lo THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book VII. 



va'sd), said to Rubens, " The ambassador amuses him- 

 self with painting occasionally." " No," answered 

 Rubens, " the painter amuses himself with diplomacy." 

 While performing, minutely and efficiently, his diplo- 

 matic duties, Rubens found time to paint pictures. 

 The first — and one of his best — he painted for 

 Charles I., is the well-known allegory, representing 

 Peace and War. This picture, as interesting from the 

 time and occasion of its birth, as it is precious for 

 its excellence, after travelling to Italy, to pass a 

 century in the Balbi and Doria Palaces in Genoa, 

 returned to England, and was finally bought by the 

 Marquis of Stafford for ^3000, and by him presented 

 to the National Gallery ; assuredly on all accounts the 

 fittest spot for its final resting-place. While in Eng- 

 land, Rubens made sketches, nine in number, for the 

 pictures, ordered by the king, to represent, on the 

 ceiling of the throne-room in Whitehall, the deeds of 

 James I. These pictures, the figures of which were 

 of colossal size, were finished later in Antwerp. The 

 price paid for them was ^3000. On taking leave of 

 England, Rubens received a handsome service of 

 plate and a rich chain of gold, to which was attached 

 a miniature likeness of the king ; this he ever after 

 wore round his neck. 



Apropos of the royal hospitality at Newmarket 

 Palace, so frequently alluded to in connection with the 

 sojourns of the court, Thomas De-Laune, Gent, 

 discourses as follows : — 



" The magnificent and abundant plenty of the King's 

 Tables, hath caused amazement in Foreigners. In the Reign 



