Page:The Works of Ben Jonson - Gifford - Volume 6.djvu/510

 &c] "The king of Denmark (Christian IV.) arrived in England on a visit to his sister, Queen Anne, on Thursday the 17th of July; and on the Thursday following, the 24th, the royal brothers rode together to Theobalds, in Hertfordshire, where the earle of Salisbury, for four days together, feasted them and all their traine according to their estates and dignities, shewing them many signs of love, duty, and heartie welcome."Stowe.

This visit was a political misfortune. The arrival of his Danish majesty was the signal for

{{c|{{longdash}}"heavy-headed revel east and west."

The Danes brought with them their habitual propensity to drinking, and James and his courtiers complimented the strangers, by partaking of their debaucheries.

In allusion to the Entertainment before us, Sir John Harrington says, (Nugæ Ant. vol. i. p. 348.) "The lord of the mansion is overwhelmed in preparations at Theobalds, and doth marvellously please both kings with good meat, good drink, and good speeches."

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