The house at Aldport was moated round, and a drawbridge stood before the
main entrance. The mansion was built of timber and plaster, with huge
projecting stone chimneys, gable ends, and deep casements--a fitting
residence in those days for rank and nobility.
Outside the moat was an extensive garden, laid out in a sumptuous style,
beyond which appeared a mound of considerable elevation and extent, the
site of Mancastle, famous in history as one of the strongholds of the
Romans, some account of which may be found in the legend of "Sir
Tarquin."
"I have been thinking," said Dee, after being silent for a space, "that
no savour of dishonesty can attach to our appropriation of this great
treasure, seeing the house and all this fair and goodly inheritance did
once appertain to the wardens of our college, of which patrimony we have
been most unjustly deprived by the statute of King Edward. My gracious
mistress, our Queen, not having reinstated me into this my lawful
possession, I have made bold to remind her Majesty of our wrongs, and to
supplicate her clemency thereupon."
Bartholomew felt fully satisfied of the right they had to these spoils,
his conscience being easily quieted on the score of appropriation.
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