between the young brother and sister in their happy
youth, while Elizabeth was still a merry, light-hearted girl. The
wretched system of which we have already spoken, that of sending royal
children away from home to be "boarded out" in the house of some great
noble or gentleman, caused no little sorrow to this brother and sister.
Prince Henry, as heir to the crown, was given a separate establishment
in 1603, and for a time Princess Elizabeth was permitted to share it.
When they went to Oatlands the king allowed them seventy servants;
twenty-two above stairs and forty-eight below. This number was soon
increased to one hundred and four, and later in the year to one hundred
and forty-one--fifty-six above and eighty-five below. But this happy
arrangement did not last long. The princess was sent to Coombe Abbey in
Warwickshire, under the care of good Lord Harrington, her governor. And
the prince went to Wolsey's famous palace of Hampton Court,

where he resided chiefly till about Michaelmas of the year
following, when he returned to housekeeping, his servants
having in the interval been put to board-wages.

Now began a constant interchange of letters between the children. The
meetings were rare. So they consoled themselves by writing, telling each
other of their amusements, their occupations, their journeys, their
lessons and readings. Here is a pretty one from Prince Henry, written a
few years later:

That you are displeased to be left in solitude I can well
believe, for you damsels and women are sociable creatures;
but you know that those who love each other best cannot
always be glued together; and if I have gone from you to
make war on hares, as you suppose, I would you should know
that it is not less honorable to combat against hares than
conies, and yet it is well authenticated by the experience
of our age, that this latter is a royal game. But this north
wind, preventing us from our ordinary exercises, will blow
us straight to London, so in a short time it is probable we
may celebrate together, the feast of St. Mangiart and St.
Pensard;[65] to whom recommending you this next Shrove
Tuesday,

I am etc. etc.[66]

[ILLUSTRATION: BRAMSHILL HOUSE, FROM THE NORTH.]

We now begin to learn something of the boy's tastes. So early as 1604
when he is but ten years old, he is looked upon as a patron of letters.
Lord Spencer sends him a present of Philippe