7
other lesser turrets, encompassed with a mantle wall, in which therewere little turrets in several parts.
On a survey of this place in the time of Oliver Cromwell , thematerials were valued (all charges disbursed) at 1000/.; but the sur-veyors were of opinion, that to a gentleman who would purchase thewhole domain, and make it his habitation, they would be worth 1500/.
The houses of the clergy were, indeed, not less gorgeous than those
figures of men holding cups: over the head of one, on a label, is, les • bien • venus •; andover the other, come • in • and • dringe.
The manor of Catlage, in Cambridgeshire , was purchased, and the house built, byEdward North, Esq. (who was afterwards first Lord North), a favourite servant of Henry VIII .
“ The entry is from a small lawn under a square brick tower, which has four turrets, thenup a flight of stone steps, cross a narrow paved terrace which leads to the porch, and thislatter into the anti-hall, small, and low pitched. Through this is the great hall, where there isa skreen and gallery. This room is like that of a college, with the high table and oriel windowat the upper end. The side windows are very lofty from the ground, and opposite the oldfire-place. Hence a passage leads to the chapel, round which, in compartments, are the headsof the Apostles . The family pew is entered from the rooms up stairs. From the chapel, oneis carried to the ball-room, hence the dining-room hung with tapestry, of which the subjectsare battles. Queen Elizabeth was magnificently entertained here by Roger, second LordNorth, in the twenty-first year of her reign; and the tradition of the place says she wasconcealed here during the unfortunate reign of her sister. On the top of the stairs is a smallanti-chamber, leading to the gallery of the chapel, in which there is a chair used by that greatqueen. The next room is that wherein her majesty remained during her concealment, behindwhich, in one corner, was a door into an octagon closet, in a tower, whence there was anopening to the leads, where she used to take the air. The bed is of crimson velvet, with adeep gold fringe, and a chair and footstool of the same. This noble mansion is raised on aplatform, and nearly surrounded with a deep and broad moat, filled with water.
“ One wing was pulled down some years ago. The whole building is of brick, except thedoor and window dressings .”—Topographical Miscell., 1792.