THE FIRST EARL OF SALISBURY 207
own accession to the throne ; and here she held her first Council." Throughout her life Elizabeth delighted in the place, and often availed herself of the opportunity it afforded for hunting, and hawking, and coursing.
The old palace was not suitable for Salisbury's purposes, and he lost no time in setting about his new house. He paid a farewell visit to Theobalds in April, and on the same day the Earl of Suffolk (the builder of Audley End), the Earl of Worcester and the Earl of Southampton, met him at Hatfield, " to discuss the site of his future habitation." The site chosen was close to the old building, part of which was turned into stables for the new owner. We may be sure that Salisbury was aided by these three noblemen also in planning his house, for he remained his own architect, employing Robert Lyminge as his foreman builder, and Thomas Wilson, his steward, as general superintendent of the works. Building was begun before the end of the year, and pro- ceeded so rapidly that the house was practically finished in 1612, not, however, until after the death of its owner.
Burghley and Theobalds were built in the old feudal manner, round courts. Hatfield occupies three sides of a hollow square, open to the south. In spite of two disastrous fires, one in March, 1667, the other in 1835, when the west wing was destroyed, the exterior of the house presents very much the same appearance as it did three hundred years ago. Inside more changes have
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