168 THE BLACK PRINCE'S RUBY.
he
terrified the king into liking him owing to the boast that he had five
hundred friends who would do anything to avenge his death. Blood was
constantly seen at court and eventually he obtained a pension of five
hundred pounds a year, while poor old Edwards was never recompensed
and died in the greatest want and misery. Truly the ways of princes are
inscrutable !
James
n. gave his whole soul to the glories of his coronation, reviving
ancient ceremonies and doing every thing with exactness, much in the
same way as did Charles x. of France, and they both succeeded in losing
the crowns thus elaborately set upon their heads. James used the crown
made for his brother Charles whose head was somewhat larger. The result
was what might have been expected — the crown did not fit, and was with
difficulty kept in its place. Indeed, it wabbled so much that Henry
Sidney put forth his hand to steady it saying : " This is not the first
time, Your Majesty, that my family have supported the crown."
