forced to it. In the first place I maintain, and I doubt not to find plenty to believe me, that such chastity as can only be preserved by being shut up close in stone walls, is not worth the keeping. It is very snow, that must be kept in a cold corner, else will it clean melt away. In the next place, 'tis no preservation at all, for it be nothing else than a continual endeavour to stifle the very delicatest feelings of humanity, that have been given as a source of every excellency in woman, and every happiness in man. Nor is it chastity, for the wife may be chaste, but a nun knoweth nothing of chastity, she only practiseth continency, which is no virtue of

any kind, but a quality of no more service to herself or to anybody else than her ever wearing of a certain kind of garment, instead of others in which she would find the greater comfort, or fasting for any unnatural long time when she hath plenty of wholesome food at hand. That a way of life that preventeth a woman from becoming a loving wife and a tender mother, and a giver and receiver of such sweet affection as be a delight to think of, which beyond all dispute are the properest qualities of womanhood, be the best way of serving God will I never believe. Yet as there have been other monasteries than the strict ones, so have there been other than such nunneries, in the which it was proved, every conceivable kind of profligacy was

proceeding; and that this be serving of God in the best way will I never believe."

"Methinks then you must have a still less opinion of hermits and the like," observed the secretary.

"Hermits, anchorites, and others, who live entire by themselves, are of three sorts-fools, knaves, and madmen," replied Sir Walter. "They shall be fools if they live upon herbs when they might have wholesome food-they are knaves if they practise austerity for the sake of such offerings as a few simple peasants may bring to their abodes-and they must be madmen if they imagine that standing upon a pillar, lying on a board covered with nails, wearing of a hair shirt, or flagellating of themselves without mercy, shall be of any kind of service to them either in this world or in the next. I would as soon respect a jackass for eating of thistles as a man for living upon roots; and as for the humility of such men, there lieth a monstrous deal more ostentation under rags and filth than you shall find beneath a robe of purple and a clean skin. Now, it hath generally happened that anchorites either leave the world, or the world leaveth them, and seek to live in solitary places when they no longer can find pleasure in the abodes of their fellow men; or that knowing something ill that they have done, these their fellow men will have none of them, and force them to take to a hiding place and a severe

life for the acquirement of a better reputation than what they had. In most instances a man becometh a hermit or a monk from disgust of life, or disappointment of the world, and seeketh in self mortification and a solitary living, to lose the remembrance of what he hath suffered. None but a fanatic ever became such upon choice. It seemeth to me that he is considered the happiest amongst them who shall succeed in making himself the most miserable; and that this be serving of God in the best way will I never believe.

"In short, it hath all along been my conviction that if these pretended lovers of solitude, instead of seeking of a recluse life, and undergoing of numberless voluntary hardships, had attempted the practice of some honest calling, and had bestowed on the poor and helpless such assistance as might have been in their power to give, they would have lived in such a sort as would have been much pleasanter to themselves, of more advantage to the world, and a wonderful degree more to the true glory of Him they sought to serve by it."

To this Master Francis replied not. Dame Elizabeth had all the time seemed to take exceeding interest in the discourse, now turning to her husband, and now to his secretary, as each spoke, with a countenance that evinced she found wonderful pleasure in what was going on, and occasionally putting up of her finger to the child when he

appeared in any way inclined to interrupt either of them. It was in this way that Sir Walter Raleigh oft invited his young companion to express his thoughts, and then, if he found him in any error, would straightway proceed to set him right in the

matter.

"Liked you our last voyage, Master Francis?" enquired he, after a silence of some few minutes. “Indeed did I, Sir Walter," replied the youth. "Then, if I gain my liberty, as soon after as may be, will I be upon another," added his patron. "In truth, have I for some time considered of it, and methinks you will find in it far more attraction than the preceding, for it hath for its object no other than a search after the right famous El Dorado, or city of gold, the which am I in tolerable certainty of finding."

"I like the idea of it exceedingly," observed Master Francis, with some earnestness: and then he waited in expectation of hearing more upon the subject; but, somewhat to his disappointment, Sir Walter soon after set him about the writing of some papers, and then went to lean out of the window, where he long remained, gazing upon the vessels in the river.

"There goeth the queen's barge," exclaimed he, all of a sudden; then turning to his wife, added, "now, Bess, will I essay what thou hast desired of me," and hastily left the room.

CHAPTER V.

If so be that one had a pump in your bosom, I believe we should discover a foul hold. They say a witch will sail in a sieve, but I believe the devil would not venture aboard your conscience. CONGREVE.

Seal up your lips, and give no words but-mum!
The business asketh silent secrecy.

SHAKSPEARE.

Olivia. Did he write this?

Clown. Ay, madam.

Duke. This savours not much of distraction.
Olivia, See him delivered.-IBID.

It was not many hours after the transpiring of what hath been writ in the preceding chapter, that Sir Robert Cecil and my Lord Henry Howard sat together in close converse in the armoury at Burghley House. How long they had been so engaged no man knoweth to this day: but there seemed a marvellous deal of secresy in what they were talking of; their looks were exceeding mysterious, and they smiled in such a sort as do men pleased with their own craftiness. Upon a small circular table, close to which they sat opposite each other, lay sundry papers and letters, which Cecil did read and make comments on, as if they were of great import; and