preservation of what is
indeed an architectural gem. But the walls are in excellent condition
and the roofs fairly sound. The National Trust, like an angel of
mercy, has spread its protecting wings over the building; friends have
been found to succour the Court in its old age; and there is every
reason to hope that its evil days are past, and that it may remain
standing for many generations.

[Illustration: Tudor Dresser Table, in the possession of Sir Alfred
Dryden, Canon's Ashby, Northants]

The wealth of treasure to be found in many country houses is indeed
enormous. In Holinshed's _Chronicle of Englande, Scotlande and
Irelande_, published in 1577, there is a chapter on the "maner of
buylding and furniture of our Houses," wherein is recorded the
costliness of the stores of plate and tapestry that were found in the
dwellings of nobility and gentry and also in farm-houses, and even in
the homes of "inferior artificers." Verily the spoils of the
monasteries and churches must have been fairly evenly divided. These
are his words:--

"The furniture of our houses also exceedeth, and is growne in
maner even to passing delicacie; and herein I do not speake of the
nobilitie and gentrie onely, but even of the lowest sorte that
have anything to take to. Certes in noble men's houses it is not
rare to see abundance of array, riche hangings of tapestry, silver
vessell, and so much other plate as may furnish sundrie cupbordes
to the summe ofte times of a thousand or two thousand pounde at
the leaste; wherby the value of this and the reast of their stuffe
doth grow to be inestimable. Likewise in the houses of knightes,
gentlemen, marchauntmen, and other wealthie citizens, it is not
geson to beholde generallye their great provision of tapestrie
Turkye worke, _pewter_, _brasse_, fine linen, and thereto costly
cupbords of plate woorth five or six hundred pounde, to be demed
by estimation. But as herein all these sortes doe farre exceede
their elders and predecessours, so in tyme past the costly
furniture _stayed there_, whereas now it is descended yet lower,
even unto the inferior artificiers and most fermers[39] who have
learned to garnish also their cupbordes with plate, their beddes
with tapestrie and silk hanginges, and their table with fine
naperie whereby the wealth of our countrie doth infinitely
appeare...."

[39] Farmers.

Much of this wealth has, of course, been scattered. Ti