The monks continued to
support two such birds in the cloisters, and till very lately the
officials gravely informed the visitor to the Cathedral that they
were the identical ravens which accompanied the Saint's relics to
their city. The birds figure in the arms of Lisbon.
[24] The evidence taken by the Commissioners is embodied in a
voluminous report. State Paper Office, Dom. James I., vol. xli.
1608.
[25] The Earl of Northampton, Privy Seal, was Lord Warden of the
Cinque Ports; hence his moving in the matter. Pett says he was
his "most implacable enemy." It is probable that the earl was
jealous of Pett, because he had received his commission to build
the great ship directly from the sovereign, without the
intervention of his lordship
[26] This Royal investigation took place at Woolwich on the 8th
May, 1609. The State Paper Office contains a report of the same
date, most probably the one presented to the King, signed by six
ship-builders and Captain Waymouth, and counter signed by
Northampton and four others. The Report is headed "The Prince
Royal: imperfections found upon view of the new work begun at
Woolwich." It would occupy too much space to give the results
here.
[27] Alas! for the uncertainties of life! This noble young
prince--the hope of England and the joy of his parents, from whom
such great things were anticipated--for he was graceful, frank,
brave, active, and a lover of the sea,--was seized with a serious
illness, and died in his eighteenth year, on the 16th November,
1612.
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