Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

EARLY HISTORY 29
King and Parliament: Charles's escape: Cromwell's occupationof
the Palace. — 7. The Restoration:Charles I.'s lifeat
Hampton Court: his marriage: his Court. — 8. The Beauties
of the Court: characteristicsof Lely's work: thehistory of the
ladies. — 9. Charles and Verrio:James II. — 10. William III.:
was he ahero:the greatnessof his surroundings:his diplomacy:
the succession:his private character:his grant of lands to his
favourites: the de Witts : Glencoe: his unpopularity: his
unconstitutional action. — li. His work at Hampton Court:
Queen Mary and Kneller: the Beauties: other portraits:
William's fondness for Hampton Court: Anne's sad memories
there. — 12. George I.: his plays: Defoe's account of the
Palace.
I
The history of Hampton Court begins with Thomas
Wolsey. The manor appears in Domesday. It
changed hands in medieval times not less often than
other estates. From the possession of the Prior and
Knights of S. John of Jerusalem it passed by lease in
15 14 to Wolsey, who chose the site for a country-seat
after consultation with many learned leeches, who
testified with one voice— which posterity has re-echoed
— to the salubrity of the spot. After his surrender
of the lease to the King, the estate became Henry's
absoluteproperty by an exchange with the Hospitallers
in 153 1. From that time it has been the possession
of the English sovereign — even the Commonwealth
recognising it as the home of the chief official of the
state. By the Act 31 Henry VIII. cap. 5, the King's
manor of Hampton Court was made an honour, " and