three other fides is the fame in three different languages, Greek, Italian, and Spanish. Ad Innocentium XI. Summum Pontificem. Excelc: D: D: Gazpar: De. Haro, et Guzman. At a small distance from this noble piece of fculpture is a mineral fpring, commonly called Newfound Well; which, flowing into a beautiful antique bason, externally adorned with numerous figures in basso relievo, is from thence discharged by the mouths of twe lions near the top, and immediately disappearing, foon enters the lake. About the middle of the grand approach is a magnificent Bridge, chiefly confifting of three arches, the centre one of which is larger than the Rialto at Venice: the water is formed into a fpacious lake, which covers the whole extent of a capacious valley, furrounded by an artificial declivity of a prodigious depth, and is in difputably, both with regard to its accompaniments and extent, the moft capital piece of water in this kingdom. In this Park originally ftood a Royal Palace, where King Etheldred called a Parliament. Henry I. inclosed the Park with a wall, part of which is now remaining. His fucceffor Henry II. principally refided at this feat, and erected in the Park a house encompaffed with a Labyrinth of extraordinary contrivance, for the habitation of his concubine Fair Rofamond. This romantic retreat, commonly ftyled Fair Rofamond's Bower, was fitu ated ated on the hill, to the north-weft of the Bridge, above, a remarkable bath, or fpring, called at prefent Rofamond's Well. In this Palace Edmund, the fecond fon of Edward I. was born, and thence denominated Edmund of Woodftock; as was Edward the Black Prince. The Princefs Elizabeth, afterwards Queen, was kept a prifoner here, under the perfecutions of Queen Mary. This Palace retained its original splendour, and was inhabited by our kings, till the reign of Charles I. but began to be demolished in the fucceeding times of confufion. Its magnificent ruins were remaining within the memory of man, near the bridge, to the north, on the fpot where two Sycamores have been fince planted as a memorial. The Park and Manor of Woodstock, with other appurtenances, were granted with concurrence of Parlia ment, by Queen Anne, in the fourth year of her reign, to John Duke of Marlborough, and his heirs, in recompence of the many illuftrious victories obtained under his command against the French and Bavarian armies; particularly at Blenheim. The grant of the Crown, and the fervices of the Duke, are fully fpecified on the pedestal of a stately Column, 130 feet in height; on the top of which is a Statue of the Duke, fituated in a grand avenue. Оп one fide is the following Infcription, fuppofed to be written by the late Lord Bolingbroke. The Caftle of BLENHEIM was founded by Queen ANNE, In the Fourth Year of her Reign,. In the Year of the Christian Æra 1705. A Monument defigned to perpetuate the Memory of the Obtained over the French and Bavarians, On the Banks of the Danube, By JOHN Duke of MARLBOROUGH, The Hero not only of this Nation, but of this Age; E 3 Whofe Whofe Glory was equal in the Council and in the Field; Which no Rank, no Authority can give, Who by Military Knowledge, and irrefiftible Valour, When raised the higheft, when exerted the most; Afferted and confirmed the Liberties of Europe. The House itself was built at the public expense; but the Bridge, the Column just mentioned, and the Portal contiguous to the Town, were erected folely at the charge of Sarah Duchess Dowager of Marlborough. DIT C H THE SEAT OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF LITCHFIELD. ITCHLEY is a modern fabric, lofty, and elegantly built, fituated on an hill, which commands much of the country, having Blenheim, Oxford, and the hills beyond it in full view. Over the front of the house are two grand ftatues, Loyalty and Fame, with with their proper emblems. The offices, which form two beautiful wings, have a communication with the principal building by circular colonnades. In the house are many valuable and mafterly portraits by Rubens, Vandyck, Sir Peter Lely, Johnfon, and Wotton. THE HALL. This room is finely proportioned and elegantly decorated. Its fides and roof are ornamented with ftucco, which is at once bold and delicate. Its door-cafes, pediments, entablatures, and columns of the Corinthian and Compofite orders, are all richly ornamented with gildings, &c. The Ceiling contains an Affembly of the Gods, painted by Kent. Two of the compartments are filled with historical pieces from the Æneid, by the fame hand; one of which reprefents Aneas meeting Venus, his mother, in the wood near Carthage; and the other, Venus prefenting Eneas with the new Armour. The Sciences are introduced as ornaments, with bufts of Philofophers, Poets, Hiftorians, and Orators, viz. Socrates, Virgil, Homer, Cicero, Sappho, Shakefpeare, Dryden, Milton, and Livy. Over the ftatues are bas-reliefs, copied from antiques out of the Florentine Museum, properly difpofed; and a ftatue of the Venus de Medicis. Here is alfo a curious model of the Radclivian Library at Oxford. The Chimney-piece is fuperb and lofty, decorated with a portrait of Henry Earl of Litchfield, by Aker man. THE MUSIC-ROOM Is well conftructed for Mufic, and has feveral paintings in it, viz. The Grandfather and Grandmother of the late Earl of Litchfield; the late Earl; the two late Dukes of Beaufort; the Honourable Mr. Lee, and Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, by Hoare; Rubens and his Son, hunting wild beafts; two Venetian Courtezans; a Shooting piece, and two Hunting-pieces, by Wotton. In the Shooting-piece the two late Lords are introduced. E 4 THE Is ornamented with feveral masterly Portraits. Henry VIII. by Hans Holbein, in his highest finishing; Charles I. with Charles II. at his knee, by Vandyck; Sir Harry Lee, with the Maftiff that faved his life, by Johnfon.The ftory of this piece is founded on an escape of Sir Harry from being affaffinated by one of his own Servants, who had formed a defign of robbing the houfe, after having murdered his master. But on the night it was to be put in execution, the dog, though no favourite with, nor ever before taken notice of by his mafter, accompanied him up ftairs, crept under the bed, and could not be driven away by the fervant, when Sir Harry ordered him to be left: and in the dead of night the fame fervant entering the room to execute his defign, was inftantly feized by the dog, and upon being fecured, confeffed his intentions. In one corner of the piece is the following line. "More faithful than favoured." Lord Henry, by Richardfon; and the old Dowager Lady, by Vanderbank, both in their Coronation Robes. The Duke of Monmouth and his Mother; Prince Ar thur, by Johnson; Sir Charles Rich, killed at the Isle of Rhée, 1627; Sir Chriftopher Hatton; four Portraits of Sir Henry Lee's Brothers, by Corn. Johnfon, in his best manner. THE DAMASK BEDCHAMBER. The Tapestry, which is executed with uncommon expreffion, reprefents Boys engaged in feveral sports and employments, fome fqueezing grapes, others at play, &c. PAINTINGS. Admiral Lee; the Queen of Bohemia, by Johnson; Lord and Lady Tenham. TAPESTRY DRAWING-ROOM Is furnished with Tapestry not lefs masterly than that lait |