grace," observed Cecil. "It is on the face of it, please your majesty, he married her from no hope of advantage. He could get no gain of it. Methinks, then, he is more to be pitied than blamed, or that he should be considered more foolish than ill inclined. But I have a letter here from Master Arthur Gorges-one of a creditable testimonythat relateth to something which hath lately taken. place in the Tower, in the which Sir Walter Raleigh did behave very strangely, that seemeth to me to be exceeding proper that your majesty should hear of."

"We are careless whether you read it or not," said the queen; yet looking all the while as if she was wonderfully eager to hear it read. "But since you have it in your hand you may as well make us acquainted with its contents?

Permission had scarcely teen given before Sir Robert Cecil did commence the perusal of the following:

"Honourable Sir,

"I cannot choose but advertise you of a strange tragedy that this day had like to have fallen out between the captain of the guard, Sir Walter Raleigh, and the lieutenant of the ordnance, if I had not by great chance come at the very instant, to have turned it into a comedy. For, upon the report of her majesty's being at Sir George Carey's, Sir Walter Raleigh having gazed and sighed a long

VOL. II,

H

time at his study window, from which he might discern the barges and the boats about the Blackfriars' stairs; suddenly he brake into a great distemper, and sware that his enemies had on purpose brought her majesty thither to break his gall in sunder with Tantalus's torment, that when she went away he might gaze his death before his eyes-with many such like conceits. And as a man transported with passion, he sware to Sir George Carew that he would disguise himself, and get into a pair of oars to ease his mind but with a sight of the queen, or else he protested his heart would break. But the trusty jailor would none of that, for displeasing the higher powers, as he said, which he more respected than the feeding of his humour; and so flatly refused to permit him. But in conclusion, upon this dispute they fell flat out to outrageous choleric words, with straining and struggling at the doors, that all lameness was forgotten, and, in the fury of the conflict, the jailor had his new perriwig torn off his crown; and yet here the battle ended not, for at last they had gotten out their daggers, which, when I saw, I played the stickler between them, and so purchased such a rap on the knuckles, that I wished both their pates broken; and so with much ado they stayed their brawl to see my bloody fingers. At the first I was ready to break with laughing, to see them two scramble and brawl like madmen, until I saw the iron walking,

and then I did my best to appease the fury. As yet, I cannot reconcile them by any persuasions, for Sir Walter swears that he shall hate him for so restraining him from the sight of his mistress, while he lives; for that he knows not, as he said, whether he shall ever see her again, when she has gone the progress. And Sir George, on his side, swears that he had rather he should lose his longing than he should draw on him her majesty's displeasure by such liberty. Thus they continue in malice and snarling; but I am sure all the smart lighted on I cannot tell whether I should more allow of the passionate lover or the trusty jailor. But if yourself had seen it, as I did, you would have been as heartily merry as ever you were in all your life for so short a time. I pray you pardon my hasty written narration which I ae aint you with, hoping you will be the peace-make. But, good sir, let nobody know thereof; for I fear Sir Walter Raleigh will shortly grow to be Orlando Furioso, if the bright Angelica persevere against him a little longer."

me.

Queen Elizabeth appeared to listen with marvellous attention while the letter was being read, ever and anon smiling very prettily, and smirking up of her wrinkles after such a fashion as shewed she was monstrous well pleased with the whole affair.

"Well, he must be in a tearing humour, certainly, if he goeth on at such a rate as that," ob

served the queen, laughingly. "We knew not that our venturing to Sir George Carey's would have caused so terrible a to do, else mayhap we might have changed our course. 'Tis grievous to think Sir Walter Raleigh should take on so on our account, yet hath he none other to thank for it but himself, and the wicked Jesabel he hath married."

"Then, am I to judge, from what your majesty hath stated, that you will graciously be pleased to give your unhappy prisoner his liberty?" enquired Cecil.

"Not so fast!" exclaimed her majesty, with a more serious countenance. “ We intend nought of the kind, depend on't. 'Twould be a fine thing, truly, were we so credulous as to believe all that hath been writ in your friend's letter. How know you not it be all a counterfeit? 'Tis like enough the whole affair is mere invention. But we are not juggled so easily as may be supposed of us. We put no faith in fine words. We cannot abide flatterers."

"Ah! please your majesty," cried Sir Robert, in a wonderful earnestness, "I cannot see how there can be anything in the shape of flattery ever presented to your majesty's ear; for your majesty, it is well known, hath such extraordinary excellences, that however the world may praise, it cannot do otherwise than speak the truth."

"Nay, we are in no way better than the ordi

nary," replied the queen, as if carelessly, yet well delighted with such language. "By God's good help, we are not badly off in some qualities, yet, doubtless, have we our faults, nevertheless."

"If your majesty hath faults, 'tis a marvel to know where they lie," answered her wily companion; "for many have carefully looked for such, and could get no sight of them, let them search ever so. If it be not thought too bold of me, I

ould fain present unto your majesty that clemency hath ever been your majesty's brightest attribute: and although this Raleigh hath behaved himself infamously, which none can gainsay, yet hath he suffered in such a sort"

66

By God's wrath, he shall stay where he is," sharply exclaimed the queen, interrupting the other in the very middle of what he had been about to say.

"Then there is no occasion for me to read your majesty this letter," observed Cecil, turning another letter over and over in his hand. "It is of Sir Walter's own writing to me; and speaketh of your majesty in such exceeding delicate terms, that my heart was quite moved at it. But I will put it up, since the perusing of it meeteth not with your majesty's approbation."

"Nay, do not so," cried the queen, as she observed the letter about to disappear; "we care not for its being read, yet if it be worded with a