travels in england-第7部分

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Returning　from　hence　to　Oxford；　after　dinner　we　proceeded　on　our　journey；　and　passed　through　Ewhelme；　a　royal　palace；　in　which　some　alms…people　are　supported　by　an　allowance　from　the　Crown。

Nettlebed；　a　village。

We　went　through　the　little　town　of　Henley；　from　hence　the　Chiltern　Hills　bear　north　in　a　continued　ridge；　and　divide　the　counties　of　Oxford　and　Buckingham。

We　passed　Maidenhead。

Windsor；　a　royal　castle；　supposed　to　have　been　begun　by　King　Arthur；　its　buildings　much　increased　by　Edward　III。　　The　situation　is　entirely　worthy　of　being　a　royal　residence；　a　more　beautiful　being　scarce　to　be　found；　for；　from　the　brow　of　a　gentle　rising；　it　enjoys　the　prospect　of　an　even　and　green　country；　its　front　commands　a　valley　extended　every　way；　and　chequered　with　arable　lands　and　pasturage；　clothed　up　and　down　with　groves；　and　watered　by　that　gentlest　of　rivers；　the　Thames；　behind　rise　several　hills；　but　neither　steep　nor　very　high；　crowned　with　woods；　and　seeming　designed　by　Nature　herself　for　the　purpose　of　hunting。

The　Kings　of　England；　invited　by　the　deliciousness　of　the　place；　very　often　retire　hither；　and　here　was　born　the　conqueror　of　France；　the　glorious　King　Edward　III。；　who　built　the　castle　new　from　the　ground；　and　thoroughly　fortified　it　with　trenches；　and　towers　of　square　stone；　and；　having　soon　after　subdued　in　battle　John；　King　of　France；　and　David；　King　of　Scotland；　he　detained　them　both　prisoners　here　at　the　same　time。　　This　castle；　besides　being　the　Royal　Palace；　and　having　some　magnificent　tombs　of　the　Kings　of　England；　is　famous　for　the　ceremonies　belonging　to　the　Knights　of　the　Garter。　　This　Order　was　instituted　by　Edward　III。；　the　same　who　triumphed　so　illustriously　over　John；　King　of　France。　　The　Knights　of　the　Garter　are　strictly　chosen　for　their　military　virtues；　and　antiquity　of　family；　they　are　bound　by　solemn　oath　and　vow　to　mutual　and　perpetual　friendship　among　themselves；　and　to　the　not　avoiding　any　danger　whatever；　or　even　death　itself；　to　support；　by　their　joint　endeavours；　the　honour　of　the　Society；　they　are　styled　Companions　of　the　Garter；　from　their　wearing　below　the　left　knee　a　purple　garter；　inscribed　in　letters　of　gold　with　〃HONI　SOIT　QUI　MAL　Y　PENSE；〃　I。E。；　〃Evil　to　him　that　evil　thinks。〃　　This　they　wear　upon　the　left　leg；　in　memory　of　one　which；　happening　to　untie；　was　let　fall　by　a　great　lady；　passionately　beloved　by　Edward；　while　she　was　dancing；　and　was　immediately　snatched　up　by　the　King；　who；　to　do　honour　to　the　lady；　not　out　of　any　trifling　gallantry；　but　with　a　most　serious　and　honourable　purpose；　dedicated　it　to　the　legs　of　the　most　distinguished　nobility。　　The　ceremonies　of　this　Society　are　celebrated　every　year　at　Windsor　on　St。　George's　Day；　the　tutelar　saint　of　the　Order；　the　King　presiding；　and　the　custom　is　that　the　Knights　Companions　should　hang　up　their　helmet　and　shield；　with　their　arms　blazoned　on　it；　in　some　conspicuous　part　of　the　church。

There　are　three　principal　and　very　large　courts　in　Windsor　Castle；　which　give　great　pleasure　to　the　beholders：　　the　first　is　enclosed　with　most　elegant　buildings　of　white　stone；　flat…roofed；　and　covered　with　lead；　here　the　Knights　of　the　Garter　are　lodged；　in　the　middle　is　a　detached　house；　remarkable　for　its　high　tower；　which　the　governor　inhabits。　　In　this　is　the　public　kitchen；　well　furnished　with　proper　utensils；　besides　a　spacious　dining…room；　where　all　the　poor　Knights　eat　at　the　same　table；　for　into　this　Society　of　the　Garter；　the　King　and　Sovereign　elects；　at　his　own　choice；　certain　persons；　who　must　be　gentlemen　of　three　descents；　and　such　as；　for　their　age　and　the　straitness　of　their　fortunes；　are　fitter　for　saying　their　prayers　than　for　the　service　of　war；　to　each　of　them　is　assigned　a　pension　of　eighteen　pounds　per　annum　and　clothes。　　The　chief　institution　of　so　magnificent　a　foundation　is；　that　they　should　say　their　daily　prayers　to　God　for　the　King's　safety；　and　the　happy　administration　for　the　kingdom；　to　which　purpose　they　attend　the　service；　meeting　twice　every　day　at　chapel。　　The　left　side　of　this　court　is　ornamented　by　a　most　magnificent　chapel　of　one　hundred　and　thirty…four　paces　in　length；　and　sixteen　in　breadth；　in　this　are　eighteen　seats　fitted　up　in　the　time　of　Edward　III。　for　an　equal　number　of　Knights：　　this　venerable　building　is　decorated　with　the　noble　monuments　of　Edward　IV。；　Henry　VI。；　and　VIII。；　and　of　his　wife　Queen　Jane。　　It　receives　from　royal　liberality　the　annual　income　of　two　thousand　pounds；　and　that　still　much　increased　by　the　munificence　of　Edward　III。　and　Henry　VII。　　The　greatest　princes　in　Christendom　have　taken　it　for　the　highest　honour　to　be　admitted　into　the　Order　of　the　Garter；　and　since　its　first　institution　about　twenty　kings；　besides　those　of　England；　who　are　the　sovereigns　of　it；　not　to　mention　dukes　and　persons　of　the　greatest　figure；　have　been　of　it。　　It　consists　of　twenty…six　Companions。

In　the　inward　choir　of　the　chapel　are　hung　up　sixteen　coats…of…arms；　swords；　and　banners；　among　which　are　those　of　Charles　V。　and　Rodolphus　II。；　Emperors；　of　Philip　of　Spain；　Henry　III。　of　France；　Frederic　II。　of　Denmark；　&c。；　of　Casimir；　Count　Palatine　of　the　Rhine；　and　other　Christian　princes　who　have　been　chosen　into　this　Order。

In　the　back　choir；　or　additional　chapel；　are　shown　preparations　made　by　Cardinal　Wolsey；　who　was　afterwards　capitally　punished；　｛12｝　for　his　own　tomb；　consisting　of　eight　large　brazen　columns　placed　round　it；　and　nearer　the　tomb　four　others　in　the　shape　of　candlesticks；　the　tomb　itself　is　of　white　and　black　marble；　all　which　are　reserved；　according　to　report；　for　the　funeral　of　Queen　Elizabeth；　the　expenses　already　made　for　that　purpose　are　estimated　at　upwards　of　60；000　pounds。　　In　the　same　chapel　is　the　surcoat　｛13｝　of　Edward　III。；　and　the　tomb　of　Edward　Fynes；　Earl　of　Lincoln；　Baron　Clinton　and　Say；　Knight　of　the　Most　Noble　Order　of　the　Garter；　and　formerly　Lord　High　Admiral　of　England。

The　second　court　of　Windsor　Castle　stands　upon　higher　ground；　and　is　enclosed　with　walls　of　great　strength；　and　beautified　with　fine　buildings　and　a　tower；　it　was　an　ancient　castle；　of　which　old　annals　speak　in　this　manner：　　King　Edward；　A。D。　1359；　began　a　new　building　in　that　part　of　the　Castle　of　Windsor　where　he　was　born；　for　which　reason　he　took　care　it　should　be　decorated　with　larger　and　finer　edifices　than　the　rest。　　In　this　part　were　kept　prisoners　John；　King　of　France；　and　David；　King　of　Scots；　over　whom　Edward　triumphed　at　one　and　the　same　time：　　it　was　by　their　advice；　struck　with　the　advantage　of　its　situation；　and　with　the　sums　paid　for　their　ransom；　that　by　degrees　this　castle　stretched　to　such　magnificence；　as　to　appear　no　longer　a　fortress；　but　a　town　of　proper　extent；　and　inexpugnable　to　any　human　force。　　This　particular　part　of　the　castle　was　built　at　the　sole　expense　of　the　King　of　Scotland；　except　one　tower；　which；　from　its　having　been　erected　by　the　Bishop　of　Winchester；　Prelate　of　the　Order；　is　called　Winchester　Tower；　｛14｝　there　are　a　hundred　steps　to　it；　so　ingeniously　contrived　that　horses　can　easily　ascend　them；　it　is　a　hundred　and　fifty　paces　in　circuit；　within　it　are　preserved　all　manner　of　arms　necessary　for　the　defence　of　the　place。

The　third　court　is　much　the　largest　of　any；　built　at　the　expense　of　the　captive　King　of　France；　as　it　stands　higher；　so　it　greatly　excels　the　two　former　in　splendour　and　elegance；　it　has　one　hundred　and　forty…eight　paces　in　length；　and　ninety…seven　in　breadth；　in　the　middle　of　it　is　a　fountain　of　very　clear　water；　brought　under　ground；　at　an　excessive　expense；　from　the　distance　of　four　miles。　Towards　the　east　are　magnificent　apartments　destined　for　the　royal　household；　towards　the　west　is　a　tennis…court　for　the　amusement　of　the　Court；　on　the　north　side　are　the　royal　apartments；　consisting　of　magnificent　chambers；　halls；　and　bathing…rooms；　｛15｝　and　a　private　chapel；　the　roof　of　which　is　embellished　with　golden　roses　and　FLEURS…DE…LIS：　　in　this；　too；　is　that　very　large　banqueting…room；　seventy…eight　paces　long；　and　thirty　wide；　in　which　the　Knights　of　the　Garter　annually　celebrate　the　memory　of　their　tutelar　saint；　St。　George；　with　a　solemn　and　most　pompous　service。

From　hence　runs　a　walk　of　incredible　beauty；　three　hundred　and　eighty　paces　in　length；　set　round　on　every　side　with　supporters　of　wood；　which　sustain　a　balcony；　from　whence　the　nobility　and　persons　of　distinction　can　take　the　pleasure　of　seeing　hunting　and　hawking　in　a　lawn　of　sufficient　space；　for　the　fields　and　meadows；　clad　with　variety　of　plants　and　flowers；　swell　gradually　into　hills　of　perpetual　verdure　quite　up　to　the　castle；　and　at　bottom　stretch　out　in　an　extended　plain；　that　strikes　the　beholders　with　delight。

Besides　what　has　been　already　mentioned；　there　are　worthy　of　notice　here　two　bathing…rooms；　ceiled　and　wainscoted　with　looking…glass；　the　chamber　in　which　Henry　VI。　was　born；　Queen　Elizabeth's　bedchamber；　where　is　a　table　of　red　marble　with　white　streaks；　a　gallery　everywhere　ornamented　with　emblems　and　figures；　a　chamber　in　which　are　the　royal　beds　of　Henry　VII。　and　his　Queen；　of　Edward　VI。；　of　Henry　VIII。；　and　of　Anne　Boleyn；　all　of　them　eleven　feet　square；　and　covered　with　quilts　shining　with　gold　and　silver；　Queen　Elizabeth's　bed；　with　curious　coverings　of　embroidery；　but　not　quite　so　long　or　large　as　the　others；　a　piece　of　tapestry；　in　which　is　represented　Clovis；　King　of　France；　with　an　angel　presenting　to　him　the　FLEURS…DE…LIS　to　be　borne　in　his　arms；　for　before　his　time　the　Kings　of　France　bore　three　toads　in　their　shield；　instead　of　which　they　afterwards　placed　three　FLEURS…DE…LIS　on　a　blue　field；　this　antique　tapestry　is　said　to　have　been　taken　from　a　King　of　France；　while　the　English　were　masters　there。　　We　were　shown　here；　among　other　things；　the　horn　of　a　unicorn；　of　above　eight　spans　and　a　half　in　length；　valued　at　above　10；000　pounds；　the　bird　of　paradise；　three　spans　long；　three　fingers　broad；　having　a　blue　bill　of　the　length　of　half　an　inch；　the　upper　part　of　its　head　yellow；　the　nether　part　of　a　。　。　。　colour；　｛16｝　a　little　lower　from　either　side　of　its　throat　stick　out　some　reddish　feathers；　as　well　as　from　its　back　and　the　rest　of　its　body；　its　wings；　of　a　yellow　colour；　are　twice　as　long　as　the　bird　itself；　from　its　b