Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2 Dudley Carleton to Mr Winwood Jan 1605. The next Day the King plaid in the Presence, and as good or ill Luck seldom comes alone, the Bridegroom (age 20), that threw for the King, had the good Fortune to win £1000 which he had for his Pains; the greatest part was lost by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13).

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2 Dudley Carleton to Mr Winwood Jan 1605. Sir Richard Spencer was brought to the King the Morning he went from London, and kneeling down had this ill Encounter, to light with his Knee on a Pin, which lamed him for the present and ever since. They say, malum omen in principio lapsus; and methinks it should be no good signe, to be pinn'd to the Ground at his Entry into his Charge. Upon Complaint that our Merchants were molested in Spaine, Wilson, who is newly come from thence was appointed to return thither, and had Allowance assigned of 30s a Day: But there came News of Reformation, and his Journey was stayed. He is to go with my Lord Admirall, and to remaine there as a Consul for our Merchants. Sir Henry Maynard prepares for France. Sir Thomas Bodeley hath been much laid to by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13) to accept the place of Secretary, and I doubt not but you hear how he refused it. This offer is made an Act so meritorious, that it is brued a son de trompette in all Places, but some malicious Fellows talk as fast of Sir Walter Cope, as if he were designed to that Place, and that the other was only ad faciendum populum. Sir Henry Neville fits by all this while unthought of, but 'tis hoped by many honest Men, the Necesslty of the Time will lay the Place upon him.

In 1624 William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 32) was appointed 418th Knight of the Garter by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 57).

Evelyn's Diary. 11 Mar 1643. I went to see my Lord of Salisbury's (age 51) Palace at Hatfield, where the most considerable rarity, besides the house (inferior to few then in England for its architecture), were the garden and vineyard, rarely well watered and planted. They also showed us the picture of Secretary Cecil, in Mosaic work, very well done by some Italian hand.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Feb 1660. Saturday. A great while at my vial and voice, learning to sing "Fly boy, fly boy", without book. So to my office, where little to do. In the Hall I met with Mr. Eglin and one Looker, a famous gardener, servant to my Lord Salsbury (age 68), and among other things the gardener told a strange passage in good earnest.... Home to dinner, and then went to my Lord's lodgings to my turret there and took away most of my books, and sent them home by my maid. Thither came Capt. Holland to me who took me to the Half Moon tavern [Map] and Mr. Southorne, Blackburne's clerk. Thence he took me to the Mitre in Fleet Street, where we heard (in a room over the music room) very plainly through the ceiling. Here we parted and I to Mr. Wotton's, and with him to an alehouse and drank while he told me a great many stories of comedies that he had formerly seen acted, and the names of the principal actors, and gave me a very good account of it. Thence to Whitehall, where I met with Luellin and in the clerk's chamber wrote a letter to my Lord. So home and to bed. This day two soldiers were hanged in the Strand [Map] for their late mutiny at Somerset-house [Map].

Pepy's Diary. 16 Oct 1664. Lord's Day. It raining, we set out, and about nine o'clock got to Hatfield, Hertfordshire in church-time; and I 'light and saw my simple Lord Salsbury (age 73) sit there in his gallery.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Mar 1669. Thence with W. Hewer (age 27) at noon to Unthanke's, where my wife stays for me and so to the Cocke (age 52), where there was no room, and thence to King Street, to several cook's shops, where nothing to be had; and at last to the corner shop, going down Ivy Lane, by my Lord of Salisbury's, and there got a good dinner, my wife, and W. Newer, and I: and after dinner she, with her coach, home; and he and I to look over my papers for the East India Company, against the afternoon: which done, I with them to White Hall, and there to the Treasury-Chamber, where the East India Company and three Councillors pleaded against me alone, for three or four hours, till seven at night, before the Lords; and the Lords did give me the conquest on behalf of the King (age 38), but could not come to any conclusion, the Company being stiff: and so I think we shall go to law with them. This done, and my eyes mighty bad with this day's work, I to Mr. Wren's, and then up to the Duke of York (age 35), and there with Mr. Wren (age 40) did propound to him my going to Chatham, Kent [Map] to-morrow with Commissioner Middleton, and so this week to make the pay there, and examine the business of "The Defyance" being lost, and other businesses, which I did the rather, that I might be out of the way at the wedding, and be at a little liberty myself for a day, or two, to find a little pleasure, and give my eyes a little ease. The Duke of York mightily satisfied with it; and so away home, where my wife troubled at my being so late abroad, poor woman! though never more busy, but I satisfied her; and so begun to put things in order for my journey to-morrow, and so, after supper, to bed.