they might advance themselves upon his ruin. First of these was Sir Robert Cecil, whose ambitious aims would stop at no impediments 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 honor, 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, endeavoring, by all manner of spiteful insinuations, 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 villanies 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 aught 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 honor for us poor virgins."

Indeed, I think not, please your majesty," responded her attendant, who, bythe-by, 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 behavior." 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

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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 Jezebel, 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 villany that ever disgraced a royal palace. What devilish malignity led him into it 'tis not possible to say; but he hath done us foul dishonor in the face of all Europe; and, by God's wounds, he shall smart for it. The ambassadors will talk of it-it will be a jest for Philip of Spain, that arch idolater the pope will have it preached from the pulpit; and all the wretched papists abroad and at home will find matter in it for further calumnies of us. Art sure he hath married the wretch ?"

"I have heard, please your majesty," replied her ladyship, "that Sir Robert Cecil and my Lord Henry Howard, having got into a pair of oars but a brief space after this abandoned creature took water, saw her land at Durham house, where it is supposed of many, Sir Walter's chaplain, Dr. Robert Burrel, did make them man and wife."

"Worse and worse!" cried the queen, renewing her lofty strides along the chamber, while her eyes were flashing with anger, and her bosom heaved mightily-her wrath so moved her. "He hath not only done us notorious infamy, but, without our permission first asked and granted, he hath dared marry. What! he thinks, forsooth, because we have shown him some small favor,-having better opinion of him than he deserved, he shall be allowed to ruffle it as he please. Now, by this blessed light, we'll teach him somewhat differently. As for that Burrel, he must be made to know that to thrust his fool's head into such a pestilent meddling, is not doing God's work, but the devil's. He deserveth to have his gown stripped off his back, and whipped at the cart's tail by the common hangman. Such meddlesome priests are ready for any villany. We marvel greatly that Sir Robert Cecil informed us not of what he had observed of this, as in duty bound he should. But 'tis thus we are served: the shamefulest things are done against us from day to day, yet those we have promoted to do us service, instead of giv

ing us instant knowledge thereof, keep as close upon the business as if they had been bribed into complacency."

There is a knocking at the door, please your majesty," said my Lady Howard.

"See to it," replied the queen.

""Tis my Lord Burghley," added her attendant, after she had gone to the door to notice whom it might be.

"Let him have entrance," cried her majesty. Presently the lord treasurer advanced slowly into the chamber, with his hat in his hand, making proper obedience; and saw in a moment by the queen's countenance—which, in spite of all her cosmetics, looked exceeding black and sour-that something was out of place.

"Be seated, my lord," said the queen, for this indulgence she granted because of the infirmities of his age. The lord treasurer seated himself with becoming gravity, marvelling much what made her majesty look in such sort, and pace the chamber so haughtily; and he turned toward my Lady Howard to see if he could read in her looks any interpretation of the mystery, but, to the prodigious increase of his astonishment, she looked the blacker of the two.

My lord treasurer!" exclaimed the queen, scarcely able to speak, she seemed in so great a passion, and stopping suddenly before him, "that Raleigh hath become the blackest traitor that ever was known."

"Humph!" cried my Lord Burghley, in some sort of surprise, and drawing in his lips with an appearance of the very profoundest gravity.

"He hath done us gross offence," continued the queen. "He hath committed such foul wrong against our royal dignity, that the sacrifice of his life will not be enough amends."

Ha!" exclaimed the lord treasurer, dropping his jaw as if with a sudden astonishment.

"He hath had the audacity-think of the fellow's vileness, my lord- to be shamefully familiar with that horridest of wantons Elizabeth Throckmorton!” and then her majesty continued her haughty pacing of the chamber.

"And in the palace too, my lord," added her attendant, with a look of exceed ing indignation.

"Ho!" ejaculated the other, poking out his chin the while, as if in wonder at the enormity of the offence.

"She shall meet with her reward,

continued the queen very angrily. "It shall never be said that we left such hussies to the indulgence of their own wicked wills."

"And so near the royal presence!" added my Lady Howard, with sufficient emphasis.

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Humph!" cried my Lord Burghley, seeming very much shocked.

"But more than this-my lord! more than this," said the queen, stopping before her lord treasurer with a look of extreme anger, and raising her voice to the highest pitch, "he hath dared to marry her."

he in seeming consternation, as he humbly knelt before his sovereign. "What ill hap is mine to have such accusation brought against me by so good a mistress? I will be sworn on my life I never spoke or did aught against your majesty. Far from it, I find most exquisite delight in endeavoring to prove myself your majesty's faithfullest servant; and I would not change your service for that of any sovereign upon earth, were I tempted to it ever so. Indeed, please your majesty, if you take from me the reputation I have at all times diligently sought, of giving place to no man in honesty and obedience, I would not wish to live another hour: for without char "He hath held us in contempt-he hath acter I should be unworthy to breathe in put a slight upon our authority," saying the presence of one so exalted in excelwhich the queen bounced off as before. lence, and deprived of the pleasure all "After her majesty hath been so boun- persons enjoy who are held in such honor tiful a mistress to him," added her lady-as to be selected to do your majesty's ship, "I am quite shocked at such devilish ingratitude."

"Ha!" exclaimed he, in a manner as if horror-struck.

"Ho!" said my lord, looking monstrously shocked also.

"Where is Sir Robert Cecil ?" inquired the queen, "we must have speech with him instantly. It will go hard with him if he do not explain satisfactorily how he hath so much fallen short in his duty. We will have none such about us. We will favor no neglecters. We will not be served by such as can be dumb when treason stalks abroad. Send him to us, my lord, without fail. He hath been privy to these villanous goings-on, and hath taken care to give us no hint of the

matter."

"Humph!" cried my Lord Burghley very seriously, as he rose from the chair; then proceeded out of the chamber in search of his son, as his royal mistress had commanded him.

Her majesty continued in the same humor to stride backward and forward, letting out her anger without stint, now against the one and now against the other, but most prodigally against her fair namesake, for whom no punishment seemed with her to be ample enough; while the Lady Howard took care that her rage should not go out for lack of proper stirring. Sir Robert Cecil evidently had not been far off, for he knocked at the door in a little space after the Lord Burghley had left it.

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So, Sir Robert Cecil!" exclaimed the queen angrily, as soon as he made his appearance before her, "you must needs become an aider and abettor of treason." "I aid treason-I abet treason!" cried

bidding, life hath nothing left that can be esteemed after it. Let me humbly ask of what treason I am accused?"

The knowing of Raleigh's traitorous proceedings with that disgrace of our court, Elizabeth Throckmorton," replied the queen with exceeding bitterness, "whereof you told us nothing. What they have done is as black treason as ever was thought of--secresy was all they required to succeed in their infa micus designs, and by not declaring to us what you were privy to, that we might have it hindered, you allowed them to go on to the perfection of their iniquitous doings, and so became an aider and abettor of their treason."

"Please your majesty," said Cecil very earnestly, "two reasons had I, and good ones they seemed to me, that I should not make a stir in this business. In the first place my knowledge amounted to little more than the common suspicion, of the which there was no certain proof-in the next place, I like not being a tale-bearer in the best of times-but I do stand in such respectful awe of your majesty's superhuman virtue, that I could not for the life of me break any matter to your majesty's modest ear that appeared tainted with indelicate meaning.'

"We do approve of your reasons, Sir Robert," replied the queen," so far as to clear you of all offence in this. But now we charge you on your allegiance speak without extenuation whatever hath come to your knowledge."

"Since your majesty hath graciously given me leave, I will," answered he. I must premise that of their intercourse

knew I nothing save what was the general gossip; but knowing how much the world is given to scandal, I took no heed of what I heard, believing, as I do, that Sir Walter Raleigh is too noble and discreet a gentleman to take to such dishonorable courses."

"My Lady Howard hath given us good proof of it, which she had from their own lips," observed the queen impatiently.

house, which, knowing the suspicions that were afloat, created in us no small astonishment. Then we saw him in the cloak, land, with Mistress Alice and her cousin; and these three went up the steps into the house. This seeing, we knew not what to make of it; so for the satis faction of my lord's curiosity and my own, we waited at a convenient distance. In half an hour or less, the three returned to the barge and went on their way; and "Indeed, Sir Robert, I did by accident I, thinking it could be nothing more than overhear all their infamous secrets, the a passing visit, thought so light of it that which I thought it but proper in me to we watched them no more. He in the carry to her majesty," said her attendant. cloak could not have been Sir Walter "I'm all amazed!" cried Robert Cecil, | Raleigh, because my father did have looking in as absolute an astonishment as speech of him at your majesty's com was ever beheld. "I marvel at it in mand in his own house, at the very time finitely! who could have thought it? I saw this person on the river. Knowing How impossible it doth seem that one so this, as I soon found out, I did not see superlatively wise and learned as is your any wrong in the visit of these young womajesty's captain of the guard, should men with another person to Durham have committed himself so abominably! house; but my Lord Howard did offer Indeed, it maketh me afraid of mine own me a wager, that Mistress Elizabeth had honesty. I shall tremble for myself, gone there to be married, and that he in knowing as I do that if they who have the cloak was no other than her father, such wonderful store of learning can not Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, who had keep upright, we who fall short of such good reason for seeking concealment, as gifts can not but tumble. Of all men few it was given out he was like to perish have I regarded with the like admiration for want of proper nursing." I felt for Sir Walter Raleigh, for in truth he did always appear to me a most inesmable sweet gentleman. I am heartily grieved"

"Proceed with what you have to say on this infamous matter," said the queen sharply.

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That will I without further loss of time," replied the wily Cecil. "It chanced that my Lord Henry Howard and I going to the Bankside, got into a pair of oars just as the barge containing Mistress Throckmorton left the shore. My lord directed my attention to some one who sat in the barge cloaked up very ciose, whom I had not noticed, for in truth I had such respect for Mistress Elizabeth, believing, from her nearness to your majesty's person, that she was of a most honorable nature, that I could not entertain suspicion of wrong in anything that she did, and was not curious about her proceedings."

"Who was that person, think you?" eagerly inquired the queen.

That know I not of mine own knowledge," answered Cecil, "for we being of the other side of the water could not have a very distinct sight of things so far off. I do not think it was Sir Walter Raleigh for a reason I will presently explain. The barge made for Durham

"Now is it all made clear to us," exclaimed the queen, her face crimsoning with rage. "We have been cozened, cheated, and imposed upon; and doubtless they now laugh in their sleeves at finding us gulled so easily. By God's wounds, we'll let them know what it is to make sport of their sovereign." "cried

"I wonder at their baseness,' her ladyship with much asperity.

""Tis not enough for them to do us the foulest dishonor we have received since we have been a crowned queen," continued her majesty, seemingly waxing more wrath every minute, " they must needs play a trick upon us! We are thought to be worthy no better hap by this false woman than for a stale to catch her woodcock Raleigh!"

""Tis marvellous strange how such extreme impudency can exist," said Cecil very gravely.

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Get you to his chaplain, Sir Robert," added the queen, "He is one Burrel, in some repute for his learning, and doubtless may be found at Durham house. Question him of this marriage: for we would know if it hath taken place. It he answer you to the purpose, you shall come away and do him no hinderancebut if he be contumacious, or seem to hold back what he knoweth-straight