XVI. THE MANSION OF GOTEHURST. "Parks with oak and chestnut shady, Parks and order'd gardens great; Ancient homes of lord and lady, Built for pleasure and for state."-TENNYSON. "BEAUTIFUL exceedingly" are the surroundings of the handsome and stately old mansion of Gayhurst, or Gotehurst; for by the latter name in times gone by it was more usual to call it. The church, half hidden by its firs and yews, stands picturesquely at a short distance from the left wing; the park offers its fine old trees and sparkling sheets of water; and the gardens are ever pleasing with their terraces of smooth-shaven grass, grey stonework, alleys of evergreen, and immemorial yews. On the east of the park a carriage-drive winds to the Northampton and Newport Pagnell road, and ends at a lodge of curious Tudor structure; and on the west Digby's Walk, overshadowed by yews, has for 300 years formed a shady retreat "Sweet Digby's Walk, cool shade in summer-time, To memory dear of sylvan river scene." The high road itself, arched over with the foliage of magnificent beeches, is accompanied on both sides with so many delights that one but instinctively feels that to scenes such as these Gayhurst is indebted for its name. The form of some blue-eyed ancient Saxon rises before us, and we seem to hear him say, as he gazes in ecstasy on his newly-gotten domain: "It is Goddeshurst !-none other than the hurst or forest of |