The Dickinson press., 1889-06-08
OLD HAMPTON COURT.
A RESORT FOR THREE CENTURIES
OF ENGLISH ROYALTY.

OF ENGLISH ROYALTY.
Originally Built by Cardinal wolsey for q
Home. It Strikes King Halls Fancy-The
Great Personagcs Who Have Made It
a Rcsidence-Its Present Use.
Moro than 500 years ago the most powerful
man lin England, except the king himself,
wished to establish u home for himself that
would unto every requisite for properly sus.
tanning his dignity and continuing his good
health. So the wisest men and best doctors
were called in to select spot within twenty
miles of London that would embrace the de-
sired qualifications The man SO fastidious
was Cardinal Wolsey, and the place finally
pitched upon was in Hampton parish. A
bargain for tho land was made with the prior
of tho Order of the Knights Hospitalers of
St John of Jerusalem, then holding it US a
manor, and in 1918 the cardinal began build
ing the stately palace now known as Hamp-
ton Court, that has sheltered so many of the
royalty of Great Britain.
HOME OF ANNE BoLEYN
Regardless of expense the structure was
erected with magnllicence that excited the
envy of King Hal, who, in his bluff and burly
way, demanded of the prelate what ho in
tended doing with tho residence Wolsey
meekly gave up his previous intentions, and
said he was aiming to make house worthy
of SO great Il monarch. To his subjects quon.
dam dwelling place Henry VIII took Katha-
rne of Aragon, and later Anne Boleyn took
possession when in the transitory glory of her
queenhood, no doubt rejoicing that her en-
envy, tho cardinal, had been ousted
But Anne's reign was not long, and after
her execution on the Tower Green, Jane Sey-
mour, as her successor to Henry's fancy,
went to Hampton Court. But sho was speed
lily overtaken by righteous retribution, for
slic was snatched away just when in the
zenith of her favor in her lords eyes on ac-
count of presenting him with the heir which
the ''royal wild beast" US Dickens called him,
had been for twenty years wishing for The
story is familiar to history. Lady James time
of trial had come, and tho physicians said it
would be impossible to save the life Of both
mother and child. "Savo the child" said
this truo Bluebcard; wives are plenty, so
save my heir" Tho fifth consort of Henry
VIII was young girl, who in two years fol
lowed Anno Boleyn to tho headsman's block.
Then Lady Latimer, discreet widow, held
court in Wolsey's splendid creation
Puny Edward vi, tho "only Puritan king
of England" Dean Stanley called him, the
boy kings sister spent her honeymoon with
her Spanish spouse; Charles Stuart and his
young wife, Henrietta Marie of France, and
Oliver Cromwell were others who occupied
Hampton court i'll succession, but it waned in
royal preference until after tho Restoration,
when it again became popular Charles II
and his wife, Catherine Of Braganza, passed
their honeymoon there 1t was then a splen-
did resort. The hangngs had been designed
by Raphael, and were very rich with gold
Among tho tapestries there was nothing in
tho world finer, the stories of Abrahrn and
and Tobit being, among others, told in the
weaving. Tho gallery of horns was superb,
the beams of stays, elks, antelopes and others
being profuscly represented. Tho queens bed
was embroidered with silver on crimson vel
vet and cost 9S, 600, and the great toilet glass
was framed i'll beaten gold.
WILLIAM AND HIS CANALS.
William Ill came to be resident of Hamp.
ton i'll due course Of time, but did the best he
could to destroy tho beauties of the English
work by exercising barbarous Dutch notions
for which he had taken liking Much of
his time was given to overseeing the cutting
of canals i'll tho gardens, and it was whilo at
this that his pony stumbled and threw his
kiu5ly rider, causing injuries that ultimately
brought about tho latter's death. Queen
Anna was u frequent visitor to tho court,
and her son, tho little duke of Gloucester,
was born there. The boy was named after
King William, although Anna detcsted him,
and among her conidants spoke of him as
tho "Dutch monster" George |, Philip
Stanhope, Lord Chesterfield, Lord Harvey,
Mary Lepell Mary I5ellendcn, Mrs Selwyn,
mother of the wit; Mrs Howard, afterward
Lady Suffolk; George II and Queen Caroline
and the Duke Of Grafton were all familiar
with the generous hospitality of the court
Frederick, Prince of Wales, carried his
wife, Augusta of Saxe-Gothu, away from
Hampton tho night before tho tiny heiress Of
tho British crown was born In tho summer
of 1877 tho prince notified his parents of the
approaching marital event. Tho queen, his
mother, did not believe it, as she was anxious
the succession should fall to her favorite son,
William, Duke of Cumberland, and thought
Frederick might try to palm off q spurious
child on her
II shall be there" she declared. ut can't
be got through with as soon as ono can blow
ones nose, and am resolved to be satisfied
that tho child is hers"
SO peremptory order was issued that the
birth should tako place ut Hampton, but
Frederick, offended by the command and
wishing to annoy his mother, took the prin-
cess to London and went to st. James Ar
irving there the palace was filled with COM
pnny and everything was confusion. Nothing
Of the kind had been expected and no prepa-
rations had been made But there was q
hurryins around, tablccloths even being
pressed into service as Sheets and the prin-
cess soon became the mother Of a daughter.
George III never liked Hampton and never
lived there after his succession to the throne,
owing, it is told, to his grandmother once
having boxed his ears there. Since then it
has been the homo for recipients of royal ia
vor and as public resort for the people. 1t
is fair and stately place, and stranger
can pass an interesting day in wandering
through tho Trophy or Lion gates with tho
arms of Wolsey over them, and looking into
tho great hall, with its tapestries and stained
glass, the Kings and queens chambers, where
tho wonderful beds Of royal choice are still
kept. There are the gloomy ones of William
and Mary, the velvet couch of Queen Anne,
tho embroidered satin one of Queen Charlotte,
any one of which would murder sleep in these
days.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Flint Weapons in Egypt.