A HISTORY OF RUTLAND The guardianship of the princess proved a trying responsibility for Lord Harington. The allowance, at first ^(^ 1,500 and afterwards ^2,500, which was made him for the purpose was quite insufficient for the extravagant girl, and her guardian was deeply involved in debt. In May 1613 the king granted him a patent for the coining of brass farthings, which were known as 'Haringtons,' but he did not live to restore his financial position by this means. He accompanied the princess to Heidelberg for her marriage, and on the way home six months later he died at Worms. His son survived him only six months, and the title became extinct.^" Sir Edward Noel was ' lying in wait ' to buy Burley, on which he had already lent money, and ' so plant himself altogether in Rutland.' In order to do this he had already sold his Leicestershire estate of Dalby to the all-powerful Buckingham for jr29,ooo."° But Buckingham secured Burley also, and greatly improved the house,^" where he was frequently visited by King James. Bishop Andrewes preached before the king there on more than one occasion, and Ben Jonson's masque, the Gypsies, is said to have been acted there for the first time, the parts being taken by ladies and gentlemen of the court. "^ Charles I and his queen were also entertained at Burley, and on one occasion the famous dwarf, Jeffrey Hudson, was served up at table in a cold pie, to the great amusement of the queen, who took him into her service. "^^ Lord Harington's youngest brother James was one of the baronets made in 161 1, and his branch of the family remained connected with the county. Another baronet was Sir Edward Noel, who was in 16 17 created Baron Noel of Ridlington. This peerage proved more lasting than that of the Haringtons, though it was soon merged in the higher title of Viscount Campden, to which Noel succeeded on the death of his father-in-law in 1629.^" Part II — from 1625 Buckingham's death, though it must have diminished the frequency of royal visits to the county, did not cause their entire cessation. Charles I on two occasions passed through the county on his way north. In March 1633 the justices of the peace reported to the council that 'they have viewed the ways and bridges through which His Majesty is to pass * on his way to Scotland, ' and have seen such reparation made as will witness their joy to receive His Majesty and their obedience to their Lord- ships,' ^ while on the king's return in July, twenty horses were ordered to be provided by the hundred of Martinsley ; ^ and, as will be seen later, Charles visited Rutland again under less pleasant circumstances in 1642. The 'joy' produced by these visits of the king and his predecessor must have been somewhat diminished by the numerous assessments, by orders to the chief constable, which were made upon the county between 1622 and 1636 "' Diet. Nat. Biog. '" Chamberlain, Lett, in Nichols, Progresses ofjas. I, iii, 260. '«« Wright, Hist. Rut. 30. '" The king usually visited Burley in August, and was there in 1614, 1616, 1619 (probably), l62i,and 1624, paying another visit in Mar. 1617 ; Nichols, Progresses, iii, 20, 185, &c. 167a Wright, Hist. Rut. 105. '" G.E.C. Compkti Peerage. ' Cal. S.P. Dom. 1631-3, p. 586. ' Hist. MSS. Com. Rej>. v, App. 402 (Barker MSS.). 184
