in the flower of his loveliness, one more evidence of the blight which rested upon the stem, of the Tudors.
The English Court was entertained by Francis at Boulogne. The French Court was received in return at Calais by the English. The outward description of the scene, the magnificent train of the princes, the tournaments, the feasts, the dances, will be found minutely given in the pages of Hall, and need not be repeated
higher things) to some noble princess of his near blood.'—Ellis, third series, vol. ii. p. 121.
He was a gallant, high-spirited boy. A letter is extant from him to Wolsey, written when he was nine years old, begging the cardinal to intercede with the King, 'for an harness to exercise myself in arms according to my erudition in the Commentaries of Csesar.'—Ibid. p. 119.He was brought up with Lord Surrey, who has left a beautiful account of their boyhood at Windsor—their tournaments, their hunts, their young loves, and passionate friendship. Richmond married Surrey's sister, but died the year after, when only seventeen; and Surrey revisiting "Windsor, recalls his image among the scenes which they had enjoyed together, in the most interesting of all his poems. He speaks ofThe secret grove, which oft we made resound
Of pleasant plaint and of our ladies' praise;
Recording oft what grace each one had found,
What hope of speed, what dread of long delays.
The wild forest; the clothed holts with green;
With reins availed, and swift y-breathed horse,
With cry of hounds, and merry blasts between,
Where we did chase the fearful hart of force.
The void walls eke that harboured us each night,
Wherewith, alas! reviveth in my breast
The sweet accord, such sleeps as yet delight
The pleasant dream, the quiet bed of rest;
The secret thoughts imparted with such trust,
The wanton talk, the divers change of play,
The friendship sworn, each promise kept so just,
Wherewith we past the winter nights away.
