 14. This is where news thou tellest me, my good fellow. There are two bulls, fierce battling on the green, for one fair heifer. If the one goes down, the dale will be more peaceful, and the herd, which have small interest in their brulement, may pasture there in peace. Old play. Sayes' court was watched like a beleaguered fort, and so high rose the suspicions of the time that Tresillian and his attendants were stopped in question repeatedly by sentinels, both on foot and horseback, as they approached the abode of the sick-url. In truth the high rank which Sussex held in Queen Elizabeth's favour, and his known and avowed rivalry of the Earl of Lester, caused the utmost importance to be attached to his welfare, for at the period we treat of, all men doubted whether he or the Earl of Lester might ultimately have the higher rank in her regard. Elizabeth, like many of her sex, was fond of governing bifactions, so as to balance two opposing interests, and reserve in her own hand the power of making either predominant as the interest of the state, or perhaps as her own female caprice, for to that foible even she was not superior, might finally determine, to finesse, to hold the cards, to oppose one interest to another, to bridle him who thought himself highest in her esteem by the fears he must entertain of another equally trusted, if not equally beloved, were arts which she used throughout her reign, and which enabled her, though frequently giving way to the weakness of favouritism, to prevent most of its evil effects on her kingdom and government. The two nobles who at present stood as rivals in her favour possessed very different pretensions to share it, yet it might be in general said that the Earl of Sussex had been most serviceable to the Queen, while Lester was most dear to the woman. Sussex was, according to the phrase of the Times, a martialist, had done good service in Ireland and in Scotland, and especially in the great Northern rebellion in 1569, which was called, in a great measure, by his military talents. He was therefore naturally surrounded and looked up to by those who wished to make arms their road to distinction. The Earl of Sussex, moreover, was of more ancient and honourable descent than his rival, uniting in his person the representation of the Fitzwalters, as well as of the Radcliffe. While the sketching of Lester was stained by the degradation of his grandfather, the oppressive minister of Henry VII, and scarce improved by that of his father, the unhappy Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, executed on Tower Hill, August 22nd, 1553, but in person features and address weapons so formidable in the court of the female sovereign, Lester had advantages more than sufficient to counterbalance the military services, high blood, and frank bearing of the Earl of Sussex. And he bore in the Eye of the Corning Kingdom the higher-sharer in Elizabeth's favour, though for such was her uniform policy by no means so decidedly expressed as to warrant him against the final preponderance of his rival's pretensions. The illness of Sussex therefore happened so opportunely for Lester as to give rise to strange surmises among the public, while the followers of the one Earl were filled with the deepest apprehensions and those of the other with the highest hopes of its probable issue. Meanwhile, for in that old time men never forgot the probability that the matter might be determined by length of soren. The retainers of each noble locked around their patron appeared well armed in the vicinity of the court itself, and disturbed the ear of the sovereign by their frequent and alarming debates held even within the precincts of her palace. This preliminary statement is necessary to render what follows intelligible to the reader. Readers note, note 3, chapter 14, Lester and Sussex. Norton gives us numerous and curious particulars of the jealous struggle which took place between Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex, and the rising favorite Lester. The former, when on his deathbed, predicted to his followers that after his death the gypsy, so he called Lester from his dark complexion, would prove too many for them. And Readers note, on Tresselian's arrival at Cengiz Court he found the place filled with the retainers of the Earl of Sussex and of the gentlemen who came to attend their patron in his illness. Arms were at every hand, and a deep gloom on every countenance as if they had apprehended an immediate and violent assault from the opposite faction. In the hall, however, to which Tresselian was ushered by one of the Earl's attendants while another went to inform Sussex of his arrival, he found only two gentlemen waiting. There was a remarkable contrast in their dress, appearance, and manners. The attire of the elder gentleman, a person as it seemed of quality and in the prime of life, was very plain and soldier-like, his stature low, his limb stout, his bearing ungraceful, and his features of that kind which expressed sound, common sense, without a grain of vivacity or imagination. The younger, who seemed about twenty or upwards, was clad in the gayest habit used by persons of quality at the period, wearing a crimson, velvet cloak, richly ornamented with lace and embroidery, with a bonnet of the same, encircled with a gold chain, turned three times round it, and secured by a metal. His hair was adjusted very nearly like that of some fine gentleman of our own time, that is, it was combed upwards and made to stand as it were on end, and in his ears he wore a pair of silver earrings having each a pearl of considerable size. The countenance of this youth, besides being regularly handsome and accompanied by a fine person, was animated and striking in a degree that seemed to speak at once the firmness of a decided and the fire of an enterprising character, the power of reflection and the promptitude of determination. Both these gentlemen reclined nearly in the same posture, on benches near each other, but each seeming engaged in his own meditations, looked straight upon the wall which was opposite to them, without speaking to his companion. The looks of the elder were of that sort which convinced the beholder that, in looking on the wall, he saw no more than the side of an old hall hung around with cloaks, antlers, bucklers, old pieces of armor, partisans and the similar articles which were usually the furniture of such a place. The look of the younger gallant had in it something imaginative. He was sunk in rubbery, and it seemed as if the empty space of air betwixt him and the wall were the stage of the theatre on which his fancy was mustering his own dramatis personae, and treating him with sides far different than those which his awakened and earthly vision could have offered. At the entrance of Treselyan both started from their musing, and made him wakum, the younger in particular with great appearance of animation and cordiality. The art wakum, Treselyan, said the youth, thy philosophy stole thee from us when this household had objects of ambition to offer. It is an honest philosophy, since it returns thee to us when there are only dangers to be shared. Is my lord then so greatly indisposed? said Treselyan. We fear the very worst, answered the elder gentleman, and by the worst practice. Thy, replied Treselyan, my lord of Lester is honourable. What doth he with such attendance then, as he hath about him? said the younger gallant. The man who raises the double may be honest, but he is answerable for the mystery which the fiend does for all that. And is this all of you, my mates, inquired Treselyan, that are about my lord and his utmost straits? No, no, replied the elder gentleman. There are Tresely, Markham, and several more, but we keep watch here by two at once, and some are weary and are sleeping in the gallery above. And some, said the young man, are gone down to the dock yonder adept for him, to look out such a hall, as they may purchase by clubbing their broken fortunes, and as soon as all is over, we will lay our noble lord in a noble green grave, have a blow with those who have hurried him thither, if opportunity suits, and then sail for the indies with heavy hearts and light purses. It may be, said Treselyan, that I have embraced the same purpose, so soon as I have settled some business at court. Thou, business at court, they both exclaimed at once, and thou make the Indian voyage. Why, Treselyan, said the younger man, art thou not wedded, and beyond these flaws of fortune, that drive folks out to see when their bark bears sparrows for the haven? What has become of the lovely Indamira that was to match my amaret for truth and beauty? Speak not of her, said Treselyan, averting this face. I, stands it so with you, said the youth, taking his hand very affectionately. Then, fear not, I will again touch the green moon, but it is strange as well as sad news. Are none of our fair and merry fellowship to escape shipwreck of fortune and happiness in this sudden tempest? I'd hoped thou were to harbor, at least, my dear Edmund. But truly says another dear friend of thy name, what man that sees the ever-wirling will of chance, the which all mortal things doth sway, but that thereby doth find and plainly feel, how mutability in them doth play, for cruel sports, to many men's decay. The elder gentleman had risen from his bench, and was pacing the hall with some impatience, while the youth, with much earnestness and feeling, recited these lines. When he had done, the other wrapped himself in his cloak, and again stretched himself down, saying, I'm Marvel, Treselyan. You will feed the lad in this silly humor. If there were ought to draw judgment upon a virtuous and honorable household like my lords, renounce me if I think not a wordless pythene, whining, childish trick of poetry, that came among us with Master Walter Woody-Pate here and his comrades, twisting into all manner of uncouth and incomprehensible forms of speech, the honest plain English phrase which God gave us to express our meaning with all. Blount believes, sent his comrade laughing. The devil wooed Eve in rhyme, and that the mystic meaning of the tree of knowledge refers solely to the art of clashing rhymes and meeting out hexameters. Reader's note, note 4, Chapter 14, Sir Walter Raleigh. Among the attendance and adherence of Sussex, we have Venturent introduced the celebrated Raleigh in the dawn of his court favor. In Aubrey's correspondence there are some curious particulars of Sir Walter Raleigh. He was a tall, handsome, bold man, but his knee was that he was dammably proud. Old Sir Robert Harley of Brampton, Ryan Castle, who knew him, would say it was a great question who was the proudest, Sir Walter or Sir Thomas Overbury. But the difference that was, was judged in Sir Thomas' side. And the great parlor at Downton, at Mr. Raleigh's, is a good piece, an original of Sir Walter, in a white satin doublet, all embroidered with rich pearls and a mighty rich chain of great pearls about his neck. The old servants have told me that the real pearls were near as big as the painted ones. He had a most remarkable aspect, an exceeding, high forehead, long-faced and sour eyelid, and a rebus is added to this purpose. The enemy to the stomach and the word of disgrace is the name of the gentleman with the bold face. Sir Walter Raleigh's beard turned up naturally, which gave him an advantage over the gallants of the time, whose mustaches received a touch of the barber's art to give them the air than most admired. See Aubrey's correspondence, volume two, part two, page 500. End reader's note. At this moment, the Earl Chamberlain entered and informed Tristleyen that his lord required to speak with him. He found the word sessig stressed, but unbraced, and lying on his couch, and was shocked at the alteration disease had made in his person. The Earl received him with the most friendly corgeality and inquired into the state of his courtship. Tristleyen evaded his inquiries for a moment and turned his discourse on the Earl's own health. He discovered to surprise that the symptoms of his disorder corresponded minutely with those which Wayland had predicated concerning it. He hesitated not, therefore, to communicate to sessigs the whole history of his attendant and the pretensions he set up to cure the disorder under which he labored. The Earl listened with incredulous attention until the name of Demetrius was mentioned, and then suddenly called to his secretary to bring him a certain casket, which contained papers of importance. Take out from thence, he said, the declaration of the rascal cook whom we had under examination, and look carefully if the name of Demetrius be not there mentioned. The secretary turned to the passage at once and read, and said to Clarence, being examined, sayeth, that he remembers having made the sauce to the said Sturgeon Fish, after eating of which the said noble Lord was taking ill, and he put the usual ingredients and condiments therein, namely, pass over his trash, said the Earl, and see whether he had not been supplied with his materials by an herbalist called Demetrius. It is even so, answered the secretary, and he adds, he has not since seen the said Demetrius. This accords with thy fellow story, Tricelian, said the Earl. Call him hither. On being summoned to the Earl's presence, Weyland Smith told his former tale with firmness and consistency. It may be, said the Earl. Thou art sent by those who have begun this work to end it for them, but we think, if I miscarry under thy medicine, it may go hard with thee. That were severe measures, said Weyland, since the issue of medicine and the end of life are in God's disposal. But I will stand the risk. I have not lived so long underground to be afraid of the grave. Nay, if thou beest so confident, said the Earl of Sussex, I will take the risk, too, for the learned can do nothing for me. Tell me how this medicine is to be taken. That will I do presently, said Weyland, but allow me to condition that, since I incur all the risk of this treatment, no other physician shall be permitted to interfere with it. That is but fair, replied the Earl, and now prepare your drug. While Weyland obeyed the Earl's commands, his servants, by the artist's direction, undressed their master and placed him in bed. I warn you, he said, that the first operation of this medicine will be to produce a heavy sleep, during which time the chamber must be kept undisturbed, as the consequences may otherwise be fatal. I myself will watch by the Earl with any of the gentlemen in his chamber. Let all leave the room, save Stanley, and this good fellow, said the Earl. And saving me also, said Thresley, I, too, am deeply interested in the effects of this potion. Be it so, good friend, said the Earl, and now for our experiment. But first, call my secretary and chamberlain. Bear witness, he continued. When these officers arrived, bear witness for me, gentlemen, that our honorable friend, Thresley, is in no way responsible for the effects which this medicine may produce upon me. The taking it, being my own free action and choice, in regard, I believe, to be a remedy which God has furnished me by unexpected means to recover me of my present malady. Commend me to my noble and princely mistress, and say that I live and die her true servant, and wish to all about her throne the same singleness of heart and will to serve her, with more ability to do so than have been assigned to poor Thomas Radcliffe. He then folded his hands and, seemed for a second or two, absorbed in mental devotion, then took the potion in his hand and, pausing, regarded Wayland with a look that seemed designed to penetrate his very soul, but which caused no anxiety or hesitation in the countenance or manner of the artist. Here is nothing to be feared, said Sussex Tritocillian, and swallowed the medicine without further hesitation. I am now to pray your lordship, said Wayland, to dispose yourself to rest as commodiously as you can, and, if you, gentlemen, to remain as still and mute as if you waited at your mother's deathbed. The chamberlain and secretary then withdrew, giving orders that all doors should be bolted, and all noise in the house strictly prohibited. Several gentlemen were voluntary watchers in the hall, but none remained in the chamber of the sickrel, save his room of the chamber, the artist, and Tritocillian. Wayland Smith's predictions were speedily accomplished, and asleep fell upon the earl, so deep and sound, that they who watched his bedside began to fear that in his weekend state he might pass away without awakening from his lethargy. Wayland Smith himself appeared anxious, and felt the temples of the earl slightly, from time to time, attending particularly to the state of his respiration, which was full and deep, but at the same time easy and uninterrupted. End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of Kenilworth. The sleeper-box recording is in the public domain. Kenilworth visor Walter Scott. Chapter 15 You lagerheaded and unpolished grooms, what, no attendance, no regard, no duty, where is the foolish knave I sent before? Taming of the shoe. There's no period at which men look worse in the eyes of each other, or feel more uncomfortable, than when the first dawn of daylight finds them watchers. Even a beauty of the first order, after the vigils of a ball are interrupted by the dawn, would do wisely to withdraw herself from the gaze of her fondest and most partial admirers. Such was the pale, inauspicious, and ungrateful light which began to beam upon those who kept watch all night in the hall at Ceya's Court, and which mingled its cold pale blue diffusion with the red, yellow, and smoky beams of expiring lamps and torches. The young gallant, whom we noticed in our last chapter, had left the room for a few minutes to learn the cause of a knocking at the outward gate, and on his return was so struck with the forlorn and ghastly aspects of his companions of the watch that he exclaimed, Pity of my heart, my masters, how like the owls you look, me thinks when the sun rises I shall see you flutter off with your eyes dazzled, to stick yourselves into the next ivy-ton or ruined steeple. Hold thy peace, thou driving fool, said Blount, hold thy peace. Is this a time for jeering when the manhood of England is per chance dying within a wall's breadth of thee? There thou liest, replied the gallant. Thou lie, exclaimed Blount, starting up, lie, and to me. Why, so thou didst, thou peevish fool, answered the youth, thou didst lie on that bench even now, didst thou not? But art thou not a hasty cockscomb to pick up a rye word so wrathfully? Nevertheless, loving and honouring my lord as truly as thou, or anyone, I do say that, should heaven take him from us, all England's manhood dies, not with him. I, replied Blount, a good portion will survive with thee, doubtless, and a good portion with thyself, Blount, and with stout Markham here, and Tracy, and all of us, but I am he who will best employ the talent heaven has given to us all. As how, I prithee, said Blount, tell us your mystery of multiplying. Why, sirs, answered the youth, ye are like goodly land, which bears no crop because it is not quickened by manure. But I have that rising spirit in me, which will make my poor faculties labour to keep pace with it. My ambition will keep my brain at work, I warn thee. I pray to God it does not drive thee mad, said Blount, for my part, if we lose our noble lord, I bid adieu to the court and to the camp both. I have five hundred foul acres in Norfolk, and thither will I, and change the court, pound-tooth, for the country hobnail. O base transmutation, exclaimed his antagonist, thou has already got the true rustic slouch, thy shoulder stoop as if thine hands were at the stilts of the plow, and thou has a kind of earthy smell about thee, instead of being perfumed with presence, as a gallant and courteous shun. On my soul, thou has stolen out to rule thyself on a hay-mow. The only excuse will be to swear by thy hilts that the farmer had a fair daughter. I pray thee, Walter, said another of the company, see thy rathory, which suits neither time nor place, and tell us who is at the gate just now. Doctor Masters, physician to her grace and ordinary, sent by her special orders to inquire after the Earl's health, answered Walter. Ha! What? exclaimed Tracy. That was no slight mark of favour. If the Earl can but come through, he will match with Lester yet. Is Masters with my lord at present? Nay, replied Walter, he is half way back to Greenwich by this time, and in high dungeon. Thou dost not refuse him in mittens, exclaimed Tracy. Thou were not surely so mad, ejaculated Blount. I refused him in mittens, as flatly Blount, as you would refuse a penny to a blind beggar, as obscenely Tracy, as thou didst ever deny access to a dun. Why, in the fiend's name, didst thou trust him to go to the gate, said Blount to Tracy? It suited his ears better than mine, answered Tracy. But he has done us all now thoroughly. If my lord may live or die, he will never have a look of favour from her majesty again. Nor the means of making fortunes for his followers, said the young gallant, smiling contemptuously. There lies the sore point that will brook no handling. My good sirs, I sounded my lamentations over my lord somewhat less loudly than some of you. But when the point comes of doing him service, I will yield to none of you. When this learned leech entered, thinkest thou not, there had been such a coil betwixt Timotrisleian's medicineer, that not the sleeper only, but the very dead, might have awakened. I know what alarm belongs to the discord of doctors. And who is to take the blame of opposing the queen's orders? said Tracy. For undeniably, doctor masters came with her grace's positive commands to cure the earl. I who have done the wrong will bear the blame, said Walter. Less than, off fly the dreams of court favour, thou hast nourished, said Blount, and despite all they boast it aren't an ambition, Devonshire will see thee, shine a true younger brother, fit to sit low at the board, carve, turn about with the chaplain. Look that the hounds be fed, and see the squire's girth strong when he goes hunting. Not so, said the young man, colouring, not while Ireland and the Netherlands have wars, and not while the sea hath pathless waves. The rich west hath lands undreamed of, and Britain contains bold hearts to venture on the quest of them. I do first base my masters. I go to walk in the corn, and look to the sentinels. The lad hath quicksilver in his veins, that is certain, said Blount, looking at Markham. He hath that both in brain and blood, said Markham, which may either make or mar him. But in closing the door against masters, he hath done a daring and loving piece of service, for Tressilion's fellow hath ever revered that to wake the Earl were death, and masters would wake the seven sleepers themselves if he thought they slept not by the regular ordinance of medicine. Morning was well advanced when Tressilion, fatigued and overwatched, came down to the hall with the joyful intelligence that the Earl hath awakened of himself, that he found his internal complaints much mitigated, and spoke with the cheerfulness, and looked round with a vivacity which of themselves showed a material and favourable change had taken place. Tressilion at the same time commanded the attendants of one or two of his followers to report what had passed during the night, and to relieve the watchers in the Earl's chamber. When the message of the Queen was communicated to the Earl of Sussex, he at first smiled at the repulse which the physician had received from his zealous young follower. But instantly, recollecting himself, he commanded Blount, his master of the horse, instantly to take boat, and go down the river to the palace of Greenwich, taking young Walter and Tracy with him, and make a suitable compliment, expressing his grateful thanks to his sovereign, and mentioning the cause why he had not been enabled to profit by the assistance of the wise and learned doctor-masters. A plague on it, said Blount, as he descended the stairs. Had he set me with a cartel to Lester, I think I should have done his errand indifferently well. But to go to our gracious sovereign, before whom all words must be lacquered over either with gilding or with sugar, is such a confectionary matter as clean baffles my poor old English brain. Come with me, Tracy. And come, you too, Master Walter, witty-paint, that art the cause of our having all this ado. Let us see if thy neat brain, that frames so many flashy fireworks, can help out a plain fellow at need with some of thy shrewd devices. Never fear, never fear, slain the youth, it is I will help you through. Let me but fetch my cloak. Why thou hast it on thy shoulders, said Blount, though that is maize. No, no, this is Tracy's old mantle, answered Walter. I go not with thee to court, unless as a gentleman should. Why, said Blount, thy braveries are like to dazzle the eyes of none but some poor groom or porter. I know that, said the youth, but I am resolved I will have my own cloak, I, and brush my doublet to boot. Your eyes stir forth with you. Well, well, said Blount, here is a coil about a doublet and a cloak. Get thyself ready, a God's name. They were soon launched on the princely bosom of the broad Thames, upon which the sun now shone forth and all its wonder. There are two things scarce matched in the universe, said Walter de Blount, the sun in heaven, and the Thames on the earth. The one will light us to Greenwich well enough, said Blount, and the other would take us there a little faster, if it were uptight, and this is all thou thinkest. All thou carest, all thou deenest, the use of the king of elements and the king of rivers, to guide three poor caiters as thyself and me, and Tracy, upon an idle journey of courtly ceremony. It is no errand of my seeking faith, replied Blount, and I could excuse both the sun and the Thames the trouble of carrying me, where I have no great mind to go, and where I expect but dogs wages for my trouble, and, by my honour, he added, looking out from the head of the boat. It seems to me as if our message were a sort of labor in vain, for, see, the queen's barge lies at the stairs as if her majesty were about to take water. It was even so. The royal barge, manned with the queen's watermen, virtually attired in the regal liveries, and having the banner of England displayed, did indeed lie at the great stairs which ascended from the river, and along with it two or three other boats, for transporting such part of her retinue, as were not in immediate attendance on the royal person. The omen of the guard, the tallest and most handsome men, whom England could produce, guarded with their halberds, the passage from the palace gate to the river side, and all seemed in readiness for the queens coming forth, although the day was yet so early. By my faith this bodes us no good, said Blount. It must be some perilous cause puts her grace in motion thus untimely. By my counsel we were best put back again, and tell the earl what we have seen. Tell the earl what we have seen, said Walter. Why, what have we seen but a boat, and men with scarlet jerkins, and halberds in their hands? Let us do his errand, and tell him what the queen says and reply. So sane he caused the boat to be pulled towards a landing place at some distance from the principal one, which it would not at that moment have been thought respectful to approach, and jumped on shore, followed, though with reluctance, by his cautious and timid companions. As they approached the gate of the palace, one of the sergeant porters told them they could not at present enter, as her majesty was in the act of coming forth. The gentleman used the name of the earl of Sussex, but it proved no charm to subdue the officer, who alleged, and reply, that it was as much as his post was worked to disobey, in the least tittle, the commands which she had received. Nay, I told you as much before, said Blount. Do I pray you, my dear Walter, let us take boat and return. Not till I see the queen come forth, return the youth compositely. Thou art mad, stark mad, by the mass, answered Blount. And now, said Walter, art turned coward of the sudden. I have seen the face half a score of shag-headed Irish curns to thy own share of them, and now thou wouldst blink and go back to shun the frown of a fair lady. At this moment the gates opened, and ushers began to issue forth an array, preceded in flanked by the band of gentleman-pensioners. After this, amid a crowd of lords and ladies, yet so disposed around her that she could see and be seen on all sides, came Elizabeth herself, then in the prime of womanhood, and in the full glow of what in a sovereign was called beauty, and who would in the lowest rank of life have been truly judged a noble figure, joined to a striking and commanding physiognomy. She lent on the arm of Lauren Hunston, whose relation to her by her mother's side often procured him such distinguished marks of Elizabeth's intimacy. The young cavalier we have so often mentioned had probably never yet approached so near the person of the sovereign, and he pressed forward as far as the line of orders permitted in order to avail himself of the present opportunity. His companion, on the contrary, cursing his imprudence, kept pulling him backwards till Walter shook him off impatiently, and letting his rich cloak drop carelessly from one shoulder, a natural action which served, however, to display to the best advantage his well-proportioned person. When bonneting at the same time, he fixed his eager gaze on the queen's approach, with a mixture of respectful curiosity and modest yet ardent admiration, which suited so well with his fine features, that the warders, struck with his rich attire and noble countenance, suffered him to approach the ground over which the queen was to pass, somewhat closer than was permitted to ordinary spectators. Thus the adventurous youth stood full on Elizabeth's eye, and eye never indifferent to the admiration which she deservedly excited among her subjects, or to the fair proportions of external form which chance to distinguish any of her courtiers. Accordingly she fixed her king glance on the youth as she approached the place where he stood, with a look in which surprise at his boldness seemed to be unmingled with resentment. While the trifling accident happened which attracted her attention, towards him yet more strongly, the night had been rainy, and just where the young gentleman stood, a small quantity of mud interrupted the queen's passage. As she hesitated to pass on, the gallant, throwing his cloak from his shoulders, laid it on the myry spot, so as to ensure her stepping over it dry shone. Elizabeth looked at the young man, who accompanied this act of devoted courtesy, with a profound reverence, and a blush that overspread his whole countenance. The queen was confused and blushed in her turn, notched her head, hastily passed on and embarked in her barge without saying a word. Come along, Sir Coxcombe, said Blount, your gay cloak will need the brush today, I want. Nay, if you had meant to make a footcloth of your mantle, better have kept Tracy's old drab dupeur, which despises all colors. This cloak, said the youth, taking it up and folding it, shall never be brushed while in my possession. And that will not be long if you learn on a little more economy, we shall have you in querpo soon, as the Spaniard says. Their discourse was here interrupted by one of the band of pensioners. I was sent, said he, after looking at them attentively, to a gentleman who hath no cloak or a muddy one. You, sir, I think, undressing the young Cavalier, are the man. You will please to follow me. He is in attendance on me, said Blount, on me, the noble Earl of Sussex's master of horse. I have nothing to say to that, answered the messenger. My orders are directly from her majesty, and concern this gentleman only. So, saying, he walked away, followed by Walter, leaving the others behind. Blount's eye is almost starting from his head with the excess of his astonishment. At length he gave vent to it in an exclamation. Who the good year would have thought this? And shaking his head with a mysterious air, he walked to his own boat, embarked and returned to Depford. The young Cavalier was in the meanwhile, guided to the water side by the pensioner, who showed him considerable respect, a circumstance which to persons in his situation may be considered as an augury of no small consequence. He ushered him into one of the weary's which lay ready to attend the Queen's barge, which was already proceeding up the river with the advantage of that flood tide, of which in the course of their descent, Blount had complained to his associates. The two rowers used their oars with such expedition, at the signal of the gentleman pensioner, that they very soon brought their little skip under the stern of the Queen's boat, where she sat beneath an awning, attended by two or three ladies, and the nobles of her household. She looked more than once at the wary in which the young adventurer was seated, spoke to those around her and seemed to laugh. At length one of the attendants, by the Queen's order, apparently, made a sign for the wary to come alongside, and the young man was desired to step from his own skiff into the Queen's barge, which he performed with graceful agility at the fore part of the boat, and was brought af to the Queen's presence, the wary at the same time dropping into the rear. The youth underwent the gaze of majesty, not the less gracefully, that his self-possession was mingled with embarrassment, the muddied cloak still hung upon his arm, and formed the natural topic with which the Queen introduced the conversation. You have this day spoiled a gay mantle on our behalf, young man. We thank you for your service, though the manner of offering it was unusual and something bold. In a sovereign's need, answered the youth, it is each liegeman's duty to be bold. God's pity, that was well said, my lord, said the Queen, turning to a grave person who sat by her, and answered with a grave inclination of the head, and something of a mumbled assent. While, young man, your gallantry shall not go unrewarded. Go to the wardrobe-keeper, and he shall have orders to supply the suit which you have cast away in our service. Thou shalt have the suit, and that of the newest cut, I promise thee, on the word of the Princess. May it please your grace, said Walter, hesitating. It is not for so humble a servant of your majesty to measure out your bounties, but if it became me to choose, now would itst have gold I warrant me, said the Queen, interrupting him. Fie, young man, I take shame to say, that in our capital, such and so various are the means of thriftless folly, that to give gold to youth is giving fuel to fire, and furnishing them with the means of self-destruction. If I live in reign, these means of un-Christian excess shall be abridged. Yet thou mayest be poorer, she added, or thy parents may be. It shall be gold, if thou wilt, but thou shalt answer to me for the usant. Walter waited patiently until the Queen had done, and then modestly assured her that gold was still less in his wish, than the rain meant her majesty had before offered. How, boy, said the Queen, neither gold nor garment, what is it thou wouldst have of me then? Only permission, madam, if it is not asking too high an honour, permission to wear the cloak which did you this trifling service. Permission to wear that own cloak, thou silly boy, said the Queen. It is no longer mine, said Walter, when your majesty's foot touched it, it became a fit mantle for a prince, but far too rich one for its former owner. The Queen again blushed and endeavored to cover by laughing a slight degree of not unpleasing surprise and confusion. Hurt you ever the like, my lords? The youth's head is turned with reading romances. I must know something of him that I may send him safe to his friends. What art thou? A gentleman of the household of the Earl of Sussex, so please your grace, sent hither with his master of horse upon message to your majesty. In a moment the gracious expression which Elizabeth's face had hither to maintain gave way to an expression of haughtiness and severity. My Lord of Sussex, she said, has taught us how to regard his messages by the value he places upon ours. We sent by this morning the physician an ordinary of our chamber, and that, at no usual time, understanding his lordship's illness to be more dangerous than we had before apprehended, there is at no court in Europe, a man more skilled in this holy and most useful science than Dr. Masters, and he came from us to our subject. Nevertheless he found the gain of Seiya's court defended by men with culverines, as if it had been on the borders of Scotland, not in the vicinity of our court. And when he demanded admittance in our name, it was stubbornly refused. For this slide of a kindness which had but too much of condescension in it, we will receive, at present at least, no excuse. And some such we supposed to have been the purport of my Lord of Sussex's message. This was uttered in a tone and with a gesture which made Lord Sussex's friends who were within hearing tremble. He to whom the speech was addressed, however, trembled not, but with great deference and humility, as soon as the Queen's Passion gave him an opportunity, he replied, So please, your most gracious Majesty, I was charged with no apology from the Earl of Sussex. With what were you then charged, sir, said the Queen, with the impetuosity which, amid nobler qualities, strongly marked her character. Was it with a justification, or God's death, with a defiance? Madam, said the young man, my Lord of Sussex knew the offense approach towards treason and could think of nothing save of securing the offender, and placing him in your Majesty's hands, and at your mercy. The noble Earl was fast asleep when your most gracious message reached him, a potion having been administered to that purpose by his physician, and his Lordship knew not of the ungracious repulse your Majesty's Royal and most comfortable message had received until after he awoke this morning. And which of his domestics, then, in the name of heaven, presumed to reject my message, without even admitting my own physician to the presence of him, whom I sent him to attend? Said the Queen, much surprised. The offender, Madam, is before you, replied Walter, bowing very low. The full and sole blame is mine, and my Lord has most justly sent me to abide the consequences of a fault of which he is as innocent as a sleepy man's dreams can be of a waking man's actions. What was it, Thou? Thou, thyself, that repelled my messenger and my physician from Seif's court, said the Queen. What could occasion such boldness in one who seems devoted, that is, whose exterior bearing shows devotion to his sovereign? Madam, said the youth, who notwithstanding and assumed appearance of severity, thought that he saw something in the Queen's face that resembled not implacability. We say in our country that the physician is, for the time, the liege sovereign of his patient. Now, my noble master was then under dominion of a liege, by whose advice he hath greatly profited, who had issued his commands that his patient should not that night be disturbed on the very peril of his life. That master hath trusted some false garland of an empiric, said the Queen. I know not, madam, but by the fact that he is now, this very morning, awakened, much refreshed and strengthened, from the only sleep he hath had for many hours. The nobles looked at each other, but more with the purpose to see what each thought of this news, than to exchange any remarks on what had happened. The Queen answered hastily and without affecting to disguise her satisfaction. By my word, I am glad he is better, but thou were to overbull to deny the access of my doctor-masters. Knowest thou not the holy writ, saith? In the multitude of counsel, there is safety. I, madam, said Walter, but I have heard learned men say that the safety spoken of is for the physicians, not for the patient. By my faith, child, thou hast pushed me home, said the Queen laughing, for my Hebrew learning does not come quite at a call. How say you, my Lord of Lincoln? Hath the lad given a just interpretation of the text? The word safety, most gracious, madam, said the Bishop of Lincoln, for so hath been translated, it may be somewhat hastily, the Hebrew word being, my Lord, said the Queen, interrupting him. We said we had forgotten our Hebrew. But for the young man, what is thy name and birth? Raleigh is my name, most gracious Queen, the youngest son of a large but honorable family of Devonshire. Raleigh, said Elizabeth, after a moment's recollection, have we not heard of your service in Ireland? I have been so fortunate as to do some service there, madam, replied Raleigh, scarce, however, of consequence sufficient to reach your Grace's ears. They hear farther than you think of, said the Queen graciously, and have heard of a youth who defended a Ford in Shannon against a whole band of wild Irish ruggles, until the stream ran purple with their blood and his own. Some blood I may have lost, said the youth looking down, but it was where my best is due, and that is in your Majesty's service. The Queen paused and then said hastily, you're very young to have fought so well, and to speak so well, but you must not escape your penance for turning back masters. The poor man hath caught cold on the river, for our order reached him when he was just returned from certain visits in London. And he held it matter of loyalty and conscience instantly to set forth again. So hark ye, Master Raleigh. See thou fail not to wear thy money cloak in token of penitence, till our pleasure be further known. And here, she added, giving him a jewel of gold, in the form of a chestman. I give thee this to wear at the collar. Raleigh, to whom nature had taught, intuitively as it were, those courtly arts which many scarce acquire from long experience, knelt and as he took from her hand the jewel, kissed the fingers which gave it. He knew perhaps better than almost any of the courtiers who surrounded her how to mingle the devotion claimed by the Queen, with the gallantry, due to her personal beauty. And in this his first attempt to unite them. He succeeded so well, as at once to gratify Elizabeth's personal vanity and her love of power. Readers note. Note 5, Chapter 15, Court Favour of Sir Walter Raleigh. The gallant incident of the cloak is the traditional account of the celebrated statements rise at court. None of Elizabeth's courtiers knew better than he how to make his court to her personal vanity, or could more justly estimate the quantity of flattery which she could condescend to swallow. Being confined in the tower for some offense and understanding the Queen was about to pass to Greenwich in her marge, he insisted on approaching the window that he might see at whatever distance, the Queen of his affections, the most beautiful object which the earth bore on its surface. The lieutenant of the tower, his own particular friend, threw himself between his prisoner and the window. While Sir Walter, apparently influenced by a fit of unrestrainable passion, swore he would not be debarred from seeing his light, his life, his goddess. A scuffle ensued, got up for effect's sake, in which the lieutenant and his captive grappled and struggled with fury. Tore each other's hair, and at length drew daggers, and were only separated by force. The Queen being informed of this scene, exhibited by her frantic adorer, it wrought, as was to be expected, much in favour of the captive paladin. There is little doubt that his quarrel with the lieutenant was entirely contrived for the purpose which it produced. End reader's note. His master, the Earl of Sussex, had the full advantage of the satisfaction which Raleigh had afforded Elizabeth on their first interview. My lords and ladies, said the Queen, looking around to the retinue by whom she was attended, me thinks, since we are upon the river, it were well to renounce our present purpose of going to the city, and surprise this poor Earl of Sussex with a visit. He is ill and suffering doubtless under the fear of artist's pleasure, from which he had been honestly cleared by the Frank of Al of this malapurbed boy. What, thank you, were not an act of charity to give him such consolation as the thanks of a Queen, much bound to him for his loyal service, may perchance best minister. It may be readily supposed that men to whom this speech was addressed, ventured to oppose its purport. Your grace, said the Bishop of Lincoln, is the breath of our nostrils. The men of war, a ver that the face of the Sovereign was a whetstone to the soldier's sword, while the men of state were not less of opinion that the light of the Queen's countenance was a lamp to the paths of her councillors, and the ladies agreed, with one voice, that no noble in England so well deserved the regard of England's royal mistress, as the Earl of Sussex, the Earl of Lester's right, being reserved entire, so some of the more politic warden, their assent, an exception to which Elizabeth paid no apparent attention. The barge had, therefore, orders to deposit its royal freight at Deppford, at the nearest or most convenient point of communication, with Sayes Court, in order that the Queen might satisfy her royal and maternal solicitude by making personal inquiries after the health of the Earl of Sussex. Raleigh, whose acute spirit foresaw and anticipated important consequences from the most trifling events, hastened to ask the Queen's permission to go in the skiff, and announce the royal visit to his master, ingeniously suggesting that the joyful surprise might prove prejudicial to his health, since the richest and most generous cordials may sometimes be fatal to those who have been long in a languishing state. But whether the Queen deemed it too presumptuous and so young and courteous to interpose his opinion, unasked, or whether she was moved by a recurrence of the feeling of jealousy, which had been instilled into her by reports that the Earl kept our men about his person, she desired Raleigh, sharply, to reserve his counsel till it was required of him, and repeated her former orders to be landed at Depeford, adding, We will ourselves see what sort of household my Lord of Sussex keeps about him. Now the Lord hath pity on us, said the young courtier to himself. Good hearts, there will hath many a one round him, but good heads are scarce with us, and he himself is too ill to give direction, and Blount will be at his morning-mill of Yarmouth herrings and ale, and Tracy will have his beastly black puddings and runnish. Those thorough paced washmen, Thomas Apryce and Evan Evans, will be at work on their leek porridge and toasted cheese, and she detests, they say, all coarse meats, evil smells and strong wines. Could they but think of burning some rosemary in the great hall? But vogue la galère, all must now be trusted to chance. Luck hath done indifferent well for me this morning, for I trust I have spoiled a cloak, and made a court fortune. May she do as much for my gallant patron. The royal barn soon stopped at Depeford, and amid the loud shouts of the populace, which her presence never failed to excite, the queen, with a canopy borne over her head, and walked, accompanied by her retinue, towards Seas Court, where the distant acclamations of the people gave the first notice of her arrival. Sussex, who was in the act of advising with Triselyan how he should make up the supposed breach in the queen's favour, was infinitely surprised at learning her immediate approach. Not that the queen's custom of visiting her more distinguished nobility, whether in health or sickness, could be unknown to him, but the suddenness of the communication left no time for those preparations with which he well knew Elizabeth loved to be greeted, and the rudeness and confusion of his military household, much increased by his late illness, rendered him all together unprepared for her reception. Cursing internally the chance which thus brought her gracious visitation on him unaware, he hastened down with Triselyan, to whose eventful and interesting story he had just given an attentive ear. My worthy friend, he said, such support as I can give your accusation of Arnie, you have a right to expect, a like from justice and gratitude. Chance will presently show whether I can do ought with our sovereign, or whether in very deed, my method in your affair may not rather prejudice than serve you. Thus spoke Sussex, while hastily cast in around him a loose robe of sables, and adjusting his person in the best manner he could, to meet the eye of his sovereign. But no hurried attention bestowed on his apparel could remove the ghastly effects of long illness on accountants which natured market features rather strong than pleasing. Besides, he was low of stature, and though broad shouldered, athletic, and fit for martial achievements, his presence in a peaceful hall was not such as ladies love to look upon. A personal disadvantage, which was supposed to give Sussex, though esteemed and honoured by a sovereign, considerable disadvantage when compared with Lester, who was alike remarkable for elegance of manners and for beauty of person. The Earl's utmost dispatch only enabled him to meet the Queen as she entered the great hall, and he at once perceived there was a cloud on her brow. Her jealous eye had noticed the martial array of armed gentlemen and retainers with which the mansion house was filled, and her first words expressed her disapprobation. Is this a royal garrison, my lord Sussex, that had hold so many pikes and calibres? Or have we by accident overshot, say, his court, and landed at our tower of London? Lord Sussex hastened to offer some apology. It needs not, she said. My lord, we intend speedily to take up a certain quarrel between your lordship and another great lord of our household, and at the same time to reprehend this uncivilised and dangerous practice of surrounding yourselves with armed and even with ruffianly followers, as if in the neighbourhood of our capital, named the very verge of our royal residence, you were preparing to wage civil war with each other. We are glad to see you so well recovered, my lord, though without the assistance of the learned physician whom we sent to you. Urge no excuse, we know how that matter fell out, and we have corrected for it the wild slip, young Raleigh. By the way, my lord, we will speedily relieve your household of him and take him into our own. Something there is about him which merits to be better nurtured than he is like to be amongst your very military followers. To this proposal, Sussex, though scarce understanding how the queen came to make it, could only bow and express his acquiescence. He then entreated her to remain till refreshment could be offered, but in this he could not prevail, and after a few compliments of a much colder and more commonplace character than might have been expected, from a step so decidedly favorable as a personal visit. The queen took her leave of Seiya's court, having brought confusion thither along with her, and leaving doubt and apprehension behind. Face to face, and frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear the accuser and accused freely speak. High stomached are they both, and full of ire, enraged death as the sea, hasty as fire. Richard II I'm ordered to attend court tomorrow, said Lester, speaking to Barney, to meet as they surmise, my lord of Sussex. The queen intends to take up matters betwixt us. This comes of her visit to Seiya's court, of which you must need speak so lightly. I maintain it was nothing, said Barney. Nay, I know from a sure intelligensor, who was within earshot of much that was said, that Sussex has lost rather than gained by that visit. The queen said when she stepped into the boat, that Seiya's court looked like a guard house and smelt like a hospital. Like a cooked shop in Ram's alley, rather, said the countess of Rutland, who is ever your lordship's good friend. And then my lord of Lincoln must needs put in his holy oar, and say that my lord of Sussex must be excused for his rude and old world housekeeping, since he had is yet no wife. And what said the queen, asked Lester hastily, she took him off roundly, said Barney, and asked what my lord Sussex had to do with a wife, or my lord bishop to speak on such a subject. If marriage is permitted, she said, I know where read that it is enjoined. She likes not marriages, or speech of marriage, among churchmen, said Lester. Nor among courtiers neither, said Barney, but observing that Lester changed countenance, he instantly added, that all the ladies who were present had joined in ridiculing Lord Sussex's housekeeping, and in contrasting it with the reception her grace would have assuredly received at my lord of Lester's. You have gathered much tidings, said Lester, but you have forgotten or admitted the most important of all. She hath added another to those dangling satellites, whom it is her pleasure to keep revolving around her. Your lordship meaneth that Raleigh, the Devonshire used, said Barney, the knight of the cloak, as they call him at court. He may be knight of the garter one day, fraud I know, said Lester, for he advances rapidly. She hath capped verses with him and such foolery's. I would gladly abandon of my own free will, the part I have in her fickle favour, but I will not be elbowed out of it by the clown, Sussex, or this new upstart. I hear Tressylian is with Sussex also and high in his favour. I would spare him four considerations, but he will thrust himself on his fate. Sussex, too, is almost as well as ever in his health. My lord, replied Barney, there will be rubs in the smoothest road, especially when it leads uphill. Sussex's illness was to us a godsend, from which I hoped much. He is recovered indeed, but he is not now more formidable than ere he fell ill, when he received more than one foil in wrestling with your lordship. Let not your heart fail you, my lord, and all shall be well. My heart never failed me, sir, replied Lester. No, my lord, said Barney, but it has betrayed you right often. He that would climb and tree my lord must grasp by the branches, not by the blossom. Well, well, well, said Lester, impatiently. I understand thy meaning. My heart shall neither fail me, nor seduce me. Have my retinue in order. See that their array be so splendid as to put down none of them the rude companions of Radcliffe, but the retainers of every other nobleman and cornier. Let them be well-armed with all, but without any outward display of their weapons, wearing them as if more her fashion's sake than for use. Do thou, thyself, keep close to me. I may have business for you. The preparations of Sussex and his party were not less anxious than those of Lester. Thy supplication, impeaching Barney of seduction, said the Earl to Tressylian, is by this time in the Queen's hand. I have sent it through a sure channel. Methinks your suit should succeed, being as it is, founded in justice and honour, and Elizabeth being the very muster of both. But I won't not how, the gypsy, so Sussex was want to call his rival on account of his dark complexion. Have much to say with her in these holy day times of peace. We're war at the gates, I should be one of her white boys. But soldiers, like their bucklers and little bella blades, get out of fashion in peacetime, and sat in sleeves, and walking rapiers, bear the bell. While we must be gay, since such is the fashion. Blount, has thou seen our household put into their new braveries? But thou knowest as little of these toys as I do. Thou wouldst be ready now at disposing a stand of pikes. My good lord, answered Blount, Raleigh hath been here, and taken that charge upon him. Your train will glitter like a May morning. Mary, the cost is another question. One might keep in hospitals old soldiers at the charge of ten modern mackies. He must not count cost today, Nicholas, said the Earl who replied. I am beholden to Raleigh for his care. I trust, though, he has remembered that I am an old soldier, and would have no more of these faulties than needs must. Nay, I understand not about it, said Blount. But here are your honourable lordships, brave kinsmen and friends, coming in by scores to wait upon you to court. Wear me things we shall bear as brave affront as Lester. Let him ruffle it as he will. Give them the strictest charges, said Sussex, that they suffer no provocation short of actual violence, to provoke them into quarrel. They have hot bloods, and I would not give Lester the advantage over me by any imprudence of theirs. The Earl of Sussex ran so hastily through these directions that it was with difficulty, drizzling at length, found opportunity to express his surprise, that he should have proceeded so far in the affair of Sir Hugh Robesart, as to lay his petition at once before the Queen. It was the opinion of the young lady's friends, he said, that Lester's sense of justice should be first appealed to, as the offence had been committed by his officer, and so he had expressly told to Sussex. This could have been done without applying to me, said Sussex, somewhat haughtily. I, at least, ought not to have been a counsellor when the object was a humiliating reference to Lester. And I am surprised that you, Treslion, a man of honour, and my friend, would assume such a mean course. If you said so, I certainly understood you, not in a manner which sounded so unlike yourself. My Lord, said Treslion, the course I would prefer, for my own sake, is that you have adopted, but the friends of this most unhappy lady, oh, the friends, the friends, said Sussex, interrupting him. They must let us manage this cause in the way which seems best. This is the time and the hour to accumulate every charge against Lester and his household, and yours, the Queen, will hold a heavy one. But at all events you have the complaint before her. Treslion could not help suspecting that in his eagerness to strengthen himself against his rival, Sussex had purposely adopted the course most likely to throw odium on Lester, without considering, minutely, whether it were the mode of perceiving most likely to be attended with success. But the step was irrevocable, and Sussex escaped from further discussing it by dismissing his company with the command, let all be in order at eleven o'clock, I must be at court and in the presence by high noon, precisely. While the rival statesmen were thus anxiously preparing for their approaching meeting in the Queen's presence, even Elizabeth herself was not without apprehension of what might chance, from the collision of two such fiery spirits, each backed by a strong enumerous body of followers, and dividing betwixt them, either openly or in secret, the hopes and wishes of most of her court. The band of gentlemen pensioners were all under arms, and a reinforcement of the omen of the guard, was brought down the Thames from London. A royal proclamation was sent forth, strictly prohibiting nobles of whatever degree to approach the palace with retainers or followers armed with shot or with long weapons, and it was even whispered that the High Sheriff of Kent had secret instructions to have a part of the array of the county ready on the shortest notice. The eventful hour thus anxiously prepared for on all sides, at length approached, and each followed by his long and glittering train of friends and followers, the rival earls entered the palace yard of Greenwich at noon precisely. As if by previous arrangement, or perhaps by intimation, that such was the Queen's pleasure. Sussex and his retinue came to the palace from Depford, by water, while Lester arrived by land, and thus they entered the courtyard from opposite sides. This trifling circumstance gave Lester an ascendancy in the opinion of the Volker, the appearance of his cavalcade of mounted followers showing more numerous and more imposing than those of Sussex's party, who were necessarily upon foot. No show or sign of greeting passed between the earls, though each looked full at the other, both expecting perhaps an exchange of courtesies, which neither was willing to commence. Almost in the minute of their arrival, the castle bell tolled, the gates of the palace were opened, and the earls entered, each numerously attended by such gentlemen as their train, whose rank gave them that privilege. The yeoman and inferior attendants remained in the courtyard, where the opposite parties eyed each other with looks of eager hatred and scorn, as if waiting within patience for some cause of tumult, or some apology for mutual aggression. But they were restrained by the strict commands of their leaders, and, over on, perhaps, by the presence of an armed guard of unusual strength. In the meanwhile, the more distinguished persons of each train followed their patrons into the lofty halls and ante chambers of the royal palace, flowing on in the same current, like two streams which are compelled into the same channel, yet shun to mix their waters. The parties arranged themselves, as it were instinctively, on the different sides of the lofty apartments, and seemed eager to escape from the transient union which the narrowness of the crowded entrance had, for an instant, compelled them to submit to. The folding doors at the upper end of the long gallery were immediately afterwards opened, and it was announced in a whisper that the queen was in her presence chamber, to which these gave access. Both earls moved slowly and stately towards the entrance. Cessics, followed by Tressilion, Blount, and Wally, and Lester by Varney. The pride of Lester was obliged to give way to court forms, and with the grave and formal inclination of the head, he paused until his rival, a peer of older creation than his own, passed before him. Cessics returned the reverence with the same formal stability and entered the presence room. Tressilion and Blount offered to follow him, but were not permitted. The usher of the black rod, alleging an excuse that he had precise orders to look to all admissions that day. Turali, who stood back on the repulse of his companions, he said, You, sir, may enter. And he entered accordingly. Follow me close, Varney, said the Earl of Lester, who had stood aloof for a moment to mark the reception of Cessics, and advancing to the entrance, he was about to pass on when Varney, who was close behind him, dressed out in the utmost bravery of the day, was stopped by the usher, as Tressilion and Blount had been before him. How is this, Master Boyer? said the Earl of Lester. Know you who I am, and that this is my friend and follower. Your lordship will pardon me, replied Boyer. Stout me. My orders are precise, and limit me to a strict discharge of my duty. Thou art a partial knave, said Lester. The blood mounting to his face. To do me this dishonor, when you but now admitted a follower of my lord of Cessics. My lord, said Boyer. Master Ralli is newly admitted, a sworn servant of her grace, and to him my orders did not apply. Thou art a knave, an ungrateful knave, said Lester. But he that hath done can undo. Thou shall not prank thee in thy authority long. The threat he uttered aloud, with less than his usual policy and discretion, and having done so, he entered the presence chamber and made his reverence to the Queen, who, attired with even more than her usual splendor, and surrounded by those nobles and statesmen, whose courage and wisdom have rendered her reign immortal, stood ready to receive the homage of her subjects. She graciously returned, the obeisance of the favored Rall, and looked alternately at him and at Cessics, as if about to speak, when Boyer, a man whose spirit could not brook the insult he had so openly received from Lester, in the discharge of his office, advanced with his black rod in his hand, and knelt down before her. Why, how now, Boyer, said Elizabeth, thy courtesy seems strangely timed. My liege sovereign, he said, while every courtier around trembled at his audacity, I come but to ask whether, in the discharge of my office, I am to obey your highness's commands, or those of the Earl of Lester, who has publicly menaced me with his displeasure, and treated me with disparaging terms, because I denied entry to one of his followers, in obedience to your grace's precise orders. The spirit of Henry VIII was instantly aroused in the bosom of his daughter, and she turned on Lester with a severity which appalled him, as well as all his followers. God's death, my lord, such was her emphatic phrase, what means this? We have thought well of you and brought you near to our person, but it was not that you might hide the sun from our other faithful subjects. Who gave you license to contradict our orders, or control our officers? I will have in this court, I and in this realm, but one mistress, and no master. Look to it that master Boyer sustains no harm for his duty to me, faithfully discharged, for, as I am Christian woman, and crowned queen, I will hold you dearly answerable. Go Boyer, you have done the part of an honest man and a true subject. We will broke no mayor of the palace here. Boyer kissed the hand which she extended towards him, and withdrew to his post, astonished at the success of his own audacity. A smile of triumph pervaded the faction of Sussex, that of Lester seemed proportionally dismayed, and the favored himself, assuming an aspect of the deepest humility, did not even attempt a word in his own escalation. He acted wisely, for it was the policy of Elizabeth to humble not to disgrace him, and it was prudent to suffer her without opposition or reply, to glory and the exertion of her authority. The dignity of the queen was gratified, and the woman began soon to feel for the mortification which she had imposed on her favorite. Her keen eye also observed the secret looks of congratulation exchanged amongst those who favored Sussex, and it was no part of her policy to give either party a decisive triumph. What I say to my lord of Lester, she said, after a moment's pause, I say also to you, my lord of Sussex, you also must needs ruffle in the court of England at the head of a faction of your own. My followers, gracious princess, said Sussex, have indeed ruffled in your cause in Ireland, in Scotland, and against yonder rebellious earls in the north. I am ignorant that. Do you bandit looks and works with me, my lord? said the queen, interrupting him. Me thinks you might learn of my lord of Lester the modesty to be silent, at least under our censure. I say, my lord, that my grandfather and my father, in their wisdom, debar the nobles of this civilized land from travelling with such disorderly retinues, and think you, that because I wear a quaff, their scepter has, in my hand, been changed into a distaff. I tell you, no king in Christendom will thus broke his court to be comfort, his people oppressed, and his kingdom's peace disturbed by the arrogance of overgrown power. Then she who now speaks with you. My lord of Lester, and you, my lord of Sussex, I command you both to be friends with each other, or by the crown I wear, you shall find an enemy who will be too strong for both of you. Madam, said the rule of Lester, you who are yourself the fountain of honour, know best what is due to mine. I place it at your disposal, and only say the terms on which I have stood with my lord of Sussex have not been of my seeking, nor had he cause to think me as enemy, until he had done me gross wrong. For me, madam, said the rule of Sussex, I cannot appeal from your sovereign pleasure, but I were well content, my lord of Lester, should say in what I have, as he terms it, longed him, since my tongue never spoke the word that I would not willingly justify either on foot or horseback. And for me, said Lester, always under my gracious sovereign's pleasure, my hand shall be as ready to make good my words as that of any man who ever wrote himself Radcliffe. My lords, said the queen, these are no terms for this presence, and if you cannot keep your temper, we will find means to keep both, that and you, close enough. Let me see you join hands, my lords, and forget your idle animosities. The two rivals looked at each other, with reluctant eyes, each unwilling to make the first advance to execute the queen's will. Sussex, said Elizabeth, I entreat, Lester, I command you. Yet so were her words accented, that the entreaty sounded like command, and the command like entreaty. They remained still and stubborn, until she raised her voice to a height which argued at once impatience and absolute command. Sir Henry Lee, she said, to an officer in attendance, have a guard in present readiness, and a man abarge instantly. My lords of Sussex and Lester, I bid you once more to join hands, and, God's death, he that refuses shall taste of our tower fair, ere he sees our face again. I will lower your proud hearts, ere we part, and that I promise, on the word of the queen. The prison, said Lester, might be born, but to lose your grace's presence were to lose light and life at once. Here, Sussex, is my hand. And here, said Sussex, is mine in truth and honesty, but, nay, under favour, you shall add no more, said the queen. Why, this is as it should be, she added, looking on them more favourably. And when you, the shepherds of the people, unite to protect them, it shall be well with the flock we rolled over. For, my lords, I tell you plainly, your follies and your brawls lead to strange disorders among your servants. My lord of Lester, you have a gentleman in your household called Varney. Yes, gracious madam, replied Lester. I presented him to kiss your royal hand, when you were last at none such. His outside was all enough, said the queen, but scare so fair, I should have thought, as to have caused a maiden of honourable birth and hopes to barter her fame for his good looks, and become his paramour. Yet so it is. The fellow of yours hath seduced the daughter of a good old deboncher knight, Sir Hugh Robesart, of Lidcote Hall, and she hath fled with him from her father's house like a castaway. My lord of Lester, are you ill? Let you look so deadly pale. No, gracious madam, said Lester, and it required every effort he could make to bring forth these few words. You are surely ill, my lord, said Elizabeth, going towards him with hasty speech and hurried step, which indicated the deepest concern. Call masters, call our surgeon and ordinary. Where be these loitering fools? We lose the pride of our court through their negligence. Or is it possible, Lester, she continued, looking on him with a very gentle aspect, can fear of my displeasure of rot so deeply on thee? Doubt not, for a moment, noble Dudley, that we could blame thee for the folly of thy retainer, thee whose thoughts we know to be far otherwise employing. He that would climb the eagle's nest, my lord, cares not who are catching linets at the foot of the precipice. Mark you that, said Sussex, aside to Wally, the devil aids him surely, for all that would sink another ten fathom deep seems but to make him float the more easily. Had the father of mine acted thus. Peace, my good lord, said Wally, for God's sake peace. Wait the change of the tide. It is even now on the turn. The acute observation of Wally, perhaps, do not deceive him, for Lester's confusion was so great, and indeed, for the moment, so irresistibly overwhelming, that Elizabeth, after looking at him with a wondering eye, and receiving no intelligible answer, to the unusual expressions of grace and affection which had escaped from her, shot her quick glance around the circle of courtiers and, reading perhaps in their faces, something that accorded with her own, awakened suspicions, she said suddenly, or is there more in this than we see, or than you, my lord, wish that we should see? Where is this Barney? Who saw him? And it please your grace, said Boyer. It is the same against who my disinstinct closed the door of the present's room. And it please me, repeated Elizabeth sharply, not at that moment, in the humor of being pleased with anything. It does not please me that you should pass softly into my presence, or that you should exclude from it one who came to justify himself from an accusation. May it please you, answered the perplexed usher. If I knew in such case how to bear myself, I would take heed. You should have reported the fellow's desire to us, Master Usher, and taken our directions. You think yourself a great man, because but now we should a nobleman on your account. Yet after all, we hold you but as the led weight that keeps the door fast. Call this Barney hither instantly. There is one Tressylian also mentioned in this petition. Let them both come before us. She was obeyed and Tressylian and Barney appeared accordingly. Barney's first glance was at Luster, his second at the Queen. In the looks of the latter there appeared an approaching storm, and in the downcast countenance of his patron he could read no directions in what way he was to trim his vessel for the encounter. He then saw Tressylian and at once perceived the peril of the situation in which he was placed. But Barney was as bold-faced and ready-witted as he was cunning and unscrupulous. A skilful pilot in extremity and fully cautious of the advantages which he would obtain, could he extricate Luster from his present peril, and of the ruin that yawned for himself should he fail in doing so. Is it true, Sera, said the Queen, with one of those searching looks which few had the audacity to resist, that you have seduced too infamy, a young lady of birth and breeding, the daughter of Sir Hugh Robesard of Lidcote Hall. Barney kneeled down and replied with a look of the most profound contrition. There had been some love passages betwixt him and Mistress Amy Robesard. Luster's flesh quivered with indignation as he heard his dependent make this avow, and for one moment he manned himself to step forward, and bidding farewell to the court and the royal favor, confess the whole mystery of the secret marriage. But he looked at Sussex, and the idea of the triumphant smile which would clothe his cheek, upon hearing the avow sealed his lips. Not now at least he thought, or in this presence will I afford him so rich a triumph. And pressing his lips close together, he stood firm and collected, attentive to each word which Barney uttered, and determined to hide to the last, the secret on which his court favor seemed to depend. Mima, the Queen, proceeded in her examination of Barney. Love passages, said she, echoing his last words. What passages thou knave, and why not ask the winch's hand from her father if thou hadst any honesty in thy love for her? And it please your grace, said Barney, still on his knees. I dare not do so, for her father had promised her hand to a gentleman of birth and honor. I will do him justice, though I know he bears me oval. One Master Edmund Treselyan, whom I now see in the presence. So, replied the Queen, and what was your right to make the simple fool break her worthy father's contract through your love passages, as your conceit and assurance terms them? Madam, replied Barney, it is in vain to plead the cause of human frailty before a judge to whom it is unknown, or that of love to one who never yields to the passion. He paused an instant and then added, in a very low and timid tone, which she inflicts upon all others. Elizabeth tried to frown, but smiled in her own, despite, as she answered. Thou art a marvelously impudent knave, art thou married to the girl? Lester's feelings became so complicated and so painfully intense that it seemed to him as if his life was to depend on the answer made by Barney, who, after a moment's real hesitation, answered, Yes. Thou false villain, said Lester, bursting forth into rage, yet unable to add another word to the sentence which he had begun with such emphatic passion. In a, my Lord, said the Queen, we will, by your leave, stand between this fellow and your anger. We have not yet done with him. New your master, my Lord of Lester, of this fair work of yours. Speak truth, I command me, and I will be thy warrant from danger on every quarter. Gracious madam, said Barney, to speak heaven's truth, my Lord was the cause of the whole matter. Thou, villain, would it's thou betray me? said Lester. Speak on, said the Queen, hastily. Her cheek-colouring and her eyes sparkling as she addressed Barney. Speak on. Here no commands are heard but mine. They are omnipotent, gracious madam, replied Barney, and to you there can be no secrets. Yet I would not, he added, looking around him. Speak of my master's concerns to other ears. Fall back, my Lords, said the Queen to those who surrounded her. And do you speak on? What hath the Earl to do with this guilty intrigue of mine? See, fellow. That thou beliest him not. Far be it from me to deduce my noble patron, replied Barney. Yet I am compelled to own that some deep, overwhelming, yet secret feeling, hath of late, dwell to my Lord's mind, hath abstracted him from the cares of the household, which he was want to govern with such religious strictness. And hath left us opportunities to do follies, of which the shame, as in this case, partly falls upon our patron. Without this I had not had means or leisure to commit the folly, which has drawn on me his displeasure. The heaviest to endure by me, which I could by any means incorpore, saving always the yet more dreaded resentment of your grace. And in this sense, and no other, hath he been accessory to thy fault, said Elizabeth. Surely, madam, and no other, replied Barney. But since somewhat hath chance to him, he can scarce be called his own man. Look at him, madam, how pale and trembling he stands, how unlike his usual majesty of manner. Yet what has he to fear from all I can say to your highness? Ah, madam, since he received that fatal packet. What packet? And from whence? Said the queen eagerly. From whence, madam, I cannot guess, but I am so near to his person that I know he has ever since worn, suspended around his neck, and next to his heart, that lock of hair, which sustains a small golden jewel, shaped like a heart. He speaks to it when alone. He parts not from it when he sleeps. No heathen ever worst an idol with such devotion. Thou art a prying knave to watch thy master so closely, said Elizabeth, blushing, but not with anger. And a tattling knave to tell over again his foolery's. What color might the braid of hair be that thou praytest of? Barney replied. A poet, madam, might call it a thread from the golden web, lot by Minerva, but to my thinking it was paler than even the purest gold, more like the last parting sunbeam of this office day of spring. Why, you are a poet yourself, master Barney, said the queen, smiling. But I'm not genius quick enough to follow your rare metaphors. Look round these ladies, is there? She hesitated and endeavored to assume an air of great indifference. Is there here in this presence any lady the color of whose hair reminds thee of that braid? Me things, without prying into my lord of lester's amorous secrets. I would faint know what kind of locks are like, the thread of Minerva's web, or the what was it? The last rays of the Mayday sun. Barney looked round the presence chamber, his eye traveling from one lady to another, until at length it rested upon the queen herself, but with an aspect of the deepest veneration. I see no tresses, he said, in this presence worthy of such similes, unless where I dare not look on them. How, sir Nave, said the queen, dare you intimate? Name, Adam, replied Barney, shading his eyes with his hand. It was the beams of the Mayday sun that dazzled my weak eyes. Go to, go to, said the queen. Now art of foolish fellow. And turning quickly from him she walked up to lester. Intense curiosity mingled with all the various hopes, fears, and passions which influenced court faction, had occupied the presence chamber during the queen's conference with Barney, as if with the strength of an eastern talisman. Men suspended every even the slightest external notion, and would have ceased to breathe, had nature permitted such an intermission of her functions. The atmosphere was contagious, and lester, who saw all around wishing or fearing his advancement or his fall, forgot all that love had previously dictated, and saw nothing for the instant, but the favor or disgrace, which depended on the nod of Elizabeth and the fidelity of Barney. He summoned himself hastily and prepared to play his part in the scene, which was like to ensue, when, as he judged from the glances which the queen threw towards him, Barney's communications, be they what they might, were operating in his favor. Elizabeth did not long leave him in doubt, for the more than favor with which she accosted him, decided his triumph in the eyes of his rival, and of the assembled court of England. Thou hast a prading servant of the same Barney, my lord, she said. It is lucky you trust him with nothing that can hurt you in our opinion, for, believe me, he would keep no counsel. From your highness, said lester, dropping gracefully on one knee, it were treason he should. I would that my heart itself lay before you, bareer than the tongue of any servant could strip it. What, my lord, said Elizabeth, looking kindly upon him, is there no one little corner over which she would wish to spread a veil? I see her confused of the question, and your queen knows she should not look too deeply into her servant's motives for their faithful duty, lest she see what mine, or at least ought to, displease her. Relieved by these last words, lester broke out into a torrent of expressions of deep and passionate attachment, which perhaps, at that moment, were not altogether fictitious. The mingled emotions which had at first overcome him had now given way to the energetic vigour with which he had determined to support his place in the queen's favour. And never did he seem to Elizabeth more eloquent, more handsome, more interesting, than while, kneeling at her feet, he conjured her to strip him of all his power, but to leave him the name of her servant. Take from the poor Dudley, he exclaimed, all that your bounty has made him, and bid him be the poor gentleman he was when your grace first shown on him. Leave him no more than his cloak and his sword, but let him still boast he has, what in word or deed he never forfeited, the regard of his adored queen and mistress. No, Dudley, said Elizabeth, raising him with one hand, while she extended the other that he might kiss it. Elizabeth hath not forgotten that, most you were a poor gentleman, dispload of your hereditary rank, she was as poor a princess, and that in her cause you then ventured all that oppression had left you, your life and honour. Rise, my lord, and let my hand go. Rise and be what you have ever been, the grace of our court, and the support of our throne. Your mistress may be forced to chide your misdemeanours, but never without owning your merits. And so help me God, she added, turning to the audience, who, with various failings, witnessed this interesting scene. So help me God, gentlemen, as I think, never sovereign had a truer servant than I have in this noble earl. A murmur of a scent arose from an illustrious faction, which the friends of Sussex dared not oppose. They remained with their eyes fixed on the ground, dismayed as well as mortified by the public and absolute triumph of their opponents. Lester's first use of the familiarity to which the Queen had so publicly restored him, was to ask her commands concerning Marnie's offence. Although, he said, the fellow deserves nothing from me but displeasure. Yet, might I presume to intercede, in truth, we had forgotten his matter, said the Queen, and it was all done of us who owe justice to our meanest, as well as to our highest subject. We are pleased, my Lord, that you were the first to recall the matter to our memory. Where's Tressylian, the accuser? Let him come before us. Tressylian appeared and made a low and besieging reference. His person, as we have elsewhere observed, had an air of grace and even of nobleness. Which did not escape Queen Elizabeth's critical observation. She looked at him with attention, as he stood before her, unabashed, but with an air of the deepest ejection. I cannot but grieve for this gentleman, she said to Lester. I have inquired concerning him, and his presence confirms what I heard, that he is a scholar and a soldier, while accomplished both in arts and arms. We women, my Lord, are fanciful in our choice. I had said, now, to judge by the eye, there was no comparison to the hell betwixt your follower and this gentleman. But Barney is a well-spoken fellow, and to say truth, that goes far with us of the weaker sex. Look, you master Tressylian, a bolt lost is not a bow broken. Your true affection, as I will hold it to be, hath been, it seems, but ill-requited, but you have scholarship. And you know, there have been false Cressylans to be found, from the Trojan War downwards. Forget good, sir, this Lady Light-A-Rove, teach your affection to see with a wiser eye. This we say to you, more from the writings of learned men than our own knowledge, being as we are, far removed by station and will, from the enlargement of experience in such idle toys of humorous passion. For this day and Sfather we can make his grief the less by advancing his son-in-law to such station as may enable him to give an honorable support to his bride. Thou shalt not be forgotten by self, Tressylian. Follow our court, and thou shalt see that a true Troilus hath some claim on our grace. Think of what that Arch-Nave Shakespeare says, a plague on him, his toys come into my head when I should think of other matters. Stay, how goes it? Crescent was yours, tied with the bonds of heaven. These bonds of heaven are slipped, dissolved, and loosed, and with another knot five fingers tied. The fragments of her faith are bound to diamond. You small my lord of Southampton, for chance I make your players verse halt through my bad memory, but let it suffice, let there be no more of this mad matter. And as Tressylian, kept the posture of one who would willingly be heard, though at the same time, expressive of the deepest reverence, the queen added with some impatience. What would the man have? The wench cannot wed both of you. She has made her lection, not a wise one per chance, but she is Barney's wedded wife. My suit should sleep there, most gracious sovereign, said Tressylian, and with my suit my revenge. But I hold this Barney's word no good warrant for the truth. Had that doubt been elsewhere urged, answered Barney, my sword, thy sword, interrupted Tressylian scornfully, with her graces leave, my sword shall show. Peace you names, both, said the queen. Know you where you are. This comes of your feuds, my lords, she added, looking towards Lester and Sussex. Your followers catch your own humor, and must bandy and ball in my corn and in my very presence, like so many mad amorous. Look you, sirs, he that speaks of drawing swords in any other quarrel than mine or England's, by my honour, I'll bracelet him with iron both on wrist and ankle. She then paused a minute, and resumed in a milder tone. I must do justice betwixt the bold and mutinous names notwithstanding. My lord of Lester, will you warrant with your honour, that is, to the best of your belief, that your servant speaks truth in saying he hath married this Amy Robesart. This was a home thrust, and had nearly staggered Lester, but he had now gone too far to receive, and answered, after a moment's hesitation, to the best of my belief, indeed, on my certain knowledge, she is a wedded wife. Gracious madam, said Tressylian, may I yet request to know when and under what circumstances this alleged marriage, out, Sira, answered the Queen, alleged marriage. Have you not the word of this illustrious earl to warrant the truth of what his servant says? But thou art a loser, thinkest thyself such at least, and thou shalt have indulgence. We will look into the matter ourselves, more at leisure. My lord of Lester, I trust you remember we mean to taste the good cheer of your castle of Kenilworth on this weekend's suing. We will pray you too, bid our good and valued friend, the Earl of Sussex, to hold company with us there. If the noble Earl of Sussex, said Lester, bowing to his rival with the easiest and with the most graceful courtesy, will so far honor my poor house. I will hold it an additional proof of the amicable regard that is your grace's desire we shouldn't retain towards each other. Sussex was more embarrassed. I should, said he. Madam, be but a clog on your gayer hours since my late severe illness. And have you been indeed so very ill, said Elizabeth, looking on him with more attention than before? You are in faith strangely altered, and deeply in my grief too see it. But be of good cheer. We will ourselves look after the health of so valued a servant, and to whom we owe so much. Masters, shall order your diet, and that we ourselves may see that he is obeying, you must attend us in this progress to Camelworth. This was said so peremptorily and at the same time with so much kindness that Sussex, however unwilling to become the guest of his rival, had no resource but to bow low to the Queen in obedience to her commands, and to express to Lester with blunt courtesy, though mingled with embarrassment, his acceptance of his invitation. As the Earl's exchange compliments on the occasion, the Queen said to her high treasurer, me thinks, my Lord, the countenances of these are two noble peers, resemble those of the two famed classic streams, the one so dark and sad, the other so fair and noble. My old master asked him, would have chained me for forgiving the author. It is Caesar, I think. See what majestic calmness sits on the brow of the noble Lester, while Sussex seems to greet him as if he did our will indeed, but not willingly. The doubt of your Majesty's favour, answered the Lord Treasurer, may perchance occasion the difference, which does not, as what does, escape your grace's eye. Such doubt were injurious to us, my Lord, replied the Queen. We hope both to be near and dear to us, and will, with impartiality, employ both in honourable service for the will of our kingdom. But we will break their further conference at present. My Lords of Sussex and Lester, we have a word more with you. Tristilian and Barney are nearer persons. You will see that they attend you at Kettleworth, and as we shall have, both Paris and Menelaus within our call. So we will have the same Fair Hill and also, whose fickleness has caused this boil. Barney, thy wife must be at Kettleworth, and forthcoming at my order. My Lord of Lester, we expect you will look to this. The Earl and his father were bowed low and raised their heads, without daring to look at the Queen, or at each other, for both felt at the instant as if the nets and toils which their own falsehood had woven were in the act of closing around them. The Queen, however, observed not their confusion, but proceeded to say, My Lords of Sussex and Lester, we require your presence at the Privy Council to be presently held, where matters of importance are to be debated. We will then take the water for our divergent, and you, my Lords, will attend us. And that reminds us of the circumstance. Do you, Sir Squire of the Soiled Cacic, distinguishing Molly by a smile, fell not to observe that you are to attend us on our progress. You shall be supplied with suitable means to reform your wardrobe. And so terminated this celebrated audience, in which, as throughout her life, Elizabeth united the occasional caprice of her sex, with that sense and sound policy, in which neither man nor woman ever excelled her. End Chapter 16