CVrteous Reader , for the better vnderstanding of this discription following , especially to whom the scituation of the place is either lesse knowne or not at all ; they are therefore to note that Theobalds whether the Kings Magestie came vpon Tuesday , being the third of May , accompanied with his whole traine , is a Princely Mannor belonging to the right Honorable Sir Robert Cecill , principall Secretarie to his Magestie , and one of his Highnes Priuie Counsell , seated in the countie of Essex , twelue miles distant from London , directly by North , neere to an ancient towne called Walton-crosse . This house is not placed adjoyning to the high way side , as manie sumptuous buildings are in that countrie , and thereabouts , but especiallie betweene that place and London , the most part whereof belong to the cittie Marchants ; but hath a most statelie walke , from the common street way whereby passengers trauaile vp to the Pallace , by the space of one furlong in length , beset about either side with yong Elme and Ashe trees , confusedly mixt one for another , from the high-way to the first court , belonging to the house , contayning in breadth three rods , which amount to some fifteene yards , in fashion made like a high ridge land , or the middle street way without bishops gate . His Magestie hauing dined vpon that same day with Sir Henrie Cocks at Broxburne , foure miles distant from Theobalds , about halfe an houre after one a clocke in the afternoone , his Highnesse proceeded forward toward Theobalds , accompanied with Sir Edward Dennie then shriefe of Essex , hee had followers an hundred and fiftie in parti-coloured hats , red and yellow bands , round rould , with a feather in euerie one of them of the same colour , besides two trumpeters all which were in blew coates gallantly mounted . There did accompanie his Magestie from Broxburne , manie of the Nobilitie of England & Scotland . As his Highnesse was espied comming toward Theobalds , for very ioy many ran from their carts , leauing their teame of horse to their owne vnreasonable direction .

After his approach nigh vnto Theobalds , the concourse of people was so frequent , euery one more desiring a sight of him , that it were incredible to tell of . And it was wonderfull to see the infinit number of horsemen and footemen that went from the cittie of London that day thetherwards , and likewise from the counties of Kent , Surry , Essex , & Middlesex , besides many other countries : There were in my companie two more , who after I had put it into their mindes , what infinit numbers of horse and foote passed by vs , after our breakfast at Edmunton , at the signe of the Bell , wee tooke occasion to note how many would come downe in the next houre , so comming vp into a chamber next to the street , where wee might both best see and likewise take notice of all passingers , wee called for an houre-glasse , and after wee had disposed of our selues who should take the number of the horse , and who the foote , wee turned the houreglasse , which before it was halfe runne out , we could not possiblie truelie number them , they came so exceedinglie fast , but there wee broke off , and made our account of three hundred ▪ and nine horse , and an hundred thirtie seauen footmen , which course continued that day from foure a clocke in the morning , till three a clocke after noone , and the day before also , as the host of the house told vs , without intermission ; now whether euerie equall space did equall the number of these I cannot justly say , therefore I forbeare to set it downe . When we were come to Theobalds , wee vnderstood his Magestie to bee within the compasse of three quarters of a mile of the house , at which tidings wee deuided our selues into three parts , each one taking a place of speciall note , to see what memorable accidents might happen within his compasse , one standing at the vpper end of the walke , the second at the vpper end of the first court , the third at the second court dore ; and we had made choice of a gentleman of good sort , to stand in the court that leads into the hall , to take notice what was done or said by his highnesse to the Nobilitie of our land , or saide or done by them to his Magestie , and to let vs vnderstand of it , all which accidents as they hapned in their seuerall places , you shall heare in as few words as may be . Thus then for his Magesties comming vp the walke , ther came before his Magestie some of the Nobilitie , some Barons , Knights , Esquires , Gentlemen and others , amongst whom was the Shriefe of Essex , and the most of his men , the trumpets sounding next before his highnesse , sometimes one sometimes another , his Magestie riding not continually betwixt the same two , but sometimes one sometimes another , as seemed best to his highnesse , the whole Nobilitie of our land and Scotland round about him , obseruing no place of superiotie , all bare-headed , all whom alighted from their horses , at their entrance into the first court , saue onely his Magestie alone , who rid along still , foure Noble men laying their hands vpon his steed , two before and two behind , in this manner hee came , till hee was come to the court dore where my selfe stoode , where hee alighted from his horse , from whom hee had not gone ten princely paces , but there was deliuered him a petition by a yong gentleman , his Magestie returning him this gracious answere , that he should bee heard and haue justice .

At the entrance into that court stood many noble men , amongst whom was Sir Robert Cecil , who there meeting his Magestie conducted him into his house , all which was practised with as great applause of the people as could bee , hartie prayer and throwing vp of hats . His Magestie had not staied aboue an houre in his chamber , but hearing the multitude throng so fast into the vppermost court to see his highnesse , as his grace was informed , hee shewed himselfe openly , out of his chamber window , by the space of halfe an houre together , after which time hee went into the Laberinth-like garden to walke , where hee recreated himselfe in the Meanders compact of Bayes , Rosemarie , and the like , ouershadowing his walke to defend him from the heate of the sunne , till supper time , at which was such plentie of prouision for all sorts of men , in their due place as struke mee with admiration , and first to begin with the ragged regiment , and such as were debarred the priueledge of any court , these were so sufficientlie rewarded with beefe , veale , mutton , bread and beere , that they sung holliday euery day , & kept a continual feast ; as for poore maimed & distressed souldiers which repaired thether for maintenance , the wine , mony , and meat which they had in verie bounteous sort , hath beene a sufficient spur to cause them blaze it abroad since their comming to London , whose thankefulnesse is not altogether vnknowne to my selfe , whom some of them hearing that I was about to publish this small remembrance , made meanes to mee to giue mee true information of such princelie exhibition as they daily receiued , during the time of his Magesties aboade at Theobalds .

But let vs a litle looke back , into the mirrour of Magestie , our soueraignes owne selfe , who in his princely wisdome , ( considering the multitude of people assembled together , had that prouident care ouer vs his louing subiects , foreseeing that victualls would be deere , both for horse and man , had it bene permitted to haue bene disposed of , according to the insatiable desire of the towne inhabitats , ratified a deposition to that effect taken before the Clark of the market , for such and such victualls , meale , bread , butter , egges , cheese , beefe , mutton , veale , & the like , with lodging , and many moe such necessarie matters , that they should not be out of measure deare , beyond ordinary course and custome , within the Verge of his Magesties court , so long as it continued at Theobalds , what his princely intention was in this towards the publick good of all his faithfull subiects , then and there assembled together , meerely drawne with the bonds of loue and bounden dutie , may easily be gathered by the publication of the same , by his Magesties priuiledge ; but how effectually this was obserued by all estates of people , within the Verge of his Magesties court , at the sayd tyme , I referre it to the censure of them , that are assured of the certaintie of it .

Vpon wednesday morne , being the fourth of May , his Magestie rid very earely in the morning into Enfeeld chace , accompanied with many of the nobilitie , his retourne was shorter then was expected by a great deale , by reason the morning seemed to promise a shower , but did not performe it , I could haue wished that either it had neuer lou'red at all , so we should haue enioyed the presence of his Magestie the longer , at that present , or else that the middle region would haue giuen vs iust cause to haue rayld against it , by vrging his highnesse retourne into the house before his full recreation ; he rid the most part of the way from the chace betwene two honourable personages of our land , the Earle of Northumberland vpon his Magesties right hand , the Earle of Nothingham vpon his left hand . Now one word concerning his Magesties proceding towards London vpon satterday being the seauenth of May , and so wil end . For the number of people that went forth of the cittie of London to see his Magestie that day , doubtles they were contained in a number , but without all doubt not to be numbred . I heard many gray heads speake it , that in all the meetings they haue seene or heard of , they neuer heard or saw the tenth man was there to be seene that day , betwixt Enfeeld and London , euerie place in this space so clogd with companie , that his highnesse could not passe without pausing , oft-times willingly enforced , though more willing to haue proceeded , if conueniently he could without great perill to his beloued people . After our retourne to our houses , in our recreating pratle , a gentleman then soiourning in my house , one master Th: Pa : a man vpon my owne knowledge of sufficient wealth , yet he would haue bene content to haue exchanged his state , so he might but haue had actually for euerie reasonable creature was ther that day , a Bee , and a hiue to put them in . Another ( more reasonable then he ) would aske no more liuing , then for euerie one a pin , which according to an Arithmeticall proporcion , by the iudgement of two or three martiall men , who had seene great companies together , as neere as they could gesse , by their seeming show , would haue amounted to an hundred and fiftie pound , receaiuing but of euery one a pin . His Magestie comming to Stanford hill , ther was an oration made vnto his highnesse , the effect whereof I could not truely learne , and heare it I could not , by reason of the croud , for euen there being three miles from London , the people were so throng , that a ca●man let his cart for eight groats to eight persons , whose aboad was not in it aboue one quarter of an houre . From Stamford hill to London , was made a traine with a tame deare , with such twinings and doubles , that the hounds could not take it faster then , his Maiestie proceeded , yet still by the industrie of the huntsman , and the subtilitie of him that made the traine , in a full-mouthed crie all the way , neuer farther distant then one close from the high way , whereby his highnesse rid , and for the most part directly against his Magestie , whom together with the whole companie , had the lee winde from the hounds , to the end they might the better perceue and iudge of the vniformitie in the crie . After his Magestie was come from Kings-land , there begun a diuision amongst the people which way his Highnesse would take when he came at Islington , but in fine , he came the higher way , by the west end of the Church , which street hath euer since , & I gesse euer wil be called Kings street , by the enhabitants of the same . When his highnes had passed Islington and another place called New-rents , and entred into a close called woods close , by a way was cut of purpose through the banck , for his Magesties more conuenient passage into the Charterhouse garden , the people that were there assembled , I can compare to anothing more conueniently then to imagine euery grasse to haue bene metamorphosed into a man , in a moment , the multitude was so maruelous , amongst whome were the children of the hospital singing , orderly placed for his Magesties comming along through them , but all displaced , by reason of the rudenesse of such a multitude . After his Magestie was come amongst the presse of the people , the shouts and clamours were so great , that one could scarce heare another speake , and though there were no hope to finde what was lost especially by the looser , notwithstanding in token of excessiue ioy , inwardly conceaued in the hart , many threw vp their hats ; Now at last he is entred into the garden , from which time till his going to the Tower , mine eies were neuer blest with his encounter . Now he is amongst vs , God long preserue him ouer vs , whose presence makes old men sing , Satis se vixisse se viso .