The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

JOHN EVELYN

tleman-usher to her Majesty, and uncle to the Earl of
Chesterfield, a very fine man, with my Lady Hutcheson.

19th July, 1670. I accompanied my worthy friend, that
excellent man, Sir Robert Murray, with Mr. Slingsby,
master of the mint, to ^see the latter's seat and estate
at Burrow-Green in Cambridgeshire, he desiring our
advice for placing a new house, which he was resolved
to build. We set out in a coach and six horses with
him and his lady, dined about midway at one Mr.
Turner's, where we found a very noble dinner, venison,
music, and a circle of country ladies and their gallants.
After dinner, we proceeded, and came to Burrow-Green
that night. This had been the ancient seat of the
Cheekes (whose daughter Mr. Slingsby married), formerly
tutor to King Henry VI. The old house large and ample,
and built for ancient hospitality, ready to fall down with
age, placed in a dirty hole, a stiff clay, no water, next
an adjoining church-yard, and with other inconveniences.
We pitched on a spot of rising ground, adorned with
venerable woods, a dry and sweet prospect east and
west, and fit for a park, but no running water; at a mile
distance from the old house.

2oth July, 1670. We went to dine at Lord Allington's,
who had newly built a house of great cost, I believe a
little less than ^20,000. His architect was Mr. Pratt. It
is seated in a park, with a sweet prospect and stately
avenue; but water still defective; the house has also its
infirmities. Went back to Mr. Slingsby's.

22d July, 1670. We rode out to see the great mere,
or level, of recovered fen land, not far off. In the way,
we met Lord Arlington going to his house in Suffolk,
accompanied with Count Ogniati, the Spanish minister,
and Sir Bernard Gascoigne; he was very importunate
with me to go with him to Euston, being but fifteen
miles distant; but, in regard of my company, I could
not. So, passing through Newmarket, we alighted to see
his Majesty's house there, now new-building; the arches
of the cellars beneath are; well turned by Mr. Samuel,
the architect, the rest mean enough, and hardly fit for a
hunting house. Many of the rooms above had the chim-
neys in the angles and corners, a mode now introduced
by his Majesty, which I do at no hand approve of. I
predict it will spoil many noble houses and rooms, if