The Mirror
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

No. 416.]

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1830.

[PRICE 2d.]

Queen Elizabeth's Palace at Enfield.

THIS is but a sorry specimen of a royal
residence, and will not compare with
Mr. Nash's splendid affair at Pimlico.
The form is, however, nearly the same,
and desert and dismantled as is the En-
field palace, we ought to make allow-
ance for the wear and tear of two hundred
and fifty years before we place its moul-
dering walls in competition with the
gorgeousness and spick-and-span finery
of those of Buckingham.

The celebrity of Enfield for its royal
chase must be known to the youngest of
our readers. In the town, at the date
of our Engraving, 1778, stood the above
palace, respecting the building of which
antiquaries are not agreed.

It was the manor-house of Enfield;
and either in this, or another ancient
house, called Elsynge-hall, (now demo-
lished,) Edward VI. on his accession to
the throne, kept his court, for five
months before he removed to London.
Mr. Lysons is of opinion (*Environ[s],*
vol. ii. p. 28,) that the palace underwent
considerable repairs, or perhaps was
wholly rebuilt, in the reign of this
prince, and most probably upon occa-

sion of the manor being granted to the
Princess Elizabeth.

One of the rooms very lately remain-
ed in its original state, with oak panels,
and a richly ornamented ceiling. The
chimney-piece was supported by columns
of the Ionic and Corinthian orders, and
decorated with the cognizances of the
rose and portcullis, and the arms of
France and England quartered, with the
garter, and royal supporters, a lion and
a gryphon. Underneath was this motto :
"Sola salus servire Deo: sunt cætera
fraudes—Our only security is to serve
God: aught else is vanity." In the same
room was preserved part of another chim-
ney-piece, with nearly the same orna-
ments, and this motto: "Ut ros super
herbam, est benevolentia regis—Like the
dew on the grass is the bounty of the
king;" alluding, it is probable, to the
royal grant. Among the collection of
royal letters in the British Museum is a
Latin one from the Princess Elizabeth,
dated Enfield, and in the Bodleian Li-
brary, is a MS. copy of a sermon, trans-
lated by that princess, from the Italian
of Occhini. It is written on vellum, in

VOL. XV.

K

No. 416.]

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1830.

[PRICE 2d.]

It was the manor-house of Enfield;
and either in this, or another ancient
house, called Elsynge-hall, (now demo-
lished,) Edward VI. on his accession to
the throne, kept his court, for five
months before he removed to London.
Mr. Lysons is of opinion (*Environns,
vol. ii. p. 28,* ) that the palace underwent
considerable repairs, or perhaps was
wholly rebuilt, in the reign of this
prince, and most probably upon occa-
VOL. XV. K

416

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Yale Center for British Art, 2017

her own hand, and was sent, as a new
year's gift, to her brother, King Ed-
ward. The dedication is dated Enfield,
Dec. 30, the year not mentioned.

When Elizabeth became queen, she
frequently visited Enfield, and kept her
court there in the early part of her reign.
The palace was alienated from the crown
by Charles I., and has been ever since
in private hands. In 1670 it was taken
by Dr. Uvedale, master of the grammar-
school, who being attached to the study
of botany, planted a cedar of Libanus,
long one of the finest in the kingdom,
and measuring at three feet from the
ground, (in 1793,) twelve feet in girth,
and in 1815, fifteen feet eight inches,
at about one foot and a half from the
ground. Tradition says, that this tree,
when a plant, was brought from Mount
Libanus in a portmanteau. Its girth, at
one foot six inches from the ground, (in
1820,) was sixteen feet. Dr. Uvedale
formed here one of the finest collections
of scarce exotics in England. The whole
building, in front, was taken down in
1792, and on the site of it are erected
some small houses.

Elsynge House, or Enfield House,
was another royal mansion in this neigh-
bourhood; yet it must not be confused
with the above palace. Our view was
taken in 1778, and Mr. Lysons, (in
1795,) states that the site of Elsynge
could not then be traced.

When Elizabeth became queen, she frequently visited Enfield, and kept her court there in the early part of her reign. The palace was alienated from the crown by Charles I., and has been ever since in private hands. In 1670 it was taken by Dr. Uvedale, master of the grammar-school, who being attached to the study of botany, planted a cedar of Libanus, long one of the finest in the kingdom, and measuring at three feet from the ground, (in 1793,) twelve feet in girth, and in 1815, fifteen feet eight inches, at about one foot and a half from the ground. Tradition says, that this tree, when a plant, was brought from Mount Libanus in a portmanteau. Its girth, at one foot six inches from the ground, (in 1820,) was sixteen feet. Dr. Uvedale formed here one of the finest collections of scarce exotics in England. The whole building, in front, was taken down in 1792, and on the site of it are erected some small houses.

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