"Pastime with good company
I love, and shall until I die;
Grudge so will, but none deny;
So God be pleased, so live will I.
For my pastance,
Hunt, sing, and dance,
My heart 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 take their diversions
(as of old accustomed) after divine service on Sundays, is said to have
been the origin of the _Book of Sports_, soon after promulgated by royal
authority. James being persuaded those were Puritans who forbade such
diversions, and that they were Jewishly inclined, because they affected
to call Sunday the Sabbath, recommended that diverting exercises should
be used after evening prayer, and ordered the book to be read publicly
in all churches; and such ministers as refused to obey the injunction
were threatened with severe punishment in the High Commission Court.
This legal violation of the day which is unequivocally the Christian
Sabbath, roused at the time the indignation of the seriously disposed,
and has been frequently reprobated by historians. Foremost of its
opposers, and eminent in example, stands the virtuous and firm
Archbishop Abbot, who, being at Croydon the day it was ordered to be
read in churches, flatly forbade it to be read there; which the King was
pleased to wink at, notwithstanding the daily endeavours that were used
to irritate the King against him. The _Book of Sports_ is not, however,
without its apologists among modern writers. The following are Mr
D'Israeli's remarks on the subject:--"The King found the people in
Lancashire discontented, from the unusual deprivation of their popular
recreations on Sundays and holidays after the church service: 'With our
own ears we heard the general complaint of our people.' The Catholic
priests were busily insinuating among the lower orders that the Reformed
religion was a sullen deprivation of all mirth and social amusements,
and thus 'turning the people's hearts.' But while they were denied what
the King terms 'lawful recreations' (which are enumerated to consist of
dancing, archery, leaping, vaulting, May-games, Whitsun-ales,
morris-dances, and the setting up of Maypoles, and other manly sports),
they had substituted some vicious ones. Alehouses were more frequented,
drunkenness more general, tale-mongery and sedition, the vices of
sedentary idleness, prevailed, while a fanatical gloom was spreading
over the country. The King, whose gaiety of temper instantly sympathised
with the multitude, being perhaps alarmed at this new shape which
Puritanism was assuming, published the _Book of Sports_, which soon
obtained the contemptuous name of 'The Dancing Book'" (_Life of James_,
p. 135). In reply to this view of the subject we shall, for the present,
conclude with Dr Whitaker's remark, that "The King was little aware of
the effects which the ill-judged licence was likely to produce on the
common people. The relics of it are hardly worn out to this day; and
there is scarcely a Sunday evening in any village of the county of
Lancaster which does not exhibit symptoms of obedience to the injunction
of honest 'recreation.'"--_Royal Progresses of James I_.
On the 15th of August, in the year 1617, a day memorable for its heat
and brightness, and for the more enduring glory shed over this remote
corner of our rejoicing and gladdened realm, came forth King James, from
the southern gate of his loyal borough of Preston, in a gilded and
unwieldy caroche, something abated of its lustre by reason of long
service and the many vicissitudes attending his Majesty's "progresses,"
which he underwent to the great comfort and well-being of his dominions.
It were needless to set forth the mighty state in which this war-hating
monarch, this "vicegerent of Divinity," departed--or the great error and
agitation of Mr Breares, the lawyer, when he made a marvellous proper
speech at the town-cross--wiping his forehead thrice, and his mouth
barely once. Nor shall we dilate upon the distress, and dazzling silk
doublets of the mayor and aldermen of this proud and thrice-happy
borough--nor how they knelt to the soft salute of his Majesty's hand.
Our whole book were a space too brief, and a region too inglorious, for
the wide pomp and paraphernalia of the time; and how the bailiff rode,
and the mace-bearer guarded the caroche, it were presumption, an
offensive compound of ignorance and pride, to attempt the portraiture.
Suffice it to say, they wore mulberry-coloured taffeta gowns, carried
white staves and foot-cloths, and were preceded by twenty-four stout
yeomen riding before the king, with fringed javelins, unto a place
beyond Walton, where they departed. Our object is to notice matters of
less magnitude and splendour; occurrences then too trivial to guide the
pen of the chronicler, lost beneath the blaze and effulgence that
followed on the track of this pageant-loving king. Scraps, which the
pomps and vanities of those days would have degraded, we thus snatch
from oblivion; a preservation more worthy, and an occupation more
useful, we hope, than to hand down to admiring ages the colour and cut
of taffeta or brocade.
This "wisest" of earthly kings was an ill-spoiled compound of qualities,
the types of which existed in his monitor and his preceptor; two great
men, whom history has not failed to distinguish--Archie Armstrong and
George Buchanan--the wit and the scholar, which in him became the
representatives of two much more useful and esteemed qualities--fool and
pedant!
Attended by his favourite Buckingham and a numerous train of officials,
he "progressed" upon the road to Hoghton Tower, the spacious and
splendid dwelling of Sir Richard Hoghton, the first baronet of that
family, whose guest he was to continue for a space, to the great envy
and admiration of the whole neighbourhood.
As they came nigh the Tower, nothing could be conceived more beautiful
or picturesque. Its embattled-gateway, bartizans, and battlements,
crowning the summit of a bold and commanding eminence, became brightly
illuminated, flashing against grim and shapeless masses of cloud, the
shattered relics of a storm, that was rolling away in the distance.
Many of the neighbouring gentry were in attendance, not disdaining to
wear, out of grace and courtesy to Sir Richard Hoghton, the livery of
their thrice-honoured entertainer.
The king's train alone were very numerous, amongst whom appeared Lord
Zouch, Constable of Dover Castle, and Sir George Goring, Lieutenant of
the Gentlemen Pensioners.[29] With the latter rode Sir John Finett,[30]
Assistant Master of the Ceremonies, but who acted the chief part in this
important office during the king's journey; two worthies, of whom it
might be said, that for tempering of the king's humour, and aptness in
ministering to his delights, their like could scarcely have been found.
Such nights of feasting and dancing, such days of hawking, hunting, and
horse-racing, had never before gladdened the heart of "Merry Englonde,"
or England's monarchs. It seemed as if the whole realm were given up to
idolatry and dissipation. The idol pleasure was worshipped with such
ardour and devotion, that all ranks were striving to outdo each other in
tinsel, trumpery, and deeds of worthlessness and folly.
The king loved such disguises and representations as were witty and
sudden; the more ridiculous, and to him the more pleasant. This vain and
frivolous humour might seem unworthy and unbecoming in so great a
prince, whose profundity of wisdom had well entitled him to the
appellation of "our English Solomon," did we not call to remembrance
that the greatest of men have not disdained to be children in their
sports; the deepest dispositions of the mind seeming to require the
lightest and most frivolous recreations.
These worthy purveyors to the king's pleasure were of a temper and
capacity widely different. Sir George Goring was caustic and severe; Sir
John Finett pleasant and social, delighting in nothing so much as in the
happiness and gratification of his friends. But the natural disposition
of his thoughts was wild and melancholic, taking its hue from some early
impression, that was now fading in doubt and disappointment.
The full burst of his hilarity floated joyously on the surface, and his
loud mirth, blunting the keen edge of his own feelings, became the more
exhilarating in proportion to their acuteness. He had the warm blood of
the Italian in his veins, being descended from an ancient family of
Sienna; and his rich brown cheek and darkly-speaking eye belied not the
land of his origin. Goring was fat and swarthy: his nose small and
supercilious, and his eye grey and piercing. He cared not whom he
wounded, provided the shafts he drew were well pointed; and his wit
quick and well-aimed, causing the king to laugh, and his victim to
writhe during their operation.
As the monarch sate discoursing with the Duke of Buckingham, being sore
heated, he threw open the windows of his coach, from whence he
occasionally obtruded his wise head for a survey, and a visit from some
vagrant and silly breeze, if any were abroad. The roads admitted not of
aught but the gentlest paces, and the great clamour and cloud about the
procession made the dust and heat excessively annoying; whereupon the
king, it is said, did apply a very uncourteous epithet to some of his
loving subjects, who came too close upon his person, which, though not
generally averse to being gazed at, was in too warm an atmosphere at
present for enjoying these kingly exhibitions.
"O' my saul, that meikle stane would build a bra' chappin-block for my
Lord Provost," said royalty, its head again stationed at the window,
surveying with solemn curiosity an egg-shaped stone of the boulder sort,
which, sure enough, was of a remarkable bigness, though not of that
rarity or infrequence that should have drawn forth the wonder of a king.
His native dialect he generally employed on jocose and familiar
subjects. In affairs of importance he affected the use of the English
tongue, which he spoke with great formality and pomp.
"Stop," said he. "There be _literæ_ or letters thereon. Unto what
purport?"
But no one could resolve him as to the use of the stone, or the purport
of the writing. His worthy host protested that the wonder had never
before been observed. It was doubtless some miracle worked for the
occasion.
"But the _scriptum_ or writing will set forth the motive or argument
thereto. The letters be goodly and well-shapen."
Many voices recited the inscription, forming the following ill-spelled
line.
"_Torne me o're, an I'le tel thee plaine_."
The well-known childish curiosity of the monarch would not permit him to
go away unsatisfied. The day was hot, and the stone was heavy; but a
long and laborious toil brought to light the following satisfactory
intelligence,--
"_Hot porritch softens hard butter-cakes,
So torne me o'er again_"[31]
"And o' my saul," said the king, "ye shall gang roun' to yere place
again; for sa meikle as these country gowks mauna ken the riddle without
the labour."
So the "muckle stane" was replaced for the next comer who had strength
and curiosity enough to unriddle the sphinx.
But James did not relish fooleries wherein he was the butt. Whether it
was devised by some wicked rhymester and contemner of royalty in the
neighbourhood, or placed there by some of the wits of his own company,
was never ascertained, though he challenged them at random, and swore
lustily that he would know the originator of this piece of folly and
impertinence.
As the king drew nigh to the avenue, there presently issued forth a
goodly flourish of trumpets, which made the women caper and the horses
prance. Sir Richard Hoghton rode with the king; but his son Sir Gilbert
met his Majesty with a great retinue, clad mostly after the same
fashion; many of the neighbouring gentry, as we have before observed,
not disdaining to put on Sir Richard's gowns and liveries, to swell the
pomp and magnificence of that memorable occasion.
The javelin-bearers rode two and two: halting at his Majesty's approach,
they formed an avenue, through which Sir Gilbert, sumptuously attired,
went forth to salute the king. His cloak and hose were all glistening
and spangled with embroidery; his vest was cloth of gold, enriched with
rare and costly stones; his shirt-bands and ruffles were worked in
silver; and his gloves, Spanish, breathing out the choicest perfume; his
hat was of French murrey, the brims thick set with gold twist and
spangles; round it was a band of goldsmith's work, looped 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 Cæsar;"
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.