The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-02
400 YEARS IN OFFICE.
The House of Cecil Seldom Has Been Out
of Favor.

The Marquis of Salisbury is a remarka-
BILE example OF the fo:ce OF heredity. Fo
nearly 400 years each generation of his an
cestors has figured prominently in the
state affairs of Great Britain.
Royal families have been depose1, but
the grip OF the Cecils, the family name
of the premier, has seldom suffered.
Temporary changes have sent few OF
salispury's ancestors to tne tower, but
on their release they Immediately resumed
command.
About the most interesting possession
of Salisbury is his home, Hatfield house.
1t is there that he spends much of his
time nowadays, dealing with the prob
lens that confront him, and 1t was there
that a dozen or more of his grandfath hers
lived and plotted the intrigues which
have kept the family for 20 long before
the eyes of the nation.
Eighteen miles from London sta the
historic house and lands OF Hatfield,
firstly belonging in old Anglo-Saxon
times to the crown, and then, before En-
glands great landmark, he contest, TO
the pious abbot OF Ely and his Catholic
successors-a free gift from King Edgar
of far-away memory.
In the first Henry's reign this estate
became, by royal appointment, all Epis-
copal see, henceforth to be known as
Bishops Hatfield. or Hat-felle.
For 500 long years did the bishops OF
Elk rule at Hatfield, portion Of the
original palace being still in good preser-
vation.
Nicholas West, the last Catholic bishop
of Ely, died in March, 1884, after which
that ehas,e ana gentle monarch. Henry
VIII, fearing the wrath which his spolia-
iton of monasteries excited, gave tb sue
ceeding subseryient bishop several val
liable church lands in exchange for Hat
field, which then became royal residence.
Here within these historic walls Prince
. Edward heard OF his fathers death, and,
taking the scepter into his already failing
hands, adjudged the palace TO his sister,
Princess Elizabeth
The spring gerden where Elizabeth
played the lutte and yirginals i'm intervals
OF Greek and Roman poets, still remains
carefully preserved in Its original form,
though the an lent wing which she occu-
pied was taken down when rebu lding the
present mansion.
1t was in the time OF James ] that Hat
field became the home of tne Cecils, the
first Lord Salisbury giving his residence
of Theobalds, which the king greatly adj
mired in exchange for Hatfield, which
has remained with his descendants to the
present day.
1t was this first earl, too. who built the
existing house TO eastward OF the ancient
palace, showing, in its erection, so much
well-considered taste that to this day it
remains an example of what an English
county mansion should be.
Age has not witbered its massive beau
ty, and time leans lightly on its mossy
bricks aud me.lowed stone enrichments.
Exteriorly, corridor answering to the
ancient conventual cloister runs the
whole length OF the basement and CEN
tral towor'over the great entrance rises 20
fact nj. in ha mil ,f 30 IgH
roof being the clock tower and cupola.
These complete pyramidal effect Oh
the entire noble building. which vas fin-
ished in 1911. Ascending by the great
staircase from an immense hall, we come
on King James room. A long, wide gal
lery, extending the whole lngth OF the
south 'front.', last this oyal a artment, is
filed with artistic treasures which might
we'll grace national museum.
Then there Is the library, with its col.
lection of state papers and the winter
dining room, also in he west wing, be
sides the rose bedroom, the yellow bed
room and the south bedroom.
Lady Sallsbury's winter bedroom is in
the cast wing, as is also the square state
chamber and the billiard room.
During the eign of Henry VIII breaks
in the Office holding tenacity Of the fam
lily.
David's son Richard learned the arts
ol lnc COuTiltT Us II 'ONs
his official life as royal page and rising
to the rank OF high sheriff OF Rutland.
During the ligious strife In which
the mona teries of the Roman Catholic
church were plundered and their riches
contiscated, Richard Cecil benefited
largely by this work, and when died
Ina 1862 he left valuable estates running
into many countries. This was the orig n
Of the vast fortune OF the Cecil family.
Richardson's son, " illiam was the first
great statesman in the family and the
first 90 gIin n title He was the famous
Lord Burleigh. born in 1880, he entered
st. Johns college, Cambridge at the ege
OF 10. This college then pumb bered among
It's fellows Roger Ascham and John
Cheke, the rrofoundest Greek scholar OF
his gene alton.
Young Uecil struck up n great friend
ship With the great Grecian, wnosc
widowed mother supported her young
family by keeping a wine shop In the
town. Despite his birth and breeding