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worn to set them off to the best advantage.

"Odds pittikins, Sir Walter," exclaimed he, laughingly, as he recovered himself from the shock, "dost take me for a Spanish galleon, that thou runnest me down in this pitiless fashion ?"

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Thy pardon, my good lord," replied Sir Walter, as he held out his hand, which the other shook with all the fervor of old friendship, "Lord Henry Howard hath so proved himself the queen's good soldier, as to make it impossible for any one to take him for a Spaniard."

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Nay, thou flatterest me there," said the Lord Howard, with an appearance of considerable modesty, "I did but follow the example of that worthy and approved good knight, Sir Walter Raleigh

and but at an humble distance, as all must who would tread in his valiant footsteps. But, confess - confess thee, man! wert thou not dreaming of another armada, and wert intent on boarding the biggest ship of them all, when thou didst bear down upon me with thy whole broadside so courageously?"

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"Indeed, my lord, I was thinking of a different matter,' replied his companion.

"I doubt thee hugely," responded the other, shaking his head, "for 'tis so much in thy fashion. Then wert thou busying thy most fruitful imagination in search of new discoveries, and, instead of steering into some delectable bay, full of all enticing prospects, thou of a sudden didst drop thy anchor upon my new doubletwas it not so ?"

"Thou art again in the wrong, my lord," replied Sir Walter, smiling; "I was on no such voyage. I am bound to her majesty, where my attendance is required. If nothing better await thy pleasure, will it please thee walk with me, my lord ?"

"Dost like it, my lord?" inquired Raleigh, carelessly.

"On mine honor, I admire it hugely," responded his lordship, with a vast show of admiration. "I marvel not theu shouldst be the very model of dress amongst us, for thou art truly delicate in the choice of thy fabrics, and infinitely curious in the manner in which they are to be worn. I do know a certain lord who would give his ears, had he thy apprehension of these things."

"Be his ears so long then, that he would get rid of them for so trifling a result?" asked his companion, with some affectation of seriousness.

"In truth thou hast hit it," exclaimed the Lord Howard, with a hearty laugh. Between ourselves, he is marvellously apt to play Midas to thy Apollo.'

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"By what name goeth he?" inquired Sir Walter; "for as far as my penetration sufficeth, I know of none such."

"Dost not know the earl of Essex?" whispered the other.

"Most assuredly do I, for a gentleman of many noble qualities," replied Raleigh. "I tell thee, out of friendship, he doth affect thee not at all," said his lordship, in the same low voice.

"Then hath some villain slandered me to him," observed his companion, quickly; "for, although he hath his faultsas who hath not?--I do believe him to be of a right honorable nature."

"I have ofttimes heard him speak slightingly of thee, Sir Walter-by this hand have I," continued his lordship, with increased emphasis, yet still in a subdued tone.

"Thou must have mistaken his meaning, surely," responded the other, "I have done him no offence. But he may speak slightingly of me without disparagement, my good lord, for possibly I may not have done sufficient to deserve his eulogy." "I tell thee, in friendship and in se"I am infinitely gratified by thy cour-cresy, noble Raleigh—for it be dangerous tesy," said Lord Henry, with a most to say anything against one so high in courtier-like inclination of his head, as favor-that he hath disparaged thee vilhe proceeded alongside of his companion, lanously, ever since thy quarrel with that "and will do myself that honor. The ruffianly follower of his, Sir Roger Wilqueen is expected in the presence cham-liams." ber, on her return from the council; and I was but making a stroll in the meanwhile, when thou didst me the especial favor of nearly running me down. But what a superlative taste thou hast in thy appointments," suddenly exclaimed he, as he noticed the splendid attire of Sir Walter; 'tis most exquisitely fashioned, and of a very dainty conceit."

"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

ment, and although getting into the decline of life, still very pleasant to look upon; for her face if it was a little wrink led was fair; her eyes small and lively; her nose somewhat aquiline; and her lips though thin were continually adorned with a gracious smile. She wore much false hair of a red hue—a color she great

with thee, either in appearance, in wisdom, or in honorable 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 ex-ly affected, and upon her head a small ceeding merits. I tell thee this, out of my infinite love for thee, wishing to put thee on thy guard."

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"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 toward 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."

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

The preceding conversation continued while 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 a-coming, 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 bareheaded 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 upward, in a scabbard of crimson velvet plentifully studded with golden fleursde-lis.

Next came our sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth, very majestic in her deport

crown of a very precious gold richly worked. In her ears were rare pearls with pendents 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. 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 favor 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.

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Thus she proceeded in all this beautiful magnificence, 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 colors 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.

"Thou wilt lose thy wager, Sir Walter Raleigh-which will put thy pipe out, depend on't," added the queen-at which witty conceit the courtiers were again in

I marle what pleasure or felicity they have in taking this roguish tobacco. It's good for nothing but to choke a man, and fill him full of smoke and em-raptures.

bers 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 up

ward 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 pyramidal head-dress built of wire, lace, ribands, and jewels. The chamber was of handsome proportions, hung with costly tapestry, on which was very fairly depicted the principal events in the Iliad, and besides such necessary furniture as chairs, tables, and cabinets elaborately chiselled into every kind of cunning device, the panels of the richly-decorated wainscot did contain full-length portraits of the late king's highness of glorious memory, Henry the Eighth, with his illustrious consort Anna Boleyn, in dark ebony frames, and done to the life with all the limner's skill.

The whole party seemed to be in an excellent good humor, especially her majesty, who led the example by laughing loud and long, as she sat before two open glass doors that looked into a garden daintily laid out in long shady walks, while leaning upon the edge of the door, almost outside of the room as it were, stood Sir Walter Raleigh, against whom, evidently, all the mirth was directed; who, with a grave countenance continually disturbed by the merriment of his associates, in which he ever and anon joined right heartily, kept smoking a long pipe, and watching the fumes as he puffed them into the air.

"Ah, thou hast small cause to look after the fumes, for thou wilt be in a fine fume thyself presently," said her majesty, and the courtiers and the ladies thereat did laugh more than ever.

Please your majesty," replied Sir Walter, taking the pipe from his mouth, and laughing with the rest-"My fumes are perfumes; and if ever I exhibit any other furnes in your majesty's gracious presence, I should be deserving of banishment, which would make me in a fume indeed."

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My pipe will be out anon, please your majesty," responded Sir Walter in the same jocose spirit. "But I shall have the honor of winning a purse of gold of the most bountiful sovereign that subject ever had."

"Odds bodikins, man, thou art mad, sure!" exclaimed the queen good humoredly. "How canst expect to win such a mad wager-unless peradventure thou seekest to amuse thyself by playing upon us some trick-which if thou dost, by our halidom, thou shalt smoke for it in right earnest." Thereupon the laugh went round as before, and all in audible whispers did commend her majesty's wit most liberally.

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Nay, I should be unworthy to breathe in so estimable a presence were I to make so bold," replied Raleigh gravely. "And for fear that your majesty should misunderstand my meaning, I will recal the terms of the wager-in the doing of which this noble company will correct me if I say anything in error. Your majesty, out of your gracious condescension, hath wagered me a purse of gold against my Barbary courser, that from a certain quantity of this precious tobacco that I have before all these honorable persons weighed and put into my pipe to smoke, I shall not be able to tell the exact weight of the smoke that escapes."

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Why, thou foolish gull, how canst tell the weight of anything that escapes ?" asked the queen with a merry, malicious glance, and to the infinite amusement of her circle. "Canst catch the smoke after it hath mingled with the air, and press it into thy scales! We did think that thou hadst more wit than to undertake such a thing, and when thou first spoke of it, fancying thou wert taking the traveller's privilege, we laid this wager with thee on purpose to have a laugh at thy expense. O' my faith thy Barbary courser is as good as lost; but though it be taking but a barbarous advantage of thee, we must e'en accept of it."

"Please your majesty, perhaps he hath the wonderful seven-league boots, and meaneth quickly to overtake his smoke," observed a very lovely young gentlewo man who stood by the side of the queen's chair.

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Nay, Lady Blanche Somerset," replied her majesty, joining in the general

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Speak out, my Lord Bumble," cried her majesty.

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I hold it as most comfortable Christian doctrine, please your majesty," said his lordship, advancing a little way on his gold-headed cane-for he stooped much," that the mouth was made for the accommodation of honest victuals; and though I have lived in the reigns of your majesty's father Henry VIII., of pious, chaste, and glorious memory, and of his most excellent highness Edward VI., who surely hath a throne in heaven; and of our late illustrious Queen Mary, who was of a most princely disposition, as it becometh a queen to have, and which your majesty doth possess to an extent far beyond that which was exhibited by your majesty's predecessors, I never saw a gentleman, and, to speak the exact truth, I may add, any person of any degree. whatsoever, who used his throat to imbibe villanous smoke; and therefore I hold it as most comfortable Christian doctrine that the mouth was made for the accommodation of honest victuals. More. over, I never heard of any one with whom it was customary to make a smoke-jack of himself, but one, and he did do it not from liking, but from necessity.'

"And who was he, my lord ?" inquired the queen.

“Please your majesty, it was no other than the devil-from whose machinations be your majesty ever carefully guarded." "Amen, my lord," said the queen, gravely.

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Who, as the learned Dr. Thumpcushion hath stated," added Lord Bumble, continually doth vomit smoke and brimstone-doubtless, much after the same fashion as yonder honorable gentle man, the captain of your majesty's guard —therefore I hold it as most comfortable Christian doctrine"

"Never mind the doctrine, my lord"here put in the queen rather impatiently, while Sir Walter, with much ado, endeavored to preserve a serious countenance-"Say at once what thou perceivest in this matter, that our poor wits are not master of."

"I will come to the point without further preamble, since it be your majesty's excellent pleasure," said the old courtier, "though I was going to say, that a thing which looketh so unnatural and so devilish, can be practised for no other end but to ensnare our souls and blind our eyes, that we may be the more easily caught and thrust into the bottomless pit, where it be the fashion of Satan and all his imps to smoke, and to teach others to smoke, like unto the manner of yonder estimable gentleman, Sir Walter Raleigh; therefore, I hold it as most comfortable Christian doctrine, that the mouth hath been made for the accommodation of honest victuals."

"We have heard that before, my lord, so if thou meanest to enlighten us no further on this matter, hold thy peace, and Heaven will reward thee for it."

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Yes, Heaven will reward me, certainly, as your majesty hath so piously remarked," continued Lord Bumble; who, in addition to other infirmities consequent on old age, was exceeding deaf"I am much bound to your majesty for your majesty's gracious consideration of my long service, and if your majesty doth not, Heaven will reward me, certainly. But I must say, of all your majesty's glorious family, none have I served with half the infinite satisfaction I find in attending on your majesty-though his excellent highness, Henry VIII.,whose page I was, did say that I was inestimable before bedtime."

"Ah, thou didst doubtless make a most admirable sleeping potion," observed her majesty.

"As your majesty is pleased to say, he did justly appreciate my devotion," proceeded his lordship. "But I am fearful I am somewhat wandering from the point."

"Thou has found that out at last-a plague on thy tediousness!" exclaimed his royal mistress, angrily; but in a low voice.

"I have already stated enougn to satisfy any reasonable personage that smoking is but a devilish pastime, and therefore not to be tolerated—but there is more mischief in it yet. I say it be unlawful and infinitely dangerous. For let it be

observed that smoke is black-which is | likewise the color the devil most affects -therefore to be avoided; that the accomplishment of smoking is an art--and the art being black, it standeth to reason it must be a black art--and I do uphold that the exercise of the black art in your majesty's presence is heathenish, treacherous, and abominable, and, consequently, that yonder noble gentleman, the captain of your majesty's guard, ought not to be allowed, as is evidently his intention, to bewitch your majesty and overthrow the state."

"Sir Walter Raleigh, dost hear that weighty accusation ?" asked the queen, the frown of impatience upon her face now giving way to an undisguised smile; "Hast thou had the audacity to practise the black art before us? hast the presumption to attempt to bewitch us and overthrow the state ?"

“Without attempting any defence, I will, at once throw myself upon your majesty's clemency, of which I have had such excellent experience," replied Sir Walter-refraining awhile from his pipe. "But perhaps I may be allowed to observe, that if I have attempted to bewitch your majesty, I have followed the example of one who, with her admirable qualities, hath bewitched all her loving subjects."

"There! he confesseth it, please your majesty," cried the old courtier, pressing close to the queen, "therefore I do hold it very comfortable Christian doctrine"

have to lose his Barbary courser, which will sufficiently punish him for endeavoring to cajole the queen of England."

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May it please your majesty," said Sir Walter Raleigh, coming into the room with his pipe in his hand, "I have smoked out the quantity of tobacco agreed upon.'

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"Haste thee and weigh the smoke, then," replied the queen, with a chuckle of delight, which was echoed by those around her.

"I will tell your majesty the weight of the smoke in a few seconds," responded Raleigh, taking in his hand a small pair of ivory scales which stood on an adjoining table.

"Thou wilt never get so much smoke into such tiny balances, Sir Walter Raleigh," observed her majesty with the same tone, "so thou mayest as well acknowledge that the wager is ours."

"Your majesty will be pleased to observe that the weight in this scale is the exact weight of the ashes left in the pipe," replied Sir Walter, showing the scales, in one of which he had put the ashes, at an even balance. "Now, if your majesty will graciously remember the weight of the unburnt tobacco upon which the experiment was made, by subtracting from it the weight of the ashes, which I have here ascertained, the sum produced will be the exact weight of the smoke."

Sir Walter Raleigh, with the scales still in his hand, wore on his noble features, at this moment, an expression of "Peace, fool!” cried her majesty, in a very evident satisfaction, as he turned voice that not only made Lord Bumble round and looked down upon his audihear, but astonished him so, that it sentence-some of whom seemed increduhim staggering two or three paces back-lous, others wondering, the rest puzzled ward upon the delicate toes of some of the maids of honor; who, not liking so impressive a salutation, with features expressive of pain and anger, pushed him rudely out of the way, till he found himself beyond the circle, scarcely able to breathe, and in a complete consternation. "I do not believe that he practiseth the black art," here observed Mistress Alice, who was somewhat of a favorite with the queen, for her lively temper, and, more than all, because she never seemed desirous of attracting the admiration of the noblemen and gentlemen of the court; Indeed, I will do him the justice to say that I think him no conjuror."

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what to think; but all were waiting in silence the effect of his announcement upon their sovereign, whose abler understanding perceived at once the accuracy of the result, though it was so different from what she had expected, and felt as if she could not enough admire the simplicity of the method which had so easily proved what she thought had been impossible.

"The gold is thine, Sir Walter Raleigh," said she, rising from her chair with a dignity none knew better how to put on, as she placed a well-filled purse in his hand, "and fairly is it won. There have been many laborers in the fire whose vast undertaking have ended in smoke; but thou art the first whose smoke was ever turned into gold."

"Well, I did not think he was such a

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