1623.] THE BISHOP OF COVENTRY. 



309 



but the passion did not last long ; " and although he did not 

 forbear to reprove his fool, Archy, for calling his attention to 

 the incident above mentioned — " who, being more Scot then 

 foole, was able to mind one that filled a wiser roome, that it 

 is the religion of some nations, but the custome of all, to 

 adore the rising sun, and contemne him that is going 

 downe." 



It is remarkable to notice that the ancient claim 

 of cors p7^esente seems to have been curiously enforced, 

 and under somewhat novel circumstances, at this 

 period. Secretary Conway, writing to the Bishop of 

 Coventry and Lichfield, May 17, 1623, tells him that 

 Lord Gerard ^^* having left by his will his two choicest 

 horses to the Prince of Wales, his Majesty now re- 

 quested the bishop, who had taken the best horse 

 as a heriot, to give it up to M. St. Antoine, the 

 prince's rider, and to suffer him to choose another 

 horse, after which the Bishop was at liberty to take 

 the best that remained.* To this letter the bishop 

 replied that, befi^re receiving the king's command, 

 he intended to present to the prince the late Lord 

 Gerard's best horse, Captain, but wished it to be 

 understood that it belonged of right to him, and 

 was so acknowledged by Lord Gerard, and to be 

 accepted as a present from him.f The king was 

 pleased with the bishop's offer to relinquish the horse 

 as a matter of courtesy, and without entering into the 

 merits of the case, expected the animal to be sent 

 to him at once ; and on June 20 Captain was 

 delivered to his Majesty at Wanstead, in Epping 



* State Papers, Dom., vol. cxlv., No. 14. 

 t Ibid., May 26, No. 38. 



