Followers, with all commers whatsoever, had such entertainment, as the like had not beene seene in any place before, since his first setting forward out of Scotland. There was such plentie and varietie of meates, such diversitie of wines, and those not riffe-ruffe, but ever the best of the kinde, and the cellers open at any man's of the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and had the honour to receive knighthood from her Majesty in 1598, in which year he was Sheriff of the Counties of Huntingdon and Cambridge. Sir Oliver had the felicity to entertain one, if not two, of the English Monarchs; King James the First he certainly did several times, and probably King Charles the First. But the most memorable visit that was paid him was this by the former. Sir Oliver, finding that his Majesty would pass through Huntingdon, determined to entertain him at Hinchinbrook; and, that he might do this with more elegance and ease, he hastily made such improvements in his house as he judged most proper; at this time he built that very elegant bow-window to the dining-room, in which are two shields of arms of his family, impaling, the one his first, the other his second Lady's, painted upon the glass. Sir Oliver received his Sovereign at the Gate of the great Court, and conducted him up a walk that then immediately led to the principal entrance of the house. His Majesty here met with a more magnificent reception than he had ever done since the leaving his Paternal Kingdom, both for the plenty and variety of the meats and wines; it is inconceivable with what pleasure the English received the King, all strove to please, every one to see the new Sovereign, who was to unite two jarring and valiant Kingdoms, and to be the common Monarch of both. Sir Oliver gratified them to the full; his doors were thrown wide open to receive all that chose to pay their respects to the new King, or even to see him; and each individual was welcomed with the choicest viands and most costly wines; even the populace had free access to the cellars during the whole of his Majesty's stay.-The King remained with Sir Oliver until he had breakfasted on April 29. At his leaving Hinchinbrook, he was pleased to express the obligations he had received from him and his Lady; to the former he said at parting, as he passed through the Court, in his broad Scotch manner, "Morry, mon, thou hast treated me better than any one since I left Edenburgh," and, it is more than probable, than ever that Prince was entertained before or after; for it is said, Sir Oliver at this time gave "the greatest feast that had been given to a King by a subject." His loyalty and regard to his Prince seems almost unbounded; for when his Majesty left Hinchinbrook, he was presented by him with many things of great value. So many and such great proofs of attachment, and those in a manner peculiarly agreeable to the taste of a Prince, gained his regard, which he took an early opportunity of expressing, by creating him, with 59 others, a Knight of the Bath, prior to his coronation. The King visited Sir Oliver Cromwell again in 1605, 1616, and 1617; for Howes says in his Chronicle, that "Lord Hay (then with his Majesty) was sworn a Privy Counsellor at Hinchinbrook, 1605."

"Sir Oliver was a very conspicuous Member of the House of Commons from 1604 to 1610, and also in 1614, 1623, and 1624, during which years, he is oftner named upon committees than any other Member. He is once or twice styled Queen Anne's Attorney in the Journals of the House; but he did not hold this place long, probably not many months. I think he succeeded Sir Lawrence Tanfield in that office in or about the year 1604. May 10, 1605, he, with others, signed a certificate to the Privy Council, that the work of draining the Fens in Lincolnshire, &c. was feasible, and without any peril to any haven or county; and, in 1606, he was named in the Act or Bill for draining of the

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pleasure. And if it were so common with wine, there is little question but the buttries for beere and ale were more common, yet in neither was there difference; for whoever entred the house, which to no man was denyed, tasted what they had a minde to, and after a taste found fulnesse, no man like a man being denied what he would call for. As this bountie was held backe to none within the house, so for such poore people as would not prease in, there were open beere-houses erected wherein there was no want of bread and beefe, for the comfort of the poorest creatures. Neither was this provision for the little time of his Majestie's

Fens, and he was one of the Adventurers who subscribed towards planting and cultivating Virginia. His Majesty King James I. gave Sir Oliver, in 1608, £.6,000, for his relinquishing a grant of £.200 issuing yearly out of the Royal lands, given to him as a free gift. May 2, 1622, he gave a grant in fee of certain lands in the mano, of Warboise to his son and heir Henry, out of his affection to him, and for his better maintenance and living: the seizen was witnessed by Sir Philip Cromwell and others. Sir Oliver married two wives, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Bromley, Lord Chancellor of England; and July 7, 1601, Ann, daughter of Egidius Hooftman, a Gentleman of Antwerp, and widow of Sir Horatio Palavicini, Knight. Her dowry was particularly welcome to Sir Oliver; whose property, though still ample, had been much diminished by a generosity bordering on profuseness; and never did any Lady marry two such opposites, one the extremest miser, the other of the most unbounded expences. The Widow paid him the compliment not to marry again till a full year after the death of her Husband; but one cannot help observing that it was the very first day after the year was complete."

Sir Oliver, after having for many years made Hinchinbrook his Summer residence, sold it to Sir Sidney Montague, father of the first Earl of Sandwich. He held also Great Easton, Newport Pond, and Claybury in Essex; and sold the former in 1597 to Sir Henry Maynard. He also sold Warboise in Huntingdonshire to Sir John Leman, Lord Mayor of London in 1616.-Fuller says, “Sir Oliver is remarkable to posterity on a fourfold account. First, for his hospitality and prodigious entertainment of King James and his Court; secondly, for his upright dealing in bargain and sale with all chapmen, so that no man whosoever purchased land of him was put to the charge of three-pence to make good his title; yet he sold excellent penny-worths, insomuch, that Sir John Leman, once Lord Mayor of London, who bought the fair Manor of Warboise in Huntingdonshire of him, affirmed, that it was the cheapest land that ever he bought, and yet the dearest that ever Sir Oliver Cromwell sold. Thirdly, for his loyalty, always beholding the usurpation and tyranny of his nephew, godson, and namesake, with hatred and contempt. Lastly, for his vivacity, who survived to be the oldest Gentleman in England who was a Knight, though not the oldest Knight who was a Gentleman. It seems Sir George Dalton, younger in years, though still alive [1662], was knighted some days before him." King James I. knighted Sir Thomas Hayward at that place in 1616; and Willis, in his History of the Town and Hundred of Buckingham, says, "Sir Richard Ingoldsby was knighted at the same place in 1617. These, however, were not the only times King James was there; as Royston and Newmarket, his usual places of hunting, were both in that neighbourhood; and from thence he frequently went to Huntingdon." See Noble's Life of Cromwell; and Bibl. Top. Brit. No. XXXI,

stay, but it was made ready fourteen daies, and after his Highnes' departure distributed to as many as had mind to it.

There attended also at Maister Oliver Cromwell's the Heads of the Universitie of Cambridge, all clad in scarlet gownes and corner-cappes; who having presence of his Majestie, there was made a most learned and eloquent Oration in Latine, welcomming his Majestie, as also intreating the confirmation of their charter and priviledges, which his Majestie most willingly and freely granted. They also presented his Majestie with divers bookes published in commendation of our late gracious Queene', all which was most graciously accepted of his Highnesse. Also Maister Cromwell presented his Majestie with many rich and respectable gifts, as a very great, and a very faire wrought standing cup of gold, goodly horses, flete and deepe mouthed houndes, divers hawkes of excellent wing, and at the remove gave fifty pounds amongst his Majestie's Officers.

Upon the 29th day, being Fryday, after his Highnesse had broke his fast, he tooke kinde and gracious leave of Maister Oliver Cromwell, and his vertuous Lady, late Widow to that noble and opulent Knight, Seigniour Horatio Paulo Vicino 2.

"Sorrowe's Joy," &c. printed at the beginning of this Volume, pp. 1-24; and see also the "Progresses of Queen Elizabeth," vol. III. pp. 615-652.

"This "noble and opulent Knight" was a native of Genoa, where a family of that name is still to be traced. He is supposed to have been an Arras-painter, or at least a dealer in that species of merchandize; for, in an inventory of jewells, &c. of the Earl of Sussex taken after his death in 1583, mentioned by Mr. Walpole among a list of the debts to be paid by the Earl's Executor, one was to Horatio Palavicini, probably for a set of hangings mentioned in the inventory; and £.6. 16s. 6d. to Randolph the painter. He was Lord of the manor of Babraham near Cambridge. This house he obtained by purchase from the family of Taylor; and on the front of the mansion are the initials “R. T. 1576."-In the hall, on a costly chimney piece, adorned with the history of Mutius Scævola, the arms of Sir Horatio still remain.-The tradition of that neighbourhood is, that Sir Horatio was the Collector of the Pope's dues in England in Queen Mary's time; and that at her death, and her Sister's accession, he took the opportunity of detaining the money in a country where, at that time, such a piece of dishonesty could not be looked upon in the light it deserved, or would at least be protected. In the "Acta Regia," is "A Patent for the Denization of Horace Palavecini, a Genoese, dated Nov. 2, 1586, at Westminster." (The King makes denizens, and the Parliament naturalizes.) He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1587; and on that occasion a copy of verses was addressed to him by Thomas Newton, in his "Illustrium aliquot Anglorum Encomia," printed that year, and re-published in the second edition of Leland's Collectanea, 1770, vol. V. p. 174. In 1588 he was one of the Commanders against the Spanish Armada; and his Portrait is preserved amongst those Heroes in the Tapestry of the House of Lords, engraved by Pine. In p. 504, of "Acta Regia," it appears, that he was employed by the Queen in 1590, to William, Landgrave of Hesse. In 1588-9, he presented to the Queen, as a New-year's Gift," one bodkyn of silver gilte, havinge a pendaunt jewell of gold,

Thence, with many Regall thankes for his entertainment, he departed to Roiston and as he passed through Godmanchester, a Towne close by Huntington, the Bailiffes of the Towne, with their Brethren, met him, and acknowledged their alleageance. There, convoying him through their Towne, they presented him with threescore and ten teeme of horse all traced, two faire new like a shipp, garnished with ophaulls, sparks of diamonds, and three small pearles pendaunt ;" and received, in return, 23 ounces and a half of gilt plate. In 1593-4 he also gave a pair of writing-tables, covered with gold, enameled on both sides like a rose, the one side set with small diamonds and rubies. In return, Sir Horatio had 25 ounces of gilt plate, and his Lady 18 ounces and . It was probably about this time that he married, and settled at Babraham; for in the Register of that Parish is recorded the birth of his eldest son Toby, May, 20, 1593; and a daughter Baptist in 1594. Sir Horatio was every way distant from amiable, but he possessed the best abilities. Lord Arundel of Wardour, (as he was afterwards created,) in a Letter written in 1596, mentions him first amongst the experienced persons in England, to whom he refers the Queen's Ministers to assure them that he had committed no crime in accepting of the title of Count of the Empire, without her Majesty's permission, for which he was then under confinement. "Neither do I think," says his Lordship, " England to be so unfurnished of experienced men, but that either Horatio Palavecini, Sir Robert Sidney, Mr. Dyer, or some other, can witness a truth therein." Sir Horace owned another estate two miles from Babraham, at Little Shelford, where he built a house in the Italian style, with a large piazza or gallery, with pillars in the front of the second story, which was taken down and a new one erected in the same delightful situation, on the banks of a pretty trout stream, by Mr. William Finch, an opulent ironmonger, of Cambridge, who purchased the estate. Sir Horatio died July 6, 1600; he was buried on the 17th, and his Funeral kept on the 4th of August, and his Widow was remarried to Sir Oliver Cromwell July 7, 1601.-The burial of his children and grand-children are recorded in the same Register.

The following Epitaph by the celebrated Bp. Hall, is here given from a small collection of Funeral Verses, intituled, "Album, seu Nigrum Amicorum in Obitum Horatii Palavicini; Lond. 1609," 4to. "In Obitum viri amplissimi Domini Horatii Pallavicini Equitis Epitaphium. Utra mihi patria est, utra est peregrina, viator?

Itala terra tulit, terra Britanna tegit.

Natus ibi, hic vixi, moriorque ineunte senectâ ;
Illa mihi cunas contulit, hæc tumulum.
Deserui Latium vivus, meque illa reliquit ;

Quodque ortu meruit, perdidit exitio.
Hospitio excepit fovitque Britannia longo,

Jure sit illa suo patria sola mihi,

Non tamen illa mihi patria est, non ulla sub astris ;

Sed teneo ætherei regna suprema Poli.

J. HALL, Imman.

Another Epitaph, remarkable for its oddity, and confirming what is said before concerning his

ploughs1, in shew of their husbandrie; which, while his Majestie being very wel delighted with the sight, demanded why they offered him so many horses and ploughs; he was resolved, that it was their auncient custome, whensoever any King of England passed through their Towne, so to present his Excellence. Besides they added, that they held their lands by that tenure, being the King's Tenants: his Majestie not only tooke well in worth their goode mindes, but bad them use well their ploughs, being glad he was Landlord of so many good husbandmen in one Towne. I trust his Highnesse, when he knowes well the wrong, will take order for those, as her Majestie began, that turne plough-land to pastorage; and where many good husbandmen dwelt, there is now nothing left but a great house without fire; the Lord commonly at sojourne neere London, and

honesty and integrity, was transcribed by Mr. Walpole from a MS. of Sir John Crew, of Worthington, a great Antiquary and Herald:

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"Here lies Horatio Palavezene,

Who robb'd the Pope to lend the Queene;

He was a thief;-a thief! thou liest,

For whie? he robb'd but Antichrist.

Him death wyth besome swept from Babram,

Into the bosom of oulde Abraham;

But then came Hercules with his club,

And struck him down to Belzebub."

"When the King passed through Godmanchester, they met him with seventy new ploughs, drawn by as many teams of horses; and when he inquired the reason, he was answered, that they hold their lands immediately from the Kings of England, by the tenure of so meeting them on passing through their Town." Magna Britannia, vol. II. p. 1046. It has been said, it was this circumstance that led James to grant his charter of incorporation to the inhabitants."Godmanchester was for several centuries most highly celebrated for the goodness of its husbandry; but from the general improvement that has taken place, it is now but little superior to the common level, Camden says there is no place in all England that has so many stout hinds, or employs more ploughs; for they make their boast of having formerly received the Kings of England in their Progresses this way, with nine score ploughs brought forth in a rustical kind of pomp for a gallant shew. Indeed, there be none of our Nation that apply themselves more seriously to a rustic profession (which Columella says is allied to wisdom), whether we have respect to their skill therein, to their ability to bear the expense, or to their willing mind, withall to take the pains." Bishop Gibson remarks, it grew so wealthy and considerable by its husbandry, that in the reign of James the First, it was incorporated as a borough, by the style of two Bailiffs, twelve Assistants, and Commonalty; it never, however, had the privilege of sending Representatives to Parliament. The houses are spread over a considerable plot of ground, and though in general irregular, many of them are good brick buildings; the two bridges, next the village on the road to Huntingdon, are also of brick.