HAMPTON, (Middlesex) on the Thames, over-against the Moulseys, 2 m. from Richmond and Kingston. Its manor seems to have
bel. formerly to the priory of Takely in Essex, upon the Diss. of which, it came to the crown. This place is chiefly
famous for that noble house, called Hampton-Court, built here by cardinal Wolsey, who put up 280 silk beds in it, for
strangers only, and richly stored it with gold and silver plate; but it raised him so much envy, that, to screen himself
from it, he gave it to K. Hen. VIII. who in exchange allowed him his palace at Richmond. The buildings, gardens, and the 2
parks, to all which the late K. Will. made considerable additions, are about 4 m. in circuit, and watered on three sides
by the Thames, over which there is a bridge to it from Kingston. The inward court was built by K. William, and forms a
piazza, the lowness of whose pillars makes it look more like a cloyster than a palace, which, however, was so contrived
for the conveniency of the K. who took great delight in this place, but his constitution did not allow him to mount
stairs; nevertheless the apartments make ample amends for this, there being none more magnificent, nor more exactly
disposed in any palace in the world: And his Majesty, who had a good taste in furniture, adorned it with all the elegance
imaginable. Not to mention any of the other noble paintings by the greatest masters, there are in the great gallery the
famous cartoons, being 5 pieces done by Raphael Urbin, which K. Will. III. brought into England, and for which Lewis XIV.
offered 100,000 Lewis d'Ors. At this palace were also put up, a few years ago, the battles of Alexander, wrought up in
fine brussells tapistry, which are worth the observation of the curious. In Bushy-Park is a cascade, which is reckoned a
masterpiece in its kind.