according to the amount of the service rendered shall your majesty partake of the treasures gained." "How many ships dost require ?" asked the queen. "As many as your majesty can generously assist us with," replied Sir Walter. "If we allow thee half a dozen, properly equipped and provided for with all the munitions of war, we shall expect to share one half of the spoil." "Your majesty's generosity exceeds my expectations," exclaimed Raleigh; though, if the truth may be told, he did feel a little put out at the unfairness of the bargain. "Then if those conditions be accepted, we do appoint thee admiral of the fleet," continued the queen, "and will shee that thou hast proper warrant for it, with power to officer thine own ships as it pleaseth thee-reserving to ourself the right of appointing a viceadmiral, to officer our ships as we think proper." "Never had servant so bounteous a mistress!" cried Sir Walter, as he knelt at the feet of the queen, seemingly in a transport of gratitude. "In truth, if I am not allowed to pour out the overflowings of my most grateful spirit, I must be dumb ever after. Oh, where shall the most passionate lover that ever sought to do noble deeds in honour of her whom he served, find such absolute cause for the impelling of his valour as that which moveth me? Had Arthur and all his right famous Knights of the Round Table lived in these more fortunate days, to have beheld the peerless Elizabeth, what chivalrous doings would have been enacted, that are lost to the world! But then how much have I reason to congratulate myself that I, who am nothing except in the eyes of the divine Parthenia, whom it is my happiness to serve-the very sovereign of beauty and queen of my heart's best affections, should not only live in the time which her existence hath made glorious, but should be allowed to breathe in her presence and bask in the imperial sunshine of her eyes—nay, honour never to be too highly prized," continued he with more vehemence, taking her hand, as he observed that the stateliness of the queen was sinking before the vanity of the woman, "that out of her exceeding condescension and wonderful goodness, she sometimes enricheth my soul with her most moving smiles, and vouchsafest me the supreme happiness of pressing my lips upon her ivory hand." "Nay, Sir Walter, thou wilt devour it sure!" exclaimed the queen, coyly attempting to withdraw her hand, which he then impressed with a hundred eager caresses; but she was too well pleased with the action, and too much delighted in seeing so noble a gentleman at her feet, to use any great degree of force, and the hand continued to be caressed as passionately as at first. "Oh, might I but be allowed to ask one favour-one sweet-one precious favour!" said Raleigh, gazing in her face with as much apparent rapture as if she had been a young and blooming Hebe, instead of much nearer resembling a superannuated Diana of some sixty years or so. The queen kept her peace, looking very bashful, not knowing but something might be required of her it would be scarcely proper for her virgin modesty to grant; when Sir Walter continued "When I am doing furious battle with the enemy, I know of nothing which would so much strengthen my resolution, and afford me consolation in all the delays I may meet with during my scarcely endurable absence from my absolute and incomparable Angelica, as a lock of that golden hair, which to me seemeth brighter than are the beams of Phoebus topping the eastern hills: deign then to satisfy your majesty's humble and truly devoted slave, and pardon the deep yet most respectful adoration that doth seek so invaluable a gift." "In very truth, Sir Walter, if thou seekest only so simple a thing of us, we see no harm in its disposal," replied her majesty very graciously. "Therefore set thy mind at ease. Thou shalt have it by a trusty messenger before thou leavest our shores." "Ah!" exclaimed he with a passionate look, as he pressed the hand he held to his heart. "Your majesty's unexampled' goodness hath already made my poor heart bankrupt in thanks." "Hush!" cried the queen, suddenly snatching away her hand and putting her finger to her lip. "Who are these that dare to intrude upon our privacy?" Just at that moment footsteps were heard approaching along the walk on the other side of the fence, and voices of two persons in conversation were distinguished. They spoke low, but the words "Raleigh"-"Elizabeth," and "intrigue," were distinctly audible. 66 'Now, by God's wounds, we'll not suffer this!" exclaimed the queen, starting up with a face crimsoned with rage. "Arrest them, Sir Walter Raleigh, whoever they be." "Let me entreat of your Majesty". "What, are we not obeyed?" cried the queen, quickly, interrupting him, and casting on him a look of terrible menace when she observed that he hesitated to obey her command. "On the knees of my heart, let a faithful servant" "Away, traitor!" fiercely exclaimed her majesty to her kneeling favourite, as she brushed by him; and with haughty steps strode towards the turning in the walk which would give her a view of the spot whence the sounds had proceeded: but behold! when she had there arrived, no one person was visible-at which she marvelled greatly. She looked among the trees, but could see nothing; and much chafed thereat, returned to where she had left Sir Walter, as it may be said with considerable shew of truth, trembling in his shoes at the imminent peril of his situation: but he knew the character of his mistress thoroughly, and his alarm soon giving way, set him upon putting forward a stroke of policy which should re-awaken all the influence he had lost; so that when her majesty came back to the place she had left, sweeping along, frowning majestically, and with a mind filled with thoughts of inflicting the most complete disgrace upon her captain of the guard, she beheld a sight so piteous, that all the dread sovereign did give place to the sympathising woman-for there knelt Sir Walter Raleigh exactly where he had before kneeled, as if he was chained unto the spot, gazing upon vacancy with a look so despairing and woe-begone, that it would have melted a heart of adamant. To her exceeding astonishment, he noticed not her appearance before him-albeit he saw her well enough-but continued with a fixed and glassy gaze to stare into the empty air like unto one utterly bereft of reason; and being moved with pity to behold so gallant a man, and one withal, who was the best dressed gentleman in all her court, in so sorry a plight, she presently went up to him and placed her hand upon his shoulder, saying kindly, "Sir Walter! what aileth thee?" whereupon, with a long drawn sigh that seemed to come from the very bottom of his heart, he lifted up his eyes to her face, and then, as if struck with a sudden recollection, he sunk down his head, and did hide his face in his palms, with a groan so hollow and sepulchral, that her majesty thought he was about to give up the ghost. "Nay, nay, take not on so-take not on so, Sir Walter. We mean thee no harm, be assured," said the queen, now in a very trepidation, which assurance was comfortable enough to her forlorn captain of the guard; but who, nevertheless, with a most pîtiful accent exclaimed "Let me die at your majesty's feet, for I am unworthy to live, having angered so good a mistress." 66 Odds pittikins, man, think not of dying," replied the queen in her most gracious tone. "In sad truth, if I be deprived of the most delectable happiness of gazing on such exquisite perfection as hath so oft delighted mine eyes, I am utterly undone. I have no desire to live," continued he very movingly. At which the queen was not a whit displeased, for, it is out of all contradiction, she had vanity enough to believe, that the deprivation of the beholding her charms would produce so fatal an effect. "Despair not-and if we find that thou still deservest our esteem, thou shalt have no cause for fear," said her majesty in a manner she thought likely to put him into some hope. "Rise, Sir Walter Raleigh, and return with us to the palace-we will enquire into this matter." "I am rooted to the earth," replied he, in the most sorrowful voice that ever was heard. "The fear of your majesty's displeasure hath fixed me to the ground. I have no power to move. How much would those wretched traitors rejoice who, to get me into disgrace, envying me your majesty's good opinion, that I prize as Jason did his Medea, and which, as she taught him to tame the brazen footed bulls, and cast asleep the watchful dragon that guarded the golden fleece, hath inspired me to like honourable and famous deeds,-to witness the very piteous straight to which I am reduced by the effect of their contemptible trick to slander the most excellent, chaste, and beauteous princess that ever did adorn this sublunary world." "Dost think' twas a trick?" enquired she earnestly. "How could it be else, please your majesty ?" replied Sir Walter, albeit he knew all the time, having, from a better sense of hearing, heard more than the queen, that the conversation alluded to his amour with Mistress Elizabeth Throckmorton, though he could not distinguish to whom the voices belonged; but seeing that her majesty had fancied that it was in allusion to her, was resolved to take advantage of that mistake. "Is not your majesty well known, with all the superlative accomplishments of the nine immortal daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne, to unite with them the exquisite truth and modesty of the goddess Veritas and the Vestals-and how could those villanous traducers, whoever they be, give utterance to so notorious a calumny, unless it were, that I should reap disadvantage thereby; but relying on your majesty's noble qualities and proper sense of what is due to your own dignity, I feel convinced, that the paltry trick will be regarded with the contempt it doth deserve-only awailing your majesty's pardon, without which I am naught, to release me from this right painful and unhappy posture." "Rise, Sir Walter Raleigh-thy pardon is granted thee, and there is our hand upon it," said the queen, in her most gracious manner giving him her hand, the which he did again press to his lips, but in a style more respectful than before, "We'll think no more of these paltry tricksters-but will shew them how little we can be affected by their villanous yet most contemptible slanders." Then did she very kindly raise him from the ground, and return to the withdrawing room conversing with him all the way on matters relating to his projected voyage in a way, the friendliness whereof, he had rarely experienced. CHAPTER V. Ambition is a vulture vile That feedeth on the heart of pride, DANIEL. Against bad tongues goodness cannot defend her SIR JOHN HARRINGTON. "My Lord of Essex, you may account me your true friend in this business," said a dwarfish and ill favoured person soberly clad, to a handsome and gorgeously dressed gallant-having remarkable dark eyes, and a rich glossy beard very full at the bottom-as they sat over against each other in a chamber hung round with abundance of ancient armour. "I think I may, Sir Robert Cecil," replied he, addressed as the Earl of Essex, looking moodily all the time, as if there was something that mightily vexed him. "She hath quarrelled with me at primero, only because I did drop something that to her appeared to call in question her skill with the cards; and she hath spoke to me never a word since. 'Sblood! one had need be a beggar's dog as put up with such humours." "Nay, but the queen is a most bounteous mistress," observed the other in a tone of apology; "and though at times she be easily displeased, yet is she quickly moved to make amends if undeserved disadvantage come of it." "But she is too prone to such capriciousness, and I'll stomach it no longer;" exclaimed his companion, his brilliant eyes flashing very haughtily as he kept playing with the jewelled pommel of his dagger. "What! shall it be said that the Lord Essex is fit for nothing better than to play the pet falcon with, to be whistled to, and driven off, as it suiteth a woman's idle fantasies?" "Fie on you, my lord!" cried Cecil, with an exceeding grave countenance. "I would not the queen should hear of this for as much as your earldom.” "Let her I care not;" said the Lord Essex sharply. "Now, look you there, was ever obstinate man so bent on his own destruction?" exclaimed the other. "But I will do you a service as far as my poor ability goeth; for sure am I, that you have no friend so earnest to advance your interests as Robert Cecil, if you will only look upon him as such." "I thank you, heartily," replied his companion; but in no way relaxing the frown that had settled on his brows. "Nay, I seek no thanks," rejoined Sir Robert "for, inasmuch a my honoured father hath been your guardian-to say naught of the noble qualities I do behold in you-have I ever felt disposed to do you a service. Believe me, I would do good for the good's sake. Now, my lord, in this matter, he advised by me; for though seek I in no way to push forth my judgment before one that is so ripe as your own, yet, as your lordship is somewhat apt to get heated at these things, being touched by them more nearly than another, I, having more coolness, which is the greatest help to reflection, may be considered better qualified to form an unbiassed opinion; therefore, I do beseech you, in all true friendship, be advised of me." "What counsel you, Sir Robert Cecil?" enquired his lordship. "Mark you Sir Walter Raleigh?" asked the other. "What hath he to do with it?" said my Lord Essex, very proudly. "Truly he is a noble gentleman," replied his companion; "he is one that hath many commendable parts, being in outward shew right manly to look upon; the which he doth put to great advantage, by apparelling himself very daintily. Indeed, though I be no judge of these things, I have heard it said by others, that for the fashioning of a doublet, he hath not his peer. For mine own part, I envy him not such an accomplishment, thinking that it more becometh a tailor than a gentleman. Nevertheless he is doubtless to be praised for it, seeing that it sheweth his great anxiety to please her majesty, who, it is well known to him, taketh exceeding delight in beholding such braveries; the which he continually turneth to his profit. But he hath other gifts that do the more recommend him to the queen's favour; he hath held himself valiantly in the wars, and hath the reputation of the most experienced soldier in the queen's service; |