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"Ha!" exclaimed Sir Walter, turning round quickly, and looking his companion full in the face.

"Thou hast done too much to please him, noble Raleigh: thy gallant actions are ever before his eyes thy well deserved praises are continually ringing in his ears. He must make comparisons; and whenever he doth compare himself with thee, either in appearance, in wisdom, or in honourable deeds, he findeth himself at a disadvantage; and that doth fret him hugely. Thou knowest he is proud—and that proud men are vain—and that vain men are apt to undervalue the qualities they do not themselves possess. Marvel not, therefore, that he doth not appreciate thee according to thy exceeding merits. I tell thee this, out of my infinite love for thee, wishing to put thee on thy guard."

“I am much beholden to thee for thy consideration," replied Sir Walter, as if musing upon what he had heard; "and yet he hath always been, to all appearance, most friendly disposed towards me."

"To all appearance, I grant," added his lordship, dwelling in a marked manner upon the words; "but thou mayest rely upon what I have stated. Use it as it pleaseth thee, noble Raleigh; but well convinced am I, that what I have said out of affection, thou wilt employ after such a fashion as may not be likely to do me an injury."

"Depend on it, thy interests shall be well cared for," responded Sir Walter.

The preceding conversation continued whilst the parties proceeded along sundry passages and through various suites of rooms magnificently furnished, and crowded with courtiers and others strolling about or discoursing of the news one with another. They at last advanced into a room adjoining the presence chamber-a noble apartment hung round with costly tapestry, and strewed with fresh rushes, into which came thronging the archbishops and bishops, ambassadors, nobles, counsellors of state, and others of the mighty of the land. Presently it was whispered that the queen was acoming, and thereupon way was made for her majesty, just as the gentlemen pensioners with their gilt battle-axes and richly embroidered vests were observed approaching. After these went certain noblemen of the queen's household, knights of the garter, and the officers of her council walking in their costly robes bare-headed-among whom was the chancellor bearing the seals in a red silk purse-having on one side of him an officer of state carrying the royal sceptre, and on the other another of the like rank bearing the sword of state with the point upwards, in a scabbard of crimson velvet plentifully studded with golden fleurs-de-lis.

Next came our sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth,

very majestic in her deportment, and although getting into the decline of life, still very pleasant to look upon; for her face if it was a little wrinkled was fair; her eyes small and lively; her nose somewhat aquiline; and her lips though thin were con. tinually adorned with a gracious smile. She wore much false hair of a red hue-a colour she greatly affected, and upon her head a small crown of a very precious gold richly worked. In her ears were rare pearls with pendants of exceeding value; and on her bosom, which, in consequence of her dress being worn low, was much exposed, was a necklace of jewels of an excellent fine water, with an oblong collar of gold and precious stones above; she was attired in white silk daintily bordered with pearls remarkable for their size and beauty, over which was a mantle of black silk shot with silver threads having a train of marvellous length and of a corresponding costly material borne by divers of the ladies of her court. As she advanced every head was uncovered, and those nearest to her did kneel on one knee, some of whom who had letters to deliver she raised and spoke to graciously, and as a mark of particular favour to one Bohemian baron, who had come to present certain credentials, she did pull off her glove and gave him her right hand to kiss, all sparkling with jewelled rings.

s;

Thus she proceeded in all this beautiful magni

ficence, winning the hearts of her dutiful subjects by her very gracious condescension, and speaking to many foreigners with the same notable courtesy in French, Italian, Spanish, or Dutch, as it might happen, to their infinite wonder and delight; followed by a beautiful throng of the ladies of her court, each handsomely attired, though mostly in white, with the addition of some display of jewellery; and a guard of gentlemen pensioners like that which preceded them, till she entered the presence chamber to give audience to those ambassadors and ministers who had come on pressing business.

CHAPTER IV.

But if in living colours and right hue
Thyself thou covet to see pictured,
Who can it do more lively or more true
Than that sweet verse with nectar sprinkled;
In which a gracious servant pictured

His Cynthia, his Heaven's fairest light?

That with his melting sweetness ravished,
And with the wonder of her beames bright,
My senses lulled are in slumbers of delight.

SPENSER.

I marle what pleasure or felicity they have in taking this roguish tobacco. Its good for nothing but to choke a man, and fill him full of smoke and embers; there were four died out of one house last week with taking of it, and two more the bell went for yesternight; one of them they say will never scape it, he voided a bushel of soot yesterday upward and downward. BEN JONSON.

THE queen of England having retired from the presence chamber, sat in her withdrawing room on a well carved chair, having cushions covered with crimson velvet, whereon the royal arms were embroidered in gold; resting her feet upon a footstool of a like material-and around her were the select companions of her privacy. Instead of her crown, she now wore a piramidal head dress built of wire, lace, ribands, and jewels. The chamber was of

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