NOTES TO THE ILLUSTRATIONS. 249 



the advice of his physicians, to see some hawks flown. A French 

 falconer had arrived in London, with a present of hawks, horses, 

 and setting-dogs from Louis XIII. Chamberlain, writing to Sir 

 Dudley Carleton from London on January 1 7 of that year, says : 

 " He made a splendid entry with his train by torchlight, and will 

 stay till he has instructed some of our people in this kind of 

 falconry, though he costs his Majesty ^^25 to jQ-^o a day." 



The King's health failed visibly in 1624, which much affected 

 his enjoyment of field-sports. The following significant entry 

 occurs in the Docquet Book : — 



"To Oliver Browne his Majesties Upholdster uppon the 

 Councill's warr' dated xiiij Dec 1624 for making sixe portable 

 chaires covered with velvett, to be used in tyme of hunting for 

 ease, and sixe seats of Spanish leather to lift his Majestie to and 

 from his bed xxxixl xiis." 



Writing to Sir Dudley Carleton on the 8th January 1625, 

 Chamberlain remarks : " The King kept his chamber all Christ- 

 mas, only going out in his litter in fair weather to see some flights 

 at the brook." 



On February 3, 1625, James was for the last time at New- 

 market, accompanied by the Duke of Buckingham and a small 

 suite. [Amongst other business transacted during this visit, 

 directions were given to the Master of the Toils " to take three 

 brace of bucks in Hyde Park, and convey them to Marylebone 

 Park (now the Regent's Park), to supply the scarcity caused 

 by the great rain there."] 



On February 23 the King removed to Chesterford Park en 

 route for Royston, which was reached on the 27th. Here 

 Prince Charles joined his royal father, who had evidently not 

 long to live. For the last time the King was moved to 

 Theobalds on March i, and there, on the 27th of that month, 

 he died of a quartan ague, in the fifty-ninth year of his age and 

 the twenty-third of his reign. Intent upon sport to the last, the 

 latest incidents of his life had reference to a present of four 

 casts of hawks which he sent to Louis XHI. by the hand of 

 Sir Anthony Pell, Knight, his Master Falconer. 



A warrant of Sir Anthony Pell concerning the King's choice 

 of hawks, and dated January 26, 1621, is printed by Pennant in 

 the second volume of his " British Zoology," ed. 181 2, Append, iii. 

 PP- 309-3"- 



