The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-22
HISTORIC COUNTRY
EAT SET ON FIRE

ceived his death wound. and where
that memorable and oft-quoted Incl
cent occurred OF his giving up. when
dying. the water for which he craved.
so that a wounded soldier lying beside
him might quench his thirst.
a hundred years later ono OF his do
scendants. Algernon Sidney. second In
fame to himself, met death OH tho
scaNold ut Tower Hin. for high trea-
son. his writings on the principles OF
government being used as evidence
against him.
The accomplished Sir Philip Sid
hey's younger brother was created by
James I. Lord Sidney OF peushurst
Niscount LIsle, and Earl OF Leicester.
on succeeding TO the ownership or
Penshurst. and there We're seven or
these Sidney Earls OF Leicester. tho
last one dying without male issue in
lIi3. Lady Dorothy Sidney. daughter
OF tho second OF tho sidney I:aris OF
Leicester, was the Sacharissa OF TIE
poet Waller. A fine double row OF
beech trees in the park at Penshurst
is still called to this day SCHOLARSHIPS
Walk. and a venerable oak, known as
Sidney's Oak was planted on tho day
of Sir Philips birth or 1t Ben jon
son wrote:
That taller tree of which nut we
At his great birth when all tho Muses.
met"
mansion is of Elizabethan construc-
tion though portions thereof arc much
older, some parts even dating from tho
time OF Henry III. There are two
great fronts. ono facing. north and the
other west. ana various towers some
square. of stone. some octagon. of
brick, which. with the tall chimneys.
md mi Of
brick all over the buildings. givo
strange and venerable look to tho pile.
An ancient tower on tho north is the
gateway. and forms the carriage en-
trance. Over this gateway is stone
tablet. with tho following inscription:
The most religious and renowned
Prince Edward vi. King or England,
France and ireland. gave this house
of Pencester with the manors, lnndes
and apurtenanccs therto belonging.
unto his trustyc, and wcl-bclovcd
servant Syr William Sydney. Knight
Bannaret, servinge him from tho tyne
of his birth unto his coronation in
the Offices of chamberlayne and stuarde
Of his household. in commemoration or
which most worthic and famous Hinge.
Sir Henry sydney, knight of the most
noble Order OF the Garter Lord Presi-
dent of the Council, esta bl shed in the
Marches OF Wales some and heyre
Of the afore named Syr William caused
this tower to be buyldcd and that most
excellent princes armes to be erected
Ammo Domni 1855"
In the centre of the courts is tho
banquetinE hall, part OF which Is from
the time of Edward III. The floor IL
OF brick: i'll the centre octagon
space surrounded with n stone rim
contains the tiredog, almost the only
genuine one remaining in the United
I H. 7.
wide, with upright ends three feet
high. marked on the outside with tho
double arrow OF the Sidney arms.
Over this Is an opening in the roof,
covered by an ornamental turret. The
roof OF this hall is very fine, OF old
oak. the beams adorned with grotesQue
carved corbels. The hall is forty feet
wide and nearly sixty feet long. Tho
windows are Gothic, and filled with
fine tracery. The wainscot ana
doors are OF split oak, prepared for
use with chisel and Ratchet Tho mas
sive tables and benches are said to
/ be the oldest furniture eNtant in Eng
land The lords table on the dais is
six yards long and one wide. Tho
tables down the sides of the hall are
seven yards long, and were used by
the retainers and servants of the
house.
The ballroom is lighted by two an
cient chandeliers. said to have been
the first ever made in England. and the
gift OF Queen Elizabeth TO Sir Philip
Sidney.
Queen Elizabeth's room Is said to
have been furnished by her for her
stays ut Penshurst in the days OF Sir
Philip Sidncy's father. The chairs are
very fine, tho frames carved and gild-
ed. and the cushions covered with yell
low and crimson satin richly embroid-
cred. The walls at each end of the
room are hung with similar embroid-
cred satin. said to be tho work OF
Queen Elizabeth and OF her ladies'
Sir Philip Sidneys remains lie In
st. Paul's Cathedral. hut his father.
in whose arms King Edward VI. died,
is inferred beneath a beautiful carved
monument in the ancient Church OF ST.
John the Baptist, In the park ut Pens
hurst.
Copyright, 1913. by tho Brentwood