ents, the
supper cost L600. Sir Thomas Edmondes undertook the providing and
managing of all, so that it was much after the French. The King was
exceedingly pleased, and could not be satisfied with commending the
meat and the Master; and yet some stick not to say, that young Sir
Henry Mildmay, a son of George Brooke, that was executed at
Winchester, and a son of Sir William Monson's, begins to come into
consideration."

THE FAILING HEALTH OF THE KING

interfered somewhat with the celebration of the subsequent Royal
Christmases of this reign; and Nichols, referring to the Court
celebrations of Twelfth Day, 1620-1, says:

"'On Twelfth Day the King went to Chappel, but they had much ado to
support him. He offered gold, frankincence, and myrrhe, and touched 80
of the evil.'[65] In the evening 'the French Ambassador and his choise
followers were brought to court by the Earle of Warwick to be present
at a Maske; he seated as before with the King, the better sort of the
other on a fourme behind the Lords, the Lord Treasurer onely and the
Marquesse of Hamilton sitting at the upper end of it, and all the rest
in a box, and in the best places of the scaffolds on the right hand of
his Majesty. No other Ambassadors were at that time present or
invited.'"

As to

THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

of the next year (1621-2) Nichols[66] says Mr. Meade wrote thus to Sir
Martin Stuteville:--

"'The Lieutenant of Middle Temple played a game this Christmas-time,
whereat his Majesty was highly displeased. He made choise of some
thirty of the civillest and best-fashioned gentlemen of the House to
sup with him; and, being at supper, took a cup of wine in one hand,
and held his sword drawn in the other, and so began a health to the
distressed Lady Elizabeth [the Queen of Bohemia], and having drunk,
kissed his sword, and laying his hand upon it, took an oath to live
and die in her service; then delivered the cup and sword to the next,
and so the health and ceremonie went round.

"'The Gentlemen of Graye's Inne, to make an end of Christmas on
Twelfe-night, in the dead time of the night, shot off all the chambers
they had borrowed from the Tower, being as many as filled four carts.
The King, awakened with this noise, started out of his bed, and cryed,
"Treason, treason," &c., and that the Cittie was in an uprore, in such
sort (as it is told) that the whole court was raised and almost in
armes, the Earle of Arundell running to the Bed-cham