usual amongst them. A poor little boy, that his mother had animated
daily to cry for relief so troublesomely, that at last the Ambassador
would say, 'What noise is that at the gate of perpetual screaming? I
will have it so no more:' upon which they carried the child to his
mother, and bade her keep him at home, for it screamed like a devil,
and if it returned, the porter swore he would punish him severely. Not
many days after, according to his former custom, the child returned,
louder than before, if possible; the porter keeping his word, took the
boy and pulled off his rags, and anointed him all over with honey,
leaving no part undone, and very thick, and then threw him into a tub
of fine feathers, which as soon as he had done, he set him on his legs
and frightened him home to his mother, who seeing this thing, for none
living could guess him a boy, ran out into the city, the child
squeaking after her, and all the people in the streets after them,
thinking it was a devil or some strange creature.

But to return to the business: we were visited by many persons of the
Court, some upon business, and others upon compliment, which is more
formal than pleasant, for they are not generally a cheerful people.
About February the King intended to go into the field and lead his
army himself: during this resolution my husband prepared himself to
wait on his Majesty, which cost him much, these kind of expenses in
that place being scarce and very dear; but the Council would not
suffer him to go, and so that ended. The King loved hunting much, and
ever when he went would send my husband some of what he killed, which
was stag and wild boar, both excellent meat. We kept the Queen's
birthday with great feasting: we had all the English merchants.

There was, during my stay in this town, a Portugal merchant jealous of
his mistress favouring an Englishman, whom he entertained with much