The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-20
AN ENGLISH M ANOR,.
Description Of KnoWle House and
Park, with Anecdotes of the
Sackyille Family.
CONTRIBUTED BY L. s.

The ancient manor-house of KnowIe is sit
uated In an extensive park near the town Of
sevenoakes, In Kent, and is deeply interest.
ing, not only from It's antiquity and the all
Of primature grandeur that reigns through.
ouHthe domain, but from the memories of the
distinguished men who have found O. home
beneath its roof, and from its possession of
SO many OF those great creations Of the pen
ell which are wonder and a delight OF all
ages In the time OF King John, Baldwin de
Bethune possessed the manor, and from him
1t passed successfully into the hands Of the
| Maresehals, and Earls Of Pembroke, and the
Bgods. Earls Of Norfolk In the reign of
Edward the First, Ohio de Grandson was
it's lord, and afterwards conveyed to Godfrey
| de Say, and then to james Fienes, who was
connected in marriage with the Says. Fienes
was soldier Of great distinction and a lover
Of art, and was summoned to Parliament by
Henry VI, as Baron Say and Scale; he was
successfully appointed Governor OF Dover
Castle, warden OF the Cirque ports, chamber
lain, ard ultimately treasurer of England.
These dignities were dearly purchased by the
ill-will and hatred Of the people. When the
"Jack Cade" Instruction broke out, fore
most among the most obnoxious OF the mobiles
was Lord Say. Jack Cade, and Irishman, and
O fugitive on account OF his crimes, headed
about 10000 Kentishmen and declared that he
armed "to punish evil ministers and procure
a redress OF grievances Cade had consldera-
bic success for time; he entered London in
triumph, after having defeated the King 3
forces and seized Lord Say, the Kings treas.
urer. Say was committed to the tower, hur-
rled to trial and summarily executed. Cades
rious Gaze said to % Saw Teu hast most es
traitoroualy corrupted the youth OF the realm
| in erecting q grammar school, before this
our forefathers had no other books but the
score and the tatty. thou hast caused
also built "a paper-miln Upon these alb
surd charges Was the refined, enlightened
and talented Say beheaded jack Cade was
at last deserted by his followers, and
Tss q kan a Ths A's dsan Then thn
passed into the hands Of Thomas Bot-
ctier, Archbishop Of Canterbury, and success
slvely to the Warehams, Cranmer, Henry
VIII, the Somersets, Notwithstanding, and
to Cardinal Pole who, dying interstate.
sKnowle' became the property OF the crown.
ElizaDeLh granted lease of Knowle to her
favorte, the Earl Of Leicester. At the ex-
plration of the lease KnoWle Came into the
possession Of the Sack Vile family, and it has
remained with them up to this time. The
present occupant Is Lord Amherst. who in
hrrlted it through the female line, having
married SackviIle. Knowle, according to
family compact, will, after the death of It's
present childless lord, revert to one gearing
the name Of Sackvile Thomas Sackville
flyurished in the sixteenth century. He was
o flushed scholar and an accomplished gentle
man. He embeIished KnoWe and added
considerably to the collection OF pictures that
now adorn the mansion. He was the author
Of the first regular Tragedy In the English
language and also many poems Of great
merit, that evinced q strength Of creative
imagination which had been unknown to the
English muse since the days of Chaucer,
Thomas Sackviile became q great favorite
Of Elizabeth, and was created Lord Buck
hurst and ultimately Earl OF Dorset. The
their pride and their muniticence; and Of
Thomass anecdotes that may be related here
lssone that will point his character:
He had spent, principally III an embassy to
fcent prodigality as to be compelled to bor-
row Of g certain city alderman, who in one Of
Sackvilles visits, kept him waiting a consider
able time. The dignity was severely felt, and
was too much Of humiliation for the proud
Sackvile. It MT once reclaimed him from
his expensive habits. He was afterwards
sent to the Netherlands to examine the truth
OF the charges made against the Earl of Lei
cester, from which country he WAS recalled by
Imprisoned. When III confinement he
would not permit d soul Save his iailer),
not even his wife, or any other member
Of his family to see him, as he
SAID, under hu%iation During his
vile prompted her to suggest a m cans OF his
release and she sent q messenger to him, say
ing, Take Leicesters hand, aud make proper
submission to me, and will pardon YOU"
promptly replied: cake my glove to the
Earl Of Leicester, and tell my Queen that 1
prefer death to submission After Leices-
ter's death he was released and restored to
favor. Edward Sackville, the fourth Earl,
killed Lord Bruce in q duel, which Was |
fought under circumstances Of the most saw
agely-ferocious nature, there being, for In
stance, no seconds or other witnesses permit |
ted to be present, lest their interference might
restrain the principals from the full and |
bloody contamination they meditated.
Ann Sackville, the third Countess of Dorset, |
woman OF great tirmness and imbued with |
al the haughtiness OF her race, sent the fol
lowing characteristic note to Charles lis |
Secretary OF State In answer to a recOmmen- |
dalton from him Of q person to represent her
borough OF Appleby: 4 have been bullied by |
an usnrper; | have been neglected by 8 court, |
but will not be dictated to by a subject
Your man shall not stand for Appleby. Do t
lot forget that am
"ANN SACKvILLE-D Observation-Disclosures
AND-M ONTGOMERY.
Again, a foreign gentleman Of considerable
wealth. but not Of the ancient nobility, made
overtures of marriage to Ann. He recounted
his title, and laid great stress on his posses
sions, believing that the heavy claims against
Knowle would help his suit. Ann replied
!" Your possessions may be vast; but l am the
mistress OF KnowIe. You say you are
prince. Be it 50, but you have forgotten that
| am a Sackville and the founder Of my fam
lily came over with the Conqueror. You can
not mate with Ann Sackvllle." Our space
will only permit US to notice another OF the
Lords Of Knowle, Charles Sackville, Earl OF
Dorset, the wit, the poet, and the libertine of
the court Of Charles the Second, the Mecaenas
ohe a t ap %nem pn aed and Be Tr
mond and La Fontaine abroad, alike praised
for his taste and judgement, his elegance and
his generosity. The latter quality, we fear,
q his admirers s when 1 we consider
the apparent delcacy but the real Rrossness
Of the compliment paid him by Dryden, who,
having undertaken to produce authors of his
IF