KENILWORTH. 

by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. 

INTRODUCTION

A certain degree of success, real or supposed, in the delineation ofQueen Mary, naturally induced the author to attempt something similarrespecting "her sister and her foe, " the celebrated Elizabeth. Hewill not, however, pretend to have approached the task with the samefeelings; for the candid Robertson himself confesses having felt theprejudices with which a Scottishman is tempted to regard the subject;and what so liberal a historian avows, a poor romance-writer dares notdisown. But he hopes the influence of a prejudice, almost as natural tohim as his native air, will not be found to have greatly affected thesketch he has attempted of England's Elizabeth. I have endeavouredto describe her as at once a high-minded sovereign, and a female ofpassionate feelings, hesitating betwixt the sense of her rank andthe duty she owed her subjects on the one hand, and on the other herattachment to a nobleman, who, in external qualifications at least, amply merited her favour. The interest of the story is thrown upon thatperiod when the sudden death of the first Countess of Leicester seemedto open to the ambition of her husband the opportunity of sharing thecrown of his sovereign. 

It is possible that slander, which very seldom favours the memoriesof persons in exalted stations, may have blackened the character ofLeicester with darker shades than really belonged to it. But the almostgeneral voice of the times attached the most foul suspicions to thedeath of the unfortunate Countess, more especially as it took place sovery opportunely for the indulgence of her lover's ambition. If we cantrust Ashmole's Antiquities of Berkshire, there was but too much groundfor the traditions which charge Leicester with the murder of his wife. In the following extract of the passage, the reader will find theauthority I had for the story of the romance:--

"At the west end of the church are the ruins of a manor, ancientlybelonging (as a cell, or place of removal, as some report) to themonks of Abington. At the Dissolution, the said manor, or lordship, wasconveyed to one--Owen (I believe), the possessor of Godstow then. 

"In the hall, over the chimney, I find Abington arms cut instone--namely, a patonee between four martletts; and also anotherescutcheon--namely, a lion rampant, and several mitres cut in stoneabout the house. There is also in the said house a chamber calledDudley's chamber, where the Earl of Leicester's wife was murdered, ofwhich this is the story following:--

"Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a very goodly personage, andsingularly well featured, being a great favourite to Queen Elizabeth, it was thought, and commonly reported, that had he been a bachelor orwidower, the Queen would have made him her husband; to this end, to freehimself of all obstacles, he commands, or perhaps, with fair flatteringentreaties, desires his wife to repose herself here at his servantAnthony Forster's house, who then lived in the aforesaid manor-house;and also prescribes to Sir Richard Varney (a prompter to this design), at his coming hither, that he should first attempt to poison her, and ifthat did not take effect, then by any other way whatsoever to dispatchher. This, it seems, was proved by the report of Dr. Walter Bayly, sometime fellow of New College, then living in Oxford, and professor ofphysic in that university; whom, because he would not consent to takeaway her life by poison, the Earl endeavoured to displace him the court. This man, it seems, reported for most certain that there was a practicein Cumnor among the conspirators, to have poisoned this poor innocentlady, a little before she was killed, which was attempted after thismanner:--They seeing the good lady sad and heavy (as one that wellknew, by her other handling, that her death was not far off), began topersuade her that her present disease was abundance of melancholy andother humours, etc. , and therefore would needs counsel her to take somepotion, which she absolutely refusing to do, as still suspecting theworst; whereupon they sent a messenger on a day (unawares to her) forDr. Bayly, and entreated him to persuade her to take some little potionby his direction, and they would fetch the same at Oxford; meaning tohave added something of their own for her comfort, as the doctorupon just cause and consideration did suspect, seeing their greatimportunity, and the small need the lady had of physic, and thereforehe peremptorily denied their request; misdoubting (as he afterwardsreported) lest, if they had poisoned her under the name of his potion, he might after have been hanged for a colour of their sin, and thedoctor remained still well assured that this way taking no effect, shewould not long escape their violence, which afterwards happened thus. For Sir Richard Varney abovesaid (the chief projector in this design), who, by the Earl's order, remained that day of her death alone with her, with one man only and Forster, who had that day forcibly sent away allher servants from her to Abington market, about three miles distant fromthis place; they (I say, whether first stifling her, or else stranglingher) afterwards flung her down a pair of stairs and broke her neck, using much violence upon her; but, however, though it was vulgarlyreported that she by chance fell downstairs (but still without hurtingher hood that was upon her head), yet the inhabitants will tell youthere that she was conveyed from her usual chamber where she lay, toanother where the bed's head of the chamber stood close to a privypostern door, where they in the night came and stifled her in her bed, bruised her head very much broke her neck, and at length flung her downstairs, thereby believing the world would have thought it a mischance, and so have blinded their villainy. But behold the mercy and justiceof God in revenging and discovering this lady's murder; for one of thepersons that was a coadjutor in this murder was afterwards taken for afelony in the marches of Wales, and offering to publish the mannerof the aforesaid murder, was privately made away in the prison by theEarl's appointment; and Sir Richard Varney the other, dying about thesame time in London, cried miserably, and blasphemed God, and said toa person of note (who hath related the same to others since), not longbefore his death, that all the devils in hell did tear him in pieces. Forster, likewise, after this fact, being a man formerly addicted tohospitality, company, mirth, and music, was afterwards observed toforsake all this, and with much melancholy and pensiveness (some saywith madness) pined and drooped away. The wife also of Bald Butter, kinsman to the Earl, gave out the whole fact a little before her death. Neither are these following passages to be forgotten, that as soon asever she was murdered, they made great haste to bury her before thecoroner had given in his inquest (which the Earl himself condemned asnot done advisedly), which her father, or Sir John Robertsett (as Isuppose), hearing of, came with all speed hither, caused her corpse tobe taken up, the coroner to sit upon her, and further inquiry to be madeconcerning this business to the full; but it was generally thought thatthe Earl stopped his mouth, and made up the business betwixt them; andthe good Earl, to make plain to the world the great love he bare to herwhile alive, and what a grief the loss of so virtuous a lady was to histender heart, caused (though the thing, by these and other means, wasbeaten into the heads of the principal men of the University of Oxford)her body to be reburied in St, Mary's Church in Oxford, with greatpomp and solemnity. It is remarkable, when Dr. Babington, the Earl'schaplain, did preach the funeral sermon, he tript once or twice inhis speech, by recommending to their memories that virtuous lady sopitifully murdered, instead of saying pitifully slain. This Earl, afterall his murders and poisonings, was himself poisoned by that whichwas prepared for others (some say by his wife at Cornbury Lodge beforementioned), though Baker in his Chronicle would have it at Killingworth;anno 1588. " [Ashmole's Antiquities of Berkshire, vol. I. , p. 149. Thetradition as to Leicester's death was thus communicated by Ben Jonson toDrummond of Hawthornden:--"The Earl of Leicester gave a bottle of liquorto his Lady, which he willed her to use in any faintness, which she, after his returne from court, not knowing it was poison, gave him, andso he died. "--BEN JONSON'S INFORMATION TO DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN, MS. , SIR ROBERT SIBBALD'S COPY. ]

The same accusation has been adopted and circulated by the author ofLeicester's Commonwealth, a satire written directly against the Earl ofLeicester, which loaded him with the most horrid crimes, and, amongthe rest, with the murder of his first wife. It was alluded to in theYorkshire Tragedy, a play erroneously ascribed to Shakespeare, wherea baker, who determines to destroy all his family, throws his wifedownstairs, with this allusion to the supposed murder of Leicester'slady, --

 "The only way to charm a woman's tongue Is, break her neck--a politician did it. "

The reader will find I have borrowed several incidents as well as namesfrom Ashmole, and the more early authorities; but my first acquaintancewith the history was through the more pleasing medium of verse. Thereis a period in youth when the mere power of numbers has a more strongeffect on ear and imagination than in more advanced life. At this seasonof immature taste, the author was greatly delighted with the poems ofMickle and Langhorne, poets who, though by no means deficient in thehigher branches of their art, were eminent for their powers of verbalmelody above most who have practised this department of poetry. One ofthose pieces of Mickle, which the author was particularly pleased with, is a ballad, or rather a species of elegy, on the subject of CumnorHall, which, with others by the same author, was to be found in Evans'sAncient Ballads (vol. Iv. , page 130), to which work Mickle made liberalcontributions. The first stanza especially had a peculiar species ofenchantment for the youthful ear of the author, the force of which isnot even now entirely spent; some others are sufficiently prosaic. 

 CUMNOR HALL. 

 The dews of summer night did fall; The moon, sweet regent of the sky, Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall, And many an oak that grew thereby, Now nought was heard beneath the skies, The sounds of busy life were still, Save an unhappy lady's sighs, That issued from that lonely pile. 

 "Leicester, " she cried, "is this thy love That thou so oft hast sworn to me, To leave me in this lonely grove, Immured in shameful privity?

 "No more thou com'st with lover's speed, Thy once beloved bride to see; But be she alive, or be she dead, I fear, stern Earl, 's the same to thee. 

 "Not so the usage I received When happy in my father's hall; No faithless husband then me grieved, No chilling fears did me appal. 

 "I rose up with the cheerful morn, No lark more blithe, no flower more gay; And like the bird that haunts the thorn, So merrily sung the livelong day. 

 "If that my beauty is but small, Among court ladies all despised, Why didst thou rend it from that hall, Where, scornful Earl, it well was prized?

 "And when you first to me made suit, How fair I was you oft would say! And proud of conquest, pluck'd the fruit, Then left the blossom to decay. 

 "Yes! now neglected and despised, The rose is pale, the lily's dead; But he that once their charms so prized, Is sure the cause those charms are fled. 

 "For know, when sick'ning grief doth prey, And tender love's repaid with scorn, The sweetest beauty will decay, -- What floweret can endure the storm?

 "At court, I'm told, is beauty's throne, Where every lady's passing rare, That Eastern flowers, that shame the sun, Are not so glowing, not so fair. 

 "Then, Earl, why didst thou leave the beds Where roses and where lilies vie, To seek a primrose, whose pale shades Must sicken when those gauds are by?

 "'Mong rural beauties I was one, Among the fields wild flowers are fair; Some country swain might me have won, And thought my beauty passing rare. 

 "But, Leicester (or I much am wrong), Or 'tis not beauty lures thy vows; Rather ambition's gilded crown Makes thee forget thy humble spouse. 

 "Then, Leicester, why, again I plead (The injured surely may repine)-- Why didst thou wed a country maid, When some fair princess might be thine?

 "Why didst thou praise my hum'ble charms, And, oh! then leave them to decay? Why didst thou win me to thy arms, Then leave to mourn the livelong day?

 "The village maidens of the plain Salute me lowly as they go; Envious they mark my silken train, Nor think a Countess can have woe. 

 "The simple nymphs! they little know How far more happy's their estate; To smile for joy, than sigh for woe-- To be content, than to be great. 

 "How far less blest am I than them? Daily to pine and waste with care! Like the poor plant that, from its stem Divided, feels the chilling air. 

 "Nor, cruel Earl! can I enjoy The humble charms of solitude; Your minions proud my peace destroy, By sullen frowns or pratings rude. 

 "Last night, as sad I chanced to stray, The village death-bell smote my ear; They wink'd aside, and seemed to say, 'Countess, prepare, thy end is near!'

 "And now, while happy peasants sleep, Here I sit lonely and forlorn; No one to soothe me as I weep, Save Philomel on yonder thorn. 

 "My spirits flag--my hopes decay-- Still that dread death-bell smites my ear; And many a boding seems to say, 'Countess, prepare, thy end is near!'"

 Thus sore and sad that lady grieved, In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear; And many a heartfelt sigh she heaved, And let fall many a bitter tear. 

 And ere the dawn of day appear'd, In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear, Full many a piercing scream was heard, And many a cry of mortal fear. 

 The death-bell thrice was heard to ring, An aerial voice was heard to call, And thrice the raven flapp'd its wing Around the towers of Cumnor Hall. 

 The mastiff howl'd at village door, The oaks were shatter'd on the green; Woe was the hour--for never more That hapless Countess e'er was seen!

 And in that Manor now no more Is cheerful feast and sprightly ball; For ever since that dreary hour Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall. 

 The village maids, with fearful glance, Avoid the ancient moss-grown wall; Nor ever lead the merry dance, Among the groves of Cumnor Hall. 

 Full many a traveller oft hath sigh'd, And pensive wept the Countess' fall, As wand'ring onward they've espied The haunted towers of Cumnor Hall. 

ARBOTSFORD, 1st March 1831. 

KENILWORTH

CHAPTER I. 

 I am an innkeeper, and know my grounds, And study them; Brain o' man, I study them. I must have jovial guests to drive my ploughs, And whistling boys to bring my harvests home, Or I shall hear no flails thwack. THE NEW INN. 

It is the privilege of tale-tellers to open their story in an inn, thefree rendezvous of all travellers, and where the humour of each displaysitself without ceremony or restraint. This is specially suitable whenthe scene is laid during the old days of merry England, when theguests were in some sort not merely the inmates, but the messmatesand temporary companions of mine Host, who was usually a personage ofprivileged freedom, comely presence, and good-humour. Patronized by himthe characters of the company were placed in ready contrast; and theyseldom failed, during the emptying of a six-hooped pot, to throw offreserve, and present themselves to each other, and to their landlord, with the freedom of old acquaintance. 

The village of Cumnor, within three or four miles of Oxford, boasted, during the eighteenth of Queen Elizabeth, an excellent inn of the oldstamp, conducted, or rather ruled, by Giles Gosling, a man of a goodlyperson, and of somewhat round belly; fifty years of age and upwards, moderate in his reckonings, prompt in his payments, having a cellar ofsound liquor, a ready wit, and a pretty daughter. Since the days ofold Harry Baillie of the Tabard in Southwark, no one had excelled GilesGosling in the power of pleasing his guests of every description; and sogreat was his fame, that to have been in Cumnor without wetting a cupat the bonny Black Bear, would have been to avouch one's-self utterlyindifferent to reputation as a traveller. A country fellow might as wellreturn from London without looking in the face of majesty. The men ofCumnor were proud of their Host, and their Host was proud of his house, his liquor, his daughter, and himself. 

It was in the courtyard of the inn which called this honest fellowlandlord, that a traveller alighted in the close of the evening, gavehis horse, which seemed to have made a long journey, to the hostler, and made some inquiry, which produced the following dialogue betwixt themyrmidons of the bonny Black Bear. 

"What, ho! John Tapster. "

"At hand, Will Hostler, " replied the man of the spigot, showing himselfin his costume of loose jacket, linen breeches, and green apron, halfwithin and half without a door, which appeared to descend to an outercellar. 

"Here is a gentleman asks if you draw good ale, " continued the hostler. 

"Beshrew my heart else, " answered the tapster, "since there are but fourmiles betwixt us and Oxford. Marry, if my ale did not convince theheads of the scholars, they would soon convince my pate with the pewterflagon. "

"Call you that Oxford logic?" said the stranger, who had now quitted therein of his horse, and was advancing towards the inn-door, when he wasencountered by the goodly form of Giles Gosling himself. 

"Is it logic you talk of, Sir Guest?" said the host; "why, then, have atyou with a downright consequence--

 'The horse to the rack, And to fire with the sack. '"

"Amen! with all my heart, my good host, " said the stranger; "let it be aquart of your best Canaries, and give me your good help to drink it. "

"Nay, you are but in your accidence yet, Sir Traveller, if you call onyour host for help for such a sipping matter as a quart of sack; Were ita gallon, you might lack some neighbouring aid at my hand, and yet callyourself a toper. "

"Fear me not. " said the guest, "I will do my devoir as becomes a man whofinds himself within five miles of Oxford; for I am not come from thefield of Mars to discredit myself amongst the followers of Minerva. "

As he spoke thus, the landlord, with much semblance of hearty welcome, ushered his guest into a large, low chamber, where several persons wereseated together in different parties--some drinking, some playing atcards, some conversing, and some, whose business called them to be earlyrisers on the morrow, concluding their evening meal, and conferring withthe chamberlain about their night's quarters. 

The entrance of a stranger procured him that general and careless sortof attention which is usually paid on such occasions, from which thefollowing results were deduced:--The guest was one of those who, witha well-made person, and features not in themselves unpleasing, arenevertheless so far from handsome that, whether from the expressionof their features, or the tone of their voice, or from their gait andmanner, there arises, on the whole, a disinclination to their society. The stranger's address was bold, without being frank, and seemed eagerlyand hastily to claim for him a degree of attention and deference whichhe feared would be refused, if not instantly vindicated as his right. His attire was a riding-cloak, which, when open, displayed a handsomejerkin overlaid with lace, and belted with a buff girdle, whichsustained a broadsword and a pair of pistols. 

"You ride well provided, sir, " said the host, looking at the weapons ashe placed on the table the mulled sack which the traveller had ordered. 

"Yes, mine host; I have found the use on't in dangerous times, and I donot, like your modern grandees, turn off my followers the instant theyare useless. "

"Ay, sir?" said Giles Gosling; "then you are from the Low Countries, theland of pike and caliver?"

"I have been high and low, my friend, broad and wide, far and near. Buthere is to thee in a cup of thy sack; fill thyself another to pledge me, and, if it is less than superlative, e'en drink as you have brewed. "

"Less than superlative?" said Giles Gosling, drinking off the cup, andsmacking his lips with an air of ineffable relish, --"I know nothingof superlative, nor is there such a wine at the Three Cranes, in theVintry, to my knowledge; but if you find better sack than that in theSheres, or in the Canaries either, I would I may never touch either potor penny more. Why, hold it up betwixt you and the light, you shall seethe little motes dance in the golden liquor like dust in the sunbeam. But I would rather draw wine for ten clowns than one traveller. --I trustyour honour likes the wine?"

"It is neat and comfortable, mine host; but to know good liquor, youshould drink where the vine grows. Trust me, your Spaniard is too wisea man to send you the very soul of the grape. Why, this now, which youaccount so choice, were counted but as a cup of bastard at the Groyne, or at Port St. Mary's. You should travel, mine host, if you would bedeep in the mysteries of the butt and pottle-pot. "

"In troth, Signior Guest, " said Giles Gosling, "if I were to travel onlythat I might be discontented with that which I can get at home, methinksI should go but on a fool's errand. Besides, I warrant you, there ismany a fool can turn his nose up at good drink without ever havingbeen out of the smoke of Old England; and so ever gramercy mine ownfireside. "

"This is but a mean mind of yours, mine host, " said the stranger;"I warrant me, all your town's folk do not think so basely. You havegallants among you, I dare undertake, that have made the Virginiavoyage, or taken a turn in the Low Countries at least. Come, cudgel yourmemory. Have you no friends in foreign parts that you would gladly havetidings of?"

"Troth, sir, not I, " answered the host, "since ranting Robin ofDrysandford was shot at the siege of the Brill. The devil take thecaliver that fired the ball, for a blither lad never filled a cupat midnight! But he is dead and gone, and I know not a soldier, or atraveller, who is a soldier's mate, that I would give a peeled codlingfor. "

"By the Mass, that is strange. What! so many of our brave English heartsare abroad, and you, who seem to be a man of mark, have no friend, nokinsman among them?"

"Nay, if you speak of kinsmen, " answered Gosling, "I have one wild slipof a kinsman, who left us in the last year of Queen Mary; but he isbetter lost than found. "

"Do not say so, friend, unless you have heard ill of him lately. Many awild colt has turned out a noble steed. --His name, I pray you?"

"Michael Lambourne, " answered the landlord of the Black Bear; "a son ofmy sister's--there is little pleasure in recollecting either the name orthe connection. "

"Michael Lambourne!" said the stranger, as if endeavouring to recollecthimself--"what, no relation to Michael Lambourne, the gallant cavalierwho behaved so bravely at the siege of Venlo that Grave Maurice thankedhim at the head of the army? Men said he was an English cavalier, and ofno high extraction. "

"It could scarcely be my nephew, " said Giles Gosling, "for he had notthe courage of a hen-partridge for aught but mischief. "

"Oh, many a man finds courage in the wars, " replied the stranger. 

"It may be, " said the landlord; "but I would have thought our Mike morelikely to lose the little he had. "

"The Michael Lambourne whom I knew, " continued the traveller, "was alikely fellow--went always gay and well attired, and had a hawk's eyeafter a pretty wench. "

"Our Michael, " replied the host, "had the look of a dog with a bottleat its tail, and wore a coat, every rag of which was bidding good-day tothe rest. "

"Oh, men pick up good apparel in the wars, " replied the guest. 

"Our Mike, " answered the landlord, "was more like to pick it up in afrippery warehouse, while the broker was looking another way; and, forthe hawk's eye you talk of, his was always after my stray spoons. He wastapster's boy here in this blessed house for a quarter of a year; andbetween misreckonings, miscarriages, mistakes, and misdemeanours, hadhe dwelt with me for three months longer, I might have pulled down sign, shut up house, and given the devil the key to keep. "

"You would be sorry, after all, " continued the traveller, "were I totell you poor Mike Lambourne was shot at the head of his regiment at thetaking of a sconce near Maestricht?"

"Sorry!--it would be the blithest news I ever heard of him, since itwould ensure me he was not hanged. But let him pass--I doubt hisend will never do such credit to his friends. Were it so, I shouldsay"--(taking another cup of sack)--"Here's God rest him, with all myheart. "

"Tush, man, " replied the traveller, "never fear but you will have creditby your nephew yet, especially if he be the Michael Lambourne whom Iknew, and loved very nearly, or altogether, as well as myself. Can youtell me no mark by which I could judge whether they be the same?"

"Faith, none that I can think of, " answered Giles Gosling, "unless thatour Mike had the gallows branded on his left shoulder for stealing asilver caudle-cup from Dame Snort of Hogsditch. "

"Nay, there you lie like a knave, uncle, " said the stranger, slippingaside his ruff; and turning down the sleeve of his doublet from his neckand shoulder; "by this good day, my shoulder is as unscarred as thineown. 

"What, Mike, boy--Mike!" exclaimed the host;--"and is it thou, in goodearnest? Nay, I have judged so for this half-hour; for I knew no otherperson would have ta'en half the interest in thee. But, Mike, an thyshoulder be unscathed as thou sayest, thou must own that Goodman Thong, the hangman, was merciful in his office, and stamped thee with a coldiron. "

"Tush, uncle--truce with your jests. Keep them to season your sour ale, and let us see what hearty welcome thou wilt give a kinsman who hasrolled the world around for eighteen years; who has seen the sun setwhere it rises, and has travelled till the west has become the east. "

"Thou hast brought back one traveller's gift with thee, Mike, as I wellsee; and that was what thou least didst: need to travel for. I rememberwell, among thine other qualities, there was no crediting a word whichcame from thy mouth. "

"Here's an unbelieving pagan for you, gentlemen!" said MichaelLambourne, turning to those who witnessed this strange interview betwixtuncle and nephew, some of whom, being natives of the village, were nostrangers to his juvenile wildness. "This may be called slaying a Cumnorfatted calf for me with a vengeance. --But, uncle, I come not fromthe husks and the swine-trough, and I care not for thy welcome or nowelcome; I carry that with me will make me welcome, wend where I will. "

So saying, he pulled out a purse of gold indifferently well filled, thesight of which produced a visible effect upon the company. Some shooktheir heads and whispered to each other, while one or two of the lessscrupulous speedily began to recollect him as a school-companion, a townsman, or so forth. On the other hand, two or three grave, sedate-looking persons shook their heads, and left the inn, hintingthat, if Giles Gosling wished to continue to thrive, he should turn histhriftless, godless nephew adrift again, as soon as he could. Goslingdemeaned himself as if he were much of the same opinion, for even thesight of the gold made less impression on the honest gentleman than itusually doth upon one of his calling. 

"Kinsman Michael, " he said, "put up thy purse. My sister's son shall becalled to no reckoning in my house for supper or lodging; and I reckonthou wilt hardly wish to stay longer where thou art e'en but too wellknown. "

"For that matter, uncle, " replied the traveller, "I shall consult my ownneeds and conveniences. Meantime I wish to give the supper and sleepingcup to those good townsmen who are not too proud to remember MikeLambourne, the tapster's boy. If you will let me have entertainment formy money, so; if not, it is but a short two minutes' walk to the Hareand Tabor, and I trust our neighbours will not grudge going thus farwith me. "

"Nay, Mike, " replied his uncle, "as eighteen years have gone over thyhead, and I trust thou art somewhat amended in thy conditions, thoushalt not leave my house at this hour, and shalt e'en have whateverin reason you list to call for. But I would I knew that that purse ofthine, which thou vapourest of, were as well come by as it seems wellfilled. "

"Here is an infidel for you, my good neighbours!" said Lambourne, againappealing to the audience. "Here's a fellow will rip up his kinsman'sfollies of a good score of years' standing. And for the gold, why, sirs, I have been where it grew, and was to be had for the gathering. Inthe New World have I been, man--in the Eldorado, where urchins playat cherry-pit with diamonds, and country wenches thread rubies fornecklaces, instead of rowan-tree berries; where the pantiles are made ofpure gold, and the paving-stones of virgin silver. "

"By my credit, friend Mike, " said young Laurence Goldthred, the cuttingmercer of Abingdon, "that were a likely coast to trade to. And what maylawns, cypruses, and ribands fetch, where gold is so plenty?"

"Oh, the profit were unutterable, " replied Lambourne, "especially whena handsome young merchant bears the pack himself; for the ladies of thatclime are bona-robas, and being themselves somewhat sunburnt, they catchfire like tinder at a fresh complexion like thine, with a head of hairinclining to be red. "

"I would I might trade thither, " said the mercer, chuckling. 

"Why, and so thou mayest, " said Michael--"that is, if thou art the samebrisk boy who was partner with me at robbing the Abbot's orchard. 'Tisbut a little touch of alchemy to decoct thy house and land into readymoney, and that ready money into a tall ship, with sails, anchors, cordage, and all things conforming; then clap thy warehouse of goodsunder hatches, put fifty good fellows on deck, with myself to commandthem, and so hoist topsails, and hey for the New World!"

"Thou hast taught him a secret, kinsman, " said Giles Gosling, "todecoct, an that be the word, his pound into a penny and his webs into athread. --Take a fool's advice, neighbour Goldthred. Tempt not the sea, for she is a devourer. Let cards and cockatrices do their worst, thyfather's bales may bide a banging for a year or two ere thou comest tothe Spital; but the sea hath a bottomless appetite, --she would swallowthe wealth of Lombard Street in a morning, as easily as I would apoached egg and a cup of clary. And for my kinsman's Eldorado, nevertrust me if I do not believe he has found it in the pouches of some suchgulls as thyself. --But take no snuff in the nose about it; fall to andwelcome, for here comes the supper, and I heartily bestow it on allthat will take share, in honour of my hopeful nephew's return, alwaystrusting that he has come home another man. --In faith, kinsman, thou artas like my poor sister as ever was son to mother. "

"Not quite so like old Benedict Lambourne, her husband, though, " saidthe mercer, nodding and winking. "Dost thou remember, Mike, what thousaidst when the schoolmaster's ferule was over thee for striking up thyfather's crutches?--it is a wise child, saidst thou, that knows its ownfather. Dr. Bircham laughed till he cried again, and his crying savedyours. "

"Well, he made it up to me many a day after, " said Lambourne; "and howis the worthy pedagogue?"

"Dead, " said Giles Gosling, "this many a day since. "

"That he is, " said the clerk of the parish; "I sat by his bed thewhilst. He passed away in a blessed frame. 'MORIOR--MORTUUS SUM VELFUI--MORI'--these were his latest words; and he just added, 'my lastverb is conjugated. "

"Well, peace be with him, " said Mike, "he owes me nothing. "

"No, truly, " replied Goldthred; "and every lash which he laid on thee, he always was wont to say, he spared the hangman a labour. "

"One would have thought he left him little to do then, " said the clerk;"and yet Goodman Thong had no sinecure of it with our friend, afterall. "

"VOTO A DIOS!" exclaimed Lambourne, his patience appearing to fail him, as he snatched his broad, slouched hat from the table and placed it onhis head, so that the shadow gave the sinister expression of a Spanishbrave to eyes and features which naturally boded nothing pleasant. "Hark'ee, my masters--all is fair among friends, and under the rose; andI have already permitted my worthy uncle here, and all of you, to useyour pleasure with the frolics of my nonage. But I carry sword anddagger, my good friends, and can use them lightly too upon occasion. Ihave learned to be dangerous upon points of honour ever since I servedthe Spaniard, and I would not have you provoke me to the degree offalling foul. "

"Why, what would you do?" said the clerk. 

"Ay, sir, what would you do?" said the mercer, bustling up on the otherside of the table. 

"Slit your throat, and spoil your Sunday's quavering, Sir Clerk, "said Lambourne fiercely; "cudgel you, my worshipful dealer in flimsysarsenets, into one of your own bales. "

"Come, come, " said the host, interposing, "I will have no swaggeringhere. --Nephew, it will become you best to show no haste to take offence;and you, gentlemen, will do well to remember, that if you are in an inn, still you are the inn-keeper's guests, and should spare the honourof his family. --I protest your silly broils make me as oblivious asyourself; for yonder sits my silent guest as I call him, who hath beenmy two days' inmate, and hath never spoken a word, save to ask for hisfood and his reckoning--gives no more trouble than a very peasant--payshis shot like a prince royal--looks but at the sum total of thereckoning, and does not know what day he shall go away. Oh, 'tis a jewelof a guest! and yet, hang-dog that I am, I have suffered him to sitby himself like a castaway in yonder obscure nook, without so much asasking him to take bite or sup along with us. It were but the rightguerdon of my incivility were he to set off to the Hare and Tabor beforethe night grows older. "

With his white napkin gracefully arranged over his left arm, his velvetcap laid aside for the moment, and his best silver flagon in his righthand, mine host walked up to the solitary guest whom he mentioned, andthereby turned upon him the eyes of the assembled company. 

He was a man aged betwixt twenty-five and thirty, rather above themiddle size, dressed with plainness and decency, yet bearing an air ofease which almost amounted to dignity, and which seemed to infer thathis habit was rather beneath his rank. His countenance was reserved andthoughtful, with dark hair and dark eyes; the last, upon any momentaryexcitement, sparkled with uncommon lustre, but on other occasionshad the same meditative and tranquil cast which was exhibited by hisfeatures. The busy curiosity of the little village had been employed todiscover his name and quality, as well as his business at Cumnor;but nothing had transpired on either subject which could lead to itsgratification. Giles Gosling, head-borough of the place, and a steadyfriend to Queen Elizabeth and the Protestant religion, was at one timeinclined to suspect his guest of being a Jesuit, or seminary priest, ofwhom Rome and Spain sent at this time so many to grace the gallowsin England. But it was scarce possible to retain such a prepossessionagainst a guest who gave so little trouble, paid his reckoning soregularly, and who proposed, as it seemed, to make a considerable stayat the bonny Black Bear. 

"Papists, " argued Giles Gosling, "are a pinching, close-fisted race, and this man would have found a lodging with the wealthy squire atBessellsey, or with the old Knight at Wootton, or in some other of theirRoman dens, instead of living in a house of public entertainment, asevery honest man and good Christian should. Besides, on Friday he stuckby the salt beef and carrot, though there were as good spitch-cockedeels on the board as ever were ta'en out of the Isis. "

Honest Giles, therefore, satisfied himself that his guest was no Roman, and with all comely courtesy besought the stranger to pledge him ina draught of the cool tankard, and honour with his attention a smallcollation which he was giving to his nephew, in honour of his return, and, as he verily hoped, of his reformation. The stranger at first shookhis head, as if declining the courtesy; but mine host proceeded tourge him with arguments founded on the credit of his house, and theconstruction which the good people of Cumnor might put upon such anunsocial humour. 

"By my faith, sir, " he said, "it touches my reputation that men shouldbe merry in my house; and we have ill tongues amongst us at Cumnor (aswhere be there not?), who put an evil mark on men who pull their hatover their brows, as if they were looking back to the days that aregone, instead of enjoying the blithe sunshiny weather which God has sentus in the sweet looks of our sovereign mistress, Queen Elizabeth, whomHeaven long bless and preserve!"

"Why, mine host, " answered the stranger, "there is no treason, sure, ina man's enjoying his own thoughts, under the shadow of his own bonnet?You have lived in the world twice as long as I have, and you must knowthere are thoughts that will haunt us in spite of ourselves, and towhich it is in vain to say, Begone, and let me be merry. "

"By my sooth, " answered Giles Gosling, "if such troublesome thoughtshaunt your mind, and will not get them gone for plain English, we willhave one of Father Bacon's pupils from Oxford, to conjure them away withlogic and with Hebrew--or, what say you to laying them in a glorious redsea of claret, my noble guest? Come, sir, excuse my freedom. I am an oldhost, and must have my talk. This peevish humour of melancholy sits illupon you; it suits not with a sleek boot, a hat of trim block, a freshcloak, and a full purse. A pize on it! send it off to those who havetheir legs swathed with a hay-wisp, their heads thatched with a feltbonnet, their jerkin as thin as a cobweb, and their pouch without evera cross to keep the fiend Melancholy from dancing in it. Cheer up, sir! or, by this good liquor, we shall banish thee from the joysof blithesome company, into the mists of melancholy and the land oflittle-ease. Here be a set of good fellows willing to be merry; do notscowl on them like the devil looking over Lincoln. "

"You say well, my worthy host, " said the guest, with a melancholy smile, which, melancholy as it was, gave a very pleasant: expression to hiscountenance--"you say well, my jovial friend; and they that are moodylike myself should not disturb the mirth of those who are happy. I willdrink a round with your guests with all my heart, rather than be termeda mar-feast. "

So saying, he arose and joined the company, who, encouraged by theprecept and example of Michael Lambourne, and consisting chiefly ofpersons much disposed to profit by the opportunity of a merry meal atthe expense of their landlord, had already made some inroads upon thelimits of temperance, as was evident from the tone in which Michaelinquired after his old acquaintances in the town, and the bursts oflaughter with which each answer was received. Giles Gosling himselfwas somewhat scandalized at the obstreperous nature of their mirth, especially as he involuntarily felt some respect for his unknown guest. He paused, therefore, at some distance from the table occupied by thesenoisy revellers, and began to make a sort of apology for their license. 

"You would think, " he said, "to hear these fellows talk, that there wasnot one of them who had not been bred to live by Stand and Deliver; andyet tomorrow you will find them a set of as painstaking mechanics, andso forth, as ever cut an inch short of measure, or paid a letter ofchange in light crowns over a counter. The mercer there wears his hatawry, over a shaggy head of hair, that looks like a curly water-dog'sback, goes unbraced, wears his cloak on one side, and affects aruffianly vapouring humour: when in his shop at Abingdon, he is, fromhis flat cap to his glistening shoes, as precise in his apparel as if hewas named for mayor. He talks of breaking parks, and taking the highway, in such fashion that you would think he haunted every night betwixtHounslow and London; when in fact he may be found sound asleep on hisfeather-bed, with a candle placed beside him on one side, and a Bible onthe other, to fright away the goblins. "

"And your nephew, mine host, this same Michael Lambourne, who is lord ofthe feast--is he, too, such a would-be ruffler as the rest of them?"

"Why, there you push me hard, " said the host; "my nephew is my nephew, and though he was a desperate Dick of yore, yet Mike may have mendedlike other folks, you wot. And I would not have you think all I saidof him, even now, was strict gospel; I knew the wag all the while, andwished to pluck his plumes from him. And now, sir, by what name shall Ipresent my worshipful guest to these gallants?"

"Marry, mine host, " replied the stranger, "you may call me Tressilian. "

"Tressilian?" answered mine host of the Bear. "A worthy name, and, as Ithink, of Cornish lineage; for what says the south proverb--

 'By Pol, Tre, and Pen, You may know the Cornish men. '

Shall I say the worthy Master Tressilian of Cornwall?"

"Say no more than I have given you warrant for, mine host, and so shallyou be sure you speak no more than is true. A man may have one of thosehonourable prefixes to his name, yet be born far from Saint Michael'sMount. "

Mine host pushed his curiosity no further, but presented MasterTressilian to his nephew's company, who, after exchange of salutations, and drinking to the health of their new companion, pursued theconversation in which he found them engaged, seasoning it with many anintervening pledge. 

CHAPTER II. 

 Talk you of young Master Lancelot? --MERCHANT OF VENICE. 

After some brief interval, Master Goldthred, at the earnest instigationof mine host, and the joyous concurrence of his guest, indulged thecompany with, the following morsel of melody:--

 "Of all the birds on bush or tree, Commend me to the owl, Since he may best ensample be To those the cup that trowl. For when the sun hath left the west, He chooses the tree that he loves the best, And he whoops out his song, and he laughs at his jest; Then, though hours be late and weather foul, We'll drink to the health of the bonny, bonny owl. 

 "The lark is but a bumpkin fowl, He sleeps in his nest till morn; But my blessing upon the jolly owl, That all night blows his horn. Then up with your cup till you stagger in speech, And match me this catch till you swagger and screech, And drink till you wink, my merry men each; For, though hours be late and weather be foul, We'll drink to the health of the bonny, bonny owl. "

"There is savour in this, my hearts, " said Michael, when the mercer hadfinished his song, "and some goodness seems left among you yet; but whata bead-roll you have read me of old comrades, and to every man's nametacked some ill-omened motto! And so Swashing Will of Wallingford hathbid us good-night?"

"He died the death of a fat buck, " said one of the party, "being shotwith a crossbow bolt, by old Thatcham, the Duke's stout park-keeper atDonnington Castle. "

"Ay, ay, he always loved venison well, " replied Michael, "and a cupof claret to boot--and so here's one to his memory. Do me right, mymasters. "

When the memory of this departed worthy had been duly honoured, Lambourne proceeded to inquire after Prance of Padworth. 

"Pranced off--made immortal ten years since, " said the mercer; "marry, sir, Oxford Castle and Goodman Thong, and a tenpenny-worth of cord, bestknow how. "

"What, so they hung poor Prance high and dry? so much for loving to walkby moonlight. A cup to his memory, my masters-all merry fellows likemoonlight. What has become of Hal with the Plume--he who lived nearYattenden, and wore the long feather?--I forget his name. "

"What, Hal Hempseed?" replied the mercer. "Why, you may remember he wasa sort of a gentleman, and would meddle in state matters, and so hegot into the mire about the Duke of Norfolk's affair these two or threeyears since, fled the country with a pursuivant's warrant at his heels, and has never since been heard of. "

"Nay, after these baulks, " said Michael Lambourne, "I need hardlyinquire after Tony Foster; for when ropes, and crossbow shafts, andpursuivant's warrants, and such-like gear, were so rife, Tony couldhardly 'scape them. "

"Which Tony Foster mean you?" said the innkeeper. 

"Why, him they called Tony Fire-the-Fagot, because he brought a lightto kindle the pile round Latimer and Ridley, when the wind blew out JackThong's torch, and no man else would give him light for love or money. "

"Tony Foster lives and thrives, " said the host. "But, kinsman, I wouldnot have you call him Tony Fire-the-Fagot, if you would not brook thestab. "

"How! is he grown ashamed on't?" said Lambourne, "Why, he was wont toboast of it, and say he liked as well to see a roasted heretic as aroasted ox. "

"Ay, but, kinsman, that was in Mary's time, " replied the landlord, "whenTony's father was reeve here to the Abbot of Abingdon. But since that, Tony married a pure precisian, and is as good a Protestant, I warrantyou, as the best. "

"And looks grave, and holds his head high, and scorns his oldcompanions, " said the mercer. 

"Then he hath prospered, I warrant him, " said Lambourne; "for ever whena man hath got nobles of his own, he keeps out of the way of those whoseexchequers lie in other men's purchase. "

"Prospered, quotha!" said the mercer; "why, you remember Cumnor Place, the old mansion-house beside the churchyard?"

"By the same token, I robbed the orchard three times--what of that?It was the old abbot's residence when there was plague or sickness atAbingdon. "

"Ay, " said the host, "but that has been long over; and Anthony Fosterhath a right in it, and lives there by some grant from a great courtier, who had the church-lands from the crown. And there he dwells, and hasas little to do with any poor wight in Cumnor, as if he were himself abelted knight. "

"Nay, " said the mercer, "it is not altogether pride in Tony neither;there is a fair lady in the case, and Tony will scarce let the light ofday look on her. "

"How!" said Tressilian, who now for the first time interfered intheir conversation; "did ye not say this Foster was married, and to aprecisian?"

"Married he was, and to as bitter a precisian as ever ate flesh in Lent;and a cat-and-dog life she led with Tony, as men said. But she is dead, rest be with her! and Tony hath but a slip of a daughter; so it isthought he means to wed this stranger, that men keep such a coil about. "

"And why so?--I mean, why do they keep a coil about her?" saidTressilian. 

"Why, I wot not, " answered the host, "except that men say she is asbeautiful as an angel, and no one knows whence she comes, and every onewishes to know why she is kept so closely mewed up. For my part, I neversaw her--you have, I think, Master Goldthred?"

"That I have, old boy, " said the mercer. "Look you, I was riding hitherfrom Abingdon. I passed under the east oriel window of the old mansion, where all the old saints and histories and such-like are painted. It wasnot the common path I took, but one through the Park; for the posterndoor was upon the latch, and I thought I might take the privilege of anold comrade to ride across through the trees, both for shading, as theday was somewhat hot, and for avoiding of dust, because I had on mypeach-coloured doublet, pinked out with cloth of gold. "

"Which garment, " said Michael Lambourne, "thou wouldst willingly maketwinkle in the eyes of a fair dame. Ah! villain, thou wilt never leavethy old tricks. "

"Not so-not so, " said the mercer, with a smirking laugh--"not altogetherso--but curiosity, thou knowest, and a strain of compassion withal; forthe poor young lady sees nothing from morn to even but Tony Foster, withhis scowling black brows, his bull's head, and his bandy legs. "

"And thou wouldst willingly show her a dapper body, in a silkenjerkin--a limb like a short-legged hen's, in a cordovan boot--and around, simpering, what-d'ye-lack sort of a countenance, set off with avelvet bonnet, a Turkey feather, and a gilded brooch? Ah! jolly mercer, they who have good wares are fond to show them!--Come, gentles, letnot the cup stand--here's to long spurs, short boots, full bonnets, andempty skulls!"

"Nay, now, you are jealous of me, Mike, " said Goldthred; "and yet myluck was but what might have happened to thee, or any man. "

"Marry confound thine impudence, " retorted Lambourne; "thou wouldst notcompare thy pudding face, and sarsenet manners, to a gentleman, and asoldier?"

"Nay, my good sir, " said Tressilian, "let me beseech you will notinterrupt the gallant citizen; methinks he tells his tale so well, Icould hearken to him till midnight. "

"It's more of your favour than of my desert, " answered Master Goldthred;"but since I give you pleasure, worthy Master Tressilian, I shallproceed, maugre all the gibes and quips of this valiant soldier, who, peradventure, hath had more cuffs than crowns in the Low Countries. Andso, sir, as I passed under the great painted window, leaving my reinloose on my ambling palfrey's neck, partly for mine ease, and partlythat I might have the more leisure to peer about, I hears me the latticeopen; and never credit me, sir, if there did not stand there the personof as fair a woman as ever crossed mine eyes; and I think I have lookedon as many pretty wenches, and with as much judgment, as other folks. "

"May I ask her appearance, sir?" said Tressilian. 

"Oh, sir, " replied Master Goldthred, "I promise you, she was ingentlewoman's attire--a very quaint and pleasing dress, that might haveserved the Queen herself; for she had a forepart with body and sleeves, of ginger-coloured satin, which, in my judgment, must have cost by theyard some thirty shillings, lined with murrey taffeta, and laid down andguarded with two broad laces of gold and silver. And her hat, sir, wastruly the best fashioned thing that I have seen in these parts, being oftawny taffeta, embroidered with scorpions of Venice gold, and having aborder garnished with gold fringe--I promise you, sir, an absoluteand all-surpassing device. Touching her skirts, they were in the oldpass-devant fashion. "

"I did not ask you of her attire, sir, " said Tressilian, who had shownsome impatience during this conversation, "but of her complexion--thecolour of her hair, her features. "

"Touching her complexion, " answered the mercer, "I am not so specialcertain, but I marked that her fan had an ivory handle, curiouslyinlaid. And then again, as to the colour of her hair, why, I canwarrant, be its hue what it might, that she wore above it a net of greensilk, parcel twisted with gold. "

"A most mercer-like memory!" said Lambourne. "The gentleman asks him ofthe lady's beauty, and he talks of her fine clothes!"

"I tell thee, " said the mercer, somewhat disconcerted, "I had littletime to look at her; for just as I was about to give her the good timeof day, and for that purpose had puckered my features with a smile--"

"Like those of a jackanape simpering at a chestnut, " said MichaelLambourne. 

"Up started of a sudden, " continued Goldthred, without heeding theinterruption, "Tony Foster himself, with a cudgel in his hand--"

"And broke thy head across, I hope, for thine impertinence, " said hisentertainer. 

"That were more easily said than done, " answered Goldthred indignantly;"no, no--there was no breaking of heads. It's true, he advanced hiscudgel, and spoke of laying on, and asked why I did not keep thepublic road, and such like; and I would have knocked him over the patehandsomely for his pains, only for the lady's presence, who might haveswooned, for what I know. "

"Now, out upon thee for a faint-spirited slave!" said Lambourne; "whatadventurous knight ever thought of the lady's terror, when he wentto thwack giant, dragon, or magician, in her presence, and for herdeliverance? But why talk to thee of dragons, who would be driven backby a dragon-fly. There thou hast missed the rarest opportunity!"

"Take it thyself, then, bully Mike, " answered Goldthred. "Yonder is theenchanted manor, and the dragon, and the lady, all at thy service, ifthou darest venture on them. "

"Why, so I would for a quartern of sack, " said the soldier--"or stay: Iam foully out of linen--wilt thou bet a piece of Hollands against thesefive angels, that I go not up to the Hall to-morrow and force TonyFoster to introduce me to his fair guest?"

"I accept your wager, " said the mercer; "and I think, though thou hadsteven the impudence of the devil, I shall gain on thee this bout. Ourlandlord here shall hold stakes, and I will stake down gold till I sendthe linen. "

"I will hold stakes on no such matter, " said Gosling. "Good now, mykinsman, drink your wine in quiet, and let such ventures alone. Ipromise you, Master Foster hath interest enough to lay you up inlavender in the Castle at Oxford, or to get your legs made acquaintedwith the town-stocks. "

"That would be but renewing an old intimacy, for Mike's shins and thetown's wooden pinfold have been well known to each other ere now, " saidthe mercer; "but he shall not budge from his wager, unless he means topay forfeit. "

"Forfeit?" said Lambourne; "I scorn it. I value Tony Foster's wrath nomore than a shelled pea-cod; and I will visit his Lindabrides, by SaintGeorge, be he willing or no!"

"I would gladly pay your halves of the risk, sir, " said Tressilian, "tobe permitted to accompany you on the adventure. "

"In what would that advantage you, sir?" answered Lambourne. 

"In nothing, sir, " said Tressilian, "unless to mark the skill and valourwith which you conduct yourself. I am a traveller who seeks for strangerencounters and uncommon passages, as the knights of yore did afteradventures and feats of arms. "

"Nay, if it pleasures you to see a trout tickled, " answered Lambourne, "I care not how many witness my skill. And so here I drink success to myenterprise; and he that will not pledge me on his knees is a rascal, andI will cut his legs off by the garters!"

The draught which Michael Lambourne took upon this occasion had beenpreceded by so many others, that reason tottered on her throne. Heswore one or two incoherent oaths at the mercer, who refused, reasonablyenough, to pledge him to a sentiment which inferred the loss of his ownwager. 

"Wilt thou chop logic with me, " said Lambourne, "thou knave, with nomore brains than are in a skein of ravelled silk? By Heaven, I will cutthee into fifty yards of galloon lace!"

But as he attempted to draw his sword for this doughty purpose, MichaelLambourne was seized upon by the tapster and the chamberlain, andconveyed to his own apartment, there to sleep himself sober at hisleisure. 

The party then broke up, and the guests took their leave; much moreto the contentment of mine host than of some of the company, who wereunwilling to quit good liquor, when it was to be had for free cost, solong as they were able to sit by it. They were, however, compelled toremove; and go at length they did, leaving Gosling and Tressilian in theempty apartment. 

"By my faith, " said the former, "I wonder where our great folks findpleasure, when they spend their means in entertainments, and in playingmine host without sending in a reckoning. It is what I but rarelypractise; and whenever I do, by Saint Julian, it grieves me beyondmeasure. Each of these empty stoups now, which my nephew and his drunkencomrades have swilled off, should have been a matter of profit to one inmy line, and I must set them down a dead loss. I cannot, for my heart, conceive the pleasure of noise, and nonsense, and drunken freaks, anddrunken quarrels, and smut, and blasphemy, and so forth, when a manloses money instead of gaining by it. And yet many a fair estate is lostin upholding such a useless course, and that greatly contributes to thedecay of publicans; for who the devil do you think would pay for drinkat the Black Bear, when he can have it for nothing at my Lord's or theSquire's?"

Tressilian perceived that the wine had made some impression even on theseasoned brain of mine host, which was chiefly to be inferred from hisdeclaiming against drunkenness. As he himself had carefully avoided thebowl, he would have availed himself of the frankness of the momentto extract from Gosling some further information upon the subjectof Anthony Foster, and the lady whom the mercer had seen in hismansion-house; but his inquiries only set the host upon a new theme ofdeclamation against the wiles of the fair sex, in which he brought, atfull length, the whole wisdom of Solomon to reinforce his own. Finally, he turned his admonitions, mixed with much objurgation, upon histapsters and drawers, who were employed in removing the relics of theentertainment, and restoring order to the apartment; and at length, joining example to precept, though with no good success, he demolisheda salver with half a score of glasses, in attempting to show how suchservice was done at the Three Cranes in the Vintry, then the mosttopping tavern in London. This last accident so far recalled him to hisbetter self, that he retired to his bed, slept sound, and awoke a newman in the morning. 

CHAPTER III. 

 Nay, I'll hold touch--the game shall be play'd out; It ne'er shall stop for me, this merry wager: That which I say when gamesome, I'll avouch In my most sober mood, ne'er trust me else. THE HAZARD TABLE. 

"And how doth your kinsman, good mine host?" said Tressilian, when GilesGosling first appeared in the public room, on the morning following therevel which we described in the last chapter. "Is he well, and will heabide by his wager?"

"For well, sir, he started two hours since, and has visited I know notwhat purlieus of his old companions; hath but now returned, and is atthis instant breakfasting on new-laid eggs and muscadine. And for hiswager, I caution you as a friend to have little to do with that, orindeed with aught that Mike proposes. Wherefore, I counsel you to a warmbreakfast upon a culiss, which shall restore the tone of the stomach;and let my nephew and Master Goldthred swagger about their wager as theylist. "

"It seems to me, mine host, " said Tressilian, "that you know not wellwhat to say about this kinsman of yours, and that you can neither blamenor commend him without some twinge of conscience. "

"You have spoken truly, Master Tressilian, " replied Giles Gosling. "There is Natural Affection whimpering into one ear, 'Giles, Giles, whywilt thou take away the good name of thy own nephew? Wilt thou defamethy sister's son, Giles Gosling? wilt thou defoul thine own nest, dishonour thine own blood?' And then, again, comes Justice, and says, 'Here is a worthy guest as ever came to the bonny Black Bear; one whonever challenged a reckoning' (as I say to your face you never did, Master Tressilian--not that you have had cause), 'one who knows not whyhe came, so far as I can see, or when he is going away; and wilt thou, being a publican, having paid scot and lot these thirty years in thetown of Cumnor, and being at this instant head-borough, wilt thou sufferthis guest of guests, this man of men, this six-hooped pot (as I maysay) of a traveller, to fall into the meshes of thy nephew, who is knownfor a swasher and a desperate Dick, a carder and a dicer, a professor ofthe seven damnable sciences, if ever man took degrees in them?' No, by Heaven! I might wink, and let him catch such a small butterfly asGoldthred; but thou, my guest, shall be forewarned, forearmed, so thouwilt but listen to thy trusty host. "

"Why, mine host, thy counsel shall not be cast away, " repliedTressilian; "however, I must uphold my share in this wager, having oncepassed my word to that effect. But lend me, I pray, some of thy counsel. This Foster, who or what is he, and why makes he such mystery of hisfemale inmate?"

"Troth, " replied Gosling, "I can add but little to what you heard lastnight. He was one of Queen Mary's Papists, and now he is one of QueenElizabeth's Protestants; he was an onhanger of the Abbot of Abingdon;and now he lives as master of the Manor-house. Above all, he waspoor, and is rich. Folk talk of private apartments in his old wastemansion-house, bedizened fine enough to serve the Queen, God bless her!Some men think he found a treasure in the orchard, some that he soldhimself to the devil for treasure, and some say that he cheated theabbot out of the church plate, which was hidden in the old Manor-houseat the Reformation. Rich, however, he is, and God and his conscience, with the devil perhaps besides, only know how he came by it. He hassulky ways too--breaking off intercourse with all that are of the place, as if he had either some strange secret to keep, or held himself to bemade of another clay than we are. I think it likely my kinsman and hewill quarrel, if Mike thrust his acquaintance on him; and I am sorrythat you, my worthy Master Tressilian, will still think of going in mynephew's company. "

Tressilian again answered him, that he would proceed with great caution, and that he should have no fears on his account; in short, he bestowedon him all the customary assurances with which those who are determinedon a rash action are wont to parry the advice of their friends. 

Meantime, the traveller accepted the landlord's invitation, and had justfinished the excellent breakfast, which was served to him and Goslingby pretty Cicely, the beauty of the bar, when the hero of the precedingnight, Michael Lambourne, entered the apartment. His toilet hadapparently cost him some labour, for his clothes, which differed fromthose he wore on his journey, were of the newest fashion, and put onwith great attention to the display of his person. 

"By my faith, uncle, " said the gallant, "you made a wet night of it, andI feel it followed by a dry morning. I will pledge you willingly in acup of bastard. --How, my pretty coz Cicely! why, I left you but a childin the cradle, and there thou stand'st in thy velvet waistcoat, as tighta girl as England's sun shines on. Know thy friends and kindred, Cicely, and come hither, child, that I may kiss thee, and give thee myblessing. "

"Concern not yourself about Cicely, kinsman, " said Giles Gosling, "bute'en let her go her way, a' God's name; for although your mother wereher father's sister, yet that shall not make you and her cater-cousins. "

"Why, uncle, " replied Lambourne, "think'st thou I am an infidel, andwould harm those of mine own house?"

"It is for no harm that I speak, Mike, " answered his uncle, "but asimple humour of precaution which I have. True, thou art as well gildedas a snake when he casts his old slough in the spring time; but for allthat, thou creepest not into my Eden. I will look after mine Eve, Mike, and so content thee. --But how brave thou be'st, lad! To look on theenow, and compare thee with Master Tressilian here, in his sad-colouredriding-suit, who would not say that thou wert the real gentleman and hethe tapster's boy?"

"Troth, uncle, " replied Lambourne, "no one would say so but one of yourcountry-breeding, that knows no better. I will say, and I care not whohears me, there is something about the real gentry that few men come upto that are not born and bred to the mystery. I wot not where the tricklies; but although I can enter an ordinary with as much audacity, rebukethe waiters and drawers as loudly, drink as deep a health, swear asround an oath, and fling my gold as freely about as any of the jinglingspurs and white feathers that are around me, yet, hang me if I can evercatch the true grace of it, though I have practised an hundred times. The man of the house sets me lowest at the board, and carves to me thelast; and the drawer says, 'Coming, friend, ' without any more reverenceor regardful addition. But, hang it, let it pass; care killed a cat. Ihave gentry enough to pass the trick on Tony Fire-the-Faggot, and thatwill do for the matter in hand. "

"You hold your purpose, then, of visiting your old acquaintance?" saidTressilian to the adventurer. 

"Ay, sir, " replied Lambourne; "when stakes are made, the game must beplayed; that is gamester's law, all over the world. You, sir, unlessmy memory fails me (for I did steep it somewhat too deeply in thesack-butt), took some share in my hazard?"

"I propose to accompany you in your adventure, " said Tressilian, "if youwill do me so much grace as to permit me; and I have staked my share ofthe forfeit in the hands of our worthy host. "

"That he hath, " answered Giles Gosling, "in as fair Harry-nobles as everwere melted into sack by a good fellow. So, luck to your enterprise, since you will needs venture on Tony Foster; but, by my credit, you hadbetter take another draught before you depart, for your welcome atthe Hall yonder will be somewhat of the driest. And if you do get intoperil, beware of taking to cold steel; but send for me, Giles Gosling, the head-borough, and I may be able to make something out of Tony yet, for as proud as he is. "

The nephew dutifully obeyed his uncle's hint, by taking a secondpowerful pull at the tankard, observing that his wit never served himso well as when he had washed his temples with a deep morning's draught;and they set forth together for the habitation of Anthony Foster. 

The village of Cumnor is pleasantly built on a hill, and in a woodedpark closely adjacent was situated the ancient mansion occupied at thistime by Anthony Foster, of which the ruins may be still extant. The parkwas then full of large trees, and in particular of ancient and mightyoaks, which stretched their giant arms over the high wall surroundingthe demesne, thus giving it a melancholy, secluded, and monasticappearance. The entrance to the park lay through an old-fashionedgateway in the outer wall, the door of which was formed of two hugeoaken leaves thickly studded with nails, like the gate of an old town. 

"We shall be finely helped up here, " said Michael Lambourne, looking atthe gateway and gate, "if this fellow's suspicious humour shouldrefuse us admission altogether, as it is like he may, in case thislinsey-wolsey fellow of a mercer's visit to his premises has disquietedhim. But, no, " he added, pushing the huge gate, which gave way, "thedoor stands invitingly open; and here we are within the forbiddenground, without other impediment than the passive resistance of a heavyoak door moving on rusty hinges. "

They stood now in an avenue overshadowed by such old trees as we havedescribed, and which had been bordered at one time by high hedges of yewand holly. But these, having been untrimmed for many years, had run upinto great bushes, or rather dwarf-trees, and now encroached, with theirdark and melancholy boughs, upon the road which they once had screened. The avenue itself was grown up with grass, and, in one or two places, interrupted by piles of withered brushwood, which had been lopped fromthe trees cut down in the neighbouring park, and was here stacked fordrying. Formal walks and avenues, which, at different points, crossedthis principal approach, were, in like manner, choked up and interruptedby piles of brushwood and billets, and in other places by underwood andbrambles. Besides the general effect of desolation which is so stronglyimpressed whenever we behold the contrivances of man wasted andobliterated by neglect, and witness the marks of social life effacedgradually by the influence of vegetation, the size of the trees and theoutspreading extent of their boughs diffused a gloom over the scene, even when the sun was at the highest, and made a proportional impressionon the mind of those who visited it. This was felt even by MichaelLambourne, however alien his habits were to receiving any impressions, excepting from things which addressed themselves immediately to hispassions. 

"This wood is as dark as a wolf's mouth, " said he to Tressilian, as theywalked together slowly along the solitary and broken approach, and hadjust come in sight of the monastic front of the old mansion, with itsshafted windows, brick walls overgrown with ivy and creeping shrubs, and twisted stalks of chimneys of heavy stone-work. "And yet, " continuedLambourne, "it is fairly done on the part of Foster too for since hechooses not visitors, it is right to keep his place in a fashion thatwill invite few to trespass upon his privacy. But had he been theAnthony I once knew him, these sturdy oaks had long since become theproperty of some honest woodmonger, and the manor-close here had lookedlighter at midnight than it now does at noon, while Foster played fastand loose with the price, in some cunning corner in the purlieus ofWhitefriars. "

"Was he then such an unthrift?" asked Tressilian. 

"He was, " answered Lambourne, "like the rest of us, no saint, and nosaver. But what I liked worst of Tony was, that he loved to take hispleasure by himself, and grudged, as men say, every drop of water thatwent past his own mill. I have known him deal with such measures of winewhen he was alone, as I would not have ventured on with aid of the besttoper in Berkshire;--that, and some sway towards superstition, which hehad by temperament, rendered him unworthy the company of a good fellow. And now he has earthed himself here, in a den just befitting such a slyfox as himself. "

"May I ask you, Master Lambourne, " said Tressilian, "since your oldcompanion's humour jumps so little with your own, wherefore you are sodesirous to renew acquaintance with him?"

"And may I ask you, in return, Master Tressilian, " answered Lambourne, "wherefore you have shown yourself so desirous to accompany me on thisparty?"

"I told you my motive, " said Tressilian, "when I took share in yourwager--it was simple curiosity. "

"La you there now!" answered Lambourne. "See how you civil and discreetgentlemen think to use us who live by the free exercise of our wits! HadI answered your question by saying that it was simple curiosity whichled me to visit my old comrade Anthony Foster, I warrant you had set itdown for an evasion, and a turn of my trade. But any answer, I suppose, must serve my turn. "

"And wherefore should not bare curiosity, " said Tressilian, "be asufficient reason for my taking this walk with you?"

"Oh, content yourself, sir, " replied Lambourne; "you cannot putthe change on me so easy as you think, for I have lived among thequick-stirring spirits of the age too long to swallow chaff for grain. You are a gentleman of birth and breeding--your bearing makes it good;of civil habits and fair reputation--your manners declare it, andmy uncle avouches it; and yet you associate yourself with a sort ofscant-of-grace, as men call me, and, knowing me to be such, you makeyourself my companion in a visit to a man whom you are a strangerto--and all out of mere curiosity, forsooth! The excuse, if curiouslybalanced, would be found to want some scruples of just weight, or so. "

"If your suspicions were just, " said Tressilian, "you have shown noconfidence in me to invite or deserve mine. "

"Oh, if that be all, " said Lambourne, "my motives lie above water. Whilethis gold of mine lasts"--taking out his purse, chucking it into theair, and catching it as it fell--"I will make it buy pleasure; andwhen it is out I must have more. Now, if this mysterious Lady of theManor--this fair Lindabrides of Tony Fire-the-Fagot--be so admirable apiece as men say, why, there is a chance that she may aid me to meltmy nobles into greats; and, again, if Anthony be so wealthy a chuffas report speaks him, he may prove the philosopher's stone to me, andconvert my greats into fair rose-nobles again. "

"A comfortable proposal truly, " said Tressilian; "but I see not whatchance there is of accomplishing it. "

"Not to-day, or perchance to-morrow, " answered Lambourne; "I expect notto catch the old jack till. I have disposed my ground-baits handsomely. But I know something more of his affairs this morning than I did lastnight, and I will so use my knowledge that he shall think it moreperfect than it is. Nay, without expecting either pleasure or profit, orboth, I had not stepped a stride within this manor, I can tell you; forI promise you I hold our visit not altogether without risk. --But here weare, and we must make the best on't. "

While he thus spoke, they had entered a large orchard which surroundedthe house on two sides, though the trees, abandoned by the care of man, were overgrown and messy, and seemed to bear little fruit. Those whichhad been formerly trained as espaliers had now resumed their naturalmode of growing, and exhibited grotesque forms, partaking of theoriginal training which they had received. The greater part of theground, which had once been parterres and flower-gardens, was sufferedin like manner to run to waste, excepting a few patches which had beendug up and planted with ordinary pot herbs. Some statues, which hadornamented the garden in its days of splendour, were now thrown downfrom their pedestals and broken in pieces; and a large summer-house, having a heavy stone front, decorated with carving representing the lifeand actions of Samson, was in the same dilapidated condition. 

They had just traversed this garden of the sluggard, and were withina few steps of the door of the mansion, when Lambourne had ceasedspeaking; a circumstance very agreeable to Tressilian, as it saved himthe embarrassment of either commenting upon or replying to the frankavowal which his companion had just made of the sentiments and viewswhich induced him to come hither. Lambourne knocked roundly and boldlyat the huge door of the mansion, observing, at the same time, he hadseen a less strong one upon a county jail. It was not until they hadknocked more than once that an aged, sour-visaged domestic reconnoitredthem through a small square hole in the door, well secured with bars ofiron, and demanded what they wanted. 

"To speak with Master Foster instantly, on pressing business of thestate, " was the ready reply of Michael Lambourne. 

"Methinks you will find difficulty to make that good, " said Tressilianin a whisper to his companion, while the servant went to carry themessage to his master. 

"Tush, " replied the adventurer; "no soldier would go on were healways to consider when and how he should come off. Let us once obtainentrance, and all will go well enough. "

In a short time the servant returned, and drawing with a careful handboth bolt and bar, opened the gate, which admitted them through anarchway into a square court, surrounded by buildings. Opposite to thearch was another door, which the serving-man in like manner unlocked, and thus introduced them into a stone-paved parlour, where there was butlittle furniture, and that of the rudest and most ancient fashion. Thewindows were tall and ample, reaching almost to the roof of the room, which was composed of black oak; those opening to the quadrangle wereobscured by the height of the surrounding buildings, and, as they weretraversed with massive shafts of solid stone-work, and thickly paintedwith religious devices, and scenes taken from Scripture history, by nomeans admitted light in proportion to their size, and what did penetratethrough them partook of the dark and gloomy tinge of the stained glass. 

Tressilian and his guide had time enough to observe all theseparticulars, for they waited some space in the apartment ere the presentmaster of the mansion at length made his appearance. Prepared as he wasto see an inauspicious and ill-looking person, the ugliness of AnthonyFoster considerably exceeded what Tressilian had anticipated. He wasof middle stature, built strongly, but so clumsily as to border ondeformity, and to give all his motions the ungainly awkwardness of aleft-legged and left-handed man. His hair, in arranging which men atthat time, as at present, were very nice and curious, instead of beingcarefully cleaned and disposed into short curls, or else set up on end, as is represented in old paintings, in a manner resembling that used byfine gentlemen of our own day, escaped in sable negligence from undera furred bonnet, and hung in elf-locks, which seemed strangers tothe comb, over his rugged brows, and around his very singular andunprepossessing countenance. His keen, dark eyes were deep set beneathbroad and shaggy eyebrows, and as they were usually bent on the ground, seemed as if they were themselves ashamed of the expression natural tothem, and were desirous to conceal it from the observation of men. At times, however, when, more intent on observing others, he suddenlyraised them, and fixed them keenly on those with whom he conversed, theyseemed to express both the fiercer passions, and the power of mind whichcould at will suppress or disguise the intensity of inward feeling. The features which corresponded with these eyes and this form wereirregular, and marked so as to be indelibly fixed on the mind of himwho had once seen them. Upon the whole, as Tressilian could not helpacknowledging to himself, the Anthony Foster who now stood before themwas the last person, judging from personal appearance, upon whom onewould have chosen to intrude an unexpected and undesired visit. Hisattire was a doublet of russet leather, like those worn by the bettersort of country folk, girt with a buff belt, in which was stuck on theright side a long knife, or dudgeon dagger, and on the other acutlass. He raised his eyes as he entered the room, and fixed a keenlypenetrating glance upon his two visitors; then cast them down as ifcounting his steps, while he advanced slowly into the middle of theroom, and said, in a low and smothered tone of voice, "Let me pray you, gentlemen, to tell me the cause of this visit. "

He looked as if he expected the answer from Tressilian, so true wasLambourne's observation that the superior air of breeding and dignityshone through the disguise of an inferior dress. But it was Michael whoreplied to him, with the easy familiarity of an old friend, and a tonewhich seemed unembarrassed by any doubt of the most cordial reception. 

"Ha! my dear friend and ingle, Tony Foster!" he exclaimed, seizingupon the unwilling hand, and shaking it with such emphasis as almost tostagger the sturdy frame of the person whom he addressed, "how fares itwith you for many a long year? What! have you altogether forgotten yourfriend, gossip, and playfellow, Michael Lambourne?"

"Michael Lambourne!" said Foster, looking at him a moment; then droppinghis eyes, and with little ceremony extricating his hand from thefriendly grasp of the person by whom he was addressed, "are you MichaelLambourne?"

"Ay; sure as you are Anthony Foster, " replied Lambourne. 

"'Tis well, " answered his sullen host. "And what may Michael Lambourneexpect from his visit hither?"

"VOTO A DIOS, " answered Lambourne, "I expected a better welcome than Iam like to meet, I think. "

"Why, thou gallows-bird--thou jail-rat--thou friend of the hangmanand his customers!" replied Foster, "hast thou the assurance to expectcountenance from any one whose neck is beyond the compass of a Tyburntippet?"

"It may be with me as you say, " replied Lambourne; "and suppose I grantit to be so for argument's sake, I were still good enough societyfor mine ancient friend Anthony Fire-the-Fagot, though he be, for thepresent, by some indescribable title, the master of Cumnor Place. "

"Hark you, Michael Lambourne, " said Foster; "you are a gambler now, andlive by the counting of chances--compute me the odds that I do not, onthis instant, throw you out of that window into the ditch there. "

"Twenty to one that you do not, " answered the sturdy visitor. 

"And wherefore, I pray you?" demanded Anthony Foster, setting his teethand compressing his lips, like one who endeavours to suppress someviolent internal emotion. 

"Because, " said Lambourne coolly, "you dare not for your life lay afinger on me. I am younger and stronger than you, and have in me adouble portion of the fighting devil, though not, it may be, quite somuch of the undermining fiend, that finds an underground way to hispurpose--who hides halters under folk's pillows, and who puts rats-baneinto their porridge, as the stage-play says. "

Foster looked at him earnestly, then turned away, and paced the roomtwice with the same steady and considerate pace with which he hadentered it; then suddenly came back, and extended his hand to MichaelLambourne, saying, "Be not wroth with me, good Mike; I did but trywhether thou hadst parted with aught of thine old and honourablefrankness, which your enviers and backbiters called saucy impudence. "

"Let them call it what they will, " said Michael Lambourne, "it is thecommodity we must carry through the world with us. --Uds daggers! I tellthee, man, mine own stock of assurance was too small to trade upon. Iwas fain to take in a ton or two more of brass at every port where Itouched in the voyage of life; and I started overboard what modesty andscruples I had remaining, in order to make room for the stowage. "

"Nay, nay, " replied Foster, "touching scruples and modesty, you sailedhence in ballast. But who is this gallant, honest Mike?--is he aCorinthian--a cutter like thyself?"

"I prithee, know Master Tressilian, bully Foster, " replied Lambourne, presenting his friend in answer to his friend's question, "know himand honour him, for he is a gentleman of many admirable qualities; andthough he traffics not in my line of business, at least so far as Iknow, he has, nevertheless, a just respect and admiration for artistsof our class. He will come to in time, as seldom fails; but as yet he isonly a neophyte, only a proselyte, and frequents the company of cocks ofthe game, as a puny fencer does the schools of the masters, to see how afoil is handled by the teachers of defence. "

"If such be his quality, I will pray your company in another chamber, honest Mike, for what I have to say to thee is for thy privateear. --Meanwhile, I pray you, sir, to abide us in this apartment, andwithout leaving it; there be those in this house who would be alarmed bythe sight of a stranger. "

Tressilian acquiesced, and the two worthies left the apartment together, in which he remained alone to await their return. [See Note 1. Foster, Lambourne, and the Black Bear. ]

CHAPTER IV. 

 Not serve two masters?--Here's a youth will try it-- Would fain serve God, yet give the devil his due; Says grace before he doth a deed of villainy, And returns his thanks devoutly when 'tis acted, --OLD PLAY. 

The room into which the Master of Cumnor Place conducted his worthyvisitant was of greater extent than that in which they had at firstconversed, and had yet more the appearance of dilapidation. Large oakenpresses, filled with shelves of the same wood, surrounded the room, andhad, at one time, served for the arrangement of a numerous collectionof books, many of which yet remained, but torn and defaced, covered withdust, deprived of their costly clasps and bindings, and tossed togetherin heaps upon the shelves, as things altogether disregarded, andabandoned to the pleasure of every spoiler. The very presses themselvesseemed to have incurred the hostility of those enemies of learning whohad destroyed the volumes with which they had been heretofore filled. They were, in several places, dismantled of their shelves, and otherwisebroken and damaged, and were, moreover, mantled with cobwebs and coveredwith dust. 

"The men who wrote these books, " said Lambourne, looking round him, "little thought whose keeping they were to fall into. "

"Nor what yeoman's service they were to do me, " quoth Anthony Foster;"the cook hath used them for scouring his pewter, and the groom hath hadnought else to clean my boots with, this many a month past. "

"And yet, " said Lambourne, "I have been in cities where such learnedcommodities would have been deemed too good for such offices. "

"Pshaw, pshaw, " answered Foster, "'they are Popish trash, every oneof them--private studies of the mumping old Abbot of Abingdon. Thenineteenthly of a pure gospel sermon were worth a cartload of suchrakings of the kennel of Rome. "

"Gad-a-mercy, Master Tony Fire-the-Fagot!" said Lambourne, by way ofreply. 

Foster scowled darkly at him, as he replied, "Hark ye, friend Mike;forget that name, and the passage which it relates to, if you would nothave our newly-revived comradeship die a sudden and a violent death. "

"Why, " said Michael Lambourne, "you were wont to glory in the share youhad in the death of the two old heretical bishops. "

"That, " said his comrade, "was while I was in the gall of bitterness andbond of iniquity, and applies not to my walk or my ways now that Iam called forth into the lists. Mr. Melchisedek Maultext compared mymisfortune in that matter to that of the Apostle Paul, who kept theclothes of the witnesses who stoned Saint Stephen. He held forth on thematter three Sabbaths past, and illustrated the same by the conduct ofan honourable person present, meaning me. "

"I prithee peace, Foster, " said Lambourne, "for I know not how it is, Ihave a sort of creeping comes over my skin when I hear the devil quoteScripture; and besides, man, how couldst thou have the heart to quitthat convenient old religion, which you could slip off or on as easilyas your glove? Do I not remember how you were wont to carry yourconscience to confession, as duly as the month came round? and when thouhadst it scoured, and burnished, and whitewashed by the priest, thouwert ever ready for the worst villainy which could be devised, like achild who is always readiest to rush into the mire when he has got hisSunday's clean jerkin on. "

"Trouble not thyself about my conscience, " said Foster; "it is a thingthou canst not understand, having never had one of thine own. But letus rather to the point, and say to me, in one word, what is thy businesswith me, and what hopes have drawn thee hither?"

"The hope of bettering myself, to be sure, " answered Lambourne, "as theold woman said when she leapt over the bridge at Kingston. Look you, this purse has all that is left of as round a sum as a man would wish tocarry in his slop-pouch. You are here well established, it would seem, and, as I think, well befriended, for men talk of thy being under somespecial protection--nay, stare not like a pig that is stuck, mon;thou canst not dance in a net and they not see thee. Now I know suchprotection is not purchased for nought; you must have services to renderfor it, and in these I propose to help thee. "

"But how if I lack no assistance from thee, Mike? I think thy modestymight suppose that were a case possible. "

"That is to say, " retorted Lambourne, "that you would engross thewhole work, rather than divide the reward. But be not over-greedy, Anthony--covetousness bursts the sack and spills the grain. Look you, when the huntsman goes to kill a stag, he takes with him more dogs thanone. He has the stanch lyme-hound to track the wounded buck over hilland dale, but he hath also the fleet gaze-hound to kill him at view. Thou art the lyme-hound, I am the gaze-hound; and thy patron will needthe aid of both, and can well afford to requite it. Thou hast deepsagacity--an unrelenting purpose--a steady, long-breathed malignity ofnature, that surpasses mine. But then, I am the bolder, the quicker, themore ready, both at action and expedient. Separate, our properties arenot so perfect; but unite them, and we drive the world before us. Howsayest thou--shall we hunt in couples?"

"It is a currish proposal--thus to thrust thyself upon my privatematters, " replied Foster; "but thou wert ever an ill-nurtured whelp. "

"You shall have no cause to say so, unless you spurn my courtesy, " saidMichael Lambourne; "but if so, keep thee well from me, Sir Knight, asthe romance has it. I will either share your counsels or traverse them;for I have come here to be busy, either with thee or against thee. "

"Well, " said Anthony Foster, "since thou dost leave me so fair a choice, I will rather be thy friend than thine enemy. Thou art right; I CANprefer thee to the service of a patron who has enough of means to makeus both, and an hundred more. And, to say truth, thou art well qualifiedfor his service. Boldness and dexterity he demands--the justice-booksbear witness in thy favour; no starting at scruples in his service why, who ever suspected thee of a conscience? an assurance he must have whowould follow a courtier--and thy brow is as impenetrable as a Milanvisor. There is but one thing I would fain see amended in thee. "

"And what is that, my most precious friend Anthony?" replied Lambourne;"for I swear by the pillow of the Seven Sleepers I will not be slothfulin amending it. "

"Why, you gave a sample of it even now, " said Foster. "Your speechtwangs too much of the old stamp, and you garnish it ever and anon withsingular oaths, that savour of Papistrie. Besides, your exterior man isaltogether too deboshed and irregular to become one of his lordship'sfollowers, since he has a reputation to keep up in the eye of the world. You must somewhat reform your dress, upon a more grave and composedfashion; wear your cloak on both shoulders, and your falling bandunrumpled and well starched. You must enlarge the brim of your beaver, and diminish the superfluity of your trunk-hose; go to church, or, whichwill be better, to meeting, at least once a month; protest only uponyour faith and conscience; lay aside your swashing look, and never touchthe hilt of your sword but when you would draw the carnal weapon in goodearnest. "

"By this light, Anthony, thou art mad, " answered Lambourne, "and hastdescribed rather the gentleman-usher to a puritan's wife, than thefollower of an ambitious courtier! Yes, such a thing as thou wouldstmake of me should wear a book at his girdle instead of a poniard, andmight just be suspected of manhood enough to squire a proud dame-citizento the lecture at Saint Antonlin's, and quarrel in her cause with anyflat-capped threadmaker that would take the wall of her. He must ruffleit in another sort that would walk to court in a nobleman's train. "

"Oh, content you, sir, " replied Foster, "there is a change since youknew the English world; and there are those who can hold their waythrough the boldest courses, and the most secret, and yet never aswaggering word, or an oath, or a profane word in their conversation. "

"That is to say, " replied Lambourne, "they are in a trading copartnery, to do the devil's business without mentioning his name in the firm?Well, I will do my best to counterfeit, rather than lose ground in thisnew world, since thou sayest it is grown so precise. But, Anthony, whatis the name of this nobleman, in whose service I am to turn hypocrite?"

"Aha! Master Michael, are you there with your bears?" said Foster, witha grim smile; "and is this the knowledge you pretend of my concernments?How know you now there is such a person IN RERUM NATURA, and that I havenot been putting a jape upon you all this time?"

"Thou put a jape on me, thou sodden-brained gull?" answered Lambourne, nothing daunted. "Why, dark and muddy as thou think'st thyself, Iwould engage in a day's space to sec as clear through thee and thyconcernments, as thou callest them, as through the filthy horn of an oldstable lantern. "

At this moment their conversation was interrupted by a scream from thenext apartment. 

"By the holy Cross of Abingdon, " exclaimed Anthony Foster, forgettinghis Protestantism in his alarm, "I am a ruined man!"

So saying, he rushed into the apartment whence the scream issued, followed by Michael Lambourne. But to account for the sounds whichinterrupted their conversation, it is necessary to recede a little wayin our narrative. 

It has been already observed, that when Lambourne accompanied Fosterinto the library, they left Tressilian alone in the ancient parlour. Hisdark eye followed them forth of the apartment with a glance of contempt, a part of which his mind instantly transferred to himself, for havingstooped to be even for a moment their familiar companion. "These are theassociates, Amy"--it was thus he communed with himself--"to whichthy cruel levity--thine unthinking and most unmerited falsehood, hascondemned him of whom his friends once hoped far other things, and whonow scorns himself, as he will be scorned by others, for the basenesshe stoops to for the love of thee! But I will not leave the pursuit ofthee, once the object of my purest and most devoted affection, thoughto me thou canst henceforth be nothing but a thing to weep over. I willsave thee from thy betrayer, and from thyself; I will restore thee tothy parent--to thy God. I cannot bid the bright star again sparkle inthe sphere it has shot from, but--"

A slight noise in the apartment interrupted his reverie. He lookedround, and in the beautiful and richly-attired female who entered atthat instant by a side-door he recognized the object of his search. Thefirst impulse arising from this discovery urged him to conceal his facewith the collar of his cloak, until he should find a favourable momentof making himself known. But his purpose was disconcerted by the younglady (she was not above eighteen years old), who ran joyfully towardshim, and, pulling him by the cloak, said playfully, "Nay, my sweetfriend, after I have waited for you so long, you come not to my bowerto play the masquer. You are arraigned of treason to true love and fondaffection, and you must stand up at the bar and answer it with faceuncovered--how say you, guilty or not?"

"Alas, Amy!" said Tressilian, in a low and melancholy tone, as hesuffered her to draw the mantle from his face. The sound of his voice, and still more the unexpected sight of his face, changed in an instantthe lady's playful mood. She staggered back, turned as pale as death, and put her hands before her face. Tressilian was himself for a momentmuch overcome, but seeming suddenly to remember the necessity of usingan opportunity which might not again occur, he said in a low tone, "Amy, fear me not. "

"Why should I fear you?" said the lady, withdrawing her hands from herbeautiful face, which was now covered with crimson, --"Why should I fearyou, Master Tressilian?--or wherefore have you intruded yourself into mydwelling, uninvited, sir, and unwished for?"

"Your dwelling, Amy!" said Tressilian. "Alas! is a prison yourdwelling?--a prison guarded by one of the most sordid of men, but not agreater wretch than his employer!"

"This house is mine, " said Amy--"mine while I choose to inhabit it. Ifit is my pleasure to live in seclusion, who shall gainsay me?"

"Your father, maiden, " answered Tressilian, "your broken-hearted father, who dispatched me in quest of you with that authority which he cannotexert in person. Here is his letter, written while he blessed his painof body which somewhat stunned the agony of his mind. "

"The pain! Is my father then ill?" said the lady. 

"So ill, " answered Tressilian, "that even your utmost haste may notrestore him to health; but all shall be instantly prepared for yourdeparture, the instant you yourself will give consent. "

"Tressilian, " answered the lady, "I cannot, I must not, I dare not leavethis place. Go back to my father--tell him I will obtain leave to seehim within twelve hours from hence. Go back, Tressilian--tell him I amwell, I am happy--happy could I think he was so; tell him not to fearthat I will come, and in such a manner that all the grief Amy has givenhim shall be forgotten--the poor Amy is now greater than she dare name. Go, good Tressilian--I have injured thee too, but believe me I havepower to heal the wounds I have caused. I robbed you of a childishheart, which was not worthy of you, and I can repay the loss withhonours and advancement. "

"Do you say this to me, Amy?--do you offer me pageants of idle ambition, for the quiet peace you have robbed me of!--But be it so I came notto upbraid, but to serve and to free you. You cannot disguise it fromme--you are a prisoner. Otherwise your kind heart--for it was once akind heart--would have been already at your father's bedside. --Come, poor, deceived, unhappy maiden!--all shall be forgot--all shall beforgiven. Fear not my importunity for what regarded our contract--it wasa dream, and I have awaked. But come--your father yet lives--come, andone word of affection, one tear of penitence, will efface the memory ofall that has passed. "

"Have I not already said, Tressilian, " replied she, "that I will surelycome to my father, and that without further delay than is necessary todischarge other and equally binding duties?--Go, carry him the news;I come as sure as there is light in heaven--that is, when I obtainpermission. "

"Permission!--permission to visit your father on his sick-bed, perhapson his death-bed!" repeated Tressilian, impatiently; "and permissionfrom whom? From the villain, who, under disguise of friendship, abusedevery duty of hospitality, and stole thee from thy father's roof!"

"Do him no slander, Tressilian! He whom thou speakest of wears a swordas sharp as thine--sharper, vain man; for the best deeds thou hastever done in peace or war were as unworthy to be named with his, as thyobscure rank to match itself with the sphere he moves in. --Leave me!Go, do mine errand to my father; and when he next sends to me, let himchoose a more welcome messenger. "

"Amy, " replied Tressilian calmly, "thou canst not move me by thyreproaches. Tell me one thing, that I may bear at least one ray ofcomfort to my aged friend:--this rank of his which thou dost boast--dostthou share it with him, Amy?--does he claim a husband's right to controlthy motions?"

"Stop thy base, unmannered tongue!" said the lady; "to no question thatderogates from my honour do I deign an answer. "

"You have said enough in refusing to reply, " answered Tressilian;"and mark me, unhappy as thou art, I am armed with thy father's fullauthority to command thy obedience, and I will save thee from theslavery of sin and of sorrow, even despite of thyself, Amy. "

"Menace no violence here!" exclaimed the lady, drawing back from him, and alarmed at the determination expressed in his look and manner;"threaten me not, Tressilian, for I have means to repel force. "

"But not, I trust, the wish to use them in so evil a cause?" saidTressilian. "With thy will--thine uninfluenced, free, and natural will, Amy, thou canst not choose this state of slavery and dishonour. Thouhast been bound by some spell--entrapped by some deceit--art nowdetained by some compelled vow. But thus I break the charm--Amy, in thename of thine excellent, thy broken-hearted father, I command thee tofollow me!"

As he spoke he advanced and extended his arm, as with the purpose oflaying hold upon her. But she shrunk back from his grasp, and utteredthe scream which, as we before noticed, brought into the apartmentLambourne and Foster. 

The latter exclaimed, as soon as he entered, "Fire and fagot! whathave we here?" Then addressing the lady, in a tone betwixt entreatyand command, he added, "Uds precious! madam, what make you here out ofbounds? Retire--retire--there is life and death in this matter. --Andyou, friend, whoever you may be, leave this house--out with you, beforemy dagger's hilt and your costard become acquainted. --Draw, Mike, andrid us of the knave!"

"Not I, on my soul, " replied Lambourne; "he came hither in mycompany, and he is safe from me by cutter's law, at least till we meetagain. --But hark ye, my Cornish comrade, you have brought a Cornish flawof wind with you hither, a hurricanoe as they call it in the Indies. Make yourself scarce--depart--vanish--or we'll have you summoned beforethe Mayor of Halgaver, and that before Dudman and Ramhead meet. " [Twoheadlands on the Cornish coast. The expressions are proverbial. ]

"Away, base groom!" said Tressilian. --"And you, madam, fare youwell--what life lingers in your father's bosom will leave him at thenews I have to tell. "

He departed, the lady saying faintly as he left the room, "Tressilian, be not rash--say no scandal of me. "

"Here is proper gear, " said Foster. "I pray you go to your chamber, mylady, and let us consider how this is to be answered--nay, tarry not. "

"I move not at your command, sir, " answered the lady. 

"Nay, but you must, fair lady, " replied Foster; "excuse my freedom, but, by blood and nails, this is no time to strain courtesies--you MUST go toyour chamber. --Mike, follow that meddling coxcomb, and, as you desireto thrive, see him safely clear of the premises, while I bring thisheadstrong lady to reason. Draw thy tool, man, and after him. "

"I'll follow him, " said Michael Lambourne, "and see him fairly outof Flanders; but for hurting a man I have drunk my morning's draughtwithal, 'tis clean against my conscience. " So saying, he left theapartment. 

Tressilian, meanwhile, with hasty steps, pursued the first path whichpromised to conduct him through the wild and overgrown park in which themansion of Foster was situated. Haste and distress of mind led his stepsastray, and instead of taking the avenue which led towards the village, he chose another, which, after he had pursued it for some time with ahasty and reckless step, conducted him to the other side of the demesne, where a postern door opened through the wall, and led into the opencountry. 

Tressilian paused an instant. It was indifferent to him by what road heleft a spot now so odious to his recollections; but it was probablethat the postern door was locked, and his retreat by that pass renderedimpossible. 

"I must make the attempt, however, " he said to himself; "the only meansof reclaiming this lost--this miserable--this still most lovely and mostunhappy girl, must rest in her father's appeal to the broken laws of hiscountry. I must haste to apprise him of this heartrending intelligence. "

As Tressilian, thus conversing with himself, approached to try somemeans of opening the door, or climbing over it, he perceived there wasa key put into the lock from the outside. It turned round, the boltrevolved, and a cavalier, who entered, muffled in his riding-cloak, andwearing a slouched hat with a drooping feather, stood at once withinfour yards of him who was desirous of going out. They exclaimed atonce, in tones of resentment and surprise, the one "Varney!" the other"Tressilian!"

"What make you here?" was the stern question put by the stranger toTressilian, when the moment of surprise was past--"what make you here, where your presence is neither expected nor desired?"

"Nay, Varney, " replied Tressilian, "what make you here? Are you cometo triumph over the innocence you have destroyed, as the vulture orcarrion-crow comes to batten on the lamb whose eyes it has first pluckedout? Or are you come to encounter the merited vengeance of an honestman? Draw, dog, and defend thyself!"

Tressilian drew his sword as he spoke, but Varney only laid his handon the hilt of his own, as he replied, "Thou art mad, Tressilian. I ownappearances are against me; but by every oath a priest can make or a mancan swear, Mistress Amy Robsart hath had no injury from me. And in truthI were somewhat loath to hurt you in this cause--thou knowest I canfight. "

"I have heard thee say so, Varney, " replied Tressilian; "but now, methinks, I would fain have some better evidence than thine own word. "

"That shall not be lacking, if blade and hilt be but true to me, "answered Varney; and drawing his sword with the right hand, he threw hiscloak around his left, and attacked Tressilian with a vigour which, for a moment, seemed to give him the advantage of the combat. But thisadvantage lasted not long. Tressilian added to a spirit determined onrevenge a hand and eye admirably well adapted to the use of the rapier;so that Varney, finding himself hard pressed in his turn, endeavouredto avail himself of his superior strength by closing with his adversary. For this purpose, he hazarded the receiving one of Tressilian's passesin his cloak, wrapped as it was around his arm, and ere his adversarycould, extricate his rapier thus entangled, he closed with him, shortening his own sword at the same time, with the purpose ofdispatching him. But Tressilian was on his guard, and unsheathing hisponiard, parried with the blade of that weapon the home-thrust whichwould otherwise have finished the combat, and, in the struggle whichfollowed, displayed so much address, as might have confirmed, theopinion that he drew his origin from Cornwall whose natives are suchmasters in the art of wrestling, as, were the games of antiquityrevived, might enable them to challenge all Europe to the ring. Varney, in his ill-advised attempt, received a fall so sudden and violent thathis sword flew several paces from his hand and ere he could recover hisfeet, that of his antagonist was; pointed to his throat. 

"Give me the instant means of relieving the victim of thy treachery, "said Tressilian, "or take the last look of your Creator's blessed sun!"

And while Varney, too confused or too sullen to reply, made a suddeneffort to arise, his adversary drew back his arm, and would haveexecuted his threat, but that the blow was arrested by the grasp ofMichael Lambourne, who, directed by the clashing of swords had come upjust in time to save the life of Varney. 

"Come, come, comrade;" said Lambourne, "here is enough done and morethan enough; put up your fox and let us be jogging. The Black Beargrowls for us. "

"Off, abject!" said Tressilian, striking himself free of Lambourne'sgrasp; "darest thou come betwixt me and mine enemy?"

"Abject! abject!" repeated Lambourne; "that shall be answered with coldsteel whenever a bowl of sack has washed out memory of the morning'sdraught that we had together. In the meanwhile, do you see, shog--tramp--begone--we are two to one. "

He spoke truth, for Varney had taken the opportunity to regain hisweapon, and Tressilian perceived it was madness to press the quarrelfurther against such odds. He took his purse from his side, and takingout two gold nobles, flung them to Lambourne. "There, caitiff, isthy morning wage; thou shalt not say thou hast been my guideunhired. --Varney, farewell! we shall meet where there are none to comebetwixt us. " So saying, he turned round and departed through the posterndoor. 

Varney seemed to want the inclination, or perhaps the power (for hisfall had been a severe one), to follow his retreating enemy. But heglared darkly as he disappeared, and then addressed Lambourne. "Art thoua comrade of Foster's, good fellow?"

"Sworn friends, as the haft is to the knife, " replied Michael Lambourne. 

"Here is a broad piece for thee. Follow yonder fellow, and see where hetakes earth, and bring me word up to the mansion-house here. Cautiousand silent, thou knave, as thou valuest thy throat. "

"Enough said, " replied Lambourne; "I can draw on a scent as well as asleuth-hound. "

"Begone, then, " said Varney, sheathing his rapier; and, turning hisback on Michael Lambourne, he walked slowly towards the house. Lambournestopped but an instant to gather the nobles which his late companion hadflung towards him so unceremoniously, and muttered to himself, while heput them upon his purse along with the gratuity of Varney, "I spoke toyonder gulls of Eldorado. By Saint Anthony, there is no Eldorado formen of our stamp equal to bonny Old England! It rains nobles, byHeaven--they lie on the grass as thick as dewdrops--you may have themfor gathering. And if I have not my share of such glittering dewdrops, may my sword melt like an icicle!"

CHAPTER V. 

 He was a man Versed in the world as pilot in his compass. The needle pointed ever to that interest Which was his loadstar, and he spread his sails With vantage to the gale of others' passion. --THE DECEIVER, A TRAGEDY. 

Antony Foster was still engaged in debate with his fair guest, whotreated with scorn every entreaty and request that she would retire toher own apartment, when a whistle was heard at the entrance-door of themansion. 

"We are fairly sped now, " said Foster; "yonder is thy lord's signal, andwhat to say about the disorder which has happened in this household, by my conscience, I know not. Some evil fortune dogs the heels of thatunhanged rogue Lambourne, and he has 'scaped the gallows against everychance, to come back and be the ruin of me!"

"Peace, sir, " said the lady, "and undo the gate to your master. --Mylord! my dear lord!" she then exclaimed, hastening to the entrance ofthe apartment; then added, with a voice expressive of disappointment, "Pooh! it is but Richard Varney. "

"Ay, madam, " said Varney, entering and saluting the lady with arespectful obeisance, which she returned with a careless mixture ofnegligence and of displeasure, "it is but Richard Varney; but even thefirst grey cloud should be acceptable, when it lightens in the east, because it announces the approach of the blessed sun. "

"How! comes my lord hither to-night?" said the lady, in joyful yetstartled agitation; and Anthony Foster caught up the word, and echoedthe question. Varney replied to the lady, that his lord purposed toattend her; and would have proceeded with some compliment, when, runningto the door of the parlour, she called aloud, "Janet--Janet! come to mytiring-room instantly. " Then returning to Varney, she asked if her lordsent any further commendations to her. 

"This letter, honoured madam, " said he, taking from his bosom a smallparcel wrapped in scarlet silk, "and with it a token to the Queen ofhis Affections. " With eager speed the lady hastened to undo the silkenstring which surrounded the little packet, and failing to unloosereadily the knot with which it was secured, she again called loudly onJanet, "Bring me a knife--scissors--aught that may undo this enviousknot!"

"May not my poor poniard serve, honoured madam?" said Varney, presenting a small dagger of exquisite workmanship, which hung in hisTurkey-leather sword-belt. 

"No, sir, " replied the lady, rejecting the instrument which heoffered--"steel poniard shall cut no true-love knot of mine. "

"It has cut many, however, " said Anthony Foster, half aside, and lookingat Varney. By this time the knot was disentangled without any otherhelp than the neat and nimble fingers of Janet, a simply-attired prettymaiden, the daughter of Anthony Foster, who came running at the repeatedcall of her mistress. A necklace of orient pearl, the companion of aperfumed billet, was now hastily produced from the packet. The lady gavethe one, after a slight glance, to the charge of her attendant, whileshe read, or rather devoured, the contents of the other. 

"Surely, lady, " said Janet, gazing with admiration at the neck-stringof pearls, "the daughters of Tyre wore no fairer neck-jewels than these. And then the posy, 'For a neck that is fairer'--each pearl is worth afreehold. "

"Each word in this dear paper is worth the whole string, my girl. Butcome to my tiring-room, girl; we must be brave, my lord comes hitherto-night. --He bids me grace you, Master Varney, and to me his wish is alaw. I bid you to a collation in my bower this afternoon; and you, too, Master Foster. Give orders that all is fitting, and that suitablepreparations be made for my lord's reception to-night. " With these wordsshe left the apartment. 

"She takes state on her already, " said Varney, "and distributes thefavour of her presence, as if she were already the partner of hisdignity. Well, it is wise to practise beforehand the part which fortuneprepares us to play--the young eagle must gaze at the sun ere he soarson strong wing to meet it. "

"If holding her head aloft, " said Foster, "will keep her eyes fromdazzling, I warrant you the dame will not stoop her crest. She willpresently soar beyond reach of my whistle, Master Varney. I promise you, she holds me already in slight regard. "

"It is thine own fault, thou sullen, uninventive companion, " answeredVarney, "who knowest no mode of control save downright brute force. Canst thou not make home pleasant to her, with music and toys? Canstthou not make the out-of-doors frightful to her, with tales of goblins?Thou livest here by the churchyard, and hast not even wit enough toraise a ghost, to scare thy females into good discipline. "

"Speak not thus, Master Varney, " said Foster; "the living I fear not, but I trifle not nor toy with my dead neighbours of the churchyard. Ipromise you, it requires a good heart to live so near it. Worthy MasterHoldforth, the afternoon's lecturer of Saint Antonlin's, had a sorefright there the last time he came to visit me. "

"Hold thy superstitious tongue, " answered Varney; "and while thoutalkest of visiting, answer me, thou paltering knave, how cameTressilian to be at the postern door?"

"Tressilian!" answered Foster, "what know I of Tressilian? I never heardhis name. "

"Why, villain, it was the very Cornish chough to whom old Sir HughRobsart destined his pretty Amy; and hither the hot-brained fool hascome to look after his fair runaway. There must be some order taken withhim, for he thinks he hath wrong, and is not the mean hind that will sitdown with it. Luckily he knows nought of my lord, but thinks he has onlyme to deal with. But how, in the fiend's name, came he hither?"

"Why, with Mike Lambourne, an you must know, " answered Foster. 

"And who is Mike Lambourne?" demanded Varney. "By Heaven! thou wert bestset up a bush over thy door, and invite every stroller who passes by tosee what thou shouldst keep secret even from the sun and air. "

"Ay! ay! this is a courtlike requital of my service to you, MasterRichard Varney, " replied Foster. "Didst thou not charge me to seek outfor thee a fellow who had a good sword and an unscrupulous conscience?and was I not busying myself to find a fit man--for, thank Heaven, myacquaintance lies not amongst such companions--when, as Heaven wouldhave it, this tall fellow, who is in all his dualities the very flashingknave thou didst wish, came hither to fix acquaintance upon me in theplenitude of his impudence; and I admitted his claim, thinking to doyou a pleasure. And now see what thanks I get for disgracing myself byconverse with him!"

"And did he, " said Varney, "being such a fellow as thyself, onlylacking, I suppose, thy present humour of hypocrisy, which lies as thinover thy hard, ruffianly heart as gold lacquer upon rusty iron--did he, I say, bring the saintly, sighing Tressilian in his train?"

"They came together, by Heaven!" said Foster; "and Tressilian--to speakHeaven's truth--obtained a moment's interview with our pretty moppet, while I was talking apart with Lambourne. "

"Improvident villain! we are both undone, " said Varney. "She has of latebeen casting many a backward look to her father's halls, whenever herlordly lover leaves her alone. Should this preaching fool whistle herback to her old perch, we were but lost men. "

"No fear of that, my master, " replied Anthony Foster; "she is in no moodto stoop to his lure, for she yelled out on seeing him as if an adderhad stung her. "

"That is good. Canst thou not get from thy daughter an inkling of whatpassed between them, good Foster?"

"I tell you plain, Master Varney, " said Foster, "my daughter shall notenter our purposes or walk in our paths. They may suit me well enough, who know how to repent of my misdoings; but I will not have my child'ssoul committed to peril either for your pleasure or my lord's. I maywalk among snares and pitfalls myself, because I have discretion, but Iwill not trust the poor lamb among them. "

"Why, thou suspicious fool, I were as averse as thou art that thybaby-faced girl should enter into my plans, or walk to hell at herfather's elbow. But indirectly thou mightst gain some intelligence ofher?"

"And so I did, Master Varney, " answered Foster; "and she said her ladycalled out upon the sickness of her father. "

"Good!" replied Varney; "that is a hint worth catching, and I will workupon it. But the country must be rid of this Tressilian. I would havecumbered no man about the matter, for I hate him like strong poison--hispresence is hemlock to me--and this day I had been rid of him, but thatmy foot slipped, when, to speak truth, had not thy comrade yonder cometo my aid, and held his hand, I should have known by this time whetheryou and I have been treading the path to heaven or hell. "

"And you can speak thus of such a risk!" said Foster. "You keep a stoutheart, Master Varney. For me, if I did not hope to live many years, andto have time for the great work of repentance, I would not go forwardwith you. "

"Oh! thou shalt live as long as Methuselah, " said Varney, "and amassas much wealth as Solomon; and thou shalt repent so devoutly, that thyrepentance shall be more famous than thy villainy--and that is a boldword. But for all this, Tressilian must be looked after. Thy ruffianyonder is gone to dog him. It concerns our fortunes, Anthony. "

"Ay, ay, " said Foster sullenly, "this it is to be leagued with one whoknows not even so much of Scripture, as that the labourer is worthy ofhis hire. I must, as usual, take all the trouble and risk. "

"Risk! and what is the mighty risk, I pray you?" answered Varney. "Thisfellow will come prowling again about your demesne or into your house, and if you take him for a house-breaker or a park-breaker, is it notmost natural you should welcome him with cold steel or hot lead? Evena mastiff will pull down those who come near his kennel; and who shallblame him?"

"Ay, I have a mastiff's work and a mastiff's wage among you, " saidFoster. "Here have you, Master Varney, secured a good freehold estateout of this old superstitious foundation; and I have but a poor lease ofthis mansion under you, voidable at your honour's pleasure. "

"Ay, and thou wouldst fain convert thy leasehold into a copyhold--thething may chance to happen, Anthony Foster, if thou dost good servicefor it. But softly, good Anthony--it is not the lending a room or two ofthis old house for keeping my lord's pretty paroquet--nay, it is notthe shutting thy doors and windows to keep her from flying off that maydeserve it. Remember, the manor and tithes are rated at the clear annualvalue of seventy-nine pounds five shillings and fivepence halfpenny, besides the value of the wood. Come, come, thou must be conscionable;great and secret service may deserve both this and a better thing. Andnow let thy knave come and pluck off my boots. Get us some dinner, anda cup of thy best wine. I must visit this mavis, brave in apparel, unruffled in aspect, and gay in temper. "

They parted and at the hour of noon, which was then that of dinner, theyagain met at their meal, Varney gaily dressed like a courtier of thetime, and even Anthony Foster improved in appearance, as far as dresscould amend an exterior so unfavourable. 

This alteration did not escape Varney. Then the meal was finished, thecloth removed, and they were left to their private discourse--"Thouart gay as a goldfinch, Anthony, " said Varney, looking at his host;"methinks, thou wilt whistle a jig anon. But I crave your pardon, that would secure your ejection from the congregation of the zealousbotchers, the pure-hearted weavers, and the sanctified bakers ofAbingdon, who let their ovens cool while their brains get heated. "

"To answer you in the spirit, Master Varney, " said Foster, "were--excusethe parable--to fling sacred and precious things before swine. So I willspeak to thee in the language of the world, which he who is king of theworld, hath taught thee, to understand, and to profit by in no commonmeasure. "

"Say what thou wilt, honest Tony, " replied Varney; "for be it accordingto thine absurd faith, or according to thy most villainous practice, it cannot choose but be rare matter to qualify this cup of Alicant. Thy conversation is relishing and poignant, and beats caviare, driedneat's-tongue, and all other provocatives that give savour to goodliquor. "

"Well, then, tell me, " said Anthony Foster, "is not our good lord andmaster's turn better served, and his antechamber more suitably filled, with decent, God-fearing men, who will work his will and their ownprofit quietly, and without worldly scandal, than that he should bemanned, and attended, and followed by such open debauchers and ruffianlyswordsmen as Tidesly, Killigrew, this fellow Lambourne, whom you haveput me to seek out for you, and other such, who bear the gallows intheir face and murder in their right hand--who are a terror to peaceablemen, and a scandal to my lord's service?"

"Oh, content you, good Master Anthony Foster, " answered Varney; "he thatflies at all manner of game must keep all kinds of hawks, both short andlong-winged. The course my lord holds is no easy one, and he muststand provided at all points with trusty retainers to meet each sort ofservice. He must have his gay courtier, like myself, to ruffle it inthe presence-chamber, and to lay hand on hilt when any speaks indisparagement of my lord's honour--"

"Ay, " said Foster, "and to whisper a word for him into a fair lady'sear, when he may not approach her himself. "

"Then, " said Varney, going on without appearing to notice theinterruption, "he must have his lawyers--deep, subtle pioneers--to drawhis contracts, his pre-contracts, and his post-contracts, and to findthe way to make the most of grants of church-lands, and commons, andlicenses for monopoly. And he must have physicians who can spice a cupor a caudle. And he must have his cabalists, like Dec and Allan, forconjuring up the devil. And he must have ruffling swordsmen, who wouldfight the devil when he is raised and at the wildest. And aboveall, without prejudice to others, he must have such godly, innocent, puritanic souls as thou, honest Anthony, who defy Satan, and do his workat the same time. "

"You would not say, Master Varney, " said Foster, "that our good lordand master, whom I hold to be fulfilled in all nobleness, would use suchbase and sinful means to rise, as thy speech points at?"

"Tush, man, " said Varney, "never look at me with so sad a brow. You trapme not--nor am I in your power, as your weak brain may imagine, becauseI name to you freely the engines, the springs, the screws, the tackle, and braces, by which great men rise in stirring times. Sayest thou ourgood lord is fulfilled of all nobleness? Amen, and so be it--he has themore need to have those about him who are unscrupulous in his service, and who, because they know that his fall will overwhelm and crush them, must wager both blood and brain, soul and body, in order to keep himaloft; and this I tell thee, because I care not who knows it. "

"You speak truth, Master Varney, " said Anthony Foster. "He that is headof a party is but a boat on a wave, that raises not itself, but is movedupward by the billow which it floats upon. "

"Thou art metaphorical, honest Anthony, " replied Varney; "that velvetdoublet hath made an oracle of thee. We will have thee to Oxford to takethe degrees in the arts. And, in the meantime, hast thou arranged allthe matters which were sent from London, and put the western chambersinto such fashion as may answer my lord's humour?"

"They may serve a king on his bridal-day, " said Anthony; "and I promiseyou that Dame Amy sits in them yonder as proud and gay as if she werethe Queen of Sheba. "

"'Tis the better, good Anthony, " answered Varney; "we must found ourfuture fortunes on her good liking. "

"We build on sand then, " said Anthony Foster; "for supposing that shesails away to court in all her lord's dignity and authority, how is sheto look back upon me, who am her jailor as it were, to detain her hereagainst her will, keeping her a caterpillar on an old wall, when shewould fain be a painted butterfly in a court garden?"

"Fear not her displeasure, man, " said Varney. "I will show her all thouhast done in this matter was good service, both to my lord and her;and when she chips the egg-shell and walks alone, she shall own we havehatched her greatness. "

"Look to yourself, Master Varney, " said Foster, "you may misreckonfoully in this matter. She gave you but a frosty reception this morning, and, I think, looks on you, as well as me, with an evil eye. "

"You mistake her, Foster--you mistake her utterly. To me she is boundby all the ties which can secure her to one who has been the means ofgratifying both her love and ambition. Who was it that took the obscureAmy Robsart, the daughter of an impoverished and dotard knight--thedestined bride of a moonstruck, moping enthusiast, like EdmundTressilian, from her lowly fates, and held out to her in prospect thebrightest fortune in England, or perchance in Europe? Why, man, it wasI--as I have often told thee--that found opportunity for their secretmeetings. It was I who watched the wood while he beat for the deer. Itwas I who, to this day, am blamed by her family as the companion of herflight; and were I in their neighbourhood, would be fain to wear a shirtof better stuff than Holland linen, lest my ribs should be acquaintedwith Spanish steel. Who carried their letters?--I. Who amused the oldknight and Tressilian?--I. Who planned her escape?--it was I. It wasI, in short, Dick Varney, who pulled this pretty little daisy from itslowly nook, and placed it in the proudest bonnet in Britain. "

"Ay, Master Varney, " said Foster; "but it may be she thinks that had thematter remained with you, the flower had been stuck so slightly into thecap, that the first breath of a changeable breeze of passion had blownthe poor daisy to the common. "

"She should consider, " said Varney, smiling, "the true faith I owed mylord and master prevented me at first from counselling marriage; andyet I did counsel marriage when I saw she would not be satisfied withoutthe--the sacrament, or the ceremony--which callest thou it, Anthony?"

"Still she has you at feud on another score, " said Foster; "and I tellit you that you may look to yourself in time. She would not hide hersplendour in this dark lantern of an old monastic house, but would fainshine a countess amongst countesses. "

"Very natural, very right, " answered Varney; "but what have I to dowith that?--she may shine through horn or through crystal at my lord'spleasure, I have nought to say against it. "

"She deems that you have an oar upon that side of the boat, MasterVarney, " replied Foster, "and that you can pull it or no, at your goodpleasure. In a word, she ascribes the secrecy and obscurity in which sheis kept to your secret counsel to my lord, and to my strict agency; andso she loves us both as a sentenced man loves his judge and his jailor. "

"She must love us better ere she leave this place, Anthony, " answeredVarney. "If I have counselled for weighty reasons that she remain herefor a season, I can also advise her being brought forth in the full blowof her dignity. But I were mad to do so, holding so near a place tomy lord's person, were she mine enemy. Bear this truth in upon her asoccasion offers, Anthony, and let me alone for extolling you in her ear, and exalting you in her opinion--KA ME, KA THEE--it is a proverb allover the world. The lady must know her friends, and be made to judge ofthe power they have of being her enemies; meanwhile, watch her strictly, but with all the outward observance that thy rough nature will permit. 'Tis an excellent thing that sullen look and bull-dog humour of thine;thou shouldst thank God for it, and so should my lord, for when thereis aught harsh or hard-natured to be done, thou dost it as if it flowedfrom thine own natural doggedness, and not from orders, and so my lordescapes the scandal. --But, hark--some one knocks at the gate. Lookout at the window--let no one enter--this were an ill night to beinterrupted. "

"It is he whom we spoke of before dinner, " said Foster, as he lookedthrough the casement; "it is Michael Lambourne. "

"Oh, admit him, by all means, " said the courtier; "he comes to give someaccount of his guest; it imports us much to know the movements of EdmundTressilian. --Admit him, I say, but bring him not hither; I will come toyou presently in the Abbot's library. "

Foster left the room, and the courtier, who remained behind, paced theparlour more than once in deep thought, his arms folded on his bosom, until at length he gave vent to his meditations in broken words, whichwe have somewhat enlarged and connected, that his soliloquy may beintelligible to the reader. 

"'Tis true, " he said, suddenly stopping, and resting his right hand onthe table at which they had been sitting, "this base churl hath fathomedthe very depth of my fear, and I have been unable to disguise it fromhim. She loves me not--I would it were as true that I loved not her!Idiot that I was, to move her in my own behalf, when wisdom bade me bea true broker to my lord! And this fatal error has placed me more at herdiscretion than a wise man would willingly be at that of the best pieceof painted Eve's flesh of them all. Since the hour that my policy madeso perilous a slip, I cannot look at her without fear, and hate, andfondness, so strangely mingled, that I know not whether, were it at mychoice, I would rather possess or ruin her. But she must not leave thisretreat until I am assured on what terms we are to stand. My lord'sinterest--and so far it is mine own, for if he sinks I fall in histrain--demands concealment of this obscure marriage; and besides, I willnot lend her my arm to climb to her chair of state, that she may set herfoot on my neck when she is fairly seated. I must work an interest inher, either through love or through fear; and who knows but I may yetreap the sweetest and best revenge for her former scorn?--thatwere indeed a masterpiece of courtlike art! Let me but once be hercounsel-keeper--let her confide to me a secret, did it but concern therobbery of a linnet's nest, and, fair Countess, thou art mine own!"He again paced the room in silence, stopped, filled and drank a cup ofwine, as if to compose the agitation of his mind, and muttering, "Now for a close heart and an open and unruffled brow, " he left theapartment. 

CHAPTER VI. 

 The dews of summer night did fall, The moon, sweet regent of the sky, Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall, And many an oak that grew thereby. --MICKLE. 

 [This verse is the commencement of the ballad already quoted, as what suggested the novel. ]

Four apartments; which, occupied the western side of the old quadrangleat Cumnor Place, had been fitted up with extraordinary splendour. Thishad been the work of several days prior to that on which our storyopened. Workmen sent from London, and not permitted to leave thepremises until the work was finished, had converted the apartments inthat side of the building from the dilapidated appearance of a dissolvedmonastic house into the semblance of a royal palace. A mystery wasobserved in all these arrangements: the workmen came thither andreturned by night, and all measures were taken to prevent the pryingcuriosity of the villagers from observing or speculating upon thechanges which were taking place in the mansion of their once indigentbut now wealthy neighbour, Anthony Foster. Accordingly, the secrecydesired was so far preserved, that nothing got abroad but vague anduncertain reports, which were received and repeated, but without muchcredit being attached to them. 

On the evening of which we treat, the new and highly-decorated suite ofrooms were, for the first time, illuminated, and that with a brilliancywhich might have been visible half-a-dozen miles off, had not oakenshutters, carefully secured with bolt and padlock, and mantled with longcurtains of silk and of velvet, deeply fringed with gold, prevented theslightest gleam of radiance front being seen without. 

The principal apartments, as we have seen, were four in number, eachopening into the other. Access was given to them by a large scalestaircase, as they were then called, of unusual length and height, whichhad its landing-place at the door of an antechamber, shaped somewhatlike a gallery. This apartment the abbot had used as an occasionalcouncil-room, but it was now beautifully wainscoted with dark, foreignwood of a brown colour, and bearing a high polish, said to have beenbrought from the Western Indies, and to have been wrought in London withinfinite difficulty and much damage to the tools of the workmen. Thedark colour of this finishing was relieved by the number of lightsin silver sconces which hung against the walls, and by six large andrichly-framed pictures, by the first masters of the age. A massy oakentable, placed at the lower end of the apartment, served to accommodatesuch as chose to play at the then fashionable game of shovel-board;and there was at the other end an elevated gallery for the musiciansor minstrels, who might be summoned to increase the festivity of theevening. 

From this antechamber opened a banqueting-room of moderate size, butbrilliant enough to dazzle the eyes of the spectator with the richnessof its furniture. The walls, lately so bare and ghastly, were nowclothed with hangings of sky-blue velvet and silver; the chairs were ofebony, richly carved, with cushions corresponding to the hangings; andthe place of the silver sconces which enlightened the ante-chamber wassupplied by a huge chandelier of the same precious metal. The floorwas covered with a Spanish foot-cloth, or carpet, on which flowers andfruits were represented in such glowing and natural colours, that youhesitated to place the foot on such exquisite workmanship. The table, ofold English oak, stood ready covered with the finest linen; and a largeportable court-cupboard was placed with the leaves of its embossedfolding-doors displayed, showing the shelves within, decorated with afull display of plate and porcelain. In the midst of the table stood asalt-cellar of Italian workmanship--a beautiful and splendid piece ofplate about two feet high, moulded into a representation of the giantBriareus, whose hundred hands of silver presented to the guests varioussorts of spices, or condiments, to season their food withal. 

The third apartment was called the withdrawing-room. It was hung withthe finest tapestry, representing the fall of Phaeton; for the loomsof Flanders were now much occupied on classical subjects. The principalseat of this apartment was a chair of state, raised a step or two fromthe floor, and large enough to contain two persons. It was surmountedby a canopy, which, as well as the cushions, side-curtains, and the veryfootcloth, was composed of crimson velvet, embroidered with seed-pearl. On the top of the canopy were two coronets, resembling those of an earland countess. Stools covered with velvet, and some cushions disposed inthe Moorish fashion, and ornamented with Arabesque needle-work, supplied the place of chairs in this apartment, which contained musicalinstruments, embroidery frames, and other articles for ladies' pastime. Besides lesser lights, the withdrawing-room was illuminated by fourtall torches of virgin wax, each of which was placed in the grasp ofa statue, representing an armed Moor, who held in his left arm a roundbuckler of silver, highly polished, interposed betwixt his breastand the light, which was thus brilliantly reflected as from a crystalmirror. 

The sleeping chamber belonging to this splendid suite of apartmentswas decorated in a taste less showy, but not less rich, than had beendisplayed in the others. Two silver lamps, fed with perfumed oil, diffused at once a delicious odour and a trembling twilight-seemingshimmer through the quiet apartment. It was carpeted so thick that theheaviest step could not have been heard, and the bed, richly heaped withdown, was spread with an ample coverlet of silk and gold; from underwhich peeped forth cambric sheets and blankets as white as the lambswhich yielded the fleece that made them. The curtains were of bluevelvet, lined with crimson silk, deeply festooned with gold, andembroidered with the loves of Cupid and Psyche. On the toilet was abeautiful Venetian mirror, in a frame of silver filigree, and beside itstood a gold posset-dish to contain the night-draught. A pair of pistolsand a dagger, mounted with gold, were displayed near the head of thebed, being the arms for the night, which were presented to honouredguests, rather, it may be supposed, in the way of ceremony than from anyapprehension of danger. We must not omit to mention, what was moreto the credit of the manners of the time, that in a small recess, illuminated by a taper, were disposed two hassocks of velvet and gold, corresponding with the bed furniture, before a desk of carved ebony. This recess had formerly been the private oratory of the abbot; but thecrucifix was removed, and instead there were placed on the desk, twoBooks of Common Prayer, richly bound, and embossed with silver. Withthis enviable sleeping apartment, which was so far removed from everysound save that of the wind sighing among the oaks of the park, thatMorpheus might have coveted it for his own proper repose, correspondedtwo wardrobes, or dressing-rooms as they are now termed, suitablyfurnished, and in a style of the same magnificence which we have alreadydescribed. It ought to be added, that a part of the building in theadjoining wing was occupied by the kitchen and its offices, andserved to accommodate the personal attendants of the great and wealthynobleman, for whose use these magnificent preparations had been made. 

The divinity for whose sake this temple had been decorated was wellworthy the cost and pains which had been bestowed. She was seated in thewithdrawing-room which we have described, surveying with the pleased eyeof natural and innocent vanity the splendour which had been so suddenlycreated, as it were, in her honour. For, as her own residence at CumnorPlace formed the cause of the mystery observed in all the preparationsfor opening these apartments, it was sedulously arranged that, until shetook possession of them, she should have no means of knowing what wasgoing forward in that part of the ancient building, or of exposingherself to be seen by the workmen engaged in the decorations. She hadbeen, therefore, introduced on that evening to a part of the mansionwhich she had never yet seen, so different from all the rest that itappeared, in comparison, like an enchanted palace. And when she firstexamined and occupied these splendid rooms, it was with the wild andunrestrained joy of a rustic beauty who finds herself suddenly investedwith a splendour which her most extravagant wishes had never imagined, and at the same time with the keen feeling of an affectionate heart, which knows that all the enchantment that surrounds her is the work ofthe great magician Love. 

The Countess Amy, therefore--for to that rank she was exalted by herprivate but solemn union with England's proudest Earl--had for a timeflitted hastily from room to room, admiring each new proof of her loverand her bridegroom's taste, and feeling that admiration enhanced asshe recollected that all she gazed upon was one continued proof of hisardent and devoted affection. "How beautiful are these hangings! Hownatural these paintings, which seem to contend with life! How richlywrought is that plate, which looks as if all the galleons of Spain hadbeen intercepted on the broad seas to furnish it forth! And oh, Janet!"she exclaimed repeatedly to the daughter of Anthony Foster, the closeattendant, who, with equal curiosity, but somewhat less ecstaticjoy, followed on her mistress's footsteps--"oh, Janet! how much moredelightful to think that all these fair things have been assembled byhis love, for the love of me! and that this evening--this very evening, which grows darker every instant, I shall thank him more for the lovethat has created such an unimaginable paradise, than for all the wondersit contains. "

"The Lord is to be thanked first, " said the pretty Puritan, "who gavethee, lady, the kind and courteous husband whose love has done so muchfor thee. I, too, have done my poor share. But if you thus run wildlyfrom room to room, the toil of my crisping and my curling pins willvanish like the frost-work on the window when the sun is high. "

"Thou sayest true, Janet, " said the young and beautiful Countess, stopping suddenly from her tripping race of enraptured delight, andlooking at herself from head to foot in a large mirror, such as she hadnever before seen, and which, indeed, had few to match it even in theQueen's palace--"thou sayest true, Janet!" she answered, as she saw, with pardonable self-applause, the noble mirror reflect such charms aswere seldom presented to its fair and polished surface; "I have more ofthe milk-maid than the countess, with these cheeks flushed with haste, and all these brown curls, which you laboured to bring to order, straying as wild as the tendrils of an unpruned vine. My falling ruff ischafed too, and shows the neck and bosom more than is modest and seemly. Come, Janet; we will practise state--we will go to the withdrawing-room, my good girl, and thou shalt put these rebel locks in order, andimprison within lace and cambric the bosom that beats too high. "

They went to the withdrawing apartment accordingly, where the Countessplayfully stretched herself upon the pile of Moorish cushions, halfsitting, half reclining, half wrapt in her own thoughts, half listeningto the prattle of her attendant. 

While she was in this attitude, and with a corresponding expressionbetwixt listlessness and expectation on her fine and intelligentfeatures, you might have searched sea and land without finding anythinghalf so expressive or half so lovely. The wreath of brilliants whichmixed with her dark-brown hair did not match in lustre the hazel eyewhich a light-brown eyebrow, pencilled with exquisite delicacy, and longeyelashes of the same colour, relieved and shaded. The exercise she hadjust taken, her excited expectation and gratified vanity, spread a glowover her fine features, which had been sometimes censured (as beautyas well as art has her minute critics) for being rather too pale. Themilk-white pearls of the necklace which she wore, the same which she hadjust received as a true-love token from her husband, were excelled inpurity by her teeth, and by the colour of her skin, saving where theblush of pleasure and self-satisfaction had somewhat stained the neckwith a shade of light crimson. --"Now, have done with these busy fingers, Janet, " she said to her handmaiden, who was still officiously employedin bringing her hair and her dress into order--"have done, I say. I mustsee your father ere my lord arrives, and also Master Richard Varney, whom my lord has highly in his esteem--but I could tell that of himwould lose him favour. "

"Oh, do not do so, good my lady!" replied Janet; "leave him to God, whopunishes the wicked in His own time; but do not you cross Varney's path, for so thoroughly hath he my lord's ear, that few have thriven who havethwarted his courses. "

"And from whom had you this, my most righteous Janet?" said theCountess; "or why should I keep terms with so mean a gentleman asVarney, being as I am, wife to his master and patron?"

"Nay, madam, " replied Janet Foster, "your ladyship knows better than I;but I have heard my father say he would rather cross a hungry wolf thanthwart Richard Varney in his projects. And he has often charged me tohave a care of holding commerce with him. "

"Thy father said well, girl, for thee, " replied the lady, "and I dareswear meant well. It is a pity, though, his face and manner do littlematch his true purpose--for I think his purpose may be true. "

"Doubt it not, my lady, " answered Janet--"doubt not that my fatherpurposes well, though he is a plain man, and his blunt looks may beliehis heart. "

"I will not doubt it, girl, were it only for thy sake; and yet he hasone of those faces which men tremble when they look on. I think even thymother, Janet--nay, have done with that poking-iron--could hardly lookupon him without quaking. "

"If it were so, madam, " answered Janet Foster, "my mother had those whocould keep her in honourable countenance. Why, even you, my lady, bothtrembled and blushed when Varney brought the letter from my lord. "

"You are bold, damsel, " said the Countess, rising from the cushions onwhich she sat half reclined in the arms of her attendant. "Know thatthere are causes of trembling which have nothing to do with fear. --But, Janet, " she added, immediately relapsing into the good-natured andfamiliar tone which was natural to her, "believe me, I will do whatcredit I can to your father, and the rather that you, sweetheart, arehis child. Alas! alas!" she added, a sudden sadness passing over herfine features, and her eyes filling with tears, "I ought the rather tohold sympathy with thy kind heart, that my own poor father is uncertainof my fate, and they say lies sick and sorrowful for my worthless sake!But I will soon cheer him--the news of my happiness and advancement willmake him young again. And that I may cheer him the sooner"--she wipedher eyes as she spoke--"I must be cheerful myself. My lord must not findme insensible to his kindness, or sorrowful, when he snatches a visit tohis recluse, after so long an absence. Be merry, Janet; the night wearson, and my lord must soon arrive. Call thy father hither, and callVarney also. I cherish resentment against neither; and though I may havesome room to be displeased with both, it shall be their own fault ifever a complaint against them reaches the Earl through my means. Callthem hither, Janet. "

Janet Foster obeyed her mistress; and in a few minutes after, Varneyentered the withdrawing-room with the graceful ease and uncloudedfront of an accomplished courtier, skilled, under the veil of externalpoliteness, to disguise his own feelings and to penetrate those ofothers. Anthony Foster plodded into the apartment after him, his naturalgloomy vulgarity of aspect seeming to become yet more remarkable, fromhis clumsy attempt to conceal the mixture of anxiety and dislike withwhich he looked on her, over whom he had hitherto exercised so severe acontrol, now so splendidly attired, and decked with so many pledgesof the interest which she possessed in her husband's affections. Theblundering reverence which he made, rather AT than TO the Countess, hadconfession in it. It was like the reverence which the criminal makes tothe judge, when he at once owns his guilt and implores mercy--whichis at the same time an impudent and embarrassed attempt at defence orextenuation, a confession of a fault, and an entreaty for lenity. 

Varney, who, in right of his gentle blood, had pressed into the roombefore Anthony Foster, knew better what to say than he, and said it withmore assurance and a better grace. 

The Countess greeted him indeed with an appearance of cordiality, whichseemed a complete amnesty for whatever she might have to complain of. She rose from her seat, and advanced two steps towards him, holdingforth her hand as she said, "Master Richard Varney, you brought methis morning such welcome tidings, that I fear surprise and joy made meneglect my lord and husband's charge to receive you with distinction. Weoffer you our hand, sir, in reconciliation. "

"I am unworthy to touch it, " said Varney, dropping on one knee, "save asa subject honours that of a prince. "

He touched with his lips those fair and slender fingers, so richlyloaded with rings and jewels; then rising, with graceful gallantry, wasabout to hand her to the chair of state, when she said, "No, good MasterRichard Varney, I take not my place there until my lord himself conductsme. I am for the present but a disguised Countess, and will not takedignity on me until authorized by him whom I derive it from. "

"I trust, my lady, " said Foster, "that in doing the commands of my lordyour husband, in your restraint and so forth, I have not incurred yourdispleasure, seeing that I did but my duty towards your lord and mine;for Heaven, as holy writ saith, hath given the husband supremacy anddominion over the wife--I think it runs so, or something like it. "

"I receive at this moment so pleasant a surprise, Master Foster, "answered the Countess, "that I cannot but excuse the rigid fidelitywhich secluded me from these apartments, until they had assumed anappearance so new and so splendid. "

"Ay lady, " said Foster, "it hath cost many a fair crown; and that moreneed not be wasted than is absolutely necessary, I leave you till mylord's arrival with good Master Richard Varney, who, as I think, hathsomewhat to say to you from your most noble lord and husband. --Janet, follow me, to see that all be in order. "

"No, Master Foster, " said the Countess, "we will your daughter remainshere in our apartment--out of ear-shot, however, in case Varney bathought to say to me from my lord. "

Foster made his clumsy reverence, and departed, with an aspect whichseemed to grudge the profuse expense which had been wasted upon changinghis house from a bare and ruinous grange to an Asiastic palace. When hewas gone, his daughter took her embroidery frame, and went to establishherself at the bottom of the apartment; while Richard Varney, with aprofoundly humble courtesy, took the lowest stool he could find, andplacing it by the side of the pile of cushions on which the Countesshad now again seated herself, sat with his eyes for a time fixed on theground, and in pro-found silence. 

"I thought, Master Varney, " said the Countess, when she saw he was notlikely to open the conversation, "that you had something to communicatefrom my lord and husband; so at least I understood Master Foster, andtherefore I removed my waiting-maid. If I am mistaken, I will recallher to my side; for her needle is not so absolutely perfect in tent andcross-stitch, but that my superintendence is advisable. "

"Lady, " said Varney, "Foster was partly mistaken in my purpose. Itwas not FROM but OF your noble husband, and my approved and most noblepatron, that I am led, and indeed bound, to speak. "

"The theme is most welcome, sir, " said the Countess, "whether it beof or from my noble husband. But be brief, for I expect his hastyapproach. "

"Briefly then, madam, " replied Varney, "and boldly, for my argumentrequires both haste and courage--you have this day seen Tressilian?"

"I have, sir and what of that?" answered the lady somewhat sharply. 

"Nothing that concerns me, lady, " Varney replied with humility. "But, think you, honoured madam, that your lord will hear it with equalequanimity?"

"And wherefore should he not? To me alone was Tressilian's visitembarrassing and painful, for he brought news of my good father'sillness. "

"Of your father's illness, madam!" answered Varney. "It must have beensudden then--very sudden; for the messenger whom I dispatched, at mylord's instance, found the good knight on the hunting field, cheeringhis beagles with his wonted jovial field-cry. I trust Tressilian hasbut forged this news. He hath his reasons, madam, as you well know, fordisquieting your present happiness. "

"You do him injustice, Master Varney, " replied the Countess, withanimation--"you do him much injustice. He is the freest, the most open, the most gentle heart that breathes. My honourable lord ever excepted, Iknow not one to whom falsehood is more odious than to Tressilian. "

"I crave your pardon, madam, " said Varney, "I meant the gentleman noinjustice--I knew not how nearly his cause affected you. A man may, insome circumstances, disguise the truth for fair and honest purpose; forwere it to be always spoken, and upon all occasions, this were no worldto live in. "

"You have a courtly conscience, Master Varney, " said the Countess, "andyour veracity will not, I think, interrupt your preferment in the world, such as it is. But touching Tressilian--I must do him justice, forI have done him wrong, as none knows better than thou. Tressilian'sconscience is of other mould--the world thou speakest of has not thatwhich could bribe him from the way of truth and honour; and for livingin it with a soiled fame, the ermine would as soon seek to lodge in theden of the foul polecat. For this my father loved him; for this I wouldhave loved him--if I could. And yet in this case he had what seemedto him, unknowing alike of my marriage and to whom I was united, suchpowerful reasons to withdraw me from this place, that I well trust heexaggerated much of my father's indisposition, and that thy better newsmay be the truer. "

"Believe me they are, madam, " answered Varney. "I pretend not to be achampion of that same naked virtue called truth, to the very outrance. I can consent that her charms be hidden with a veil, were it but fordecency's sake. But you must think lower of my head and heart than isdue to one whom my noble lord deigns to call his friend, if you supposeI could wilfully and unnecessarily palm upon your ladyship a falsehood, so soon to be detected, in a matter which concerns your happiness. "

"Master Varney, " said the Countess, "I know that my lord esteems you, and holds you a faithful and a good pilot in those seas in which he hasspread so high and so venturous a sail. Do not suppose, therefore, Imeant hardly by you, when I spoke the truth in Tressilian's vindication. I am as you well know, country-bred, and like plain rustic truth betterthan courtly compliment; but I must change my fashions with my sphere, Ipresume. "

"True, madam, " said Varney, smiling; "and though you speak now injest, it will not be amiss that in earnest your present speech had someconnection with your real purpose. A court-dame--take the most noble, the most virtuous, the most unimpeachable that stands around our Queen'sthrone--would, for example, have shunned to speak the truth, or what shethought such, in praise of a discarded suitor, before the dependant andconfidant of her noble husband. "

"And wherefore, " said the Countess, colouring impatiently, "should I notdo justice to Tressilian's worth, before my husband's friend--before myhusband himself--before the whole world?"

"And with the same openness, " said Varney, "your ladyship will thisnight tell my noble lord your husband that Tressilian has discoveredyour place of residence, so anxiously concealed from the world, and thathe has had an interview with you?"

"Unquestionably, " said the Countess. "It will be the first thing I tellhim, together with every word that Tressilian said and that I answered. I shall speak my own shame in this, for Tressilian's reproaches, lessjust than he esteemed them, were not altogether unmerited. I will speak, therefore, with pain, but I will speak, and speak all. "

"Your ladyship will do your pleasure, " answered Varney; "but methinksit were as well, since nothing calls for so frank a disclosure, tospare yourself this pain, and my noble lord the disquiet, and MasterTressilian, since belike he must be thought of in the matter, the dangerwhich is like to ensue. "

"I can see nought of all these terrible consequences, " said the ladycomposedly, "unless by imputing to my noble lord unworthy thoughts, which I am sure never harboured in his generous heart. "

"Far be it from me to do so, " said Varney. And then, after a moment'ssilence, he added, with a real or affected plainness of manner, verydifferent from his usual smooth courtesy, "Come, madam, I will show youthat a courtier dare speak truth as well as another, when it concernsthe weal of those whom he honours and regards, ay, and although it mayinfer his own danger. " He waited as if to receive commands, or at leastpermission, to go on; but as the lady remained silent, he proceeded, but obviously with caution. "Look around you, " he said, "noble lady, andobserve the barriers with which this place is surrounded, the studiousmystery with which the brightest jewel that England possesses issecluded from the admiring gaze. See with what rigour your walks arecircumscribed, and your movement restrained at the beck of yonderchurlish Foster. Consider all this, and judge for yourself what can bethe cause. 

"My lord's pleasure, " answered the Countess; "and I am bound to seek noother motive. "

"His pleasure it is indeed, " said Varney; "and his pleasure arises outof a love worthy of the object which inspires it. But he who possesses atreasure, and who values it, is oft anxious, in proportion to the valuehe puts upon it, to secure it from the depredations of others. "

"What needs all this talk, Master Varney?" said the lady, in reply. "Youwould have me believe that my noble lord is jealous. Suppose it true, Iknow a cure for jealousy. "

"Indeed, madam?" said Varney. 

"It is, " replied the lady, "to speak the truth to my lord at alltimes--to hold up my mind and my thoughts before him as pure as thatpolished mirror--so that when he looks into my heart, he shall only seehis own features reflected there. "

"I am mute, madam, " answered Varney; "and as I have no reason to grievefor Tressilian, who would have my heart's blood were he able, I shallreconcile myself easily to what may befall the gentleman in consequenceof your frank disclosure of his having presumed to intrude upon yoursolitude. You, who know my lord so much better than I, will judge if hebe likely to bear the insult unavenged. "

"Nay, if I could think myself the cause of Tressilian's ruin, " said theCountess, "I who have already occasioned him so much distress, I mightbe brought to be silent. And yet what will it avail, since he was seenby Foster, and I think by some one else? No, no, Varney, urge it nomore. I will tell the whole matter to my lord; and with such pleadingfor Tressilian's folly, as shall dispose my lord's generous heart ratherto serve than to punish him. "

"Your judgment, madam, " said Varney, "is far superior to mine, especially as you may, if you will, prove the ice before you step on it, by mentioning Tressilian's name to my lord, and observing how he enduresit. For Foster and his attendant, they know not Tressilian by sight, andI can easily give them some reasonable excuse for the appearance of anunknown stranger. "

The lady paused for an instant, and then replied, "If, Varney, itbe indeed true that Foster knows not as yet that the man he saw wasTressilian, I own I were unwilling he should learn what nowise concernshim. He bears himself already with austerity enough, and I wish him notto be judge or privy-councillor in my affairs. "

"Tush, " said Varney, "what has the surly groom to do with yourladyship's concerns?--no more, surely, than the ban-dog which watcheshis courtyard. If he is in aught distasteful to your ladyship, I haveinterest enough to have him exchanged for a seneschal that shall be moreagreeable to you. "

"Master Varney, " said the Countess, "let us drop this theme. When Icomplain of the attendants whom my lord has placed around me, it must beto my lord himself. --Hark! I hear the trampling of horse. He comes! hecomes!" she exclaimed, jumping up in ecstasy. 

"I cannot think it is he, " said Varney; "or that you can hear the treadof his horse through the closely-mantled casements. "

"Stop me not, Varney--my ears are keener than thine. It is he!"

"But, madam!--but, madam!" exclaimed Varney anxiously, and still placinghimself in her way, "I trust that what I have spoken in humble duty andservice will not be turned to my ruin? I hope that my faithful advicewill not be bewrayed to my prejudice? I implore that--"

"Content thee, man--content thee!" said the Countess, "and quit myskirt--you are too bold to detain me. Content thyself, I think not ofthee. "

At this moment the folding-doors flew wide open, and a man of majesticmien, muffled in the folds of a long dark riding-cloak, entered theapartment. 

CHAPTER VII. 

 "This is he Who rides on the court-gale; controls its tides; Knows all their secret shoals and fatal eddies; Whose frown abases, and whose smile exalts. He shines like any rainbow--and, perchance, His colours are as transient. "--OLD PLAY. 

There was some little displeasure and confusion on the Countess's brow, owing to her struggle with Varney's pertinacity; but it was exchangedfor an expression of the purest joy and affection, as she threw herselfinto the arms of the noble stranger who entered, and clasping him to herbosom, exclaimed, "At length--at length thou art come!"

Varney discreetly withdrew as his lord entered, and Janet was about todo the same, when her mistress signed to her to remain. She took herplace at the farther end of the apartment, and continued standing, as ifready for attendance. 

Meanwhile the Earl, for he was of no inferior rank, returned his lady'scaress with the most affectionate ardour, but affected to resist whenshe strove to take his cloak from him. 

"Nay, " she said, "but I will unmantle you. I must see if you have keptyour word to me, and come as the great Earl men call thee, and not asheretofore like a private cavalier. "

"Thou art like the rest of the world, Amy, " said the Earl, suffering herto prevail in the playful contest; "the jewels, and feathers, and silkare more to them than the man whom they adorn--many a poor blade looksgay in a velvet scabbard. "

"But so cannot men say of thee, thou noble Earl, " said his lady, as thecloak dropped on the floor, and showed him dressed as princes when theyride abroad; "thou art the good and well-tried steel, whose inly worthdeserves, yet disdains, its outward ornaments. Do not think Amy can lovethee better in this glorious garb than she did when she gave her heartto him who wore the russet-brown cloak in the woods of Devon. "

"And thou too, " said the Earl, as gracefully and majestically he ledhis beautiful Countess towards the chair of state which was preparedfor them both--"thou too, my love, hast donned a dress which becomesthy rank, though it cannot improve thy beauty. What think'st thou of ourcourt taste?"

The lady cast a sidelong glance upon the great mirror as they passedit by, and then said, "I know not how it is, but I think not of my ownperson while I look at the reflection of thine. Sit thou there, " shesaid, as they approached the chair of state, "like a thing for men toworship and to wonder at. "

"Ay, love, " said the Earl, "if thou wilt share my state with me. "

"Not so, " said the Countess; "I will sit on this footstool at thy feet, that I may spell over thy splendour, and learn, for the first time, howprinces are attired. "

And with a childish wonder, which her youth and rustic educationrendered not only excusable but becoming, mixed as it was with adelicate show of the most tender conjugal affection, she examined andadmired from head to foot the noble form and princely attire of him whoformed the proudest ornament of the court of England's Maiden Queen, renowned as it was for splendid courtiers, as well as for wisecounsellors. Regarding affectionately his lovely bride, and gratified byher unrepressed admiration, the dark eye and noble features of the Earlexpressed passions more gentle than the commanding and aspiringlook which usually sat upon his broad forehead, and in the piercingbrilliancy of his dark eye; and he smiled at the simplicity whichdictated the questions she put to him concerning the various ornamentswith which he was decorated. 

"The embroidered strap, as thou callest it, around my knee, " he said, "is the English Garter, an ornament which kings are proud to wear. See, here is the star which belongs to it, and here the Diamond George, thejewel of the order. You have heard how King Edward and the Countess ofSalisbury--"

"Oh, I know all that tale, " said the Countess, slightly blushing, "andhow a lady's garter became the proudest badge of English chivalry. "

"Even so, " said the Earl; "and this most honourable Order I had the goodhap to receive at the same time with three most noble associates, theDuke of Norfolk, the Marquis of Northampton, and the Earl of Rutland. I was the lowest of the four in rank--but what then? he that climbs aladder must begin at the first round. "

"But this other fair collar, so richly wrought, with some jewel like asheep hung by the middle attached to it, what, " said the young Countess, "does that emblem signify?"

"This collar, " said the Earl, "with its double fusilles interchangedwith these knobs, which are supposed to present flint-stones sparklingwith fire, and sustaining the jewel you inquire about, is the badge ofthe noble Order of the Golden Fleece, once appertaining to the Houseof Burgundy it hath high privileges, my Amy, belonging to it, this mostnoble Order; for even the King of Spain himself, who hath now succeededto the honours and demesnes of Burgundy, may not sit in judgment upona knight of the Golden Fleece, unless by assistance and consent of theGreat Chapter of the Order. "

"And is this an Order belonging to the cruel King of Spain?" said theCountess. "Alas! my noble lord, that you will defile your noble Englishbreast by bearing such an emblem! Bethink you of the most unhappy QueenMary's days, when this same Philip held sway with her in England, and ofthe piles which were built for our noblest, and our wisest, and our mosttruly sanctified prelates and divines--and will you, whom men call thestandard-bearer of the true Protestant faith, be contented to wear theemblem and mark of such a Romish tyrant as he of Spain?"

"Oh, content you, my love, " answered the Earl; "we who spread our sailsto gales of court favour cannot always display the ensigns we love thebest, or at all times refuse sailing under colours which we like not. Believe me, I am not the less good Protestant, that for policy I mustaccept the honour offered me by Spain, in admitting me to this hishighest order of knighthood. Besides, it belongs properly to Flanders;and Egmont, Orange, and others have pride in seeing it displayed on anEnglish bosom. "

"Nay, my lord, you know your own path best, " replied the Countess. "Andthis other collar, to what country does this fair jewel belong?"

"To a very poor one, my love, " replied the Earl; "this is the Order ofSaint Andrew, revived by the last James of Scotland. It was bestowedon me when it was thought the young widow of France and Scotland wouldgladly have wedded an English baron; but a free coronet of England isworth a crown matrimonial held at the humour of a woman, and owning onlythe poor rocks and bogs of the north. "

The Countess paused, as if what the Earl last said had excited somepainful but interesting train of thought; and, as she still remainedsilent, her husband proceeded:--

"And now, loveliest, your wish is gratified, and you have seen yourvassal in such of his trim array as accords with riding vestments; forrobes of state and coronets are only for princely halls. "

"Well, then, " said the Countess, "my gratified wish has, as usual, givenrise to a new one. "

"And what is it thou canst ask that I can deny?" said the fond husband. 

"I wished to see my Earl visit this obscure and secret bower, " said theCountess, "in all his princely array; and now, methinks I long to sit inone of his princely halls, and see him enter dressed in sober russet, aswhen he won poor Amy Robsart's heart. "

"That is a wish easily granted, " said the Earl--"the sober russet shallbe donned to-morrow, if you will. "

"But shall I, " said the lady, "go with you to one of your castles, tosee how the richness of your dwelling will correspond with your peasanthabit?"

"Why, Amy, " said the Earl, looking around, "are not these apartmentsdecorated with sufficient splendour? I gave the most unbounded order, and, methinks, it has been indifferently well obeyed; but if thoucanst tell me aught which remains to be done, I will instantly givedirection. "

"Nay, my lord, now you mock me, " replied the Countess; "the gaiety ofthis rich lodging exceeds my imagination as much as it does my desert. But shall not your wife, my love--at least one day soon--be surroundedwith the honour which arises neither from the toils of the mechanicwho decks her apartment, nor from the silks and jewels with which yourgenerosity adorns her, but which is attached to her place among thematronage, as the avowed wife of England's noblest Earl?"

"One day?" said her husband. "Yes, Amy, my love, one day this shallsurely happen; and, believe me, thou canst not wish for that day morefondly than I. With what rapture could I retire from labours of state, and cares and toils of ambition, to spend my life in dignity and honouron my own broad domains, with thee, my lovely Amy, for my friend andcompanion! But, Amy, this cannot yet be; and these dear but stoleninterviews are all I can give to the loveliest and the best beloved ofher sex. "

"But WHY can it not be?" urged the Countess, in the softest tones ofpersuasion--"why can it not immediately take place--this more perfect, this uninterrupted union, for which you say you wish, and which the lawsof God and man alike command? Ah! did you but desire it half as muchas you say, mighty and favoured as you are, who or what should bar yourattaining your wish?"

The Earl's brow was overcast. 

"Amy, " he said, "you speak of what you understand not. We that toil incourts are like those who climb a mountain of loose sand--we dare makeno halt until some projecting rock affords us a secure footing andresting-place. If we pause sooner, we slide down by our own weight, an object of universal derision. I stand high, but I stand not secureenough to follow my own inclination. To declare my marriage were to bethe artificer of my own ruin. But, believe me, I will reach a point, andthat speedily, when I can do justice to thee and to myself. Meantime, poison not the bliss of the present moment, by desiring that whichcannot at present be, Let me rather know whether all here is managedto thy liking. How does Foster bear himself to you?--in all thingsrespectful, I trust, else the fellow shall dearly rue it. "

"He reminds me sometimes of the necessity of this privacy, " answeredthe lady, with a sigh; "but that is reminding me of your wishes, andtherefore I am rather bound to him than disposed to blame him for it. "

"I have told you the stern necessity which is upon us, " replied theEarl. "Foster is, I note, somewhat sullen of mood; but Varney warrantsto me his fidelity and devotion to my service. If thou hast aught, however, to complain of the mode in which he discharges his duty, heshall abye it. "

"Oh, I have nought to complain of, " answered the lady, "so he dischargeshis task with fidelity to you; and his daughter Janet is the kindest andbest companion of my solitude--her little air of precision sits so wellupon her!"

"Is she indeed?" said the Earl. "She who gives you pleasure must notpass unrewarded. --Come hither, damsel. "

"Janet, " said the lady, "come hither to my lord. "

Janet, who, as we already noticed, had discreetly retired to somedistance, that her presence might be no check upon the privateconversation of her lord and lady, now came forward; and as she madeher reverential curtsy, the Earl could not help smiling at the contrastwhich the extreme simplicity of her dress, and the prim demureness ofher looks, made with a very pretty countenance and a pair of black eyes, that laughed in spite of their mistress's desire to look grave. 

"I am bound to you, pretty damsel, " said the Earl, "for the contentmentwhich your service hath given to this lady. " As he said this, he tookfrom his finger a ring of some price, and offered it to Janet Foster, adding, "Wear this, for her sake and for mine. "

"I am well pleased, my lord, " answered Janet demurely, "that my poorservice hath gratified my lady, whom no one can draw nigh to withoutdesiring to please; but we of the precious Master Holdforth'scongregation seek not, like the gay daughters of this world, to twinegold around our fingers, or wear stones upon our necks, like the vainwomen of Tyre and of Sidon. "

"Oh, what! you are a grave professor of the precise sisterhood, prettyMistress Janet, " said the Earl, "and I think your father is of the samecongregation in sincerity? I like you both the better for it; for I havebeen prayed for, and wished well to, in your congregations. And you maythe better afford the lack of ornament, Mistress Janet, because yourfingers are slender, and your neck white. But here is what neitherPapist nor Puritan, latitudinarian nor precisian, ever boggles or makesmouths at. E'en take it, my girl, and employ it as you list. "

So saying, he put into her hand five broad gold pieces of Philip andMary. 

"I would not accept this gold either, " said Janet, "but that I hope tofind a use for it which will bring a blessing on us all. "

"Even please thyself, pretty Janet, " said the Earl, "and I shall be wellsatisfied. And I prithee let them hasten the evening collation. "

"I have bidden Master Varney and Master Foster to sup with us, my lord, "said the Countess, as Janet retired to obey the Earl's commands; "has ityour approbation?"

"What you do ever must have so, my sweet Amy, " replied her husband; "andI am the better pleased thou hast done them this grace, because RichardVarney is my sworn man, and a close brother of my secret council; andfor the present, I must needs repose much trust in this Anthony Foster. "

"I had a boon to beg of thee, and a secret to tell thee, my dear lord, "said the Countess, with a faltering accent. 

"Let both be for to-morrow, my love, " replied the Earl. "I see they openthe folding-doors into the banqueting-parlour, and as I have ridden farand fast, a cup of wine will not be unacceptable. "

So saying he led his lovely wife into the next apartment, where Varneyand Foster received them with the deepest reverences, which the firstpaid after the fashion of the court, and the second after that of thecongregation. The Earl returned their salutation with the negligentcourtesy of one long used to such homage; while the Countess repaid itwith a punctilious solicitude, which showed it was not quite so familiarto her. 

The banquet at which the company seated themselves corresponded inmagnificence with the splendour of the apartment in which it was servedup, but no domestic gave his attendance. Janet alone stood ready to waitupon the company; and, indeed, the board was so well supplied with allthat could be desired, that little or no assistance was necessary. TheEarl and his lady occupied the upper end of the table, and Varney andFoster sat beneath the salt, as was the custom with inferiors. Thelatter, overawed perhaps by society to which he was altogether unused, did not utter a single syllable during the repast; while Varney, withgreat tact and discernment, sustained just so much of the conversationas, without the appearance of intrusion on his part, prevented it fromlanguishing, and maintained the good-humour of the Earl at the highestpitch. This man was indeed highly qualified by nature to discharge thepart in which he found himself placed, being discreet and cautious onthe one hand, and, on the other, quick, keen-witted, and imaginative;so that even the Countess, prejudiced as she was against him on manyaccounts, felt and enjoyed his powers of conversation, and was moredisposed than she had ever hitherto found herself to join in the praiseswhich the Earl lavished on his favourite. The hour of rest at lengtharrived, the Earl and Countess retired to their apartment, and all wassilent in the castle for the rest of the night. 

Early on the ensuing morning, Varney acted as the Earl's chamberlain aswell as his master of horse, though the latter was his proper office inthat magnificent household, where knights and gentlemen of good descentwere well contented to hold such menial situations, as nobles themselvesheld in that of the sovereign. The duties of each of these charges werefamiliar to Varney, who, sprung from an ancient but somewhat decayedfamily, was the Earl's page during his earlier and more obscurefortunes, and, faithful to him in adversity, had afterwards contrived torender himself no less useful to him in his rapid and splendid advanceto fortune; thus establishing in him an interest resting both on presentand past services, which rendered him an almost indispensable sharer ofhis confidence. 

"Help me to do on a plainer riding-suit, Varney, " said the Earl, as helaid aside his morning-gown, flowered with silk and lined with sables, "and put these chains and fetters there" (pointing to the collars of thevarious Orders which lay on the table) "into their place of security--myneck last night was well-nigh broke with the weight of them. I am halfof the mind that they shall gall me no more. They are bonds which knaveshave invented to fetter fools. How thinkest thou, Varney?"

"Faith, my good lord, " said his attendant, "I think fetters of gold arelike no other fetters--they are ever the weightier the welcomer. "

"For all that, Varney, " replied his master, "I am well-nigh resolvedthey shall bind me to the court no longer. What can further service andhigher favour give me, beyond the high rank and large estate which Ihave already secured? What brought my father to the block, but that hecould not bound his wishes within right and reason? I have, you know, had mine own ventures and mine own escapes. I am well-nigh resolved totempt the sea no further, but sit me down in quiet on the shore. "

"And gather cockle-shells, with Dan Cupid to aid you, " said Varney. 

"How mean you by that, Varney?" said the Earl somewhat hastily. 

"Nay, my lord, " said Varney, "be not angry with me. If your lordshipis happy in a lady so rarely lovely that, in order to enjoy her companywith somewhat more freedom, you are willing to part with all you havehitherto lived for, some of your poor servants may be sufferers; butyour bounty hath placed me so high, that I shall ever have enough tomaintain a poor gentleman in the rank befitting the high office he hasheld in your lordship's family. "

"Yet you seem discontented when I propose throwing up a dangerous game, which may end in the ruin of both of us. "

"I, my lord?" said Varney; "surely I have no cause to regret yourlordship's retreat! It will not be Richard Varney who will incurthe displeasure of majesty, and the ridicule of the court, when thestateliest fabric that ever was founded upon a prince's favour meltsaway like a morning frost-work. I would only have you yourself to beassured, my lord, ere you take a step which cannot be retracted, thatyou consult your fame and happiness in the course you propose. "

"Speak on, then, Varney, " said the Earl; "I tell thee I have determinednothing, and will weigh all considerations on either side. "

"Well, then, my lord, " replied Varney, "we will suppose the step taken, the frown frowned, the laugh laughed, and the moan moaned. You haveretired, we will say, to some one of your most distant castles, so farfrom court that you hear neither the sorrow of your friends nor the gleeof your enemies, We will suppose, too, that your successful rival willbe satisfied (a thing greatly to be doubted) with abridging and cuttingaway the branches of the great tree which so long kept the sun from him, and that he does not insist upon tearing you up by the roots. Well; thelate prime favourite of England, who wielded her general's staff andcontrolled her parliaments, is now a rural baron, hunting, hawking, drinking fat ale with country esquires, and mustering his men at thecommand of the high sheriff--"

"Varney, forbear!" said the Earl. 

"Nay, my lord, you must give me leave to conclude my picture. --Sussexgoverns England--the Queen's health fails--the succession is to besettled--a road is opened to ambition more splendid than ambition everdreamed of. You hear all this as you sit by the hob, under the shade ofyour hall-chimney. You then begin to think what hopes you have fallenfrom, and what insignificance you have embraced; and all that youmight look babies in the eyes of your fair wife oftener than once afortnight. "

"I say, Varney, " said the Earl, "no more of this. I said not that thestep, which my own ease and comfort would urge me to, was to be takenhastily, or without due consideration to the public safety. Bear witnessto me, Varney; I subdue my wishes of retirement, not because I am movedby the call of private ambition, but that I may preserve the position inwhich I may best serve my country at the hour of need. --Order our horsespresently; I will wear, as formerly, one of the livery cloaks, and ridebefore the portmantle. Thou shalt be master for the day, Varney--neglectnothing that can blind suspicion. We will to horse ere men are stirring. I will but take leave of my lady, and be ready. I impose a restraint onmy own poor heart, and wound one yet more dear to me; but the patriotmust subdue the husband. "

Having said this in a melancholy but firm accent, he left the dressingapartment. 

"I am glad thou art gone, " thought Varney, "or, practised as I am in thefollies of mankind, I had laughed in the very face of thee! Thou mayesttire as thou wilt of thy new bauble, thy pretty piece of painted Eve'sflesh there, I will not be thy hindrance. But of thine old bauble, ambition, thou shalt not tire; for as you climb the hill, my lord, youmust drag Richard Varney up with you, and if he can urge you to theascent he means to profit by, believe me he will spare neither whip norspur, and for you, my pretty lady, that would be Countess outright, youwere best not thwart my courses, lest you are called to an old reckoningon a new score. 'Thou shalt be master, ' did he say? By my faith, he mayfind that he spoke truer than he is aware of; and thus he who, inthe estimation of so many wise-judging men, can match Burleigh andWalsingham in policy, and Sussex in war, becomes pupil to his ownmenial--and all for a hazel eye and a little cunning red and white, andso falls ambition. And yet if the charms of mortal woman could excusea man's politic pate for becoming bewildered, my lord had the excuseat his right hand on this blessed evening that has last passed over us. Well--let things roll as they may, he shall make me great, or I willmake myself happy; and for that softer piece of creation, if she speaknot out her interview with Tressilian, as well I think she dare not, shealso must traffic with me for concealment and mutual support, in spiteof all this scorn. I must to the stables. Well, my lord, I order yourretinue now; the time may soon come that my master of the horse shallorder mine own. What was Thomas Cromwell but a smith's son? and he diedmy lord--on a scaffold, doubtless, but that, too, was in character. And what was Ralph Sadler but the clerk of Cromwell? and he has gazedeighteen fair lordships--VIA! I know my steerage as well as they. "

So saying, he left the apartment. 

In the meanwhile the Earl had re-entered the bedchamber, bent on takinga hasty farewell of the lovely Countess, and scarce daring to trusthimself in private with her, to hear requests again urged which he foundit difficult to parry, yet which his recent conversation with his masterof horse had determined him not to grant. 

He found her in a white cymar of silk lined with furs, her littlefeet unstockinged and hastily thrust into slippers; her unbraided hairescaping from under her midnight coif, with little array but her ownloveliness, rather augmented than diminished by the grief which she feltat the approaching moment of separation. 

"Now, God be with thee, my dearest and loveliest!" said the Earl, scarcetearing himself from her embrace, yet again returning to fold her againand again in his arms, and again bidding farewell, and again returningto kiss and bid adieu once more. "The sun is on the verge of the bluehorizon--I dare not stay. Ere this I should have been ten miles fromhence. "

Such were the words with which at length he strove to cut short theirparting interview. "You will not grant my request, then?" said theCountess. "Ah, false knight! did ever lady, with bare foot in slipper, seek boon of a brave knight, yet return with denial?"

"Anything, Amy, anything thou canst ask I will grant, " answered theEarl--"always excepting, " he said, "that which might ruin us both. "

"Nay, " said the Countess, "I urge not my wish to be acknowledged in thecharacter which would make me the envy of England--as the wife, thatis, of my brave and noble lord, the first as the most fondly beloved ofEnglish nobles. Let me but share the secret with my dear father! Let mebut end his misery on my unworthy account--they say he is ill, the goodold kind-hearted man!"

"They say?" asked the Earl hastily; "who says? Did not Varney convey toSir Hugh all we dare at present tell him concerning your happiness andwelfare? and has he not told you that the good old knight was following, with good heart and health, his favourite and wonted exercise. Who hasdared put other thoughts into your head?"

"Oh, no one, my lord, no one, " said the Countess, something alarmed atthe tone, in which the question was put; "but yet, my lord, I would fainbe assured by mine own eyesight that my father is well. "

"Be contented, Amy; thou canst not now have communication with thyfather or his house. Were it not a deep course of policy to commit nosecret unnecessarily to the custody of more than must needs be, it weresufficient reason for secrecy that yonder Cornish man, yonder Trevanion, or Tressilian, or whatever his name is, haunts the old knight's house, and must necessarily know whatever is communicated there. "

"My lord, " answered the Countess, "I do not think it so. My father hasbeen long noted a worthy and honourable man; and for Tressilian, ifwe can pardon ourselves the ill we have wrought him, I will wager thecoronet I am to share with you one day that he is incapable of returninginjury for injury. "

"I will not trust him, however, Amy, " said her husband--"by my honour, I will not trust him, I would rather the foul fiend intermingle in oursecret than this Tressilian!"

"And why, my lord?" said the Countess, though she shuddered slightly atthe tone of determination in which he spoke; "let me but know why youthink thus hardly of Tressilian?"

"Madam, " replied the Earl, "my will ought to be a sufficient reason. Ifyou desire more, consider how this Tressilian is leagued, and with whom. He stands high in the opinion of this Radcliffe, this Sussex, againstwhom I am barely able to maintain my ground in the opinion of oursuspicious mistress; and if he had me at such advantage, Amy, as tobecome acquainted with the tale of our marriage, before Elizabeth werefitly prepared, I were an outcast from her grace for ever--a bankrupt atonce in favour and in fortune, perhaps, for she hath in her a touch ofher father Henry--a victim, and it may be a bloody one, to her offendedand jealous resentment. "

"But why, my lord, " again urged his lady, "should you deem thusinjuriously of a man of whom you know so little? What you do knowof Tressilian is through me, and it is I who assure you that in nocircumstances will be betray your secret. If I did him wrong in yourbehalf, my lord, I am now the more concerned you should do him justice. You are offended at my speaking of him, what would you say had Iactually myself seen him?"

"If you had, " replied the Earl, "you would do well to keep thatinterview as secret as that which is spoken in a confessional. I seek noone's ruin; but he who thrusts himself on my secret privacy were betterlook well to his future walk. The bear [The Leicester cognizance was theancient device adopted by his father, when Earl of Warwick, the bear andragged staff. ] brooks no one to cross his awful path. "

"Awful, indeed!" said the Countess, turning very pale. 

"You are ill, my love, " said the Earl, supporting her in his arms. "Stretch yourself on your couch again; it is but an early day for you toleave it. Have you aught else, involving less than my fame, my fortune, and my life, to ask of me?"

"Nothing, my lord and love, " answered the Countess faintly; "somethingthere was that I would have told you, but your anger has driven it frommy recollection. "

"Reserve it till our next meeting, my love, " said the Earl fondly, andagain embracing her; "and barring only those requests which I cannotand dare not grant, thy wish must be more than England and all itsdependencies can fulfil, if it is not gratified to the letter. "

Thus saying, he at length took farewell. At the bottom of the staircasehe received from Varney an ample livery cloak and slouched hat, in whichhe wrapped himself so as to disguise his person and completely concealhis features. Horses were ready in the courtyard for himself and Varney;for one or two of his train, intrusted with the secret so far as to knowor guess that the Earl intrigued with a beautiful lady at that mansion, though her name and duality were unknown to them, had already beendismissed over-night. 

Anthony Foster himself had in hand the rein of the Earl's palfrey, astout and able nag for the road; while his old serving-man held thebridle of the more showy and gallant steed which Richard Varney was tooccupy in the character of master. 

As the Earl approached, however, Varney advanced to hold his master'sbridle, and to prevent Foster from paying that duty to the Earl which heprobably considered as belonging to his own office. Foster scowled atan interference which seemed intended to prevent his paying his courtto his patron, but gave place to Varney; and the Earl, mounting withoutfurther observation, and forgetting that his assumed character of adomestic threw him into the rear of his supposed master, rode pensivelyout of the quadrangle, not without waving his hand repeatedly in answerto the signals which were made by the Countess with her kerchief fromthe windows of her apartment. 

While his stately form vanished under the dark archway which led out ofthe quadrangle, Varney muttered, "There goes fine policy--the servantbefore the master!" then as he disappeared, seized the moment to speak aword with Foster. "Thou look'st dark on me, Anthony, " he said, "as if Ihad deprived thee of a parting nod of my lord; but I have moved him toleave thee a better remembrance for thy faithful service. See here!a purse of as good gold as ever chinked under a miser's thumb andfore-finger. Ay, count them, lad, " said he, as Foster received the goldwith a grim smile, "and add to them the goodly remembrance he gave lastnight to Janet. "

"How's this? how's this?" said Anthony Foster hastily; "gave he gold toJanet?"

"Ay, man, wherefore not?--does not her service to his fair lady requireguerdon?"

"She shall have none on't, " said Foster; "she shall return it. I knowhis dotage on one face is as brief as it is deep. His affections are asfickle as the moon. "

"Why, Foster, thou art mad--thou dost not hope for such good fortuneas that my lord should cast an eye on Janet? Who, in the fiend's name, would listen to the thrush while the nightingale is singing?"

"Thrush or nightingale, all is one to the fowler; and, Master Varney, you can sound the quail-pipe most daintily to wile wantons into hisnets. I desire no such devil's preferment for Janet as you have broughtmany a poor maiden to. Dost thou laugh? I will keep one limb of myfamily, at least, from Satan's clutches, that thou mayest rely on. Sheshall restore the gold. "

"Ay, or give it to thy keeping, Tony, which will serve as well, "answered Varney; "but I have that to say which is more serious. Our lordis returning to court in an evil humour for us. "

"How meanest thou?" said Foster. "Is he tired already of his prettytoy--his plaything yonder? He has purchased her at a monarch's ransom, and I warrant me he rues his bargain. "

"Not a whit, Tony, " answered the master of the horse; "he dotes on her, and will forsake the court for her. Then down go hopes, possessions, andsafety--church-lands are resumed, Tony, and well if the holders be notcalled to account in Exchequer. "

"That were ruin, " said Foster, his brow darkening with apprehensions;"and all this for a woman! Had it been for his soul's sake, it weresomething; and I sometimes wish I myself could fling away the world thatcleaves to me, and be as one of the poorest of our church. "

"Thou art like enough to be so, Tony, " answered Varney; "but I thinkthe devil will give thee little credit for thy compelled poverty, and sothou losest on all hands. But follow my counsel, and Cumnor Place shallbe thy copyhold yet. Say nothing of this Tressilian's visit--not a worduntil I give thee notice. "

"And wherefore, I pray you?" asked Foster, suspiciously. 

"Dull beast!" replied Varney. "In my lord's present humour it were theready way to confirm him in his resolution of retirement, should he knowthat his lady was haunted with such a spectre in his absence. He wouldbe for playing the dragon himself over his golden fruit, and then, Tony, thy occupation is ended. A word to the wise. Farewell! I must followhim. "

He turned his horse, struck him with the spurs, and rode off under thearchway in pursuit of his lord. 

"Would thy occupation were ended, or thy neck broken, damned pander!"said Anthony Foster. "But I must follow his beck, for his interest andmine are the same, and he can wind the proud Earl to his will. Janetshall give me those pieces though; they shall be laid out in some wayfor God's service, and I will keep them separate in my strong chest, till I can fall upon a fitting employment for them. No contagious vapourshall breathe on Janet--she shall remain pure as a blessed spirit, wereit but to pray God for her father. I need her prayers, for I am at ahard pass. Strange reports are abroad concerning my way of life. The congregation look cold on me, and when Master Holdforth spoke ofhypocrites being like a whited sepulchre, which within was full ofdead men's bones, methought he looked full at me. The Romish was acomfortable faith; Lambourne spoke true in that. A man had but tofollow his thrift by such ways as offered--tell his beads, hear a mass, confess, and be absolved. These Puritans tread a harder and a rougherpath; but I will try--I will read my Bible for an hour ere I again openmine iron chest. "

Varney, meantime, spurred after his lord, whom he found waiting for himat the postern gate of the park. 

"You waste time, Varney, " said the Earl, "and it presses. I must be atWoodstock before I can safely lay aside my disguise, and till then Ijourney in some peril. "

"It is but two hours' brisk riding, my lord, " said Varney. "For me, I only stopped to enforce your commands of care and secrecy on yonderFoster, and to inquire about the abode of the gentleman whom I wouldpromote to your lordship's train, in the room of Trevors. "

"Is he fit for the meridian of the antechamber, think'st thou?" said theEarl. 

"He promises well, my lord, " replied Varney; "but if your lordship werepleased to ride on, I could go back to Cumnor, and bring him to yourlordship at Woodstock before you are out of bed. "

"Why, I am asleep there, thou knowest, at this moment, " said the Earl;"and I pray you not to spare horse-flesh, that you may be with me at mylevee. "

So saying, he gave his horse the spur, and proceeded on his journey, while Varney rode back to Cumnor by the public road, avoiding the park. The latter alighted at the door of the bonny Black Bear, and desired tospeak with Master Michael Lambourne, That respectable character was notlong of appearing before his new patron, but it was with downcast looks. 

"Thou hast lost the scent, " said Varney, "of thy comrade Tressilian. I know it by thy bang-dog visage. Is this thy alacrity, thou impudentknave?"

"Cogswounds!" said Lambourne, "there was never a trail so finelyhunted. I saw him to earth at mine uncle's here--stuck to him likebees'-wax--saw him at supper--watched him to his chamber, and, presto!he is gone next morning, the very hostler knows not where. "

"This sounds like practice upon me, sir, " replied Varney; "and if itproves so, by my soul you shall repent it!"

"Sir, the best hound will be sometimes at fault, " answered Lambourne;"how should it serve me that this fellow should have thus evanished?You may ask mine host, Giles Gosling--ask the tapster and hostler--askCicely, and the whole household, how I kept eyes on Tressilian whilehe was on foot. On my soul, I could not be expected to watch him like asick nurse, when I had seen him fairly a-bed in his chamber. That willbe allowed me, surely. "

Varney did, in fact, make some inquiry among the household, whichconfirmed the truth of Lambourne's statement. Tressilian, it wasunanimously agreed, had departed suddenly and unexpectedly, betwixtnight and morning. 

"But I will wrong no one, " said mine host; "he left on the table inhis lodging the full value of his reckoning, with some allowance to theservants of the house, which was the less necessary that he saddled hisown gelding, as it seems, without the hostler's assistance. "

Thus satisfied of the rectitude of Lambourne's conduct, Varney began totalk to him upon his future prospects, and the mode in which he meantto bestow himself, intimating that he understood from Foster he was notdisinclined to enter into the household of a nobleman. 

"Have you, " said he, "ever been at court?"

"No, " replied Lambourne; "but ever since I was ten years old, I havedreamt once a week that I was there, and made my fortune. "

"It may be your own fault if your dream comes not true, " said Varney. "Are you needy?"

"Um!" replied Lambourne; "I love pleasure. "

"That is a sufficient answer, and an honest one, " said Varney. "Knowyou aught of the requisites expected from the retainer of a risingcourtier?"

"I have imagined them to myself, sir, " answered Lambourne; "as, forexample, a quick eye, a close mouth, a ready and bold hand, a sharp wit, and a blunt conscience. "

"And thine, I suppose, " said Varney, "has had its edge blunted longsince?"

"I cannot remember, sir, that its edge was ever over-keen, " repliedLambourne. "When I was a youth, I had some few whimsies; but I rubbedthem partly out of my recollection on the rough grindstone of the wars, and what remained I washed out in the broad waves of the Atlantic. "

"Thou hast served, then, in the Indies?"

"In both East and West, " answered the candidate for court service, "byboth sea and land. I have served both the Portugal and the Spaniard, both the Dutchman and the Frenchman, and have made war on our ownaccount with a crew of jolly fellows, who held there was no peace beyondthe Line. " [Sir Francis Drake, Morgan, and many a bold buccaneer ofthose days, were, in fact, little better than pirates. ]

"Thou mayest do me, and my lord, and thyself, good service, " saidVarney, after a pause. "But observe, I know the world--and answer metruly, canst thou be faithful?"

"Did you not know the world, " answered Lambourne, "it were my duty tosay ay, without further circumstance, and to swear to it with life andhonour, and so forth. But as it seems to me that your worship is one whodesires rather honest truth than politic falsehood, I reply to you, thatI can be faithful to the gallows' foot, ay, to the loop that danglesfrom it, if I am well used and well recompensed--not otherwise. "

"To thy other virtues thou canst add, no doubt, " said Varney, in ajeering tone, "the knack of seeming serious and religious, when themoment demands it?"

"It would cost me nothing, " said Lambourne, "to say yes; but, to speakon the square, I must needs say no. If you want a hypocrite, you maytake Anthony Foster, who, from his childhood, had some sort of phantomhaunting him, which he called religion, though it was that sort ofgodliness which always ended in being great gain. But I have no suchknack of it. "

"Well, " replied Varney, "if thou hast no hypocrisy, hast thou not a naghere in the stable?"

"Ay, sir, " said Lambourne, "that shall take hedge and ditch with my LordDuke's best hunters. Then I made a little mistake on Shooter's Hill, and stopped an ancient grazier whose pouches were better lined than hisbrain-pan, the bonny bay nag carried me sheer off in spite of the wholehue and cry. "

"Saddle him then instantly, and attend me, " said Varney. "Leave thyclothes and baggage under charge of mine host; and I will conduct theeto a service, in which, if thou do not better thyself, the fault shallnot be fortune's, but thine own. "

"Brave and hearty!" said Lambourne, "and I am mounted in aninstant. --Knave, hostler, saddle my nag without the loss of one second, as thou dost value the safety of thy noddle. --Pretty Cicely, take halfthis purse to comfort thee for my sudden departure. "

"Gogsnouns!" replied the father, "Cicely wants no such token from thee. Go away, Mike, and gather grace if thou canst, though I think thou goestnot to the land where it grows. "

"Let me look at this Cicely of thine, mine host, " said Varney; "I haveheard much talk of her beauty. "

"It is a sunburnt beauty, " said mine host, "well qualified to stand outrain and wind, but little calculated to please such critical gallants asyourself. She keeps her chamber, and cannot encounter the glance of suchsunny-day courtiers as my noble guest. "

"Well, peace be with her, my good host, " answered Varney; "our horsesare impatient--we bid you good day. "

"Does my nephew go with you, so please you?" said Gosling. 

"Ay, such is his purpose, " answered Richard Varney. 

"You are right--fully right, " replied mine host--"you are, I say, fullyright, my kinsman. Thou hast got a gay horse; see thou light not unawareupon a halter--or, if thou wilt needs be made immortal by means ofa rope, which thy purpose of following this gentleman renders notunlikely, I charge thee to find a gallows as far from Cumnor as thouconveniently mayest. And so I commend you to your saddle. "

The master of the horse and his new retainer mounted accordingly, leaving the landlord to conclude his ill-omened farewell, to himselfand at leisure; and set off together at a rapid pace, which preventedconversation until the ascent of a steep sandy hill permitted them toresume it. 

"You are contented, then, " said Varney to his companion, "to take courtservice?"

"Ay, worshipful sir, if you like my terms as well as I like yours. "

"And what are your terms?" demanded Varney. 

"If I am to have a quick eye for my patron's interest, he must have adull one towards my faults, " said Lambourne. 

"Ay, " said Varney, "so they lie not so grossly open that he must needsbreak his shins over them. "

"Agreed, " said Lambourne. "Next, if I run down game, I must have thepicking of the bones. "

"That is but reason, " replied Varney, "so that your betters are servedbefore you. "

"Good, " said Lambourne; "and it only remains to be said, that if the lawand I quarrel, my patron must bear me out, for that is a chief point. "

"Reason again, " said Varney, "if the quarrel hath happened in yourmaster's service. "

"For the wage and so forth, I say nothing, " proceeded Lambourne; "it isthe secret guerdon that I must live by. "

"Never fear, " said Varney; "thou shalt have clothes and spending moneyto ruffle it with the best of thy degree, for thou goest to a householdwhere you have gold, as they say, by the eye. "

"That jumps all with my humour, " replied Michael Lambourne; "and it onlyremains that you tell me my master's name. "

"My name is Master Richard Varney, " answered his companion. 

"But I mean, " said Lambourne, "the name of the noble lord to whoseservice you are to prefer me. "

"How, knave, art thou too good to call me master?" said Varney hastily;"I would have thee bold to others, but not saucy to me. "

"I crave your worship's pardon, " said Lambourne, "but you seemedfamiliar with Anthony Foster; now I am familiar with Anthony myself. "

"Thou art a shrewd knave, I see, " replied Varney. "Mark me--I do indeedpropose to introduce thee into a nobleman's household; but it is uponmy person thou wilt chiefly wait, and upon my countenance that thou wiltdepend. I am his master of horse. Thou wilt soon know his name--it isone that shakes the council and wields the state. "

"By this light, a brave spell to conjure with, " said Lambourne, "if aman would discover hidden treasures!"

"Used with discretion, it may prove so, " replied Varney; "but mark--ifthou conjure with it at thine own hand, it may raise a devil who willtear thee in fragments. "

"Enough said, " replied Lambourne; "I will not exceed my limits. "

The travellers then resumed the rapid rate of travelling which theirdiscourse had interrupted, and soon arrived at the Royal Park ofWoodstock. This ancient possession of the crown of England was then verydifferent from what it had been when it was the residence of the fairRosamond, and the scene of Henry the Second's secret and illicit amours;and yet more unlike to the scene which it exhibits in the present day, when Blenheim House commemorates the victory of Marlborough, and no lessthe genius of Vanbrugh, though decried in his own time by persons oftaste far inferior to his own. It was, in Elizabeth's time, an ancientmansion in bad repair, which had long ceased to be honoured with theroyal residence, to the great impoverishment of the adjacent village. The inhabitants, however, had made several petitions to the Queen tohave the favour of the sovereign's countenance occasionally bestowedupon them; and upon this very business, ostensibly at least, was thenoble lord, whom we have already introduced to our readers, a visitor atWoodstock. 

Varney and Lambourne galloped without ceremony into the courtyard of theancient and dilapidated mansion, which presented on that morning a sceneof bustle which it had not exhibited for two reigns. Officers of theEarl's household, liverymen and retainers, went and came with all theinsolent fracas which attaches to their profession. The neigh of horsesand the baying of hounds were heard; for my lord, in his occupation ofinspecting and surveying the manor and demesne, was of course providedwith the means of following his pleasure in the chase or park, said tohave been the earliest that was enclosed in England, and which was wellstocked with deer that had long roamed there unmolested. Several of theinhabitants of the village, in anxious hope of a favourable result fromthis unwonted visit, loitered about the courtyard, and awaited the greatman's coming forth. Their attention was excited by the hasty arrival ofVarney, and a murmur ran amongst them, "The Earl's master of thehorse!" while they hurried to bespeak favour by hastily unbonneting, andproffering to hold the bridle and stirrup of the favoured retainer andhis attendant. 

"Stand somewhat aloof, my masters!" said Varney haughtily, "and let thedomestics do their office. "

The mortified citizens and peasants fell back at the signal; whileLambourne, who had his eye upon his superior's deportment, repelledthe services of those who offered to assist him, with yet morediscourtesy--"Stand back, Jack peasant, with a murrain to you, and letthese knave footmen do their duty!"

While they gave their nags to the attendants of the household, andwalked into the mansion with an air of superiority which long practiceand consciousness of birth rendered natural to Varney, and whichLambourne endeavoured to imitate as well as he could, the poorinhabitants of Woodstock whispered to each other, "Well-a-day! God saveus from all such misproud princoxes! An the master be like the men, why, the fiend may take all, and yet have no more than his due. "

"Silence, good neighbours!" said the bailiff, "keep tongue betwixtteeth; we shall know more by-and-by. But never will a lord come toWoodstock so welcome as bluff old King Harry! He would horsewhip afellow one day with his own royal hand, and then fling him an handfulof silver groats, with his own broad face on them, to 'noint the sorewithal. "

"Ay, rest be with him!" echoed the auditors; "it will be long ere thisLady Elizabeth horsewhip any of us. "

"There is no saying, " answered the bailiff. "Meanwhile, patience, goodneighbours, and let us comfort ourselves by thinking that we deservesuch notice at her Grace's hands. "

Meanwhile, Varney, closely followed by his new dependant, made his wayto the hall, where men of more note and consequence than those left inthe courtyard awaited the appearance of the Earl, who as yet kept hischamber. All paid court to Varney, with more or less deference, assuited their own rank, or the urgency of the business which brought themto his lord's levee. To the general question of, "When comes my lordforth, Master Varney?" he gave brief answers, as, "See you not my boots?I am but just returned from Oxford, and know nothing of it, " and thelike, until the same query was put in a higher tone by a personage ofmore importance. "I will inquire of the chamberlain, Sir Thomas Copely, "was the reply. The chamberlain, distinguished by his silver key, answered that the Earl only awaited Master Varney's return to come down, but that he would first speak with him in his private chamber. Varney, therefore, bowed to the company, and took leave, to enter his lord'sapartment. 

There was a murmur of expectation which lasted a few minutes, and wasat length hushed by the opening of the folding-doors at the upper end orthe apartment, through which the Earl made his entrance, marshalled byhis chamberlain and the steward of his family, and followed by RichardVarney. In his noble mien and princely features, men read nothing ofthat insolence which was practised by his dependants. His courtesieswere, indeed, measured by the rank of those to whom they were addressed, but even the meanest person present had a share of his gracious notice. The inquiries which he made respecting the condition of the manor, ofthe Queen's rights there, and of the advantages and disadvantages whichmight attend her occasional residence at the royal seat of Woodstock, seemed to show that he had most earnestly investigated the matter of thepetition of the inhabitants, and with a desire to forward the interestof the place. 

"Now the Lord love his noble countenance!" said the bailiff, who hadthrust himself into the presence-chamber; "he looks somewhat pale. Iwarrant him he hath spent the whole night in perusing our memorial. Master Toughyarn, who took six months to draw it up, said it would takea week to understand it; and see if the Earl hath not knocked the marrowout of it in twenty-four hours!"

The Earl then acquainted them that he should move their sovereignto honour Woodstock occasionally with her residence during her royalprogresses, that the town and its vicinity might derive, from hercountenance and favour, the same advantages as from those of herpredecessors. Meanwhile, he rejoiced to be the expounder of hergracious pleasure, in assuring them that, for the increase of tradeand encouragement of the worthy burgesses of Woodstock, her Majesty wasminded to erect the town into a Staple for wool. 

This joyful intelligence was received with the acclamations not only ofthe better sort who were admitted to the audience-chamber, but of thecommons who awaited without. 

The freedom of the corporation was presented to the Earl upon knee bythe magistrates of the place, together with a purse of gold pieces, which the Earl handed to Varney, who, on his part, gave a share toLambourne, as the most acceptable earnest of his new service. 

The Earl and his retinue took horse soon after to return to court, accompanied by the shouts of the inhabitants of Woodstock, who made theold oaks ring with re-echoing, "Long live Queen Elizabeth, and the nobleEarl of Leicester!" The urbanity and courtesy of the Earl even threw agleam of popularity over his attendants, as their haughty deportment hadformerly obscured that of their master; and men shouted, "Long life tothe Earl, and to his gallant followers!" as Varney and Lambourne, eachin his rank, rode proudly through the streets of Woodstock. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

HOST. I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will, at the least, keepyour counsel. --MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. 

It becomes necessary to return to the detail of those circumstanceswhich accompanied, and indeed occasioned, the sudden disappearanceof Tressilian from the sign of the Black Bear at Cumnor. It will berecollected that this gentleman, after his rencounter with Varney, hadreturned to Giles Gosling's caravansary, where he shut himself up in hisown chamber, demanded pen, ink, and paper, and announced his purposeto remain private for the day. In the evening he appeared again in thepublic room, where Michael Lambourne, who had been on the watch forhim, agreeably to his engagement to Varney, endeavoured to renew hisacquaintance with him, and hoped he retained no unfriendly recollectionof the part he had taken in the morning's scuffle. 

But Tressilian repelled his advances firmly, though with civility. "Master Lambourne, " said he, "I trust I have recompensed to yourpleasure the time you have wasted on me. Under the show of wildbluntness which you exhibit, I know you have sense enough to understandme, when I say frankly that the object of our temporary acquaintancehaving been accomplished, we must be strangers to each other in future. "

"VOTO!" said Lambourne, twirling his whiskers with one hand, andgrasping the hilt of his weapon with the other; "if I thought that thisusage was meant to insult me--"

"You would bear it with discretion, doubtless, " interrupted Tressilian, "as you must do at any rate. You know too well the distance that isbetwixt us, to require me to explain myself further. Good evening. "

So saying, he turned his back upon his former companion, and enteredinto discourse with the landlord. Michael Lambourne felt stronglydisposed to bully; but his wrath died away in a few incoherent oathsand ejaculations, and he sank unresistingly under the ascendency whichsuperior spirits possess over persons of his habits and description. Heremained moody and silent in a corner of the apartment, paying the mostmarked attention to every motion of his late companion, against whom hebegan now to nourish a quarrel on his own account, which he trusted toavenge by the execution of his new master Varney's directions. The hourof supper arrived, and was followed by that of repose, when Tressilian, like others, retired to his sleeping apartment. 

He had not been in bed long, when the train of sad reveries, whichsupplied the place of rest in his disturbed mind, was suddenlyinterrupted by the jar of a door on its hinges, and a light was seen toglimmer in the apartment. Tressilian, who was as brave as steel, sprangfrom his bed at this alarm, and had laid hand upon his sword, when hewas prevented from drawing it by a voice which said, "Be not too rashwith your rapier, Master Tressilian. It is I, your host, Giles Gosling. "

At the same time, unshrouding the dark lantern, which had hithertoonly emitted an indistinct glimmer, the goodly aspect and figure ofthe landlord of the Black Bear was visibly presented to his astonishedguest. 

"What mummery is this, mine host?" said Tressilian. "Have you supped asjollily as last night, and so mistaken your chamber? or is midnight atime for masquerading it in your guest's lodging?"

"Master Tressilian, " replied mine host, "I know my place and my time aswell as e'er a merry landlord in England. But here has been my hang-dogkinsman watching you as close as ever cat watched a mouse; and here haveyou, on the other hand, quarrelled and fought, either with him or withsome other person, and I fear that danger will come of it. "

"Go to, thou art but a fool, man, " said Tressilian. "Thy kinsman isbeneath my resentment; and besides, why shouldst thou think I hadquarrelled with any one whomsoever?"

"Oh, sir, " replied the innkeeper, "there was a red spot on thy verycheek-bone, which boded of a late brawl, as sure as the conjunction ofMars and Saturn threatens misfortune; and when you returned, the bucklesof your girdle were brought forward, and your step was quick andhasty, and all things showed your hand and your hilt had been latelyacquainted. "

"Well, good mine host, if I have been obliged to draw my sword, " saidTressilian, "why should such a circumstance fetch thee out of thy warmbed at this time of night? Thou seest the mischief is all over. "

"Under favour, that is what I doubt. Anthony Foster is a dangerous man, defended by strong court patronage, which hath borne him out in mattersof very deep concernment. And, then, my kinsman--why, I have toldyou what he is; and if these two old cronies have made up their oldacquaintance, I would not, my worshipful guest, that it should be atthy cost. I promise you, Mike Lambourne has been making very particularinquiries at my hostler when and which way you ride. Now, I would haveyou think whether you may not have done or said something for which youmay be waylaid, and taken at disadvantage. "

"Thou art an honest man, mine host, " said Tressilian, after a moment'sconsideration, "and I will deal frankly with thee. If these men's maliceis directed against me--as I deny not but it may--it is because they arethe agents of a more powerful villain than themselves. "

"You mean Master Richard Varney, do you not?" said the landlord; "he wasat Cumnor Place yesterday, and came not thither so private but what hewas espied by one who told me. "

"I mean the same, mine host. "

"Then, for God's sake, worshipful Master Tressilian, " said honestGosling, "look well to yourself. This Varney is the protector and patronof Anthony Foster, who holds under him, and by his favour, some leaseof yonder mansion and the park. Varney got a large grant of the landsof the Abbacy of Abingdon, and Cumnor Place amongst others, from hismaster, the Earl of Leicester. Men say he can do everything with him, though I hold the Earl too good a nobleman to employ him as some mentalk of. And then the Earl can do anything (that is, anything right orfitting) with the Queen, God bless her! So you see what an enemy youhave made to yourself. "

"Well--it is done, and I cannot help it, " answered Tressilian. 

"Uds precious, but it must be helped in some manner, " said the host. "Richard Varney--why, what between his influence with my lord, and hispretending to so many old and vexatious claims in right of the abbothere, men fear almost to mention his name, much more to set themselvesagainst his practices. You may judge by our discourses the last night. Men said their pleasure of Tony Foster, but not a word of RichardVarney, though all men judge him to be at the bottom of yonder mysteryabout the pretty wench. But perhaps you know more of that matter thanI do; for women, though they wear not swords, are occasion for manya blade's exchanging a sheath of neat's leather for one of flesh andblood. "

"I do indeed know more of that poor unfortunate lady than thou dost, my friendly host; and so bankrupt am I, at this moment, of friends andadvice, that I will willingly make a counsellor of thee, and tell theethe whole history, the rather that I have a favour to ask when my taleis ended. "

"Good Master Tressilian, " said the landlord, "I am but a poor innkeeper, little able to adjust or counsel such a guest as yourself. But as sureas I have risen decently above the world, by giving good measure andreasonable charges, I am an honest man; and as such, if I may notbe able to assist you, I am, at least, not capable to abuse yourconfidence. Say away therefore, as confidently as if you spoke to yourfather; and thus far at least be certain, that my curiosity--for I willnot deny that which belongs to my calling--is joined to a reasonabledegree of discretion. "

"I doubt it not, mine host, " answered Tressilian; and while his auditorremained in anxious expectation, he meditated for an instant how heshould commence his narrative. "My tale, " he at length said, "to bequite intelligible, must begin at some distance back. You have heard ofthe battle of Stoke, my good host, and perhaps of old Sir Roger Robsart, who, in that battle, valiantly took part with Henry VII. , the Queen'sgrandfather, and routed the Earl of Lincoln, Lord Geraldin and his wildIrish, and the Flemings whom the Duchess of Burgundy had sent over, inthe quarrel of Lambert Simnel?"

"I remember both one and the other, " said Giles Gosling; "it is sungof a dozen times a week on my ale-bench below. Sir Roger Robsart ofDevon--oh, ay, 'tis him of whom minstrels sing to this hour, --

 'He was the flower of Stoke's red field, When Martin Swart on ground lay slain; In raging rout he never reel'd, But like a rock did firm remain. '

 [This verse, or something similar, occurs in a long ballad, or poem, on Flodden Field, reprinted by the late Henry Weber. ]

"Ay, and then there was Martin Swart I have heard my grandfather talk of, and of the jolly Almains whom he commanded, with their slashed doubletsand quaint hose, all frounced with ribands above the nether-stocks. Here's a song goes of Martin Swart, too, an I had but memory for it:--

 'Martin Swart and his men, Saddle them, saddle them, Martin Swart and his men; Saddle them well. '"

 [This verse of an old song actually occurs in an old play where the singer boasts, "Courteously I can both counter and knack Of Martin Swart and all his merry men. "]

"True, good mine host--the day was long talked of; but if you sing soloud, you will awake more listeners than I care to commit my confidenceunto. "

"I crave pardon, my worshipful guest, " said mine host, "I was oblivious. When an old song comes across us merry old knights of the spigot, itruns away with our discretion. "

"Well, mine host, my grandfather, like some other Cornishmen, kept awarm affection to the House of York, and espoused the quarrel of thisSimnel, assuming the title of Earl of Warwick, as the county afterwards, in great numbers, countenanced the cause of Perkin Warbeck, callinghimself the Duke of York. My grandsire joined Simnel's standard, and wastaken fighting desperately at Stoke, where most of the leaders of thatunhappy army were slain in their harness. The good knight to whom herendered himself, Sir Roger Robsart, protected him from the immediatevengeance of the king, and dismissed him without ransom. But he wasunable to guard him from other penalties of his rashness, being theheavy fines by which he was impoverished, according to Henry's mode ofweakening his enemies. The good knight did what he might to mitigate thedistresses of my ancestor; and their friendship became so strict, thatmy father was bred up as the sworn brother and intimate of the presentSir Hugh Robsart, the only son of Sir Roger, and the heir of his honest, and generous, and hospitable temper, though not equal to him in martialachievements. "

"I have heard of good Sir Hugh Robsart, " interrupted the host, "many atime and oft; his huntsman and sworn servant, Will Badger, hath spokenof him an hundred times in this very house. A jovial knight he is, and hath loved hospitality and open housekeeping more than the presentfashion, which lays as much gold lace on the seams of a doublet as wouldfeed a dozen of tall fellows with beef and ale for a twelvemonth, andlet them have their evening at the alehouse once a week, to do good tothe publican. "

"If you have seen Will Badger, mine host, " said Tressilian, "you haveheard enough of Sir Hugh Robsart; and therefore I will but say, that thehospitality you boast of hath proved somewhat detrimental to the estateof his family, which is perhaps of the less consequence, as he has butone daughter to whom to bequeath it. And here begins my share in thetale. Upon my father's death, now several years since, the good Sir Hughwould willingly have made me his constant companion. There was atime, however, at which I felt the kind knight's excessive love forfield-sports detained me from studies, by which I might have profitedmore; but I ceased to regret the leisure which gratitude and hereditaryfriendship compelled me to bestow on these rural avocations. Theexquisite beauty of Mistress Amy Robsart, as she grew up from childhoodto woman, could not escape one whom circumstances obliged to be soconstantly in her company--I loved her, in short, mine host, and herfather saw it. "

"And crossed your true loves, no doubt?" said mine host. "It is the wayin all such cases; and I judge it must have been so in your instance, from the heavy sigh you uttered even now. "

"The case was different, mine host. My suit was highly approved bythe generous Sir Hugh Robsart; it was his daughter who was cold to mypassion. "

"She was the more dangerous enemy of the two, " said the innkeeper. "Ifear me your suit proved a cold one. "

"She yielded me her esteem, " said Tressilian, "and seemed not unwillingthat I should hope it might ripen into a warmer passion. There wasa contract of future marriage executed betwixt us, upon her father'sintercession; but to comply with her anxious request, the execution wasdeferred for a twelvemonth. During this period, Richard Varney appearedin the country, and, availing himself of some distant family connectionwith Sir Hugh Robsart, spent much of his time in his company, until, atlength, he almost lived in the family. "

"That could bode no good to the place he honoured with his residence, "said Gosling. 

"No, by the rood!" replied Tressilian. "Misunderstanding and miseryfollowed his presence, yet so strangely that I am at this moment at aloss to trace the gradations of their encroachment upon a family whichhad, till then, been so happy. For a time Amy Robsart received theattentions of this man Varney with the indifference attached to commoncourtesies; then followed a period in which she seemed to regard himwith dislike, and even with disgust; and then an extraordinary speciesof connection appeared to grow up betwixt them. Varney dropped thoseairs of pretension and gallantry which had marked his former approaches;and Amy, on the other hand, seemed to renounce the ill-disguised disgustwith which she had regarded them. They seemed to have more of privacyand confidence together than I fully liked, and I suspected that theymet in private, where there was less restraint than in our presence. Many circumstances, which I noticed but little at the time--for I deemedher heart as open as her angelic countenance--have since arisen on mymemory, to convince me of their private understanding. But I need notdetail them--the fact speaks for itself. She vanished from her father'shouse; Varney disappeared at the same time; and this very day I haveseen her in the character of his paramour, living in the house of hissordid dependant Foster, and visited by him, muffled, and by a secretentrance. "

"And this, then, is the cause of your quarrel? Methinks, you shouldhave been sure that the fair lady either desired or deserved yourinterference. "

"Mine host, " answered Tressilian, "my father--such I must ever considerSir Hugh Robsart--sits at home struggling with his grief, or, if sofar recovered, vainly attempting to drown, in the practice ofhis field-sports, the recollection that he had once a daughter--arecollection which ever and anon breaks from him under circumstances themost pathetic. I could not brook the idea that he should live in misery, and Amy in guilt; and I endeavoured to-seek her out, with the hope ofinducing her to return to her family. I have found her, and when I haveeither succeeded in my attempt, or have found it altogether unavailing, it is my purpose to embark for the Virginia voyage. "

"Be not so rash, good sir, " replied Giles Gosling, "and cast notyourself away because a woman--to be brief--IS a woman, and changesher lovers like her suit of ribands, with no better reason than merefantasy. And ere we probe this matter further, let me ask you whatcircumstances of suspicion directed you so truly to this lady'sresidence, or rather to her place of concealment?"

"The last is the better chosen word, mine host, " answered Tressilian;"and touching your question, the knowledge that Varney held large grantsof the demesnes formerly belonging to the monks of Abingdon directed meto this neighbourhood; and your nephew's visit to his old comrade Fostergave me the means of conviction on the subject. "

"And what is now your purpose, worthy sir?--excuse my freedom in askingthe question so broadly. "

"I purpose, mine host, " said Tressilian, "to renew my visit to the placeof her residence to-morrow, and to seek a more detailed communicationwith her than I have had to-day. She must indeed be widely changed fromwhat she once was, if my words make no impression upon her. "

"Under your favour, Master Tressilian, " said the landlord, "you canfollow no such course. The lady, if I understand you, has alreadyrejected your interference in the matter. "

"It is but too true, " said Tressilian; "I cannot deny it. "

"Then, marry, by what right or interest do you process a compulsoryinterference with her inclination, disgraceful as it may be to herselfand to her parents? Unless my judgment gulls me, those under whoseprotection she has thrown herself would have small hesitation to rejectyour interference, even if it were that of a father or brother; but asa discarded lover, you expose yourself to be repelled with the stronghand, as well as with scorn. You can apply to no magistrate for aid orcountenance; and you are hunting, therefore, a shadow in water, and willonly (excuse my plainness) come by ducking and danger in attempting tocatch it. "

"I will appeal to the Earl of Leicester, " said Tressilian, "againstthe infamy of his favourite. He courts the severe and strict sect ofPuritans. He dare not, for the sake of his own character, refuse myappeal, even although he were destitute of the principles of honour andnobleness with which fame invests him. Or I will appeal to the Queenherself. "

"Should Leicester, " said the landlord, "be disposed to protect hisdependant (as indeed he is said to be very confidential with Varney), the appeal to the Queen may bring them both to reason. Her Majesty isstrict in such matters, and (if it be not treason to speak it) willrather, it is said, pardon a dozen courtiers for falling in love withherself, than one for giving preference to another woman. Coragio then, my brave guest! for if thou layest a petition from Sir Hugh at the footof the throne, bucklered by the story of thine own wrongs, the favouriteEarl dared as soon leap into the Thames at the fullest and deepest, asoffer to protect Varney in a cause of this nature. But to do thiswith any chance of success, you must go formally to work; and, withoutstaying here to tilt with the master of horse to a privy councillor, andexpose yourself to the dagger of his cameradoes, you should hie you toDevonshire, get a petition drawn up for Sir Hugh Robsart, and make asmany friends as you can to forward your interest at court. "

"You have spoken well, mine host, " said Tressilian, "and I will profitby your advice, and leave you to-morrow early. "

"Nay, leave me to-night, sir, before to-morrow comes, " said he landlord. "I never prayed for a guest's arrival more eagerly than I do to haveyou safely gone, My kinsman's destiny is most like to be hanged forsomething, but I would not that the cause were the murder of an honouredguest of mine. 'Better ride safe in the dark, ' says the proverb, 'thanin daylight with a cut-throat at your elbow. ' Come, sir, I move you foryour own safety. Your horse and all is ready, and here is your score. "

"It is somewhat under a noble, " said Tressilian, giving one to the host;"give the balance to pretty Cicely, your daughter, and the servants ofthe house. "

"They shall taste of your bounty, sir, " said Gosling, "and you shouldtaste of my daughter's lips in grateful acknowledgment, but at this hourshe cannot grace the porch to greet your departure. "

"Do not trust your daughter too far with your guests, my good landlord, "said Tressilian. 

"Oh, sir, we will keep measure; but I wonder not that you are jealousof them all. --May I crave to know with what aspect the fair lady at thePlace yesterday received you?"

"I own, " said Tressilian, "it was angry as well as confused, and affordsme little hope that she is yet awakened from her unhappy delusion. "

"In that case, sir, I see not why you should play the champion of awench that will none of you, and incur the resentment of a favourite'sfavourite, as dangerous a monster as ever a knight adventurerencountered in the old story books. "

"You do me wrong in the supposition, mine host--gross wrong, " saidTressilian; "I do not desire that Amy should ever turn thought upon memore. Let me but see her restored to her father, and all I have to do inEurope--perhaps in the world--is over and ended. "

"A wiser resolution were to drink a cup of sack, and forget her, " saidthe landlord. "But five-and-twenty and fifty look on those matters withdifferent eyes, especially when one cast of peepers is set in the skullof a young gallant, and the other in that of an old publican. I pityyou, Master Tressilian, but I see not how I can aid you in the matter. "

"Only thus far, mine host, " replied Tressilian--"keep a watch on themotions of those at the Place, which thou canst easily learn withoutsuspicion, as all men's news fly to the ale-bench; and be pleased tocommunicate the tidings in writing to such person, and to no other, who shall bring you this ring as a special token. Look at it; it is ofvalue, and I will freely bestow it on you. "

"Nay, sir, " said the landlord, "I desire no recompense--but it seems anunadvised course in me, being in a public line, to connect myself in amatter of this dark and perilous nature. I have no interest in it. "

"You, and every father in the land, who would have his daughter releasedfrom the snares of shame, and sin, and misery, have an interest deeperthan aught concerning earth only could create. "

"Well, sir, " said the host, "these are brave words; and I do pity frommy soul the frank-hearted old gentleman, who has minished his estatein good housekeeping for the honour of his country, and now has hisdaughter, who should be the stay of his age, and so forth, whisked upby such a kite as this Varney. And though your part in the matter issomewhat of the wildest, yet I will e'en be a madcap for company, andhelp you in your honest attempt to get back the good man's child, so faras being your faithful intelligencer can serve. And as I shall be trueto you, I pray you to be trusty to me, and keep my secret; for it werebad for the custom of the Black Bear should it be said the bear-warderinterfered in such matters. Varney has interest enough with thejustices to dismount my noble emblem from the post on which he swings sogallantly, to call in my license, and ruin me from garret to cellar. "

"Do not doubt my secrecy, mine host, " said Tressilian; "I will retain, besides, the deepest sense of thy service, and of the risk thou dostrun--remember the ring is my sure token. And now, farewell! for it wasthy wise advice that I should tarry here as short a time as may be. "

"Follow me, then, Sir Guest, " said the landlord, "and tread as gently asif eggs were under your foot, instead of deal boards. No man must knowwhen or how you departed. "

By the aid of his dark lantern he conducted Tressilian, as soon as hehad made himself ready for his journey, through a long intricacy ofpassages, which opened to an outer court, and from thence to a remotestable, where he had already placed his guest's horse. He then aidedhim to fasten on the saddle the small portmantle which contained hisnecessaries, opened a postern door, and with a hearty shake of the hand, and a reiteration of his promise to attend to what went on at CumnorPlace, he dismissed his guest to his solitary journey. 

CHAPTER IX. 

 Far in the lane a lonely hut he found, No tenant ventured on the unwholesome ground: Here smokes his forge, he bares his sinewy arm, And early strokes the sounding anvil warm; Around his shop the steely sparkles flew, As for the steed he shaped the bending shoe. --GAY'S TRIVIA. 

As it was deemed proper by the traveller himself, as well as by GilesGosling, that Tressilian should avoid being seen in the neighbourhood ofCumnor by those whom accident might make early risers, the landlord hadgiven him a route, consisting of various byways and lanes, which he wasto follow in succession, and which, all the turns and short-cuts dulyobserved, was to conduct him to the public road to Marlborough. 

But, like counsel of every other kind, this species of direction is muchmore easily given than followed; and what betwixt the intricacy of theway, the darkness of the night, Tressilian's ignorance of the country, and the sad and perplexing thoughts with which he had to contend, hisjourney proceeded so slowly, that morning found him only in the vale ofWhitehorse, memorable for the defeat of the Danes in former days, withhis horse deprived of a fore-foot shoe, an accident which threatened toput a stop to his journey by laming the animal. The residence of asmith was his first object of inquiry, in which he received littlesatisfaction from the dullness or sullenness of one or two peasants, early bound for their labour, who gave brief and indifferent answers tohis questions on the subject. Anxious, at length, that the partner ofhis journey should suffer as little as possible from the unfortunateaccident, Tressilian dismounted, and led his horse in the direction of alittle hamlet, where he hoped either to find or hear tidings of such anartificer as he now wanted. Through a deep and muddy lane, he at lengthwaded on to the place, which proved only an assemblage of five or sixmiserable huts, about the doors of which one or two persons, whoseappearance seemed as rude as that of their dwellings, were beginningthe toils of the day. One cottage, however, seemed of rather superioraspect, and the old dame, who was sweeping her threshold, appearedsomething less rude than her neighbours. To her Tressilian addressed theoft-repeated question, whether there was a smith in this neighbourhood, or any place where he could refresh his horse? The dame looked him inthe face with a peculiar expression as she replied, "Smith! ay, truly isthere a smith--what wouldst ha' wi' un, mon?"

"To shoe my horse, good dame, " answered Tressiliany; "you may see that hehas thrown a fore-foot shoe. "

"Master Holiday!" exclaimed the dame, without returning any directanswer--"Master Herasmus Holiday, come and speak to mon, and pleaseyou. "

"FAVETE LINGUIS, " answered a voice from within; "I cannot now comeforth, Gammer Sludge, being in the very sweetest bit of my morningstudies. "

"Nay, but, good now, Master Holiday, come ye out, do ye. Here's a monwould to Wayland Smith, and I care not to show him way to devil; hishorse hath cast shoe. "

"QUID MIHI CUM CABALLO?" replied the man of learning from within; "Ithink there is but one wise man in the hundred, and they cannot shoe ahorse without him!"

And forth came the honest pedagogue, for such his dress bespoke him. Along, lean, shambling, stooping figure was surmounted by a head thatchedwith lank, black hair somewhat inclining to grey. His features had thecast of habitual authority, which I suppose Dionysius carried with himfrom the throne to the schoolmaster's pulpit, and bequeathed as a legacyto all of the same profession, A black buckram cassock was gathered athis middle with a belt, at which hung, instead of knife or weapon, agoodly leathern pen-and-ink case. His ferula was stuck on the otherside, like Harlequin's wooden sword; and he carried in his hand thetattered volume which he had been busily perusing. 

On seeing a person of Tressilian's appearance, which he was betterable to estimate than the country folks had been, the schoolmasterunbonneted, and accosted him with, "SALVE, DOMINE. INTELLIGISNE LINGUAMLATINAM?"

Tressilian mustered his learning to reply, "LINGUAE LATINAE HAUD PENITUSIGNARUS, VENIA TUA, DOMINE ERUDITISSIME, VERNACULAM LIBENTIUS LOQUOR. "

The Latin reply had upon the schoolmaster the effect which the mason'ssign is said to produce on the brethren of the trowel. He was at onceinterested in the learned traveller, listened with gravity to his storyof a tired horse and a lost shoe, and then replied with solemnity, "Itmay appear a simple thing, most worshipful, to reply to you that theredwells, within a brief mile of these TUGURIA, the best FABER FERARIUS, the most accomplished blacksmith, that ever nailed iron upon horse. Now, were I to say so, I warrant me you would think yourself COMPOS VOTI, or, as the vulgar have it, a made man. "

"I should at least, " said Tressilian, "have a direct answer to a plainquestion, which seems difficult to be obtained in this country. "

"It is a mere sending of a sinful soul to the evil un, " said the oldwoman, "the sending a living creature to Wayland Smith. "

"Peace, Gammer Sludge!" said the pedagogue; "PAUCA VERBA, Gammer Sludge;look to the furmity, Gammer Sludge; CURETUR JENTACULUM, Gammer Sludge;this gentleman is none of thy gossips. " Then turning to Tressilian, heresumed his lofty tone, "And so, most worshipful, you would really thinkyourself FELIX BIS TERQUE should I point out to you the dwelling of thissame smith?"

"Sir, " replied Tressilian, "I should in that case have all that I wantat present--a horse fit to carry me forward;--out of hearing of yourlearning. " The last words he muttered to himself. 

"O CAECA MENS MORTALIUM!" said the learned man "well was it sung byJunius Juvenalis, 'NUMINIBUS VOTA EXAUDITA MALIGNIS!'"

"Learned Magister, " said Tressilian, "your erudition so greatly exceedsmy poor intellectual capacity that you must excuse my seeking elsewherefor information which I can better understand. "

"There again now, " replied the pedagogue, "how fondly you fly from himthat would instruct you! Truly said Quintilian--"

"I pray, sir, let Quintilian be for the present, and answer, in a wordand in English, if your learning can condescend so far, whether there isany place here where I can have opportunity to refresh my horse until Ican have him shod?"

"Thus much courtesy, sir, " said the schoolmaster, "I can readily renderyou, that although there is in this poor hamlet (NOSTRA PAUPERA REGNA)no regular HOSPITIUM, as my namesake Erasmus calleth it, yet, forasmuchas you are somewhat embued, or at least tinged, as it were, with goodletters, I will use my interest with the good woman of the house toaccommodate you with a platter of furmity--an wholesome food for whichI have found no Latin phrase--your horse shall have a share of thecow-house, with a bottle of sweet hay, in which the good woman Sludge somuch abounds, that it may be said of her cow, FAENUM HABET IN CORNU;and if it please you to bestow on me the pleasure of your company, thebanquet shall cost you NE SEMISSEM QUIDEM, so much is Gammer Sludgebound to me for the pains I have bestowed on the top and bottom of herhopeful heir Dickie, whom I have painfully made to travel through theaccidence. "

"Now, God yield ye for it, Master Herasmus, " said the good Gammer, "andgrant that little Dickie may be the better for his accident! And for therest, if the gentleman list to stay, breakfast shall be on the board inthe wringing of a dishclout; and for horse-meat, and man's meat, I bearno such base mind as to ask a penny. "

Considering the state of his horse, Tressilian, upon the whole, sawno better course than to accept the invitation thus learnedly made andhospitably confirmed, and take chance that when the good pedagogue hadexhausted every topic of conversation, he might possibly condescend totell him where he could find the smith they spoke of. He entered thehut accordingly, and sat down with the learned Magister Erasmus Holiday, partook of his furmity, and listened to his learned account of himselffor a good half hour, ere he could get him to talk upon any other topic, The reader will readily excuse our accompanying this man of learninginto all the details with which he favoured Tressilian, of which thefollowing sketch may suffice. 

He was born at Hogsnorton, where, according to popular saying, the pigsplay upon the organ; a proverb which he interpreted allegorically, as having reference to the herd of Epicurus, of which litter Horaceconfessed himself a porker. His name of Erasmus he derived partly fromhis father having been the son of a renowned washerwoman, who had heldthat great scholar in clean linen all the while he was at Oxford; a taskof some difficulty, as he was only possessed of two shirts, "the one, "as she expressed herself, "to wash the other, " The vestiges of one ofthese CAMICIAE, as Master Holiday boasted, were still in his possession, having fortunately been detained by his grandmother to cover the balanceof her bill. But he thought there was a still higher and overrulingcause for his having had the name of Erasmus conferred on him--namely, the secret presentiment of his mother's mind that, in the babe to bechristened, was a hidden genius, which should one day lead him to rivalthe fame of the great scholar of Amsterdam. The schoolmaster's surnameled him as far into dissertation as his Christian appellative. He wasinclined to think that he bore the name of Holiday QUASI LUCUS A NONLUCENDO, because he gave such few holidays to his school. "Hence, " saidhe, "the schoolmaster is termed, classically, LUDI MAGISTER, because hedeprives boys of their play. " And yet, on the other hand, he thoughtit might bear a very different interpretation, and refer to his ownexquisite art in arranging pageants, morris-dances, May-day festivities, and such-like holiday delights, for which he assured Tressilian he hadpositively the purest and the most inventive brain in England; insomuch, that his cunning in framing such pleasures had made him known to manyhonourable persons, both in country and court, and especially to thenoble Earl of Leicester. "And although he may now seem to forget me, "he said, "in the multitude of state affairs, yet I am well assured that, had he some pretty pastime to array for entertainment of the Queen'sGrace, horse and man would be seeking the humble cottage of ErasmusHoliday. PARVO CONTENTUS, in the meanwhile, I hear my pupils parse andconstrue, worshipful sir, and drive away my time with the aid of theMuses. And I have at all times, when in correspondence with foreignscholars, subscribed myself Erasmus ab Die Fausto, and have enjoyed thedistinction due to the learned under that title: witness the eruditeDiedrichus Buckerschockius, who dedicated to me under that title histreatise on the letter TAU. In fine, sir, I have been a happy anddistinguished man. "

"Long may it be so, sir!" said the traveller; "but permit me to ask, inyour own learned phrase, QUID HOC AD IPHYCLI BOVES? what has all this todo with the shoeing of my poor nag?"

"FESTINA LENTE, " said the man of learning, "we will presently came tothat point. You must know that some two or three years past there cameto these parts one who called himself Doctor Doboobie, although it maybe he never wrote even MAGISTER ARTIUM, save in right of his hungrybelly. Or it may be, that if he had any degrees, they were of thedevil's giving; for he was what the vulgar call a white witch, a cunningman, and such like. --Now, good sir, I perceive you are impatient; but ifa man tell not his tale his own way, how have you warrant to think thathe can tell it in yours?"

"Well, then, learned sir, take your way, " answered Tressilian; "only letus travel at a sharper pace, for my time is somewhat of the shortest. "

"Well, sir, " resumed Erasmus Holiday, with the most provokingperseverance, "I will not say that this same Demetrius for so he wrotehimself when in foreign parts, was an actual conjurer, but certain itis that he professed to be a brother of the mystical Order of the RosyCross, a disciple of Geber (EX NOMINE CUJUS VENIT VERBUM VERNACULUM, GIBBERISH). He cured wounds by salving the weapon instead of the sore;told fortunes by palmistry; discovered stolen goods by the sieve andshears; gathered the right maddow and the male fern seed, through use ofwhich men walk invisible; pretended some advances towards the panacea, or universal elixir; and affected to convert good lead into sorrysilver. "

"In other words, " said Tressilian, "he was a quacksalver and commoncheat; but what has all this to do with my nag, and the shoe which hehas lost?"

"With your worshipful patience, " replied the diffusive man of letters, "you shall understand that presently--PATENTIA then, right worshipful, which word, according to our Marcus Tullius, is 'DIFFICILIUM RERUMDIURNA PERPESSIO. ' This same Demetrius Doboobie, after dealing with thecountry, as I have told you, began to acquire fame INTER MAGNATES, amongthe prime men of the land, and there is likelihood he might have aspiredto great matters, had not, according to vulgar fame (for I aver not thething as according with my certain knowledge), the devil claimed hisright, one dark night, and flown off with Demetrius, who was never seenor heard of afterwards. Now here comes the MEDULLA, the very marrow, of my tale. This Doctor Doboobie had a servant, a poor snake, whomhe employed in trimming his furnace, regulating it by justmeasure--compounding his drugs--tracing his circles--cajoling hispatients, ET SIC ET CAETERIS. Well, right worshipful, the Doctor beingremoved thus strangely, and in a way which struck the whole country withterror, this poor Zany thinks to himself, in the words of Maro, 'UNOAVULSO, NON DEFICIT ALTER;' and, even as a tradesman's apprentice setshimself up in his master's shop when he is dead or hath retired frombusiness, so doth this Wayland assume the dangerous trade of his defunctmaster. But although, most worshipful sir, the world is ever prone tolisten to the pretensions of such unworthy men, who are, indeed, mereSALTIM BANQUI and CHARLATANI, though usurping the style and skillof doctors of medicine, yet the pretensions of this poor Zany, thisWayland, were too gross to pass on them, nor was there a mere rustic, a villager, who was not ready to accost him in the sense of Persius, though in their own rugged words, --

 DILIUS HELLEBORUM CERTO COMPESCERE PUNCTO NESCIUS EXAMEN? VETAT HOC NATURA VEDENDI;

which I have thus rendered in a poor paraphrase of mine own, --

 Wilt thou mix hellebore, who dost not know How many grains should to the mixture go? The art of medicine this forbids, I trow. 

"Moreover, the evil reputation of the master, and his strange anddoubtful end, or at least sudden disappearance, prevented any, exceptingthe most desperate of men, to seek any advice or opinion from theservant; wherefore, the poor vermin was likely at first to swarf forvery hunger. But the devil that serves him, since the death of Demetriusor Doboobie, put him on a fresh device. This knave, whether from theinspiration of the devil, or from early education, shoes horses betterthan e'er a man betwixt us and Iceland; and so he gives up his practiceon the bipeds, the two-legged and unfledged species called mankind, andbetakes him entirely to shoeing of horses. "

"Indeed! and where does he lodge all this time?" said Tressilian. "Anddoes he shoe horses well? Show me his dwelling presently. "

The interruption pleased not the Magister, who exclaimed, "O CAECA MENSMORTALIUM!--though, by the way, I used that quotation before. But Iwould the classics could afford me any sentiment of power to stop thosewho are so willing to rush upon their own destruction. Hear but, I prayyou, the conditions of this man, " said he, in continuation, "ere you areso willing to place yourself within his danger--"

"A' takes no money for a's work, " said the dame, who stood by, enraptured as it were with the line words and learned apophthegms whichglided so fluently from her erudite inmate, Master Holiday. But thisinterruption pleased not the Magister more than that of the traveller. 

"Peace, " said he, "Gammer Sludge; know your place, if it be your will. SUFFLAMINA, Gammer Sludge, and allow me to expound this matter to ourworshipful guest. --Sir, " said he, again addressing Tressilian, "thisold woman speaks true, though in her own rude style; for certainly thisFABER FERRARIUS, or blacksmith, takes money of no one. "

"And that is a sure sign he deals with Satan, " said Dame Sludge; "sinceno good Christian would ever refuse the wages of his labour. "

"The old woman hath touched it again, " said the pedagogue; "REM ACUTETIGIT--she hath pricked it with her needle's point. This Wayland takesno money, indeed; nor doth he show himself to any one. "

"And can this madman, for such I hold him, " said the traveller, "knowaught like good skill of his trade?"

"Oh, sir, in that let us give the devil his due--Mulciber himself, withall his Cyclops, could hardly amend him. But assuredly there is littlewisdom in taking counsel or receiving aid from one who is but tooplainly in league with the author of evil. "

"I must take my chance of that, good Master Holiday, " said Tressilian, rising; "and as my horse must now have eaten his provender, I mustneeds thank you for your good cheer, and pray you to show me this man'sresidence, that I may have the means of proceeding on my journey. "

"Ay, ay, do ye show him, Master Herasmus, " said the old dame, who was, perhaps, desirous to get her house freed of her guest; "a' must needs gowhen the devil drives. "

"DO MANUS, " said the Magister, "I submit--taking the world to witness, that I have possessed this honourable gentleman with the full injusticewhich he has done and shall do to his own soul, if he becomes thus atrinketer with Satan. Neither will I go forth with our guest myself, butrather send my pupil. --RICARDE! ADSIS, NEBULO. "

"Under your favour, not so, " answered the old woman; "you may peril yourown soul, if you list, but my son shall budge on no such errand. And Iwonder at you, Dominie Doctor, to propose such a piece of service forlittle Dickie. "

"Nay, my good Gammer Sludge, " answered the preceptor, "Ricardus shall gobut to the top of the hill, and indicate with his digit to the strangerthe dwelling of Wayland Smith. Believe not that any evil can come tohim, he having read this morning, fasting, a chapter of the Septuagint, and, moreover, having had his lesson in the Greek Testament. "

"Ay, " said his mother, "and I have sewn a sprig of witch's elm in theneck of un's doublet, ever since that foul thief has begun his practiceson man and beast in these parts. "

"And as he goes oft (as I hugely suspect) towards this conjurer for hisown pastime, he may for once go thither, or near it, to pleasure us, and to assist this stranger. --ERGO, HEUS RICARDE! ADSIS, QUAESO, MIDIDASCULE. "

The pupil, thus affectionately invoked, at length came stumbling intothe room; a queer, shambling, ill-made urchin, who, by his stuntedgrowth, seemed about twelve or thirteen years old, though he wasprobably, in reality, a year or two older, with a carroty pate in hugedisorder, a freckled, sunburnt visage, with a snub nose, a longchin, and two peery grey eyes, which had a droll obliquity of vision, approaching to a squint, though perhaps not a decided one. It wasimpossible to look at the little man without some disposition to laugh, especially when Gammer Sludge, seizing upon and kissing him, in spite ofhis struggling and kicking in reply to her caresses, termed him her ownprecious pearl of beauty. 

"RICARDE, " said the preceptor, "you must forthwith (which is PROFECTO)set forth so far as the top of the hill, and show this man of worshipWayland Smith's workshop. "

"A proper errand of a morning, " said the boy, in better language thanTressilian expected; "and who knows but the devil may fly away with mebefore I come back?"

"Ay, marry may un, " said Dame Sludge; "and you might have thought twice, Master Domine, ere you sent my dainty darling on arrow such errand. Itis not for such doings I feed your belly and clothe your back, I warrantyou!"

"Pshaw--NUGAE, good Gammer Sludge, " answered the preceptor; "I ensureyou that Satan, if there be Satan in the case, shall not touch a threadof his garment; for Dickie can say his PATER with the best, and may defythe foul fiend--EUMENIDES, STYGIUMQUE NEFAS. "

"Ay, and I, as I said before, have sewed a sprig of the mountain-ashinto his collar, " said the good woman, "which will avail more than yourclerkship, I wus; but for all that, it is ill to seek the devil or hismates either. "

"My good boy, " said Tressilian, who saw, from a grotesque sneer onDickie's face, that he was more likely to act upon his own bottom thanby the instructions of his elders, "I will give thee a silver groat, mypretty fellow, if you will but guide me to this man's forge. "

The boy gave him a knowing side-look, which seemed to promiseacquiescence, while at the same time he exclaimed, "I be your guide toWayland Smith's! Why, man, did I not say that the devil might fly offwith me, just as the kite there" (looking to the window) "is flying offwith one of grandam's chicks?"

"The kite! the kite!" exclaimed the old woman in return, and forgettingall other matters in her alarm, hastened to the rescue of her chickensas fast as her old legs could carry her. 

"Now for it, " said the urchin to Tressilian; "snatch your beaver, getout your horse, and have at the silver groat you spoke of. "

"Nay, but tarry, tarry, " said the preceptor--"SUFFLAMINA, RICARDE!"

"Tarry yourself, " said Dickie, "and think what answer you are to make togranny for sending me post to the devil. "

The teacher, aware of the responsibility he was incurring, bustled up ingreat haste to lay hold of the urchin and to prevent his departure; butDickie slipped through his fingers, bolted from the cottage, and spedhim to the top of a neighbouring rising ground, while the preceptor, despairing, by well-taught experience, of recovering his pupil by speedof foot, had recourse to the most honied epithets the Latin vocabularyaffords to persuade his return. But to MI ANIME, CORCULUM MEUM, andall such classical endearments, the truant turned a deaf ear, and keptfrisking on the top of the rising ground like a goblin by moonlight, making signs to his new acquaintance, Tressilian, to follow him. 

The traveller lost no time in getting out his horse and departing tojoin his elvish guide, after half-forcing on the poor, deserted teachera recompense for the entertainment he had received, which partly allayedthat terror he had for facing the return of the old lady of the mansion. Apparently this took place soon afterwards; for ere Tressilian and hisguide had proceeded far on their journey, they heard the screams of acracked female voice, intermingled with the classical objurgations ofMaster Erasmus Holiday. But Dickie Sludge, equally deaf to the voiceof maternal tenderness and of magisterial authority, skipped onunconsciously before Tressilian, only observing that "if they criedthemselves hoarse, they might go lick the honey-pot, for he had eaten upall the honey-comb himself on yesterday even. "

CHAPTER X. 

 There entering in, they found the goodman selfe Full busylie unto his work ybent, Who was to weet a wretched wearish elf, With hollow eyes and rawbone cheeks forspent, As if he had been long in prison pent. --THE FAERY QUEENE. 

"Are we far from the dwelling of this smith, my pretty lad?" saidTressilian to his young guide. 

"How is it you call me?" said the boy, looking askew at him with hissharp, grey eyes. 

"I call you my pretty lad--is there any offence in that, my boy?"

"No; but were you with my grandam and Dominie Holiday, you might singchorus to the old song of

 'We three Tom-fools be. '"

"And why so, my little man?" said Tressilian. 

"Because, " answered the ugly urchin, "you are the only three ever calledme pretty lad. Now my grandam does it because she is parcel blind byage, and whole blind by kindred; and my master, the poor Dominie, doesit to curry favour, and have the fullest platter of furmity and thewarmest seat by the fire. But what you call me pretty lad for, you knowbest yourself. "

"Thou art a sharp wag at least, if not a pretty one. But what do thyplayfellows call thee?"

"Hobgoblin, " answered the boy readily; "but for all that, I would ratherhave my own ugly viznomy than any of their jolter-heads, that have nomore brains in them than a brick-bat. "

"Then you fear not this smith whom you are going to see?"

"Me fear him!" answered the boy. "If he were the devil folk think him, Iwould not fear him; but though there is something queer about him, he'sno more a devil than you are, and that's what I would not tell to everyone. "

"And why do you tell it to me, then, my boy?" said Tressilian. 

"Because you are another guess gentleman than those we see here everyday, " replied Dickie; "and though I am as ugly as sin, I would not haveyou think me an ass, especially as I may have a boon to ask of you oneday. "

"And what is that, my lad, whom I must not call pretty?" repliedTressilian. 

"Oh, if I were to ask it just now, " said the boy, "you would deny it me;but I will wait till we meet at court. "

"At court, Richard! are you bound for court?" said Tressilian. 

"Ay, ay, that's just like the rest of them, " replied the boy. "I warrantme, you think, what should such an ill-favoured, scrambling urchin do atcourt? But let Richard Sludge alone; I have not been cock of the roosthere for nothing. I will make sharp wit mend foul feature. "

"But what will your grandam say, and your tutor, Dominie Holiday?"

"E'en what they like, " replied Dickie; "the one has her chickens toreckon, and the other has his boys to whip. I would have given them thecandle to hold long since, and shown this trumpery hamlet a fair pair ofheels, but that Dominie promises I should go with him to bear share inthe next pageant he is to set forth, and they say there are to be greatrevels shortly. "

"And whereabouts are they to be held, my little friend?" saidTressilian. 

"Oh, at some castle far in the north, " answered his guide--"a world'sbreadth from Berkshire. But our old Dominie holds that they cannot goforward without him; and it may be he is right, for he has put in ordermany a fair pageant. He is not half the fool you would take him for, when he gets to work he understands; and so he can spout verses likea play-actor, when, God wot, if you set him to steal a goose's egg, hewould be drubbed by the gander. "

"And you are to play a part in his next show?" said Tressilian, somewhatinterested by the boy's boldness of conversation and shrewd estimate ofcharacter. 

"In faith, " said Richard Sludge, in answer, "he hath so promised me; andif he break his word, it will be the worse for him, for let me take thebit between my teeth, and turn my head downhill, and I will shake himoff with a fall that may harm his bones. And I should not like much tohurt him neither, " said he, "for the tiresome old fool has painfullylaboured to teach me all he could. But enough of that--here are we atWayland Smith's forge-door. "

"You jest, my little friend, " said Tressilian; "here is nothing but abare moor, and that ring of stones, with a great one in the midst, likea Cornish barrow. "

"Ay, and that great flat stone in the midst, which lies across the topof these uprights, " said the boy, "is Wayland Smith's counter, that youmust tell down your money upon. "

"What do you mean by such folly?" said the traveller, beginning to beangry with the boy, and vexed with himself for having trusted such ahare-brained guide. 

"Why, " said Dickie, with a grin, "you must tie your horse to thatupright stone that has the ring in't, and then you must whistle threetimes, and lay me down your silver groat on that other flat stone, walkout of the circle, sit down on the west side of that little thicketof bushes, and take heed you look neither to right nor to left for tenminutes, or so long as you shall hear the hammer clink, and wheneverit ceases, say your prayers for the space you could tell a hundred--orcount over a hundred, which will do as well--and then come into thecircle; you will find your money gone and your horse shod. "

"My money gone to a certainty!" said Tressilian; "but as for therest--Hark ye, my lad, I am not your school-master, but if you play offyour waggery on me, I will take a part of his task off his hands, andpunish you to purpose. "

"Ay, when you catch me!" said the boy; and presently took to hisheels across the heath, with a velocity which baffled every attempt ofTressilian to overtake him, loaded as he was with his heavy boots. Norwas it the least provoking part of the urchin's conduct, that he did notexert his utmost speed, like one who finds himself in danger, or who isfrightened, but preserved just such a rate as to encourage Tressilian tocontinue the chase, and then darted away from him with the swiftness ofthe wind, when his pursuer supposed he had nearly run him down, doublingat the same time, and winding, so as always to keep near the place fromwhich he started. 

This lasted until Tressilian, from very weariness, stood still, and wasabout to abandon the pursuit with a hearty curse on the ill-favouredurchin, who had engaged him in an exercise so ridiculous. But the boy, who had, as formerly, planted himself on the top of a hillock closein front, began to clap his long, thin hands, point with his skinnyfingers, and twist his wild and ugly features into such an extravagantexpression of laughter and derision, that Tressilian began half to doubtwhether he had not in view an actual hobgoblin. 

Provoked extremely, yet at the same time feeling an irresistible desireto laugh, so very odd were the boy's grimaces and gesticulations, theCornishman returned to his horse, and mounted him with the purpose ofpursuing Dickie at more advantage. 

The boy no sooner saw him mount his horse, than he holloed out to himthat, rather than he should spoil his white-footed nag, he would come tohim, on condition he would keep his fingers to himself. 

"I will make no conditions with thee, thou ugly varlet!" saidTressilian; "I will have thee at my mercy in a moment. "

"Aha, Master Traveller, " said the boy, "there is a marsh hard by wouldswallow all the horses of the Queen's guard. I will into it, andsee where you will go then. You shall hear the bittern bump, and thewild-drake quack, ere you get hold of me without my consent, I promiseyou. "

Tressilian looked out, and, from the appearance of the ground behindthe hillock, believed it might be as the boy said, and accordinglydetermined to strike up a peace with so light-footed and ready-witted anenemy. "Come down, " he said, "thou mischievous brat! Leave thy moppingand mowing, and, come hither. I will do thee no harm, as I am agentleman. "

The boy answered his invitation with the utmost confidence, and danceddown from his stance with a galliard sort of step, keeping his eye atthe same time fixed on Tressilian's, who, once more dismounted, stoodwith his horse's bridle in his hand, breathless, and half exhausted withhis fruitless exercise, though not one drop of moisture appeared on thefreckled forehead of the urchin, which looked like a piece of dry anddiscoloured parchment, drawn tight across the brow of a fleshless skull. 

"And tell me, " said Tressilian, "why you use me thus, thou mischievousimp? or what your meaning is by telling me so absurd a legend as youwished but now to put on me? Or rather show me, in good earnest, thissmith's forge, and I will give thee what will buy thee apples throughthe whole winter. "

"Were you to give me an orchard of apples, " said Dickie Sludge, "I canguide thee no better than I have done. Lay down the silver token on theflat stone--whistle three times--then come sit down on the western sideof the thicket of gorse. I will sit by you, and give you free leave towring my head off, unless you hear the smith at work within two minutesafter we are seated. "

"I may be tempted to take thee at thy word, " said Tressilian, "if youmake me do aught half so ridiculous for your own mischievous sport;however, I will prove your spell. Here, then, I tie my horse to thisupright stone. I must lay my silver groat here, and whistle three times, sayest thou?"

"Ay, but thou must whistle louder than an unfledged ousel, " said theboy, as Tressilian, having laid down his money, and half ashamed of thefolly he practised, made a careless whistle--"you must whistle louderthan that, for who knows where the smith is that you call for? He may bein the King of France's stables for what I know. "

"Why, you said but now he was no devil, " replied Tressilian. 

"Man or devil, " said Dickie, "I see that I must summon him for you;"and therewithal he whistled sharp and shrill, with an acuteness of soundthat almost thrilled through Tressilian's brain. "That is what I callwhistling, " said he, after he had repeated the signal thrice; "and nowto cover, to cover, or Whitefoot will not be shod this day. "

Tressilian, musing what the upshot of this mummery was to be, yetsatisfied there was to be some serious result, by the confidence withwhich the boy had put himself in his power, suffered himself to beconducted to that side of the little thicket of gorse and brushwoodwhich was farthest from the circle of stones, and there sat down; and asit occurred to him that, after all, this might be a trick for stealinghis horse, he kept his hand on the boy's collar, determined to make himhostage for its safety. 

"Now, hush and listen, " said Dickie, in a low whisper; "you will soonhear the tack of a hammer that was never forged of earthly iron, for thestone it was made of was shot from the moon. " And in effect Tressiliandid immediately hear the light stroke of a hammer, as when a farrieris at work. The singularity of such a sound, in so very lonely a place, made him involuntarily start; but looking at the boy, and discovering, by the arch malicious expression of his countenance, that the urchin sawand enjoyed his slight tremor, he became convinced that the whole wasa concerted stratagem, and determined to know by whom, or for whatpurpose, the trick was played off. 

Accordingly, he remained perfectly quiet all the time that the hammercontinued to sound, being about the space usually employed in fixinga horse-shoe. But the instant the sound ceased, Tressilian, instead ofinterposing the space of time which his guide had required, started upwith his sword in his hand, ran round the thicket, and confronted a manin a farrier's leathern apron, but otherwise fantastically attired in abear-skin dressed with the fur on, and a cap of the same, which almosthid the sooty and begrimed features of the wearer. "Come back, comeback!" cried the boy to Tressilian, "or you will be torn to pieces; noman lives that looks on him. " In fact, the invisible smith (now fullyvisible) heaved up his hammer, and showed symptoms of doing battle. 

But when the boy observed that neither his own entreaties nor themenaces of the farrier appeared to change Tressilian's purpose, butthat, on the contrary, he confronted the hammer with his drawn sword, he exclaimed to the smith in turn, "Wayland, touch him not, or you willcome by the worse!--the gentleman is a true gentleman, and a bold. "

"So thou hast betrayed me, Flibbertigibbet?" said the smith; "it shallbe the worse for thee!"

"Be who thou wilt, " said Tressilian, "thou art in no danger from me, so thou tell me the meaning of this practice, and why thou drivest thytrade in this mysterious fashion. "

The smith, however, turning to Tressilian, exclaimed, in a threateningtone, "Who questions the Keeper of the Crystal Castle of Light, the Lordof the Green Lion, the Rider of the Red Dragon? Hence!--avoid thee, ereI summon Talpack with his fiery lance, to quell, crush, and consume!"These words he uttered with violent gesticulation, mouthing, andflourishing his hammer. 

"Peace, thou vile cozener, with thy gipsy cant!" replied Tressilianscornfully, "and follow me to the next magistrate, or I will cut theeover the pate. "

"Peace, I pray thee, good Wayland!" said the boy. "Credit me, theswaggering vein will not pass here; you must cut boon whids. " ["Givegood words. "--SLANG DIALECT. ]

"I think, worshipful sir, " said the smith, sinking his hammer, andassuming a more gentle and submissive tone of voice, "that when so poora man does his day's job, he might be permitted to work it out after hisown fashion. Your horse is shod, and your farrier paid--what need youcumber yourself further than to mount and pursue your journey?"

"Nay, friend, you are mistaken, " replied Tressilian; "every man has aright to take the mask from the face of a cheat and a juggler; and yourmode of living raises suspicion that you are both. "

"If you are so determined; sir, " said the smith, "I cannot help myselfsave by force, which I were unwilling to use towards you, MasterTressilian; not that I fear your weapon, but because I know you to bea worthy, kind, and well-accomplished gentleman, who would rather helpthan harm a poor man that is in a strait. "

"Well said, Wayland, " said the boy, who had anxiously awaited the issueof their conference. "But let us to thy den, man, for it is ill for thyhealth to stand here talking in the open air. "

"Thou art right, Hobgoblin, " replied the smith; and going to the littlethicket of gorse on the side nearest to the circle, and opposite to thatat which his customer had so lately crouched, he discovered a trap-doorcuriously covered with bushes, raised it, and, descending into theearth, vanished from their eyes. Notwithstanding Tressilian's curiosity, he had some hesitation at following the fellow into what might be a denof robbers, especially when he heard the smith's voice, issuing from thebowels of the earth, call out, "Flibertigibbet, do you come last, and besure to fasten the trap!"

"Have you seen enough of Wayland Smith now?" whispered the urchinto Tressilian, with an arch sneer, as if marking his companion'suncertainty. 

"Not yet, " said Tressilian firmly; and shaking off his momentaryirresolution, he descended into the narrow staircase, to which theentrance led, and was followed by Dickie Sludge, who made fast thetrap-door behind him, and thus excluded every glimmer of daylight. Thedescent, however, was only a few steps, and led to a level passage ofa few yards' length, at the end of which appeared the reflection of alurid and red light. Arrived at this point, with his drawn sword inhis hand, Tressilian found that a turn to the left admitted him andHobgoblin, who followed closely, into a small, square vault, containinga smith's forge, glowing with charcoal, the vapour of which filled theapartment with an oppressive smell, which would have been altogethersuffocating, but that by some concealed vent the smithy communicatedwith the upper air. The light afforded by the red fuel, and by a lampsuspended in an iron chain, served to show that, besides an anvil, bellows, tongs, hammers, a quantity of ready-made horse-shoes, and otherarticles proper to the profession of a farrier, there were also stoves, alembics, crucibles, retorts, and other instruments of alchemy. Thegrotesque figure of the smith, and the ugly but whimsical features ofthe boy, seen by the gloomy and imperfect light of the charcoal fire andthe dying lamp, accorded very well with all this mystical apparatus, and in that age of superstition would have made some impression on thecourage of most men. 

But nature had endowed Tressilian with firm nerves, and his education, originally good, had been too sedulously improved by subsequent study togive way to any imaginary terrors; and after giving a glance around him, he again demanded of the artist who he was, and by what accident he cameto know and address him by his name. 

"Your worship cannot but remember, " said the smith, "that about threeyears since, upon Saint Lucy's Eve, there came a travelling juggler to acertain hall in Devonshire, and exhibited his skill before a worshipfulknight and a fair company. --I see from your worship's countenance, darkas this place is, that my memory has not done me wrong. "

"Thou hast said enough, " said Tressilian, turning away, as wishingto hide from the speaker the painful train of recollections which hisdiscourse had unconsciously awakened. 

"The juggler, " said the smith, "played his part so bravely that theclowns and clown-like squires in the company held his art to be littleless than magical; but there was one maiden of fifteen, or thereby, withthe fairest face I ever looked upon, whose rosy cheek grew pale, and herbright eyes dim, at the sight of the wonders exhibited. "

"Peace, I command thee, peace!" said Tressilian. 

"I mean your worship no offence, " said the fellow; "but I have cause toremember how, to relieve the young maiden's fears, you condescendedto point out the mode in which these deceptions were practised, and tobaffle the poor juggler by laying bare the mysteries of his art, as ablyas if you had been a brother of his order. --She was indeed so fair amaiden that, to win a smile of her, a man might well--"

"Not a word more of her, I charge thee!" said Tressilian. "I do wellremember the night you speak of--one of the few happy evenings my lifehas known. "

"She is gone, then, " said the smith, interpreting after his own fashionthe sigh with which Tressilian uttered these words--"she is gone, young, beautiful, and beloved as she was!--I crave your worship's pardon--Ishould have hammered on another theme. I see I have unwarily driven thenail to the quick. "

This speech was made with a mixture of rude feeling which inclinedTressilian favourably to the poor artisan, of whom before he wasinclined to judge very harshly. But nothing can so soon attract theunfortunate as real or seeming sympathy with their sorrows. 

"I think, " proceeded Tressilian, after a minute's silence, "thou wert inthose days a jovial fellow, who could keep a company merry by song, andtale, and rebeck, as well as by thy juggling tricks--why do I find theea laborious handicraftsman, plying thy trade in so melancholy a dwellingand under such extraordinary circumstances?"

"My story is not long, " said the artist, "but your honour had bettersit while you listen to it. " So saying, he approached to the fire athree-footed stool, and took another himself; while Dickie Sludge, orFlibbertigibbet, as he called the boy, drew a cricket to the smith'sfeet, and looked up in his face with features which, as illuminated bythe glow of the forge, seemed convulsed with intense curiosity. "Thoutoo, " said the smith to him, "shalt learn, as thou well deservest at myhand, the brief history of my life; and, in troth, it were as well tellit thee as leave thee to ferret it out, since Nature never packed ashrewder wit into a more ungainly casket. --Well, sir, if my poor storymay pleasure you, it is at your command, But will you not taste a stoupof liquor? I promise you that even in this poor cell I have some instore. "

"Speak not of it, " said Tressilian, "but go on with thy story, for myleisure is brief. "

"You shall have no cause to rue the delay, " said the smith, "foryour horse shall be better fed in the meantime than he hath been thismorning, and made fitter for travel. "

With that the artist left the vault, and returned after a few minutes'interval. Here, also, we pause, that the narrative may commence inanother chapter. 

CHAPTER XI. 

 I say, my lord, can such a subtilty (But all his craft ye must not wot of me, And somewhat help I yet to his working), That all the ground on which we ben riding, Till that we come to Canterbury town, He can all clean turnen so up so down, And pave it all of silver and of gold. --THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE, CANTERBURY TALES. 

THE artist commenced his narrative in the following terms:--

"I was bred a blacksmith, and knew my art as well as e'er ablack-thumbed, leathern-aproned, swart-faced knave of that noblemystery. But I tired of ringing hammer-tunes on iron stithies, and wentout into the world, where I became acquainted with a celebrated juggler, whose fingers had become rather too stiff for legerdemain, and whowished to have the aid of an apprentice in his noble mystery. I servedhim for six years, until I was master of my trade--I refer myself toyour worship, whose judgment cannot be disputed, whether I did not learnto ply the craft indifferently well?"

"Excellently, " said Tressilian; "but be brief. "

"It was not long after I had performed at Sir Hugh Robsart's, in yourworship's presence, " said the artist, "that I took myself to the stage, and have swaggered with the bravest of them all, both at the Black Bull, the Globe, the Fortune, and elsewhere; but I know not how--apples wereso plenty that year that the lads in the twopenny gallery never tookmore than one bite out of them, and threw the rest of the pippin atwhatever actor chanced to be on the stage. So I tired of it--renouncedmy half share in the company, gave my foil to my comrade, my buskins tothe wardrobe, and showed the theatre a clean pair of heels. "

"Well, friend, and what, " said Tressilian, "was your next shift?"

"I became, " said the smith, "half partner, half domestic to a manof much skill and little substance, who practised the trade of aphysicianer. "

"In other words, " said Tressilian, "you were Jack Pudding to aquacksalver. "

"Something beyond that, let me hope, my good Master Tressilian, " repliedthe artist; "and yet to say truth, our practice was of an adventurousdescription, and the pharmacy which I had acquired in my first studiesfor the benefit of horses was frequently applied to our human patients. But the seeds of all maladies are the same; and if turpentine, tar, pitch, and beef-suet, mingled with turmerick, gum-mastick, and one beadof garlick, can cure the horse that hath been grieved with a nail, I seenot but what it may benefit the man that hath been pricked with a sword. But my master's practice, as well as his skill, went far beyondmine, and dealt in more dangerous concerns. He was not only a bold, adventurous practitioner in physic, but also, if your pleasure sochanced to be, an adept who read the stars, and expounded the fortunesof mankind, genethliacally, as he called it, or otherwise. He was alearned distiller of simples, and a profound chemist--made severalefforts to fix mercury, and judged himself to have made a fair hit atthe philosopher's stone. I have yet a programme of his on that subject, which, if your honour understandeth, I believe you have the better, notonly of all who read, but also of him who wrote it. "

He gave Tressilian a scroll of parchment, bearing at top and bottom, anddown the margin, the signs of the seven planets, curiously intermingledwith talismanical characters and scraps of Greek and Hebrew. In themidst were some Latin verses from a cabalistical author, written out sofairly, that even the gloom of the place did not prevent Tressilian fromreading them. The tenor of the original ran as follows:--

 "Si fixum solvas, faciasque volare solutum, Et volucrem figas, facient te vivere tutum; Si pariat ventum, valet auri pondere centum; Ventus ubi vult spirat--Capiat qui capere potest. "

"I protest to you, " said Tressilian, "all I understand of this jargon isthat the last words seem to mean 'Catch who catch can. '"

"That, " said the smith, "is the very principle that my worthy friend andmaster, Doctor Doboobie, always acted upon; until, being besotted withhis own imaginations, and conceited of his high chemical skill, hebegan to spend, in cheating himself, the money which he had acquiredin cheating others, and either discovered or built for himself, I couldnever know which, this secret elaboratory, in which he used to secludehimself both from patients and disciples, who doubtless thought hislong and mysterious absences from his ordinary residence in the town ofFarringdon were occasioned by his progress in the mystic sciences, andhis intercourse with the invisible world. Me also he tried to deceive;but though I contradicted him not, he saw that I knew too much of hissecrets to be any longer a safe companion. Meanwhile, his name waxedfamous--or rather infamous, and many of those who resorted to him did sounder persuasion that he was a sorcerer. And yet his supposed advance inthe occult sciences drew to him the secret resort of men too powerfulto be named, for purposes too dangerous to be mentioned. Men cursedand threatened him, and bestowed on me, the innocent assistant of hisstudies, the nickname of the Devil's foot-post, which procured me avolley of stones as soon as ever I ventured to show my face in thestreet of the village. At length my master suddenly disappeared, pretending to me that he was about to visit his elaboratory in thisplace, and forbidding me to disturb him till two days were past. Whenthis period had elapsed, I became anxious, and resorted to this vault, where I found the fires extinguished and the utensils in confusion, with a note from the learned Doboobius, as he was wont to style himself, acquainting me that we should never meet again, bequeathing me hischemical apparatus, and the parchment which I have just put into yourhands, advising me strongly to prosecute the secret which itcontained, which would infallibly lead me to the discovery of the grandmagisterium. "

"And didst thou follow this sage advice?" said Tressilian. 

"Worshipful sir, no, " replied the smith; "for, being by nature cautious, and suspicious from knowing with whom I had to do, I made so manyperquisitions before I ventured even to light a fire, that I at lengthdiscovered a small barrel of gunpowder, carefully hid beneath thefurnace, with the purpose, no doubt, that as soon as I should commencethe grand work of the transmutation of metals, the explosion shouldtransmute the vault and all in it into a heap of ruins, which mightserve at once for my slaughter-house and my grave. This cured me ofalchemy, and fain would I have returned to the honest hammer and anvil;but who would bring a horse to be shod by the Devil's post? Meantime, Ihad won the regard of my honest Flibbertigibbet here, he being then atFarringdon with his master, the sage Erasmus Holiday, by teaching hima few secrets, such as please youth at his age; and after much counseltogether, we agreed that, since I could get no practice in the ordinaryway, I should try how I could work out business among theseignorant boors, by practising upon their silly fears; and, thanks toFlibbertigibbet, who hath spread my renown, I have not wanted custom. But it is won at too great risk, and I fear I shall be at length takenup for a wizard; so that I seek but an opportunity to leave this vault, when I can have the protection of some worshipful person against thefury of the populace, in case they chance to recognize me. "

"And art thou, " said Tressilian, "perfectly acquainted with the roads inthis country?"

"I could ride them every inch by midnight, " answered Wayland Smith, which was the name this adept had assumed. 

"Thou hast no horse to ride upon, " said Tressilian. 

"Pardon me, " replied Wayland; "I have as good a tit as ever yeomanbestrode; and I forgot to say it was the best part of the mediciner'slegacy to me, excepting one or two of the choicest of his medicalsecrets, which I picked up without his knowledge and against his will. "

"Get thyself washed and shaved, then, " said Tressilian; "reform thydress as well as thou canst, and fling away these grotesque trappings;and, so thou wilt be secret and faithful, thou shalt follow me for ashort time, till thy pranks here are forgotten. Thou hast, I think, bothaddress and courage, and I have matter to do that may require both. "

Wayland Smith eagerly embraced the proposal, and protested his devotionto his new master. In a very few minutes he had made so great analteration in his original appearance, by change of dress, trimming hisbeard and hair, and so forth, that Tressilian could not help remarkingthat he thought he would stand in little need of a protector, since noneof his old acquaintance were likely to recognize him. 

"My debtors would not pay me money, " said Wayland, shaking his head;"but my creditors of every kind would be less easily blinded. And, in truth, I hold myself not safe, unless under the protection of agentleman of birth and character, as is your worship. "

So saying, he led the way out of the cavern. He then called loudly forHobgoblin, who, after lingering for an instant, appeared with the horsefurniture, when Wayland closed and sedulously covered up the trap-door, observing it might again serve him at his need, besides that the toolswere worth somewhat. A whistle from the owner brought to his side a nagthat fed quietly on the common, and was accustomed to the signal. 

While he accoutred him for the journey, Tressilian drew his own girthstighter, and in a few minutes both were ready to mount. 

At this moment Sludge approached to bid them farewell. 

"You are going to leave me, then, my old playfellow, " said the boy; "andthere is an end of all our game at bo-peep with the cowardly lubbardswhom I brought hither to have their broad-footed nags shed by the deviland his imps?"

"It is even so, " said Wayland Smith, "the best friends must part, Flibbertigibbet; but thou, my boy, art the only thing in the Vale ofWhitehorse which I shall regret to leave behind me. "

"Well, I bid thee not farewell, " said Dickie Sludge, "for you will beat these revels, I judge, and so shall I; for if Dominie Holiday take menot thither, by the light of day, which we see not in yonder dark hole, I will take myself there!"

"In good time, " said Wayland; "but I pray you to do nought rashly. "

"Nay, now you would make a child, a common child of me, and tell me ofthe risk of walking without leading-strings. But before you are a milefrom these stones, you shall know by a sure token that I have more ofthe hobgoblin about me than you credit; and I will so manage that, ifyou take advantage, you may profit by my prank. "

"What dost thou mean, boy?" said Tressilian; but Flibbertigibbet onlyanswered with a grin and a caper, and bidding both of them farewell, and, at the same time, exhorting them to make the best of their way fromthe place, he set them the example by running homeward with the sameuncommon velocity with which he had baffled Tressilian's former attemptsto get hold of him. 

"It is in vain to chase him, " said Wayland Smith; "for unless yourworship is expert in lark-hunting, we should never catch hold ofhim--and besides, what would it avail? Better make the best of our wayhence, as he advises. "

They mounted their horses accordingly, and began to proceed at a roundpace, as soon as Tressilian had explained to his guide the direction inwhich he desired to travel. 

After they had trotted nearly a mile, Tressilian could not helpobserving to his companion that his horse felt more lively under himthan even when he mounted in the morning. 

"Are you avised of that?" said Wayland Smith, smiling. "That is owingto a little secret of mine. I mixed that with an handful of oats whichshall save your worship's heels the trouble of spurring these six hoursat least. Nay, I have not studied medicine and pharmacy for nought. "

"I trust, " said Tressilian, "your drugs will do my horse no harm?"

"No more than the mare's milk; which foaled him, " answered the artist, and was proceeding to dilate on the excellence of his recipe when hewas interrupted by an explosion as loud and tremendous as the mine whichblows up the rampart of a beleaguered city. The horses started, and theriders were equally surprised. They turned to gaze in the direction fromwhich the thunder-clap was heard, and beheld, just over the spot theyhad left so recently, a huge pillar of dark smoke rising high into theclear, blue atmosphere. "My habitation is gone to wreck, " said Wayland, immediately conjecturing the cause of the explosion. "I was a fool tomention the doctor's kind intentions towards my mansion before that limbof mischief, Flibbertigibbet; I might have guessed he would long to putso rare a frolic into execution. But let us hasten on, for the soundwill collect the country to the spot. "

So saying, he spurred his horse, and Tressilian also quickening hisspeed, they rode briskly forward. 

"This, then, was the meaning of the little imp's token which he promisedus?" said Tressilian. "Had we lingered near the spot, we had found it alove-token with a vengeance. "

"He would have given us warning, " said the smith. "I saw him look backmore than once to see if we were off--'tis a very devil for mischief, yet not an ill-natured devil either. It were long to tell your honourhow I became first acquainted with him, and how many tricks he playedme. Many a good turn he did me too, especially in bringing me customers;for his great delight was to see them sit shivering behind the busheswhen they heard the click of my hammer. I think Dame Nature, when shelodged a double quantity of brains in that misshapen head of his, gavehim the power of enjoying other people's distresses, as she gave themthe pleasure of laughing at his ugliness. "

"It may be so, " said Tressilian; "those who find themselves severed fromsociety by peculiarities of form, if they do not hate the common bulk ofmankind, are at least not altogether indisposed to enjoy their mishapsand calamities. "

"But Flibbertigibbet, " answered Wayland, "hath that about him whichmay redeem his turn for mischievous frolic; for he is as faithful whenattached as he is tricky and malignant to strangers, and, as I saidbefore, I have cause to say so. "

Tressilian pursued the conversation no further, and they continuedtheir journey towards Devonshire without further adventure, until theyalighted at an inn in the town of Marlborough, since celebrated forhaving given title to the greatest general (excepting one) whom Britainever produced. Here the travellers received, in the same breath, anexample of the truth of two old proverbs--namely, that ILL NEWS FLYFAST, and that LISTENERS SELDOM HEAR A GOOD TALE OF THEMSELVES. 

The inn-yard was in a sort of combustion when they alighted; insomuch, that they could scarce get man or boy to take care of their horses, sofull were the whole household of some news which flew from tongue totongue, the import of which they were for some time unable to discover. At length, indeed, they found it respected matters which touched themnearly. 

"What is the matter, say you, master?" answered, at length, the headhostler, in reply to Tressilian's repeated questions. --"Why, truly, I scarce know myself. But here was a rider but now, who says that thedevil hath flown away with him they called Wayland Smith, that won'dabout three miles from the Whitehorse of Berkshire, this very blessedmorning, in a flash of fire and a pillar of smoke, and rooted up theplace he dwelt in, near that old cockpit of upright stones, as cleanlyas if it had all been delved up for a cropping. "

"Why, then, " said an old farmer, "the more is the pity; for that WaylandSmith (whether he was the devil's crony or no I skill not) had a goodnotion of horses' diseases, and it's to be thought the bots will spreadin the country far and near, an Satan has not gien un time to leave hissecret behind un. "

"You may say that, Gaffer Grimesby, " said the hostler in return; "I havecarried a horse to Wayland Smith myself, for he passed all farriers inthis country. "

"Did you see him?" said Dame Alison Crane, mistress of the innbearing that sign, and deigning to term HUSBAND the owner thereof, amean-looking hop-o'-my-thumb sort or person, whose halting gait, andlong neck, and meddling, henpecked insignificance are supposed to havegiven origin to the celebrated old English tune of "My name hath a lametame Crane. "

On this occasion he chirped out a repetition of his wife's question, "Didst see the devil, Jack Hostler, I say?"

"And what if I did see un, Master Crane?" replied Jack Hostler, for, like all the rest of the household, he paid as little respect to hismaster as his mistress herself did. 

"Nay, nought, Jack Hostler, " replied the pacific Master Crane; "only ifyou saw the devil, methinks I would like to know what un's like?"

"You will know that one day, Master Crane, " said his helpmate, "an yemend not your manners, and mind your business, leaving off such idlepalabras. --But truly, Jack Hostler, I should be glad to know myself whatlike the fellow was. "

"Why, dame, " said the hostler, more respectfully, "as for what he waslike I cannot tell, nor no man else, for why I never saw un. "

"And how didst thou get thine errand done, " said Gaffer Grimesby, "ifthou seedst him not?"

"Why, I had schoolmaster to write down ailment o' nag, " said JackHostler; "and I went wi' the ugliest slip of a boy for my guide as everman cut out o' lime-tree root to please a child withal. "

"And what was it?--and did it cure your nag, Jack Hostler?" was utteredand echoed by all who stood around. 

"Why, how can I tell you what it was?" said the hostler; "simply itsmelled and tasted--for I did make bold to put a pea's substance intomy mouth--like hartshorn and savin mixed with vinegar; but then nohartshorn and savin ever wrought so speedy a cure. And I am dreadingthat if Wayland Smith be gone, the bots will have more power over horseand cattle. "

The pride of art, which is certainly not inferior in its influence toany other pride whatever, here so far operated on Wayland Smith, that, notwithstanding the obvious danger of his being recognized, he could nothelp winking to Tressilian, and smiling mysteriously, as if triumphingin the undoubted evidence of his veterinary skill. In the meanwhile, thediscourse continued. 

"E'en let it be so, " said a grave man in black, the companion of GafferGrimesby; "e'en let us perish under the evil God sends us, rather thanthe devil be our doctor. "

"Very true, " said Dame Crane; "and I marvel at Jack Hostler that hewould peril his own soul to cure the bowels of a nag. "

"Very true, mistress, " said Jack Hostler, "but the nag was my master's;and had it been yours, I think ye would ha' held me cheap enow an I hadfeared the devil when the poor beast was in such a taking. For the rest, let the clergy look to it. Every man to his craft, says the proverb--theparson to the prayer-book, and the groom to his curry-comb. 

"I vow, " said Dame Crane, "I think Jack Hostler speaks like a goodChristian and a faithful servant, who will spare neither body nor soulin his master's service. However, the devil has lifted him in time, fora Constable of the Hundred came hither this morning to get old GafferPinniewinks, the trier of witches, to go with him to the Vale ofWhitehorse to comprehend Wayland Smith, and put him to his probation. Ihelped Pinniewinks to sharpen his pincers and his poking-awl, and I sawthe warrant from Justice Blindas. "

"Pooh--pooh--the devil would laugh both at Blindas and his warrant, constable and witch-finder to boot, " said old Dame Crank, the Papistlaundress; "Wayland Smith's flesh would mind Pinniewinks' awl nomore than a cambric ruff minds a hot piccadilloe-needle. But tell me, gentlefolks, if the devil ever had such a hand among ye, as to snatchaway your smiths and your artists from under your nose, when the goodAbbots of Abingdon had their own? By Our Lady, no!--they had theirhallowed tapers; and their holy water, and their relics, and what not, could send the foulest fiends a-packing. Go ask a heretic parson to dothe like. But ours were a comfortable people. "

"Very true, Dame Crank, " said the hostler; "so said Simpkins ofSimonburn when the curate kissed his wife, --'They are a comfortablepeople, ' said he. "

"Silence, thou foul-mouthed vermin, " said Dame Crank; "is it fit fora heretic horse-boy like thee to handle such a text as the Catholicclergy?"

"In troth no, dame, " replied the man of oats; "and as you yourself arenow no text for their handling, dame, whatever may have been the case inyour day, I think we had e'en better leave un alone. "

At this last exchange of sarcasm, Dame Crank set up her throat, andbegan a horrible exclamation against Jack Hostler, under cover of whichTressilian and his attendant escaped into the house. 

They had no sooner entered a private chamber, to which Goodman Cranehimself had condescended to usher them, and dispatched their worthy andobsequious host on the errand of procuring wine and refreshment, thanWayland Smith began to give vent to his self-importance. 

"You see, sir, " said he, addressing Tressilian, "that I nothing fabledin asserting that I possessed fully the mighty mystery of a farrier, ormareschal, as the French more honourably term us. These dog-hostlers, who, after all, are the better judges in such a case, know what creditthey should attach to my medicaments. I call you to witness, worshipfulMaster Tressilian, that nought, save the voice of calumny and the handof malicious violence, hath driven me forth from a station in which Iheld a place alike useful and honoured. "

"I bear witness, my friend, but will reserve my listening, " answeredTressilian, "for a safer time; unless, indeed, you deem it essentialto your reputation to be translated, like your late dwelling, by theassistance of a flash of fire. For you see your best friends reckon youno better than a mere sorcerer. "

"Now, Heaven forgive them, " said the artist, "who confounded learnedskill with unlawful magic! I trust a man may be as skilful, or more so, than the best chirurgeon ever meddled with horse-flesh, and yet may beupon the matter little more than other ordinary men, or at the worst noconjurer. "

"God forbid else!" said Tressilian. "But be silent just for the present, since here comes mine host with an assistant, who seems something of theleast. "

Everybody about the inn, Dame Crane herself included, had been indeedso interested and agitated by the story they had heard of Wayland Smith, and by the new, varying, and more marvellous editions of the incidentwhich arrived from various quarters, that mine host, in his righteousdetermination to accommodate his guests, had been able to obtain theassistance of none of his household, saving that of a little boy, ajunior tapster, of about twelve years old, who was called Sampson. 

"I wish, " he said, apologizing to his guests, as he set down a flagonof sack, and promised some food immediately--"I wish the devil had flownaway with my wife and my whole family instead of this Wayland Smith, who, I daresay, after all said and done, was much less worthy of thedistinction which Satan has done him. "

"I hold opinion with you, good fellow, " replied Wayland Smith; "and Iwill drink to you upon that argument. "

"Not that I would justify any man who deals with the devil, " said minehost, after having pledged Wayland in a rousing draught of sack, "butthat--saw ye ever better sack, my masters?--but that, I say, a man hadbetter deal with a dozen cheats and scoundrel fellows, such as thisWayland Smith, than with a devil incarnate, that takes possession ofhouse and home, bed and board. "

The poor fellow's detail of grievances was here interrupted by theshrill voice of his helpmate, screaming from the kitchen, to which heinstantly hobbled, craving pardon of his guests. He was no sooner gonethan Wayland Smith expressed, by every contemptuous epithet in thelanguage, his utter scorn for a nincompoop who stuck his head underhis wife's apron-string; and intimated that, saving for the sake ofthe horses, which required both rest and food, he would advise hisworshipful Master Tressilian to push on a stage farther, rather than paya reckoning to such a mean-spirited, crow-trodden, henpecked coxcomb, asGaffer Crane. 

The arrival of a large dish of good cow-heel and bacon something soothedthe asperity of the artist, which wholly vanished before a choice capon, so delicately roasted that the lard frothed on it, said Wayland, likeMay-dew on a lily; and both Gaffer Crane and his good dame became, inhis eyes, very painstaking, accommodating, obliging persons. 

According to the manners of the times, the master and his attendantsat at the same table, and the latter observed, with regret, how littleattention Tressilian paid to his meal. He recollected, indeed, the painhe had given by mentioning the maiden in whose company he had first seenhim; but, fearful of touching upon a topic too tender to be tamperedwith, he chose to ascribe his abstinence to another cause. 

"This fare is perhaps too coarse for your worship, " said Wayland, as thelimbs of the capon disappeared before his own exertions; "but had youdwelt as long as I have done in yonder dungeon, which Flibbertigibbethas translated to the upper element, a place where I dared hardly broilmy food, lest the smoke should be seen without, you would think a faircapon a more welcome dainty. "

"If you are pleased, friend, " said Tressilian, "it is well. Nevertheless, hasten thy meal if thou canst, For this place isunfriendly to thy safety, and my concerns crave travelling. "

Allowing, therefore, their horses no more rest than was absolutelynecessary for them, they pursued their journey by a forced march as faras Bradford, where they reposed themselves for the night. 

The next morning found them early travellers. And, not to fatigue thereader with unnecessary particulars, they traversed without adventurethe counties of Wiltshire and Somerset, and about noon of the third dayafter Tressilian's leaving Cumnor, arrived at Sir Hugh Robsart's seat, called Lidcote Hall, on the frontiers of Devonshire. 

CHAPTER XII. 

 Ah me! the flower and blossom of your house, The wind hath blown away to other towers. --JOANNA BAILLIE'S FAMILY LEGEND. 

The ancient seat of Lidcote Hall was situated near the village ofthe same name, and adjoined the wild and extensive forest of Exmoor, plentifully stocked with game, in which some ancient rights belonging tothe Robsart family entitled Sir Hugh to pursue his favourite amusementof the chase. The old mansion was a low, venerable building, occupyinga considerable space of ground, which was surrounded by a deep moat. Theapproach and drawbridge were defended by an octagonal tower, of ancientbrickwork, but so clothed with ivy and other creepers that it wasdifficult to discover of what materials it was constructed. The anglesof this tower were each decorated with a turret, whimsically variousin form and in size, and, therefore, very unlike the monotonous stonepepperboxes which, in modern Gothic architecture, are employed forthe same purpose. One of these turrets was square, and occupied asa clock-house. But the clock was now standing still; a circumstancepeculiarly striking to Tressilian, because the good old knight, amongother harmless peculiarities, had a fidgety anxiety about the exactmeasurement of time, very common to those who have a great deal of thatcommodity to dispose of, and find it lie heavy upon their hands--justas we see shopkeepers amuse themselves with taking an exact account oftheir stock at the time there is least demand for it. 

The entrance to the courtyard of the old mansion lay through an archway, surmounted by the foresaid tower; but the drawbridge was down, and oneleaf of the iron-studded folding-doors stood carelessly open. Tressilianhastily rode over the drawbridge, entered the court, and began tocall loudly on the domestics by their names. For some time he was onlyanswered by the echoes and the howling of the hounds, whose kennel layat no great distance from the mansion, and was surrounded by the samemoat. At length Will Badger, the old and favourite attendant of theknight, who acted alike as squire of his body and superintendent of hissports, made his appearance. The stout, weather-beaten forester showedgreat signs of joy when he recognized Tressilian. 

"Lord love you, " he said, "Master Edmund, be it thou in flesh and fell?Then thou mayest do some good on Sir Hugh, for it passes the wit ofman--that is, of mine own, and the curate's, and Master Mumblazen's--todo aught wi'un. "

"Is Sir Hugh then worse since I went away, Will?" demanded Tressilian. 

"For worse in body--no; he is much better, " replied the domestic; "buthe is clean mazed as it were--eats and drinks as he was wont--but sleepsnot, or rather wakes not, for he is ever in a sort of twilight, that isneither sleeping nor waking. Dame Swineford thought it was like the deadpalsy. But no, no, dame, said I, it is the heart, it is the heart. "

"Can ye not stir his mind to any pastimes?" said Tressilian. 

"He is clean and quite off his sports, " said Will Badger; "hath neithertouched backgammon or shovel-board, nor looked on the big book ofharrowtry wi' Master Mumblazen. I let the clock run down, thinking themissing the bell might somewhat move him--for you know, Master Edmund, he was particular in counting time--but he never said a word on't, soI may e'en set the old chime a-towling again. I made bold to tread onBungay's tail too, and you know what a round rating that would ha' costme once a-day; but he minded the poor tyke's whine no more than a madgehowlet whooping down the chimney--so the case is beyond me. "

"Thou shalt tell me the rest within doors, Will. Meanwhile, let thisperson be ta'en to the buttery, and used with respect. He is a man ofart. "

"White art or black art, I would, " said Will Badger, "that he had anyart which could help us. --Here, Tom Butler, look to the man of art;--andsee that he steals none of thy spoons, lad, " he added in a whisper tothe butler, who showed himself at a low window, "I have known as honesta faced fellow have art enough to do that. "

He then ushered Tressilian into a low parlour, and went, at his desire, to see in what state his master was, lest the sudden return of hisdarling pupil and proposed son-in-law should affect him too strongly. He returned immediately, and said that Sir Hugh was dozing in hiselbow-chair, but that Master Mumblazen would acquaint Master Tressilianthe instant he awaked. 

"But it is chance if he knows you, " said the huntsman, "for he hasforgotten the name of every hound in the pack. I thought, about a weeksince, he had gotten a favourable turn. 'Saddle me old Sorrel, ' said hesuddenly, after he had taken his usual night-draught out of the greatsilver grace-cup, 'and take the hounds to Mount Hazelhurst to-morrow. 'Glad men were we all, and out we had him in the morning, and he rode tocover as usual, with never a word spoken but that the wind was south, and the scent would lie. But ere we had uncoupled'the hounds, he beganto stare round him, like a man that wakes suddenly out of a dream--turnsbridle, and walks back to Hall again, and leaves us to hunt at leisureby ourselves, if we listed. "

"You tell a heavy tale, Will, " replied Tressilian; "but God must helpus--there is no aid in man. "

"Then you bring us no news of young Mistress Amy? But what need Iask--your brow tells the story. Ever I hoped that if any man could orwould track her, it must be you. All's over and lost now. But if ever Ihave that Varney within reach of a flight-shot, I will bestow a forkedshaft on him; and that I swear by salt and bread. "

As he spoke, the door opened, and Master Mumblazen appeared--a withered, thin, elderly gentleman, with a cheek like a winter apple, and hisgrey hair partly concealed by a small, high hat, shaped like a cone, or rather like such a strawberry-basket as London fruiterers exhibit attheir windows. He was too sententious a person to waste words on meresalutation; so, having welcomed Tressilian with a nod and a shake of thehand, he beckoned him to follow to Sir Hugh's great chamber, which thegood knight usually inhabited. Will Badger followed, unasked, anxious tosee whether his master would be relieved from his state of apathy by thearrival of Tressilian. 

In a long, low parlour, amply furnished with implements of the chase, and with silvan trophies, by a massive stone chimney, over which hunga sword and suit of armour somewhat obscured by neglect, sat Sir HughRobsart of Lidcote, a man of large size, which had been only kept withinmoderate compass by the constant use of violent exercise, It seemed toTressilian that the lethargy, under which his old friend appeared tolabour, had, even during his few weeks' absence, added bulk to hisperson--at least it had obviously diminished the vivacity of his eye, which, as they entered, first followed Master Mumblazen slowly to alarge oaken desk, on which a ponderous volume lay open, and then rested, as if in uncertainty, on the stranger who had entered along with him. The curate, a grey-headed clergyman, who had been a confessor in thedays of Queen Mary, sat with a book in his hand in another recess in theapartment. He, too, signed a mournful greeting to Tressilian, and laidhis book aside, to watch the effect his appearance should produce on theafflicted old man. 

As Tressilian, his own eyes filling fast with tears, approached moreand more nearly to the father of his betrothed bride, Sir Hugh'sintelligence seemed to revive. He sighed heavily, as one who awakensfrom a state of stupor; a slight convulsion passed over his features;he opened his arms without speaking a word, and, as Tressilian threwhimself into them, he folded him to his bosom. 

"There is something left to live for yet, " were the first words heuttered; and while he spoke, he gave vent to his feelings in a paroxysmof weeping, the tears chasing each other down his sunburnt cheeks andlong white beard. 

"I ne'er thought to have thanked God to see my master weep, " said WillBadger; "but now I do, though I am like to weep for company. "

"I will ask thee no questions, " said the old knight; "noquestions--none, Edmund. Thou hast not found her--or so found her, thatshe were better lost. "

Tressilian was unable to reply otherwise than by putting his handsbefore his face. 

"It is enough--it is enough. But do not thou weep for her, Edmund. Ihave cause to weep, for she was my daughter; thou hast cause to rejoice, that she did not become thy wife. --Great God! thou knowest best what isgood for us. It was my nightly prayer that I should see Amy and Edmundwedded, --had it been granted, it had now been gall added to bitterness. "

"Be comforted, my friend, " said the curate, addressing Sir Hugh, "itcannot be that the daughter of all our hopes and affections is the vilecreature you would bespeak her. "

"Oh, no, " replied Sir Hugh impatiently, "I were wrong to name broadlythe base thing she is become--there is some new court name for it, Iwarrant me. It is honour enough for the daughter of an old Devonshireclown to be the leman of a gay courtier--of Varney too--of Varney, whosegrandsire was relieved by my father, when his fortune was broken, atthe battle of--the battle of--where Richard was slain--out on mymemory!--and I warrant none of you will help me--"

"The battle of Bosworth, " said Master Mumblazen--"stricken betweenRichard Crookback and Henry Tudor, grandsire of the Queen that now is, PRIMO HENRICI SEPTIMI; and in the year one thousand four hundred andeighty-five, POST CHRISTUM NATUM. "

"Ay, even so, " said the old knight; "every child knows it. But my poorhead forgets all it should remember, and remembers only what it wouldmost willingly forget. My brain has been at fault, Tressilian, almostever since thou hast been away, and even yet it hunts counter. "

"Your worship, " said the good clergyman, "had better retire to yourapartment, and try to sleep for a little space. The physician lefta composing draught; and our Great Physician has commanded us to useearthly means, that we may be strengthened to sustain the trials Hesends us. "

"True, true, old friend, " said Sir Hugh; "and we will bear our trialsmanfully--we have lost but a woman. --See, Tressilian, "--he drew fromhis bosom a long ringlet of glossy hair, --"see this lock! I tell thee, Edmund, the very night she disappeared, when she bid me good even, asshe was wont, she hung about my neck, and fondled me more than usual;and I, like an old fool, held her by this lock, until she took herscissors, severed it, and left it in my hand--as all I was ever to seemore of her!"

Tressilian was unable to reply, well judging what a complication offeelings must have crossed the bosom of the unhappy fugitive at thatcruel moment. The clergyman was about to speak, but Sir Hugh interruptedhim. 

"I know what you would say, Master Curate, --After all, it is but a lockof woman's tresses; and by woman, shame, and sin, and death came intoan innocent world. --And learned Master Mumblazen, too, can say scholarlythings of their inferiority. "

"C'EST L'HOMME, " said Master Mumblazen, "QUI SE BAST, ET QUI CONSEILLE. "

"True, " said Sir Hugh, "and we will bear us, therefore, like men whohave both mettle and wisdom in us. --Tressilian, thou art as welcomeas if thou hadst brought better news. But we have spoken too longdry-lipped. --Amy, fill a cup of wine to Edmund, and another to me. " Theninstantly recollecting that he called upon her who could not hear, he shook his head, and said to the clergyman, "This grief is to mybewildered mind what the church of Lidcote is to our park: we may loseourselves among the briers and thickets for a little space, but fromthe end of each avenue we see the old grey steeple and the grave of myforefathers. I would I were to travel that road tomorrow!"

Tressilian and the curate joined in urging the exhausted old man to layhimself to rest, and at length prevailed. Tressilian remained by hispillow till he saw that slumber at length sunk down on him, and thenreturned to consult with the curate what steps should be adopted inthese unhappy circumstances. 

They could not exclude from these deliberations Master MichaelMumblazen; and they admitted him the more readily, that besides whathopes they entertained from his sagacity, they knew him to be so greata friend to taciturnity, that there was no doubt of his keeping counsel. He was an old bachelor, of good family, but small fortune, and distantlyrelated to the House of Robsart; in virtue of which connection, LidcoteHall had been honoured with his residence for the last twenty years. Hiscompany was agreeable to Sir Hugh, chiefly on account of his profoundlearning, which, though it only related to heraldry and genealogy, withsuch scraps of history as connected themselves with these subjects, was precisely of a kind to captivate the good old knight; besides theconvenience which he found in having a friend to appeal to when hisown memory, as frequently happened, proved infirm and played him falseconcerning names and dates, which, and all similar deficiencies, MasterMichael Mumblazen supplied with due brevity and discretion. And, indeed, in matters concerning the modern world, he often gave, in hisenigmatical and heraldic phrase, advice which was well worth attendingto, or, in Will Badger's language, started the game while others beatthe bush. 

"We have had an unhappy time of it with the good knight, Master Edmund, "said the curate. "I have not suffered so much since I was torn away frommy beloved flock, and compelled to abandon them to the Romish wolves. "

"That was in TERTIO MARIAE, " said Master Mumblazen. 

"In the name of Heaven, " continued the curate, "tell us, has yourtime been better spent than ours, or have you any news of thatunhappy maiden, who, being for so many years the principal joy of thisbroken-down house, is now proved our greatest unhappiness? Have you notat least discovered her place of residence?"

"I have, " replied Tressilian. "Know you Cumnor Place, near Oxford?"

"Surely, " said the clergyman; "it was a house of removal for the monksof Abingdon. "

"Whose arms, " said Master Michael, "I have seen over a stone chimney inthe hall, --a cross patonce betwixt four martlets. "

"There, " said Tressilian, "this unhappy maiden resides, in company withthe villain Varney. But for a strange mishap, my sword had revenged allour injuries, as well as hers, on his worthless head. "

"Thank God, that kept thine hand from blood-guiltiness, rash young man!"answered the curate. "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I willrepay it. It were better study to free her from the villain's nets ofinfamy. "

"They are called, in heraldry, LAQUEI AMORIS, or LACS D'AMOUR, " saidMumblazen. 

"It is in that I require your aid, my friends, " said Tressilian. "Iam resolved to accuse this villain, at the very foot of the throne, offalsehood, seduction, and breach of hospitable laws. The Queen shallhear me, though the Earl of Leicester, the villain's patron, stood ather right hand. "

"Her Grace, " said the curate, "hath set a comely example of continenceto her subjects, and will doubtless do justice on this inhospitablerobber. But wert thou not better apply to the Earl of Leicester, in thefirst place, for justice on his servant? If he grants it, thou dost savethe risk of making thyself a powerful adversary, which will certainlychance if, in the first instance, you accuse his master of the horse andprime favourite before the Queen. "

"My mind revolts from your counsel, " said Tressilian. "I cannot brookto plead my noble patron's cause the unhappy Amy's cause--before any onesave my lawful Sovereign. Leicester, thou wilt say, is noble. Be it so;he is but a subject like ourselves, and I will not carry my plaint tohim, if I can do better. Still, I will think on what thou hast said; butI must have your assistance to persuade the good Sir Hugh to make me hiscommissioner and fiduciary in this matter, for it is in his name I mustspeak, and not in my own. Since she is so far changed as to dote uponthis empty profligate courtier, he shall at least do her the justicewhich is yet in his power. "

"Better she died CAELEBS and SINE PROLE, " said Mumblazen, with moreanimation than he usually expressed, "than part, PER PALE, the noblecoat of Robsart with that of such a miscreant!"

"If it be your object, as I cannot question, " said the clergyman, "tosave, as much as is yet possible, the credit of this unhappy youngwoman, I repeat, you should apply, in the first instance, to the Earlof Leicester. He is as absolute in his household as the Queen in herkingdom, and if he expresses to Varney that such is his pleasure, herhonour will not stand so publicly committed. "

"You are right, you are right!" said Tressilian eagerly, "and I thankyou for pointing out what I overlooked in my haste. I little thoughtever to have besought grace of Leicester; but I could kneel to the proudDudley, if doing so could remove one shade of shame from this unhappydamsel. You will assist me then to procure the necessary powers from SirHugh Robsart?"

The curate assured him of his assistance, and the herald nodded assent. 

"You must hold yourselves also in readiness to testify, in case you arecalled upon, the openhearted hospitality which our good patron exercisedtowards this deceitful traitor, and the solicitude with which helaboured to seduce his unhappy daughter. "

"At first, " said the clergyman, "she did not, as it seemed to me, muchaffect his company; but latterly I saw them often together. "

"SEIANT in the parlour, " said Michael Mumblazen, "and PASSANT in thegarden. "

"I once came on them by chance, " said the priest, "in the South wood, in a spring evening. Varney was muffled in a russet cloak, so that I sawnot his face. They separated hastily, as they heard me rustle amongstthe leaves; and I observed she turned her head and looked long afterhim. "

"With neck REGUARDANT, " said the herald. "And on the day of her flight, and that was on Saint Austen's Eve, I saw Varney's groom, attired in hisliveries, hold his master's horse and Mistress Amy's palfrey, bridledand saddled PROPER, behind the wall of the churchyard. "

"And now is she found mewed up in his secret place of retirement, " saidTressilian. "The villain is taken in the manner, and I well wish he maydeny his crime, that I may thrust conviction down his false throat! ButI must prepare for my journey. Do you, gentlemen, dispose my patron togrant me such powers as are needful to act in his name. "

So saying, Tressilian left the room. 

"He is too hot, " said the curate; "and I pray to God that He may granthim the patience to deal with Varney as is fitting. "

"Patience and Varney, " said Mumblazen, "is worse heraldry than metalupon metal. He is more false than a siren, more rapacious than agriffin, more poisonous than a wyvern, and more cruel than a lionrampant. "

"Yet I doubt much, " said the curate, "whether we can with propriety askfrom Sir Hugh Robsart, being in his present condition, any deed deputinghis paternal right in Mistress Amy to whomsoever--"

"Your reverence need not doubt that, " said Will Badger, who entered ashe spoke, "for I will lay my life he is another man when he wakes thanhe has been these thirty days past. "

"Ay, Will, " said the curate, "hast thou then so much confidence inDoctor Diddleum's draught?"

"Not a whit, " said Will, "because master ne'er tasted a drop on't, seeing it was emptied out by the housemaid. But here's a gentleman, whocame attending on Master Tressilian, has given Sir Hugh a draught thatis worth twenty of yon un. I have spoken cunningly with him, and abetter farrier or one who hath a more just notion of horse and dogailment I have never seen; and such a one would never be unjust to aChristian man. "

"A farrier! you saucy groom--and by whose authority, pray?" said thecurate, rising in surprise and indignation; "or who will be warrant forthis new physician?"

"For authority, an it like your reverence, he had mine; and for warrant, I trust I have not been five-and-twenty years in this house withouthaving right to warrant the giving of a draught to beast or body--I whocan gie a drench, and a ball, and bleed, or blister, if need, to my veryself. "

The counsellors of the house of Robsart thought it meet to carry thisinformation instantly to Tressilian, who as speedily summoned beforehim Wayland Smith, and demanded of him (in private, however) by whatauthority he had ventured to administer any medicine to Sir HughRobsart?

"Why, " replied the artist, "your worship cannot but remember that I toldyou I had made more progress into my master's--I mean the learned DoctorDoboobie's--mystery than he was willing to own; and indeed half of hisquarrel and malice against me was that, besides that I got something toodeep into his secrets, several discerning persons, and particularly abuxom young widow of Abingdon, preferred my prescriptions to his. "

"None of thy buffoonery, sir, " said Tressilian sternly. "If thou hasttrifled with us--much more, if thou hast done aught that may prejudiceSir Hugh Robsart's health, thou shalt find thy grave at the bottom of atin-mine. "

"I know too little of the great ARCANUM to convert the ore togold, " said Wayland firmly. "But truce to your apprehensions, MasterTressilian. I understood the good knight's case from what Master WilliamBadger told me; and I hope I am able enough to administer a poor doseof mandragora, which, with the sleep that must needs follow, is all thatSir Hugh Robsart requires to settle his distraught brains. "

"I trust thou dealest fairly with me, Wayland?" said Tressilian. 

"Most fairly and honestly, as the event shall show, " replied the artist. "What would it avail me to harm the poor old man for whom you areinterested?--you, to whom I owe it that Gaffer Pinniewinks is not evennow rending my flesh and sinews with his accursed pincers, and probingevery mole in my body with his sharpened awl (a murrain on the handswhich forged it!) in order to find out the witch's mark?--I trust toyoke myself as a humble follower to your worship's train, and I onlywish to have my faith judged of by the result of the good knight'sslumbers. "

Wayland Smith was right in his prognostication. The sedative draughtwhich his skill had prepared, and Will Badger's confidence hadadministered, was attended with the most beneficial effects. Thepatient's sleep was long and healthful, and the poor old knight awoke, humbled indeed in thought and weak in frame, yet a much better judge ofwhatever was subjected to his intellect than he had been for some timepast. He resisted for a while the proposal made by his friends thatTressilian should undertake a journey to court, to attempt the recoveryof his daughter, and the redress of her wrongs, in so far as they mightyet be repaired. "Let her go, " he said; "she is but a hawk that goesdown the wind; I would not bestow even a whistle to reclaim her. " Butthough he for some time maintained this argument, he was at lengthconvinced it was his duty to take the part to which natural affectioninclined him, and consent that such efforts as could yet be madeshould be used by Tressilian in behalf of his daughter. He subscribed, therefore, a warrant of attorney, such as the curate's skill enabled himto draw up; for in those simple days the clergy were often the advisersof their flock in law as well as in gospel. 

All matters were prepared for Tressilian's second departure, withintwenty-four hours after he had returned to Lidcote Hall; but onematerial circumstance had been forgotten, which was first called to theremembrance of Tressilian by Master Mumblazen. "You are going tocourt, Master Tressilian, " said he; "you will please remember that yourblazonry must be ARGENT and OR--no other tinctures will pass current. "The remark was equally just and embarrassing. To prosecute a suit atcourt, ready money was as indispensable even in the golden days ofElizabeth as at any succeeding period; and it was a commodity little atthe command of the inhabitants of Lidcote Hall. Tressilian was himselfpoor; the revenues of good Sir Hugh Robsart were consumed, and evenanticipated, in his hospitable mode of living; and it was finallynecessary that the herald who started the doubt should himself solve it. Master Michael Mumblazen did so by producing a bag of money, containingnearly three hundred pounds in gold and silver of various coinage, thesavings of twenty years, which he now, without speaking a syllable uponthe subject, dedicated to the service of the patron whose shelterand protection had given him the means of making this little hoard. Tressilian accepted it without affecting a moment's hesitation, and amutual grasp of the hand was all that passed betwixt them, to expressthe pleasure which the one felt in dedicating his all to such a purpose, and that which the other received from finding so material an obstacleto the success of his journey so suddenly removed, and in a manner sounexpected. 

While Tressilian was making preparations for his departure earlythe ensuing morning, Wayland Smith desired to speak with him, and, expressing his hope that he had been pleased with the operation of hismedicine in behalf of Sir Hugh Robsart, added his desire to accompanyhim to court. This was indeed what Tressilian himself had several timesthought of; for the shrewdness, alertness of understanding, and varietyof resource which this fellow had exhibited during the time they hadtravelled together, had made him sensible that his assistance might beof importance. But then Wayland was in danger from the grasp of law; andof this Tressilian reminded him, mentioning something, at the same time, of the pincers of Pinniewinks and the warrant of Master Justice Blindas. Wayland Smith laughed both to scorn. 

"See you, sir!" said he, "I have changed my garb from that of a farrierto a serving-man; but were it still as it was, look at my moustaches. They now hang down; I will but turn them up, and dye them with atincture that I know of, and the devil would scarce know me again. "

He accompanied these words with the appropriate action, and in lessthan a minute, by setting up, his moustaches and his hair, he seemeda different person from him that had but now entered the room. Still, however, Tressilian hesitated to accept his services, and the artistbecame proportionably urgent. 

"I owe you life and limb, " he said, "and I would fain pay a part of thedebt, especially as I know from Will Badger on what dangerous serviceyour worship is bound. I do not, indeed, pretend to be what is calleda man of mettle, one of those ruffling tear-cats who maintain theirmaster's quarrel with sword and buckler. Nay, I am even one of those whohold the end of a feast better than the beginning of a fray. But I knowthat I can serve your worship better, in such quest as yours, than anyof these sword-and-dagger men, and that my head will be worth an hundredof their hands. "

Tressilian still hesitated. He knew not much of this strange fellow, andwas doubtful how far he could repose in him the confidence necessaryto render him a useful attendant upon the present emergency. Ere hehad come to a determination, the trampling of a horse was heard in thecourtyard, and Master Mumblazen and Will Badger both entered hastilyinto Tressilian's chamber, speaking almost at the same moment. 

"Here is a serving-man on the bonniest grey tit I ever see'd in mylife, " said Will Badger, who got the start--"having on his arm a silvercognizance, being a fire-drake holding in his mouth a brickbat, undera coronet of an Earl's degree, " said Master Mumblazen, "and bearing aletter sealed of the same. "

Tressilian took the letter, which was addressed "To the worshipfulMaster Edmund Tressilian, our loving kinsman--These--ride, ride, ride--for thy life, for thy life, for thy life. " He then opened it, andfound the following contents:--

"MASTER TRESSILIAN, OUR GOOD FRIEND AND COUSIN, "We are at present so ill at ease, and otherwise so unhappilycircumstanced, that we are desirous to have around us those ofour friends on whose loving-kindness we can most especially reposeconfidence; amongst whom we hold our good Master Tressilian one of theforemost and nearest, both in good will and good ability. We thereforepray you, with your most convenient speed, to repair to our poorlodging, at Sayes Court, near Deptford, where we will treat further withyou of matters which we deem it not fit to commit unto writing. And sowe bid you heartily farewell, being your loving kinsman to command, "RATCLIFFE, EARL OF SUSSEX. "

"Send up the messenger instantly, Will Badger, " said Tressilian; andas the man entered the room, he exclaimed, "Ah, Stevens, is it you? howdoes my good lord?"

"Ill, Master Tressilian, " was the messenger's reply, "and havingtherefore the more need of good friends around him. "

"But what is my lord's malady?" said Tressilian anxiously; "I heardnothing of his being ill. "

"I know not, sir, " replied the man; "he is very ill at ease. Theleeches are at a stand, and many of his household suspect foulpractice-witchcraft, or worse. "

"What are the symptoms?" said Wayland Smith, stepping forward hastily. 

"Anan?" said the messenger, not comprehending his meaning. 

"What does he ail?" said Wayland; "where lies his disease?"

The man looked at Tressilian, as if to know whether he shouldanswer these inquiries from a stranger, and receiving a sign in theaffirmative, he hastily enumerated gradual loss of strength, nocturnalperspiration, and loss of appetite, faintness, etc. 

"Joined, " said Wayland, "to a gnawing pain in the stomach, and a lowfever?"

"Even so, " said the messenger, somewhat surprised. 

"I know how the disease is caused, " said the artist, "and I know thecause. Your master has eaten of the manna of Saint Nicholas. I knowthe cure too--my master shall not say I studied in his laboratory fornothing. "

"How mean you?" said Tressilian, frowning; "we speak of one of the firstnobles of England. Bethink you, this is no subject for buffoonery. "

"God forbid!" said Wayland Smith. "I say that I know this disease, andcan cure him. Remember what I did for Sir Hugh Robsart. "

"We will set forth instantly, " said Tressilian. "God calls us. "

Accordingly, hastily mentioning this new motive for his instantdeparture, though without alluding to either the suspicions of Stevens, or the assurances of Wayland Smith, he took the kindest leave of SirHugh and the family at Lidcote Hall, who accompanied him with prayersand blessings, and, attended by Wayland and the Earl of Sussex'sdomestic, travelled with the utmost speed towards London. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

 Ay, I know you have arsenic, Vitriol, sal-tartre, argaile, alkaly, Cinoper: I know all. --This fellow, Captain, Will come in time to be a great distiller, And give a say (I will not say directly, But very near) at the philosopher's stone. THE ALCHEMIST. 

Tressilian and his attendants pressed their route with all dispatch. He had asked the smith, indeed, when their departure was resolved on, whether he would not rather choose to avoid Berkshire, in which he hadplayed a part so conspicuous? But Wayland returned a confident answer. He had employed the short interval they passed at Lidcote Hall intransforming himself in a wonderful manner. His wild and overgrownthicket of beard was now restrained to two small moustaches on theupper lip, turned up in a military fashion. A tailor from the villageof Lidcote (well paid) had exerted his skill, under his customer'sdirections, so as completely to alter Wayland's outward man, and takeoff from his appearance almost twenty years of age. Formerly, besmearedwith soot and charcoal, overgrown with hair, and bent double with thenature of his labour, disfigured too by his odd and fantastic dress, he seemed a man of fifty years old. But now, in a handsome suit ofTressilian's livery, with a sword by his side and a buckler on hisshoulder, he looked like a gay ruffling serving-man, whose age mightbe betwixt thirty and thirty-five, the very prime of human life. His loutish, savage-looking demeanour seemed equally changed, into aforward, sharp, and impudent alertness of look and action. 

When challenged by Tressilian, who desired to know the cause of ametamorphosis so singular and so absolute, Wayland only answered bysinging a stave from a comedy, which was then new, and was supposed, among the more favourable judges, to augur some genius on the part ofthe author. We are happy to preserve the couplet, which ran exactlythus, --

 "Ban, ban, ca Caliban-- Get a new master--Be a new man. "

Although Tressilian did not recollect the verses, yet they remindedhim that Wayland had once been a stage player, a circumstance which, of itself, accounted indifferently well for the readiness with whichhe could assume so total a change of personal appearance. The artisthimself was so confident of his disguise being completely changed, orof his having completely changed his disguise, which may be the morecorrect mode of speaking, that he regretted they were not to pass nearhis old place of retreat. 

"I could venture, " he said, "in my present dress, and with yourworship's backing, to face Master Justice Blindas, even on a day ofQuarter Sessions; and I would like to know what is become of Hobgoblin, who is like to play the devil in the world, if he can once slip thestring, and leave his granny and his dominie. --Ay, and the scathedvault!" he said; "I would willingly have seen what havoc the explosionof so much gunpowder has made among Doctor Demetrius Doboobie's retortsand phials. I warrant me, my fame haunts the Vale of the Whitehorse longafter my body is rotten; and that many a lout ties up his horse, laysdown his silver groat, and pipes like a sailor whistling in a calm forWayland Smith to come and shoe his tit for him. But the horse will catchthe founders ere the smith answers the call. "

In this particular, indeed, Wayland proved a true prophet; and so easilydo fables rise, that an obscure tradition of his extraordinary practicein farriery prevails in the Vale of Whitehorse even unto this day; andneither the tradition of Alfred's Victory, nor of the celebrated PuseyHorn, are better preserved in Berkshire than the wild legend of WaylandSmith. [See Note 2, Legend of Wayland Smith. ]

The haste of the travellers admitted their making no stay upon theirjourney, save what the refreshment of the horses required; and as manyof the places through which they passed were under the influence of theEarl of Leicester, or persons immediately dependent on him, they thoughtit prudent to disguise their names and the purpose of their journey. On such occasions the agency of Wayland Smith (by which name we shallcontinue to distinguish the artist, though his real name was LancelotWayland) was extremely serviceable. He seemed, indeed, to have apleasure in displaying the alertness with which he could baffleinvestigation, and amuse himself by putting the curiosity of tapstersand inn-keepers on a false scent. During the course of their briefjourney, three different and inconsistent reports were circulated by himon their account--namely, first, that Tressilian was the Lord Deputy ofIreland, come over in disguise to take the Queen's pleasure concerningthe great rebel Rory Oge MacCarthy MacMahon; secondly, that the saidTressilian was an agent of Monsieur, coming to urge his suit to thehand of Elizabeth; thirdly, that he was the Duke of Medina, come over, incognito, to adjust the quarrel betwixt Philip and that princess. 

Tressilian was angry, and expostulated with the artist on the variousinconveniences, and, in particular, the unnecessary degree of attentionto which they were subjected by the figments he thus circulated; buthe was pacified (for who could be proof against such an argument?) byWayland's assuring him that a general importance was attached to his own(Tressilian's) striking presence, which rendered it necessary to give anextraordinary reason for the rapidity and secrecy of his journey. 

At length they approached the metropolis, where, owing to the moregeneral recourse of strangers, their appearance excited neitherobservation nor inquiry, and finally they entered London itself. 

It was Tressilian's purpose to go down directly to Deptford, where LordSussex resided, in order to be near the court, then held at Greenwich, the favourite residence of Elizabeth, and honoured as her birthplace. Still a brief halt in London was necessary; and it was somewhatprolonged by the earnest entreaties of Wayland Smith, who desiredpermission to take a walk through the city. 

"Take thy sword and buckler, and follow me, then, " said Tressilian; "Iam about to walk myself, and we will go in company. "

This he said, because he was not altogether so secure of the fidelityof his new retainer as to lose sight of him at this interesting moment, when rival factions at the court of Elizabeth were running so high. Wayland Smith willingly acquiesced in the precaution, of which heprobably conjectured the motive, but only stipulated that his mastershould enter the shops of such chemists or apothecaries as he shouldpoint out, in walking through Fleet Street, and permit him to make somenecessary purchases. Tressilian agreed, and obeying the signal of hisattendant, walked successively into more than four or five shops, wherehe observed that Wayland purchased in each only one single drug, invarious quantities. The medicines which he first asked for were readilyfurnished, each in succession, but those which he afterwards requiredwere less easily supplied; and Tressilian observed that Wayland morethan once, to the surprise of the shopkeeper, returned the gum or herbthat was offered to him, and compelled him to exchange it for the rightsort, or else went on to seek it elsewhere. But one ingredient, inparticular, seemed almost impossible to be found. Some chemists plainlyadmitted they had never seen it; others denied that such a drug existed, excepting in the imagination of crazy alchemists; and most of themattempted to satisfy their customer, by producing some substitute, which, when rejected by Wayland, as not being what he had askedfor, they maintained possessed, in a superior degree, the self-samequalities. In general they all displayed some curiosity concerning thepurpose for which he wanted it. One old, meagre chemist, to whomthe artist put the usual question, in terms which Tressilian neitherunderstood nor could recollect, answered frankly, there was none of thatdrug in London, unless Yoglan the Jew chanced to have some of it uponhand. 

"I thought as much, " said Wayland. And as soon as they left the shop, he said to Tressilian, "I crave your pardon, sir, but no artist can workwithout his tools. I must needs go to this Yoglan's; and I promise you, that if this detains you longer than your leisure seems to permit, youshall, nevertheless, be well repaid by the use I will make of this raredrug. Permit me, " he added, "to walk before you, for we are now to quitthe broad street and we will make double speed if I lead the way. "

Tressilian acquiesced, and, following the smith down a lane which turnedto the left hand towards the river, he found that his guide walked onwith great speed, and apparently perfect knowledge of the town, througha labyrinth of by-streets, courts, and blind alleys, until at lengthWayland paused in the midst of a very narrow lane, the terminationof which showed a peep of the Thames looking misty and muddy, whichbackground was crossed saltierwise, as Mr. Mumblazen might have said, bythe masts of two lighters that lay waiting for the tide. The shop underwhich he halted had not, as in modern days, a glazed window, but apaltry canvas screen surrounded such a stall as a cobbler now occupies, having the front open, much in the manner of a fishmonger's booth of thepresent day. A little old smock-faced man, the very reverse of a Jew incomplexion, for he was very soft-haired as well as beardless, appeared, and with many courtesies asked Wayland what he pleased to want. He hadno sooner named the drug, than the Jew started and looked surprised. "And vat might your vorship vant vith that drug, which is not named, mein God, in forty years as I have been chemist here?"

"These questions it is no part of my commission to answer, " saidWayland; "I only wish to know if you have what I want, and having it, are willing to sell it?"

"Ay, mein God, for having it, that I have, and for selling it, I am achemist, and sell every drug. " So saying, he exhibited a powder, andthen continued, "But it will cost much moneys. Vat I ave cost its weightin gold--ay, gold well-refined--I vill say six times. It comes fromMount Sinai, where we had our blessed Law given forth, and the plantblossoms but once in one hundred year. "

"I do not know how often it is gathered on Mount Sinai, " said Wayland, after looking at the drug offered him with great disdain, "but I willwager my sword and buckler against your gaberdine, that this trash youoffer me, instead of what I asked for, may be had for gathering any dayof the week in the castle ditch of Aleppo. "

"You are a rude man, " said the Jew; "and, besides, I ave no better thanthat--or if I ave, I will not sell it without order of a physician, orwithout you tell me vat you make of it. "

The artist made brief answer in a language of which Tressilian could notunderstand a word, and which seemed to strike the Jew with theutmost astonishment. He stared upon Wayland like one who has suddenlyrecognized some mighty hero or dreaded potentate, in the person of anunknown and unmarked stranger. "Holy Elias!" he exclaimed, when he hadrecovered the first stunning effects of his surprise; and then passingfrom his former suspicious and surly manner to the very extremity ofobsequiousness, he cringed low to the artist, and besought him to enterhis poor house, to bless his miserable threshold by crossing it. 

"Vill you not taste a cup vith the poor Jew, Zacharias Yoglan?--Vill youTokay ave?--vill you Lachrymae taste?--vill you--"

"You offend in your proffers, " said Wayland; "minister to me in what Irequire of you, and forbear further discourse. "

The rebuked Israelite took his bunch of keys, and opening withcircumspection a cabinet which seemed more strongly secured than theother cases of drugs and medicines amongst which it stood, he drew out alittle secret drawer, having a glass lid, and containing a small portionof a black powder. This he offered to Wayland, his manner conveyingthe deepest devotion towards him, though an avaricious and jealousexpression, which seemed to grudge every grain of what his customer wasabout to possess himself, disputed ground in his countenance with theobsequious deference which he desired it should exhibit. 

"Have you scales?" said Wayland. 

The Jew pointed to those which lay ready for common use in the shop, but he did so with a puzzled expression of doubt and fear, which did notescape the artist. 

"They must be other than these, " said Wayland sternly. "Know you notthat holy things lose their virtue if weighed in an unjust balance?"

The Jew hung his head, took from a steel-plated casket a pair of scalesbeautifully mounted, and said, as he adjusted them for the artist'suse, "With these I do mine own experiment--one hair of the high-priest'sbeard would turn them. "

"It suffices, " said the artist, and weighed out two drachms for himselfof the black powder, which he very carefully folded up, and put into hispouch with the other drugs. He then demanded the price of the Jew, whoanswered, shaking his head and bowing, --

"No price--no, nothing at all from such as you. But you will see thepoor Jew again? you will look into his laboratory, where, God help him, he hath dried himself to the substance of the withered gourd of Jonah, the holy prophet. You will ave pity on him, and show him one little stepon the great road?"

"Hush!" said Wayland, laying his finger mysteriously on his mouth; "itmay be we shall meet again. Thou hast already the SCHAHMAJM, as thineown Rabbis call it--the general creation; watch, therefore, and pray, for thou must attain the knowledge of Alchahest Elixir Samech ere Imay commune further with thee. " Then returning with a slight nod thereverential congees of the Jew, he walked gravely up the lane, followedby his master, whose first observation on the scene he had justwitnessed was, that Wayland ought to have paid the man for his drug, whatever it was. 

"I pay him?" said the artist. "May the foul fiend pay me if I do! Hadit not been that I thought it might displease your worship, I would havehad an ounce or two of gold out of him, in exchange of the same justweight of brick dust. "

"I advise you to practise no such knavery while waiting upon me, " saidTressilian. 

"Did I not say, " answered the artist, "that for that reason alone Iforbore him for the present?--Knavery, call you it? Why, yonder wretchedskeleton hath wealth sufficient to pave the whole lane he lives in withdollars, and scarce miss them out of his own iron chest; yet he goes madafter the philosopher's stone. And besides, he would have cheated a poorserving-man, as he thought me at first, with trash that was not wortha penny. Match for match, quoth the devil to the collier; if his falsemedicine was worth my good crowns, my true brick dust is as well worthhis good gold. "

"It may be so, for aught I know, " said Tressilian, "in dealing amongstJews and apothecaries; but understand that to have such tricks oflegerdemain practised by one attending on me diminishes my honour, andthat I will not permit them. I trust thou hast made up thy purchases?"

"I have, sir, " replied Wayland; "and with these drugs will I, this veryday, compound the true orvietan, that noble medicine which is so seldomfound genuine and effective within these realms of Europe, for wantof that most rare and precious drug which I got but now from Yoglan. "[Orvietan, or Venice treacle, as it was sometimes called, was understoodto be a sovereign remedy against poison; and the reader must becontented, for the time he peruses these pages, to hold the sameopinion, which was once universally received by the learned as well asthe vulgar. ]

"But why not have made all your purchases at one shop?" said his master;"we have lost nearly an hour in running from one pounder of simples toanother. "

"Content you, sir, " said Wayland. "No man shall learn my secret; andit would not be mine long, were I to buy all my materials from onechemist. "

They now returned to their inn (the famous Bell-Savage); and while theLord Sussex's servant prepared the horses for their journey, Wayland, obtaining from the cook the service of a mortar, shut himself up ina private chamber, where he mixed, pounded, and amalgamated the drugswhich he had bought, each in its due proportion, with a readinessand address that plainly showed him well practised in all the manualoperations of pharmacy. 

By the time Wayland's electuary was prepared the horses were ready, anda short hour's riding brought them to the present habitation of LordSussex, an ancient house, called Sayes Court, near Deptford, whichhad long pertained to a family of that name, but had for upwards of acentury been possessed by the ancient and honourable family of Evelyn. The present representative of that ancient house took a deep interestin the Earl of Sussex, and had willingly accommodated both him and hisnumerous retinue in his hospitable mansion. Sayes Court was afterwardsthe residence of the celebrated Mr. Evelyn, whose "Silva" is still themanual of British planters; and whose life, manners, and principles, asillustrated in his Memoirs, ought equally to be the manual of Englishgentlemen. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

 This is rare news thou tell'st 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 brulziement, May pasture there in peace. --OLD PLAY. 

Sayes Court was watched like a beleaguered fort; and so high rose thesuspicions of the time, that Tressilian and his attendants were stoppedand questioned repeatedly by sentinels, both on foot and horseback, as they approached the abode of the sick Earl. In truth, the high rankwhich Sussex held in Queen Elizabeth's favour, and his known and avowedrivalry of the Earl of Leicester, caused the utmost importance to beattached to his welfare; for, at the period we treat of, all men doubtedwhether he or the Earl of Leicester might ultimately have the higherrank in her regard. 

Elizabeth, like many of her sex, was fond of governing by factions, soas to balance two opposing interests, and reserve in her own hand thepower of making either predominate, as the interest of the state, orperhaps as her own female caprice (for to that foible even she was notsuperior), might finally determine. To finesse--to hold the cards--tooppose one interest to another--to bridle him who thought himselfhighest in her esteem, by the fears he must entertain of another equallytrusted, if not equally beloved, were arts which she used throughouther reign, and which enabled her, though frequently giving way to theweakness of favouritism, to prevent most of its evil effects on herkingdom and government. 

The two nobles who at present stood as rivals in her favour possessedvery different pretensions to share it; yet it might be in general saidthat the Earl of Sussex had been most serviceable to the Queen, whileLeicester was most dear to the woman. Sussex was, according to thephrase of the times, a martialist--had done good service in Ireland andin Scotland, and especially in the great northern rebellion, in 1569, which was quelled, in a great measure, by his military talents. He was, therefore, naturally surrounded and looked up to by those who wished tomake arms their road to distinction. The Earl of Sussex, moreover, wasof more ancient and honourable descent than his rival, uniting inhis person the representation of the Fitz-Walters, as well as ofthe Ratcliffes; while the scutcheon of Leicester was stained by thedegradation of his grandfather, the oppressive minister of Henry VII. , and scarce improved by that of his father, the unhappy Dudley, Duke ofNorthumberland, executed on Tower Hill, August 22, 1553. But in person, features, and address, weapons so formidable in the court of afemale sovereign, Leicester had advantages more than sufficient tocounterbalance the military services, high blood, and frank bearing ofthe Earl of Sussex; and he bore, in the eye of the court and kingdom, the higher share in Elizabeth's favour, though (for such was her uniformpolicy) by no means so decidedly expressed as to warrant him against thefinal preponderance of his rival's pretensions. The illness of Sussextherefore happened so opportunely for Leicester, as to give rise tostrange surmises among the public; while the followers of the one Earlwere filled with the deepest apprehensions, and those of the other withthe highest hopes of its probable issue. Meanwhile--for in that old timemen never forgot the probability that the matter might be determinedby length of sword--the retainers of each noble flocked around theirpatron, appeared well armed in the vicinity of the court itself, anddisturbed the ear of the sovereign by their frequent and alarmingdebates, held even within the precincts of her palace. This preliminarystatement is necessary, to render what follows intelligible to thereader. [See Note 3. Leicester and Sussex. ]

On Tressilian's arrival at Sayes Court, he found the place filled withthe retainers of the Earl of Sussex, and of the gentlemen who came toattend their patron in his illness. Arms were in every hand, and a deepgloom on every countenance, as if they had apprehended an immediateand violent assault from the opposite faction. In the hall, however, to which Tressilian was ushered by one of the Earl's attendants, while another went to inform Sussex of his arrival, he found only twogentlemen in waiting. There was a remarkable contrast in their dress, appearance, and manners. The attire of the elder gentleman, a personas it seemed of quality and in the prime of life, was very plain andsoldierlike, his stature low, his limbs stout, his bearing ungraceful, and his features of that kind which express sound common sense, withouta grain of vivacity or imagination. The younger, who seemed abouttwenty, or upwards, was clad in the gayest habit used by persons ofquality at the period, wearing a crimson velvet cloak richly ornamentedwith lace and embroidery, with a bonnet of the same, encircled with agold chain turned three times round it, and secured by a medal. His hairwas adjusted very nearly like that of some fine gentlemen of our owntime--that is, it was combed upwards, and made to stand as it were onend; and in his ears he wore a pair of silver earrings, having each apearl of considerable size. The countenance of this youth, besides beingregularly handsome and accompanied by a fine person, was animated andstriking in a degree that seemed to speak at once the firmness ofa decided and the fire of an enterprising character, the power ofreflection, and the promptitude of determination. 

Both these gentlemen reclined nearly in the same posture on benchesnear each other; but each seeming engaged in his own meditations, lookedstraight upon the wall which was opposite to them, without speaking tohis companion. The looks of the elder were of that sort which convincedthe beholder that, in looking on the wall, he saw no more than the sideof an old hall hung around with cloaks, antlers, bucklers, old piecesof armour, partisans, and the similar articles which were usually thefurniture of such a place. The look of the younger gallant had in itsomething imaginative; he was sunk in reverie, and it seemed as if theempty space of air betwixt him and the wall were the stage of a theatreon which his fancy was mustering his own DRAMATIS PERSONAE, and treatinghim with sights far different from those which his awakened and earthlyvision could have offered. 

At the entrance of Tressilian both started from their musing, andmade him welcome--the younger, in particular, with great appearance ofanimation and cordiality. 

"Thou art welcome, Tressilian, " said the youth. "Thy philosophy stolethee from us when this household had objects of ambition to offer; itis an honest philosophy, since it returns thee to us when there are onlydangers to be shared. "

"Is my lord, then, so greatly indisposed?" said Tressilian. 

"We fear the very worst, " answered the elder gentleman, "and by theworst practice. "

"Fie, " replied Tressilian, "my Lord of Leicester is honourable. "

"What doth he with such attendants, then, as he hath about him?" saidthe younger gallant. "The man who raises the devil may be honest, but heis answerable for the mischief which the fiend does, for all that. "

"And is this all of you, my mates, " inquired Tressilian, "that are aboutmy lord in his utmost straits?"

"No, no, " replied the elder gentleman, "there are Tracy, Markham, andseveral more; but we keep watch here by two at once, and some are wearyand are sleeping in the gallery above. "

"And some, " said the young man, "are gone down to the Dock yonder atDeptford, to look out such a hull; as they may purchase by clubbingtheir broken fortunes; and as soon as all is over, we will lay our noblelord in a noble green grave, have a blow at those who have hurried himthither, if opportunity suits, and then sail for the Indies with heavyhearts and light purses. "

"It may be, " said Tressilian, "that I will embrace the same purpose, sosoon as I have settled some business at court. "

"Thou business at court!" they both exclaimed at once, "and thou makethe Indian voyage!"

"Why, Tressilian, " said the younger man, "art thou not wedded, andbeyond these flaws of fortune, that drive folks out to sea when theirbark bears fairest for the haven?--What has become of the lovelyIndamira that was to match my Amoret for truth and beauty?"

"Speak not of her!" said Tressilian, averting his face. 

"Ay, stands it so with you?" said the youth, taking his hand veryaffectionately; "then, fear not I will again touch the green wound. But it is strange as well as sad news. Are none of our fair and merryfellowship to escape shipwreck of fortune and happiness in this suddentempest? I had hoped thou wert in harbour, at least, my dear Edmund. Buttruly says another dear friend of thy name, 'What man that sees the ever whirling wheel Of Chance, the which all mortal things doth sway, But that thereby doth find and plainly feel, How Mutability in them doth play Her cruel sports to many men's decay. '"

The elder gentleman had risen from his bench, and was pacing thehall with some impatience, while the youth, with much earnestnessand feeling, recited these lines. When he had done, the other wrappedhimself in his cloak, and again stretched himself down, saying, "Imarvel, Tressilian, you will feed the lad in this silly humour. If therewere ought to draw a judgment upon a virtuous and honourable householdlike my lord's, renounce me if I think not it were this piping, whining, childish trick of poetry, that came among us with Master WalterWittypate here and his comrades, twisting into all manner of uncouth andincomprehensible forms of speech, the honest plain English phrase whichGod gave us to express our meaning withal. "

"Blount believes, " said his comrade, laughing, "the devil woo'd Evein rhyme, and that the mystic meaning of the Tree of Knowledge referssolely to the art of clashing rhymes and meting out hexameters. " [SeeNote 4. Sir Walter Raleigh. ]

At this moment the Earl's chamberlain entered, and informed Tressilianthat his lord required to speak with him. 

He found Lord Sussex dressed, but unbraced, and lying on his couch, andwas shocked at the alteration disease had made in his person. The Earlreceived him with the most friendly cordiality, and inquired into thestate of his courtship. Tressilian evaded his inquiries for a moment, and turning his discourse on the Earl's own health, he discovered, tohis surprise, that the symptoms of his disorder corresponded minutelywith those which Wayland had predicated concerning it. He hesitated not, therefore, to communicate to Sussex the whole history of his attendant, and the pretensions he set up to cure the disorder under which helaboured. The Earl listened with incredulous attention until the nameof Demetrius was mentioned, and then suddenly called to his secretary tobring him a certain casket which contained papers of importance. "Takeout from thence, " he said, "the declaration of the rascal cook whom wehad under examination, and look heedfully if the name of Demetrius benot there mentioned. "

The secretary turned to the passage at once, and read, "And saiddeclarant, being examined, saith, That he remembers having made thesauce to the said sturgeon-fish, after eating of which the said nobleLord was taken ill; and he put the usual ingredients and condimentstherein, namely--"

"Pass over his trash, " said the Earl, "and see whether he had not beensupplied with his materials by a herbalist called Demetrius. "

"It is even so, " answered the secretary. "And he adds, he has not sinceseen the said Demetrius. "

"This accords with thy fellow's story, Tressilian, " said the Earl; "callhim hither. "

On being summoned to the Earl's presence, Wayland Smith told his formertale with firmness and consistency. 

"It may be, " said the Earl, "thou art sent by those who have begun thiswork, to end it for them; but bethink, if I miscarry under thy medicine, it may go hard with thee. "

"That were severe measure, " said Wayland, "since the issue of medicine, and the end of life, are in God's disposal. But I will stand the risk. Ihave not lived so long under ground to be afraid of a grave. "

"Nay, if thou be'st so confident, " said the Earl of Sussex, "I will takethe risk too, for the learned can do nothing for me. Tell me how thismedicine is to be taken. "

"That will I do presently, " said Wayland; "but allow me to conditionthat, since I incur all the risk of this treatment, no other physicianshall be permitted to interfere with it. "

"That is but fair, " replied the Earl; "and now prepare your drug. "

While Wayland obeyed the Earl's commands, his servants, by the artist'sdirection, undressed their master, and placed him in bed. 

"I warn you, " he said, "that the first operation of this medicine willbe to produce a heavy sleep, during which time the chamber must be keptundisturbed, as the consequences may otherwise he fatal. I myself willwatch by the Earl with any of the gentlemen of his chamber. "

"Let all leave the room, save Stanley and this good fellow, " said theEarl. 

"And saving me also, " said Tressilian. "I too am deeply interested inthe effects of this potion. "

"Be it so, good friend, " said the Earl. "And now for our experiment; butfirst call my secretary and chamberlain. "

"Bear witness, " he continued, when these officers arrived--"bear witnessfor me, gentlemen, that our honourable friend Tressilian is in no wayresponsible for the effects which this medicine may produce upon me, thetaking it being my own free action and choice, in regard I believe it tobe a remedy which God has furnished me by unexpected means to recover meof 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 herthrone the same singleness of heart and will to serve her, with moreability to do so than hath been assigned to poor Thomas Ratcliffe. "

He then folded his hands, and seemed for a second or two absorbedin mental devotion, then took the potion in his hand, and, pausing, regarded Wayland with a look that seemed designed to penetrate his verysoul, but which caused no anxiety or hesitation in the countenance ormanner of the artist. 

"Here is nothing to be feared, " said Sussex to Tressilian, and swallowedthe medicine without further hesitation. 

"I am now to pray your lordship, " said Wayland, "to dispose yourselfto rest as commodiously as you can; and of you, gentlemen, to remain asstill and mute as if you waited at your mother's deathbed. "

The chamberlain and secretary then withdrew, giving orders that alldoors should be bolted, and all noise in the house strictly prohibited. Several gentlemen were voluntary watchers in the hall, but none remainedin the chamber of the sick Earl, save his groom of the chamber, theartist, and Tressilian. --Wayland Smith's predictions were speedilyaccomplished, and a sleep fell upon the Earl, so deep and sound thatthey who watched his bedside began to fear that, in his weakened state, he might pass away without awakening from his lethargy. Wayland Smithhimself appeared anxious, and felt the temples of the Earl slightly, from time to time, attending particularly to the state of hisrespiration, which was full and deep, but at the same time easy anduninterrupted. 

CHAPTER XV. 

 You loggerheaded and unpolish'd grooms, What, no attendance, no regard, no duty? Where is the foolish knave I sent before? --TAMING OF THE SHREW. 

There is no period at which men look worse in the eyes of each other, orfeel more uncomfortable, than when the first dawn of daylight finds themwatchers. Even a beauty of the first order, after the vigils of a ballare interrupted by the dawn, would do wisely to withdraw herself fromthe gaze of her fondest and most partial admirers. Such was the pale, inauspicious, and ungrateful light which began to beam upon those whokept watch all night in the hall at Sayes Court, and which mingled itscold, pale, blue diffusion with the red, yellow, and smoky beams ofexpiring lamps and torches. The young gallant, whom we noticed in ourlast chapter, had left the room for a few minutes, to learn the cause ofa knocking at the outward gate, and on his return was so struck withthe forlorn and ghastly aspects of his companions of the watch thathe exclaimed, "Pity of my heart, my masters, how like owls you look!Methinks, when the sun rises, I shall see you flutter off with your eyesdazzled, to stick yourselves into the next ivy-tod or ruined steeple. "

"Hold thy peace, thou gibing fool, " said Blount; "hold thy peace. Isthis a time for jeering, when the manhood of England is perchance dyingwithin a wall's breadth of thee?"

"There thou liest, " replied the gallant. 

"How, lie!" exclaimed Blount, starting up, "lie! and to me?"

"Why, so thou didst, thou peevish fool, " answered the youth; "thou didstlie on that bench even now, didst thou not? But art thou not a hastycoxcomb to pick up a wry word so wrathfully? Nevertheless, loving and, honouring my lord as truly as thou, or any one, I do say that, shouldHeaven take him from us, all England's manhood dies not with him. "

"Ay, " 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 will best employ the talent Heavenhas 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 bearsno crop because it is not quickened by manure; but I have that risingspirit in me which will make my poor faculties labour to keep pace withit. My ambition will keep my brain at work, I warrant 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 campboth. I have five hundred foul acres in Norfolk, and thither will I, andchange the court pantoufle for the country hobnail. "

"O base transmutation!" exclaimed his antagonist; "thou hast already gotthe true rustic slouch--thy shoulders stoop, as if thine hands were atthe stilts of the plough; and thou hast a kind of earthy smell aboutthee, instead of being perfumed with essence, as a gallant and courtiershould. On my soul, thou hast stolen out to roll thyself on a hay mow!Thy only excuse will be to swear by thy hilts that the farmer had a fairdaughter. "

"I pray thee, Walter, " said another of the company, "cease thy raillery, which suits neither time nor place, and tell us who was at the gate justnow. "

"Doctor Masters, physician to her Grace in ordinary, sent by herespecial orders to inquire after the Earl's health, " answered Walter. 

"Ha! what?" exclaimed Tracy; "that was no slight mark of favour. If theEarl can but come through, he will match with Leicester yet. Is Masterswith my lord at present?"

"Nay, " replied Walter, "he is half way back to Greenwich by this time, and in high dudgeon. "

"Thou didst not refuse him admittance?" exclaimed Tracy. 

"Thou wert not, surely, so mad?" ejaculated Blount. 

"I refused him admittance as flatly, Blount, as you would refuse a pennyto a blind beggar--as obstinately, Tracy, as thou didst ever deny accessto a dun. "

"Why, in the fiend's name, didst thou trust him to go to the gate?" saidBlount to Tracy. 

"It suited his years better than mine, " answered Tracy; "but he hasundone us all now thoroughly. My lord may live or die, he will neverhave a look of favour from her Majesty again. "

"Nor the means of making fortunes for his followers, " said the younggallant, smiling contemptuously;--"there lies the sore point that willbrook no handling. My good sirs, I sounded my lamentations over my lordsomewhat less loudly than some of you; but when the point comes ofdoing him service, I will yield to none of you. Had this learned leechentered, think'st thou not there had been such a coil betwixt him andTressilian's mediciner, that not the sleeper only, but the very deadmight have awakened? I know what larurm belongs to the discord ofdoctors. "

"And who is to take the blame of opposing the Queen's orders?" saidTracy; "for, undeniably, Doctor Masters came with her Grace's positivecommands to cure the Earl. "

"I, who have done the wrong, will bear the blame, " said Walter. 

"Thus, then, off fly the dreams of court favour thou hast nourished, "said Blount, "and despite all thy boasted art and ambition, Devonshirewill 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 seethe squire's girths drawn when he goes a-hunting. "

"Not so, " said the young man, colouring, "not while Ireland and theNetherlands have wars, and not while the sea hath pathless waves. Therich West hath lands undreamed of, and Britain contains bold hearts toventure on the quest of them. Adieu for a space, my masters. I go towalk in the court 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 eithermake or mar him. But in closing the door against Masters, he hath donea daring and loving piece of service; for Tressilian's fellow hath everaverred that to wake the Earl were death, and Masters would wake theSeven Sleepers themselves, if he thought they slept not by the regularordinance of medicine. "

Morning was well advanced when Tressilian, fatigued and over-watched, came down to the hall with the joyful intelligence that the Earlhad awakened of himself, that he found his internal complaints muchmitigated, and spoke with a cheerfulness, and looked round with avivacity, which of themselves showed a material and favourable changehad taken place. Tressilian at the same time commanded the attendance ofone 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, heat first smiled at the repulse which the physician had received from hiszealous young follower; but instantly recollecting himself, he commandedBlount, his master of the horse, instantly to take boat, and go downthe river to the Palace of Greenwich, taking young Walter and Tracy withhim, and make a suitable compliment, expressing his grateful thanks tohis Sovereign, and mentioning the cause why he had not been enabled toprofit by the assistance of the wise and learned Doctor Masters. 

"A plague on it!" said Blount, as he descended the stairs; "had he sentme with a cartel to Leicester I think I should have done his errandindifferently well. But to go to our gracious Sovereign, before whom allwords must be lacquered over either with gilding or with sugar, is sucha confectionary matter as clean baffles my poor old English brain. --Comewith me, Tracy, and come you too, Master Walter Wittypate, that art thecause of our having all this ado. Let us see if thy neat brain, thatframes so many flashy fireworks, can help out a plain fellow at needwith some of thy shrewd devices. "

"Never fear, never fear, " exclaimed the youth, "it is I will help youthrough; let me but fetch my cloak. "

"Why, thou hast it on thy shoulders, " said Blount, --"the lad is mazed. "

"No, No, this is Tracy's old mantle, " answered Walter. "I go not withthee to court unless as a gentleman should. "

"Why, " Said Blount, "thy braveries are like to dazzle the eyes of nonebut some poor groom or porter. "

"I know that, " said the youth; "but I am resolved I will have my owncloak, ay, and brush my doublet to boot, ere I 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, uponwhich the sun now shone forth in all its splendour. 

"There are two things scarce matched in the universe, " said Walter toBlount--"the sun in heaven, and the Thames on the earth. "

"The one will light us to Greenwich well enough, " said Blount, "and theother would take us there a little faster if it were ebb-tide. "

"And this is all thou thinkest--all thou carest--all thou deemest theuse of the King of Elements and the King of Rivers--to guide three suchpoor caitiffs as thyself, and me, and Tracy, upon an idle journey ofcourtly ceremony!"

"It is no errand of my seeking, faith, " replied Blount, "and I couldexcuse both the sun and the Thames the trouble of carrying me whereI have no great mind to go, and where I expect but dog's wages for mytrouble--and by my honour, " he added, looking out from the head of theboat, "it seems to me as if our message were a sort of labour in vain, for, see, the Queen's barge lies at the stairs as if her Majesty wereabout to take water. "

It was even so. The royal barge, manned with the Queen's watermenrichly attired in the regal liveries, and having the Banner of Englanddisplayed, did indeed lie at the great stairs which ascended from theriver, and along with it two or three other boats for transporting suchpart of her retinue as were not in immediate attendance on the royalperson. The yeomen of the guard, the tallest and most handsome men whomEngland could produce, guarded with their halberds the passage fromthe palace-gate to the river side, and all seemed in readiness for theQueen's coming forth, although the day was yet so early. 

"By my faith, this bodes us no good, " said Blount; "it must be someperilous cause puts her Grace in motion thus untimeously, 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 seenbut a boat, and men with scarlet jerkins, and halberds in their hands?Let us do his errand, and tell him what the Queen says in reply. "

So saying, he caused the boat to be pulled towards a landing-placeat some distance from the principal one, which it would not, at thatmoment, 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 porterstold them they could not at present enter, as her Majesty was in the actof coming forth. The gentlemen used the name of the Earl of Sussex; butit proved no charm to subdue the officer, who alleged, in reply, thatit was as much as his post was worth to disobey in the least tittle thecommands which he had received. 

"Nay, I told you as much before, " said Blount; "do, I pray you, my dearWalter, let us take boat and return. "

"Not till I see the Queen come forth, " returned the youth composedly. 

"Thou art mad, stark mad, by the Mass!" answered Blount. 

"And thou, " said Walter, "art turned coward of the sudden. I have seenthee face half a score of shag-headed Irish kerns to thy own share ofthem; and now thou wouldst blink and go back to shun the frown of a fairlady!"

At this moment the gates opened, and ushers began to issue forth inarray, preceded and flanked by the band of Gentlemen Pensioners. Afterthis, amid a crowd of lords and ladies, yet so disposed around her thatshe could see and be seen on all sides, came Elizabeth herself, then inthe prime of womanhood, and in the full glow of what in a Sovereign wascalled beauty, and who would in the lowest rank of life have been trulyjudged a noble figure, joined to a striking and commanding physiognomy. She leant on the arm of Lord Hunsdon, whose relation to her by hermother's side often procured him such distinguished marks of Elizabeth'sintimacy. 

The young cavalier we have so often mentioned had probably never yetapproached so near the person of his Sovereign, and he pressed forwardas far as the line of warders permitted, in order to avail himself ofthe present opportunity. His companion, on the contrary, cursing hisimprudence, kept pulling him backwards, till Walter shook him offimpatiently, and letting his rich cloak drop carelessly from oneshoulder; a natural action, which served, however, to display to thebest advantage his well-proportioned person. Unbonneting at the sametime, he fixed his eager gaze on the Queen's approach, with a mixture ofrespectful curiosity and modest yet ardent admiration, which suitedso well with his fine features that the warders, struck with his richattire and noble countenance, suffered him to approach the ground overwhich the Queen was to pass, somewhat closer than was permittedto ordinary spectators. Thus the adventurous youth stood full inElizabeth's eye--an eye never indifferent to the admiration which shedeservedly excited among her subjects, or to the fair proportions ofexternal form which chanced to distinguish any of her courtiers. 

Accordingly, she fixed her keen glance on the youth, as she approachedthe place where he stood, with a look in which surprise at his boldnessseemed to be unmingled with resentment, while a trifling accidenthappened which attracted her attention towards him yet more strongly. The night had been rainy, and just where the young gentleman stood asmall quantity of mud interrupted the Queen's passage. As she hesitatedto pass on, the gallant, throwing his cloak from his shoulders, laidit on the miry spot, so as to ensure her stepping over it dry-shod. Elizabeth looked at the young man, who accompanied this act of devotedcourtesy with a profound reverence, and a blush that overspread hiswhole countenance. The Queen was confused, and blushed in her turn, nodded her head, hastily passed on, and embarked in her barge withoutsaying a word. 

"Come along, Sir Coxcomb, " said Blount; "your gay cloak will need thebrush to-day, I wot. Nay, if you had meant to make a footcloth of yourmantle, better have kept Tracy's old drab-debure, which despises allcolours. "

"This cloak, " said the youth, taking it up and folding it, "shall neverbe brushed while in my possession. "

"And that will not be long, if you learn not a little more economy; weshall have you in CUERPO 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 agentleman who hath no cloak, or a muddy one. --You, sir, I think, "addressing the younger cavalier, "are the man; you will please to followme. "

"He is in attendance on me, " said Blount--"on me, the noble Earl ofSussex's master of horse. "

"I have nothing to say to that, " answered the messenger; "my orders aredirectly from her Majesty, and concern this gentleman only. "

So saying, he walked away, followed by Walter, leaving the othersbehind, Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the excess ofhis astonishment. At length he gave vent to it in an exclamation, "Whothe good jere would have thought this!" And shaking his head with amysterious air, he walked to his own boat, embarked, and returned toDeptford. 

The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided to the water-side by thePensioner, who showed him considerable respect; a circumstance which, to persons in his situation, may be considered as an augury of no smallconsequence. He ushered him into one of the wherries which lay ready toattend the Queen's barge, which was already proceeding; up the river, with the advantage of that flood-tide of which, in the course of theirdescent, Blount had complained to his associates. 

The two rowers used their oars with such expedition at the signal ofthe Gentleman Pensioner, that they very soon brought their little skiffunder 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. Shelooked more than once at the wherry in which the young adventurer wasseated, spoke to those around her, and seemed to laugh. At length oneof the attendants, by the Queen's order apparently, made a sign for thewherry to come alongside, and the young man was desired to step fromhis own skiff into the Queen's barge, which he performed with gracefulagility at the fore part of the boat, and was brought aft to the Queen'spresence, the wherry at the same time dropping into the rear. Theyouth underwent the gaze of Majesty, not the less gracefully that hisself-possession was mingled with embarrassment. The muddled cloak stillhung upon his arm, and formed the natural topic with which the Queenintroduced the conversation. 

"You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our behalf, young man. We thank you for your service, though the manner of offering it wasunusual, and something bold. "

"In a sovereign's need, " answered the youth, "it is each liegeman's dutyto be bold. "

"God's pity! that was well said, my lord, " said the Queen, turning toa grave person who sat by her, and answered with a grave inclinationof the head, and something of a mumbled assent. --"Well, young man, yourgallantry shall not go unrewarded. Go to the wardrobe keeper, and heshall have orders to supply the suit which you have cast away in ourservice. Thou shalt have a suit, and that of the newest cut, I promisethee, on the word of a princess. "

"May it please your Grace, " said Walter, hesitating, "it is not for sohumble a servant of your Majesty to measure out your bounties; but if itbecame me to choose--"

"Thou wouldst have gold, I warrant me, " said the Queen, interruptinghim. "Fie, young man! I take shame to say that in our capital such andso various are the means of thriftless folly, that to give gold toyouth is giving fuel to fire, and furnishing them with the means ofself-destruction. If I live and reign, these means of unchristian excessshall be abridged. Yet thou mayest be poor, " she added, "or thy parentsmay be. It shall be gold, if thou wilt, but thou shalt answer to me forthe use on't. "

Walter waited patiently until the Queen had done, and then modestlyassured her that gold was still less in his wish than the raiment herMajesty had before offered. 

"How, boy!" said the Queen, "neither gold nor garment? What is it thouwouldst have of me, then?"

"Only permission, madam--if it is not asking too high anhonour--permission to wear the cloak which did you this triflingservice. "

"Permission to wear thine own cloak, thou silly boy!" said the Queen. 

"It is no longer mine, " said Walter; "when your Majesty's foot touchedit, it became a fit mantle for a prince, but far too rich a one for itsformer owner. "

The Queen again blushed, and endeavoured to cover, by laughing, a slightdegree of not unpleasing surprise and confusion. 

"Heard you ever the like, my lords? The youth's head is turned withreading romances. I must know something of him, that I may send him safeto his friends. --What art thou?"

"A gentleman of the household of the Earl of Sussex, so please yourGrace, sent hither with his master of horse upon message to yourMajesty. "

In a moment the gracious expression which Elizabeth's face had hithertomaintained, gave way to an expression of haughtiness and severity. 

"My Lord of Sussex, " she said, "has taught us how to regard his messagesby the value he places upon ours. We sent but this morning the physicianin ordinary of our chamber, and that at no usual time, understanding hislordship'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 mostuseful science than Doctor Masters, and he came from Us to our subject. Nevertheless, he found the gate of Sayes Court defended by men withculverins, as if it had been on the borders of Scotland, not in thevicinity of our court; and when he demanded admittance in our name, itwas stubbornly refused. For this slight of a kindness, which had but toomuch of condescension in it, we will receive, at present at least, noexcuse; and some such we suppose to have been the purport of my Lord ofSussex's message. "

This was uttered in a tone and with a gesture which made Lord Sussex'sfriends who were within hearing tremble. He to whom the speech wasaddressed, however, trembled not; but with great deference and humility, as soon as the Queen's passion gave him an opportunity, he replied, "Soplease your most gracious Majesty, I was charged with no apology fromthe Earl of Sussex. "

"With what were you then charged, sir?" said the Queen, with theimpetuosity 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 offenceapproached towards treason, and could think of nothing save of securingthe offender, and placing him in your Majesty's hands, and at yourmercy. The noble Earl was fast asleep when your most gracious messagereached him, a potion having been administered to that purpose by hisphysician; and his Lordship knew not of the ungracious repulse yourMajesty's royal and most comfortable message had received, until afterhe awoke this morning. "

"And which of his domestics, then, in the name of Heaven, presumedto reject my message, without even admitting my own physician tothe presence of him whom I sent him to attend?" said the Queen, muchsurprised. 

"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 meto abye the consequences of a fault, of which he is as innocent as asleeping man's dreams can be of a waking man's actions. "

"What! was it thou?--thou thyself, that repelled my messenger and myphysician from Sayes Court?" said the Queen. "What could occasion suchboldness in one who seems devoted--that is, whose exterior bearing showsdevotion--to his Sovereign?"

"Madam, " said the youth--who, notwithstanding an assumed appearanceof severity, thought that he saw something in the Queen's face thatresembled not implacability--"we say in our country, that the physicianis for the time the liege sovereign of his patient. Now, my noble masterwas then under dominion of a leech, by whose advice he hath greatlyprofited, who had issued his commands that his patient should not thatnight be disturbed, on the very peril of his life. "

"Thy master hath trusted some false varlet of an empiric, " said theQueen. 

"I know not, madam, but by the fact that he is now--this verymorning--awakened much refreshed and strengthened from the only sleep hehath had for many hours. "

The nobles looked at each other, but more with the purpose to see whateach thought of this news, than to exchange any remarks on what hadhappened. The Queen answered hastily, and without affecting to disguiseher satisfaction, "By my word, I am glad he is better. But thou wertover-bold to deny the access of my Doctor Masters. Knowest thou not theHoly Writ saith, 'In the multitude of counsel there is safety'?"

"Ay, madam, " said Walter; "but I have heard learned men say that thesafety 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. --Howsay you, my Lord of Lincoln? Hath the lad given a just interpretation ofthe text?"

"The word SAFETY, most gracious madam, " said the Bishop of Lincoln, "forso hath been translated, it may be somewhat hastily, the Hebrew word, being--"

"My lord, " said the Queen, interrupting him, "we said we had forgottenour Hebrew. --But for thee, young man, what is thy name and birth?"

"Raleigh is my name, most gracious Queen, the youngest son of a largebut honourable family of Devonshire. "

"Raleigh?" said Elizabeth, after a moment's recollection. "Have we notheard of your service in Ireland?"

"I have been so fortunate as to do some service there, madam, " repliedRaleigh; "scarce, however, of consequence sufficient to reach yourGrace's ears. "

"They hear farther than you think of, " said the Queen graciously, "andhave heard of a youth who defended a ford in Shannon against a wholeband of wild Irish rebels, until the stream ran purple with their bloodand his own. "

"Some blood I may have lost, " said the youth, looking down, "but it waswhere my best is due, and that is in your Majesty's service. "

The Queen paused, and then said hastily, "You are very young to havefought so well, and to speak so well. But you must not escape yourpenance for turning back Masters. The poor man hath caught cold on theriver for our order reached him when he was just returned from certainvisits in London, and he held it matter of loyalty and conscienceinstantly to set forth again. So hark ye, Master Raleigh, see thou failnot to wear thy muddy cloak, in token of penitence, till our pleasure befurther known. And here, " she added, giving him a jewel of gold, in theform of a chess-man, "I give thee this to wear at the collar. "

Raleigh, to whom nature had taught intuitively, as it were, thosecourtly 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 surroundedher, how to mingle the devotion claimed by the Queen with the gallantrydue to her personal beauty; and in this, his first attempt to unitethem, he succeeded so well as at once to gratify Elizabeth's personalvanity and her love of power. [See Note 5. Court favour of Sir WalterRaleigh. ]

His master, the Earl of Sussex, had the full advantage of thesatisfaction which Raleigh had afforded Elizabeth, on their firstinterview. 

"My lords and ladies, " said the Queen, looking around to the retinue bywhom she was attended, "methinks, since we are upon the river, it werewell to renounce our present purpose of going to the city, and surprisethis poor Earl of Sussex with a visit. He is ill, and sufferingdoubtless under the fear of our displeasure, from which he hath beenhonestly cleared by the frank avowal of this malapert boy. What thinkye? were it not an act of charity to give him such consolation asthe thanks of a Queen, much bound to him for his loyal service, mayperchance best minister?"

It may be readily supposed that none to whom this speech was addressedventured to oppose its purport. 

"Your Grace, " said the Bishop of Lincoln, "is the breath of ournostrils. " The men of war averred that the face of the Sovereign was awhetstone to the soldier's sword; while the men of state were not lessof opinion that the light of the Queen's countenance was a lamp to thepaths of her councillors; and the ladies agreed, with one voice, that nonoble in England so well deserved the regard of England's Royal Mistressas the Earl of Sussex--the Earl of Leicester's right being reservedentire, so some of the more politic worded their assent, an exceptionto which Elizabeth paid no apparent attention. The barge had, therefore, orders to deposit its royal freight at Deptford, at the nearest and mostconvenient point of communication with Sayes Court, in order thatthe Queen might satisfy her royal and maternal solicitude, by makingpersonal inquiries after the health of the Earl of Sussex. 

Raleigh, whose acute spirit foresaw and anticipated importantconsequences from the most trifling events, hastened to ask the Queen'spermission to go in the skiff; and announce the royal visit to hismaster; ingeniously suggesting that the joyful surprise might proveprejudicial to his health, since the richest and most generous cordialsmay sometimes be fatal to those who have been long in a languishingstate. 

But whether the Queen deemed it too presumptuous in so young a courtierto interpose his opinion unasked, or whether she was moved by arecurrence of the feeling of jealousy which had been instilled into herby reports that the Earl kept armed men about his person, she desiredRaleigh, sharply, to reserve his counsel till it was required of him, and repeated her former orders to be landed at Deptford, adding, "Wewill ourselves see what sort of household my Lord of Sussex keeps abouthim. "

"Now the Lord have pity on us!" said the young courtier to himself. "Good hearts, the Earl hath many a one round him; but good heads arescarce with us--and he himself is too ill to give direction. And Blountwill be at his morning meal of Yarmouth herrings and ale, and Tracywill have his beastly black puddings and Rhenish; those thorough-pacedWelshmen, Thomas ap Rice and Evan Evans, will be at work on their leekporridge and toasted cheese;--and she detests, they say, all coarsemeats, evil smells, and strong wines. Could they but think of burningsome rosemary in the great hall! but VOGUE LA GALERE, all must now betrusted 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 doas much for my gallant patron!"

The royal barge soon stopped at Deptford, and, amid the loud shouts ofthe populace, which her presence never failed to excite, the Queen, with a canopy borne over her head, walked, accompanied by her retinue, towards Sayes Court, where the distant acclamations of the people gavethe first notice of her arrival. Sussex, who was in the act of advisingwith Tressilian how he should make up the supposed breach in the Queen'sfavour, 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 thesuddenness of the communication left no time for those preparations withwhich he well knew Elizabeth loved to be greeted, and the rudeness andconfusion of his military household, much increased by his late illness, rendered him altogether unprepared for her reception. 

Cursing internally the chance which thus brought her gracious visitationon him unaware, he hastened down with Tressilian, to whose eventful andinteresting story he had just given an attentive ear. 

"My worthy friend, " he said, "such support as I can give your accusationof Varney, you have a right to expect, alike from justice and gratitude. Chance will presently show whether I can do aught with our Sovereign, or whether, in very deed, my meddling in your affair may not ratherprejudice than serve you. "

Thus spoke Sussex while hastily casting around him a loose robe ofsables, and adjusting his person in the best manner he could to meet theeye of his Sovereign. But no hurried attention bestowed on his apparelcould remove the ghastly effects of long illness on a countenance whichnature had marked with features rather strong than pleasing. Besides, hewas low of stature, and, though broad-shouldered, athletic, and fit formartial achievements, his presence in a peaceful hall was not such asladies love to look upon; a personal disadvantage, which was supposed togive Sussex, though esteemed and honoured by his Sovereign, considerabledisadvantage when compared with Leicester, who was alike remarkable forelegance of manners and for beauty of person. 

The Earl's utmost dispatch only enabled him to meet the Queen as sheentered the great hall, and he at once perceived there was a cloudon her brow. Her jealous eye had noticed the martial array of armedgentlemen and retainers with which the mansion-house was filled, and herfirst words expressed her disapprobation. "Is this a royal garrison, myLord of Sussex, that it holds so many pikes and calivers? or have we byaccident overshot Sayes 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 acertain quarrel between your lordship and another great lord of ourhousehold, and at the same time to reprehend this uncivilized anddangerous practice of surrounding yourselves with armed, and even withruffianly followers, as if, in the neighbourhood of our capital, nay inthe very verge of our royal residence, you were preparing to wage civilwar with each other. --We are glad to see you so well recovered, my lord, though without the assistance of the learned physician whom we sentto you. Urge no excuse; we know how that matter fell out, and we havecorrected for it the wild slip, young Raleigh. By the way, my lord, wewill speedily relieve your household of him, and take him into our own. Something there is about him which merits to be better nurtured than heis like to be amongst your very military followers. "

To this proposal Sussex, though scarce understanding how the Queencame to make it could only bow and express his acquiescence. He thenentreated her to remain till refreshment could be offered, but in thishe could not prevail. And after a few compliments of a much colder andmore commonplace character than might have been expected from a step sodecidedly favourable as a personal visit, the Queen took her leaveof Sayes Court, having brought confusion thither along with her, andleaving doubt and apprehension behind. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

 Then call them to our presence. Face to face, And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser and accused freely speak;-- High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire, In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. --RICHARD II. 

"I am ordered to attend court to-morrow, " said Leicester, speaking toVarney, "to meet, as they surmise, my Lord of Sussex. The Queen intendsto take up matters betwixt us. This comes of her visit to Sayes Court, of which you must needs speak so lightly. "

"I maintain it was nothing, " said Varney; "nay, I know from a sureintelligencer, who was within earshot of much that was said, that Sussexhas lost rather than gained by that visit. The Queen said, when shestepped into the boat, that Sayes Court looked like a guard-house, andsmelt like an hospital. 'Like a cook's 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 saythat my Lord of Sussex must be excused for his rude and old-worldhousekeeping, since he had as yet no wife. "

"And what said the Queen?" asked Leicester hastily. 

"She took him up roundly, " said Varney, "and asked what my Lord Sussexhad to do with a wife, or my Lord Bishop to speak on such a subject. 'Ifmarriage is permitted, ' she said, 'I nowhere read that it is enjoined. '"

"She likes not marriages, or speech of marriage, among churchmen, " saidLeicester. 

"Nor among courtiers neither, " said Varney; but, observing thatLeicester changed countenance, he instantly added, "that all the ladieswho were present had joined in ridiculing Lord Sussex's housekeeping, and in contrasting it with the reception her Grace would have assuredlyreceived at my Lord of Leicester's. "

"You have gathered much tidings, " said Leicester, "but you haveforgotten or omitted the most important of all. She hath added anotherto those dangling satellites whom it is her pleasure to keep revolvingaround her. "

"Your lordship meaneth that Raleigh, the Devonshire youth, " saidVarney--"the Knight of the Cloak, as they call him at court?"

"He may be Knight of the Garter one day, for aught I know, " saidLeicester, "for he advances rapidly--she hath capped verses with him, and such fooleries. I would gladly abandon, of my own free will, thepart--I have in her fickle favour; but I will not be elbowed out ofit by the clown Sussex, or this new upstart. I hear Tressilian iswith Sussex also, and high in his favour. I would spare him forconsiderations, but he will thrust himself on his fate. Sussex, too, isalmost as well as ever in his health. "

"My lord, " replied Varney, "there will be rubs in the smoothest road, specially when it leads uphill. Sussex's illness was to us a godsend, from which I hoped much. He has recovered, indeed, but he is not nowmore formidable than ere he fell ill, when he received more than onefoil in wrestling with your lordship. Let not your heart fail you, mylord, and all shall be well. "

"My heart never failed me, sir, " replied Leicester. 

"No, my lord, " said Varney; "but it has betrayed you right often. Hethat would climb a tree, my lord, must grasp by the branches, not by theblossom. "

"Well, well, well!" said Leicester impatiently; "I understand thymeaning--my heart shall neither fail me nor seduce me. Have my retinuein order--see that their array be so splendid as to put down, not onlythe rude companions of Ratcliffe, but the retainers of every othernobleman and courtier. Let them be well armed withal, but without anyoutward display of their weapons, wearing them as if more for fashion'ssake than for use. Do thou thyself keep close to me, I may have businessfor you. "

The preparations of Sussex and his party were not less anxious thanthose of Leicester. 

"Thy Supplication, impeaching Varney of seduction, " said the Earl toTressilian, "is by this time in the Queen's hand--I have sent it througha sure channel. Methinks your suit should succeed, being, as it is, founded in justice and honour, and Elizabeth being the very muster ofboth. But--I wot not how--the gipsy" (so Sussex was wont to call hisrival on account of his dark complexion) "hath much to say with her inthese holyday times of peace. Were war at the gates, I should be one ofher white boys; but soldiers, like their bucklers and Bilboa blades, getout of fashion in peace time, and satin sleeves and walking rapiers bearthe bell. Well, we must be gay, since such is the fashion. --Blount, hastthou seen our household put into their new braveries? But thou knowestas little of these toys as I do; thou wouldst be ready enow at disposinga stand of pikes. "

"My good lord, " answered Blount, "Raleigh hath been here, and taken thatcharge upon him--your train will glitter like a May morning. Marry, thecost is another question. One might keep an hospital of old soldiers atthe charge of ten modern lackeys. "

"He must not count cost to-day, Nicholas, " said the Earl in reply. "Iam beholden to Raleigh for his care. I trust, though, he has rememberedthat I am an old soldier, and would have no more of these follies thanneeds must. "

"Nay, I understand nought about it, " said Blount; "but here are yourhonourable lordship's brave kinsmen and friends coming in by scores towait upon you to court, where, methinks, we shall bear as brave a frontas Leicester, let him ruffle it as he will. "

"Give them the strictest charges, " said Sussex, "that they suffer noprovocation short of actual violence to provoke them into quarrel. Theyhave hot bloods, and I would not give Leicester the advantage over me byany imprudence of theirs. "

The Earl of Sussex ran so hastily through these directions, that it waswith difficulty Tressilian at length found opportunity to express hissurprise that he should have proceeded so far in the affair of Sir HughRobsart as to lay his petition at once before the Queen. "It was theopinion of the young lady's friends, " he said, "that Leicester'ssense of justice should be first appealed to, as the offence had beencommitted 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 counsellorwhen the object was a humiliating reference to Leicester; and I amsuprised that you, Tressilian, a man of honour, and my friend, wouldassume such a mean course. If you said so, I certainly understood younot in a matter which sounded so unlike yourself. "

"My lord, " said Tressilian, "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; "theymust let us manage this cause in the way which seems best. This is thetime and the hour to accumulate every charge against Leicester and hishousehold, and yours the Queen will hold a heavy one. But at all eventsshe hath the complaint before her. "

Tressilian could not help suspecting that, in his eagerness tostrengthen himself against his rival, Sussex had purposely adopted thecourse most likely to throw odium on Leicester, without consideringminutely whether it were the mode of proceeding most likely to beattended with success. But the step was irrevocable, and Sussex escapedfrom 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 thepresence by high noon precisely. "

While the rival statesmen were thus anxiously preparing for theirapproaching meeting in the Queen's presence, even Elizabeth herself wasnot without apprehension of what might chance from the collision oftwo such fiery spirits, each backed by a strong and numerous body offollowers, and dividing betwixt them, either openly or in secret, thehopes and wishes of most of her court. The band of Gentlemen Pensionerswere all under arms, and a reinforcement of the yeomen of the guardwas brought down the Thames from London. A royal proclamation was sentforth, strictly prohibiting nobles of whatever degree to approach thePalace with retainers or followers armed with shot or with long weapons;and it was even whispered that the High Sheriff of Kent had secretinstructions to have a part of the array of the county ready on theshortest notice. 

The eventful hour, thus anxiously prepared for on all sides, at lengthapproached, and, each followed by his long and glittering train offriends and followers, the rival Earls entered the Palace Yard ofGreenwich at noon precisely. 

As if by previous arrangement, or perhaps by intimation that such wasthe Queen's pleasure, Sussex and his retinue came to the Palace fromDeptford by water while Leicester arrived by land; and thus they enteredthe courtyard from opposite sides. This trifling circumstance gaveLeicester a ascendency in the opinion of the vulgar, the appearanceof his cavalcade of mounted followers showing more numerous and moreimposing than those of Sussex's party, who were necessarily upon foot. No show or sign of greeting passed between the Earls, though each lookedfull at the other, both expecting perhaps an exchange of courtesies, which neither was willing to commence. Almost in the minute of theirarrival the castle-bell tolled, the gates of the Palace were opened, andthe Earls entered, each numerously attended by such gentlemen of theirtrain whose rank gave them that privilege. The yeomen and inferiorattendants remained in the courtyard, where the opposite parties eyedeach other with looks of eager hatred and scorn, as if waiting withimpatience for some cause of tumult, or some apology for mutualaggression. But they were restrained by the strict commands of theirleaders, and overawed, perhaps, by the presence of an armed guard ofunusual strength. 

In the meanwhile, the more distinguished persons of each train followedtheir patrons into the lofty halls and ante-chambers of the royalPalace, flowing on in the same current, like two streams which arecompelled into the same channel, yet shun to mix their waters. Theparties arranged themselves, as it were instinctively, on the differentsides of the lofty apartments, and seemed eager to escape from thetransient union which the narrowness of the crowded entrance had for aninstant compelled them to submit to. The folding doors at the upperend of the long gallery were immediately afterwards opened, and it wasannounced in a whisper that the Queen was in her presence-chamber, towhich these gave access. Both Earls moved slowly and stately towardsthe entrance--Sussex followed by Tressilian, Blount, and Raleigh, andLeicester by Varney. The pride of Leicester was obliged to give way tocourt-forms, and with a grave and formal inclination of the head, hepaused until his rival, a peer of older creation than his own, passedbefore him. Sussex returned the reverence with the same formal civility, and entered the presence-room. Tressilian and Blount offered to followhim, but were not permitted, the Usher of the Black Rod alleging inexcuse that he had precise orders to look to all admissions that day. ToRaleigh, 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 Leicester, who had stoodaloof for a moment to mark the reception of Sussex; and advancing tothe entrance, he was about to pass on, when Varney, who was close behindhim, dressed out in the utmost bravery of the day, was stopped by theusher, as Tressilian and Blount had been before him, "How is this, Master Bowyer?" said the Earl of Leicester. "Know you who I am, and thatthis is my friend and follower?"

"Your lordship will pardon me, " replied Bowyer stoutly; "my orders areprecise, and limit me to a strict discharge of my duty. "

"Thou art a partial knave, " said Leicester, the blood mounting to hisface, "to do me this dishonour, when you but now admitted a follower ofmy Lord of Sussex. "

"My lord, " said Bowyer, "Master Raleigh is newly admitted a swornservant of her Grace, and to him my orders did not apply. "

"Thou art a knave--an ungrateful knave, " said Leicester; "but he thathath done can undo--thou shalt not prank thee in thy authority long!"

This threat he uttered aloud, with less than his usual policy anddiscretion; and having done so, he entered the presence-chamber, andmade his reverence to the Queen, who, attired with even more than herusual splendour, and surrounded by those nobles and statesmen whosecourage and wisdom have rendered her reign immortal, stood readyto receive the hommage of her subjects. She graciously returned theobeisance of the favourite Earl, and looked alternately at him and atSussex, as if about to speak, when Bowyer, a man whose spirit couldnot brook the insult he had so openly received from Leicester, in thedischarge of his office, advanced with his black rad in his hand, andknelt down before her. 

"Why, how now, Bowyer?" said Elizabeth, "thy courtesy seems strangelytimed!"

"My Liege Sovereign, " he said, while every courtier around trembledat his audacity, "I come but to ask whether, in the discharge of mineoffice, I am to obey your Highness's commands, or those of the Earl ofLeicester, who has publicly menaced me with his displeasure, andtreated me with disparaging terms, because I denied entry to one of hisfollowers, in obedience to your Grace's precise orders?"

The spirit of Henry VIII. Was instantly aroused in the bosom of hisdaughter, and she turned on Leicester with a severity which appalledhim, 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 itwas 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, ay, and in this realm, but one mistress, andno master. Look to it that Master Bowyer sustains no harm for his dutyto me faithfully discharged; for, as I am Christian woman and crownedQueen, I will hold you dearly answerable. --Go, Bowyer, you have done thepart of an honest man and a true subject. We will brook no mayor of thepalace here. "

Bowyer kissed the hand which she extended towards him, and withdrewto his post! astonished at the success of his own audacity. A smileof triumph pervaded the faction of Sussex; that of Leicester seemedproportionally dismayed, and the favourite himself, assuming anaspect of the deepest humility, did not even attempt a word in his ownesculpation. 

He acted wisely; for it was the policy of Elizabeth to humble, not todisgrace him, and it was prudent to suffer her, without opposition orreply, to glory in the exertion of her authority. The dignity ofthe Queen was gratified, and the woman began soon to feel for themortification which she had imposed on her favourite. Her keen eye alsoobserved the secret looks of congratulation exchanged amongst those whofavoured Sussex, and it was no part of her policy to give either party adecisive triumph. 

"What I say to my Lord of Leicester, " she said, after a moment's pause, "I say also to you, my Lord of Sussex. You also must needs ruffle in thecourt of England, at the head of a faction of your own?"

"My followers, gracious Princess, " said Sussex, "have indeed ruffled inyour cause in Ireland, in Scotland, and against yonder rebellious Earlsin the north. I am ignorant that--"

"Do you bandy looks and words with me, my lord?" said the Queen, interrupting him; "methinks you might learn of my Lord of Leicester themodesty to be silent, at least, under our censure. I say, my lord, thatmy grandfather and my father, in their wisdom, debarred the nobles ofthis civilized land from travelling with such disorderly retinues; andthink you, that because I wear a coif, their sceptre has in my hand beenchanged into a distaff? I tell you, no king in Christendom will lessbrook his court to be cumbered, his people oppressed, and his kingdom'speace disturbed, by the arrogance of overgrown power, than she who nowspeaks with you. --My Lord of Leicester, and you, my Lord of Sussex, Icommand 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 Earl of Leicester, "you who are yourself the fountainof honour know best what is due to mine. I place it at your disposal, and only say that the terms on which I have stood with my Lord of Sussexhave not been of my seeking; nor had he cause to think me his enemy, until he had done me gross wrong. "

"For me, madam, " said the Earl of Sussex, "I cannot appeal from yoursovereign pleasure; but I were well content my Lord of Leicester shouldsay in what I have, as he terms it, wronged him, since my tongue neverspoke the word that I would not willingly justify either on foot orhorseback. 

"And for me, " said Leicester, "always under my gracious Sovereign'spleasure, my hand shall be as ready to make good my words as that of anyman who ever wrote himself Ratcliffe. "

"My lords, " said the Queen, "these are no terms for this presence; andif you cannot keep your temper, we will find means to keep both that andyou close enough. Let me see you join hands, my lords, and forget youridle animosities. "

The two rivals looked at each other with reluctant eyes, each unwillingto make the first advance to execute the Queen's will. 

"Sussex, " said Elizabeth, "I entreat--Leicester, 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, untilshe raised her voice to a height which argued at once impatience andabsolute command. 

"Sir Henry Lee, " she said, to an officer in attendance, "have a guardin present readiness, and man a barge instantly. --My Lords of Sussex andLeicester, I bid you once more to join hands; and, God's death! he thatrefuses shall taste of our Tower fare ere he sees our face again. I willlower your proud hearts ere we part, and that I promise, on the word ofa Queen!"

"The prison?" said Leicester, "might be borne, but to lose your Grace'spresence were to lose light and life at once. --Here, Sussex, is myhand. "

"And here, " said Sussex, "is mine in truth and honesty; but--"

"Nay, under favour, you shall add no more, " said the Queen. "Why, thisis as it should be, " she added, looking on them more favourably; "andwhen you the shepherds of the people, unite to protect them, it shallbe well with the flock we rule over. For, my lords, I tell you plainly, your follies and your brawls lead to strange disorders among yourservants. --My Lord of Leicester, you have a gentleman in your householdcalled Varney?"

"Yes, gracious madam, " replied Leicester; "I presented him to kiss yourroyal hand when you were last at Nonsuch. "

"His outside was well enough, " said the Queen, "but scarce so fair, Ishould have thought, as to have caused a maiden of honourable birth andhopes to barter her fame for his good looks, and become his paramour. Yet so it is; this fellow of yours hath seduced the daughter of a goodold Devonshire knight, Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote Hall, and she hathfled with him from her father's house like a castaway. --My Lord ofLeicester, are you ill, that you look so deadly pale?"

"No, gracious madam, " said Leicester; and it required every effort hecould make to bring forth these few words. 

"You are surely ill, my lord?" said Elizabeth, going towards him withhasty speech and hurried step, which indicated the deepest concern. "Call Masters--call our surgeon in ordinary. --Where be these loiteringfools?--we lose the pride of our court through their negligence. --Oris it possible, Leicester, " she continued, looking on him with a verygentle aspect, "can fear of my displeasure have wrought so deeply onthee? Doubt not for a moment, noble Dudley, that we could blame THEEfor the folly of thy retainer--thee, whose thoughts we know to be farotherwise employed. He that would climb the eagle's nest, my lord, caresnot who are catching linnets at the foot of the precipice. "

"Mark you that?" said Sussex aside to Raleigh. "The devil aids himsurely; for all that would sink another ten fathom deep seems but tomake him float the more easily. Had a follower of mine acted thus--"

"Peace, my good lord, " said Raleigh, "for God's sake, peace! Wait thechange of the tide; it is even now on the turn. "

The acute observation of Raleigh, perhaps, did not deceive him; forLeicester's confusion was so great, and, indeed, for the moment, soirresistibly overwhelming, that Elizabeth, after looking at him witha wondering eye, and receiving no intelligible answer to the unusualexpressions of grace and affection which had escaped from her, shot herquick glance around the circle of courtiers, and reading, perhaps, intheir 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 Varney? Who saw him?"

"An it please your Grace, " said Bowyer, "it is the same against whom Ithis instant closed the door of the presence-room. "

"An it please me?" repeated Elizabeth sharply, not at that moment in thehumour of being pleased with anything. --"It does NOT please me that heshould pass saucily into my presence, or that you should exclude from itone who came to justify himself from an accusation. "

"May it please you, " answered the perplexed usher, "if I knew, in suchcase, how to bear myself, I would take heed--"

"You should have reported the fellow's desire to us, Master Usher, andtaken our directions. You think yourself a great man, because but now wechid a nobleman on your account; yet, after all, we hold you but as thelead-weight that keeps the door fast. Call this Varney hither instantly. There is one Tressilian also mentioned in this petition. Let them bothcome before us. "

She was obeyed, and Tressilian and Varney appeared accordingly. Varney'sfirst glance was at Leicester, his second at the Queen. In the looksof the latter there appeared an approaching storm, and in the downcastcountenance of his patron he could read no directions in what way hewas to trim his vessel for the encounter. He then saw Tressilian, andat once perceived the peril of the situation in which he was placed. But Varney was as bold-faced and ready-witted as he was cunning andunscrupulous--a skilful pilot in extremity, and fully conscious of theadvantages which he would obtain could he extricate Leicester from hispresent peril, and of the ruin that yawned for himself should he fail indoing so. 

"Is it true, sirrah, " said the Queen, with one of those searching lookswhich few had the audacity to resist, "that you have seduced to infamya young lady of birth and breeding, the daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart ofLidcote Hall?"

Varney kneeled down, and replied, with a look of the most profoundcontrition, "There had been some love passages betwixt him and MistressAmy Robsart. "

Leicester's flesh quivered with indignation as he heard his dependantmake this avowal, and for one moment he manned himself to step forward, and, bidding farewell to the court and the royal favour, confess thewhole mystery of the secret marriage. But he looked at Sussex, and theidea of the triumphant smile which would clothe his cheek upon hearingthe avowal sealed his lips. "Not now, at least, " he thought, "or in thispresence, will I afford him so rich a triumph. " And pressing his lipsclose together, he stood firm and collected, attentive to each wordwhich Varney uttered, and determined to hide to the last the secret onwhich his court-favour seemed to depend. Meanwhile, the Queen proceededin her examination of Varney. 

"Love passages!" said she, echoing his last words; "what passages, thouknave? and why not ask the wench's hand from her father, if thou hadstany honesty in thy love for her?"

"An it please your Grace, " said Varney, still on his knees, "I dared notdo so, for her father had promised her hand to a gentleman of birth andhonour--I will do him justice, though I know he bears me ill-will--oneMaster Edmund Tressilian, whom I now see in the presence. "

"Soh!" replied the Queen. "And what was your right to make the simplefool break her worthy father's contract, through your love PASSAGES, asyour conceit and assurance terms them?"

"Madam, " replied Varney, "it is in vain to plead the cause of humanfrailty before a judge to whom it is unknown, or that of love to one whonever yields to the passion"--he paused an instant, and then added, in avery low and timid tone--"which she inflicts upon all others. "

Elizabeth tried to frown, but smiled in her own despite, as sheanswered, "Thou art a marvellously impudent knave. Art thou married tothe girl?"

Leicester'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 byVarney, who, after a moment's real hesitation, answered, "Yes. "

"Thou false villain!" said Leicester, bursting forth into rage, yetunable to add another word to the sentence which he had begun with suchemphatic passion. 

"Nay, my lord, " said the Queen, "we will, by your leave, stand betweenthis fellow and your anger. We have not yet done with him. --Knew yourmaster, my Lord of Leicester, of this fair work of yours? Speak truth, Icommand thee, and I will be thy warrant from danger on every quarter. "

"Gracious madam, " said Varney, "to speak Heaven's truth, my lord was thecause of the whole matter. "

"Thou villain, wouldst thou betray me?" said Leicester. 

"Speak on, " said the Queen hastily, her cheek colouring, and her eyessparkling, as she addressed Varney--"speak on. Here no commands areheard but mine. "

"They are omnipotent, gracious madam, " replied Varney; "and to you therecan 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, "anddo you speak on. What hath the Earl to do with this guilty intrigue ofthine? See, fellow, that thou beliest him not!"

"Far be it from me to traduce my noble patron, " replied Varney; "yetI am compelled to own that some deep, overwhelming, yet secret feelinghath of late dwelt in my lord's mind, hath abstracted him from thecares of the household which he was wont to govern with such religiousstrictness, and hath left us opportunities to do follies, of which theshame, as in this case, partly falls upon our patron. Without this, Ihad not had means or leisure to commit the folly which has drawn on mehis displeasure--the heaviest to endure by me which I could by any meansincur, 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, in no other, " replied Varney; "but since somewhat hathchanced 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 ofmanner!--yet what has he to fear from aught 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 thatI know he has ever since worn, suspended around his neck and next to hisheart, that lock of hair which sustains a small golden jewel shapedlike a heart. He speaks to it when alone--he parts not from it when hesleeps--no heathen ever worshipped an idol with such devotion. "

"Thou art a prying knave to watch thy master so closely, " saidElizabeth, blushing, but not with anger; "and a tattling knave to tellover again his fooleries. --What colour might the braid of hair be thatthou pratest of?"

Varney replied, "A poet, madam, might call it a thread from the goldenweb wrought by Minerva; but to my thinking it was paler than even thepurest gold--more like the last parting sunbeam of the softest day ofspring. "

"Why, you are a poet yourself, Master Varney, " said the Queen, smiling. "But I have not genius quick enough to follow your rare metaphors. Lookround these ladies--is there"--(she hesitated, and endeavoured to assumean air of great indifference)--"is there here, in this presence, anylady, the colour of whose hair reminds thee of that braid? Methinks, without prying into my Lord of Leicester's amorous secrets, I wouldfain know what kind of locks are like the thread of Minerva's web, orthe--what was it?--the last rays of the May-day sun. "

Varney looked round the presence-chamber, his eye travelling from onelady to another, until at length it rested upon the Queen herself, butwith an aspect of the deepest veneration. "I see no tresses, " he said, "in this presence, worthy of such similies, unless where I dare not lookon them. "

"How, sir knave?" said the Queen; "dare you intimate--"

"Nay, madam, " replied Varney, shading his eyes with his hand, "it wasthe beams of the May-day sun that dazzled my weak eyes. "

"Go to--go to, " said the Queen; "thou art a foolish fellow"--and turningquickly from him she walked up to Leicester. 

Intense curiosity, mingled with all the various hopes, fears, and passions which influence court faction, had occupied thepresence-chamber during the Queen's conference with Varney, as if withthe strength of an Eastern talisman. Men suspended every, even theslightest external motion, and would have ceased to breathe, had Naturepermitted such an intermission of her functions. The atmosphere wascontagious, and Leicester, who saw all around wishing or fearing hisadvancement or his fall forgot all that love had previously dictated, and saw nothing for the instant but the favour or disgrace whichdepended on the nod of Elizabeth and the fidelity of Varney. He summonedhimself hastily, and prepared to play his part in the scene which waslike to ensue, when, as he judged from the glances which the Queen threwtowards him, Varney's communications, be they what they might, wereoperating in his favour. Elizabeth did not long leave him in doubt; forthe more than favour with which she accosted him decided his triumph inthe eyes of his rival, and of the assembled court of England. "Thou hasta prating servant of this same Varney, my lord, " she said; "it is luckyyou trust him with nothing that can hurt you in our opinion, for believeme, he would keep no counsel. "

"From your Highness, " said Leicester, dropping gracefully on one knee, "it were treason he should. I would that my heart itself lay before you, barer than the tongue of any servant could strip it. "

"What, my lord, " said Elizabeth, looking kindly upon him, "is there noone little corner over which you would wish to spread a veil? Ah! I seeyou are confused at the question, and your Queen knows she should notlook too deeply into her servants' motives for their faithful duty, lestshe see what might, or at least ought to, displease her. "

Relieved by these last words, Leicester broke out into a torrent ofexpressions of deep and passionate attachment, which perhaps, at thatmoment, were not altogether fictitious. The mingled emotions which hadat first overcome him had now given way to the energetic vigour withwhich he had determined to support his place in the Queen's favour;and never did he seem to Elizabeth more eloquent, more handsome, moreinteresting, than while, kneeling at her feet, he conjured her to striphim of all his dower, but to leave him the name of her servant. --"Takefrom 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 shone onhim; leave him no more than his cloak and his sword, but let him stillboast he has--what in word or deed he never forfeited--the regard of hisadored Queen and mistress!"

"No, Dudley!" said Elizabeth, raising him with one hand, while sheextended the other that he might kiss it. "Elizabeth hath not forgottenthat, whilst you were a poor gentleman, despoiled of your hereditaryrank, she was as poor a princess, and that in her cause you thenventured 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, thegrace of our court and the support of our throne! Your mistress maybe forced to chide your misdemeanours, but never without owning yourmerits. --And so help me God, " she added, turning to the audience, who, with various feelings, witnessed this interesting scene--"so help meGod, gentlemen, as I think never sovereign had a truer servant than Ihave in this noble Earl!"

A murmur of assent rose from the Leicestrian faction, which the friendsof Sussex dared not oppose. They remained with their eyes fixed on theground, dismayed as well as mortified by the public and absolute triumphof their opponents. Leicester's first use of the familiarity towhich the Queen had so publicly restored him was to ask her commandsconcerning Varney's offence, "although, " he said, "the fellow deservesnothing from me but displeasure, yet, might I presume to intercede--"

"In truth, we had forgotten his matter, " said the Queen; "and it wasill done of us, who owe justice to our meanest as well as to our highestsubject. We are pleased, my lord, that you were the first to recall thematter to our memory. --Where is Tressilian, the accuser?--let him comebefore us. "

Tressilian appeared, and made a low and beseeming reference. Hisperson, as we have elsewhere observed, had an air of grace and even ofnobleness, which did not escape Queen Elizabeth's critical observation. She looked at him with, attention as he stood before her unabashed, butwith an air of the deepest dejection. 

"I cannot but grieve for this gentleman, " she said to Leicester. "I haveinquired concerning him, and his presence confirms what I heard, that heis a scholar and a soldier, well accomplished both in arts and arms. Wewomen, my lord, are fanciful in our choice--I had said now, to judge bythe eye, there was no comparison to be held betwixt your follower andthis gentleman. But Varney is a well-spoken fellow, and, to say truth, that goes far with us of the weaker sex. --look you, Master Tressilian, abolt lost is not a bow broken. Your true affection, as I will hold it tobe, hath been, it seems, but ill requited; but you have scholarship, andyou know there have been false Cressidas to be found, from the Trojanwar downwards. Forget, good sir, this Lady Light o' Love--teach youraffection to see with a wiser eye. This we say to you, more from thewritings of learned men than our own knowledge, being, as we are, farremoved by station and will from the enlargement of experience in suchidle toys of humorous passion. For this dame's father, we can make hisgrief the less by advancing his son-in-law to such station as mayenable him to give an honourable support to his bride. Thou shalt not beforgotten thyself, Tressilian--follow our court, and thou shalt seethat a true Troilus hath some claim on our grace. Think of what thatarch-knave Shakespeare says--a plague on him, his toys come into my headwhen I should think of other matters. Stay, how goes it?

 'Cressid was yours, tied with the bonds of heaven; These bonds of heaven are slipt, dissolved, and loosed, And with another knot five fingers tied, The fragments of her faith are bound to Diomed. '

You smile, my Lord of Southampton--perchance I make your player's versehalt through my bad memory. But let it suffice let there be no more ofthis mad matter. "

And as Tressilian kept the posture of one who would willingly be heard, though, at the same time, expressive of the deepest reverence, the Queenadded with some impatience, "What would the man have? The wenchcannot wed both of you? She has made her election--not a wise oneperchance--but she is Varney's wedded wife. "

"My suit should sleep there, most gracious Sovereign, " said Tressilian, "and with my suit my revenge. But I hold this Varney's word no goodwarrant for the truth. "

"Had that doubt been elsewhere urged, " answered Varney, "my sword--"

"THY sword!" interrupted Tressilian scornfully; "with her Grace's leave, my sword shall show--"

"Peace, you knaves, both!" said the Queen; "know you where youare?--This comes of your feuds, my lords, " she added, looking towardsLeicester and Sussex; "your followers catch your own humour, and mustbandy and brawl in my court and in my very presence, like so manyMatamoros. --Look you, sirs, he that speaks of drawing swords in anyother quarrel than mine or England's, by mine honour, I'll bracelethim 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 andmutinous knaves notwithstanding. --My Lord of Leicester, will you warrantwith your honour--that is, to the best of your belief--that your servantspeaks truth in saying he hath married this Amy Robsart?"

This was a home-thrust, and had nearly staggered Leicester. But he hadnow gone too far to recede, and answered, after a moment's hesitation, "To the best of my belief--indeed on my certain knowledge--she is awedded wife. "

"Gracious madam, " said Tressilian, "may I yet request to know, when andunder what circumstances this alleged marriage--"

"Out, sirrah, " answered the Queen; "ALLEGED marriage! Have you not theword of this illustrious Earl to warrant the truth of what his servantsays? But thou art a loser--thinkest thyself such at least--and thoushalt have indulgence; we will look into the matter ourself more atleisure. --My Lord of Leicester, I trust you remember we mean to tastethe good cheer of your Castle of Kenilworth on this week ensuing. Wewill pray you to bid our good and valued friend, the Earl of Sussex, tohold company with us there. "

"If the noble Earl of Sussex, " said Leicester, bowing to his rival withthe easiest and with the most graceful courtesy, "will so far honour mypoor house, I will hold it an additional proof of the amicable regard itis your Grace's desire we should entertain towards each other. "

Sussex was more embarrassed. "I should, " said he, "madam, be but a clogon your gayer hours, since my late severe illness. "

"And have you been indeed so very ill?" said Elizabeth, looking on himwith more attention than before; "you are, in faith, strangely altered, and deeply am I grieved to see it. But be of good cheer--we willourselves look after the health of so valued a servant, and to whom weowe so much. Masters shall order your diet; and that we ourselvesmay see that he is obeyed, you must attend us in this progress toKenilworth. "

This was said so peremptorily, and at the same time with so muchkindness, that Sussex, however unwilling to become the guest of hisrival, had no resource but to bow low to the Queen in obedience toher commands, and to express to Leicester, with blunt courtesy, thoughmingled with embarrassment, his acceptance of his invitation. As theEarls exchanged compliments on the occasion, the Queen said to her HighTreasurer, "Methinks, my lord, the countenances of these our two noblepeers resemble those of the two famed classic streams, the one so darkand sad, the other so fair and noble. My old Master Ascham would havechid me for forgetting the author. It is Caesar, as I think. See whatmajestic calmness sits on the brow of the noble Leicester, while Sussexseems to greet him as if he did our will indeed, but not willingly. "

"The doubt of your Majesty's favour, " answered the Lord Treasurer, "mayperchance occasion the difference, which does not--as what does?--escapeyour Grace's eye. "

"Such doubt were injurious to us, my lord, " replied the Queen. "We holdboth to be near and dear to us, and will with impartiality employ bothin honourable service for the weal of our kingdom. But we will breaktheir further conference at present. --My Lords of Sussex and Leicester, we have a word more with you. 'Tressilian and Varney are near yourpersons--you will see that they attend you at Kenilworth. And as weshall then have both Paris and Menelaus within our call, so we willhave the same fair Helen also, whose fickleness has caused thisbroil. --Varney, thy wife must be at Kenilworth, and forthcoming at myorder. --My Lord of Leicester, we expect you will look to this. "

The Earl and his follower bowed low and raised their heads, withoutdaring to look at the Queen, or at each other, for both felt at theinstant as if the nets and toils which their own falsehood had wovenwere in the act of closing around them. The Queen, however, observednot their confusion, but proceeded to say, "My Lords of Sussex andLeicester, we require your presence at the privy-council to be presentlyheld, where matters of importance are to be debated. We will then takethe water for our divertisement, and you, my lords, will attend us. --Andthat reminds us of a circumstance. --Do you, Sir Squire of the SoiledCassock" (distinguishing Raleigh by a smile), "fail not to observethat you are to attend us on our progress. You shall be supplied withsuitable means to reform your wardrobe. "

And so terminated this celebrated audience, in which, as throughout herlife, Elizabeth united the occasional caprice of her sex with that senseand sound policy in which neither man nor woman ever excelled her. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

 Well, then--our course is chosen--spread the sail-- Heave oft the lead, and mark the soundings well-- Look to the helm, good master--many a shoal Marks this stern coast, and rocks, where sits the Siren, Who, like ambition, lures men to their ruin. --THE SHIPWRECK. 

During the brief interval that took place betwixt the dismissal of theaudience and the sitting of the privy-council, Leicester had time toreflect that he had that morning sealed his own fate. "It was impossiblefor him now, " he thought, "after having, in the face of all that washonourable in England, pledged his truth (though in an ambiguous phrase)for the statement of Varney, to contradict or disavow it, withoutexposing himself, not merely to the loss of court-favour, but to thehighest displeasure of the Queen, his deceived mistress, and to thescorn and contempt at once of his rival and of all his compeers. " Thiscertainty rushed at once on his mind, together with all the difficultieswhich he would necessarily be exposed to in preserving a secret whichseemed now equally essential to his safety, to his power, and to hishonour. He was situated like one who walks upon ice ready to give wayaround him, and whose only safety consists in moving onwards, by firmand unvacillating steps. The Queen's favour, to preserve which hehad made such sacrifices, must now be secured by all means and at allhazards; it was the only plank which he could cling to in the tempest. He must settle himself, therefore, to the task of not only preserving, but augmenting the Queen's partiality--he must be the favourite ofElizabeth, or a man utterly shipwrecked in fortune and in honour. Allother considerations must be laid aside for the moment, and he repelledthe intrusive thoughts which forced on his mind the image of, Amy, bysaying to himself there would be time to think hereafter how he was toescape from the labyrinth ultimately, since the pilot who sees a Scyllaunder his bows must not for the time think of the more distant dangersof Charybdis. 

In this mood the Earl of Leicester that day assumed his chair at thecouncil table of Elizabeth; and when the hours of business were over, in this same mood did he occupy an honoured place near her during herpleasure excursion on the Thames. And never did he display to moreadvantage his powers as a politician of the first rank, or his parts asan accomplished courtier. 

It chanced that in that day's council matters were agitated touching theaffairs of the unfortunate Mary, the seventh year of whose captivity inEngland was now in doleful currency. There had been opinions in favourof this unhappy princess laid before Elizabeth's council, and supportedwith much strength of argument by Sussex and others, who dwelt more uponthe law of nations and the breach of hospitality than, however softenedor qualified, was agreeable to the Queen's ear. Leicester adopted thecontrary opinion with great animation and eloquence, and described thenecessity of continuing the severe restraint of the Queen of Scots, asa measure essential to the safety of the kingdom, and particularlyof Elizabeth's sacred person, the lightest hair of whose head, hemaintained, ought, in their lordships' estimation, to be matter of moredeep and anxious concern than the life and fortunes of a rival, who, after setting up a vain and unjust pretence to the throne of England, was now, even while in the bosom of her country, the constant hope andtheme of encouragement to all enemies to Elizabeth, whether at home orabroad. He ended by craving pardon of their lordships, if in the zealof speech he had given any offence, but the Queen's safety was a themewhich hurried him beyond his usual moderation of debate. 

Elizabeth chid him, but not severely, for the weight which he attachedunduly to her personal interests; yet she owned that, since it had beenthe pleasure of Heaven to combine those interests with the weal ofher subjects, she did only her duty when she adopted such measures ofself-preservation as circumstances forced upon her; and if the councilin their wisdom should be of opinion that it was needful to continuesome restraint on the person of her unhappy sister of Scotland, shetrusted they would not blame her if she requested of the Countess ofShrewsbury to use her with as much kindness as might be consistent withher safe keeping. And with this intimation of her pleasure the councilwas dismissed. 

Never was more anxious and ready way made for "my Lord of Leicester, "than as he passed through the crowded anterooms to go towards theriver-side, in order to attend her Majesty to her barge--never wasthe voice of the ushers louder, to "make room, make room for thenoble Earl"--never were these signals more promptly and reverentlyobeyed--never were more anxious eyes turned on him to obtain a glanceof favour, or even of mere recognition, while the heart of many a humblefollower throbbed betwixt the desire to offer his congratulations, andthe fear of intruding himself on the notice of one so infinitely abovehim. The whole court considered the issue of this day's audience, expected with so much doubt and anxiety, as a decisive triumph on thepart of Leicester, and felt assured that the orb of his rival satellite, if not altogether obscured by his lustre, must revolve hereafter in adimmer and more distant sphere. So thought the court and courtiers, fromhigh to low; and they acted accordingly. 

On the other hand, never did Leicester return the general greeting withsuch ready and condescending courtesy, or endeavour more successfullyto gather (in the words of one who at that moment stood at no greatdistance from him) "golden opinions from all sorts of men. "

For all the favourite Earl had a bow a smile at least, and often a kindword. Most of these were addressed to courtiers, whose names have longgone down the tide of oblivion; but some, to such as sound strangely inour ears, when connected with the ordinary matters of human life, above which the gratitude of posterity has long elevated them. A few ofLeicester's interlocutory sentences ran as follows:--

"Poynings, good morrow; and how does your wife and fair daughter? Whycome they not to court?--Adams, your suit is naught; the Queen willgrant no more monopolies. But I may serve you in another matter. --Mygood Alderman Aylford, the suit of the City, affecting Queenhithe, shall be forwarded as far as my poor interest can serve. --Master EdmundSpenser, touching your Irish petition, I would willingly aid you, frommy love to the Muses; but thou hast nettled the Lord Treasurer. "

"My lord, " said the poet, "were I permitted to explain--"

"Come to my lodging, Edmund, " answered the Earl "not to-morrow, or nextday, but soon. --Ha, Will Shakespeare--wild Will!--thou hast given mynephew Philip Sidney, love-powder; he cannot sleep without thy Venus andAdonis under his pillow! We will have thee hanged for the veriest wizardin Europe. Hark thee, mad wag, I have not forgotten thy matter of thepatent, and of the bears. "

The PLAYER bowed, and the Earl nodded and passed on--so that age wouldhave told the tale; in ours, perhaps, we might say the immortal had donehomage to the mortal. The next whom the favourite accosted was one ofhis own zealous dependants. 

"How now, Sir Francis Denning, " he whispered, in answer to his exultingsalutation, "that smile hath made thy face shorter by one-third thanwhen I first saw it this morning. --What, Master Bowyer, stand you back, and think you I bear malice? You did but your duty this morning; and ifI remember aught of the passage betwixt us, it shall be in thy favour. "

Then the Earl was approached, with several fantastic congees, by aperson quaintly dressed in a doublet of black velvet, curiously slashedand pinked with crimson satin. A long cock's feather in the velvetbonnet, which he held in his hand, and an enormous ruff; stiffened tothe extremity of the absurd taste of the times, joined with a sharp, lively, conceited expression of countenance, seemed to body forth avain, harebrained coxcomb, and small wit; while the rod he held, andan assumption of formal authority, appeared to express some senseof official consequence, which qualified the natural pertness of hismanner. A perpetual blush, which occupied rather the sharp nose than thethin cheek of this personage, seemed to speak more of "good life, " asit was called, than of modesty; and the manner in which he approached tothe Earl confirmed that suspicion. 

"Good even to you, Master Robert Laneham, " said Leicester, and seemeddesirous to pass forward, without further speech. 

"I have a suit to your noble lordship, " said the figure, boldlyfollowing him. 

"And what is it, good master keeper of the council-chamber door?"

"CLERK of the council-chamber door, " said Master Robert Laneham, withemphasis, by way of reply, and of correction. 

"Well, qualify thine office as thou wilt, man, " replied the Earl; "whatwouldst thou have with me?"

"Simply, " answered Laneham, "that your lordship would be, as heretofore, my good lord, and procure me license to attend the Summer Progressunto your lordship's most beautiful and all-to-be-unmatched Castle ofKenilworth. "

"To what purpose, good Master Laneham?" replied the Earl; "bethink you, my guests must needs be many. "

"Not so many, " replied the petitioner, "but that your nobleness willwillingly spare your old servitor his crib and his mess. Bethink you, my lord, how necessary is this rod of mine to fright away all thoselisteners, who else would play at bo-peep with the honourable council, and be searching for keyholes and crannies in the door of the chamber, so as to render my staff as needful as a fly-flap in a butcher's shop. "

"Methinks you have found out a fly-blown comparison for the honourablecouncil, Master Laneham, " said the Earl; "but seek not about to justifyit. Come to Kenilworth, if you list; there will be store of fools therebesides, and so you will be fitted. "

"Nay, an there be fools, my lord, " replied Laneham, with much glee, "Iwarrant I will make sport among them, for no greyhound loves to cote ahare as I to turn and course a fool. But I have another singular favourto beseech of your honour. "

"Speak it, and let me go, " said the Earl; "I think the Queen comes forthinstantly. "

"My very good lord, I would fain bring a bed-fellow with me. "

"How, you irreverent rascal!" said Leicester. 

"Nay, my lord, my meaning is within the canons, " answered hisunblushing, or rather his ever-blushing petitioner. "I have a wife ascurious as her grandmother who ate the apple. Now, take her with meI may not, her Highness's orders being so strict against the officersbringing with them their wives in a progress, and so lumbering the courtwith womankind. But what I would crave of your lordship is to find roomfor her in some mummery, or pretty pageant, in disguise, as it were; sothat, not being known for my wife, there may be no offence. "

"The foul fiend seize ye both!" said Leicester, stung intouncontrollable passion by the recollections which this speechexcited--"why stop you me with such follies?"

The terrified clerk of the chamber-door, astonished at the burst ofresentment he had so unconsciously produced, dropped his staff of officefrom his hand, and gazed on the incensed Earl with a foolish face ofwonder and terror, which instantly recalled Leicester to himself. 

"I meant but to try if thou hadst the audacity which befits thineoffice, " said he hastily. "Come to Kenilworth, and bring the devil withthee, if thou wilt. "

"My wife, sir, hath played the devil ere now, in a Mystery, in QueenMary's time; but me shall want a trifle for properties. "

"Here is a crown for thee, " said the Earl, --"make me rid of thee--thegreat bell rings. "

Master Robert Laneham stared a moment at the agitation which he hadexcited, and then said to himself, as he stooped to pick up his staffof office, "The noble Earl runs wild humours to-day. But they who givecrowns expect us witty fellows to wink at their unsettled starts; and, by my faith, if they paid not for mercy, we would finger them tightly!"[See Note 6. Robert Laneham. ]

Leicester moved hastily on, neglecting the courtesies he had hithertodispensed so liberally, and hurrying through the courtly crowd, untilhe paused in a small withdrawing-room, into which he plunged to draw amoment's breath unobserved, and in seclusion. 

"What am I now, " he said to himself, "that am thus jaded by the wordsof a mean, weather-beaten, goose-brained gull! Conscience, thou art abloodhound, whose growl wakes us readily at the paltry stir of a rator mouse as at the step of a lion. Can I not quit myself, by onebold stroke, of a state so irksome, so unhonoured? What if I kneel toElizabeth, and, owning the whole, throw myself on her mercy?"

As he pursued this train of thought, the door of the apartment opened, and Varney rushed in. 

"Thank God, my lord, that I have found you!" was his exclamation. 

"Thank the devil, whose agent thou art, " was the Earl's reply. 

"Thank whom you will, my lord, " replied Varney; "but hasten to thewater-side. The Queen is on board, and asks for you. "

"Go, say I am taken suddenly ill, " replied Leicester; "for, by Heaven, my brain can sustain this no longer!"

"I may well say so, " said Varney, with bitterness of expression, "foryour place, ay, and mine, who, as your master of the horse, was to haveattended your lordship, is already filled up in the Queen's barge. Thenew minion, Walter Raleigh, and our old acquaintance Tressilian werecalled for to fill our places just as I hastened away to seek you. "

"Thou art a devil, Varney, " said Leicester hastily; "but thou hast themastery for the present--I follow thee. "

Varney replied not, but led the way out of the palace, and towards theriver, while his master followed him, as if mechanically; until, lookingback, he said in a tone which savoured of familiarity at least, if notof authority, "How is this, my lord? Your cloak hangs on one side--yourhose are unbraced--permit me--"

"Thou art a fool, Varney, as well as a knave, " said Leicester, shakinghim off, and rejecting his officious assistance. "We are best thus, sir;when we require you to order our person, it is well, but now we want younot. "

So saying, the Earl resumed at once his air of command, and with it hisself-possession--shook his dress into yet wilder disorder--passed beforeVarney with the air of a superior and master, and in his turn led theway to the river-side. 

The Queen's barge was on the very point of putting off, the seatallotted to Leicester in the stern, and that to his master of the horseon the bow of the boat, being already filled up. But on Leicester'sapproach there was a pause, as if the bargemen anticipated somealteration in their company. The angry spot was, however, on the Queen'scheek, as, in that cold tone with which superiors endeavour to veiltheir internal agitation, while speaking to those before whom it wouldbe derogation to express it, she pronounced the chilling words, "We havewaited, my Lord of Leicester. "

"Madam, and most gracious Princess, " said Leicester, "you, who canpardon so many weaknesses which your own heart never knows, can bestbestow your commiseration on the agitations of the bosom, which, for amoment, affect both head and limbs. I came to your presence a doubtingand an accused subject; your goodness penetrated the clouds ofdefamation, and restored me to my honour, and, what is yet dearer, toyour favour--is it wonderful, though for me it is most unhappy, thatmy master of the horse should have found me in a state which scarcepermitted me to make the exertion necessary to follow him to this place, when one glance of your Highness, although, alas! an angry one, has hadpower to do that for me in which Esculapius might have failed?"

"How is this?" said Elizabeth hastily, looking at Varney; "hath yourlord been ill?"

"Something of a fainting fit, " answered the ready-witted Varney, "asyour Grace may observe from his present condition. My lord's haste wouldnot permit me leisure even to bring his dress into order. "

"It matters not, " said Elizabeth, as she gazed on the noble face andform of Leicester, to which even the strange mixture of passions bywhich he had been so lately agitated gave additional interest; "makeroom for my noble lord. Your place, Master Varney, has been filled up;you must find a seat in another barge. "

Varney bowed, and withdrew. 

"And you, too, our young Squire of the Cloak, " added she, looking atRaleigh, "must, for the time, go to the barge of our ladies of honour. As for Tressilian, he hath already suffered too much by the caprice ofwomen that I should aggrieve him by my change of plan, so far as he isconcerned. "

Leicester seated himself in his place in the barge, and close to theSovereign. Raleigh rose to retire, and Tressilian would have been soill-timed in his courtesy as to offer to relinquish his own place to hisfriend, had not the acute glance of Raleigh himself, who seemed no inhis native element, made him sensible that so ready a disclamation ofthe royal favour might be misinterpreted. He sat silent, therefore, whilst Raleigh, with a profound bow, and a look of the deepesthumiliation, was about to quit his place. 

A noble courtier, the gallant Lord Willoughby, read, as he thought, something in the Queen's face which seemed to pity Raleigh's real orassumed semblance of mortification. 

"It is not for us old courtiers, " he said, "to hide the sunshine fromthe young ones. I will, with her Majesty's leave, relinquish for anhour that which her subjects hold dearest, the delight of her Highness'spresence, and mortify myself by walking in starlight, while I forsakefor a brief season the glory of Diana's own beams. I will take placein the boat which the ladies occupy, and permit this young cavalier hishour of promised felicity. "

The Queen replied, with an expression betwixt mirth and earnest, "If youare so willing to leave us, my lord, we cannot help the mortification. But, under favour, we do not trust you--old and experienced as youmay deem yourself--with the care of our young ladies of honour. Yourvenerable age, my lord, " she continued, smiling, "may be better assortedwith that of my Lord Treasurer, who follows in the third boat, and bywhose experience even my Lord Willoughby's may be improved. "

Lord Willoughby hid his disappointment under a smile--laughed, wasconfused, bowed, and left the Queen's barge to go on board my LordBurleigh's. Leicester, who endeavoured to divert his thoughts from allinternal reflection, by fixing them on what was passing around, watchedthis circumstance among others. But when the boat put off from theshore--when the music sounded from a barge which accompanied them--whenthe shouts of the populace were heard from the shore, and all remindedhim of the situation in which he was placed, he abstracted his thoughtsand feelings by a strong effort from everything but the necessity ofmaintaining himself in the favour of his patroness, and exerted histalents of pleasing captivation with such success, that the Queen, alternately delighted with his conversation, and alarmed for his health, at length imposed a temporary silence on him, with playful yet anxiouscare, lest his flow of spirits should exhaust him. 

"My lords, " she said, "having passed for a time our edict of silenceupon our good Leicester, we will call you to counsel on a gamesomematter, more fitted to be now treated of, amidst mirth and music, thanin the gravity of our ordinary deliberations. Which of you, my lords, "said she, smiling, "know aught of a petition from Orson Pinnit, the keeper, as he qualifies himself, of our royal bears? Who standsgodfather to his request?"

"Marry, with Your Grace's good permission, that do I, " said the Earl ofSussex. "Orson Pinnit was a stout soldier before he was so mangled bythe skenes of the Irish clan MacDonough; and I trust your Grace willbe, as you always have been, good mistress to your good and trustyservants. "

"Surely, " said the Queen, "it is our purpose to be so, and in especialto our poor soldiers and sailors, who hazard their lives for little pay. We would give, " she said, with her eyes sparkling, "yonder royal palaceof ours to be an hospital for their use, rather than they should calltheir mistress ungrateful. But this is not the question, " she said, her voice, which had been awakened by her patriotic feelings, once moresubsiding into the tone of gay and easy conversation; "for this OrsonPinnit's request goes something further. He complains that, amidst theextreme delight with which men haunt the play-houses, and in especialtheir eager desire for seeing the exhibitions of one Will Shakespeare(whom I think, my lords, we have all heard something of), the manlyamusement of bear-baiting is falling into comparative neglect, since menwill rather throng to see these roguish players kill each other injest, than to see our royal dogs and bears worry each other in bloodyearnest. --What say you to this, my Lord of Sussex?"

"Why, truly, gracious madam, " said Sussex, "you must expect little froman old soldier like me in favour of battles in sport, when they arecompared with battles in earnest; and yet, by my faith, I wish WillShakespeare no harm. He is a stout man at quarter-staff, and singlefalchion, though, as I am told, a halting fellow; and he stood, theysay, a tough fight with the rangers of old Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecot, when he broke his deer-park and kissed his keeper's daughter. "

"I cry you mercy, my Lord of Sussex, " said Queen Elizabeth, interruptinghim; "that matter was heard in council, and we will not have thisfellow's offence exaggerated--there was no kissing in the matter, andthe defendant hath put the denial on record. But what say you to hispresent practice, my lord, on the stage? for there lies the point, andnot in any ways touching his former errors, in breaking parks, or theother follies you speak of. "

"Why, truly, madam, " replied Sussex, "as I said before, I wish thegamesome mad fellow no injury. Some of his whoreson poetry (I crave yourGrace's pardon for such a phrase) has rung in mine ears as if the linessounded to boot and saddle. But then it is all froth and folly--nosubstance or seriousness in it, as your Grace has already well touched. What are half a dozen knaves, with rusty foils and tattered targets, making but a mere mockery of a stout fight, to compare to the royal gameof bear-baiting, which hath been graced by your Highness's countenance, and that of your royal predecessors, in this your princely kingdom, famous for matchless mastiffs and bold bearwards over all Christendom?Greatly is it to be doubted that the race of both will decay, ifmen should throng to hear the lungs of an idle player belch forthnonsensical bombast, instead of bestowing their pence in encouraging thebravest image of war that can be shown in peace, and that is the sportsof the Bear-garden. There you may see the bear lying at guard, with hisred, pinky eyes watching the onset of the mastiff, like a wily captainwho maintains his defence that an assailant may be tempted to venturewithin his danger. And then comes Sir Mastiff, like a worthy champion, in full career at the throat of his adversary; and then shall Sir Bruinteach him the reward for those who, in their over-courage, neglect thepolicies of war, and, catching him in his arms, strain him to his breastlike a lusty wrestler, until rib after rib crack like the shot of apistolet. And then another mastiff; as bold, but with better aim andsounder judgment, catches Sir Bruin by the nether lip, and hangs fast, while he tosses about his blood and slaver, and tries in vain to shakeSir Talbot from his hold. And then--"

"Nay, by my honour, my lord, " said the Queen, laughing, "you havedescribed the whole so admirably that, had we never seen a bear-baiting, as we have beheld many, and hope, with Heaven's allowance, to see manymore, your words were sufficient to put the whole Bear-garden before oureyes. --But come, who speaks next in this case?--My Lord of Leicester, what say you?"

"Am I then to consider myself as unmuzzled, please your Grace?" repliedLeicester. 

"Surely, my lord--that is, if you feel hearty enough to take part in ourgame, " answered Elizabeth; "and yet, when I think of your cognizance ofthe bear and ragged staff, methinks we had better hear some less partialorator. "

"Nay, on my word, gracious Princess, " said the Earl, "though my brotherAmbrose of Warwick and I do carry the ancient cognizance your Highnessdeigns to remember, I nevertheless desire nothing but fair play on allsides; or, as they say, 'fight dog, fight bear. ' And in behalf of theplayers, I must needs say that they are witty knaves, whose rants andjests keep the minds of the commons from busying themselves withstate affairs, and listening to traitorous speeches, idle rumours, and disloyal insinuations. When men are agape to see how Marlow, Shakespeare, and other play artificers work out their fanciful plots, asthey call them, the mind of the spectators is withdrawn from the conductof their rulers. "

"We would not have the mind of our subjects withdrawn from theconsideration of our own conduct, my lord, " answered Elizabeth; "becausethe more closely it is examined, the true motives by which we are guidedwill appear the more manifest. "

"I have heard, however, madam, " said the Dean of St. Asaph's, an eminentPuritan, "that these players are wont, in their plays, not only tointroduce profane and lewd expressions, tending to foster sin andharlotry; but even to bellow out such reflections on government, itsorigin and its object, as tend to render the subject discontented, andshake the solid foundations of civil society. And it seems to be, under your Grace's favour, far less than safe to permit these naughtyfoul-mouthed knaves to ridicule the godly for their decent gravity, and, in blaspheming heaven and slandering its earthly rulers, to set atdefiance the laws both of God and man. "

"If we could think this were true, my lord, " said Elizabeth, "we shouldgive sharp correction for such offences. But it is ill arguing againstthe use of anything from its abuse. And touching this Shakespeare, wethink there is that in his plays that is worth twenty Bear-gardens;and that this new undertaking of his Chronicles, as he calls them, mayentertain, with honest mirth, mingled with useful instruction, not onlyour subjects, but even the generation which may succeed to us. "

"Your Majesty's reign will need no such feeble aid to make it rememberedto the latest posterity, " said Leicester. "And yet, in his way, Shakespeare hath so touched some incidents of your Majesty's happygovernment as may countervail what has been spoken by his reverencethe Dean of St. Asaph's. There are some lines, for example--I wouldmy nephew, Philip Sidney, were here; they are scarce ever out of hismouth--they are spoken in a mad tale of fairies, love-charms, and I wotnot what besides; but beautiful they are, however short they may andmust fall of the subject to which they bear a bold relation--and Philipmurmurs them, I think, even in his dreams. "

"You tantalize us, my lord, " said the Queen--"Master Philip Sidney is, we know, a minion of the Muses, and we are pleased it should be so. Valour never shines to more advantage than when united with the truetaste and love of letters. But surely there are some others among ouryoung courtiers who can recollect what your lordship has forgotten amidweightier affairs. --Master Tressilian, you are described to me as aworshipper of Minerva--remember you aught of these lines?"

Tressilian's heart was too heavy, his prospects in life too fatallyblighted, to profit by the opportunity which the Queen thus offeredto him of attracting her attention; but he determined to transfer theadvantage to his more ambitious young friend, and excusing himselfon the score of want of recollection, he added that he believed thebeautiful verses of which my Lord of Leicester had spoken were in theremembrance of Master Walter Raleigh. 

At the command of the Queen, that cavalier repeated, with accent andmanner which even added to their exquisite delicacy of tact and beautyof description, the celebrated vision of Oberon:--

 "That very time I saw (but thou couldst not), Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid, allarm'd: a certain aim he took At a fair vestal, throned by the west; And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow, As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts: But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery moon; And the imperial vot'ress passed on, In maiden meditation, fancy free. "

The voice of Raleigh, as he repeated the last lines, became a littletremulous, as if diffident how the Sovereign to whom the homage wasaddressed might receive it, exquisite as it was. If this diffidence wasaffected, it was good policy; but if real, there was little occasionfor it. The verses were not probably new to the Queen, for when was eversuch elegant flattery long in reaching the royal ear to which it wasaddressed? But they were not the less welcome when repeated by such aspeaker as Raleigh. Alike delighted with the matter, the manner, andthe graceful form and animated countenance of the gallant young reciter, Elizabeth kept time to every cadence with look and with finger. Whenthe speaker had ceased, she murmured over the last lines as if scarceconscious that she was overheard, and as she uttered the words, "In maiden meditation, fancy free, " she dropped into the Thames thesupplication of Orson Pinnit, keeper of the royal bears, to find morefavourable acceptance at Sheerness, or wherever the tide might waft it. 

Leicester was spurred to emulation by the success of the youngcourtier's exhibition, as the veteran racer is roused when ahigh-mettled colt passes him on the way. He turned the discourse onshows, banquets, pageants, and on the character of those by whom thesegay scenes were then frequented. He mixed acute observation with lightsatire, in that just proportion which was free alike from malignantslander and insipid praise. He mimicked with ready accent the manners ofthe affected or the clownish, and made his own graceful tone and mannerseem doubly such when he resumed it. Foreign countries--their customs, their manners, the rules of their courts---the fashions, and even thedress of their ladies-were equally his theme; and seldom did he concludewithout conveying some compliment, always couched in delicacy, andexpressed with propriety, to the Virgin Queen, her court, and hergovernment. Thus passed the conversation during this pleasure voyage, seconded by the rest of the attendants upon the royal person, in gaydiscourse, varied by remarks upon ancient classics and modern authors, and enriched by maxims of deep policy and sound morality, by thestatesmen and sages who sat around and mixed wisdom with the lightertalk of a female court. 

When they returned to the Palace, Elizabeth accepted, or ratherselected, the arm of Leicester to support her from the stairs where theylanded to the great gate. It even seemed to him (though that might arisefrom the flattery of his own imagination) that during this shortpassage she leaned on him somewhat more than the slippiness of theway necessarily demanded. Certainly her actions and words combined toexpress a degree of favour which, even in his proudest day he had nottill then attained. His rival, indeed, was repeatedly graced by theQueen's notice; but it was in manner that seemed to flow less fromspontaneous inclination than as extorted by a sense of his merit. And inthe opinion of many experienced courtiers, all the favour she showedhim was overbalanced by her whispering in the ear of the Lady Derby that"now she saw sickness was a better alchemist than she before wottedof, seeing it had changed my Lord of Sussex's copper nose into a goldenone. "

The jest transpired, and the Earl of Leicester enjoyed his triumph, as one to whom court-favour had been both the primary and the ultimatemotive of life, while he forgot, in the intoxication of the moment, theperplexities and dangers of his own situation. Indeed, strange as it mayappear, he thought less at that moment of the perils arising from hissecret union, than of the marks of grace which Elizabeth from time totime showed to young Raleigh. They were indeed transient, but they wereconferred on one accomplished in mind and body, with grace, gallantry, literature, and valour. An accident occurred in the course of theevening which riveted Leicester's attention to this object. 

The nobles and courtiers who had attended the Queen on her pleasureexpedition were invited, with royal hospitality, to a splendid banquetin the hall of the Palace. The table was not, indeed, graced by thepresence of the Sovereign; for, agreeable to her idea of what was atonce modest and dignified, the Maiden Queen on such occasions was wontto take in private, or with one or two favourite ladies, her light andtemperate meal. After a moderate interval, the court again met in thesplendid gardens of the Palace; and it was while thus engaged thatthe Queen suddenly asked a lady, who was near to her both in place andfavour, what had become of the young Squire Lack-Cloak. 

The Lady Paget answered, "She had seen Master Raleigh but two orthree minutes since standing at the window of a small pavilion orpleasure-house, which looked out on the Thames, and writing on the glasswith a diamond ring. "

"That ring, " said the Queen, "was a small token I gave him to makeamends for his spoiled mantle. Come, Paget, let us see what use he hasmade of it, for I can see through him already. He is a marvellouslysharp-witted spirit. " They went to the spot, within sight of which, but at some distance, the young cavalier still lingered, as the fowlerwatches the net which he has set. The Queen approached the window, onwhich Raleigh had used her gift to inscribe the following line:--

 "Fain would I climb, but that I fear to fall. "

The Queen smiled, read it twice over, once with deliberation to LadyPaget, and once again to herself. "It is a pretty beginning, " she said, after the consideration of a moment or two; "but methinks the musehath deserted the young wit at the very outset of his task. It weregood-natured--were it not, Lady Paget?--to complete it for him. Try yourrhyming faculties. "

Lady Paget, prosaic from her cradle upwards as ever any lady of thebedchamber before or after her, disclaimed all possibility of assistingthe young poet. 

"Nay, then, we must sacrifice to the Muses ourselves, " said Elizabeth. 

"The incense of no one can be more acceptable, " said Lady Paget; "andyour Highness will impose such obligation on the ladies of Parnassus--"

"Hush, Paget, " said the Queen, "you speak sacrilege against the immortalNine--yet, virgins themselves, they should be exorable to a VirginQueen--and therefore--let me see how runs his verse--

 'Fain would I climb, but that I fear to fall. '

Might not the answer (for fault of a better) run thus?--

 'If thy mind fail thee, do not climb at all. '"

The dame of honour uttered an exclamation of joy and surprise at sohappy a termination; and certainly a worse has been applauded, even whencoming from a less distinguished author. 

The Queen, thus encouraged, took off a diamond ring, and saying, "Wewill give this gallant some cause of marvel when he finds his coupletperfected without his own interference, " she wrote her own line beneaththat of Raleigh. 

The Queen left the pavilion; but retiring slowly, and often lookingback, she could see the young cavalier steal, with the flight of alapwing, towards the place where he had seen her make a pause. "Shestayed but to observe, " as she said, "that her train had taken;" andthen, laughing at the circumstance with the Lady Paget, she took the wayslowly towards the Palace. Elizabeth, as they returned, cautioned hercompanion not to mention to any one the aid which she had given to theyoung poet, and Lady Paget promised scrupulous secrecy. It is to besupposed that she made a mental reservation in favour of Leicester, to whom her ladyship transmitted without delay an anecdote so littlecalculated to give him pleasure. 

Raleigh, in the meanwhile, stole back to the window, and read, with afeeling of intoxication, the encouragement thus given him by the Queenin person to follow out his ambitious career, and returned to Sussexand his retinue, then on the point of embarking to go up the river, his heart beating high with gratified pride, and with hope of futuredistinction. 

The reverence due to the person of the Earl prevented any notice beingtaken of the reception he had met with at court, until they had landed, and the household were assembled in the great hall at Sayes Court; whilethat lord, exhausted by his late illness and the fatigues of the day, had retired to his chamber, demanding the attendance of Wayland, hissuccessful physician. Wayland, however, was nowhere to be found; andwhile some of the party were, with military impatience, seeking him andcursing his absence, the rest flocked around Raleigh to congratulate himon his prospects of court-favour. 

He had the good taste and judgment to conceal the decisive circumstanceof the couplet to which Elizabeth had deigned to find a rhyme; but otherindications had transpired, which plainly intimated that he had madesome progress in the Queen's favour. All hastened to wish him joy on themended appearance of his fortune--some from real regard, some, perhaps, from hopes that his preferment might hasten their own, and most from amixture of these motives, and a sense that the countenance shown to anyone of Sussex's household was, in fact, a triumph to the whole. Raleighreturned the kindest thanks to them all, disowning, with becomingmodesty, that one day's fair reception made a favourite, any more thanone swallow a summer. But he observed that Blount did not join in thegeneral congratulation, and, somewhat hurt at his apparent unkindness, he plainly asked him the reason. 

Blount replied with equal sincerity--"My good Walter, I wish thee aswell as do any of these chattering gulls, who are whistling and whoopinggratulations in thine ear because it seems fair weather with thee. But Ifear for thee, Walter" (and he wiped his honest eye), "I fear for theewith all my heart. These court-tricks, and gambols, and flashes of finewomen's favour are the tricks and trinkets that bring fair fortunes tofarthings, and fine faces and witty coxcombs to the acquaintance of dullblock and sharp axes. "

So saying, Blount arose and left the hall, while Raleigh looked afterhim with an expression that blanked for a moment his bold and animatedcountenance. 

Stanley just then entered the hall, and said to Tressilian, "My lord iscalling for your fellow Wayland, and your fellow Wayland is just comehither in a sculler, and is calling for you, nor will he go to my lordtill he sees you. The fellow looks as he were mazed, methinks; I wouldyou would see him immediately. "

Tressilian instantly left the hall, and causing Wayland Smith to beshown into a withdrawing apartment, and lights placed, he conducted theartist thither, and was surprised when he observed the emotion of hiscountenance. 

"What is the matter with you, Smith?" said Tressilian; "have you seenthe devil?"

"Worse, sir, worse, " replied Wayland; "I have seen a basilisk. ThankGod, I saw him first; for being so seen, and seeing not me, he will dothe less harm. "

"In God's name, speak sense, " said Tressilian, "and say what you mean. "

"I have seen my old master, " said the artist. "Last night a friend whomI had acquired took me to see the Palace clock, judging me to be curiousin such works of art. At the window of a turret next to the clock-houseI saw my old master. "

"Thou must needs have been mistaken, " said Tressilian. 

"I was not mistaken, " said Wayland; "he that once hath his features byheart would know him amongst a million. He was anticly habited; but hecannot disguise himself from me, God be praised! as I can from him. I will not, however, tempt Providence by remaining within his ken. Tarleton the player himself could not so disguise himself but that, sooner or later, Doboobie would find him out. I must away to-morrow;for, as we stand together, it were death to me to remain within reach ofhim. "

"But the Earl of Sussex?" said Tressilian. 

"He is in little danger from what he has hitherto taken, providedhe swallow the matter of a bean's size of the orvietan every morningfasting; but let him beware of a relapse. "

"And how is that to be guarded against?" said Tressilian. 

"Only by such caution as you would use against the devil, " answeredWayland. "Let my lord's clerk of the kitchen kill his lord's meathimself, and dress it himself, using no spice but what he procures fromthe surest hands. Let the sewer serve it up himself, and let the masterof my lord's household see that both clerk and sewer taste the disheswhich the one dresses and the other serves. Let my lord use no perfumeswhich come not from well accredited persons; no unguents--no pomades. Let him, on no account, drink with strangers, or eat fruit with them, either in the way of nooning or otherwise. Especially, let him observesuch caution if he goes to Kenilworth--the excuse of his illness, andhis being under diet, will, and must, cover the strangeness of suchpractice. "

"And thou, " said Tressilian, "what dost thou think to make of thyself?"

"France, Spain, either India, East or West, shall be my refuge, " saidWayland, "ere I venture my life by residing within ken of Doboobie, Demetrius, or whatever else he calls himself for the time. "

"Well, " said Tressilian, "this happens not inopportunely. I had businessfor you in Berkshire, but in the opposite extremity to the place wherethou art known; and ere thou hadst found out this new reason for livingprivate, I had settled to send thee thither upon a secret embassage. "

The artist expressed himself willing to receive his commands, andTressilian, knowing he was well acquainted with the outline of hisbusiness at court, frankly explained to him the whole, mentioned theagreement which subsisted betwixt Giles Gosling and him, and toldwhat had that day been averred in the presence-chamber by Varney, andsupported by Leicester. 

"Thou seest, " he added, "that, in the circumstances in which I amplaced, it behoves me to keep a narrow watch on the motions of theseunprincipled men, Varney and his complices, Foster and Lambourne, aswell as on those of my Lord Leicester himself, who, I suspect, is partlya deceiver, and not altogether the deceived in that matter. Here is myring, as a pledge to Giles Gosling. Here is besides gold, which shall betrebled if thou serve me faithfully. Away down to Cumnor, and see whathappens there. "

"I go with double good-will, " said the artist, "first, because I serveyour honour, who has been so kind to me; and then, that I may escape myold master, who, if not an absolute incarnation of the devil, has, atleast, as much of the demon about him, in will, word, and action; asever polluted humanity. And yet let him take care of me. I fly him now, as heretofore; but if, like the Scottish wild cattle, I am vexed byfrequent pursuit, I may turn on him in hate and desperation. [A remnantof the wild cattle of Scotland are preserved at Chillingham Castle, nearWooler, in Northumberland, the seat of Lord Tankerville. They fly beforestrangers; but if disturbed and followed, they turn with fury on thosewho persist in annoying them. ] Will your honour command my nag to besaddled? I will but give the medicine to my lord, divided in its properproportions, with a few instructions. His safety will then depend on thecare of his friends and domestics; for the past he is guarded, but lethim beware of the future. "

Wayland Smith accordingly made his farewell visit to the Earl of Sussex, dictated instructions as to his regimen, and precautions concerning hisdiet, and left Sayes Court without waiting for morning. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

 The moment comes-- It is already come--when thou must write The absolute total of thy life's vast sum. The constellations stand victorious o'er thee, The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions, And tell thee, "Now's the time. " --SCHILLER'S WALLENSTEIN, BY COLERIDGE. 

When Leicester returned to his lodging, alter a day so important and soharassing, in which, after riding out more than one gale, and touchingon more than one shoal, his bark had finally gained the harbour withbanner displayed, he seemed to experience as much fatigue as a marinerafter a perilous storm. He spoke not a word while his chamberlainexchanged his rich court-mantle for a furred night-robe, and when thisofficer signified that Master Varney desired to speak with his lordship, he replied only by a sullen nod. Varney, however, entered, acceptingthis signal as a permission, and the chamberlain withdrew. 

The Earl remained silent and almost motionless in his chair, his headreclined on his hand, and his elbow resting upon the table which stoodbeside him, without seeming to be conscious of the entrance or of thepresence of his confidant. Varney waited for some minutes until heshould speak, desirous to know what was the finally predominant mood ofa mind through which so many powerful emotions had that day taken theircourse. But he waited in vain, for Leicester continued still silent, and the confidant saw himself under the necessity of being the firstto speak. "May I congratulate your lordship, " he said, "on the deservedsuperiority you have this day attained over your most formidable rival?"

Leicester raised his head, and answered sadly, but without anger, "Thou, Varney, whose ready invention has involved me in a web of most meanand perilous falsehood, knowest best what small reason there is forgratulation on the subject. "

"Do you blame me, my lord, " said Varney, "for not betraying, on thefirst push, the secret on which your fortunes depended, and whichyou have so oft and so earnestly recommended to my safe keeping? Yourlordship was present in person, and might have contradicted me andruined yourself by an avowal of the truth; but surely it was no part ofa faithful servant to have done so without your commands. "

"I cannot deny it, Varney, " said the Earl, rising and walking across theroom; "my own ambition has been traitor to my love. "

"Say rather, my lord, that your love has been traitor to your greatness, and barred you from such a prospect of honour and power as the worldcannot offer to any other. To make my honoured lady a countess, you havemissed the chance of being yourself--"

He paused, and seemed unwilling to complete the sentence. 

"Of being myself what?" demanded Leicester; "speak out thy meaning, Varney. "

"Of being yourself a KING, my lord, " replied Varney; "and King ofEngland to boot! It is no treason to our Queen to say so. It would havechanced by her obtaining that which all true subjects wish her--a lusty, noble, and gallant husband. "

"Thou ravest, Varney, " answered Leicester. "Besides, our times haveseen enough to make men loathe the Crown Matrimonial which men take fromtheir wives' lap. There was Darnley of Scotland. "

"He!" said Varney; "a, gull, a fool, a thrice-sodden ass, who sufferedhimself to be fired off into the air like a rocket on a rejoicing day. Had Mary had the hap to have wedded the noble Earl ONCE destined toshare her throne, she had experienced a husband of different metal; andher husband had found in her a wife as complying and loving as the mateof the meanest squire who follows the hounds a-horseback, and holds herhusband's bridle as he mounts. "

"It might have been as thou sayest, Varney, " said Leicester, a briefsmile of self-satisfaction passing over his anxious countenance. "HenryDarnley knew little of women--with Mary, a man who knew her sex mighthave had some chance of holding his own. But not with Elizabeth, Varneyfor I thank God, when he gave her the heart of a woman, gave her thehead of a man to control its follies. No, I know her. She will acceptlove-tokens, ay, and requite them with the like--put sugared sonnetsin her bosom, ay, and answer them too--push gallantry to the very vergewhere it becomes exchange of affection; but she writes NIL ULTRA to allwhich is to follow, and would not barter one iota of her own supremepower for all the alphabet of both Cupid and Hymen. "

"The better for you, my lord, " said Varney--"that is, in the casesupposed, if such be her disposition; since you think you cannot aspireto become her husband. Her favourite you are, and may remain, if thelady at Cumnor place continues in her present obscurity. "

"Poor Amy!" said Leicester, with a deep sigh; "she desires so earnestlyto be acknowledged in presence of God and man!"

"Ay, but, my lord, " said Varney, "is her desire reasonable? That isthe question. Her religious scruples are solved; she is an honoured andbeloved wife, enjoying the society of her husband at such times as hisweightier duties permit him to afford her his company. What would shemore? I am right sure that a lady so gentle and so loving would consentto live her life through in a certain obscurity--which is, after all, not dimmer than when she was at Lidcote Hall--rather than diminish theleast jot of her lord's honours and greatness by a premature attempt toshare them. "

"There is something in what thou sayest, " said Leicester, "and herappearance here were fatal. Yet she must be seen at Kenilworth;Elizabeth will not forget that she has so appointed. "

"Let me sleep on that hard point, " said Varney; "I cannot else perfectthe device I have on the stithy, which I trust will satisfy the Queenand please my honoured lady, yet leave this fatal secret where it is nowburied. Has your lordship further commands for the night?"

"I would be alone, " said Leicester. "Leave me, and place my steel casketon the table. Be within summons. "

Varney retired, and the Earl, opening the window of his apartment, looked out long and anxiously upon the brilliant host of stars whichglimmered in the splendour of a summer firmament. The words burst fromhim as at unawares, "I had never more need that the heavenly bodiesshould befriend me, for my earthly path is darkened and confused. "

It is well known that the age reposed a deep confidence in the vainpredictions of judicial astrology, and Leicester, though exempt from thegeneral control of superstition, was not in this respect superior to histime, but, on the contrary, was remarkable for the encouragement whichhe gave to the professors of this pretended science. Indeed, the wish topry into futurity, so general among the human race, is peculiarly tobe found amongst those who trade in state mysteries and the dangerousintrigues and cabals of courts. With heedful precaution to see that ithad not been opened, or its locks tampered with, Leicester applied a keyto the steel casket, and drew from it, first, a parcel of gold pieces, which he put into a silk purse; then a parchment inscribed withplanetary signs, and the lines and calculations used in framinghoroscopes, on which he gazed intently for a few moments; and, lastly, took forth a large key, which, lifting aside the tapestry, he applied toa little, concealed door in the corner of the apartment, and opening it, disclosed a stair constructed in the thickness of the wall. 

"Alasco, " said the Earl, with a voice raised, yet no higher raised thanto be heard by the inhabitant of the small turret to which the stairconducted--"Alasco, I say, descend. "

"I come, my lord, " answered a voice from above. The foot of an aged manwas heard slowly descending the narrow stair, and Alasco entered theEarl's apartment. The astrologer was a little man, and seemed muchadvanced in age, for his heard was long and white, and reached overhis black doublet down to his silken girdle. His hair was of the samevenerable hue. But his eyebrows were as dark as the keen and piercingblack eyes which they shaded, and this peculiarity gave a wild andsingular cast to the physiognomy of the old man. His cheek was stillfresh and ruddy, and the eyes we have mentioned resembled those of arat in acuteness and even fierceness of expression. His manner was notwithout a sort of dignity; and the interpreter of the stars, thoughrespectful, seemed altogether at his ease, and even assumed a toneof instruction and command in conversing with the prime favourite ofElizabeth. 

"Your prognostications have failed, Alasco, " said the Earl, when theyhad exchanged salutations--"he is recovering. "

"My son, " replied the astrologer, "let me remind you I warranted nothis death; nor is there any prognostication that can be derived fromthe heavenly bodies, their aspects and their conjunctions, which is notliable to be controlled by the will of Heaven. ASTRA REGUNT HOMINES, SEDREGIT ASTRA DEUS. "

"Of what avail, then, is your mystery?" inquired the Earl. 

"Of much, my son, " replied the old man, "since it can show thenatural and probable course of events, although that course moves insubordination to an Higher Power. Thus, in reviewing the horoscope whichyour Lordship subjected to my skill, you will observe that Saturn, beingin the sixth House in opposition to Mars, retrograde in the House ofLife, cannot but denote long and dangerous sickness, the issue whereofis in the will of Heaven, though death may probably be inferred. Yet ifI knew the name of the party I would erect another scheme. "

"His name is a secret, " said the Earl; "yet, I must own, thyprognostication hath not been unfaithful. He has been sick, anddangerously so, not, however, to death. But hast thou again cast myhoroscope as Varney directed thee, and art thou prepared to say what thestars tell of my present fortune?"

"My art stands at your command, " said the old man; "and here, my son, isthe map of thy fortunes, brilliant in aspect as ever beamed from thoseblessed signs whereby our life is influenced, yet not unchequered withfears, difficulties, and dangers. "

"My lot were more than mortal were it otherwise, " said the Earl. "Proceed, father, and believe you speak with one ready to undergo hisdestiny in action and in passion as may beseem a noble of England. "

"Thy courage to do and to suffer must be wound up yet a strain higher, "said the old man. "The stars intimate yet a prouder title, yet an higherrank. It is for thee to guess their meaning, not for me to name it. "

"Name it, I conjure you--name it, I command you!" said the Earl, hiseyes brightening as he spoke. 

"I may not, and I will not, " replied the old man. "The ire of princes Isas the wrath of the lion. But mark, and judge for thyself. Here Venus, ascendant in the House of Life, and conjoined with Sol, showers downthat flood of silver light, blent with gold, which promises power, wealth, dignity, all that the proud heart of man desires, and in suchabundance that never the future Augustus of that old and mighty Romeheard from his HARUSPICES such a tale of glory, as from this rich textmy lore might read to my favourite son. "

"Thou dost but jest with me, father, " said the Earl, astonished at thestrain of enthusiasm in which the astrologer delivered his prediction. 

"Is it for him to jest who hath his eye on heaven, who hath his foot inthe grave?" returned the old man solemnly. 

The Earl made two or three strides through the apartment, with his handoutstretched, as one who follows the beckoning signal of some phantom, waving him on to deeds of high import. As he turned, however, he caughtthe eye of the astrologer fixed on him, while an observing glance ofthe most shrewd penetration shot from under the penthouse of his shaggy, dark eyebrows. Leicester's haughty and suspicious soul at once caughtfire. He darted towards the old man from the farther end of the loftyapartment, only standing still when his extended hand was within a footof the astrologer's body. 

"Wretch!" he said, "if you dare to palter with me, I will have your skinstripped from your living flesh! Confess thou hast been hired to deceiveand to betray me--that thou art a cheat, and I thy silly prey andbooty!"

The old man exhibited some symptoms of emotion, but not more than thefurious deportment of his patron might have extorted from innocenceitself. 

"What means this violence, my lord?" he answered, "or in what can I havedeserved it at your hand?"

"Give me proof, " said the Earl vehemently, "that you have not tamperedwith mine enemies. "

"My lord, " replied the old man, with dignity, "you can have no betterproof than that which you yourself elected. In that turret I have spentthe last twenty-four hours under the key which has been in your owncustody. The hours of darkness I have spent in gazing on the heavenlybodies with these dim eyes, and during those of light I have toiled thisaged brain to complete the calculation arising from their combinations. Earthly food I have not tasted--earthly voice I have not heard. You areyourself aware I had no means of doing so; and yet I tell you--Iwho have been thus shut up in solitude and study--that within thesetwenty-four hours your star has become predominant in the horizon, andeither the bright book of heaven speaks false, or there must have beena proportionate revolution in your fortunes upon earth. If nothing hashappened within that space to secure your power, or advance your favour, then am I indeed a cheat, and the divine art, which was first devised inthe plains of Chaldea, is a foul imposture. "

"It is true, " said Leicester, after a moment's reflection, "thou wertclosely immured; and it is also true that the change has taken place inmy situation which thou sayest the horoscope indicates. "

"Wherefore this distrust then, my son?" said the astrologer, assuming atone of admonition; "the celestial intelligences brook not diffidence, even in their favourites. "

"Peace, father, " answered Leicester, "I have erred in doubting thee. Not to mortal man, nor to celestial intelligence--under that which issupreme--will Dudley's lips say more in condescension or apology. Speakrather to the present purpose. Amid these bright promises thou hast saidthere was a threatening aspect. Can thy skill tell whence, or by whosemeans, such danger seems to impend?"

"Thus far only, " answered the astrologer, "does my art enable me toanswer your query. The infortune is threatened by the malignant andadverse aspect, through means of a youth, and, as I think, a rival; butwhether in love or in prince's favour, I know not nor can I give furtherindication respecting him, save that he comes from the western quarter. "

"The western--ha!" replied Leicester, "it is enough--the tempestdoes indeed brew in that quarter! Cornwall and Devon--Raleigh andTressilian--one of them is indicated-I must beware of both. Father, if Ihave done thy skill injustice, I will make thee a lordly recompense. "

He took a purse of gold from the strong casket which stood before him. "Have thou double the recompense which Varney promised. Be faithful--besecret--obey the directions thou shalt receive from my master of thehorse, and grudge not a little seclusion or restraint in my cause--itshall be richly considered. --Here, Varney--conduct this venerable manto thine own lodging; tend him heedfully in all things, but see that heholds communication with no one. "

Varney bowed, and the astrologer kissed the Earl's hand in token ofadieu, and followed the master of the horse to another apartment, inwhich were placed wine and refreshments for his use. 

The astrologer sat down to his repast, while Varney shut two doors withgreat precaution, examined the tapestry, lest any listener lurked behindit, and then sitting down opposite to the sage, began to question him. 

"Saw you my signal from the court beneath?"

"I did, " said Alasco, for by such name he was at present called, "andshaped the horoscope accordingly. "

"And it passed upon the patron without challenge?" continued Varney. 

"Not without challenge, " replied the old man, "but it did pass; and Iadded, as before agreed, danger from a discovered secret, and a westernyouth. "

"My lord's fear will stand sponsor to the one, and his conscience to theother, of these prognostications, " replied Varney. "Sure never man choseto run such a race as his, yet continued to retain those silly scruples!I am fain to cheat him to his own profit. But touching your matters, sage interpreter of the stars, I can tell you more of your own fortunethan plan or figure can show. You must be gone from hence forthwith. "

"I will not, " said Alasco peevishly. "I have been too much hurriedup and down of late--immured for day and night in a desolateturret-chamber. I must enjoy my liberty, and pursue my studies, whichare of more import than the fate of fifty statesmen and favourites thatrise and burst like bubbles in the atmosphere of a court. "

"At your pleasure, " said Varney, with a sneer that habit had renderedfamiliar to his features, and which forms the principal characteristicwhich painters have assigned to that of Satan--"at your pleasure, " hesaid; "you may enjoy your liberty and your studies until the daggersof Sussex's followers are clashing within your doublet and against yourribs. " The old man turned pale, and Varney proceeded. "Wot you not hehath offered a reward for the arch-quack and poison-vender, Demetrius, who sold certain precious spices to his lordship's cook? What! turn youpale, old friend? Does Hali already see an infortune in the House ofLife? Why, hark thee, we will have thee down to an old house of minein the country, where thou shalt live with a hobnailed slave, whom thyalchemy may convert into ducats, for to such conversion alone is thy artserviceable. "

"It is false, thou foul-mouthed railer, " said Alasco, shaking withimpotent anger; "it is well known that I have approached more nearlyto projection than any hermetic artist who now lives. There are not sixchemists in the world who possess so near an approximation to the grandarcanum--"

"Come, come, " said Varney, interrupting him, "what means this, in thename of Heaven? Do we not know one another? I believe thee to be soperfect--so very perfect--in the mystery of cheating, that, havingimposed upon all mankind, thou hast at length in some measure imposedupon thyself, and without ceasing to dupe others, hast become a speciesof dupe to thine own imagination. Blush not for it, man--thou artlearned, and shalt have classical comfort:

'Ne quisquam Ajacem possit superare nisi Ajax. '

No one but thyself could have gulled thee; and thou hast gulled thewhole brotherhood of the Rosy Cross besides--none so deep in the mysteryas thou. But hark thee in thine ear: had the seasoning which spicedSussex's broth wrought more surely, I would have thought better of thechemical science thou dost boast so highly. "

"Thou art an hardened villain, Varney, " replied Alasco; "many will dothose things who dare not speak of them. "

"And many speak of them who dare not do them, " answered Varney. "But benot wroth--I will not quarrel with thee. If I did, I were fain to liveon eggs for a month, that I might feed without fear. Tell me at once, how came thine art to fail thee at this great emergency?"

"The Earl of Sussex's horoscope intimates, " replied the astrologer, "that the sign of the ascendant being in combustion--"

"Away with your gibberish, " replied Varney; "thinkest thou it is thepatron thou speakest with?"

"I crave your pardon, " replied the old man, "and swear to you I know butone medicine that could have saved the Earl's life; and as no manliving in England knows that antidote save myself--moreover, as theingredients, one of them in particular, are scarce possible to be comeby, I must needs suppose his escape was owing to such a constitution oflungs and vital parts as was never before bound up in a body of clay. "

"There was some talk of a quack who waited on him, " said Varney, aftera moment's reflection. "Are you sure there is no one in England who hasthis secret of thine?"

"One man there was, " said the doctor, "once my servant, who might havestolen this of me, with one or two other secrets of art. But contentyou, Master Varney, it is no part of my policy to suffer suchinterlopers to interfere in my trade. He pries into no mysteries more, I warrant you, for, as I well believe, he hath been wafted to heaven onthe wing of a fiery dragon--peace be with him! But in this retreat ofmine shall I have the use of mine elaboratory?"

"Of a whole workshop, man, " said Varney; "for a reverend father abbot, who was fain to give place to bluff King Hal and some of his courtiers, a score of years since, had a chemist's complete apparatus, which he wasobliged to leave behind him to his successors. Thou shalt there occupy, and melt, and puff, and blaze, and multiply, until the Green Dragonbecome a golden goose, or whatever the newer phrase of the brotherhoodmay testify. "

"Thou art right, Master Varney, " said the alchemist setting his teethclose and grinding them together--"thou art right even in thy verycontempt of right and reason. For what thou sayest in mockery may insober verity chance to happen ere we meet again. If the most venerablesages of ancient days have spoken the truth--if the most learned ofour own have rightly received it; if I have been accepted wherever Itravelled in Germany, in Poland, in Italy, and in the farther Tartary, as one to whom nature has unveiled her darkest secrets; if I haveacquired the most secret signs and passwords of the Jewish Cabala, sothat the greyest beard in the synagogue would brush the steps to makethem clean for me;--if all this is so, and if there remains but onestep--one little step--betwixt my long, deep, and dark, and subterraneanprogress, and that blaze of light which shall show Nature watching herrichest and her most glorious productions in the very cradle--onestep betwixt dependence and the power of sovereignty--one step betwixtpoverty and such a sum of wealth as earth, without that noble secret, cannot minister from all her mines in the old or the new-found world; ifthis be all so, is it not reasonable that to this I dedicate my futurelife, secure, for a brief period of studious patience, to rise above themean dependence upon favourites, and THEIR favourites, by which I am nowenthralled!"

"Now, bravo! bravo! my good father, " said Varney, with the usualsardonic expression of ridicule on his countenance; "yet all thisapproximation to the philosopher's stone wringeth not one single crownout of my Lord Leicester's pouch, and far less out of Richard Varney's. WE must have earthly and substantial services, man, and care not whomelse thou canst delude with thy philosophical charlatanry. "

"My son Varney, " said the alchemist, "the unbelief, gathered around theelike a frost-fog, hath dimmed thine acute perception to that which is astumbling-block to the wise, and which yet, to him who seeketh knowledgewith humility, extends a lesson so clear that he who runs may read. Hath not Art, thinkest thou, the means of completing Nature's imperfectconcoctions in her attempts to form the precious metals, even as byart we can perfect those other operations of incubation, distillation, fermentation, and similar processes of an ordinary description, bywhich we extract life itself out of a senseless egg, summon purity andvitality out of muddy dregs, or call into vivacity the inert substanceof a sluggish liquid?"

"I have heard all this before, " said Varney, "and my heart is proofagainst such cant ever since I sent twenty good gold pieces (marry, it was in the nonage of my wit) to advance the grand magisterium, allwhich, God help the while, vanished IN FUMO. Since that moment, when Ipaid for my freedom, I defy chemistry, astrology, palmistry, and everyother occult art, were it as secret as hell itself, to unloose thestricture of my purse-strings. Marry, I neither defy the manna of SaintNicholas, nor can I dispense with it. The first task must be to preparesome when thou gett'st down to my little sequestered retreat yonder, andthen make as much gold as thou wilt. "

"I will make no more of that dose, " said the alchemist, resolutely. 

"Then, " said the master of the horse, "thou shalt be hanged for whatthou hast made already, and so were the great secret for ever lost tomankind. Do not humanity this injustice, good father, but e'en bendto thy destiny, and make us an ounce or two of this same stuff; whichcannot prejudice above one or two individuals, in order to gain lifetimeto discover the universal medicine, which shall clear away all mortaldiseases at once. But cheer up, thou grave, learned, and most melancholyjackanape! Hast thou not told me that a moderate portion of thy drughath mild effects, no ways ultimately dangerous to the human frame, butwhich produces depression of spirits, nausea, headache, an unwillingnessto change of place--even such a state of temper as would keep a birdfrom flying out of a cage were the door left open?"

"I have said so, and it is true, " said the alchemist. "This effect willit produce, and the bird who partakes of it in such proportion shall sitfor a season drooping on her perch, without thinking either of the freeblue sky, or of the fair greenwood, though the one be lighted by therays of the rising sun, and the other ringing with the newly-awakenedsong of all the feathered inhabitants of the forest. "

"And this without danger to life?" said Varney, somewhat anxiously. 

"Ay, so that proportion and measure be not exceeded; and so that one whoknows the nature of the manna be ever near to watch the symptoms, andsuccour in case of need. "

"Thou shalt regulate the whole, " said Varney. "Thy reward shall beprincely, if thou keepest time and touch, and exceedest not the dueproportion, to the prejudice of her health; otherwise thy punishmentshall be as signal. "

"The prejudice of HER health!" repeated Alasco; "it is, then, a woman Iam to use my skill upon?"

"No, thou fool, " replied Varney, "said I not it was a bird--a reclaimedlinnet, whose pipe might soothe a hawk when in mid stoop? I see thineeye sparkle, and I know thy beard is not altogether so white as art hasmade it--THAT, at least, thou hast been able to transmute to silver. Butmark me, this is no mate for thee. This caged bird is dear to one whobrooks no rivalry, and far less such rivalry as thine, and her healthmust over all things be cared for. But she is in the case ofbeing commanded down to yonder Kenilworth revels, and it is mostexpedient--most needful--most necessary that she fly not thither. Ofthese necessities and their causes, it is not needful that she shouldknow aught; and it is to be thought that her own wish may lead herto combat all ordinary reasons which can be urged for her remaining ahousekeeper. "

"That is but natural, " said the alchemist with a strange smile, which yet bore a greater reference to the human character than theuninterested and abstracted gaze which his physiognomy had hithertoexpressed, where all seemed to refer to some world distant from thatwhich was existing around him. 

"It is so, " answered Varney; "you understand women well, though it mayhave been long since you were conversant amongst them. Well, then, sheis not to be contradicted; yet she is not to be humoured. Understandme--a slight illness, sufficient to take away the desire of removingfrom thence, and to make such of your wise fraternity as may be calledin to aid, recommend a quiet residence at home, will, in one word, beesteemed good service, and remunerated as such. "

"I am not to be asked to affect the House of Life?" said the chemist. 

"On the contrary, we will have thee hanged if thou dost, " repliedVarney. 

"And I must, " added Alasco, "have opportunity to do my turn, and allfacilities for concealment or escape, should there be detection?"

"All, all, and everything, thou infidel in all but the impossibilitiesof alchemy. Why, man, for what dost thou take me?"

The old man rose, and taking a light walked towards the end of theapartment, where was a door that led to the small sleeping-room destinedfor his reception during the night. At the door he turned round, andslowly repeated Varney's question ere he answered it. "For what doI take thee, Richard Varney? Why, for a worse devil than I have beenmyself. But I am in your toils, and I must serve you till my term beout. "

"Well, well, " answered Varney hastily, "be stirring with grey light. It may be we shall not need thy medicine--do nought till I myselfcome down. Michael Lambourne shall guide you to the place of yourdestination. " [See Note 7. Dr. Julio. ]

When Varney heard the adept's door shut and carefully bolted within, hestepped towards it, and with similar precaution carefully locked iton the outside, and took the key from the lock, muttering to himself, "Worse than THEE, thou poisoning quacksalver and witch-monger, who, if thou art not a bounden slave to the devil, it is only because hedisdains such an apprentice! I am a mortal man, and seek by mortal meansthe gratification of my passions and advancement of my prospects; thouart a vassal of hell itself--So ho, Lambourne!" he called at anotherdoor, and Michael made his appearance with a flushed cheek and anunsteady step. 

"Thou art drunk, thou villain!" said Varney to him. 

"Doubtless, noble sir, " replied the unabashed Michael; "We have beendrinking all even to the glories of the day, and to my noble Lord ofLeicester and his valiant master of the horse. Drunk! odds blades andponiards, he that would refuse to swallow a dozen healths on such anevening is a base besognio, and a puckfoist, and shall swallow sixinches of my dagger!"

"Hark ye, scoundrel, " said Varney, "be sober on the instant--I commandthee. I know thou canst throw off thy drunken folly, like a fool's coat, at pleasure; and if not, it were the worse for thee. "

Lambourne drooped his head, left the apartment, and returned in two orthree minutes with his face composed, his hair adjusted, his dress inorder, and exhibiting as great a difference from his former self as ifthe whole man had been changed. 

"Art thou sober now, and dost thou comprehend me?" said Varney sternly. 

Lambourne bowed in acquiescence. 

"Thou must presently down to Cumnor Place with the reverend man of artwho sleeps yonder in the little vaulted chamber. Here is the key, thatthou mayest call him by times. Take another trusty fellow with you. Usehim well on the journey, but let him not escape you--pistol him if heattempt it, and I will be your warrant. I will give thee letters toFoster. The doctor is to occupy the lower apartments of the easternquadrangle, with freedom to use the old elaboratory and its implements. He is to have no access to the lady, but such as I shall point out--onlyshe may be amused to see his philosophical jugglery. Thou wilt awaitat Cumnor Place my further orders; and, as thou livest, beware of theale-bench and the aqua vitae flask. Each breath drawn in Cumnor Placemust be kept severed from common air. "

"Enough, my lord--I mean my worshipful master, soon, I trust, to be myworshipful knightly master. You have given me my lesson and my license;I will execute the one, and not abuse the other. I will be in the saddleby daybreak. "

"Do so, and deserve favour. Stay--ere thou goest fill me a cup ofwine--not out of that flask, sirrah, " as Lambourne was pouring out fromthat which Alasco had left half finished, "fetch me a fresh one. "

Lambourne obeyed, and Varney, after rinsing his mouth with the liquor, drank a full cup, and said, as he took up a lamp to retreat to hissleeping apartment, "It is strange--I am as little the slave of fancyas any one, yet I never speak for a few minutes with this fellow Alasco, but my mouth and lungs feel as if soiled with the fumes of calcinedarsenic--pah!"

So saying, he left the apartment. Lambourne lingered, to drink a cup ofthe freshly-opened flask. "It is from Saint John's-Berg, " he said, as hepaused on the draught to enjoy its flavour, "and has the true relish ofthe violet. But I must forbear it now, that I may one day drink it at myown pleasure. " And he quaffed a goblet of water to quench the fumes ofthe Rhenish wine, retired slowly towards the door, made a pause, andthen, finding the temptation irresistible, walked hastily back, and tookanother long pull at the wine flask, without the formality of a cup. 

"Were it not for this accursed custom, " he said, "I might climb as highas Varney himself. But who can climb when the room turns round withhim like a parish-top? I would the distance were greater, or the roadrougher, betwixt my hand and mouth! But I will drink nothing to-morrowsave water--nothing save fair water. "

CHAPTER XIX. 

 PISTOL. And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys, And happy news of price. FALSTAFF. I prithee now deliver them like to men of this world. PISTOL. A foutra for the world, and worldlings base! I speak of Africa, and golden joys. --HENRY IV. PART II. 

The public room of the Black Bear at Cumnor, to which the scene ofour story now returns, boasted, on the evening which we treat of, no ordinary assemblage of guests. There had been a fair in theneighbourhood, and the cutting mercer of Abingdon, with some of theother personages whom the reader has already been made acquainted with, as friends and customers of Giles Gosling, had already formed theirwonted circle around the evening fire, and were talking over the news ofthe day. 

A lively, bustling, arch fellow, whose pack, and oaken ellwand studdedduly with brass points, denoted him to be of Autolycus's profession, occupied a good deal of the attention, and furnished much of theamusement, of the evening. The pedlars of those days, it must beremembered, were men of far greater importance than the degenerateand degraded hawkers of our modern times. It was by means of theseperipatetic venders that the country trade, in the finer manufacturesused in female dress particularly, was almost entirely carried on; andif a merchant of this description arrived at the dignity of travellingwith a pack-horse, he was a person of no small consequence, and companyfor the most substantial yeoman or franklin whom he might meet in hiswanderings. 

The pedlar of whom we speak bore, accordingly, an active and unrebukedshare in the merriment to which the rafters of the bonny Black Bearof Cumnor resounded. He had his smile with pretty Mistress Cicely, hisbroad laugh with mine host, and his jest upon dashing Master Goldthred, who, though indeed without any such benevolent intention on his ownpart, was the general butt of the evening. The pedlar and he wereclosely engaged in a dispute upon the preference due to the Spanishnether-stock over the black Gascoigne hose, and mine host had justwinked to the guests around him, as who should say, "You will have mirthpresently, my masters, " when the trampling of horses was heard in thecourtyard, and the hostler was loudly summoned, with a few of the newestoaths then in vogue to add force to the invocation. Out tumbled WillHostler, John Tapster, and all the militia of the inn, who had slunkfrom their posts in order to collect some scattered crumbs of the mirthwhich was flying about among the customers. Out into the yard salliedmine host himself also, to do fitting salutation to his new guests; andpresently returned, ushering into the apartment his own worthy nephew, Michael Lambourne, pretty tolerably drunk, and having under his escortthe astrologer. Alasco, though still a little old man, had, by alteringhis gown to a riding-dress, trimming his beard and eyebrows, and soforth, struck at least a score of years from his apparent age, andmight now seem an active man of sixty, or little upwards. He appeared atpresent exceedingly anxious, and had insisted much with Lambourne thatthey should not enter the inn, but go straight forward to the place oftheir destination. But Lambourne would not be controlled. "By Cancer andCapricorn, " he vociferated, "and the whole heavenly host, besides allthe stars that these blessed eyes of mine have seen sparkle in thesouthern heavens, to which these northern blinkers are but farthingcandles, I will be unkindly for no one's humour--I will stay and salutemy worthy uncle here. Chesu! that good blood should ever be forgottenbetwixt friends!--A gallon of your best, uncle, and let it go round tothe health of the noble Earl of Leicester! What! shall we not colloguetogether, and warm the cockles of our ancient kindness?--shall we notcollogue, I say?"

"With all my heart, kinsman, " said mine host, who obviously wished to berid of him; "but are you to stand shot to all this good liquor?"

This is a question has quelled many a jovial toper, but it moved notthe purpose of Lambourne's soul, "Question my means, nuncle?" he said, producing a handful of mixed gold and silver pieces; "question Mexicoand Peru--question the Queen's exchequer--God save her Majesty!--she ismy good Lord's good mistress. "

"Well, kinsman, " said mine host, "it is my business to sell wine tothose who can buy it--so, Jack Tapster, do me thine office. But I wouldI knew how to come by money as lightly as thou dost, Mike. "

"Why, uncle, " said Lambourne, "I will tell thee a secret. Dost see thislittle old fellow here? as old and withered a chip as ever the devil putinto his porridge--and yet, uncle, between you and me--he hath Potosiin that brain of his--'sblood! he can coin ducats faster than I can ventoaths. "

"I will have none of his coinage in my purse, though, Michael, " saidmine host; "I know what belongs to falsifying the Queen's coin. "

"Thou art an ass, uncle, for as old as thou art. --Pull me not by theskirts, doctor, thou art an ass thyself to boot--so, being both asses, Itell ye I spoke but metaphorically. "

"Are you mad?" said the old man; "is the devil in you? Can you not letus begone without drawing all men's eyes on us?"

"Sayest thou?" said Lambourne. "Thou art deceived now--no man shall seeyou, an I give the word. --By heavens, masters, an any one dare to lookon this old gentleman, I will slash the eyes out of his head withmy poniard!--So sit down, old friend, and be merry; these are mineingles--mine ancient inmates, and will betray no man. "

"Had you not better withdraw to a private apartment, nephew?" saidGiles Gosling. "You speak strange matter, " he added, "and there beintelligencers everywhere. "

"I care not for them, " said the magnanimous Michael--"intelligencers?pshaw! I serve the noble Earl of Leicester. --Here comes the wine. --Fillround, Master Skinker, a carouse to the health of the flower of England, the noble Earl of Leicester! I say, the noble Earl of Leicester! He thatdoes me not reason is a swine of Sussex, and I'll make him kneel to thepledge, if I should cut his hams and smoke them for bacon. "

None disputed a pledge given under such formidable penalties; andMichael Lambourne, whose drunken humour was not of course diminishedby this new potation, went on in the same wild way, renewing hisacquaintance with such of the guests as he had formerly known, andexperiencing a reception in which there was now something of deferencemingled with a good deal of fear; for the least servitor of thefavourite Earl, especially such a man as Lambourne, was, for verysufficient reasons, an object both of the one and of the other. 

In the meanwhile, the old man, seeing his guide in this uncontrollablehumour, ceased to remonstrate with him, and sitting down in the mostobscure corner of the room, called for a small measure of sack, overwhich he seemed, as it were, to slumber, withdrawing himself as much aspossible from general observation, and doing nothing which could recallhis existence to the recollection of his fellow-traveller, who by thistime had got into close intimacy with his ancient comrade, Goldthred ofAbingdon. 

"Never believe me, bully Mike, " said the mercer, "if I am not as glad tosee thee as ever I was to see a customer's money! Why, thou canst givea friend a sly place at a mask or a revel now, Mike; ay, or, I warrantthee, thou canst say in my lord's ear, when my honourable lord is downin these parts, and wants a Spanish ruff or the like--thou canst say inhis ear, There is mine old friend, young Lawrence Goldthred of Abingdon, has as good wares, lawn, tiffany, cambric, and so forth--ay, and is aspretty a piece of man's flesh, too, as is in Berkshire, and will ruffleit for your lordship with any man of his inches; and thou mayest say--"

"I can say a hundred d--d lies besides, mercer, " answered Lambourne;"what, one must not stand upon a good word for a friend!"

"Here is to thee, Mike, with all my heart, " said the mercer; "and thoucanst tell one the reality of the new fashions too. Here was a roguepedlar but now was crying up the old-fashioned Spanish nether-stock overthe Gascoigne hose, although thou seest how well the French hose setoff the leg and knee, being adorned with parti-coloured garters andgarniture in conformity. "

"Excellent, excellent, " replied Lambourne; "why, thy limber bit of athigh, thrust through that bunch of slashed buckram and tiffany, showslike a housewife's distaff when the flax is half spun off!"

"Said I not so?" said the mercer, whose shallow brain was now overflowedin his turn; "where, then, where be this rascal pedlar?--there was apedlar here but now, methinks. --Mine host, where the foul fiend is thispedlar?"

"Where wise men should be, Master Goldthred, " replied Giles Gosling;"even shut up in his private chamber, telling over the sales of to-day, and preparing for the custom of to-morrow. "

"Hang him, a mechanical chuff!" said the mercer; "but for shame, itwere a good deed to ease him of his wares--a set of peddling knaves, whostroll through the land, and hurt the established trader. There are goodfellows in Berkshire yet, mine host--your pedlar may be met withal onMaiden Castle. "

"Ay, " replied mine host, laughing, "and he who meets him may meet hismatch--the pedlar is a tall man. "

"Is he?" said Goldthred. 

"Is he?" replied the host; "ay, by cock and pie is he--the very pedlarhe who raddled Robin Hood so tightly, as the song says, --

 'Now Robin Hood drew his sword so good, The pedlar drew his brand, And he hath raddled him, Robin Hood, Till he neither could see nor stand. '"

"Hang him, foul scroyle, let him pass, " said the mercer; "if he be sucha one, there were small worship to be won upon him. --And now tell me, Mike--my honest Mike, how wears the Hollands you won of me?"

"Why, well, as you may see, Master Goldthred, " answered Mike; "I willbestow a pot on thee for the handsel. --Fill the flagon, Master Tapster. "

"Thou wilt win no more Hollands, think, on such wager, friend Mike, "said the mercer; "for the sulky swain, Tony Foster, rails at thee all tonought, and swears you shall ne'er darken his doors again, for that youroaths are enough to blow the roof off a Christian man's dwelling. "

"Doth he say so, the mincing, hypocritical miser?" vociferatedLambourne. "Why, then, he shall come down and receive my commands here, this blessed night, under my uncle's roof! And I will ring him such ablack sanctus, that he shall think the devil hath him by the skirts fora month to come, for barely hearing me. "

"Nay, now the pottle-pot is uppermost, with a witness!" said the mercer. "Tony Foster obey thy whistle! Alas! good Mike, go sleep--go sleep. "

"I tell thee what, thou thin-faced gull, " said Michael Lambourne, inhigh chafe, "I will wager thee fifty angels against the first fiveshelves of thy shop, numbering upward from the false light, with allthat is on them, that I make Tony Foster come down to this public-housebefore we have finished three rounds. "

"I will lay no bet to that amount, " said the mercer, somethingsobered by an offer which intimated rather too private a knowledge onLambourne's part of the secret recesses of his shop. "I will lay no suchwager, " he said; "but I will stake five angels against thy five, if thouwilt, that Tony Foster will not leave his own roof, or come to ale-houseafter prayer time, for thee, or any man. "

"Content, " said Lambourne. --"Here, uncle, hold stakes, and let oneof your young bleed-barrels there--one of your infant tapsters--trippresently up to The Place, and give this letter to Master Foster, andsay that I, his ingle, Michael Lambourne, pray to speak with him at mineuncle's castle here, upon business of grave import. --Away with thee, child, for it is now sundown, and the wretch goeth to bed with the birdsto save mutton-suet--faugh!"

Shortly after this messenger was dispatched--an interval which was spentin drinking and buffoonery--he returned with the answer that MasterFoster was coming presently. 

"Won, won!" said Lambourne, darting on the stakes. 

"Not till he comes, if you please, " said the mercer, interfering. 

"Why, 'sblood, he is at the threshold, " replied Michael. --"What said he, boy?"

"If it please your worship, " answered the messenger, "he looked out ofwindow, with a musquetoon in his hand, and when I delivered your errand, which I did with fear and trembling, he said, with a vinegar aspect, that your worship might be gone to the infernal regions. "

"Or to hell, I suppose, " said Lambourne--"it is there he disposes of allthat are not of the congregation. "

"Even so, " said the boy; "I used the other phrase as being the morepoetical. "

"An ingenious youth, " said Michael; "shalt have a drop to whet thypoetical whistle. And what said Foster next?"

"He called me back, " answered the boy, "and bid me say you might come tohim if you had aught to say to him. "

"And what next?" said Lambourne. 

"He read the letter, and seemed in a fluster, and asked if your worshipwas in drink; and I said you were speaking a little Spanish, as one whohad been in the Canaries. "

"Out, you diminutive pint-pot, whelped of an overgrown reckoning!"replied Lambourne--"out! But what said he then?"

"Why, " said the boy, "he muttered that if he came not your worship wouldbolt out what were better kept in; and so he took his old flat cap, and threadbare blue cloak, and, as I said before, he will be hereincontinent. "

"There is truth in what he said, " replied Lambourne, as if speaking tohimself--"my brain has played me its old dog's trick. But corragio--lethim approach!--I have not rolled about in the world for many a day tofear Tony Foster, be I drunk or sober. --Bring me a flagon of cold waterto christen my sack withal. "

While Lambourne, whom the approach of Foster seemed to have recalled toa sense of his own condition, was busied in preparing to receive him, Giles Gosling stole up to the apartment of the pedlar, whom he foundtraversing the room in much agitation. 

"You withdrew yourself suddenly from the company, " said the landlord tothe guest. 

"It was time, when the devil became one among you, " replied the pedlar. 

"It is not courteous in you to term my nephew by such a name, " saidGosling, "nor is it kindly in me to reply to it; and yet, in some sort, Mike may be considered as a limb of Satan. "

"Pooh--I talk not of the swaggering ruffian, " replied the pedlar; "it isof the other, who, for aught I know--But when go they? or wherefore comethey?"

"Marry, these are questions I cannot answer, " replied the host. "But look you, sir, you have brought me a token from worthy MasterTressilian--a pretty stone it is. " He took out the ring, and looked atit, adding, as he put it into his purse again, that it was too rich aguerdon for anything he could do for the worthy donor. He was, he said, in the public line, and it ill became him to be too inquisitive intoother folk's concerns. He had already said that he could hear nothingbut that the lady lived still at Cumnor Place in the closest seclusion, and, to such as by chance had a view of her, seemed pensive anddiscontented with her solitude. "But here, " he said, "if you aredesirous to gratify your master, is the rarest chance that hath occurredfor this many a day. Tony Foster is coming down hither, and it is butletting Mike Lambourne smell another wine-flask, and the Queen's commandwould not move him from the ale-bench. So they are fast for an hour orso. Now, if you will don your pack, which will be your best excuse, youmay, perchance, win the ear of the old servant, being assured of themaster's absence, to let you try to get some custom of the lady; andthen you may learn more of her condition than I or any other can tellyou. "

"True--very true, " answered Wayland, for he it was; "an excellentdevice, but methinks something dangerous--for, say Foster shouldreturn?"

"Very possible indeed, " replied the host. 

"Or say, " continued Wayland, "the lady should render me cold thanks formy exertions?"

"As is not unlikely, " replied Giles Gosling. "I marvel Master Tressilianwill take such heed of her that cares not for him. "

"In either case I were foully sped, " said Wayland, "and therefore I donot, on the whole, much relish your device. "

"Nay, but take me with you, good master serving-man, " replied mine host. "This is your master's business, and not mine, you best know the riskto be encountered, or how far you are willing to brave it. But thatwhich you will not yourself hazard, you cannot expect others to risk. "

"Hold, hold, " said Wayland; "tell me but one thing--goes yonder old manup to Cumnor?"

"Surely, I think so?" said the landlord; "their servant said he was totake their baggage thither. But the ale-tap has been as potent for himas the sack-spigot has been for Michael. "

"It is enough, " said Wayland, assuming an air of resolution. "I willthwart that old villain's projects; my affright at his baleful aspectbegins to abate, and my hatred to arise. Help me on with my pack, goodmine host. --And look to thyself, old Albumazar; there is a malignantinfluence in thy horoscope, and it gleams from the constellation UrsaMajor. "

So saying, he assumed his burden, and, guided by the landlord throughthe postern gate of the Black Bear, took the most private way fromthence up to Cumnor Place. 

CHAPTER XX. 

 CLOWN. You have of these pedlars, that have more in'em than you'd think, sister. --WINTER'S TALE, ACT IV. , SCENE 3. 

In his anxiety to obey the Earl's repeated charges of secrecy, as wellas from his own unsocial and miserly habits, Anthony Foster was moredesirous, by his mode of housekeeping, to escape observation than toresist intrusive curiosity. Thus, instead of a numerous household, tosecure his charge, and defend his house, he studied as much as possibleto elude notice by diminishing his attendants; so that, unless whenthere were followers of the Earl, or of Varney, in the mansion, oneold male domestic, and two aged crones, who assisted in keeping theCountess's apartments in order, were the only servants of the family. 

It was one of these old women who opened the door when Wayland knocked, and answered his petition, to be admitted to exhibit his wares to theladies of the family, with a volley of vituperation, couched in what isthere called the JOWRING dialect. The pedlar found the means ofchecking this vociferation by slipping a silver groat into her hand, andintimating the present of some stuff for a coif, if the lady would buyof his wares. 

"God ield thee, for mine is aw in littocks. Slocket with thy pack intogharn, mon--her walks in gharn. " Into the garden she ushered the pedlaraccordingly, and pointing to an old, ruinous garden house, said, "Yonderbe's her, mon--yonder be's her. Zhe will buy changes an zhe loikesstuffs. "

"She has left me to come off as I may, " thought Wayland, as he heard thehag shut the garden-door behind him. "But they shall not beat me, and they dare not murder me, for so little trespass, and by this fairtwilight. Hang it, I will on--a brave general never thought of hisretreat till he was defeated. I see two females in the old garden-houseyonder--but how to address them? Stay--Will Shakespeare, be my friend inneed. I will give them a taste of Autolycus. " He then sung, with a goodvoice, and becoming audacity, the popular playhouse ditty, --

 "Lawn as white as driven snow, Cyprus black as e'er was crow, Gloves as sweet as damask roses, Masks for faces and for noses. "

"What hath fortune sent us here for an unwonted sight, Janet?" said thelady. 

"One of those merchants of vanity, called pedlars, " answered Janet, demurely, "who utters his light wares in lighter measures. I marvel oldDorcas let him pass. "

"It is a lucky chance, girl, " said the Countess; "we lead a heavy lifehere, and this may while off a weary hour. "

"Ay, my gracious lady, " said Janet; "but my father?"

"He is not my father, Janet, nor I hope my master, " answered the lady. "I say, call the man hither--I want some things. "

"Nay, " replied Janet, "your ladyship has but to say so in the nextpacket, and if England can furnish them they will be sent. There willcome mischief on't--pray, dearest lady, let me bid the man begone!"

"I will have thee bid him come hither, " said the Countess;--"or stay, thou terrified fool, I will bid him myself, and spare thee a chiding. "

"Ah! well-a-day, dearest lady, if that were the worst, " said Janetsadly; while the lady called to the pedlar, "Good fellow, stepforward--undo thy pack; if thou hast good wares, chance has sent theehither for my convenience and thy profit. "

"What may your ladyship please to lack?" said Wayland, unstrapping hispack, and displaying its contents with as much dexterity as if he hadbeen bred to the trade. Indeed he had occasionally pursued it in thecourse of his roving life, and now commended his wares with all thevolubility of a trader, and showed some skill in the main art of placingprices upon them. 

"What do I please to lack?" said the lady, "why, considering I have notfor six long months bought one yard of lawn or cambric, or one trinket, the most inconsiderable, for my own use, and at my own choice, thebetter question is, What hast thou got to sell? Lay aside for me thatcambric partlet and pair of sleeves--and those roundells of gold fringe, drawn out with cyprus--and that short cloak of cherry-coloured finecloth, garnished with gold buttons and loops;--is it not of an absolutefancy, Janet?"

"Nay, my lady, " replied Janet, "if you consult my poor judgment, it is, methinks, over-gaudy for a graceful habit. "

"Now, out upon thy judgment, if it be no brighter, wench, " said theCountess. "Thou shalt wear it thyself for penance' sake; and I promisethee the gold buttons, being somewhat massive, will comfort thy father, and reconcile him to the cherry-coloured body. See that he snap them notaway, Janet, and send them to bear company with the imprisoned angelswhich he keeps captive in his strong-box. "

"May I pray your ladyship to spare my poor father?" said Janet. 

"Nay, but why should any one spare him that is so sparing of his ownnature?" replied the lady. --"Well, but to our gear. That head garniturefor myself, and that silver bodkin mounted with pearl; and take off twogowns of that russet cloth for Dorcas and Alison, Janet, to keep the oldwretches warm against winter comes. --And stay--hast thou no perfumes andsweet bags, or any handsome casting bottles of the newest mode?"

"Were I a pedlar in earnest, I were a made merchant, " thought Wayland, as he busied himself to answer the demands which she thronged one onanother, with the eagerness of a young lady who has been long secludedfrom such a pleasing occupation. "But how to bring her to a moment'sserious reflection?" Then as he exhibited his choicest collection ofessences and perfumes, he at once arrested her attention by observingthat these articles had almost risen to double value since themagnificent preparations made by the Earl of Leicester to entertain theQueen and court at his princely Castle of Kenilworth. 

"Ha!" said the Countess hastily; "that rumour, then, is true, Janet. "

"Surely, madam, " answered Wayland; "and I marvel it hath not reachedyour noble ladyship's ears. The Queen of England feasts with the nobleEarl for a week during the Summer's Progress; and there are many whowill tell you England will have a king, and England's Elizabeth--Godsave her!--a husband, ere the Progress be over. "

"They lie like villains!" said the Countess, bursting forth impatiently. 

"For God's sake, madam, consider, " said Janet, trembling withapprehension; "who would cumber themselves about pedlar's tidings?"

"Yes, Janet!" exclaimed the Countess; "right, thou hast corrected mejustly. Such reports, blighting the reputation of England's brightestand noblest peer, can only find currency amongst the mean, the abject, and the infamous!"

"May I perish, lady, " said Wayland Smith, observing that her violencedirected itself towards him, "if I have done anything to merit thisstrange passion! I have said but what many men say. "

By this time the Countess had recovered her composure, and endeavoured, alarmed by the anxious hints of Janet, to suppress all appearance ofdispleasure. "I were loath, " she said, "good fellow, that our Queenshould change the virgin style so dear to us her people--think not ofit. " And then, as if desirous to change the subject, she added, "Andwhat is this paste, so carefully put up in the silver box?" as sheexamined the contents of a casket in which drugs and perfumes werecontained in separate drawers. 

"It is a remedy, Madam, for a disorder of which I trust your ladyshipwill never have reason to complain. The amount of a small turkey-bean, swallowed daily for a week, fortifies the heart against those blackvapours which arise from solitude, melancholy, unrequited affection, disappointed hope--"

"Are you a fool, friend?" said the Countess sharply; "or do you think, because I have good-naturedly purchased your trumpery goods at yourroguish prices, that you may put any gullery you will on me? Who everheard that affections of the heart were cured by medicines given to thebody?"

"Under your honourable favour, " said Wayland, "I am an honest man, andI have sold my goods at an honest price. As to this most preciousmedicine, when I told its qualities, I asked you not to purchase it, sowhy should I lie to you? I say not it will cure a rooted affectionof the mind, which only God and time can do; but I say that thisrestorative relieves the black vapours which are engendered in the bodyof that melancholy which broodeth on the mind. I have relieved many withit, both in court and city, and of late one Master Edmund Tressilian, aworshipful gentleman in Cornwall, who, on some slight received, it wastold me, where he had set his affections, was brought into that state ofmelancholy which made his friends alarmed for his life. "

He paused, and the lady remained silent for some time, and then asked, with a voice which she strove in vain to render firm and indifferent inits tone, "Is the gentleman you have mentioned perfectly recovered?"

"Passably, madam, " answered Wayland; "he hath at least no bodilycomplaint. "

"I will take some of the medicine, Janet, " said the Countess. "I toohave sometimes that dark melancholy which overclouds the brain. "

"You shall not do so, madam, " said Janet; "who shall answer that thisfellow vends what is wholesome?"

"I will myself warrant my good faith, " said Wayland; and taking a partof the medicine, he swallowed it before them. The Countess now boughtwhat remained, a step to which Janet, by further objections, onlydetermined her the more obstinately. She even took the first dose uponthe instant, and professed to feel her heart lightened and her spiritsaugmented--a consequence which, in all probability, existed only inher own imagination. The lady then piled the purchases she had madetogether, flung her purse to Janet, and desired her to compute theamount, and to pay the pedlar; while she herself, as if tired of theamusement she at first found in conversing with him, wished him goodevening, and walked carelessly into the house, thus depriving Wayland ofevery opportunity to speak with her in private. He hastened, however, toattempt an explanation with Janet. 

"Maiden, " he said, "thou hast the face of one who should love hermistress. She hath much need of faithful service. "

"And well deserves it at my hands, " replied Janet; "but what of that?"

"Maiden, I am not altogether what I seem, " said the pedlar, lowering hisvoice. 

"The less like to be an honest man, " said Janet. 

"The more so, " answered Wayland, "since I am no pedlar. "

"Get thee gone then instantly, or I will call for assistance, " saidJanet; "my father must ere this be returned. "

"Do not be so rash, " said Wayland; "you will do what you may repent of. I am one of your mistress's friends; and she had need of more, not thatthou shouldst ruin those she hath. "

"How shall I know that?" said Janet. 

"Look me in the face, " said Wayland Smith, "and see if thou dost notread honesty in my looks. "

And in truth, though by no means handsome, there was in his physiognomythe sharp, keen expression of inventive genius and prompt intellect, which, joined to quick and brilliant eyes, a well-formed mouth, and anintelligent smile, often gives grace and interest to features which areboth homely and irregular. Janet looked at him with the sly simplicityof her sect, and replied, "Notwithstanding thy boasted honesty, friend, and although I am not accustomed to read and pass judgment on suchvolumes as thou hast submitted to my perusal, I think I see in thycountenance something of the pedlar-something of the picaroon. "

"On a small scale, perhaps, " said Wayland Smith, laughing. "But thisevening, or to-morrow, will an old man come hither with thy father, whohas the stealthy step of the cat, the shrewd and vindictive eye ofthe rat, the fawning wile of the spaniel, the determined snatch of themastiff--of him beware, for your own sake and that of your distress. See you, fair Janet, he brings the venom of the aspic under the assumedinnocence of the dove. What precise mischief he meditates towards you Icannot guess, but death and disease have ever dogged his footsteps. Saynought of this to thy mistress; my art suggests to me that in her statethe fear of evil may be as dangerous as its operation. But see thatshe take my specific, for" (he lowered his voice, and spoke low butimpressively in her ear) "it is an antidote against poison. --Hark, theyenter the garden!"

In effect, a sound of noisy mirth and loud talking approached the gardendoor, alarmed by which Wayland Smith sprung into the midst of a thicketof overgrown shrubs, while Janet withdrew to the garden-house thatshe might not incur observation, and that she might at the same timeconceal, at least for the present, the purchases made from the supposedpedlar, which lay scattered on the floor of the summer-house. 

Janet, however, had no occasion for anxiety. Her father, his oldattendant, Lord Leicester's domestic, and the astrologer, enteredthe garden in tumult and in extreme perplexity, endeavouring to quietLambourne, whose brain had now become completely fired with liquor, andwho was one of those unfortunate persons who, being once stirred withthe vinous stimulus, do not fall asleep like other drunkards, butremain partially influenced by it for many hours, until at length, bysuccessive draughts, they are elevated into a state of uncontrollablefrenzy. Like many men in this state also, Lambourne neither lost thepower of motion, speech, or expression; but, on the contrary, spoke withunwonted emphasis and readiness, and told all that at another time hewould have been most desirous to keep secret. 

"What!" ejaculated Michael, at the full extent of his voice, "am I tohave no welcome, no carouse, when I have brought fortune to your old, ruinous dog-house in the shape of a devil's ally, that can changeslate-shivers into Spanish dollars?--Here, you, Tony Fire-the-Fagot, Papist, Puritan, hypocrite, miser, profligate, devil, compounded of allmen's sins, bow down and reverence him who has brought into thy housethe very mammon thou worshippest. "

"For God's sake, " said Foster, "speak low--come into the house--thoushalt have wine, or whatever thou wilt. "

"No, old puckfoist, I will have it here, " thundered the inebriatedruffian--"here, AL FRESCO, as the Italian hath it. No, no, I will notdrink with that poisoning devil within doors, to be choked with thefumes of arsenic and quick-silver; I learned from villain Varney tobeware of that. "

"Fetch him wine, in the name of all the fiends!" said the alchemist. 

"Aha! and thou wouldst spice it for me, old Truepenny, wouldst thou not?Ay, I should have copperas, and hellebore, and vitriol, and aqua fortis, and twenty devilish materials bubbling in my brain-pan like a charm toraise the devil in a witch's cauldron. Hand me the flask thyself, oldTony Fire-the-Fagot--and let it be cool--I will have no wine mulled atthe pile of the old burnt bishops. Or stay, let Leicester be king ifhe will--good--and Varney, villain Varney, grand vizier--why, excellent!--and what shall I be, then?--why, emperor--Emperor Lambourne!I will see this choice piece of beauty that they have walled up herefor their private pleasures; I will have her this very night to serve mywine-cup and put on my nightcap. What should a fellow do with twowives, were he twenty times an Earl? Answer me that, Tony boy, you oldreprobate, hypocritical dog, whom God struck out of the book of life, but tormented with the constant wish to be restored to it--you oldbishop-burning, blasphemous fanatic, answer me that. "

"I will stick my knife to the haft in him, " said Foster, in a low tone, which trembled with passion. 

"For the love of Heaven, no violence!" said the astrologer. "It cannotbut be looked closely into. --Here, honest Lambourne, wilt thou pledge meto the health of the noble Earl of Leicester and Master Richard Varney?"

"I will, mine old Albumazar--I will, my trusty vender of ratsbane. Iwould kiss thee, mine honest infractor of the Lex Julia (as they saidat Leyden), didst thou not flavour so damnably of sulphur, and suchfiendish apothecary's stuff. --Here goes it, up seyes--to Varney andLeicester two more noble mounting spirits--and more dark-seeking, deep-diving, high-flying, malicious, ambitious miscreants--well, I sayno more, but I will whet my dagger on his heart-spone that refuses topledge me! And so, my masters--"

Thus speaking, Lambourne exhausted the cup which the astrologer hadhanded to him, and which contained not wine, but distilled spirits. Heswore half an oath, dropped the empty cup from his grasp, laid his handon his sword without being able to draw it, reeled, and fell withoutsense or motion into the arms of the domestic, who dragged him off tohis chamber, and put him to bed. 

In the general confusion, Janet regained her lady's chamber unobserved, trembling like an aspen leaf, but determined to keep secret from theCountess the dreadful surmises which she could not help entertainingfrom the drunken ravings of Lambourne. Her fears, however, though theyassumed no certain shape, kept pace with the advice of the pedlar; andshe confirmed her mistress in her purpose of taking the medicine whichhe had recommended, from which it is probable she would otherwisehave dissuaded her. Neither had these intimations escaped the earsof Wayland, who knew much better how to interpret them. He felt muchcompassion at beholding so lovely a creature as the Countess, and whomhe had first seen in the bosom of domestic happiness, exposed to themachinations of such a gang of villains. His indignation, too, had beenhighly excited by hearing the voice of his old master, against whom hefelt, in equal degree, the passions of hatred and fear. He nourishedalso a pride in his own art and resources; and, dangerous as the taskwas, he that night formed a determination to attain the bottom of themystery, and to aid the distressed lady, if it were yet possible. Fromsome words which Lambourne had dropped among his ravings, Waylandnow, for the first time, felt inclined to doubt that Varney had actedentirely on his own account in wooing and winning the affections of thisbeautiful creature. Fame asserted of this zealous retainer that hehad accommodated his lord in former love intrigues; and it occurredto Wayland Smith that Leicester himself might be the party chieflyinterested. Her marriage with the Earl he could not suspect; but eventhe discovery of such a passing intrigue with a lady of Mistress AmyRobsart's rank was a secret of the deepest importance to the stabilityof the favourite's power over Elizabeth. "If Leicester himself shouldhesitate to stifle such a rumour by very strange means, " said he tohimself, "he has those about him who would do him that favour withoutwaiting for his consent. If I would meddle in this business, it mustbe in such guise as my old master uses when he compounds his manna ofSatan, and that is with a close mask on my face. So I will quit GilesGosling to-morrow, and change my course and place of residence as oftenas a hunted fox. I should like to see this little Puritan, too, oncemore. She looks both pretty and intelligent to have come of such acaitiff as Anthony Fire-the-Fagot. "

Giles Gosling received the adieus of Wayland rather joyfully thanotherwise. The honest publican saw so much peril in crossing the courseof the Earl of Leicester's favourite that his virtue was scarce able tosupport him in the task, and he was well pleased when it was likely tobe removed from his shoulders still, however, professing his good-will, and readiness, in case of need, to do Mr. Tressilian or his emissary anyservice, in so far as consisted with his character of a publican. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

 Vaulting ambition, that o'erleaps itself, And falls on t'other side. --MACBETH. 

The splendour of the approaching revels at Kenilworth was now theconversation through all England; and everything was collected at home, or from abroad, which could add to the gaiety or glory of the preparedreception of Elizabeth at the house of her most distinguished favourite, Meantime Leicester appeared daily to advance in the Queen's favour. Hewas perpetually by her side in council--willingly listened to in themoments of courtly recreation--favoured with approaches even to familiarintimacy--looked up to by all who had aught to hope at court--courted byforeign ministers with the most flattering testimonies of respectfrom their sovereigns, --the ALTER EGO, as it seemed, of the statelyElizabeth, who was now very generally supposed to be studying the timeand opportunity for associating him, by marriage, into her sovereignpower. 

Amid such a tide of prosperity, this minion of fortune and of theQueen's favour was probably the most unhappy man in the realm whichseemed at his devotion. He had the Fairy King's superiority over hisfriends and dependants, and saw much which they could not. The characterof his mistress was intimately known to him. It was his minute andstudied acquaintance with her humours, as well as her noble faculties, which, joined to his powerful mental qualities, and his eminent externalaccomplishments, had raised him so high in her favour; and it was thatvery knowledge of her disposition which led him to apprehend at everyturn some sudden and overwhelming disgrace. Leicester was like a pilotpossessed of a chart which points out to him all the peculiarities ofhis navigation, but which exhibits so many shoals, breakers, and reefsof rocks, that his anxious eye reaps little more from observing themthan to be convinced that his final escape can be little else thanmiraculous. 

In fact, Queen Elizabeth had a character strangely compounded of thestrongest masculine sense, with those foibles which are chiefly supposedproper to the female sex. Her subjects had the full benefit of hervirtues, which far predominated over her weaknesses; but her courtiers, and those about her person, had often to sustain sudden and embarrassingturns of caprice, and the sallies of a temper which was both jealous anddespotic. She was the nursing-mother of her people, but she was alsothe true daughter of Henry VIII. ; and though early sufferings and anexcellent education had repressed and modified, they had not altogetherdestroyed, the hereditary temper of that "hard-ruled king. " "Her mind, "says her witty godson, Sir John Harrington, who had experienced both thesmiles and the frowns which he describes, "was ofttime like the gentleair that cometh from the western point in a summer's morn--'twas sweetand refreshing to all around her. Her speech did win all affections. Andagain, she could put forth such alterations, when obedience was lacking, as left no doubting WHOSE daughter she was. When she smiled, it was apure sunshine, that every one did choose to bask in, if they could; butanon came a storm from a sudden gathering of clouds, and the thunderfell in a wondrous manner on all alike. " [Nugae Antiquae, vol. I. , pp. 355, 356-362. ]

This variability of disposition, as Leicester well knew, was chieflyformidable to those who had a share in the Queen's affections, andwho depended rather on her personal regard than on the indispensableservices which they could render to her councils and her crown. Thefavour of Burleigh or of Walsingham, of a description far less strikingthan that by which he was himself upheld, was founded, as Leicester waswell aware, on Elizabeth's solid judgment, not on her partiality, andwas, therefore, free from all those principles of change and decaynecessarily incident to that which chiefly arose from personalaccomplishments and female predilection. These great and sage statesmenwere judged of by the Queen only with reference to the measures theysuggested, and the reasons by which they supported their opinions incouncil; whereas the success of Leicester's course depended on all thoselight and changeable gales of caprice and humour which thwart or favourthe progress of a lover in the favour of his mistress, and she, too, amistress who was ever and anon becoming fearful lest she should forgetthe dignity, or compromise the authority, of the Queen, while sheindulged the affections of the woman. Of the difficulties whichsurrounded his power, "too great to keep or to resign, " Leicesterwas fully sensible; and as he looked anxiously round for the meansof maintaining himself in his precarious situation, and sometimescontemplated those of descending from it in safety, he saw but littlehope of either. At such moments his thoughts turned to dwell upon hissecret marriage and its consequences; and it was in bitterness againsthimself, if not against his unfortunate Countess, that he ascribedto that hasty measure, adopted in the ardour of what he now calledinconsiderate passion, at once the impossibility of placing his power ona solid basis, and the immediate prospect of its precipitate downfall. 

"Men say, " thus ran his thoughts, in these anxious and repentantmoments, "that I might marry Elizabeth, and become King of England. Allthings suggest this. The match is carolled in ballads, while the rabblethrow their caps up. It has been touched upon in the schools--whisperedin the presence-chamber--recommended from the pulpit--prayed for in theCalvinistic churches abroad--touched on by statists in the very councilat home. These bold insinuations have been rebutted by no rebuke, noresentment, no chiding, scarce even by the usual female protestationthat she would live and die a virgin princess. Her words have beenmore courteous than ever, though she knows such rumours are abroad--heractions more gracious, her looks more kind--nought seems wanting tomake me King of England, and place me beyond the storms of court-favour, excepting the putting forth of mine own hand to take that crown imperialwhich is the glory of the universe! And when I might stretch that handout most boldly, it is fettered down by a secret and inextricable bond!And here I have letters from Amy, " he would say, catching them up witha movement of peevishness, "persecuting me to acknowledge her openly--todo justice to her and to myself--and I wot not what. Methinks I havedone less than justice to myself already. And she speaks as if Elizabethwere to receive the knowledge of this matter with the glee of a motherhearing of the happy marriage of a hopeful son! She, the daughter ofHenry, who spared neither man in his anger nor woman in his desire--sheto find herself tricked, drawn on with toys of passion to the verge ofacknowledging her love to a subject, and he discovered to be a marriedman!--Elizabeth to learn that she had been dallied with in such fashion, as a gay courtier might trifle with a country wench--we should then see, to our ruin, FURENS QUID FAEMINA!"

He would then pause, and call for Varney, whose advice was now morefrequently resorted to than ever, because the Earl remembered theremonstrances which he had made against his secret contract. And theirconsultation usually terminated in anxious deliberation how, or in whatmanner, the Countess was to be produced at Kenilworth. These communingshad for some time ended always in a resolution to delay the Progressfrom day to day. But at length a peremptory decision became necessary. 

"Elizabeth will not be satisfied without her presence, " said the Earl. "Whether any suspicion hath entered her mind, as my own apprehensionssuggest, or whether the petition of Tressilian is kept in her memoryby Sussex or some other secret enemy, I know not; but amongst all thefavourable expressions which she uses to me, she often recurs to thestory of Amy Robsart. I think that Amy is the slave in the chariot, whois placed there by my evil fortune to dash and to confound my triumph, even when at the highest. Show me thy device, Varney, for solving theinextricable difficulty. I have thrown every such impediment in theway of these accursed revels as I could propound even with a shade ofdecency, but to-day's interview has put all to a hazard. She said tome kindly, but peremptorily, 'We will give you no further time forpreparations, my lord, lest you should altogether ruin yourself. OnSaturday, the 9th of July, we will be with you at Kenilworth. We prayyou to forget none of our appointed guests and suitors, and in especialthis light-o'-love, Amy Robsart. We would wish to see the woman whocould postpone yonder poetical gentleman, Master Tressilian, to yourman, Richard Varney. '--Now, Varney, ply thine invention, whose forgehath availed us so often for sure as my name is Dudley, the dangermenaced by my horoscope is now darkening around me. "

"Can my lady be by no means persuaded to bear for a brief space theobscure character which circumstances impose on her?" Said Varney aftersome hesitation. 

"How, sirrah? my Countess term herself thy wife!--that may neither standwith my honour nor with hers. "

"Alas! my lord, " answered Varney, "and yet such is the quality in whichElizabeth now holds her; and to contradict this opinion is to discoverall. "

"Think of something else, Varney, " said the Earl, in great agitation;"this invention is nought. If I could give way to it, she would not; forI tell thee, Varney, if thou knowest it not, that not Elizabeth on thethrone has more pride than the daughter of this obscure gentleman ofDevon. She is flexible in many things, but where she holds her honourbrought in question she hath a spirit and temper as apprehensive aslightning, and as swift in execution. "

"We have experienced that, my lord, else had we not been thuscircumstanced, " said Varney. "But what else to suggest I know not. Methinks she whose good fortune in becoming your lordship's bride, andwho gives rise to the danger, should do somewhat towards parrying it. "

"It is impossible, " said the Earl, waving his hand; "I know neitherauthority nor entreaties would make her endure thy name for an hour. 

"It is somewhat hard, though, " said Varney, in a dry tone; and, withoutpausing on that topic, he added, "Suppose some one were found torepresent her? Such feats have been performed in the courts of assharp-eyed monarchs as Queen Elizabeth. "

"Utter madness, Varney, " answered the Earl; "the counterfeit would beconfronted with Tressilian, and discovery become inevitable. "

"Tressilian might be removed from court, " said the unhesitating Varney. 

"And by what means?"

"There are many, " said Varney, "by which a statesman in your situation, my lord, may remove from the scene one who pries into your affairs, andplaces himself in perilous opposition to you. "

"Speak not to me of such policy, Varney, " said the Earl hastily, "which, besides, would avail nothing in the present case. Many others therebe at court to whom Amy may be known; and besides, on the absenceof Tressilian, her father or some of her friends would be instantlysummoned hither. Urge thine invention once more. "

"My lord, I know not what to say, " answered Varney; "but were I myselfin such perplexity, I would ride post down to Cumnor Place, and compelmy wife to give her consent to such measures as her safety and minerequired. "

"Varney, " said Leicester, "I cannot urge her to aught so repugnantto her noble nature as a share in this stratagem; it would be a baserequital to the love she bears me. "

"Well, my lord, " said Varney, "your lordship is a wise and an honourableman, and skilled in those high points of romantic scruple which arecurrent in Arcadia perhaps, as your nephew, Philip Sidney, writes. Iam your humble servitor--a man of this world, and only happy that myknowledge of it, and its ways, is such as your lordship has not scornedto avail yourself of. Now I would fain know whether the obligation lieson my lady or on you in this fortunate union, and which has most reasonto show complaisance to the other, and to consider that other's wishes, conveniences, and safety?"

"I tell thee, Varney, " said the Earl, "that all it was in my power tobestow upon her was not merely deserved, but a thousand times overpaid, by her own virtue and beauty; for never did greatness descend upon acreature so formed by nature to grace and adorn it. "

"It is well, my lord, you are so satisfied, " answered Varney, with hisusual sardonic smile, which even respect to his patron could not atall times subdue; "you will have time enough to enjoy undisturbed thesociety of one so gracious and beautiful--that is, so soon as suchconfinement in the Tower be over as may correspond to the crime ofdeceiving the affections of Elizabeth Tudor. A cheaper penalty, Ipresume, you do not expect. "

"Malicious fiend!" answered Leicester, "do you mock me in mymisfortune?--Manage it as thou wilt. "

"If you are serious, my lord, " said Varney, "you must set forthinstantly and post for Cumnor Place. "

"Do thou go thyself, Varney; the devil has given thee that sort ofeloquence which is most powerful in the worst cause. I should standself-convicted of villainy, were I to urge such a deceit. Begone, I tellthee; must I entreat thee to mine own dishonour?"

"No, my lord, " said Varney; "but if you are serious in entrusting mewith the task of urging this most necessary measure, you must give mea letter to my lady, as my credentials, and trust to me for backingthe advice it contains with all the force in my power. And such is myopinion of my lady's love for your lordship, and of her willingness todo that which is at once to contribute to your pleasure and your safety, that I am sure she will condescend to bear for a few brief days the nameof so humble a man as myself, especially since it is not inferior inantiquity to that of her own paternal house. "

Leicester seized on writing materials, and twice or thrice commenceda letter to the Countess, which he afterwards tore into fragments. Atlength he finished a few distracted lines, in which he conjured her, forreasons nearly concerning his life and honour, to consent to bear thename of Varney for a few days, during the revels at Kenilworth. Headded that Varney would communicate all the reasons which rendered thisdeception indispensable; and having signed and sealed these credentials, he flung them over the table to Varney with a motion that he shoulddepart, which his adviser was not slow to comprehend and to obey. 

Leicester remained like one stupefied, till he heard the trampling ofthe horses, as Varney, who took no time even to change his dress, threwhimself into the saddle, and, followed by a single servant, set off forBerkshire. At the sound the Earl started from his seat, and ran to thewindow, with the momentary purpose of recalling the unworthy commissionwith which he had entrusted one of whom he used to say he knew novirtuous property save affection to his patron. But Varney was alreadybeyond call; and the bright, starry firmament, which the age consideredas the Book of Fate, lying spread before Leicester when he opened thecasement, diverted him from his better and more manly purpose. 

"There they roll, on their silent but potential course, " said the Earl, looking around him, "without a voice which speaks to our ear, but notwithout influences which affect, at every change, the indwellers of thisvile, earthly planet. This, if astrologers fable not, is the very crisisof my fate! The hour approaches of which I was taught to beware--thehour, too, which I was encouraged to hope for. A King was the word--buthow?--the crown matrimonial. All hopes of that are gone--let them go. The rich Netherlands have demanded me for their leader, and, wouldElizabeth consent, would yield to me THEIR crown. And have I not sucha claim even in this kingdom? That of York, descending from George ofClarence to the House of Huntingdon, which, this lady failing, may havea fair chance--Huntingdon is of my house. --But I will plunge no deeperin these high mysteries. Let me hold my course in silence for a while, and in obscurity, like a subterranean river; the time shall come that Iwill burst forth in my strength, and bear all opposition before me. "

While Leicester was thus stupefying the remonstrances of his ownconscience, by appealing to political necessity for his apology, orlosing himself amidst the wild dreams of ambition, his agent lefttown and tower behind him on his hasty journey to Berkshire. HE alsonourished high hope. He had brought Lord Leicester to the point whichhe had desired, of committing to him the most intimate recesses ofhis breast, and of using him as the channel of his most confidentialintercourse with his lady. Henceforward it would, he foresaw, bedifficult for his patron either to dispense with his services, or refusehis requests, however unreasonable. And if this disdainful dame, ashe termed the Countess, should comply with the request of her husband, Varney, her pretended husband, must needs become so situated withrespect to her, that there was no knowing where his audacity might bebounded perhaps not till circumstances enabled him to obtain a triumph, which he thought of with a mixture of fiendish feelings, in whichrevenge for her previous scorn was foremost and predominant. Againhe contemplated the possibility of her being totally intractable, andrefusing obstinately to play the part assigned to her in the drama atKenilworth. 

"Alasco must then do his part, " he said. "Sickness must serve herMajesty as an excuse for not receiving the homage of Mrs. Varney--ay, and a sore and wasting sickness it may prove, should Elizabeth continueto cast so favourable an eye on my Lord of Leicester. I will not foregothe chance of being favourite of a monarch for want of determinedmeasures, should these be necessary. Forward, good horse, forward--ambition and haughty hope of power, pleasure, and revengestrike their stings as deep through my bosom as I plunge the rowels inthy flanks. On, good horse, on--the devil urges us both forward!"

CHAPTER XXII. 

 Say that my beauty was but small, Among court ladies all despised, Why didst thou rend it from that hall Where, scornful Earl, 'twas dearly prized?

 No more thou com'st with wonted speed, Thy once beloved bride to see; But be she alive, or be she dead, I fear, stern Earl, 's the same to thee. CUMNOR HALL, by WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE. 

The ladies of fashion of the present, or of any other period, must haveallowed that the young and lovely Countess of Leicester had, besides heryouth and beauty, two qualities which entitled her to a place amongstwomen of rank and distinction. She displayed, as we have seen in herinterview with the pedlar, a liberal promptitude to make unnecessarypurchases, solely for the pleasure of acquiring useless and showytrifles which ceased to please as soon as they were possessed; and shewas, besides, apt to spend a considerable space of time every day inadorning her person, although the varied splendour of her attire couldonly attract the half satirical praise of the precise Janet, or anapproving glance from the bright eyes which witnessed their own beams oftriumph reflected from the mirror. 

The Countess Amy had, indeed, to plead for indulgence in those frivoloustastes, that the education of the times had done little or nothing for amind naturally gay and averse to study. If she had not loved tocollect finery and to wear it, she might have woven tapestry or sewedembroidery, till her labours spread in gay profusion all over the wallsand seats at Lidcote Hall; or she might have varied Minerva's labourswith the task of preparing a mighty pudding against the time that SirHugh Robsart returned from the greenwood. But Amy had no natural geniuseither for the loom, the needle, or the receipt-book. Her mother haddied in infancy; her father contradicted her in nothing; and Tressilian, the only one that approached her who was able or desirous to attendto the cultivation of her mind, had much hurt his interest with her byassuming too eagerly the task of a preceptor, so that he was regarded bythe lively, indulged, and idle girl with some fear and much respect, butwith little or nothing of that softer emotion which it had been his hopeand his ambition to inspire. And thus her heart lay readily open, andher fancy became easily captivated by the noble exterior and gracefuldeportment and complacent flattery of Leicester, even before he wasknown to her as the dazzling minion of wealth and power. 

The frequent visits of Leicester at Cumnor, during the earlier part oftheir union, had reconciled the Countess to the solitude and privacyto which she was condemned; but when these visits became rarer and morerare, and when the void was filled up with letters of excuse, not alwaysvery warmly expressed, and generally extremely brief, discontent andsuspicion began to haunt those splendid apartments which love had fittedup for beauty. Her answers to Leicester conveyed these feelings toobluntly, and pressed more naturally than prudently that she mightbe relieved from this obscure and secluded residence, by the Earl'sacknowledgment of their marriage; and in arranging her arguments withall the skill she was mistress of, she trusted chiefly to the warmth ofthe entreaties with which she urged them. Sometimes she even venturedto mingle reproaches, of which Leicester conceived he had good reason tocomplain. 

"I have made her Countess, " he said to Varney; "surely she might waittill it consisted with my pleasure that she should put on the coronet?"

The Countess Amy viewed the subject in directly an opposite light. 

"What signifies, " she said, "that I have rank and honour in reality, ifI am to live an obscure prisoner, without either society or observance, and suffering in my character, as one of dubious or disgracedreputation? I care not for all those strings of pearl, which you fret meby warping into my tresses, Janet. I tell you that at Lidcote Hall, ifI put but a fresh rosebud among my hair, my good father would call meto him, that he might see it more closely; and the kind old curate wouldsmile, and Master Mumblazen would say something about roses gules. Andnow I sit here, decked out like an image with gold and gems, and no oneto see my finery but you, Janet. There was the poor Tressilian, too--butit avails not speaking of him. "

"It doth not indeed, madam, " said her prudent attendant; "and verilyyou make me sometimes wish you would not speak of him so often, or sorashly. "

"It signifies nothing to warn me, Janet, " said the impatient andincorrigible Countess; "I was born free, though I am now mewed up likesome fine foreign slave, rather than the wife of an English noble. I bore it all with pleasure while I was sure he loved me; but now mytongue and heart shall be free, let them fetter these limbs as theywill. I tell thee, Janet, I love my husband--I will love him tillmy latest breath--I cannot cease to love him, even if I would, or ifhe--which, God knows, may chance--should cease to love me. But Iwill say, and loudly, I would have been happier than I now am tohave remained in Lidcote Hall, even although I must have married poorTressilian, with his melancholy look and his head full of learning, which I cared not for. He said, if I would read his favourite volumes, there would come a time that I should be glad of having done so. I thinkit is come now. "

"I bought you some books, madam, " said Janet, "from a lame fellow whosold them in the Market-place--and who stared something boldly, at me, Ipromise you. "

"Let me see them, Janet, " said the Countess; "but let them not be ofyour own precise cast, --How is this, most righteous damsel?--'A PAIR OFSNUFFERS FOR THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK'--'HANDFULL OF MYRRH AND HYSSOP TOPUT A SICK SOUL TO PURGATION'--'A DRAUGHT OF WATER FROM THE VALLEY OFBACA'--'FOXES AND FIREBRANDS'--what gear call you this, maiden?"

"Nay, madam, " said Janet, "it was but fitting and seemly to put grace inyour ladyship's way; but an you will none of it, there are play-books, and poet-books, I trow. "

The Countess proceeded carelessly in her examination, turning over suchrare volumes as would now make the fortune of twenty retail booksellers. Here was a "BOKE OF COOKERY, IMPRINTED BY RICHARD LANT, " and "SKELTON'SBOOKS"--"THE PASSTIME OF THE PEOPLE"--"THE CASTLE OF KNOWLEDGE, " etc. But neither to this lore did the Countess's heart incline, and joyfullydid she start up from the listless task of turning over the leaves ofthe pamphlets, and hastily did she scatter them through the floor, whenthe hasty clatter of horses' feet, heard in the courtyard, called her tothe window, exclaiming, "It is Leicester!--it is my noble Earl!--itis my Dudley!--every stroke of his horse's hoof sounds like a note oflordly music!"

There was a brief bustle in the mansion, and Foster, with his downwardlook and sullen manner, entered the apartment to say, "That MasterRichard Varney was arrived from my lord, having ridden all night, andcraved to speak with her ladyship instantly. "

"Varney?" said the disappointed Countess; "and to speak with me?--pshaw!But he comes with news from Leicester, so admit him instantly. "

Varney entered her dressing apartment, where she sat arrayed in hernative loveliness, adorned with all that Janet's art and a rich andtasteful undress could bestow. But the most beautiful part of her attirewas her profuse and luxuriant light-brown locks, which floated in suchrich abundance around a neck that resembled a swan's, and over a bosomheaving with anxious expectation, which communicated a hurried tinge ofred to her whole countenance. 

Varney entered the room in the dress in which he had waited on hismaster that morning to court, the splendour of which made a strangecontrast with the disorder arising from hasty riding during a dark nightand foul ways. His brow bore an anxious and hurried expression, as onewho has that to say of which he doubts the reception, and who hathyet posted on from the necessity of communicating his tidings. TheCountess's anxious eye at once caught the alarm, as she exclaimed, "Youbring news from my lord, Master Varney--Gracious Heaven! is he ill?"

"No, madam, thank Heaven!" said Varney. "Compose yourself, and permit meto take breath ere I communicate my tidings. "

"No breath, sir, " replied the lady impatiently; "I know your theatricalarts. Since your breath hath sufficed to bring you hither, it maysuffice to tell your tale--at least briefly, and in the gross. "

"Madam, " answered Varney, "we are not alone, and my lord's message wasfor your ear only. "

"Leave us, Janet, and Master Foster, " said the lady; "but remain in thenext apartment, and within call. "

Foster and his daughter retired, agreeably to the Lady Leicester'scommands, into the next apartment, which was the withdrawing-room. Thedoor which led from the sleeping-chamber was then carefully shut andbolted, and the father and daughter remained both in a posture ofanxious attention, the first with a stern, suspicious, anxious cast ofcountenance, and Janet with folded hands, and looks which seemed dividedbetwixt her desire to know the fortunes of her mistress, and her prayersto Heaven for her safety. Anthony Foster seemed himself to have someidea of what was passing through his daughter's mind, for he crossedthe apartment and took her anxiously by the hand, saying, "That isright--pray, Janet, pray; we have all need of prayers, and some of usmore than others. Pray, Janet--I would pray myself, but I must listen towhat goes on within--evil has been brewing, love--evil has been brewing. God forgive our sins, but Varney's sudden and strange arrival bodes usno good. "

Janet had never before heard her father excite or even permit herattention to anything which passed in their mysterious family; and nowthat he did so, his voice sounded in her ear--she knew not why--likethat of a screech-owl denouncing some deed of terror and of woe. Sheturned her eyes fearfully towards the door, almost as if she expectedsome sounds of horror to be heard, or some sight of fear to displayitself. 

All, however, was as still as death, and the voices of those who spokein the inner chamber were, if they spoke at all, carefully subdued to atone which could not be heard in the next. At once, however, they wereheard to speak fast, thick, and hastily; and presently after the voiceof the Countess was heard exclaiming, at the highest pitch to whichindignation could raise it, "Undo the door, sir, I command you!--undothe door!--I will have no other reply!" she continued, drowning with hervehement accents the low and muttered sounds which Varney was heardto utter betwixt whiles. "What ho! without there!" she persisted, accompanying her words with shrieks, "Janet, alarm the house!--Foster, break open the door--I am detained here by a traitor! Use axe and lever, Master Foster--I will be your warrant!"

"It shall not need, madam, " Varney was at length distinctly heard tosay. "If you please to expose my lord's important concerns and your ownto the general ear, I will not be your hindrance. "

The door was unlocked and thrown open, and Janet and her father rushedin, anxious to learn the cause of these reiterated exclamations. 

When they entered the apartment Varney stood by the door grinding histeeth, with an expression in which rage, and shame, and fear had eachtheir share. The Countess stood in the midst of her apartment like ajuvenile Pythoness under the influence of the prophetic fury. The veinsin her beautiful forehead started into swoln blue lines through thehurried impulse of her articulation--her cheek and neck glowed likescarlet--her eyes were like those of an imprisoned eagle, flashing redlightning on the foes which it cannot reach with its talons. Were itpossible for one of the Graces to have been animated by a Fury, thecountenance could not have united such beauty with so much hatred, scorn, defiance, and resentment. The gesture and attitude correspondedwith the voice and looks, and altogether presented a spectacle which wasat once beautiful and fearful; so much of the sublime had the energyof passion united with the Countess Amy's natural loveliness. Janet, as soon as the door was open, ran to her mistress; and more slowly, yetwith more haste than he was wont, Anthony Foster went to Richard Varney. 

"In the Truth's name, what ails your ladyship?" said the former. 

"What, in the name of Satan, have you done to her?" said Foster to hisfriend. 

"Who, I?--nothing, " answered Varney, but with sunken head and sullenvoice; "nothing but communicated to her her lord's commands, which, ifthe lady list not to obey, she knows better how to answer it than I maypretend to do. "

"Now, by Heaven, Janet!" said the Countess, "the false traitor liesin his throat! He must needs lie, for he speaks to the dishonour of mynoble lord; he must needs lie doubly, for he speaks to gain ends of hisown, equally execrable and unattainable. "

"You have misapprehended me, lady, " said Varney, with a sulky speciesof submission and apology; "let this matter rest till your passion beabated, and I will explain all. "

"Thou shalt never have an opportunity to do so, " said theCountess. --"Look at him, Janet. He is fairly dressed, hath the outsideof a gentleman, and hither he came to persuade me it was my lord'spleasure--nay, more, my wedded lord's commands--that I should go withhim to Kenilworth, and before the Queen and nobles, and in presence ofmy own wedded lord, that I should acknowledge him--HIM there--that verycloak-brushing, shoe-cleaning fellow--HIM there, my lord's lackey, for my liege lord and husband; furnishing against myself, Great God!whenever I was to vindicate my right and my rank, such weapons as wouldhew my just claim from the root, and destroy my character to be regardedas an honourable matron of the English nobility!"

"You hear her, Foster, and you, young maiden, hear this lady, " answeredVarney, taking advantage of the pause which the Countess had made in hercharge, more for lack of breath than for lack of matter--"you hear thather heat only objects to me the course which our good lord, for thepurpose to keep certain matters secret, suggests in the very letterwhich she holds in her hands. "

Foster here attempted to interfere with a face of authority, which hethought became the charge entrusted to him, "Nay, lady, I must needs sayyou are over-hasty in this. Such deceit is not utterly to be condemnedwhen practised for a righteous end I and thus even the patriarch Abrahamfeigned Sarah to be his sister when they went down to Egypt. "

"Ay, sir, " answered the Countess; "but God rebuked that deceit even inthe father of His chosen people, by the mouth of the heathen Pharaoh. Out upon you, that will read Scripture only to copy those things whichare held out to us as warnings, not as examples!"

"But Sarah disputed not the will of her husband, an it be yourpleasure, " said Foster, in reply, "but did as Abraham commanded, callingherself his sister, that it might be well with her husband for her sake, and that his soul might live because of her beauty. "

"Now, so Heaven pardon me my useless anger, " answered the Countess, "thou art as daring a hypocrite as yonder fellow is an impudentdeceiver! Never will I believe that the noble Dudley gave countenanceto so dastardly, so dishonourable a plan. Thus I tread on his infamy, ifindeed it be, and thus destroy its remembrance for ever!"

So saying, she tore in pieces Leicester's letter, and stamped, in theextremity of impatience, as if she would have annihilated the minutefragments into which she had rent it. 

"Bear witness, " said Varney, collecting himself, "she hath torn mylord's letter, in order to burden me with the scheme of his devising;and although it promises nought but danger and trouble to me, she wouldlay it to my charge, as if I had any purpose of mine own in it. "

"Thou liest, thou treacherous slave!" said the Countess in spite ofJanet's attempts to keep her silent, in the sad foresight that hervehemence might only furnish arms against herself--"thou liest, " shecontinued. --"Let me go, Janet--were it the last word I have to speak, he lies. He had his own foul ends to seek; and broader he would havedisplayed them had my passion permitted me to preserve the silence whichat first encouraged him to unfold his vile projects. "

"Madam, " said Varney, overwhelmed in spite of his effrontery, "I entreatyou to believe yourself mistaken. "

"As soon will I believe light darkness, " said the enraged Countess. "Have I drunk of oblivion? Do I not remember former passages, which, known to Leicester, had given thee the preferment of a gallows, insteadof the honour of his intimacy. I would I were a man but for fiveminutes! It were space enough to make a craven like thee confess hisvillainy. But go--begone! Tell thy master that when I take the foulcourse to which such scandalous deceits as thou hast recommended onhis behalf must necessarily lead me, I will give him a rival somethingworthy of the name. He shall not be supplanted by an ignominious lackey, whose best fortune is to catch a gift of his master's last suitof clothes ere it is threadbare, and who is only fit to seduce asuburb-wench by the bravery of new roses in his master's old pantoufles. Go, begone, sir! I scorn thee so much that I am ashamed to have beenangry with thee. "

Varney left the room with a mute expression of rage, and was followed byFoster, whose apprehension, naturally slow, was overpowered by the eagerand abundant discharge of indignation which, for the first time, he hadheard burst from the lips of a being who had seemed, till that moment, too languid and too gentle to nurse an angry thought or utter anintemperate expression. Foster, therefore, pursued Varney from place toplace, persecuting him with interrogatories, to which the other repliednot, until they were in the opposite side of the quadrangle, and in theold library, with which the reader has already been made acquainted. Here he turned round on his persevering follower, and thus addressedhim, in a tone tolerably equal, that brief walk having been sufficientto give one so habituated to command his temper time to rally andrecover his presence of mind. 

"Tony, " he said, with his usual sneering laugh, "it avails not to denyit. The Woman and the Devil, who, as thine oracle Holdforth willconfirm to thee, cheated man at the beginning, have this day proved morepowerful than my discretion. Yon termagant looked so tempting, and hadthe art to preserve her countenance so naturally, while I communicatedmy lord's message, that, by my faith, I thought I might say some littlething for myself. She thinks she hath my head under her girdle now, butshe is deceived. Where is Doctor Alasco?"

"In his laboratory, " answered Foster. "It is the hour he is spoken notwithal. We must wait till noon is past, or spoil his important--whatsaid I? important!--I would say interrupt his divine studies. "

"Ay, he studies the devil's divinity, " said Varney; "but when I wanthim, one hour must suffice as well as another. Lead the way to hispandemonium. "

So spoke Varney, and with hasty and perturbed steps followed Foster, who conducted him through private passages, many of which werewell-nigh ruinous, to the opposite side of the quadrangle, where, in asubterranean apartment, now occupied by the chemist Alasco, one of theAbbots of Abingdon, who had a turn for the occult sciences, had, muchto the scandal of his convent, established a laboratory, in which, like other fools of the period, he spent much precious time, and moneybesides, in the pursuit of the grand arcanum. 

Anthony Foster paused before the door, which was scrupulously securedwithin, and again showed a marked hesitation to disturb the sage inhis operations. But Varney, less scrupulous, roused him by knockingand voice, until at length, slowly and reluctantly, the inmate of theapartment undid the door. The chemist appeared, with his eyes blearedwith the heat and vapours of the stove or alembic over which he broodedand the interior of his cell displayed the confused assemblage ofheterogeneous substances and extraordinary implements belonging to hisprofession. The old man was muttering, with spiteful impatience, "Am Ifor ever to be recalled to the affairs of earth from those of heaven?"

"To the affairs of hell, " answered Varney, "for that is thy properelement. --Foster, we need thee at our conference. "

Foster slowly entered the room. Varney, following, barred the door, andthey betook themselves to secret council. 

In the meanwhile, the Countess traversed the apartment, with shame andanger contending on her lovely cheek. 

"The villain, " she said--"the cold-blooded, calculating slave!--But Iunmasked him, Janet--I made the snake uncoil all his folds before me, and crawl abroad in his naked deformity; I suspended my resentment, atthe danger of suffocating under the effort, until he had let me see thevery bottom of a heart more foul than hell's darkest corner. --And thou, Leicester, is it possible thou couldst bid me for a moment deny mywedded right in thee, or thyself yield it to another?--But it isimpossible--the villain has lied in all. --Janet, I will not remain herelonger--I fear him--I fear thy father. I grieve to say it, Janet--butI fear thy father, and, worst of all, this odious Varney, I will escapefrom Cumnor. "

"Alas! madam, whither would you fly, or by what means will you escapefrom these walls?"

"I know not, Janet, " said the unfortunate young lady, looking upwards!and clasping her hands together, "I know not where I shall fly, or bywhat means; but I am certain the God I have served will not abandon mein this dreadful crisis, for I am in the hands of wicked men. "

"Do not think so, dear lady, " said Janet; "my father is stern and strictin his temper, and severely true to his trust--but yet--"

At this moment Anthony Foster entered the apartment, bearing in hishand a glass cup and a small flask. His manner was singular; for, whileapproaching the Countess with the respect due to her rank, he had tillthis time suffered to become visible, or had been unable to suppress, the obdurate sulkiness of his natural disposition, which, as is usualwith those of his unhappy temper, was chiefly exerted towards those overwhom circumstances gave him control. But at present he showed nothingof that sullen consciousness of authority which he was wont to concealunder a clumsy affectation of civility and deference, as a ruffian hideshis pistols and bludgeon under his ill-fashioned gaberdine. And yet itseemed as if his smile was more in fear than courtesy, and as if, whilehe pressed the Countess to taste of the choice cordial, which shouldrefresh her spirits after her late alarm, he was conscious of meditatingsome further injury. His hand trembled also, his voice faltered, and hiswhole outward behaviour exhibited so much that was suspicious, that hisdaughter Janet, after she had stood looking at him in astonishment forsome seconds, seemed at once to collect herself to execute somehardy resolution, raised her head, assumed an attitude and gait ofdetermination and authority, and walking slowly betwixt her father andher mistress, took the salver from the hand of the former, and said ina low but marked and decided tone, "Father, I will fill for my noblemistress, when such is her pleasure. "

"Thou, my child?" said Foster, eagerly and apprehensively; "no, mychild--it is not THOU shalt render the lady this service. "

"And why, I pray you, " said Janet, "if it be fitting that the noble ladyshould partake of the cup at all?"

"Why--why?" said the seneschal, hesitating, and then bursting intopassion as the readiest mode of supplying the lack of all otherreason--"why, because it is my pleasure, minion, that you should not!Get you gone to the evening lecture. "

"Now, as I hope to hear lecture again, " replied Janet, "I will not gothither this night, unless I am better assured of my mistress's safety. Give me that flask, father"--and she took it from his reluctant hand, while he resigned it as if conscience-struck. "And now, " she said, "father, that which shall benefit my mistress, cannot do ME prejudice. Father, I drink to you. "

Foster, without speaking a word, rushed on his daughter and wrested theflask from her hand; then, as if embarrassed by what he had done, andtotally unable to resolve what he should do next, he stood with it inhis hand, one foot advanced and the other drawn back, glaring on hisdaughter with a countenance in which rage, fear, and convicted villainyformed a hideous combination. 

"This is strange, my father, " said Janet, keeping her eye fixed on his, in the manner in which those who have the charge of lunatics are said tooverawe their unhappy patients; "will you neither let me serve my lady, nor drink to her myself?"

The courage of the Countess sustained her through this dreadful scene, of which the import was not the less obvious that it was not even hintedat. She preserved even the rash carelessness of her temper, and thoughher cheek had grown pale at the first alarm, her eye was calm and almostscornful. "Will YOU taste this rare cordial, Master Foster? Perhaps youwill not yourself refuse to pledge us, though you permit not Janet to doso. Drink, sir, I pray you. "

"I will not, " answered Foster. 

"And for whom, then, is the precious beverage reserved, sir?" said theCountess. 

"For the devil, who brewed it!" answered Foster; and, turning on hisheel, he left the chamber. 

Janet looked at her mistress with a countenance expressive in thehighest degree of shame, dismay, and sorrow. 

"Do not weep for me, Janet, " said the Countess kindly. 

"No, madam, " replied her attendant, in a voice broken by sobs, "it isnot for you I weep; it is for myself--it is for that unhappy man. Thosewho are dishonoured before man--those who are condemned by God--havecause to mourn; not those who are innocent! Farewell, madam!" she saidhastily assuming the mantle in which she was wont to go abroad. 

"Do you leave me, Janet?" said her mistress--"desert me in such an evilstrait?"

"Desert you, madam!" exclaimed Janet; and running back to her mistress, she imprinted a thousand kisses on her hand--"desert you I--may the Hopeof my trust desert me when I do so! No, madam; well you said the God youserve will open you a path for deliverance. There is a way of escape. Ihave prayed night and day for light, that I might see how to act betwixtmy duty to yonder unhappy man and that which I owe to you. Sternly andfearfully that light has now dawned, and I must not shut the door whichGod opens. Ask me no more. I will return in brief space. "

So speaking, she wrapped herself in her mantle, and saying to the oldwoman whom she passed in the outer room that she was going to eveningprayer, she left the house. 

Meanwhile her father had reached once more the laboratory, wherehe found the accomplices of his intended guilt. "Has the sweet birdsipped?" said Varney, with half a smile; while the astrologer put thesame question with his eyes, but spoke not a word. 

"She has not, nor she shall not from my hands, " replied Foster; "wouldyou have me do murder in my daughter's presence?"

"Wert thou not told, thou sullen and yet faint-hearted slave, " answeredVarney, with bitterness, "that no MURDER as thou callest it, with thatstaring look and stammering tone, is designed in the matter? Wert thounot told that a brief illness, such as woman puts on in very wantonness, that she may wear her night-gear at noon, and lie on a settle whenshe should mind her domestic business, is all here aimed at? Here is alearned man will swear it to thee by the key of the Castle of Wisdom. "

"I swear it, " said Alasco, "that the elixir thou hast there in the flaskwill not prejudice life! I swear it by that immortal and indestructiblequintessence of gold, which pervades every substance in nature, thoughits secret existence can be traced by him only to whom Trismegistusrenders the key of the Cabala. "

"An oath of force, " said Varney. "Foster, thou wert worse than a paganto disbelieve it. Believe me, moreover, who swear by nothing but by myown word, that if you be not conformable, there is no hope, no, nota glimpse of hope, that this thy leasehold may be transmuted into acopyhold. Thus, Alasco will leave your pewter artillery untransmigrated, and I, honest Anthony, will still have thee for my tenant. "

"I know not, gentlemen, " said Foster, "where your designs tend to; butin one thing I am bound up, --that, fall back fall edge, I will have onein this place that may pray for me, and that one shall be my daughter. I have lived ill, and the world has been too weighty with me; but she isas innocent as ever she was when on her mother's lap, and she, at least, shall have her portion in that happy City, whose walls are of pure gold, and the foundations garnished with all manner of precious stones. "

"Ay, Tony, " said Varney, "that were a paradise to thy heart'scontent. --Debate the matter with him, Doctor Alasco; I will be with youanon. "

So speaking, Varney arose, and taking the flask from the table, he leftthe room. 

"I tell thee, my son, " said Alasco to Foster, as soon as Varney hadleft them, "that whatever this bold and profligate railer may say of themighty science, in which, by Heaven's blessing, I have advanced sofar that I would not call the wisest of living artists my better or myteacher--I say, howsoever yonder reprobate may scoff at things too holyto be apprehended by men merely of carnal and evil thoughts, yet believethat the city beheld by St. John, in that bright vision of the ChristianApocalypse, that new Jerusalem, of which all Christian men hope topartake, sets forth typically the discovery of the GRAND SECRET, wherebythe most precious and perfect of nature's works are elicited out ofher basest and most crude productions; just as the light and gaudybutterfly, the most beautiful child of the summer's breeze, breaks forthfrom the dungeon of a sordid chrysalis. "

"Master Holdforth said nought of this exposition, " said Fosterdoubtfully; "and moreover, Doctor Alasco, the Holy Writ says that thegold and precious stones of the Holy City are in no sort for those whowork abomination, or who frame lies. "

"Well, my son, " said the Doctor, "and what is your inference fromthence?"

"That those, " said Foster, "who distil poisons, and administer them insecrecy, can have no portion in those unspeakable riches. "

"You are to distinguish, my son, " replied the alchemist, "betwixt thatwhich is necessarily evil in its progress and in its end also, and thatwhich, being evil, is, nevertheless, capable of working forth good. If, by the death of one person, the happy period shall be brought nearerto us, in which all that is good shall be attained, by wishing itspresence--all that is evil escaped, by desiring its absence--in whichsickness, and pain, and sorrow shall be the obedient servants of humanwisdom, and made to fly at the slightest signal of a sage--in which thatwhich is now richest and rarest shall be within the compass of every onewho shall be obedient to the voice of wisdom--when the art of healingshall be lost and absorbed in the one universal medicine when sagesshall become monarchs of the earth, and death itself retreat beforetheir frown, --if this blessed consummation of all things can be hastenedby the slight circumstance that a frail, earthly body, which mustneeds partake corruption, shall be consigned to the grave a short spaceearlier than in the course of nature, what is such a sacrifice to theadvancement of the holy Millennium?"

"Millennium is the reign of the Saints, " said Foster, somewhatdoubtfully. 

"Say it is the reign of the Sages, my son, " answered Alasco; "or ratherthe reign of Wisdom itself. "

"I touched on the question with Master Holdforth last exercising night, "said Foster; "but he says your doctrine is heterodox, and a damnable andfalse exposition. "

"He is in the bonds of ignorance, my son, " answered Alasco, "and as yetburning bricks in Egypt; or, at best, wandering in the dry desert ofSinai. Thou didst ill to speak to such a man of such matters. I will, however, give thee proof, and that shortly, which I will defy thatpeevish divine to confute, though he should strive with me as themagicians strove with Moses before King Pharaoh. I will do projectionin thy presence, my son, --in thy very presence--and thine eyes shallwitness the truth. "

"Stick to that, learned sage, " said Varney, who at this moment enteredthe apartment; "if he refuse the testimony of thy tongue, yet how shallhe deny that of his own eyes?"

"Varney!" said the adept--"Varney already returned! Hast thou--" hestopped short. 

"Have I done mine errand, thou wouldst say?" replied Varney. "I have!And thou, " he added, showing more symptoms of interest than he hadhitherto exhibited, "art thou sure thou hast poured forth neither morenor less than the just measure?"

"Ay, " replied the alchemist, "as sure as men can be in these niceproportions, for there is diversity of constitutions. "

"Nay, then, " said Varney, "I fear nothing. I know thou wilt not go astep farther to the devil than thou art justly considered for--thou wertpaid to create illness, and wouldst esteem it thriftless prodigality todo murder at the same price. Come, let us each to our chamber we shallsee the event to-morrow. "

"What didst thou do to make her swallow it?" said Foster, shuddering. 

"Nothing, " answered Varney, "but looked on her with that aspect whichgoverns madmen, women, and children. They told me in St. Luke's Hospitalthat I have the right look for overpowering a refractory patient. Thekeepers made me their compliments on't; so I know how to win my breadwhen my court-favour fails me. "

"And art thou not afraid, " said Foster, "lest the dose bedisproportioned?"

"If so, " replied Varney, "she will but sleep the sounder, and the fearof that shall not break my rest. Good night, my masters. "

Anthony Foster groaned heavily, and lifted up his hands and eyes. Thealchemist intimated his purpose to continue some experiment of highimport during the greater part of the night, and the others separated totheir places of repose. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

 Now God be good to me in this wild pilgrimage! All hope in human aid I cast behind me. Oh, who would be a woman?--who that fool, A weeping, pining, faithful, loving woman? She hath hard measure still where she hopes kindest, And all her bounties only make ingrates. LOVE'S PILGRIMAGE. 

The summer evening was closed, and Janet, just when her longer staymight have occasioned suspicion and inquiry in that zealous household, returned to Cumnor Place, and hastened to the apartment in which shehad left her lady. She found her with her head resting on her arms, andthese crossed upon a table which stood before her. As Janet came in, sheneither looked up nor stirred. 

Her faithful attendant ran to her mistress with the speed of lightning, and rousing her at the same time with her hand, conjured the Countess, in the most earnest manner, to look up and say what thus affectedher. The unhappy lady raised her head accordingly, and looking on herattendant with a ghastly eye, and cheek as pale as clay--"Janet, " shesaid, "I have drunk it. "

"God be praised!" said Janet hastily--"I mean, God be praised that it isno worse; the potion will not harm you. Rise, shake this lethargy fromyour limbs, and this despair from your mind. "

"Janet, " repeated the Countess again, "disturb me not--leave me atpeace--let life pass quietly. I am poisoned. "

"You are not, my dearest lady, " answered the maiden eagerly. "What youhave swallowed cannot injure you, for the antidote has been taken beforeit, and I hastened hither to tell you that the means of escape are opento you. "

"Escape!" exclaimed the lady, as she raised herself hastily in herchair, while light returned to her eye and life to her cheek; "but ah!Janet, it comes too late. "

"Not so, dearest lady. Rise, take mine arm, walk through the apartment;let not fancy do the work of poison! So; feel you not now that you arepossessed of the full use of your limbs?"

"The torpor seems to diminish, " said the Countess, as, supported byJanet, she walked to and fro in the apartment; "but is it then so, andhave I not swallowed a deadly draught? Varney was here since thou wertgone, and commanded me, with eyes in which I read my fate, to swallowyon horrible drug. O Janet! it must be fatal; never was harmless draughtserved by such a cup-bearer!"

"He did not deem it harmless, I fear, " replied the maiden; "but Godconfounds the devices of the wicked. Believe me, as I swear by the dearGospel in which we trust, your life is safe from his practice. Did younot debate with him?"

"The house was silent, " answered the lady--"thou gone--no other but hein the chamber--and he capable of every crime. I did but stipulate hewould remove his hateful presence, and I drank whatever he offered. --Butyou spoke of escape, Janet; can I be so happy?"

"Are you strong enough to bear the tidings, and make the effort?" saidthe maiden. 

"Strong!" answered the Countess. "Ask the hind, when the fangs of thedeerhound are stretched to gripe her, if she is strong enough to springover a chasm. I am equal to every effort that may relieve me from thisplace. "

"Hear me, then, " said Janet. "One whom I deem an assured friend of yourshas shown himself to me in various disguises, and sought speech of me, which--for my mind was not clear on the matter until this evening--Ihave ever declined. He was the pedlar who brought you goods--theitinerant hawker who sold me books; whenever I stirred abroad I was sureto see him. The event of this night determined me to speak with him. He awaits even now at the postern gate of the park with means for yourflight. --But have you strength of body?--have you courage of mind?--canyou undertake the enterprise?"

"She that flies from death, " said the lady, "finds strength of body--shethat would escape from shame lacks no strength of mind. The thoughts ofleaving behind me the villain who menaces both my life and honour wouldgive me strength to rise from my deathbed. "

"In God's name, then, lady, " said Janet, "I must bid you adieu, and toGod's charge I must commit you!"

"Will you not fly with me, then, Janet?" said the Countess, anxiously. "Am I to lose thee? Is this thy faithful service?"

"Lady, I would fly with you as willingly as bird ever fled from cage, but my doing so would occasion instant discovery and pursuit. I mustremain, and use means to disguise the truth for some time. May Heavenpardon the falsehood, because of the necessity!"

"And am I then to travel alone with this stranger?" said the lady. "Bethink thee, Janet, may not this prove some deeper and darker schemeto separate me perhaps from you, who are my only friend?"

"No, madam, do not suppose it, " answered Janet readily; "the youth is anhonest youth in his purpose to you, and a friend to Master Tressilian, under whose direction he is come hither. "

"If he be a friend of Tressilian, " said the Countess, "I will commitmyself to his charge as to that of an angel sent from heaven; for thanTressilian never breathed mortal man more free of whatever was base, false, or selfish. He forgot himself whenever he could be of use toothers. Alas! and how was he requited?"

With eager haste they collected the few necessaries which it was thoughtproper the Countess should take with her, and which Janet, with speedand dexterity, formed into a small bundle, not forgetting to add suchornaments of intrinsic value as came most readily in her way, andparticularly a casket of jewels, which she wisely judged might prove ofservice in some future emergency. The Countess of Leicester next changedher dress for one which Janet usually wore upon any brief journey, forthey judged it necessary to avoid every external distinction which mightattract attention. Ere these preparations were fully made, the moonhad arisen in the summer heaven, and all in the mansion had betakenthemselves to rest, or at least to the silence and retirement of theirchambers. 

There was no difficulty anticipated in escaping, whether from the houseor garden, provided only they could elude observation. Anthony Fosterhad accustomed himself to consider his daughter as a conscious sinnermight regard a visible guardian angel, which, notwithstanding his guilt, continued to hover around him; and therefore his trust in her knew nobounds. Janet commanded her own motions during the daytime, and had amaster-key which opened the postern door of the park, so that she couldgo to the village at pleasure, either upon the household affairs, whichwere entirely confided to her management, or to attend her devotionsat the meeting-house of her sect. It is true the daughter of Foster wasthus liberally entrusted under the solemn condition that she should notavail herself of these privileges to do anything inconsistent with thesafe-keeping of the Countess; for so her residence at Cumnor Placehad been termed, since she began of late to exhibit impatience of therestrictions to which she was subjected. Nor is there reason to supposethat anything short of the dreadful suspicions which the scene of thatevening had excited could have induced Janet to violate her word ordeceive her father's confidence. But from what she had witnessed, shenow conceived herself not only justified, but imperatively called upon, to make her lady's safety the principal object of her care, setting allother considerations aside. 

The fugitive Countess with her guide traversed with hasty steps thebroken and interrupted path, which had once been an avenue, now totallydarkened by the boughs of spreading trees which met above their head, and now receiving a doubtful and deceiving light from the beams of themoon, which penetrated where the axe had made openings in the wood. Their path was repeatedly interrupted by felled trees, or the largeboughs which had been left on the ground till time served to make theminto fagots and billets. The inconvenience and difficulty attendingthese interruptions, the breathless haste of the first part of theirroute, the exhausting sensations of hope and fear, so much affected theCountess's strength, that Janet was forced to propose that they shouldpause for a few minutes to recover breath and spirits. Both thereforestood still beneath the shadow of a huge old gnarled oak-tree, and bothnaturally looked back to the mansion which they had left behind them, whose long, dark front was seen in the gloomy distance, with its hugestacks of chimneys, turrets, and clock-house, rising above the lineof the roof, and definedly visible against the pure azure blue of thesummer sky. One light only twinkled from the extended and shadowy mass, and it was placed so low that it rather seemed to glimmer from theground in front of the mansion than from one of the windows. TheCountess's terror was awakened. "They follow us!" she said, pointing outto Janet the light which thus alarmed her. 

Less agitated than her mistress, Janet perceived that the gleam wasstationary, and informed the Countess, in a whisper, that the lightproceeded from the solitary cell in which the alchemist pursued hisoccult experiments. "He is of those, " she added, "who sit up and watchby night that they may commit iniquity. Evil was the chance which senthither a man whose mixed speech of earthly wealth and unearthly orsuperhuman knowledge hath in it what does so especially captivate mypoor father. Well spoke the good Master Holdforth--and, methought, not without meaning that those of our household should find therein apractical use. 'There be those, ' he said, 'and their number is legion, who will rather, like the wicked Ahab, listen to the dreams of the falseprophet Zedekiah, than to the words of him by whom the Lord has spoken. 'And he further insisted--'Ah, my brethren, there be many Zedekiahs amongyou--men that promise you the light of their carnal knowledge, so youwill surrender to them that of your heavenly understanding. What arethey better than the tyrant Naas, who demanded the right eye of thosewho were subjected to him?' And further he insisted--"

It is uncertain how long the fair Puritan's memory might have supportedher in the recapitulation of Master Holdforth's discourse; but theCountess now interrupted her, and assured her she was so much recoveredthat she could now reach the postern without the necessity of a seconddelay. 

They set out accordingly, and performed the second part of their journeywith more deliberation, and of course more easily, than the first hastycommencement. This gave them leisure for reflection; and Janet now, for the first time, ventured to ask her lady which way she proposed todirect her flight. Receiving no immediate answer--for, perhaps, in theconfusion of her mind this very obvious subject of deliberation hadnot occurred to the Countess---Janet ventured to add, "Probably to yourfather's house, where you are sure of safety and protection?"

"No, Janet, " said the lady mournfully; "I left Lidcote Hall whilemy heart was light and my name was honourable, and I will not returnthither till my lord's permission and public acknowledgment of ourmarriage restore me to my native home with all the rank and honour whichhe has bestowed on me. "

"And whither will you, then, madam?" said Janet. 

"To Kenilworth, girl, " said the Countess, boldly and freely. "I will seethese revels--these princely revels--the preparation for which makes theland ring from side to side. Methinks, when the Queen of England feastswithin my husband's halls, the Countess of Leicester should be nounbeseeming guest. "

"I pray God you may be a welcome one!" said Janet hastily. 

"You abuse my situation, Janet, " said the Countess, angrily, "and youforget your own. "

"I do neither, dearest madam, " said the sorrowful maiden; "but have youforgotten that the noble Earl has given such strict charges to keepyour marriage secret, that he may preserve his court-favour? and can youthink that your sudden appearance at his castle, at such a juncture, andin such a presence, will be acceptable to him?"

"Thou thinkest I would disgrace him, " said the Countess; "nay, let go myarm, I can walk without aid and work without counsel. "

"Be not angry with me, lady, " said Janet meekly, "and let me stillsupport you; the road is rough, and you are little accustomed to walk indarkness. "

"If you deem me not so mean as may disgrace my husband, " said theCountess, in the same resentful tone, "you suppose my Lord of Leicestercapable of abetting, perhaps of giving aim and authority to, the baseproceedings of your father and Varney, whose errand I will do to thegood Earl. "

"For God's sake, madam, spare my father in your report, " said Janet;"let my services, however poor, be some atonement for his errors!"

"I were most unjust, dearest Janet, were it otherwise, " said theCountess, resuming at once the fondness and confidence of her mannertowards her faithful attendant, "No, Janet, not a word of mine shall doyour father prejudice. But thou seest, my love, I have no desire butto throw my self on my husband's protection. I have left the abode heassigned for me, because of the villainy of the persons by whom I wassurrounded; but I will disobey his commands in no other particular. Iwill appeal to him alone--I will be protected by him alone; to no other, than at his pleasure, have I or will I communicate the secret unionwhich combines our hearts and our destinies. I will see him, and receivefrom his own lips the directions for my future conduct. Do not argueagainst my resolution, Janet; you will only confirm me in it. And to ownthe truth, I am resolved to know my fate at once, and from my husband'sown mouth; and to seek him at Kenilworth is the surest way to attain mypurpose. "

While Janet hastily revolved in her mind the difficulties anduncertainties attendant on the unfortunate lady's situation, she wasinclined to alter her first opinion, and to think, upon the whole, thatsince the Countess had withdrawn herself from the retreat in which shehad been placed by her husband, it was her first duty to repair to hispresence, and possess him with the reasons for such conduct. She knewwhat importance the Earl attached to the concealment of their marriage, and could not but own, that by taking any step to make it publicwithout his permission, the Countess would incur, in a high degree, theindignation of her husband. If she retired to her father's house withoutan explicit avowal of her rank, her situation was likely greatly toprejudice her character; and if she made such an avowal, it mightoccasion an irreconcilable breach with her husband. At Kenilworth, again, she might plead her cause with her husband himself, whom Janet, though distrusting him more than the Countess did, believed incapableof being accessory to the base and desperate means which his dependants, from whose power the lady was now escaping, might resort to, in order tostifle her complaints of the treatment she had received at their hands. But at the worst, and were the Earl himself to deny her justice andprotection, still at Kenilworth, if she chose to make her wrongs public, the Countess might have Tressilian for her advocate, and the Queen forher judge; for so much Janet had learned in her short conference withWayland. She was, therefore, on the whole, reconciled to her lady'sproposal of going towards Kenilworth, and so expressed herself;recommending, however, to the Countess the utmost caution in making herarrival known to her husband. 

"Hast thou thyself been cautious, Janet?" said the Countess; "thisguide, in whom I must put my confidence, hast thou not entrusted to himthe secret of my condition?"

"From me he has learned nothing, " said Janet; "nor do I think that heknows more than what the public in general believe of your situation. "

"And what is that?" said the lady. 

"That you left your father's house--but I shall offend you again if I goon, " said Janet, interrupting herself. 

"Nay, go on, " said the Countess; "I must learn to endure the evil reportwhich my folly has brought upon me. They think, I suppose, that I haveleft my father's house to follow lawless pleasure. It is an error whichwill soon be removed--indeed it shall, for I will live with spotlessfame, or I shall cease to live. --I am accounted, then, the paramour ofmy Leicester?"

"Most men say of Varney, " said Janet; "yet some call him only theconvenient cloak of his master's pleasures; for reports of the profuseexpense in garnishing yonder apartments have secretly gone abroad, andsuch doings far surpass the means of Varney. But this latter opinion islittle prevalent; for men dare hardly even hint suspicion when so high aname is concerned, lest the Star Chamber should punish them for scandalof the nobility. "

"They do well to speak low, " said the Countess, "who would mention theillustrious Dudley as the accomplice of such a wretch as Varney. --Wehave reached the postern. Ah! Janet, I must bid thee farewell! Weep not, my good girl, " said she, endeavouring to cover her own reluctance topart with her faithful attendant under an attempt at playfulness; "andagainst we meet again, reform me, Janet, that precise ruff of thine foran open rabatine of lace and cut work, that will let men see thou hasta fair neck; and that kirtle of Philippine chency, with that bugle lacewhich befits only a chambermaid, into three-piled velvet and cloth ofgold--thou wilt find plenty of stuffs in my chamber, and I freely bestowthem on you. Thou must be brave, Janet; for though thou art now butthe attendant of a distressed and errant lady, who is both nameless andfameless, yet, when we meet again, thou must be dressed as becomes thegentlewoman nearest in love and in service to the first Countess inEngland. "

"Now, may God grant it, dear lady!" said Janet--"not that I may gowith gayer apparel, but that we may both wear our kirtles over lighterhearts. "

By this time the lock of the postern door had, after some hardwrenching, yielded to the master-key; and the Countess, not withoutinternal shuddering, saw herself beyond the walls which her husband'sstrict commands had assigned to her as the boundary of her walks. Waiting with much anxiety for their appearance, Wayland Smith stoodat some distance, shrouding himself behind a hedge which bordered thehigh-road. 

"Is all safe?" said Janet to him anxiously, as he approached them withcaution. 

"All, " he replied; "but I have been unable to procure a horse for thelady. Giles Gosling, the cowardly hilding, refused me one on any termswhatever, lest, forsooth, he should suffer. But no matter; she mustride on my palfrey, and I must walk by her side until I come by anotherhorse. There will be no pursuit, if you, pretty Mistress Janet, forgetnot thy lesson. "

"No more than the wise widow of Tekoa forgot the words which Joab putinto her mouth, " answered Janet. "Tomorrow, I say that my lady is unableto rise. "

"Ay; and that she hath aching and heaviness of the head a throbbing atthe heart, and lists not to be disturbed. Fear not; they will take thehint, and trouble thee with few questions--they understand the disease. "

"But, " said the lady, "My absence must be soon discovered, and theywill murder her in revenge. I will rather return than expose her to suchdanger. "

"Be at ease on my account, madam, " said Janet; "I would you were assure of receiving the favour you desire from those to whom you must makeappeal, as I am that my father, however angry, will suffer no harm tobefall me. "

The Countess was now placed by Wayland upon his horse, around the saddleof which he had placed his cloak, so folded as to make her a commodiousseat. 

"Adieu, and may the blessing of God wend with you!" said Janet, againkissing her mistress's hand, who returned her benediction with amute caress. They then tore themselves asunder, and Janet, addressingWayland, exclaimed, "May Heaven deal with you at your need, as you aretrue or false to this most injured and most helpless lady!"

"Amen! dearest Janet, " replied Wayland; "and believe me, I will soacquit myself of my trust as may tempt even your pretty eyes, saintlikeas they are, to look less scornfully on me when we next meet. "

The latter part of this adieu was whispered into Janet's ear andalthough she made no reply to it directly, yet her manner, influenced, no doubt, by her desire to leave every motive in force which couldoperate towards her mistress's safety, did not discourage the hope whichWayland's words expressed. She re-entered the postern door, and lockedit behind her; while, Wayland taking the horse's bridle in his hand, and walking close by its head, they began in silence their dubious andmoonlight journey. 

Although Wayland Smith used the utmost dispatch which he could make, yet this mode of travelling was so slow, that when morning began to dawnthrough the eastern mist, he found himself no farther than about tenmiles distant from Cumnor. "Now, a plague upon all smooth-spokenhosts!" said Wayland, unable longer to suppress his mortification anduneasiness. "Had the false loon, Giles Gosling, but told me plainly twodays since that I was to reckon nought upon him, I had shifted betterfor myself. But your hosts have such a custom of promising whatever iscalled for that it is not till the steed is to be shod you find they areout of iron. Had I but known, I could have made twenty shifts; nay, forthat matter, and in so good a cause, I would have thought little to haveprigged a prancer from the next common--it had but been sending backthe brute to the headborough. The farcy and the founders confound everyhorse in the stables of the Black Bear!"

The lady endeavoured to comfort her guide, observing that the dawn wouldenable him to make more speed. 

"True, madam, " he replied; "but then it will enable other folk to takenote of us, and that may prove an ill beginning of our journey. Ihad not cared a spark from anvil about the matter had we been furtheradvanced on our way. But this Berkshire has been notoriously haunted, ever since I knew the country, with that sort of malicious elves whosit up late and rise early for no other purpose than to pry into otherfolk's affairs. I have been endangered by them ere now. But do notfear, " he added, "good madam; for wit, meeting with opportunity, willnot miss to find a salve for every sore. "

The alarms of her guide made more impression on the Countess's mind thanthe comfort which he judged fit to administer along with it. She lookedanxiously around her, and as the shadows withdrew from the landscape, and the heightening glow of the eastern sky promised the speedy rise ofthe sun, expected at every turn that the increasing light would exposethem to the view of the vengeful pursuers, or present some dangerousand insurmountable obstacle to the prosecution of their journey. WaylandSmith perceived her uneasiness, and, displeased with himself for havinggiven her cause of alarm, strode on with affected alacrity, now talkingto the horse as one expert in the language of the stable, now whistlingto himself low and interrupted snatches of tunes, and now assuringthe lady there was no danger, while at the same time he looked sharplyaround to see that there was nothing in sight which might give thelie to his words while they were issuing from his mouth. Thus didthey journey on, until an unexpected incident gave them the means ofcontinuing their pilgrimage with more speed and convenience. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

 RICHARD. A horse!--A horse!--my kingdom for a horse! CATESBY...... My lord, I'll help you to a horse. --RICHARD III. 

Our travellers were in the act of passing a small thicket of trees closeby the roadside, when the first living being presented himself whomthey had seen since their departure from Cumnor Place. This was a stupidlout, seemingly a farmer's boy, in a grey jerkin, with his head bare, his hose about his heels, and huge startups upon his feet. He held bythe bridle what of all things they most wanted--a palfrey, namely, witha side-saddle, and all other garniture for a woman's mounting; and hehailed Wayland Smith with, "Zur, be ye zure the party?"

"Ay, that I be, my lad, " answered Wayland, without an instant'shesitation; and it must be owned that consciences trained in a stricterschool of morality might have given way to an occasion so tempting. While he spoke, he caught the rein out of the boy's hand, and almost atthe same time helped down the Countess from his own horse, and aidedher to mount on that which chance had thus presented for her acceptance. Indeed, so naturally did the whole take place, that the Countess, as itafterwards appeared, never suspected but that the horse had beenplaced there to meet them by the precaution of the guide or some of hisfriends. 

The lad, however, who was thus hastily dispossessed of his charge, beganto stare hard, and scratch his head, as if seized with some qualms ofconscience for delivering up the animal on such brief explanation. "Ibe right zure thou be'st the party, " said he, muttering to himself, "butthou shouldst ha zaid BEANS, thou knawest. "

"Ay, ay, " said Wayland, speaking at a venture; "and thou BACON, thouknowest. "

"Noa, noa, " said the lad; "bide ye--bide ye--it was PEAS a should hasaid. "

"Well, well, " answered Wayland, "Peas be it, a God's name! though Baconwere the better password. "

And being by this time mounted on his own horse, he caught the rein ofthe palfrey from the uncertain hold of the hesitating young boor, flunghim a small piece of money, and made amends for lost time by ridingbriskly off without further parley. The lad was still visible from thehill up which they were riding, and Wayland, as he looked back, beheldhim standing with his fingers in his hair as immovable as a guide-post, and his head turned in the direction in which they were escaping fromhim. At length, just as they topped the hill, he saw the clown stoop tolift up the silver groat which his benevolence had imparted. "Now thisis what I call a Godsend, " said Wayland; "this is a bonny, well-riddenbit of a going thing, and it will carry us so far till we get you aswell mounted, and then we will send it back time enough to satisfy theHue and Cry. "

But he was deceived in his expectations; and fate, which seemed at firstto promise so fairly, soon threatened to turn the incident which he thusgloried in into the cause of their utter ruin. 

They had not ridden a short mile from the place where they left thelad before they heard a man's voice shouting on the wind behind them, "Robbery! robbery!--Stop thief!" and similar exclamations, whichWayland's conscience readily assured him must arise out of thetransaction to which he had been just accessory. 

"I had better have gone barefoot all my life, " he said; "it is the Hueand Cry, and I am a lost man. Ah! Wayland, Wayland, many a time thyfather said horse-flesh would be the death of thee. Were I once safeamong the horse-coursers in Smithfield, or Turnbull Street, they shouldhave leave to hang me as high as St. Paul's if I e'er meddled more withnobles, knights, or gentlewomen. "

Amidst these dismal reflections, he turned his head repeatedly to see bywhom he was chased, and was much comforted when he could only discovera single rider, who was, however, well mounted, and came after them ata speed which left them no chance of escaping, even had the lady'sstrength permitted her to ride as fast as her palfrey might have beenable to gallop. 

"There may be fair play betwixt us, sure, " thought Wayland, "where thereis but one man on each side, and yonder fellow sits on his horse morelike a monkey than a cavalier. Pshaw! if it come to the worse, it willbe easy unhorsing him. Nay, 'snails! I think his horse will take thematter in his own hand, for he has the bridle betwixt his teeth. Oons, what care I for him?" said he, as the pursuer drew yet nearer; "it isbut the little animal of a mercer from Abingdon, when all is over. "

Even so it was, as the experienced eye of Wayland had descried at adistance. For the valiant mercer's horse, which was a beast of mettle, feeling himself put to his speed, and discerning a couple of horsesriding fast at some hundred yards' distance before him, betook himselfto the road with such alacrity as totally deranged the seat of hisrider, who not only came up with, but passed at full gallop, thosewhom he had been pursuing, pulling the reins with all his might, andejaculating, "Stop! stop!" an interjection which seemed rather toregard his own palfrey than what seamen call "the chase. " With the sameinvoluntary speed, he shot ahead (to use another nautical phrase) abouta furlong ere he was able to stop and turn his horse, and then rode backtowards our travellers, adjusting, as well as he could, his disordereddress, resettling himself in the saddle, and endeavouring to substitutea bold and martial frown for the confusion and dismay which sat upon hisvisage during his involuntary career. 

Wayland had just time to caution the lady not to be alarmed, adding, "This fellow is a gull, and I will use him as such. "

When the mercer had recovered breath and audacity enough to confrontthem, he ordered Wayland, in a menacing tone, to deliver up his palfrey. 

"How?" said the smith, in King Cambyses' vein, "are we commanded tostand and deliver on the king's highway? Then out, Excalibur, and tellthis knight of prowess that dire blows must decide between us!"

"Haro and help, and hue and cry, every true man!" said the mercer. "I amwithstood in seeking to recover mine own. "

"Thou swearest thy gods in vain, foul paynim, " said Wayland, "for Iwill through with mine purpose were death at the end on't. Nevertheless, know, thou false man of frail cambric and ferrateen, that I am he, eventhe pedlar, whom thou didst boast to meet on Maiden Castle moor, anddespoil of his pack; wherefore betake thee to thy weapons presently. "

"I spoke but in jest, man, " said Goldthred; "I am an honest shopkeeperand citizen, who scorns to leap forth on any man from behind a hedge. "

"Then, by my faith, most puissant mercer, " answered Wayland, "I am sorryfor my vow, which was, that wherever I met thee I would despoil thee ofthy palfrey, and bestow it upon my leman, unless thou couldst defend itby blows of force. But the vow is passed and registered, and all Ican do for thee is to leave the horse at Donnington, in the nearesthostelry. "

"But I tell thee, friend, " said the mercer, "it is the very horse onwhich I was this day to carry Jane Thackham, of Shottesbrok, as far asthe parish church yonder, to become Dame Goldthred. She hath jumped outof the shot-window of old Gaffer Thackham's grange; and lo ye, yondershe stands at the place where she should have met the palfrey, withher camlet riding-cloak and ivory-handled whip, like a picture of Lot'swife. I pray you, in good terms, let me have back the palfrey. "

"Grieved am I, " said Wayland, "as much for the fair damsel as for thee, most noble imp of muslin. But vows must have their course; thou wiltfind the palfrey at the Angel yonder at Donnington. It is all I may dofor thee with a safe conscience. "

"To the devil with thy conscience!" said the dismayed mercer. "Wouldstthou have a bride walk to church on foot?"

"Thou mayest take her on thy crupper, Sir Goldthred, " answered Wayland;"it will take down thy steed's mettle. "

"And how if you--if you forget to leave my horse, as you propose?" saidGoldthred, not without hesitation, for his soul was afraid within him. 

"My pack shall be pledged for it--yonder it lies with Giles Gosling, in his chamber with the damasked leathern hangings, stuffed full withvelvet, single, double, treble-piled--rash-taffeta, and parapa--shag, damask, and mocado, plush, and grogram--"

"Hold! hold!" exclaimed the mercer; "nay, if there be, in truth andsincerity, but the half of these wares--but if ever I trust bumpkin withbonny Bayard again!"

"As you list for that, good Master Goldthred, and so good morrow toyou--and well parted, " he added, riding on cheerfully with the lady, while the discountenanced mercer rode back much slower than he came, pondering what excuse he should make to the disappointed bride, whostood waiting for her gallant groom in the midst of the king's highway. 

"Methought, " said the lady, as they rode on, "yonder fool stared at meas if he had some remembrance of me; yet I kept my muffler as high as Imight. "

"If I thought so, " said Wayland, "I would ride back and cut him over thepate; there would be no fear of harming his brains, for he never hadso much as would make pap to a sucking gosling. We must now push on, however, and at Donnington we will leave the oaf's horse, that he mayhave no further temptation to pursue us, and endeavour to assume such achange of shape as may baffle his pursuit if he should persevere in it. "

The travellers reached Donnington without further alarm, where it becamematter of necessity that the Countess should enjoy two or three hours'repose, during which Wayland disposed himself, with equal address andalacrity, to carry through those measures on which the safety of theirfuture journey seemed to depend. 

Exchanging his pedlar's gaberdine for a smock-frock, he carried thepalfrey of Goldthred to the Angel Inn, which was at the other end of thevillage from that where our travellers had taken up their quarters. Inthe progress of the morning, as he travelled about his other business, he saw the steed brought forth and delivered to the cutting mercerhimself, who, at the head of a valorous posse of the Hue and Cry, cameto rescue, by force of arms, what was delivered to him without anyother ransom than the price of a huge quantity of ale, drunk out by hisassistants, thirsty, it would seem, with their walk, and concerningthe price of which Master Goldthred had a fierce dispute with theheadborough, whom he had summoned to aid him in raising the country. 

Having made this act of prudent as well as just restitution, Waylandprocured such change of apparel for the lady, as well as himself, asgave them both the appearance of country people of the better class; itbeing further resolved, that in order to attract the less observation, she should pass upon the road for the sister of her guide. A good butnot a gay horse, fit to keep pace with his own, and gentle enough fora lady's use, completed the preparations for the journey; for makingwhich, and for other expenses, he had been furnished with sufficientfunds by Tressilian. And thus, about noon, after the Countess had beenrefreshed by the sound repose of several hours, they resumed theirjourney, with the purpose of making the best of their way to Kenilworth, by Coventry and Warwick. They were not, however, destined to travel farwithout meeting some cause of apprehension. 

It is necessary to premise that the landlord of the inn had informedthem that a jovial party, intended, as he understood, to present someof the masques or mummeries which made a part of the entertainment withwhich the Queen was usually welcomed on the royal Progresses, had leftthe village of Donnington an hour or two before them in order toproceed to Kenilworth. Now it had occurred to Wayland that, by attachingthemselves in some sort to this group as soon as they should overtakethem on the road, they would be less likely to attract notice than ifthey continued to travel entirely by themselves. He communicated hisidea to the Countess, who, only anxious to arrive at Kenilworth withoutinterruption, left him free to choose the manner in which this was tobe accomplished. They pressed forward their horses, therefore, with thepurpose of overtaking the party of intended revellers, and making thejourney in their company; and had just seen the little party, consistingpartly of riders, partly of people on foot, crossing the summit of agentle hill, at about half a mile's distance, and disappearing onthe other side, when Wayland, who maintained the most circumspectobservation of all that met his eye in every direction, was aware thata rider was coming up behind them on a horse of uncommon action, accompanied by a serving-man, whose utmost efforts were unable to keepup with his master's trotting hackney, and who, therefore, was fainto follow him at a hand gallop. Wayland looked anxiously back at thesehorsemen, became considerably disturbed in his manner, looked backagain, and became pale, as he said to the lady, "That is RichardVarney's trotting gelding; I would know him among a thousand nags. Thisis a worse business than meeting the mercer. "

"Draw your sword, " answered the lady, "and pierce my bosom with it, rather than I should fall into his hands!"

"I would rather by a thousand times, " answered Wayland, "pass it throughhis body, or even mine own. But to say truth, fighting is not my bestpoint, though I can look on cold iron like another when needs must be. And indeed, as for my sword--(put on, I pray you)--it is a poor Provantrapier, and I warrant you he has a special Toledo. He has a serving-man, too, and I think it is the drunken ruffian Lambourne! upon the horse onwhich men say--(I pray you heartily to put on)--he did the great robberyof the west country grazier. It is not that I fear either Varney orLambourne in a good cause--(your palfrey will go yet faster if you urgehim)--but yet--(nay, I pray you let him not break off into a gallop, lest they should see we fear them, and give chase--keep him only at thefull trot)--but yet, though I fear them not, I would we were well ridof them, and that rather by policy than by violence. Could we once reachthe party before us, we may herd among them, and pass unobserved, unlessVarney be really come in express pursuit of us, and then, happy man behis dole!"

While he thus spoke, he alternately urged and restrained his horse, desirous to maintain the fleetest pace that was consistent with theidea of an ordinary journey on the road, but to avoid such rapidity ofmovement as might give rise to suspicion that they were flying. 

At such a pace they ascended the gentle hill we have mentioned, andlooking from the top, had the pleasure to see that the party which hadleft Donnington before them were in the little valley or bottom on theother side, where the road was traversed by a rivulet, beside which wasa cottage or two. In this place they seemed to have made a pause, whichgave Wayland the hope of joining them, and becoming a part of theircompany, ere Varney should overtake them. He was the more anxious, ashis companion, though she made no complaints, and expressed no fear, began to look so deadly pale that he was afraid she might drop from herhorse. Notwithstanding this symptom of decaying strength, she pushed onher palfrey so briskly that they joined the party in the bottom of thevalley ere Varney appeared on the top of the gentle eminence which theyhad descended. 

They found the company to which they meant to associate themselves ingreat disorder. The women with dishevelled locks, and looks of greatimportance, ran in and out of one of the cottages, and the men stoodaround holding the horses, and looking silly enough, as is usual incases where their assistance is not wanted. 

Wayland and his charge paused, as if out of curiosity, and thengradually, without making any inquiries, or being asked any questions, they mingled with the group, as if they had always made part of it. 

They had not stood there above five minutes, anxiously keeping as muchto the side of the road as possible, so as to place the other travellersbetwixt them and Varney, when Lord Leicester's master of the horse, followed by Lambourne, came riding fiercely down the hill, their horses'flanks and the rowels of their spurs showing bloody tokens of the rateat which they travelled. The appearance of the stationary group aroundthe cottages, wearing their buckram suits in order to protect theirmasking dresses, having their light cart for transporting their scenery, and carrying various fantastic properties in their hands for the moreeasy conveyance, let the riders at once into the character and purposeof the company. 

"You are revellers, " said Varney, "designing for Kenilworth?"

"RECTE QUIDEM, DOMINE SPECTATISSIME, " answered one of the party. 

"And why the devil stand you here?" said Varney, "when your utmostdispatch will but bring you to Kenilworth in time? The Queen dines atWarwick to-morrow, and you loiter here, ye knaves. "

"I very truth, sir, " said a little, diminutive urchin, wearing a vizardwith a couple of sprouting horns of an elegant scarlet hue, having, moreover, a black serge jerkin drawn close to his body by lacing, garnished with red stockings, and shoes so shaped as to resemble clovenfeet--"in very truth, sir, and you are in the right on't. It is myfather the Devil, who, being taken in labour, has delayed our presentpurpose, by increasing our company with an imp too many. "

"The devil he has!" answered Varney, whose laugh, however, neverexceeded a sarcastic smile. 

"It is even as the juvenal hath said, " added the masker who spoke first;"Our major devil--for this is but our minor one--is even now at LUCINA, FER OPEM, within that very TUGURIUM. "

"By Saint George, or rather by the Dragon, who may be a kinsman of thefiend in the straw, a most comical chance!" said Varney. "How sayestthou, Lambourne, wilt thou stand godfather for the nonce? If the devilwere to choose a gossip, I know no one more fit for the office. "

"Saving always when my betters are in presence, " said Lambourne, with the civil impudence of a servant who knows his services to be soindispensable that his jest will be permitted to pass muster. 

"And what is the name of this devil, or devil's dam, who has timed herturns so strangely?" said Varney. "We can ill afford to spare any of ouractors. "

"GAUDET NOMINE SIBYLLAE, " said the first speaker; "she is called SibylLaneham, wife of Master Robert Laneham--"

"Clerk to the Council-chamber door, " said Varney; "why, she isinexcusable, having had experience how to have ordered her mattersbetter. But who were those, a man and a woman, I think, who rode sohastily up the hill before me even now? Do they belong to your company?"

Wayland was about to hazard a reply to this alarming inquiry, when thelittle diablotin again thrust in his oar. 

"So please you, " he said, coming close up to Varney, and speaking so asnot to be overheard by his companions, "the man was our devil major, whohas tricks enough to supply the lack of a hundred such as Dame Laneham;and the woman, if you please, is the sage person whose assistance ismost particularly necessary to our distressed comrade. "

"Oh, what! you have got the wise woman, then?" said Varney. "Why, truly, she rode like one bound to a place where she was needed. And you have aspare limb of Satan, besides, to supply the place of Mistress Laneham?"

"Ay, sir, " said the boy; "they are not so scarce in this world as yourhonour's virtuous eminence would suppose. This master-fiend shall spit afew flashes of fire, and eruct a volume or two of smoke on the spot, ifit will do you pleasure--you would think he had AEtna in his abdomen. "

"I lack time just now, most hopeful imp of darkness, to witness hisperformance, " said Varney; "but here is something for you all to drinkthe lucky hour--and so, as the play says, 'God be with Your labour!'"

Thus speaking, he struck his horse with the spurs, and rode on his way. 

Lambourne tarried a moment or two behind his master, and rummaged hispouch for a piece of silver, which he bestowed on the communicative imp, as he said, for his encouragement on his path to the infernal regions, some sparks of whose fire, he said, he could discover flashing from himalready. Then having received the boy's thanks for his generosity healso spurred his horse, and rode after his master as fast as the fireflashes from flint. 

"And now, " said the wily imp, sidling close up to Wayland's horse, and cutting a gambol in the air which seemed to vindicate his title torelationship with the prince of that element, "I have told them who YOUare, do you in return tell me who I am?"

"Either Flibbertigibbet, " answered Wayland Smith, "or else an imp of thedevil in good earnest. "

"Thou hast hit it, " answered Dickie Sludge. "I am thine ownFlibbertigibbet, man; and I have broken forth of bounds, along with mylearned preceptor, as I told thee I would do, whether he would or not. But what lady hast thou got with thee? I saw thou wert at fault thefirst question was asked, and so I drew up for thy assistance. But Imust know all who she is, dear Wayland. "

"Thou shalt know fifty finer things, my dear ingle, " said Wayland;"but a truce to thine inquiries just now. And since you are bound forKenilworth, thither will I too, even for the love of thy sweet face andwaggish company. "

"Thou shouldst have said my waggish face and sweet company, " saidDickie; "but how wilt thou travel with us--I mean in what character?"

"E'en in that thou hast assigned me, to be sure--as a juggler; thouknowest I am used to the craft, " answered Wayland. 

"Ay, but the lady?" answered Flibbertigibbet. "Credit me, I think she ISone and thou art in a sea of troubles about her at this moment, as I canperceive by thy fidgeting. "

"Oh, she, man!--she is a poor sister of mine, " said Wayland; "she cansing and play o' the lute would win the fish out o' the stream. "

"Let me hear her instantly, " said the boy, "I love the lute rarely; Ilove it of all things, though I never heard it. "

"Then how canst thou love it, Flibbertigibbet?" said Wayland. 

"As knights love ladies in old tales, " answered Dickie--"on hearsay. "

"Then love it on hearsay a little longer, till my sister is recoveredfrom the fatigue of her journey, " said Wayland; muttering afterwardsbetwixt his teeth, "The devil take the imp's curiosity! I must keep fairweather with him, or we shall fare the worse. "

He then proceeded to state to Master Holiday his own talents as ajuggler, with those of his sister as a musician. Some proof of hisdexterity was demanded, which he gave in such a style of excellence, that, delighted at obtaining such an accession to their party, theyreadily acquiesced in the apology which he offered when a display of hissister's talents was required. The new-comers were invited to partakeof the refreshments with which the party were provided; and it was withsome difficulty that Wayland Smith obtained an opportunity of beingapart with his supposed sister during the meal, of which interval heavailed himself to entreat her to forget for the present both herrank and her sorrows, and condescend, as the most probable chance ofremaining concealed, to mix in the society of those with whom she was totravel. 

The Countess allowed the necessity of the case, and when they resumedtheir journey, endeavoured to comply with her guide's advice, byaddressing herself to a female near her, and expressing her concern forthe woman whom they were thus obliged to leave behind them. 

"Oh, she is well attended, madam, " replied the dame whom she addressed, who, from her jolly and laughter-loving demeanour, might have been thevery emblem of the Wife of Bath; "and my gossip Laneham thinks as littleof these matters as any one. By the ninth day, an the revels last solong, we shall have her with us at Kenilworth, even if she should travelwith her bantling on her back. "

There was something in this speech which took away all desire on theCountess of Leicester's part to continue the conversation. But havingbroken the charm by speaking to her fellow-traveller first, the gooddame, who was to play Rare Gillian of Croydon in one of the interludes, took care that silence did not again settle on the journey, butentertained her mute companion with a thousand anecdotes of revels, fromthe days of King Harry downwards, with the reception given them bythe great folk, and all the names of those who played the principalcharacters; but ever concluding with "they would be nothing to theprincely pleasures of Kenilworth. "

"And when shall we reach Kenilworth? said the Countess, with anagitation which she in vain attempted to conceal. 

"We that have horses may, with late riding, get to Warwick to-night, andKenilworth may be distant some four or five miles. But then we mustwait till the foot-people come up; although it is like my good Lord ofLeicester will have horses or light carriages to meet them, and bringthem up without being travel-toiled, which last is no good preparation, as you may suppose, for dancing before your betters. And yet, Lord helpme, I have seen the day I would have tramped five leagues of lea-land, and turned an my toe the whole evening after, as a juggler spins apewter platter on the point of a needle. But age has clawed me somewhatin his clutch, as the song says; though, if I like the tune and likemy partner, I'll dance the hays yet with any merry lass in Warwickshirethat writes that unhappy figure four with a round O after it. "

If the Countess was overwhelmed with the garrulity of this good dame, Wayland Smith, on his part, had enough to do to sustain and parry theconstant attacks made upon him by the indefatigable curiosity of hisold acquaintance Richard Sludge. Nature had given that arch youngster aprying cast of disposition, which matched admirably with his sharp wit;the former inducing him to plant himself as a spy on other people'saffairs, and the latter quality leading him perpetually to interfere, after he had made himself master of that which concerned him not. He spent the livelong day in attempting to peer under the Countess'smuffler, and apparently what he could there discern greatly sharpenedhis curiosity. 

"That sister of thine, Wayland, " he said, "has a fair neck to have beenborn in a smithy, and a pretty taper hand to have been used for twirlinga spindle--faith, I'll believe in your relationship when the crow's eggis hatched into a cygnet. "

"Go to, " said Wayland, "thou art a prating boy, and should be breechedfor thine assurance. "

"Well, " said the imp, drawing off, "all I say is--remember you have kepta secret from me, and if I give thee not a Roland for thine Oliver, myname is not Dickon Sludge!"

This threat, and the distance at which Hobgoblin kept from him for therest of the way, alarmed Wayland very much, and he suggested to hispretended sister that, on pretext of weariness, she should express adesire to stop two or three miles short of the fair town of Warwick, promising to rejoin the troop in the morning. A small village innafforded them a resting-place, and it was with secret pleasure thatWayland saw the whole party, including Dickon, pass on, after acourteous farewell, and leave them behind. 

"To-morrow, madam, " he said to his charge, "we will, with your leave, again start early, and reach Kenilworth before the rout which are toassemble there. "

The Countess gave assent to the proposal of her faithful guide; but, somewhat to his surprise, said nothing further on the subject, whichleft Wayland under the disagreeable uncertainty whether or no she hadformed any plan for her own future proceedings, as he knew her situationdemanded circumspection, although he was but imperfectly acquainted withall its peculiarities. Concluding, however, that she must have friendswithin the castle, whose advice and assistance she could safely trust, he supposed his task would be best accomplished by conducting herthither in safety, agreeably to her repeated commands. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

 Hark, the bells summon, and the bugle calls, But she the fairest answers not--the tide Of nobles and of ladies throngs the halls, But she the loveliest must in secret hide. What eyes were thine, proud Prince, which in the gleam Of yon gay meteors lost that better sense, That o'er the glow-worm doth the star esteem, And merit's modest blush o'er courtly insolence? --THE GLASS SLIPPER. 

The unfortunate Countess of Leicester had, from her infancy upwards, been treated by those around her with indulgence as unbounded asinjudicious. The natural sweetness of her disposition had saved her frombecoming insolent and ill-humoured; but the caprice which preferredthe handsome and insinuating Leicester before Tressilian, of whose highhonour and unalterable affection she herself entertained so firm anopinion--that fatal error, which ruined the happiness of her life, hadits origin in the mistaken kindness; that had spared her childhood thepainful but most necessary lesson of submission and self-command. Fromthe same indulgence it followed that she had only been accustomed toform and to express her wishes, leaving to others the task of fulfillingthem; and thus, at the most momentous period of her life, she was alikedestitute of presence of mind, and of ability to form for herself anyreasonable or prudent plan of conduct. 

These difficulties pressed on the unfortunate lady with overwhelmingforce on the morning which seemed to be the crisis of her fate. Overlooking every intermediate consideration, she had only desired to beat Kenilworth, and to approach her husband's presence; and now, whenshe was in the vicinity of both, a thousand considerations arose at onceupon her mind, startling her with accumulated doubts and dangers, somereal, some imaginary, and all exalted and exaggerated by a situationalike helpless and destitute of aid and counsel. 

A sleepless night rendered her so weak in the morning that she wasaltogether unable to attend Wayland's early summons. The trusty guidebecame extremely distressed on the lady's account, and somewhat alarmedon his own, and was on the point of going alone to Kenilworth, inthe hope of discovering Tressilian, and intimating to him the lady'sapproach, when about nine in the morning he was summoned to attend her. He found her dressed, and ready for resuming her journey, but with apaleness of countenance which alarmed him for her health. She intimatedher desire that the horses might be got instantly ready, and resistedwith impatience her guide's request that she would take some refreshmentbefore setting forward. "I have had, " she said, "a cup of water--thewretch who is dragged to execution needs no stronger cordial, and thatmay serve me which suffices for him. Do as I command you. " Wayland Smithstill hesitated. "What would you have?" said she. "Have I not spokenplainly?"

"Yes, madam, " answered Wayland; "but may I ask what is your furtherpurpose? I only wish to know, that I may guide myself by your wishes. The whole country is afloat, and streaming towards the Castle ofKenilworth. It will be difficult travelling thither, even if we had thenecessary passports for safe-conduct and free admittance; unknownand unfriended, we may come by mishap. Your ladyship will forgive myspeaking my poor mind--were we not better try to find out the maskers, and again join ourselves with them?" The Countess shook her head, andher guide proceeded, "Then I see but one other remedy. "

"Speak out, then, " said the lady, not displeased, perhaps, that heshould thus offer the advice which she was ashamed to ask; "I believethee faithful--what wouldst thou counsel?"

"That I should warn Master Tressilian, " said Wayland, "that you are inthis place. I am right certain he would get to horse with a few of LordSussex's followers, and ensure your personal safety. "

"And is it to ME you advise, " said the Countess, "to put myself underthe protection of Sussex, the unworthy rival of the noble Leicester?"Then, seeing the surprise with which Wayland stared upon her, and afraidof having too strongly intimated her interest in Leicester, she added, "And for Tressilian, it must not be--mention not to him, I charge you, my unhappy name; it would but double MY misfortunes, and involve HIM indangers beyond the power of rescue. " She paused; but when she observedthat Wayland continued to look on her with that anxious and uncertaingaze which indicated a doubt whether her brain was settled, she assumedan air of composure, and added, "Do thou but guide me to KenilworthCastle, good fellow, and thy task is ended, since I will then judge whatfurther is to be done. Thou hast yet been true to me--here is somethingthat will make thee rich amends. "

She offered the artist a ring containing a valuable stone. Waylandlooked at it, hesitated a moment, and then returned it. "Not, " he said, "that I am above your kindness, madam, being but a poor fellow, who havebeen forced, God help me! to live by worse shifts than the bounty ofsuch a person as you. But, as my old master the farrier used to say tohis customers, 'No cure, no pay. ' We are not yet in Kenilworth Castle, and it is time enough to discharge your guide, as they say, when youtake your boots off. I trust in God your ladyship is as well assured offitting reception when you arrive, as you may hold yourself certainof my best endeavours to conduct you thither safely. I go to get thehorses; meantime, let me pray you once more, as your poor physician aswell as guide, to take some sustenance. "

"I will--I will, " said the lady hastily. "Begone, begone instantly!--Itis in vain I assume audacity, " said she, when he left the room; "eventhis poor groom sees through my affectation of courage, and fathoms thevery ground of my fears. "

She then attempted to follow her guide's advice by taking some food, butwas compelled to desist, as the effort to swallow even a single morselgave her so much uneasiness as amounted well-nigh to suffocation. Amoment afterwards the horses appeared at the latticed window. The ladymounted, and found that relief from the free air and change of placewhich is frequently experienced in similar circumstances. 

It chanced well for the Countess's purpose that Wayland Smith, whoseprevious wandering and unsettled life had made him acquainted withalmost all England, was intimate with all the byroads, as well as directcommunications, through the beautiful county of Warwick. For such and sogreat was the throng which flocked in all directions towards Kenilworth, to see the entry of Elizabeth into that splendid mansion of her primefavourite, that the principal roads were actually blocked up andinterrupted, and it was only by circuitous by-paths that the travellerscould proceed on their journey. 

The Queen's purveyors had been abroad, sweeping the farms and villagesof those articles usually exacted during a royal Progress, and for whichthe owners were afterwards to obtain a tardy payment from the Boardof Green Cloth. The Earl of Leicester's household officers had beenscouring the country for the same purpose; and many of his friends andallies, both near and remote, took this opportunity of ingratiatingthemselves by sending large quantities of provisions and delicaciesof all kinds, with game in huge numbers, and whole tuns of the bestliquors, foreign and domestic. Thus the highroads were filled withdroves of bullocks, sheep, calves, and hogs, and choked with loadedwains, whose axle-trees cracked under their burdens of wine-casks andhogsheads of ale, and huge hampers of grocery goods, and slaughteredgame, and salted provisions, and sacks of flour. Perpetual stoppagestook place as these wains became entangled; and their rude drivers, swearing and brawling till their wild passions were fully raised, beganto debate precedence with their wagon-whips and quarterstaves, whichoccasional riots were usually quieted by a purveyor, deputy-marshal'sman, or some other person in authority, breaking the heads of bothparties. 

Here were, besides, players and mummers, jugglers and showmen, of everydescription, traversing in joyous bands the paths which led to thePalace of Princely Pleasure; for so the travelling minstrels had termedKenilworth in the songs which already had come forth in anticipation ofthe revels which were there expected. In the midst of this motley show, mendicants were exhibiting their real or pretended miseries, forming astrange though common contrast betwixt the vanities and the sorrowsof human existence. All these floated along with the immense tideof population whom mere curiosity had drawn together; and where themechanic, in his leathern apron, elbowed the dink and dainty dame, hiscity mistress; where clowns, with hobnailed shoes, were treading on thekibes of substantial burghers and gentlemen of worship; and where Joanof the dairy, with robust pace, and red, sturdy arms, rowed her wayunward, amongst those prim and pretty moppets whose sires were knightsand squires. 

The throng and confusion was, however, of a gay and cheerful character. All came forth to see and to enjoy, and all laughed at the triflinginconveniences which at another time might have chafed their temper. Excepting the occasional brawls which we have mentioned among thatirritable race the carmen, the mingled sounds which arose from themultitude were those of light-hearted mirth and tiptoe jollity. Themusicians preluded on their instruments--the minstrels hummed theirsongs--the licensed jester whooped betwixt mirth and madness, as hebrandished his bauble--the morrice-dancers jangled their bells--therustics hallooed and whistled-men laughed loud, and maidens giggledshrill; while many a broad jest flew like a shuttlecock from one party, to be caught in the air and returned from the opposite side of the roadby another, at which it was aimed. 

No infliction can be so distressing to a mind absorbed in melancholy, as being plunged into a scene of mirth and revelry, forming anaccompaniment so dissonant from its own feelings. Yet, in the case ofthe Countess of Leicester, the noise and tumult of this giddy scenedistracted her thoughts, and rendered her this sad service, thatit became impossible for her to brood on her own misery, or to formterrible anticipations of her approaching fate. She travelled on likeone in a dream, following implicitly the guidance of Wayland, who, with great address, now threaded his way through the general throng ofpassengers, now stood still until a favourable opportunity occurredof again moving forward, and frequently turning altogether out of thedirect road, followed some circuitous bypath, which brought them intothe highway again, after having given them the opportunity of traversinga considerable way with greater ease and rapidity. 

It was thus he avoided Warwick, within whose Castle (that fairestmonument of ancient and chivalrous splendour which yet remains uninjuredby time) Elizabeth had passed the previous night, and where she wasto tarry until past noon, at that time the general hour of dinnerthroughout England, after which repast she was to proceed to Kenilworth, In the meanwhile, each passing group had something to say in theSovereign's praise, though not absolutely without the usual mixtureof satire which qualifies more or less our estimate of our neighbours, especially if they chance to be also our betters. 

"Heard you, " said one, "how graciously she spoke to Master Bailiff andthe Recorder, and to good Master Griffin the preacher, as they kneeleddown at her coach-window?"

"Ay, and how she said to little Aglionby, 'Master Recorder, men wouldhave persuaded me that you were afraid of me, but truly I think, so welldid you reckon up to me the virtues of a sovereign, that I have morereason to be afraid of you. ' and then with what grace she took thefair-wrought purse with the twenty gold sovereigns, seeming as thoughshe would not willingly handle it, and yet taking it withal. "

"Ay, ay, " said another, "her fingers closed on it pretty willinglymethought, when all was done; and methought, too, she weighed them for asecond in her hand, as she would say, I hope they be avoirdupois. "

"She needed not, neighbour, " said a third; "it is only when thecorporation pay the accounts of a poor handicraft like me, that they puthim off with clipped coin. Well, there is a God above all--little MasterRecorder, since that is the word, will be greater now than ever. "

"Come, good neighbour, " said the first speaker "be not envious. She isa good Queen, and a generous; she gave the purse to the Earl ofLeicester. "

"I envious?--beshrew thy heart for the word!" replied the handicraft. "But she will give all to the Earl of Leicester anon, methinks. "

"You are turning ill, lady, " said Wayland Smith to the Countess ofLeicester, and proposed that she should draw off from the road, and halttill she recovered. But, subduing her feelings at this and differentspeeches to the same purpose, which caught her ear as they passed on, she insisted that her guide should proceed to Kenilworth with allthe haste which the numerous impediments of their journey permitted. Meanwhile, Wayland's anxiety at her repeated fits of indisposition, andher obvious distraction of mind, was hourly increasing, and he becameextremely desirous that, according to her reiterated requests, sheshould be safely introduced into the Castle, where, he doubted not, shewas secure of a kind reception, though she seemed unwilling to reveal onwhom she reposed her hopes. 

"An I were once rid of this peril, " thought he, "and if any man shallfind me playing squire of the body to a damosel-errant, he shall haveleave to beat my brains out with my own sledge-hammer!"

At length the princely Castle appeared, upon improving which, and thedomains around, the Earl of Leicester had, it is said, expended sixtythousand pounds sterling, a sum equal to half a million of our presentmoney. 

The outer wall of this splendid and gigantic structure enclosed sevenacres, a part of which was occupied by extensive stables, and by apleasure garden, with its trim arbours and parterres, and the restformed the large base-court or outer yard of the noble Castle. Thelordly structure itself, which rose near the centre of this spaciousenclosure, was composed of a huge pile of magnificent castellatedbuildings, apparently of different ages, surrounding an inner court, andbearing in the names attached to each portion of the magnificent mass, and in the armorial bearings which were there blazoned, the emblemsof mighty chiefs who had long passed away, and whose history, couldAmbition have lent ear to it, might have read a lesson to the haughtyfavourite who had now acquired and was augmenting the fair domain. Alarge and massive Keep, which formed the citadel of the Castle, was ofuncertain though great antiquity. It bore the name of Caesar, perhapsfrom its resemblance to that in the Tower of London so called. Someantiquaries ascribe its foundation to the time of Kenelph, from whom theCastle had its name, a Saxon King of Mercia, and others to an early eraafter the Norman Conquest. On the exterior walls frowned the scutcheonof the Clintons, by whom they were founded in the reign of Henry I. ; andof the yet more redoubted Simon de Montfort, by whom, during the Barons'wars, Kenilworth was long held out against Henry III. Here Mortimer, Earl of March, famous alike for his rise and his fall, had once gailyrevelled in Kenilworth, while his dethroned sovereign, EdwardII. , languished in its dungeons. Old John of Gaunt, "time-honouredLancaster, " had widely extended the Castle, erecting that noble andmassive pile which yet bears the name of Lancaster's Buildings; andLeicester himself had outdone the former possessors, princely andpowerful as they were, by erecting another immense structure, which nowlies crushed under its own ruins, the monument of its owner's ambition. The external wall of this royal Castle was, on the south and west sides, adorned and defended by a lake partly artificial, across which Leicesterhad constructed a stately bridge, that Elizabeth might enter the Castleby a path hitherto untrodden, instead of the usual entrance to thenorthward, over which he had erected a gatehouse or barbican, whichstill exists, and is equal in extent, and superior in architecture, tothe baronial castle of many a northern chief. 

Beyond the lake lay an extensive chase, full of red deer, fallow deer, roes, and every species of game, and abounding with lofty trees, fromamongst which the extended front and massive towers of the Castle wereseen to rise in majesty and beauty. We cannot but add, that of thislordly palace, where princes feasted and heroes fought, now in thebloody earnest of storm and siege, and now in the games of chivalry, where beauty dealt the prize which valour won, all is now desolate. The bed of the lake is but a rushy swamp; and the massive ruins of theCastle only serve to show what their splendour once was, and to impresson the musing visitor the transitory value of human possessions, and thehappiness of those who enjoy a humble lot in virtuous contentment. 

It was with far different feelings that the unfortunate Countess ofLeicester viewed those grey and massive towers, when she first beheldthem rise above the embowering and richly-shaded woods, over whichthey seemed to preside. She, the undoubted wife of the great Earl, ofElizabeth's minion, and England's mighty favourite, was approachingthe presence of her husband, and that husband's sovereign, under theprotection, rather than the guidance, of a poor juggler; and thoughunquestioned Mistress of that proud Castle, whose lightest word oughtto have had force sufficient to make its gates leap from their massivehinges to receive her, yet she could not conceal from herself thedifficulty and peril which she must experience in gaining admission intoher own halls. 

The risk and difficulty, indeed, seemed to increase every moment, andat length threatened altogether to put a stop to her further progress atthe great gate leading to a broad and fair road, which, traversing thebreadth of the chase for the space of two miles, and commanding severalmost beautiful views of the Castle and lake, terminated at the newlyconstructed bridge, to which it was an appendage, and which was destinedto form the Queen's approach to the Castle on that memorable occasion. 

Here the Countess and Wayland found the gate at the end of this avenue, which opened on the Warwick road, guarded by a body of the Queen'smounted yeomen of the guard, armed in corselets richly carved andgilded, and wearing morions instead of bonnets, having their carabinesresting with the butt-end on their thighs. These guards, distinguishedfor strength and stature, who did duty wherever the Queen went inperson, were here stationed under the direction of a pursuivant, gracedwith the Bear and Ragged Staff on his arm, as belonging to the Earl ofLeicester, and peremptorily refused all admittance, excepting to such aswere guests invited to the festival, or persons who were to perform somepart in the mirthful exhibitions which were proposed. 

The press was of consequence great around the entrance, and personsof all kinds presented every sort of plea for admittance; to which theguards turned an inexorable ear, pleading, in return to fair words, and even to fair offers, the strictness of their orders, founded on theQueen's well-known dislike to the rude pressing of a multitude. Withthose whom such reasons did not serve they dealt more rudely, repellingthem without ceremony by the pressure of their powerful, barbed horses, and good round blows from the stock of their carabines. These lastmanoeuvres produced undulations amongst the crowd, which renderedWayland much afraid that he might perforce be separated from his chargein the throng. Neither did he know what excuse to make in order toobtain admittance, and he was debating the matter in his head with greatuncertainty, when the Earl's pursuivant, having cast an eye upon him, exclaimed, to his no small surprise, "Yeomen, make room for the fellowin the orange-tawny cloak. --Come forward, Sir Coxcomb, and make haste. What, in the fiend's name, has kept you waiting? Come forward with yourbale of woman's gear. "

While the pursuivant gave Wayland this pressing yet uncourteousinvitation, which, for a minute or two, he could not imagine was appliedto him, the yeomen speedily made a free passage for him, while, onlycautioning his companion to keep the muffler close around her face, heentered the gate leading her palfrey, but with such a drooping crest, and such a look of conscious fear and anxiety, that the crowd, notgreatly pleased at any rate with the preference bestowed upon them, accompanied their admission with hooting and a loud laugh of derision. 

Admitted thus within the chase, though with no very flattering noticeor distinction, Wayland and his charge rode forward, musing whatdifficulties it would be next their lot to encounter, through thebroad avenue, which was sentinelled on either side by a long line ofretainers, armed with swords, and partisans richly dressed in the Earlof Leicester's liveries, and bearing his cognizance of the Bear andRagged Staff, each placed within three paces of each other, so as toline the whole road from the entrance into the park to the bridge. And, indeed, when the lady obtained the first commanding view of the Castle, with its stately towers rising from within a long, sweeping line ofoutward walls, ornamented with battlements and turrets and platforms atevery point of defence, with many a banner streaming from its walls, andsuch a bustle of gay crests and waving plumes disposed on the terracesand battlements, and all the gay and gorgeous scene, her heart, unaccustomed to such splendour, sank as if it died within her, and for amoment she asked herself what she had offered up to Leicester to deserveto become the partner of this princely splendour. But her pride andgenerous spirit resisted the whisper which bade her despair. 

"I have given him, " she said, "all that woman has to give. Name andfame, heart and hand, have I given the lord of all this magnificenceat the altar, and England's Queen could give him no more. He is myhusband--I am his wife--whom God hath joined, man cannot sunder. Iwill be bold in claiming my right; even the bolder, that I come thusunexpected, and thus forlorn. I know my noble Dudley well! He will besomething impatient at my disobeying him, but Amy will weep, and Dudleywill forgive her. "

These meditations were interrupted by a cry of surprise from her guideWayland, who suddenly felt himself grasped firmly round the body by apair of long, thin black arms, belonging to some one who had droppedhimself out of an oak tree upon the croup of his horse, amidst theshouts of laughter which burst from the sentinels. 

"This must be the devil, or Flibbertigibbet again!" said Wayland, aftera vain struggle to disengage himself, and unhorse the urchin who clungto him; "do Kenilworth oaks bear such acorns?"

"In sooth do they, Master Wayland, " said his unexpected adjunct, "andmany others, too hard for you to crack, for as old as you are, withoutmy teaching you. How would you have passed the pursuivant at the uppergate yonder, had not I warned him our principal juggler was to followus? And here have I waited for you, having clambered up into the treefrom the top of the wain; and I suppose they are all mad for want of meby this time. "

"Nay, then, thou art a limb of the devil in good earnest, " said Wayland. "I give thee way, good imp, and will walk by thy counsel; only, as thouart powerful be merciful. "

As he spoke, they approached a strong tower, at the south extremity ofthe long bridge we have mentioned, which served to protect the outergateway of the Castle of Kenilworth. 

Under such disastrous circumstances, and in such singular company, didthe unfortunate Countess of Leicester approach, for the first time, themagnificent abode of her almost princely husband. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

 SNUG. Have you the lion's part written? pray, if it be, give it me, for I am slow of study. QUINCE. You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring. --MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. 

When the Countess of Leicester arrived at the outer gate of the Castleof Kenilworth, she found the tower, beneath which its ample portal archopened, guarded in a singular manner. Upon the battlements were placedgigantic warders, with clubs, battle-axes, and other implements ofancient warfare, designed to represent the soldiers of King Arthur;those primitive Britons, by whom, according to romantic tradition, the Castle had been first tenanted, though history carried back itsantiquity only to the times of the Heptarchy. 

Some of these tremendous figures were real men, dressed up with vizardsand buskins; others were mere pageants composed of pasteboard andbuckram, which, viewed from beneath, and mingled with those thatwere real, formed a sufficiently striking representation of what wasintended. But the gigantic porter who waited at the gate beneath, andactually discharged the duties of warder, owed none of his terrors tofictitious means. We was a man whose huge stature, thews, sinews, andbulk in proportion, would have enabled him to enact Colbrand, Ascapart, or any other giant of romance, without raising himself nearer to heaveneven by the altitude of a chopin. The legs and knees of this son of Anakwere bare, as were his arms from a span below the shoulder; but hisfeet were defended with sandals, fastened with cross straps of scarletleather studded with brazen knobs. A close jerkin of scarlet velvetlooped with gold, with short breeches of the same, covered his body anda part of his limbs; and he wore on his shoulders, instead of a cloak, the skin of a black bear. The head of this formidable person wasuncovered, except by his shaggy, black hair, which descended on eitherside around features of that huge, lumpish, and heavy cast which areoften annexed to men of very uncommon size, and which, notwithstandingsome distinguished exceptions, have created a general prejudice againstgiants, as being a dull and sullen kind of persons. This tremendouswarder was appropriately armed with a heavy club spiked with steel. Infine, he represented excellently one of those giants of popular romance, who figure in every fairy tale or legend of knight-errantry. 

The demeanour of this modern Titan, when Wayland Smith bent hisattention to him, had in it something arguing much mental embarrassmentand vexation; for sometimes he sat down for an instant on a massivestone bench, which seemed placed for his accommodation beside thegateway, and then ever and anon he started up, scratching his huge head, and striding to and fro on his post, like one under a fit of impatienceand anxiety. It was while the porter was pacing before the gate in thisagitated manner, that Wayland, modestly, yet as a matter of course (not, however, without some mental misgiving), was about to pass him, andenter the portal arch. The porter, however, stopped his progress, bidding him, in a thundering voice, "Stand back!" and enforcing hisinjunction by heaving up his steel-shod mace, and dashing it on theground before Wayland's horse's nose with such vehemence that thepavement flashed fire, and the archway rang to the clamour. Wayland, availing himself of Dickie's hints, began to state that he belonged to aband of performers to which his presence was indispensable, that he hadbeen accidentally detained behind, and much to the same purpose. Butthe warder was inexorable, and kept muttering and murmuring somethingbetwixt his teeth, which Wayland could make little of; and addressingbetwixt whiles a refusal of admittance, couched in language which wasbut too intelligible. A specimen of his speech might run thus:--"What, how now, my masters?" (to himself)--"Here's a stir--here's acoil. "--(Then to Wayland)--"You are a loitering knave, and shall have noentrance. "--(Again to himself)--"Here's a throng--here's a thrusting. --Ishall ne'er get through with it--Here's a--humph--ha. "--(ToWayland)--"Back from the gate, or I'll break the pate of thee. "--(Oncemore to himself)--"Here's a--no--I shall never get through it. "

"Stand still, " whispered Flibbertigibbet into Wayland's ear, "I knowwhere the shoe pinches, and will tame him in an instant. "

He dropped down from the horse, and skipping up to the porter, pluckedhim by the tail of the bearskin, so as to induce him to decline his hugehead, and whispered something in his ear. Not at the command of the lordof some Eastern talisman did ever Afrite change his horrid frown intoa look of smooth submission more suddenly than the gigantic porterof Kenilworth relaxed the terrors of his looks at the instantFlibbertigibbet's whisper reached his ears. He flung his club upon theground, and caught up Dickie Sludge, raising him to such a distance fromthe earth as might have proved perilous had he chanced to let him slip. 

"It is even so, " he said, with a thundering sound of exultation--"it iseven so, my little dandieprat. But who the devil could teach it thee?"

"Do not thou care about that, " said Flibbertigibbet--"but--" he lookedat Wayland and the lady, and then sunk what he had to say in awhisper, which needed not be a loud one, as the giant held him for hisconvenience close to his ear. The porter then gave Dickie a warm caress, and set him on the ground with the same care which a careful housewifeuses in replacing a cracked china cup upon her mantelpiece, calling outat the same time to Wayland and the lady, "In with you--in with you! andtake heed how you come too late another day when I chance to be porter. "

"Ay, ay, in with you, " added Flibbertigibbet; "I must stay a short spacewith mine honest Philistine, my Goliath of Gath here; but I will be withyou anon, and at the bottom of all your secrets, were they as deep anddark as the Castle dungeon. "

"I do believe thou wouldst, " said Wayland; "but I trust the secret willbe soon out of my keeping, and then I shall care the less whether thouor any one knows it. "

They now crossed the entrance tower, which obtained the name of theGallery-tower, from the following circumstance: The whole bridge, extending from the entrance to another tower on the opposite side ofthe lake, called Mortimer's Tower, was so disposed as to make a spacioustilt-yard, about one hundred and thirty yards in length, and ten inbreadth, strewed with the finest sand, and defended on either side bystrong and high palisades. The broad and fair gallery, destined for theladies who were to witness the feats of chivalry presented on this area, was erected on the northern side of the outer tower, to which it gavename. Our travellers passed slowly along the bridge or tilt-yard, andarrived at Mortimer's Tower, at its farthest extremity, through whichthe approach led into the outer or base-court of the Castle. Mortimer'sTower bore on its front the scutcheon of the Earl of March, whose daringambition overthrew the throne of Edward II. , and aspired to share hispower with the "She-wolf of France, " to whom the unhappy monarch waswedded. The gate, which opened under this ominous memorial, was guardedby many warders in rich liveries; but they offered no opposition to theentrance of the Countess and her guide, who, having passed by license ofthe principal porter at the Gallery-tower, were not, it may be supposed, liable to interruption from his deputies. They entered accordingly, insilence, the great outward court of the Castle, having then full beforethem that vast and lordly pile, with all its stately towers, each gateopen, as if in sign of unlimited hospitality, and the apartments filledwith noble guests of every degree, besides dependants, retainers, domestics of every description, and all the appendages and promoters ofmirth and revelry. 

Amid this stately and busy scene Wayland halted his horse, and lookedupon the lady, as if waiting her commands what was next to be done, since they had safely reached the place of destination. As she remainedsilent, Wayland, after waiting a minute or two, ventured to ask her, indirect terms, what were her next commands. She raised her hand to herforehead, as if in the act of collecting her thoughts and resolution, while she answered him in a low and suppressed voice, like the murmursof one who speaks in a dream--"Commands? I may indeed claim right tocommand, but who is there will obey me!"

Then suddenly raising her head, like one who has formed a decisiveresolution, she addressed a gaily-dressed domestic, who was crossing thecourt with importance and bustle in his countenance, "Stop, sir, " shesaid; "I desire to speak with, the Earl of Leicester. "

"With whom, an it please you?" said the man, surprised at the demand;and then looking upon the mean equipage of her who used towards him sucha tone of authority, he added, with insolence, "Why, what Bess of Bedlamis this would ask to see my lord on such a day as the present?"

"Friend, " said the Countess, "be not insolent--my business with the Earlis most urgent. "

"You must get some one else to do it, were it thrice as urgent, " saidthe fellow. "I should summon my lord from the Queen's royal presenceto do YOUR business, should I?--I were like to be thanked with ahorse-whip. I marvel our old porter took not measure of such ware withhis club, instead of giving them passage; but his brain is addled withgetting his speech by heart. "

Two or three persons stopped, attracted by the fleering way in which theserving-man expressed himself; and Wayland, alarmed both for himself andthe lady, hastily addressed himself to one who appeared the most civil, and thrusting a piece of money into his hand, held a moment's counselwith him on the subject of finding a place of temporary retreat for thelady. The person to whom he spoke, being one in some authority, rebukedthe others for their incivility, and commanding one fellow to take careof the strangers' horses, he desired them to follow him. The Countessretained presence of mind sufficient to see that it was absolutelynecessary she should comply with his request; and leaving the rudelackeys and grooms to crack their brutal jests about light heads, light heels, and so forth, Wayland and she followed in silence thedeputy-usher, who undertook to be their conductor. 

They entered the inner court of the Castle by the great gateway, whichextended betwixt the principal Keep, or Donjon, called Caesar's Tower, and a stately building which passed by the name of King Henry's Lodging, and were thus placed in the centre of the noble pile, which presentedon its different fronts magnificent specimens of every species ofcastellated architecture, from the Conquest to the reign of Elizabeth, with the appropriate style and ornaments of each. 

Across this inner court also they were conducted by their guide to asmall but strong tower, occupying the north-east angle of the building, adjacent to the great hall, and filling up a space betwixt the immenserange of kitchens and the end of the great hall itself. The lowerpart of this tower was occupied by some of the household officers ofLeicester, owing to its convenient vicinity to the places where theirduty lay; but in the upper story, which was reached by a narrow, windingstair, was a small octangular chamber, which, in the great demand forlodgings, had been on the present occasion fitted up for the receptionof guests, though generally said to have been used as a place ofconfinement for some unhappy person who had been there murdered. Tradition called this prisoner Mervyn, and transferred his name to thetower. That it had been used as a prison was not improbable; for thefloor of each story was arched, the walls of tremendous thickness, whilethe space of the chamber did not exceed fifteen feet in diameter. Thewindow, however, was pleasant, though narrow, and commanded a delightfulview of what was called the Pleasance; a space of ground enclosedand decorated with arches, trophies, statues, fountains, and otherarchitectural monuments, which formed one access from the Castleitself into the garden. There was a bed in the apartment, and otherpreparations for the reception of a guest, to which the Countess paidbut slight attention, her notice being instantly arrested by the sightof writing materials placed on the table (not very commonly to be foundin the bedrooms of those days), which instantly suggested the idea ofwriting to Leicester, and remaining private until she had received hisanswer. 

The deputy-usher having introduced them into this commodious apartment, courteously asked Wayland, whose generosity he had experienced, whetherhe could do anything further for his service. Upon receiving a gentlehint that some refreshment would not be unacceptable, he presentlyconveyed the smith to the buttery-hatch, where dressed provisions of allsorts were distributed, with hospitable profusion, to all who asked forthem. Wayland was readily supplied with some light provisions, such ashe thought would best suit the faded appetite of the lady, and did notomit the opportunity of himself making a hasty but hearty meal on moresubstantial fare. He then returned to the apartment in the turret, wherehe found the Countess, who had finished her letter to Leicester, and inlieu of a seal and silken thread, had secured it with a braid of her ownbeautiful tresses, fastened by what is called a true-love knot. 

"Good friend, " said she to Wayland, "whom God hath sent to aid me at myutmost need, I do beseech thee, as the last trouble you shall takefor an unfortunate lady, to deliver this letter to the noble Earl ofLeicester. Be it received as it may, " she said, with features agitatedbetwixt hope and fear, "thou, good fellow, shalt have no more cumberwith me. But I hope the best; and if ever lady made a poor man rich, thou hast surely deserved it at my hand, should my happy days ever comeround again. Give it, I pray you, into Lord Leicester's own hand, andmark how he looks on receiving it. "

Wayland, on his part, readily undertook the commission, but anxiouslyprayed the lady, in his turn, to partake of some refreshment; in whichhe at length prevailed, more through importunity and her desire to seehim begone on his errand than from any inclination the Countess felt tocomply with his request. He then left her, advising her to lock her dooron the inside, and not to stir from her little apartment; and went toseek an opportunity of discharging her errand, as well as of carryinginto effect a purpose of his own, which circumstances had induced him toform. 

In fact, from the conduct of the lady during the journey--her long fitsof profound silence, the irresolution and uncertainty which seemed topervade all her movements, and the obvious incapacity of thinking andacting for herself under which she seemed to labour--Wayland had formedthe not improbable opinion that the difficulties of her situation had insome degree affected her understanding. 

When she had escaped from the seclusion of Cumnor Place, and the dangersto which she was there exposed, it would have seemed her most rationalcourse to retire to her father's, or elsewhere at a distance from thepower of those by whom these dangers had been created. When, instead ofdoing so, she demanded to be conveyed to Kenilworth, Wayland had beenonly able to account for her conduct by supposing that she meant toput herself under the tutelage of Tressilian, and to appeal to theprotection of the Queen. But now, instead of following this naturalcourse, she entrusted him with a letter to Leicester, the patron ofVarney, and within whose jurisdiction at least, if not under his expressauthority, all the evils she had already suffered were inflicted uponher. This seemed an unsafe and even a desperate measure, and Waylandfelt anxiety for his own safety, as well as that of the lady, should heexecute her commission before he had secured the advice and countenanceof a protector. 

He therefore resolved, before delivering the letter to Leicester, thathe would seek out Tressilian, and communicate to him the arrival ofthe lady at Kenilworth, and thus at once rid himself of all furtherresponsibility, and devolve the task of guiding and protecting thisunfortunate lady upon the patron who had at first employed him in herservice. 

"He will be a better judge than I am, " said Wayland, "whether she isto be gratified in this humour of appeal to my Lord of Leicester, whichseems like an act of insanity; and, therefore, I will turn the matterover on his hands, deliver him the letter, receive what they list togive me by way of guerdon, and then show the Castle of Kenilworth a pairof light heels; for, after the work I have been engaged in, it will be, I fear, neither a safe nor wholesome place of residence, and I wouldrather shoe colts an the coldest common in England than share in theirgayest revels. "

CHAPTER XXVII. 

 In my time I have seen a boy do wonders. Robin, the red tinker, had a boy Would ha run through a cat-hole. --THE COXCOMB. 

Amid the universal bustle which filled the Castle and its environs, itwas no easy matter to find out any individual; and Wayland was stillless likely to light upon Tressilian, whom he sought so anxiously, because, sensible of the danger of attracting attention in thecircumstances in which he was placed, he dared not make generalinquiries among the retainers or domestics of Leicester. He learned, however, by indirect questions, that in all probability Tressilian musthave been one of a large party of gentlemen in attendance on the Earlof Sussex, who had accompanied their patron that morning to Kenilworth, when Leicester had received them with marks of the most formal respectand distinction. He further learned that both Earls, with theirfollowers, and many other nobles, knights, and gentlemen, had takenhorse, and gone towards Warwick several hours since, for the purpose ofescorting the Queen to Kenilworth. 

Her Majesty's arrival, like other great events, was delayed from hourto hour; and it was now announced by a breathless post that her Majesty, being detained by her gracious desire to receive the homage of herlieges who had thronged to wait upon her at Warwick, it would be thehour of twilight ere she entered the Castle. The intelligence releasedfor a time those who were upon duty, in the immediate expectation of theQueen's appearance, and ready to play their part in the solemnities withwhich it was to be accompanied; and Wayland, seeing several horsemenenter the Castle, was not without hopes that Tressilian might be of thenumber. That he might not lose an opportunity of meeting his patronin the event of this being the case, Wayland placed himself in thebase-court of the Castle, near Mortimer's Tower, and watched every onewho went or came by the bridge, the extremity of which was protected bythat building. Thus stationed, nobody could enter or leave the Castlewithout his observation, and most anxiously did he study the garb andcountenance of every horseman, as, passing from under the oppositeGallery-tower, they paced slowly, or curveted, along the tilt-yard, andapproached the entrance of the base-court. 

But while Wayland gazed thus eagerly to discover him whom he saw not, hewas pulled by the sleeve by one by whom he himself would not willinglyhave been seen. 

This was Dickie Sludge, or Flibbertigibbet, who, like the imp whose namehe bore, and whom he had been accoutred in order to resemble, seemedto be ever at the ear of those who thought least of him. Whatever wereWayland's internal feelings, he judged it necessary to express pleasureat their unexpected meeting. 

"Ha! is it thou, my minikin--my miller's thumb--my prince ofcacodemons--my little mouse?"

"Ay, " said Dickie, "the mouse which gnawed asunder the toils, just whenthe lion who was caught in them began to look wonderfully like an ass. "

"Thy, thou little hop-the-gutter, thou art as sharp as vinegar thisafternoon! But tell me, how didst thou come off with yonder jolterheadedgiant whom I left thee with? I was afraid he would have stripped thyclothes, and so swallowed thee, as men peel and eat a roasted chestnut. "

"Had he done so, " replied the boy, "he would have had more brains inhis guts than ever he had in his noddle. But the giant is a courteousmonster, and more grateful than many other folk whom I have helped at apinch, Master Wayland Smith. "

"Beshrew me, Flibbertigibbet, " replied Wayland, "but thou art sharperthan a Sheffield whittle! I would I knew by what charm you muzzledyonder old bear. "

"Ay, that is in your own manner, " answered Dickie; "you think finespeeches will pass muster instead of good-will. However, as to thishonest porter, you must know that when we presented ourselves at thegate yonder, his brain was over-burdened with a speech that had beenpenned for him, and which proved rather an overmatch for his giganticfaculties. Now this same pithy oration had been indited, like sundryothers, by my learned magister, Erasmus Holiday, so I had heard it oftenenough to remember every line. As soon as I heard him blundering andfloundering like a fish upon dry land, through the first verse, andperceived him at a stand, I knew where the shoe pinched, and helped himto the next word, when he caught me up in an ecstasy, even as you sawbut now. I promised, as the price of your admission, to hide me underhis bearish gaberdine, and prompt him in the hour of need. I have justnow been getting some food in the Castle, and am about to return tohim. "

"That's right--that's right, my dear Dickie, " replied Wayland;"haste thee, for Heaven's sake! else the poor giant will be utterlydisconsolate for want of his dwarfish auxiliary. Away with thee, Dickie!"

"Ay, ay!" answered the boy--"away with Dickie, when we have got whatgood of him we can. You will not let me know the story of this lady, then, who is as much sister of thine as I am?"

"Why, what good would it do thee, thou silly elf?" said Wayland. 

"Oh, stand ye on these terms?" said the boy. "Well, I care not greatlyabout the matter--only, I never smell out a secret but I try to beeither at the right or the wrong end of it, and so good evening to ye. "

"Nay, but, Dickie, " said Wayland, who knew the boy's restless andintriguing disposition too well not to fear his enmity--"stay, my dearDickie--part not with old friends so shortly! Thou shalt know all I knowof the lady one day. "

"Ay!" said Dickie; "and that day may prove a nigh one. Fare thee well, Wayland--I will to my large-limbed friend, who, if he have not so sharpa wit as some folk, is at least more grateful for the service whichother folk render him. And so again, good evening to ye. "

So saying, he cast a somerset through the gateway, and lighting onthe bridge, ran with the extraordinary agility which was one of hisdistinguishing attributes towards the Gallery-tower, and was out ofsight in an instant. 

"I would to God I were safe out of this Castle again!" prayed Waylandinternally; "for now that this mischievous imp has put his finger in thepie, it cannot but prove a mess fit for the devil's eating. I would toHeaven Master Tressilian would appear!"

Tressilian, whom he was thus anxiously expecting in one direction, hadreturned to Kenilworth by another access. It was indeed true, as Waylandhad conjectured, that in the earlier part of the day he had accompaniedthe Earls on their cavalcade towards Warwick, not without hope that hemight in that town hear some tidings of his emissary. Being disappointedin this expectation, and observing Varney amongst Leicester'sattendants, seeming as if he had some purpose of advancing to andaddressing him, he conceived, in the present circumstances, it waswisest to avoid the interview. He, therefore, left the presence-chamberwhen the High-Sheriff of the county was in the very midst of his dutifuladdress to her Majesty; and mounting his horse, rode back to Kenilworthby a remote and circuitous road, and entered the Castle by a smallsallyport in the western wall, at which he was readily admitted asone of the followers of the Earl of Sussex, towards whom Leicester hadcommanded the utmost courtesy to be exercised. It was thus that hemet not Wayland, who was impatiently watching his arrival, and whom hehimself would have been at least equally desirous to see. 

Having delivered his horse to the charge of his attendant, he walkedfor a space in the Pleasance and in the garden, rather to indulge incomparative solitude his own reflections, than to admire those singularbeauties of nature and art which the magnificence of Leicester had thereassembled. The greater part of the persons of condition had left theCastle for the present, to form part of the Earl's cavalcade; others, who remained behind, were on the battlements, outer walls, and towers, eager to view the splendid spectacle of the royal entry. The garden, therefore, while every other part of the Castle resounded with the humanvoice, was silent but for the whispering of the leaves, the emulouswarbling of the tenants of a large aviary with their happier companionswho remained denizens of the free air, and the plashing of thefountains, which, forced into the air from sculptures of fatastic andgrotesque forms, fell down with ceaseless sound into the great basins ofItalian marble. 

The melancholy thoughts of Tressilian cast a gloomy shade on all theobjects with which he was surrounded. He compared the magnificent sceneswhich he here traversed with the deep woodland and wild moorland whichsurrounded Lidcote Hall, and the image of Amy Robsart glided like aphantom through every landscape which his imagination summoned up. Nothing is perhaps more dangerous to the future happiness of men of deepthought and retired habits than the entertaining an early, long, andunfortunate attachment. It frequently sinks so deep into the mind thatit becomes their dream by night and their vision by day--mixes itselfwith every source of interest and enjoyment; and when blighted andwithered by final disappointment, it seems as if the springs of theheart were dried up along with it. This aching of the heart, thislanguishing after a shadow which has lost all the gaiety of itscolouring, this dwelling on the remembrance of a dream from whichwe have been long roughly awakened, is the weakness of a gentle andgenerous heart, and it was that of Tressilian. 

He himself at length became sensible of the necessity of forcing otherobjects upon his mind; and for this purpose he left the Pleasance, in order to mingle with the noisy crowd upon the walls, and view thepreparation for the pageants. But as he left the garden, and heard thebusy hum, mixed with music and laughter, which floated around him, hefelt an uncontrollable reluctance to mix with society whose feelingswere in a tone so different from his own, and resolved, instead of doingso, to retire to the chamber assigned him, and employ himself in studyuntil the tolling of the great Castle bell should announce the arrivalof Elizabeth. 

Tressilian crossed accordingly by the passage betwixt the immense rangeof kitchens and the great hall, and ascended to the third story ofMervyn's Tower, and applying himself to the door of the small apartmentwhich had been allotted to him, was surprised to find it was locked. Hethen recollected that the deputy-chamberlain had given him a master-key, advising him, in the present confused state of the Castle, to keep hisdoor as much shut as possible. He applied this key to the lock, the boltrevolved, he entered, and in the same instant saw a female form seatedin the apartment, and recognized that form to be, Amy Robsart. His firstidea was that a heated imagination had raised the image on which itdoted into visible existence; his second, that he beheld an apparition;the third and abiding conviction, that it was Amy herself, paler, indeed, and thinner, than in the days of heedless happiness, whenshe possessed the form and hue of a wood-nymph, with the beauty of asylph--but still Amy, unequalled in loveliness by aught which had evervisited his eyes. 

The astonishment of the Countess was scarce less than that ofTressilian, although it was of shorter duration, because she had heardfrom Wayland that he was in the Castle. She had started up at his firstentrance, and now stood facing him, the paleness of her cheeks havinggiven way to a deep blush. 

"Tressilian, " she said, at length, "why come you here?"

"Nay, why come you here, Amy, " returned Tressilian, "unless it be atlength to claim that aid, which, as far as one man's heart and arm canextend, shall instantly be rendered to you?"

She was silent a moment, and then answered in a sorrowful rather than anangry tone, "I require no aid, Tressilian, and would rather be injuredthan benefited by any which your kindness can offer me. Believe me, I amnear one whom law and love oblige to protect me. "

"The villain, then, hath done you the poor justice which remained in hispower, " said Tressilian, "and I behold before me the wife of Varney!"

"The wife of Varney!" she replied, with all the emphasis of scorn. "Withwhat base name, sir, does your boldness stigmatize the--the--the--" Shehesitated, dropped her tone of scorn, looked down, and was confused andsilent; for she recollected what fatal consequences might attend hercompleting the sentence with "the Countess of Leicester, " which werethe words that had naturally suggested themselves. It would have beena betrayal of the secret, on which her husband had assured her that hisfortunes depended, to Tressilian, to Sussex, to the Queen, and to thewhole assembled court. "Never, " she thought, "will I break my promisedsilence. I will submit to every suspicion rather than that. "

The tears rose to her eyes, as she stood silent before Tressilian;while, looking on her with mingled grief and pity, he said, "Alas! Amy, your eyes contradict your tongue. That speaks of a protector, willingand able to watch over you; but these tell me you are ruined, anddeserted by the wretch to whom you have attached yourself. "

She looked on him with eyes in which anger sparkled through her tears, but only repeated the word "wretch!" with a scornful emphasis. 

"Yes, WRETCH!" said Tressilian; "for were he aught better, why are youhere, and alone, in my apartment? why was not fitting provision made foryour honourable reception?"

"In your apartment?" repeated Amy--"in YOUR apartment? It shallinstantly be relieved of my presence. " She hastened towards the door;but the sad recollection of her deserted state at once pressed on hermind, and pausing on the threshold, she added, in a tone unutterablypathetic, "Alas! I had forgot--I know not where to go--"

"I see--I see it all, " said Tressilian, springing to her side, andleading her back to the seat, on which she sunk down. "You DO needaid--you do need protection, though you will not own it; and you shallnot need it long. Leaning on my arm, as the representative of yourexcellent and broken-hearted father, on the very threshold of the Castlegate, you shall meet Elizabeth; and the first deed she shall do inthe halls of Kenilworth shall be an act of justice to her sex and hersubjects. Strong in my good cause, and in the Queen's justice, thepower of her minion shall not shake my resolution. I will instantly seekSussex. "

"Not for all that is under heaven!" said the Countess, much alarmed, and feeling the absolute necessity of obtaining time, at least, forconsideration. "Tressilian, you were wont to be generous. Grant me onerequest, and believe, if it be your wish to save me from misery and frommadness, you will do more by making me the promise I ask of you, thanElizabeth can do for me with all her power. "

"Ask me anything for which you can allege reason, " said Tressilian; "butdemand not of me--"

"Oh, limit not your boon, dear Edmund!" exclaimed the Countess--"youonce loved that I should call you so--limit not your boon to reason; formy case is all madness, and frenzy must guide the counsels which alonecan aid me. "

"If you speak thus wildly, " said Tressilian, astonishment againoverpowering both his grief and his resolution, "I must believe youindeed incapable of thinking or acting for yourself. "

"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, sinking on one knee before him, "I am notmad--I am but a creature unutterably miserable, and, from circumstancesthe most singular, dragged on to a precipice by the arm of him whothinks he is keeping me from it--even by yours, Tressilian--byyours, whom I have honoured, respected--all but loved--and yet loved, too--loved, too, Tressilian--though not as you wished to be. "

There was an energy, a self-possession, an abandonment in her voiceand manner, a total resignation of herself to his generosity, which, together with the kindness of her expressions to himself, moved himdeeply. He raised her, and, in broken accents, entreated her to becomforted. 

"I cannot, " she said, "I will not be comforted, till you grant memy request! I will speak as plainly as I dare. I am now awaiting thecommands of one who has a right to issue them. The interference of athird person--of you in especial, Tressilian--will be ruin--utter ruinto me. Wait but four-and-twenty hours, and it may be that the poorAmy may have the means to show that she values, and can reward, yourdisinterested friendship--that she is happy herself, and has the meansto make you so. It is surely worth your patience, for so short a space?"

Tressilian paused, and weighing in his mind the various probabilitieswhich might render a violent interference on his part more prejudicialthan advantageous, both to the happiness and reputation of Amy;considering also that she was within the walls of Kenilworth, and couldsuffer no injury in a castle honoured with the Queen's residence, andfilled with her guards and attendants--he conceived, upon the whole, that he might render her more evil than good service by intruding uponher his appeal to Elizabeth in her behalf. He expressed his resolutioncautiously, however, doubting naturally whether Amy's hopes ofextricating herself from her difficulties rested on anything strongerthan a blinded attachment to Varney, whom he supposed to be her seducer. 

"Amy, " he said, while he fixed his sad and expressive eyes on hers, which, in her ecstasy of doubt, terror, and perplexity, she cast uptowards him, "I have ever remarked that when others called thee girlishand wilful, there lay under that external semblance of youthful andself-willed folly deep feeling and strong sense. In this I will confide, trusting your own fate in your own hands for the space of twenty-fourhours, without my interference by word or act. "

"Do you promise me this, Tressilian?" said the Countess. "Is it possibleyou can yet repose so much confidence in me? Do you promise, as you area gentleman and a man of honour, to intrude in my matters neither byspeech nor action, whatever you may see or hear that seems to you todemand your interference? Will you so far trust me?"

"I will upon my honour, " said Tressilian; "but when that space isexpired--"

"Then that space is expired, " she said, interrupting him, "you are freeto act as your judgment shall determine. "

"Is there nought besides which I can do for you, Amy?" said Tressilian. 

"Nothing, " said she, "save to leave me, --that is, if--I blush toacknowledge my helplessness by asking it--if you can spare me the use ofthis apartment for the next twenty-four hours. "

"This is most wonderful!" said Tressilian; "what hope or interest canyou have in a Castle where you cannot command even an apartment?"

"Argue not, but leave me, " she said; and added, as he slowly andunwillingly retired, "Generous Edmund! the time may come when Amy mayshow she deserved thy noble attachment. "

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

 What, man, ne'er lack a draught, when the full can Stands at thine elbow, and craves emptying!-- Nay, fear not me, for I have no delight To watch men's vices, since I have myself Of virtue nought to boast of--I'm a striker, Would have the world strike with me, pell-mell, all. --PANDEMONIUM. 

Tressilian, in strange agitation of mind, had hardly stepped down thefirst two or three steps of the winding staircase, when, greatly to hissurprise and displeasure, he met Michael Lambourne, wearing an impudentfamiliarity of visage, for which Tressilian felt much disposed to throwhim down-stairs; until he remembered the prejudice which Amy, the onlyobject of his solicitude, was likely to receive from his engaging in anyact of violence at that time and in that place. 

He therefore contented himself with looking sternly upon Lambourne, asupon one whom he deemed unworthy of notice, and attempted to pass him inhis way downstairs, without any symptom of recognition. But Lambourne, who, amidst the profusion of that day's hospitality, had not failedto take a deep though not an overpowering cup of sack, was not in thehumour of humbling himself before any man's looks. He stopped Tressilianupon the staircase without the least bashfulness or embarrassment, andaddressed him as if he had been on kind and intimate terms:--"What, nogrudge between us, I hope, upon old scores, Master Tressilian?--nay, I am one who remembers former kindness rather than latter feud. I'llconvince you that I meant honestly and kindly, ay, and comfortably byyou. "

"I desire none of your intimacy, " said Tressilian--"keep company withyour mates. "

"Now, see how hasty he is!" said Lambourne; "and how these gentles, thatare made questionless out of the porcelain clay of the earth, look downupon poor Michael Lambourne! You would take Master Tressilian now forthe most maid-like, modest, simpering squire of dames that ever madelove when candles were long i' the stuff--snuff; call you it? Why, youwould play the saint on us, Master Tressilian, and forget that even nowthou hast a commodity in thy very bedchamber, to the shame of my lord'scastle, ha! ha! ha! Have I touched you, Master Tressilian?"

"I know not what you mean, " said Tressilian, inferring, however, toosurely, that this licentious ruffian must have been sensible of Amy'spresence in his apartment; "'i but if, " he continued, "thou art varlet ofthe chambers, and lackest a fee, there is one to leave mine unmolested. "

Lambourne looked at the piece of gold, and put it in his pocket saying, "Now, I know not but you might have done more with me by a kind wordthan by this chiming rogue. But after all he pays well that pays withgold; and Mike Lambourne was never a makebate, or a spoil-sport, or thelike. E'en live, and let others live, that is my motto-only, I would notlet some folks cock their beaver at me neither, as if they were madeof silver ore, and I of Dutch pewter. So if I keep your secret, MasterTressilian, you may look sweet on me at least; and were I to want alittle backing or countenance, being caught, as you see the best of usmay be, in a sort of peccadillo--why, you owe it me--and so e'en makeyour chamber serve you and that same bird in bower beside--it's all oneto Mike Lambourne. "

"Make way, sir, " said Tressilian, unable to bridle his indignation, "youhave had your fee. "

"Um!" said Lambourne, giving place, however, while he sulkily mutteredbetween his teeth, repeating Tressilian's words, "Make way--and youhave had your fee; but it matters not, I will spoil no sport, as I saidbefore. I am no dog in the manger--mind that. "

He spoke louder and louder, as Tressilian, by whom he felt himselfoverawed, got farther and farther out of hearing. 

"I am no dog in the manger; but I will not carry coals neither--mindthat, Master Tressilian; and I will have a peep at this wench whomyou have quartered so commodiously in your old haunted room--afraid ofghosts, belike, and not too willing to sleep alone. If I had done thisnow in a strange lord's castle, the word had been, The porter's lodgefor the knave! and, have him flogged--trundle him downstairs like aturnip! Ay, but your virtuous gentlemen take strange privileges overus, who are downright servants of our senses. Well--I have my MasterTressilian's head under my belt by this lucky discovery, that is onething certain; and I will try to get a sight of this Lindabrides of his, that is another. "

CHAPTER XXIX. 

 Now fare thee well, my master--if true service Be guerdon'd with hard looks, e'en cut the tow-line, And let our barks across the pathless flood Hold different courses--THE SHIPWRECK. 

Tressilian walked into the outer yard of the Castle scarce knowing whatto think of his late strange and most unexpected interview with AmyRobsart, and dubious if he had done well, being entrusted with thedelegated authority of her father, to pass his word so solemnly to leaveher to her own guidance for so many hours. Yet how could he have deniedher request--dependent as she had too probably rendered herself uponVarney? Such was his natural reasoning. The happiness of her futurelife might depend upon his not driving her to extremities; and since noauthority of Tressilian's could extricate her from the power of Varney, supposing he was to acknowledge Amy to be his wife, what title had heto destroy the hope of domestic peace, which might yet remain to her, by setting enmity betwixt them? Tressilian resolved, therefore, scrupulously to observe his word pledged to Amy, both because it hadbeen given, and because, as he still thought, while he considered andreconsidered that extraordinary interview, it could not with justice orpropriety have been refused. 

In one respect, he had gained much towards securing effectual protectionfor this unhappy and still beloved object of his early affection. Amywas no longer mewed up in a distant and solitary retreat under thecharge of persons of doubtful reputation. She was in the Castle ofKenilworth, within the verge of the Royal Court for the time, free fromall risk of violence, and liable to be produced before Elizabeth onthe first summons. These were circumstances which could not but assistgreatly the efforts which he might have occasion to use in her behalf. 

While he was thus balancing the advantages and perils which attended herunexpected presence in Kenilworth, Tressilian was hastily and anxiouslyaccosted by Wayland, who, after ejaculating, "Thank God, your worship isfound at last!" proceeded with breathless caution to pour into his earthe intelligence that the lady had escaped from Cumnor Place. 

"And is at present in this Castle, " said Tressilian. "I know it, andI have seen her. Was it by her own choice she found refuge in myapartment?"

"No, " answered Wayland; "but I could think of no other way of safelybestowing her, and was but too happy to find a deputy-usher who knewwhere you were quartered--in jolly society truly, the hall on the onehand, and the kitchen on the other!"

"Peace, this is no time for jesting, " answered Tressilian sternly. 

"I wot that but too well, " said the artist, "for I have felt these threedays as if I had a halter round my neck. This lady knows not her ownmind--she will have none of your aid--commands you not to be named toher--and is about to put herself into the hands of my Lord Leicester. I had never got her safe into your chamber, had she known the owner ofit. "

"Is it possible, " said Tressilian. "But she may have hopes the Earl willexert his influence in her favour over his villainous dependant. "

"I know nothing of that, " said Wayland; "but I believe, if she is toreconcile herself with either Leicester or Varney, the side of theCastle of Kenilworth which will be safest for us will be the outside, from which we can fastest fly away. It is not my purpose to abide aninstant after delivery of the letter to Leicester, which waits but yourcommands to find its way to him. See, here it is--but no--a plague onit--I must have left it in my dog-hole, in the hay-loft yonder, where Iam to sleep. "

"Death and fury!" said Tressilian, transported beyond his usualpatience; "thou hast not lost that on which may depend a stake moreimportant than a thousand such lives as thine?"

"Lost it!" answered Wayland readily; "that were a jest indeed! No, sir, I have it carefully put up with my night-sack, and some matters I haveoccasion to use; I will fetch it in an instant. "

"Do so, " said Tressilian; "be faithful, and thou shalt be well rewarded. But if I have reason to suspect thee, a dead dog were in better casethan thou!"

Wayland bowed, and took his leave with seeming confidence and alacrity, but, in fact, filled with the utmost dread and confusion. The letter waslost, that was certain, notwithstanding the apology which he had made toappease the impatient displeasure of Tressilian. It was lost--it mightfall into wrong hands--it would then certainly occasion a discoveryof the whole intrigue in which he had been engaged; nor, indeed, didWayland see much prospect of its remaining concealed, in any event. Hefelt much hurt, besides, at Tressilian's burst of impatience. 

"Nay, if I am to be paid in this coin for services where my neck isconcerned, it is time I should look to myself. Here have I offended, foraught I know, to the death, the lord of this stately castle, whose wordwere as powerful to take away my life as the breath which speaks itto blow out a farthing candle. And all this for a mad lady, and amelancholy gallant, who, on the loss of a four-nooked bit of paper, hashis hand on his poignado, and swears death and fury!--Then there is theDoctor and Varney. --I will save myself from the whole mess of them. Lifeis dearer than gold. I will fly this instant, though I leave my rewardbehind me. "

These reflections naturally enough occurred to a mind like Wayland's, who found himself engaged far deeper than he had expected in a trainof mysterious and unintelligible intrigues, in which the actors seemedhardly to know their own course. And yet, to do him justice, hispersonal fears were, in some degree, counterbalanced by his compassionfor the deserted state of the lady. 

"I care not a groat for Master Tressilian, " he said; "I have done morethan bargain by him, and I have brought his errant-damosel within hisreach, so that he may look after her himself. But I fear the poor thingis in much danger amongst these stormy spirits. I will to her chamber, and tell her the fate which has befallen her letter, that she may writeanother if she list. She cannot lack a messenger, I trow, where thereare so many lackeys that can carry a letter to their lord. And I willtell her also that I leave the Castle, trusting her to God, her ownguidance, and Master Tressilian's care and looking after. Perhaps shemay remember the ring she offered me--it was well earned, I trow; butshe is a lovely creature, and--marry hang the ring! I will not beara base spirit for the matter. If I fare ill in this world for mygood-nature, I shall have better chance in the next. So now for thelady, and then for the road. "

With the stealthy step and jealous eye of the cat that steals on herprey, Wayland resumed the way to the Countess's chamber, sliding alongby the side of the courts and passages, alike observant of all aroundhim, and studious himself to escape observation. In this manner hecrossed the outward and inward Castle yard, and the great archedpassage, which, running betwixt the range of kitchen offices and thehall, led to the bottom of the little winding-stair that gave access tothe chambers of Mervyn's Tower. 

The artist congratulated himself on having escaped the various perils ofhis journey, and was in the act of ascending by two steps at once, whenhe observed that the shadow of a man, thrown from a door which stoodajar, darkened the opposite wall of the staircase. Wayland drew backcautiously, went down to the inner courtyard, spent about a quarter ofan hour, which seemed at least quadruple its usual duration, in walkingfrom place to place, and then returned to the tower, in hopes to findthat the lurker had disappeared. He ascended as high as the suspiciousspot--there was no shadow on the wall; he ascended a few yardsfarther--the door was still ajar, and he was doubtful whether to advanceor retreat, when it was suddenly thrown wide open, and Michael Lambournebolted out upon the astonished Wayland. "Who the devil art thou? andwhat seekest thou in this part of the Castle? march into that chamber, and be hanged to thee!"

"I am no dog, to go at every man's whistle, " said the artist, affectinga confidence which was belied by a timid shake in his voice. 

"Sayest thou me so?--Come hither, Lawrence Staples. "

A huge, ill-made and ill-looked fellow, upwards of six feet high, appeared at the door, and Lambourne proceeded: "If thou be'st so fond ofthis tower, my friend, thou shalt see its foundations, good twelve feetbelow the bed of the lake, and tenanted by certain jolly toads, snakes, and so forth, which thou wilt find mighty good company. Therefore, oncemore I ask you in fair play, who thou art, and what thou seekest here?"

"If the dungeon-grate once clashes behind me, " thought Wayland, "I am agone man. " He therefore answered submissively, "He was the poor jugglerwhom his honour had met yesterday in Weatherly Bottom. "

"And what juggling trick art thou playing in this tower? Thy gang, " saidLambourne, "lie over against Clinton's buildings. "

"I came here to see my sister, " said the juggler, "who is in MasterTressilian's chamber, just above. "

"Aha!" said Lambourne, smiling, "here be truths! Upon my honour, for astranger, this same Master Tressilian makes himself at home among us, and furnishes out his cell handsomely, with all sorts of commodities. This will be a precious tale of the sainted Master Tressilian, and willbe welcome to some folks, as a purse of broad pieces to me. --Hark ye, fellow, " he continued, addressing Wayland, "thou shalt not give Pussa hint to steal away we must catch her in her form. So, back with thatpitiful sheep-biting visage of thine, or I will fling thee from thewindow of the tower, and try if your juggling skill can save yourbones. "

"Your worship will not be so hardhearted, I trust, " said Wayland; "poorfolk must live. I trust your honour will allow me to speak with mysister?"

"Sister on Adam's side, I warrant, " said Lambourne; "or, if otherwise, the more knave thou. But sister or no sister, thou diest on point offox, if thou comest a-prying to this tower once more. And now I think ofit--uds daggers and death!--I will see thee out of the Castle, for thisis a more main concern than thy jugglery. "

"But, please your worship, " said Wayland, "I am to enact Arion in thepageant upon the lake this very evening. "

"I will act it myself by Saint Christopher!" said Lambourne. "Orion, callest thou him?--I will act Orion, his belt and his seven starsto boot. Come along, for a rascal knave as thou art--follow me! Orstay--Lawrence, do thou bring him along. "

Lawrence seized by the collar of the cloak the unresisting juggler;while Lambourne, with hasty steps, led the way to that same sallyport, or secret postern, by which Tressilian had returned to the Castle, andwhich opened in the western wall at no great distance from Mervyn'sTower. 

While traversing with a rapid foot the space betwixt the tower and thesallyport, Wayland in vain racked his brain for some device which mightavail the poor lady, for whom, notwithstanding his own imminent danger, he felt deep interest. But when he was thrust out of the Castle, andinformed by Lambourne, with a tremendous oath, that instant death wouldbe the consequence of his again approaching it, he cast up his handsand eyes to heaven, as if to call God to witness he had stood to theuttermost in defence of the oppressed; then turned his back on the proudtowers of Kenilworth, and went his way to seek a humbler and safer placeof refuge. 

Lawrence and Lambourne gazed a little while after Wayland, and thenturned to go back to their tower, when the former thus addressed hiscompanion: "Never credit me, Master Lambourne, if I can guess why thouhast driven this poor caitiff from the Castle, just when he was to beara part in the show that was beginning, and all this about a wench. "

"Ah, Lawrence, " replied Lambourne, "thou art thinking of Black JoanJugges of Slingdon, and hast sympathy with human frailty. But, corragio, most noble Duke of the Dungeon and Lord of Limbo, for thou art as darkin this matter as thine own dominions of Little-ease. My most reverendSignior of the Low Countries of Kenilworth, know that our most notablemaster, Richard Varney, would give as much to have a hole in this sameTressilian's coat, as would make us some fifty midnight carousals, withthe full leave of bidding the steward go snick up, if he came to startleus too soon from our goblets. "

"Nay, an that be the case, thou hast right, " said Lawrence Staples, the upper-warder, or, in common phrase, the first jailer, of KenilworthCastle, and of the Liberty and Honour belonging thereto. "But howwill you manage when you are absent at the Queen's entrance, MasterLambourne; for methinks thou must attend thy master there?"

"Why thou, mine honest prince of prisons, must keep ward in my absence. Let Tressilian enter if he will, but see thou let no one come out. Ifthe damsel herself would make a break, as 'tis not unlike she may, scareher back with rough words; she is but a paltry player's wench afterall. "

"Nay for that matter, " said Lawrence, "I might shut the iron wicket uponher that stands without the double door, and so force per force she willbe bound to her answer without more trouble. "

"Then Tressilian will not get access to her, " said Lambourne, reflectinga moment. "But 'tis no matter; she will be detected in his chamber, andthat is all one. But confess, thou old bat's-eyed dungeon-keeper, thatyou fear to keep awake by yourself in that Mervyn's Tower of thine?"

"Why, as to fear, Master Lambourne, " said the fellow, "I mind it not theturning of a key; but strange things have been heard and seen in thattower. You must have heard, for as short time as you have been inKenilworth, that it is haunted by the spirit of Arthur ap Mervyn, awild chief taken by fierce Lord Mortimer when he was one of the LordsMarchers of Wales, and murdered, as they say, in that same tower whichbears his name. "

"Oh, I have heard the tale five hundred times, " said Lambourne, "and howthe ghost is always most vociferous when they boil leeks and stirabout, or fry toasted cheese, in the culinary regions. Santo Diavolo, man, holdthy tongue, I know all about it!"

"Ay, but thou dost not, though, " said the turnkey, "for as wise as thouwouldst make thyself. Ah, it is an awful thing to murder a prisoner inhis ward!--you that may have given a man a stab in a dark street knownothing of it. To give a mutinous fellow a knock on the head with thekeys, and bid him be quiet, that's what I call keeping order in theward; but to draw weapon and slay him, as was done to this Welsh lord, THAT raises you a ghost that will render your prison-house untenantableby any decent captive for some hundred years. And I have that regardfor my prisoners, poor things, that I have put good squires and men ofworship, that have taken a ride on the highway, or slandered my Lord ofLeicester, or the like, fifty feet under ground, rather than I wouldput them into that upper chamber yonder that they call Mervyn's Bower. Indeed, by good Saint Peter of the Fetters, I marvel my noble lord, orMaster Varney, could think of lodging guests there; and if this MasterTressilian could get any one to keep him company, and in especial apretty wench, why, truly, I think he was in the right on't. "

"I tell thee, " said Lambourne, leading the way into the turnkey'sapartment, "thou art an ass. Go bolt the wicket on the stair, andtrouble not thy noddle about ghosts. Give me the wine stoup, man; I amsomewhat heated with chafing with yonder rascal. "

While Lambourne drew a long draught from a pitcher of claret, which hemade use of without any cup, the warder went on, vindicating his ownbelief in the supernatural. 

"Thou hast been few hours in this Castle, and hast been for the wholespace so drunk, Lambourne, that thou art deaf, dumb, and blind. But weshould hear less of your bragging were you to pass a night with us atfull moon; for then the ghost is busiest, and more especially when arattling wind sets in from the north-west, with some sprinkling of rain, and now and then a growl of thunder. Body o' me, what crackings andclashings, what groanings and what howlings, will there be at such timesin Mervyn's Bower, right as it were over our heads, till the matter oftwo quarts of distilled waters has not been enough to keep my lads andme in some heart!"

"Pshaw, man!" replied Lambourne, on whom his last draught, joined torepeated visitations of the pitcher upon former occasions, began to makesome innovation, "thou speakest thou knowest not what about spirits. Noone knows justly what to say about them; and, in short, least said mayin that matter be soonest amended. Some men believe in one thing, somein another--it is all matter of fancy. I have known them of all sorts, my dear Lawrence Lock-the-door, and sensible men too. There's a greatlord--we'll pass his name, Lawrence--he believes in the stars and themoon, the planets and their courses, and so forth, and that they twinkleexclusively for his benefit, when in sober, or rather in drunken truth, Lawrence, they are only shining to keep honest fellows like me outof the kennel. Well, sir, let his humour pass; he is great enough toindulge it. Then, look ye, there is another--a very learned man, Ipromise you, and can vent Greek and Hebrew as fast as I can Thieves'Latin he has an humour of sympathies and antipathies--of changing leadinto gold, and the like; why, via, let that pass too, and let him paythose in transmigrated coin who are fools enough to let it be currentwith them. Then here comest thou thyself, another great man, thoughneither learned nor noble, yet full six feet high, and thou, like apurblind mole, must needs believe in ghosts and goblins, and such like. Now, there is, besides, a great man--that is, a great little man, or alittle great man, my dear Lawrence--and his name begins with V, and whatbelieves he? Why, nothing, honest Lawrence--nothing in earth, heaven, orhell; and for my part, if I believe there is a devil, it is only becauseI think there must be some one to catch our aforesaid friend by the back'when soul and body sever, ' as the ballad says; for your antecedent willhave a consequent--RARO ANTECEDENTEM, as Doctor Bircham was wont to say. But this is Greek to you now, honest Lawrence, and in sooth learning isdry work. Hand me the pitcher once more. "

"In faith, if you drink more, Michael, " said the warder, "you will bein sorry case either to play Arion or to wait on your master on such asolemn night; and I expect each moment to hear the great bell toll forthe muster at Mortimer's Tower, to receive the Queen. "

While Staples remonstrated, Lambourne drank; and then setting down thepitcher, which was nearly emptied, with a deep sigh, he said, in anundertone, which soon rose to a high one as his speech proceeded, "Nevermind, Lawrence; if I be drunk, I know that shall make Varney upholdme sober. But, as I said, never mind; I can carry my drink discreetly. Moreover, I am to go on the water as Orion, and shall take cold unlessI take something comfortable beforehand. Not play Orion? Let us see thebest roarer that ever strained his lungs for twelve pence out-mouthme! What if they see me a little disguised? Wherefore should any man besober to-night? answer me that. It is matter of loyalty to be merry;and I tell thee there are those in the Castle who, if they are not merrywhen drunk, have little chance to be merry when sober--I name no names, Lawrence. But your pottle of sack is a fine shoeing-horn to pull on aloyal humour, and a merry one. Huzza for Queen Elizabeth!--for thenoble Leicester!--for the worshipful Master Varney!--and for MichaelLambourne, that can turn them all round his finger!"

So saying, he walked downstairs, and across the inner court. 

The warder looked after him, shook his head, and while he drew close andlocked a wicket, which, crossing the staircase, rendered it impossiblefor any one to ascend higher than the story immediately beneath Mervyn'sBower, as Tressilian's chamber was named, he thus soliloquized withhimself--"It's a good thing to be a favourite. I well-nigh lost mineoffice, because one frosty morning Master Varney thought I smelled ofaqua vitae; and this fellow can appear before him drunk as a wineskin, and yet meet no rebuke. But then he is a pestilent clever fellow withal, and no one can understand above one half of what he says. "

CHAPTER XXX. 

 Now bid the steeple rock--she comes, she comes!-- Speak for us, bells--speak for us, shrill-tongued tuckets. Stand to thy linstock, gunner; let thy cannon Play such a peal, as if a paynim foe Came stretch'd in turban'd ranks to storm the ramparts. We will have pageants too--but that craves wit, And I'm a rough-hewn soldier. --THE VIRGIN QUEEN--A TRAGI-COMEDY. 

Tressilian, when Wayland had left him, as mentioned in the last chapter, remained uncertain what he ought next to do, when Raleigh and Blountcame up to him arm in arm, yet, according to their wont, very eagerlydisputing together. Tressilian had no great desire for their societyin the present state of his feelings, but there was no possibility ofavoiding them; and indeed he felt that, bound by his promise not toapproach Amy, or take any step in her behalf, it would be his bestcourse at once to mix with general society, and to exhibit on his browas little as he could of the anguish and uncertainty which sat heavyat his heart. He therefore made a virtue of necessity, and hailed hiscomrades with, "All mirth to you, gentlemen! Whence come ye?"

"From Warwick, to be sure, " said Blount; "we must needs home to changeour habits, like poor players, who are fain to multiply their persons tooutward appearance by change of suits; and you had better do the like, Tressilian. "

"Blount is right, " said Raleigh; "the Queen loves such marks ofdeference, and notices, as wanting in respect, those who, not arrivingin her immediate attendance, may appear in their soiled and ruffledriding-dress. But look at Blount himself, Tressilian, for the love oflaughter, and see how his villainous tailor hath apparelled him--inblue, green, and crimson, with carnation ribbons, and yellow roses inhis shoes!"

"Why, what wouldst thou have?" said Blount. "I told the cross-leggedthief to do his best, and spare no cost; and methinks these things aregay enough--gayer than thine own. I'll be judged by Tressilian. "

"I agree--I agree, " said Walter Raleigh. "Judge betwixt us, Tressilian, for the love of heaven!"

Tressilian, thus appealed to, looked at them both, and was immediatelysensible at a single glance that honest Blount had taken upon thetailor's warrant the pied garments which he had chosen to make, andwas as much embarrassed by the quantity of points and ribbons whichgarnished his dress, as a clown is in his holiday clothes; while thedress of Raleigh was a well-fancied and rich suit, which the wearer boreas a garb too well adapted to his elegant person to attract particularattention. Tressilian said, therefore, "That Blount's dress was finest, but Raleigh's the best fancied. "

Blount was satisfied with his decision. "I knew mine was finest, " hesaid; "if that knave Doublestitch had brought me home such a simpledoublet as that of Raleigh's, I would have beat his brains out with hisown pressing-iron. Nay, if we must be fools, ever let us be fools of thefirst head, say I. "

"But why gettest thou not on thy braveries, Tressilian?" said Raleigh. 

"I am excluded from my apartment by a silly mistake, " said Tressilian, "and separated for the time from my baggage. I was about to seek thee, to beseech a share of thy lodging. "

"And welcome, " said Raleigh; "it is a noble one. My Lord of Leicesterhas done us that kindness, and lodged us in princely fashion. If hiscourtesy be extorted reluctantly, it is at least extended far. I wouldadvise you to tell your strait to the Earl's chamberlain--you will haveinstant redress. "

"Nay, it is not worth while, since you can spare me room, " repliedTressilian--"I would not be troublesome. Has any one come hither withyou?"

"Oh, ay, " said Blount; "Varney and a whole tribe of Leicestrians, besides about a score of us honest Sussex folk. We are all, it seems, toreceive the Queen at what they call the Gallery-tower, and witness somefooleries there; and then we're to remain in attendance upon the Queenin the Great Hall--God bless the mark!--while those who are now waitingupon her Grace get rid of their slough, and doff their riding-suits. Heaven help me, if her Grace should speak to me, I shall never know whatto answer!"

"And what has detained them so long at Warwick?" said Tressilian, unwilling that their conversation should return to his own affairs. 

"Such a succession of fooleries, " said Blount, "as were never seen atBartholomew-fair. We have had speeches and players, and dogs and bears, and men making monkeys and women moppets of themselves--I marvel theQueen could endure it. But ever and anon came in something of 'thelovely light of her gracious countenance, ' or some such trash. Ah!vanity makes a fool of the wisest. But come, let us on to this sameGallery-tower--though I see not what thou Tressilian, canst do with thyriding-dress and boots. "

"I will take my station behind thee, Blount, " said Tressilian, whosaw that his friend's unusual finery had taken a strong hold of hisimagination; "thy goodly size and gay dress will cover my defects. "

"And so thou shalt, Edmund, " said Blount. "In faith I am glad thouthinkest my garb well-fancied, for all Mr. Wittypate here; for when onedoes a foolish thing, it is right to do it handsomely. "

So saying, Blount cocked his beaver, threw out his leg, and marchedmanfully forward, as if at the head of his brigade of pikemen, ever andanon looking with complaisance on his crimson stockings, and the hugeyellow roses which blossomed on his shoes. Tressilian followed, wraptin his own sad thoughts, and scarce minding Raleigh, whose quick fancy, amused by the awkward vanity of his respectable friend, vented itself injests, which he whispered into Tressilian's ear. 

In this manner they crossed the long bridge, or tilt-yard, and tooktheir station, with other gentlemen of quality, before the outer gateof the Gallery, or Entrance-tower. The whole amounted to about fortypersons, all selected as of the first rank under that of knighthood, andwere disposed in double rows on either side of the gate, like a guard ofhonour, within the close hedge of pikes and partisans which was formedby Leicester's retainers, wearing his liveries. The gentlemen carried noarms save their swords and daggers. These gallants were as gaily dressedas imagination could devise; and as the garb of the time permitteda great display of expensive magnificence, nought was to be seen butvelvet and cloth of gold and silver, ribbons, leathers, gems, and goldenchains. In spite of his more serious subjects of distress, Tressiliancould not help feeling that he, with his riding-suit, however handsomeit might be, made rather an unworthy figure among these "fiercevanities, " and the rather because he saw that his deshabille wasthe subject of wonder among his own friends, and of scorn among thepartisans of Leicester. 

We could not suppress this fact, though it may seem something atvariance with the gravity of Tressilian's character; but the truth is, that a regard for personal appearance is a species of self-love, from which the wisest are not exempt, and to which the mind clings soinstinctively that not only the soldier advancing to almost inevitabledeath, but even the doomed criminal who goes to certain execution, showsan anxiety to array his person to the best advantage. But this is adigression. 

It was the twilight of a summer night (9th July, 1575), the sun havingfor some time set, and all were in anxious expectation of the Queen'simmediate approach. The multitude had remained assembled for manyhours, and their numbers were still rather on the increase. A profusedistribution of refreshments, together with roasted oxen, and barrels ofale set a-broach in different places of the road, had kept the populacein perfect love and loyalty towards the Queen and her favourite, whichmight have somewhat abated had fasting been added to watching. Theypassed away the time, therefore, with the usual popular amusements ofwhooping, hallooing, shrieking, and playing rude tricks upon each other, forming the chorus of discordant sounds usual on such occasions. Theseprevailed all through the crowded roads and fields, and especiallybeyond the gate of the Chase, where the greater number of the commonsort were stationed; when, all of a sudden, a single rocket was seen toshoot into the atmosphere, and, at the instant, far heard over flood andfield, the great bell of the Castle tolled. 

Immediately there was a pause of dead silence, succeeded by a deep humof expectation, the united voice of many thousands, none of whom spokeabove their breath--or, to use a singular expression, the whisper of animmense multitude. 

"They come now, for certain, " said Raleigh. "Tressilian, that sound isgrand. We hear it from this distance as mariners, after a long voyage, hear, upon their night-watch, the tide rush upon some distant andunknown shore. "

"Mass!" answered Blount, "I hear it rather as I used to hear mine ownkine lowing from the close of Wittenswestlowe. "

"He will assuredly graze presently, " said Raleigh to Tressilian; "histhought is all of fat oxen and fertile meadows. He grows little betterthan one of his own beeves, and only becomes grand when he is provokedto pushing and goring. "

"We shall have him at that presently, " said Tressilian, "if you sparenot your wit. "

"Tush, I care not, " answered Raleigh; "but thou too, Tressilian, hastturned a kind of owl, that flies only by night--hast exchanged thy songsfor screechings, and good company for an ivy-tod. "

"But what manner of animal art thou thyself, Raleigh, " said Tressilian, "that thou holdest us all so lightly?"

"Who--I?" replied Raleigh. "An eagle am I, that never will think of dullearth while there is a heaven to soar in, and a sun to gaze upon. "

"Well bragged, by Saint Barnaby!" said Blount; "but, good Master Eagle, beware the cage, and beware the fowler. Many birds have flown as highthat I have seen stuffed with straw and hung up to scare kites. --Buthark, what a dead silence hath fallen on them at once!"

"The procession pauses, " said Raleigh, "at the gate of the Chase, wherea sibyl, one of the FATIDICAE, meets the Queen, to tell her fortune. Isaw the verses; there is little savour in them, and her Grace has beenalready crammed full with such poetical compliments. She whispered tome, during the Recorder's speech yonder, at Ford-mill, as she enteredthe liberties of Warwick, how she was 'PERTAESA BARBARAE LOQUELAE. '"

"The Queen whispered to HIM!" said Blount, in a kind of soliloquy; "GoodGod, to what will this world come!"

His further meditations were interrupted by a shout of applause from themultitude, so tremendously vociferous that the country echoed for milesround. The guards, thickly stationed upon the road by which the Queenwas to advance, caught up the acclamation, which ran like wildfire tothe Castle, and announced to all within that Queen Elizabeth had enteredthe Royal Chase of Kenilworth. The whole music of the Castle soundedat once, and a round of artillery, with a salvo of small arms, wasdischarged from the battlements; but the noise of drums and trumpets, and even of the cannon themselves, was but faintly heard amidst theroaring and reiterated welcomes of the multitude. 

As the noise began to abate, a broad glare of light was seen to appearfrom the gate of the Park, and broadening and brightening as it camenearer, advanced along the open and fair avenue that led towards theGallery-tower; and which, as we have already noticed, was lined oneither hand by the retainers of the Earl of Leicester. The word waspassed along the line, "The Queen! The Queen! Silence, and stand fast!"Onward came the cavalcade, illuminated by two hundred thick waxentorches, in the hands of as many horsemen, which cast a light like thatof broad day all around the procession, but especially on the principalgroup, of which the Queen herself, arrayed in the most splendid manner, and blazing with jewels, formed the central figure. She was mounted on amilk-white horse, which she reined with peculiar grace and dignity; andin the whole of her stately and noble carriage you saw the daughter ofan hundred kings. 

The ladies of the court, who rode beside her Majesty, had taken especialcare that their own external appearance should not be more glorious thantheir rank and the occasion altogether demanded, so that no inferiorluminary might appear to approach the orbit of royalty. But theirpersonal charms, and the magnificence by which, under every prudentialrestraint, they were necessarily distinguished, exhibited them asthe very flower of a realm so far famed for splendour and beauty. Themagnificence of the courtiers, free from such restraints as prudenceimposed on the ladies, was yet more unbounded. 

Leicester, who glittered like a golden image with jewels and cloth ofgold, rode on her Majesty's right hand, as well in quality of her hostas of her master of the horse. The black steed which he mounted hadnot a single white hair on his body, and was one of the most renownedchargers in Europe, having been purchased by the Earl at large expensefor this royal occasion. As the noble animal chafed at the slow paceof the procession, and, arching his stately neck, champed on the silverbits which restrained him, the foam flew from his mouth, and speckledhis well-formed limbs as if with spots of snow. The rider well becamethe high place which he held, and the proud steed which he bestrode; forno man in England, or perhaps in Europe, was more perfect than Dudley inhorsemanship, and all other exercises belonging to his quality. Hewas bareheaded as were all the courtiers in the train; and the redtorchlight shone upon his long, curled tresses of dark hair, and on hisnoble features, to the beauty of which even the severest criticismcould only object the lordly fault, as it may be termed, of a foreheadsomewhat too high. On that proud evening those features wore all thegrateful solicitude of a subject, to show himself sensible of the highhonour which the Queen was conferring on him, and all the pride andsatisfaction which became so glorious a moment. Yet, though neither eyenor feature betrayed aught but feelings which suited the occasion, someof the Earl's personal attendants remarked that he was unusually pale, and they expressed to each other their fear that he was taking morefatigue than consisted with his health. 

Varney followed close behind his master, as the principal esquire inwaiting, and had charge of his lordship's black velvet bonnet, garnishedwith a clasp of diamonds and surmounted by a white plume. He kept hiseye constantly on his master, and, for reasons with which the reader isnot unacquainted, was, among Leicester's numerous dependants, the onewho was most anxious that his lord's strength and resolution shouldcarry him successfully through a day so agitating. For although Varneywas one of the few, the very few moral monsters who contrive to lullto sleep the remorse of their own bosoms, and are drugged into moralinsensibility by atheism, as men in extreme agony are lulled by opium, yet he knew that in the breast of his patron there was already awakenedthe fire that is never quenched, and that his lord felt, amid all thepomp and magnificence we have described, the gnawing of the worm thatdieth not. Still, however, assured as Lord Leicester stood, by Varney'sown intelligence, that his Countess laboured under an indispositionwhich formed an unanswerable apology to the Queen for her not appearingat Kenilworth, there was little danger, his wily retainer thought, thata man so ambitious would betray himself by giving way to any externalweakness. 

The train, male and female, who attended immediately upon the Queen'sperson, were, of course, of the bravest and the fairest--the highestborn nobles, and the wisest counsellors, of that distinguished reign, to repeat whose names were but to weary the reader. Behind came along crowd of knights and gentlemen, whose rank and birth, howeverdistinguished, were thrown into shade, as their persons into the rear ofa procession whose front was of such august majesty. 

Thus marshalled, the cavalcade approached the Gallery-tower, whichformed, as we have often observed, the extreme barrier of the Castle. 

It was now the part of the huge porter to step forward; but the lubbardwas so overwhelmed with confusion of spirit--the contents of one immenseblack jack of double ale, which he had just drunk to quicken his memory, having treacherously confused the brain it was intended to clear--thathe only groaned piteously, and remained sitting on his stone seat; andthe Queen would have passed on without greeting, had not the giganticwarder's secret ally, Flibbertigibbet, who lay perdue behind him, thrusta pin into the rear of the short femoral garment which we elsewheredescribed. 

The porter uttered a sort of yell, which came not amiss into his part, started up with his club, and dealt a sound douse or two on each sideof him; and then, like a coach-horse pricked by the spur, started offat once into the full career of his address, and by dint of activeprompting on the part of Dickie Sludge, delivered, in sounds of giganticintonation, a speech which may be thus abridged--the reader being tosuppose that the first lines were addressed to the throng who approachedthe gateway; the conclusion, at the approach of the Queen, upon sight ofwhom, as struck by some heavenly vision, the gigantic warder dropped hisclub, resigned his keys, and gave open way to the Goddess of the night, and all her magnificent train. 

 "What stir, what turmoil, have we for the nones? Stand back, my masters, or beware your bones! Sirs, I'm a warder, and no man of straw, My voice keeps order, and my club gives law. 

 Yet soft--nay, stay--what vision have we here? What dainty darling's this--what peerless peer? What loveliest face, that loving ranks unfold, Like brightest diamond chased in purest gold? Dazzled and blind, mine office I forsake, My club, my key, my knee, my homage take. Bright paragon, pass on in joy and bliss;-- Beshrew the gate that opes not wide at such a sight as this!"

 [This is an imitation of Gascoigne's verses spoken by the Herculean porter, as mentioned in the text. The original may be found in the republication of the Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth, by the same author, in the History of Kenilworth already quoted. Chiswick, 1821. ]

Elizabeth received most graciously the homage of the Herculean porter, and, bending her head to him in requital, passed through his guardedtower, from the top of which was poured a clamorous blast of warlikemusic, which was replied to by other bands of minstrelsy placed atdifferent points on the Castle walls, and by others again stationedin the Chase; while the tones of the one, as they yet vibrated onthe echoes, were caught up and answered by new harmony from differentquarters. 

Amidst these bursts of music, which, as if the work of enchantment, seemed now close at hand, now softened by distant space, now wailing solow and sweet as if that distance were gradually prolonged until onlythe last lingering strains could reach the ear, Queen Elizabeth crossedthe Gallery-tower, and came upon the long bridge, which extended fromthence to Mortimer's Tower, and which was already as light as day, somany torches had been fastened to the palisades on either side. Mostof the nobles here alighted, and sent their horses to the neighbouringvillage of Kenilworth, following the Queen on foot, as did the gentlemenwho had stood in array to receive her at the Gallery-tower. 

On this occasion, as at different times during the evening, Raleighaddressed himself to Tressilian, and was not a little surprised athis vague and unsatisfactory answers; which, joined to his leaving hisapartment without any assigned reason, appearing in an undress whenit was likely to be offensive to the Queen, and some other symptoms ofirregularity which he thought he discovered, led him to doubt whetherhis friend did not labour under some temporary derangement. 

Meanwhile, the Queen had no sooner stepped on the bridge than a newspectacle was provided; for as soon as the music gave signal that shewas so far advanced, a raft, so disposed as to resemble a small floatingisland, illuminated by a great variety of torches, and surrounded byfloating pageants formed to represent sea-horses, on which sat Tritons, Nereids, and other fabulous deities of the seas and rivers, made itsappearance upon the lake, and issuing from behind a small heronry whereit had been concealed, floated gently towards the farther end of thebridge. 

On the islet appeared a beautiful woman, clad in a watchet-colouredsilken mantle, bound with a broad girdle inscribed with characters likethe phylacteries of the Hebrews. Her feet and arms were bare, but herwrists and ankles were adorned with gold bracelets of uncommon size. Amidst her long, silky black hair she wore a crown or chaplet ofartificial mistletoe, and bore in her hand a rod of ebony tipped withsilver. Two Nymphs attended on her, dressed in the same antique andmystical guise. 

The pageant was so well managed that this Lady of the Floating Island, having performed her voyage with much picturesque effect, landed atMortimer's Tower with her two attendants just as Elizabeth presentedherself before that outwork. The stranger then, in a well-penned speech, announced herself as that famous Lady of the Lake renowned in thestories of King Arthur, who had nursed the youth of the redoubted SirLancelot, and whose beauty 'had proved too powerful both for the wisdomand the spells of the mighty Merlin. Since that early period she hadremained possessed of her crystal dominions, she said, despite thevarious men of fame and might by whom Kenilworth had been successivelytenanted. 'The Saxons, the Danes, the Normans, the Saintlowes, theClintons, the Montforts, the Mortimers, the Plantagenets, great thoughthey were in arms and magnificence, had never, she said, caused herto raise her head from the waters which hid her crystal palace. But agreater than all these great names had now appeared, and she came inhomage and duty to welcome the peerless Elizabeth to all sport which theCastle and its environs, which lake or land, could afford. 

The Queen received this address also with great courtesy, and madeanswer in raillery, "We thought this lake had belonged to our owndominions, fair dame; but since so famed a lady claims it for hers, we will be glad at some other time to have further communing with youtouching our joint interests. "

With this gracious answer the Lady of the Lake vanished, and Arion, who was amongst the maritime deities, appeared upon his dolphin. ButLambourne, who had taken upon him the part in the absence of Wayland, being chilled with remaining immersed in an element to which he was notfriendly, having never got his speech by heart, and not having, like theporter, the advantage of a prompter, paid it off with impudence, tearingoff his vizard, and swearing, "Cogs bones! he was none of Arion or Orioneither, but honest Mike Lambourne, that had been drinking her Majesty'shealth from morning till midnight, and was come to bid her heartilywelcome to Kenilworth Castle. "

This unpremeditated buffoonery answered the purpose probably better thanthe set speech would have done. The Queen laughed heartily, and swore(in her turn) that he had made the best speech she had heard that day. Lambourne, who instantly saw his jest had saved his bones, jumped onshore, gave his dolphin a kick, and declared he would never meddle withfish again, except at dinner. 

At the same time that the Queen was about to enter the Castle, thatmemorable discharge of fireworks by water and land took place, whichMaster Laneham, formerly introduced to the reader, has strained all hiseloquence to describe. 

"Such, " says the Clerk of the Council-chamber door "was the blaze ofburning darts, the gleams of stars coruscant, the streams and hail offiery sparks, lightnings of wildfire, and flight-shot of thunderbolts, with continuance, terror, and vehemency, that the heavens thundered, thewaters surged, and the earth shook; and for my part, hardy as I am, itmade me very vengeably afraid. "

[See Laneham's Account of the Queen's Entertainment at KillingworthCastle, in 1575, a very diverting tract, written by as great a coxcombas ever blotted paper. [See Note 6] The original is extremely rare, but it has been twice reprinted; once in Mr. Nichols's very curious andinteresting collection of the Progresses and Public Processions ofQueen Elizabeth, vol. I. And more lately in a beautiful antiquarianpublication, termed KENILWORTH ILLUSTRATED, printed at Chiswick, forMeridew of Coventry and Radcliffe of Birmingham. It contains reprintsof Laneham's Letter, Gascoigne's Princely Progress, and other scarcepieces, annotated with accuracy and ability. The author takes theliberty to refer to this work as his authority for the account of thefestivities. 

I am indebted for a curious ground-plan of the Castle of Kenilworth, as it existed in Queen Elizabeth's time, to the voluntary kindness ofRichard Badnall Esq. Of Olivebank, near Liverpool. From his obligingcommunication, I learn that the original sketch was found among themanuscripts of the celebrated J. J. Rousseau, when he left England. These were entrusted by the philosopher to the care of his friendMr. Davenport, and passed from his legatee into the possession of Mr. Badnall. ]

CHAPTER XXXI. 

 Nay, this is matter for the month of March, When hares are maddest. Either speak in reason, Giving cold argument the wall of passion, Or I break up the court. --BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER. 

It is by no means our purpose to detail minutely all the princelyfestivities of Kenilworth, after the fashion of Master Robert Laneham, whom we quoted in the conclusion of the last chapter. It is sufficientto say that under discharge of the splendid fireworks, which wehave borrowed Laneham's eloquence to describe, the Queen entered thebase-court of Kenilworth, through Mortimer's Tower, and moving onthrough pageants of heathen gods and heroes of antiquity, who offeredgifts and compliments on the bended knee, at length found her way tothe Great Hall of the Castle, gorgeously hung for her reception with therichest silken tapestry, misty with perfumes, and sounding to strainsof soft and delicious music. From the highly-carved oaken roof hunga superb chandelier of gilt bronze, formed like a spread eagle, whoseoutstretched wings supported three male and three female figures, grasping a pair of branches in each hand. The Hall was thus illuminatedby twenty-four torches of wax. At the upper end of the splendidapartment was a state canopy, overshadowing a royal throne, and besideit was a door, which opened to a long suite of apartments, decoratedwith the utmost magnificence for the Queen and her ladies, whenever itshould be her pleasure to be private. 

The Earl of Leicester having handed the Queen up to her throne, andseated her there, knelt down before her, and kissing the hand which sheheld out, with an air in which romantic and respectful gallantry washappily mingled with the air of loyal devotion, he thanked her, in termsof the deepest gratitude, for the highest honour which a sovereign couldrender to a subject. So handsome did he look when kneeling before her, that Elizabeth was tempted to prolong the scene a little longer thanthere was, strictly speaking, necessity for; and ere she raised him, she passed her hand over his head, so near as almost to touch his long, curled, and perfumed hair, and with a movement of fondness that seemedto intimate she would, if she dared, have made the motion a slightcaress. 

[To justify what may be considered as a high-coloured picture, theauthor quotes the original of the courtly and shrewd Sir James Melville, being then Queen Mary's envoy at the court of London. 

"I was required, " says Sir James, "to stay till I had seen him madeEarle of Leicester, and Baron of Denbigh, with great solemnity; herself(Elizabeth) helping to put on his ceremonial, he sitting on his kneesbefore her, keeping a great gravity and a discreet behaviour; but shecould not refrain from putting her hand to his neck to kittle (i. E. , tickle) him, smilingly, the French Ambassador and I standing besideher. "--MELVILLE'S MEMOIRS, BANNATYNE EDITION, p. 120. ]

She at length raised him, and standing beside the throne, he explainedto her the various preparations which had been made for her amusementand accommodation, all of which received her prompt and graciousapprobation. The Earl then prayed her Majesty for permission that hehimself, and the nobles who had been in attendance upon her during thejourney, might retire for a few minutes, and put themselves into a guisemore fitting for dutiful attendance, during which space those gentlemenof worship (pointing to Varney, Blount, Tressilian, and others), whohad already put themselves into fresh attire, would have the honour ofkeeping her presence-chamber. 

"Be it so, my lord, " answered the Queen; "you could manage a theatrewell, who can thus command a double set of actors. For ourselves, wewill receive your courtesies this evening but clownishly, since it isnot our purpose to change our riding attire, being in effect somethingfatigued with a journey which the concourse of our good people hathrendered slow, though the love they have shown our person hath, at thesame time, made it delightful. "

Leicester, having received this permission, retired accordingly, andwas followed by those nobles who had attended the Queen to Kenilworthin person. The gentlemen who had preceded them, and were, of course, dressed for the solemnity, remained in attendance. But being most ofthem of rather inferior rank, they remained at an awful distancefrom the throne which Elizabeth occupied. The Queen's sharp eye soondistinguished Raleigh amongst them, with one or two others who werepersonally known to her, and she instantly made them a sign to approach, and accosted them very graciously. Raleigh, in particular, the adventureof whose cloak, as well as the incident of the verses, remained onher mind, was very graciously received; and to him she most frequentlyapplied for information concerning the names and rank of those whowere in presence. These he communicated concisely, and not without sometraits of humorous satire, by which Elizabeth seemed much amused. "Andwho is yonder clownish fellow?" she said, looking at Tressilian, whosesoiled dress on this occasion greatly obscured his good mien. 

"A poet, if it please your Grace, " replied Raleigh. 

"I might have guessed that from his careless garb, " said Elizabeth. "I have known some poets so thoughtless as to throw their cloaks intogutters. "

"It must have been when the sun dazzled both their eyes and theirjudgment, " answered Raleigh. 

Elizabeth smiled, and proceeded, "I asked that slovenly fellow's name, and you only told me his profession. "

"Tressilian is his name, " said Raleigh, with internal reluctance, forhe foresaw nothing favourable to his friend from the manner in which shetook notice of him. 

"Tressilian!" answered Elizabeth. "Oh, the Menelaus of our romance. Why, he has dressed himself in a guise that will go far to exculpate his fairand false Helen. And where is Farnham, or whatever his name is--my Lordof Leicester's man, I mean--the Paris of this Devonshire tale?"

With still greater reluctance Raleigh named and pointed out to herVarney, for whom the tailor had done all that art could perform inmaking his exterior agreeable; and who, if he had not grace, had a sortof tact and habitual knowledge of breeding, which came in place of it. 

The Queen turned her eyes from the one to the other. "I doubt, " shesaid, "this same poetical Master Tressilian, who is too learned, Iwarrant me, to remember whose presence he was to appear in, may be oneof those of whom Geoffrey Chaucer says wittily, the wisest clerks arenot the wisest men. I remember that Varney is a smooth-tongued varlet. Idoubt this fair runaway hath had reasons for breaking her faith. "

To this Raleigh durst make no answer, aware how little he should benefitTressilian by contradicting the Queen's sentiments, and not at allcertain, on the whole, whether the best thing that could befall himwould not be that she should put an end at once by her authority to thisaffair, upon which it seemed to him Tressilian's thoughts were fixedwith unavailing and distressing pertinacity. As these reflectionspassed through his active brain, the lower door of the hall opened, andLeicester, accompanied by several of his kinsmen, and of the nobles whohad embraced his faction, re-entered the Castle Hall. 

The favourite Earl was now apparelled all in white, his shoes being ofwhite velvet; his under-stocks (or stockings) of knit silk; his upperstocks of white velvet, lined with cloth of silver, which was shown atthe slashed part of the middle thigh; his doublet of cloth ofsilver, the close jerkin of white velvet, embroidered with silver andseed-pearl, his girdle and the scabbard of his sword of white velvetwith golden buckles; his poniard and sword hilted and mounted with gold;and over all a rich, loose robe of white satin, with a border of goldenembroidery a foot in breadth. The collar of the Garter, and the azuregarter itself around his knee, completed the appointments of the Earlof Leicester; which were so well matched by his fair stature, gracefulgesture, fine proportion of body, and handsome countenance, that at thatmoment he was admitted by all who saw him as the goodliest person whomthey had ever looked upon. Sussex and the other nobles were also richlyattired, but in point of splendour and gracefulness of mien Leicesterfar exceeded them all. 

Elizabeth received him with great complacency. "We have one piece ofroyal justice, " she said, "to attend to. It is a piece of justice, too, which interests us as a woman, as well as in the character of mother andguardian of the English people. "

An involuntary shudder came over Leicester as he bowed low, expressiveof his readiness to receive her royal commands; and a similar cold fitcame over Varney, whose eyes (seldom during that evening removed fromhis patron) instantly perceived from the change in his looks, slight asthat was, of what the Queen was speaking. But Leicester had wroughthis resolution up to the point which, in his crooked policy, he judgednecessary; and when Elizabeth added, "it is of the matter of Varneyand Tressilian we speak--is the lady here, my lord?" his answer wasready--"Gracious madam, she is not. "

Elizabeth bent her brews and compressed her lips. "Our orders werestrict and positive, my lord, " was her answer--

"And should have been obeyed, good my liege, " replied Leicester, "hadthey been expressed in the form of the lightest wish. But--Varney, stepforward--this gentleman will inform your Grace of the cause why thelady" (he could not force his rebellious tongue to utter the words--HISWIFE) "cannot attend on your royal presence. "

Varney advanced, and pleaded with readiness, what indeed he firmlybelieved, the absolute incapacity of the party (for neither did he dare, in Leicester's presence, term her his wife) to wait on her Grace. 

"Here, " said he, "are attestations from a most learned physician, whoseskill and honour are well known to my good Lord of Leicester, and froman honest and devout Protestant, a man of credit and substance, oneAnthony Foster, the gentleman in whose house she is at present bestowed, that she now labours under an illness which altogether unfits her forsuch a journey as betwixt this Castle and the neighbourhood of Oxford. "

"This alters the matter, " said the Queen, taking the certificates inher hand, and glancing at their contents. --"Let Tressilian comeforward. --Master Tressilian, we have much sympathy for your situation, the rather that you seem to have set your heart deeply on this AmyRobsart, or Varney. Our power, thanks to God, and the willing obedienceof a loving people, is worth much, but there are some things which itcannot compass. We cannot, for example, command the affections of agiddy young girl, or make her love sense and learning better than acourtier's fine doublet; and we cannot control sickness, with which itseems this lady is afflicted, who may not, by reason of such infirmity, attend our court here, as we had required her to do. Here are thetestimonials of the physician who hath her under his charge, and thegentleman in whose house she resides, so setting forth. "

"Under your Majesty's favour, " said Tressilian hastily, and in his alarmfor the consequence of the imposition practised on the Queen forgettingin part at least his own promise to Amy, "these certificates speak notthe truth. "

"How, sir!" said the Queen--"impeach my Lord of Leicester's veracity!But you shall have a fair hearing. In our presence the meanest ofour subjects shall be heard against the proudest, and the least knownagainst the most favoured; therefore you shall be heard fairly, butbeware you speak not without a warrant! Take these certificates in yourown hand, look at them carefully, and say manfully if you impugn thetruth of them, and upon what evidence. "

As the Queen spoke, his promise and all its consequences rushed on themind of the unfortunate Tressilian, and while it controlled his naturalinclination to pronounce that a falsehood which he knew from theevidence of his senses to be untrue, gave an indecision and irresolutionto his appearance and utterance which made strongly against him inthe mind of Elizabeth, as well as of all who beheld him. He turnedthe papers over and over, as if he had been an idiot, incapable ofcomprehending their contents. The Queen's impatience began to becomevisible. "You are a scholar, sir, " she said, "and of some note, as Ihave heard; yet you seem wondrous slow in reading text hand. How sayyou, are these certificates true or no?"

"Madam, " said Tressilian, with obvious embarrassment and hesitation, anxious to avoid admitting evidence which he might afterwards havereason to confute, yet equally desirous to keep his word to Amy, and togive her, as he had promised, space to plead her own cause in her ownway--"Madam--Madam, your Grace calls on me to admit evidence which oughtto be proved valid by those who found their defence upon them. "

"Why, Tressilian, thou art critical as well as poetical, " said theQueen, bending on him a brow of displeasure; "methinks these writings, being produced in the presence of the noble Earl to whom this Castlepertains, and his honour being appealed to as the guarantee of theirauthenticity, might be evidence enough for thee. But since thou listestto be so formal--Varney, or rather my Lord of Leicester, for the affairbecomes yours" (these words, though spoken at random, thrilled throughthe Earl's marrow and bones), "what evidence have you as touching thesecertificates?"

Varney hastened to reply, preventing Leicester--"So please your Majesty, my young Lord of Oxford, who is here in presence, knows Master AnthonyFoster's hand and his character. "

The Earl of Oxford, a young unthrift, whom Foster had more than onceaccommodated with loans on usurious interest, acknowledged, on thisappeal, that he knew him as a wealthy and independent franklin, supposedto be worth much money, and verified the certificate produced to be hishandwriting. 

"And who speaks to the Doctor's certificate?" said the Queen. "Alasco, methinks, is his name. "

Masters, her Majesty's physician (not the less willingly that heremembered his repulse from Sayes Court, and thought that his presenttestimony might gratify Leicester, and mortify the Earl of Sussex andhis faction), acknowledged he had more than once consulted with DoctorAlasco, and spoke of him as a man of extraordinary learning and hiddenacquirements, though not altogether in the regular course of practice. The Earl of Huntingdon, Lord Leicester's brother-in-law, and the oldCountess of Rutland, next sang his praises, and both remembered thethin, beautiful Italian hand in which he was wont to write his receipts, and which corresponded to the certificate produced as his. 

"And now, I trust, Master Tressilian, this matter is ended, " said theQueen. "We will do something ere the night is older to reconcile old SirHugh Robsart to the match. You have done your duty something more thanboldly; but we were no woman had we not compassion for the wounds whichtrue love deals, so we forgive your audacity, and your uncleansedboots withal, which have well-nigh overpowered my Lord of Leicester'sperfumes. "

So spoke Elizabeth, whose nicety of scent was one of the characteristicsof her organization, as appeared long afterwards when she expelled Essexfrom her presence, on a charge against his boots similar to that whichshe now expressed against those of Tressilian. 

But Tressilian had by this time collected himself, astonished as he hadat first been by the audacity of the falsehood so feasibly supported, and placed in array against the evidence of his own eyes. He rushedforward, kneeled down, and caught the Queen by the skirt of her robe. "As you are Christian woman, " he said, "madam, as you are crowned Queen, to do equal justice among your subjects--as you hope yourself to havefair hearing (which God grant you) at that last bar at which we must allplead, grant me one small request! Decide not this matter so hastily. Give me but twenty-four hours' interval, and I will, at the end of thatbrief space, produce evidence which will show to demonstration thatthese certificates, which state this unhappy lady to be now ill at easein Oxfordshire, are false as hell!"

"Let go my train, sir!" said Elizabeth, who was startled at hisvehemence, though she had too much of the lion in her to fear; "thefellow must be distraught. That witty knave, my godson Harrington, musthave him into his rhymes of Orlando Furioso! And yet, by this light, there is something strange in the vehemence of his demand. --Speak, Tressilian, what wilt thou do if, at the end of these four-and-twentyhours, thou canst not confute a fact so solemnly proved as this lady'sillness?"

"I will lay down my head on the block, " answered Tressilian. 

"Pshaw!" replied the Queen, "God's light! thou speakest like a fool. What head falls in England but by just sentence of English law? I askthee, man--if thou hast sense to understand me--wilt thou, if thoushalt fail in this improbable attempt of thine, render me a good andsufficient reason why thou dost undertake it?"

Tressilian paused, and again hesitated; because he felt convinced thatif, within the interval demanded, Amy should become reconciled to herhusband, he would in that case do her the worst of offices by againripping up the whole circumstances before Elizabeth, and showinghow that wise and jealous princess had been imposed upon by falsetestimonials. The consciousness of this dilemma renewed his extremeembarrassment of look, voice, and manner; he hesitated, looked down, andon the Queen repeating her question with a stern voice and flashingeye, he admitted with faltering words, "That it might be--he could notpositively--that is, in certain events--explain the reasons and groundson which he acted. "

"Now, by the soul of King Henry, " said the Queen, "this is eithermoonstruck madness or very knavery!--Seest thou, Raleigh, thy friend isfar too Pindaric for this presence. Have him away, and make us quit ofhim, or it shall be the worse for him; for his flights are too unbridledfor any place but Parnassus, or Saint Luke's Hospital. But come backinstantly thyself, when he is placed under fitting restraint. --We wishwe had seen the beauty which could make such havoc in a wise man'sbrain. "

Tressilian was again endeavouring to address the Queen, when Raleigh, inobedience to the orders he had received, interfered, and with Blount'sassistance, half led, half forced him out of the presence-chamber, wherehe himself indeed began to think his appearance did his cause more harmthan good. 

When they had attained the antechamber, Raleigh entreated Blount to seeTressilian safely conducted into the apartments allotted to the Earl ofSussex's followers, and, if necessary, recommended that a guard shouldbe mounted on him. 

"This extravagant passion, " he said, "and, as it would seem, the news ofthe lady's illness, has utterly wrecked his excellent judgment. But itwill pass away if he be kept quiet. Only let him break forth again atno rate; for he is already far in her Highness's displeasure, andshould she be again provoked, she will find for him a worse place ofconfinement, and sterner keepers. "

"I judged as much as that he was mad, " said Nicholas Blount, lookingdown upon his own crimson stockings and yellow roses, "whenever I sawhim wearing yonder damned boots, which stunk so in her nostrils. I willbut see him stowed, and be back with you presently. But, Walter, did theQueen ask who I was?--methought she glanced an eye at me. "

"Twenty--twenty eye-glances she sent! and I told her all--how thou werta brave soldier, and a--But for God's sake, get off Tressilian!"

"I will--I will, " said Blount; "but methinks this court-haunting is nosuch bad pastime, after all. We shall rise by it, Walter, my brave lad. Thou saidst I was a good soldier, and a--what besides, dearest Walter?"

"An all unutterable-codshead. For God's sake, begone!"

Tressilian, without further resistance or expostulation followed, orrather suffered himself to be conducted by Blount to Raleigh's lodging, where he was formally installed into a small truckle-bed placed in awardrobe, and designed for a domestic. He saw but too plainly thatno remonstrances would avail to procure the help or sympathy of hisfriends, until the lapse of the time for which he had pledged himselfto remain inactive should enable him either to explain the wholecircumstances to them, or remove from him every pretext or desire offurther interference with the fortunes of Amy, by her having found meansto place herself in a state of reconciliation with her husband. 

With great difficulty, and only by the most patient and mildremonstrances with Blount, he escaped the disgrace and mortification ofhaving two of Sussex's stoutest yeomen quartered in his apartment. At last, however, when Nicholas had seen him fairly deposited in histruckle-bed, and had bestowed one or two hearty kicks, and as heartycurses, on the boots, which, in his lately acquired spirit of foppery, he considered as a strong symptom, if not the cause, of his friend'smalady, he contented himself with the modified measure of locking thedoor on the unfortunate Tressilian, whose gallant and disinterestedefforts to save a female who had treated him with ingratitude thusterminated for the present in the displeasure of his Sovereign and theconviction of his friends that he was little better than a madman. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

 The wisest Sovereigns err like private men, And royal hand has sometimes laid the sword Of chivalry upon a worthless shoulder, Which better had been branded by the hangman. What then?--Kings do their best; and they and we Must answer for the intent, and not the event. --OLD PLAY. 

"It is a melancholy matter, " said the Queen, when Tressilian waswithdrawn, "to see a wise and learned man's wit thus pitifullyunsettled. Yet this public display of his imperfection of brain plainlyshows us that his supposed injury and accusation were fruitless; andtherefore, my Lord of Leicester, we remember your suit formerly madeto us in behalf of your faithful servant Varney, whose good gifts andfidelity, as they are useful to you, ought to have due reward from us, knowing well that your lordship, and all you have, are so earnestlydevoted to our service. And we render Varney the honour more especiallythat we are a guest, and, we fear, a chargeable and troublesome one, under your lordship's roof; and also for the satisfaction of the goodold Knight of Devon, Sir Hugh Robsart, whose daughter he hath married, and we trust the especial mark of grace which we are about to confer mayreconcile him to his son-in-law. --Your sword, my Lord of Leicester. "

The Earl unbuckled his sword, and taking it by the point, presented onbended knee the hilt to Elizabeth. 

She took it slowly drew it from the scabbard, and while the ladies whostood around turned away their eyes with real or affected shuddering, she noted with a curious eye the high polish and rich, damaskedornaments upon the glittering blade. 

"Had I been a man, " she said, "methinks none of my ancestors would haveloved a good sword better. As it is with me, I like to look on one, andcould, like the Fairy of whom I have read in some Italian rhymes--weremy godson Harrington here, he could tell me the passage--even trimmy hair, and arrange my head-gear, in such a steel mirror as thisis. --Richard Varney, come forth, and kneel down. In the name of God andSaint George, we dub thee knight! Be Faithful, Brave, and Fortunate. Arise, Sir Richard Varney. "

 [The incident alluded to occurs in the poem of Orlando Innamorato of Boiardo, libro ii. Canto 4, stanza 25. 

 "Non era per ventura, " etc. 

It may be rendered thus:--

 As then, perchance, unguarded was the tower, So enter'd free Anglante's dauntless knight. No monster and no giant guard the bower In whose recess reclined the fairy light, Robed in a loose cymar of lily white, And on her lap a sword of breadth and might, In whose broad blade, as in a mirror bright, Like maid that trims her for a festal night, The fairy deck'd her hair, and placed her coronet aright. 

Elizabeth's attachment to the Italian school of poetry was singularlymanifested on a well-known occasion. Her godson, Sir John Harrington, having offended her delicacy by translating some of the licentiouspassages of the Orlando Furioso, she imposed on him, as a penance, thetask of rendering the WHOLE poem into English. ]

Varney arose and retired, making a deep obeisance to the Sovereign whohad done him so much honour. 

"The buckling of the spur, and what other rites remain, " said the Queen, "may be finished to-morrow in the chapel; for we intend Sir RichardVarney a companion in his honours. And as we must not be partial inconferring such distinction, we mean on this matter to confer with ourcousin of Sussex. "

That noble Earl, who since his arrival at Kenilworth, and indeed sincethe commencement of this Progress, had found himself in a subordinatesituation to Leicester, was now wearing a heavy cloud on his brow; acircumstance which had not escaped the Queen, who hoped to appease hisdiscontent, and to follow out her system of balancing policy by a markof peculiar favour, the more gratifying as it was tendered at a momentwhen his rival's triumph appeared to be complete. 

At the summons of Queen Elizabeth, Sussex hastily approached her person;and being asked on which of his followers, being a gentleman and ofmerit, he would wish the honour of knighthood to be conferred, heanswered, with more sincerity than policy, that he would have venturedto speak for Tressilian, to whom he conceived he owed his own life, andwho was a distinguished soldier and scholar, besides a man of unstainedlineage, "only, " he said, "he feared the events of that night--" Andthen he stopped. 

"I am glad your lordship is thus considerate, " said Elizabeth. "Theevents of this night would make us, in the eyes of our subjects, as madas this poor brain-sick gentleman himself--for we ascribe his conduct tono malice--should we choose this moment to do him grace. "

"In that case, " said the Earl of Sussex, somewhat discountenanced, "yourMajesty will allow me to name my master of the horse, Master NicholasBlount, a gentleman of fair estate and ancient name, who has served yourMajesty both in Scotland and Ireland, and brought away bloody marks onhis person, all honourably taken and requited. "

The Queen could not help shrugging her shoulders slightly even at thissecond suggestion; and the Duchess of Rutland, who read in the Queen'smanner that she had expected that Sussex would have named Raleigh, andthus would have enabled her to gratify her own wish while she honouredhis recommendation, only waited the Queen's assent to what he hadproposed, and then said that she hoped, since these two high nobles hadbeen each permitted to suggest a candidate for the honours of chivalry, she, in behalf of the ladies in presence, might have a similarindulgence. 

"I were no woman to refuse you such a boon, " said the Queen, smiling. 

"Then, " pursued the Duchess, "in the name of these fair ladies present, I request your Majesty to confer the rank of knighthood on WalterRaleigh, whose birth, deeds of arms, and promptitude to serve our sexwith sword or pen, deserve such distinction from us all. "

"Gramercy, fair ladies, " said Elizabeth, smiling, "your boon isgranted, and the gentle squire Lack-Cloak shall become the good knightLack-Cloak, at your desire. Let the two aspirants for the honour ofchivalry step forward. "

Blount was not as yet returned from seeing Tressilian, as he conceived, safely disposed of; but Raleigh came forth, and kneeling down, receivedat the hand of the Virgin Queen that title of honour, which was neverconferred on a more distinguished or more illustrious object. 

Shortly afterwards Nicholas Blount entered, and hastily apprised bySussex, who met him at the door of the hall, of the Queen's graciouspurpose regarding him, he was desired to advance towards the throne. Itis a sight sometimes seen, and it is both ludicrous and pitiable; whenan honest man of plain common sense is surprised, by the coquetry of apretty woman, or any other cause, into those frivolous fopperieswhich only sit well upon the youthful, the gay, and those to whom longpractice has rendered them a second nature. Poor Blount was in thissituation. His head was already giddy from a consciousness of unusualfinery, and the supposed necessity of suiting his manners to the gaietyof his dress; and now this sudden view of promotion altogether completedthe conquest of the newly inhaled spirit of foppery over his naturaldisposition, and converted a plain, honest, awkward man into a coxcombof a new and most ridiculous kind. 

The knight-expectant advanced up the hall, the whole length of which hehad unfortunately to traverse, turning out his toes with so much zealthat he presented his leg at every step with its broadside foremost, so that it greatly resembled an old-fashioned table-knife with a curvedpoint, when seen sideways. The rest of his gait was in proportionto this unhappy amble; and the implied mixture of bashful rear andself-satisfaction was so unutterably ridiculous that Leicester's friendsdid not suppress a titter, in which many of Sussex's partisanswere unable to resist joining, though ready to eat their nails withmortification. Sussex himself lost all patience, and could not forbearwhispering into the ear of his friend, "Curse thee! canst thou not walklike a man and a soldier?" an interjection which only made honest Blountstart and stop, until a glance at his yellow roses and crimson stockingsrestored his self-confidence, when on he went at the same pace asbefore. 

The Queen conferred on poor Blount the honour of knighthood with amarked sense of reluctance. That wise Princess was fully aware of thepropriety of using great circumspection and economy in bestowing thosetitles of honour, which the Stewarts, who succeeded to her throne, distributed with an imprudent liberality which greatly diminished theirvalue. Blount had no sooner arisen and retired than she turned to theDuchess of Rutland. "Our woman wit, " she said, "dear Rutland, is sharperthan that of those proud things in doublet and hose. Seest thou, out ofthese three knights, thine is the only true metal to stamp chivalry'simprint upon?"

"Sir Richard Varney, surely--the friend of my Lord of Leicester--surelyhe has merit, " replied the Duchess. 

"Varney has a sly countenance and a smooth tongue, " replied the Queen;"I fear me he will prove a knave. But the promise was of ancientstanding. My Lord of Sussex must have lost his own wits, I think, torecommend to us first a madman like Tressilian, and then a clownish foollike this other fellow. I protest, Rutland, that while he sat on hisknees before me, mopping and mowing as if he had scalding porridge inhis mouth, I had much ado to forbear cutting him over the pate, insteadof striking his shoulder. "

"Your Majesty gave him a smart ACCOLADE, " said the Duchess; "we whostood behind heard the blade clatter on his collar-bone, and the poorman fidgeted too as if he felt it. "

"I could not help it, wench, " said the Queen, laughing. "But we willhave this same Sir Nicholas sent to Ireland or Scotland, or somewhere, to rid our court of so antic a chevalier; he may be a good soldier inthe field, though a preposterous ass in a banqueting-hall. "

The discourse became then more general, and soon after there was asummons to the banquet. 

In order to obey this signal, the company were under the necessity ofcrossing the inner court of the Castle, that they might reach the newbuildings containing the large banqueting-room, in which preparationsfor supper were made upon a scale of profuse magnificence, correspondingto the occasion. 

The livery cupboards were loaded with plate of the richest description, and the most varied--some articles tasteful, some perhaps grotesque, inthe invention and decoration, but all gorgeously magnificent, both fromthe richness of the work and value of the materials. Thus the chieftable was adorned by a salt, ship-fashion, made of mother-of-pearl, garnished with silver and divers warlike ensigns and other ornaments, anchors, sails, and sixteen pieces of ordnance. It bore a figure ofFortune, placed on a globe, with a flag in her hand. Another salt wasfashioned of silver, in form of a swan in full sail. That chivalry mightnot be omitted amid this splendour, a silver Saint George was presented, mounted and equipped in the usual fashion in which he bestrides thedragon. The figures were moulded to be in some sort useful. The horse'stail was managed to hold a case of knives, while the breast of thedragon presented a similar accommodation for oyster knives. 

In the course of the passage from the hall of reception to thebanqueting-room, and especially in the courtyard, the new-made knightswere assailed by the heralds, pursuivants, minstrels, etc. , with theusual cry of LARGESSE, LARGESSE, CHEVALIERS TRES HARDIS! an ancientinvocation, intended to awaken the bounty of the acolytes of chivalrytowards those whose business it was to register their armorial bearings, and celebrate the deeds by which they were illustrated. The call was, of course, liberally and courteously answered by those to whom it wasaddressed. Varney gave his largesse with an affectation of complaisanceand humility. Raleigh bestowed his with the graceful ease peculiar toone who has attained his own place, and is familiar with its dignity. Honest Blount gave what his tailor had left him of his half-year's rent, dropping some pieces in his hurry, then stooping down to look for them, and then distributing them amongst the various claimants, with theanxious face and mien of the parish beadle dividing a dole amongpaupers. 

The donations were accepted with the usual clamour and VIVATS ofapplause common on such occasions; but as the parties gratified werechiefly dependants of Lord Leicester, it was Varney whose namewas repeated with the loudest acclamations. Lambourne, especially, distinguished himself by his vociferations of "Long life to Sir RichardVarney!--Health and honour to Sir Richard!--Never was a more worthyknight dubbed!"--then, suddenly sinking his voice, he added--"since thevaliant Sir Pandarus of Troy, "--a winding-up of his clamorous applausewhich set all men a-laughing who were within hearing of it. 

It is unnecessary to say anything further of the festivities of theevening, which were so brilliant in themselves, and received with suchobvious and willing satisfaction by the Queen, that Leicester retiredto his own apartment with all the giddy raptures of successful ambition. Varney, who had changed his splendid attire, and now waited on hispatron in a very modest and plain undress, attended to do the honours ofthe Earl's COUCHER. 

"How! Sir Richard, " said Leicester, smiling, "your new rank scarce suitsthe humility of this attendance. "

"I would disown that rank, my Lord, " said Varney, "could I think it wasto remove me to a distance from your lordship's person. "

"Thou art a grateful fellow, " said Leicester; "but I must not allow youto do what would abate you in the opinion of others. "

While thus speaking, he still accepted without hesitation the officesabout his person, which the new-made knight seemed to render as eagerlyas if he had really felt, in discharging the task, that pleasure whichhis words expressed. 

"I am not afraid of men's misconstruction, " he said, in answer toLeicester's remark, "since there is not--(permit me to undo thecollar)--a man within the Castle who does not expect very soon to seepersons of a rank far superior to that which, by your goodness, I nowhold, rendering the duties of the bedchamber to you, and accounting itan honour. "

"It might, indeed, so have been"--said the Earl, with an involuntarysigh; and then presently added, "My gown, Varney; I will look out on thenight. Is not the moon near to the full?"

"I think so, my lord, according to the calendar, " answered Varney. 

There was an abutting window, which opened on a small projecting balconyof stone, battlemented as is usual in Gothic castles. The Earl undid thelattice, and stepped out into the open air. The station he had chosencommanded an extensive view of the lake and woodlands beyond, where thebright moonlight rested on the clear blue waters and the distant massesof oak and elm trees. The moon rode high in the heavens, attended bythousands and thousands of inferior luminaries. All seemed already tobe hushed in the nether world, excepting occasionally the voice of thewatch (for the yeomen of the guard performed that duty wherever theQueen was present in person) and the distant baying of the hounds, disturbed by the preparations amongst the grooms and prickers for amagnificent hunt, which was to be the amusement of the next day. 

Leicester looked out on the blue arch of heaven, with gestures and acountenance expressive of anxious exultation, while Varney, who remainedwithin the darkened apartment, could (himself unnoticed), with asecret satisfaction, see his patron stretch his hands with earnestgesticulation towards the heavenly bodies. 

"Ye distant orbs of living fire, " so ran the muttered invocation of theambitious Earl, "ye are silent while you wheel your mystic rounds; butWisdom has given to you a voice. Tell me, then, to what end is my highcourse destined? Shall the greatness to which I have aspired be bright, pre-eminent, and stable as your own; or am I but doomed to draw a briefand glittering train along the nightly darkness, and then to sink downto earth, like the base refuse of those artificial fires with which menemulate your rays?"

He looked on the heavens in profound silence for a minute or two longer, and then again stepped into the apartment, where Varney seemed to havebeen engaged in putting the Earl's jewels into a casket. 

"What said Alasco of my horoscope?" demanded Leicester. "You alreadytold me; but it has escaped me, for I think but lightly of that art. "

"Many learned and great men have thought otherwise, " said Varney; "and, not to flatter your lordship, my own opinion leans that way. "

"Ay, Saul among the prophets?" said Leicester. "I thought thou wertsceptical in all such matters as thou couldst neither see, hear, smell, taste, or touch, and that thy belief was limited by thy senses. "

"Perhaps, my lord, " said Varney, "I may be misled on the presentoccasion by my wish to find the predictions of astrology true. Alascosays that your favourite planet is culminating, and that the adverseinfluence--he would not use a plainer term--though not overcome, wasevidently combust, I think he said, or retrograde. "

"It is even so, " said Leicester, looking at an abstract of astrologicalcalculations which he had in his hand; "the stronger influence willprevail, and, as I think, the evil hour pass away. Lend me your hand, Sir Richard, to doff my gown; and remain an instant, if it is nottoo burdensome to your knighthood, while I compose myself to sleep. I believe the bustle of this day has fevered my blood, for it streamsthrough my veins like a current of molten lead. Remain an instant, Ipray you--I would fain feel my eyes heavy ere I closed them. "

Varney officiously assisted his lord to bed, and placed a massive silvernight-lamp, with a short sword, on a marble table which stood close bythe head of the couch. Either in order to avoid the light of the lamp, or to hide his countenance from Varney, Leicester drew the curtain, heavy with entwined silk and gold, so as completely to shade his face. Varney took a seat near the bed, but with his back towards his master, as if to intimate that he was not watching him, and quietly waitedtill Leicester himself led the way to the topic by which his mind wasengrossed. 

"And so, Varney, " said the Earl, after waiting in vain till hisdependant should commence the conversation, "men talk of the Queen'sfavour towards me?"

"Ay, my good lord, " said Varney; "of what can they else, since it is sostrongly manifested?"

"She is indeed my good and gracious mistress, " said Leicester, afteranother pause; "but it is written, 'Put not thy trust in princes. '"

"A good sentence and a true, " said Varney, "unless you can unite theirinterest with yours so absolutely that they must needs sit on your wristlike hooded hawks. "

"I know what thou meanest, " said Leicester impatiently, "though thou artto-night so prudentially careful of what thou sayest to me. Thou wouldstintimate I might marry the Queen if I would?"

"It is your speech, my lord, not mine, " answered Varney; "butwhosesoever be the speech, it is the thought of ninety-nine out of anhundred men throughout broad England. "

"Ay, but, " said Leicester, turning himself in his bed, "the hundredthman knows better. Thou, for example, knowest the obstacle that cannot beoverleaped. "

"It must, my lord, if the stars speak true, " said Varney composedly. 

"What, talkest thou of them, " said Leicester, "that believest not inthem or in aught else?"

"You mistake, my lord, under your gracious pardon, " said Varney; "Ibelieve in many things that predict the future. I believe, if showersfall in April, that we shall have flowers in May; that if the sunshines, grain will ripen; and I believe in much natural philosophy tothe same effect, which, if the stars swear to me, I will say the starsspeak the truth. And in like manner, I will not disbelieve that whichI see wished for and expected on earth, solely because the astrologershave read it in the heavens. "

"Thou art right, " said Leicester, again tossing himself on his couch"Earth does wish for it. I have had advices from the reformed churchesof Germany--from the Low Countries--from Switzerland--urging this as apoint on which Europe's safety depends. France will not oppose it. Theruling party in Scotland look to it as their best security. Spain fearsit, but cannot prevent it. And yet thou knowest it is impossible. "

"I know not that, my lord, " said Varney; "the Countess is indisposed. "

"Villain!" said Leicester, starting up on his couch, and seizingthe sword which lay on the table beside him, "go thy thoughts thatway?--thou wouldst not do murder?"

"For whom, or what, do you hold me, my lord?" said Varney, assuming thesuperiority of an innocent man subjected to unjust suspicion. "I saidnothing to deserve such a horrid imputation as your violence infers. Isaid but that the Countess was ill. And Countess though she be--lovelyand beloved as she is--surely your lordship must hold her to be mortal?She may die, and your lordship's hand become once more your own. "

"Away! away!" said Leicester; "let me have no more of this. "

"Good night, my lord, " said Varney, seeming to understand this as acommand to depart; but Leicester's voice interrupted his purpose. 

"Thou 'scapest me not thus, Sir Fool, " said he; "I think thy knighthoodhas addled thy brains. Confess thou hast talked of impossibilities as ofthings which may come to pass. "

"My lord, long live your fair Countess, " said Varney; "but neither yourlove nor my good wishes can make her immortal. But God grant she livelong to be happy herself, and to render you so! I see not but you may beKing of England notwithstanding. "

"Nay, now, Varney, thou art stark mad, " said Leicester. 

"I would I were myself within the same nearness to a good estate offreehold, " said Varney. "Have we not known in other countries howa left-handed marriage might subsist betwixt persons of differingdegree?--ay, and be no hindrance to prevent the husband from conjoininghimself afterwards with a more suitable partner?"

"I have heard of such things in Germany, " said Leicester. 

"Ay, and the most learned doctors in foreign universities justify thepractice from the Old Testament, " said Varney. "And after all, where isthe harm? The beautiful partner whom you have chosen for true love hasyour secret hours of relaxation and affection. Her fame is safe herconscience may slumber securely. You have wealth to provide royally foryour issue, should Heaven bless you with offspring. Meanwhile you maygive to Elizabeth ten times the leisure, and ten thousand times theaffection, that ever Don Philip of Spain spared to her sister Mary; yetyou know how she doted on him though so cold and neglectful. It requiresbut a close mouth and an open brow, and you keep your Eleanor and yourfair Rosamond far enough separate. Leave me to build you a bower towhich no jealous Queen shall find a clew. "

Leicester was silent for a moment, then sighed, and said, "It isimpossible. Good night, Sir Richard Varney--yet stay. Can you guess whatmeant Tressilian by showing himself in such careless guise before theQueen to-day?--to strike her tender heart, I should guess, with allthe sympathies due to a lover abandoned by his mistress and abandoninghimself. "

Varney, smothering a sneering laugh, answered, "He believed MasterTressilian had no such matter in his head. "

"How!" said Leicester; "what meanest thou? There is ever knavery in thatlaugh of thine, Varney. "

"I only meant, my lord, " said Varney, "that Tressilian has taken thesure way to avoid heart-breaking. He hath had a companion--a femalecompanion--a mistress--a sort of player's wife or sister, as Ibelieve--with him in Mervyn's Bower, where I quartered him for certainreasons of my own. "

"A mistress!--meanest thou a paramour?"

"Ay, my lord; what female else waits for hours in a gentleman'schamber?"

"By my faith, time and space fitting, this were a good tale to tell, "said Leicester. "I ever distrusted those bookish, hypocritical, seeming-virtuous scholars. Well--Master Tressilian makes somewhatfamiliar with my house; if I look it over, he is indebted to it forcertain recollections. I would not harm him more than I can help. Keepeye on him, however, Varney. "

"I lodged him for that reason, " said Varney, "in Mervyn's Tower, wherehe is under the eye of my very vigilant, if he were not also my verydrunken, servant, Michael Lambourne, whom I have told your Grace of. "

"Grace!" said Leicester; "what meanest thou by that epithet?"

"It came unawares, my lord; and yet it sounds so very natural that Icannot recall it. "

"It is thine own preferment that hath turned thy brain, " said Leicester, laughing; "new honours are as heady as new wine. "

"May your lordship soon have cause to say so from experience, " saidVarney; and wishing his patron good night, he withdrew. [See Note 8. Furniture of Kenilworth. ]

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

 Here stands the victim--there the proud betrayer, E'en as the hind pull'd down by strangling dogs Lies at the hunter's feet--who courteous proffers To some high dame, the Dian of the chase, To whom he looks for guerdon, his sharp blade, To gash the sobbing throat. --THE WOODSMAN. 

We are now to return to Mervyn's Bower, the apartment, or rather theprison, of the unfortunate Countess of Leicester, who for some time keptwithin bounds her uncertainty and her impatience. She was aware that, inthe tumult of the day, there might be some delay ere her letter could besafely conveyed to the hands of Leicester, and that some time more mightelapse ere he could extricate himself from the necessary attendance onElizabeth, to come and visit her in her secret bower. "I will not expecthim, " she said, "till night; he cannot be absent from his royal guest, even to see me. He will, I know, come earlier if it be possible, but Iwill not expect him before night. " And yet all the while she did expecthim; and while she tried to argue herself into a contrary belief, eachhasty noise of the hundred which she heard sounded like the hurried stepof Leicester on the staircase, hasting to fold her in his arms. 

The fatigue of body which Amy had lately undergone, with the agitationof mind natural to so cruel a state of uncertainty, began by degreesstrongly to affect her nerves, and she almost feared her total inabilityto maintain the necessary self-command through the scenes which mightlie before her. But although spoiled by an over-indulgent system ofeducation, Amy had naturally a mind of great power, united with aframe which her share in her father's woodland exercises had rendereduncommonly healthy. She summoned to her aid such mental and bodilyresources; and not unconscious how much the issue of her fate mightdepend on her own self-possession, she prayed internally for strength ofbody and for mental fortitude, and resolved at the same time to yield tono nervous impulse which might weaken either. 

Yet when the great bell of the Castle, which was placed in Caesar'sTower, at no great distance from that called Mervyn's, began to sendits pealing clamour abroad, in signal of the arrival of the royalprocession, the din was so painfully acute to ears rendered nervouslysensitive by anxiety, that she could hardly forbear shrieking withanguish, in answer to every stunning clash of the relentless peal. 

Shortly afterwards, when the small apartment was at once enlightened bythe shower of artificial fires with which the air was suddenly filled, and which crossed each other like fiery spirits, each bent on his ownseparate mission, or like salamanders executing a frolic dance in theregion of the Sylphs, the Countess felt at first as if each rocket shotclose by her eyes, and discharged its sparks and flashes so nigh thatshe could feel a sense of the heat. But she struggled against thesefantastic terrors, and compelled herself to arise, stand by the window, look out, and gaze upon a sight which at another time would haveappeared to her at once captivating and fearful. The magnificent towersof the Castle were enveloped in garlands of artificial fire, or shroudedwith tiaras of pale smoke. The surface of the lake glowed like molteniron, while many fireworks (then thought extremely wonderful, though nowcommon), whose flame continued to exist in the opposing element, divedand rose, hissed and roared, and spouted fire, like so many dragons ofenchantment sporting upon a burning lake. 

Even Amy was for a moment interested by what was to her so new a scene. "I had thought it magical art, " she said, "but poor Tressilian taught meto judge of such things as they are. Great God! and may not these idlesplendours resemble my own hoped-for happiness--a single spark, which isinstantly swallowed up by surrounding darkness--a precarious glow, which rises but for a brief space into the air, that its fall may be thelower? O Leicester! after all--all that thou hast said--hast sworn--thatAmy was thy love, thy life, can it be that thou art the magicianat whose nod these enchantments arise, and that she sees them as anoutcast, if not a captive?"

The sustained, prolonged, and repeated bursts of music, from so manydifferent quarters, and at so many varying points of distance, whichsounded as if not the Castle of Kenilworth only, but the whole countryaround, had been at once the scene of solemnizing some high nationalfestival, carried the same oppressive thought still closer to her heart, while some notes would melt in distant and falling tones, as if incompassion for her sorrows, and some burst close and near upon her, asif mocking her misery, with all the insolence of unlimited mirth. "Thesesounds, " she said, "are mine--mine, because they are HIS; but I cannotsay, Be still, these loud strains suit me not; and the voice of themeanest peasant that mingles in the dance would have more power tomodulate the music than the command of her who is mistress of all. "

By degrees the sounds of revelry died away, and the Countess withdrewfrom the window at which she had sat listening to them. It was night, but the moon afforded considerable light in the room, so that Amy wasable to make the arrangement which she judged necessary. There was hopethat Leicester might come to her apartment as soon as the revel in theCastle had subsided; but there was also risk she might be disturbed bysome unauthorized intruder. She had lost confidence in the key sinceTressilian had entered so easily, though the door was locked on theinside; yet all the additional security she could think of was to placethe table across the door, that she might be warned by the noise shouldany one attempt to enter. Having taken these necessary precautions, theunfortunate lady withdrew to her couch, stretched herself down on it, mused in anxious expectation, and counted more than one hour aftermidnight, till exhausted nature proved too strong for love, for grief, for fear, nay, even for uncertainty, and she slept. 

Yes, she slept. The Indian sleeps at the stake in the intervals betweenhis tortures; and mental torments, in like manner, exhaust by longcontinuance the sensibility of the sufferer, so that an interval oflethargic repose must necessarily ensue, ere the pangs which theyinflict can again be renewed. 

The Countess slept, then, for several hours, and dreamed that she wasin the ancient house at Cumnor Place, listening for the low whistle withwhich Leicester often used to announce his presence in the courtyardwhen arriving suddenly on one of his stolen visits. But on thisoccasion, instead of a whistle, she heard the peculiar blast of abugle-horn, such as her father used to wind on the fall of the stag, andwhich huntsmen then called a MORT. She ran, as she thought, to awindow that looked into the courtyard, which she saw filled with menin mourning garments. The old Curate seemed about to read the funeralservice. Mumblazen, tricked out in an antique dress, like an ancientherald, held aloft a scutcheon, with its usual decorations of skulls, cross-bones, and hour-glasses, surrounding a coat-of-arms, of which shecould only distinguish that it was surmounted with an Earl's coronet. The old man looked at her with a ghastly smile, and said, "Amy, are theynot rightly quartered?" Just as he spoke, the horns again poured on herear the melancholy yet wild strain of the MORT, or death-note, and sheawoke. 

The Countess awoke to hear a real bugle-note, or rather the combinedbreath of many bugles, sounding not the MORT. But the jolly REVEILLE, toremind the inmates of the Castle of Kenilworth that the pleasures of theday were to commence with a magnificent stag-hunting in the neighbouringChase. Amy started up from her couch, listened to the sound, saw thefirst beams of the summer morning already twinkle through the latticeof her window, and recollected, with feelings of giddy agony, where shewas, and how circumstanced. 

"He thinks not of me, " she said; "he will not come nigh me! A Queen ishis guest, and what cares he in what corner of his huge Castle a wretchlike me pines in doubt, which is fast fading into despair?" At once asound at the door, as of some one attempting to open it softly, filledher with an ineffable mixture of joy and fear; and hastening to removethe obstacle she had placed against the door, and to unlock it, she hadthe precaution to ask! "Is it thou, my love?"

"Yes, my Countess, " murmured a whisper in reply. 

She threw open the door, and exclaiming, "Leicester!" flung her armsaround the neck of the man who stood without, muffled in his cloak. 

"No--not quite Leicester, " answered Michael Lambourne, for he it was, returning the caress with vehemence--"not quite Leicester, my lovely andmost loving duchess, but as good a man. "

With an exertion of force, of which she would at another time havethought herself incapable, the Countess freed herself from the profaneand profaning grasp of the drunken debauchee, and retreated into themidst of her apartment where despair gave her courage to make a stand. 

As Lambourne, on entering, dropped the lap of his cloak from his face, she knew Varney's profligate servant, the very last person, exceptinghis detested master, by whom she would have wished to be discovered. Butshe was still closely muffled in her travelling dress, and as Lambournehad scarce ever been admitted to her presence at Cumnor Place, herperson, she hoped, might not be so well known to him as his was to her, owing to Janet's pointing him frequently out as he crossed the court, and telling stories of his wickedness. She might have had still greaterconfidence in her disguise had her experience enabled her to discoverthat he was much intoxicated; but this could scarce have consoled herfor the risk which she might incur from such a character in such a time, place, and circumstances. 

Lambourne flung the door behind him as he entered, and folding hisarms, as if in mockery of the attitude of distraction into which Amyhad thrown herself, he proceeded thus: "Hark ye, most fair Calipolis--ormost lovely Countess of clouts, and divine Duchess of dark corners--ifthou takest all that trouble of skewering thyself together, like atrussed fowl, that there may be more pleasure in the carving, even savethyself the labour. I love thy first frank manner the best---like thypresent as little"--(he made a step towards her, and staggered)--"aslittle as--such a damned uneven floor as this, where a gentleman maybreak his neck if he does not walk as upright as a posture-master on thetight-rope. "

"Stand back!" said the Countess; "do not approach nearer to me on thyperil!"

"My peril!--and stand back! Why, how now, madam? Must you have a bettermate than honest Mike Lambourne? I have been in America, girl, where thegold grows, and have brought off such a load on't--"

"Good friend, " said the Countess, in great terror at the ruffian'sdetermined and audacious manner, "I prithee begone, and leave me. "

"And so I will, pretty one, when we are tired of each other'scompany--not a jot sooner. " He seized her by the arm, while, incapableof further defence, she uttered shriek upon shriek. "Nay, scream away ifyou like it, " said he, still holding her fast; "I have heard the seaat the loudest, and I mind a squalling woman no more than a miaulingkitten. Damn me! I have heard fifty or a hundred screaming at once, whenthere was a town stormed. "

The cries of the Countess, however, brought unexpected aid in the personof Lawrence Staples, who had heard her exclamations from his apartmentbelow, and entered in good time to save her from being discovered, if not from more atrocious violence. Lawrence was drunk also from thedebauch of the preceding night, but fortunately his intoxication hadtaken a different turn from that of Lambourne. 

"What the devil's noise is this in the ward?" he said. "What! man andwoman together in the same cell?--that is against rule. I will havedecency under my rule, by Saint Peter of the Fetters!"

"Get thee downstairs, thou drunken beast, " said Lambourne; "seest thounot the lady and I would be private?"

"Good sir, worthy sir!" said the Countess, addressing the jailer, "dobut save me from him, for the sake of mercy!"

"She speaks fairly, " said the jailer, "and I will take her part. I lovemy prisoners; and I have had as good prisoners under my key as they havehad in Newgate or the Compter. And so, being one of my lambkins, as Isay, no one shall disturb her in her pen-fold. So let go the woman: orI'll knock your brains out with my keys. "

"I'll make a blood-pudding of thy midriff first, " answered Lambourne, laying his left hand on his dagger, but still detaining the Countess bythe arm with his right. "So have at thee, thou old ostrich, whose onlyliving is upon a bunch of iron keys. "

Lawrence raised the arm of Michael, and prevented him from drawing hisdagger; and as Lambourne struggled and strove to shake him off; theCountess made a sudden exertion on her side, and slipping her handout of the glove on which the ruffian still kept hold, she gained herliberty, and escaping from the apartment, ran downstairs; while at thesame moment she heard the two combatants fall on the floor with a noisewhich increased her terror. The outer wicket offered no impediment toher flight, having been opened for Lambourne's admittance; so that shesucceeded in escaping down the stair, and fled into the Pleasance, whichseemed to her hasty glance the direction in which she was most likely toavoid pursuit. 

Meanwhile, Lawrence and Lambourne rolled on the floor of the apartment, closely grappled together. Neither had, happily, opportunity to drawtheir daggers; but Lawrence found space enough to clash his heavy keysacross Michael's face, and Michael in return grasped the turnkey sofelly by the throat that the blood gushed from nose and mouth, so thatthey were both gory and filthy spectacles when one of the other officersof the household, attracted by the noise of the fray, entered the room, and with some difficulty effected the separation of the combatants. 

"A murrain on you both, " said the charitable mediator, "and especiallyon you, Master Lambourne! What the fiend lie you here for, fighting onthe floor like two butchers' curs in the kennel of the shambles?"

Lambourne arose, and somewhat sobered by the interposition of a thirdparty, looked with something less than his usual brazen impudence ofvisage. "We fought for a wench, an thou must know, " was his reply. 

"A wench! Where is she?" said the officer. 

"Why, vanished, I think, " said Lambourne, looking around him, "unlessLawrence hath swallowed her, That filthy paunch of his devours asmany distressed damsels and oppressed orphans as e'er a giant in KingArthur's history. They are his prime food; he worries them body, soul, and substance. "

"Ay, ay! It's no matter, " said Lawrence, gathering up his huge, ungainlyform from the floor; "but I have had your betters, Master MichaelLambourne, under the little turn of my forefinger and thumb, and I shallhave thee, before all's done, under my hatches. The impudence of thybrow will not always save thy shin-bones from iron, and thy foul, thirsty gullet from a hempen cord. " The words were no sooner out of hismouth, when Lambourne again made at him. 

"Nay, go not to it again, " said the sewer, "or I will call for him shalltame you both, and that is Master Varney--Sir Richard, I mean. He isstirring, I promise you; I saw him cross the court just now. "

"Didst thou, by G--!" said Lambourne, seizing on the basin and ewerwhich stood in the apartment. "Nay, then, element, do thy work. Ithought I had enough of thee last night, when I floated about for Orion, like a cork on a fermenting cask of ale. "

So saying, he fell to work to cleanse from his face and hands the signsof the fray, and get his apparel into some order. 

"What hast thou done to him?" said the sewer, speaking aside to thejailer; "his face is fearfully swelled. "

"It is but the imprint of the key of my cabinet--too good a mark forhis gallows-face. No man shall abuse or insult my prisoners; they are myjewels, and I lock them in safe casket accordingly. --And so, mistress, leave off your wailing. --Why! why, surely, there was a woman here!"

"I think you are all mad this morning, " said the sewer. "I saw no womanhere, nor no man neither in a proper sense, but only two beasts rollingon the floor. "

"Nay, then I am undone, " said the jailer; "the prison's broken, that isall. Kenilworth prison is broken, " he continued, in a tone of maudlinlamentation, "which was the strongest jail betwixt this and the WelshMarches--ay, and a house that has had knights, and earls, and kingssleeping in it, as secure as if they had been in the Tower of London. It is broken, the prisoners fled, and the jailer in much danger of beinghanged!"

So saying, he retreated down to his own den to conclude hislamentations, or to sleep himself sober. Lambourne and the sewerfollowed him close; and it was well for them, since the jailer, out ofmere habit, was about to lock the wicket after him, and had they notbeen within the reach of interfering, they would have had the pleasureof being shut up in the turret-chamber, from which the Countess had beenjust delivered. 

That unhappy lady, as soon as she found herself at liberty, fled, aswe have already mentioned, into the Pleasance. She had seen thisrichly-ornamented space of ground from the window of Mervyn's Tower; andit occurred to her, at the moment of her escape, that among its numerousarbours, bowers, fountains, statues, and grottoes, she might find somerecess in which she could lie concealed until she had an opportunity ofaddressing herself to a protector, to whom she might communicate as muchas she dared of her forlorn situation, and through whose means she mightsupplicate an interview with her husband. 

"If I could see my guide, " she thought, "I would learn if he haddelivered my letter. Even did I but see Tressilian, it were better torisk Dudley's anger, by confiding my whole situation to one who is thevery soul of honour, than to run the hazard of further insult among theinsolent menials of this ill-ruled place. I will not again venture intoan enclosed apartment. I will wait, I will watch; amidst so many humanbeings there must be some kind heart which can judge and compassionatewhat mine endures. "

In truth, more than one party entered and traversed the Pleasance. Butthey were in joyous groups of four or five persons together, laughingand jesting in their own fullness of mirth and lightness of heart. 

The retreat which she had chosen gave her the easy alternative ofavoiding observation. It was but stepping back to the farthest recess ofa grotto, ornamented with rustic work and moss-seats, and terminated bya fountain, and she might easily remain concealed, or at her pleasurediscover herself to any solitary wanderer whose curiosity might leadhim to that romantic retirement. Anticipating such an opportunity, shelooked into the clear basin which the silent fountain held up to herlike a mirror, and felt shocked at her own appearance, and doubtful at;the same time, muffled and disfigured as her disguise made her seem toherself, whether any female (and it was from the compassion of her ownsex that she chiefly expected sympathy) would engage in conference withso suspicious an object. Reasoning thus like a woman, to whom externalappearance is scarcely in any circumstances a matter of unimportance, and like a beauty, who had some confidence in the power of her owncharms, she laid aside her travelling cloak and capotaine hat, andplaced them beside her, so that she could assume them in an instant, ereone could penetrate from the entrance of the grotto to its extremity, incase the intrusion of Varney or of Lambourne should render such disguisenecessary. The dress which she wore under these vestments was somewhatof a theatrical cast, so as to suit the assumed personage of one of thefemales who was to act in the pageant, Wayland had found the meansof arranging it thus upon the second day of their journey, havingexperienced the service arising from the assumption of such a characteron the preceding day. The fountain, acting both as a mirror and ewer, afforded Amy the means of a brief toilette, of which she availed herselfas hastily as possible; then took in her hand her small casket ofjewels, in case she might find them useful intercessors, and retiring tothe darkest and most sequestered nook, sat down on a seat of moss, and awaited till fate should give her some chance of rescue, or ofpropitiating an intercessor. 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

 Have you not seen the partridge quake, Viewing the hawk approaching nigh? She cuddles close beneath the brake, Afraid to sit, afraid to fly, --PRIOR. 

It chanced, upon that memorable morning, that one of the earliest ofthe huntress train, who appeared from her chamber in full array for thechase, was the Princess for whom all these pleasures were instituted, England's Maiden Queen. I know not if it were by chance, or out of thebefitting courtesy due to a mistress by whom he was so much honoured, that she had scarcely made one step beyond the threshold of herchamber ere Leicester was by her side, and proposed to her, until thepreparations for the chase had been completed, to view the Pleasance, and the gardens which it connected with the Castle yard. 

To this new scene of pleasures they walked, the Earl's arm affording hisSovereign the occasional support which she required, where flightsof steps, then a favourite ornament in a garden, conducted them fromterrace to terrace, and from parterre to parterre. The ladies inattendance, gifted with prudence, or endowed perhaps with the amiabledesire of acting as they would be done by, did not conceive their dutyto the Queen's person required them, though they lost not sight of her, to approach so near as to share, or perhaps disturb, the conversationbetwixt the Queen and the Earl, who was not only her host, but also hermost trusted, esteemed, and favoured servant. They contented themselveswith admiring the grace of this illustrious couple, whose robes of statewere now exchanged for hunting suits, almost equally magnificent. 

Elizabeth's silvan dress, which was of a pale blue silk, with silverlace and AIGUILLETTES, approached in form to that of the ancientAmazons, and was therefore well suited at once to her height and tothe dignity of her mien, which her conscious rank and long habits ofauthority had rendered in some degree too masculine to be seen to thebest advantage in ordinary female weeds. Leicester's hunting suit ofLincoln green, richly embroidered with gold, and crossed by the gaybaldric which sustained a bugle-horn, and a wood-knife instead of asword, became its master, as did his other vestments of court or of war. For such were the perfections of his form and mien, that Leicester wasalways supposed to be seen to the greatest advantage in the characterand dress which for the time he represented or wore. 

The conversation of Elizabeth and the favourite Earl has not reachedus in detail. But those who watched at some distance (and the eyes ofcourtiers and court ladies are right sharp) were of opinion that on nooccasion did the dignity of Elizabeth, in gesture and motion, seemso decidedly to soften away into a mien expressive of indecision andtenderness. Her step was not only slow, but even unequal, a thing mostunwonted in her carriage; her looks seemed bent on the ground; and therewas a timid disposition to withdraw from her companion, which externalgesture in females often indicates exactly the opposite tendency inthe secret mind. The Duchess of Rutland, who ventured nearest, was evenheard to aver that she discerned a tear in Elizabeth's eye and a blushon her cheek; and still further, "She bent her looks on the ground toavoid mine, " said the Duchess, "she who, in her ordinary mood, couldlook down a lion. " To what conclusion these symptoms led is sufficientlyevident; nor were they probably entirely groundless. The progress ofa private conversation betwixt two persons of different sexes is oftendecisive of their fate, and gives it a turn very different perhapsfrom what they themselves anticipated. Gallantry becomes mingled withconversation, and affection and passion come gradually to mix withgallantry. Nobles, as well as shepherd swains, will, in such a tryingmoment, say more than they intended; and Queens, like village maidens, will listen longer than they should. 

Horses in the meanwhile neighed and champed the bits with impatience inthe base-court; hounds yelled in their couples; and yeomen, rangers, andprickers lamented the exhaling of the dew, which would prevent the scentfrom lying. But Leicester had another chase in view--or, to speak morejustly towards him, had become engaged in it without premeditation, asthe high-spirited hunter which follows the cry of the hounds that havecrossed his path by accident. The Queen, an accomplished and handsomewoman, the pride of England, the hope of France and Holland, and thedread of Spain, had probably listened with more than usual favour tothat mixture of romantic gallantry with which she always loved to beaddressed; and the Earl had, in vanity, in ambition, or in both, thrownin more and more of that delicious ingredient, until his importunitybecame the language of love itself. 

"No, Dudley, " said Elizabeth, yet it was with broken accents--"no, Imust be the mother of my people. Other ties, that make the lowly maidenhappy, are denied to her Sovereign. No, Leicester, urge it no more. Were I as others, free to seek my own happiness, then, indeed--but itcannot--cannot be. Delay the chase--delay it for half an hour--and leaveme, my lord. "

"How! leave you, madam?" said Leicester, --"has my madness offended you?"

"No, Leicester, not so!" answered the Queen hastily; "but it is madness, and must not be repeated. Go--but go not far from hence; and meantimelet no one intrude on my privacy. "

While she spoke thus, Dudley bowed deeply, and retired with a slowand melancholy air. The Queen stood gazing after him, and murmured toherself, "Were it possible--were it BUT possible!--but no--no; Elizabethmust be the wife and mother of England alone. "

As she spoke thus, and in order to avoid some one whose step she heardapproaching, the Queen turned into the grotto in which her hapless, andyet but too successful, rival lay concealed. 

The mind of England's Elizabeth, if somewhat shaken by the agitatinginterview to which she had just put a period, was of that firm anddecided character which soon recovers its natural tone. It was like oneof those ancient Druidical monuments called Rocking-stones. The fingerof Cupid, boy as he is painted, could put her feelings in motion; butthe power of Hercules could not have destroyed their equilibrium. As sheadvanced with a slow pace towards the inmost extremity of the grotto, her countenance, ere she had proceeded half the length, had recoveredits dignity of look, and her mien its air of command. 

It was then the Queen became aware that a female figure was placedbeside, or rather partly behind, an alabaster column, at the foot ofwhich arose the pellucid fountain which occupied the inmost recess ofthe twilight grotto. The classical mind of Elizabeth suggested the storyof Numa and Egeria, and she doubted not that some Italian sculptor hadhere represented the Naiad whose inspirations gave laws to Rome. As sheadvanced, she became doubtful whether she beheld a statue, or a formof flesh and blood. The unfortunate Amy, indeed, remained motionless, betwixt the desire which she had to make her condition known to one ofher own sex, and her awe for the stately form which approached her, and which, though her eyes had never before beheld, her fears instantlysuspected to be the personage she really was. Amy had arisen from herseat with the purpose of addressing the lady who entered the grottoalone, and, as she at first thought, so opportunely. But when sherecollected the alarm which Leicester had expressed at the Queen'sknowing aught of their union, and became more and more satisfied thatthe person whom she now beheld was Elizabeth herself, she stood withone foot advanced and one withdrawn, her arms, head, and hands perfectlymotionless, and her cheek as pallid as the alabaster pedestal againstwhich she leaned. Her dress was of pale sea-green silk, littledistinguished in that imperfect light, and somewhat resembled thedrapery of a Grecian Nymph, such an antique disguise having been thoughtthe most secure, where so many maskers and revellers were assembled; sothat the Queen's doubt of her being a living form was well justified byall contingent circumstances, as well as by the bloodless cheek and thefixed eye. 

Elizabeth remained in doubt, even after she had approached within a fewpaces, whether she did not gaze on a statue so cunningly fashioned thatby the doubtful light it could not be distinguished from reality. Shestopped, therefore, and fixed upon this interesting object her princelylook with so much keenness that the astonishment which had kept Amyimmovable gave way to awe, and she gradually cast down her eyes, anddrooped her head under the commanding gaze of the Sovereign. Still, however, she remained in all respects, saving this slow and profoundinclination of the head, motionless and silent. 

From her dress, and the casket which she instinctively held in her hand, Elizabeth naturally conjectured that the beautiful but mute figure whichshe beheld was a performer in one of the various theatrical pageantswhich had been placed in different situations to surprise her with theirhomage; and that the poor player, overcome with awe at her presence, hadeither forgot the part assigned her, or lacked courage to go throughit. It was natural and courteous to give her some encouragement; andElizabeth accordingly said, in a tone of condescending kindness, "Hownow, fair Nymph of this lovely grotto, art thou spell-bound and struckwith dumbness by the charms of the wicked enchanter whom men term Fear?We are his sworn enemy, maiden, and can reverse his charm. Speak, wecommand thee. "

Instead of answering her by speech, the unfortunate Countess droppedon her knee before the Queen, let her casket fall from her hand, andclasping her palms together, looked up in the Queen's face with such amixed agony of fear and supplication, that Elizabeth was considerablyaffected. 

"What may this mean?" she said; "this is a stronger passion than befitsthe occasion. Stand up, damsel--what wouldst thou have with us?"

"Your protection, madam, " faltered forth the unhappy petitioner. 

"Each daughter of England has it while she is worthy of it, " replied theQueen; "but your distress seems to have a deeper root than a forgottentask. Why, and in what, do you crave our protection?"

Amy hastily endeavoured to recall what she were best to say, which mightsecure herself from the imminent dangers that surrounded her, withoutendangering her husband; and plunging from one thought to another, amidst the chaos which filled her mind, she could at length, in answerto the Queen's repeated inquiries in what she sought protection, onlyfalter out, "Alas! I know not. "

"This is folly, maiden, " said Elizabeth impatiently; for there wassomething in the extreme confusion of the suppliant which irritated hercuriosity, as well as interested her feelings. "The sick man must tellhis malady to the physician; nor are WE accustomed to ask questions sooft without receiving an answer. "

"I request--I implore, " stammered forth the unfortunate Countess--"Ibeseech your gracious protection--against--against one Varney. " Shechoked well-nigh as she uttered the fatal word, which was instantlycaught up by the Queen. 

"What, Varney--Sir Richard Varney--the servant of Lord Leicester! what, damsel, are you to him, or he to you?"

"I--I--was his prisoner--and he practised on my life--and I broke forthto--to--"

"To throw thyself on my protection, doubtless, " said Elizabeth. "Thoushalt have it--that is, if thou art worthy; for we will sift this matterto the uttermost. Thou art, " she said, bending on the Countess an eyewhich seemed designed to pierce her very inmost soul--"thou art Amy, daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote Hall?"

"Forgive me--forgive me, most gracious Princess!" said Amy, droppingonce more on her knee, from which she had arisen. 

"For what should I forgive thee, silly wench?" said Elizabeth; "forbeing the daughter of thine own father? Thou art brain-sick, surely. Well I see I must wring the story from thee by inches. Thou didstdeceive thine old and honoured father--thy look confesses it--cheatedMaster Tressilian--thy blush avouches it--and married this same Varney. "

Amy sprung on her feet, and interrupted the Queen eagerly with, "No, madam, no! as there is a God above us, I am not the sordid wretch youwould make me! I am not the wife of that contemptible slave--of thatmost deliberate villain! I am not the wife of Varney! I would rather bethe bride of Destruction!"

The Queen, overwhelmed in her turn by Amy's vehemence, stood silent foran instant, and then replied, "Why, God ha' mercy, woman! I see thoucanst talk fast enough when the theme likes thee. Nay, tell me, woman, "she continued, for to the impulse of curiosity was now added that of anundefined jealousy that some deception had been practised on her--"tellme, woman--for, by God's day, I WILL know--whose wife, or whoseparamour, art thou! Speak out, and be speedy. Thou wert better dailywith a lioness than with Elizabeth. "

Urged to this extremity, dragged as it were by irresistible force to theverge of the precipice which she saw, but could not avoid--permittednot a moment's respite by the eager words and menacing gestures of theoffended Queen, Amy at length uttered in despair, "The Earl of Leicesterknows it all. "

"The Earl of Leicester!" said Elizabeth, in utter astonishment. "TheEarl of Leicester!" she repeated with kindling anger. "Woman, thou artset on to this--thou dost belie him--he takes no keep of such thingsas thou art. Thou art suborned to slander the noblest lord and thetruest-hearted gentleman in England! But were he the right hand of ourtrust, or something yet dearer to us, thou shalt have thy hearing, andthat in his presence. Come with me--come with me instantly!"

As Amy shrunk back with terror, which the incensed Queen interpreted asthat of conscious guilt, Elizabeth rapidly advanced, seized on her arm, and hastened with swift and long steps out of the grotto, and alongthe principal alley of the Pleasance, dragging with her the terrifiedCountess, whom she still held by the arm, and whose utmost exertionscould but just keep pace with those of the indignant Queen. 

Leicester was at this moment the centre of a splendid group of lords andladies, assembled together under an arcade, or portico, which closedthe alley. The company had drawn together in that place, to attend thecommands of her Majesty when the hunting-party should go forward, andtheir astonishment may be imagined when, instead of seeing Elizabethadvance towards them with her usual measured dignity of motion, theybeheld her walking so rapidly that she was in the midst of them ere theywere aware; and then observed, with fear and surprise, that her featureswere flushed betwixt anger and agitation, that her hair was loosened byher haste of motion, and that her eyes sparkled as they were wont whenthe spirit of Henry VIII. Mounted highest in his daughter. Nor were theyless astonished at the appearance of the pale, attenuated, half-dead, yet still lovely female, whom the Queen upheld by main strength withone hand, while with the other she waved aside the ladies and nobleswho pressed towards her, under the idea that she was taken suddenly ill. "Where is my Lord of Leicester?" she said, in a tone that thrilled withastonishment all the courtiers who stood around. "Stand forth, my Lordof Leicester!"

If, in the midst of the most serene day of summer, when all is light andlaughing around, a thunderbolt were to fall from the clear blue vault ofheaven, and rend the earth at the very feet of some careless traveller, he could not gaze upon the smouldering chasm, which so unexpectedlyyawned before him, with half the astonishment and fear which Leicesterfelt at the sight that so suddenly presented itself. He had thatinstant been receiving, with a political affectation of disavowingand misunderstanding their meaning, the half-uttered, half-intimatedcongratulations of the courtiers upon the favour of the Queen, carriedapparently to its highest pitch during the interview of that morning, from which most of them seemed to augur that he might soon arise fromtheir equal in rank to become their master. And now, while the subduedyet proud smile with which he disclaimed those inferences was yetcurling his cheek, the Queen shot into the circle, her passions excitedto the uttermost; and supporting with one hand, and apparently withoutan effort, the pale and sinking form of his almost expiring wife, and pointing with the finger of the other to her half-dead features, demanded in a voice that sounded to the ears of the astounded statesmanlike the last dread trumpet-call that is to summon body and spirit tothe judgment-seat, "Knowest thou this woman?"

As, at the blast of that last trumpet, the guilty shall call upon themountains to cover them, Leicester's inward thoughts invoked the statelyarch which he had built in his pride to burst its strong conjunction, and overwhelm them in its ruins. But the cemented stones, architrave andbattlement, stood fast; and it was the proud master himself who, asif some actual pressure had bent him to the earth, kneeled down beforeElizabeth, and prostrated his brow to the marble flag-stones on whichshe stood. 

"Leicester, " said Elizabeth, in a voice which trembled with passion, "could I think thou hast practised on me--on me thy Sovereign--on me thyconfiding, thy too partial mistress, the base and ungrateful deceptionwhich thy present confusion surmises--by all that is holy, false lord, that head of thine were in as great peril as ever was thy father's!"

Leicester had not conscious innocence, but he had pride to support him. He raised slowly his brow and features, which were black and swoln withcontending emotions, and only replied, "My head cannot fall but by thesentence of my peers. To them I will plead, and not to a princess whothus requites my faithful service. "

"What! my lords, " said Elizabeth, looking around, "we are defied, Ithink--defied in the Castle we have ourselves bestowed on this proudman!--My Lord Shrewsbury, you are Marshal of England, attach him of hightreason. "

"Whom does your Grace mean?" said Shrewsbury, much surprised, for he hadthat instant joined the astonished circle. 

"Whom should I mean, but that traitor Dudley, Earl of Leicester!--Cousinof Hunsdon, order out your band of gentlemen pensioners, and take himinto instant custody. I say, villain, make haste!"

Hunsdon, a rough old noble, who, from his relationship to the Boleyns, was accustomed to use more freedom with the Queen than almost any otherdared to do, replied bluntly, "And it is like your Grace might order meto the Tower to-morrow for making too much haste. I do beseech you to bepatient. "

"Patient--God's life!" exclaimed the Queen--"name not the word to me;thou knowest not of what he is guilty!"

Amy, who had by this time in some degree recovered herself, and who sawher husband, as she conceived, in the utmost danger from the rage of anoffended Sovereign, instantly (and alas! how many women have done thesame) forgot her own wrongs and her own danger in her apprehensions forhim, and throwing herself before the Queen, embraced her knees, whileshe exclaimed, "He is guiltless, madam--he is guiltless; no one can layaught to the charge of the noble Leicester!"

"Why, minion, " answered the Queen, "didst not thou thyself say that theEarl of Leicester was privy to thy whole history?"

"Did I say so?" repeated the unhappy Amy, laying aside everyconsideration of consistency and of self-interest. "Oh, if I did, Ifoully belied him. May God so judge me, as I believe he was never privyto a thought that would harm me!"

"Woman!" said Elizabeth, "I will know who has moved thee to this; ormy wrath--and the wrath of kings is a flaming fire--shall wither andconsume thee like a weed in the furnace!"

As the Queen uttered this threat, Leicester's better angel calledhis pride to his aid, and reproached him with the utter extremityof meanness which would overwhelm him for ever if he stooped to takeshelter under the generous interposition of his wife, and abandonedher, in return for her kindness, to the resentment of the Queen. He hadalready raised his head with the dignity of a man of honour to avowhis marriage, and proclaim himself the protector of his Countess, whenVarney, born, as it appeared, to be his master's evil genius, rushedinto the presence with every mark of disorder on his face and apparel. 

"What means this saucy intrusion?" said Elizabeth. 

Varney, with the air of a man altogether overwhelmed with grief andconfusion, prostrated himself before her feet, exclaiming, "Pardon, myLiege, pardon!--or at least let your justice avenge itself on me, whereit is due; but spare my noble, my generous, my innocent patron andmaster!"

Amy, who was yet kneeling, started up as she saw the man whom she deemedmost odious place himself so near her, and was about to fly towardsLeicester, when, checked at once by the uncertainty and even timiditywhich his looks had reassumed as soon as the appearance of his confidantseemed to open a new scene, she hung back, and uttering a faint scream, besought of her Majesty to cause her to be imprisoned in the lowestdungeon of the Castle--to deal with her as the worst of criminals--"butspare, " she exclaimed, "my sight and hearing what will destroy thelittle judgment I have left--the sight of that unutterable and mostshameless villain!"

"And why, sweetheart?" said the Queen, moved by a new impulse; "whathath he, this false knight, since such thou accountest him, done tothee?"

"Oh, worse than sorrow, madam, and worse than injury--he has sowndissension where most there should be peace. I shall go mad if I looklonger on him!"

"Beshrew me, but I think thou art distraught already, " answered theQueen. --"My Lord Hunsdon, look to this poor distressed young woman, andlet her be safely bestowed, and in honest keeping, till we require herto be forthcoming. "

Two or three of the ladies in attendance, either moved by compassionfor a creature so interesting, or by some other motive, offered theirservices to look after her; but the Queen briefly answered, "Ladies, under favour, no. You have all (give God thanks) sharp ears and nimbletongues; our kinsman Hunsdon has ears of the dullest, and a tonguesomewhat rough, but yet of the slowest. --Hunsdon, look to it that nonehave speech of her. "

"By Our Lady, " said Hunsdon, taking in his strong, sinewy arms thefading and almost swooning form of Amy, "she is a lovely child! andthough a rough nurse, your Grace hath given her a kind one. She is safewith me as one of my own ladybirds of daughters. "

So saying, he carried her off; unresistingly and almost unconsciously, his war-worn locks and long, grey beard mingling with her light-browntresses, as her head reclined on his strong, square shoulder. The Queenfollowed him with her eye. She had already, with that self-command whichforms so necessary a part of a Sovereign's accomplishments, suppressedevery appearance of agitation, and seemed as if she desired to banishall traces of her burst of passion from the recollection of those whohad witnessed it. "My Lord of Hunsdon says well, " she observed, "he isindeed but a rough nurse for so tender a babe. "

"My Lord of Hunsdon, " said the Dean of St. Asaph--"I speak it not indefamation of his more noble qualities--hath a broad license in speech, and garnishes his discourse somewhat too freely with the cruel andsuperstitious oaths which savour both of profaneness and of oldPapistrie. "

"It is the fault of his blood, Mr. Dean, " said the Queen, turningsharply round upon the reverend dignitary as she spoke; "and you mayblame mine for the same distemperature. The Boleyns were ever a hot andplain-spoken race, more hasty to speak their mind than careful tochoose their expressions. And by my word--I hope there is no sin in thataffirmation--I question if it were much cooled by mixing with that ofTudor. "

As she made this last observation she smiled graciously, and stole hereyes almost insensibly round to seek those of the Earl of Leicester, towhom she now began to think she had spoken with hasty harshness upon theunfounded suspicion of a moment. 

The Queen's eye found the Earl in no mood to accept the implied offerof conciliation. His own looks had followed, with late and ruefulrepentance, the faded form which Hunsdon had just borne from thepresence. They now reposed gloomily on the ground, but more--so at leastit seemed to Elizabeth--with the expression of one who has received anunjust affront, than of him who is conscious of guilt. She turned herface angrily from him, and said to Varney, "Speak, Sir Richard, andexplain these riddles--thou hast sense and the use of speech, at least, which elsewhere we look for in vain. "

As she said this, she darted another resentful glance towards Leicester, while the wily Varney hastened to tell his own story. 

"Your Majesty's piercing eye, " he said, "has already detected the cruelmalady of my beloved lady, which, unhappy that I am, I would not sufferto be expressed in the certificate of her physician, seeking to concealwhat has now broken out with so much the more scandal. "

"She is then distraught?" said the Queen. "Indeed we doubted not ofit; her whole demeanour bears it out. I found her moping in a corner ofyonder grotto; and every word she spoke--which indeed I dragged from heras by the rack--she instantly recalled and forswore. But how came shehither? Why had you her not in safe-keeping?"

"My gracious Liege, " said Varney, "the worthy gentleman under whosecharge I left her, Master Anthony Foster, has come hither but now, asfast as man and horse can travel, to show me of her escape, whichshe managed with the art peculiar to many who are afflicted with thismalady. He is at hand for examination. "

"Let it be for another time, " said the Queen. "But, Sir Richard, we envyyou not your domestic felicity; your lady railed on you bitterly, andseemed ready to swoon at beholding you. "

"It is the nature of persons in her disorder, so please your Grace, "answered Varney, "to be ever most inveterate in their spleen againstthose whom, in their better moments, they hold nearest and dearest. "

"We have heard so, indeed, " said Elizabeth, "and give faith to thesaying. "

"May your Grace then be pleased, " said Varney, "to command myunfortunate wife to be delivered into the custody of her friends?"

Leicester partly started; but making a strong effort, he subdued hisemotion, while Elizabeth answered sharply, "You are something too hasty, Master Varney. We will have first a report of the lady's health andstate of mind from Masters, our own physician, and then determine whatshall be thought just. You shall have license, however, to see her, thatif there be any matrimonial quarrel betwixt you--such things we haveheard do occur, even betwixt a loving couple--you may make it up, without further scandal to our court or trouble to ourselves. "

Varney bowed low, and made no other answer. 

Elizabeth again looked towards Leicester, and said, with a degree ofcondescension which could only arise out of the most heartfelt interest, "Discord, as the Italian poet says, will find her way into peacefulconvents, as well as into the privacy of families; and we fear ourown guards and ushers will hardly exclude her from courts. My Lord ofLeicester, you are offended with us, and we have right to be offendedwith you. We will take the lion's part upon us, and be the first toforgive. "

Leicester smoothed his brow, as by an effort; but the trouble was toodeep-seated that its placidity should at once return. He said, however, that which fitted the occasion, "That he could not have the happiness offorgiving, because she who commanded him to do so could commit no injurytowards him. "

Elizabeth seemed content with this reply, and intimated her pleasurethat the sports of the morning should proceed. The bugles sounded, thehounds bayed, the horses pranced--but the courtiers and ladies soughtthe amusement to which they were summoned with hearts very differentfrom those which had leaped to the morning's REVIELLE. There was doubt, and fear, and expectation on every brow, and surmise and intrigue inevery whisper. 

Blount took an opportunity to whisper into Raleigh's ear, "This stormcame like a levanter in the Mediterranean. "

"VARIUM ET MUTABILE, " answered Raleigh, in a similar tone. 

"Nay, I know nought of your Latin, " said Blount; "but I thank GodTressilian took not the sea during that hurricane. He could scarce havemissed shipwreck, knowing as he does so little how to trim his sails toa court gale. "

"Thou wouldst have instructed him!" said Raleigh. 

"Why, I have profited by my time as well as thou, Sir Walter, " repliedhonest Blount. "I am knight as well as thou, and of the earliercreation. "

"Now, God further thy wit, " said Raleigh. "But for Tressilian, I would Iknew what were the matter with him. He told me this morning he would notleave his chamber for the space of twelve hours or thereby, being boundby a promise. This lady's madness, when he shall learn it, will not, Ifear, cure his infirmity. The moon is at the fullest, and men's brainsare working like yeast. But hark! they sound to mount. Let us to horse, Blount; we young knights must deserve our spurs. "

CHAPTER XXXV. 

 Sincerity, Thou first of virtues! let no mortal leave Thy onward path, although the earth should gape, And from the gulf of hell destruction cry, To take dissimulation's winding way. --DOUGLAS. 

It was not till after a long and successful morning's sport, and aprolonged repast which followed the return of the Queen to the Castle, that Leicester at length found himself alone with Varney, from whom henow learned the whole particulars of the Countess's escape, as theyhad been brought to Kenilworth by Foster, who, in his terror for theconsequences, had himself posted thither with the tidings. As Varney, in his narrative, took especial care to be silent concerning thosepractices on the Countess's health which had driven her to so desperatea resolution, Leicester, who could only suppose that she had adoptedit out of jealous impatience to attain the avowed state and appearancebelonging to her rank, was not a little offended at the levity withwhich his wife had broken his strict commands, and exposed him to theresentment of Elizabeth. 

"I have given, " he said, "to this daughter of an obscure Devonshiregentleman the proudest name in England. I have made her sharer of my bedand of my fortunes. I ask but of her a little patience, ere she launchesforth upon the full current of her grandeur; and the infatuated womanwill rather hazard her own shipwreck and mine--will rather involve mein a thousand whirlpools, shoals, and quicksands, and compel me toa thousand devices which shame me in mine own eyes--than tarry for alittle space longer in the obscurity to which she was born. So lovely, so delicate, so fond, so faithful, yet to lack in so grave a matter theprudence which one might hope from the veriest fool--it puts me beyondmy patience. "

"We may post it over yet well enough, " said Varney, "if my lady will bebut ruled, and take on her the character which the time commands. "

"It is but too true, Sir Richard, " said Leicester; "there is indeed noother remedy. I have heard her termed thy wife in my presence, without contradiction. She must bear the title until she is far fromKenilworth. "

"And long afterwards, I trust, " said Varney; then instantly added, "ForI cannot but hope it will be long after ere she bear the title of LadyLeicester--I fear me it may scarce be with safety during the life ofthis Queen. But your lordship is best judge, you alone knowing whatpassages have taken place betwixt Elizabeth and you. "

"You are right, Varney, " said Leicester. "I have this morning been bothfool and villain; and when Elizabeth hears of my unhappy marriage, shecannot but think herself treated with that premeditated slight whichwomen never forgive. We have once this day stood upon terms little shortof defiance; and to those, I fear, we must again return. "

"Is her resentment, then, so implacable?" said Varney. 

"Far from it, " replied the Earl; "for, being what she is in spirit andin station, she has even this day been but too condescending, in givingme opportunities to repair what she thinks my faulty heat of temper. "

"Ay, " answered Varney; "the Italians say right--in lovers' quarrels, theparty that loves most is always most willing to acknowledge the greaterfault. So then, my lord, if this union with the lady could be concealed, you stand with Elizabeth as you did?"

Leicester sighed, and was silent for a moment, ere he replied. 

"Varney, I think thou art true to me, and I will tell thee all. I do NOTstand where I did. I have spoken to Elizabeth--under what mad impulseI know not--on a theme which cannot be abandoned without touchingevery female feeling to the quick, and which yet I dare not and cannotprosecute. She can never, never forgive me for having caused andwitnessed those yieldings to human passion. "

"We must do something, my lord, " said Varney, "and that speedily. "

"There is nought to be done, " answered Leicester, despondingly. "I amlike one that has long toiled up a dangerous precipice, and when he iswithin one perilous stride of the top, finds his progress arrestedwhen retreat has become impossible. I see above me the pinnacle which Icannot reach--beneath me the abyss into which I must fall, as soon asmy relaxing grasp and dizzy brain join to hurl me from my presentprecarious stance. "

"Think better of your situation, my lord, " said Varney; "let us try theexperiment in which you have but now acquiesced. Keep we your marriagefrom Elizabeth's knowledge, and all may yet be well. I will instantly goto the lady myself. She hates me, because I have been earnest with yourlordship, as she truly suspects, in opposition to what she terms herrights. I care not for her prejudices--she SHALL listen to me; and Iwill show her such reasons for yielding to the pressure of the timesthat I doubt not to bring back her consent to whatever measures theseexigencies may require. "

"No, Varney, " said Leicester; "I have thought upon what is to be done, and I will myself speak with Amy. "

It was now Varney's turn to feel upon his own account the terrorswhich he affected to participate solely on account of his patron. "Yourlordship will not yourself speak with the lady?"

"It is my fixed purpose, " said Leicester. "Fetch me one of thelivery-cloaks; I will pass the sentinel as thy servant. Thou art to havefree access to her. "

"But, my lord--"

"I will have no BUTS, " replied Leicester; "it shall be even thus, andnot otherwise. Hunsdon sleeps, I think, in Saintlowe's Tower. We can gothither from these apartments by the private passage, without risk ofmeeting any one. Or what if I do meet Hunsdon? he is more my friend thanenemy, and thick-witted enough to adopt any belief that is thrust onhim. Fetch me the cloak instantly. "

Varney had no alternative save obedience. In a few minutes Leicester wasmuffled in the mantle, pulled his bonnet over his brows, and followedVarney along the secret passage of the Castle which communicated withHunsdon's apartments, in which there was scarce a chance of meetingany inquisitive person, and hardly light enough for any such to havesatisfied their curiosity. They emerged at a door where Lord Hunsdonhad, with military precaution, placed a sentinel, one of his ownnorthern retainers as it fortuned, who readily admitted Sir RichardVarney and his attendant, saying only, in his northern dialect, "Iwould, man, thou couldst make the mad lady be still yonder; for hermoans do sae dirl through my head that I would rather keep watch on asnowdrift, in the wastes of Catlowdie. "

They hastily entered, and shut the door behind them. 

"Now, good devil, if there be one, " said Varney, within himself, "for once help a votary at a dead pinch, for my boat is amongst thebreakers!"

The Countess Amy, with her hair and her garments dishevelled, was seatedupon a sort of couch, in an attitude of the deepest affliction, out ofwhich she was startled by the opening of the door. Size turned hastilyround, and fixing her eye on Varney, exclaimed, "Wretch! art thou cometo frame some new plan of villainy?"

Leicester cut short her reproaches by stepping forward and dropping hiscloak, while he said, in a voice rather of authority than of affection, "It is with me, madam, you have to commune, not with Sir RichardVarney. "

The change effected on the Countess's look and manner was like magic. "Dudley!" she exclaimed, "Dudley! and art thou come at last?" And withthe speed of lightning she flew to her husband, clung round his neck, and unheeding the presence of Varney, overwhelmed him with caresses, while she bathed his face in a flood of tears, muttering, at thesame time, but in broken and disjointed monosyllables, the fondestexpressions which Love teaches his votaries. 

Leicester, as it seemed to him, had reason to be angry with his ladyfor transgressing his commands, and thus placing him in the periloussituation in which he had that morning stood. But what displeasure couldkeep its ground before these testimonies of affection from a being solovely, that even the negligence of dress, and the withering effectsof fear, grief, and fatigue, which would have impaired the beauty ofothers, rendered hers but the more interesting. He received and repaidher caresses with fondness mingled with melancholy, the last of whichshe seemed scarcely to observe, until the first transport of her own joywas over, when, looking anxiously in his face, she asked if he was ill. 

"Not in my body, Amy, " was his answer. 

"Then I will be well too. O Dudley! I have been ill!--very ill, sincewe last met!--for I call not this morning's horrible vision a meeting. I have been in sickness, in grief, and in danger. But thou art come, andall is joy, and health, and safety!"

"Alas, Amy, " said Leicester, "thou hast undone me!"

"I, my lord?" said Amy, her cheek at once losing its transient flush ofjoy--"how could I injure that which I love better than myself?"

"I would not upbraid you, Amy, " replied the Earl; "but are you nothere contrary to my express commands--and does not your presence hereendanger both yourself and me?"

"Does it, does it indeed?" she exclaimed eagerly; "then why am I here amoment longer? Oh, if you knew by what fears I was urged to quit CumnorPlace! But I will say nothing of myself--only that if it might beotherwise, I would not willingly return THITHER; yet if it concern yoursafety--"

"We will think, Amy, of some other retreat, " said Leicester; "and youshall go to one of my northern castles, under the personage--it will bebut needful, I trust, for a very few days--of Varney's wife. "

"How, my Lord of Leicester!" said the lady, disengaging herself fromhis embraces; "is it to your wife you give the dishonourable counsel toacknowledge herself the bride of another--and of all men, the bride ofthat Varney?"

"Madam, I speak it in earnest--Varney is my true and faithful servant, trusted in my deepest secrets. I had better lose my right hand than hisservice at this moment. You have no cause to scorn him as you do. "

"I could assign one, my lord, " replied the Countess; "and I see heshakes even under that assured look of his. But he that is necessary asyour right hand to your safety is free from any accusation of mine. Mayhe be true to you; and that he may be true, trust him not too much ortoo far. But it is enough to say that I will not go with him unless byviolence, nor would I acknowledge him as my husband were all--"

"It is a temporary deception, madam, " said Leicester, irritated by heropposition, "necessary for both our safeties, endangered by you throughfemale caprice, or the premature desire to seize on a rank to whichI gave you title only under condition that our marriage, for a time, should continue secret. If my proposal disgust you, it is yourself hasbrought it on both of us. There is no other remedy--you must do whatyour own impatient folly hath rendered necessary--I command you. "

"I cannot put your commands, my lord, " said Amy, "in balance with thoseof honour and conscience. I will NOT, in this instance, obey you. You may achieve your own dishonour, to which these crooked policiesnaturally tend, but I will do nought that can blemish mine. How couldyou again, my lord, acknowledge me as a pure and chaste matron, worthyto share your fortunes, when, holding that high character, I hadstrolled the country the acknowledged wife of such a profligate fellowas your servant Varney?"

"My lord, " said Varney interposing, "my lady is too much prejudicedagainst me, unhappily, to listen to what I can offer, yet it may pleaseher better than what she proposes. She has good interest with MasterEdmund Tressilian, and could doubtless prevail on him to consent tobe her companion to Lidcote Hall, and there she might remain in safetyuntil time permitted the development of this mystery. "

Leicester was silent, but stood looking eagerly on Amy, with eyes whichseemed suddenly to glow as much with suspicion as displeasure. 

The Countess only said, "Would to God I were in my father's house!When I left it, I little thought I was leaving peace of mind and honourbehind me. "

Varney proceeded with a tone of deliberation. "Doubtless this will makeit necessary to take strangers into my lord's counsels; but surely theCountess will be warrant for the honour of Master Tressilian, and suchof her father's family--"

"Peace, Varney, " said Leicester; "by Heaven I will strike my dagger intothee if again thou namest Tressilian as a partner of my counsels!"

"And wherefore not!" said the Countess; "unless they be counsels fitterfor such as Varney, than for a man of stainless honour and integrity. Mylord, my lord, bend no angry brows on me; it is the truth, and it is Iwho speak it. I once did Tressilian wrong for your sake; I will not dohim the further injustice of being silent when his honour is brought inquestion. I can forbear, " she said, looking at Varney, "to pull themask off hypocrisy, but I will not permit virtue to be slandered in myhearing. "

There was a dead pause. Leicester stood displeased, yet undetermined, and too conscious of the weakness of his cause; while Varney, with adeep and hypocritical affectation of sorrow, mingled with humility, benthis eyes on the ground. 

It was then that the Countess Amy displayed, in the midst of distressand difficulty, the natural energy of character which would haverendered her, had fate allowed, a distinguished ornament of the rankwhich she held. She walked up to Leicester with a composed step, adignified air, and looks in which strong affection essayed in vain toshake the firmness of conscious, truth and rectitude of principle. "Youhave spoken your mind, my lord, " she said, "in these difficulties, with which, unhappily, I have found myself unable to comply. Thisgentleman--this person I would say--has hinted at another scheme, towhich I object not but as it displeases you. Will your lordship bepleased to hear what a young and timid woman, but your most affectionatewife, can suggest in the present extremity?"

Leicester was silent, but bent his head towards the Countess, as anintimation that she was at liberty to proceed. 

"There hath been but one cause for all these evils, my lord, " sheproceeded, "and it resolves itself into the mysterious duplicity withwhich you, have been induced to surround yourself. Extricate yourself atonce, my lord, from the tyranny of these disgraceful trammels. Be likea true English gentleman, knight, and earl, who holds that truth is thefoundation of honour, and that honour is dear to him as the breath ofhis nostrils. Take your ill-fated wife by the hand, lead her to thefootstool of Elizabeth's throne--say that in a moment of infatuation, moved by supposed beauty, of which none perhaps can now trace even theremains, I gave my hand to this Amy Robsart. You will then have donejustice to me, my lord, and to your own honour and should law or powerrequire you to part from me, I will oppose no objection, since I maythen with honour hide a grieved and broken heart in those shades fromwhich your love withdrew me. Then--have but a little patience, and Amy'slife will not long darken your brighter prospects. "

There was so much of dignity, so much of tenderness, in the Countess'sremonstrance, that it moved all that was noble and generous in thesoul of her husband. The scales seemed to fall from his eyes, and theduplicity and tergiversation of which he had been guilty stung him atonce with remorse and shame. 

"I am not worthy of you, Amy, " he said, "that could weigh aught whichambition has to give against such a heart as thine. I have a bitterpenance to perform, in disentangling, before sneering foes and astoundedfriends, all the meshes of my own deceitful policy. And the Queen--butlet her take my head, as she has threatened. "

"Take your head, my lord!" said the Countess, "because you used thefreedom and liberty of an English subject in choosing a wife? For shame!it is this distrust of the Queen's justice, this apprehension of danger, which cannot but be imaginary, that, like scarecrows, have induced youto forsake the straightforward path, which, as it is the best, is alsothe safest. "

"Ah, Amy, thou little knowest!" said Dudley but instantly checkinghimself, he added, "Yet she shall not find in me a safe or easy victimof arbitrary vengeance. I have friends--I have allies--I will not, likeNorfolk, be dragged to the block as a victim to sacrifice. Fear not, Amy; thou shalt see Dudley bear himself worthy of his name. I mustinstantly communicate with some of those friends on whom I can bestrely; for, as things stand, I may be made prisoner in my own Castle. "

"Oh, my good lord, " said Amy, "make no faction in a peaceful state!There is no friend can help us so well as our own candid truth andhonour. Bring but these to our assistance, and you are safe amidst awhole army of the envious and malignant. Leave these behind you, and allother defence will be fruitless. Truth, my noble lord, is well paintedunarmed. "

"But Wisdom, Amy, " answered Leicester, "is arrayed in panoply ofproof. Argue not with me on the means I shall use to render myconfession--since it must be called so--as safe as may be; it willbe fraught with enough of danger, do what we will. --Varney, we musthence. --Farewell, Amy, whom I am to vindicate as mine own, at an expenseand risk of which thou alone couldst be worthy. You shall soon hearfurther from me. "

He embraced her fervently, muffled himself as before, and accompaniedVarney from the apartment. The latter, as he left the room, bowed low, and as he raised his body, regarded Amy with a peculiar expression, as if he desired to know how far his own pardon was included in thereconciliation which had taken place betwixt her and her lord. TheCountess looked upon him with a fixed eye, but seemed no more consciousof his presence than if there had been nothing but vacant air on thespot where he stood. 

"She has brought me to the crisis, " he muttered--"she or I am lost. There was something--I wot not if it was fear or pity--that prompted meto avoid this fatal crisis. It is now decided--she or I must PERISH. "

While he thus spoke, he observed, with surprise, that a boy, repulsed bythe sentinel, made up to Leicester, and spoke with him. Varney was oneof those politicians whom not the slightest appearances escape withoutinquiry. He asked the sentinel what the lad wanted with him, andreceived for answer that the boy had wished him to transmit a parcelto the mad lady; but that he cared not to take charge of it, suchcommunication being beyond his commission, His curiosity satisfied inthat particular, he approached his patron, and heard him say, "Well, boy, the packet shall be delivered. "

"Thanks, good Master Serving-man, " said the boy, and was out of sight inan instant. 

Leicester and Varney returned with hasty steps to the Earl's privateapartment, by the same passage which had conducted them to Saintlowe'sTower. 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

 I have said This is an adulteress--I have said with whom: More, she's a traitor, and Camillo is A federary with her, and one that knows What she should shame to know herself. --WINTER'S TALE. 

They were no sooner in the Earl's cabinet than, taking his tablets fromhis pocket, he began to write, speaking partly to Varney, and partlyto himself--"There are many of them close bounden to me, and especiallythose in good estate and high office--many who, if they look backtowards my benefits, or forward towards the perils which maybefall themselves, will not, I think, be disposed to see me staggerunsupported. Let me see--Knollis is sure, and through his means Guernseyand Jersey. Horsey commands in the Isle of Wight. My brother-in-law, Huntingdon, and Pembroke, have authority in Wales. Through Bedford Ilead the Puritans, with their interest, so powerful in all the boroughs. My brother of Warwick is equal, well-nigh, to myself, in wealth, followers, and dependencies. Sir Owen Hopton is at my devotion; hecommands the Tower of London, and the national treasure deposited there. My father and grand-father needed never to have stooped their heads tothe block had they thus forecast their enterprises. --Why look you sosad, Varney? I tell thee, a tree so deep-rooted is not so easily to betorn up by the tempest. "

"Alas! my lord, " said Varney, with well-acted passion, and then resumedthe same look of despondency which Leicester had before noted. 

"Alas!" repeated Leicester; "and wherefore alas, Sir Richard? Doth yournew spirit of chivalry supply no more vigorous ejaculation when a noblestruggle is impending? Or, if ALAS means thou wilt flinch from theconflict, thou mayest leave the Castle, or go join mine enemies, whichever thou thinkest best. "

"Not so, my lord, " answered his confidant; "Varney will be foundfighting or dying by your side. Forgive me, if, in love to you, I seemore fully than your noble heart permits you to do, the inextricabledifficulties with which you are surrounded. You are strong, my lord, and powerful; yet, let me say it without offence, you are so only bythe reflected light of the Queen's favour. While you are Elizabeth'sfavourite, you are all, save in name, like an actual sovereign. But lether call back the honours she has bestowed, and the prophet's gourd didnot wither more suddenly. Declare against the Queen, and I do not saythat in the wide nation, or in this province alone, you would findyourself instantly deserted and outnumbered; but I will say, that evenin this very Castle, and in the midst of your vassals, kinsmen, anddependants, you would be a captive, nay, a sentenced captive, should sheplease to say the word. Think upon Norfolk, my lord--upon the powerfulNorthumberland--the splendid Westmoreland;--think on all who have madehead against this sage Princess. They are dead, captive, or fugitive. This is not like other thrones, which can be overturned by a combinationof powerful nobles; the broad foundations which support it are in theextended love and affections of the people. You might share it withElizabeth if you would; but neither yours, nor any other power, foreignor domestic, will avail to overthrow, or even to shake it. "

He paused, and Leicester threw his tablets from him with an air ofreckless despite. "It may be as thou sayest, " he said? "and, in sooth, I care not whether truth or cowardice dictate thy forebodings. But itshall not be said I fell without a struggle. Give orders that those ofmy retainers who served under me in Ireland be gradually drawn into themain Keep, and let our gentlemen and friends stand on their guard, andgo armed, as if they expected arm onset from the followers of Sussex. Possess the townspeople with some apprehension; let them take arms, andbe ready, at a given signal, to overpower the Pensioners and Yeomen ofthe Guard. "

"Let me remind you, my lord, " said Varney, with the same appearance ofdeep and melancholy interest, "that you have given me orders to preparefor disarming the Queen's guard. It is an act of high treason, but youshall nevertheless be obeyed. "

"I care not, " said Leicester desperately--"I care not. Shame is behindme, ruin before me; I must on. "

Here there was another pause, which Varney at length broke with thefollowing words: "It is come to the point I have long dreaded. I musteither witness, like an ungrateful beast, the downfall of the best andkindest of masters, or I must speak what I would have buried in thedeepest oblivion, or told by any other mouth than mine. "

"What is that thou sayest, or wouldst say?" replied the Earl; "we haveno time to waste on words when the times call us to action. "

"My speech is soon made, my lord--would to God it were as soon answered!Your marriage is the sole cause of the threatened breach with yourSovereign, my lord, is it not?"

"Thou knowest it is!" replied Leicester. "What needs so fruitless aquestion?"

"Pardon me, my lord, " said Varney; "the use lies here. Men will wagertheir lands and lives in defence of a rich diamond, my lord; but were itnot first prudent to look if there is no flaw in it?"

"What means this?" said Leicester, with eyes sternly fixed on hisdependant; "of whom dost thou dare to speak?"

"It is--of the Countess Amy, my lord, of whom I am unhappily bound tospeak; and of whom I WILL speak, were your lordship to kill me for myzeal. "

"Thou mayest happen to deserve it at my hand, " said the Earl; "but speakon, I will hear thee. "

"Nay, then, my lord, I will be bold. I speak for my own life as well asfor your lordship's. I like not this lady's tampering and tricksteringwith this same Edmund Tressilian. You know him, my lord. You know he hadformerly an interest in her, which it cost your lordship some pains tosupersede. You know the eagerness with which he has pressed on the suitagainst me in behalf of this lady, the open object of which is to driveyour lordship to an avowal of what I must ever call your most unhappymarriage, the point to which my lady also is willing, at any risk, tourge you. "

Leicester smiled constrainedly. "Thou meanest well, good Sir Richard, and wouldst, I think, sacrifice thine own honour, as well as that of anyother person, to save me from what thou thinkest a step so terrible. Butremember"--he spoke these words with the most stern decision--"you speakof the Countess of Leicester. "

"I do, my lord, " said Varney; "but it is for the welfare of the Earl ofLeicester. My tale is but begun. I do most strongly believe that thisTressilian has, from the beginning of his moving in her cause, been inconnivance with her ladyship the Countess. "

"Thou speakest wild madness, Varney, with the sober face of a preacher. Where, or how, could they communicate together?"

"My lord, " said Varney, "unfortunately I can show that but too well. It was just before the supplication was presented to the Queen, inTressilian's name, that I met him, to my utter astonishment, at thepostern gate which leads from the demesne at Cumnor Place. "

"Thou met'st him, villain! and why didst thou not strike him dead?"exclaimed Leicester. 

"I drew on him, my lord, and he on me; and had not my foot slipped, hewould not, perhaps, have been again a stumbling-block in your lordship'spath. "

Leicester seemed struck dumb with surprise. At length he answered, "What other evidence hast thou of this, Varney, save thine ownassertion?--for, as I will punish deeply, I will examine coolly andwarily. Sacred Heaven!--but no--I will examine coldly and warily--coldlyand warily. " He repeated these words more than once to himself, as if inthe very sound there was a sedative quality; and again compressing hislips, as if he feared some violent expression might escape from them, heasked again, "What further proof?"

"Enough, my lord, " said Varney, "and to spare. I would it rested with mealone, for with me it might have been silenced for ever. But my servant, Michael Lambourne, witnessed the whole, and was, indeed, the means offirst introducing Tressilian into Cumnor Place; and therefore I took himinto my service, and retained him in it, though something of a debauchedfellow, that I might have his tongue always under my own command. " Hethen acquainted Lord Leicester how easy it was to prove the circumstanceof their interview true, by evidence of Anthony Foster, with thecorroborative testimonies of the various persons at Cumnor, who hadheard the wager laid, and had seen Lambourne and Tressilian set offtogether. In the whole narrative, Varney hazarded nothing fabulous, excepting that, not indeed by direct assertion, but by inference, he ledhis patron to suppose that the interview betwixt Amy and Tressilian atCumnor Place had been longer than the few minutes to which it was inreality limited. 

"And wherefore was I not told of all this?" said Leicester sternly. "Whydid all of ye--and in particular thou, Varney--keep back from me suchmaterial information?"

"Because, my lord, " replied Varney, "the Countess pretended to Fosterand to me that Tressilian had intruded himself upon her; and I concludedtheir interview had been in all honour, and that she would at her owntime tell it to your lordship. Your lordship knows with what unwillingears we listen to evil surmises against those whom we love; and I thankHeaven I am no makebate or informer, to be the first to sow them. "

"You are but too ready to receive them, however, Sir Richard, " repliedhis patron. "How knowest thou that this interview was not in all honour, as thou hast said? Methinks the wife of the Earl of Leicester mightspeak for a short time with such a person as Tressilian without injuryto me or suspicion to herself. "

"Questionless, my lord, " answered Varney, "Had I thought otherwise, I had been no keeper of the secret. But here lies the rub--Tressilianleaves not the place without establishing a correspondence with a poorman, the landlord of an inn in Cumnor, for the purpose of carrying offthe lady. He sent down an emissary of his, whom I trust soon to havein right sure keeping under Mervyn's Tower--Killigrew and Lambsbey arescouring the country in quest of him. The host is rewarded with a ringfor keeping counsel--your lordship may have noted it on Tressilian'shand--here it is. This fellow, this agent, makes his way to the placeas a pedlar; holds conferences with the lady, and they make their escapetogether by night; rob a poor fellow of a horse by the way, such wastheir guilty haste, and at length reach this Castle, where the Countessof Leicester finds refuge--I dare not say in what place. "

"Speak, I command thee, " said Leicester--"speak, while I retain senseenough to hear thee. "

"Since it must be so, " answered Varney, "the lady resorted immediatelyto the apartment of Tressilian, where she remained many hours, partly incompany with him, and partly alone. I told you Tressilian had a paramourin his chamber; I little dreamed that paramour was--"

"Amy, thou wouldst say, " answered Leicester; "but it is false, false asthe smoke of hell! Ambitious she may be--fickle and impatient--'tis awoman's fault; but false to me!--never, never. The proof--the proof ofthis!" he exclaimed hastily. 

"Carrol, the Deputy Marshal, ushered her thither by her own desire, onyesterday afternoon; Lambourne and the Warder both found her there at anearly hour this morning. "

"Was Tressilian there with her?" said Leicester, in the same hurriedtone. 

"No, my lord. You may remember, " answered Varney, "that he was thatnight placed with Sir Nicholas Blount, under a species of arrest. "

"Did Carrol, or the other fellows, know who she was?" demandedLeicester. 

"No, my lord, " replied Varney; "Carrol and the Warder had never seen theCountess, and Lambourne knew her not in her disguise. But in seekingto prevent her leaving the cell, he obtained possession of one of hergloves, which, I think, your lordship may know. "

He gave the glove, which had the Bear and Ragged Staff, the Earl'simpress, embroidered upon it in seed-pearls. 

"I do--I do recognize it, " said Leicester. "They were my own gift. Thefellow of it was on the arm which she threw this very day around myneck!" He spoke this with violent agitation. 

"Your lordship, " said Varney, "might yet further inquire of the ladyherself respecting the truth of these passages. "

"It needs not--it needs not, " said the tortured Earl; "it is writtenin characters of burning light, as if they were branded on my veryeyeballs! I see her infamy-I can see nought else; and--graciousHeaven!--for this vile woman was I about to commit to danger the livesof so many noble friends, shake the foundation of a lawful throne, carrythe sword and torch through the bosom of a peaceful land, wrong thekind mistress who made me what I am, and would, but for that hell-framedmarriage, have made me all that man can be! All this I was ready to dofor a woman who trinkets and traffics with my worst foes!--And thou, villain, why didst thou not speak sooner?"

"My lord, " said Varney, "a tear from my lady would have blotted outall I could have said. Besides, I had not these proofs until this verymorning, when Anthony Foster's sudden arrival with the examinationsand declarations, which he had extorted from the innkeeper Gosling andothers, explained the manner of her flight from Cumnor Place, and my ownresearches discovered the steps which she had taken here. "

"Now, may God be praised for the light He has given! so full, sosatisfactory, that there breathes not a man in England who shall callmy proceeding rash, or my revenge unjust. --And yet, Varney, so young, so fair, so fawning, and so false! Hence, then, her hatred to thee, mytrusty, my well-beloved servant, because you withstood her plots, andendangered her paramour's life!"

"I never gave her any other cause of dislike, my lord, " replied Varney. "But she knew that my counsels went directly to diminish her influencewith your lordship; and that I was, and have been, ever ready to perilmy life against your enemies. "

"It is too, too apparent, " replied Leicester "yet with what an air ofmagnanimity she exhorted me to commit my head to the Queen's mercy, rather than wear the veil of falsehood a moment longer! Methinks theangel of truth himself can have no such tones of high-souled impulse. Can it be so, Varney?--can falsehood use thus boldly the language oftruth?--can infamy thus assume the guise of purity? Varney, thou hastbeen my servant from a child. I have raised thee high--can raisethee higher. Think, think for me!--thy brain was ever shrewd andpiercing--may she not be innocent? Prove her so, and all I have yet donefor thee shall be as nothing--nothing, in comparison of thy recompense!"

The agony with which his master spoke had some effect even on thehardened Varney, who, in the midst of his own wicked and ambitiousdesigns, really loved his patron as well as such a wretch was capableof loving anything. But he comforted himself, and subdued hisself-reproaches, with the reflection that if he inflicted upon the Earlsome immediate and transitory pain, it was in order to pave his way tothe throne, which, were this marriage dissolved by death or otherwise, he deemed Elizabeth would willingly share with his benefactor. Hetherefore persevered in his diabolical policy; and after a moment'sconsideration, answered the anxious queries of the Earl with amelancholy look, as if he had in vain sought some exculpation for theCountess; then suddenly raising his head, he said, with an expressionof hope, which instantly communicated itself to the countenance of hispatron--"Yet wherefore, if guilty, should she have perilled herselfby coming hither? Why not rather have fled to her father's, orelsewhere?--though that, indeed, might have interfered with her desireto be acknowledged as Countess of Leicester. "

"True, true, true!" exclaimed Leicester, his transient gleam of hopegiving way to the utmost bitterness of feeling and expression; "thouart not fit to fathom a woman's depth of wit, Varney. I see it all. Shewould not quit the estate and title of the wittol who had wedded her. Ay, and if in my madness I had started into rebellion, or if the angryQueen had taken my head, as she this morning threatened, the wealthydower which law would have assigned to the Countess Dowager of Leicesterhad been no bad windfall to the beggarly Tressilian. Well might shegoad me on to danger, which could not end otherwise than profitably toher, --Speak not for her, Varney! I will have her blood!"

"My lord, " replied Varney, "the wildness of your distress breaks forthin the wildness of your language. "

"I say, speak not for her!" replied Leicester; "she has dishonouredme--she would have murdered me--all ties are burst between us. She shalldie the death of a traitress and adulteress, well merited both by thelaws of God and man! And--what is this casket, " he said, "which was evennow thrust into my hand by a boy, with the desire I would convey itto Tressilian, as he could not give it to the Countess? By Heaven! thewords surprised me as he spoke them, though other matters chased themfrom my brain; but now they return with double force. It is her casketof jewels!--Force it open, Varney--force the hinges open with thyponiard!"

"She refused the aid of my dagger once, " thought Varney, as heunsheathed the weapon, "to cut the string which bound a letter, but nowit shall work a mightier ministry in her fortunes. "

With this reflection, by using the three-cornered stiletto-blade as awedge, he forced open the slender silver hinges of the casket. TheEarl no sooner saw them give way than he snatched the casket from SirRichard's hand, wrenched off the cover, and tearing out the splendidcontents, flung them on the floor in a transport of rage, while heeagerly searched for some letter or billet which should make thefancied guilt of his innocent Countess yet more apparent. Then stampingfuriously on the gems, he exclaimed, "Thus I annihilate the miserabletoys for which thou hast sold thyself, body and soul--consigned thyselfto an early and timeless death, and me to misery and remorse forever!--Tell me not of forgiveness, Varney--she is doomed!"

So saying, he left the room, and rushed into an adjacent closet, thedoor of which he locked and bolted. 

Varney looked after him, while something of a more human feeling seemedto contend with his habitual sneer. "I am sorry for his weakness, " hesaid, "but love has made him a child. He throws down and treads onthese costly toys-with the same vehemence would he dash to pieces thisfrailest toy of all, of which he used to rave so fondly. But that tastealso will be forgotten when its object is no more. Well, he has no eyeto value things as they deserve, and that nature has given to Varney. When Leicester shall be a sovereign, he will think as little of thegales of passion through which he gained that royal port, as everdid sailor in harbour of the perils of a voyage. But these tell-talearticles must not remain here--they are rather too rich vails for thedrudges who dress the chamber. "

While Varney was employed in gathering together and putting them into asecret drawer of a cabinet that chanced to be open, he saw the door ofLeicester's closet open, the tapestry pushed aside, and the Earl's facethrust out, but with eyes so dead, and lips and cheeks so bloodlessand pale, that he started at the sudden change. No sooner did his eyesencounter the Earl's, than the latter withdrew his head and shut thedoor of the closet. This manoeuvre Leicester repeated twice, withoutspeaking a word, so that Varney began to doubt whether his brain wasnot actually affected by his mental agony. The third time, however, hebeckoned, and Varney obeyed the signal. When he entered, he soonfound his patron's perturbation was not caused by insanity, but bythe fullness of purpose which he entertained contending with variouscontrary passions. They passed a full hour in close consultation;after which the Earl of Leicester, with an incredible exertion, dressedhimself, and went to attend his royal guest. 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

 You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting With most admired disorder. --MACBETH. 

It was afterwards remembered that during the banquets and revels whichoccupied the remainder of this eventful day the bearing of Leicester andof Varney were totally different from their usual demeanour. Sir RichardVarney had been held rather a man of counsel and of action than a votaryof pleasure. Business, whether civil or military, seemed always to behis proper sphere; and while in festivals and revels, although he wellunderstood how to trick them up and present them, his own part was thatof a mere spectator; or if he exercised his wit, it was in a rough, caustic, and severe manner, rather as if he scoffed at the exhibitionand the guests than shared the common pleasure. 

But upon the present day his character seemed changed. He mixed amongthe younger courtiers and ladies, and appeared for the moment to beactuated by a spirit of light-hearted gaiety, which rendered him a matchfor the liveliest. Those who had looked upon him as a man given upto graver and more ambitious pursuits, a bitter sneerer and passer ofsarcasms at the expense of those who, taking life as they find it, were disposed to snatch at each pastime it presents, now perceived withastonishment that his wit could carry as smooth an edge as their own, his laugh be as lively, and his brow as unclouded. By what art ofdamnable hypocrisy he could draw this veil of gaiety over the blackthoughts of one of the worst of human bosoms must remain unintelligibleto all but his compeers, if any such ever existed; but he was a man ofextraordinary powers, and those powers were unhappily dedicated in alltheir energy to the very worst of purposes. 

It was entirely different with Leicester. However habituated hismind usually was to play the part of a good courtier, and appear gay, assiduous, and free from all care but that of enhancing the pleasureof the moment, while his bosom internally throbbed with the pangs ofunsatisfied ambition, jealousy, or resentment, his heart had now ayet more dreadful guest, whose workings could not be overshadowed orsuppressed; and you might read in his vacant eye and troubled brow thathis thoughts were far absent from the scenes in which he was compellinghimself to play a part. He looked, moved, and spoke as if by asuccession of continued efforts; and it seemed as if his will had insome degree lost the promptitude of command over the acute mind andgoodly form of which it was the regent. His actions and gestures, instead of appearing the consequence of simple volition, seemed, likethose of an automaton, to wait the revolution of some internal machineryere they could be performed; and his words fell from him piecemeal, interrupted, as if he had first to think what he was to say, then howit was to be said, and as if, after all, it was only by an effort ofcontinued attention that he completed a sentence without forgetting boththe one and the other. 

The singular effects which these distractions of mind produced upon thebehaviour and conversation of the most accomplished courtier of England, as they were visible to the lowest and dullest menial who approached hisperson, could not escape the notice of the most intelligent Princess ofthe age. Nor is there the least doubt that the alternate negligence andirregularity of his manner would have called down Elizabeth's severedispleasure on the Earl of Leicester, had it not occurred to her toaccount for it by supposing that the apprehension of that displeasurewhich she had expressed towards him with such vivacity that very morningwas dwelling upon the spirits of her favourite, and, spite of hisefforts to the contrary, distracted the usual graceful tenor of his mienand the charms of his conversation. When this idea, so flattering tofemale vanity, had once obtained possession of her mind, it proved afull and satisfactory apology for the numerous errors and mistakes ofthe Earl of Leicester; and the watchful circle around observed withastonishment, that, instead of resenting his repeated negligence, andwant of even ordinary attention (although these were points on which shewas usually extremely punctilious), the Queen sought, on the contrary, to afford him time and means to recollect himself, and deigned to assisthim in doing so, with an indulgence which seemed altogether inconsistentwith her usual character. It was clear, however, that this could notlast much longer, and that Elizabeth must finally put another and moresevere construction on Leicester's uncourteous conduct, when the Earlwas summoned by Varney to speak with him in a different apartment. 

After having had the message twice delivered to him, he rose, and wasabout to withdraw, as it were, by instinct; then stopped, and turninground, entreated permission of the Queen to absent himself for a briefspace upon matters of pressing importance. 

"Go, my lord, " said the Queen. "We are aware our presence must occasionsudden and unexpected occurrences, which require to be provided for onthe instant. Yet, my lord, as you would have us believe ourself yourwelcome and honoured guest, we entreat you to think less of our goodcheer, and favour us with more of your good countenance than we havethis day enjoyed; for whether prince or peasant be the guest, thewelcome of the host will always be the better part of the entertainment. Go, my lord; and we trust to see you return with an unwrinkled brow, andthose free thoughts which you are wont to have at the disposal of yourfriends. "

Leicester only bowed low in answer to this rebuke, and retired. At thedoor of the apartment he was met by Varney, who eagerly drew him apart, and whispered in his ear, "All is well!"

"Has Masters seen her?" said the Earl. 

"He has, my lord; and as she would neither answer his queries, norallege any reason for her refusal, he will give full testimony that shelabours under a mental disorder, and may be best committed to the chargeof her friends. The opportunity is therefore free to remove her as weproposed. "

"But Tressilian?" said Leicester. 

"He will not know of her departure for some time, " replied Varney; "itshall take place this very evening, and to-morrow he shall be caredfor. "

"No, by my soul, " answered Leicester; "I will take vengeance on him withmine own hand!"

"You, my lord, and on so inconsiderable a man as Tressilian! No, mylord, he hath long wished to visit foreign parts. Trust him to me--Iwill take care he returns not hither to tell tales. "

"Not so, by Heaven, Varney!" exclaimed Leicester. "Inconsiderable do youcall an enemy that hath had power to wound me so deeply that my wholeafter-life must be one scene of remorse and misery?--No; rather thanforego the right of doing myself justice with my own hand on thataccursed villain, I will unfold the whole truth at Elizabeth'sfootstool, and let her vengeance descend at once on them and on myself. "

Varney saw with great alarm that his lord was wrought up to such a pitchof agitation, that if he gave not way to him he was perfectly capable ofadopting the desperate resolution which he had announced, and which wasinstant ruin to all the schemes of ambition which Varney had formedfor his patron and for himself. But the Earl's rage seemed at onceuncontrollable and deeply concentrated, and while he spoke his eyesshot fire, his voice trembled with excess of passion, and the light foamstood on his lip. 

His confidant made a bold and successful effort to obtain the mastery ofhim even in this hour of emotion. "My lord, " he said, leading him toa mirror, "behold your reflection in that glass, and think if theseagitated features belong to one who, in a condition so extreme, iscapable of forming a resolution for himself. "

"What, then, wouldst thou make me?" said Leicester, struck at the changein his own physiognomy, though offended at the freedom with which Varneymade the appeal. "Am I to be thy ward, thy vassal, --the property andsubject of my servant?"

"No, my lord, " said Varney firmly, "but be master of yourself, and ofyour own passion. My lord, I, your born servant, am ashamed to see howpoorly you bear yourself in the storm of fury. Go to Elizabeth'sfeet, confess your marriage--impeach your wife and her paramour ofadultery--and avow yourself, amongst all your peers, the wittol whomarried a country girl, and was cozened by her and her book-learnedgallant. Go, my lord--but first take farewell of Richard Varney, withall the benefits you ever conferred on him. He served the noble, thelofty, the high-minded Leicester, and was more proud of depending on himthan he would be of commanding thousands. But the abject lord who stoopsto every adverse circumstance, whose judicious resolves are scatteredlike chaff before every wind of passion, him Richard Varney serves not. He is as much above him in constancy of mind as beneath him in rank andfortune. "

Varney spoke thus without hypocrisy, for though the firmness of mindwhich he boasted was hardness and impenetrability, yet he really feltthe ascendency which he vaunted; while the interest which he actuallyfelt in the fortunes of Leicester gave unusual emotion to his voice andmanner. 

Leicester was overpowered by his assumed superiority it seemed to theunfortunate Earl as if his last friend was about to abandon him. Hestretched his hand towards Varney as he uttered the words, "Do not leaveme. What wouldst thou have me do?"

"Be thyself, my noble master, " said Varney, touching the Earl's handwith his lips, after having respectfully grasped it in his own; "beyourself, superior to those storms of passion which wreck inferiorminds. Are you the first who has been cozened in love--the first whom avain and licentious woman has cheated into an affection, which shehas afterwards scorned and misused? And will you suffer yourself to bedriven frantic because you have not been wiser than the wisest men whomthe world has seen? Let her be as if she had not been--let her pass fromyour memory, as unworthy of ever having held a place there. Let yourstrong resolve of this morning, which I have both courage, zeal, and means enough to execute, be like the fiat of a superior being, apassionless act of justice. She hath deserved death--let her die!"

While he was speaking, the Earl held his hand fast, compressed his lipshard, and frowned, as if he laboured to catch from Varney a portion ofthe cold, ruthless, and dispassionate firmness which he recommended. When he was silent, the Earl still continued to rasp his hand, until, with an effort at calm decision, he was able to articulate, "Be itso--she dies! But one tear might be permitted. "

"Not one, my lord, " interrupted Varney, who saw by the quivering eye andconvulsed cheek of his patron that he was about to give way to a burstof emotion--"not a tear--the time permits it not. Tressilian must bethought of--"

"That indeed is a name, " said the Earl, "to convert tears into blood. Varney, I have thought on this, and I have determined--neither entreatynor argument shall move me--Tressilian shall be my own victim. "

"It is madness, my lord; but you are too mighty for me to bar yourway to your revenge. Yet resolve at least to choose fitting time andopportunity, and to forbear him until these shall be found. "

"Thou shalt order me in what thou wilt, " said Leicester, "only thwart menot in this. "

"Then, my lord, " said Varney, "I first request of you to lay aside thewild, suspected, and half-frenzied demeanour which hath this day drawnthe eyes of all the court upon you, and which, but for the Queen'spartial indulgence, which she hath extended towards you in a degreefar beyond her nature, she had never given you the opportunity to atonefor. "

"Have I indeed been so negligent?" said Leicester, as one who awakesfrom a dream. "I thought I had coloured it well. But fear nothing, mymind is now eased--I am calm. My horoscope shall be fulfilled; and thatit may be fulfilled, I will tax to the highest every faculty of my mind. Fear me not, I say. I will to the Queen instantly--not thine own looksand language shall be more impenetrable than mine. Hast thou aught elseto say?"

"I must crave your signet-ring, " said Varney gravely, "in token to thoseof your servants whom I must employ, that I possess your full authorityin commanding their aid. "

Leicester drew off the signet-ring which he commonly used, and gave itto Varney, with a haggard and stern expression of countenance, addingonly, in a low, half-whispered tone, but with terrific emphasis, thewords, "What thou dost, do quickly. "

Some anxiety and wonder took place, meanwhile, in the presence-hall, atthe prolonged absence of the noble Lord of the Castle, and great wasthe delight of his friends when they saw him enter as a man from whosebosom, to all human seeming, a weight of care had been just removed. Amply did Leicester that day redeem the pledge he had given to Varney, who soon saw himself no longer under the necessity of maintaining acharacter so different from his own as that which he had assumed in theearlier part of the day, and gradually relapsed into the same grave, shrewd, caustic observer of conversation and incident which constitutedhis usual part in society. 

With Elizabeth, Leicester played his game as one to whom her naturalstrength of talent and her weakness in one or two particular points werewell known. He was too wary to exchange on a sudden the sullen personagewhich he had played before he retired with Varney; but on approachingher it seemed softened into a melancholy, which had a touch oftenderness in it, and which, in the course of conversing with Elizabeth, and as she dropped in compassion one mark of favour after another toconsole him, passed into a flow of affectionate gallantry, the mostassiduous, the most delicate, the most insinuating, yet at the same timethe most respectful, with which a Queen was ever addressed by a subject. Elizabeth listened as in a sort of enchantment. Her jealousy of powerwas lulled asleep; her resolution to forsake all social or domesticties, and dedicate herself exclusively to the care of her people, beganto be shaken; and once more the star of Dudley culminated in the courthorizon. 

But Leicester did not enjoy this triumph over nature, and overconscience, without its being embittered to him, not only by theinternal rebellion of his feelings against the violence which heexercised over them, but by many accidental circumstances, which, inthe course of the banquet, and during the subsequent amusements of theevening, jarred upon that nerve, the least vibration of which was agony. 

The courtiers were, for example, in the Great Hall, after having leftthe banqueting-room, awaiting the appearance of a splendid masque, which was the expected entertainment of this evening, when the Queeninterrupted a wild career of wit which the Earl of Leicester was runningagainst Lord Willoughby, Raleigh, and some other courtiers, by saying, "We will impeach you of high treason, my lord, if you proceed in thisattempt to slay us with laughter. And here comes a thing may make us allgrave at his pleasure, our learned physician Masters, with news belikeof our poor suppliant, Lady Varney;--nay, my lord, we will not have youleave us, for this being a dispute betwixt married persons, we do nothold our own experience deep enough to decide thereon without goodcounsel. --How now, Masters, what thinkest thou of the runaway bride?"

The smile with which Leicester had been speaking, when the Queeninterrupted him, remained arrested on his lips, as if it had been carvedthere by the chisel of Michael Angelo or of Chantrey; and he listened tothe speech of the physician with the same immovable cast of countenance. 

"The Lady Varney, gracious Sovereign, " said the court physician Masters, "is sullen, and would hold little conference with me touching the stateof her health, talking wildly of being soon to plead her own causebefore your own presence, and of answering no meaner person'sinquiries. "

"Now the heavens forfend!" said the Queen; "we have already sufferedfrom the misconstructions and broils which seem to follow this poorbrain-sick lady wherever she comes. --Think you not so, my lord?" sheadded, appealing to Leicester with something in her look that indicatedregret, even tenderly expressed, for their disagreement of that morning. Leicester compelled himself to bow low. The utmost force he couldexert was inadequate to the further effort of expressing in words hisacquiescence in the Queen's sentiment. 

"You are vindictive, " she said, "my lord; but we will find time andplace to punish you. But once more to this same trouble-mirth, this LadyVarney. What of her health, Masters?"

"She is sullen, madam, as I already said, " replied Masters, "and refusesto answer interrogatories, or be amenable to the authority of themediciner. I conceive her to be possessed with a delirium, which Iincline to term rather HYPOCHONDRIA than PHRENESIS; and I think she werebest cared for by her husband in his own house, and removed from allthis bustle of pageants, which disturbs her weak brain with the mostfantastic phantoms. She drops hints as if she were some great person indisguise--some Countess or Princess perchance. God help them, such areoften the hallucinations of these infirm persons!"

"Nay, then, " said the Queen, "away with her with all speed. Let Varneycare for her with fitting humanity; but let them rid the Castle of herforthwith she will think herself lady of all, I warrant you. It is pityso fair a form, however, should have an infirm understanding. --Whatthink you, my lord?"

"It is pity indeed, " said the Earl, repeating the words like a taskwhich was set him. 

"But, perhaps, " said Elizabeth, "you do not join with us in our opinionof her beauty; and indeed we have known men prefer a statelier and moreJuno-like form to that drooping fragile one that hung its head like abroken lily. Ay, men are tyrants, my lord, who esteem the animationof the strife above the triumph of an unresisting conquest, and, likesturdy champions, love best those women who can wage contest withthem. --I could think with you, Rutland, that give my Lord of Leicestersuch a piece of painted wax for a bride, he would have wished her deadere the end of the honeymoon. "

As she said this, she looked on Leicester so expressively that, whilehis heart revolted against the egregious falsehood, he did himself somuch violence as to reply in a whisper that Leicester's love was morelowly than her Majesty deemed, since it was settled where he could nevercommand, but must ever obey. 

The Queen blushed, and bid him be silent; yet looked as of she expectedthat he would not obey her commands. But at that moment the flourish oftrumpets and kettle-drums from a high balcony which overlooked the hallannounced the entrance of the maskers, and relieved Leicester from thehorrible state of constraint and dissimulation in which the result ofhis own duplicity had placed him. 

The masque which entered consisted of four separate bands, whichfollowed each other at brief intervals, each consisting of six principalpersons and as many torch-bearers, and each representing one of thevarious nations by which England had at different times been occupied. 

The aboriginal Britons, who first entered, were ushered in by twoancient Druids, whose hoary hair was crowned with a chaplet of oak, andwho bore in their hands branches of mistletoe. The maskers who followedthese venerable figures were succeeded by two Bards, arrayed in white, and bearing harps, which they occasionally touched, singing at thesame time certain stanzas of an ancient hymn to Belus, or the Sun. Theaboriginal Britons had been selected from amongst the tallest and mostrobust young gentlemen in attendance on the court. Their masks wereaccommodated with long, shaggy beards and hair; their vestments wereof the hides of wolves and bears; while their legs, arms, and the upperparts of their bodies, being sheathed in flesh-coloured silk, on whichwere traced in grotesque lines representations of the heavenly bodies, and of animals and other terrestrial objects, gave them the livelyappearance of our painted ancestors, whose freedom was first trenchedupon by the Romans. 

The sons of Rome, who came to civilize as well as to conquer, were nextproduced before the princely assembly; and the manager of the revels hadcorrectly imitated the high crest and military habits of that celebratedpeople, accommodating them with the light yet strong buckler and theshort two-edged sword, the use of which had made them victors of theworld. The Roman eagles were borne before them by two standard-bearers, who recited a hymn to Mars, and the classical warriors followed with thegrave and haughty step of men who aspired at universal conquest. 

The third quadrille represented the Saxons, clad in the bearskins whichthey had brought with them from the German forests, and bearing intheir hands the redoubtable battle-axes which made such havoc among thenatives of Britain. They were preceded by two Scalds, who chanted thepraises of Odin. 

Last came the knightly Normans, in their mail-shirts and hoods of steel, with all the panoply of chivalry, and marshalled by two Minstrels, whosang of war and ladies' love. 

These four bands entered the spacious hall with the utmost order, a short pause being made, that the spectators might satisfy theircuriosity as to each quadrille before the appearance of the next. Theythen marched completely round the hall, in order the more fully todisplay themselves, regulating their steps to organs, shalms, hautboys, and virginals, the music of the Lord Leicester's household. At lengththe four quadrilles of maskers, ranging their torch-bearers behind them, drew up in their several ranks on the two opposite sides of the hall, so that the Romans confronting the Britons, and the Saxons the Normans, seemed to look on each other with eyes of wonder, which presentlyappeared to kindle into anger, expressed by menacing gestures. At theburst of a strain of martial music from the gallery the maskers drewtheir swords on all sides, and advanced against each other in themeasured steps of a sort of Pyrrhic or military dance, clashing theirswords against their adversaries' shields, and clattering them againsttheir blades as they passed each other in the progress of the dance. Itwas a very pleasant spectacle to see how the various bands, preservingregularity amid motions which seemed to be totally irregular, mixedtogether, and then disengaging themselves, resumed each their ownoriginal rank as the music varied. 

In this symbolical dance were represented the conflicts which had takenplace among the various nations which had anciently inhabited Britain. 

At length, after many mazy evolutions, which afforded great pleasure tothe spectators, the sound of a loud-voiced trumpet was heard, as ifit blew for instant battle, or for victory won. The maskers instantlyceased their mimic strife, and collecting themselves under theiroriginal leaders, or presenters, for such was the appropriate phrase, seemed to share the anxious expectation which the spectators experiencedconcerning what was next to appear. 

The doors of the hall were thrown wide, and no less a person enteredthan the fiend-born Merlin, dressed in a strange and mystical attire, suited to his ambiguous birth and magical power. 

About him and behind him fluttered or gambolled many extraordinaryforms, intended to represent the spirits who waited to do his powerfulbidding; and so much did this part of the pageant interest the menialsand others of the lower class then in the Castle, that many of themforgot even the reverence due to the Queen's presence, so far as tothrust themselves into the lower part of the hall. 

The Earl of Leicester, seeing his officers had some difficulty to repelthese intruders, without more disturbance than was fitting where theQueen was in presence, arose and went himself to the bottom of thehall; Elizabeth, at the same time, with her usual feeling for the commonpeople, requesting that they might be permitted to remain undisturbedto witness the pageant. Leicester went under this pretext; but his realmotive was to gain a moment to himself, and to relieve his mind, were itbut for one instant, from the dreadful task of hiding, under the guiseof gaiety and gallantry, the lacerating pangs of shame, anger, remorse, and thirst for vengeance. He imposed silence by his look and sign uponthe vulgar crowd at the lower end of the apartment; but instead ofinstantly returning to wait on her Majesty, he wrapped his cloak aroundhim, and mixing with the crowd, stood in some degree an undistinguishedspectator of the progress of the masque. 

Merlin having entered, and advanced into the midst of the hall, summonedthe presenters of the contending bands around him by a wave of hismagical rod, and announced to them, in a poetical speech, that the isleof Britain was now commanded by a Royal Maiden, to whom it was the willof fate that they should all do homage, and request of her to pronounceon the various pretensions which each set forth to be esteemed thepre-eminent stock, from which the present natives, the happy subjects ofthat angelical Princess, derived their lineage. 

In obedience to this mandate, the bands, each moving to solemn music, passed in succession before Elizabeth, doing her, as they passed, eachafter the fashion of the people whom they represented, the lowestand most devotional homage, which she returned with the same graciouscourtesy that had marked her whole conduct since she came to Kenilworth. 

The presenters of the several masques or quadrilles then alleged, eachin behalf of his own troop, the reasons which they had for claimingpre-eminence over the rest; and when they had been all heard in turn, she returned them this gracious answer: "That she was sorry she was notbetter qualified to decide upon the doubtful question which had beenpropounded to her by the direction of the famous Merlin, but that itseemed to her that no single one of these celebrated nations could claimpre-eminence over the others, as having most contributed to form theEnglishman of her own time, who unquestionably derived from each of themsome worthy attribute of his character. Thus, " she said, "the Englishmanhad from the ancient Briton his bold and tameless spirit of freedom;from the Roman his disciplined courage in war, with his love of lettersand civilization in time of peace; from the Saxon his wise and equitablelaws; and from the chivalrous Norman his love of honour and courtesy, with his generous desire for glory. "

Merlin answered with readiness that it did indeed require that so manychoice qualities should meet in the English, as might render them insome measure the muster of the perfections of other nations, since thatalone could render them in some degree deserving of the blessings theyenjoyed under the reign of England's Elizabeth. 

The music then sounded, and the quadrilles, together with Merlin and hisassistants, had begun to remove from the crowded hall, when Leicester, who was, as we have mentioned, stationed for the moment near the bottomof the hall, and consequently engaged in some degree in the crowd, felthimself pulled by the cloak, while a voice whispered in his ear, "MyLord, I do desire some instant conference with you. "

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

 How is't with me, when every noise appals me? --MACBETH. 

"I desire some conference with you. " The words were simple inthemselves, but Lord Leicester was in that alarmed and feverish stateof mind when the most ordinary occurrences seem fraught with alarmingimport; and he turned hastily round to survey the person by whomthey had been spoken. There was nothing remarkable in the speaker'sappearance, which consisted of a black silk doublet and short mantle, with a black vizard on his face; for it appeared he had been among thecrowd of masks who had thronged into the hall in the retinue of Merlin, though he did not wear any of the extravagant disguises by which most ofthem were distinguished. 

"Who are you, or what do you want with me?" said Leicester, not withoutbetraying, by his accents, the hurried state of his spirits. 

"No evil, my lord, " answered the mask, "but much good and honour, ifyou will rightly understand my purpose. But I must speak with you moreprivately. "

"I can speak with no nameless stranger, " answered Leicester, dreading heknew not precisely what from the request of the stranger; "and thosewho are known to me must seek another and a fitter time to ask aninterview. "

He would have hurried away, but the mask still detained him. 

"Those who talk to your lordship of what your own honour demands have aright over your time, whatever occupations you may lay aside in order toindulge them. "

"How! my honour? Who dare impeach it?" said Leicester. 

"Your own conduct alone can furnish grounds for accusing it, my lord, and it is that topic on which I would speak with you. "

"You are insolent, " said Leicester, "and abuse the hospitable licenseof the time, which prevents me from having you punished. I demand yourname!"

"Edmund Tressilian of Cornwall, " answered the mask. "My tongue has beenbound by a promise for four-and-twenty hours. The space is passed, --Inow speak, and do your lordship the justice to address myself first toyou. "

The thrill of astonishment which had penetrated to Leicester's veryheart at hearing that name pronounced by the voice of the man he mostdetested, and by whom he conceived himself so deeply injured, at firstrendered him immovable, but instantly gave way to such a thirst forrevenge as the pilgrim in the desert feels for the water-brooks. He hadbut sense and self-government enough left to prevent his stabbing tothe heart the audacious villain, who, after the ruin he had broughtupon him, dared, with such unmoved assurance, thus to practise uponhim further. Determined to suppress for the moment every symptom ofagitation, in order to perceive the full scope of Tressilian's purpose, as well as to secure his own vengeance, he answered in a tone so alteredby restrained passion as scarce to be intelligible, "And what doesMaster Edmund Tressilian require at my hand?"

"Justice, my lord, " answered Tressilian, calmly but firmly. 

"Justice, " said Leicester, "all men are entitled to. YOU, MasterTressilian, are peculiarly so, and be assured you shall have it. "

"I expect nothing less from your nobleness, " answered Tressilian; "buttime presses, and I must speak with you to-night. May I wait on you inyour chamber?"

"No, " answered Leicester sternly, "not under a roof, and that roof mineown. We will meet under the free cope of heaven. "

"You are discomposed or displeased, my lord, " replied Tressilian; "yetthere is no occasion for distemperature. The place is equal to me, soyou allow me one half-hour of your time uninterrupted. "

"A shorter time will, I trust, suffice, " answered Leicester. "Meet me inthe Pleasance when the Queen has retired to her chamber. "

"Enough, " said Tressilian, and withdrew; while a sort of rapture seemedfor the moment to occupy the mind of Leicester. 

"Heaven, " he said, "is at last favourable to me, and has put within myreach the wretch who has branded me with this deep ignominy--who hasinflicted on me this cruel agony. I will blame fate no more, since I amafforded the means of tracing the wiles by which he means still furtherto practise on me, and then of at once convicting and punishing hisvillainy. To my task--to my task! I will not sink under it now, sincemidnight, at farthest, will bring me vengeance. "

While these reflections thronged through Leicester's mind, he again madehis way amid the obsequious crowd, which divided to give him passage, and resumed his place, envied and admired, beside the person of hisSovereign. But could the bosom of him thus admired and envied have beenlaid open before the inhabitants of that crowded hall, with all its darkthoughts of guilty ambition, blighted affection, deep vengeance, andconscious sense of meditated cruelty, crossing each other like spectresin the circle of some foul enchantress, which of them, from the mostambitious noble in the courtly circle down to the most wretched menialwho lived by shifting of trenchers, would have desired to changecharacters with the favourite of Elizabeth, and the Lord of Kenilworth?

New tortures awaited him as soon as he had rejoined Elizabeth. 

"You come in time, my lord, " she said, "to decide a dispute between usladies. Here has Sir Richard Varney asked our permission to depart fromthe Castle with his infirm lady, having, as he tells us, your lordship'sconsent to his absence, so he can obtain ours. Certes, we have no willto withhold him from the affectionate charge of this poor young person;but you are to know that Sir Richard Varney hath this day shown himselfso much captivated with these ladies of ours, that here is our Duchessof Rutland says he will carry his poor insane wife no farther than thelake, plunge her in to tenant the crystal palaces that the enchantednymph told us of, and return a jolly widower, to dry his tears and tomake up the loss among our train. How say you, my lord? We have seenVarney under two or three different guises--you know what are his properattributes--think you he is capable of playing his lady such a knave'strick?"

Leicester was confounded, but the danger was urgent, and a replyabsolutely necessary. "The ladies, " he said, "think too lightly of oneof their own sex, in supposing she could deserve such a fate; or too illof ours, to think it could be inflicted upon an innocent female. "

"Hear him, my ladies, " said Elizabeth; "like all his sex, he wouldexcuse their cruelty by imputing fickleness to us. "

"Say not US, madam, " replied the Earl. "We say that meaner women, likethe lesser lights of heaven, have revolutions and phases; but who shallimpute mutability to the sun, or to Elizabeth?"

The discourse presently afterwards assumed a less perilous tendency, andLeicester continued to support his part in it with spirit, at whateverexpense of mental agony. So pleasing did it seem to Elizabeth, that theCastle bell had sounded midnight ere she retired from the company, acircumstance unusual in her quiet and regular habits of disposing oftime. Her departure was, of course, the signal for breaking up thecompany, who dispersed to their several places of repose, to dream overthe pastimes of the day, or to anticipate those of the morrow. 

The unfortunate Lord of the Castle, and founder of the proud festival, retired to far different thoughts. His direction to the valet whoattended him was to send Varney instantly to his apartment. Themessenger returned after some delay, and informed him that an hour hadelapsed since Sir Richard Varney had left the Castle by the postern gatewith three other persons, one of whom was transported in a horse-litter. 

"How came he to leave the Castle after the watch was set?" saidLeicester. "I thought he went not till daybreak. "

"He gave satisfactory reasons, as I understand, " said the domestic, "tothe guard, and, as I hear, showed your lordship's signet--"

"True--true, " said the Earl; "yet he has been hasty. Do any of hisattendants remain behind?"

"Michael Lambourne, my lord, " said the valet, "was not to be found whenSir Richard Varney departed, and his master was much incensed at hisabsence. I saw him but now saddling his horse to gallop after hismaster. "

"Bid him come hither instantly, " said Leicester; "I have a message tohis master. "

The servant left the apartment, and Leicester traversed it for some timein deep meditation. "Varney is over-zealous, " he said, "over-pressing. He loves me, I think; but he hath his own ends to serve, and he isinexorable in pursuit of them. If I rise, he rises; and he hath shownhimself already but too, eager to rid me of this obstacle which seemsto stand betwixt me and sovereignty. Yet I will not stoop to bear thisdisgrace. She shall be punished, but it shall be more advisedly. Ialready feel, even in anticipation, that over-haste would light theflames of hell in my bosom. No--one victim is enough at once, and thatvictim already waits me. "

He seized upon writing materials, and hastily traced these words:--

"Sir Richard Varney, we have resolved to defer the matter entrusted toyour care, and strictly command you to proceed no further in relationto our Countess until our further order. We also command your instantreturn to Kenilworth as soon as you have safely bestowed that with whichyou are entrusted. But if the safe-placing of your present charge shalldetain you longer than we think for, we command you in that case to sendback our signet-ring by a trusty and speedy messenger, we having presentneed of the same. And requiring your strict obedience in these things, and commending you to God's keeping, we rest your assured good friendand master, "R. LEICESTER. 

"Given at our Castle of Kenilworth, the tenth of July, in the year ofSalvation one thousand five hundred and seventy-five. "

As Leicester had finished and sealed this mandate, Michael Lambourne, booted up to mid-thigh, having his riding-cloak girthed around himwith a broad belt, and a felt cap on his head, like that of a courier, entered his apartment, ushered in by the valet. 

"What is thy capacity of service?" said the Earl. 

"Equerry to your lordship's master of the horse, " answered Lambourne, with his customary assurance. 

"Tie up thy saucy tongue, sir, " said Leicester; "the jests that may suitSir Richard Varney's presence suit not mine. How soon wilt thou overtakethy master?"

"In one hour's riding, my lord, if man and horse hold good, " saidLambourne, with an instant alteration of demeanour, from an approach tofamiliarity to the deepest respect. The Earl measured him with his eyefrom top to toe. 

"I have heard of thee, " he said "men say thou art a prompt fellow inthy service, but too much given to brawling and to wassail to be trustedwith things of moment. "

"My lord, " said Lambourne, "I have been soldier, sailor, traveller, andadventurer; and these are all trades in which men enjoy to-day, becausethey have no surety of to-morrow. But though I may misuse mine ownleisure, I have never neglected the duty I owe my master. "

"See that it be so in this instance, " said Leicester, "and it shall dothee good. Deliver this letter speedily and carefully into Sir RichardVarney's hands. "

"Does my commission reach no further?" said Lambourne. 

"No, " answered Leicester; "but it deeply concerns me that it becarefully as well as hastily executed. "

"I will spare neither care nor horse-flesh, " answered Lambourne, andimmediately took his leave. 

"So, this is the end of my private audience, from which I hoped somuch!" he muttered to himself, as he went through the long gallery, anddown the back staircase. "Cogs bones! I thought the Earl had wanted acast of mine office in some secret intrigue, and it all ends in carryinga letter! Well, his pleasure shall be done, however; and as his lordshipwell says, it may do me good another time. The child must creep ere hewalk, and so must your infant courtier. I will have a look intothis letter, however, which he hath sealed so sloven-like. " Havingaccomplished this, he clapped his hands together in ecstasy, exclaiming, "The Countess the Countess! I have the secret that shall make or marme. --But come forth, Bayard, " he added, leading his horse into thecourtyard, "for your flanks and my spurs must be presently acquainted. "

Lambourne mounted, accordingly, and left the Castle by the postern gate, where his free passage was permitted, in consequence of a message tothat effect left by Sir Richard Varney. 

As soon as Lambourne and the valet had left the apartment, Leicesterproceeded to change his dress for a very plain one, threw his mantlearound him, and taking a lamp in his hand, went by the private passageof communication to a small secret postern door which opened into thecourtyard, near to the entrance of the Pleasance. His reflections wereof a more calm and determined character than they had been at any lateperiod, and he endeavoured to claim, even in his own eyes, the characterof a man more sinned against than sinning. 

"I have suffered the deepest injury, " such was the tenor of hismeditations, "yet I have restricted the instant revenge which was in mypower, and have limited it to that which is manly and noble. But shallthe union which this false woman has this day disgraced remain anabiding fetter on me, to check me in the noble career to which mydestinies invite me? No; there are other means of disengaging such ties, without unloosing the cords of life. In the sight of God, I am no longerbound by the union she has broken. Kingdoms shall divide us, oceans rollbetwixt us, and their waves, whose abysses have swallowed whole navies, shall be the sole depositories of the deadly mystery. "

By such a train of argument did Leicester labour to reconcile hisconscience to the prosecution of plans of vengeance, so hastily adopted, and of schemes of ambition, which had become so woven in with everypurpose and action of his life that he was incapable of the effort ofrelinquishing them, until his revenge appeared to him to wear a face ofjustice, and even of generous moderation. 

In this mood the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superbprecincts of the Pleasance, then illumined by the full moon. The broad, yellow light was reflected on all sides from the white freestone, ofwhich the pavement, balustrades, and architectural ornaments of theplace were constructed; and not a single fleecy cloud was visible in theazure sky, so that the scene was nearly as light as if the sun had butjust left the horizon. The numerous statues of white marble glimmeredin the pale light like so many sheeted ghosts just arisen from theirsepulchres, and the fountains threw their jets into the air as if theysought that their waters should be brightened by the moonbeams ere theyfell down again upon their basins in showers of sparkling silver. Theday had been sultry, and the gentle night-breeze which sighed along theterrace of the Pleasance raised not a deeper breath than the fan in thehand of youthful beauty. The bird of summer night had built many a nestin the bowers of the adjacent garden, and the tenants now indemnifiedthemselves for silence during the day by a full chorus of theirown unrivalled warblings, now joyous, now pathetic, now united, nowresponsive to each other, as if to express their delight in the placidand delicious scene to which they poured their melody. 

Musing on matters far different from the fall of waters, the gleam ofmoonlight, or the song of the nightingale, the stately Leicester walkedslowly from the one end of the terrace to the other, his cloak wrappedaround him, and his sword under his arm, without seeing anythingresembling the human form. 

"I have been fooled by my own generosity, " he said, "if I have sufferedthe villain to escape me--ay, and perhaps to go to the rescue of theadulteress, who is so poorly guarded. "

These were his thoughts, which were instantly dispelled when, turningto look back towards the entrance, he saw a human form advancing slowlyfrom the portico, and darkening the various objects with its shadow, aspassing them successively, in its approach towards him. 

"Shall I strike ere I again hear his detested voice?" was Leicester'sthought, as he grasped the hilt of the sword. "But no! I will see whichway his vile practice tends. I will watch, disgusting as it is, thecoils and mazes of the loathsome snake, ere I put forth my strength andcrush him. "

His hand quitted the sword-hilt, and he advanced slowly towardsTressilian, collecting, for their meeting, all the self-possession hecould command, until they came front to front with each other. 

Tressilian made a profound reverence, to which the Earl replied witha haughty inclination of the head, and the words, "You sought secretconference with me, sir; I am here, and attentive. "

"My lord, " said Tressilian, "I am so earnest in that which I have tosay, and so desirous to find a patient, nay, a favourable hearing, thatI will stoop to exculpate myself from whatever might prejudice yourlordship against me. You think me your enemy?"

"Have I not some apparent cause?" answered Leicester, perceiving thatTressilian paused for a reply. 

"You do me wrong, my lord. I am a friend, but neither a dependant norpartisan, of the Earl of Sussex, whom courtiers call your rival; and itis some considerable time since I ceased to consider either courts orcourt intrigues as suited to my temper or genius. "

"No doubt, sir, " answered Leicester "there are other occupations moreworthy a scholar, and for such the world holds Master Tressilian. Lovehas his intrigues as well as ambition. "

"I perceive, my lord, " replied Tressilian, "you give much weight to myearly attachment for the unfortunate young person of whom I am about tospeak, and perhaps think I am prosecuting her cause out of rivalry, morethan a sense of justice. "

"No matter for my thoughts, sir, " said the Earl; "proceed. You have asyet spoken of yourself only--an important and worthy subject doubtless, but which, perhaps, does not altogether so deeply concern me that Ishould postpone my repose to hear it. Spare me further prelude, sir, andspeak to the purpose if indeed you have aught to say that concerns me. When you have done, I, in my turn, have something to communicate. "

"I will speak, then, without further prelude, my lord, " answeredTressilian, "having to say that which, as it concerns your lordship'shonour, I am confident you will not think your time wasted in listeningto. I have to request an account from your lordship of the unhappy AmyRobsart, whose history is too well known to you. I regret deeply that Idid not at once take this course, and make yourself judge between me andthe villain by whom she is injured. My lord, she extricated herselffrom an unlawful and most perilous state of confinement, trusting to theeffects of her own remonstrance upon her unworthy husband, and extortedfrom me a promise that I would not interfere in her behalf until she hadused her own efforts to have her rights acknowledged by him. "

"Ha, " said Leicester, "remember you to whom you speak?"

"I speak of her unworthy husband, my lord, " repeated Tressilian, "andmy respect can find no softer language. The unhappy young woman iswithdrawn from my knowledge, and sequestered in some secret place ofthis Castle--if she be not transferred to some place of seclusion betterfitted for bad designs. This must be reformed, my lord--I speak it asauthorized by her father--and this ill-fated marriage must be avouchedand proved in the Queen's presence, and the lady placed withoutrestraint and at her own free disposal. And permit me to say it concernsno one's honour that these most just demands of mine should be compliedwith so much as it does that of your lordship. "

The Earl stood as if he had been petrified at the extreme coolnesswith which the man, whom he considered as having injured him so deeply, pleaded the cause of his criminal paramour, as if she had been aninnocent woman and he a disinterested advocate; nor was his wonderlessened by the warmth with which Tressilian seemed to demand for herthe rank and situation which she had disgraced, and the advantages ofwhich she was doubtless to share with the lover who advocated her causewith such effrontery. Tressilian had been silent for more than aminute ere the Earl recovered from the excess of his astonishment; andconsidering the prepossessions with which his mind was occupied, thereis little wonder that his passion gained the mastery of every otherconsideration. "I have heard you, Master Tressilian, " said he, "withoutinterruption, and I bless God that my ears were never before made totingle by the words of so frontless a villain. The task of chastisingyou is fitter for the hangman's scourge than the sword of a nobleman, but yet--Villain, draw and defend thyself!"

As he spoke the last words, he dropped his mantle on the ground, struckTressilian smartly with his sheathed sword, and instantly drawing hisrapier, put himself into a posture of assault. The vehement fury of hislanguage at first filled Tressilian, in his turn, with surprise equalto what Leicester had felt when he addressed him. But astonishment gaveplace to resentment when the unmerited insults of his language werefollowed by a blow which immediately put to flight every thought savethat of instant combat. Tressilian's sword was instantly drawn; andthough perhaps somewhat inferior to Leicester in the use of the weapon, he understood it well enough to maintain the contest with great spirit, the rather that of the two he was for the time the more cool, since hecould not help imputing Leicester's conduct either to actual frenzy orto the influence of some strong delusion. 

The rencontre had continued for several minutes, without either partyreceiving a wound, when of a sudden voices were heard beneath theportico which formed the entrance of the terrace, mingled with the stepsof men advancing hastily. "We are interrupted, " said Leicester to hisantagonist; "follow me. "

At the same time a voice from the portico said, "The jackanape isright--they are tilting here. "

Leicester, meanwhile, drew off Tressilian into a sort of recess behindone of the fountains, which served to conceal them, while six ofthe yeomen of the Queen's guard passed along the middle walk of thePleasance, and they could hear one say to the rest, "We shall never findthem to-night among all these squirting funnels, squirrel cages, andrabbit-holes; but if we light not on them before we reach the fartherend, we will return, and mount a guard at the entrance, and so securethem till morning. "

"A proper matter, " said another, "the drawing of swords so near theQueen's presence, ay, and in her very palace as 'twere! Hang it, theymust be some poor drunken game-cocks fallen to sparring--'twere pityalmost we should find them--the penalty is chopping off a hand, is itnot?--'twere hard to lose hand for handling a bit of steel, that comesso natural to one's gripe. "

"Thou art a brawler thyself, George, " said another; "but take heed, forthe law stands as thou sayest. "

"Ay, " said the first, "an the act be not mildly construed; for thouknowest 'tis not the Queen's palace, but my Lord of Leicester's. "

"Why, for that matter, the penalty may be as severe, " said another "foran our gracious Mistress be Queen, as she is, God save her, my Lord ofLeicester is as good as King. "

"Hush, thou knave!" said a third; "how knowest thou who may be withinhearing?"

They passed on, making a kind of careless search, but seemingly moreintent on their own conversation than bent on discovering the personswho had created the nocturnal disturbance. 

They had no sooner passed forward along the terrace, than Leicester, making a sign to Tressilian to follow him, glided away in an oppositedirection, and escaped through the portico undiscovered. He conductedTressilian to Mervyn's Tower, in which he was now again lodged; andthen, ere parting with him, said these words, "If thou hast courage tocontinue and bring to an end what is thus broken off, be near me whenthe court goes forth to-morrow; we shall find a time, and I will giveyou a signal when it is fitting. "

"My lord, " said Tressilian, "at another time I might have inquired themeaning of this strange and furious inveteracy against me. But you havelaid that on my shoulder which only blood can wash away; and were youas high as your proudest wishes ever carried you, I would have from yousatisfaction for my wounded honour. "

On these terms they parted, but the adventures of the night were not yetended with Leicester. He was compelled to pass by Saintlowe's Tower, inorder to gain the private passage which led to his own chamber; and inthe entrance thereof he met Lord Hunsdon half clothed, and with a nakedsword under his arm. 

"Are you awakened, too, with this 'larum, my Lord of Leicester?" saidthe old soldier. "'Tis well. By gog's nails, the nights are as noisy asthe day in this Castle of yours. Some two hours since I was waked bythe screams of that poor brain-sick Lady Varney, whom her husbandwas forcing away. I promise you it required both your warrant and theQueen's to keep me from entering into the game, and cutting that Varneyof yours over the head. And now there is a brawl down in the Pleasance, or what call you the stone terrace-walk where all yonder gimcracksstand?"

The first part of the old man's speech went through the Earl's heartlike a knife; to the last he answered that he himself had heard theclash of swords, and had come down to take order with those who had beenso insolent so near the Queen's presence. 

"Nay, then, " said Hunsdon, "I will be glad of your lordship's company. "

Leicester was thus compelled to turn back with the rough old Lord to thePleasance, where Hunsdon heard from the yeomen of the guard, who wereunder his immediate command, the unsuccessful search they had made forthe authors of the disturbance; and bestowed for their pains some rounddozen of curses on them, as lazy knaves and blind whoresons. Leicesteralso thought it necessary to seem angry that no discovery had beeneffected; but at length suggested to Lord Hunsdon, that after all itcould only be some foolish young men who had been drinking healthspottle-deep, and who should be sufficiently scared by the search whichhad taken place after them. Hunsdon, who was himself attached to hiscup, allowed that a pint-flagon might cover many of the follies which ithad caused, "But, " added he, "unless your lordship will be less liberalin your housekeeping, and restrain the overflow of ale, and wine, andwassail, I foresee it will end in my having some of these good fellowsinto the guard-house, and treating them to a dose of the strappado. Andwith this warning, good night to you. "

Joyful at being rid of his company, Leicester took leave of him at theentrance of his lodging, where they had first met, and entering theprivate passage, took up the lamp which he had left there, and by itsexpiring light found the way to his own apartment. 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

 Room! room! for my horse will wince If he comes within so many yards of a prince; For to tell you true, and in rhyme, He was foal'd in Queen Elizabeth's time; When the great Earl of Lester In his castle did feast her. --BEN JONSON, MASQUE OF OWLS. 

The amusement with which Elizabeth and her court were next day to beregaled was an exhibition by the true-hearted men of Coventry, who wereto represent the strife between the English and the Danes, agreeablyto a custom long preserved in their ancient borough, and warranted fortruth by old histories and chronicles. In this pageant one party of thetownsfolk presented the Saxons and the other the Danes, and set forth, both in rude rhymes and with hard blows, the contentions of these twofierce nations, and the Amazonian courage of the English women, who, according to the story, were the principal agents in the generalmassacre of the Danes, which took place at Hocktide, in the year of God1012. This sport, which had been long a favourite pastime with themen of Coventry, had, it seems, been put down by the influence ofsome zealous clergymen of the more precise cast, who chanced to haveconsiderable influence with the magistrates. But the generality of theinhabitants had petitioned the Queen that they might have their playagain, and be honoured with permission to represent it before herHighness. And when the matter was canvassed in the little council whichusually attended the Queen for dispatch of business, the proposal, although opposed by some of the stricter sort, found favour in the eyesof Elizabeth, who said that such toys occupied, without offence, theminds of many who, lacking them, might find worse subjects of pastime;and that their pastors, however commendable for learning and godliness, were somewhat too sour in preaching against the pastimes of their flocksand so the pageant was permitted to proceed. 

Accordingly, after a morning repast, which Master Laneham calls anambrosial breakfast, the principal persons of the court in attendanceupon her Majesty pressed to the Gallery-tower, to witness the approachof the two contending parties of English and Danes; and after a signalhad been given, the gate which opened in the circuit of the Chase wasthrown wide to admit them. On they came, foot and horse; for some ofthe more ambitious burghers and yeomen had put themselves into fantasticdresses, imitating knights, in order to resemble the chivalry of the twodifferent nations. However, to prevent fatal accidents, they were notpermitted to appear on real horses, but had only license to accoutrethemselves with those hobby-horses, as they are called, which ancientlyformed the chief delight of a morrice-dance, and which still areexhibited on the stage, in the grand battle fought at the conclusionof Mr. Bayes's tragedy. The infantry followed in similar disguises. The whole exhibition was to be considered as a sort of anti-masque, orburlesque of the more stately pageants in which the nobility and gentrybore part in the show, and, to the best of their knowledge, imitatedwith accuracy the personages whom they represented. The Hocktide playwas of a different character, the actors being persons of inferiordegree, and their habits the better fitted for the occasion, the moreincongruous and ridiculous that they were in themselves. Accordinglytheir array, which the progress of our tale allows us no time todescribe, was ludicrous enough; and their weapons, though sufficientlyformidable to deal sound blows, were long alder-poles instead of lances, and sound cudgels for swords; and for fence, both cavalry and infantrywere well equipped with stout headpieces and targets, both made of thickleather. 

Captain Coxe, that celebrated humorist of Coventry, whose library ofballads, almanacs, and penny histories, fairly wrapped up in parchment, and tied round for security with a piece of whipcord, remains stillthe envy of antiquaries, being himself the ingenious person underwhose direction the pageant had been set forth, rode valiantly on hishobby-horse before the bands of English, high-trussed, saith Laneham, and brandishing his long sword, as became an experienced man of war, whohad fought under the Queen's father, bluff King Henry, at the siege ofBoulogne. This chieftain was, as right and reason craved, the first toenter the lists, and passing the Gallery at the head of his myrmidons, kissed the hilt of his sword to the Queen, and executed at the sametime a gambade, the like whereof had never been practised by two-leggedhobby-horse. Then passing on with all his followers of cavaliers andinfantry, he drew them up with martial skill at the opposite extremityof the bridge, or tilt-yard, until his antagonist should be fairlyprepared for the onset. 

This was no long interval; for the Danish cavalry and infantry, no wayinferior to the English in number, valour, and equipment, instantlyarrived, with the northern bagpipe blowing before them in token of theircountry, and headed by a cunning master of defence, only inferior to therenowned Captain Coxe, if to him, in the discipline of war. The Danes, as invaders, took their station under the Gallery-tower, and oppositeto that of Mortimer; and when their arrangements were completely made, asignal was given for the encounter. 

Their first charge upon each other was rather moderate, for either partyhad some dread of being forced into the lake. But as reinforcements cameup on either side, the encounter grew from a skirmish into a blazingbattle. They rushed upon one another, as Master Laneham testifies, likerams inflamed by jealousy, with such furious encounter that both partieswere often overthrown, and the clubs and targets made a most horribleclatter. In many instances that happened which had been dreaded by themore experienced warriors who began the day of strife. The rails whichdefended the ledges of the bridge had been, perhaps on purpose, left butslightly fastened, and gave way under the pressure of those who throngedto the combat, so that the hot courage of many of the combatantsreceived a sufficient cooling. These incidents might have occasionedmore serious damage than became such an affray, for many of thechampions who met with this mischance could not swim, and those whocould were encumbered with their suits of leathern and of paper armour;but the case had been provided for, and there were several boats inreadiness to pick up the unfortunate warriors and convey them to the dryland, where, dripping and dejected, they comforted themselves with thehot ale and strong waters which were liberally allowed to them, withoutshowing any desire to re-enter so desperate a conflict. 

Captain Coxe alone, that paragon of Black-Letter antiquaries, aftertwice experiencing, horse and man, the perilous leap from the bridgeinto the lake, equal to any extremity to which the favourite heroes ofchivalry, whose exploits he studied in an abridged form, whether Amadis, Belianis, Bevis, or his own Guy of Warwick, had ever been subjectedto--Captain Coxe, we repeat, did alone, after two such mischances, rushagain into the heat of conflict, his bases and the footcloth of hishobby-horse dropping water, and twice reanimated by voice and examplethe drooping spirits of the English; so that at last their victory overthe Danish invaders became, as was just and reasonable, complete anddecisive. Worthy he was to be rendered immortal by the pen of BenJonson, who, fifty years afterwards, deemed that a masque, exhibited atKenilworth, could be ushered in by none with so much propriety as by theghost of Captain Coxe, mounted upon his redoubted hobby-horse. 

These rough, rural gambols may not altogether agree with the reader'spreconceived idea of an entertainment presented before Elizabeth, inwhose reign letters revived with such brilliancy, and whose court, governed by a female whose sense of propriety was equal to her strengthof mind, was no less distinguished for delicacy and refinement than hercouncils for wisdom and fortitude. But whether from the political wishto seem interested in popular sports, or whether from a spark of oldHenry's rough, masculine spirit, which Elizabeth sometimes displayed, it is certain the Queen laughed heartily at the imitation, or ratherburlesque, of chivalry which was presented in the Coventry play. Shecalled near her person the Earl of Sussex and Lord Hunsdon, partlyperhaps to make amends to the former for the long and private audienceswith which she had indulged the Earl of Leicester, by engaging him inconversation upon a pastime which better suited his taste than thosepageants that were furnished forth from the stores of antiquity. Thedisposition which the Queen showed to laugh and jest with her militaryleaders gave the Earl of Leicester the opportunity he had been watchingfor withdrawing from the royal presence, which to the court around, sowell had he chosen his time, had the graceful appearance of leaving hisrival free access to the Queen's person, instead of availing himself ofhis right as her landlord to stand perpetually betwixt others and thelight of her countenance. 

Leicester's thoughts, however, had a far different object frommere courtesy; for no sooner did he see the Queen fairly engaged inconversation with Sussex and Hunsdon, behind whose back stood SirNicholas Blount, grinning from ear to ear at each word which was spoken, than, making a sign to Tressilian, who, according to appointment, watched his motions at a little distance, he extricated himself from thepress, and walking towards the Chase, made his way through the crowds ofordinary spectators, who, with open mouth, stood gazing on the battleof the English and the Danes. When he had accomplished this, which wasa work of some difficulty, he shot another glance behind him to see thatTressilian had been equally successful; and as soon as he saw him alsofree from the crowd, he led the way to a small thicket, behind whichstood a lackey, with two horses ready saddled. He flung himself on theone, and made signs to Tressilian to mount the other, who obeyed withoutspeaking a single word. 

Leicester then spurred his horse, and galloped without stopping untilhe reached a sequestered spot, environed by lofty oaks, about a mile'sdistance from the Castle, and in an opposite direction from the scene towhich curiosity was drawing every spectator. He there dismounted, boundhis horse to a tree, and only pronouncing the words, "Here there is norisk of interruption, " laid his cloak across his saddle, and drew hissword. 

Tressilian imitated his example punctually, yet could not forbearsaying, as he drew his weapon, "My lord, as I have been known to many asone who does not fear death when placed in balance with honour, methinksI may, without derogation, ask wherefore, in the name of all that ishonourable, your lordship has dared to offer me such a mark of disgraceas places us on these terms with respect to each other?"

"If you like not such marks of my scorn, " replied the Earl, "betakeyourself instantly to your weapon, lest I repeat the usage you complainof. "

"It shall not need, my lord, " said Tressilian. "God judge betwixt us!and your blood, if you fall, be on your own head. "

He had scarce completed the sentence when they instantly closed incombat. 

But Leicester, who was a perfect master of defence among all otherexterior accomplishments of the time, had seen on the preceding nightenough of Tressilian's strength and skill to make him fight with morecaution than heretofore, and prefer a secure revenge to a hasty one. For some minutes they fought with equal skill and fortune, till, ina desperate lunge which Leicester successfully put aside, Tressilianexposed himself at disadvantage; and in a subsequent attempt to close, the Earl forced his sword from his hand, and stretched him on theground. With a grim smile he held the point of his rapier within twoinches of the throat of his fallen adversary, and placing his foot atthe same time upon his breast, bid him confess his villainous wrongstowards him, and prepare for death. 

"I have no villainy nor wrong towards thee to confess, " answeredTressilian, "and am better prepared for death than thou. Use thineadvantage as thou wilt, and may God forgive you! I have given you nocause for this. "

"No cause!" exclaimed the Earl, "no cause!--but why parley with such aslave? Die a liar, as thou hast lived!"

He had withdrawn his arm for the purpose of striking the fatal blow, when it was suddenly seized from behind. 

The Earl turned in wrath to shake off the unexpected obstacle, but wassurprised to find that a strange-looking boy had hold of his sword-arm, and clung to it with such tenacity of grasp that he could not shake himof without a considerable struggle, in the course of which Tressilianhad opportunity to rise and possess himself once more of his weapon. Leicester again turned towards him with looks of unabated ferocity, andthe combat would have recommenced with still more desperation on bothsides, had not the boy clung to Lord Leicester's knees, and in a shrilltone implored him to listen one moment ere he prosecuted this quarrel. 

"Stand up, and let me go, " said Leicester, "or, by Heaven, I will piercethee with my rapier! What hast thou to do to bar my way to revenge?"

"Much--much!" exclaimed the undaunted boy, "since my folly has beenthe cause of these bloody quarrels between you, and perchance of worseevils. Oh, if you would ever again enjoy the peace of an innocent mind, if you hope again to sleep in peace and unhaunted by remorse, take somuch leisure as to peruse this letter, and then do as you list. "

While he spoke in this eager and earnest manner, to which his singularfeatures and voice gave a goblin-like effect, he held up to Leicestera packet, secured with a long tress of woman's hair of a beautifullight-brown colour. Enraged as he was, nay, almost blinded with fury tosee his destined revenge so strangely frustrated, the Earl of Leicestercould not resist this extraordinary supplicant. He snatched the letterfrom his hand--changed colour as he looked on the superscription--undidwith faltering hand the knot which secured it--glanced over thecontents, and staggering back, would have fallen, had he not restedagainst the trunk of a tree, where he stood for an instant, his eyesbent on the letter, and his sword-point turned to the ground, withoutseeming to be conscious of the presence of an antagonist towards whomhe had shown little mercy, and who might in turn have taken him atadvantage. But for such revenge Tressilian was too noble-minded. Healso stood still in surprise, waiting the issue of this strange fit ofpassion, but holding his weapon ready to defend himself in case of needagainst some new and sudden attack on the part of Leicester, whom heagain suspected to be under the influence of actual frenzy. The boy, indeed, he easily recognized as his old acquaintance Dickon, whose face, once seen, was scarcely to be forgotten; but how he came hither at socritical a moment, why his interference was so energetic, and, aboveall, how it came to produce so powerful an effect upon Leicester, werequestions which he could not solve. 

But the letter was of itself powerful enough to work effects yet morewonderful. It was that which the unfortunate Amy had written to herhusband, in which she alleged the reasons and manner of her flight fromCumnor Place, informed him of her having made her way to Kenilworthto enjoy his protection, and mentioned the circumstances which hadcompelled her to take refuge in Tressilian's apartment, earnestlyrequesting he would, without delay, assign her a more suitable asylum. The letter concluded with the most earnest expressions of devotedattachment and submission to his will in all things, and particularlyrespecting her situation and place of residence, conjuring him only thatshe might not be placed under the guardianship or restraint of Varney. The letter dropped from Leicester's hand when he had perused it. "Takemy sword, " he said, "Tressilian, and pierce my heart, as I would but nowhave pierced yours!"

"My lord, " said Tressilian, "you have done me great wrong, but somethingwithin my breast ever whispered that it was by egregious error. "

"Error, indeed!" said Leicester, and handed him the letter; "I have beenmade to believe a man of honour a villain, and the best and purest ofcreatures a false profligate. --Wretched boy, why comes this letter now, and where has the bearer lingered?"

"I dare not tell you, my lord, " said the boy, withdrawing, as if to keepbeyond his reach; "but here comes one who was the messenger. "

Wayland at the same moment came up; and interrogated by Leicester, hastily detailed all the circumstances of his escape with Amy, the fatalpractices which had driven her to flight, and her anxious desire tothrow herself under the instant protection of her husband--pointingout the evidence of the domestics of Kenilworth, "who could not, " heobserved, "but remember her eager inquiries after the Earl of Leicesteron her first arrival. "

"The villains!" exclaimed Leicester; "but oh, that worst of villains, Varney!--and she is even now in his power!"

"But not, I trust in God, " said Tressilian, "with any commands of fatalimport?"

"No, no, no!" exclaimed the Earl hastily. "I said something in madness;but it was recalled, fully recalled, by a hasty messenger, and she isnow--she must now be safe. "

"Yes, " said Tressilian, "she MUST be safe, and I MUST be assured of hersafety. My own quarrel with you is ended, my lord; but there is anotherto begin with the seducer of Amy Robsart, who has screened his guiltunder the cloak of the infamous Varney. "

"The SEDUCER of Amy!" replied Leicester, with a voice like thunder; "sayher husband!--her misguided, blinded, most unworthy husband! She isas surely Countess of Leicester as I am belted Earl. Nor can you, sir, point out that manner of justice which I will not render her at my ownfree will. I need scarce say I fear not your compulsion. "

The generous nature of Tressilian was instantly turned fromconsideration of anything personal to himself, and centred at onceupon Amy's welfare. He had by no means undoubting confidence in thefluctuating resolutions of Leicester, whose mind seemed to him agitatedbeyond the government of calm reason; neither did he, notwithstandingthe assurances he had received, think Amy safe in the hands of hisdependants. "My lord, " he said calmly, "I mean you no offence, and amfar from seeking a quarrel. But my duty to Sir Hugh Robsart compels meto carry this matter instantly to the Queen, that the Countess's rankmay be acknowledged in her person. "

"You shall not need, sir, " replied the Earl haughtily; "do not dareto interfere. No voice but Dudley's shall proclaim Dudley's infamy. ToElizabeth herself will I tell it; and then for Cumnor Place with thespeed of life and death!"

So saying, he unbound his horse from the tree, threw himself into thesaddle, and rode at full gallop towards the Castle. 

"Take me before you, Master Tressilian, " said the boy, seeing Tressilianmount in the same haste; "my tale is not all told out, and I need yourprotection. "

Tressilian complied, and followed the Earl, though at a less furiousrate. By the way the boy confessed, with much contrition, that inresentment at Wayland's evading all his inquiries concerning the lady, after Dickon conceived he had in various ways merited his confidence, he had purloined from him in revenge the letter with which Amy hadentrusted him for the Earl of Leicester. His purpose was to haverestored it to him that evening, as he reckoned himself sure of meetingwith him, in consequence of Wayland's having to perform the part ofArion in the pageant. He was indeed something alarmed when he saw towhom the letter was addressed; but he argued that, as Leicester didnot return to Kenilworth until that evening, it would be again in thepossession of the proper messenger as soon as, in the nature of things, it could possibly be delivered. But Wayland came not to the pageant, having been in the interim expelled by Lambourne from the Castle; andthe boy, not being able to find him, or to get speech of Tressilian, andfinding himself in possession of a letter addressed to no less a personthan the Earl of Leicester, became much afraid of the consequencesof his frolic. The caution, and indeed the alarm, which Wayland hadexpressed respecting Varney and Lambourne, led him to judge that theletter must be designed for the Earl's own hand, and that he mightprejudice the lady by giving it to any of the domestics. He made anattempt or two to obtain an audience of Leicester; but the singularityof his features and the meanness of his appearance occasioned his beingalways repulsed by the insolent menials whom he applied to for thatpurpose. Once, indeed, he had nearly succeeded, when, in prowlingabout, he found in the grotto the casket, which he knew to belong to theunlucky Countess, having seen it on her journey; for nothing escaped hisprying eye. Having striven in vain to restore it either to Tressilianor the Countess, he put it into the hands, as we have seen, of Leicesterhimself, but unfortunately he did not recognize him in his disguise. 

At length the boy thought he was on the point of succeeding when theEarl came down to the lower part of the hall; but just as he was aboutto accost him, he was prevented by Tressilian. As sharp in ear as inwit, the boy heard the appointment settled betwixt them, to take placein the Pleasance, and resolved to add a third to the party, in hopethat, either in coming or returning, he might find an opportunity ofdelivering the letter to Leicester; for strange stories began to flitamong the domestics, which alarmed him for the lady's safety. Accident, however, detained Dickon a little behind the Earl, and as he reachedthe arcade he saw them engaged in combat; in consequence of which hehastened to alarm the guard, having little doubt that what bloodshedtook place betwixt them might arise out of his own frolic. Continuing tolurk in the portico, he heard the second appointment which Leicester atparting assigned to Tressilian; and was keeping them in view duringthe encounter of the Coventry men, when, to his surprise, he recognizedWayland in the crowd, much disguised, indeed, but not sufficiently so toescape the prying glance of his old comrade. They drew aside out of thecrowd to explain their situation to each other. The boy confessed toWayland what we have above told; and the artist, in return, informed himthat his deep anxiety for the fate of the unfortunate lady had broughthim back to the neighbourhood of the Castle, upon his learningthat morning, at a village about ten miles distant, that Varneyand Lambourne, whose violence he dreaded, had both left Kenilworthover-night. 

While they spoke, they saw Leicester and Tressilian separate themselvesfrom the crowd, dogged them until they mounted their horses, when theboy, whose speed of foot has been before mentioned, though he could notpossibly keep up with them, yet arrived, as we have seen, soon enoughto save Tressilian's life. The boy had just finished his tale when theyarrived at the Gallery-tower. 

CHAPTER XL. 

 High o'er the eastern steep the sun is beaming, And darkness flies with her deceitful shadows;-- So truth prevails o'er falsehood. --OLD PLAY. 

As Tressilian rode along the bridge, lately the scene of so much riotoussport, he could not but observe that men's countenances had singularlychanged during the space of his brief absence. The mock fight was over, but the men, still habited in their masking suits, stood together ingroups, like the inhabitants of a city who have been just startled bysome strange and alarming news. 

When he reached the base-court, appearances were the same--domestics, retainers, and under-officers stood together and whispered, bendingtheir eyes towards the windows of the Great Hall, with looks whichseemed at once alarmed and mysterious. 

Sir Nicholas Blount was the first person of his own particularacquaintance Tressilian saw, who left him no time to make inquiries, butgreeted him with, "God help thy heart, Tressilian! thou art fitter for aclown than a courtier thou canst not attend, as becomes one who followsher Majesty. Here you are called for, wished for, waited for--no man butyou will serve the turn; and hither you come with a misbegotten brat onthy horse's neck, as if thou wert dry nurse to some sucking devil, andwert just returned from airing. "

"Why, what is the matter?" said Tressilian, letting go the boy, whosprung to ground like a feather, and himself dismounting at the sametime. 

"Why, no one knows the matter, " replied Blount; "I cannot smell it outmyself, though I have a nose like other courtiers. Only, my Lord ofLeicester has galloped along the bridge as if he would have rode overall in his passage, demanded an audience of the Queen, and is closetedeven now with her, and Burleigh and Walsingham--and you are called for;but whether the matter be treason or worse, no one knows. "

"He speaks true, by Heaven!" said Raleigh, who that instant appeared;"you must immediately to the Queen's presence. "

"Be not rash, Raleigh, " said Blount, "remember his boots. --For Heaven'ssake, go to my chamber, dear Tressilian, and don my new bloom-colouredsilken hose; I have worn them but twice. "

"Pshaw!" answered Tressilian; "do thou take care of this boy, Blount; bekind to him, and look he escapes you not--much depends on him. "

So saying, he followed Raleigh hastily, leaving honest Blount with thebridle of his horse in one hand, and the boy in the other. Blount gave along look after him. 

"Nobody, " he said, "calls me to these mysteries--and he leaves me hereto play horse-keeper and child-keeper at once. I could excuse the one, for I love a good horse naturally; but to be plagued with a bratchetwhelp. --Whence come ye, my fair-favoured little gossip?"

"From the Fens, " answered the boy. 

"And what didst thou learn there, forward imp?"

"To catch gulls, with their webbed feet and yellow stockings, " said theboy. 

"Umph!" said Blount, looking down on his own immense roses. "Nay, then, the devil take him asks thee more questions. "

Meantime Tressilian traversed the full length of the Great Hall, in which the astonished courtiers formed various groups, and werewhispering mysteriously together, while all kept their eyes fixed onthe door which led from the upper end of the hall into the Queen'swithdrawing apartment. Raleigh pointed to the door. Tressilian knocked, and was instantly admitted. Many a neck was stretched to gain a viewinto the interior of the apartment; but the tapestry which coveredthe door on the inside was dropped too suddenly to admit the slightestgratification of curiosity. 

Upon entrance, Tressilian found himself, not without a strongpalpitation of heart, in the presence of Elizabeth, who was walking toand fro in a violent agitation, which she seemed to scorn to conceal, while two or three of her most sage and confidential counsellorsexchanged anxious looks with each other, but delayed speaking till herwrath abated. Before the empty chair of state in which she had beenseated, and which was half pushed aside by the violence with which shehad started from it, knelt Leicester, his arms crossed, and hisbrows bent on the ground, still and motionless as the effigies upon asepulchre. Beside him stood the Lord Shrewsbury, then Earl Marshal ofEngland, holding his baton of office. The Earl's sword was unbuckled, and lay before him on the floor. 

"Ho, sir!" said the Queen, coming close up to Tressilian, and stampingon the floor with the action and manner of Henry himself; "you knew ofthis fair work--you are an accomplice in this deception which has beenpractised on us--you have been a main cause of our doing injustice?"Tressilian dropped on his knee before the Queen, his good sense showinghim the risk of attempting any defence at that moment of irritation. "Art dumb, sirrah?" she continued; "thou knowest of this affair dostthou not?"

"Not, gracious madam, that this poor lady was Countess of Leicester. "

"Nor shall any one know her for such, " said Elizabeth. "Death of mylife! Countess of Leicester!--I say Dame Amy Dudley; and well if shehave not cause to write herself widow of the traitor Robert Dudley. "

"Madam, " said Leicester, "do with me what it may be your will to do, butwork no injury on this gentleman; he hath in no way deserved it. "

"And will he be the better for thy intercession, " said the Queen, leaving Tressilian, who slowly arose, and rushing to Leicester, whocontinued kneeling--"the better for thy intercession, thou doublyfalse--thou doubly forsworn;--of thy intercession, whose villainy hathmade me ridiculous to my subjects and odious to myself? I could tear outmine eyes for their blindness!"

Burleigh here ventured to interpose. 

"Madam, " he said, "remember that you are a Queen--Queen ofEngland--mother of your people. Give not way to this wild storm ofpassion. "

Elizabeth turned round to him, while a tear actually twinkled in herproud and angry eye. "Burleigh, " she said, "thou art a statesman--thoudost not, thou canst not, comprehend half the scorn, half the misery, that man has poured on me!"

With the utmost caution--with the deepest reverence--Burleigh took herhand at the moment he saw her heart was at the fullest, and led heraside to an oriel window, apart from the others. 

"Madam, " he said, "I am a statesman, but I am also a man--a man alreadygrown old in your councils--who have not and cannot have a wish on earthbut your glory and happiness; I pray you to be composed. "

"Ah! Burleigh, " said Elizabeth, "thou little knowest--" here her tearsfell over her cheeks in despite of her. 

"I do--I do know, my honoured sovereign. Oh, beware that you lead notothers to guess that which they know not!"

"Ha!" said Elizabeth, pausing as if a new train of thought hadsuddenly shot across her brain. "Burleigh, thou art right--thouart right--anything but disgrace--anything but a confession ofweakness--anything rather than seem the cheated, slighted--'sdeath! tothink on it is distraction!"

"Be but yourself, my Queen, " said Burleigh; "and soar far above aweakness which no Englishman will ever believe his Elizabeth could haveentertained, unless the violence of her disappointment carries a sadconviction to his bosom. "

"What weakness, my lord?" said Elizabeth haughtily; "would you tooinsinuate that the favour in which I held yonder proud traitor derivedits source from aught--" But here she could no longer sustain the proudtone which she had assumed, and again softened as she said, "But whyshould I strive to deceive even thee, my good and wise servant?"

Burleigh stooped to kiss her hand with affection, and--rare in theannals of courts--a tear of true sympathy dropped from the eye of theminister on the hand of his Sovereign. 

It is probable that the consciousness of possessing this sympathy aidedElizabeth in supporting her mortification, and suppressing her extremeresentment; but she was still more moved by fear that her passion shouldbetray to the public the affront and the disappointment, which, alikeas a woman and a Queen, she was so anxious to conceal. She turned fromBurleigh, and sternly paced the hall till her features had recoveredtheir usual dignity, and her mien its wonted stateliness of regularmotion. 

"Our Sovereign is her noble self once more, " whispered Burleigh toWalsingham; "mark what she does, and take heed you thwart her not. "

She then approached Leicester, and said with calmness, "My LordShrewsbury, we discharge you of your prisoner. --My Lord of Leicester, rise and take up your sword; a quarter of an hour's restraint underthe custody of our Marshal, my lord, is, we think, no high penance formonths of falsehood practised upon us. We will now hear the progressof this affair. " She then seated herself in her chair, and said, "You, Tressilian, step forward, and say what you know. "

Tressilian told his story generously, suppressing as much as he couldwhat affected Leicester, and saying nothing of their having twiceactually fought together. It is very probable that, in doing so, he didthe Earl good service; for had the Queen at that instant found anythingon account of which she could vent her wrath upon him, without layingopen sentiments of which she was ashamed, it might have fared hard withhim. She paused when Tressilian had finished his tale. 

"We will take that Wayland, " she said, "into our own service, and placethe boy in our Secretary office for instruction, that he may in futureuse discretion towards letters. For you, Tressilian, you did wrong innot communicating the whole truth to us, and your promise not to do sowas both imprudent and undutiful. Yet, having given your word to thisunhappy lady, it was the part of a man and a gentleman to keep it; andon the whole, we esteem you for the character you have sustained in thismatter. --My Lord of Leicester, it is now your turn to tell us the truth, an exercise to which you seem of late to have been too much a stranger. "

Accordingly, she extorted, by successive questions, the whole historyof his first acquaintance with Amy Robsart--their marriage--hisjealousy--the causes on which it was founded, and many particularsbesides. Leicester's confession, for such it might be called, waswrenched from him piecemeal, yet was upon the whole accurate, exceptingthat he totally omitted to mention that he had, by implication orotherwise, assented to Varney's designs upon the life of his Countess. Yet the consciousness of this was what at that moment lay nearest tohis heart; and although he trusted in great measure to the very positivecounter-orders which he had sent by Lambourne, it was his purpose to setout for Cumnor Place in person as soon as he should be dismissed fromthe presence of the Queen, who, he concluded, would presently leaveKenilworth. 

But the Earl reckoned without his host. It is true his presence and hiscommunications were gall and wormwood to his once partial mistress. But barred from every other and more direct mode of revenge, the Queenperceived that she gave her false suitor torture by these inquiries, and dwelt on them for that reason, no more regarding the pain which sheherself experienced, than the savage cares for the searing of his ownhands by grasping the hot pincers with which he tears the flesh of hiscaptive enemy. 

At length, however, the haughty lord, like a deer that turns to bay, gave intimation that his patience was failing. "Madam, " he said, "I havebeen much to blame--more than even your just resentment has expressed. Yet, madam, let me say that my guilt, if it be unpardonable, was notunprovoked, and that if beauty and condescending dignity could seducethe frail heart of a human being, I might plead both as the causes of myconcealing this secret from your Majesty. "

The Queen was so much struck with this reply, which Leicester tookcare should be heard by no one but herself, that she was for the momentsilenced, and the Earl had the temerity to pursue his advantage. "YourGrace, who has pardoned so much, will excuse my throwing myself on yourroyal mercy for those expressions which were yester-morning accountedbut a light offence. "

The Queen fixed her eyes on him while she replied, "Now, by Heaven, mylord, thy effrontery passes the bounds of belief, as well as patience!But it shall avail thee nothing. --What ho! my lords, come all and hearthe news-my Lord of Leicester's stolen marriage has cost me a husband, and England a king. His lordship is patriarchal in his tastes--one wifeat a time was insufficient, and he designed US the honour of his lefthand. Now, is not this too insolent--that I could not grace him witha few marks of court-favour, but he must presume to think my hand andcrown at his disposal? You, however, think better of me; and I can pitythis ambitious man, as I could a child, whose bubble of soap has burstbetween his hands. We go to the presence-chamber. --My Lord of Leicester, we command your close attendance on us. "

All was eager expectation in the hall, and what was the universalastonishment when the Queen said to those next her, "The revels ofKenilworth are not yet exhausted, my lords and ladies--we are tosolemnize the noble owner's marriage. "

There was an universal expression of surprise. 

"It is true, on our royal word, " said the Queen; "he hath kept thisa secret even from us, that he might surprise us with it at this veryplace and time. I see you are dying of curiosity to know the happybride. It is Amy Robsart, the same who, to make up the May-gameyesterday, figured in the pageant as the wife of his servant Varney. "

"For God's sake, madam, " said the Earl, approaching her with a mixtureof humility, vexation, and shame in his countenance, and speaking so lowas to be heard by no one else, "take my head, as you threatened in youranger, and spare me these taunts! Urge not a falling man--tread not on acrushed worm. "

"A worm, my lord?" said the Queen, in the same tone; "nay, a snake isthe nobler reptile, and the more exact similitude--the frozen snake youwot of, which was warmed in a certain bosom--"

"For your own sake--for mine, madam, " said the Earl--"while there is yetsome reason left in me--"

"Speak aloud, my lord, " said Elizabeth, "and at farther distance, soplease you--your breath thaws our ruff. What have you to ask of us?"

"Permission, " said the unfortunate Earl humbly, "to travel to CumnorPlace. "

"To fetch home your bride belike?--Why, ay--that is but right, for, aswe have heard, she is indifferently cared for there. But, my lord, yougo not in person; we have counted upon passing certain days in thisCastle of Kenilworth, and it were slight courtesy to leave us without alandlord during our residence here. Under your favour, we cannot thinkto incur such disgrace in the eyes of our subjects. Tressilian shallgo to Cumnor Place instead of you, and with him some gentleman who hathbeen sworn of our chamber, lest my Lord of Leicester should be againjealous of his old rival. --Whom wouldst thou have to be in commissionwith thee, Tressilian?"

Tressilian, with humble deference, suggested the name of Raleigh. 

"Why, ay, " said the Queen; "so God ha' me, thou hast made a good choice. He is a young knight besides, and to deliver a lady from prison isan appropriate first adventure. --Cumnor Place is little better than aprison, you are to know, my lords and ladies. Besides, there are certainfaitours there whom we would willingly have in safe keeping. You willfurnish them, Master Secretary, with the warrant necessary to secure thebodies of Richard Varney and the foreign Alasco, dead or alive. Takea sufficient force with you, gentlemen--bring the lady here in allhonour--lose no time, and God be with you!"

They bowed, and left the presence, Who shall describe how the rest of that day was spent at Kenilworth?The Queen, who seemed to have remained there for the sole purpose ofmortifying and taunting the Earl of Leicester, showed herself as skilfulin that female art of vengeance, as she was in the science of wiselygoverning her people. The train of state soon caught the signal, and ashe walked among his own splendid preparations, the Lord of Kenilworth, in his own Castle, already experienced the lot of a disgraced courtier, in the slight regard and cold manners of alienated friends, and theill-concealed triumph of avowed and open enemies. Sussex, from hisnatural military frankness of disposition, Burleigh and Walsingham, fromtheir penetrating and prospective sagacity, and some of the ladies, fromthe compassion of their sex, were the only persons in the crowded courtwho retained towards him the countenance they had borne in the morning. 

So much had Leicester been accustomed to consider court favour as theprincipal object of his life, that all other sensations were, for thetime, lost in the agony which his haughty spirit felt at the successionof petty insults and studied neglects to which he had been subjected;but when he retired to his own chamber for the night, that long, fair tress of hair which had once secured Amy's letter fell under hisobservation, and, with the influence of a counter-charm, awakened hisheart to nobler and more natural feelings. He kissed it a thousandtimes; and while he recollected that he had it always in his power toshun the mortifications which he had that day undergone, by retiringinto a dignified and even prince-like seclusion with the beautiful andbeloved partner of his future life, he felt that he could rise above therevenge which Elizabeth had condescended to take. 

Accordingly, on the following day the whole conduct of the Earldisplayed so much dignified equanimity--he seemed so solicitous aboutthe accommodations and amusements of his guests, yet so indifferent totheir personal demeanour towards him--so respectfully distant to theQueen, yet so patient of her harassing displeasure--that Elizabethchanged her manner to him, and, though cold and distant, ceased to offerhim any direct affront. She intimated also with some sharpness to othersaround her, who thought they were consulting her pleasure in showing aneglectful conduct to the Earl, that while they remained at Kenilworththey ought to show the civility due from guests to the Lord of theCastle. In short, matters were so far changed in twenty-four hours thatsome of the more experienced and sagacious courtiers foresaw a strongpossibility of Leicester's restoration to favour, and regulated theirdemeanour towards him, as those who might one day claim merit for nothaving deserted him in adversity. It is time, however, to leave theseintrigues, and follow Tressilian and Raleigh on their journey. 

The troop consisted of six persons; for, besides Wayland, they hadin company a royal pursuivant and two stout serving-men. All werewell-armed, and travelled as fast as it was possible with justice totheir horses, which had a long journey before them. They endeavouredto procure some tidings as they rode along of Varney and his party, butcould hear none, as they had travelled in the dark. At a small villageabout twelve miles from Kenilworth, where they gave some refreshment totheir horses, a poor clergyman, the curate of the place, came out of asmall cottage, and entreated any of the company who might know aught ofsurgery to look in for an instant on a dying man. 

The empiric Wayland undertook to do his best, and as the curateconducted him to the spot, he learned that the man had been found onthe highroad, about a mile from the village, by labourers, as they weregoing to their work on the preceding morning, and the curate had givenhim shelter in his house. He had received a gun-shot wound, which seemedto be obviously mortal; but whether in a brawl or from robbers theycould not learn, as he was in a fever, and spoke nothing connectedly. Wayland entered the dark and lowly apartment, and no sooner had thecurate drawn aside the curtain than he knew, in the distorted featuresof the patient, the countenance of Michael Lambourne. Under pretenceof seeking something which he wanted, Wayland hastily apprisedhis fellow-travellers of this extraordinary circumstance; and bothTressilian and Raleigh, full of boding apprehensions, hastened to thecurate's house to see the dying man. 

The wretch was by this time in the agonies of death, from which a muchbetter surgeon than Wayland could not have rescued him, for the bullethad passed clear through his body. He was sensible, however, at least inpart, for he knew Tressilian, and made signs that he wished him to stoopover his bed. Tressilian did so, and after some inarticulate murmurs, inwhich the names of Varney and Lady Leicester were alone distinguishable, Lambourne bade him "make haste, or he would come too late. " It was invain Tressilian urged the patient for further information; he seemedto become in some degree delirious, and when he again made a signal toattract Tressilian's attention, it was only for the purpose of desiringhim to inform his uncle, Giles Gosling of the Black Bear, that "he haddied without his shoes after all. " A convulsion verified his words a fewminutes after, and the travellers derived nothing from having met withhim, saving the obscure fears concerning the fate of the Countess, whichhis dying words were calculated to convey, and which induced them tourge their journey with the utmost speed, pressing horses in the Queen'sname when those which they rode became unfit for service. 

CHAPTER XLI. 

 The death-bell thrice was heard to ring, An aerial voice was heard to call, And thrice the raven flapp'd its wing Around the towers of Cumnor Hall. --MICKLE. 

We are now to return to that part of our story where we intimated thatVarney, possessed of the authority of the Earl of Leicester, and ofthe Queen's permission to the same effect, hastened to secure himselfagainst discovery of his perfidy by removing the Countess fromKenilworth Castle. He had proposed to set forth early in the morning;but reflecting that the Earl might relent in the interim, and seekanother interview with the Countess, he resolved to prevent, byimmediate departure, all chance of what would probably have ended in hisdetection and ruin. For this purpose he called for Lambourne, and wasexceedingly incensed to find that his trusty attendant was abroad onsome ramble in the neighbouring village, or elsewhere. As his returnwas expected, Sir Richard commanded that he should prepare himselffor attending him on an immediate journey, and follow him in case hereturned after his departure. 

In the meanwhile, Varney used the ministry of a servant called RobinTider, one to whom the mysteries of Cumnor Place were already in somedegree known, as he had been there more than once in attendance on theEarl. To this man, whose character resembled that of Lambourne, thoughhe was neither quite so prompt nor altogether so profligate, Varney gavecommand to have three horses saddled, and to prepare a horse-litter, andhave them in readiness at the postern gate. The natural enough excuse ofhis lady's insanity, which was now universally believed, accounted forthe secrecy with which she was to be removed from the Castle, and hereckoned on the same apology in case the unfortunate Amy's resistance orscreams should render such necessary. The agency of Anthony Foster wasindispensable, and that Varney now went to secure. 

This person, naturally of a sour, unsocial disposition, and somewhattired, besides, with his journey from Cumnor to Warwickshire, in orderto bring the news of the Countess's escape, had early extricated himselffrom the crowd of wassailers, and betaken himself to his chamber, wherehe lay asleep, when Varney, completely equipped for travelling, and witha dark lantern in his hand, entered his apartment. He paused an instantto listen to what his associate was murmuring in his sleep, and couldplainly distinguish the words, "AVE MARIA--ORA PRO NOBIS. No, it runsnot so--deliver us from evil--ay, so it goes. "

"Praying in his sleep, " said Varney, "and confounding his old andnew devotions. He must have more need of prayer ere I am done withhim. --What ho! holy man, most blessed penitent!--awake--awake! The devilhas not discharged you from service yet. "

As Varney at the same time shook the sleeper by the arm, it changed thecurrent of his ideas, and he roared out, "Thieves!--thieves! I will diein defence of my gold--my hard-won gold--that has cost me so dear. Whereis Janet?--Is Janet safe?"

"Safe enough, thou bellowing fool!" said Varney; "art thou not ashamedof thy clamour?"

Foster by this time was broad awake, and sitting up in his bed, askedVarney the meaning of so untimely a visit. "It augurs nothing good, " headded. 

"A false prophecy, most sainted Anthony, " returned Varney; "it augursthat the hour is come for converting thy leasehold into copyhold. Whatsayest thou to that?"

"Hadst thou told me this in broad day, " said Foster, "I had rejoiced;but at this dead hour, and by this dim light, and looking on thy paleface, which is a ghastly contradiction to thy light words, I cannotbut rather think of the work that is to be done, than the guerdon to begained by it. "

"Why, thou fool, it is but to escort thy charge back to Cumnor Place. "

"Is that indeed all?" said Foster; "thou lookest deadly pale, and thouart not moved by trifles--is that indeed all?"

"Ay, that--and maybe a trifle more, " said Varney. 

"Ah, that trifle more!" said Foster; "still thou lookest paler andpaler. "

"Heed not my countenance, " said Varney; "you see it by this wretchedlight. Up and be doing, man. Think of Cumnor Place--thine own propercopyhold. Why, thou mayest found a weekly lectureship, besides endowingJanet like a baron's daughter. Seventy pounds and odd. "

"Seventy-nine pounds, five shillings and fivepence half-penny, besidesthe value of the wood, " said Foster; "and I am to have it all ascopyhold?"

"All, man--squirrels and all. No gipsy shall cut the value of abroom--no boy so much as take a bird's nest--without paying thee aquittance. --Ay, that is right--don thy matters as fast as possible;horses and everything are ready, all save that accursed villainLambourne, who is out on some infernal gambol. "

"Ay, Sir Richard, " said Foster, "you would take no advice. I ever toldyou that drunken profligate would fail you at need. Now I could havehelped you to a sober young man. "

"What, some slow-spoken, long-breathed brother of the congregation? Why, we shall have use for such also, man. Heaven be praised, we shall lacklabourers of every kind. --Ay, that is right--forget not your pistols. Come now, and let us away. "

"Whither?" said Anthony. 

"To my lady's chamber; and, mind, she MUST along with us. Thou art not afellow to be startled by a shriek?"

"Not if Scripture reason can be rendered for it; and it is written, 'Wives obey your husbands. ' But will my lord's commands bear us out ifwe use violence?"

"Tush, man! here is his signet, " answered Varney; and having thussilenced the objections of his associate, they went together to LordHunsdon's apartments, and acquainting the sentinel with their purpose, as a matter sanctioned by the Queen and the Earl of Leicester, theyentered the chamber of the unfortunate Countess. 

The horror of Amy may be conceived when, starting from a broken slumber, she saw at her bedside Varney, the man on earth she most feared andhated. It was even a consolation to see that he was not alone, thoughshe had so much reason to dread his sullen companion. 

"Madam, " said Varney, "there is no time for ceremony. My Lord ofLeicester, having fully considered the exigencies of the time, sends youhis orders immediately to accompany us on our return to Cumnor Place. See, here is his signet, in token of his instant and pressing commands. "

"It is false!" said the Countess; "thou hast stolen the warrant--thou, who art capable of every villainy, from the blackest to the basest!"

"It is TRUE, madam, " replied Varney; "so true, that if you do notinstantly arise, and prepare to attend us, we must compel you to obeyour orders. "

"Compel! Thou darest not put it to that issue, base as thou art!"exclaimed the unhappy Countess. 

"That remains to be proved, madam, " said Varney, who had determined onintimidation as the only means of subduing her high spirit; "if you putme to it, you will find me a rough groom of the chambers. "

It was at this threat that Amy screamed so fearfully that, had it notbeen for the received opinion of her insanity, she would quickly havehad Lord Hunsdon and others to her aid. Perceiving, however, that hercries were vain, she appealed to Foster in the most affecting terms, conjuring him, as his daughter Janet's honour and purity were dear tohim, not to permit her to be treated with unwomanly violence. 

"Why, madam, wives must obey their husbands---there's Scripture warrantfor it, " said Foster; "and if you will dress yourself, and come withus patiently, there's no one shall lay finger on you while I can draw apistol-trigger. "

Seeing no help arrive, and comforted even by the dogged language ofFoster, the Countess promised to arise and dress herself, if they wouldagree to retire from the room. Varney at the same time assured her ofall safety and honour while in their hands, and promised that he himselfwould not approach her, since his presence was so displeasing. Herhusband, he added, would be at Cumnor Place within twenty-four hoursafter they had reached it. 

Somewhat comforted by this assurance, upon which, however, she sawlittle reason to rely, the unhappy Amy made her toilette by theassistance of the lantern, which they left with her when they quittedthe apartment. 

Weeping, trembling, and praying, the unfortunate lady dressed herselfwith sensations how different from the days in which she was wont todecorate herself in all the pride of conscious beauty! She endeavouredto delay the completing her dress as long as she could, until, terrifiedby the impatience of Varney, she was obliged to declare herself ready toattend them. 

When they were about to move, the Countess clung to Foster with such anappearance of terror at Varney's approach that the latter protested toher, with a deep oath, that he had no intention whatever of even comingnear her. "If you do but consent to execute your husband's will inquietness, you shall, " he said, "see but little of me. I will leave youundisturbed to the care of the usher whom your good taste prefers. "

"My husband's will!" she exclaimed. "But it is the will of God, and letthat be sufficient to me. I will go with Master Foster as unresistinglyas ever did a literal sacrifice. He is a father at least; and will havedecency, if not humanity. For thee, Varney, were it my latest word, thouart an equal stranger to both. "

Varney replied only she was at liberty to choose, and walked some pacesbefore them to show the way; while, half leaning on Foster, and halfcarried by him, the Countess was transported from Saintlowe's Tower tothe postern gate, where Tider waited with the litter and horses. 

The Countess was placed in the former without resistance. She saw withsome satisfaction that, while Foster and Tider rode close by the litter, which the latter conducted, the dreaded Varney lingered behind, and wassoon lost in darkness. A little while she strove, as the road windedround the verge of the lake, to keep sight of those stately towers whichcalled her husband lord, and which still, in some places, sparkled withlights, where wassailers were yet revelling. But when the direction ofthe road rendered this no longer possible, she drew back her head, and sinking down in the litter, recommended herself to the care ofProvidence. 

Besides the desire of inducing the Countess to proceed quietly on herjourney, Varney had it also in view to have an interview with Lambourne, by whom he every moment expected to be joined, without the presenceof any witnesses. He knew the character of this man, prompt, bloody, resolute, and greedy, and judged him the most fit agent he could employin his further designs. But ten miles of their journey had been measuredere he heard the hasty clatter of horse's hoofs behind him, and wasovertaken by Michael Lambourne. 

Fretted as he was with his absence, Varney received his profligateservant with a rebuke of unusual bitterness. "Drunken villain, " he said, "thy idleness and debauched folly will stretch a halter ere it be long, and, for me, I care not how soon!"

This style of objurgation Lambourne, who was elated to an unusualdegree, not only by an extraordinary cup of wine, but by the sort ofconfidential interview he had just had with the Earl, and the secretof which he had made himself master, did not receive with his wontedhumility. "He would take no insolence of language, " he said, "from thebest knight that ever wore spurs. Lord Leicester had detained him onsome business of import, and that was enough for Varney, who was but aservant like himself. "

Varney was not a little surprised at his unusual tone of insolence; butascribing it to liquor, suffered it to pass as if unnoticed, and thenbegan to tamper with Lambourne touching his willingness to aid inremoving out of the Earl of Leicester's way an obstacle to a rise, whichwould put it in his power to reward his trusty followers to their utmostwish. And upon Michael Lambourne's seeming ignorant what was meant, heplainly indicated "the litter-load, yonder, " as the impediment which hedesired should be removed. 

"Look you, Sir Richard, and so forth, " said Michael, "some are wiserthan some, that is one thing, and some are worse than some, that'sanother. I know my lord's mind on this matter better than thou, for hehath trusted me fully in the matter. Here are his mandates, and hislast words were, Michael Lambourne--for his lordship speaks to me as agentleman of the sword, and useth not the words drunken villain, or suchlike phrase, of those who know not how to bear new dignities--Varney, says he, must pay the utmost respect to my Countess. I trust to you forlooking to it, Lambourne, says his lordship, and you must bring back mysignet from him peremptorily. "

"Ay, " replied Varney, "said he so, indeed? You know all, then?"

"All--all; and you were as wise to make a friend of me while the weatheris fair betwixt us. "

"And was there no one present, " said Varney, "when my lord so spoke?"

"Not a breathing creature, " replied Lambourne. "Think you my lord wouldtrust any one with such matters, save an approved man of action likemyself?"

"Most true, " said Varney; and making a pause, he looked forward on themoonlight road. They were traversing a wide and open heath. The litterbeing at least a mile before them, was both out of sight and hearing. He looked behind, and there was an expanse, lighted by the moonbeams, without one human being in sight. He resumed his speech to Lambourne:"And will you turn upon your master, who has introduced you tothis career of court-like favour--whose apprentice you have been, Michael--who has taught you the depths and shallows of court intrigue?"

"Michael not me!" said Lambourne; "I have a name will brook a MASTERbefore it as well as another; and as to the rest, if I have beenan apprentice, my indenture is out, and I am resolute to set up formyself. "

"Take thy quittance first, thou fool!" said Varney; and with a pistol, which he had for some time held in his hand, shot Lambourne through thebody. 

The wretch fell from his horse without a single groan; and Varney, dismounting, rifled his pockets, turning out the lining, that it mightappear he had fallen by robbers. He secured the Earl's packet, which washis chief object; but he also took Lambourne's purse, containing somegold pieces, the relics of what his debauchery had left him, and from asingular combination of feelings, carried it in his hand only the lengthof a small river, which crossed the road, into which he threw it as faras he could fling. Such are the strange remnants of conscience whichremain after she seems totally subdued, that this cruel and remorselessman would have felt himself degraded had he pocketed the few piecesbelonging to the wretch whom he had thus ruthlessly slain. 

The murderer reloaded his pistol after cleansing the lock and barrelfrom the appearances of late explosion, and rode calmly after thelitter, satisfying himself that he had so adroitly removed a troublesomewitness to many of his intrigues, and the bearer of mandates which hehad no intentions to obey, and which, therefore, he was desirous itshould be thought had never reached his hand. 

The remainder of the journey was made with a degree of speed whichshowed the little care they had for the health of the unhappy Countess. They paused only at places where all was under their command, and wherethe tale they were prepared to tell of the insane Lady Varney wouldhave obtained ready credit had she made an attempt to appeal to thecompassion of the few persons admitted to see her. But Amy saw nochance of obtaining a hearing from any to whom she had an opportunity ofaddressing herself; and besides, was too terrified for the presence ofVarney to violate the implied condition under which she was to travelfree from his company. The authority of Varney, often so used duringthe Earl's private journeys to Cumnor, readily procured relays of horseswhere wanted, so that they approached Cumnor Place upon the night afterthey left Kenilworth. 

At this period of the journey Varney came up to the rear of the litter, as he had done before repeatedly during their progress, and asked, "Howdoes she?"

"She sleeps, " said Foster. "I would we were home--her strength isexhausted. "

"Rest will restore her, " answered Varney. "She shall soon sleep soundand long. We must consider how to lodge her in safety. "

"In her own apartments, to be sure, " said Foster. "I have sent Janet toher aunt's with a proper rebuke, and the old women are truth itself--forthey hate this lady cordially. "

"We will not trust them, however, friend Anthony, " said Varney; "We mustsecure her in that stronghold where you keep your gold. "

"My gold!" said Anthony, much alarmed; "why, what gold have I? God helpme, I have no gold--I would I had!"

"Now, marry hang thee, thou stupid brute, who thinks of or cares for thygold? If I did, could I not find an hundred better ways to come at it?In one word, thy bedchamber, which thou hast fenced so curiously, mustbe her place of seclusion; and thou, thou hind, shalt press her pillowsof down. I dare to say the Earl will never ask after the rich furnitureof these four rooms. "

This last consideration rendered Foster tractable; he only askedpermission to ride before, to make matters ready, and spurringhis horse, he posted before the litter, while Varney falling aboutthreescore paces behind it, it remained only attended by Tider. 

When they had arrived at Cumnor Place, the Countess asked eagerly forJanet, and showed much alarm when informed that she was no longer tohave the attendance of that amiable girl. 

"My daughter is dear to me, madam, " said Foster gruffly; "and I desirenot that she should get the court-tricks of lying and 'scaping--somewhattoo much of that has she learned already, an it please your ladyship. "

The Countess, much fatigued and greatly terrified by the circumstancesof her journey, made no answer to this insolence, but mildly expressed awish to retire to her chamber. 

"Ay, ay, " muttered Foster, "'tis but reasonable; but, under favour, you go not to your gew-gaw toy-house yonder--you will sleep to-night inbetter security. "

"I would it were in my grave, " said the Countess; "but that mortalfeelings shiver at the idea of soul and body parting. "

"You, I guess, have no chance to shiver at that, " replied Foster. "Mylord comes hither to-morrow, and doubtless you will make your own waysgood with him. "

"But does he come hither?--does he indeed, good Foster?"

"Oh, ay, good Foster!" replied the other. "But what Foster shall I beto-morrow when you speak of me to my lord--though all I have done was toobey his own orders?"

"You shall be my protector--a rough one indeed--but still a protector, "answered the Countess. "Oh that Janet were but here!"

"She is better where she is, " answered Foster--"one of you is enough toperplex a plain head. But will you taste any refreshment?"

"Oh no, no--my chamber--my chamber! I trust, " she said apprehensively, "I may secure it on the inside?"

"With all my heart, " answered Foster, "so I may secure it on theoutside;" and taking a light, he led the way to a part of the buildingwhere Amy had never been, and conducted her up a stair of great height, preceded by one of the old women with a lamp. At the head of the stair, which seemed of almost immeasurable height, they crossed a short woodengallery, formed of black oak, and very narrow, at the farther end ofwhich was a strong oaken door, which opened and admitted them into themiser's apartment, homely in its accommodations in the very last degree, and, except in name, little different from a prison-room. 

Foster stopped at the door, and gave the lamp to the Countess, withouteither offering or permitting the attendance of the old woman who hadcarried it. The lady stood not on ceremony, but taking it hastily, barred the door, and secured it with the ample means provided on theinside for that purpose. 

Varney, meanwhile, had lurked behind on the stairs; but hearing the doorbarred, he now came up on tiptoe, and Foster, winking to him, pointedwith self-complacence to a piece of concealed machinery in the wall, which, playing with much ease and little noise, dropped a part of thewooden gallery, after the manner of a drawbridge, so as to cut offall communication between the door of the bedroom, which he usuallyinhabited, and the landing-place of the high, winding stair whichascended to it. The rope by which this machinery was wrought wasgenerally carried within the bedchamber, it being Foster's object toprovide against invasion from without; but now that it was intendedto secure the prisoner within, the cord had been brought over tothe landing-place, and was there made fast, when Foster with muchcomplacency had dropped the unsuspected trap-door. 

Varney looked with great attention at the machinery, and peeped morethan once down the abyss which was opened by the fall of the trap-door. It was dark as pitch, and seemed profoundly deep, going, as Fosterinformed his confederate in a whisper, nigh to the lowest vault of theCastle. Varney cast once more a fixed and long look down into thissable gulf, and then followed Foster to the part of the manor-house mostusually inhabited. 

When they arrived in the parlour which we have mentioned, Varneyrequested Foster to get them supper, and some of the choicest wine. "Iwill seek Alasco, " he added; "we have work for him to do, and we mustput him in good heart. "

Foster groaned at this intimation, but made no remonstrance. The oldwoman assured Varney that Alasco had scarce eaten or drunken since hermaster's departure, living perpetually shut up in the laboratory, andtalking as if the world's continuance depended on what he was doingthere. 

"I will teach him that the world hath other claims on him, " said Varney, seizing a light, and going in quest of the alchemist. He returned, aftera considerable absence, very pale, but yet with his habitual sneer onhis cheek and nostril. "Our friend, " he said, "has exhaled. "

"How!--what mean you?" said Foster--"run away--fled with my fortypounds, that should have been multiplied a thousand-fold? I will haveHue and Cry!"

"I will tell thee a surer way, " said Varney. 

"How!--which way?" exclaimed Foster; "I will have back my fortypounds--I deemed them as surely a thousand times multiplied--I will haveback my in-put, at the least. "

"Go hang thyself, then, and sue Alasco in the Devil's Court of Chancery, for thither he has carried the cause. "

"How!--what dost thou mean is he dead?"

"Ay, truly is he, " said Varney; "and properly swollen already in theface and body. He had been mixing some of his devil's medicines, and theglass mask which he used constantly had fallen from his face, so thatthe subtle poison entered the brain, and did its work. "

"SANCTA MARIA!" said Foster--"I mean, God in His mercy preserve us fromcovetousness and deadly sin!--Had he not had projection, think you? Sawyou no ingots in the crucibles?"

"Nay, I looked not but at the dead carrion, " answered Varney; "an uglyspectacle--he was swollen like a corpse three days exposed on the wheel. Pah! give me a cup of wine. "

"I will go, " said Foster, "I will examine myself--" He took the lamp, and hastened to the door, but there hesitated and paused. "Will you notgo with me?" said he to Varney. 

"To what purpose?" said Varney; "I have seen and smelled enough to spoilmy appetite. I broke the window, however, and let in the air; it reekedof sulphur, and such like suffocating steams, as if the very devil hadbeen there. "

"And might it not be the act of the demon himself?" said Foster, stillhesitating; "I have heard he is powerful at such times, and with suchpeople. "

"Still, if it were that Satan of thine, " answered Varney, "who thusjades thy imagination, thou art in perfect safety, unless he is a mostunconscionable devil indeed. He hath had two good sops of late. "

"How TWO sops--what mean you?" said Foster--"what mean you?"

"You will know in time, " said Varney;--"and then this other banquet--butthou wilt esteem Her too choice a morsel for the fiend's tooth--she musthave her psalms, and harps, and seraphs. "

Anthony Foster heard, and came slowly back to the table. "God! SirRichard, and must that then be done?"

"Ay, in very truth, Anthony, or there comes no copyhold in thy way, "replied his inflexible associate. 

"I always foresaw it would land there!" said Foster. "But how, SirRichard, how?--for not to win the world would I put hands on her. "

"I cannot blame thee, " said Varney; "I should be reluctant to do thatmyself. We miss Alasco and his manna sorely--ay, and the dog Lambourne. "

"Why, where tarries Lambourne?" said Anthony. 

"Ask no questions, " said Varney, "thou wilt see him one day if thy creedis true. But to our graver matter. I will teach thee a spring, Tony, tocatch a pewit. Yonder trap-door--yonder gimcrack of thine, will remainsecure in appearance, will it not, though the supports are withdrawnbeneath?"

"Ay, marry, will it, " said Foster; "so long as it is not trodden on. "

"But were the lady to attempt an escape over it, " replied Varney, "herweight would carry it down?"

"A mouse's weight would do it, " said Foster. 

"Why, then, she dies in attempting her escape, and what could you orI help it, honest Tony? Let us to bed, we will adjust our projectto-morrow. "

On the next day, when evening approached, Varney summoned Foster to theexecution of their plan. Tider and Foster's old man-servant were sent ona feigned errand down to the village, and Anthony himself, as if anxiousto see that the Countess suffered no want of accommodation, visitedher place of confinement. He was so much staggered at the mildness andpatience with which she seemed to endure her confinement, that he couldnot help earnestly recommending to her not to cross the threshold of herroom on any account whatever, until Lord Leicester should come, "which, "he added, "I trust in God, will be very soon. " Amy patiently promisedthat she would resign herself to her fate, and Foster returned to hishardened companion with his conscience half-eased of the perilous loadthat weighed on it. "I have warned her, " he said; "surely in vain is thesnare set in the sight of any bird!"

He left, therefore, the Countess's door unsecured on the outside, and, under the eye of Varney, withdrew the supports which sustained thefalling trap, which, therefore, kept its level position merely by aslight adhesion. They withdrew to wait the issue on the ground-flooradjoining; but they waited long in vain. At length Varney, after walkinglong to and fro, with his face muffled in his cloak, threw it suddenlyback and exclaimed, "Surely never was a woman fool enough to neglect sofair an opportunity of escape!"

"Perhaps she is resolved, " said Foster, "to await her husband's return. "

"True!--most true!" said Varney, rushing out; "I had not thought of thatbefore. "

In less than two minutes, Foster, who remained behind, heard the treadof a horse in the courtyard, and then a whistle similar to thatwhich was the Earl's usual signal. The instant after the door of theCountess's chamber opened, and in the same moment the trap-door gaveway. There was a rushing sound--a heavy fall--a faint groan--and all wasover. 

At the same instant, Varney called in at the window, in an accent andtone which was an indescribable mixture betwixt horror and raillery, "Isthe bird caught?--is the deed done?"

"O God, forgive us!" replied Anthony Foster. 

"Why, thou fool, " said Varney, "thy toil is ended, and thy rewardsecure. Look down into the vault--what seest thou?"

"I see only a heap of white clothes, like a snowdrift, " said Foster. "OGod, she moves her arm!"

"Hurl something down on her--thy gold chest, Tony--it is an heavy one. "

"Varney, thou art an incarnate fiend!" replied Foster. 

"There needs nothing more--she is gone!"

"So pass our troubles, " said Varney, entering the room; "I dreamed not Icould have mimicked the Earl's call so well. "

"Oh, if there be judgment in heaven, thou hast deserved it, " saidFoster, "and wilt meet it! Thou hast destroyed her by means of her bestaffections--it is a seething of the kid in the mother's milk!"

"Thou art a fanatical ass, " replied Varney; "let us now think how thealarm should be given--the body is to remain where it is. "

But their wickedness was to be permitted no longer; for even while theywere at this consultation, Tressilian and Raleigh broke in upon them, having obtained admittance by means of Tider and Foster's servant, whomthey had secured at the village. 

Anthony Foster fled on their entrance, and knowing each corner and passof the intricate old house, escaped all search. But Varney was taken onthe spot; and instead of expressing compunction for what he had done, seemed to take a fiendish pleasure in pointing out to them the remainsof the murdered Countess, while at the same time he defied them to showthat he had any share in her death. The despairing grief of Tressilian, on viewing the mangled and yet warm remains of what had lately been solovely and so beloved, was such that Raleigh was compelled to have himremoved from the place by force, while he himself assumed the directionof what was to be done. 

Varney, upon a second examination, made very little mystery either ofthe crime or of its motives---alleging, as a reason for his frankness, that though much of what he confessed could only have attached to him bysuspicion, yet such suspicion would have been sufficient to deprivehim of Leicester's confidence, and to destroy all his towering plans ofambition. "I was not born, " he said, "to drag on the remainder of life adegraded outcast; nor will I so die that my fate shall make a holiday tothe vulgar herd. "

From these words it was apprehended he had some design upon himself, andhe was carefully deprived of all means by which such could be carriedinto execution. But like some of the heroes of antiquity, he carriedabout his person a small quantity of strong poison, prepared probablyby the celebrated Demetrius Alasco. Having swallowed this potionover-night, he was found next morning dead in his cell; nor did heappear to have suffered much agony, his countenance presenting, even indeath, the habitual expression of sneering sarcasm which was predominantwhile he lived. "The wicked man, " saith Scripture, "hath no bands in hisdeath. "

The fate of his colleague in wickedness was long unknown. Cumnor Placewas deserted immediately after the murder; for in the vicinity of whatwas called the Lady Dudley's Chamber, the domestics pretended to heargroans, and screams, and other supernatural noises. After a certainlength of time, Janet, hearing no tidings of her father, became theuncontrolled mistress of his property, and conferred it with her handupon Wayland, now a man of settled character, and holding a place inElizabeth's household. But it was after they had been both dead for someyears that their eldest son and heir, in making some researches aboutCumnor Hall, discovered a secret passage, closed by an iron door, which, opening from behind the bed in the Lady Dudley's Chamber, descended to asort of cell, in which they found an iron chest containing a quantityof gold, and a human skeleton stretched above it. The fate of AnthonyFoster was now manifest. He had fled to this place of concealment, forgetting the key of the spring-lock; and being barred from escape bythe means he had used for preservation of that gold, for which he hadsold his salvation, he had there perished miserably. Unquestionably thegroans and screams heard by the domestics were not entirely imaginary, but were those of this wretch, who, in his agony, was crying for reliefand succour. 

The news of the Countess's dreadful fate put a sudden period to thepleasures of Kenilworth. Leicester retired from court, and for aconsiderable time abandoned himself to his remorse. But as Varney in hislast declaration had been studious to spare the character of his patron, the Earl was the object rather of compassion than resentment. The Queenat length recalled him to court; he was once more distinguished as astatesman and favourite; and the rest of his career is well known tohistory. But there was something retributive in his death, if, accordingto an account very generally received, it took place from his swallowinga draught of poison which was designed by him for another person. [SeeNote 9. Death of the Earl of Leicester. ]

Sir Hugh Robsart died very soon after his daughter, having settled hisestate on Tressilian. But neither the prospect of rural independence, nor the promises of favour which Elizabeth held out to induce him tofollow the court, could remove his profound melancholy. Wherever he wenthe seemed to see before him the disfigured corpse of the early andonly object of his affection. At length, having made provision for themaintenance of the old friends and old servants who formed Sir Hugh'sfamily at Lidcote Hall, he himself embarked with his friend Raleighfor the Virginia expedition, and, young in years but old in grief, diedbefore his day in that foreign land. 

Of inferior persons it is only necessary to say that Blount's wit grewbrighter as his yellow roses faded; that, doing his part as a bravecommander in the wars, he was much more in his element than during theshort period of his following the court; and that Flibbertigibbet'sacute genius raised him to favour and distinction in the employment bothof Burleigh and Walsingham. 

NOTES. 

Note 1. Ch. III. --FOSTER, LAMBOURNE, AND THE BLACK BEAR. 

If faith is to be put in epitaphs, Anthony Foster was something the veryreverse of the character represented in the novel. Ashmole gives thisdescription of his tomb. I copy from the ANTIQUITIES OF BERKSHIRE, vol. I. , p. 143. 

"In the north wall of the chancel at Cumnor church is a monument of greymarble, whereon, in brass plates, are engraved a man in armour, andhis wife in the habit of her times, both kneeling before a fald-stoole, together with the figures of three sons kneeling behind their mother. Under the figure of the man is this inscription:--

 "ANTONIUS FORSTER, generis generosa propago, Cumnerae Dominus, Bercheriensis erat. Armiger, Armigero prognatus patre Ricardo, Qui quondam Iphlethae Salopiensis erat. Quatuor ex isto fluxerunt stemmate nati, Ex isto Antonius stemmate quartus erat. Mente sagax, animo precellens, corpore promptus, Eloquii dulcis, ore disertus erat. In factis probitas; fuit in sermone venustas, In vultu gravitas, relligione fides, In patriam pietas, in egenos grata voluntas, Accedunt reliquis annumeranda bonis. Si quod cuncta rapit, rapuit non omnia Lethum, Si quod Mors rapuit, vivida fama dedit. 

"These verses following are writ at length, two by two, in praise ofhim:--

 "Argute resonas Cithare pretendere chordas Novit, et Aonia concrepuisse Lyra. Gaudebat terre teneras defigere plantas; Et mira pulchras construere arte domos Composita varias lingua formare loquelas Doctus, et edocta scribere multa manu. "

The arms over it thus:--

Quart. I. 3 HUNTER'S HORNS stringed. 

II. 3 PINIONS with their points upwards. 

"The crest is a STAG couchant, vulnerated through the neck by a broadarrow; on his side is a MARTLETT for a difference. "

From this monumental inscription it appears that Anthony Foster, instead of being a vulgar, low-bred, puritanical churl, was, in fact, agentleman of birth and consideration, distinguished for his skill inthe arts of music and horticulture, as also in languages. In so far, therefore, the Anthony Foster of the romance has nothing but the namein common with the real individual. But notwithstanding the charity, benevolence, and religious faith imputed by the monument of grey marbleto its tenant, tradition, as well as secret history, names him as theactive agent in the death of the Countess; and it is added that, from being a jovial and convivial gallant, as we may infer from someexpressions in the epitaph, he sunk, after the fatal deed, into a manof gloomy and retired habits, whose looks and manners indicated that hesuffered under the pressure of some atrocious secret. 

The name of Lambourne is still known in the vicinity, and it is saidsome of the clan partake the habits, as well as name, of the MichaelLambourne of the romance. A man of this name lately murdered his wife, outdoing Michael in this respect, who only was concerned in the murderof the wife of another man. 

I have only to add that the jolly Black Bear has been restored to hispredominance over bowl and bottle in the village of Cumnor. 

Note 2. Ch. XIII. --LEGEND OF WAYLAND SMITH. 

The great defeat given by Alfred to the Danish invaders is said by Mr. Gough to have taken place near Ashdown, in Berkshire. "The burialplace of Baereg, the Danish chief, who was slain in this fight, isdistinguished by a parcel of stones, less than a mile from the hill, seton edge, enclosing a piece of ground somewhat raised. On the east sideof the southern extremity stand three squarish flat stones, of aboutfour or five feet over either way, supporting a fourth, and now calledby the vulgar WAYLAND SMITH, from an idle tradition about an invisiblesmith replacing lost horse-shoes there. "--GOUGH'S edition of CAMDEN'SBRITANNIA, vol. I. , p. 221. 

The popular belief still retains memory of this wild legend, which, connected as it is with the site of a Danish sepulchre, may have arisenfrom some legend concerning the northern Duergar, who resided in therocks, and were cunning workers in steel and iron. It was believed thatWayland Smith's fee was sixpence, and that, unlike other workmen, he wasoffended if more was offered. Of late his offices have been again calledto memory; but fiction has in this, as in other cases, taken the libertyto pillage the stores of oral tradition. This monument must be veryancient, for it has been kindly pointed out to me that it is referred toin an ancient Saxon charter as a landmark. The monument has been of latecleared out, and made considerably more conspicuous. 

Note 3. Ch. XIV. --LEICESTER AND SUSSEX. 

Naunton gives us numerous and curious particulars of the jealousstruggle which took place between Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex, and therising favourite Leicester. The former, when on his deathbed, predictedto his followers that after his death the gipsy (so he called Leicester, from his dark complexion) would prove too many for them. 

Note 4. Ch. XIV. --SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 

Among the attendants and adherents of Sussex, we have ventured tointroduce the celebrated Raleigh, in the dawn of his court favour. 

In Aubrey's Correspondence there are some curious particulars of SirWalter Raleigh. "He was a tall, handsome, bold man; but his naeve wasthat he was damnably proud. Old Sir Robert Harley of Brampton BrianCastle, who knew him, would say it was a great question who was theproudest, Sir Walter or Sir Thomas Overbury; but the difference thatwas, was judged in Sir Thomas's side. In the great parlour at Downton, at Mr. Raleigh's, is a good piece, an original of Sir Walter, in a whitesatin doublet, all embroidered with rich pearls, and a mighty rich chainof great pearls about his neck. The old servants have told me thatthe real pearls were near as big as the painted ones. He had amost remarkable aspect, an exceeding high forehead, long-faced, andsour-eyelidded. 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 anadvantage over the gallants of the time, whose moustaches received atouch of the barber's art to give them the air then most admired. --SeeAUBREY'S CORRESPONDENCE, vol. Ii. , part ii. , p. 500. 

Note 5. Ch. XV. --COURT FAVOUR OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 

The gallant incident of the cloak is the traditional account of thiscelebrated statesman's rise at court. None of Elizabeth's courtiers knewbetter than he how to make his court to her personal vanity, or couldmore justly estimate the quantity of flattery which she couldcondescend to swallow. Being confined in the Tower for some offence, andunderstanding the Queen was about to pass to Greenwich in her barge, he insisted on approaching the window, that he might see, at whateverdistance, the Queen of his Affections, the most beautiful object whichthe earth bore on its surface. The Lieutenant of the Tower (his ownparticular friend) threw himself between his prisoner and the window;while Sir Waiter, apparently influenced by a fit of unrestrainablepassion, 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 theLieutenant and his captive grappled and struggled with fury, tore eachother's hair, and at length drew daggers, and were only separated byforce. The Queen being informed of this scene exhibited by her franticadorer, it wrought, as was to be expected, much in favour of the captivePaladin. There is little doubt that his quarrel with the Lieutenant wasentirely contrived for the purpose which it produced. 

Note 6. Ch. XVII. --ROBERT LANEHAM. 

Little is known of Robert Laneham, save in his curious letter to afriend in London, giving an account of Queen Elizabeth's entertainmentsat Kenilworth, written in a style of the most intolerable affectation, both in point of composition and orthography. He describes himself as aBON VIVANT, who was wont to be jolly and dry in the morning, and by hisgood-will would be chiefly in the company of the ladies. He was, by theinterest of Lord Leicester, Clerk of the Council Chamber door, and alsokeeper of the same. "When Council sits, " says he, "I am at hand. If anymakes a babbling, PEACE, say I. If I see a listener or a pryer in atthe chinks or lockhole, I am presently on the bones of him. If a friendcomes, I make him sit down by me on a form or chest. The rest may walk, a God's name!" There has been seldom a better portrait of the pragmaticconceit and self-importance of a small man in office. 

Note 7. Ch. XVIII. --DR. JULIO. 

The Earl of Leicester's Italian physician, Julio, was affirmed by hiscontemporaries to be a skilful compounder of poisons, which he appliedwith such frequency, that the Jesuit Parsons extols ironically themarvellous good luck of this great favourite in the opportune deaths ofthose who stood in the way of his wishes. There is a curious passage onthe subject:--

"Long after this, he fell in love with the Lady Sheffield, whom Isignified before, and then also had he the same fortune to have herhusband dye quickly, with an extreame rheume in his head (as it wasgiven out), but as others say, of an artificiall catarre that stoppedhis breath. 

"The like good chance had he in the death of my Lord of Essex (as I havesaid before), and that at a time most fortunate for his purpose; forwhen he was coming home from Ireland, with intent to revenge himselfeupon my Lord of Leicester for begetting his wife with childe in hisabsence (the childe was a daughter, and brought up by the Lady Shandoes, W. Knooles, his wife), my Lord of Leicester hearing thereof, wanted nota friend or two to accompany the deputy, as among other a couple of theEarles own servants, Crompton (if I misse not his name), yeoman of hisbottles, and Lloid his secretary, entertained afterward by my Lord ofLeicester, and so he dyed in the way of an extreame flux, caused by anItalian receipe, as all his friends are well assured, the maker whereofwas a chyrurgeon (as it is beleeved) that then was newly come to my Lordfrom Italy---a cunning man and sure in operation, with whom, if the goodLady had been sooner acquainted, and used his help, she should not haveneeded to sitten so pensive at home, and fearefull of her husband'sformer returne out of the same country...... Neither must you marvailethough all these died in divers manners of outward diseases, for thisis the excellency of the Italian art, for which this chyrurgeon andDr. Julio were entertained so carefully, who can make a man dye in whatmanner or show of sickness you will--by whose instructions, no doubt;but his lordship is now cunning, especially adding also to these thecounsell of his Doctor Bayly, a man also not a little studied (as heseemeth) in his art; for I heard him once myselfe, in a publique actin Oxford, and that in presence of my Lord of Leicester (if I be notdeceived), maintain that poyson might be so tempered and given as itshould not appear presently, and yet should kill the party afterward, at what time should be appointed; which argument belike pleased well hislordship, and therefore was chosen to be discussed in his audience, ifI be not deceived of his being that day present. So, though one dye of aflux, and another of a catarre, yet this importeth little to thematter, but showeth rather the great cunning and skill of theartificer. "--PARSONS' LEICESTER'S COMMONWEALTH, p. 23. 

It is unnecessary to state the numerous reasons why the Earl is statedin the tale to be rather the dupe of villains than the unprincipledauthor of their atrocities. In the latter capacity, which a partat least of his contemporaries imputed to him, he would have made acharacter too disgustingly wicked to be useful for the purposes offiction. 

I have only to add that the union of the poisoner, the quacksalver, thealchemist, and the astrologer in the same person was familiar to thepretenders to the mystic sciences. 

Note 8. Ch. XXXII. --FURNITURE OF KENILWORTH. 

In revising this work, I have had the means of making some accurateadditions to my attempt to describe the princely pleasures ofKenilworth, by the kindness of my friend William Hamper, Esq. , whohad the goodness to communicate to me an inventory of the furnitureof Kenilworth in the days of the magnificent Earl of Leicester. I haveadorned the text with some of the splendid articles mentioned in theinventory, but antiquaries especially will be desirous to see a morefull specimen than the story leaves room for. 

EXTRACTS FROM KENILWORTH INVENTORY, A. D. 1584. 

A Salte, ship-fashion, of the mother of perle, garnished with silverand divers workes, warlike ensignes, and ornaments, with xvj peeces ofordinance whereof ij on wheles, two anckers on the foreparte, and on thestearne the image of Dame Fortune standing on a globe with a flag in herhand. Pois xxxij oz. 

A gilte salte like a swann, mother of perle. Pois xxx oz. Iij quarters. 

A George on horseback, of wood, painted and gilt, with a case for knivesin the tayle of the horse, and a case for oyster knives in the brest ofthe Dragon. 

A green barge-cloth, embrother'd with white lions and beares. 

A perfuming pann, of silver. Pois xix oz. 

In the halle. Tabells, long and short, vj. Formes, long and short, xiiij. 

HANGINGS. (These are minutely specified, and consisted of the followingsubjects, in tapestry, and gilt, and red leather. )

Flowers, beasts, and pillars arched. Forest worke. Historie. Storieof Susanna, the Prodigall Childe, Saule, Tobie, Hercules, Lady Fame, Hawking and Hunting, Jezabell, Judith and Holofernes, David, Abraham, Sampson, Hippolitus, Alexander the Great, Naaman the Assyrian, Jacob, etc. 

BEDSTEADS, WITH THEIR FURNITURE. (These are magnificent and numerous. Ishall copy VERBATIM the description of what appears to have been one ofthe best. )

A bedsted of wallnut-tree, toppe fashion, the pillers redd andvarnished, the ceelor, tester, and single vallance of crimson sattin, paned with a broad border of bone lace of golde and silver. The testerrichlie embrothered with my Lo. Armes in a garland of hoppes, roses, andpomegranetts, and lyned with buckerom. Fyve curteins of crimson sattinto the same bedsted, striped downe with a bone lace of gold and silver, garnished with buttons and loops of crimson silk and golde, containingxiiij bredths of sattin, and one yarde iij quarters deepe. The ceelor, vallance, and curteins lyned with crymson taffata sarsenet. 

A crymson sattin counterpointe, quilted and embr. With a golde twiste, and lyned with redd sarsenet, being in length iij yards good, and inbreadth iij scant. 

A chaise of crymson sattin, suteable. 

A fayre quilte of crymson sattin, vj breadths, iij yardes 3 quartersnaile deepe, all lozenged over with silver twiste, in the midst acinquefoile within a garland of ragged staves, fringed rounde aboutewith a small fringe of crymson silke, lyned throughe with white fustian. 

Fyve plumes of coolered feathers, garnished with bone lace and spangellsof goulde and silver, standing in cups knitt all over with goulde, silver, and crymson silk. [Probably on the centre and four corners ofthe bedstead. Four bears and ragged staves occupied a similar positionon another of these sumptuous pieces of furniture. ]

A carpett for a cupboarde of crymson sattin, embrothered with a borderof goulde twiste, about iij parts of it fringed with silk and goulde, lyned with bridges [That is, Bruges. ] sattin, in length ij yards, and ijbredths of sattin. 

(There were eleven down beds and ninety feather beds, besidesthirty-seven mattresses. )

CHYRES, STOOLES, AND CUSHENS. (These were equally splendid with thebeds, etc. I shall here copy that which stands at the head of the list. )

A chaier of crimson velvet, the seate and backe partlie embrothered, with R. L. In cloth of goulde, the beare and ragged staffe in clothe ofsilver, garnished with lace and fringe of goulde, silver, and crimsonsilck. The frame covered with velvet, bounde aboute the edge with gouldelace, and studded with gilte nailes. 

A square stoole and a foote stoole, of crimson velvet, fringed andgarnished suteable. 

A long cushen of crimson velvet, embr. With the ragged staffe in awreathe of goulde, with my Lo. Posie "DROYTE ET LOYALL" written in thesame, and the letters R. L. In clothe of goulde, being garnished withlace, fringe, buttons, and tassels of gold, silver, and crimson silck, lyned with crimson taff. , being in length 1 yard quarter. 

A square cushen, of the like velvet, embr. Suteable to the long cushen. 

CARPETS. (There were 10 velvet carpets for tables and windows, 49Turkey carpets for floors, and 32 cloth carpets. One of each I will nowspecify. )

A carpett of crimson velvet, richlie embr. With my Lo. Posie, beares andragged staves, etc. , of clothe of goulde and silver, garnished uponthe seames and aboute with golde lace, fringed accordinglie, lynedwith crimson taffata sarsenett, being 3 breadths of velvet, one yard 3quarters long. 

A great Turquoy carpett, the grounde blew, with a list of yelloe at eachend, being in length x yards, in bredthe iiij yards and quarter

A long carpett of blew clothe, lyned with bridges sattin, fringed withblew silck and goulde, in length vj yards lack a quarter, the wholebredth of the clothe. 

PICTURES. (Chiefly described as having curtains. )

The Queene's Majestie (2 great tables). 3 of my Lord. St. Jerome. Lo. OfArundell. Lord Mathevers. Lord of Pembroke. Counte Egmondt. The Queeneof Scotts. King Philip. The Baker's Daughters. The Duke of Feria. Alexander Magnus. Two Yonge Ladies. Pompaea Sabina. Fred. D. Of Saxony. Emp. Charles. K. Philip's Wife. Prince of Orange and his Wife. Marq. OfBerges and his Wife. Counte de Home. Count Holstrate. Monsr. Brederode. Duke Alva. Cardinal Grandville. Duches of Parma. Henrie E. Of Pembrookeand his young Countess. Countis of Essex. Occacion and Repentance. LordMowntacute. Sir Jas. Crofts. Sir Wr. Mildmay. Sr. Wm. Pickering. EdwinAbp. Of York. 

A tabell of an historie of men, women, and children, moulden in wax. 

A little foulding table of ebanie, garnished with white bone, whereinare written verses with lres. Of goulde. 

A table of my Lord's armes. 

Fyve of the plannetts, painted in frames. 

Twentie-three cardes, [That is charts. ] or maps of countries. 

INSTRUMENTS. (I shall give two specimens. )

An instrument of organs, regall, and virginalls, covered with crimsonvelvet, and garnished with goulde lace. 

A fair pair of double virginalls. 

CABONETTS. 

A cabonett of crimson sattin, richlie embr. With a device of huntingthe stagg, in goulde, silver, and silck, with iiij glasses in the toppthereof, xvj cupps of flowers made of goulde, silver, and silck, in acase of leather, lyned with greene sattin of bridges. 

(Another of purple velvet. A desk of red leather. )

A CHESS BOARDE of ebanie, with checkars of christall and other stones, layed with silver, garnished with beares and ragged staves, andcinquefoiles of silver. The xxxij men likewyse of christall and otherstones sett, the one sort in silver white, the other gilte, in a casegilded and lyned with green cotton. 

(Another of bone and ebanie. A pair of tabells of bone. )

A great BRASON CANDLESTICK to hang in the roofe of the howse, veriefayer and curiouslye wrought, with xxiiij branches, xij greate and xijof lesser size, 6 rowlers and ij wings for the spreade eagle, xxiiijsocketts for candells, xij greater and xij of a lesser sorte, xxiiijsawcers, or candlecups, of like proporcion to put under the socketts, iij images of men and iij of weomen, of brass, verie finely andartificiallie done. 

These specimens of Leicester's magnificence may serve to assure thereader that it scarce lay in the power of a modern author to exaggeratethe lavish style of expense displayed in the princely pleasures ofKenilworth. 

Note to Ch. XLI. --DEATH OF THE EARL OF LEICESTER. 

In a curious manuscript copy of the information given by Ben Jonsonto Drummond of Hawthornden, as transcribed by Sir Robert Sibbald, Leicester's death is ascribed to poison administered as a cordial by hiscountess, to whom he had given it, representing it to be a restorativein any faintness, in the hope that she herself might be cut off by usingit. We have already quoted Jonson's account of this merited stroke ofretribution in a note of the Introduction to this volume. It may behere added that the following satirical epitaph on Leicester occurs inDrummond's Collection, but is evidently not of his composition:--

 EPITAPH ON THE ERLE OF LEISTER. 

 Here lies a valiant warriour, Who never drew a sword; Here lies a noble courtier, Who never kept his word; Here lies the Erle of Leister, Who governed the Estates, Whom the earth could never living love, And the just Heaven now hates.