Book II.] S/J^ OLIVER CROMWELL. 97 



" Below the high ground to the south-westward of the 

 entrenchments, is an extensive and fertile meadow, called 

 Portsholm, which Camden describes as ' the most fresh and 

 beautiful that the sun ever shone upon.' This meadow is 

 partly surrounded by the Ouse river ; and here the Hun- 

 tingdon Races are held ; a small part of it, which belonged 

 to the Protector Cromwell, and now to the Earl of Sandwich, 

 still bears the appellation of Cromwell's Acres." — " The 

 Beauties of England and Wales," by Edward Wedlake 

 Brayley. London, 1808, vol. vii., p. 348, 



Sir Oliver Cromwell " had the felicity to entertain one, 

 if not two, of the English monarchs. King James I. he cer- 

 tainly did several times, and probably King Charles I., but 

 the most memorable visit was paid to him by the former 

 during his progress from Edinburgh to London, on the 27th 

 April, 1603. Whilst the king was at Hinchinbrook, he 

 received the heads of the University of Cambridge in their 

 robes, to congratulate him upon his succession to the English 

 throne, which they did in a long Latin oration. His Majesty 

 continued with Sir Oliver until he had breakfasted on the 

 29th, and on his leaving Hinchinbrook, expressed his sense 

 of the obligations he had received from him, and from his 

 lady. To the former, he said, at parting, as they passed 

 through the court, in his broad Scotch manner, ' Morry, 

 mon, thou hast treated me better than any one since I left 

 Edinboro.' Among the presents given by Sir Oliver to the 

 king on this occasion were, 'a large elegant wrought cup 

 of gold, goodly horses, deep-mouthed hounds, divers hawks 

 of excellent wing, and, at the remove, he gave fifty pounds 

 among the principal officers." During the civil war, Sir 

 Oliver adhered to the royal cause, when all his property was 

 sequestrated, but owing to his close relationship to the 

 Protector, the total wreck of his fortune was averted. He 

 died in August, 1655, at the great age of ninety-three." — 

 Noble's " Cromwells," vol. i., p. 43. 



It appears a hunting match or steeplechase, made at New- 

 market between Lord Haddington and Lord Sheffield, took 

 place at Huntingdon in November, 1607. 



VOL. I. H 



