King and Parliament: Charles's escape: Cromwell's occupation of the Palace.—7. The Restoration: Charles II.'s life at Hampton Court: his marriage: his Court.—8. The Beauties of the Court: characteristicsof Lely's work: the history of the ladies.—9. Charles and Verrio: James II.—10. William III.: was he a hero: the greatnessof his surroundings: his diplomacy: the succession: his private character: his grant of lands to his favourites: the de Witts: Glencoe: his unpopularity: his unconstitutional action.—11. His work at Hampton Court: Queen Mary and Kneller: the Beauties: other portraits: William's fondness for Hampton Court: Anne's sad memories there.—12. George I.: his plays: Defoe's account of the Palace.
I
The history of Hampton Court begins with Thomas Wolsey. The manor appears in Domesday. It changed hands in medieval times not less often than other estates. From the possession of the Prior and Knights of S. John of Jerusalem it passed by lease in 1514 to Wolsey, who chose the site for a country-seat after consultation with many learned leeches, who testified with one voice—which posterity has re-echoed—to the salubrity of the spot. After his surrender of the lease to the King, the estate became Henry's absolute property by an exchange with the Hospitallers in 1531. From that time it has been the possession of the English sovereign—even the Commonwealth recognising it as the home of the chief official of the state. By the Act 31 Henry VIII. cap. 5, the King's manor of Hampton Court was made an honour, "and
