The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Robert Paston, 1st Earl of Yarmouth (29 May 1631 - 08 Mar 1683)

Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21513 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Paston,_1st_Earl_of_Yarmouth Collector
 Relevant locations: Residence at Oxnead Hall, Oxnead
 Relationships: Henry Howard (1628-1684) was a friend of Robert Paston
Le Gross (fl. 1662-) was a cousin of Robert Paston
Rebecca Paston (c. 1635-16 Feb 1694 ) was a wife of Robert Paston
William Paston (c.1610-1663) was a father of Robert Paston
William Paston (1654 -25 Dec 1732) was a son of Robert Paston
Linked manuscript items: as Collector (minor) - "Apartments in Oxnead Hall in Norfolk," British Library Additional MS 36988, London
as Subject of/in a document - "Apartments in Oxnead Hall in Norfolk," British Library Additional MS 36988, London
 Linked print sources: as Mentioned or referenced by - Tudor Books and Readers: Materiality and the Construction of Meaning.
as Subject of/in a document - Curiosities and Texts: The Culture of Collecting in Early Modern England.
as Subject of/in a document - The Investigation and Reconstruction of a Seventeenth Century Pronk Still Life: The Yarmouth Collection.
as Subject of/in a work of art - Robert Paston and the Yarmouth Collection.
 Linked images:
Engraving of Oxnead Hall

Fountain at Oxnead Hall

Oxnead Hall Plan

References in Documents:
Objects mentioned in correspondence

I hope by this time thou art got somewhat beyond plaist il, and ouy Monsieur, and durst ask a question and give an answer in french, and therefore now I hope you goe to the Protestant Church, to which you must not be backward, for tho there church order and discipline be different from ours, yet they agree with us in doctrine and the main of Religion. Endeavour to write french; that will teach you to understand it well, you should have signified the Apoticary's name with whom you dwell, in such a place you may see the drugs and remember them all your life. I received your letter and like your description of the place, both the Romans and English have lived there; the name of Santonna now Xaintes is in the geographie of Ptolemie who lived under Antoninus, as also Porto Santonicus where Rochell stands, and Promontorium Santonicum where now Bloys. My coyns are encreased since you went I had 60 coynes of King Stephen found in a grave before Christmas, 60 Roman silver coyns I bought a month agoe, and Sir Robert Paston will send me his box of Saxon and Roman coyns next week, which are about thirtie, so that                                   I would not buy any there except some few choice ones which I have not already; but you doe very well to see all such things, 8 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1661. some likely have collections which they will in courtesie show, as also urns and lachrimatories; any friend will help you to a sight thereof, for they are not nice in such things. I should be content you should see Rochell and the Isle of Rhee, salt works are not far from you, for the sommer will be too hot to travail and I would have you wary to expose yourself then to heats, but to keep quiet and in shades. Write some times to Mr. Dade civil letters with my service. I send at this time by Rochell whither the ships will be passing from Yarmouth for salt. Point your letters hereafter, I mean the ends of sentences. Christ church is in a good condition much frequented, and they have a sweet organ; on Tuesday next is the Coronation day when Mr. Bradford preacheth: it will be observed with great solemnity especially at London: a new Parliment on the 8th of May and there is a very good choice almost in all places. Cory the Recorder, and Mr. Jay, 2 Royallists gained it here against all opposition that could possibly bee made; the voyces in this number, Jaye 1070, Corie 1001, Barnham 562, Church 436. My Lord Richardson and Sir Ralph Hare caryed it in the county without opposition. Lent was observed this year which made Yarmouth and fishermen rejoyce. The Militia is settled in good hands through all England, besides volunteer troops of hors, in this Citty Collonell Sir Joseph Pain, Lieutenant Coll. Jay, Major Bendish, Captain Wiss, Brigs, Scottow, 2 volunteer troops in the country under Mr Knivet and Sir Horace Townsend, who is made a Lord. Good boy doe not trouble thy self to send us any thing, either wine or bacon. I would have sent money by Exchange, but Charles Mileham would not have me send any certain sum, but what you spend shall be made good by him. I wish some person would direct you a while for the true pronunciation and writeing of french, by noe means forget to encrease your Latin, be patient civil and debonair unto all, be temperate and stir litle in the hot season: by the books sent you may understand most that has pasd since your departure, and you may now read the french Gazets which come out weekly. Yesterday the Dean preached and red the Liturgie or Common prayer, and had a Comunion at Yarmouth as haveing a right to doe so some times, both at 1661.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 9 St Marys the great church at Lynn and St Nicholas church at Yarmouth as he is Dean. It is thought by degrees most will come to conformitie. There are great preparitions against tomorrow the Coronation day, the County hors came hither to joyn the Regiment of foot of this Citty, a feast at the new hall, generall contributions for a feast for the poor, which they say will be in the market place, long and solemn service at Christ Church beginning at 8 a Clock and with a sermon ending at twelve. Masts of ships and long stageing poles already set up for becon bonfires, speeches and a little play by the strollers in the market place an other by young Cityzens at Timber Hill on a stage, Cromwell hangd and burnt every where, whose head is now upon Westminster hall, together with Ireton and Bradshows. Have the love and fear of God ever before thine eyes; God confirm your faith in Christ and that you may live accordingly, Je vous recommende a Dieu. If you meet with any pretty insects of anany kind keep them in a box, if you can send les Antiquites de Bourdeaux by any ship, it may come safe.

Objects mentioned in correspondence
Sir Robert Paston to Dr. Browne [Bodleian MS Rawlinson CCCXCI] Parson's Greene, the 19th of September, [1662.] Worthy Sir,

You may justly wonder my pen has beene soe long a stranger to you, though, through manie removes, I could never till now com att my meddalls. All I have of the Brittish and Saxon I have this day sent you in a box, by the Norwich coachman, which I hope will be with you this night, with a large one of Heraclius, and some copper ones, which I hope are good. The manuscript of Dunstan and Beniamin Lock, I find verbatim in print, but nott the coronatio naturæ, though I have the same figures in another manuscript, without explication uppon them.

This ring with the head of Vespasian, which I esteeme verie good, I desire your finger may honor, I having wome itt on my owne, as the best I could find of that kind. Sir, I desire the favor of you, by the returne of the coachman, to send me your two manuscripts of Mayerne, there beeing somthing in one of them which I immediatelie intend to putt in execution.

My wife has the ill fortune to be attacqued with a quartan ague, which is soe much the worse, she beeing within two months of her time.

My humble service to your ladie and my cousin Le Gross, and, sir, if you have anie notion that you please to communicate, in order to the old affaire I discoursed to you att Norwich, I shall hope to give you an accompt of itt in som short time; for I have delayed my self in vainelie endeavouring to fix a volatile spiritt on itts fixed salt; when I am master of the way, bringing the fixed part over in a volatile water, which, after circulation, I hope will performe the promises of Raymund Lullie. Your good hints may be a meanes to aduance my design which will oblidge,

Sir, your verie humble servant, Robert Paston.
Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c formerly at Oxnead Hall (1844)
Springfield near, Clemsford, Dec. 6. Mr. UrbanMr. Urban,

WILLWill you allow me to lay before your readers some particulars relating to Oxnead Hall in Norfolk, formerly the seat of the Pastons, Earls of Yarmouth.

It was in the year 1809 that I made a drawing of the Old Hall as it stood before it was taken down. This was published in Mr. Britton's Architectural Antiquities; but I have since discovered that, instead of one, the original roof had two stories of garrets, like those of Irmingland, Heydon, Barningham Halls in Norfolk, and Wakehurst in Sussex.

I likewise inclose a sketch of the Fountain formerly at Oxnead, which had for more than half a century been half concealed among the rubbish in Blickling Park; it was lately restored, and placed in the flower-garden adjoining to Blickling Hall.

Oxnead Hall was built by Clement Paston, the fourth son of Sir William Paston, knight, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and it continued the principal seat of that family, whose name has been rendered so celebrated by the Correspondence of its early members, edited by Sir John Fenn.

The original building is described in the Ground-plan. The portion marked L was erected by the first Earl of Yarmouth to receive King Charles II and his attendants, who visited Oxnead in 1676; it was a lofty building, with sash-windows, called the Banquetting-room. Underneath this was a vaulted apartment, which was called the Frisketting room, probably from the Italian “frescati,” a cool grotto.

William Paston, the second Earl of Yarmouth, and last of his family, died in 1732, leaving his estates to be sold for the payment of his debts. They were purchased by the celebrated Lord Anson, (it is stated by Mr. Dawson Turner in his recent History of Caister,) “after his return from his voyage round the world.” This was in 1744. The greater part of this magnificent mansion was shortly after taken down. Oxnead Hall is now in the possession of Sir Edward Hardinge Stracey, Bart. It was for many years occupied by my late uncle, John Repton, esq. who died in 1809.

The only remains of this formerly magnificent mansion are the offices at the east end, and the barn, with three noble stacks of chimnies; each stack contained four shafts, of which only the bases remain, but, from a single brick with a cross on the edge, which I discoverer a few years ago, the chimney shafts I imagine to have been formerly highly enriched. It may be worth while to mention that the windows of Oxnead Hall are only thirteen inches wide (i. e. the glass between the munnions), although the munnions themselves are at least five inches broad. Other old mansions in Norfolk of the same date have the glass casements fifteen or sixteen inches wide, and, when succeeded by panes of plate glass, are not disagreeable to their modern inhabitants. But in the mansions of the end of Elizabeth's or beginning of James the First's reign, the casements exceed seventeen or eighteen inches wide, as at Blickling, Longleat, &c.

Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c formerly at Oxnead Hall (1844) the pictures of Sir Robert Paston's[*]Sir Robert Paston here mentioned is apparently the same who was created Viscount Yarmouth in 1673, and Earl of Yarmouth in 1679, and died in 1682. The Inventory was, therefore, probably made before the first date. His wife was Rebecca, second daughter of Sir Jasper Clayton, Knt. of London. and his ladies in limd, with gold cases
Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c formerly at Oxnead Hall (1844) [*]Sir Robert Paston here mentioned is apparently the same who was created Viscount Yarmouth in 1673, and Earl of Yarmouth in 1679, and died in 1682. The Inventory was, therefore, probably made before the first date. His wife was Rebecca, second daughter of Sir Jasper Clayton, Knt. of London.
Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c formerly at Oxnead Hall (1844) [*]i. e. my Lady Paston's eldest brother, a Clayton. The same painting is afterwards referred to as “my Brother's picture;” so the Inventory seems to have been taken by Sir Robert Paston himself. The artist was, no doubt, Samuel Cooper, the celebrated miniature painter.
Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c formerly at Oxnead Hall (1844) Sir Robert Paston's picture in waxe worke.
Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c formerly at Oxnead Hall (1844) Mr. Paston's[*]“Mr. Paston,” probably William the son and heir of Sir Robert, and afterwards the second Earl of Yarmouth. He married the Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, one of the natural daughters of King Charles the Second; but, having no issue, was the last of his ancient race. picture done in krions.
Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c formerly at Oxnead Hall (1844) [*]“Mr. Paston,” probably William the son and heir of Sir Robert, and afterwards the second Earl of Yarmouth. He married the Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, one of the natural daughters of King Charles the Second; but, having no issue, was the last of his ancient race.