Two years afterwards, the Earl was himself hastily summoned to the Continent to attend the death-bed of his eldest son, James, Lord MALTRAVERS, who is described by a contemporary writer as a ‘gentleman of rare wit and extraordinary expectation.’ [Sidenote: DEATH OF ARUNDEL’S ELDEST SON.] The Countess and her two elder sons, James and Henry, were then returning from Italy to England. [Sidenote: _Royal license to travel_, July, 1624.] They passed through Belgium in order to visit the Queen of BOHEMIA. Whilst at Ghent, upon the journey, Lord MALTRAVERS was seized with the smallpox. He died in that city in July, 1624. The affliction was acutely felt. [Sidenote: _Domestic Corresp._ James I, vol. cxlix, § 67; vol. clii, § 55.] ‘My sorrow makes me incapable of this world’s affairs,’ wrote the Earl to one of his political correspondents, in the autumn of the year. To the outer world, reserved manners and a stately demeanour often gave a very false impression of the man himself. Throughout his life, ARUNDEL’S affectionate nature was so evinced in his deeds, and in his domestic intercourse, as to stand in little need of illustration from his words. Mainly, as it seems, to this characteristic quality he was soon to owe a second imprisonment in the Tower of London. [Sidenote: THE STUART MARRIAGE AND ITS RESULTS.] The new Lord MALTRAVERS shortly after his return to England fell in love with the Lady Elizabeth STUART, daughter of Esme, Duke of LENNOX. ARUNDEL had formed other wishes and plans for the son who was now his heir, and there is evidence that he was reluctant to give his consent to the prosecution of the suit. Nor did the kinship of the prospective bride with King CHARLES appear to him, it seems, at all an inviting circumstance in the matter. So long as BUCKINGHAM stood at the helm of affairs ARUNDEL was likely to have a very small share in the new king’s affections, so that pride and policy as well as inclination stood in the way of his approval. He knew also that it was CHARLES’ eager wish that his kinswoman should marry Lord LORNE, the eldest son of the Earl of ARGYLE. But the young lover was ardent, and his entreaties unintermitting. At length, we are told, he not only wrung from the Earl the words ‘You may try your fortune with the lady that you seem to love so well,’ but prevailed upon him to confer paternally on the subject with the lady’s aunt and guardian, the Duchess of RICHMOND. MALTRAVERS, meanwhile, had resolved to incur no risk of defeat by waiting for a royal assent to his marriage. He had long before won his cause with the lady, but had kept the secret. Two passionate lovers[32] went gravely through the ceremony of a formal introduction to each other.