 
 History 9 10 * * ,” has published several of his letters, dated in the spring of 1553, which at once serve to characterise the 
 man, and the politics and literature of the times. They are addressed to the Privy Council, with the exception 
 of one from Sir Richard to the Duke of Northumberland; and from them it appears that his lady accompanied 
 him, and was delivered of a daughter during her stay in the Netherlands. In the third volume of Seward’s 
 “ Anecdotes of distinguished Persons,” another dispatch of Sir Richard’s is quoted, dated at Spires, in October, 1552, 
 describing one of his interviews with the emperor. The enthusiasm which marked the ambassador’s conduct and 
 writings had raised him so high in the estimation of the religious reformers of the age, that, in an early part of 
 Edward’s reign, he was appointed one of the royal commissioners to assist in the reformation of the University of 
 Oxford; on which occasion he adopted and advocated the cause of Peter Martyr, in his disputations in the 
 Divinity School"'. A short time previous to the king’s death, Sir Richard was occupied in building a mansion at 
 Cassiobury, which he had probably commenced immediately on obtaining the grant of that estate; but the 
 accession of Queen Mary, and her cruel and murderous persecutions of the Protestants, compelled him to fly his 
 home and country for safety. He first sought refuge in Italy, but afterwards joined Peter Martyr, Jewell, 
 Poinet, Grindal, Sandys, and other distinguished reformers at Strasburgh, where he died in little more than two 
 years and a half from the time of his voluntary banishment". lie appears to have blended the accomplish¬ 
 ments of the courtier and the gentleman with the erudition of the scholar; and was the associate and patron of 
 several of the learned and ingenious men of his time. Leland, in his Encomia, gives an elegy on Sir Richard 
 Morrison, which concludes by expatiating on the value in which his learning was held by King Henry VIII. 
 Indeed the dignities and rewards bestowed upon him by that monarch and by his successor, sufficiently prove 
 the esteem with which he was regarded by them both. Besides the manor of Cassio, he acquired much property 
 in London, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Somersetshire ; and, but for the religious dissensions which drove him 
 from his country, and, in all probability, shortened the term of his existence, he might have enjoyed many years 
 of dignified repose in a mansion of his own rearing, on an estate acquired by the abilities which he had exerted 
 for the service of the state. The principal literary work of Sir Richard Morrison is entitled “ Apomaxis 
 calumnarium convitiorumque, quibus Johannes Coclteus homo Theologus, &c. llenrici VIII. nomen obscurare, 
 rerum o-estarum glorium fcedare, nupera edita, non tam ad regem, quam in regis invidiam, epistola studuit.” 
 Besides this he published “ An Exhortation to stir all Englishmen to the Defence of their Country,” 1539; an 
 “ Invective against the great and detestable Vice, Treason,” 1539; “ Comfortable Consolation for the Birth of 
 Prince Edward, rather than Sorrow for the Death of Queen Jane;” and several translations from the works of 
 Sturmius, and of Ludovicus Vives. Some of his Maxims and Sayings 13 , and A Treatise of Faith and Justification 13 , 
 with various letters and papers, are preserved in the British Museum. According to Lloyd, in his “ W orthies,” 
 the chief quality for which Sir Richard was remarkable was his foresight, which rendered even his conjectures 
 more valuable than other men’s reports of known designs. He was accustomed to say “ that his master 
 maintained ambassadors, not so much to write histories as prophecies;” and on one occasion when the English 
 ambassador in France apprised him of a battle fought the previous week, he replied in a long discourse on the 
 Battle of Spurs, fought many years before, and concluded by saying, “ I and you are not here to tell old stories.” 
 
 5 MS. Account, ut supra. 3 Edition 1813, vol. i. col. 239. * Edition 1674, p. 324. 
 
 5 Worthies of England, edit, by Nichols, 1811, vol. i. p. 347. 6 De Scriptoribus Britannicus, cent. viii. num. 9. 
 
 T Lodge’s Illustrations of British History, edit. 1791, vol. i. p. 156. Fuller {ut sup.) names Winchester also. 
 
 8 The following fulsome language is applied by Sir Richard Morrison, in his Apomaxis, to the tyrant who then ruled over England Who is 
 so dull as not to see in that most serene countenance the signs of a king? Who can behold, even afar off, that august majesty of his whole person, 
 
 and not say he was born to a diadem?” 9 Vol. i. p. 147 171. 
 
 10 Amongst other honours conferred upon Sir Richard was the family crest, a Pegasus, rising, Or: allusive to his literary attainments. 
 
 " Wood, in Athena; Oxoniensis, and others, assert that he left a natural son named Marcellus, and two natural daughters. 
 
 Brit. Mus. Sloane MS. No. 1523. 13 Brit. Mas. Harleian MS. No. 423—4. 
 
20 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 The lady of Sir Richard Morrison was a daughter of Lord Hussey, who was beheaded for his supposed 
 participation in a commotion, caused by one of the oppressive subsidies of Henry A III. This lady survived 
 her husband more than forty years, and was subsequently twice married. As Countess of Bedtord, she 
 officiated as chief mourner on the interment of the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots, in Peterborough 
 Cathedral. She was interred in the family vault at Watford ; which, together with the monumental chapel 
 above it, had been erected at her own expense about the year 1595. Some of the inscriptions in this chapel 
 present curious and interesting memorials of her piety and family pride 14 . 
 
 The manor, after the death of Sir Richard, devolved upon his only son, Charles, then a minor, who was 
 knighted by Queen Elizabeth. It is stated that he completed the mansion which had been commenced by his 
 father, and made it his chief residence; the religious troubles which caused Sir Richard’s expatriation having 
 ceased on the death of Queen Mary. He served as sheriff of the county in 15?9> and dying, before his 
 mother, was buried at Watford. After his death his relict held local courts there in her own name, at different 
 times from the second to the fourth years of King James I 15 . Her son, Charles, oncoming of age, took 
 possession of, and continued to reside at Cassiobury : he represented the borough of St. Alban s, as well as the 
 town and the county of Hertford, in different parliaments ; and acquired sufficient favour at court to be raised to 
 the baronetage, by letters patent, dated June 29> Kill. On the coronation of Charles I. he was installed a knight 
 of the Bath ; and, next to Sir Richard, the founder of the family’s advancement, he appears to have been the most 
 distinguished of the Morrisons. 
 
 This Sir Charles Morrison, Bart, (with whom the baronetage commenced and ended) died without 
 male issue; and the direct line of the family terminated in Elizabeth, his only surviving child; by whose 
 marriage with Arthur, Baron Capel of Hadham, the property and possessions of the family of Morrison, 
 including the manor to which this volume is devoted, passed to that of Capel, whose genealogy is displayed in 
 the pedigree which occupies the ensuing page. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE CAPEL FAMILY. 
 
 Although the noble family of Capel cannot be satisfactorily traced beyond the thirteenth century, yet its 
 comparative want of antiquity is amply compensated by the fame of the illustrious characters who have enriched 
 its annals. The family were originally proprietors of Capel’s Manor, near Stoke Neyland, in Suffolk ; and Sir 
 Richard de Capel, lord justice of Ireland in 1261 16 , is the first named in literary evidence. In the Will of Lionel, 
 Duke of Clarence, son of Edward III 17 , (dated in 1368) there is the following bequest: “ to John de Capell, my 
 chaplain, a girdle of gold, to make a chalice in memory of my soul.” The regular succession of the family is 
 however only ascertained from the time of John Capel, who died in 1449', leaving, by his wife, Joan, a second son 
 named William. Although we have properly but little connexion with the family until they became the lords of 
 Cassiobury, we may be allowed to state that this William Capel was a draper, and a citizen of London. He 
 was successively alderman, sheriff’, representative of the city in parliament, and lord mayor; and had the 
 honour of knighthood conferred upon him by Henry V11. 1B Having once submitted to the extortions of Empson 
 and Dudley, the infamous lawyers of the court, they endeavoured to inflict upon him a second penalty. The 
 payment of this he however resisted, and was consequently imprisoned in the Tower until the king’s death ; 
 which, fortunately for him, occurred in a few months afterwards. On the demise of Thomas Bradbury, then 
 lord mayor, his fellow citizens elected Sir William Capel to fill that office a second time, for the remainder of 
 the year; and having twice more represented the city, he died in 1515, and was buried in a chapel founded 
 by himself, on the south side of the church of St. Bartholomew, near the Royal Exchange, London 19 . It is 
 supposed that his town house was in the neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange; as a court, subsequently built 
 there, was called Capel Court, which name, although it has been occasionally disused, is now retained. 
 
 11 It may be proper to observe that several authorities represent Fynes Morrison, the celebrated traveller, as a brother of Sir Richard 
 Morrison. This, however, was not the case, he being of a different family. The traveller had a brother named Sir Richard, who was governor of 
 Dundalk in the year 1600, many years after the death of Sir Richard Morrison, of Cassiobury. For an account of the family in question, see 
 Harleian MS. No. 1550, f. 51. in Jekyll’s MS. “ Account of the Early Baronets,” whence most of the accounts of the Morrisons of Cassiobury 
 have been derived, the name of Fynes Morrison seems to have been introduced by Peter Le Neve, who possessed the manuscript for some time, and 
 who in this instance must have been misled by inaccurate information. [For this information the author is indebted to the Rev. Jos. Hunter.] 
 
 13 Chauncy’s Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire, edit. 1826, ii. 354; Clutterbuck’s History of Hertfordshire, i. 237. 
 
 16 Cox’s History of Ireland, p. 69 (cited in Collins’s Peerage). 17 Nicolas’s Testamenta Vetusta, i. 71. 
 
 18 Gough, in his edition of Camden's Britannia, vol. ii. p. 84, says, that Sir William Capel “ lent Henry VII. great sums of money, and, like 
 the Fusschers of Augsburg, burnt the bonds.” Fuller (in his Worthies of England, edit. 1811, vol. ii. p. 347) has a similar statement, and adds 
 that “ at another time he drank a dissolved pearl (which cost him many hundreds) in an health to the king.” 
 
 ‘9 The success of Sir William Capel's exertions for the future prosperity of his family is manifested by his Will, part of which is given in 
 Nicolas’s Test. Vetus. p. 522. In this eleven manors, in different parts of the kingdom, are enumerated as his property ; all of them appearing to 
 have been acquired during his lifetime. In the Will of Dame Margaret Capel, the widow of Sir William, is the singular bequest to her son, 
 Sir Giles, of “ King Edward the Fifth’s chain,” with remainder to Henry and Edward Capel, and to her daughter Elizabeth Paulett, and her heirs. 
 Nicolas's Testamenta Vetusta, pp. 532, 594. 
 
PEDIGREE OF THE CAPELS', LORDS OF THE MANOR OF OASSIO. 
 
 
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HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 22 
 
 Sir Giles Capel, the merchant’s son, became a courtier and a warrior. Lnder the patronage of King 
 Henry VIII. he signalized himself in the lists of flaunting chivalry, and in the more serious business of war. For 
 his valour, at the sieges of Teroven and Tournay, he was knighted; and he was present at the celebrated Battle 
 of Spurs, and at the Interview between King Henry VIII. and Francis I. ot France* . Sir Giles resided at 
 Ravne Flail, in Essex, and served the office of sheriff’ for that county and for Hertfordshire. Fie was succeeded 
 by his second son, Sir Edward Capel, who was in turn followed by his eldest son, Sir Henry ; both ot 
 whom resided at Rayne Ilall, and were sheriff’s of Essex and of Hertfordshire. Arthur, the eldest son of 
 Sir Henry Capel, said to have been famous for his great hospitality, resided chiefly at Iladham, in Hertfordshire, 
 and was sheriff of that county in 1592. He was knighted at Theobalds in 1603, and on his death the family 
 property became vested in Arthur, his grandson, who was afterwards created Baron Capel op IIadiiam. 
 
 The life of the last mentioned individual cannot fail to be the most interesting to the general reader, as it is the 
 most important with reference to the present work ; for by his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter ol Sir Charles 
 Morrison, the manor of Cassio, and the mansion of the Morrison family, as already stated, were conveyed to the 
 family of Capel. Lord Clarendon, Dugdale, and Whitelocke, have recorded many interesting particulars of his 
 life, and Bishop Morley has left an account of his death. More recently, Collins, Lodge, Clutterbuck, and other 
 writers have adverted to, and commented on his varied adventures, misfortunes, and character. Y e must, 
 however, restrict ourselves to the most striking circumstances which chequered the eventful life of this 
 illustrious nobleman. 
 
 Arthur Capel was born about the year 1614, and both his parents dying when he was young, he was 
 entrusted to the guardianship of his grandfather, Sir Arthur Capel. Flaving evinced a desire to visit foreign 
 countries, his guardian dissuaded him against, it, and has left a MS., still preserved at Cassiobury, assigning his 
 reasons and arguments for opposing his wishes 91 . At the time of his lather s death, Arthur Capel was a student 
 at Clare Hall, Cambridge, and did not take possession of the family estates until some years afterwards. Being 
 chosen member of parliament for Hertfordshire in 1640, he immediately opposed the extension of the royal 
 prerogative, and when Charles I. dissolved the parliament, he was unanimously re-elected. I he course which 
 Capel had commenced he so far followed up as to vote for the attainder of Lord Strafford, the sacrifice of whom 
 would, he hoped, appease the violence of the popular party; but finding their demands increase rather than 
 diminish after the commencement of bloodshed, and that the violent measures afterwards carried into effect were 
 even then contemplated, he, with many other distinguished persons, attached himself to the royal cause, which he 
 ever afterwards continued zealously and loyally to support. 
 
 That this proceeding was most gratifying to the king is evinced as well by a passage in one of that monarch’s 
 letters to the queen, as in the act by which it was followed. The king’s words are, “ I here is one that doth not 
 yet pretend, that deserves as well as any; I mean Capel: therefore I desire thy assistance to find out something 
 for him before he ask;” and accordingly, on the 6‘th of August, 1641, he was raised to the peerage, by the title 
 of Baron Capel of Hadham. On taking his seat in the house of peers, and perceiving that the prevailing 
 discontents had penetrated its walls, he proceeded to join the king at York. F’or a time he commanded a 
 troop, raised at his own expense, and prevented Sir Wm. Brereton, the parliamentary general, from joining the 
 besiegers of Chester ; but he was soon called to cooperate with a council who had charge of the prince of Wales, 
 whom he eventually accompanied to Jersey. About this time the king was compelled, by defeat, to seek refuge in 
 Scotland; and, contrary to the advice of Lord Capel, the prince of Wales fled to France. A vote passed the 
 parliament for the sale of the baron’s estates, and it was not till he had followed the prince to Paris, and obtained 
 permission to return home, that he compounded with the government for his possessions. Having procured an 
 interview, at Hampton Court, with the now imprisoned king, he raised a body of troops to act against the 
 parliament, in conjunction with others who were to be sent from Scotland. Though this measure failed. Lord 
 Capel remained true and devoted to his monarch. In May, 1648, he advanced into Essex, to form a junction 
 with the troops of Goring, the Earl of Norwich, and Sir Charles Lucas; who jointly undertook the defence of 
 Colchester, which, after a close siege of nearly eleven weeks, surrendered at discretion on the 28th of August. 
 Sir Charles haicas and Sir George Lisle were sentenced by the republican general, Fairfax, to be shot, but the 
 Earl of Norwich, and Lord Capel were assured that their lives were safe. The latter was however imprisoned at 
 Windsor Castle, and afterwards in the Tower of London, whilst a bill of attainder against him was introduced into 
 the house of commons. From the Tower he contrived to escape, and wading, with great difficulty, across the 
 moat, was joined by certain trusty friends, who secreted him for some days in the Temple ; but on removing him 
 across the Thames he was betrayed by the boatman, and conveyed again to prison. On the 10th of February, 
 1649, the Earl of Norwich, Lord Capel, and some others were brought before what was then termed the 
 High Court of Justice, Lord Capel pleaded the promise made to him by Fairfax, that his life should be 
 spared. The court however decided that such promise referred only to the military power of the general, 
 and that it was no protection in a civil court. He was accordingly sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and 
 quartered ; though his doom was afterwards changed to that of decapitation. A petition for his life was 
 presented by his lady to the house of commons, when Cromwell took occasion to praise the character of Lord 
 
 80 Two ancient and very interesting pictures (from which plates have been engraved), representing the Battle of Spurs, and the Interview, are 
 preserved in the Royal Collection at Hampton Court Palace. 
 
 51 The Manuscript fully evinces the truly national and patriotic feelings of its author. See a copy of part of it in Clutterbuck's History of 
 Hertfordshire, vol. i. p. 238. 
 
ARTHUR, LORD CAPEL. 
 
 '23 
 
 Capel, but asserted “ that as long as he lived, what condition so ever he was in, he would be a thorn in their 
 sides; and therefore, for the good of the commonwealth, he should give his vote against the petition.” The 
 sentence was confirmed by a majority of three or four only; and on the 9th of March, 1649, it was carried into 
 effect before the great gate of Westminster Hall, when his lordship addressed the spectators in a speech 
 remarkable for its heroism and piety. His body was buried at Little Hadham, with an inscription stating him to 
 have been “ murdered for his loyalty to King Charles I.and his heart, according to a wish he had expressed to 
 Bishop Morley, was enclosed in a silver cup and cover, to be eventually buried at the feet of the master whom he 
 had so zealously served. But no funeral rites being performed to the memory of Charles I. the cup was kept 
 in a press at Hadham, where it was discovered in 1703, and its contents placed in the family vault. (See 
 Archteologia, vol. xv. p. 300.) For an able and eloquent summary of the character of this patriotic nobleman, 
 the reader is referred to Lord Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion (edit. 1807, vol. iii. p. 414), where it is stated 
 that Lord Capel “ had a very noble fortune of his own by descent, and a fair addition to it by his marriage 
 with an excellent wife, a lady of very worthy extraction, and of great virtue and beauty.” His lordship’s literary 
 attainments and sentiments are evinced in a volume published after his death, and entituled “ Daily Observations ; 
 or. Meditations Divine and Moralalso in a manuscript folio volume in the library at Cassiobury. They 
 consist chiefly of a series of moral axioms, characteristic of their author’s sentiments and conduct, and expressed 
 in the quaint language of overcharged devotion. The heroism which he exhibited on the scaffold became almost 
 proverbial; it was commemorated by a popular couplet alluding to his armorial bearings; is fully detailed in 
 a contemporary manuscript by Bishop Morley 22 , who attended him to the last moment, and is noticed, in fact, by 
 all writers of the period. On the death of the “ loyal Lord Capel,” as he was afterwards called, his estate at 
 Cassiobury and some other lands were sequestrated, and granted to the same Sir William Brereton whom he had 
 successfully opposed in Shropshire. How long this officer retained possession of them does not appear* 3 . 
 
 Until the restoration of Charles II. Lady Capel and her family resided at Hadham, at which place her 
 ladyship was interred in the year 1660. By letters patent dated April 20, 1661, Arthur, the eldest son of 
 Lord Capel, was created V iscount Mai.den and Earl of Essex 24 , and in 1670 he was appointed Ambassador 
 to the court of Denmark, where he displayed great intrepidity in supporting the national character. On his 
 return to England he retired to Cassiobury, an account of his works at which place, with some notices of himself 
 and his establishment, have already been given. At various periods of his life he was lord lieutenant of 
 Hertfordshire, Wiltshire, and of Ireland, and is said to have governed the latter country with great prudence 
 and success. In the loyalty and firmness of his political principles, this nobleman resembled his unfortunate 
 father; and the change in both their political sentiments, which the circumstances of the times produced, served 
 to increase the coincidence. In the month of July, 1683, he was apprehended at Cassiobury, for an alleged 
 participation in “ the Ryehouse Plot 25 ,” and on the 10th of that month he was committed to the Tower of London. 
 Here he was lodged in the house of Major Hawley, to await his trial; but on the morning of the thirteenth of July 
 was found dead, with his throat cut, in a closet adjoining his apartment. An investigation of the circumstances 
 attending his death was undertaken by a committee of the house of lords, but without discovering any certain 
 proof that the earl was murdered. To show that this was the case, however, several pamphlets were printed 20 , 
 and great exertions made. Lawrence Braddon, Gent., of the Middle Temple, states himself to have been 
 “ upwards of five years prosecuted, or imprisoned, for endeavouring to discover this murther the third day 
 after the same was committed.” 
 
 The influence of the family of Capel was increased by the alliance of this nobleman with Elizabeth 27 , 
 daughter of Algernon, tenth Rarl of Northumberland, who was buried with her husband at W atford. 
 
 55 A copy of this MS., illustrated by seven portraits of distinguished characters of the period, is in the Cassiobury library. One of these is a 
 portrait of Lord Capel, by Vertue. 
 
 ,3 Steinraan’s “ History of Croydon ," p. 79. 8vo. 1833. 
 
 - 4 The Earldom of Essex is a title of great antiquity. It was first conferred by King Stephen on Geoffrey de Mandeville, of whose line 
 there were only three Earls of Essex. In 1119, Geoffrey Fitz-Piers, collaterally descended from the last earl of the Mandeville family, was created 
 Earl of Essex by King John, and the title was inherited in succession by his son and his nephew. Alter the death of the latter, Humphrey de 
 Bohun, his brother in law, lord high constable of England, was created Earl of Essex, by King Henry III. and in the possession successively of 
 five of his descendants the title remained until 1372. In the following year it was assumed by Thomas of Woodstock, youngest son of Edward III. 
 connected by marriage with the family ofde Bohun. In 1483 the earldom was bestowed on Henry Bourchier, Earl of Ewe in Normandy; from 
 whom it descended to his grandson, the second and last earl of that family. In 1539 Cromwell, the minister of Henry VIII., was created Earl of 
 Essex, but his honours were forfeited on his execution soon afterwards. The title was revived in the person of William Parr, heir to the second 
 Earl of the Bourchier family, but again forfeited on his attainder. In 1571 the earldom was granted to Walter Devereux, and was a third time 
 forfeited on the attainder o'f his son, the favourite of Queen Elizabeth. It was, however, restored to the son of the latter nobleman, in whose 
 person it became extinct, and so remained from the time of his death in 1646, till the creation of Arthur Capel, in 1661, as above stated. (Nicolas’s 
 Synopsis of the Peerage.) The first earl of the Capel family was the twenty-first individual who had borne the title. His character is given by 
 Sir Henry Chauncy, in his “Hist. Ants, of Hertfordshire," vol. i. p. 312, and an anonymous volume, containing his “ Letters whilst he was 
 Lord Lieutenant of'lreland, in 1675, with his Life,'” was published in 1770. Lord Russell, his companion in misfortune, has described him “ as 
 the worthiest, the justest, the sincerest man, and the most concerned for the public welfare, that existed." 
 
 « See an account of the circumstances and character of this presumed plot, written by my friend Mr. Brayley, in vol. vii. p. 222, of “ The 
 Beauties of England and Wales.” 
 
 56 Among these, the following may be referred to:—“ An Inquiry into the Detection of the Barbarous Murther of the Earl of Essex,” 1684. 
 “ An Account of the most Treacherous and Cruel Murder of Arthur, Earl of Essex,” 1689. “ Essex's Innocency and Honour Vindicated, or 
 Murther, Perjury, and Oppression charged on the Murderers of that noble Lord and true Patriot, 1690. 
 
 n An engraved portrait of the father of this lady, from a picture by Vaudyck, forms one of the illustrations of the present volume: lie was 
 lord high admiral of England under Charles I. and afterwards joined the Presbyterian party. He however opposed the execution of the king, and 
 
24 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 Algernon, second Earl of Essex, fifth son of the last Earl, was lord lieutenant of Hertfordshire, and 
 gentleman of the bedchamber to King William 111., whom he accompanied to the Hague in 1691- During the 
 reign of Queen Anne he served in the army in Spain, as lieutenant general of the queen’s forces. 
 
 William, third Earl of Essex, his only son, was a minor at the time of his father’s death, and did not 
 take his seat in the house of peers until November, 1718. He was a lord of the bedchamber to George II. 
 both before and after his accession to the throne; ambassador to the King of Sardinia from 1731 to 1736, 
 and in February, 1738, was installed a knight of the garter. On his death the title and estates devolved upon 
 his son, 
 
 William Anne IIoli.es (the fourth Earl of Essex), who was one of the lords of the bedchamber to 
 George II. and George III. and lord lieutenant of Hertfordshire until his resignation. Flis lordship, as may be 
 seen by the preceding Genealogical Table, was twice married. On his decease, in 1799, he was succeeded by 
 
 George Capel Coningsbv, fifth and present Earl of Essex. This nobleman was born on the 14th 
 of November, 1757, and in his twenty-second year was “ unanimously chosen representative of the city of 
 Westminster in parliament 27 .” In 1781 he was elected member for Lostwithel, in Cornwall, in 1784 for 
 Oakhampton, in Devonshire, and 1794 and 1796 for the town of Radnor, in South Wales. In 1786 his lordship 
 married the widow of Edward Stephenson, Esq. Succeeding to the property of his maternal grandmother, Lord 
 Essex assumed her family name of Coningsby, and was lord lieutenant of the county of Hereford, and also 
 recorder and high steward of Leominster, which offices he resigned after selling his property in that county to 
 Richard Arkwright, Esq. Connected with and attached to the whigs, his lordship has pursued an undeviating 
 system of politics. Y arm and generous in his friendships, he has secured the esteem of many persons of the 
 highest distinction in the state. Admiring the Fine Arts, his lordship has richly embellished his house at 
 Cassiobury, as well as his town mansion in Belgrave Square, with numerous choice works of our native painters, 
 many of whom have often experienced a kindly welcome at the delightful seat alluded to. Indeed the number 
 and merits of the pictures there displayed, with its well stored and well classed libraries, are the best evidences 
 that can be adduced of the good taste and good sense of the munificent master of the domain. Nearly forty years 
 have elapsed since the author of this work first met the Earl of Essex, at Hampton Court, in Herefordshire, when 
 the fascinating pencil of Turner was employed in delineating some of the picturesque features of that fine old 
 castellated mansion, with its grand forest accompaniments. The same marvellous artist has since made several 
 exquisite drawings of the house and grounds at Cassiobury, of which Alexander, Ilearne, Edridge, and Pugin 
 have also delineated many features: engravings from some of these form part of the present volume. Those 
 artists, with Calcott, Wilkie, Leslie, E. Landseer, Collins, Jones, Bone, Clint, and others, have often sojourned 
 at Cassiobury, alike giving and receiving honours and pleasures by the association. Not confined, however, to 
 one class of men of intellect, this delightful seat has been the resting place and temporary home of men of 
 distinction from foreign climes, as well as others of literary and scientific eminence of our own nation. Thus the 
 Medicii of Italy, with a Sussex of England, the Bolingbrokes, the Bedfords, Lansdownes, Essex’s, and Hopes 
 have given brighter emblazonment to their names and houses by patronizing literature, art, and science, than by 
 any of their political or warlike achievements. 
 
 ultimately promoted the restoration of Charles II. Throughout the fluctuations of those agitated times, he is said to have preserved his popularity 
 and influence. A pathetic letter of condolence, addressed by Sir William Temple to the above named Countess of Essex, on the death of one of 
 her daughters, is published in that author’s Miscellanies, vol. i. p. 165. 
 
 58 Brydges’s Biographical Peerage. 
 
CHAPTER 111. 
 
 TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF MODERN CASSIOBUUY, WITH ACCOUNTS OF THE PARK, THE GARDENS, 
 THE HOUSE AND ITS PICTURES, THE COTTAGES, LODGES, ETC. 
 
 A perusal of the preceding pages, with a due consideration of the circumstances referred to, and connected 
 with them, cannot fail to carry the imagination back to ages that have long passed by—to persons and events 
 that appertain to distant and remote times, and to states of society and civilization strikingly dissimilar to any 
 that exist at the present refined and intellectual epoch. As we can only duly appreciate the visible beauties of 
 nature and art, and the merits of mankind, by their contrasts with deformities and vices, so we are the better 
 enabled to perceive and estimate our present political and civil advantages by an acquaintance with the 
 degraded condition of society under arbitrary and tyrannical governments. It is the duty of the historian to 
 display these things, as well as the prominent and stirring events of foreign and civil warfare, of diplomacy, 
 legislation, and the intrigues of courts and cabinets. Whilst the topographer and the antiquary are properly 
 employed in bringing to light those evidences which Time has enveloped in obscurity, the novelist and the poet 
 employ the same materials to portray the characteristics of man in liis domestic and general relations,—in his 
 public and private pursuits,—in his dependence on, and necessary intercourse with his species, and indeed in all 
 the manifold gradations which constitute the lengthened chain of human-society. Shakspeare 1 , with very slight 
 and crude materials, has shewn how men and women spoke, thought, and acted many centuries ago in Athens, 
 in Rome, and in Britain: so also has the eloquent and learned Bulwer 2 . The truly graphic writings of these 
 highly-gifted authors bring before “ the mind’s eye” the general manners and customs—the national and 
 personal peculiarities of the ancient Greeks and Romans—their wars and their feasts—their sports and their 
 quarrels—their “ sayings and their doings.” To such minds, and to others of less compass and capability, the 
 preceding pages will furnish glimpses, if not vivid pictures, of the oppressed Britons before the advent of the 
 Christian era ;—of Roman warriors, in their rage for conquest and dominion—of Saxon vassalage—of Catholic 
 ao'o-randizement, with its long reign of degrading supremacy; and also of the moral and political revolutions 
 produced by the suppression of monasteries. A comparison of things as they are with things as they were 
 will serve to heighten and adorn a picture of ever varying society. 
 
 Cassiobury, in our times, presents a broad scene of domestic peace and natural beauty. Its parks, woods, 
 lawns and waters;—its floral and horticultural accompaniments;—its mansion, stored with choice productions of 
 art and literature; and the serenity and general comfort which pervade the whole, cannot fail to produce deep 
 and salutary impressions on the philanthropist and philosopher. Now, its noble occupant has no reason to fear 
 the tyrannic summons of his monarch, commanding him to leave home and family to engage in unjust or 
 frivolous war ; nor is he subject to the anathemas or excommunications of an arbitrary priesthood, or the ruinous 
 mulcts of an Empson or a Dudley. On the contrary, he is here surrounded and tempted by every luxury of 
 
 1 In “ Timon of Athens,” “ Coriolanus,” “ Julius Catsar," and “ Cymbeline,” 
 
 « In “ The last Days of Pompeii," “ Rienzi,” and “ Athens, its Rise and Fall.” 
 
HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 16 
 
 nature and art—every thing calculated to administer to human pleasure is within his command. He looks abroad 
 and sees a wide expanse of country, his own property—he orders trees to be felled or planted—flowers and fruits 
 to be multiplied or diminished in number—whilst the birds of the air and the beasts of the field contribute to his 
 wants and his pleasures,, as reason or fancy may dictate. 
 
 Another prominent feature of the present domain, compared with its state in the times of the Saxons 
 and Normans, is the relative condition of its tenants and servants. During the Saxon era the people were 
 often not only slaves to, and at the mercy of their feudal lords, but the degradation was continued in their 
 posterity. They were bought and sold with the land, with the cattle and other property upon it; and by the 
 will of their master were bequeathed as he pleased, together with their wives and children. They were publicly 
 sold in Ireland, and in various parts of the continent; and on one occasion they are spoken of as il actually 
 yoked together for the performance of servile labour:—“ Let every man know his teams of men, of horses, and 
 oxen 3 .” This unhappy class of persons appears from the Domesday Survey to have comprised a very large 
 proportion of the whole population of England. Scarcely any tract of land is there mentioned without some of 
 those abject creatures as its appendages. Even long after the Norman conquest, the tenants of land, although they 
 nominally possessed the privilege of changing their master, and were not employed as servants without pecuniary 
 remuneration, were still kept in subjection by the power and influence of the haughty barons whom it was their 
 lot to serve. In the civil wars which for so long a period raged in England, they were compelled to follow their 
 lord to battle, and to assist in the defence of his abode. They were equally subject to the domination of the 
 priesthood; nor until after the dissolution of religious houses, and the abolition of the right of the nobles to keep 
 up the vast number of retainers and vassals to which they had been accustomed, could the labouring class of 
 persons be said to have attained any thing more than the shadow of freedom without its substance. Now it is 
 the boast of England that the laws of the land are framed to protect equally the life and property of the poor 
 and the rich ; and were they strictly and impartially administered, this would be the case. 
 
 The domain now under consideration comprises the mansion of the lord, with its pleasure gardens, lawns, 
 park, and appendant farms; also commodious and respectable houses for the tenants, and many comfortable 
 dwellings for servants and work-people. 
 
 The Park. 
 
 The eloquent and erudite Bulwer, in his recent novel of “ Ernest Maltravers,” speaks of old porks as “ the last 
 proud and melancholy traces of Norman knighthood and old romance left to the laughing landscapes of 
 cultivated England. They always throw something of shadow and solemn gloom upon minds that feel their 
 associations, like that which belongs to some ancient and holy edifice. They are the cathedral ai/es of nature, with 
 their darkened vistas, and columned trunks, and arches of mighty foliage.” The pensive, meditating Jacques 
 might thus moralize over old parks, and their feudal associations; but the lover of nature would rather indulge 
 pleasurable emotions in viewing the “ laughing landscapes ” of modern England. Diversified and enriched by 
 countless trees of ever varying colour and forms: by herds of deer, flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle: by a 
 broad expanse of lake or running stream, the large park surrounding a noble mansion is calculated to excite any 
 emotion rather than that of gloom or melancholy. 
 
 The Park embraces an area of six hundred and ninety-three acres, of which three hundred and ten acres 
 are called the home park, being adjacent to the house, and two hundred and fifty-six called the upper park, 
 these being separated from each other by the placid stream of the river Gade, which runs between them 
 from north to south: the remaining one hundred and twenty-seven acres are devoted to the wood walks, lawns, 
 and gardens immediately around the house, with the site on which it stands. Parallel with the river, and in 
 one place forming part of it, is the Grand Junction Canal. The home park presents generally a flat surface, but 
 declines gently towards the river, from which the land ascends westward in varied acclivities, from gradual 
 slopes to steep ascents. A lofty and narrow ridge extends from north to south, beyond which is a dell. 
 Throughout the whole of these parks the woods are abundant, many of the trees, both single, in clumps, and 
 in forest-looking masses, are large, old, and grand. Beech may be said to predominate, but there is an 
 abundance of oak, elm, and fir. Of the firs, there is a plantation, north-east of the house, which may be said to 
 resemble an old N orway forest: the stems of the trees being large and lofty, the branches rugged, and truly 
 picturesque, and singly and collectively presenting much to awaken the admiration of the painter and the 
 botanist. (Two of these trees are shewn in Plate xix.) As already remarked, page 17, the first Earl of Essex 
 was fond of planting, and Mr. Cook, his gardener, promoted the study by publishing a treatise on the subject 
 in 1675. The artificial clumps, avenues, and other geometrical formations, which still remain, were most 
 probably laid out by that gardener and his lord; and hence we may conclude that many of the now venerable 
 and grand trees, in rows and in groups of five and seven, are of their plantation. Some of them are of 
 immense size, and of imposing aspect. The branches of a single beech tree spread over an area of ground 
 measuring one hundred and thirty feet in diameter. According to a bird’s-eye view of the house and adjoining 
 grounds, drawn and engraved by L. Knyft’, and J. Kip, and published about 1709 s the plantations appear to have 
 
 ’ Turner's “ History of tin e Anglo Saxons," citing Wilkins’s Leg. Sax. p. 47. 
 
THE HOUSE. 
 
 been disposed in regular avenues, ovals, and circles, whilst the gardens and lawns had terraces, parterres, steps, 
 £ - and other rural elegances,” as Evelyn remarks. The gardens were then placed on the west and south sides of 
 the house, surrounded by walls, rails, and palisades, and laid out in geometrical walks with dower beds. 
 
 The House. 
 
 Of the House itself, at that period, a better idea is conveyed by the engraved representation in the print 
 referred to, and by the views, and plan in Plate n. of the present volume, than can be expressed by words. This 
 building, as already noticed (page 16), in the language of Evelyn, had recently been erected by Mr. Hugh 
 May, but it is evident, by drawings at Cassiobury, that a part of the north side, called the old north wing 4 , 
 was of a date anterior to the grant to Sir Richard Morrison, and by its bay windows, timber, and plastered 
 walls, and the form of its chimney-shafts, displayed a monastic character, indicating its connexion with and 
 dependance on Saint Alban’s Abbey. This part of the building is shewn at the left hand side of Plate n. 
 with gable end, clustered chimneys, and five bay windows. However beautiful the house, and “ faire and 
 grand” the rooms might have appeared to Evelyn, they were not calculated to satisfy the taste and wishes 
 of a nobleman at the beginning of the present century; and the Earl of Essex consulted Mr. James Wyatt 
 respecting such alterations as might render the mansion better adapted to the refined habits of the age. 
 That architect was then in fashionable estimation, being employed by King George the Third, at Windsor, by 
 Mr. Beckford, at Fonthill Abbey, and by other distinguished persons. He had acquired much fame from the 
 Pantheon, in Oxford Street, and from some Gothic designs which he had lately made; but it is evident from the 
 architectural style and details of all the latter, that he had not carefully studied the varied beauties, the manifold 
 combinations, forms, and expression of the Christian Architecture of Britain. . Many of the new parts of Windsor 
 Castle, built by him, were flimsy, weak, and ill suited to assimilate with the old castellated edifice to which they 
 were appended. His additions to St. Stephen’s Chapel, and his designs for the House of Lords, were equally 
 defective and inappropriate 5 . Although we cannot compliment the architect for his designs of the exterior, we 
 find much to be pleased with in the arrangement of the interior. As a suite of rooms, adapted for a noble family, 
 and for varied companies, their disposition and sizes are calculated to afford every domestic comfort, combined 
 with luxury; but there are neither finishings, nor fittings-up, to correspond with the exterior character of the 
 building. In the entrance lobby and cloister (the latter represented in Plate xn.) there are coved ceilings, with 
 thin ribs, and “ Gothic windows.” 
 
 The accompanying Engravings will serve to display the arrangement of the suite of rooms on the ground 
 floor, as well as the exterior features of the mansion. By the engraved ground plan is indicated the situation and 
 connection, with the names and sizes, of the principal apartments. The whole surrounds an open court-yard, the 
 entrance being to the west, the chief rooms to the south, the private or family rooms to the east, and the kitchen, 
 servants’ offices, &c. to the north. A mall porch screens the entrance door-way, which opens into a narrow 
 cloister, on the right of which is a small vestibule and inclosed staircase. Eastward of these is the great 
 cloister , having five windows, partly filled with stained glass, and its walls adorned with four full-length family 
 portraits, and a head of King Henry IV. The latter is pronounced by Walpole (Works, vol. iii. p. 31,) to 
 be “ an undoubted original.” An inscription on the frame states, that “ the king having laid the first stone 
 of the mansion of Hampton Court, in Herefordshire, left this picture there when he gave the estate to Lenthall, 
 who sold it to Cornwall, of Burford, who again disposed of it to the ancestors of the Lord Coningsby, in the 
 reio-n of Henry V.” As already related, page 24, that estate descended to the present Earl of Essex from his 
 mother, and has been sold by this nobleman to Richard Arkwright, Esq. who has lately made great additions 
 and improvements to the house, from designs by Charles Hanbury Tracy, Esq. 
 
 Branching off from the cloister is the Saloon, intermediately placed between the dining and drawing rooms. 
 Its ceiling is adorned with the painting which Evelyn mentions as belonging to the hall of the old mansion. He 
 also states it to be the work of Verrio, the subject being composed chiefly of allegorical figures of Painting, 
 Sculpture, Music, and War. In this apartment are two cabinets, containing numerous miniatures, painted by 
 the Countess of Essex. Here are also six portraits, amongst which are those of Sir Arthur Loftus, Lady Mary 
 Sackville, and Elizabeth, Countess of Ranelagh, mother to Lady Coningsby. 
 
 The Dining Room commands a fine view through the large western window, of the distant park and its 
 loner and lofty vista. In this apartment are five full-length portraits and three heads. The former include 
 admirable likenesses of the present Earl of Essex and of his Countess, both painted by J. Hoppner, R. A. 
 Algernon, second Earl of Essex, and Algernon Percy, tenth Earl of Northumberland. The latter is an 
 orio'inal by Vandyck, a copy from which was made, in 1826, by T. Phillips, R. A. for the late Duke of 
 Northumberland. On cleaning the picture, for that purpose, it was found that the painter had placed the 
 truncheon, which now points to the ground, “ in an entirely diflerent direction. This proof of originality is 
 
 4 It was popularly called “ the house of pleasure” of the Abbot of St. Alban’s; and was regarded by the youthful and superstitious as a place 
 haunted by supernatural powers. 
 
 s At the time these works were in progress, and when the same architect was likewise employed in altering and injuring the Cathedrals of 
 Salisbury, Lichfield, and Durham, he was admonished and severely criticised by Mr. Carter, in the Gentleman’s Magazine, by Mr. Hope, in a 
 pamphlet addressed to F. Annesley, Esq. 4to. 1804, and by other critics and antiquaries. 
 
28 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 called by the Italians a Pentimento” A small engraving from it is given in this volume. The fifth portrait is 
 that of Lady Elizabeth Percy, daughter of the abovenamed nobleman, and wife to Arthur, Lord Capel. 
 Amongst the heads is a fine portrait of Sir Charles Iianbury "Williams, maternal grandfather to George, the 
 present Earl of Essex. This room is wainscotted, and some of the picture frames are ornamented with elaborate 
 carving. 
 
 The principal Drawing Room is a handsome apartment, adorned with cabinets and other rich furniture. 
 On its walls are six fine and very interesting pictures by Turner, Calcott, Collins, and B. Barker. Three of them 
 are landscapes and sea views, by the first eminent painter: viz. a View of the Bridges at Walton-upon-Thames, 
 a Coast Scene, and Shipping at Sea. These pictures were executed more than twenty years back, before this 
 powerful artist had dipt his pencil into, or injured his vision by employing, the brightest yellows, reds, and blues. 
 They are painted with great force, breadth, and truth. Though in different styles of art, and painted from 
 different perceptions of the beauties of nature, the View of Amsterdam, by Calcott, R. A. and of Fishermen on 
 the Sea-sliore, by Collins, R. A. are both truly exquisite works of art. A Landscape, by B. Barker, is a pleasing 
 specimen of that artist’s peculiar treatment of a close wooded scene. 
 
 The Great Library is a noble room, and most admirably stored with those treasures of never-dying 
 philosophy and learning which men of talents have, through the medium of the printing press, bequeathed to all 
 the world. However elegant, splendid, and costly may be the dining, drawing, and even state rooms of palaces 
 and mansions; however fascinating to the eye and imagination the picture and statue galleries, with their varied 
 treasures of art, they fail in producing the same strong and permanent effect on the thinking mind, as the 
 well-stored library. The latter offers a never cloying feast to the mental taste ; it, indeed, provokes “ increase of 
 appetite by what it feeds on.” The library of Cassiobury is extensive, and judiciously arranged. It is divided 
 into four classes, and, as intimated by the ground plan, is disposed in as many separate, but adjoining rooms, 
 viz. 1. The classics, history, travels, and philosophy; 2. Topography and archaeology; 3. Poetry and novels; 
 4. Dramatic and miscellaneous. The ground plan shews the proportions and size of the principal room (fifty- 
 four feet by twenty-three feet), whilst its interior fittings up are displayed in Plate xm. A series of bookcases 
 extend round the room, over which are fifteen portraits of so many personages of the family. Over the fire-place 
 is a fine specimen of Sir Joshua Reynolds’s style of composing and colouring, a group of two figures in a 
 landscape: these are portraits of the present Earl of Essex, aged ten, and his sister, afterwards Lady Monson, 
 aged thirteen. The frame is charged with some of the elaborate carvings by Gibbons, which Evelyn noticed 
 in his visit to Cassiobury. The other portraits in this apartment are those of Sir Henry Capel, second son of 
 Arthur, Lord Capel, created Lord Capel of Tewkesbury; Mary and Elizabeth Capel, daughters of the said 
 Arthur; Lady Jane Hyde, wife to William, third Earl of Essex ; Lord Ascot, and his sister, the Countess of 
 Chesterfield; Arthur, first Earl of Essex; the second Earl of Clarendon and his lady, the latter being another 
 daughter of Arthur, Lord Capel; Lady Charlotte Hyde, daughter of Henry, Earl of Clarendon; the second 
 daughter, who married the Duke of Queensberry; Lord Percy, and his sister, Lady Anne, who married 
 the Earl of Chesterfield; Mrs. Strangeways, youngest daughter of Lord Capel; Lady Alary Bentinck, wife 
 to Algernon, second Earl of Essex, and daughter to the Earl of Portland; Lord Beauchamp, first husband to 
 Alary, eldest daughter of Lord Capel; John, Duke of Bedford ; and Gertrude, Duchess of Bedford. On the 
 book-cases are several marble busts. 
 
 The Small, or Inner Libranj (No. 2 in Plan), appropriated to books on topography and antiquities, is 
 ornamented with portraits and other enrichments, particularly some fine carvings by Gibbons. Over the 
 chimney piece is a family group, by Cornelius Jansen, in a landscape representing the park and gardens of 
 Hadham, as they appeared at the era of the painting, viz. about 1630. Of this picture Walpole (Anecdotes of 
 Painting, &c. vol. ii. p. 10, edit. 1826) says, “ At Cassiobury is a large piece, curious, but so inferior to Jansen’s 
 general manner, that if his name was not on it, I should doubt of its being of his hand.” The portraits are those 
 of Arthur, Lord Capel, whose memoir has already been given (p. 22), his lady, and five children, the names of 
 whom are specified in page 21. In Lodge’s Portraits is an engraving from the head of Lord Capel, in this 
 picture, which, however, is not very faithfully copied. Portraits of William Anne Holies, fourth Earl of Essex 
 (1760), and of Frances, Countess of Essex (1759), by Sir Joshua Reynolds: both of these pictures are 
 highly interesting specimens of the president’s style of painting at that time. Elizabeth, Countess of Essex, 
 second wife to the third Earl—whose portrait is also here,—and another of John, Duke of Bedford, by Hayter. 
 
 The Dramatic Library (No. 4) is a small cabinet room, adorned with miniatures, small bronzes, ivory, and 
 other carvings, and a collection of plays, &c. Among the bijoux is a miniature of Lord Coningsby, who applied 
 his handkerchief to the wounded shoulder of King William III., at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. The identical 
 handkerchief is here preserved. A small picture of this event, by A. Cooper, II. A. is in another apartment. 
 
 Another Library (No. 3) contains a collection of novels and numerous other volumes of miscellaneous 
 literature. 
 
 The other apartments, to the north of the former, contain a collection of pictures by modern artists, which at 
 once reflect honour on the patron and the painters. These works possess intrinsic merit and value much beyond 
 the fictitious and capricious prices which certain old paintings, and copies of them, have too often obtained in 
 the picture jobbing market. Among this collection the following claim both attention and admiration. 
 
 Don Quixotte, the Duchess, and Sancho, by C. R. Leslie, R. A. These familiar Spanish characters have 
 been frequently delineated by different artists, and with varied degrees of success ; but perhaps they w 
 
 vere never 
 
THE CARDENS. 
 
 29 
 
 more successfully portrayed than by Mr. Leslie, in the present composition. He has happily and forcibly 
 contrasted the striking dissimilarities of figure, form, expression, and mentality (if the word be allowed) of the 
 meagre, romantic Don, and the simple-hearted and peace-loving squire; whilst the female is a fine and 
 picturesque foil and opposition to both. The accessories are finely painted, particularly Rozinante and Dapple. 
 
 A small landscape, with cattle, by Gainsborough. 
 
 A Highland Warrior, returned from battle, by Sir D. Wilkie, R. A. Few artists of any former or of the 
 present age have ever attained a mastery and distinction in their profession at so early an age, or continued to 
 preserve and increase both, for such a long period of time, as the fortunate painter of this picture. Ilis “ Blind 
 Fiddler” and “ Rent Day” of old, his “ Chelsea Pensioners,” and many of his representations of Spanish 
 character, scenery, and peculiarities, are replete with the highest attributes of art. An interesting sketch of 
 his early career has this day (Dec. 1, 1837) made its appearance in the “ Metropolitan Magazine.” 
 
 The Cat’s Paw, that is, a monkey clasping a cat with one of its fore legs, and with the other forcing the cat’s 
 paw into a fire, to take out a roasting chestnut, by Edwin Landseer, R. A. In portraying and painting the 
 form, colour, and expression of animals, no artist ever surpassed the one whose work is here noticed. In saying 
 thus much, the author is not unmindful of Snyders, Rubens, and other distinguished men; but would gladly 
 test the relative merits of the English and the foreign artists, by comparing six pictures selected from each, and 
 wager on the result. JEsop, fabulously, endowed birds and animals with the faculty of speech, but Landseer, 
 following nature, has made them express ideas by look and action. No person can examine the Cat and Monkey 
 in the present picture without sympathizing with both; without feeling the mingled emotions of hilarity and pity. 
 Or who can contemplate the picture of Sir Walter Scott in his Study with his favourite Dogs, without feeling an 
 attachment for the animals, and a respect for the painter who has performed such wonders on canvas. 
 
 A Portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds. This amiable, estimable, and most accomplished artist painted 
 several portraits of himself, including that which is here preserved, and in which he is represented with spectacles. 
 This picture has been sweetly engraved by Caroline Watson, and also by other engravers 6 . 
 
 Two small drawings, in water colours, by II. Edridge, copied from Sir Joshua’s pictures of Master Bunbury, 
 as Henry VIII. and of Puck. These were bequeathed by the amiable and talented artist to his good friend and 
 patron Lord Essex, in 1821. 
 
 A group of figures, representing a musical party, by Hogarth. This picture contains nine portraits, 
 including those of Mr. and Mrs. Millar, Mr. Locke, Mr. Freeke, &c. 
 
 A full length portrait of Garrick, as Lord Townley, in the Provoked Husband, by Zoffani. 
 
 Full length portraits of Liston and Farren, in the characters of Charles XII. of Sweden, and Adam 
 Brock, by G. Clint, R. A. in which the personal features and dramatic peculiarities of those two eminent 
 comedians are admirably and skilfully portrayed. 
 
 Here are also several pictures by Morland, Cooper, Jones, Good, and other eminent British artists. Ilis 
 lordship’s town mansion is also highly enriched with works by eminent English painters. 
 
 Gardens. 
 
 Tiif. Gardens at Cassiobury, as already noticed, were formerly distinguished amongst the fioricultural 
 beauties of England 7 , but whatever may have been their charms at the end of the seventeenth and the beginning 
 of the eighteenth centuries, it may be safely asserted, that during the whole of the present century they have 
 far surpassed all their former fame. To the east and south of the house, the ground is laid out in lawns, 
 with numerous choice shrubs and trees, beyond which are various openings to the park, and to the distant 
 country. Some rare and very magnificent flowering trees are attached to the walls of the house, on the east and 
 south sides; whilst a conservatory for select flowers, screens the library and drawing rooms, as indicated on 
 the ground plan. Immediately beyond the lawn, to the east, is a part of the park, abounding with large 
 and grand forest trees, interspersed with furze, thorn, &c. forming a striking contrast to the dressed scene 
 adjoining the house. The Pleasure Garden is to the north-east; it occupies an area of nearly eight acres, 
 which are laid out in smooth lawns, devious paths, and umbrageous dells, and abounds with a great variety of 
 valuable plants and flowers. From the commencement of spring, when nature assumes her juvenile and gayest 
 vesture, till the close of autumn, when she declines into the “ sere and yellow leaf,” almost every variety 
 of floral bloom is successively displayed in these gardens. Green-houses and hot-houses are interspersed amongst 
 the plantations : at one part is a dell, surrounded by ever-green trees, and appropriated to many varieties of rock 
 
 # A series of Engravings by S. W. Reynolds, from the many paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, has been published, in 2 vols. folio, and 
 constitutes perhaps the finest collection of prints, from one artist, that has ever appeared. 
 
 7 The reader is referred to the following literary works for much interesting information on gardens, gardening, floriculture, and horticulture, 
 with critical essays on the picturesque and beautiful:—Loudon’s “ Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture,” 8vo. 
 1833. The same author’s “ Encyclopaedia of Gardening,” 8vo. 1835. His “ Suburban Gardener,” “ Encyclopedia of Arboriculture,” 8vo. 1837, 
 and “ Gardener’s Magazine,” published in monthly numbers.—“ Price on the Picturesque," “ Gilpin's Picturesque Tours,” and “ Reptons 
 Worlis.” See also “ Gleanings on Gardens,” by S. Felton, 8vo. 1829, also the same author's interesting pamphlet “ On the Portraits of English 
 Authors on Gardening,” 8vo. 1828, and “ Masons Essay on Design in Gardening,” 8vo. 1796. Walpole, in his “ Anecdotes oj Painting in England,” 
 edit, by Dallaway, vol. iv. p. 273, has an interesting essay on “ Modem Gardening.” The reader is also referred to a well written pamphlet by 
 Thomas Whateley, entituled “ Observations on Modern Gardening,” 8vo. 1770. 
 
I 
 
 HISTORY OF CASSIOBURY. 
 
 flowers; whilst in another retired recess is a tract called the Chinese garden, in which are buildings in the 
 Chinese form and character, with various flowers in unison with the scene. 
 
 Amongst other objects of interest in these gardens are two large granite balk, or shots, which were thrown 
 from mortars in the Castle of Abydos, Alexandria, into the Endymion frigate, commanded by the Honourable 
 Captain Bladen Capel, in the year 1807. One of the shots measures twenty-four inches in diameter, and weighs 
 seven hundred pounds. It was propelled nearly a quarter of a mile before it reached the vessel. The smaller 
 shot killed and wounded fifteen men on board. See Plate xx. 
 
 Ground Plans of Cottagf.s and Lodces. 
 
 Rf.fer 
 
 I. a slaughter house, b dairy and larder, c sitting room, d kitchen, e entrance,/ porch, g staircase. 
 
 II. " sitting room, b bakehouse and scullery, d cellar, e shed over well,/porch and covered way. 
 
 III. n sitting room, b woodhouse, c washhouse and oven, d pantry, e staircase,/porch. 
 
 IV. a g sitting rooms, b staircase, c entrance, d woodhouse, e passage with dwarf wall,/gates, h staircase, i washhouse. 
 
 V. a kitchen, b sitting room, c bed room, d washhouse, oven, 8cc. e pantry,/staircase, to a floor for another family, g porch. 
 
 VI. a sitting room, b bed room, c porch and passage, d sitting room, e housekeeper's room,/pantry, g cellar, h back entrance, i kitchen, It porch. 
 
 VII. n back porch, h kitchen, c sitting room, d bed room, e washhouse, &c./front porch, with seat. 
 
 \ III. IX. ttj porches, b It sitting rooms, eg staircases, d f washhouses, e oven, copper, &c. 
 
 Cottages. 
 
 In different parts of the park and grounds are various cottages and lodges, which are distinguished 
 at once for their exterior picturesque features, and for the domestic comfort they afford to their humble 
 occupants. Unlike the ragged, wretched sheds and hovels which are too often seen by the road-side, and 
 even in connexion with some of the large and ancient parks of our island, the buildings here delineated are 
 calculated to shelter, to console, and gratify the labourer after his daily toil, and to make his wife and family 
 cleanly and diligent. Were the mechanics and work-people of large manufacturing towns, and the peasantry 
 (our “ country’s pride”) provided with better and more comfortable habitations than are generally allotted to 
 them, the debasing and ruinous gin-shop and public-house would be less frequented ; and ragged, impudent 
 children w r ould not so constantly infest our streets and public roads. The cottages at Cassiobury have been 
 designed with the two-fold object of being both useful and ornamental. They are occupied, exempt from rent and 
 taxes, by men and women who are employed by the noble landlord in various offices about the park, the gardens, 
 and the house : thus the park-keeper, a game-keeper, a shepherd, a lodge-keeper, a gardener, a carpenter, a miller. 
 
COTTAGES. 
 
 31 
 
 a lock-keeper, &c. are accommodated. The engraved Views, given in different pages of this volume, represent the 
 general external appearance of these buildings, and the Ground Plans, above given, show the arrangements of their 
 interiors. Most of them consist of a porch, a sitting room, one or two bed rooms, and a wash-house, with an 
 oven and a copper. The Cottage in Ridge Lane (see p. 24, and No. v. in Plan) consists of two floors, each 
 appropriated to a family. That called Great Beech Tree Cottage is of larger extent than the others, and may be 
 considered rather a Cottage-ornte, than one for the working peasant. It has five rooms on the ground floor, and 
 others up stairs. (See View in p. 25, and Plan No. vi.) The Swiss Cottage, on the bank of the river Gade, is 
 intended for the occupation of a family, and also for the accommodation of parties, during the summer, to take 
 refreshment. The Plan and Views (in Plates xv. and xvx. and in the Preface) serve to illustrate this double 
 building. Since Plate xvu. was engraved, an additional insulated room has been added to the cottage there 
 represented. Most of these buildings are simple in form and economical in construction, being made of brick 
 nogging and timber, with thatched roofs. They were executed by workmen who are regularly employed on the 
 estate, whence the timber was also obtained. The Cassio-bridge Cottage, page 17 , is the most elaborate in 
 execution; its whole exterior being covered, or cased with pieces of sticks of various sizes split in two. 
 The Entrance Lodge, represented in the title page, and Plan No. iv., is partly from Mr. Wyatt's designs, and 
 forms a pleasing feature in a finely wooded road. The Lodge, to the seat called Russell Farm has recently 
 been erected on the road side, between Watford and Bcrkhamstead. The seat is occupied by General Sir 
 Charles Colville, Bart, under the Earl of Essex. 
 
 The Family Monumental Ciiapel, at Watford, 
 
 Tiie Monumental Ciiapel, attached to Watford Church 8 , contains several sepulchral memorials to the 
 Morrison and Capel families, from that of Lady Morrison (as already noticed, p. 19), wife of Sir Richard 
 Morrison, who directed the chapel to be built, in 1595. The accompanying print (Plate xxi i.) shews the character 
 of the interior of this chapel, with its numerous escutcheons of arms, and its monuments. In the middle of the 
 chapel is an insulated altar tomb, of different coloured marbles, sustaining the recumbent effigy of a female, 
 representing “ Lady Bridget, Countess Dowager of Bedford,” who died January 12, 1600, aged forty-three. She 
 had three husbands, as shewn in the pedigree, p. 18. At the side of the effigy are figures of two boys, kneeling ; 
 at the feet are sculptured representations of a stag and an olive tree; and on the sides of the tomb are several 
 shields, charged ivith the armorial bearings of the lady and her alliances with Hussey, Morrison, Russell, and 
 Manners. A long inscription narrates an account of these connexions, and her manifold virtues and qualifi¬ 
 cations, amongst which she is said to have been “ one of the noblest matrons of England for wisdom and 
 judgment." 
 
 Another altar tomb is raised to the memory of “ Lady Dame Elizabeth Russell,” who died June 17, lGll, 
 aged seventy. Her effigy is placed on the top slab, whilst at the sides of the monument are no less than 
 twenty-three shields, with armorial bearings. 
 
 On the south side of the chapel is a large and gorgeous monument to commemorate Sir Charles Morrison, 
 the elder, whose effigy, in armour, in a reclining posture, is placed under a canopy. There are two other 
 statues on the tomb, in kneeling positions. This work was executed in 1619, by Nicholas Stone, who, according 
 to his own note book, bargained with the younger Sir Charles to make “ a tomb of alabaster and touchstone," 
 with “ one pictor of white marble for his father, and his own, and his sister, the Countess of Sesex (Sussex) as great 
 as the life, of alabaster, for the which I had well payed <£. 260 , and four pieces given me to drink 9 .” 
 
 On the north side of the chapel, facing the former, is another large monument, of various marbles, designed 
 and executed by the same “ carver and tomb maker,” as he is termed in the contract, as the last; and for 
 which he entered into an agreement 10 with the widow of the deceased, Sir Charles Morrison, the younger. For 
 this he was to be paid <£.400. This monument, like the former, has a long Latin inscription, and several coats 
 of arms. 
 
 Other monuments and memorials commemorate different members of the family who have been here 
 interred. Amongst these is the Honourable John Forbes, who was made Admiral of the Fleet in 1747, and 
 died in 1796, aged eighty-two : he married Lady Mary Capel, daughter of William, third Earl of Essex, 
 who was also interred in the family vault beneath the chapel. For accounts of these personages the reader 
 is referred to Clutterbuck’s “ History of Hertfordshire.” 
 
 A few remarks, in conclusion, it is hoped may not be thought either irrelevant or supererogatory. The 
 many and remarkable changes that have successively occurred in the history of national landed property—in the 
 
 B Among the parish churches of Hertfordshire, there are few inferior in architectural features to that at Watford. Many village churches in 
 England, particularly those of Somersetshire and Lincolnshire, are interesting and even magnificent specimens of architectural design. Watford 
 has scarcely one member that pretends to beauty of form or detail. 
 
 9 From N. Stone’s Pocket Book, as given by Walpole, “ Works," vol. iii. p. 166. 
 
 10 This deed is printed in Clutterbuck’s “ Hertfordshire,” i. 262, from the original in the possession of the Earl of Essex. 
 
conditions, habits, and manners of its lords and tenants—in the progress of art and civilization—in the relative 
 states of commerce, manufacture, and intercommunication, are subjects which cannot fail to arrest the attention 
 of the reflecting and enquiring reader of these humble pages. Without again reverting to any but the last- 
 mentioned subject, we are irresistibly led to think of that from a recent circumstance connected with this locality : 
 viz. the London and Birmingham Railway. This important novelty in travelling is calculated to puzzle the old, and 
 to astonish the young. Whilst it alarms the former, it awakens the most intense feelings of curiosity and 
 speculation in the latter. As the magnet invariably points to the north-pole, so almost every provincial person of 
 the British empire looks to the metropolis, and hopes to visit it for business or for pleasure: hence it is daily 
 augmenting in the number of its permanent houses and inhabitants. New and improved roads, and canals, 
 and a few railways have been made and maintained from all parts of the island to London, to accommodate and 
 facilitate travelling and travellers. The last is the newest, and, like the two others, has had to encounter the 
 prejudices, the old habits, and the short-sightedness of men. It has been opposed by a phalanx of ignorant and 
 interested persons; so were turnpike roads, as well as canals, when they were respectively introduced; but as 
 both these have outlived their enemies, and the comparative folly of their respective epochs; so will railways 
 as far exceed the other modes of travel and transit, as those have surpassed unmended roads and unnavigable 
 

 

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