116 



at Richmond, removed as usual to Whitehall for the winter, when 

 all the Richmond carpets and " window piers" in the " Presence 

 Chamber and other Russhie Chambers," were at once taken down 

 and "made cleane and sweete, otherwise," says the careful 

 chronicler, " the stuflfe wiU not be in cast to serve her Matie 

 again." 



Nichols, in the Progresses, is the sole cause of the visit to Bath 

 being dated 1592, and this he has done entirely by guess work 

 and without any authority for it. Evidently knowing nothing 

 whatever about it, he simply quotes and refers to Warner, and 

 quotes him wrongly, as Warner gives the date 1591. It may be 

 assumed that, knowing from documentary evidence to the 

 contrary that the Queen was not in Bath in 1591, he intended to 

 correct this date, judging it possible she might have been there in 

 1592, as she took a westward route in that year. A line of 

 explanation, however, would have been better than a false 

 quotation. Adopting the previous plan, the daily route for 1592 

 shall now be traced. 



The usual preparations being made, and the " gestes" or resting 

 places determined on, the Court left Nonsuch in August, 1592, 

 the Grooms and Ushers in advance, making ready at Moul- 

 say, at Hanworth, at Eastridge in Colebrooke, and then at 

 Eton College. A dinner house was prepared at "ye Lyon at 

 Maydenhead," and so the cavalcade arrived at Lady Russell's 

 house at Bissham. Here, as her Majesty came to the top of the 

 hill going into Bissham, cornets sounded in the woods and then a 

 wild man came forth and made a speech. At the middle of the 

 bill sat Pan, and two Virgins keeping sheep, and sewing their 

 samplers, and there her Majesty stayed to hear their dialogue. 

 Next there was a dining house at Mr. John Haynes's, and a stay 

 at " ye Sheriff of Berks his house at Hurst," where some speeches, 

 and entertainments were offered. At Reading the Queen stayed 

 at Mr. Davies' house, dined next day at Mr. Ployden's, and then 

 rested at Sir Humphrey Foster's at Aldermaston. Next, after 



