red with Shakespeare,
Beaumont, Fletcher, Selden, Cotton, Carew, Martin, Donne, and many
others, whose names, even at this distant period, call up a mingled
feeling of reverence and respect." Here, in the full flow and
confidence of friendship, the lively and interesting "wit-combats"
took place between Shakespeare and Jonson; and hither, in probable
allusion to them, Beaumont fondly lets his thoughts wander in his
letter to Jonson from the country.

"What things have we seen,
Done at the Mermaid? heard words that have been,
So nimble, and so full of subtle flame,
As if that every one from whom they came,
Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest," &c.

Masques, however, were not the only Christmas diversions of royalty at
this period, for James I. was very fond of hunting, and Nichols[60]
says that, in 1604, the King kept

A ROYAL CHRISTMAS AT ROYSTON,

at his new hunting seat there, and "between the 18th of December and
22nd of January he there knighted Sir Richard Hussey, of Salop; Sir
Edward Bushell, of Gloucestershire; Sir John Fenwick, of
Northumberland; Sir John Huet, of London; Sir Robert Jermyn, of
Suffolk; Sir Isaac Jermyn, of Suffolk; Sir John Rowse; Sir Thomas
Muschamp, of Surrey. Mr. Chamberlaine, in a letter to Mr. Winwood from
London, December 18th, says: 'The King came back from Royston on
Saturday; but so far from being weary or satisfyed with those sports,
that presently after the holy-days he makes reckoning to be there
againe, or, as some say, to go further towards Lincolnshire, to a
place called _Ancaster Heath_.'"

In this letter Mr. Chamberlaine also refers to

OTHER COURT AMUSEMENTS OF CHRISTMASTIDE,

for, proceeding, he says:--

"In the meantime here is great provision for Cockpit, to entertaine
him at home, and of Masks and Revells against the marriage of Sir
Philip Herbert and the Lady Susan Vere, which is to be celebrated on
St. John's Day. The Queen hath likewise a great Mask in hand against
Twelfth-tide, for which there was L3,000 delivered a month ago. Her
brother, the Duke of Holst, is here still, procuring a levy of men to
carry into Hungary. The Tragedy of 'Gowry,' with all the action and
actors, hath been twice represented by the King's Players, with
exceeding concourse of all sorts of people; but whether the matter or
manner be not well handled, or that it be thought unfit that Princes
should be played on the stage in their lifetime, I hear th