The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

1675 JOHN EVELYN

than that she deserved no better match; for, though he
was a gentleman of good family, yet there was great in-
equality.

i4th July, 1675 * went to see my Lord Sunderland's
Seat at Althorpe, four miles from the ragged town of
Northampton (since burned, and well rebuilt). It is
placed in a pretty open bottom, very finely watered and
flanked with stately woods and groves in a park, with a
canal, but the water is not running, which is a defect.
The house, a kind of modern building, of freestone,
within most nobly furnished; the apartments very com-
modious, a gallery and noble hall; but the kitchen being
in the body of the house, and chapel too small, were de-
fects. There is an old yet honorable gatehouse standing
awry, and out-housing mean, but designed to be taken
away, It was moated round, after the old manner, but
it is now dry, and turfed with, a beautiful carpet. Above
all, are admirable and magnificent the several ample gar-
dens furnished with the choicest fruit, and exquisitely
kept. Great plenty of oranges, and other curiosities.
The park full of fowl, especially herons, and from it a
prospect to Holmby House, which being demolished in
the late civil wars, shows like a Roman ruin, shaded by
the trees about it, a stately, solemn, and pleasing view.

15th July, 1675. Our cause was pleaded in behalf of
the mother, Mrs. Howard and her daughters, before Baron
Thurland, who had formerly been steward of Courts for
me; we carried our cause, as there was reason, for here
was an impudent as well as disobedient son against his
mother, by instigation, doubtless, of his wife, one Mrs.
Ogle (an ancient maid), whom he had clandestinely
married, and who brought him no fortune, he being heir-
apparent to the Earl of Berkshire. We lay at Brickhill,
in Bedfordshire, and came late the next day to our jour-
ney's end.

This was a journey of adventures and knight-errantry.
One of the lady's servants being as desperately in love
with Mrs. Howard's woman, as Mr. Graham was with
her daughter, and she riding on horseback behind his
rival, the amorous and jealous youth having a little drink
in his pate, had here killed himself had he not been pre-
vented; for, alighting from his horse, and drawing his
sword, he endeavored twice or thrice to fall on it, butord would not have him preach any more. He neverais-