7a "A Dismal Depression in 1622." 



speak of, by poiatlng out a way in which the highest in the land 

 were affected, and the troubles ran through all society. 



" A dress of green velvet, quilted, so as to be dagger-proof-— 

 buttoned awry. Over his green doublet he wore a sad-coloured 

 night-gown, out of the pocket of which peeped his hunting horn. 

 His high-crowned gray hat lay on the floor covered with dust, but 

 encircled with a carcanet of large rubies, and he wore a blue velvet 

 night cap, in the front of which was placed the plume of a heron." 



You have no difficulty in recognising James I. of England and 

 VI. of Scotland as he is described by Sir Walter Scott in the 

 *' Fortunes of Nigel." It is his mis-iovtunes that will give the 

 illustration I require. 



On the 2nd of March, 1618, his Queen, Ann, second daughter of 

 Frederick II., King of Denmark, died at Hampton Court. There 

 is an amount of pathos in the graphic description in one of those 

 old letters I have alluded to, that we shall find in tune with our 

 subject. It is from John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, 

 ambassador at The Hague :— 



" My very good Lord. We have no good newes to send this week, nor in a 

 manner any at all. Saving that this night sevennight we heard of the Queen's 

 dangerous sickness and the Tuesday following of her decease. Which was about 

 4 oclk that morning being the second of this month. The reports ran at first 

 that she had made a will (according to the privilege of our queens, who, as lawyers 

 eay, have potestatem testandi, and may dispose of all they have saving lands 

 and jewels belonging to the crown), that she had written a letter, and set apart 

 a casket of jewels for the lady Elizabeth. That she made a very Christian 

 confession and excellent end. But, for ought I can learn yet, she made none 

 other than a nuncupative will or by word of mouth, giving all she had to the 

 Prince with charge to pay her debts, and reward her servants. And, having a 

 grant upon cloth, lately given her to pay her debts to the value of £800 a year, 

 she was fain to have her hand led to the passing it over to the prince, being 

 otherwise of no validity, as likewise, the manner of her will was rather, in 

 answering questions and saying ' yea ' to anything that was demanded of her, 

 than in disposing ought of herself, so that, it is doubted by some already how 

 far it will stand good and firm, especially if it fall out that her moveables 

 amount to better than £4,000,000, and her debts not £40,000. On Monday, all 

 the Lords and Ladies almost, about this town went to Hampton court, but 

 very few were admitted. She was earnestly moved by the Archbishop of 

 Canterbury, the Lord Privy Seal, and the Bishop of London to prepare herself 

 and set all things in order — but she could not be persuaded that her end was so 

 near, and so would needs defer it till the next day, out of a superstition (as some 



