tle of the king's
father.

In 1527, before the commencement of the disturbance on the divorce, Henry
endeavoured to negotiate a marriage for him with a princess of the imperial
blood; and in the first overtures gave an intimation which could not be
mistaken, of his intention, if possible, to place him in the line of the
succession. After speaking of the desire which was felt by the King of
England for some connection in marriage of the Houses of England and Spain,
the ambassadors charged with the negotiation were to say to Charles, that--

"His Highness can be content to bestow the Duke of Richmond and Somerset
(who is near of his blood, and of excellent qualities, and is already
furnished to keep the state of a great prince, _and yet may be easily by
the king's means exalted to higher things_) to some noble princess of his
near blood."--ELLIS, third series, vol. ii. p. 121.

He was a gallant, high-spirited boy. A letter is extant from him to Wolsey,
written when he was nine years old, begging the cardinal to intercede with
the king, "for an harness to exercise myself in arms according to my
erudition in the Commentaries of Caesar."--Ibid. p. 119.

He was brought up with Lord Surrey, who has left a beautiful account of
their boyhood at Windsor--their tournaments, their hunts, their young
loves, and passionate friendship. Richmond married Surrey's sister, but
died the year after, when only seventeen; and Surrey revisiting Windsor,
recalls his image among the scenes which they had enjoyed together, in the
most interesting of all his poems. He speaks of

The secret grove, which oft we made resound
Of pleasant plaint and of our ladies' praise;
Recording oft what grace each one had found,
What hope of speed, what dread of long delays.
The wild forest; the clothed holts with green;
With reins availed, and swift y-breathed horse,
With cry of hounds, and merry blasts between,
Where we did chase the fearful hart of force.
The void walls eke that harboured us each night,
Wherewith, alas! reviveth in my breast
The sweet accord, such sleeps as yet delight
The pleasant dream, the quiet bed of rest;
The secret thought imparted with such trust.
The wanton talk, the divers change of play,
The friendship sworn, each promise kept so just,
Wherewith we past the winter nights away.

[387] Compare LORD HERBERT with A Paper of Instructions to Lord Rochfort on
his Mission to Paris: _State Papers_, vol