8 
be stalled of the garter at Windsor, that in good faith it was one 
of the gallantest shows that ever I saw. The King was a little 
angry at being so left alone at the court that he might have 
been easily stolen away, but such a thing in Queen Elizabeth’s 
time would with great ease have conveyed a man from the 
Castle of Windsor to the Tower of London.” 
This Ascension day, S9th May, 1606. 
CHR. BROOKE. 
In November following Parliament again assembled, and 
continued sitting until the 4th of July, 1607. During the 
whole of this session the City Members were diligent in their 
attendance at the House of Commons. In the summer of 
1608, the business of the Northern Circuit brought Mr. Brooke 
to the north. On the 30th of September he was present at a 
meeting of the Corporation, petitioning for a settlement of his 
accounts. He stated that he had served them during three 
sessions without having received any parliamentary wages (the 
short session interrupted by the Gunpowder Treason not being 
reckoned), and was occupied 433 days, without adding the days 
spent in going and returning, which at the usual rate of wages 
at a noble a day would amount to £144. ISs. 8d. In discharge 
of his claim his constituents parsimoniously proposed to pay 
him £60., which he agreed to accept. As some compensation, 
the Corporation at the same time elected him to the office of 
Counsel with the City, and assistant to the Recorder, with a 
yearly fee of 20 nobles. This appointment he thankfully 
accepted as a great and undeserved favour.” In April, 1611, 
Mr. Brooke was paid £7^. for his parliamentary wages for the 
two preceding sessions. In the early part of that year the first 
Parliament of this reign was dissolved, and from that time until 
April, 1614, no Parliament was held. Being relieved during 
this interval from his attendance in the House of Commons, 
Brooke appears to have devoted his leisure to cultivating the 
friendship and enjoying the society of a galaxy of wits and 
literary celebrities with whom he had long been upon terms of 
cordial intimacy. Among his associates were John Selden, Ben 
Jonson, Michael Drayton, W’^illiam Browne, George Wither, 
and John Davies, of Hereford. Living within this charmed 
