oped with a crystal
button.

On approaching the monarch he gracefully alighted; whereupon James
commanded that the carriage should be stayed, thrusting out his hand in
a very gracious sort to this worthy knight, who, on his knees, received
the blessing.

His Majesty then took horse, assisted by Buckingham, who held the
stirrup. But the king's peculiar and unsteady vaulting was much noticed.
Many of the bystanders, not aware of his Majesty's dislike to these
equestrian feats, marvelled not a little at the motion of his leg, and
the disturbed and uneasy position he assumed. The pathway up the avenue
was laid with purple velvet, on which the glittering cavalcade, horse
and foot, formed a noble pageant, whose pomp was almost dazzling to
behold. The carriages took another path opened for the occasion. The
whole area in front of the Tower teemed with multitudes, whose shouts
and huzzas made the very hills and echoes loyal, while they rang with
acclamations to their sovereign. Presently issued forth from the middle
gateway two curiously-attired figures, bearing emblems to indicate
their character and design. There were living allegories, represented by
the house-steward and Hobbe Handycap, the forester or tienman, keeper of
vert and venison, a "ryghte merrie knave," and one foremost in all
pastimes and "honest recreations;" a great promoter and performer of
May-games, morris-dancing, and the like. These figures were to be
conceived as household gods, the tutelary deities of Hoghton. The first
spokesman was clad in a purple taffeta mantle; in one hand was a
palm-tree branch, on his head a garland of the like sort, and in the
other hand he carried a dog.

King James accustomed to, and expecting these mummeries, made a full
stop, when, forthwith, began the purple mantle as follows--

"This day, great Kinge, for government admired,
Which these thy subjects have so much desired,
Shall be kept holy in their heart's best treasure,
And vowed to James, as is this month to Caesar;"

with a good score of lines besides, of the like brevity and metre. In
them he was said to be greater even than the immortal gods themselves,
seeing that they came to render their homage unto him, together with all
things else over which they bare rule, even as the greater doth include
the less.

Then spake Hobbe, the deity of the chase:--

"Greatest of mortals!"

But he was presently nonplussed, and the steward stept forth to his