Addison, speaking of James’ love of jesting, observes:—­“The age in which the pun chiefly flourished was in the reign of King James the First.  That learned monarch was himself a tolerable punster, and made very few bishops or privy-councillors that had not sometime or other signalized themselves by a clinch or a conundrum.  It was therefore in this age that the pun appeared with pomp and dignity.  It had been before admitted into merry speeches and ludicrous compositions, but was now delivered with great gravity from the pulpit, or pronounced in the most solemn manner at the council-table.”  Verbal humour continued to be admired for its ingenuity in the reign of Charles I. The childish taste of the time in this respect is prominently exhibited in the “Fames Roule,” written by a Mrs. Mary Fage, in honour of the royal family and principal peers of the realm.  It consists of short poems, and each one forms an acrostic, and commences with an anagram of the name.

The following will give specimens of this ridiculous composition:—­

  “To the high and mighty.  Princesse Mary,
  Eldest Daughter of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles.

  MARY STVARTE.

  Anagramma.

  A MERRY STATV.

  “M irth may with Princes very well agree,
   A Merry Statv then faire Madam be;
   R ightly ’twill fit your age, your vertues grace;
   Y eelding A Merry Statv in your face.

  “S mile then, high Lady, while of mirth write I,
   T hat so my Muse may with alacrity,
   U nto your Highness sing without all feare,
   A nd a true Statv of your vertues reare: 
   R eaching whereto, that she may higher flee,
   T hus humbly beg I on my bended knee,
   E ver A Merry Statv be to me.”

  GEORGE MANNERS.

  Anagramma.

  NOR AS GREEN GEM.

  “G reat honoured Peere, and Rutland’s Noble Earle,
   E ven in vertue shining like a Pearle
   O ver all Europe, adding to your birth,
   R adiant bright beames of your true honoured worth: 
   G em great and precious, see you are remaining
   E ver the rayes of vertue’s beames retaining.

  “M aking all Europe stand amazed quite,
   A nd wonder much at Rutland’s glorious light,
   N or as a green gem let your lustre be,
   N o, greenness here betokens levity,
   E ver more as a precious gem remain you,
   R ed or some orient colour still retaine you;
   S o nor as green gem, will the world proclaime you.”

The jester still remained in office in Charles the First’s reign and Archee assumed the old prerogative of the motley in telling home truths to his master.  On one occasion he was ordered by the King to say grace, as the chaplain was away, upon which the jester pronounced it, “All glory be to God on high, and little Laud to the devil.”  At which all the courtiers smiled, because it reflected upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was a little man.  The King said he would tell Laud, and what would he do then?  “Oh!” said Archee, “I will hide me where he will never find me.”  “Where is that?” asked the King.  “In his pulpit,” answered Archee, “for I am sure he never goes there.”