Diary of Anne Clifford 1603. 26 Jun 1603. The next day we went along with the Queen (age 28) to Althorpe [Map]¹ Lord Spencer’s (age 33) house, where my Mother saw my cousin Henry Clifford (age 12)², my uncle’s (age 44) son, which was the first time we ever saw him.

Note 1. Here Ben Jonson’s Masque of the Fairies was performed. ED.

The Queen (age 28) and Prince came to Althorpe the 25th of June, on Saturday; my mother, Aunt Warwick and I not till the next day, which Sunday was kept with great solemnity, there being an infinite number of lords and ladies. There we saw the Queen’s (age 28) favour to Lady Hatton (age 22) and Lady Cecil, for she shewed no favour to the elderly ladies, but to Lady Rich and such like company.

Note 2. Afterwards 5th and last Earl of Cumberland.

Evelyn's Diary. 14 Jul 1675. I went to see my Lord Sunderland's (age 33) Seat at Althorpe [Map], four miles from the ragged town of Northampton, Northamptonshire [Map] (since burned, and well rebuilt). It is placed in a pretty open bottom, very finely watered and flanked with stately woods and groves in a park, with a canal, but the water is not running, which is a defect. The house, a kind of modern building, of freestone, within most nobly furnished; the apartments very commodious, a gallery and noble hall; but the kitchen being in the body of the house, and chapel too small, were defects. There is an old yet honorable gatehouse standing awry, and out-housing mean, but designed to be taken away. It was moated round, after the old manner, but it is now dry, and turfed with a beautiful carpet. Above all, are admirable and magnificent the several ample gardens furnished with the choicest fruit, and exquisitely kept. Great plenty of oranges, and other curiosities. The park full of fowl, especially herons, and from it a prospect to Holmby House, which being demolished in the late civil wars, shows like a Roman ruin shaded by the trees about it, a stately, solemn, and pleasing view.

Evelyn's Diary. 23 Jan 1678. Dined with the Duke of Norfolk (age 49), being the first time I had seen him since the death of his elder brother, who died at Padua in Italy, where he had resided above thirty years. The Duke (age 49) had now newly declared his marriage to his concubine (age 35), whom he promised me he never would marry. I went with him to see the Duke of Buckingham (age 49), thence to my Lord Sunderland (age 36), now Secretary of State, to show him that rare piece of Vosterman's (son of old Vosterman), which was a view, or landscape of my Lord's palace, etc., at Althorpe [Map] in Northamptonshire.

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Aug 1688. I went to Althorpe [Map], in Northamptonshire, seventy miles. A coach and four horses took up me and my son at Whitehall, and carried us to Dunstable [Map], where we arrived and dined at noon, and from thence another coach and six horses carried us to Althorpe [Map], four miles beyond Northampton, where we arrived by seven o'clock that evening. Both these coaches were hired for me by that noble Countess of Sunderland (age 42), who invited me to her house at Althorpe, where she entertained me and my son with very extraordinary kindness; I stayed till the Thursday.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Aug 1688. My lady (age 42) carried us to see Lord Northampton's (age 23) Seat, a very strong, large house, built with stone, not altogether modern. They were enlarging the garden, in which was nothing extraordinary, except the iron gate opening into the park, which indeed was very good work, wrought in flowers painted with blue and gilded. There is a noble walk of elms toward the front of the house by the bowling green. I was not in any room of the house besides a lobby looking into the garden, where my Lord (age 23) and his new Countess (age 19) (Sir Stephen Fox's (age 61) daughter, whom I had known from a child) entertained the Countess (age 42) and her daughter the Countess of Arran (age 21) (newly married to the son (age 30) of the Duke of Hamilton (age 53)), with so little good grace, and so dully, that our visit was very short, and so we returned to Althorpe [Map], twelve miles distant.

Evelyn's Diary. 11 Jul 1689. The Countess of Sunderland (age 43) afterward told me that it extended as far as Althorpe [Map] at the very time, which is seventy miles from London. It did no harm at Deptford [Map], but at Greenwich [Map] it did much mischief.

Evelyn's Diary. 12 Oct 1690. The French General, with Tyrconnel (age 60) and their forces, gone back to France, beaten out by King William. Cork [Map] delivered on discretion. The Duke of Grafton (deceased) was there mortally wounded and dies. Very great storms of wind. The 8th of this month Lord Spencer (age 49) wrote me word from Althorpe [Map], that there happened an earthquake the day before in the morning, which, though short, sensibly shook the house. The "Gazette" acquainted us that the like happened at the same time, half-past seven, at Barnstaple, Devon, Holyhead, Anglesey, and Dublin [Map]. We were not sensible of it here.

Evelyn's Diary. 13 Nov 1695. Famous fireworks and very chargeable, the King (age 45) being returned from his progress. He stayed seven or eight days at Lord Sunderland's (age 54) at Althorpe [Map], where he was mightily entertained. These fireworks were shown before Lord Romney (age 54), Master of the Ordnance, in St. James's great square, where the King (age 45) stood.