temperance and moderation. I say not this out of any propensity to their opinions who are apt to prognosticate a future ill out of the present shew of goodnesse in men so highly bred, or to rob him of the happinesse to be allow'd virtuous, which descends to all from charity till the contrary appeares: But to justify the truth of story, where you may find as few abominable princes as tolerable kings.

The reason may be, an advantage they have to see what is disgusted in their father, which is avoyded for the present, more out of popularity then dislike: For though Absolon, to attaine his, ends, might appeare a better justicer then David, it is great odds, but upon successe he had proved as tyrannicall as Solomon or Rehoboham. Besides the terrible condition a prince for the most part lives in, since an ordinary father punisheth that in his son with a gentle reproofe, which kings are often knowne to do by a mortall poyson. The truth is, Prince Henry never arrived at the great

test, supremacy in power, that leaves the will wholy to its own guidance, being not only set out of the reach of reproofe, but hears his actions approved by some, though in their true nature they appeare never so ugly.

38. The government of his house was with much discretion, modesty, sobriety, and (which was looked upon as too great an upbrayding the contrary proceedings of his fathers) in an high reverence to piety, not swearing himselfe, or keeping any that did: Through which he came to be advanced beyond an ordinary measure in the affections of the city; to whom he was not only plausible in his carriage, but just in payments: so farre as his credit out reached the kings both in the exchange and the church. In which the son could not take so much felicity, as the father did discontent, to find all the worth he imagined in himselfe, wholy lost in the hopes the people had of this young gentleman. From whence kings may be concluded farre more

unhappy then ordinary men: for though, whilest children are young, they may afford them safety, yet when arrived at that age, which useth to bring comfort to other parents, they produce only jealousies and feares: For if deformed, foolish or vicious, they offend the naturall disposition of a father, who cannot but desire his issue perfect; if they prove otherwise, and be excellent, that of a prince: Because his raigne must needs be thought dimme and tedious who hath such a spark to succeed him as this Henry, which, in all mens judgments, appeared more illustrious then his old father. Thus are kings found as remote from felicity with children, as from safety without: And as the last of these considerations have tempted some to acknowledge the issue of strangers, and such as their wives have come to by chance, so the first hath provoked as many to make away their

owne.

And, if common fame did not out-strip truth, King James was by feare led into

this extreme finding his son Henry not only averse to any popish match, but saluted by the puritans as one prefigured in the Apocalypse, for Romes destruction. And to parallel this, one Ball, a taylor, was inspired with a like lunacy, though something more chargable for not only he, but Ramsy, his majesties watch-maker, put out mony and clocks, to be paid (but with small advantage, considering the improbability) when King James should be crowned in the popes chaire. Nor did Henry

I

The custom of betting rose to great height in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and James. Ben Jonson ridicules the romantic wagers which were then laid, by introducing Sir Puntarvolo, in Every Man out of his Humour, giving the odds upon the performance of a journey to Constantinople, by himself, his cat, and his dog. As for Ramsey, he appears, from the following curious transaction, recorded by Lilly the astrologer, to have been a very credulous person;

66

Davy Ramsey, his majesty's clock-maker, had been informed, that there was a great quantity of treasure buried in the cloysters of Westminster abbey; he acquaints Dean Williams therewith, who was also then bishop of London; the dean gave him liberty to search after it, with this proviso, that, if any was discovered,

carry his body so swimming, as the knowne depth of his fathers jealousies and shallow

his church should have a share of it., Davy Ramsey finds out one John Scott,' who pretended the use of the Mosaical rods, to assist him herein: I was desired to join with him, unto which I consented. One winter's night, Davy Ramsey, with several gentlemen, myself, and Scott, entered the cloysters; we played the hazel-rod round about the cloyster; upon the west side of the cloysters the rods turned one over another, an argument that the treasure was there. The labourers digged at least six foot deep, and then we met with a coffin; but in regard it was not heavy, we did not open it, which we afterwards much repented. From the cloysters, we went into the abbey-church, where, upon a sudden, (there being no wind when we began,) so fierce, so high, so blustering and loud a wind did rise, that we verily believed the west-end of the church would have fallen upon us; our rods would not move at all; the candles and torches, all but one, were extinguished, or burned very dimly. John Scott, my partner, was amazed, looked pale, knew not what to think or do, until I gave directions and command to dismiss the dæmons, which, when done, all was quiet again, and each man returned unto his lodging late, about twelve o'clock at night; I could never since be induced to join with any in such like actions.

"The true miscarriage of the business was by reason

7

This Scott lived in Pudding-lane, and had some time been a page (or such like) to the Lord Norris.

in.

2 David Ramsey brought an half-quartern sack to put the treasure