birth was the most disgraceful (seeing the odium in which it was generally held); and he could not endure it should be said of him, that he was the misbegotten child of a paltry cheater. His pride was humbled mightily; yet did it rise up against such dishonour the more it was cast down at it. It seemed as if he would not be held in such poor esteem of the world, however degraded he felt in his own opinion. He tried to think Holdfast and he could be of no sort of relationship; yet, in spite of himself a conviction was forced upon him that the contrary was the truth; and the fear he had now was, that it should be talked of.

In the mean time the enemies of Sir Walter Raleigh slackened not in their endeavours to ruin. him with the queen. It may appear to some passing strange that one who, besides being of most notable excellence, sought to do no man ill, should have enemies: but it was in consequence of his towering so much above them in all commendable things, that he was misliked of so many. And as they who longed to ruffle it at court above all others, thought they had no chance of it while he was in favour, to whom they stood in such poor comparison, they strove all they could to bring him down, that they might advance themselves upon his ruin. First of these was Sir Robert Cecil, whose ambitious aims would stop at no impediments

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that craft could overcome; and he was so skilful in his cunning as to be suspected of none: for he seemed to make all around him his tools, to do what he would; and keeping in obscurity himself, escaped free from all suspicion. His talents were above the ordinary; but he was ambitious of holding the greatest power in his own hands, and liked not that any should be mightier than he. Next to him was Lord Henry Howard, his associate and sworn coadjutor, one of a good family, being brother of the Duke of Norfolk; but having been a great spendthrift and profligate, to the ruin of his fortune, made him glad to assist Cecil in his plots and devices to oust Sir Walter Raleigh from his vantage-which he did with exceeding craftiness. In the Lady Howard of Walden they found a fitting helpmate. She was a woman of some beauty, but of no principle; and as she believed that Sir Walter had slighted her, she was impatient to be revenged of him. Her close attendance on the queen gave her what opportunity she wanted, and she was only kept back from using it by the counsel of Sir Robert Cecil, who liked not to have it done till matters were more ripe.

To these were added all the envious, the ambitious, and the vain, who hung about the court, and were ever intriguing to raise themselves upon the disadvantage of another; and these had already

made themselves busy with calling in question Raleigh's conduct with the fleet-and not without the effect they desired. It was at this time that whispers were set afoot concerning Sir Walter's marriage, and many malicious things were said of the cause of it; but none, as yet, had hinted it to the queen. It was now thought time to bring matters to a push, for her majesty was in some sort displeased with Sir Walter that he had delayed so long with his expedition, and had done nothing, as was yet known of him. Therefore the Lady Howard took occasion, when she was in private with her majesty, to acquaint her with all that she knew between Elizabeth Throckmorton and Sir Walter Raleigh, taking care to aggravate the matter as much as was possible.

Nothing could exceed the indignation of the queen. She was now pale with anger, and in a moment red with shame. Every wrinkle in her face was made conspicuous, she was in such a towering passion; and she strode up and down the chamber with haughty steps, now uttering denunciations against her maid of honour, and now denouncing terrible punishment upon her captain of the guard. Her attendant stood by, her dark eyes flashing with pleasure at the storm she had raised, endeavouring, by all manner of spiteful insi

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nuations, to increase her majesty's fury against the offenders.

"Nay, by God's wounds, 'tis too bad," exclaimed the queen; "they shall rue it. Their guilty doings shall have fitting punishment, else are we not queen of England. And for her, no disgrace can be sufficient for so deep an offence-a wanton—a hussy -a creature vile and infamous! Had she no shame? Had she no sense of her wickedness, to commit her villainies so near us, and turn our palace into a O! it is monstrous!"

"In truth, I wonder she could ever look her virtuous sovereign in the face," said her ladyship.

"Such unblushing impudency never disgraced a Christian court,” cried her majesty; "it exceedeth ought of which we have ever heard; 'tis most atrocious, horrible, and abominable! What will it be thought of us, if those so near our person take to such vile courses? Why, it may give a handle to the malignant to say we are as evil disposed ourselves. Every hair stands on end at the thought of it."

"I am horror-struck," observed my Lady Howard, looking more completely shocked than her royal mistress.

"Such shameless iniquity deserves to be whipped through the world," continued the queen; "out

upon it! fie upon the age that doth produce such vile women! Nay, and forsooth, if things go on at this rate, there will be neither safety nor honour for us poor virgins."

“Indeed, I think not, please your majesty," responded her attendant, who, by the bye, bore no very reputable character; "and am I the more indignant, when I think what a glorious example she hath had before her in your majesty, whose exceeding virtuousness should, methinks, have taught her better behaviour."

"Her extreme vileness was such that it was beyond all teaching,” replied her majesty, sharply; "she was a worthless baggage from the first, who could profit by no example. We are amazed she should ever have ventured herself in our presence: but by all the angels in heaven, she shall suffer for it. As for him, whom we have raised from nothing, we will let him know, and quickly, that she who makes can mar. The ungrateful caitiff, to carry on his paltry doings with such a Jezabel, in total disregard of his duty to us."

"And so near your royal presence too,” cried my Lady Howard.

"Oh! 'tis most intolerable," exclaimed the queen, in a fresh burst of rage; "'tis the horridest -loathsomest piece of villainy that ever disgraced a royal palace. What devilish malignity led him into