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any courtesy you shall use towards him, you shall use towards a 
very worthy gentleman, and one I know whose acquaintance I 
much esteem. And so I ever continue,” &c., &c. 
That a further knowledge of the excellencies of Chaloner’s 
character and the extent of his attainments led to a perfect reliance 
on his judgment and capacity, is evident from the fact that in 
August, 1603, Henry, Prince of Wales, was put under his control; 
and how singularly absolute the authority conferred upon him was, 
can only be judged of by quoting some clauses of the Patent :— 
“For the good proof we have long had of your singular affection 
to our person, and for the trust and repose in you as well in regard 
of your zeal to religion, as also for your discretion, We have made 
choice of you to have the principal charge and custody, as well of 
the person of our said son as also the oversight of all his house- 
hold and family attending him, who, being to us so dear a jewel 
as he is, the charge is likewise of great weight and care to you. 
Wherefore we have thought good to accompany so great a burthen 
with sufficient authority to you for the execution and discharge 
thereof, and do therefore direct these our letters patent to you 
under our Great Seal of England, whereby we do give you power 
and authority for the better execution of this charge committed to 
you to command, rule, and direct as well all persons which shall 
be of ordinary attendance about our Son the Prince in his house 
in all things that may concern the safety of his person or the 
observation of good rule in his house,” &c. 
An independent establishment was set up for the Prince and his 
sister, the Lady Elizabeth. The result of late historical investi- 
gations published in the Catalogues of State Papers shew that 
during the spring of 1604 Chaloner, principally through the 
medium of Henry Wright, was on the track of the conspiracy 
which subsequently developed into the famous Gunpowder Plot, 
and of which two of the prominent members were John and 
Christopher Wright. I confess I should not be much surprised if 
the whole plot had been unravelled by the sagacity of Chaloner 
and perhaps one or two others, and then the King through the 
medium of the letter to Monteagle had been allowed to suppose 
