art is set;
All godly sport,
To my comfort,
Who shall me let!"

_The Kinges Balade._

"God gives not kings the style of gods in vain,
For on his throne his sceptre do they sway;
And, as their subjects ought them to obey,
So kings should feare and serve their God againe."

_King James to his Son Prince Henry_.

"The ancient castle denominated Hoghton Tower stands on the summit of a
hill, formerly shrouded with trees, four miles and a half west of
Blackburn. It was erected by Sir Thomas Hoghton, in the beginning of
Elizabeth's reign. It remained for several generations the principal
seat of the Hoghton family; and after part of it had been blown up by
accident, when garrisoned for Charles the First, the injury was
repaired. The family have now removed to Walton Hall; and Hoghton Tower
is left to decay, two poor families inhabiting the south wing only. A
ponderous gateway, immediately under the centre tower, leads to the
quadrangular courtyard, capable of holding six hundred men. The noble
embattled tower, forming the west front, with its two minor square
towers, serve as appendages to the north and south wing, and are united
by low walls. Within the courtyard, a noble flight of steps leads to the
middle quadripartite, similar in aspect to Stonyhurst College, the
ancient residence of the Sherbornes. This middle pile contains large
staircases, branching out to long galleries, into which the several
chambers open. One chamber, still called James the First's room, is
considered 'most worthy of notice;' it has two square windows in both
north and south, is beautifully wainscoted, and contains some old
furniture. A fine prospect is gained from this ancient and sequestered
abode: the pretty village of Walton-le-dale, delightfully situate in a
valley, the improving town of Preston, and the single-coned Nase Point
presenting itself majestically in the distance. The gentle river Darwen
pursues its placid course among the enclosures at the base of the hill."

The above description, extracted from Nichols's _Royal Progresses of
James the First_, and likewise the particulars scattered through the
following tale, will, we hope, convey to the reader a pretty accurate
idea of this noble but deserted mansion.

A petition, which was presented here (some say at Meyerscough) to King
James, by a great number of Lancashire peasants, tradesmen, and
servants, requesting that they might be allowed to