118 THE DOVER ROAD 



New Yeres Day. On which day the Kyng, which 

 sore desyred to see her Grace, accompanyed with no 

 more than viii persons of his prevy chaumbre, and 

 both he and thei all aparelled in marble coates, prevely 

 came to Rochester, and sodainl}^ came to her presence, 

 which therwith was sumwhat astonied ; but after he 

 had spoken and welcomed her, she with most gracious 

 and lovyng countenance and behavior him received 

 and Avelcomed on her knees, whom he gently toke up 

 and kyssed ; and all that afternoone commoned and 

 devised with her " (whatever that ma}^ mean), " and 

 that night suj^ped with her, and the next day he 

 departed to Grenewich and she came to Dartford." 

 Now hear how different a complexion Stow puts upon 

 this meeting, and then tell me what you think of the 

 difficulties of history- writing : — 



" The King being ascertained of her arivall and 

 approch, was wonderfull desirous to see her, of whom 

 hee had heard so great commendations, and there- 

 upon hee came very privately to Rochester, where 

 hee tooke the first view of her ; and when he had 

 well beheld her, hee was so marvelously astonished 

 that hee knew not w^ll what to doe or say. Hee 

 brought with him divers things, which hee meant 

 to present her with his owne hands, that is to say, 

 a partlet, a mufler " (Indian shawls had not yet been 

 introduced), " a cup, and other things ; but being 

 sodainly quite discouraged and amazed with her 

 presence, his mind changed, and hee delivered them 

 unto Sir Anthony Browne to give them unto her, 

 but with as small show of Kingly kindness as might be. 

 The King being sore vexed with the sight of her, began 

 to utter his heart's griefe unto divers : amongst whom 

 hee said unto the Lord Admirall, ' How like you this 

 woman ? Doe you think her so personable, faire, and 

 beautifull as report hath beene made unto mee of 

 her — I pray you tell me true ? ' " 



Whereupon the Lord Admiral discreetl}^ replied no 

 word of dispraise, because people with opinions had 



