Page:The Works of Ben Jonson - Gifford - Volume 6.djvu/517

 .] Norden, in his Survey of Hartfordshire, speaks of "Thebauldes as a most stately house erected from the first foundation, by the lit. Hon. yr Will: Cecyl, Kt. Lord Theasorer of England. To speake of the state and beauty thereof at large, as it deserveth, for curious buildings, delightful walkes, and pleasant conceits within and with, out, and other things very glorious and ellegant to be seene, would challenge a greate portion of this little treatise; and therefore leaste I should come short of that due commendation that it deserveth, I leave it, as indeed it is, a princely seate."

James appears to have been sensible of its beauties, and to have lost little time in becoming master of the residence. In 1607, (the year after the king of Denmark was "Entertained" there,) he exchanged the manor of Hatfield for Theobalds, when Ben's poetical talents were again exerted. As Salisbury was a wary man, it is probable he was no loser by the bargain.' The court in which Jonson's verses were "sung or said" is described in a survey made in 1650, preserved in the Augmentation Office, "as a quadrangle of 110 feet square, on the south of which were the queen's chapel, (with windows of stained glass,) her presence chamber, privy chamber, bed chamber, and coffee chamber. The princes' lodgings were on the north side; on the east side was a cloister, over which was the green gallery 109 feet by 12, excellently well painted round with the several shires in England, and the armes of the Noblemen and gentlemen in the same. Over this gallery was a leaded walk, (looking eastward towards the dial-court and the highway,) on which were two lofty arches of bricke of no small ornament to the house, and rendering it comely and pleasant to all that passed by." The greater part of this mansion was destroyed by order of the parliament the year after this survey was made, (1651,) and every vestige was removed in 1765.

The prince Joinville was Charles de Lorraine; eldest son of Henry de Lorraine, first duke of the branch of Guise and Chevreuse, surnamed bald-pate; he was born the 20th of August, 1571. He was arrested with many others on the day of the execution of Blois, and confined in the castle of Tours, whence he escaped in 1591. He was received at Paris with loud acclamations of joy by the populace, who, it is said by L'Advocat, would have elected him king, but for the jealousy of the duke de Mayence, his uncle. It was this prince who slew with his own hand the brave St. Pol. He submitted to Henry IV. in 1594, and obtained the government of Provence;