Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/89

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INTRODUCTION.

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shews that not only in her own matters of business, but in that of others, she referred to him for his assistance and advice.

"Althorpe, Sept. 8, 1681.

"I must now tell you what is my opinion as to Chelsey^[1]—that my mother had better take £6000 for it than live a melancholy life there another winter. I am ever to trouble you with my affairs, but now we come upon you double. My mother and I do earnestly beg that you will be so kind as to negotiate the sale with Monsieur Foubert, who has told Sir Gabriel Sylvius that he will give £4000 for it. Although this offer is so incon-

↑ This House at Chelsea has been since better known by the name of Beaufort House. About the year 1520, Sir Thomas More purchased an estate at Chelsea, and built himself a house, as Erasmus describes it, "neither mean, nor subject to envy, yet magnificent and commodious enough." "This House was afterwards in the possession of George Digby, Earl of Bristol, who bequeathed it to his widow, who, in January, 1682, sold it to Henry, Marquis of Worcester, created Duke of Beaufort. From 1683, it was known by the appellation of Beaufort House, and continued to be the occasional residence of that noble family till about the year 1720. After standing empty several years, it was purchased by Sir Hans Sloane, at public sale, for £2500, and was pulled down in 1740. The Gate, which was built by Inigo Jones for the Lord Treasurer Middlesex, Sir Hans gave to the Earl of Burlington, who removed it to his gardens at Chiswick."—Falkener's History of Chelsea, i. 132.

[1] This House at Chelsea has been since better known by the name of Beaufort House. About the year 1520, Sir Thomas More purchased an estate at Chelsea, and built himself a house, as Erasmus describes it, "neither mean, nor subject to envy, yet magnificent and commodious enough." "This House was afterwards in the possession of George Digby, Earl of Bristol, who bequeathed it to his widow, who, in January, 1682, sold it to Henry, Marquis of Worcester, created Duke of Beaufort. From 1683, it was known by the appellation of Beaufort House, and continued to be the occasional residence of that noble family till about the year 1720. After standing empty several years, it was purchased by Sir Hans Sloane, at public sale, for £2500, and was pulled down in 1740. The Gate, which was built by Inigo Jones for the Lord Treasurer Middlesex, Sir Hans gave to the Earl of Burlington, who removed it to his gardens at Chiswick."—Falkener's History of Chelsea, i. 132.

[1]