1618.] A ROYAL-RURAL FEAST. 203 



ticulars of this novel feast : — " The Prince his birthday hathe 

 beene solemnized heare by those few Marquises and Lords 

 w*^*" formed themselves heare, and, to supplie the want of the 

 Lords, Knights and Squires were admitted to a consultation, 

 wherein it was resolved that such a number should meete at 

 Gamiges, and bring every man his dish of meate : It was left 

 to theire owne choyces what to bring ; some strove to be sub- 

 stantiall, some curios, and some extravagant. S"" George 

 Goring's ^^ invention bore away the bell ; and that was foure 

 huge brawny piggs, pipeinge hott, bitted and harnised with 

 ropes of sarsiges, all tyde to a monstrous bagpudding." He 

 adds, concerning current events at the palace, that " The King 

 takes no more notice of the blazing starre then he hath 

 alwayes done of the daystarre, nor will acknowledge it for any 

 other.* . . . This morning the King knighted the new Governor 

 of Virginia, S"" Edward Yardly,*^^ who, upon long discourse w'*" 

 the Kinge, doth prove very understandinge. Amongst many 

 other things, he tould the King that the people of that 

 country do beleeve the resurrection of the body ; and that 

 when the body dyes, the soule goes into certaine faire pleasant 

 fields, there to solace it self-untill the end of the world, and 

 then the soule is to retourne to the body againe, and they 

 shall live both together happily and parpetually. Heareupon 

 the King inferred that the Gosple must have been heretofore 

 knowme in that countrie, though it be lost, and this fragment 

 only remaynes. S"" Thomas Stewckley ^^ plyes the backe staires 

 close ; 'tis thought he will declare him self eare long. Sir 

 Albertus Moreton "'^ hath beene heare a day or too ; and I 

 constantly remaine heare." f 



^^ James, 2nd MARQUIS OF HAMILTON, K.G. — only son 

 and successor of Lord John Hamilton, first Marquis, and 

 Margaret, only daughter of John, Lord Glamis — acquired the 



* A comet which appeared at this time, and of which a " Description " 

 was pubHshed in 1619, by the celebrated astronomer, Bainbridge. It was 

 supposed at the time to have predicted the queen's death, and afterwards 

 the troubles of Bohemia. 



t Lodge, " Illustrations of British History," vol. iii., p. 403. 



