Hampton Curia, tuos consultat ille Lares;
Contulerit toto cum sparsa palatia mundo,
Dicet, Ibi Reges, hic habitare Deos.
That is,
If e’er a Briton what is wealth don’t know; let him repair to Hampton Court, and then view all the palaces of the earth, when he will say, Those are the residence of Kings, but this of the Gods.
In order to give a more perfect idea of this grandeur, we shall give a description of the ornaments of this palace, as they appeared in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, from an author who describes what he himself saw.
“The chief area, says he, is paved with square stone; in its center is a fountain that throws up water, covered with a gilt crown, on the top of which is a statue of Justice, supported by columns of black and white marble. The chapel of this palace is most splendid, in which the Queen’s closet is quite transparent, having its windows of crystal. We were led into two chambers called the presence, or chambers of audience, which shone with tapestry of gold and silver, and silk of different colours: under the canopy of state are these words embroidered in pearl, Vivat Henricus Octavus. Here is besides a small chapel richly hung with tapestry, where the Queen performs her devotions. In her bedchamber the bed was covered with very costly coverlids of silk. At no great distance from this room we were shewn a bed, the teaster of which was worked by Anne Boleyn, and presented by her to her husband Henry VIII. All the other rooms being very numerous, are adorned with tapestry of gold, silver, and velvet, in some of which were woven history pieces, in others Turkish and American dresses, all extremely natural.
“In the hall are these curiosities: a very clear looking glass, ornamented with columns and little images of alabaster; a portrait of Edward VI. brother to Queen Elizabeth; the true portrait of Lucretia; a picture of the battle of Pavia; the history of Christ’s passion, carved in mother of pearl; the portrait of Mary Queen of Scots; the picture of Ferdinand Prince of Spain, and of Philip his son; that of Henry VIII. under which was placed the Bible curiously written upon parchment; an artificial sphere; several musical instruments: in the tapestry are represented negroes riding upon elephants; the bed in which Edward VI. is said to have been born, and where his mother Jane Seymour died in childbed. In one chamber were several excessively rich tapestries, which are hung up when the Queen gives audience to foreign ambassadors; there were numbers of cushions ornamented with gold and silver; many counterpanes and coverlids of beds lined with ermine. In short, all the walls of the palace shine with gold and silver. Here is besides a certain cabinet called Paradise, where besides that every thing glitters so with silver, gold, and jewels, as to dazzle one’s eyes, there is a musical instrument made all of glass, except the strings. Afterwards we were led into the gardens, which are most pleasant.”
Hentzner’s Journey into England.
This palace, which was afterwards the prison of King Charles I. is, with the parks, encompassed in a semicircle by the Thames. King William and Queen Mary were so greatly pleased with its situation, which rendered it capable of great improvements, and of being made one of the noblest palaces in Europe, that while the former was causing the old apartments to be pulled down, and rebuilt in the more beautiful manner in which they now appear, her Majesty impatient to enjoy so agreeable a retreat, fixed upon a building near the river, called the Water Gallery, and suiting it to her convenience, adorned it with the utmost elegance, though its situation would not allow it to stand after the principal building was completed.