1628.] THE ROYAL SPORTS. 7 



As by a Booke signed by the said Duke of Buckingham 



XX 



Ciiijviij" xj^ iiij''. — Ibid., m. 225. 



[This entry concludes the acccounts of the Treasurer of 

 the Chamber of the Household, Series I., box G., bundle 4.] 



On the 23rd of February, 1628,* we find the king 

 and court again at Newmarket, where they sojourned 

 until about the loth of March, when his 



1628. 



majesty returned, via Royston, to London, February— 

 to open the new Parliament, which had ^^^''^• 

 been summoned to assemble there on St. Patrick's 

 Day. The interval at Newmarket was a pleasant one 

 with Charles and his courtiers, notwithstanding that 

 the recent failure of the expedition to the Isle de Rh^, 

 through the incapacity of the Duke of Buckingham, 

 was a national disgrace, while at home the king's 

 threats to levy taxation without the assent of Parlia- 

 ment threw the whole country into a ferment. Writing 

 from Newmarket on the 3rd of March to Secretary 

 Coke, Conway complains of being unable to move the 

 king upon some pressing matter, " by his Majesty's 

 continual being either upon his sports abroad or at 

 tennis at home." Time and opportunity was found to 



* The Rev. Joseph Mead, writing to Sir Martin Stutville, from Christ's 

 College, Cambridge, Feb. 22, 1627-8, remarks {inter alia) that "We have 

 two or three Comedies at Trinity this Shrovetide, and a stage there built 

 to that purpose. But of the King's coming, it was not talked of, when I 

 wrote last, and if it be, it is private and accidental. Some say he will be 

 here on the Monday ; and My Lord [Bishop] of Durham, that was, is 

 now in the town, as is thought, for some direction to that purpose. Yet 

 others doubt whether he will come or not. But our doctors will be with 

 you on Sunday at Newmarket, and so bring us home more certain news. 

 They say the sword, etc., is not come down, which is the reason of his 

 coming is doubted of, being supposed he would [come] down the first 

 time in some state." — Harl. MS., 390, vol. i. 



