THE KING ANT) THE COUNTESS. 313 



pretie neerc the doggs, tho' the ditches were broad and 

 deep, the hedges high, and the way and feilds dirtie and 

 deepe ; but most of the Lords were cast out again, and 

 amongst them the Duke of Albermarle. The King was 

 much pleased again that the Lords were cast out, who 

 yet recovered him ere long, and considering his coach and 

 guards were quite another way, they were at a loss what to 

 doe. The Lord Dartmouth aduised to send to Copt Hall 

 to the Earl of Dorset, that the Kinge would come and dine 

 there, and dispatched away a groome to giue his Lordship 

 notice, and so rode easily on (it beinge directly in his way 

 to London). The messenger came, and found the Lady 

 Northampton, and the Lady Dorset, her daughter, in a 

 coach, goeinge abroad on a visit, the Earle beinge at dinner 

 that day, with a great manie gentlemen, at Sir W. Hicks's" 

 [" Ruckholts," or " Rookholts," an ancient manor-house 

 which stood near the river Lea at Leyton many years ago]. 

 "The Countess was much surprised. Her cook and butler 

 were o-one to a faire at W'altham, and would haue excused 

 it, her Lord and seruants all from home ; but a second 

 messenger coeming, she turned her coach, and went home, 

 and sent her coach to meete his Majestie, and by breaking 

 open locks and dores, and with the help of the maides, 

 etc., and by such tyme as his Majestie arriued, had washt 



