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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +KENILWORTH. + +by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. + + + + +* + +Note: Footnotes and references to the notes at the end of the + printed book have been inserted in the etext in square + brackets ("[]") close to the place where they were + indicated by a suffix in the original text. The notes + at the end are now numbered instead of using pages to + identify them as was done in the printed text. + + Text in italics has been written in capital letters. + +* + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +A certain degree of success, real or supposed, in the delineation +of Queen Mary, naturally induced the author to attempt something +similar respecting "her sister and her foe," the celebrated +Elizabeth. He will not, however, pretend to have approached the +task with the same feelings; for the candid Robertson himself +confesses having felt the prejudices with which a Scottishman is +tempted to regard the subject; and what so liberal a historian +avows, a poor romance-writer dares not disown. But he hopes the +influence of a prejudice, almost as natural to him as his native +air, will not be found to have greatly affected the sketch he has +attempted of England's Elizabeth. I have endeavoured to describe +her as at once a high-minded sovereign, and a female of +passionate feelings, hesitating betwixt the sense of her rank and +the duty she owed her subjects on the one hand, and on the other +her attachment to a nobleman, who, in external qualifications at +least, amply merited her favour. The interest of the story is +thrown upon that period when the sudden death of the first +Countess of Leicester seemed to open to the ambition of her +husband the opportunity of sharing the crown of his sovereign. + +It is possible that slander, which very seldom favours the +memories of persons in exalted stations, may have blackened the +character of Leicester with darker shades than really belonged to +it. But the almost general voice of the times attached the most +foul suspicions to the death of the unfortunate Countess, more +especially as it took place so very opportunely for the +indulgence of her lover's ambition. If we can trust Ashmole's +Antiquities of Berkshire, there was but too much ground for the +traditions which charge Leicester with the murder of his wife. +In the following extract of the passage, the reader will find the +authority I had for the story of the romance:-- + +"At the west end of the church are the ruins of a manor, +anciently belonging (as a cell, or place of removal, as some +report) to the monks of Abington. At the Dissolution, the said +manor, or lordship, was conveyed to one -- Owen (I believe), the +possessor of Godstow then. + +"In the hall, over the chimney, I find Abington arms cut in +stone--namely, a patonee between four martletts; and also another +escutcheon--namely, a lion rampant, and several mitres cut in +stone about the house. There is also in the said house a chamber +called Dudley's chamber, where the Earl of Leicester's wife was +murdered, of which this is the story following:-- + +"Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a very goodly personage, and +singularly well featured, being a great favourite to Queen +Elizabeth, it was thought, and commonly reported, that had he +been a bachelor or widower, the Queen would have made him her +husband; to this end, to free himself of all obstacles, he +commands, or perhaps, with fair flattering entreaties, desires +his wife to repose herself here at his servant Anthony Forster's +house, who then lived in the aforesaid manor-house; and also +prescribes to Sir Richard Varney (a prompter to this design), at +his coming hither, that he should first attempt to poison her, +and if that did not take effect, then by any other way whatsoever +to dispatch her. This, it seems, was proved by the report of Dr. +Walter Bayly, sometime fellow of New College, then living in +Oxford, and professor of physic in that university; whom, because +he would not consent to take away her life by poison, the Earl +endeavoured to displace him the court. This man, it seems, +reported for most certain that there was a practice in Cumnor +among the conspirators, to have poisoned this poor innocent lady, +a little before she was killed, which was attempted after this +manner:--They seeing the good lady sad and heavy (as one that +well knew, by her other handling, that her death was not far +off), began to persuade her that her present disease was +abundance of melancholy and other humours, etc., and therefore +would needs counsel her to take some potion, which she absolutely +refusing to do, as still suspecting the worst; whereupon they +sent a messenger on a day (unawares to her) for Dr. Bayly, and +entreated him to persuade her to take some little potion by his +direction, and they would fetch the same at Oxford; meaning to +have added something of their own for her comfort, as the doctor +upon just cause and consideration did suspect, seeing their great +importunity, and the small need the lady had of physic, and +therefore he peremptorily denied their request; misdoubting (as +he afterwards reported) lest, if they had poisoned her under the +name of his potion, he might after have been hanged for a colour +of their sin, and the doctor remained still well assured that +this way taking no effect, she would not long escape their +violence, which afterwards happened thus. For Sir Richard Varney +abovesaid (the chief projector in this design), who, by the +Earl's order, remained that day of her death alone with her, with +one man only and Forster, who had that day forcibly sent away all +her servants from her to Abington market, about three miles +distant from this place; they (I say, whether first stifling her, +or else strangling her) afterwards flung her down a pair of +stairs and broke her neck, using much violence upon her; but, +however, though it was vulgarly reported that she by chance fell +downstairs (but still without hurting her hood that was upon her +head), yet the inhabitants will tell you there that she was +conveyed from her usual chamber where she lay, to another where +the bed's head of the chamber stood close to a privy postern +door, where they in the night came and stifled her in her bed, +bruised her head very much broke her neck, and at length flung +her down stairs, thereby believing the world would have thought +it a mischance, and so have blinded their villainy. But behold +the mercy and justice of God in revenging and discovering this +lady's murder; for one of the persons that was a coadjutor in +this murder was afterwards taken for a felony in the marches of +Wales, and offering to publish the manner of the aforesaid +murder, was privately made away in the prison by the Earl's +appointment; and Sir Richard Varney the other, dying about the +same time in London, cried miserably, and blasphemed God, and +said to a person of note (who hath related the same to others +since), not long before his death, that all the devils in hell +did tear him in pieces. Forster, likewise, after this fact, +being a man formerly addicted to hospitality, company, mirth, and +music, was afterwards observed to forsake all this, and with much +melancholy and pensiveness (some say with madness) pined and +drooped away. The wife also of Bald Butter, kinsman to the Earl, +gave out the whole fact a little before her death. Neither are +these following passages to be forgotten, that as soon as ever +she was murdered, they made great haste to bury her before the +coroner had given in his inquest (which the Earl himself +condemned as not done advisedly), which her father, or Sir John +Robertsett (as I suppose), hearing of, came with all speed +hither, caused her corpse to be taken up, the coroner to sit upon +her, and further inquiry to be made concerning this business to +the full; but it was generally thought that the Earl stopped his +mouth, and made up the business betwixt them; and the good Earl, +to make plain to the world the great love he bare to her while +alive, and what a grief the loss of so virtuous a lady was to his +tender heart, caused (though the thing, by these and other means, +was beaten into the heads of the principal men of the University +of Oxford) her body to be reburied in St, Mary's Church in +Oxford, with great pomp and solemnity. It is remarkable, when +Dr. Babington, the Earl's chaplain, did preach the funeral +sermon, he tript once or twice in his speech, by recommending to +their memories that virtuous lady so pitifully murdered, instead +of saying pitifully slain. This Earl, after all his murders and +poisonings, was himself poisoned by that which was prepared for +others (some say by his wife at Cornbury Lodge before mentioned), +though Baker in his Chronicle would have it at Killingworth; anno +1588." [Ashmole's Antiquities of Berkshire, vol.i., p.149. The +tradition as to Leicester's death was thus communicated by Ben +Jonson to Drummond of Hawthornden:--"The Earl of Leicester gave +a bottle of liquor to his Lady, which he willed her to use in any +faintness, which she, after his returne from court, not knowing +it was poison, gave him, and so he died."--BEN JONSON'S +INFORMATION TO DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN, MS., SIR ROBERT SIBBALD'S +COPY.] + +The same accusation has been adopted and circulated by the author +of Leicester's Commonwealth, a satire written directly against +the Earl of Leicester, which loaded him with the most horrid +crimes, and, among the rest, with the murder of his first wife. +It was alluded to in the Yorkshire Tragedy, a play erroneously +ascribed to Shakespeare, where a baker, who determines to destroy +all his family, throws his wife downstairs, with this allusion to +the supposed murder of Leicester's lady,-- + + "The only way to charm a woman's tongue + Is, break her neck--a politician did it." + +The reader will find I have borrowed several incidents as well as +names from Ashmole, and the more early authorities; but my first +acquaintance with the history was through the more pleasing +medium of verse. There is a period in youth when the mere power +of numbers has a more strong effect on ear and imagination than +in more advanced life. At this season of immature taste, the +author was greatly delighted with the poems of Mickle and +Langhorne, poets who, though by no means deficient in the higher +branches of their art, were eminent for their powers of verbal +melody above most who have practised this department of poetry. +One of those pieces of Mickle, which the author was particularly +pleased with, is a ballad, or rather a species of elegy, on the +subject of Cumnor Hall, which, with others by the same author, +was to be found in Evans's Ancient Ballads (vol. iv., page 130), +to which work Mickle made liberal contributions. The first +stanza especially had a peculiar species of enchantment for the +youthful ear of the author, the force of which is not even now +entirely spent; some others are sufficiently prosaic. + + +CUMNOR HALL. + + The dews of summer night did fall; + The moon, sweet regent of the sky, + Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall, + And many an oak that grew thereby, + + Now nought was heard beneath the skies, + The sounds of busy life were still, + Save an unhappy lady's sighs, + That issued from that lonely pile. + + "Leicester," she cried, "is this thy love + That thou so oft hast sworn to me, + To leave me in this lonely grove, + Immured in shameful privity? + + "No more thou com'st with lover's speed, + Thy once beloved bride to see; + But be she alive, or be she dead, + I fear, stern Earl, 's the same to thee. + + "Not so the usage I received + When happy in my father's hall; + No faithless husband then me grieved, + No chilling fears did me appal. + + "I rose up with the cheerful morn, + No lark more blithe, no flower more gay; + And like the bird that haunts the thorn, + So merrily sung the livelong day. + + "If that my beauty is but small, + Among court ladies all despised, + Why didst thou rend it from that hall, + Where, scornful Earl, it well was prized? + + "And when you first to me made suit, + How fair I was you oft would say! + And proud of conquest, pluck'd the fruit, + Then left the blossom to decay. + + "Yes! now neglected and despised, + The rose is pale, the lily's dead; + But he that once their charms so prized, + Is sure the cause those charms are fled. + + "For know, when sick'ning grief doth prey, + And tender love's repaid with scorn, + The sweetest beauty will decay,-- + What floweret can endure the storm? + + "At court, I'm told, is beauty's throne, + Where every lady's passing rare, + That Eastern flowers, that shame the sun, + Are not so glowing, not so fair. + + "Then, Earl, why didst thou leave the beds + Where roses and where lilies vie, + To seek a primrose, whose pale shades + Must sicken when those gauds are by? + + "'Mong rural beauties I was one, + Among the fields wild flowers are fair; + Some country swain might me have won, + And thought my beauty passing rare. + + "But, Leicester (or I much am wrong), + Or 'tis not beauty lures thy vows; + Rather ambition's gilded crown + Makes thee forget thy humble spouse. + + "Then, Leicester, why, again I plead + (The injured surely may repine)-- + Why didst thou wed a country maid, + When some fair princess might be thine? + + "Why didst thou praise my hum'ble charms, + And, oh! then leave them to decay? + Why didst thou win me to thy arms, + Then leave to mourn the livelong day? + + "The village maidens of the plain + Salute me lowly as they go; + Envious they mark my silken train, + Nor think a Countess can have woe. + + "The simple nymphs! they little know + How far more happy's their estate; + To smile for joy, than sigh for woe-- + To be content, than to be great. + + "How far less blest am I than them? + Daily to pine and waste with care! + Like the poor plant that, from its stem + Divided, feels the chilling air. + + "Nor, cruel Earl! can I enjoy + The humble charms of solitude; + Your minions proud my peace destroy, + By sullen frowns or pratings rude. + + "Last night, as sad I chanced to stray, + The village death-bell smote my ear; + They wink'd aside, and seemed to say, + 'Countess, prepare, thy end is near!' + + "And now, while happy peasants sleep, + Here I sit lonely and forlorn; + No one to soothe me as I weep, + Save Philomel on yonder thorn. + + "My spirits flag--my hopes decay-- + Still that dread death-bell smites my ear; + And many a boding seems to say, + 'Countess, prepare, thy end is near!'" + + Thus sore and sad that lady grieved, + In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear; + And many a heartfelt sigh she heaved, + And let fall many a bitter tear. + + And ere the dawn of day appear'd, + In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear, + Full many a piercing scream was heard, + And many a cry of mortal fear. + + The death-bell thrice was heard to ring, + An aerial voice was heard to call, + And thrice the raven flapp'd its wing + Around the towers of Cumnor Hall. + + The mastiff howl'd at village door, + The oaks were shatter'd on the green; + Woe was the hour--for never more + That hapless Countess e'er was seen! + + And in that Manor now no more + Is cheerful feast and sprightly ball; + For ever since that dreary hour + Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall. + + The village maids, with fearful glance, + Avoid the ancient moss-grown wall; + Nor ever lead the merry dance, + Among the groves of Cumnor Hall. + + Full many a traveller oft hath sigh'd, + And pensive wept the Countess' fall, + As wand'ring onward they've espied + The haunted towers of Cumnor Hall. + +ARBOTSFORD, +1st March 1831. + + +* + + +KENILWORTH + + + +CHAPTER I. + + I am an innkeeper, and know my grounds, + And study them; Brain o' man, I study them. + I must have jovial guests to drive my ploughs, + And whistling boys to bring my harvests home, + Or I shall hear no flails thwack. THE NEW INN. + +It is the privilege of tale-tellers to open their story in an +inn, the free rendezvous of all travellers, and where the humour +of each displays itself without ceremony or restraint. This is +specially suitable when the scene is laid during the old days of +merry England, when the guests were in some sort not merely the +inmates, but the messmates and temporary companions of mine Host, +who was usually a personage of privileged freedom, comely +presence, and good-humour. Patronized by him the characters of +the company were placed in ready contrast; and they seldom +failed, during the emptying of a six-hooped pot, to throw off +reserve, and present themselves to each other, and to their +landlord, with the freedom of old acquaintance. + +The village of Cumnor, within three or four miles of Oxford, +boasted, during the eighteenth of Queen Elizabeth, an excellent +inn of the old stamp, conducted, or rather ruled, by Giles +Gosling, a man of a goodly person, and of somewhat round belly; +fifty years of age and upwards, moderate in his reckonings, +prompt in his payments, having a cellar of sound liquor, a ready +wit, and a pretty daughter. Since the days of old Harry Baillie +of the Tabard in Southwark, no one had excelled Giles Gosling in +the power of pleasing his guests of every description; and so +great was his fame, that to have been in Cumnor without wetting a +cup at the bonny Black Bear, would have been to avouch one's-self +utterly indifferent to reputation as a traveller. A country +fellow might as well return from London without looking in the +face of majesty. The men of Cumnor were proud of their Host, and +their Host was proud of his house, his liquor, his daughter, and +himself. + +It was in the courtyard of the inn which called this honest +fellow landlord, that a traveller alighted in the close of the +evening, gave his horse, which seemed to have made a long +journey, to the hostler, and made some inquiry, which produced +the following dialogue betwixt the myrmidons of the bonny Black +Bear. + +"What, ho! John Tapster." + +"At hand, Will Hostler," replied the man of the spigot, showing +himself in his costume of loose jacket, linen breeches, and green +apron, half within and half without a door, which appeared to +descend to an outer cellar. + +"Here is a gentleman asks if you draw good ale," continued the +hostler. + +"Beshrew my heart else," answered the tapster, "since there are +but four miles betwixt us and Oxford. Marry, if my ale did not +convince the heads of the scholars, they would soon convince my +pate with the pewter flagon." + +"Call you that Oxford logic?" said the stranger, who had now +quitted the rein of his horse, and was advancing towards the inn- +door, when he was encountered by the goodly form of Giles Gosling +himself. + +"Is it logic you talk of, Sir Guest?" said the host; "why, then, +have at you with a downright consequence-- + + 'The horse to the rack, + And to fire with the sack.'" + +"Amen! with all my heart, my good host," said the stranger; "let +it be a quart of your best Canaries, and give me your good help +to drink it." + +"Nay, you are but in your accidence yet, Sir Traveller, if you +call on your host for help for such a sipping matter as a quart +of sack; Were it a gallon, you might lack some neighbouring aid +at my hand, and yet call yourself a toper." + +"Fear me not." said the guest, "I will do my devoir as becomes a +man who finds himself within five miles of Oxford; for I am not +come from the field of Mars to discredit myself amongst the +followers of Minerva." + +As he spoke thus, the landlord, with much semblance of hearty +welcome, ushered his guest into a large, low chamber, where +several persons were seated together in different parties--some +drinking, some playing at cards, some conversing, and some, whose +business called them to be early risers on the morrow, concluding +their evening meal, and conferring with the chamberlain about +their night's quarters. + +The entrance of a stranger procured him that general and careless +sort of attention which is usually paid on such occasions, from +which the following results were deduced:--The guest was one of +those who, with a well-made person, and features not in +themselves unpleasing, are nevertheless so far from handsome +that, whether from the expression of their features, or the tone +of their voice, or from their gait and manner, there arises, on +the whole, a disinclination to their society. The stranger's +address was bold, without being frank, and seemed eagerly and +hastily to claim for him a degree of attention and deference +which he feared would be refused, if not instantly vindicated as +his right. His attire was a riding-cloak, which, when open, +displayed a handsome jerkin overlaid with lace, and belted with a +buff girdle, which sustained a broadsword and a pair of pistols. + +"You ride well provided, sir," said the host, looking at the +weapons as he placed on the table the mulled sack which the +traveller had ordered. + +"Yes, mine host; I have found the use on't in dangerous times, +and I do not, like your modern grandees, turn off my followers +the instant they are useless." + +"Ay, sir?" said Giles Gosling; "then you are from the Low +Countries, the land of pike and caliver?" + +"I have been high and low, my friend, broad and wide, far and +near. But here is to thee in a cup of thy sack; fill thyself +another to pledge me, and, if it is less than superlative, e'en +drink as you have brewed." + +"Less than superlative?" said Giles Gosling, drinking off the +cup, and smacking his lips with an air of ineffable relish,--"I +know nothing of superlative, nor is there such a wine at the +Three Cranes, in the Vintry, to my knowledge; but if you find +better sack than that in the Sheres, or in the Canaries either, I +would I may never touch either pot or penny more. Why, hold it +up betwixt you and the light, you shall see the little motes +dance in the golden liquor like dust in the sunbeam. But I would +rather draw wine for ten clowns than one traveller.--I trust your +honour likes the wine?" + +"It is neat and comfortable, mine host; but to know good liquor, +you should drink where the vine grows. Trust me, your Spaniard +is too wise a man to send you the very soul of the grape. Why, +this now, which you account so choice, were counted but as a cup +of bastard at the Groyne, or at Port St. Mary's. You should +travel, mine host, if you would be deep in the mysteries of the +butt and pottle-pot." + +"In troth, Signior Guest," said Giles Gosling, "if I were to +travel only that I might be discontented with that which I can +get at home, methinks I should go but on a fool's errand. +Besides, I warrant you, there is many a fool can turn his nose up +at good drink without ever having been out of the smoke of Old +England; and so ever gramercy mine own fireside." + +"This is but a mean mind of yours, mine host," said the stranger; +"I warrant me, all your town's folk do not think so basely. You +have gallants among you, I dare undertake, that have made the +Virginia voyage, or taken a turn in the Low Countries at least. +Come, cudgel your memory. Have you no friends in foreign parts +that you would gladly have tidings of?" + +"Troth, sir, not I," answered the host, "since ranting Robin of +Drysandford was shot at the siege of the Brill. The devil take +the caliver that fired the ball, for a blither lad never filled a +cup at midnight! But he is dead and gone, and I know not a +soldier, or a traveller, who is a soldier's mate, that I would +give a peeled codling for." + +"By the Mass, that is strange. What! so many of our brave +English hearts are abroad, and you, who seem to be a man of mark, +have no friend, no kinsman among them?" + +"Nay, if you speak of kinsmen," answered Gosling, "I have one +wild slip of a kinsman, who left us in the last year of Queen +Mary; but he is better lost than found." + +"Do not say so, friend, unless you have heard ill of him lately. +Many a wild colt has turned out a noble steed.--His name, I pray +you?" + +"Michael Lambourne," answered the landlord of the Black Bear; "a +son of my sister's--there is little pleasure in recollecting +either the name or the connection." + +"Michael Lambourne!" said the stranger, as if endeavouring to +recollect himself--"what, no relation to Michael Lambourne, the +gallant cavalier who behaved so bravely at the siege of Venlo +that Grave Maurice thanked him at the head of the army? Men said +he was an English cavalier, and of no high extraction." + +"It could scarcely be my nephew," said Giles Gosling, "for he had +not the courage of a hen-partridge for aught but mischief." + +"Oh, many a man finds courage in the wars," replied the stranger. + +"It may be," said the landlord; "but I would have thought our +Mike more likely to lose the little he had." + +"The Michael Lambourne whom I knew," continued the traveller, +"was a likely fellow--went always gay and well attired, and had a +hawk's eye after a pretty wench." + +"Our Michael," replied the host, "had the look of a dog with a +bottle at its tail, and wore a coat, every rag of which was +bidding good-day to the rest." + +"Oh, men pick up good apparel in the wars," replied the guest. + +"Our Mike," answered the landlord, "was more like to pick it up +in a frippery warehouse, while the broker was looking another +way; and, for the hawk's eye you talk of, his was always after my +stray spoons. He was tapster's boy here in this blessed house +for a quarter of a year; and between misreckonings, miscarriages, +mistakes, and misdemeanours, had he dwelt with me for three +months longer, I might have pulled down sign, shut up house, and +given the devil the key to keep." + +"You would be sorry, after all," continued the traveller, "were I +to tell you poor Mike Lambourne was shot at the head of his +regiment at the taking of a sconce near Maestricht?" + +"Sorry!--it would be the blithest news I ever heard of him, since +it would ensure me he was not hanged. But let him pass--I doubt +his end will never do such credit to his friends. Were it so, I +should say"--(taking another cup of sack)--"Here's God rest him, +with all my heart." + +"Tush, man," replied the traveller, "never fear but you will have +credit by your nephew yet, especially if he be the Michael +Lambourne whom I knew, and loved very nearly, or altogether, as +well as myself. Can you tell me no mark by which I could judge +whether they be the same?" + +"Faith, none that I can think of," answered Giles Gosling, +"unless that our Mike had the gallows branded on his left +shoulder for stealing a silver caudle-cup from Dame Snort of +Hogsditch." + +"Nay, there you lie like a knave, uncle," said the stranger, +slipping aside his ruff; and turning down the sleeve of his +doublet from his neck and shoulder; "by this good day, my +shoulder is as unscarred as thine own. + +"What, Mike, boy--Mike!" exclaimed the host;--"and is it thou, +in good earnest? Nay, I have judged so for this half-hour; for I +knew no other person would have ta'en half the interest in thee. +But, Mike, an thy shoulder be unscathed as thou sayest, thou must +own that Goodman Thong, the hangman, was merciful in his office, +and stamped thee with a cold iron." + +"Tush, uncle--truce with your jests. Keep them to season your +sour ale, and let us see what hearty welcome thou wilt give a +kinsman who has rolled the world around for eighteen years; who +has seen the sun set where it rises, and has travelled till the +west has become the east." + +"Thou hast brought back one traveller's gift with thee, Mike, as +I well see; and that was what thou least didst: need to travel +for. I remember well, among thine other qualities, there was no +crediting a word which came from thy mouth." + +"Here's an unbelieving pagan for you, gentlemen!" said Michael +Lambourne, turning to those who witnessed this strange interview +betwixt uncle and nephew, some of whom, being natives of the +village, were no strangers to his juvenile wildness. "This may +be called slaying a Cumnor fatted calf for me with a vengeance.-- +But, uncle, I come not from the husks and the swine-trough, and I +care not for thy welcome or no welcome; I carry that with me will +make me welcome, wend where I will." + +So saying, he pulled out a purse of gold indifferently well +filled, the sight of which produced a visible effect upon the +company. Some shook their heads and whispered to each other, +while one or two of the less scrupulous speedily began to +recollect him as a school-companion, a townsman, or so forth. On +the other hand, two or three grave, sedate-looking persons shook +their heads, and left the inn, hinting that, if Giles Gosling +wished to continue to thrive, he should turn his thriftless, +godless nephew adrift again, as soon as he could. Gosling +demeaned himself as if he were much of the same opinion, for even +the sight of the gold made less impression on the honest +gentleman than it usually doth upon one of his calling. + +"Kinsman Michael," he said, "put up thy purse. My sister's son +shall be called to no reckoning in my house for supper or +lodging; and I reckon thou wilt hardly wish to stay longer where +thou art e'en but too well known." + +"For that matter, uncle," replied the traveller, "I shall consult +my own needs and conveniences. Meantime I wish to give the +supper and sleeping cup to those good townsmen who are not too +proud to remember Mike Lambourne, the tapster's boy. If you will +let me have entertainment for my money, so; if not, it is but a +short two minutes' walk to the Hare and Tabor, and I trust our +neighbours will not grudge going thus far with me." + +"Nay, Mike," replied his uncle, "as eighteen years have gone over +thy head, and I trust thou art somewhat amended in thy +conditions, thou shalt not leave my house at this hour, and shalt +e'en have whatever in reason you list to call for. But I would I +knew that that purse of thine, which thou vapourest of, were as +well come by as it seems well filled." + +"Here is an infidel for you, my good neighbours!" said +Lambourne, again appealing to the audience. "Here's a fellow +will rip up his kinsman's follies of a good score of years' +standing. And for the gold, why, sirs, I have been where it +grew, and was to be had for the gathering. In the New World have +I been, man--in the Eldorado, where urchins play at cherry-pit +with diamonds, and country wenches thread rubies for necklaces, +instead of rowan-tree berries; where the pantiles are made of +pure gold, and the paving-stones of virgin silver." + +"By my credit, friend Mike," said young Laurence Goldthred, the +cutting mercer of Abingdon, "that were a likely coast to trade +to. And what may lawns, cypruses, and ribands fetch, where gold +is so plenty?" + +"Oh, the profit were unutterable," replied Lambourne, "especially +when a handsome young merchant bears the pack himself; for the +ladies of that clime are bona-robas, and being themselves somewhat +sunburnt, they catch fire like tinder at a fresh complexion like +thine, with a head of hair inclining to be red." + +"I would I might trade thither," said the mercer, chuckling. + +"Why, and so thou mayest," said Michael--"that is, if thou art +the same brisk boy who was partner with me at robbing the Abbot's +orchard. 'Tis but a little touch of alchemy to decoct thy house +and land into ready money, and that ready money into a tall ship, +with sails, anchors, cordage, and all things conforming; then +clap thy warehouse of goods under hatches, put fifty good fellows +on deck, with myself to command them, and so hoist topsails, and +hey for the New World!" + +"Thou hast taught him a secret, kinsman," said Giles Gosling, "to +decoct, an that be the word, his pound into a penny and his webs +into a thread.--Take a fool's advice, neighbour Goldthred. Tempt +not the sea, for she is a devourer. Let cards and cockatrices do +their worst, thy father's bales may bide a banging for a year or +two ere thou comest to the Spital; but the sea hath a bottomless +appetite,--she would swallow the wealth of Lombard Street in a +morning, as easily as I would a poached egg and a cup of clary. +And for my kinsman's Eldorado, never trust me if I do not believe +he has found it in the pouches of some such gulls as thyself.-- +But take no snuff in the nose about it; fall to and welcome, for +here comes the supper, and I heartily bestow it on all that will +take share, in honour of my hopeful nephew's return, always +trusting that he has come home another man.--In faith, kinsman, +thou art as like my poor sister as ever was son to mother." + +"Not quite so like old Benedict Lambourne, her husband, though," +said the mercer, nodding and winking. "Dost thou remember, Mike, +what thou saidst when the schoolmaster's ferule was over thee for +striking up thy father's crutches?--it is a wise child, saidst +thou, that knows its own father. Dr. Bircham laughed till he +cried again, and his crying saved yours." + +"Well, he made it up to me many a day after," said Lambourne; +"and how is the worthy pedagogue?" + +"Dead," said Giles Gosling, "this many a day since." + +"That he is," said the clerk of the parish; "I sat by his bed the +whilst. He passed away in a blessed frame. 'MORIOR--MORTUUS SUM +VEL FUI--MORI'--these were his latest words; and he just added, +'my last verb is conjugated." + +"Well, peace be with him," said Mike, "he owes me nothing." + +"No, truly," replied Goldthred; "and every lash which he laid on +thee, he always was wont to say, he spared the hangman a labour." + +"One would have thought he left him little to do then," said the +clerk; "and yet Goodman Thong had no sinecure of it with our +friend, after all." + +"VOTO A DIOS!" exclaimed Lambourne, his patience appearing to +fail him, as he snatched his broad, slouched hat from the table +and placed it on his head, so that the shadow gave the sinister +expression of a Spanish brave to eyes and features which +naturally boded nothing pleasant. "Hark'ee, my masters--all is +fair among friends, and under the rose; and I have already +permitted my worthy uncle here, and all of you, to use your +pleasure with the frolics of my nonage. But I carry sword and +dagger, my good friends, and can use them lightly too upon +occasion. I have learned to be dangerous upon points of honour +ever since I served the Spaniard, and I would not have you +provoke me to the degree of falling foul." + +"Why, what would you do?" said the clerk. + +"Ay, sir, what would you do?" said the mercer, bustling up on +the other side of the table. + +"Slit your throat, and spoil your Sunday's quavering, Sir Clerk," +said Lambourne fiercely; "cudgel you, my worshipful dealer in +flimsy sarsenets, into one of your own bales." + +"Come, come," said the host, interposing, "I will have no +swaggering here.--Nephew, it will become you best to show no +haste to take offence; and you, gentlemen, will do well to +remember, that if you are in an inn, still you are the inn- +keeper's guests, and should spare the honour of his family.--I +protest your silly broils make me as oblivious as yourself; for +yonder sits my silent guest as I call him, who hath been my two +days' inmate, and hath never spoken a word, save to ask for his +food and his reckoning--gives no more trouble than a very +peasant--pays his shot like a prince royal--looks but at the sum +total of the reckoning, and does not know what day he shall go +away. Oh, 'tis a jewel of a guest! and yet, hang-dog that I am, +I have suffered him to sit by himself like a castaway in yonder +obscure nook, without so much as asking him to take bite or sup +along with us. It were but the right guerdon of my incivility +were he to set off to the Hare and Tabor before the night grows +older." + +With his white napkin gracefully arranged over his left arm, his +velvet cap laid aside for the moment, and his best silver flagon +in his right hand, mine host walked up to the solitary guest whom +he mentioned, and thereby turned upon him the eyes of the +assembled company. + +He was a man aged betwixt twenty-five and thirty, rather above +the middle size, dressed with plainness and decency, yet bearing +an air of ease which almost amounted to dignity, and which seemed +to infer that his habit was rather beneath his rank. His +countenance was reserved and thoughtful, with dark hair and dark +eyes; the last, upon any momentary excitement, sparkled with +uncommon lustre, but on other occasions had the same meditative +and tranquil cast which was exhibited by his features. The busy +curiosity of the little village had been employed to discover his +name and quality, as well as his business at Cumnor; but nothing +had transpired on either subject which could lead to its +gratification. Giles Gosling, head-borough of the place, and a +steady friend to Queen Elizabeth and the Protestant religion, was +at one time inclined to suspect his guest of being a Jesuit, or +seminary priest, of whom Rome and Spain sent at this time so many +to grace the gallows in England. But it was scarce possible to +retain such a prepossession against a guest who gave so little +trouble, paid his reckoning so regularly, and who proposed, as it +seemed, to make a considerable stay at the bonny Black Bear. + +"Papists," argued Giles Gosling, "are a pinching, close-fisted +race, and this man would have found a lodging with the wealthy +squire at Bessellsey, or with the old Knight at Wootton, or in +some other of their Roman dens, instead of living in a house of +public entertainment, as every honest man and good Christian +should. Besides, on Friday he stuck by the salt beef and carrot, +though there were as good spitch-cocked eels on the board as ever +were ta'en out of the Isis." + +Honest Giles, therefore, satisfied himself that his guest was no +Roman, and with all comely courtesy besought the stranger to +pledge him in a draught of the cool tankard, and honour with his +attention a small collation which he was giving to his nephew, in +honour of his return, and, as he verily hoped, of his +reformation. The stranger at first shook his head, as if +declining the courtesy; but mine host proceeded to urge him with +arguments founded on the credit of his house, and the +construction which the good people of Cumnor might put upon such +an unsocial humour. + +"By my faith, sir," he said, "it touches my reputation that men +should be merry in my house; and we have ill tongues amongst us +at Cumnor (as where be there not?), who put an evil mark on men +who pull their hat over their brows, as if they were looking back +to the days that are gone, instead of enjoying the blithe +sunshiny weather which God has sent us in the sweet looks of our +sovereign mistress, Queen Elizabeth, whom Heaven long bless and +preserve!" + +"Why, mine host," answered the stranger, "there is no treason, +sure, in a man's enjoying his own thoughts, under the shadow of +his own bonnet? You have lived in the world twice as long as I +have, and you must know there are thoughts that will haunt us in +spite of ourselves, and to which it is in vain to say, Begone, +and let me be merry." + +"By my sooth," answered Giles Gosling, "if such troublesome +thoughts haunt your mind, and will not get them gone for plain +English, we will have one of Father Bacon's pupils from Oxford, +to conjure them away with logic and with Hebrew--or, what say you +to laying them in a glorious red sea of claret, my noble guest? +Come, sir, excuse my freedom. I am an old host, and must have my +talk. This peevish humour of melancholy sits ill upon you; it +suits not with a sleek boot, a hat of trim block, a fresh cloak, +and a full purse. A pize on it! send it off to those who have +their legs swathed with a hay-wisp, their heads thatched with a +felt bonnet, their jerkin as thin as a cobweb, and their pouch +without ever a cross to keep the fiend Melancholy from dancing in +it. Cheer up, sir! or, by this good liquor, we shall banish +thee from the joys of blithesome company, into the mists of +melancholy and the land of little-ease. Here be a set of good +fellows willing to be merry; do not scowl on them like the devil +looking over Lincoln." + +"You say well, my worthy host," said the guest, with a melancholy +smile, which, melancholy as it was, gave a very pleasant: +expression to his countenance--"you say well, my jovial friend; +and they that are moody like myself should not disturb the mirth +of those who are happy. I will drink a round with your guests +with all my heart, rather than be termed a mar-feast." + +So saying, he arose and joined the company, who, encouraged by +the precept and example of Michael Lambourne, and consisting +chiefly of persons much disposed to profit by the opportunity of +a merry meal at the expense of their landlord, had already made +some inroads upon the limits of temperance, as was evident from +the tone in which Michael inquired after his old acquaintances in +the town, and the bursts of laughter with which each answer was +received. Giles Gosling himself was somewhat scandalized at the +obstreperous nature of their mirth, especially as he +involuntarily felt some respect for his unknown guest. He +paused, therefore, at some distance from the table occupied by +these noisy revellers, and began to make a sort of apology for +their license. + +"You would think," he said, "to hear these fellows talk, that +there was not one of them who had not been bred to live by Stand +and Deliver; and yet tomorrow you will find them a set of as +painstaking mechanics, and so forth, as ever cut an inch short of +measure, or paid a letter of change in light crowns over a +counter. The mercer there wears his hat awry, over a shaggy head +of hair, that looks like a curly water-dog's back, goes unbraced, +wears his cloak on one side, and affects a ruffianly vapouring +humour: when in his shop at Abingdon, he is, from his flat cap +to his glistening shoes, as precise in his apparel as if he was +named for mayor. He talks of breaking parks, and taking the +highway, in such fashion that you would think he haunted every +night betwixt Hounslow and London; when in fact he may be found +sound asleep on his feather-bed, with a candle placed beside him +on one side, and a Bible on the other, to fright away the +goblins." + +"And your nephew, mine host, this same Michael Lambourne, who is +lord of the feast--is he, too, such a would-be ruffler as the +rest of them?" + +"Why, there you push me hard," said the host; "my nephew is my +nephew, and though he was a desperate Dick of yore, yet Mike may +have mended like other folks, you wot. And I would not have you +think all I said of him, even now, was strict gospel; I knew the +wag all the while, and wished to pluck his plumes from him. And +now, sir, by what name shall I present my worshipful guest to +these gallants?" + +"Marry, mine host," replied the stranger, "you may call me +Tressilian." + +"Tressilian?" answered mine host of the Bear. "A worthy name, +and, as I think, of Cornish lineage; for what says the south +proverb-- + + 'By Pol, Tre, and Pen, + You may know the Cornish men.' + +Shall I say the worthy Master Tressilian of Cornwall?" + +"Say no more than I have given you warrant for, mine host, and so +shall you be sure you speak no more than is true. A man may have +one of those honourable prefixes to his name, yet be born far +from Saint Michael's Mount." + +Mine host pushed his curiosity no further, but presented Master +Tressilian to his nephew's company, who, after exchange of +salutations, and drinking to the health of their new companion, +pursued the conversation in which he found them engaged, +seasoning it with many an intervening pledge. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Talk you of young Master Lancelot? MERCHANT OF VENICE. + +After some brief interval, Master Goldthred, at the earnest +instigation of mine host, and the joyous concurrence of his +guest, indulged the company with, the following morsel of +melody:- + + "Of all the birds on bush or tree, + Commend me to the owl, + Since he may best ensample be + To those the cup that trowl. + For when the sun hath left the west, + He chooses the tree that he loves the best, + And he whoops out his song, and he laughs at his jest; + Then, though hours be late and weather foul, + We'll drink to the health of the bonny, bonny owl. + + "The lark is but a bumpkin fowl, + He sleeps in his nest till morn; + But my blessing upon the jolly owl, + That all night blows his horn. + Then up with your cup till you stagger in speech, + And match me this catch till you swagger and screech, + And drink till you wink, my merry men each; + For, though hours be late and weather be foul, + We'll drink to the health of the bonny, bonny owl." + +"There is savour in this, my hearts," said Michael, when the +mercer had finished his song, "and some goodness seems left among +you yet; but what a bead-roll you have read me of old comrades, +and to every man's name tacked some ill-omened motto! And so +Swashing Will of Wallingford hath bid us good-night?" + +"He died the death of a fat buck," said one of the party, "being +shot with a crossbow bolt, by old Thatcham, the Duke's stout +park-keeper at Donnington Castle." + +"Ay, ay, he always loved venison well," replied Michael, "and a +cup of claret to boot--and so here's one to his memory. Do me +right, my masters." + +When the memory of this departed worthy had been duly honoured, +Lambourne proceeded to inquire after Prance of Padworth. + +"Pranced off--made immortal ten years since," said the mercer; +"marry, sir, Oxford Castle and Goodman Thong, and a tenpenny- +worth of cord, best know how." + +"What, so they hung poor Prance high and dry? so much for loving +to walk by moonlight. A cup to his memory, my masters-all merry +fellows like moonlight. What has become of Hal with the Plume-- +he who lived near Yattenden, and wore the long feather?--I +forget his name." + +"What, Hal Hempseed?" replied the mercer. "Why, you may +remember he was a sort of a gentleman, and would meddle in state +matters, and so he got into the mire about the Duke of Norfolk's +affair these two or three years since, fled the country with a +pursuivant's warrant at his heels, and has never since been heard +of." + +"Nay, after these baulks," said Michael Lambourne, "I need hardly +inquire after Tony Foster; for when ropes, and crossbow shafts, +and pursuivant's warrants, and such-like gear, were so rife, Tony +could hardly 'scape them." + +"Which Tony Foster mean you?" said the innkeeper. + +"Why, him they called Tony Fire-the-Fagot, because he brought a +light to kindle the pile round Latimer and Ridley, when the wind +blew out Jack Thong's torch, and no man else would give him light +for love or money." + +"Tony Foster lives and thrives," said the host. "But, kinsman, I +would not have you call him Tony Fire-the-Fagot, if you would +not brook the stab." + +"How! is he grown ashamed on't?" said Lambourne, "Why, he was +wont to boast of it, and say he liked as well to see a roasted +heretic as a roasted ox." + +"Ay, but, kinsman, that was in Mary's time," replied the +landlord, "when Tony's father was reeve here to the Abbot of +Abingdon. But since that, Tony married a pure precisian, and is +as good a Protestant, I warrant you, as the best." + +"And looks grave, and holds his head high, and scorns his old +companions," said the mercer. + +"Then he hath prospered, I warrant him," said Lambourne; "for +ever when a man hath got nobles of his own, he keeps out of the +way of those whose exchequers lie in other men's purchase." + +"Prospered, quotha!" said the mercer; "why, you remember Cumnor +Place, the old mansion-house beside the churchyard?" + +"By the same token, I robbed the orchard three times-- what of +that? It was the old abbot's residence when there was plague or +sickness at Abingdon." + +"Ay," said the host, "but that has been long over; and Anthony +Foster hath a right in it, and lives there by some grant from a +great courtier, who had the church-lands from the crown. And +there he dwells, and has as little to do with any poor wight in +Cumnor, as if he were himself a belted knight." + +"Nay," said the mercer, "it is not altogether pride in Tony +neither; there is a fair lady in the case, and Tony will scarce +let the light of day look on her." + +"How!" said Tressilian, who now for the first time interfered in +their conversation; "did ye not say this Foster was married, and +to a precisian?" + +"Married he was, and to as bitter a precisian as ever ate flesh +in Lent; and a cat-and-dog life she led with Tony, as men said. +But she is dead, rest be with her! and Tony hath but a slip of a +daughter; so it is thought he means to wed this stranger, that +men keep such a coil about." + +"And why so?--I mean, why do they keep a coil about her?" said +Tressilian. + +"Why, I wot not," answered the host, "except that men say she is +as beautiful as an angel, and no one knows whence she comes, and +every one wishes to know why she is kept so closely mewed up. +For my part, I never saw her--you have, I think, Master +Goldthred?" + +"That I have, old boy," said the mercer. "Look you, I was riding +hither from Abingdon. I passed under the east oriel window of +the old mansion, where all the old saints and histories and such- +like are painted. It was not the common path I took, but one +through the Park; for the postern door was upon the latch, and I +thought I might take the privilege of an old comrade to ride +across through the trees, both for shading, as the day was +somewhat hot, and for avoiding of dust, because I had on my +peach-coloured doublet, pinked out with cloth of gold." + +"Which garment," said Michael Lambourne, "thou wouldst willingly +make twinkle in the eyes of a fair dame. Ah! villain, thou wilt +never leave thy old tricks." + +"Not so-not so," said the mercer, with a smirking laugh--"not +altogether so--but curiosity, thou knowest, and a strain of +compassion withal; for the poor young lady sees nothing from morn +to even but Tony Foster, with his scowling black brows, his +bull's head, and his bandy legs." + +"And thou wouldst willingly show her a dapper body, in a silken +jerkin--a limb like a short-legged hen's, in a cordovan boot-- +and a round, simpering, what-d'ye-lack sort of a countenance, +set off with a velvet bonnet, a Turkey feather, and a gilded +brooch? Ah! jolly mercer, they who have good wares are fond to +show them!--Come, gentles, let not the cup stand--here's to long +spurs, short boots, full bonnets, and empty skulls!" + +"Nay, now, you are jealous of me, Mike," said Goldthred; "and yet +my luck was but what might have happened to thee, or any man." + +"Marry confound thine impudence," retorted Lambourne; "thou +wouldst not compare thy pudding face, and sarsenet manners, to a +gentleman, and a soldier?" + +"Nay, my good sir," said Tressilian, "let me beseech you will not +interrupt the gallant citizen; methinks he tells his tale so +well, I could hearken to him till midnight." + +"It's more of your favour than of my desert," answered Master +Goldthred; "but since I give you pleasure, worthy Master +Tressilian, I shall proceed, maugre all the gibes and quips of +this valiant soldier, who, peradventure, hath had more cuffs than +crowns in the Low Countries. And so, sir, as I passed under the +great painted window, leaving my rein loose on my ambling +palfrey's neck, partly for mine ease, and partly that I might +have the more leisure to peer about, I hears me the lattice open; +and never credit me, sir, if there did not stand there the person +of as fair a woman as ever crossed mine eyes; and I think I have +looked on as many pretty wenches, and with as much judgment, as +other folks." + +"May I ask her appearance, sir?" said Tressilian. + +"Oh, sir," replied Master Goldthred, "I promise you, she was in +gentlewoman's attire--a very quaint and pleasing dress, that +might have served the Queen herself; for she had a forepart with +body and sleeves, of ginger-coloured satin, which, in my +judgment, must have cost by the yard some thirty shillings, lined +with murrey taffeta, and laid down and guarded with two broad +laces of gold and silver. And her hat, sir, was truly the best +fashioned thing that I have seen in these parts, being of tawny +taffeta, embroidered with scorpions of Venice gold, and having a +border garnished with gold fringe--I promise you, sir, an +absolute and all-surpassing device. Touching her skirts, they +were in the old pass-devant fashion." + +"I did not ask you of her attire, sir," said Tressilian, who had +shown some impatience during this conversation, "but of her +complexion--the colour of her hair, her features." + +"Touching her complexion," answered the mercer, "I am not so +special certain, but I marked that her fan had an ivory handle, +curiously inlaid. And then again, as to the colour of her hair, +why, I can warrant, be its hue what it might, that she wore above +it a net of green silk, parcel twisted with gold." + +"A most mercer-like memory!" said Lambourne. "The gentleman +asks him of the lady's beauty, and he talks of her fine clothes!" + +"I tell thee," said the mercer, somewhat disconcerted, "I had +little time to look at her; for just as I was about to give her +the good time of day, and for that purpose had puckered my +features with a smile--" + +"Like those of a jackanape simpering at a chestnut," said Michael +Lambourne. + +"Up started of a sudden," continued Goldthred, without heeding +the interruption, "Tony Foster himself, with a cudgel in his +hand--" + +"And broke thy head across, I hope, for thine impertinence," said +his entertainer. + +"That were more easily said than done," answered Goldthred +indignantly; "no, no--there was no breaking of heads. It's true, +he advanced his cudgel, and spoke of laying on, and asked why I +did not keep the public road, and such like; and I would have +knocked him over the pate handsomely for his pains, only for the +lady's presence, who might have swooned, for what I know." + +"Now, out upon thee for a faint-spirited slave!" said Lambourne; +"what adventurous knight ever thought of the lady's terror, when +he went to thwack giant, dragon, or magician, in her presence, +and for her deliverance? But why talk to thee of dragons, who +would be driven back by a dragon-fly. There thou hast missed the +rarest opportunity!" + +"Take it thyself, then, bully Mike," answered Goldthred. "Yonder +is the enchanted manor, and the dragon, and the lady, all at thy +service, if thou darest venture on them." + +"Why, so I would for a quartern of sack," said the soldier --"or +stay: I am foully out of linen--wilt thou bet a piece of +Hollands against these five angels, that I go not up to the Hall +to-morrow and force Tony Foster to introduce me to his fair +guest?" + +"I accept your wager," said the mercer; "and I think, though thou +hadst even the impudence of the devil, I shall gain on thee this +bout. Our landlord here shall hold stakes, and I will stake down +gold till I send the linen." + +"I will hold stakes on no such matter," said Gosling. "Good now, +my kinsman, drink your wine in quiet, and let such ventures +alone. I promise you, Master Foster hath interest enough to lay +you up in lavender in the Castle at Oxford, or to get your legs +made acquainted with the town-stocks." + +"That would be but renewing an old intimacy, for Mike's shins and +the town's wooden pinfold have been well known to each other ere +now," said the mercer; "but he shall not budge from his wager, +unless he means to pay forfeit." + +"Forfeit?" said Lambourne; "I scorn it. I value Tony Foster's +wrath no more than a shelled pea-cod; and I will visit his +Lindabrides, by Saint George, be he willing or no!" + +"I would gladly pay your halves of the risk, sir," said +Tressilian, "to be permitted to accompany you on the adventure." + +"In what would that advantage you, sir?" answered Lambourne. + +"In nothing, sir," said Tressilian, "unless to mark the skill and +valour with which you conduct yourself. I am a traveller who +seeks for strange rencounters and uncommon passages, as the +knights of yore did after adventures and feats of arms." + +"Nay, if it pleasures you to see a trout tickled," answered +Lambourne, "I care not how many witness my skill. And so here I +drink success to my enterprise; and he that will not pledge me on +his knees is a rascal, and I will cut his legs off by the +garters!" + +The draught which Michael Lambourne took upon this occasion had +been preceded by so many others, that reason tottered on her +throne. He swore one or two incoherent oaths at the mercer, who +refused, reasonably enough, to pledge him to a sentiment which +inferred the loss of his own wager. + +"Wilt thou chop logic with me," said Lambourne, "thou knave, with +no more brains than are in a skein of ravelled silk? By Heaven, +I will cut thee into fifty yards of galloon lace!" + +But as he attempted to draw his sword for this doughty purpose, +Michael Lambourne was seized upon by the tapster and the +chamberlain, and conveyed to his own apartment, there to sleep +himself sober at his leisure. + +The party then broke up, and the guests took their leave; much +more to the contentment of mine host than of some of the company, +who were unwilling to quit good liquor, when it was to be had for +free cost, so long as they were able to sit by it. They were, +however, compelled to remove; and go at length they did, leaving +Gosling and Tressilian in the empty apartment. + +"By my faith," said the former, "I wonder where our great folks +find pleasure, when they spend their means in entertainments, and +in playing mine host without sending in a reckoning. It is what +I but rarely practise; and whenever I do, by Saint Julian, it +grieves me beyond measure. Each of these empty stoups now, which +my nephew and his drunken comrades have swilled off, should have +been a matter of profit to one in my line, and I must set them +down a dead loss. I cannot, for my heart, conceive the pleasure +of noise, and nonsense, and drunken freaks, and drunken quarrels, +and smut, and blasphemy, and so forth, when a man loses money +instead of gaining by it. And yet many a fair estate is lost in +upholding such a useless course, and that greatly contributes to +the decay of publicans; for who the devil do you think would pay +for drink at the Black Bear, when he can have it for nothing at +my Lord's or the Squire's?" + +Tressilian perceived that the wine had made some impression even +on the seasoned brain of mine host, which was chiefly to be +inferred from his declaiming against drunkenness. As he himself +had carefully avoided the bowl, he would have availed himself of +the frankness of the moment to extract from Gosling some further +information upon the subject of Anthony Foster, and the lady whom +the mercer had seen in his mansion-house; but his inquiries only +set the host upon a new theme of declamation against the wiles of +the fair sex, in which he brought, at full length, the whole +wisdom of Solomon to reinforce his own. Finally, he turned his +admonitions, mixed with much objurgation, upon his tapsters and +drawers, who were employed in removing the relics of the +entertainment, and restoring order to the apartment; and at +length, joining example to precept, though with no good success, +he demolished a salver with half a score of glasses, in +attempting to show how such service was done at the Three Cranes +in the Vintry, then the most topping tavern in London. This last +accident so far recalled him to his better self, that he retired +to his bed, slept sound, and awoke a new man in the morning. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Nay, I'll hold touch--the game shall be play'd out; + It ne'er shall stop for me, this merry wager: + That which I say when gamesome, I'll avouch + In my most sober mood, ne'er trust me else. THE HAZARD TABLE. + +"And how doth your kinsman, good mine host?" said Tressilian, +when Giles Gosling first appeared in the public room, on the +morning following the revel which we described in the last +chapter. "Is he well, and will he abide by his wager?" + +"For well, sir, he started two hours since, and has visited I +know not what purlieus of his old companions; hath but now +returned, and is at this instant breakfasting on new-laid eggs +and muscadine. And for his wager, I caution you as a friend to +have little to do with that, or indeed with aught that Mike +proposes. Wherefore, I counsel you to a warm breakfast upon a +culiss, which shall restore the tone of the stomach; and let my +nephew and Master Goldthred swagger about their wager as they +list." + +"It seems to me, mine host," said Tressilian, "that you know not +well what to say about this kinsman of yours, and that you can +neither blame nor commend him without some twinge of conscience." + +"You have spoken truly, Master Tressilian," replied Giles +Gosling. "There is Natural Affection whimpering into one ear, +'Giles, Giles, why wilt thou take away the good name of thy own +nephew? Wilt thou defame thy sister's son, Giles Gosling? wilt +thou defoul thine own nest, dishonour thine own blood?' And then, +again, comes Justice, and says, 'Here is a worthy guest as ever +came to the bonny Black Bear; one who never challenged a +reckoning' (as I say to your face you never did, Master +Tressilian--not that you have had cause), 'one who knows not why +he came, so far as I can see, or when he is going away; and wilt +thou, being a publican, having paid scot and lot these thirty +years in the town of Cumnor, and being at this instant head- +borough, wilt thou suffer this guest of guests, this man of men, +this six-hooped pot (as I may say) of a traveller, to fall into +the meshes of thy nephew, who is known for a swasher and a +desperate Dick, a carder and a dicer, a professor of the seven +damnable sciences, if ever man took degrees in them?' No, by +Heaven! I might wink, and let him catch such a small butterfly +as Goldthred; but thou, my guest, shall be forewarned, forearmed, +so thou wilt but listen to thy trusty host." + +"Why, mine host, thy counsel shall not be cast away," replied +Tressilian; "however, I must uphold my share in this wager, +having once passed my word to that effect. But lend me, I pray, +some of thy counsel. This Foster, who or what is he, and why +makes he such mystery of his female inmate?" + +"Troth," replied Gosling, "I can add but little to what you heard +last night. He was one of Queen Mary's Papists, and now he is +one of Queen Elizabeth's Protestants; he was an onhanger of the +Abbot of Abingdon; and now he lives as master of the Manor-house. +Above all, he was poor, and is rich. Folk talk of private +apartments in his old waste mansion-house, bedizened fine enough +to serve the Queen, God bless her! Some men think he found a +treasure in the orchard, some that he sold himself to the devil +for treasure, and some say that he cheated the abbot out of the +church plate, which was hidden in the old Manor-house at the +Reformation. Rich, however, he is, and God and his conscience, +with the devil perhaps besides, only know how he came by it. He +has sulky ways too--breaking off intercourse with all that are of +the place, as if he had either some strange secret to keep, or +held himself to be made of another clay than we are. I think it +likely my kinsman and he will quarrel, if Mike thrust his +acquaintance on him; and I am sorry that you, my worthy Master +Tressilian, will still think of going in my nephew's company." + +Tressilian again answered him, that he would proceed with great +caution, and that he should have no fears on his account; in +short, he bestowed on him all the customary assurances with which +those who are determined on a rash action are wont to parry the +advice of their friends. + +Meantime, the traveller accepted the landlord's invitation, and +had just finished the excellent breakfast, which was served to +him and Gosling by pretty Cicely, the beauty of the bar, when the +hero of the preceding night, Michael Lambourne, entered the +apartment. His toilet had apparently cost him some labour, for +his clothes, which differed from those he wore on his journey, +were of the newest fashion, and put on with great attention to +the display of his person. + +"By my faith, uncle," said the gallant, "you made a wet night of +it, and I feel it followed by a dry morning. I will pledge you +willingly in a cup of bastard.--How, my pretty coz Cicely! why, +I left you but a child in the cradle, and there thou stand'st in +thy velvet waistcoat, as tight a girl as England's sun shines on. +Know thy friends and kindred, Cicely, and come hither, child, +that I may kiss thee, and give thee my blessing." + +"Concern not yourself about Cicely, kinsman," said Giles Gosling, +"but e'en let her go her way, a' God's name; for although your +mother were her father's sister, yet that shall not make you and +her cater-cousins." + +"Why, uncle," replied Lambourne, "think'st thou I am an infidel, +and would harm those of mine own house?" + +"It is for no harm that I speak, Mike," answered his uncle, "but +a simple humour of precaution which I have. True, thou art as +well gilded as a snake when he casts his old slough in the spring +time; but for all that, thou creepest not into my Eden. I will +look after mine Eve, Mike, and so content thee.--But how brave +thou be'st, lad! To look on thee now, and compare thee with +Master Tressilian here, in his sad-coloured riding-suit, who +would not say that thou wert the real gentleman and he the +tapster's boy?" + +"Troth, uncle," replied Lambourne, "no one would say so but one +of your country-breeding, that knows no better. I will say, and +I care not who hears me, there is something about the real gentry +that few men come up to that are not born and bred to the +mystery. I wot not where the trick lies; but although I can +enter an ordinary with as much audacity, rebuke the waiters and +drawers as loudly, drink as deep a health, swear as round an +oath, and fling my gold as freely about as any of the jingling +spurs and white feathers that are around me, yet, hang me if I +can ever catch the true grace of it, though I have practised an +hundred times. The man of the house sets me lowest at the board, +and carves to me the last; and the drawer says, 'Coming, friend,' +without any more reverence or regardful addition. But, hang it, +let it pass; care killed a cat. I have gentry enough to pass the +trick on Tony Fire-the-Faggot, and that will do for the matter in +hand." + +"You hold your purpose, then, of visiting your old acquaintance?" +said Tressilian to the adventurer. + +"Ay, sir," replied Lambourne; "when stakes are made, the game +must be played; that is gamester's law, all over the world. You, +sir, unless my memory fails me (for I did steep it somewhat too +deeply in the sack-butt), took some share in my hazard?" + +"I propose to accompany you in your adventure," said Tressilian, +"if you will do me so much grace as to permit me; and I have +staked my share of the forfeit in the hands of our worthy host." + +"That he hath," answered Giles Gosling, "in as fair Harry-nobles +as ever were melted into sack by a good fellow. So, luck to your +enterprise, since you will needs venture on Tony Foster; but, by +my credit, you had better take another draught before you depart, +for your welcome at the Hall yonder will be somewhat of the +driest. And if you do get into peril, beware of taking to cold +steel; but send for me, Giles Gosling, the head-borough, and I +may be able to make something out of Tony yet, for as proud as he +is." + +The nephew dutifully obeyed his uncle's hint, by taking a second +powerful pull at the tankard, observing that his wit never served +him so well as when he had washed his temples with a deep +morning's draught; and they set forth together for the habitation +of Anthony Foster. + +The village of Cumnor is pleasantly built on a hill, and in a +wooded park closely adjacent was situated the ancient mansion +occupied at this time by Anthony Foster, of which the ruins may +be still extant. The park was then full of large trees, and in +particular of ancient and mighty oaks, which stretched their +giant arms over the high wall surrounding the demesne, thus +giving it a melancholy, secluded, and monastic appearance. The +entrance to the park lay through an old-fashioned gateway in the +outer wall, the door of which was formed of two huge oaken leaves +thickly studded with nails, like the gate of an old town. + +"We shall be finely helped up here," said Michael Lambourne, +looking at the gateway and gate, "if this fellow's suspicious +humour should refuse us admission altogether, as it is like he +may, in case this linsey-wolsey fellow of a mercer's visit to his +premises has disquieted him. But, no," he added, pushing the +huge gate, which gave way, "the door stands invitingly open; and +here we are within the forbidden ground, without other impediment +than the passive resistance of a heavy oak door moving on rusty +hinges." + +They stood now in an avenue overshadowed by such old trees as we +have described, and which had been bordered at one time by high +hedges of yew and holly. But these, having been untrimmed for +many years, had run up into great bushes, or rather dwarf-trees, +and now encroached, with their dark and melancholy boughs, upon +the road which they once had screened. The avenue itself was +grown up with grass, and, in one or two places, interrupted by +piles of withered brushwood, which had been lopped from the trees +cut down in the neighbouring park, and was here stacked for +drying. Formal walks and avenues, which, at different points, +crossed this principal approach, were, in like manner, choked up +and interrupted by piles of brushwood and billets, and in other +places by underwood and brambles. Besides the general effect of +desolation which is so strongly impressed whenever we behold the +contrivances of man wasted and obliterated by neglect, and +witness the marks of social life effaced gradually by the +influence of vegetation, the size of the trees and the +outspreading extent of their boughs diffused a gloom over the +scene, even when the sun was at the highest, and made a +proportional impression on the mind of those who visited it. +This was felt even by Michael Lambourne, however alien his habits +were to receiving any impressions, excepting from things which +addressed themselves immediately to his passions. + +"This wood is as dark as a wolf's mouth," said he to Tressilian, +as they walked together slowly along the solitary and broken +approach, and had just come in sight of the monastic front of the +old mansion, with its shafted windows, brick walls overgrown with +ivy and creeping shrubs, and twisted stalks of chimneys of heavy +stone-work. "And yet," continued Lambourne, "it is fairly done +on the part of Foster too for since he chooses not visitors, it +is right to keep his place in a fashion that will invite few to +trespass upon his privacy. But had he been the Anthony I once +knew him, these sturdy oaks had long since become the property of +some honest woodmonger, and the manor-close here had looked +lighter at midnight than it now does at noon, while Foster played +fast and loose with the price, in some cunning corner in the +purlieus of Whitefriars." + +"Was he then such an unthrift?" asked Tressilian. + +"He was," answered Lambourne, "like the rest of us, no saint, and +no saver. But what I liked worst of Tony was, that he loved to +take his pleasure by himself, and grudged, as men say, every drop +of water that went past his own mill. I have known him deal with +such measures of wine when he was alone, as I would not have +ventured on with aid of the best toper in Berkshire;--that, and +some sway towards superstition, which he had by temperament, +rendered him unworthy the company of a good fellow. And now he +has earthed himself here, in a den just befitting such a sly fox +as himself." + +"May I ask you, Master Lambourne," said Tressilian, "since your +old companion's humour jumps so little with your own, wherefore +you are so desirous to renew acquaintance with him?" + +"And may I ask you, in return, Master Tressilian," answered +Lambourne, "wherefore you have shown yourself so desirous to +accompany me on this party?" + +"I told you my motive," said Tressilian, "when I took share in +your wager--it was simple curiosity." + +"La you there now!" answered Lambourne. "See how you civil and +discreet gentlemen think to use us who live by the free exercise +of our wits! Had I answered your question by saying that it was +simple curiosity which led me to visit my old comrade Anthony +Foster, I warrant you had set it down for an evasion, and a turn +of my trade. But any answer, I suppose, must serve my turn." + +"And wherefore should not bare curiosity," said Tressilian, "be a +sufficient reason for my taking this walk with you?" + +"Oh, content yourself, sir," replied Lambourne; "you cannot put +the change on me so easy as you think, for I have lived among the +quick-stirring spirits of the age too long to swallow chaff for +grain. You are a gentleman of birth and breeding--your bearing +makes it good; of civil habits and fair reputation--your manners +declare it, and my uncle avouches it; and yet you associate +yourself with a sort of scant-of-grace, as men call me, and, +knowing me to be such, you make yourself my companion in a visit +to a man whom you are a stranger to--and all out of mere +curiosity, forsooth! The excuse, if curiously balanced, would be +found to want some scruples of just weight, or so." + +"If your suspicions were just," said Tressilian, "you have shown +no confidence in me to invite or deserve mine." + +"Oh, if that be all," said Lambourne, "my motives lie above +water. While this gold of mine lasts"--taking out his purse, +chucking it into the air, and catching it as it fell--"I will +make it buy pleasure; and when it is out I must have more. Now, +if this mysterious Lady of the Manor--this fair Lindabrides of +Tony Fire-the-Fagot--be so admirable a piece as men say, why, +there is a chance that she may aid me to melt my nobles into +greats; and, again, if Anthony be so wealthy a chuff as report +speaks him, he may prove the philosopher's stone to me, and +convert my greats into fair rose-nobles again." + +"A comfortable proposal truly," said Tressilian; "but I see not +what chance there is of accomplishing it." + +"Not to-day, or perchance to-morrow," answered Lambourne; "I +expect not to catch the old jack till. I have disposed my +ground-baits handsomely. But I know something more of his +affairs this morning than I did last night, and I will so use my +knowledge that he shall think it more perfect than it is. Nay, +without expecting either pleasure or profit, or both, I had not +stepped a stride within this manor, I can tell you; for I promise +you I hold our visit not altogether without risk.--But here we +are, and we must make the best on't." + +While he thus spoke, they had entered a large orchard which +surrounded the house on two sides, though the trees, abandoned by +the care of man, were overgrown and messy, and seemed to bear +little fruit. Those which had been formerly trained as espaliers +had now resumed their natural mode of growing, and exhibited +grotesque forms, partaking of the original training which they +had received. The greater part of the ground, which had once +been parterres and flower-gardens, was suffered in like manner to +run to waste, excepting a few patches which had been dug up and +planted with ordinary pot herbs. Some statues, which had +ornamented the garden in its days of splendour, were now thrown +down from their pedestals and broken in pieces; and a large +summer-house, having a heavy stone front, decorated with carving +representing the life and actions of Samson, was in the same +dilapidated condition. + +They had just traversed this garden of the sluggard, and were +within a few steps of the door of the mansion, when Lambourne had +ceased speaking; a circumstance very agreeable to Tressilian, as +it saved him the embarrassment of either commenting upon or +replying to the frank avowal which his companion had just made of +the sentiments and views which induced him to come hither. +Lambourne knocked roundly and boldly at the huge door of the +mansion, observing, at the same time, he had seen a less strong +one upon a county jail. It was not until they had knocked more +than once that an aged, sour-visaged domestic reconnoitred them +through a small square hole in the door, well secured with bars +of iron, and demanded what they wanted. + +"To speak with Master Foster instantly, on pressing business of +the state," was the ready reply of Michael Lambourne. + +"Methinks you will find difficulty to make that good," said +Tressilian in a whisper to his companion, while the servant went +to carry the message to his master. + +"Tush," replied the adventurer; "no soldier would go on were he +always to consider when and how he should come off. Let us once +obtain entrance, and all will go well enough." + +In a short time the servant returned, and drawing with a careful +hand both bolt and bar, opened the gate, which admitted them +through an archway into a square court, surrounded by buildings. +Opposite to the arch was another door, which the serving-man in +like manner unlocked, and thus introduced them into a stone-paved +parlour, where there was but little furniture, and that of the +rudest and most ancient fashion. The windows were tall and +ample, reaching almost to the roof of the room, which was +composed of black oak; those opening to the quadrangle were +obscured by the height of the surrounding buildings, and, as they +were traversed with massive shafts of solid stone-work, and +thickly painted with religious devices, and scenes taken from +Scripture history, by no means admitted light in proportion to +their size, and what did penetrate through them partook of the +dark and gloomy tinge of the stained glass. + +Tressilian and his guide had time enough to observe all these +particulars, for they waited some space in the apartment ere the +present master of the mansion at length made his appearance. +Prepared as he was to see an inauspicious and ill-looking person, +the ugliness of Anthony Foster considerably exceeded what +Tressilian had anticipated. He was of middle stature, built +strongly, but so clumsily as to border on deformity, and to give +all his motions the ungainly awkwardness of a left-legged and +left-handed man. His hair, in arranging which men at that time, +as at present, were very nice and curious, instead of being +carefully cleaned and disposed into short curls, or else set up +on end, as is represented in old paintings, in a manner +resembling that used by fine gentlemen of our own day, escaped in +sable negligence from under a furred bonnet, and hung in elf- +locks, which seemed strangers to the comb, over his rugged brows, +and around his very singular and unprepossessing countenance. +His keen, dark eyes were deep set beneath broad and shaggy +eyebrows, and as they were usually bent on the ground, seemed as +if they were themselves ashamed of the expression natural to +them, and were desirous to conceal it from the observation of +men. At times, however, when, more intent on observing others, +he suddenly raised them, and fixed them keenly on those with whom +he conversed, they seemed to express both the fiercer passions, +and the power of mind which could at will suppress or disguise +the intensity of inward feeling. The features which corresponded +with these eyes and this form were irregular, and marked so as to +be indelibly fixed on the mind of him who had once seen them. +Upon the whole, as Tressilian could not help acknowledging to +himself, the Anthony Foster who now stood before them was the +last person, judging from personal appearance, upon whom one +would have chosen to intrude an unexpected and undesired visit. +His attire was a doublet of russet leather, like those worn by +the better sort of country folk, girt with a buff belt, in which +was stuck on the right side a long knife, or dudgeon dagger, and +on the other a cutlass. He raised his eyes as he entered the +room, and fixed a keenly penetrating glance upon his two +visitors; then cast them down as if counting his steps, while he +advanced slowly into the middle of the room, and said, in a low +and smothered tone of voice, "Let me pray you, gentlemen, to tell +me the cause of this visit." + +He looked as if he expected the answer from Tressilian, so true +was Lambourne's observation that the superior air of breeding and +dignity shone through the disguise of an inferior dress. But it +was Michael who replied to him, with the easy familiarity of an +old friend, and a tone which seemed unembarrassed by any doubt of +the most cordial reception. + +"Ha! my dear friend and ingle, Tony Foster!" he exclaimed, +seizing upon the unwilling hand, and shaking it with such +emphasis as almost to stagger the sturdy frame of the person whom +he addressed, "how fares it with you for many a long year? What! +have you altogether forgotten your friend, gossip, and +playfellow, Michael Lambourne?" + +"Michael Lambourne!" said Foster, looking at him a moment; then +dropping his eyes, and with little ceremony extricating his hand +from the friendly grasp of the person by whom he was addressed, +"are you Michael Lambourne?" + +"Ay; sure as you are Anthony Foster," replied Lambourne. + +"'Tis well," answered his sullen host. "And what may Michael +Lambourne expect from his visit hither?" + +"VOTO A DIOS," answered Lambourne, "I expected a better welcome +than I am like to meet, I think." + +"Why, thou gallows-bird--thou jail-rat--thou friend of the +hangman and his customers!" replied Foster, "hast thou the +assurance to expect countenance from any one whose neck is beyond +the compass of a Tyburn tippet?" + +"It may be with me as you say," replied Lambourne; "and suppose I +grant it to be so for argument's sake, I were still good enough +society for mine ancient friend Anthony Fire-the-Fagot, though he +be, for the present, by some indescribable title, the master of +Cumnor Place." + +"Hark you, Michael Lambourne," said Foster; "you are a gambler +now, and live by the counting of chances--compute me the odds +that I do not, on this instant, throw you out of that window into +the ditch there." + +"Twenty to one that you do not," answered the sturdy visitor. + +"And wherefore, I pray you?" demanded Anthony Foster, setting +his teeth and compressing his lips, like one who endeavours to +suppress some violent internal emotion. + +"Because," said Lambourne coolly, "you dare not for your life lay +a finger on me. I am younger and stronger than you, and have in +me a double portion of the fighting devil, though not, it may be, +quite so much of the undermining fiend, that finds an underground +way to his purpose--who hides halters under folk's pillows, and +who puts rats-bane into their porridge, as the stage-play says." + +Foster looked at him earnestly, then turned away, and paced the +room twice with the same steady and considerate pace with which +he had entered it; then suddenly came back, and extended his hand +to Michael Lambourne, saying, "Be not wroth with me, good Mike; I +did but try whether thou hadst parted with aught of thine old and +honourable frankness, which your enviers and backbiters called +saucy impudence." + +"Let them call it what they will," said Michael Lambourne, "it is +the commodity we must carry through the world with us.--Uds +daggers! I tell thee, man, mine own stock of assurance was too +small to trade upon. I was fain to take in a ton or two more of +brass at every port where I touched in the voyage of life; and I +started overboard what modesty and scruples I had remaining, in +order to make room for the stowage." + +"Nay, nay," replied Foster, "touching scruples and modesty, you +sailed hence in ballast. But who is this gallant, honest Mike? +--is he a Corinthian--a cutter like thyself?" + +"I prithee, know Master Tressilian, bully Foster," replied +Lambourne, presenting his friend in answer to his friend's +question, "know him and honour him, for he is a gentleman of many +admirable qualities; and though he traffics not in my line of +business, at least so far as I know, he has, nevertheless, a just +respect and admiration for artists of our class. He will come to +in time, as seldom fails; but as yet he is only a neophyte, only +a proselyte, and frequents the company of cocks of the game, as a +puny fencer does the schools of the masters, to see how a foil is +handled by the teachers of defence." + +"If such be his quality, I will pray your company in another +chamber, honest Mike, for what I have to say to thee is for thy +private ear.--Meanwhile, I pray you, sir, to abide us in this +apartment, and without leaving it; there be those in this house +who would be alarmed by the sight of a stranger." + +Tressilian acquiesced, and the two worthies left the apartment +together, in which he remained alone to await their return." +[See Note 1. Foster, Lambourne, and the Black Bear.] + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Not serve two masters?--Here's a youth will try it-- + Would fain serve God, yet give the devil his due; + Says grace before he doth a deed of villainy, + And returns his thanks devoutly when 'tis acted, OLD PLAY. + +The room into which the Master of Cumnor Place conducted his +worthy visitant was of greater extent than that in which they had +at first conversed, and had yet more the appearance of +dilapidation. Large oaken presses, filled with shelves of the +same wood, surrounded the room, and had, at one time, served for +the arrangement of a numerous collection of books, many of which +yet remained, but torn and defaced, covered with dust, deprived +of their costly clasps and bindings, and tossed together in heaps +upon the shelves, as things altogether disregarded, and abandoned +to the pleasure of every spoiler. The very presses themselves +seemed to have incurred the hostility of those enemies of +learning who had destroyed the volumes with which they had been +heretofore filled. They were, in several places, dismantled of +their shelves, and otherwise broken and damaged, and were, +moreover, mantled with cobwebs and covered with dust. + +"The men who wrote these books," said Lambourne, looking round +him, "little thought whose keeping they were to fall into." + +"Nor what yeoman's service they were to do me," quoth Anthony +Foster; "the cook hath used them for scouring his pewter, and the +groom hath had nought else to clean my boots with, this many a +month past." + +"And yet," said Lambourne, "I have been in cities where such +learned commodities would have been deemed too good for such +offices." + +"Pshaw, pshaw," answered Foster, "'they are Popish trash, every +one of them--private studies of the mumping old Abbot of +Abingdon. The nineteenthly of a pure gospel sermon were worth a +cartload of such rakings of the kennel of Rome." + +"Gad-a-mercy, Master Tony Fire-the-Fagot!" said Lambourne, by +way of reply. + +Foster scowled darkly at him, as he replied, "Hark ye, friend +Mike; forget that name, and the passage which it relates to, if +you would not have our newly-revived comradeship die a sudden and +a violent death." + +"Why," said Michael Lambourne, "you were wont to glory in the +share you had in the death of the two old heretical bishops." + +"That," said his comrade, "was while I was in the gall of +bitterness and bond of iniquity, and applies not to my walk or my +ways now that I am called forth into the lists. Mr. Melchisedek +Maultext compared my misfortune in that matter to that of the +Apostle Paul, who kept the clothes of the witnesses who stoned +Saint Stephen. He held forth on the matter three Sabbaths past, +and illustrated the same by the conduct of an honourable person +present, meaning me." + +"I prithee peace, Foster," said Lambourne, "for I know not how it +is, I have a sort of creeping comes over my skin when I hear the +devil quote Scripture; and besides, man, how couldst thou have +the heart to quit that convenient old religion, which you could +slip off or on as easily as your glove? Do I not remember how +you were wont to carry your conscience to confession, as duly as +the month came round? and when thou hadst it scoured, and +burnished, and whitewashed by the priest, thou wert ever ready +for the worst villainy which could be devised, like a child who +is always readiest to rush into the mire when he has got his +Sunday's clean jerkin on." + +"Trouble not thyself about my conscience," said Foster; "it is a +thing thou canst not understand, having never had one of thine +own. But let us rather to the point, and say to me, in one word, +what is thy business with me, and what hopes have drawn thee +hither?" + +"The hope of bettering myself, to be sure," answered Lambourne, +"as the old woman said when she leapt over the bridge at +Kingston. Look you, this purse has all that is left of as round +a sum as a man would wish to carry in his slop-pouch. You are +here well established, it would seem, and, as I think, well +befriended, for men talk of thy being under some special +protection--nay, stare not like a pig that is stuck, mon; thou +canst not dance in a net and they not see thee. Now I know such +protection is not purchased for nought; you must have services to +render for it, and in these I propose to help thee." + +"But how if I lack no assistance from thee, Mike? I think thy +modesty might suppose that were a case possible." + +"That is to say," retorted Lambourne, "that you would engross the +whole work, rather than divide the reward. But be not over- +greedy, Anthony--covetousness bursts the sack and spills the +grain. Look you, when the huntsman goes to kill a stag, he takes +with him more dogs than one. He has the stanch lyme-hound to +track the wounded buck over hill and dale, but he hath also the +fleet gaze-hound to kill him at view. Thou art the lyme-hound, I +am the gaze-hound; and thy patron will need the aid of both, and +can well afford to requite it. Thou hast deep sagacity--an +unrelenting purpose--a steady, long-breathed malignity of nature, +that surpasses mine. But then, I am the bolder, the quicker, the +more ready, both at action and expedient. Separate, our +properties are not so perfect; but unite them, and we drive the +world before us. How sayest thou--shall we hunt in couples?" + +"It is a currish proposal--thus to thrust thyself upon my private +matters," replied Foster; "but thou wert ever an ill-nurtured +whelp." + +"You shall have no cause to say so, unless you spurn my +courtesy," said Michael Lambourne; "but if so, keep thee well +from me, Sir Knight, as the romance has it. I will either share +your counsels or traverse them; for I have come here to be busy, +either with thee or against thee." + +"Well," said Anthony Foster, "since thou dost leave me so fair a +choice, I will rather be thy friend than thine enemy. Thou art +right; I CAN prefer thee to the service of a patron who has +enough of means to make us both, and an hundred more. And, to +say truth, thou art well qualified for his service. Boldness and +dexterity he demands--the justice-books bear witness in thy +favour; no starting at scruples in his service why, who ever +suspected thee of a conscience? an assurance he must have who +would follow a courtier--and thy brow is as impenetrable as a +Milan visor. There is but one thing I would fain see amended in +thee." + +"And what is that, my most precious friend Anthony?" replied +Lambourne; "for I swear by the pillow of the Seven Sleepers I +will not be slothful in amending it." + +"Why, you gave a sample of it even now," said Foster. "Your +speech twangs too much of the old stamp, and you garnish it ever +and anon with singular oaths, that savour of Papistrie. Besides, +your exterior man is altogether too deboshed and irregular to +become one of his lordship's followers, since he has a reputation +to keep up in the eye of the world. You must somewhat reform +your dress, upon a more grave and composed fashion; wear your +cloak on both shoulders, and your falling band unrumpled and well +starched. You must enlarge the brim of your beaver, and diminish +the superfluity of your trunk-hose; go to church, or, which will +be better, to meeting, at least once a month; protest only upon +your faith and conscience; lay aside your swashing look, and +never touch the hilt of your sword but when you would draw the +carnal weapon in good earnest." + +"By this light, Anthony, thou art mad," answered Lambourne, "and +hast described rather the gentleman-usher to a puritan's wife, +than the follower of an ambitious courtier! Yes, such a thing as +thou wouldst make of me should wear a book at his girdle instead +of a poniard, and might just be suspected of manhood enough to +squire a proud dame-citizen to the lecture at Saint Antonlin's, +and quarrel in her cause with any flat-capped threadmaker that +would take the wall of her. He must ruffle it in another sort +that would walk to court in a nobleman's train." + +"Oh, content you, sir," replied Foster, "there is a change since +you knew the English world; and there are those who can hold +their way through the boldest courses, and the most secret, and +yet never a swaggering word, or an oath, or a profane word in +their conversation." + +"That is to say," replied Lambourne, "they are in a trading +copartnery, to do the devil's business without mentioning his +name in the firm? Well, I will do my best to counterfeit, rather +than lose ground in this new world, since thou sayest it is grown +so precise. But, Anthony, what is the name of this nobleman, in +whose service I am to turn hypocrite?" + +"Aha! Master Michael, are you there with your bears?" said +Foster, with a grim smile; "and is this the knowledge you pretend +of my concernments? How know you now there is such a person IN +RERUM NATURA, and that I have not been putting a jape upon you +all this time?" + +"Thou put a jape on me, thou sodden-brained gull?" answered +Lambourne, nothing daunted. "Why, dark and muddy as thou +think'st thyself, I would engage in a day's space to sec as clear +through thee and thy concernments, as thou callest them, as +through the filthy horn of an old stable lantern." + +At this moment their conversation was interrupted by a scream +from the next apartment. + +"By the holy Cross of Abingdon," exclaimed Anthony Foster, +forgetting his Protestantism in his alarm, "I am a ruined man!" + +So saying, he rushed into the apartment whence the scream issued, +followed by Michael Lambourne. But to account for the sounds +which interrupted their conversation, it is necessary to recede a +little way in our narrative. + +It has been already observed, that when Lambourne accompanied +Foster into the library, they left Tressilian alone in the +ancient parlour. His dark eye followed them forth of the +apartment with a glance of contempt, a part of which his mind +instantly transferred to himself, for having stooped to be even +for a moment their familiar companion. "These are the +associates, Amy"--it was thus he communed with himself--"to which +thy cruel levity--thine unthinking and most unmerited falsehood, +has condemned him of whom his friends once hoped far other +things, and who now scorns himself, as he will be scorned by +others, for the baseness he stoops to for the love of thee! But +I will not leave the pursuit of thee, once the object of my +purest and most devoted affection, though to me thou canst +henceforth be nothing but a thing to weep over. I will save thee +from thy betrayer, and from thyself; I will restore thee to thy +parent--to thy God. I cannot bid the bright star again sparkle +in the sphere it has shot from, but--" + +A slight noise in the apartment interrupted his reverie. He +looked round, and in the beautiful and richly-attired female who +entered at that instant by a side-door he recognized the object +of his search. The first impulse arising from this discovery +urged him to conceal his face with the collar of his cloak, until +he should find a favourable moment of making himself known. But +his purpose was disconcerted by the young lady (she was not above +eighteen years old), who ran joyfully towards him, and, pulling +him by the cloak, said playfully, "Nay, my sweet friend, after I +have waited for you so long, you come not to my bower to play the +masquer. You are arraigned of treason to true love and fond +affection, and you must stand up at the bar and answer it with +face uncovered--how say you, guilty or not?" + +"Alas, Amy!" said Tressilian, in a low and melancholy tone, as +he suffered her to draw the mantle from his face. The sound of +his voice, and still more the unexpected sight of his face, +changed in an instant the lady's playful mood. She staggered +back, turned as pale as death, and put her hands before her face. +Tressilian was himself for a moment much overcome, but seeming +suddenly to remember the necessity of using an opportunity which +might not again occur, he said in a low tone, "Amy, fear me not." + +"Why should I fear you?" said the lady, withdrawing her hands +from her beautiful face, which was now covered with crimson,- +-"Why should I fear you, Master Tressilian?--or wherefore have +you intruded yourself into my dwelling, uninvited, sir, and +unwished for?" + +"Your dwelling, Amy!" said Tressilian. "Alas! is a prison your +dwelling?--a prison guarded by one of the most sordid of men, but +not a greater wretch than his employer!" + +"This house is mine," said Amy--"mine while I choose to inhabit +it. If it is my pleasure to live in seclusion, who shall gainsay +me?" + +"Your father, maiden," answered Tressilian, "your broken-hearted +father, who dispatched me in quest of you with that authority +which he cannot exert in person. Here is his letter, written +while he blessed his pain of body which somewhat stunned the +agony of his mind." + +"The pain! Is my father then ill?" said the lady. + +"So ill," answered Tressilian, "that even your utmost haste may +not restore him to health; but all shall be instantly prepared +for your departure, the instant you yourself will give consent." + +"Tressilian," answered the lady, "I cannot, I must not, I dare +not leave this place. Go back to my father--tell him I will +obtain leave to see him within twelve hours from hence. Go back, +Tressilian--tell him I am well, I am happy--happy could I think +he was so; tell him not to fear that I will come, and in such a +manner that all the grief Amy has given him shall be forgotten +--the poor Amy is now greater than she dare name. Go, good +Tressilian--I have injured thee too, but believe me I have power +to heal the wounds I have caused. I robbed you of a childish +heart, which was not worthy of you, and I can repay the loss with +honours and advancement." + +"Do you say this to me, Amy?--do you offer me pageants of idle +ambition, for the quiet peace you have robbed me of!--But be it +so I came not to upbraid, but to serve and to free you. You +cannot disguise it from me--you are a prisoner. Otherwise your +kind heart--for it was once a kind heart--would have been already +at your father's bedside.--Come, poor, deceived, unhappy maiden! +--all shall be forgot--all shall be forgiven. Fear not my +importunity for what regarded our contract--it was a dream, and I +have awaked. But come--your father yet lives--come, and one word +of affection, one tear of penitence, will efface the memory of +all that has passed." + +"Have I not already said, Tressilian," replied she, "that I will +surely come to my father, and that without further delay than is +necessary to discharge other and equally binding duties?--Go, +carry him the news; I come as sure as there is light in heaven +--that is, when I obtain permission." + +"Permission!--permission to visit your father on his sick-bed, +perhaps on his death-bed!" repeated Tressilian, impatiently; +"and permission from whom? From the villain, who, under disguise +of friendship, abused every duty of hospitality, and stole thee +from thy father's roof!" + +"Do him no slander, Tressilian! He whom thou speakest of wears a +sword as sharp as thine--sharper, vain man; for the best deeds +thou hast ever done in peace or war were as unworthy to be named +with his, as thy obscure rank to match itself with the sphere he +moves in.--Leave me! Go, do mine errand to my father; and when +he next sends to me, let him choose a more welcome messenger." + +"Amy," replied Tressilian calmly, "thou canst not move me by thy +reproaches. Tell me one thing, that I may bear at least one ray +of comfort to my aged friend:--this rank of his which thou dost +boast--dost thou share it with him, Amy?--does he claim a +husband's right to control thy motions?" + +"Stop thy base, unmannered tongue!" said the lady; "to no +question that derogates from my honour do I deign an answer." + +"You have said enough in refusing to reply," answered Tressilian; +"and mark me, unhappy as thou art, I am armed with thy father's +full authority to command thy obedience, and I will save thee +from the slavery of sin and of sorrow, even despite of thyself, +Amy." + +"Menace no violence here!" exclaimed the lady, drawing back from +him, and alarmed at the determination expressed in his look and +manner; "threaten me not, Tressilian, for I have means to repel +force." + +"But not, I trust, the wish to use them in so evil a cause?" +said Tressilian. "With thy will--thine uninfluenced, free, and +natural will, Amy, thou canst not choose this state of slavery +and dishonour. Thou hast been bound by some spell--entrapped by +some deceit--art now detained by some compelled vow. But thus I +break the charm--Amy, in the name of thine excellent, thy broken- +hearted father, I command thee to follow me!" + +As he spoke he advanced and extended his arm, as with the purpose +of laying hold upon her. But she shrunk back from his grasp, and +uttered the scream which, as we before noticed, brought into the +apartment Lambourne and Foster. + +The latter exclaimed, as soon as he entered, "Fire and fagot! +what have we here?" Then addressing the lady, in a tone betwixt +entreaty and command, he added, "Uds precious! madam, what make +you here out of bounds? Retire--retire--there is life and death +in this matter.--And you, friend, whoever you may be, leave this +house--out with you, before my dagger's hilt and your costard +become acquainted.--Draw, Mike, and rid us of the knave!" + +"Not I, on my soul," replied Lambourne; "he came hither in my +company, and he is safe from me by cutter's law, at least till we +meet again.--But hark ye, my Cornish comrade, you have brought a +Cornish flaw of wind with you hither, a hurricanoe as they call +it in the Indies. Make yourself scarce--depart--vanish--or we'll +have you summoned before the Mayor of Halgaver, and that before +Dudman and Ramhead meet." [Two headlands on the Cornish coast. +The expressions are proverbial.] + +"Away, base groom!" said Tressilian.--"And you, madam, fare you +well--what life lingers in your father's bosom will leave him at +the news I have to tell." + +He departed, the lady saying faintly as he left the room, +"Tressilian, be not rash--say no scandal of me." + +"Here is proper gear," said Foster. "I pray you go to your +chamber, my lady, and let us consider how this is to be answered +--nay, tarry not." + +"I move not at your command, sir," answered the lady. + +"Nay, but you must, fair lady," replied Foster; "excuse my +freedom, but, by blood and nails, this is no time to strain +courtesies--you MUST go to your chamber.--Mike, follow that +meddling coxcomb, and, as you desire to thrive, see him safely +clear of the premises, while I bring this headstrong lady to +reason. Draw thy tool, man, and after him." + +"I'll follow him," said Michael Lambourne, "and see him fairly +out of Flanders; but for hurting a man I have drunk my morning's +draught withal, 'tis clean against my conscience." So saying, he +left the apartment. + +Tressilian, meanwhile, with hasty steps, pursued the first path +which promised to conduct him through the wild and overgrown park +in which the mansion of Foster was situated. Haste and distress +of mind led his steps astray, and instead of taking the avenue +which led towards the village, he chose another, which, after he +had pursued it for some time with a hasty and reckless step, +conducted him to the other side of the demesne, where a postern +door opened through the wall, and led into the open country. + +Tressilian paused an instant. It was indifferent to him by what +road he left a spot now so odious to his recollections; but it +was probable that the postern door was locked, and his retreat by +that pass rendered impossible. + +"I must make the attempt, however," he said to himself; "the only +means of reclaiming this lost--this miserable--this still most +lovely and most unhappy girl, must rest in her father's appeal to +the broken laws of his country. I must haste to apprise him of +this heartrending intelligence." + +As Tressilian, thus conversing with himself, approached to try +some means of opening the door, or climbing over it, he perceived +there was a key put into the lock from the outside. It turned +round, the bolt revolved, and a cavalier, who entered, muffled in +his riding-cloak, and wearing a slouched hat with a drooping +feather, stood at once within four yards of him who was desirous +of going out. They exclaimed at once, in tones of resentment and +surprise, the one "Varney!" the other "Tressilian!" + +"What make you here?" was the stern question put by the stranger +to Tressilian, when the moment of surprise was past--"what make +you here, where your presence is neither expected nor desired?" + +"Nay, Varney," replied Tressilian, "what make you here? Are you +come to triumph over the innocence you have destroyed, as the +vulture or carrion-crow comes to batten on the lamb whose eyes it +has first plucked out? Or are you come to encounter the merited +vengeance of an honest man? Draw, dog, and defend thyself!" + +Tressilian drew his sword as he spoke, but Varney only laid his +hand on the hilt of his own, as he replied, "Thou art mad, +Tressilian. I own appearances are against me; but by every oath +a priest can make or a man can swear, Mistress Amy Robsart hath +had no injury from me. And in truth I were somewhat loath to +hurt you in this cause--thou knowest I can fight." + +"I have heard thee say so, Varney," replied Tressilian; "but now, +methinks, I would fain have some better evidence than thine own +word." + +"That shall not be lacking, if blade and hilt be but true to me," +answered Varney; and drawing his sword with the right hand, he +threw his cloak around his left, and attacked Tressilian with a +vigour which, for a moment, seemed to give him the advantage of +the combat. But this advantage lasted not long. Tressilian +added to a spirit determined on revenge a hand and eye admirably +well adapted to the use of the rapier; so that Varney, finding +himself hard pressed in his turn, endeavoured to avail himself of +his superior strength by closing with his adversary. For this +purpose, he hazarded the receiving one of Tressilian's passes in +his cloak, wrapped as it was around his arm, and ere his +adversary could, extricate his rapier thus entangled, he closed +with him, shortening his own sword at the same time, with the +purpose of dispatching him. But Tressilian was on his guard, and +unsheathing his poniard, parried with the blade of that weapon +the home-thrust which would otherwise have finished the combat, +and, in the struggle which followed, displayed so much address, +as might have confirmed, the opinion that he drew his origin from +Cornwall whose natives are such masters in the art of wrestling, +as, were the games of antiquity revived, might enable them to +challenge all Europe to the ring. Varney, in his ill-advised +attempt, received a fall so sudden and violent that his sword +flew several paces from his hand and ere he could recover his +feet, that of his antagonist was; pointed to his throat. + +"Give me the instant means of relieving the victim of thy +treachery," said Tressilian, "or take the last look of your +Creator's blessed sun!" + +And while Varney, too confused or too sullen to reply, made a +sudden effort to arise, his adversary drew back his arm, and +would have executed his threat, but that the blow was arrested by +the grasp of Michael Lambourne, who, directed by the clashing of +swords had come up just in time to save the life of Varney, + +"Come, come, comrade;" said Lambourne, "here is enough done and +more than enough; put up your fox and let us be jogging. The +Black Bear growls for us." + +"Off, abject!" said Tressilian, striking himself free of +Lambourne's grasp; "darest thou come betwixt me and mine enemy?" + +"Abject! abject!" repeated Lambourne; "that shall be answered +with cold steel whenever a bowl of sack has washed out memory of +the morning's draught that we had together. In the meanwhile, do +you see, shog--tramp--begone--we are two to one." + +He spoke truth, for Varney had taken the opportunity to regain +his weapon, and Tressilian perceived it was madness to press the +quarrel further against such odds. He took his purse from his +side, and taking out two gold nobles, flung them to Lambourne. +"There, caitiff, is thy morning wage; thou shalt not say thou +hast been my guide unhired.--Varney, farewell! we shall meet +where there are none to come betwixt us." So saying, he turned +round and departed through the postern door. + +Varney seemed to want the inclination, or perhaps the power (for +his fall had been a severe one), to follow his retreating enemy. +But he glared darkly as he disappeared, and then addressed +Lambourne. "Art thou a comrade of Foster's, good fellow?" + +"Sworn friends, as the haft is to the knife," replied Michael +Lambourne. + +"Here is a broad piece for thee. Follow yonder fellow, and see +where he takes earth, and bring me word up to the mansion-house +here. Cautious and silent, thou knave, as thou valuest thy +throat." + +"Enough said," replied Lambourne; "I can draw on a scent as well +as a sleuth-hound." + +"Begone, then," said Varney, sheathing his rapier; and, turning +his back on Michael Lambourne, he walked slowly towards the +house. Lambourne stopped but an instant to gather the nobles +which his late companion had flung towards him so +unceremoniously, and muttered to himself, while he put them upon +his purse along with the gratuity of Varney, "I spoke to yonder +gulls of Eldorado. By Saint Anthony, there is no Eldorado for +men of our stamp equal to bonny Old England! It rains nobles, by +Heaven--they lie on the grass as thick as dewdrops--you may have +them for gathering. And if I have not my share of such +glittering dewdrops, may my sword melt like an icicle!" + + + +CHAPTER V. + + He was a man + Versed in the world as pilot in his compass. + The needle pointed ever to that interest + Which was his loadstar, and he spread his sails + With vantage to the gale of others' passion. + THE DECEIVER, A TRAGEDY. + +Antony Foster was still engaged in debate with his fair guest, +who treated with scorn every entreaty and request that she would +retire to her own apartment, when a whistle was heard at the +entrance-door of the mansion. + +"We are fairly sped now," said Foster; "yonder is thy lord's +signal, and what to say about the disorder which has happened in +this household, by my conscience, I know not. Some evil fortune +dogs the heels of that unhanged rogue Lambourne, and he has +'scaped the gallows against every chance, to come back and be the +ruin of me!" + +"Peace, sir," said the lady, "and undo the gate to your master. +--My lord! my dear lord!" she then exclaimed, hastening to the +entrance of the apartment; then added, with a voice expressive of +disappointment, "Pooh! it is but Richard Varney." + +"Ay, madam," said Varney, entering and saluting the lady with a +respectful obeisance, which she returned with a careless mixture +of negligence and of displeasure, "it is but Richard Varney; but +even the first grey cloud should be acceptable, when it lightens +in the east, because it announces the approach of the blessed +sun." + +"How! comes my lord hither to-night?" said the lady, in joyful +yet startled agitation; and Anthony Foster caught up the word, +and echoed the question. Varney replied to the lady, that his +lord purposed to attend her; and would have proceeded with some +compliment, when, running to the door of the parlour, she called +aloud, "Janet--Janet! come to my tiring-room instantly." Then +returning to Varney, she asked if her lord sent any further +commendations to her. + +"This letter, honoured madam," said he, taking from his bosom a +small parcel wrapped in scarlet silk, "and with it a token to +the Queen of his Affections." With eager speed the lady hastened +to undo the silken string which surrounded the little packet, and +failing to unloose readily the knot with which it was secured, +she again called loudly on Janet, "Bring me a knife--scissors-- +aught that may undo this envious knot!" + +"May not my poor poniard serve, honoured madam?" said Varney, +presenting a small dagger of exquisite workmanship, which hung in +his Turkey-leather sword-belt. + +"No, sir," replied the lady, rejecting the instrument which he +offered--"steel poniard shall cut no true-love knot of mine." + +"It has cut many, however," said Anthony Foster, half aside, and +looking at Varney. By this time the knot was disentangled +without any other help than the neat and nimble fingers of Janet, +a simply-attired pretty maiden, the daughter of Anthony Foster, +who came running at the repeated call of her mistress. A +necklace of orient pearl, the companion of a perfumed billet, was +now hastily produced from the packet. The lady gave the one, +after a slight glance, to the charge of her attendant, while she +read, or rather devoured, the contents of the other. + +"Surely, lady," said Janet, gazing with admiration at the neck- +string of pearls, "the daughters of Tyre wore no fairer neck- +jewels than these. And then the posy, 'For a neck that is +fairer'--each pearl is worth a freehold." + +"Each word in this dear paper is worth the whole string, my girl. +But come to my tiring-room, girl; we must be brave, my lord comes +hither to-night.--He bids me grace you, Master Varney, and to me +his wish is a law. I bid you to a collation in my bower this +afternoon; and you, too, Master Foster. Give orders that all is +fitting, and that suitable preparations be made for my lord's +reception to-night." With these words she left the apartment. + +"She takes state on her already," said Varney, "and distributes +the favour of her presence, as if she were already the partner of +his dignity. Well, it is wise to practise beforehand the part +which fortune prepares us to play--the young eagle must gaze at +the sun ere he soars on strong wing to meet it." + +"If holding her head aloft," said Foster, "will keep her eyes +from dazzling, I warrant you the dame will not stoop her crest. +She will presently soar beyond reach of my whistle, Master +Varney. I promise you, she holds me already in slight regard." + +"It is thine own fault, thou sullen, uninventive companion," +answered Varney, "who knowest no mode of control save downright +brute force. Canst thou not make home pleasant to her, with +music and toys? Canst thou not make the out-of-doors frightful +to her, with tales of goblins? Thou livest here by the +churchyard, and hast not even wit enough to raise a ghost, to +scare thy females into good discipline." + +"Speak not thus, Master Varney," said Foster; "the living I fear +not, but I trifle not nor toy with my dead neighbours of the +churchyard. I promise you, it requires a good heart to live so +near it. Worthy Master Holdforth, the afternoon's lecturer of +Saint Antonlin's, had a sore fright there the last time he came +to visit me." + +"Hold thy superstitious tongue," answered Varney; "and while thou +talkest of visiting, answer me, thou paltering knave, how came +Tressilian to be at the postern door?" + +"Tressilian!" answered Foster, "what know I of Tressilian? I +never heard his name." + +"Why, villain, it was the very Cornish chough to whom old Sir +Hugh Robsart destined his pretty Amy; and hither the hot-brained +fool has come to look after his fair runaway. There must be some +order taken with him, for he thinks he hath wrong, and is not the +mean hind that will sit down with it. Luckily he knows nought of +my lord, but thinks he has only me to deal with. But how, in the +fiend's name, came he hither?" + +"Why, with Mike Lambourne, an you must know," answered Foster. + +"And who is Mike Lambourne?" demanded Varney. "By Heaven! thou +wert best set up a bush over thy door, and invite every stroller +who passes by to see what thou shouldst keep secret even from the +sun and air." + +"Ay! ay! this is a courtlike requital of my service to you, +Master Richard Varney," replied Foster. "Didst thou not charge +me to seek out for thee a fellow who had a good sword and an +unscrupulous conscience? and was I not busying myself to find a +fit man--for, thank Heaven, my acquaintance lies not amongst such +companions--when, as Heaven would have it, this tall fellow, who +is in all his dualities the very flashing knave thou didst wish, +came hither to fix acquaintance upon me in the plenitude of his +impudence; and I admitted his claim, thinking to do you a +pleasure. And now see what thanks I get for disgracing myself by +converse with him!" + +"And did he," said Varney, "being such a fellow as thyself, only +lacking, I suppose, thy present humour of hypocrisy, which lies +as thin over thy hard, ruffianly heart as gold lacquer upon rusty +iron--did he, I say, bring the saintly, sighing Tressilian in his +train?" + +"They came together, by Heaven!" said Foster; "and Tressilian-- +to speak Heaven's truth--obtained a moment's interview with our +pretty moppet, while I was talking apart with Lambourne." + +"Improvident villain! we are both undone," said Varney. "She +has of late been casting many a backward look to her father's +halls, whenever her lordly lover leaves her alone. Should this +preaching fool whistle her back to her old perch, we were but +lost men." + +"No fear of that, my master," replied Anthony Foster; "she is in +no mood to stoop to his lure, for she yelled out on seeing him as +if an adder had stung her." + +"That is good. Canst thou not get from thy daughter an inkling +of what passed between them, good Foster?" + +"I tell you plain, Master Varney," said Foster, "my daughter +shall not enter our purposes or walk in our paths. They may suit +me well enough, who know how to repent of my misdoings; but I +will not have my child's soul committed to peril either for your +pleasure or my lord's. I may walk among snares and pitfalls +myself, because I have discretion, but I will not trust the poor +lamb among them." + +"Why, thou suspicious fool, I were as averse as thou art that thy +baby-faced girl should enter into my plans, or walk to hell at +her father's elbow. But indirectly thou mightst gain some +intelligence of her?" + +"And so I did, Master Varney," answered Foster; "and she said her +lady called out upon the sickness of her father." + +"Good!" replied Varney; "that is a hint worth catching, and I +will work upon it. But the country must be rid of this +Tressilian. I would have cumbered no man about the matter, for I +hate him like strong poison--his presence is hemlock to me--and +this day I had been rid of him, but that my foot slipped, when, +to speak truth, had not thy comrade yonder come to my aid, and +held his hand, I should have known by this time whether you and I +have been treading the path to heaven or hell." + +"And you can speak thus of such a risk!" said Foster. "You keep +a stout heart, Master Varney. For me, if I did not hope to live +many years, and to have time for the great work of repentance, I +would not go forward with you." + +"Oh! thou shalt live as long as Methuselah," said Varney, "and +amass as much wealth as Solomon; and thou shalt repent so +devoutly, that thy repentance shall be more famous than thy +villainy--and that is a bold word. But for all this, Tressilian +must be looked after. Thy ruffian yonder is gone to dog him. It +concerns our fortunes, Anthony." + +"Ay, ay," said Foster sullenly, "this it is to be leagued with +one who knows not even so much of Scripture, as that the labourer +is worthy of his hire. I must, as usual, take all the trouble +and risk." + +"Risk! and what is the mighty risk, I pray you?" answered +Varney. "This fellow will come prowling again about your demesne +or into your house, and if you take him for a house-breaker or a +park-breaker, is it not most natural you should welcome him with +cold steel or hot lead? Even a mastiff will pull down those who +come near his kennel; and who shall blame him?" + +"Ay, I have a mastiff's work and a mastiff's wage among you," +said Foster. "Here have you, Master Varney, secured a good +freehold estate out of this old superstitious foundation; and I +have but a poor lease of this mansion under you, voidable at your +honour's pleasure." + +"Ay, and thou wouldst fain convert thy leasehold into a copyhold +--the thing may chance to happen, Anthony Foster, if thou dost +good service for it. But softly, good Anthony--it is not the +lending a room or two of this old house for keeping my lord's +pretty paroquet--nay, it is not the shutting thy doors and +windows to keep her from flying off that may deserve it. +Remember, the manor and tithes are rated at the clear annual +value of seventy-nine pounds five shillings and fivepence +halfpenny, besides the value of the wood. Come, come, thou must +be conscionable; great and secret service may deserve both this +and a better thing. And now let thy knave come and pluck off my +boots. Get us some dinner, and a cup of thy best wine. I must +visit this mavis, brave in apparel, unruffled in aspect, and gay +in temper." + +They parted and at the hour of noon, which was then that of +dinner, they again met at their meal, Varney gaily dressed like a +courtier of the time, and even Anthony Foster improved in +appearance, as far as dress could amend an exterior so +unfavourable. + +This alteration did not escape Varney. Then the meal was +finished, the cloth removed, and they were left to their private +discourse--"Thou art gay as a goldfinch, Anthony," said Varney, +looking at his host; "methinks, thou wilt whistle a jig anon. +But I crave your pardon, that would secure your ejection from the +congregation of the zealous botchers, the pure-hearted weavers, +and the sanctified bakers of Abingdon, who let their ovens cool +while their brains get heated." + +"To answer you in the spirit, Master Varney," said Foster, "were +--excuse the parable--to fling sacred and precious things before +swine. So I will speak to thee in the language of the world, +which he who is king of the world, hath taught thee, to +understand, and to profit by in no common measure." + +"Say what thou wilt, honest Tony," replied Varney; "for be it +according to thine absurd faith, or according to thy most +villainous practice, it cannot choose but be rare matter to +qualify this cup of Alicant. Thy conversation is relishing and +poignant, and beats caviare, dried neat's-tongue, and all other +provocatives that give savour to good liquor." + +"Well, then, tell me," said Anthony Foster, "is not our good lord +and master's turn better served, and his antechamber more +suitably filled, with decent, God-fearing men, who will work his +will and their own profit quietly, and without worldly scandal, +than that he should be manned, and attended, and followed by such +open debauchers and ruffianly swordsmen as Tidesly, Killigrew, +this fellow Lambourne, whom you have put me to seek out for you, +and other such, who bear the gallows in their face and murder in +their right hand--who are a terror to peaceable men, and a +scandal to my lord's service?" + +"Oh, content you, good Master Anthony Foster," answered Varney; +"he that flies at all manner of game must keep all kinds of +hawks, both short and long-winged. The course my lord holds is +no easy one, and he must stand provided at all points with trusty +retainers to meet each sort of service. He must have his gay +courtier, like myself, to ruffle it in the presence-chamber, and +to lay hand on hilt when any speaks in disparagement of my lord's +honour--" + +"Ay," said Foster, "and to whisper a word for him into a fair +lady's ear, when he may not approach her himself." + +"Then," said Varney, going on without appearing to notice the +interruption, "he must have his lawyers--deep, subtle pioneers +--to draw his contracts, his pre-contracts, and his post- +contracts, and to find the way to make the most of grants of +church-lands, and commons, and licenses for monopoly. And he +must have physicians who can spice a cup or a caudle. And he +must have his cabalists, like Dec and Allan, for conjuring up the +devil. And he must have ruffling swordsmen, who would fight the +devil when he is raised and at the wildest. And above all, +without prejudice to others, he must have such godly, innocent, +puritanic souls as thou, honest Anthony, who defy Satan, and do +his work at the same time." + +"You would not say, Master Varney," said Foster, "that our good +lord and master, whom I hold to be fulfilled in all nobleness, +would use such base and sinful means to rise, as thy speech +points at?" + +"Tush, man," said Varney, "never look at me with so sad a brow. +You trap me not--nor am I in your power, as your weak brain may +imagine, because I name to you freely the engines, the springs, +the screws, the tackle, and braces, by which great men rise in +stirring times. Sayest thou our good lord is fulfilled of all +nobleness? Amen, and so be it--he has the more need to have +those about him who are unscrupulous in his service, and who, +because they know that his fall will overwhelm and crush them, +must wager both blood and brain, soul and body, in order to keep +him aloft; and this I tell thee, because I care not who knows +it." + +"You speak truth, Master Varney," said Anthony Foster. "He that +is head of a party is but a boat on a wave, that raises not +itself, but is moved upward by the billow which it floats upon." + +"Thou art metaphorical, honest Anthony," replied Varney; "that +velvet doublet hath made an oracle of thee. We will have thee to +Oxford to take the degrees in the arts. And, in the meantime, +hast thou arranged all the matters which were sent from London, +and put the western chambers into such fashion as may answer my +lord's humour?" + +"They may serve a king on his bridal-day," said Anthony; "and I +promise you that Dame Amy sits in them yonder as proud and gay as +if she were the Queen of Sheba." + +"'Tis the better, good Anthony," answered Varney; "we must found +our future fortunes on her good liking." + +"We build on sand then," said Anthony Foster; "for supposing that +she sails away to court in all her lord's dignity and authority, +how is she to look back upon me, who am her jailor as it were, to +detain her here against her will, keeping her a caterpillar on an +old wall, when she would fain be a painted butterfly in a court +garden?" + +"Fear not her displeasure, man," said Varney. "I will show her +all thou hast done in this matter was good service, both to my +lord and her; and when she chips the egg-shell and walks alone, +she shall own we have hatched her greatness." + +"Look to yourself, Master Varney," said Foster, "you may +misreckon foully in this matter. She gave you but a frosty +reception this morning, and, I think, looks on you, as well as +me, with an evil eye." + +"You mistake her, Foster--you mistake her utterly. To me she is +bound by all the ties which can secure her to one who has been +the means of gratifying both her love and ambition. Who was it +that took the obscure Amy Robsart, the daughter of an +impoverished and dotard knight--the destined bride of a +moonstruck, moping enthusiast, like Edmund Tressilian, from her +lowly fates, and held out to her in prospect the brightest +fortune in England, or perchance in Europe? Why, man, it was I +--as I have often told thee--that found opportunity for their +secret meetings. It was I who watched the wood while he beat for +the deer. It was I who, to this day, am blamed by her family as +the companion of her flight; and were I in their neighbourhood, +would be fain to wear a shirt of better stuff than Holland linen, +lest my ribs should be acquainted with Spanish steel. Who +carried their letters?--I. Who amused the old knight and +Tressilian?--I. Who planned her escape?--it was I. It was I, in +short, Dick Varney, who pulled this pretty little daisy from its +lowly nook, and placed it in the proudest bonnet in Britain." + +"Ay, Master Varney," said Foster; "but it may be she thinks that +had the matter remained with you, the flower had been stuck so +slightly into the cap, that the first breath of a changeable +breeze of passion had blown the poor daisy to the common." + +"She should consider," said Varney, smiling, "the true faith I +owed my lord and master prevented me at first from counselling +marriage; and yet I did counsel marriage when I saw she would not +be satisfied without the--the sacrament, or the ceremony--which +callest thou it, Anthony?" + +"Still she has you at feud on another score," said Foster; "and I +tell it you that you may look to yourself in time. She would not +hide her splendour in this dark lantern of an old monastic house, +but would fain shine a countess amongst countesses." + +"Very natural, very right," answered Varney; "but what have I to +do with that?--she may shine through horn or through crystal at +my lord's pleasure, I have nought to say against it." + +"She deems that you have an oar upon that side of the boat, +Master Varney," replied Foster, "and that you can pull it or no, +at your good pleasure. In a word, she ascribes the secrecy and +obscurity in which she is kept to your secret counsel to my lord, +and to my strict agency; and so she loves us both as a sentenced +man loves his judge and his jailor." + +"She must love us better ere she leave this place, Anthony," +answered Varney. "If I have counselled for weighty reasons that +she remain here for a season, I can also advise her being brought +forth in the full blow of her dignity. But I were mad to do so, +holding so near a place to my lord's person, were she mine enemy. +Bear this truth in upon her as occasion offers, Anthony, and let +me alone for extolling you in her ear, and exalting you in her +opinion--KA ME, KA THEE--it is a proverb all over the world. The +lady must know her friends, and be made to judge of the power +they have of being her enemies; meanwhile, watch her strictly, +but with all the outward observance that thy rough nature will +permit. 'Tis an excellent thing that sullen look and bull-dog +humour of thine; thou shouldst thank God for it, and so should my +lord, for when there is aught harsh or hard-natured to be done, +thou dost it as if it flowed from thine own natural doggedness, +and not from orders, and so my lord escapes the scandal.--But, +hark--some one knocks at the gate. Look out at the window--let +no one enter--this were an ill night to be interrupted." + +"It is he whom we spoke of before dinner," said Foster, as he +looked through the casement; "it is Michael Lambourne." + +"Oh, admit him, by all means," said the courtier; "he comes to +give some account of his guest; it imports us much to know the +movements of Edmund Tressilian.--Admit him, I say, but bring him +not hither; I will come to you presently in the Abbot's library." + +Foster left the room, and the courtier, who remained behind, +paced the parlour more than once in deep thought, his arms folded +on his bosom, until at length he gave vent to his meditations in +broken words, which we have somewhat enlarged and connected, that +his soliloquy may be intelligible to the reader. + +"'Tis true," he said, suddenly stopping, and resting his right +hand on the table at which they had been sitting, "this base +churl hath fathomed the very depth of my fear, and I have been +unable to disguise it from him. She loves me not--I would it +were as true that I loved not her! Idiot that I was, to move her +in my own behalf, when wisdom bade me be a true broker to my +lord! And this fatal error has placed me more at her discretion +than a wise man would willingly be at that of the best piece of +painted Eve's flesh of them all. Since the hour that my policy +made so perilous a slip, I cannot look at her without fear, and +hate, and fondness, so strangely mingled, that I know not +whether, were it at my choice, I would rather possess or ruin +her. But she must not leave this retreat until I am assured on +what terms we are to stand. My lord's interest--and so far it is +mine own, for if he sinks I fall in his train--demands +concealment of this obscure marriage; and besides, I will not +lend her my arm to climb to her chair of state, that she may set +her foot on my neck when she is fairly seated. I must work an +interest in her, either through love or through fear; and who +knows but I may yet reap the sweetest and best revenge for her +former scorn?--that were indeed a masterpiece of courtlike art! +Let me but once be her counsel-keeper--let her confide to me a +secret, did it but concern the robbery of a linnet's nest, and, +fair Countess, thou art mine own!" He again paced the room in +silence, stopped, filled and drank a cup of wine, as if to +compose the agitation of his mind, and muttering, "Now for a +close heart and an open and unruffled brow," he left the +apartment. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + The dews of summer night did fall, + The moon, sweet regent of the sky, + Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall, + And many an oak that grew thereby. MICKLE. + +[This verse is the commencement of the ballad already quoted, as +what suggested the novel.] + +Four apartments; which, occupied the western side of the old +quadrangle at Cumnor Place, had been fitted up with extraordinary +splendour. This had been the work of several days prior to that +on which our story opened. Workmen sent from London, and not +permitted to leave the premises until the work was finished, had +converted the apartments in that side of the building from the +dilapidated appearance of a dissolved monastic house into the +semblance of a royal palace. A mystery was observed in all these +arrangements: the workmen came thither and returned by night, +and all measures were taken to prevent the prying curiosity of +the villagers from observing or speculating upon the changes +which were taking place in the mansion of their once indigent but +now wealthy neighbour, Anthony Foster. Accordingly, the secrecy +desired was so far preserved, that nothing got abroad but vague +and uncertain reports, which were received and repeated, but +without much credit being attached to them. + +On the evening of which we treat, the new and highly-decorated +suite of rooms were, for the first time, illuminated, and that +with a brilliancy which might have been visible half-a-dozen +miles off, had not oaken shutters, carefully secured with bolt +and padlock, and mantled with long curtains of silk and of +velvet, deeply fringed with gold, prevented the slightest gleam +of radiance front being seen without. + +The principal apartments, as we have seen, were four in number, +each opening into the other. Access was given to them by a large +scale staircase, as they were then called, of unusual length and +height, which had its landing-place at the door of an +antechamber, shaped somewhat like a gallery. This apartment the +abbot had used as an occasional council-room, but it was now +beautifully wainscoted with dark, foreign wood of a brown colour, +and bearing a high polish, said to have been brought from the +Western Indies, and to have been wrought in London with infinite +difficulty and much damage to the tools of the workmen. The dark +colour of this finishing was relieved by the number of lights in +silver sconces which hung against the walls, and by six large and +richly-framed pictures, by the first masters of the age. A massy +oaken table, placed at the lower end of the apartment, served to +accommodate such as chose to play at the then fashionable game of +shovel-board; and there was at the other end an elevated gallery +for the musicians or minstrels, who might be summoned to increase +the festivity of the evening. + +From this antechamber opened a banqueting-room of moderate size, +but brilliant enough to dazzle the eyes of the spectator with the +richness of its furniture. The walls, lately so bare and +ghastly, were now clothed with hangings of sky-blue velvet and +silver; the chairs were of ebony, richly carved, with cushions +corresponding to the hangings; and the place of the silver +sconces which enlightened the ante-chamber was supplied by a huge +chandelier of the same precious metal. The floor was covered +with a Spanish foot-cloth, or carpet, on which flowers and fruits +were represented in such glowing and natural colours, that you +hesitated to place the foot on such exquisite workmanship. The +table, of old English oak, stood ready covered with the finest +linen; and a large portable court-cupboard was placed with the +leaves of its embossed folding-doors displayed, showing the +shelves within, decorated with a full display of plate and +porcelain. In the midst of the table stood a salt-cellar of +Italian workmanship--a beautiful and splendid piece of plate +about two feet high, moulded into a representation of the giant +Briareus, whose hundred hands of silver presented to the guests +various sorts of spices, or condiments, to season their food +withal. + +The third apartment was called the withdrawing-room. It was hung +with the finest tapestry, representing the fall of Phaeton; for +the looms of Flanders were now much occupied on classical +subjects. The principal seat of this apartment was a chair of +state, raised a step or two from the floor, and large enough to +contain two persons. It was surmounted by a canopy, which, as +well as the cushions, side-curtains, and the very footcloth, was +composed of crimson velvet, embroidered with seed-pearl. On the +top of the canopy were two coronets, resembling those of an earl +and countess. Stools covered with velvet, and some cushions +disposed in the Moorish fashion, and ornamented with Arabesque +needle-work, supplied the place of chairs in this apartment, +which contained musical instruments, embroidery frames, and other +articles for ladies' pastime. Besides lesser lights, the +withdrawing-room was illuminated by four tall torches of virgin +wax, each of which was placed in the grasp of a statue, +representing an armed Moor, who held in his left arm a round +buckler of silver, highly polished, interposed betwixt his breast +and the light, which was thus brilliantly reflected as from a +crystal mirror. + +The sleeping chamber belonging to this splendid suite of +apartments was decorated in a taste less showy, but not less +rich, than had been displayed in the others. Two silver lamps, +fed with perfumed oil, diffused at once a delicious odour and a +trembling twilight-seeming shimmer through the quiet apartment. +It was carpeted so thick that the heaviest step could not have +been heard, and the bed, richly heaped with down, was spread with +an ample coverlet of silk and gold; from under which peeped forth +cambric sheets and blankets as white as the lambs which yielded +the fleece that made them. The curtains were of blue velvet, +lined with crimson silk, deeply festooned with gold, and +embroidered with the loves of Cupid and Psyche. On the toilet +was a beautiful Venetian mirror, in a frame of silver filigree, +and beside it stood a gold posset-dish to contain the night- +draught. A pair of pistols and a dagger, mounted with gold, were +displayed near the head of the bed, being the arms for the night, +which were presented to honoured guests, rather, it may be +supposed, in the way of ceremony than from any apprehension of +danger. We must not omit to mention, what was more to the credit +of the manners of the time, that in a small recess, illuminated +by a taper, were disposed two hassocks of velvet and gold, +corresponding with the bed furniture, before a desk of carved +ebony. This recess had formerly been the private oratory of the +abbot; but the crucifix was removed, and instead there were +placed on the desk, two Books of Common Prayer, richly bound, and +embossed with silver. With this enviable sleeping apartment, +which was so far removed from every sound save that of the wind +sighing among the oaks of the park, that Morpheus might have +coveted it for his own proper repose, corresponded two wardrobes, +or dressing-rooms as they are now termed, suitably furnished, and +in a style of the same magnificence which we have already +described. It ought to be added, that a part of the building in +the adjoining wing was occupied by the kitchen and its offices, +and served to accommodate the personal attendants of the great +and wealthy nobleman, for whose use these magnificent +preparations had been made. + +The divinity for whose sake this temple had been decorated was +well worthy the cost and pains which had been bestowed. She was +seated in the withdrawing-room which we have described, surveying +with the pleased eye of natural and innocent vanity the splendour +which had been so suddenly created, as it were, in her honour. +For, as her own residence at Cumnor Place formed the cause of the +mystery observed in all the preparations for opening these +apartments, it was sedulously arranged that, until she took +possession of them, she should have no means of knowing what was +going forward in that part of the ancient building, or of +exposing herself to be seen by the workmen engaged in the +decorations. She had been, therefore, introduced on that evening +to a part of the mansion which she had never yet seen, so +different from all the rest that it appeared, in comparison, like +an enchanted palace. And when she first examined and occupied +these splendid rooms, it was with the wild and unrestrained joy +of a rustic beauty who finds herself suddenly invested with a +splendour which her most extravagant wishes had never imagined, +and at the same time with the keen feeling of an affectionate +heart, which knows that all the enchantment that surrounds her is +the work of the great magician Love. + +The Countess Amy, therefore--for to that rank she was exalted by +her private but solemn union with England's proudest Earl--had +for a time flitted hastily from room to room, admiring each new +proof of her lover and her bridegroom's taste, and feeling that +admiration enhanced as she recollected that all she gazed upon +was one continued proof of his ardent and devoted affection. +"How beautiful are these hangings! How natural these paintings, +which seem to contend with life! How richly wrought is that +plate, which looks as if all the galleons of Spain had been +intercepted on the broad seas to furnish it forth! And oh, +Janet!" she exclaimed repeatedly to the daughter of Anthony +Foster, the close attendant, who, with equal curiosity, but +somewhat less ecstatic joy, followed on her mistress's footsteps +--"oh, Janet! how much more delightful to think that all these +fair things have been assembled by his love, for the love of me! +and that this evening--this very evening, which grows darker +every instant, I shall thank him more for the love that has +created such an unimaginable paradise, than for all the wonders +it contains." + +"The Lord is to be thanked first," said the pretty Puritan, "who +gave thee, lady, the kind and courteous husband whose love has +done so much for thee. I, too, have done my poor share. But if +you thus run wildly from room to room, the toil of my crisping +and my curling pins will vanish like the frost-work on the window +when the sun is high." + +"Thou sayest true, Janet," said the young and beautiful Countess, +stopping suddenly from her tripping race of enraptured delight, +and looking at herself from head to foot in a large mirror, such +as she had never before seen, and which, indeed, had few to match +it even in the Queen's palace--"thou sayest true, Janet!" she +answered, as she saw, with pardonable self-applause, the noble +mirror reflect such charms as were seldom presented to its fair +and polished surface; "I have more of the milk-maid than the +countess, with these cheeks flushed with haste, and all these +brown curls, which you laboured to bring to order, straying as +wild as the tendrils of an unpruned vine. My falling ruff is +chafed too, and shows the neck and bosom more than is modest and +seemly. Come, Janet; we will practise state--we will go to the +withdrawing-room, my good girl, and thou shalt put these rebel +locks in order, and imprison within lace and cambric the bosom +that beats too high." + +They went to the withdrawing apartment accordingly, where the +Countess playfully stretched herself upon the pile of Moorish +cushions, half sitting, half reclining, half wrapt in her own +thoughts, half listening to the prattle of her attendant. + +While she was in this attitude, and with a corresponding +expression betwixt listlessness and expectation on her fine and +intelligent features, you might have searched sea and land +without finding anything half so expressive or half so lovely. +The wreath of brilliants which mixed with her dark-brown hair did +not match in lustre the hazel eye which a light-brown eyebrow, +pencilled with exquisite delicacy, and long eyelashes of the same +colour, relieved and shaded. The exercise she had just taken, +her excited expectation and gratified vanity, spread a glow over +her fine features, which had been sometimes censured (as beauty +as well as art has her minute critics) for being rather too pale. +The milk-white pearls of the necklace which she wore, the same +which she had just received as a true-love token from her +husband, were excelled in purity by her teeth, and by the colour +of her skin, saving where the blush of pleasure and self- +satisfaction had somewhat stained the neck with a shade of light +crimson.--"Now, have done with these busy fingers, Janet," she +said to her handmaiden, who was still officiously employed in +bringing her hair and her dress into order--"have done, I say. I +must see your father ere my lord arrives, and also Master Richard +Varney, whom my lord has highly in his esteem--but I could tell +that of him would lose him favour." + +"Oh, do not do so, good my lady!" replied Janet; "leave him to +God, who punishes the wicked in His own time; but do not you +cross Varney's path, for so thoroughly hath he my lord's ear, +that few have thriven who have thwarted his courses." + +"And from whom had you this, my most righteous Janet?" said the +Countess; "or why should I keep terms with so mean a gentleman as +Varney, being as I am, wife to his master and patron?" + +"Nay, madam," replied Janet Foster, "your ladyship knows better +than I; but I have heard my father say he would rather cross a +hungry wolf than thwart Richard Varney in his projects. And he +has often charged me to have a care of holding commerce with +him." + +"Thy father said well, girl, for thee," replied the lady, "and I +dare swear meant well. It is a pity, though, his face and manner +do little match his true purpose--for I think his purpose may be +true." + +"Doubt it not, my lady," answered Janet--"doubt not that my +father purposes well, though he is a plain man, and his blunt +looks may belie his heart." + +"I will not doubt it, girl, were it only for thy sake; and yet he +has one of those faces which men tremble when they look on. I +think even thy mother, Janet--nay, have done with that poking- +iron--could hardly look upon him without quaking." + +"If it were so, madam," answered Janet Foster, "my mother had +those who could keep her in honourable countenance. Why, even +you, my lady, both trembled and blushed when Varney brought the +letter from my lord." + +"You are bold, damsel," said the Countess, rising from the +cushions on which she sat half reclined in the arms of her +attendant. "Know that there are causes of trembling which have +nothing to do with fear.--But, Janet," she added, immediately +relapsing into the good-natured and familiar tone which was +natural to her, "believe me, I will do what credit I can to your +father, and the rather that you, sweetheart, are his child. +Alas! alas!" she added, a sudden sadness passing over her fine +features, and her eyes filling with tears, "I ought the rather to +hold sympathy with thy kind heart, that my own poor father is +uncertain of my fate, and they say lies sick and sorrowful for my +worthless sake! But I will soon cheer him--the news of my +happiness and advancement will make him young again. And that I +may cheer him the sooner"--she wiped her eyes as she spoke--"I +must be cheerful myself. My lord must not find me insensible to +his kindness, or sorrowful, when he snatches a visit to his +recluse, after so long an absence. Be merry, Janet; the night +wears on, and my lord must soon arrive. Call thy father hither, +and call Varney also. I cherish resentment against neither; and +though I may have some room to be displeased with both, it shall +be their own fault if ever a complaint against them reaches the +Earl through my means. Call them hither, Janet." + +Janet Foster obeyed her mistress; and in a few minutes after, +Varney entered the withdrawing-room with the graceful ease and +unclouded front of an accomplished courtier, skilled, under the +veil of external politeness, to disguise his own feelings and to +penetrate those of others. Anthony Foster plodded into the +apartment after him, his natural gloomy vulgarity of aspect +seeming to become yet more remarkable, from his clumsy attempt to +conceal the mixture of anxiety and dislike with which he looked +on her, over whom he had hitherto exercised so severe a control, +now so splendidly attired, and decked with so many pledges of the +interest which she possessed in her husband's affections. The +blundering reverence which he made, rather AT than TO the +Countess, had confession in it. It was like the reverence which +the criminal makes to the judge, when he at once owns his guilt +and implores mercy--which is at the same time an impudent and +embarrassed attempt at defence or extenuation, a confession of a +fault, and an entreaty for lenity. + +Varney, who, in right of his gentle blood, had pressed into the +room before Anthony Foster, knew better what to say than he, and +said it with more assurance and a better grace. + +The Countess greeted him indeed with an appearance of cordiality, +which seemed a complete amnesty for whatever she might have to +complain of. She rose from her seat, and advanced two steps +towards him, holding forth her hand as she said, "Master Richard +Varney, you brought me this morning such welcome tidings, that I +fear surprise and joy made me neglect my lord and husband's +charge to receive you with distinction. We offer you our hand, +sir, in reconciliation." + +"I am unworthy to touch it," said Varney, dropping on one knee, +"save as a subject honours that of a prince." + +He touched with his lips those fair and slender fingers, so +richly loaded with rings and jewels; then rising, with graceful +gallantry, was about to hand her to the chair of state, when she +said, "No, good Master Richard Varney, I take not my place there +until my lord himself conducts me. I am for the present but a +disguised Countess, and will not take dignity on me until +authorized by him whom I derive it from." + +"I trust, my lady," said Foster, "that in doing the commands of +my lord your husband, in your restraint and so forth, I have not +incurred your displeasure, seeing that I did but my duty towards +your lord and mine; for Heaven, as holy writ saith, hath given +the husband supremacy and dominion over the wife--I think it runs +so, or something like it." + +"I receive at this moment so pleasant a surprise, Master Foster," +answered the Countess, "that I cannot but excuse the rigid +fidelity which secluded me from these apartments, until they had +assumed an appearance so new and so splendid." + +"Ay lady," said Foster, "it hath cost many a fair crown; and that +more need not be wasted than is absolutely necessary, I leave you +till my lord's arrival with good Master Richard Varney, who, as I +think, hath somewhat to say to you from your most noble lord and +husband.--Janet, follow me, to see that all be in order." + +"No, Master Foster," said the Countess, "we will your daughter +remains here in our apartment--out of ear-shot, however, in case +Varney bath ought to say to me from my lord." + +Foster made his clumsy reverence, and departed, with an aspect +which seemed to grudge the profuse expense which had been wasted +upon changing his house from a bare and ruinous grange to an +Asiastic palace. When he was gone, his daughter took her +embroidery frame, and went to establish herself at the bottom of +the apartment; while Richard Varney, with a profoundly humble +courtesy, took the lowest stool he could find, and placing it by +the side of the pile of cushions on which the Countess had now +again seated herself, sat with his eyes for a time fixed on the +ground, and in pro-found silence + +"I thought, Master Varney," said the Countess, when she saw he +was not likely to open the conversation, "that you had something +to communicate from my lord and husband; so at least I understood +Master Foster, and therefore I removed my waiting-maid. If I am +mistaken, I will recall her to my side; for her needle is not so +absolutely perfect in tent and cross-stitch, but that my +superintendence is advisable." + +"Lady," said Varney, "Foster was partly mistaken in my purpose. +It was not FROM but OF your noble husband, and my approved and +most noble patron, that I am led, and indeed bound, to speak." + +"The theme is most welcome, sir," said the Countess, "whether it +be of or from my noble husband. But be brief, for I expect his +hasty approach." + +"Briefly then, madam," replied Varney, "and boldly, for my +argument requires both haste and courage--you have this day seen +Tressilian?" + +"I have, sir and what of that?" answered the lady somewhat +sharply. + +"Nothing that concerns me, lady," Varney replied with humility. +"But, think you, honoured madam, that your lord will hear it with +equal equanimity?" + +"And wherefore should he not? To me alone was Tressilian's visit +embarrassing and painful, for he brought news of my good father's +illness." + +"Of your father's illness, madam!" answered Varney. "It must +have been sudden then--very sudden; for the messenger whom I +dispatched, at my lord's instance, found the good knight on the +hunting field, cheering his beagles with his wonted jovial field- +cry. I trust Tressilian has but forged this news. He hath his +reasons, madam, as you well know, for disquieting your present +happiness." + +"You do him injustice, Master Varney," replied the Countess, with +animation--"you do him much injustice. He is the freest, the +most open, the most gentle heart that breathes. My honourable +lord ever excepted, I know not one to whom falsehood is more +odious than to Tressilian." + +"I crave your pardon, madam," said Varney, "I meant the gentleman +no injustice--I knew not how nearly his cause affected you. A +man may, in some circumstances, disguise the truth for fair and +honest purpose; for were it to be always spoken, and upon all +occasions, this were no world to live in." + +"You have a courtly conscience, Master Varney," said the +Countess, "and your veracity will not, I think, interrupt your +preferment in the world, such as it is. But touching Tressilian +--I must do him justice, for I have done him wrong, as none knows +better than thou. Tressilian's conscience is of other mould--the +world thou speakest of has not that which could bribe him from +the way of truth and honour; and for living in it with a soiled +fame, the ermine would as soon seek to lodge in the den of the +foul polecat. For this my father loved him; for this I would +have loved him--if I could. And yet in this case he had what +seemed to him, unknowing alike of my marriage and to whom I was +united, such powerful reasons to withdraw me from this place, +that I well trust he exaggerated much of my father's +indisposition, and that thy better news may be the truer." + +"Believe me they are, madam," answered Varney. "I pretend not to +be a champion of that same naked virtue called truth, to the very +outrance. I can consent that her charms be hidden with a veil, +were it but for decency's sake. But you must think lower of my +head and heart than is due to one whom my noble lord deigns to +call his friend, if you suppose I could wilfully and +unnecessarily palm upon your ladyship a falsehood, so soon to be +detected, in a matter which concerns your happiness." + +"Master Varney," said the Countess, "I know that my lord esteems +you, and holds you a faithful and a good pilot in those seas in +which he has spread so high and so venturous a sail. Do not +suppose, therefore, I meant hardly by you, when I spoke the truth +in Tressilian's vindication. I am as you well know, country- +bred, and like plain rustic truth better than courtly compliment; +but I must change my fashions with my sphere, I presume." + +"True, madam," said Varney, smiling; "and though you speak now in +jest, it will not be amiss that in earnest your present speech +had some connection with your real purpose. A court-dame--take +the most noble, the most virtuous, the most unimpeachable that +stands around our Queen's throne--would, for example, have +shunned to speak the truth, or what she thought such, in praise +of a discarded suitor, before the dependant and confidant of her +noble husband." + +"And wherefore," said the Countess, colouring impatiently, +"should I not do justice to Tressilian's worth, before my +husband's friend--before my husband himself--before the whole +world?" + +"And with the same openness," said Varney, "your ladyship will +this night tell my noble lord your husband that Tressilian has +discovered your place of residence, so anxiously concealed from +the world, and that he has had an interview with you?" + +"Unquestionably," said the Countess. "It will be the first thing +I tell him, together with every word that Tressilian said and +that I answered. I shall speak my own shame in this, for +Tressilian's reproaches, less just than he esteemed them, were +not altogether unmerited. I will speak, therefore, with pain, +but I will speak, and speak all." + +"Your ladyship will do your pleasure," answered Varney; "but +methinks it were as well, since nothing calls for so frank a +disclosure, to spare yourself this pain, and my noble lord the +disquiet, and Master Tressilian, since belike he must be thought +of in the matter, the danger which is like to ensue." + +"I can see nought of all these terrible consequences," said the +lady composedly, "unless by imputing to my noble lord unworthy +thoughts, which I am sure never harboured in his generous heart." + +"Far be it from me to do so," said Varney. And then, after a +moment's silence, he added, with a real or affected plainness of +manner, very different from his usual smooth courtesy, "Come, +madam, I will show you that a courtier dare speak truth as well +as another, when it concerns the weal of those whom he honours +and regards, ay, and although it may infer his own danger." He +waited as if to receive commands, or at least permission, to go +on; but as the lady remained silent, he proceeded, but obviously +with caution. "Look around you," he said, "noble lady, and +observe the barriers with which this place is surrounded, the +studious mystery with which the brightest jewel that England +possesses is secluded from the admiring gaze. See with what +rigour your walks are circumscribed. and your movement +restrained at the beck of yonder churlish Foster. Consider all +this, and judge for yourself what can be the cause. + +"My lord's pleasure," answered the Countess; "and I am bound to +seek no other motive." + +"His pleasure it is indeed," said Varney; "and his pleasure +arises out of a love worthy of the object which inspires it. But +he who possesses a treasure, and who values it, is oft anxious, +in proportion to the value he puts upon it, to secure it from the +depredations of others." + +"What needs all this talk, Master Varney?" said the lady, in +reply. "You would have me believe that my noble lord is +jealous. Suppose it true, I know a cure for jealousy." + +"Indeed, madam?" said Varney. + +"It is," replied the lady, "to speak the truth to my lord at all +times--to hold up my mind and my thoughts before him as pure as +that polished mirror--so that when he looks into my heart, he +shall only see his own features reflected there." + +"I am mute, madam answered Varney; "and as I have no reason to +grieve for Tressilian, who would have my heart's blood were he +able, I shall reconcile myself easily to what may befall the +gentleman in consequence of your frank disclosure of his having +presumed to intrude upon your solitude. You, who know my lord so +much better than I, will judge if he be likely to bear the insult +unavenged." + +"Nay, if I could think myself the cause of Tressilian's ruin," +said the Countess, "I who have already occasioned him so much +distress, I might be brought to be silent. And yet what will it +avail, since he was seen by Foster, and I think by some one else? +No, no, Varney, urge it no more. I will tell the whole matter to +my lord; and with such pleading for Tressilian's folly, as shall +dispose my lord's generous heart rather to serve than to punish +him." + +"Your judgment, madam," said Varney, "is far superior to mine, +especially as you may, if you will, prove the ice before you step +on it, by mentioning Tressilian's name to my lord, and observing +how he endures it. For Foster and his attendant, they know not +Tressilian by sight, and I can easily give them some reasonable +excuse for the appearance of an unknown stranger." + +The lady paused for an instant, and then replied, "If, Varney, it +be indeed true that Foster knows not as yet that the man he saw +was Tressilian, I own I were unwilling he should learn what +nowise concerns him. He bears himself already with austerity +enough, and I wish him not to be judge or privy-councillor in my +affairs." + +"Tush," said Varney, "what has the surly groom to do with your +ladyship's concerns?--no more, surely, than the ban-dog which +watches his courtyard. If he is in aught distasteful to your +ladyship, I have interest enough to have him exchanged for a +seneschal that shall be more agreeable to you." + +"Master Varney," said the Countess, "let us drop this theme. +When I complain of the attendants whom my lord has placed around +me, it must be to my lord himself.--Hark! I hear the trampling +of horse. He comes! he comes!" she exclaimed, jumping up in +ecstasy. + +"I cannot think it is he," said Varney; "or that you can hear the +tread of his horse through the closely-mantled casements." + +"Stop me not, Varney--my ears are keener than thine. It is he!" + +"But, madam!--but, madam!" exclaimed Varney anxiously, and still +placing himself in her way, "I trust that what I have spoken in +humble duty and service will not be turned to my ruin? I hope +that my faithful advice will not be bewrayed to my prejudice? I +implore that--" + +"Content thee, man--content thee!" said the Countess, "and quit +my skirt--you are too bold to detain me. Content thyself, I +think not of thee." + +At this moment the folding-doors flew wide open, and a man of +majestic mien, muffled in the folds of a long dark riding-cloak, +entered the apartment. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + This is he + Who rides on the court-gale; controls its tides; + Knows all their secret shoals and fatal eddies; + Whose frown abases, and whose smile exalts. + He shines like any rainbow--and, perchance, + His colours are as transient." OLD PLAY. + +There was some little displeasure and confusion on the Countess's +brow, owing to her struggle with Varney's pertinacity; but it was +exchanged for an expression of the purest joy and affection, as +she threw herself into the arms of the noble stranger who +entered, and clasping him to her bosom, exclaimed, "At length--at +length thou art come!" + +Varney discreetly withdrew as his lord entered, and Janet was +about to do the same, when her mistress signed to her to remain. +She took her place at the farther end of the apartment, and +continued standing, as if ready for attendance. + +Meanwhile the Earl, for he was of no inferior rank, returned his +lady's caress with the most affectionate ardour, but affected to +resist when she strove to take his cloak from him. + +"Nay," she said, "but I will unmantle you. I must see if you +have kept your word to me, and come as the great Earl men call +thee, and not as heretofore like a private cavalier." + +"Thou art like the rest of the world, Amy," said the Earl, +suffering her to prevail in the playful contest; "the jewels, and +feathers, and silk are more to them than the man whom they adorn +--many a poor blade looks gay in a velvet scabbard." + +"But so cannot men say of thee, thou noble Earl," said his lady, +as the cloak dropped on the floor, and showed him dressed as +princes when they ride abroad; "thou art the good and well-tried +steel, whose inly worth deserves, yet disdains, its outward +ornaments. Do not think Amy can love thee better in this +glorious garb than she did when she gave her heart to him who +wore the russet-brown cloak in the woods of Devon." + +"And thou too," said the Earl, as gracefully and majestically he +led his beautiful Countess towards the chair of state which was +prepared for them both--"thou too, my love, hast donned a dress +which becomes thy rank, though it cannot improve thy beauty. +What think'st thou of our court taste?" + +The lady cast a sidelong glance upon the great mirror as they +passed it by, and then said, "I know not how it is, but I think +not of my own person while I look at the reflection of thine. +Sit thou there," she said, as they approached the chair of state, +"like a thing for men to worship and to wonder at." + +"Ay, love," said the Earl, "if thou wilt share my state with me." + +"Not so," said the Countess; "I will sit on this footstool at thy +feet, that I may spell over thy splendour, and learn, for the +first time, how princes are attired." + +And with a childish wonder, which her youth and rustic education +rendered not only excusable but becoming, mixed as it was with a +delicate show of the most tender conjugal affection, she examined +and admired from head to foot the noble form and princely attire +of him who formed the proudest ornament of the court of England's +Maiden Queen, renowned as it was for splendid courtiers, as well +as for wise counsellors. Regarding affectionately his lovely +bride, and gratified by her unrepressed admiration, the dark eye +and noble features of the Earl expressed passions more gentle +than the commanding and aspiring look which usually sat upon his +broad forehead, and in the piercing brilliancy of his dark eye; +and he smiled at the simplicity which dictated the questions she +put to him concerning the various ornaments with which he was +decorated. + +"The embroidered strap, as thou callest it, around my knee," he +said, "is the English Garter, an ornament which kings are proud +to wear. See, here is the star which belongs to it, and here the +Diamond George, the jewel of the order. You have heard how King +Edward and the Countess of Salisbury--" + +"Oh, I know all that tale," said the Countess, slightly blushing, +"and how a lady's garter became the proudest badge of English +chivalry." + +"Even so," said the Earl; "and this most honourable Order I had +the good hap to receive at the same time with three most noble +associates, the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquis of Northampton, and +the Earl of Rutland. I was the lowest of the four in rank--but +what then? he that climbs a ladder must begin at the first +round." + +"But this other fair collar, so richly wrought, with some jewel +like a sheep hung by the middle attached to it, what," said the +young Countess, "does that emblem signify?" + +"This collar," said the Earl, "with its double fusilles +interchanged with these knobs, which are supposed to present +flint-stones sparkling with fire, and sustaining the jewel you +inquire about, is the badge of the noble Order of the Golden +Fleece, once appertaining to the House of Burgundy it hath high +privileges, my Amy, belonging to it, this most noble Order; for +even the King of Spain himself, who hath now succeeded to the +honours and demesnes of Burgundy, may not sit in judgment upon a +knight of the Golden Fleece, unless by assistance and consent of +the Great Chapter of the Order." + +"And is this an Order belonging to the cruel King of Spain?" +said the Countess. "Alas! my noble lord, that you will defile +your noble English breast by bearing such an emblem! Bethink you +of the most unhappy Queen Mary's days, when this same Philip held +sway with her in England, and of the piles which were built for +our noblest, and our wisest, and our most truly sanctified +prelates and divines--and will you, whom men call the standard- +bearer of the true Protestant faith, be contented to wear the +emblem and mark of such a Romish tyrant as he of Spain?" + +"Oh, content you, my love," answered the Earl; "we who spread our +sails to gales of court favour cannot always display the ensigns +we love the best, or at all times refuse sailing under colours +which we like not. Believe me, I am not the less good +Protestant, that for policy I must accept the honour offered me +by Spain, in admitting me to this his highest order of +knighthood. Besides, it belongs properly to Flanders; and +Egmont, Orange, and others have pride in seeing it displayed on +an English bosom." + +"Nay, my lord, you know your own path best," replied the +Countess. "And this other collar, to what country does this fair +jewel belong?" + +"To a very poor one, my love," replied the Earl; "this is the +Order of Saint Andrew, revived by the last James of Scotland. It +was bestowed on me when it was thought the young widow of France +and Scotland would gladly have wedded an English baron; but a +free coronet of England is worth a crown matrimonial held at the +humour of a woman, and owning only the poor rocks and bogs of the +north." + +The Countess paused, as if what the Earl last said had excited +some painful but interesting train of thought; and, as she still +remained silent, her husband proceeded:-- + +"And now, loveliest, your wish is gratified, and you have seen +your vassal in such of his trim array as accords with riding +vestments; for robes of state and coronets are only for princely +halls." + +"Well, then," said the Countess, "my gratified wish has, as +usual, given rise to a new one." + +"And what is it thou canst ask that I can deny?" said the fond +husband. + +"I wished to see my Earl visit this obscure and secret bower," +said the Countess, "in all his princely array; and now, methinks +I long to sit in one of his princely halls, and see him enter +dressed in sober russet, as when he won poor Amy Robsart's +heart." + +"That is a wish easily granted," said the Earl--"the sober russet +shall be donned to-morrow, if you will." + +"But shall I," said the lady, "go with you to one of your +castles, to see how the richness of your dwelling will correspond +with your peasant habit?" + +"Why, Amy," said the Earl, looking around, "are not these +apartments decorated with sufficient splendour? I gave the most +unbounded order, and, methinks, it has been indifferently well +obeyed; but if thou canst tell me aught which remains to be done, +I will instantly give direction." + +"Nay, my lord, now you mock me," replied the Countess; "the +gaiety of this rich lodging exceeds my imagination as much as it +does my desert. But shall not your wife, my love--at least one +day soon--be surrounded with the honour which arises neither from +the toils of the mechanic who decks her apartment, nor from the +silks and jewels with which your generosity adorns her, but which +is attached to her place among the matronage, as the avowed wife +of England's noblest Earl?" + +"One day?" said her husband. "Yes, Amy, my love, one day this +shall surely happen; and, believe me, thou canst not wish for +that day more fondly than I. With what rapture could I retire +from labours of state, and cares and toils of ambition, to spend +my life in dignity and honour on my own broad domains, with thee, +my lovely Amy, for my friend and companion! But, Amy, this +cannot yet be; and these dear but stolen interviews are all I can +give to the loveliest and the best beloved of her sex." + +"But WHY can it not be?" urged the Countess, in the softest +tones of persuasion--"why can it not immediately take place--this +more perfect, this uninterrupted union, for which you say you +wish, and which the laws of God and man alike command? Ah! did +you but desire it half as much as you say, mighty and favoured as +you are, who or what should bar your attaining your wish?" + +The Earl's brow was overcast. + +"Amy," he said, "you speak of what you understand not. We that +toil in courts are like those who climb a mountain of loose sand +--we dare make no halt until some projecting rock affords us a +secure footing and resting-place. If we pause sooner, we slide +down by our own weight, an object of universal derision. I stand +high, but I stand not secure enough to follow my own inclination. +To declare my marriage were to be the artificer of my own ruin. +But, believe me, I will reach a point, and that speedily, when I +can do justice to thee and to myself. Meantime, poison not the +bliss of the present moment, by desiring that which cannot at +present be, Let me rather know whether all here is managed to thy +liking. How does Foster bear himself to you?--in all things +respectful, I trust, else the fellow shall dearly rue it." + +"He reminds me sometimes of the necessity of this privacy," +answered the lady, with a sigh; "but that is reminding me of your +wishes, and therefore I am rather bound to him than disposed to +blame him for it." + +"I have told you the stern necessity which is upon us," replied +the Earl. "Foster is, I note, somewhat sullen of mood; but +Varney warrants to me his fidelity and devotion to my service. +If thou hast aught, however, to complain of the mode in which he +discharges his duty, he shall abye it." + +"Oh, I have nought to complain of," answered the lady, "so he +discharges his task with fidelity to you; and his daughter Janet +is the kindest and best companion of my solitude--her little air +of precision sits so well upon her!" + +"Is she indeed?" said the Earl. "She who gives you pleasure +must not pass unrewarded.--Come hither, damsel." + +"Janet," said the lady, "come hither to my lord." + +Janet, who, as we already noticed, had discreetly retired to some +distance, that her presence might be no check upon the private +conversation of her lord and lady, now came forward; and as she +made her reverential curtsy, the Earl could not help smiling at +the contrast which the extreme simplicity of her dress, and the +prim demureness of her looks, made with a very pretty countenance +and a pair of black eyes, that laughed in spite of their +mistress's desire to look grave. + +"I am bound to you, pretty damsel," said the Earl, "for the +contentment which your service hath given to this lady." As he +said this, he took from his finger a ring of some price, and +offered it to Janet Foster, adding, "Wear this, for her sake and +for mine." + +"I am well pleased, my lord," answered Janet demurely, "that my +poor service hath gratified my lady, whom no one can draw nigh to +without desiring to please; but we of the precious Master +Holdforth's congregation seek not, like the gay daughters of this +world, to twine gold around our fingers, or wear stones upon our +necks, like the vain women of Tyre and of Sidon." + +"Oh, what! you are a grave professor of the precise sisterhood, +pretty Mistress Janet," said the Earl, "and I think your father +is of the same congregation in sincerity? I like you both the +better for it; for I have been prayed for, and wished well to, in +your congregations. And you may the better afford the lack of +ornament, Mistress Janet, because your fingers are slender, and +your neck white. But here is what neither Papist nor Puritan, +latitudinarian nor precisian, ever boggles or makes mouths at. +E'en take it, my girl, and employ it as you list." + +So saying, he put into her hand five broad gold pieces of Philip +and Mary, + +"I would not accept this gold either," said Janet, "but that I +hope to find a use for it which will bring a blessing on us all." + +"Even please thyself, pretty Janet," said the Earl, "and I shall +be well satisfied. And I prithee let them hasten the evening +collation." + +"I have bidden Master Varney and Master Foster to sup with us, my +lord," said the Countess, as Janet retired to obey the Earl's +commands; "has it your approbation?" + +"What you do ever must have so, my sweet Amy," replied her +husband; "and I am the better pleased thou hast done them this +grace, because Richard Varney is my sworn man, and a close +brother of my secret council; and for the present, I must needs +repose much trust in this Anthony Foster." + +"I had a boon to beg of thee, and a secret to tell thee, my dear +lord," said the Countess, with a faltering accent. + +"Let both be for to-morrow, my love," replied the Earl. "I see +they open the folding-doors into the banqueting-parlour, and as I +have ridden far and fast, a cup of wine will not be +unacceptable." + +So saying he led his lovely wife into the next apartment, where +Varney and Foster received them with the deepest reverences, +which the first paid after the fashion of the court, and the +second after that of the congregation. The Earl returned their +salutation with the negligent courtesy of one long used to such +homage; while the Countess repaid it with a punctilious +solicitude, which showed it was not quite so familiar to her. + +The banquet at which the company seated themselves corresponded +in magnificence with the splendour of the apartment in which it +was served up, but no domestic gave his attendance. Janet alone +stood ready to wait upon the company; and, indeed, the board was +so well supplied with all that could be desired, that little or +no assistance was necessary. The Earl and his lady occupied the +upper end of the table, and Varney and Foster sat beneath the +salt, as was the custom with inferiors. The latter, overawed +perhaps by society to which he was altogether unused, did not +utter a single syllable during the repast; while Varney, with +great tact and discernment, sustained just so much of the +conversation as, without the appearance of intrusion on his part, +prevented it from languishing, and maintained the good-humour of +the Earl at the highest pitch. This man was indeed highly +qualified by nature to discharge the part in which he found +himself placed, being discreet and cautious on the one hand, and, +on the other, quick, keen-witted, and imaginative; so that even +the Countess, prejudiced as she was against him on many accounts, +felt and enjoyed his powers of conversation, and was more +disposed than she had ever hitherto found herself to join in the +praises which the Earl lavished on his favourite. The hour of +rest at length arrived, the Earl and Countess retired to their +apartment, and all was silent in the castle for the rest of the +night. + +Early on the ensuing morning, Varney acted as the Earl's +chamberlain as well as his master of horse, though the latter was +his proper office in that magnificent household, where knights +and gentlemen of good descent were well contented to hold such +menial situations, as nobles themselves held in that of the +sovereign. The duties of each of these charges were familiar to +Varney, who, sprung from an ancient but somewhat decayed family, +was the Earl's page during his earlier and more obscure fortunes, +and, faithful to him in adversity, had afterwards contrived to +render himself no less useful to him in his rapid and splendid +advance to fortune; thus establishing in him an interest resting +both on present and past services, which rendered him an almost +indispensable sharer of his confidence. + +"Help me to do on a plainer riding-suit, Varney," said the Earl, +as he laid aside his morning-gown, flowered with silk and lined +with sables, "and put these chains and fetters there" (pointing +to the collars of the various Orders which lay on the table) +"into their place of security--my neck last night was well-nigh +broke with the weight of them. I am half of the mind that they +shall gall me no more. They are bonds which knaves have invented +to fetter fools. How thinkest thou, Varney?" + +"Faith, my good lord," said his attendant, "I think fetters of +gold are like no other fetters--they are ever the weightier the +welcomer." + +"For all that, Varney," replied his master, "I am well-nigh +resolved they shall bind me to the court no longer. What can +further service and higher favour give me, beyond the high rank +and large estate which I have already secured? What brought my +father to the block, but that he could not bound his wishes +within right and reason? I have, you know, had mine own ventures +and mine own escapes. I am well-nigh resolved to tempt the sea +no further, but sit me down in quiet on the shore." + +"And gather cockle-shells, with Dan Cupid to aid you," said +Varney. + +"How mean you by that, Varney?" said the Earl somewhat hastily. + +"Nay, my lord," said Varney, "be not angry with me. If your +lordship is happy in a lady so rarely lovely that, in order to +enjoy her company with somewhat more freedom, you are willing to +part with all you have hitherto lived for, some of your poor +servants may be sufferers; but your bounty hath placed me so +high, that I shall ever have enough to maintain a poor gentleman +in the rank befitting the high office he has held in your +lordship's family." + +"Yet you seem discontented when I propose throwing up a dangerous +game, which may end in the ruin of both of us." + +"I, my lord?" said Varney; "surely I have no cause to regret +your lordship's retreat! It will not be Richard Varney who will +incur the displeasure of majesty, and the ridicule of the court, +when the stateliest fabric that ever was founded upon a prince's +favour melts away like a morning frost-work. I would only have +you yourself to be assured, my lord, ere you take a step which +cannot be retracted, that you consult your fame and happiness in +the course you propose." + +"Speak on, then, Varney," said the Earl; "I tell thee I have +determined nothing, and will weigh all considerations on either +side." + +"Well, then, my lord," replied Varney, "we will suppose the step +taken, the frown frowned, the laugh laughed, and the moan moaned. +You have retired, we will say, to some one of your most distant +castles, so far from court that you hear neither the sorrow of +your friends nor the glee of your enemies, We will suppose, too, +that your successful rival will be satisfied (a thing greatly to +be doubted) with abridging and cutting away the branches of the +great tree which so long kept the sun from him, and that he does +not insist upon tearing you up by the roots. Well; the late +prime favourite of England, who wielded her general's staff and +controlled her parliaments, is now a rural baron, hunting, +hawking, drinking fat ale with country esquires, and mustering +his men at the command of the high sheriff--" + +"Varney, forbear!" said the Earl. + +"Nay, my lord, you must give me leave to conclude my picture. +--Sussex governs England--the Queen's health fails--the +succession is to be settled--a road is opened to ambition more +splendid than ambition ever dreamed of. You hear all this as you +sit by the hob, under the shade of your hall-chimney. You then +begin to think what hopes you have fallen from, and what +insignificance you have embraced; and all that you might look +babies in the eyes of your fair wife oftener than once a +fortnight," + +"I say, Varney," said the Earl, "no more of this. I said not +that the step, which my own ease and comfort would urge me to, +was to be taken hastily, or without due consideration to the +public safety. Bear witness to me, Varney; I subdue my wishes of +retirement, not because I am moved by the call of private +ambition, but that I may preserve the position in which I may +best serve my country at the hour of need.--Order our horses +presently; I will wear, as formerly, one of the livery cloaks, +and ride before the portmantle. Thou shalt be master for the +day, Varney--neglect nothing that can blind suspicion. We will +to horse ere men are stirring. I will but take leave of my lady, +and be ready. I impose a restraint on my own poor heart, and +wound one yet more dear to me; but the patriot must subdue the +husband. + +Having said this in a melancholy but firm accent, he left the +dressing apartment. + +"I am glad thou art gone," thought Varney, "or, practised as I am +in the follies of mankind, I had laughed in the very face of +thee! Thou mayest tire as thou wilt of thy new bauble, thy +pretty piece of painted Eve's flesh there, I will not be thy +hindrance. But of thine old bauble, ambition, thou shalt not +tire; for as you climb the hill, my lord, you must drag Richard +Varney up with you, and if he can urge you to the ascent he means +to profit by, believe me he will spare neither whip nor spur, and +for you, my pretty lady, that would be Countess outright, you +were best not thwart my courses, lest you are called to an old +reckoning on a new score. 'Thou shalt be master,' did he say? +By my faith, he may find that he spoke truer than he is aware of; +and thus he who, in the estimation of so many wise-judging men, +can match Burleigh and Walsingham in policy, and Sussex in war, +becomes pupil to his own menial--and all for a hazel eye and a +little cunning red and white, and so falls ambition. And yet if +the charms of mortal woman could excuse a man's politic pate for +becoming bewildered, my lord had the excuse at his right hand on +this blessed evening that has last passed over us. Well--let +things roll as they may, he shall make me great, or I will make +myself happy; and for that softer piece of creation, if she speak +not out her interview with Tressilian, as well I think she dare +not, she also must traffic with me for concealment and mutual +support, in spite of all this scorn. I must to the stables. +Well, my lord, I order your retinue now; the time may soon come +that my master of the horse shall order mine own. What was +Thomas Cromwell but a smith's son? and he died my lord--on a +scaffold, doubtless, but that, too, was in character. And what +was Ralph Sadler but the clerk of Cromwell? and he has gazed +eighteen fair lordships--VIA! I know my steerage as well as +they." + +So saying, he left the apartment. + +In the meanwhile the Earl had re-entered the bedchamber, bent on +taking a hasty farewell of the lovely Countess, and scarce daring +to trust himself in private with her, to hear requests again +urged which he found it difficult to parry, yet which his recent +conversation with his master of horse had determined him not to +grant. + +He found her in a white cymar of silk lined with furs, her little +feet unstockinged and hastily thrust into slippers; her unbraided +hair escaping from under her midnight coif, with little array but +her own loveliness, rather augmented than diminished by the grief +which she felt at the approaching moment of separation. + +"Now, God be with thee, my dearest and loveliest!" said the +Earl, scarce tearing himself from her embrace, yet again +returning to fold her again and again in his arms, and again +bidding farewell, and again returning to kiss and bid adieu once +more. "The sun is on the verge of the blue horizon--I dare not +stay. Ere this I should have been ten miles from hence." + +Such were the words with which at length he strove to cut short +their parting interview. "You will not grant my request, then?" +said the Countess. "Ah, false knight! did ever lady, with bare +foot in slipper, seek boon of a brave knight, yet return with +denial?" + +"Anything, Amy, anything thou canst ask I will grant," answered +the Earl--"always excepting," he said, "that which might ruin us +both." + +"Nay," said the Countess, "I urge not my wish to be acknowledged +in the character which would make me the envy of England--as the +wife, that is, of my brave and noble lord, the first as the most +fondly beloved of English nobles. Let me but share the secret +with my dear father! Let me but end his misery on my unworthy +account--they say he is ill, the good old kind-hearted man!" + +"They say?" asked the Earl hastily; "who says? Did not Varney +convey to Sir Hugh all we dare at present tell him concerning +your happiness and welfare? and has he not told you that the +good old knight was following, with good heart and health, his +favourite and wonted exercise. Who has dared put other thoughts +into your head?" + +"Oh, no one, my lord, no one," said the Countess, something +alarmed at the tone, in which the question was put; "but yet, my +lord, I would fain be assured by mine own eyesight that my father +is well." + +"Be contented, Amy; thou canst not now have communication with +thy father or his house. Were it not a deep course of policy to +commit no secret unnecessarily to the custody of more than must +needs be, it were sufficient reason for secrecy that yonder +Cornish man, yonder Trevanion, or Tressilian, or whatever his +name is, haunts the old knight's house, and must necessarily know +whatever is communicated there." + +"My lord," answered the Countess, "I do not think it so. My +father has been long noted a worthy and honourable man; and for +Tressilian, if we can pardon ourselves the ill we have wrought +him, I will wager the coronet I am to share with you one day that +he is incapable of returning injury for injury." + +"I will not trust him, however, Amy," said her husband--"by my +honour, I will not trust him, I would rather the foul fiend +intermingle in our secret than this Tressilian!" + +"And why, my lord?" said the Countess, though she shuddered +slightly at the tone of determination in which he spoke; "let me +but know why you think thus hardly of Tressilian?" + +"Madam," replied the Earl, "my will ought to be a sufficient +reason. If you desire more, consider how this Tressilian is +leagued, and with whom. He stands high in the opinion of this +Radcliffe, this Sussex, against whom I am barely able to maintain +my ground in the opinion of our suspicious mistress; and if he +had me at such advantage, Amy, as to become acquainted with the +tale of our marriage, before Elizabeth were fitly prepared, I +were an outcast from her grace for ever--a bankrupt at once in +favour and in fortune, perhaps, for she hath in her a touch of +her father Henry--a victim, and it may be a bloody one, to her +offended and jealous resentment." + +"But why, my lord," again urged his lady, "should you deem thus +injuriously of a man of whom you know so little? What you do +know of Tressilian is through me, and it is I who assure you that +in no circumstances will be betray your secret. If I did him +wrong in your behalf, my lord, I am now the more concerned you +should do him justice. You are offended at my speaking of him, +what would you say had I actually myself seen him?" + +"If you had," replied the Earl, "you would do well to keep that +interview as secret as that which is spoken in a confessional. I +seek no one's ruin; but he who thrusts himself on my secret +privacy were better look well to his future walk. The bear [The +Leicester cognizance was the ancient device adopted by his +father, when Earl of Warwick, the bear and ragged staff.] brooks +no one to cross his awful path." + +"Awful, indeed!" said the Countess, turning very pale. + +"You are ill, my love," said the Earl, supporting her in his +arms. "Stretch yourself on your couch again; it is but an early +day for you to leave it. Have you aught else, involving less +than my fame, my fortune, and my life, to ask of me?" + +"Nothing, my lord and love," answered the Countess faintly; +"something there was that I would have told you, but your anger +has driven it from my recollection." + +"Reserve it till our next meeting, my love," said the Earl +fondly, and again embracing her; "and barring only those requests +which I cannot and dare not grant, thy wish must be more than +England and all its dependencies can fulfil, if it is not +gratified to the letter." + +Thus saying, he at length took farewell. At the bottom of the +staircase he received from Varney an ample livery cloak and +slouched hat, in which he wrapped himself so as to disguise his +person and completely conceal his features. Horses were ready in +the courtyard for himself and Varney; for one or two of his +train, intrusted with the secret so far as to know or guess that +the Earl intrigued with a beautiful lady at that mansion, though +her name and duality were unknown to them, had already been +dismissed over-night. + +Anthony Foster himself had in hand the rein of the Earl's +palfrey, a stout and able nag for the road; while his old +serving-man held the bridle of the more showy and gallant steed +which Richard Varney was to occupy in the character of master. + +As the Earl approached, however, Varney advanced to hold his +master's bridle, and to prevent Foster from paying that duty to +the Earl which he probably considered as belonging to his own +office. Foster scowled at an interference which seemed intended +to prevent his paying his court to his patron, but gave place to +Varney; and the Earl, mounting without further observation, and +forgetting that his assumed character of a domestic threw him +into the rear of his supposed master, rode pensively out of the +quadrangle, not without waving his hand repeatedly in answer to +the signals which were made by the Countess with her kerchief +from the windows of her apartment. + +While his stately form vanished under the dark archway which led +out of the quadrangle, Varney muttered, "There goes fine policy +--the servant before the master!" then as he disappeared, seized +the moment to speak a word with Foster. "Thou look'st dark on +me, Anthony," he said, "as if I had deprived thee of a parting +nod of my lord; but I have moved him to leave thee a better +remembrance for thy faithful service. See here! a purse of as +good gold as ever chinked under a miser's thumb and fore-finger. +Ay, count them, lad," said he, as Foster received the gold with a +grim smile, "and add to them the goodly remembrance he gave last +night to Janet." + +"How's this? how's this?" said Anthony Foster hastily; "gave he +gold to Janet?" + +"Ay, man, wherefore not?--does not her service to his fair lady +require guerdon?" + +"She shall have none on't," said Foster; "she shall return it. I +know his dotage on one face is as brief as it is deep. His +affections are as fickle as the moon." + +"Why, Foster, thou art mad--thou dost not hope for such good +fortune as that my lord should cast an eye on Janet? Who, in the +fiend's name, would listen to the thrush while the nightingale is +singing?" + +"Thrush or nightingale, all is one to the fowler; and, Master +Varney, you can sound the quail-pipe most daintily to wile +wantons into his nets. I desire no such devil's preferment for +Janet as you have brought many a poor maiden to. Dost thou +laugh? I will keep one limb of my family, at least, from Satan's +clutches, that thou mayest rely on. She shall restore the gold." + +"Ay, or give it to thy keeping, Tony, which will serve as well," +answered Varney; "but I have that to say which is more serious. +Our lord is returning to court in an evil humour for us." + +"How meanest thou?" said Foster. "Is he tired already of his +pretty toy--his plaything yonder? He has purchased her at a +monarch's ransom, and I warrant me he rues his bargain." + +"Not a whit, Tony," answered the master of the horse; "he dotes +on her, and will forsake the court for her. Then down go hopes, +possessions, and safety--church-lands are resumed, Tony, and well +if the holders be not called to account in Exchequer." + +"That were ruin," said Foster, his brow darkening with +apprehensions; "and all this for a woman! Had it been for his +soul's sake, it were something; and I sometimes wish I myself +could fling away the world that cleaves to me, and be as one of +the poorest of our church." + +"Thou art like enough to be so, Tony," answered Varney; "but I +think the devil will give thee little credit for thy compelled +poverty, and so thou losest on all hands. But follow my counsel, +and Cumnor Place shall be thy copyhold yet. Say nothing of this +Tressilian's visit--not a word until I give thee notice." + +"And wherefore, I pray you?" asked Foster, suspiciously. + +"Dull beast!" replied Varney. "In my lord's present humour it +were the ready way to confirm him in his resolution of +retirement, should he know that his lady was haunted with such a +spectre in his absence. He would be for playing the dragon +himself over his golden fruit, and then, Tony, thy occupation is +ended. A word to the wise. Farewell! I must follow him." + +He turned his horse, struck him with the spurs, and rode off +under the archway in pursuit of his lord. + +"Would thy occupation were ended, or thy neck broken, damned +pander!" said Anthony Foster. "But I must follow his beck, for +his interest and mine are the same, and he can wind the proud +Earl to his will. Janet shall give me those pieces though; they +shall be laid out in some way for God's service, and I will keep +them separate in my strong chest, till I can fall upon a fitting +employment for them. No contagious vapour shall breathe on +Janet--she shall remain pure as a blessed spirit, were it but to +pray God for her father. I need her prayers, for I am at a hard +pass. Strange reports are abroad concerning my way of life. The +congregation look cold on me, and when Master Holdforth spoke of +hypocrites being like a whited sepulchre, which within was full +of dead men's bones, methought he looked full at me. The Romish +was a comfortable faith; Lambourne spoke true in that. A man had +but to follow his thrift by such ways as offered--tell his beads, +hear a mass, confess, and be absolved. These Puritans tread a +harder and a rougher path; but I will try--I will read my Bible +for an hour ere I again open mine iron chest." + +Varney, meantime, spurred after his lord, whom he found waiting +for him at the postern gate of the park. + +"You waste time, Varney," said the Earl, "and it presses. I must +be at Woodstock before I can safely lay aside my disguise, and +till then I journey in some peril." + +"It is but two hours' brisk riding, my lord," said Varney. "For +me, I only stopped to enforce your commands of care and secrecy +on yonder Foster, and to inquire about the abode of the gentleman +whom I would promote to your lordship's train, in the room of +Trevors." + +"Is he fit for the meridian of the antechamber, think'st thou?" +said the Earl. + +"He promises well, my lord," replied Varney ; "but if your +lordship were pleased to ride on, I could go back to Cumnor, and +bring him to your lordship at Woodstock before you are out of +bed." + +"Why, I am asleep there, thou knowest, at this moment," said the +Earl; "and I pray you not to spare horse-flesh, that you may be +with me at my levee." + +So saying, he gave his horse the spur, and proceeded on his +journey, while Varney rode back to Cumnor by the public road, +avoiding the park. The latter alighted at the door of the bonny +Black Bear, and desired to speak with Master Michael Lambourne, +That respectable character was not long of appearing before his +new patron, but it was with downcast looks. + +"Thou hast lost the scent," said Varney, "of thy comrade +Tressilian. I know it by thy bang-dog visage. Is this thy +alacrity, thou impudent knave?" + +"Cogswounds!" said Lambourne, "there was never a trail so finely +hunted. I saw him to earth at mine uncle's here--stuck to him +like bees'-wax--saw him at supper--watched him to his chamber, +and, presto! he is gone next morning, the very hostler knows not +where." + +"This sounds like practice upon me, sir," replied Varney; "and if +it proves so, by my soul you shall repent it!" + +"Sir, the best hound will be sometimes at fault," answered +Lambourne; "how should it serve me that this fellow should have +thus evanished? You may ask mine host, Giles Gosling--ask the +tapster and hostler--ask Cicely, and the whole household, how I +kept eyes on Tressilian while he was on foot. On my soul, I +could not be expected to watch him like a sick nurse, when I had +seen him fairly a-bed in his chamber. That will be allowed me, +surely." + +Varney did, in fact, make some inquiry among the household, which +confirmed the truth of Lambourne's statement. Tressilian, it was +unanimously agreed, had departed suddenly and unexpectedly, +betwixt night and morning. + +"But I will wrong no one," said mine host; "he left on the table +in his lodging the full value of his reckoning, with some +allowance to the servants of the house, which was the less +necessary that he saddled his own gelding, as it seems, without +the hostler's assistance." + +Thus satisfied of the rectitude of Lambourne's conduct, Varney +began to talk to him upon his future prospects, and the mode in +which he meant to bestow himself, intimating that he understood +from Foster he was not disinclined to enter into the household of +a nobleman. + +"Have you," said he, "ever been at court?" + +"No," replied Lambourne; "but ever since I was ten years old, I +have dreamt once a week that I was there, and made my fortune." + +"It may be your own fault if your dream comes not true," said +Varney. "Are you needy?" + +"Um!" replied Lambourne; "I love pleasure." + +"That is a sufficient answer, and an honest one," said Varney. +"Know you aught of the requisites expected from the retainer of a +rising courtier?" + +"I have imagined them to myself, sir," answered Lambourne; "as, +for example, a quick eye, a close mouth, a ready and bold hand, a +sharp wit, and a blunt conscience." + +"And thine, I suppose," said Varney, "has had its edge blunted +long since?" + +"I cannot remember, sir, that its edge was ever over-keen," +replied Lambourne. "When I was a youth, I had some few whimsies; +but I rubbed them partly out of my recollection on the rough +grindstone of the wars, and what remained I washed out in the +broad waves of the Atlantic." + +"Thou hast served, then, in the Indies?" + +"In both East and West," answered the candidate for court +service, "by both sea and land. I have served both the Portugal +and the Spaniard, both the Dutchman and the Frenchman, and have +made war on our own account with a crew of jolly fellows, who +held there was no peace beyond the Line." [Sir Francis Drake, +Morgan, and many a bold buccaneer of those days, were, in fact, +little better than pirates.] + +"Thou mayest do me, and my lord, and thyself, good service," said +Varney, after a pause. "But observe, I know the world--and +answer me truly, canst thou be faithful?" + +"Did you not know the world," answered Lambourne, "it were my +duty to say ay, without further circumstance, and to swear to it +with life and honour, and so forth. But as it seems to me that +your worship is one who desires rather honest truth than politic +falsehood, I reply to you, that I can be faithful to the gallows' +foot, ay, to the loop that dangles from it, if I am well used and +well recompensed--not otherwise." + +"To thy other virtues thou canst add, no doubt," said Varney, in +a jeering tone, "the knack of seeming serious and religious, when +the moment demands it?" + +"It would cost me nothing," said Lambourne, "to say yes; but, to +speak on the square, I must needs say no. If you want a +hypocrite, you may take Anthony Foster, who, from his childhood, +had some sort of phantom haunting him, which he called religion, +though it was that sort of godliness which always ended in being +great gain. But I have no such knack of it." + +"Well," replied Varney, "if thou hast no hypocrisy, hast thou not +a nag here in the stable?" + +"Ay, sir," said Lambourne, "that shall take hedge and ditch with +my Lord Duke's best hunters. Then I made a little mistake on +Shooter's Hill, and stopped an ancient grazier whose pouches were +better lined than his brain-pan, the bonny bay nag carried me +sheer off in spite of the whole hue and cry." + +"Saddle him then instantly, and attend me," said Varney. "Leave +thy clothes and baggage under charge of mine host; and I will +conduct thee to a service, in which, if thou do not better +thyself, the fault shall not be fortune's, but thine own." + +"Brave and hearty!" said Lambourne, "and I am mounted in an +instant.--Knave, hostler, saddle my nag without the loss of one +second, as thou dost value the safety of thy noddle.--Pretty +Cicely, take half this purse to comfort thee for my sudden +departure." + +"Gogsnouns!" replied the father, "Cicely wants no such token +from thee. Go away, Mike, and gather grace if thou canst, though +I think thou goest not to the land where it grows." + +"Let me look at this Cicely of thine, mine host," said Varney; "I +have heard much talk of her beauty." + +"It is a sunburnt beauty," said mine host, "well qualified to +stand out rain and wind, but little calculated to please such +critical gallants as yourself. She keeps her chamber, and cannot +encounter the glance of such sunny-day courtiers as my noble +guest." + +"Well, peace be with her, my good host," answered Varney; "our +horses are impatient--we bid you good day." + +"Does my nephew go with you, so please you?" said Gosling. + +"Ay, such is his purpose," answered Richard Varney. + +"You are right--fully right," replied mine host--"you are, I say, +fully right, my kinsman. Thou hast got a gay horse; see thou +light not unaware upon a halter--or, if thou wilt needs be made +immortal by means of a rope, which thy purpose of following this +gentleman renders not unlikely, I charge thee to find a gallows +as far from Cumnor as thou conveniently mayest. And so I commend +you to your saddle." + +The master of the horse and his new retainer mounted accordingly, +leaving the landlord to conclude his ill-omened farewell, to +himself and at leisure; and set off together at a rapid pace, +which prevented conversation until the ascent of a steep sandy +hill permitted them to resume it. + +"You are contented, then," said Varney to his companion, "to take +court service?" + +"Ay, worshipful sir, if you like my terms as well as I like +yours." + +"And what are your terms?" demanded Varney. + +"If I am to have a quick eye for my patron's interest, he must +have a dull one towards my faults," said Lambourne. + +"Ay," said Varney, "so they lie not so grossly open that he must +needs break his shins over them." + +"Agreed," said Lambourne. "Next, if I run down game, I must have +the picking of the bones." + +"That is but reason," replied Varney, "so that your betters are +served before you." + +"Good," said Lambourne; "and it only remains to be said, that if +the law and I quarrel, my patron must bear me out, for that is a +chief point." + +"Reason again," said Varney, "if the quarrel hath happened in +your master's service." + +"For the wage and so forth, I say nothing," proceeded Lambourne; +"it is the secret guerdon that I must live by." + +"Never fear," said Varney; "thou shalt have clothes and spending +money to ruffle it with the best of thy degree, for thou goest to +a household where you have gold, as they say, by the eye." + +"That jumps all with my humour," replied Michael Lambourne; "and +it only remains that you tell me my master's name." + +"My name is Master Richard Varney," answered his companion. + +"But I mean," said Lambourne, "the name of the noble lord to +whose service you are to prefer me." + +"How, knave, art thou too good to call me master?" said Varney +hastily; "I would have thee bold to others, but not saucy to me." + +"I crave your worship's pardon," said Lambourne, "but you seemed +familiar with Anthony Foster; now I am familiar with Anthony +myself." + +"Thou art a shrewd knave, I see," replied Varney. "Mark me--I do +indeed propose to introduce thee into a nobleman's household; but +it is upon my person thou wilt chiefly wait, and upon my +countenance that thou wilt depend. I am his master of horse. +Thou wilt soon know his name--it is one that shakes the council +and wields the state." + +"By this light, a brave spell to conjure with," said Lambourne, +"if a man would discover hidden treasures!" + +"Used with discretion, it may prove so," replied Varney; "but +mark--if thou conjure with it at thine own hand, it may raise a +devil who will tear thee in fragments." + +"Enough said," replied Lambourne; "I will not exceed my limits." + +The travellers then resumed the rapid rate of travelling which +their discourse had interrupted, and soon arrived at the Royal +Park of Woodstock. This ancient possession of the crown of +England was then very different from what it had been when it was +the residence of the fair Rosamond, and the scene of Henry the +Second's secret and illicit amours; and yet more unlike to the +scene which it exhibits in the present day, when Blenheim House +commemorates the victory of Marlborough, and no less the genius +of Vanbrugh, though decried in his own time by persons of taste +far inferior to his own. It was, in Elizabeth's time, an ancient +mansion in bad repair, which had long ceased to be honoured with +the royal residence, to the great impoverishment of the adjacent +village. The inhabitants, however, had made several petitions to +the Queen to have the favour of the sovereign's countenance +occasionally bestowed upon them; and upon this very business, +ostensibly at least, was the noble lord, whom we have already +introduced to our readers, a visitor at Woodstock. + +Varney and Lambourne galloped without ceremony into the courtyard +of the ancient and dilapidated mansion, which presented on that +morning a scene of bustle which it had not exhibited for two +reigns. Officers of the Earl's household, liverymen and +retainers, went and came with all the insolent fracas which +attaches to their profession. The neigh of horses and the baying +of hounds were heard; for my lord, in his occupation of +inspecting and surveying the manor and demesne, was of course +provided with the means of following his pleasure in the chase or +park, said to have been the earliest that was enclosed in +England, and which was well stocked with deer that had long +roamed there unmolested. Several of the inhabitants of the +village, in anxious hope of a favourable result from this +unwonted visit, loitered about the courtyard, and awaited the +great man's coming forth. Their attention was excited by the +hasty arrival of Varney, and a murmur ran amongst them, "The +Earl's master of the horse!" while they hurried to bespeak +favour by hastily unbonneting, and proffering to hold the bridle +and stirrup of the favoured retainer and his attendant. + +"Stand somewhat aloof, my masters!" said Varney haughtily, "and +let the domestics do their office." + +The mortified citizens and peasants fell back at the signal; +while Lambourne, who had his eye upon his superior's deportment, +repelled the services of those who offered to assist him, with +yet more discourtesy--"Stand back, Jack peasant, with a murrain +to you, and let these knave footmen do their duty!" + +While they gave their nags to the attendants of the household, +and walked into the mansion with an air of superiority which long +practice and consciousness of birth rendered natural to Varney, +and which Lambourne endeavoured to imitate as well as he could, +the poor inhabitants of Woodstock whispered to each other, "Well- +a-day! God save us from all such misproud princoxes! An the +master be like the men, why, the fiend may take all, and yet have +no more than his due." + +"Silence, good neighbours!" said the bailiff, "keep tongue +betwixt teeth; we shall know more by-and-by. But never will a +lord come to Woodstock so welcome as bluff old King Harry! He +would horsewhip a fellow one day with his own royal hand, and +then fling him an handful of silver groats, with his own broad +face on them, to 'noint the sore withal." + +"Ay, rest be with him!" echoed the auditors; "it will be long +ere this Lady Elizabeth horsewhip any of us." + +"There is no saying," answered the bailiff. "Meanwhile, +patience, good neighbours, and let us comfort ourselves by +thinking that we deserve such notice at her Grace's hands." + +Meanwhile, Varney, closely followed by his new dependant, made +his way to the hall, where men of more note and consequence than +those left in the courtyard awaited the appearance of the Earl, +who as yet kept his chamber. All paid court to Varney, with more +or less deference, as suited their own rank, or the urgency of +the business which brought them to his lord's levee. To the +general question of, "When comes my lord forth, Master Varney?" +he gave brief answers, as, "See you not my boots? I am but just +returned from Oxford, and know nothing of it," and the like, +until the same query was put in a higher tone by a personage of +more importance. "I will inquire of the chamberlain, Sir Thomas +Copely," was the reply. The chamberlain, distinguished by his +silver key, answered that the Earl only awaited Master Varney's +return to come down, but that he would first speak with him in +his private chamber. Varney, therefore, bowed to the company, +and took leave, to enter his lord's apartment. + +There was a murmur of expectation which lasted a few minutes, and +was at length hushed by the opening of the folding-doors at the +upper end or the apartment, through which the Earl made his +entrance, marshalled by his chamberlain and the steward of his +family, and followed by Richard Varney. In his noble mien and +princely features, men read nothing of that insolence which was +practised by his dependants. His courtesies were, indeed, +measured by the rank of those to whom they were addressed, but +even the meanest person present had a share of his gracious +notice. The inquiries which he made respecting the condition of +the manor, of the Queen's rights there, and of the advantages and +disadvantages which might attend her occasional residence at the +royal seat of Woodstock, seemed to show that he had most +earnestly investigated the matter of the petition of the +inhabitants, and with a desire to forward the interest of the +place. + +"Now the Lord love his noble countenance!" said the bailiff, who +had thrust himself into the presence-chamber; "he looks somewhat +pale. I warrant him he hath spent the whole night in perusing +our memorial. Master Toughyarn, who took six months to draw it +up, said it would take a week to understand it; and see if the +Earl hath not knocked the marrow out of it in twenty-four hours!" + +The Earl then acquainted them that he should move their sovereign +to honour Woodstock occasionally with her residence during her +royal progresses, that the town and its vicinity might derive, +from her countenance and favour, the same advantages as from +those of her predecessors. Meanwhile, he rejoiced to be the +expounder of her gracious pleasure, in assuring them that, for +the increase of trade and encouragement of the worthy burgesses +of Woodstock, her Majesty was minded to erect the town into a +Staple for wool. + +This joyful intelligence was received with the acclamations not +only of the better sort who were admitted to the audience- +chamber, but of the commons who awaited without. + +The freedom of the corporation was presented to the Earl upon +knee by the magistrates of the place, together with a purse of +gold pieces, which the Earl handed to Varney, who, on his part, +gave a share to Lambourne, as the most acceptable earnest of his +new service. + +The Earl and his retinue took horse soon after to return to +court, accompanied by the shouts of the inhabitants of Woodstock, +who made the old oaks ring with re-echoing, "Long live Queen +Elizabeth, and the noble Earl of Leicester!" The urbanity and +courtesy of the Earl even threw a gleam of popularity over his +attendants, as their haughty deportment had formerly obscured +that of their master; and men shouted, "Long life to the Earl, +and to his gallant followers!" as Varney and Lambourne, each in +his rank, rode proudly through the streets of Woodstock. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + HOST. I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will, at the + least, keep your counsel.--MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. + +It becomes necessary to return to the detail of those +circumstances which accompanied, and indeed occasioned, the +sudden disappearance of Tressilian from the sign of the Black +Bear at Cumnor. It will be recollected that this gentleman, +after his rencounter with Varney, had returned to Giles Gosling's +caravansary, where he shut himself up in his own chamber, +demanded pen, ink, and paper, and announced his purpose to remain +private for the day. In the evening he appeared again in the +public room, where Michael Lambourne, who had been on the watch +for him, agreeably to his engagement to Varney, endeavoured to +renew his acquaintance with him, and hoped he retained no +unfriendly recollection of the part he had taken in the morning's +scuffle. + +But Tressilian repelled his advances firmly, though with +civility. "Master Lambourne," said he, "I trust I have +recompensed to your pleasure the time you have wasted on me. +Under the show of wild bluntness which you exhibit, I know you +have sense enough to understand me, when I say frankly that the +object of our temporary acquaintance having been accomplished, we +must be strangers to each other in future." + +"VOTO!" said Lambourne, twirling his whiskers with one hand, and +grasping the hilt of his weapon with the other; "if I thought +that this usage was meant to insult me--" + +"You would bear it with discretion, doubtless," interrupted +Tressilian, "as you must do at any rate. You know too well the +distance that is betwixt us, to require me to explain myself +further. Good evening." + +So saying, he turned his back upon his former companion, and +entered into discourse with the landlord. Michael Lambourne felt +strongly disposed to bully; but his wrath died away in a few +incoherent oaths and ejaculations, and he sank unresistingly +under the ascendency which superior spirits possess over persons +of his habits and description. He remained moody and silent in a +corner of the apartment, paying the most marked attention to +every motion of his late companion, against whom he began now to +nourish a quarrel on his own account, which he trusted to avenge +by the execution of his new master Varney's directions. The hour +of supper arrived, and was followed by that of repose, when +Tressilian, like others, retired to his sleeping apartment. + +He had not been in bed long, when the train of sad reveries, +which supplied the place of rest in his disturbed mind, was +suddenly interrupted by the jar of a door on its hinges, and a +light was seen to glimmer in the apartment. Tressilian, who was +as brave as steel, sprang from his bed at this alarm, and had +laid hand upon his sword, when he was prevented from drawing it +by a voice which said, "Be not too rash with your rapier, Master +Tressilian. It is I, your host, Giles Gosling." + +At the same time, unshrouding the dark lantern, which had +hitherto only emitted an indistinct glimmer, the goodly aspect +and figure of the landlord of the Black Bear was visibly +presented to his astonished guest. + +"What mummery is this, mine host?" said Tressilian. "Have you +supped as jollily as last night, and so mistaken your chamber? +or is midnight a time for masquerading it in your guest's +lodging?" + +"Master Tressilian," replied mine host, "I know my place and my +time as well as e'er a merry landlord in England. But here has +been my hang-dog kinsman watching you as close as ever cat +watched a mouse; and here have you, on the other hand, quarrelled +and fought, either with him or with some other person, and I fear +that danger will come of it." + +"Go to, thou art but a fool, man," said Tressilian. "Thy kinsman +is beneath my resentment; and besides, why shouldst thou think I +had quarrelled with any one whomsoever?" + +"Oh, sir," replied the innkeeper, "there was a red spot on thy +very cheek-bone, which boded of a late brawl, as sure as the +conjunction of Mars and Saturn threatens misfortune; and when you +returned, the buckles of your girdle were brought forward, and +your step was quick and hasty, and all things showed your hand +and your hilt had been lately acquainted." + +"Well, good mine host, if I have been obliged to draw my sword," +said Tressilian, "why should such a circumstance fetch thee out +of thy warm bed at this time of night? Thou seest the mischief +is all over." + +"Under favour, that is what I doubt. Anthony Foster is a +dangerous man, defended by strong court patronage, which hath +borne him out in matters of very deep concernment. And, then, my +kinsman--why, I have told you what he is; and if these two old +cronies have made up their old acquaintance, I would not, my +worshipful guest, that it should be at thy cost. I promise you, +Mike Lambourne has been making very particular inquiries at my +hostler when and which way you ride. Now, I would have you think +whether you may not have done or said something for which you may +be waylaid, and taken at disadvantage." + +"Thou art an honest man, mine host," said Tressilian, after a +moment's consideration, "and I will deal frankly with thee. If +these men's malice is directed against me--as I deny not but it +may--it is because they are the agents of a more powerful villain +than themselves." + +"You mean Master Richard Varney, do you not?" said the landlord; +"he was at Cumnor Place yesterday, and came not thither so +private but what he was espied by one who told me." + +"I mean the same, mine host." + +"Then, for God's sake, worshipful Master Tressilian," said honest +Gosling, "look well to yourself. This Varney is the protector +and patron of Anthony Foster, who holds under him, and by his +favour, some lease of yonder mansion and the park. Varney got a +large grant of the lands of the Abbacy of Abingdon, and Cumnor +Place amongst others, from his master, the Earl of Leicester. +Men say he can do everything with him, though I hold the Earl too +good a nobleman to employ him as some men talk of. And then the +Earl can do anything (that is, anything right or fitting) with +the Queen, God bless her! So you see what an enemy you have made +to yourself." + +"Well--it is done, and I cannot help it," answered Tressilian. + +"Uds precious, but it must be helped in some manner," said the +host. "Richard Varney--why, what between his influence with my +lord, and his pretending to so many old and vexatious claims in +right of the abbot here, men fear almost to mention his name, +much more to set themselves against his practices. You may judge +by our discourses the last night. Men said their pleasure of Tony +Foster, but not a word of Richard Varney, though all men judge +him to be at the bottom of yonder mystery about the pretty wench. +But perhaps you know more of that matter than I do; for women, +though they wear not swords, are occasion for many a blade's +exchanging a sheath of neat's leather for one of flesh and +blood." + +"I do indeed know more of that poor unfortunate lady than thou +dost, my friendly host; and so bankrupt am I, at this moment, of +friends and advice, that I will willingly make a counsellor of +thee, and tell thee the whole history, the rather that I have a +favour to ask when my tale is ended." + +"Good Master Tressilian," said the landlord, "I am but a poor +innkeeper, little able to adjust or counsel such a guest as +yourself. But as sure as I have risen decently above the world, +by giving good measure and reasonable charges, I am an honest +man; and as such, if I may not be able to assist you, I am, at +least, not capable to abuse your confidence. Say away therefore, +as confidently as if you spoke to your father; and thus far at +least be certain, that my curiosity--for I will not deny that +which belongs to my calling--is joined to a reasonable degree of +discretion." + +"I doubt it not, mine host," answered Tressilian; and while his +auditor remained in anxious expectation, he meditated for an +instant how he should commence his narrative. "My tale," he at +length said, "to be quite intelligible, must begin at some +distance back. You have heard of the battle of Stoke, my good +host, and perhaps of old Sir Roger Robsart, who, in that battle, +valiantly took part with Henry VII., the Queen's grandfather, and +routed the Earl of Lincoln, Lord Geraldin and his wild Irish, and +the Flemings whom the Duchess of Burgundy had sent over, in the +quarrel of Lambert Simnel?" + +"I remember both one and the other," said Giles Gosling; "it is +sung of a dozen times a week on my ale-bench below. Sir Roger +Robsart of Devon--oh, ay, 'tis him of whom minstrels sing to this +hour,-- + + 'He was the flower of Stoke's red field, + When Martin Swart on ground lay slain; + In raging rout he never reel'd, + But like a rock did firm remain.' + +[This verse, or something similar, occurs in a long ballad, or +poem, on Flodden Field, reprinted by the late Henry Weber.] + +Ay, and then there was Martin Swart I have heard my grandfather +talk of, and of the jolly Almains whom he commanded, with their +slashed doublets and quaint hose, all frounced with ribands above +the nether-stocks. Here's a song goes of Martin Swart, too, an I +had but memory for it:-- + + 'Martin Swart and his men, + Saddle them, saddle them, + Martin Swart and his men; + Saddle them well.'" + +[This verse of an old song actually occurs in an old play where +the singer boasts, + "Courteously I can both counter and knack + Of Martin Swart and all his merry men."] + +"True, good mine host--the day was long talked of; but if you +sing so loud, you will awake more listeners than I care to commit +my confidence unto." + +"I crave pardon, my worshipful guest," said mine host, "I was +oblivious. When an old song comes across us merry old knights of +the spigot, it runs away with our discretion." + +"Well, mine host, my grandfather, like some other Cornishmen, +kept a warm affection to the House of York, and espoused the +quarrel of this Simnel, assuming the title of Earl of Warwick, as +the county afterwards, in great numbers, countenanced the cause +of Perkin Warbeck, calling himself the Duke of York. My +grandsire joined Simnel's standard, and was taken fighting +desperately at Stoke, where most of the leaders of that unhappy +army were slain in their harness. The good knight to whom he +rendered himself, Sir Roger Robsart, protected him from the +immediate vengeance of the king, and dismissed him without +ransom. But he was unable to guard him from other penalties of +his rashness, being the heavy fines by which he was impoverished, +according to Henry's mode of weakening his enemies. The good +knight did what he might to mitigate the distresses of my +ancestor; and their friendship became so strict, that my father +was bred up as the sworn brother and intimate of the present Sir +Hugh Robsart, the only son of Sir Roger, and the heir of his +honest, and generous, and hospitable temper, though not equal to +him in martial achievements." + +"I have heard of good Sir Hugh Robsart," interrupted the host, +"many a time and oft; his huntsman and sworn servant, Will +Badger, hath spoken of him an hundred times in this very house. +A jovial knight he is, and hath loved hospitality and open +housekeeping more than the present fashion, which lays as much +gold lace on the seams of a doublet as would feed a dozen of tall +fellows with beef and ale for a twelvemonth, and let them have +their evening at the alehouse once a week, to do good to the +publican." + +"If you have seen Will Badger, mine host," said Tressilian, "you +have heard enough of Sir Hugh Robsart; and therefore I will but +say, that the hospitality you boast of hath proved somewhat +detrimental to the estate of his family, which is perhaps of the +less consequence, as he has but one daughter to whom to bequeath +it. And here begins my share in the tale. Upon my father's +death, now several years since, the good Sir Hugh would willingly +have made me his constant companion. There was a time, however, +at which I felt the kind knight's excessive love for field-sports +detained me from studies, by which I might have profited more; +but I ceased to regret the leisure which gratitude and hereditary +friendship compelled me to bestow on these rural avocations. The +exquisite beauty of Mistress Amy Robsart, as she grew up from +childhood to woman, could not escape one whom circumstances +obliged to be so constantly in her company--I loved her, in +short, mine host, and her father saw it." + +"And crossed your true loves, no doubt?" said mine host. "It is +the way in all such cases; and I judge it must have been so in +your instance, from the heavy sigh you uttered even now." + +"The case was different, mine host. My suit was highly approved +by the generous Sir Hugh Robsart; it was his daughter who was +cold to my passion." + +"She was the more dangerous enemy of the two," said the +innkeeper. "I fear me your suit proved a cold one." + +"She yielded me her esteem," said Tressilian, "and seemed not +unwilling that I should hope it might ripen into a warmer +passion. There was a contract of future marriage executed +betwixt us, upon her father's intercession; but to comply with +her anxious request, the execution was deferred for a +twelvemonth. During this period, Richard Varney appeared in the +country, and, availing himself of some distant family connection +with Sir Hugh Robsart, spent much of his time in his company, +until, at length, he almost lived in the family." + +"That could bode no good to the place he honoured with his +residence," said Gosling. + +"No, by the rood!" replied Tressilian. "Misunderstanding and +misery followed his presence, yet so strangely that I am at this +moment at a loss to trace the gradations of their encroachment +upon a family which had, till then, been so happy. For a time +Amy Robsart received the attentions of this man Varney with the +indifference attached to common courtesies; then followed a +period in which she seemed to regard him with dislike, and even +with disgust; and then an extraordinary species of connection +appeared to grow up betwixt them. Varney dropped those airs of +pretension and gallantry which had marked his former approaches; +and Amy, on the other hand, seemed to renounce the ill-disguised +disgust with which she had regarded them. They seemed to have +more of privacy and confidence together than I fully liked, and I +suspected that they met in private, where there was less +restraint than in our presence. Many circumstances, which I +noticed but little at the time--for I deemed her heart as open as +her angelic countenance--have since arisen on my memory, to +convince me of their private understanding. But I need not +detail them--the fact speaks for itself. She vanished from her +father's house; Varney disappeared at the same time; and this +very day I have seen her in the character of his paramour, living +in the house of his sordid dependant Foster, and visited by him, +muffled, and by a secret entrance." + +"And this, then, is the cause of your quarrel? Methinks, you +should have been sure that the fair lady either desired or +deserved your interference." + +"Mine host," answered Tressilian, "my father--such I must ever +consider Sir Hugh Robsart--sits at home struggling with his +grief, or, if so far recovered, vainly attempting to drown, in +the practice of his field-sports, the recollection that he had +once a daughter--a recollection which ever and anon breaks from +him under circumstances the most pathetic. I could not brook the +idea that he should live in misery, and Amy in guilt; and I +endeavoured to-seek her out, with the hope of inducing her to +return to her family. I have found her, and when I have either +succeeded in my attempt, or have found it altogether unavailing, +it is my purpose to embark for the Virginia voyage." + +"Be not so rash, good sir," replied Giles Gosling, "and cast not +yourself away because a woman--to be brief--IS a woman, and +changes her lovers like her suit of ribands, with no better +reason than mere fantasy. And ere we probe this matter further, +let me ask you what circumstances of suspicion directed you so +truly to this lady's residence, or rather to her place of +concealment?" + +"The last is the better chosen word, mine host," answered +Tressilian; "and touching your question, the knowledge that +Varney held large grants of the demesnes formerly belonging to +the monks of Abingdon directed me to this neighbourhood; and your +nephew's visit to his old comrade Foster gave me the means of +conviction on the subject." + +"And what is now your purpose, worthy sir?--excuse my freedom in +asking the question so broadly." + +"I purpose, mine host," said Tressilian, "to renew my visit to +the place of her residence to-morrow, and to seek a more detailed +communication with her than I have had to-day. She must indeed +be widely changed from what she once was, if my words make no +impression upon her." + +"Under your favour, Master Tressilian," said the landlord, "you +can follow no such course. The lady, if I understand you, has +already rejected your interference in the matter." + +"It is but too true," said Tressilian; "I cannot deny it." + +"Then, marry, by what right or interest do you process a +compulsory interference with her inclination, disgraceful as it +may be to herself and to her parents? Unless my judgment gulls +me, those under whose protection she has thrown herself would +have small hesitation to reject your interference, even if it +were that of a father or brother; but as a discarded lover, you +expose yourself to be repelled with the strong hand, as well as +with scorn. You can apply to no magistrate for aid or +countenance; and you are hunting, therefore, a shadow in water, +and will only (excuse my plainness) come by ducking and danger in +attempting to catch it." + +"I will appeal to the Earl of Leicester," said Tressilian, +"against the infamy of his favourite. He courts the severe and +strict sect of Puritans. He dare not, for the sake of his own +character, refuse my appeal, even although he were destitute of +the principles of honour and nobleness with which fame invests +him. Or I will appeal to the Queen herself." + +"Should Leicester," said the landlord, "be disposed to protect +his dependant (as indeed he is said to be very confidential with +Varney), the appeal to the Queen may bring them both to reason. +Her Majesty is strict in such matters, and (if it be not treason +to speak it) will rather, it is said, pardon a dozen courtiers +for falling in love with herself, than one for giving preference +to another woman. Coragio then, my brave guest! for if thou +layest a petition from Sir Hugh at the foot of the throne, +bucklered by the story of thine own wrongs, the favourite Earl +dared as soon leap into the Thames at the fullest and deepest, as +offer to protect Varney in a cause of this nature. But to do +this with any chance of success, you must go formally to work; +and, without staying here to tilt with the master of horse to a +privy councillor, and expose yourself to the dagger of his +cameradoes, you should hie you to Devonshire, get a petition +drawn up for Sir Hugh Robsart, and make as many friends as you +can to forward your interest at court." + +"You have spoken well, mine host," said Tressilian, "and I will +profit by your advice, and leave you to-morrow early." + +"Nay, leave me to-night, sir, before to-morrow comes," said he +landlord. "I never prayed for a guest's arrival more eagerly +than I do to have you safely gone, My kinsman's destiny is most +like to be hanged for something, but I would not that the cause +were the murder of an honoured guest of mine. 'Better ride safe +in the dark,' says the proverb, 'than in daylight with a cut- +throat at your elbow.' Come, sir, I move you for your own safety. +Your horse and all is ready, and here is your score." + +"It is somewhat under a noble," said Tressilian, giving one to +the host; "give the balance to pretty Cicely, your daughter, and +the servants of the house." + +"They shall taste of your bounty, sir," said Gosling, "and you +should taste of my daughter's lips in grateful acknowledgment, +but at this hour she cannot grace the porch to greet your +departure." + +"Do not trust your daughter too far with your guests, my good +landlord," said Tressilian. + +"Oh, sir, we will keep measure; but I wonder not that you are +jealous of them all.--May I crave to know with what aspect the +fair lady at the Place yesterday received you?" + +"I own," said Tressilian, "it was angry as well as confused, and +affords me little hope that she is yet awakened from her unhappy +delusion." + +"In that case, sir, I see not why you should play the champion of +a wench that will none of you, and incur the resentment of a +favourite's favourite, as dangerous a monster as ever a knight +adventurer encountered in the old story books." + +"You do me wrong in the supposition, mine host--gross wrong," +said Tressilian; "I do not desire that Amy should ever turn +thought upon me more. Let me but see her restored to her father, +and all I have to do in Europe--perhaps in the world--is over and +ended." + +"A wiser resolution were to drink a cup of sack, and forget her," +said the landlord. "But five-and-twenty and fifty look on those +matters with different eyes, especially when one cast of peepers +is set in the skull of a young gallant, and the other in that of +an old publican. I pity you, Master Tressilian, but I see not +how I can aid you in the matter." + +"Only thus far, mine host," replied Tressilian--"keep a watch on +the motions of those at the Place, which thou canst easily learn +without suspicion, as all men's news fly to the ale-bench; and be +pleased to communicate the tidings in writing to such person, and +to no other, who shall bring you this ring as a special token. +Look at it; it is of value, and I will freely bestow it on you." + +"Nay, sir," said the landlord, "I desire no recompense--but it +seems an unadvised course in me, being in a public line, to +connect myself in a matter of this dark and perilous nature. I +have no interest in it." + +"You, and every father in the land, who would have his daughter +released from the snares of shame, and sin, and misery, have an +interest deeper than aught concerning earth only could create." + +"Well, sir," said the host, "these are brave words; and I do pity +from my soul the frank-hearted old gentleman, who has minished +his estate in good housekeeping for the honour of his country, +and now has his daughter, who should be the stay of his age, and +so forth, whisked up by such a kite as this Varney. And though +your part in the matter is somewhat of the wildest, yet I will +e'en be a madcap for company, and help you in your honest attempt +to get back the good man's child, so far as being your faithful +intelligencer can serve. And as I shall be true to you, I pray +you to be trusty to me, and keep my secret; for it were bad for +the custom of the Black Bear should it be said the bear-warder +interfered in such matters. Varney has interest enough with the +justices to dismount my noble emblem from the post on which he +swings so gallantly, to call in my license, and ruin me from +garret to cellar." + +"Do not doubt my secrecy, mine host," said Tressilian; "I will +retain, besides, the deepest sense of thy service, and of the +risk thou dost run--remember the ring is my sure token. And now, +farewell! for it was thy wise advice that I should tarry here as +short a time as may be." + +"Follow me, then, Sir Guest," said the landlord, "and tread as +gently as if eggs were under your foot, instead of deal boards. +No man must know when or how you departed." + +By the aid of his dark lantern he conducted Tressilian, as soon +as he had made himself ready for his journey, through a long +intricacy of passages, which opened to an outer court, and from +thence to a remote stable, where he had already placed his +guest's horse. He then aided him to fasten on the saddle the +small portmantle which contained his necessaries, opened a +postern door, and with a hearty shake of the hand, and a +reiteration of his promise to attend to what went on at Cumnor +Place, he dismissed his guest to his solitary journey. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Far in the lane a lonely hut he found, + No tenant ventured on the unwholesome ground: + Here smokes his forge, he bares his sinewy arm, + And early strokes the sounding anvil warm; + Around his shop the steely sparkles flew, + As for the steed he shaped the bending shoe. GAY'S TRIVIA. + +As it was deemed proper by the traveller himself, as well as by +Giles Gosling, that Tressilian should avoid being seen in the +neighbourhood of Cumnor by those whom accident might make early +risers, the landlord had given him a route, consisting of various +byways and lanes, which he was to follow in succession, and +which, all the turns and short-cuts duly observed, was to conduct +him to the public road to Marlborough. + +But, like counsel of every other kind, this species of direction +is much more easily given than followed; and what betwixt the +intricacy of the way, the darkness of the night, Tressilian's +ignorance of the country, and the sad and perplexing thoughts +with which he had to contend, his journey proceeded so slowly, +that morning found him only in the vale of Whitehorse, memorable +for the defeat of the Danes in former days, with his horse +deprived of a fore-foot shoe, an accident which threatened to put +a stop to his journey by laming the animal. The residence of a +smith was his first object of inquiry, in which he received +little satisfaction from the dullness or sullenness of one or two +peasants, early bound for their labour, who gave brief and +indifferent answers to his questions on the subject. Anxious, at +length, that the partner of his journey should suffer as little +as possible from the unfortunate accident, Tressilian dismounted, +and led his horse in the direction of a little hamlet, where he +hoped either to find or hear tidings of such an artificer as he +now wanted. Through a deep and muddy lane, he at length waded on +to the place, which proved only an assemblage of five or six +miserable huts, about the doors of which one or two persons, +whose appearance seemed as rude as that of their dwellings, were +beginning the toils of the day. One cottage, however, seemed of +rather superior aspect, and the old dame, who was sweeping her +threshold, appeared something less rude than her neighbours. To +her Tressilian addressed the oft-repeated question, whether there +was a smith in this neighbourhood, or any place where he could +refresh his horse? The dame looked him in the face with a +peculiar expression as she replied, "Smith! ay, truly is there a +smith--what wouldst ha' wi' un, mon?" + +"To shoe my horse, good dame," answered Tressiliany: you may see +that he has thrown a fore-foot shoe." + +"Master Holiday!" exclaimed the dame, without returning any +direct answer--"Master Herasmus Holiday, come and speak to mon, +and please you." + +"FAVETE LINGUIS," answered a voice from within;" I cannot now +come forth, Gammer Sludge, being in the very sweetest bit of my +morning studies." + +"Nay, but, good now, Master Holiday, come ye out, do ye. Here's +a mon would to Wayland Smith, and I care not to show him way to +devil; his horse hath cast shoe." + +"QUID MIHI CUM CABALLO?" replied the man of learning from +within; "I think there is but one wise man in the hundred, and +they cannot shoe a horse without him!" + +And forth came the honest pedagogue, for such his dress bespoke +him. A long, lean, shambling, stooping figure was surmounted by +a head thatched with lank, black hair somewhat inclining to grey. +His features had the cast of habitual authority, which I suppose +Dionysius carried with him from the throne to the schoolmaster's +pulpit, and bequeathed as a legacy to all of the same profession, +A black buckram cassock was gathered at his middle with a belt, +at which hung, instead of knife or weapon, a goodly leathern pen- +and-ink case. His ferula was stuck on the other side, like +Harlequin's wooden sword; and he carried in his hand the tattered +volume which he had been busily perusing. + +On seeing a person of Tressilian's appearance, which he was +better able to estimate than the country folks had been, the +schoolmaster unbonneted, and accosted him with, "SALVE, DOMINE. +INTELLIGISNE LINGUAM LATINAM?" + +Tressilian mustered his learning to reply, "LINGUAE LATINAE HAUD +PENITUS IGNARUS, VENIA TUA, DOMINE ERUDITISSIME, VERNACULAM +LIBENTIUS LOQUOR." + +The Latin reply had upon the schoolmaster the effect which the +mason's sign is said to produce on the brethren of the trowel. +He was at once interested in the learned traveller, listened with +gravity to his story of a tired horse and a lost shoe, and then +replied with solemnity, "It may appear a simple thing, most +worshipful, to reply to you that there dwells, within a brief +mile of these TUGURIA, the best FABER FERARIUS, the most +accomplished blacksmith, that ever nailed iron upon horse. Now, +were I to say so, I warrant me you would think yourself COMPOS +VOTI, or, as the vulgar have it, a made man." + +"I should at least," said Tressilian, "have a direct answer to a +plain question, which seems difficult to be obtained in this +country." + +"It is a mere sending of a sinful soul to the evil un," said the +old woman, "the sending a living creature to Wayland Smith." + +"Peace, Gammer Sludge!" said the pedagogue; "PAUCA VERBA, Gammer +Sludge; look to the furmity, Gammer Sludge; CURETUR JENTACULUM, +Gammer Sludge; this gentleman is none of thy gossips." Then +turning to Tressilian, he resumed his lofty tone, "And so, most +worshipful, you would really think yourself FELIX BIS TERQUE +should I point out to you the dwelling of this same smith?" + +"Sir," replied Tressilian, "I should in that case have all that I +want at present--a horse fit to carry me forward;--out of hearing +of your learning." The last words he muttered to himself. + +"O CAECA MENS MORTALIUM!" said the learned man "well was it sung +by Junius Juvenalis, 'NUMINIBUS VOTA EXAUDITA MALIGNIS!'" + +"Learned Magister," said Tressilian, "your erudition so greatly +exceeds my poor intellectual capacity that you must excuse my +seeking elsewhere for information which I can better understand." + +"There again now," replied the pedagogue, "how fondly you fly +from him that would instruct you! Truly said Quintilian--" + +"I pray, sir, let Quintilian be for the present, and answer, in a +word and in English, if your learning can condescend so far, +whether there is any place here where I can have opportunity to +refresh my horse until I can have him shod?" + +"Thus much courtesy, sir," said the schoolmaster, "I can readily +render you, that although there is in this poor hamlet (NOSTRA +PAUPERA REGNA) no regular HOSPITIUM, as my namesake Erasmus +calleth it, yet, forasmuch as you are somewhat embued, or at +least tinged, as it were, with good letters, I will use my +interest with the good woman of the house to accommodate you with +a platter of furmity--an wholesome food for which I have found no +Latin phrase--your horse shall have a share of the cow-house, +with a bottle of sweet hay, in which the good woman Sludge so +much abounds, that it may be said of her cow, FAENUM HABET IN +CORNU; and if it please you to bestow on me the pleasure of your +company, the banquet shall cost you NE SEMISSEM QUIDEM, so much +is Gammer Sludge bound to me for the pains I have bestowed on the +top and bottom of her hopeful heir Dickie, whom I have painfully +made to travel through the accidence." + +"Now, God yield ye for it, Master Herasmus," said the good +Gammer, "and grant that little Dickie may be the better for his +accident! And for the rest, if the gentleman list to stay, +breakfast shall be on the board in the wringing of a dishclout; +and for horse-meat, and man's meat, I bear no such base mind as +to ask a penny." + +Considering the state of his horse, Tressilian, upon the whole, +saw no better course than to accept the invitation thus learnedly +made and hospitably confirmed, and take chance that when the good +pedagogue had exhausted every topic of conversation, he might +possibly condescend to tell him where he could find the smith +they spoke of. He entered the hut accordingly, and sat down with +the learned Magister Erasmus Holiday, partook of his furmity, and +listened to his learned account of himself for a good half hour, +ere he could get him to talk upon any other topic, The reader +will readily excuse our accompanying this man of learning into +all the details with which he favoured Tressilian, of which the +following sketch may suffice. + +He was born at Hogsnorton, where, according to popular saying, +the pigs play upon the organ; a proverb which he interpreted +allegorically, as having reference to the herd of Epicurus, of +which litter Horace confessed himself a porker. His name of +Erasmus he derived partly from his father having been the son of +a renowned washerwoman, who had held that great scholar in clean +linen all the while he was at Oxford; a task of some difficulty, +as he was only possessed of two shirts, "the one," as she +expressed herself, "to wash the other," The vestiges of one of +these CAMICIAE, as Master Holiday boasted, were still in his +possession, having fortunately been detained by his grandmother +to cover the balance of her bill. But he thought there was a +still higher and overruling cause for his having had the name of +Erasmus conferred on him--namely, the secret presentiment of his +mother's mind that, in the babe to be christened, was a hidden +genius, which should one day lead him to rival the fame of the +great scholar of Amsterdam. The schoolmaster's surname led him +as far into dissertation as his Christian appellative. He was +inclined to think that he bore the name of Holiday QUASI LUCUS A +NON LUCENDO, because he gave such few holidays to his school. +"Hence," said he, "the schoolmaster is termed, classically, LUDI +MAGISTER, because he deprives boys of their play." And yet, on +the other hand, he thought it might bear a very different +interpretation, and refer to his own exquisite art in arranging +pageants, morris-dances, May-day festivities, and such-like +holiday delights, for which he assured Tressilian he had +positively the purest and the most inventive brain in England; +insomuch, that his cunning in framing such pleasures had made him +known to many honourable persons, both in country and court, and +especially to the noble Earl of Leicester. "And although he may +now seem to forget me," he said, "in the multitude of state +affairs, yet I am well assured that, had he some pretty pastime +to array for entertainment of the Queen's Grace, horse and man +would be seeking the humble cottage of Erasmus Holiday. PARVO +CONTENTUS, in the meanwhile, I hear my pupils parse and construe, +worshipful sir, and drive away my time with the aid of the Muses. +And I have at all times, when in correspondence with foreign +scholars, subscribed myself Erasmus ab Die Fausto, and have +enjoyed the distinction due to the learned under that title: +witness the erudite Diedrichus Buckerschockius, who dedicated to +me under that title his treatise on the letter TAU. In fine, +sir, I have been a happy and distinguished man." + +"Long may it be so, sir!" said the traveller; "but permit me to +ask, in your own learned phrase, QUID HOC AD IPHYCLI BOVES? what +has all this to do with the shoeing of my poor nag?" + +"FESTINA LENTE," said the man of learning, "we will presently +came to that point. You must know that some two or three years +past there came to these parts one who called himself Doctor +Doboobie, although it may be he never wrote even MAGISTER ARTIUM, +save in right of his hungry belly. Or it may be, that if he had +any degrees, they were of the devil's giving; for he was what the +vulgar call a white witch, a cunning man, and such like.--Now, +good sir, I perceive you are impatient; but if a man tell not his +tale his own way, how have you warrant to think that he can tell +it in yours?" + +"Well, then, learned sir, take your way," answered Tressilian; +"only let us travel at a sharper pace, for my time is somewhat of +the shortest." + +"Well, sir," resumed Erasmus Holiday, with the most provoking +perseverance, "I will not say that this same Demetrius for so he +wrote himself when in foreign parts, was an actual conjurer, but +certain it is that he professed to be a brother of the mystical +Order of the Rosy Cross, a disciple of Geber (EX NOMINE CUJUS +VENIT VERBUM VERNACULUM, GIBBERISH). He cured wounds by salving +the weapon instead of the sore; told fortunes by palmistry; +discovered stolen goods by the sieve and shears; gathered the +right maddow and the male fern seed, through use of which men +walk invisible; pretended some advances towards the panacea, or +universal elixir; and affected to convert good lead into sorry +silver." + +"In other words," said Tressilian, "he was a quacksalver and +common cheat; but what has all this to do with my nag, and the +shoe which he has lost?" + +"With your worshipful patience," replied the diffusive man of +letters, "you shall understand that presently--PATENTIA then, +right worshipful, which word, according to our Marcus Tullius, is +'DIFFICILIUM RERUM DIURNA PERPESSIO.' This same Demetrius +Doboobie, after dealing with the country, as I have told you, +began to acquire fame INTER MAGNATES, among the prime men of the +land, and there is likelihood he might have aspired to great +matters, had not, according to vulgar fame (for I aver not the +thing as according with my certain knowledge), the devil claimed +his right, one dark night, and flown off with Demetrius, who was +never seen or heard of afterwards. Now here comes the MEDULLA, +the very marrow, of my tale. This Doctor Doboobie had a servant, +a poor snake, whom he employed in trimming his furnace, +regulating it by just measure--compounding his drugs--tracing his +circles--cajoling his patients, ET SIC ET CAETERIS. Well, right +worshipful, the Doctor being removed thus strangely, and in a way +which struck the whole country with terror, this poor Zany thinks +to himself, in the words of Maro, 'UNO AVULSO, NON DEFICIT +ALTER;' and, even as a tradesman's apprentice sets himself up in +his master's shop when he is dead or hath retired from business, +so doth this Wayland assume the dangerous trade of his defunct +master. But although, most worshipful sir, the world is ever +prone to listen to the pretensions of such unworthy men, who are, +indeed, mere SALTIM BANQUI and CHARLATANI, though usurping the +style and skill of doctors of medicine, yet the pretensions of +this poor Zany, this Wayland, were too gross to pass on them, nor +was there a mere rustic, a villager, who was not ready to accost +him in the sense of Persius, though in their own rugged words,-- + + DILIUS HELLEBORUM CERTO COMPESCERE PUNCTO + NESCIUS EXAMEN? VETAT HOC NATURA VEDENDI;' + +which I have thus rendered in a poor paraphrase of mine own,-- + + Wilt thou mix hellebore, who dost not know + How many grains should to the mixture go? + The art of medicine this forbids, I trow. + +Moreover, the evil reputation of the master, and his strange and +doubtful end, or at least sudden disappearance, prevented any, +excepting the most desperate of men, to seek any advice or +opinion from the servant; wherefore, the poor vermin was likely +at first to swarf for very hunger. But the devil that serves +him, since the death of Demetrius or Doboobie, put him on a fresh +device. This knave, whether from the inspiration of the devil, +or from early education, shoes horses better than e'er a man +betwixt us and Iceland; and so he gives up his practice on the +bipeds, the two-legged and unfledged species called mankind, and +betakes him entirely to shoeing of horses." + +"Indeed! and where does he lodge all this time?" said +Tressilian. "And does he shoe horses well? Show me his dwelling +presently." + +The interruption pleased not the Magister, who exclaimed, "O +CAECA MENS MORTALIUM!--though, by the way, I used that quotation +before. But I would the classics could afford me any sentiment +of power to stop those who are so willing to rush upon their own +destruction. Hear but, I pray you, the conditions of this man," +said he, in continuation, "ere you are so willing to place +yourself within his danger--" + +"A' takes no money for a's work," said the dame, who stood by, +enraptured as it were with the line words and learned apophthegms +which glided so fluently from her erudite inmate, Master Holiday. +But this interruption pleased not the Magister more than that of +the traveller. + +"Peace," said he, "Gammer Sludge; know your place, if it be your +will. SUFFLAMINA, Gammer Sludge, and allow me to expound this +matter to our worshipful guest.--Sir," said he, again addressing +Tressilian, "this old woman speaks true, though in her own rude +style; for certainly this FABER FERRARIUS, or blacksmith, takes +money of no one." + +"And that is a sure sign he deals with Satan," said Dame Sludge; +"since no good Christian would ever refuse the wages of his +labour." + +"The old woman hath touched it again," said the pedagogue; "REM +ACU TETIGIT--she hath pricked it with her needle's point. This +Wayland takes no money, indeed; nor doth he show himself to any +one." + +"And can this madman, for such I hold him," said the traveller, +"know aught like good skill of his trade?" + +"Oh, sir, in that let us give the devil his due--Mulciber +himself, with all his Cyclops, could hardly amend him. But +assuredly there is little wisdom in taking counsel or receiving +aid from one who is but too plainly in league with the author of +evil." + +"I must take my chance of that, good Master Holiday," said +Tressilian, rising; "and as my horse must now have eaten his +provender, I must needs thank you for your good cheer, and pray +you to show me this man's residence, that I may have the means of +proceeding on my journey." + +"Ay, ay, do ye show him, Master Herasmus," said the old dame, who +was, perhaps, desirous to get her house freed of her guest; "a' +must needs go when the devil drives." + +"DO MANUS," said the Magister, "I submit--taking the world to +witness, that I have possessed this honourable gentleman with the +full injustice which he has done and shall do to his own soul, if +he becomes thus a trinketer with Satan. Neither will I go forth +with our guest myself, but rather send my pupil.--RICARDE! +ADSIS, NEBULO." + +"Under your favour, not so," answered the old woman; "you may +peril your own soul, if you list, but my son shall budge on no +such errand. And I wonder at you, Dominie Doctor, to propose +such a piece of service for little Dickie." + +"Nay, my good Gammer Sludge," answered the preceptor, "Ricardus +shall go but to the top of the hill, and indicate with his digit +to the stranger the dwelling of Wayland Smith. Believe not that +any evil can come to him, he having read this morning, fasting, a +chapter of the Septuagint, and, moreover, having had his lesson +in the Greek Testament." + +"Ay," said his mother, "and I have sewn a sprig of witch's elm in +the neck of un's doublet, ever since that foul thief has begun +his practices on man and beast in these parts." + +"And as he goes oft (as I hugely suspect) towards this conjurer +for his own pastime, he may for once go thither, or near it, to +pleasure us, and to assist this stranger.--ERGO, HEUS RICARDE! +ADSIS, QUAESO, MI DIDASCULE." + +The pupil, thus affectionately invoked, at length came stumbling +into the room; a queer, shambling, ill-made urchin, who, by his +stunted growth, seemed about twelve or thirteen years old, though +he was probably, in reality, a year or two older, with a carroty +pate in huge disorder, a freckled, sunburnt visage, with a snub +nose, a long chin, and two peery grey eyes, which had a droll +obliquity of vision, approaching to a squint, though perhaps not +a decided one. It was impossible to look at the little man +without some disposition to laugh, especially when Gammer Sludge, +seizing upon and kissing him, in spite of his struggling and +kicking in reply to her caresses, termed him her own precious +pearl of beauty. + +"RICARDE," said the preceptor, "you must forthwith (which is +PROFECTO) set forth so far as the top of the hill, and show this +man of worship Wayland Smith's workshop." + +"A proper errand of a morning," said the boy, in better language +than Tressilian expected; "and who knows but the devil may fly +away with me before I come back?" + +"Ay, marry may un," said Dame Sludge; "and you might have thought +twice, Master Domine, ere you sent my dainty darling on arrow +such errand. It is not for such doings I feed your belly and +clothe your back, I warrant you!" + +"Pshaw--NUGAE, good Gammer Sludge," answered the preceptor; "I +ensure you that Satan, if there be Satan in the case, shall not +touch a thread of his garment; for Dickie can say his PATER with +the best, and may defy the foul fiend--EUMENIDES, STYGIUMQUE +NEFAS." + +"Ay, and I, as I said before, have sewed a sprig of the mountain- +ash into his collar," said the good woman, "which will avail more +than your clerkship, I wus; but for all that, it is ill to seek +the devil or his mates either." + +"My good boy," said Tressilian, who saw, from a grotesque sneer +on Dickie's face, that he was more likely to act upon his own +bottom than by the instructions of his elders, "I will give thee +a silver groat, my pretty fellow, if you will but guide me to +this man's forge." + +The boy gave him a knowing side-look, which seemed to promise +acquiescence, while at the same time he exclaimed, "I be your +guide to Wayland Smith's! Why, man, did I not say that the devil +might fly off with me, just as the kite there" (looking to the +window) "is flying off with one of grandam's chicks?" + +"The kite! the kite!" exclaimed the old woman in return, and +forgetting all other matters in her alarm, hastened to the rescue +of her chickens as fast as her old legs could carry her. + +"Now for it," said the urchin to Tressilian; "snatch your beaver, +get out your horse, and have at the silver groat you spoke of." + +"Nay, but tarry, tarry," said the preceptor--"SUFFLAMINA, +RICARDE!" + +"Tarry yourself," said Dickie, "and think what answer you are to +make to granny for sending me post to the devil." + +The teacher, aware of the responsibility he was incurring, +bustled up in great haste to lay hold of the urchin and to +prevent his departure; but Dickie slipped through his fingers, +bolted from the cottage, and sped him to the top of a +neighbouring rising ground, while the preceptor, despairing, by +well-taught experience, of recovering his pupil by speed of foot, +had recourse to the most honied epithets the Latin vocabulary +affords to persuade his return. But to MI ANIME, CORCULUM MEUM, +and all such classical endearments, the truant turned a deaf ear, +and kept frisking on the top of the rising ground like a goblin +by moonlight, making signs to his new acquaintance, Tressilian, +to follow him. + +The traveller lost no time in getting out his horse and departing +to join his elvish guide, after half-forcing on the poor, +deserted teacher a recompense for the entertainment he had +received, which partly allayed that terror he had for facing the +return of the old lady of the mansion. Apparently this took +place soon afterwards; for ere Tressilian and his guide had +proceeded far on their journey, they heard the screams of a +cracked female voice, intermingled with the classical +objurgations of Master Erasmus Holiday. But Dickie Sludge, +equally deaf to the voice of maternal tenderness and of +magisterial authority, skipped on unconsciously before +Tressilian, only observing that "if they cried themselves hoarse, +they might go lick the honey-pot, for he had eaten up all the +honey-comb himself on yesterday even." + + + +CHAPTER X. + + There entering in, they found the goodman selfe + Full busylie unto his work ybent, + Who was to weet a wretched wearish elf, + With hollow eyes and rawbone cheeks forspent, + As if he had been long in prison pent. THE FAERY QUEENE. + +"Are we far from the dwelling of this smith, my pretty lad?" +said Tressilian to his young guide. + +"How is it you call me?" said the boy, looking askew at him with +his sharp, grey eyes. + +"I call you my pretty lad--is there any offence in that, my boy?" + +"No; but were you with my grandam and Dominie Holiday, you might +sing chorus to the old song of + + 'We three + Tom-fools be.'" + +"And why so, my little man?" said Tressilian. + +"Because," answered the ugly urchin, "you are the only three ever +called me pretty lad. Now my grandam does it because she is +parcel blind by age, and whole blind by kindred; and my master, +the poor Dominie, does it to curry favour, and have the fullest +platter of furmity and the warmest seat by the fire. But what +you call me pretty lad for, you know best yourself." + +"Thou art a sharp wag at least, if not a pretty one. But what do +thy playfellows call thee?" + +"Hobgoblin," answered the boy readily; "but for all that, I would +rather have my own ugly viznomy than any of their jolter-heads, +that have no more brains in them than a brick-bat." + +"Then you fear not this smith whom you are going to see?" + +"Me fear him!" answered the boy. "If he were the devil folk +think him, I would not fear him; but though there is something +queer about him, he's no more a devil than you are, and that's +what I would not tell to every one." + +"And why do you tell it to me, then, my boy?" said Tressilian. + +"Because you are another guess gentleman than those we see here +every day," replied Dickie; "and though I am as ugly as sin, I +would not have you think me an ass, especially as I may have a +boon to ask of you one day." + +"And what is that, my lad, whom I must not call pretty?" replied +Tressilian. + +"Oh, if I were to ask it just now," said the boy, "you would deny +it me; but I will wait till we meet at court." + +"At court, Richard! are you bound for court?" said Tressilian. + +"Ay, ay, that's just like the rest of them," replied the boy. "I +warrant me, you think, what should such an ill-favoured, +scrambling urchin do at court? But let Richard Sludge alone; I +have not been cock of the roost here for nothing. I will make +sharp wit mend foul feature." + +"But what will your grandam say, and your tutor, Dominie +Holiday?" + +"E'en what they like," replied Dickie; "the one has her chickens +to reckon, and the other has his boys to whip. I would have +given them the candle to hold long since, and shown this trumpery +hamlet a fair pair of heels, but that Dominie promises I should +go with him to bear share in the next pageant he is to set forth, +and they say there are to be great revels shortly." + +"And whereabouts are they to be held, my little friend?" said +Tressilian. + +"Oh, at some castle far in the north," answered his guide--"a +world's breadth from Berkshire. But our old Dominie holds that +they cannot go forward without him; and it may be he is right, +for he has put in order many a fair pageant. He is not half the +fool you would take him for, when he gets to work he understands; +and so he can spout verses like a play-actor, when, God wot, if +you set him to steal a goose's egg, he would be drubbed by the +gander." + +"And you are to play a part in his next show?" said Tressilian, +somewhat interested by the boy's boldness of conversation and +shrewd estimate of character. + +"In faith," said Richard Sludge, in answer, "he hath so promised +me; and if he break his word, it will be the worse for him, for +let me take the bit between my teeth, and turn my head downhill, +and I will shake him off with a fall that may harm his bones. +And I should not like much to hurt him neither," said he, "for +the tiresome old fool has painfully laboured to teach me all he +could. But enough of that--here are we at Wayland Smith's forge- +door." + +"You jest, my little friend," said Tressilian; "here is nothing +but a bare moor, and that ring of stones, with a great one in the +midst, like a Cornish barrow." + +"Ay, and that great flat stone in the midst, which lies across +the top of these uprights," said the boy, "is Wayland Smith's +counter, that you must tell down your money upon." + +"What do you mean by such folly?" said the traveller, beginning +to be angry with the boy, and vexed with himself for having +trusted such a hare-brained guide. + +"Why," said Dickie, with a grin, "you must tie your horse to that +upright stone that has the ring in't, and then you must whistle +three times, and lay me down your silver groat on that other flat +stone, walk out of the circle, sit down on the west side of that +little thicket of bushes, and take heed you look neither to right +nor to left for ten minutes, or so long as you shall hear the +hammer clink, and whenever it ceases, say your prayers for the +space you could tell a hundred--or count over a hundred, which +will do as well--and then come into the circle; you will find +your money gone and your horse shod." + +"My money gone to a certainty!" said Tressilian; "but as for the +rest--Hark ye, my lad, I am not your school-master, but if you +play off your waggery on me, I will take a part of his task off +his hands, and punish you to purpose." + +"Ay, when you catch me!" said the boy; and presently took to his +heels across the heath, with a velocity which baffled every +attempt of Tressilian to overtake him, loaded as he was with his +heavy boots. Nor was it the least provoking part of the urchin's +conduct, that he did not exert his utmost speed, like one who +finds himself in danger, or who is frightened, but preserved just +such a rate as to encourage Tressilian to continue the chase, and +then darted away from him with the swiftness of the wind, when +his pursuer supposed he had nearly run him down, doubling at the +same time, and winding, so as always to keep near the place from +which he started. + +This lasted until Tressilian, from very weariness, stood still, +and was about to abandon the pursuit with a hearty curse on the +ill-favoured urchin, who had engaged him in an exercise so +ridiculous. But the boy, who had, as formerly, planted himself +on the top of a hillock close in front, began to clap his long, +thin hands, point with his skinny fingers, and twist his wild and +ugly features into such an extravagant expression of laughter and +derision, that Tressilian began half to doubt whether he had not +in view an actual hobgoblin. + +Provoked extremely, yet at the same time feeling an irresistible +desire to laugh, so very odd were the boy's grimaces and +gesticulations, the Cornishman returned to his horse, and mounted +him with the purpose of pursuing Dickie at more advantage. + +The boy no sooner saw him mount his horse, than he holloed out to +him that, rather than he should spoil his white-footed nag, he +would come to him, on condition he would keep his fingers to +himself. + +"I will make no conditions with thee, thou ugly varlet!" said +Tressilian; "I will have thee at my mercy in a moment." + +"Aha, Master Traveller," said the boy, "there is a marsh hard by +would swallow all the horses of the Queen's guard. I will into +it, and see where you will go then. You shall hear the bittern +bump, and the wild-drake quack, ere you get hold of me without my +consent, I promise you." + +Tressilian looked out, and, from the appearance of the ground +behind the hillock, believed it might be as the boy said, and +accordingly determined to strike up a peace with so light-footed +and ready-witted an enemy. "Come down," he said, "thou +mischievous brat! Leave thy mopping and mowing, and, come +hither. + +I will do thee no harm, as I am a gentleman." + +The boy answered his invitation with the utmost confidence, and +danced down from his stance with a galliard sort of step, keeping +his eye at the same time fixed on Tressilian's, who, once more +dismounted, stood with his horse's bridle in his hand, +breathless, and half exhausted with his fruitless exercise, +though not one drop of moisture appeared on the freckled forehead +of the urchin, which looked like a piece of dry and discoloured +parchment, drawn tight across the brow of a fleshless skull. + +"And tell me," said Tressilian, "why you use me thus, thou +mischievous imp? or what your meaning is by telling me so absurd +a legend as you wished but now to put on me? Or rather show me, +in good earnest, this smith's forge, and I will give thee what +will buy thee apples through the whole winter." + +"Were you to give me an orchard of apples," said Dickie Sludge, +"I can guide thee no better than I have done. Lay down the +silver token on the flat stone--whistle three times--then come +sit down on the western side of the thicket of gorse. I will sit +by you, and give you free leave to wring my head off, unless you +hear the smith at work within two minutes after we are seated." + +"I may be tempted to take thee at thy word," said Tressilian, "if +you make me do aught half so ridiculous for your own mischievous +sport; however, I will prove your spell. Here, then, I tie my +horse to this upright stone. I must lay my silver groat here, +and whistle three times, sayest thou?" + +"Ay, but thou must whistle louder than an unfledged ousel," said +the boy, as Tressilian, having laid down his money, and half +ashamed of the folly he practised, made a careless whistle--"you +must whistle louder than that, for who knows where the smith is +that you call for? He may be in the King of France's stables for +what I know." + +"Why, you said but now he was no devil," replied Tressilian. + +"Man or devil," said Dickie, "I see that I must summon him for +you;" and therewithal he whistled sharp and shrill, with an +acuteness of sound that almost thrilled through Tressilian's +brain. "That is what I call whistling," said he, after he had +repeated the signal thrice; "and now to cover, to cover, or +Whitefoot will not be shod this day." + +Tressilian, musing what the upshot of this mummery was to be, yet +satisfied there was to be some serious result, by the confidence +with which the boy had put himself in his power, suffered himself +to be conducted to that side of the little thicket of gorse and +brushwood which was farthest from the circle of stones, and there +sat down; and as it occurred to him that, after all, this might +be a trick for stealing his horse, he kept his hand on the boy's +collar, determined to make him hostage for its safety. + +"Now, hush and listen," said Dickie, in a low whisper; "you will +soon hear the tack of a hammer that was never forged of earthly +iron, for the stone it was made of was shot from the moon." And +in effect Tressilian did immediately hear the light stroke of a +hammer, as when a farrier is at work. The singularity of such a +sound, in so very lonely a place, made him involuntarily start; +but looking at the boy, and discovering, by the arch malicious +expression of his countenance, that the urchin saw and enjoyed +his slight tremor, he became convinced that the whole was a +concerted stratagem, and determined to know by whom, or for what +purpose, the trick was played off. + +Accordingly, he remained perfectly quiet all the time that the +hammer continued to sound, being about the space usually employed +in fixing a horse-shoe. But the instant the sound ceased, +Tressilian, instead of interposing the space of time which his +guide had required, started up with his sword in his hand, ran +round the thicket, and confronted a man in a farrier's leathern +apron, but otherwise fantastically attired in a bear-skin dressed +with the fur on, and a cap of the same, which almost hid the +sooty and begrimed features of the wearer. "Come back, come +back!" cried the boy to Tressilian, "or you will be torn to +pieces; no man lives that looks on him." In fact, the invisible +smith (now fully visible) heaved up his hammer, and showed +symptoms of doing battle. + +But when the boy observed that neither his own entreaties nor the +menaces of the farrier appeared to change Tressilian's purpose, +but that, on the contrary, he confronted the hammer with his +drawn sword, he exclaimed to the smith in turn, "Wayland, touch +him not, or you will come by the worse!--the gentleman is a true +gentleman, and a bold." + +"So thou hast betrayed me, Flibbertigibbet?" said the smith; "it +shall be the worse for thee!" + +"Be who thou wilt," said Tressilian, "thou art in no danger from +me, so thou tell me the meaning of this practice, and why thou +drivest thy trade in this mysterious fashion." + +The smith, however, turning to Tressilian, exclaimed, in a +threatening tone, "Who questions the Keeper of the Crystal Castle +of Light, the Lord of the Green Lion, the Rider of the Red +Dragon? Hence!--avoid thee, ere I summon Talpack with his fiery +lance, to quell, crush, and consume!" These words he uttered +with violent gesticulation, mouthing, and flourishing his hammer. + +"Peace, thou vile cozener, with thy gipsy cant!" replied +Tressilian scornfully, "and follow me to the next magistrate, or +I will cut thee over the pate." + +"Peace, I pray thee, good Wayland!" said the boy. "Credit me, +the swaggering vein will not pass here; you must cut boon whids." +["Give good words."--SLANG DIALECT.] + +"I think, worshipful sir," said the smith, sinking his hammer, +and assuming a more gentle and submissive tone of voice, "that +when so poor a man does his day's job, he might be permitted to +work it out after his own fashion. Your horse is shod, and your +farrier paid--what need you cumber yourself further than to mount +and pursue your journey?" + +"Nay, friend, you are mistaken," replied Tressilian; "every man +has a right to take the mask from the face of a cheat and a +juggler; and your mode of living raises suspicion that you are +both." + +"If you are so determined; sir," said the smith, "I cannot help +myself save by force, which I were unwilling to use towards you, +Master Tressilian; not that I fear your weapon, but because I +know you to be a worthy, kind, and well-accomplished gentleman, +who would rather help than harm a poor man that is in a strait." + +"Well said, Wayland," said the boy, who had anxiously awaited the +issue of their conference. "But let us to thy den, man, for it +is ill for thy health to stand here talking in the open air." + +"Thou art right, Hobgoblin," replied the smith; and going to the +little thicket of gorse on the side nearest to the circle, and +opposite to that at which his customer had so lately crouched, he +discovered a trap-door curiously covered with bushes, raised it, +and, descending into the earth, vanished from their eyes. +Notwithstanding Tressilian's curiosity, he had some hesitation at +following the fellow into what might be a den of robbers, +especially when he heard the smith's voice, issuing from the +bowels of the earth, call out, "Flibertigibbet, do you come last, +and be sure to fasten the trap!" + +"Have you seen enough of Wayland Smith now?" whispered the +urchin to Tressilian, with an arch sneer, as if marking his +companion's uncertainty. + +"Not yet," said Tressilian firmly; and shaking off his momentary +irresolution, he descended into the narrow staircase, to which +the entrance led, and was followed by Dickie Sludge, who made +fast the trap-door behind him, and thus excluded every glimmer of +daylight. The descent, however, was only a few steps, and led to +a level passage of a few yards' length, at the end of which +appeared the reflection of a lurid and red light. Arrived at +this point, with his drawn sword in his hand, Tressilian found +that a turn to the left admitted him and Hobgoblin, who followed +closely, into a small, square vault, containing a smith's forge, +glowing with charcoal, the vapour of which filled the apartment +with an oppressive smell, which would have been altogether +suffocating, but that by some concealed vent the smithy +communicated with the upper air. The light afforded by the red +fuel, and by a lamp suspended in an iron chain, served to show +that, besides an anvil, bellows, tongs, hammers, a quantity of +ready-made horse-shoes, and other articles proper to the +profession of a farrier, there were also stoves, alembics, +crucibles, retorts, and other instruments of alchemy. The +grotesque figure of the smith, and the ugly but whimsical +features of the boy, seen by the gloomy and imperfect light of +the charcoal fire and the dying lamp, accorded very well with all +this mystical apparatus, and in that age of superstition would +have made some impression on the courage of most men. + +But nature had endowed Tressilian with firm nerves, and his +education, originally good, had been too sedulously improved by +subsequent study to give way to any imaginary terrors; and after +giving a glance around him, he again demanded of the artist who +he was, and by what accident he came to know and address him by +his name. + +"Your worship cannot but remember," said the smith, "that about +three years since, upon Saint Lucy's Eve, there came a travelling +juggler to a certain hall in Devonshire, and exhibited his skill +before a worshipful knight and a fair company.--I see from your +worship's countenance, dark as this place is, that my memory has +not done me wrong." + +"Thou hast said enough," said Tressilian, turning away, as +wishing to hide from the speaker the painful train of +recollections which his discourse had unconsciously awakened. + +"The juggler," said the smith, "played his part so bravely that +the clowns and clown-like squires in the company held his art to +be little less than magical; but there was one maiden of fifteen, +or thereby, with the fairest face I ever looked upon, whose rosy +cheek grew pale, and her bright eyes dim, at the sight of the +wonders exhibited." + +"Peace, I command thee, peace!" said Tressilian. + +"I mean your worship no offence," said the fellow; "but I have +cause to remember how, to relieve the young maiden's fears, you +condescended to point out the mode in which these deceptions were +practised, and to baffle the poor juggler by laying bare the +mysteries of his art, as ably as if you had been a brother of his +order.--She was indeed so fair a maiden that, to win a smile of +her, a man might well--" + +"Not a word more of her, I charge thee!" said Tressilian. "I do +well remember the night you speak of--one of the few happy +evenings my life has known." + +"She is gone, then," said the smith, interpreting after his own +fashion the sigh with which Tressilian uttered these words--"she +is gone, young, beautiful, and beloved as she was!--I crave your +worship's pardon--I should have hammered on another theme. I see +I have unwarily driven the nail to the quick." + +This speech was made with a mixture of rude feeling which +inclined Tressilian favourably to the poor artisan, of whom +before he was inclined to judge very harshly. But nothing can so +soon attract the unfortunate as real or seeming sympathy with +their sorrows. + +"I think," proceeded Tressilian, after a minute's silence, "thou +wert in those days a jovial fellow, who could keep a company +merry by song, and tale, and rebeck, as well as by thy juggling +tricks--why do I find thee a laborious handicraftsman, plying thy +trade in so melancholy a dwelling and under such extraordinary +circumstances?" + +"My story is not long," said the artist, "but your honour had +better sit while you listen to it." So saying, he approached to +the fire a three-footed stool, and took another himself; while +Dickie Sludge, or Flibbertigibbet, as he called the boy, drew a +cricket to the smith's feet, and looked up in his face with +features which, as illuminated by the glow of the forge, seemed +convulsed with intense curiosity. "Thou too," said the smith to +him, "shalt learn, as thou well deservest at my hand, the brief +history of my life; and, in troth, it were as well tell it thee +as leave thee to ferret it out, since Nature never packed a +shrewder wit into a more ungainly casket.--Well, sir, if my poor +story may pleasure you, it is at your command, But will you not +taste a stoup of liquor? I promise you that even in this poor +cell I have some in store." + +"Speak not of it," said Tressilian, "but go on with thy story, +for my leisure is brief." + +"You shall have no cause to rue the delay," said the smith, "for +your horse shall be better fed in the meantime than he hath been +this morning, and made fitter for travel." + +With that the artist left the vault, and returned after a few +minutes' interval. Here, also, we pause, that the narrative may +commence in another chapter. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + I say, my lord, can such a subtilty + (But all his craft ye must not wot of me, + And somewhat help I yet to his working), + That all the ground on which we ben riding, + Till that we come to Canterbury town, + He can all clean turnen so up so down, + And pave it all of silver and of gold. + THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE, CANTERBURY TALES. + +THE artist commenced his narrative in the following terms:-- + +"I was bred a blacksmith, and knew my art as well as e'er a +black-thumbed, leathern-aproned, swart-faced knave of that noble +mystery. But I tired of ringing hammer-tunes on iron stithies, +and went out into the world, where I became acquainted with a +celebrated juggler, whose fingers had become rather too stiff for +legerdemain, and who wished to have the aid of an apprentice in +his noble mystery. I served him for six years, until I was +master of my trade--I refer myself to your worship, whose +judgment cannot be disputed, whether I did not learn to ply the +craft indifferently well?" + +"Excellently," said Tressilian; "but be brief." + +"It was not long after I had performed at Sir Hugh Robsart's, in +your worship's presence," said the artist, "that I took myself to +the stage, and have swaggered with the bravest of them all, both +at the Black Bull, the Globe, the Fortune, and elsewhere; but I +know not how--apples were so plenty that year that the lads in +the twopenny gallery never took more than one bite out of them, +and threw the rest of the pippin at whatever actor chanced to be +on the stage. So I tired of it--renounced my half share in the +company, gave my foil to my comrade, my buskins to the wardrobe, +and showed the theatre a clean pair of heels." + +"Well, friend, and what," said Tressilian, "was your next shift?" + +"I became," said the smith, "half partner, half domestic to a man +of much skill and little substance, who practised the trade of a +physicianer." + +"In other words," said Tressilian, "you were Jack Pudding to a +quacksalver." + +"Something beyond that, let me hope, my good Master Tressilian," +replied the artist; "and yet to say truth, our practice was of an +adventurous description, and the pharmacy which I had acquired in +my first studies for the benefit of horses was frequently applied +to our human patients. But the seeds of all maladies are the +same; and if turpentine, tar, pitch, and beef-suet, mingled with +turmerick, gum-mastick, and one bead of garlick, can cure the +horse that hath been grieved with a nail, I see not but what it +may benefit the man that hath been pricked with a sword. But my +master's practice, as well as his skill, went far beyond mine, +and dealt in more dangerous concerns. He was not only a bold, +adventurous practitioner in physic, but also, if your pleasure so +chanced to be, an adept who read the stars, and expounded the +fortunes of mankind, genethliacally, as he called it, or +otherwise. He was a learned distiller of simples, and a profound +chemist--made several efforts to fix mercury, and judged himself +to have made a fair hit at the philosopher's stone. I have yet a +programme of his on that subject, which, if your honour +understandeth, I believe you have the better, not only of all who +read, but also of him who wrote it." + +He gave Tressilian a scroll of parchment, bearing at top and +bottom, and down the margin, the signs of the seven planets, +curiously intermingled with talismanical characters and scraps of +Greek and Hebrew. In the midst were some Latin verses from a +cabalistical author, written out so fairly, that even the gloom +of the place did not prevent Tressilian from reading them. The +tenor of the original ran as follows:- + + "Si fixum solvas, faciasque volare solutum, + Et volucrem figas, facient te vivere tutum; + Si pariat ventum, valet auri pondere centum; + Ventus ubi vult spirat--Capiat qui capere potest." + +"I protest to you," said Tressilian, "all I understand of this +jargon is that the last words seem to mean 'Catch who catch +can.'" + +"That," said the smith, "is the very principle that my worthy +friend and master, Doctor Doboobie, always acted upon; until, +being besotted with his own imaginations, and conceited of his +high chemical skill, he began to spend, in cheating himself, the +money which he had acquired in cheating others, and either +discovered or built for himself, I could never know which, this +secret elaboratory, in which he used to seclude himself both from +patients and disciples, who doubtless thought his long and +mysterious absences from his ordinary residence in the town of +Farringdon were occasioned by his progress in the mystic +sciences, and his intercourse with the invisible world. Me also +he tried to deceive; but though I contradicted him not, he saw +that I knew too much of his secrets to be any longer a safe +companion. Meanwhile, his name waxed famous--or rather infamous, +and many of those who resorted to him did so under persuasion +that he was a sorcerer. And yet his supposed advance in the +occult sciences drew to him the secret resort of men too powerful +to be named, for purposes too dangerous to be mentioned. Men +cursed and threatened him, and bestowed on me, the innocent +assistant of his studies, the nickname of the Devil's foot-post, +which procured me a volley of stones as soon as ever I ventured +to show my face in the street of the village. At length my +master suddenly disappeared, pretending to me that he was about +to visit his elaboratory in this place, and forbidding me to +disturb him till two days were past. When this period had +elapsed, I became anxious, and resorted to this vault, where I +found the fires extinguished and the utensils in confusion, with +a note from the learned Doboobius, as he was wont to style +himself, acquainting me that we should never meet again, +bequeathing me his chemical apparatus, and the parchment which I +have just put into your hands, advising me strongly to prosecute +the secret which it contained, which would infallibly lead me to +the discovery of the grand magisterium." + +"And didst thou follow this sage advice?" said Tressilian. + +"Worshipful sir, no," replied the smith; "for, being by nature +cautious, and suspicious from knowing with whom I had to do, I +made so many perquisitions before I ventured even to light a +fire, that I at length discovered a small barrel of gunpowder, +carefully hid beneath the furnace, with the purpose, no doubt, +that as soon as I should commence the grand work of the +transmutation of metals, the explosion should transmute the vault +and all in it into a heap of ruins, which might serve at once for +my slaughter-house and my grave. This cured me of alchemy, and +fain would I have returned to the honest hammer and anvil; but +who would bring a horse to be shod by the Devil's post? +Meantime, I had won the regard of my honest Flibbertigibbet here, +he being then at Farringdon with his master, the sage Erasmus +Holiday, by teaching him a few secrets, such as please youth at +his age; and after much counsel together, we agreed that, since I +could get no practice in the ordinary way, I should try how I +could work out business among these ignorant boors, by practising +upon their silly fears; and, thanks to Flibbertigibbet, who hath +spread my renown, I have not wanted custom. But it is won at too +great risk, and I fear I shall be at length taken up for a +wizard; so that I seek but an opportunity to leave this vault, +when I can have the protection of some worshipful person against +the fury of the populace, in case they chance to recognize me." + +"And art thou," said Tressilian, "perfectly acquainted with the +roads in this country?" + +"I could ride them every inch by midnight," answered Wayland +Smith, which was the name this adept had assumed. + +"Thou hast no horse to ride upon," said Tressilian. + +"Pardon me," replied Wayland; "I have as good a tit as ever +yeoman bestrode; and I forgot to say it was the best part of the +mediciner's legacy to me, excepting one or two of the choicest of +his medical secrets, which I picked up without his knowledge and +against his will." + +"Get thyself washed and shaved, then," said Tressilian; "reform +thy dress as well as thou canst, and fling away these grotesque +trappings; and, so thou wilt be secret and faithful, thou shalt +follow me for a short time, till thy pranks here are forgotten. +Thou hast, I think, both address and courage, and I have matter +to do that may require both." + +Wayland Smith eagerly embraced the proposal, and protested his +devotion to his new master. In a very few minutes he had made so +great an alteration in his original appearance, by change of +dress, trimming his beard and hair, and so forth, that Tressilian +could not help remarking that he thought he would stand in little +need of a protector, since none of his old acquaintance were +likely to recognize him. + +"My debtors would not pay me money," said Wayland, shaking his +head; "but my creditors of every kind would be less easily +blinded. And, in truth, I hold myself not safe, unless under the +protection of a gentleman of birth and character, as is your +worship." + +So saying, he led the way out of the cavern. He then called +loudly for Hobgoblin, who, after lingering for an instant, +appeared with the horse furniture, when Wayland closed and +sedulously covered up the trap-door, observing it might again +serve him at his need, besides that the tools were worth +somewhat. A whistle from the owner brought to his side a nag +that fed quietly on the common, and was accustomed to the signal. + +While he accoutred him for the journey, Tressilian drew his own +girths tighter, and in a few minutes both were ready to mount. + +At this moment Sludge approached to bid them farewell. + +"You are going to leave me, then, my old playfellow," said the +boy; "and there is an end of all our game at bo-peep with the +cowardly lubbards whom I brought hither to have their broad- +footed nags shed by the devil and his imps?" + +"It is even so," said Wayland Smith, "the best friends must part, +Flibbertigibbet; but thou, my boy, art the only thing in the Vale +of Whitehorse which I shall regret to leave behind me." + +"Well, I bid thee not farewell," said Dickie Sludge, "for you +will be at these revels, I judge, and so shall I; for if Dominie +Holiday take me not thither, by the light of day, which we see +not in yonder dark hole, I will take myself there!" + +"In good time," said Wayland; "but I pray you to do nought +rashly." + +"Nay, now you would make a child, a common child of me, and tell +me of the risk of walking without leading-strings. But before +you are a mile from these stones, you shall know by a sure token +that I have more of the hobgoblin about me than you credit; and I +will so manage that, if you take advantage, you may profit by my +prank." + +"What dost thou mean, boy?" said Tressilian; but Flibbertigibbet +only answered with a grin and a caper, and bidding both of them +farewell, and, at the same time, exhorting them to make the best +of their way from the place, he set them the example by running +homeward with the same uncommon velocity with which he had +baffled Tressilian's former attempts to get hold of him. + +"It is in vain to chase him," said Wayland Smith; "for unless +your worship is expert in lark-hunting, we should never catch +hold of him--and besides, what would it avail? Better make the +best of our way hence, as he advises." + +They mounted their horses accordingly, and began to proceed at a +round pace, as soon as Tressilian had explained to his guide the +direction in which he desired to travel. + +After they had trotted nearly a mile, Tressilian could not help +observing to his companion that his horse felt more lively under +him than even when he mounted in the morning. + +"Are you avised of that?" said Wayland Smith, smiling. "That is +owing to a little secret of mine. I mixed that with an handful +of oats which shall save your worship's heels the trouble of +spurring these six hours at least. Nay, I have not studied +medicine and pharmacy for nought." + +"I trust," said Tressilian, "your drugs will do my horse no +harm?" + +"No more than the mare's milk; which foaled him," answered the +artist, and was proceeding to dilate on the excellence of his +recipe when he was interrupted by an explosion as loud and +tremendous as the mine which blows up the rampart of a +beleaguered city. The horses started, and the riders were +equally surprised. They turned to gaze in the direction from +which the thunder-clap was heard, and beheld, just over the spot +they had left so recently, a huge pillar of dark smoke rising +high into the clear, blue atmosphere. "My habitation is gone to +wreck," said Wayland, immediately conjecturing the cause of the +explosion. "I was a fool to mention the doctor's kind intentions +towards my mansion before that limb of mischief, Flibbertigibbet; +I might have guessed he would long to put so rare a frolic into +execution. But let us hasten on, for the sound will collect the +country to the spot." + +So saying, he spurred his horse, and Tressilian also quickening +his speed, they rode briskly forward. + +"This, then, was the meaning of the little imp's token which he +promised us?" said Tressilian. "Had we lingered near the spot, +we had found it a love-token with a vengeance." + +"He would have given us warning," said the smith. "I saw him +look back more than once to see if we were off--'tis a very +devil for mischief, yet not an ill-natured devil either. It were +long to tell your honour how I became first acquainted with him, +and how many tricks he played me. Many a good turn he did me +too, especially in bringing me customers; for his great delight +was to see them sit shivering behind the bushes when they heard +the click of my hammer. I think Dame Nature, when she lodged a +double quantity of brains in that misshapen head of his, gave him +the power of enjoying other people's distresses, as she gave them +the pleasure of laughing at his ugliness." + +"It may be so," said Tressilian; "those who find themselves +severed from society by peculiarities of form, if they do not +hate the common bulk of mankind, are at least not altogether +indisposed to enjoy their mishaps and calamities." + +"But Flibbertigibbet," answered Wayland, "hath that about him +which may redeem his turn for mischievous frolic; for he is as +faithful when attached as he is tricky and malignant to +strangers, and, as I said before, I have cause to say so." + +Tressilian pursued the conversation no further, and they +continued their journey towards Devonshire without further +adventure, until they alighted at an inn in the town of +Marlborough, since celebrated for having given title to the +greatest general (excepting one) whom Britain ever produced. +Here the travellers received, in the same breath, an example of +the truth of two old proverbs--namely, that ILL NEWS FLY FAST, +and that LISTENERS SELDOM HEAR A GOOD TALE OF THEMSELVES. + +The inn-yard was in a sort of combustion when they alighted; +insomuch, that they could scarce get man or boy to take care of +their horses, so full were the whole household of some news which +flew from tongue to tongue, the import of which they were for +some time unable to discover. At length, indeed, they found it +respected matters which touched them nearly. + +"What is the matter, say you, master?" answered, at length, the +head hostler, in reply to Tressilian's repeated questions.--"Why, +truly, I scarce know myself. But here was a rider but now, who +says that the devil hath flown away with him they called Wayland +Smith, that won'd about three miles from the Whitehorse of +Berkshire, this very blessed morning, in a flash of fire and a +pillar of smoke, and rooted up the place he dwelt in, near that +old cockpit of upright stones, as cleanly as if it had all been +delved up for a cropping." + +"Why, then," said an old farmer, "the more is the pity; for that +Wayland Smith (whether he was the devil's crony or no I skill +not) had a good notion of horses' diseases, and it's to be +thought the bots will spread in the country far and near, an +Satan has not gien un time to leave his secret behind un." + +"You may say that, Gaffer Grimesby," said the hostler in return; +"I have carried a horse to Wayland Smith myself, for he passed +all farriers in this country." + +"Did you see him?" said Dame Alison Crane, mistress of the inn +bearing that sign, and deigning to term HUSBAND the owner +thereof, a mean-looking hop-o'-my-thumb sort or person, whose +halting gait, and long neck, and meddling, henpecked +insignificance are supposed to have given origin to the +celebrated old English tune of "My name hath a lame tame Crane." + +On this occasion he chirped out a repetition of his wife's +question, "Didst see the devil, Jack Hostler, I say?" + +"And what if I did see un, Master Crane?" replied Jack Hostler, +for, like all the rest of the household, he paid as little +respect to his master as his mistress herself did. + +"Nay, nought, Jack Hostler," replied the pacific Master Crane; +"only if you saw the devil, methinks I would like to know what +un's like?" + +"You will know that one day, Master Crane," said his helpmate, +"an ye mend not your manners, and mind your business, leaving off +such idle palabras.--But truly, Jack Hostler, I should be glad to +know myself what like the fellow was." + +"Why, dame," said the hostler, more respectfully, "as for what he +was like I cannot tell, nor no man else, for why I never saw un." + +"And how didst thou get thine errand done," said Gaffer Grimesby, +"if thou seedst him not?" + +"Why, I had schoolmaster to write down ailment o' nag," said Jack +Hostler; "and I went wi' the ugliest slip of a boy for my guide +as ever man cut out o' lime-tree root to please a child withal." + +"And what was it?--and did it cure your nag, Jack Hostler?" was +uttered and echoed by all who stood around. + +"Why, how can I tell you what it was?" said the hostler; "simply +it smelled and tasted--for I did make bold to put a pea's +substance into my mouth--like hartshorn and savin mixed with +vinegar; but then no hartshorn and savin ever wrought so speedy a +cure. And I am dreading that if Wayland Smith be gone, the bots +will have more power over horse and cattle." + +The pride of art, which is certainly not inferior in its +influence to any other pride whatever, here so far operated on +Wayland Smith, that, notwithstanding the obvious danger of his +being recognized, he could not help winking to Tressilian, and +smiling mysteriously, as if triumphing in the undoubted evidence +of his veterinary skill. In the meanwhile, the discourse +continued. + +"E'en let it be so," said a grave man in black, the companion of +Gaffer Grimesby; "e'en let us perish under the evil God sends us, +rather than the devil be our doctor." + +"Very true," said Dame Crane; "and I marvel at Jack Hostler that +he would peril his own soul to cure the bowels of a nag." + +"Very true, mistress," said Jack Hostler, "but the nag was my +master's; and had it been yours, I think ye would ha' held me +cheap enow an I had feared the devil when the poor beast was in +such a taking. For the rest, let the clergy look to it. Every +man to his craft, says the proverb--the parson to the prayer- +book, and the groom to his curry-comb. + +"I vow," said Dame Crane, "I think Jack Hostler speaks like a +good Christian and a faithful servant, who will spare neither +body nor soul in his master's service. However, the devil has +lifted him in time, for a Constable of the Hundred came hither +this morning to get old Gaffer Pinniewinks, the trier of witches, +to go with him to the Vale of Whitehorse to comprehend Wayland +Smith, and put him to his probation. I helped Pinniewinks to +sharpen his pincers and his poking-awl, and I saw the warrant +from Justice Blindas." + +"Pooh--pooh--the devil would laugh both at Blindas and his +warrant, constable and witch-finder to boot," said old Dame +Crank, the Papist laundress; "Wayland Smith's flesh would mind +Pinniewinks' awl no more than a cambric ruff minds a hot +piccadilloe-needle. But tell me, gentlefolks, if the devil ever +had such a hand among ye, as to snatch away your smiths and your +artists from under your nose, when the good Abbots of Abingdon +had their own? By Our Lady, no!--they had their hallowed tapers; +and their holy water, and their relics, and what not, could send +the foulest fiends a-packing. Go ask a heretic parson to do the +like. But ours were a comfortable people." + +"Very true, Dame Crank," said the hostler; "so said Simpkins of +Simonburn when the curate kissed his wife,--'They are a +comfortable people,' said he." + +"Silence, thou foul-mouthed vermin," said Dame Crank; "is it fit +for a heretic horse-boy like thee to handle such a text as the +Catholic clergy?" + +"In troth no, dame," replied the man of oats; "and as you +yourself are now no text for their handling, dame, whatever may +have been the case in your day, I think we had e'en better leave +un alone." + +At this last exchange of sarcasm, Dame Crank set up her throat, +and began a horrible exclamation against Jack Hostler, under +cover of which Tressilian and his attendant escaped into the +house. + +They had no sooner entered a private chamber, to which Goodman +Crane himself had condescended to usher them, and dispatched +their worthy and obsequious host on the errand of procuring wine +and refreshment, than Wayland Smith began to give vent to his +self-importance. + +"You see, sir," said he, addressing Tressilian, "that I nothing +fabled in asserting that I possessed fully the mighty mystery of +a farrier, or mareschal, as the French more honourably term us. +These dog-hostlers, who, after all, are the better judges in such +a case, know what credit they should attach to my medicaments. I +call you to witness, worshipful Master Tressilian, that nought, +save the voice of calumny and the hand of malicious violence, +hath driven me forth from a station in which I held a place alike +useful and honoured." + +"I bear witness, my friend, but will reserve my listening," +answered Tressilian, "for a safer time; unless, indeed, you deem +it essential to your reputation to be translated, like your late +dwelling, by the assistance of a flash of fire. For you see your +best friends reckon you no better than a mere sorcerer." + +"Now, Heaven forgive them," said the artist, "who confounded +learned skill with unlawful magic! I trust a man may be as +skilful, or more so, than the best chirurgeon ever meddled with +horse-flesh, and yet may be upon the matter little more than +other ordinary men, or at the worst no conjurer." + +"God forbid else!" said Tressilian. "But be silent just for the +present, since here comes mine host with an assistant, who seems +something of the least." + +Everybody about the inn, Dame Crane herself included, had been +indeed so interested and agitated by the story they had heard of +Wayland Smith, and by the new, varying, and more marvellous +editions of the incident which arrived from various quarters, +that mine host, in his righteous determination to accommodate his +guests, had been able to obtain the assistance of none of his +household, saving that of a little boy, a junior tapster, of +about twelve years old, who was called Sampson. + +"I wish," he said, apologizing to his guests, as he set down a +flagon of sack, and promised some food immediately--"I wish the +devil had flown away with my wife and my whole family instead of +this Wayland Smith, who, I daresay, after all said and done, was +much less worthy of the distinction which Satan has done him." + +"I hold opinion with you, good fellow," replied Wayland Smith; +"and I will drink to you upon that argument." + +"Not that I would justify any man who deals with the devil," said +mine host, after having pledged Wayland in a rousing draught of +sack, "but that--saw ye ever better sack, my masters?--but that, +I say, a man had better deal with a dozen cheats and scoundrel +fellows, such as this Wayland Smith, than with a devil incarnate, +that takes possession of house and home, bed and board." + +The poor fellow's detail of grievances was here interrupted by +the shrill voice of his helpmate, screaming from the kitchen, to +which he instantly hobbled, craving pardon of his guests. He was +no sooner gone than Wayland Smith expressed, by every +contemptuous epithet in the language, his utter scorn for a +nincompoop who stuck his head under his wife's apron-string; and +intimated that, saving for the sake of the horses, which required +both rest and food, he would advise his worshipful Master +Tressilian to push on a stage farther, rather than pay a +reckoning to such a mean-spirited, crow-trodden, henpecked +coxcomb, as Gaffer Crane. + +The arrival of a large dish of good cow-heel and bacon something +soothed the asperity of the artist, which wholly vanished before +a choice capon, so delicately roasted that the lard frothed on +it, said Wayland, like May-dew on a lily; and both Gaffer Crane +and his good dame became, in his eyes, very painstaking, +accommodating, obliging persons. + +According to the manners of the times, the master and his +attendant sat at the same table, and the latter observed, with +regret, how little attention Tressilian paid to his meal. He +recollected, indeed, the pain he had given by mentioning the +maiden in whose company he had first seen him; but, fearful of +touching upon a topic too tender to be tampered with, he chose to +ascribe his abstinence to another cause. + +"This fare is perhaps too coarse for your worship," said Wayland, +as the limbs of the capon disappeared before his own exertions; +"but had you dwelt as long as I have done in yonder dungeon, +which Flibbertigibbet has translated to the upper element, a +place where I dared hardly broil my food, lest the smoke should +be seen without, you would think a fair capon a more welcome +dainty." + +"If you are pleased, friend," said Tressilian, "it is well. +Nevertheless, hasten thy meal if thou canst, For this place is +unfriendly to thy safety, and my concerns crave travelling." + +Allowing, therefore, their horses no more rest than was +absolutely necessary for them, they pursued their journey by a +forced march as far as Bradford, where they reposed themselves +for the night. + +The next morning found them early travellers. And, not to +fatigue the reader with unnecessary particulars, they traversed +without adventure the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset, and +about noon of the third day after Tressilian's leaving Cumnor, +arrived at Sir Hugh Robsart's seat, called Lidcote Hall, on the +frontiers of Devonshire. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Ah me! the flower and blossom of your house, + The wind hath blown away to other towers. + JOANNA BAILLIE'S FAMILY LEGEND. + +The ancient seat of Lidcote Hall was situated near the village of +the same name, and adjoined the wild and extensive forest of +Exmoor, plentifully stocked with game, in which some ancient +rights belonging to the Robsart family entitled Sir Hugh to +pursue his favourite amusement of the chase. The old mansion was +a low, venerable building, occupying a considerable space of +ground, which was surrounded by a deep moat. The approach and +drawbridge were defended by an octagonal tower, of ancient +brickwork, but so clothed with ivy and other creepers that it was +difficult to discover of what materials it was constructed. The +angles of this tower were each decorated with a turret, +whimsically various in form and in size, and, therefore, very +unlike the monotonous stone pepperboxes which, in modern Gothic +architecture, are employed for the same purpose. One of these +turrets was square, and occupied as a clock-house. But the clock +was now standing still; a circumstance peculiarly striking to +Tressilian, because the good old knight, among other harmless +peculiarities, had a fidgety anxiety about the exact measurement +of time, very common to those who have a great deal of that +commodity to dispose of, and find it lie heavy upon their hands-- +just as we see shopkeepers amuse themselves with taking an exact +account of their stock at the time there is least demand for it. + +The entrance to the courtyard of the old mansion lay through an +archway, surmounted by the foresaid tower; but the drawbridge was +down, and one leaf of the iron-studded folding-doors stood +carelessly open. Tressilian hastily rode over the drawbridge, +entered the court, and began to call loudly on the domestics by +their names. For some time he was only answered by the echoes +and the howling of the hounds, whose kennel lay at no great +distance from the mansion, and was surrounded by the same moat. +At length Will Badger, the old and favourite attendant of the +knight, who acted alike as squire of his body and superintendent +of his sports, made his appearance. The stout, weather-beaten +forester showed great signs of joy when he recognized Tressilian. + +"Lord love you," he said, "Master Edmund, be it thou in flesh and +fell? Then thou mayest do some good on Sir Hugh, for it passes +the wit of man--that is, of mine own, and the curate's, and +Master Mumblazen's--to do aught wi'un." + +"Is Sir Hugh then worse since I went away, Will?" demanded +Tressilian. + +"For worse in body--no; he is much better," replied the domestic; +"but he is clean mazed as it were--eats and drinks as he was +wont--but sleeps not, or rather wakes not, for he is ever in a +sort of twilight, that is neither sleeping nor waking. Dame +Swineford thought it was like the dead palsy. But no, no, dame, +said I, it is the heart, it is the heart." + +"Can ye not stir his mind to any pastimes?" said Tressilian. + +"He is clean and quite off his sports," said Will Badger; "hath +neither touched backgammon or shovel-board, nor looked on the big +book of harrowtry wi' Master Mumblazen. I let the clock run +down, thinking the missing the bell might somewhat move him--for +you know, Master Edmund, he was particular in counting time--but +he never said a word on't, so I may e'en set the old chime a- +towling again. I made bold to tread on Bungay's tail too, and +you know what a round rating that would ha' cost me once a-day; +but he minded the poor tyke's whine no more than a madge howlet +whooping down the chimney--so the case is beyond me." + +"Thou shalt tell me the rest within doors, Will. Meanwhile, let +this person be ta'en to the buttery, and used with respect. He +is a man of art." + +"White art or black art, I would," said Will Badger, "that he had +any art which could help us.--Here, Tom Butler, look to the man +of art;--and see that he steals none of thy spoons, lad," he +added in a whisper to the butler, who showed himself at a low +window, "I have known as honest a faced fellow have art enough to +do that." + +He then ushered Tressilian into a low parlour, and went, at his +desire, to see in what state his master was, lest the sudden +return of his darling pupil and proposed son-in-law should affect +him too strongly. He returned immediately, and said that Sir +Hugh was dozing in his elbow-chair, but that Master Mumblazen +would acquaint Master Tressilian the instant he awaked. + +"But it is chance if he knows you," said the huntsman, "for he +has forgotten the name of every hound in the pack. I thought, +about a week since, he had gotten a favourable turn. 'Saddle me +old Sorrel,' said he suddenly, after he had taken his usual +night-draught out of the great silver grace-cup, 'and take the +hounds to Mount Hazelhurst to-morrow.' Glad men were we all, and +out we had him in the morning, and he rode to cover as usual, +with never a word spoken but that the wind was south, and the +scent would lie. But ere we had uncoupled'the hounds, he began +to stare round him, like a man that wakes suddenly out of a +dream--turns bridle, and walks back to Hall again, and leaves us +to hunt at leisure by ourselves, if we listed." + +"You tell a heavy tale, Will," replied Tressilian; "but God must +help us--there is no aid in man." + +"Then you bring us no news of young Mistress Amy? But what need +I ask--your brow tells the story. Ever I hoped that if any man +could or would track her, it must be you. All's over and lost +now. But if ever I have that Varney within reach of a flight- +shot, I will bestow a forked shaft on him; and that I swear by +salt and bread." + +As he spoke, the door opened, and Master Mumblazen appeared--a +withered, thin, elderly gentleman, with a cheek like a winter +apple, and his grey hair partly concealed by a small, high hat, +shaped like a cone, or rather like such a strawberry-basket as +London fruiterers exhibit at their windows. He was too +sententious a person to waste words on mere salutation; so, +having welcomed Tressilian with a nod and a shake of the hand, he +beckoned him to follow to Sir Hugh's great chamber, which the +good knight usually inhabited. Will Badger followed, unasked, +anxious to see whether his master would be relieved from his +state of apathy by the arrival of Tressilian. + +In a long, low parlour, amply furnished with implements of the +chase, and with silvan trophies, by a massive stone chimney, over +which hung a sword and suit of armour somewhat obscured by +neglect, sat Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote, a man of large size, +which had been only kept within moderate compass by the constant +use of violent exercise, It seemed to Tressilian that the +lethargy, under which his old friend appeared to labour, had, +even during his few weeks' absence, added bulk to his person--at +least it had obviously diminished the vivacity of his eye, which, +as they entered, first followed Master Mumblazen slowly to a +large oaken desk, on which a ponderous volume lay open, and then +rested, as if in uncertainty, on the stranger who had entered +along with him. The curate, a grey-headed clergyman, who had +been a confessor in the days of Queen Mary, sat with a book in +his hand in another recess in the apartment. He, too, signed a +mournful greeting to Tressilian, and laid his book aside, to +watch the effect his appearance should produce on the afflicted +old man. + +As Tressilian, his own eyes filling fast with tears, approached +more and more nearly to the father of his betrothed bride, Sir +Hugh's intelligence seemed to revive. He sighed heavily, as one +who awakens from a state of stupor; a slight convulsion passed +over his features; he opened his arms without speaking a word, +and, as Tressilian threw himself into them, he folded him to his +bosom. + +"There is something left to live for yet," were the first words +he uttered; and while he spoke, he gave vent to his feelings in a +paroxysm of weeping, the tears chasing each other down his +sunburnt cheeks and long white beard. + +"I ne'er thought to have thanked God to see my master weep," said +Will Badger; "but now I do, though I am like to weep for +company." + +"I will ask thee no questions," said the old knight; "no +questions--none, Edmund. Thou hast not found her--or so found +her, that she were better lost." + +Tressilian was unable to reply otherwise than by putting his +hands before his face. + +"It is enough--it is enough. But do not thou weep for her, +Edmund. I have cause to weep, for she was my daughter; thou hast +cause to rejoice, that she did not become thy wife.--Great God! +thou knowest best what is good for us. It was my nightly prayer +that I should see Amy and Edmund wedded,--had it been granted, it +had now been gall added to bitterness." + +"Be comforted, my friend," said the curate, addressing Sir Hugh, +"it cannot be that the daughter of all our hopes and affections +is the vile creature you would bespeak her." + +"Oh, no," replied Sir Hugh impatiently, "I were wrong to name +broadly the base thing she is become--there is some new court +name for it, I warrant me. It is honour enough for the daughter +of an old Devonshire clown to be the leman of a gay courtier--of +Varney too--of Varney, whose grandsire was relieved by my father, +when his fortune was broken, at the battle of--the battle of-- +where Richard was slain--out on my memory!--and I warrant none +of you will help me--" + +"The battle of Bosworth," said Master Mumblazen--"stricken +between Richard Crookback and Henry Tudor, grandsire of the Queen +that now is, PRIMO HENRICI SEPTIMI; and in the year one thousand +four hundred and eighty-five, POST CHRISTUM NATUM." + +"Ay, even so," said the old knight; "every child knows it. But +my poor head forgets all it should remember, and remembers only +what it would most willingly forget. My brain has been at fault, +Tressilian, almost ever since thou hast been away, and even yet +it hunts counter." + +"Your worship," said the good clergyman, "had better retire to +your apartment, and try to sleep for a little space. The +physician left a composing draught; and our Great Physician has +commanded us to use earthly means, that we may be strengthened to +sustain the trials He sends us." + +"True, true, old friend," said Sir Hugh; "and we will bear our +trials manfully--we have lost but a woman.--See, Tressilian,"--he +drew from his bosom a long ringlet of glossy hair,--"see this +lock! I tell thee, Edmund, the very night she disappeared, when +she bid me good even, as she was wont, she hung about my neck, +and fondled me more than usual; and I, like an old fool, held her +by this lock, until she took her scissors, severed it, and left +it in my hand--as all I was ever to see more of her!" + +Tressilian was unable to reply, well judging what a complication +of feelings must have crossed the bosom of the unhappy fugitive +at that cruel moment. The clergyman was about to speak, but Sir +Hugh interrupted him. + +"I know what you would say, Master Curate,--After all, it is but +a lock of woman's tresses; and by woman, shame, and sin, and +death came into an innocent world.--And learned Master Mumblazen, +too, can say scholarly things of their inferiority." + +"C'EST L'HOMME," said Master Mumblazen, "QUI SE BAST, ET QUI +CONSEILLE." + +"True," said Sir Hugh, "and we will bear us, therefore, like men +who have both mettle and wisdom in us.--Tressilian, thou art as +welcome as if thou hadst brought better news. But we have spoken +too long dry-lipped.--Amy, fill a cup of wine to Edmund, and +another to me." Then instantly recollecting that he called upon +her who could not hear, he shook his head, and said to the +clergyman, "This grief is to my bewildered mind what the church +of Lidcote is to our park: we may lose ourselves among the briers +and thickets for a little space, but from the end of each avenue +we see the old grey steeple and the grave of my forefathers. I +would I were to travel that road tomorrow!" + +Tressilian and the curate joined in urging the exhausted old man +to lay himself to rest, and at length prevailed. Tressilian +remained by his pillow till he saw that slumber at length sunk +down on him, and then returned to consult with the curate what +steps should be adopted in these unhappy circumstances. + +They could not exclude from these deliberations Master Michael +Mumblazen; and they admitted him the more readily, that besides +what hopes they entertained from his sagacity, they knew him to +be so great a friend to taciturnity, that there was no doubt of +his keeping counsel. He was an old bachelor, of good family, but +small fortune, and distantly related to the House of Robsart; in +virtue of which connection, Lidcote Hall had been honoured with +his residence for the last twenty years. His company was +agreeable to Sir Hugh, chiefly on account of his profound +learning, which, though it only related to heraldry and +genealogy, with such scraps of history as connected themselves +with these subjects, was precisely of a kind to captivate the +good old knight; besides the convenience which he found in having +a friend to appeal to when his own memory, as frequently +happened, proved infirm and played him false concerning names and +dates, which, and all similar deficiencies, Master Michael +Mumblazen supplied with due brevity and discretion. And, indeed, +in matters concerning the modern world, he often gave, in his +enigmatical and heraldic phrase, advice which was well worth +attending to, or, in Will Badger's language, started the game +while others beat the bush. + +"We have had an unhappy time of it with the good knight, Master +Edmund," said the curate. "I have not suffered so much since I +was torn away from my beloved flock, and compelled to abandon +them to the Romish wolves." + +"That was in TERTIO MARIAE," said Master Mumblazen. + +"In the name of Heaven," continued the curate, "tell us, has your +time been better spent than ours, or have you any news of that +unhappy maiden, who, being for so many years the principal joy of +this broken-down house, is now proved our greatest unhappiness? +Have you not at least discovered her place of residence?" + +"I have," replied Tressilian. "Know you Cumnor Place, near +Oxford?" + +"Surely," said the clergyman; "it was a house of removal for the +monks of Abingdon." + +"Whose arms," said Master Michael, "I have seen over a stone +chimney in the hall,--a cross patonce betwixt four martlets." + +"There," said Tressilian, "this unhappy maiden resides, in +company with the villain Varney. But for a strange mishap, my +sword had revenged all our injuries, as well as hers, on his +worthless head." + +"Thank God, that kept thine hand from blood-guiltiness, rash +young man!" answered the curate. "Vengeance is mine, saith the +Lord, and I will repay it. It were better study to free her from +the villain's nets of infamy." + +"They are called, in heraldry, LAQUEI AMORIS, or LACS D'AMOUR," +said Mumblazen. + +"It is in that I require your aid, my friends," said Tressilian. +"I am resolved to accuse this villain, at the very foot of the +throne, of falsehood, seduction, and breach of hospitable laws. +The Queen shall hear me, though the Earl of Leicester, the +villain's patron, stood at her right hand." + +"Her Grace," said the curate, "hath set a comely example of +continence to her subjects, and will doubtless do justice on this +inhospitable robber. But wert thou not better apply to the Earl +of Leicester, in the first place, for justice on his servant? If +he grants it, thou dost save the risk of making thyself a +powerful adversary, which will certainly chance if, in the first +instance, you accuse his master of the horse and prime favourite +before the Queen." + +"My mind revolts from your counsel," said Tressilian. "I cannot +brook to plead my noble patron's cause the unhappy Amy's cause-- +before any one save my lawful Sovereign. Leicester, thou wilt +say, is noble. Be it so; he is but a subject like ourselves, and +I will not carry my plaint to him, if I can do better. Still, I +will think on what thou hast said; but I must have your +assistance to persuade the good Sir Hugh to make me his +commissioner and fiduciary in this matter, for it is in his name +I must speak, and not in my own. Since she is so far changed as +to dote upon this empty profligate courtier, he shall at least do +her the justice which is yet in his power." + +"Better she died CAELEBS and SINE PROLE," said Mumblazen, with +more animation than he usually expressed, "than part, PER PALE, +the noble coat of Robsart with that of such a miscreant!" + +"If it be your object, as I cannot question," said the clergyman, +"to save, as much as is yet possible, the credit of this unhappy +young woman, I repeat, you should apply, in the first instance, +to the Earl of Leicester. He is as absolute in his household as +the Queen in her kingdom, and if he expresses to Varney that such +is his pleasure, her honour will not stand so publicly +committed." + +"You are right, you are right!" said Tressilian eagerly, "and I +thank you for pointing out what I overlooked in my haste. I +little thought ever to have besought grace of Leicester; but I +could kneel to the proud Dudley, if doing so could remove one +shade of shame from this unhappy damsel. You will assist me then +to procure the necessary powers from Sir Hugh Robsart?" + +The curate assured him of his assistance, and the herald nodded +assent. + +"You must hold yourselves also in readiness to testify, in case +you are called upon, the openhearted hospitality which our good +patron exercised towards this deceitful traitor, and the +solicitude with which he laboured to seduce his unhappy +daughter." + +"At first," said the clergyman, "she did not, as it seemed to me, +much affect his company; but latterly I saw them often together." + +"SEIANT in the parlour," said Michael Mumblazen, "and PASSANT in +the garden." + +"I once came on them by chance," said the priest, "in the South +wood, in a spring evening. Varney was muffled in a russet cloak, +so that I saw not his face. They separated hastily, as they +heard me rustle amongst the leaves; and I observed she turned her +head and looked long after him." + +"With neck REGUARDANT," said the herald. "And on the day of her +flight, and that was on Saint Austen's Eve, I saw Varney's groom, +attired in his liveries, hold his master's horse and Mistress +Amy's palfrey, bridled and saddled PROPER, behind the wall of the +churchyard," + +"And now is she found mewed up in his secret place of +retirement," said Tressilian. "The villain is taken in the +manner, and I well wish he may deny his crime, that I may thrust +conviction down his false throat! But I must prepare for my +journey. Do you, gentlemen, dispose my patron to grant me such +powers as are needful to act in his name." + +So saying, Tressilian left the room. + +"He is too hot," said the curate; "and I pray to God that He may +grant him the patience to deal with Varney as is fitting." + +"Patience and Varney," said Mumblazen, "is worse heraldry than +metal upon metal. He is more false than a siren, more rapacious +than a griffin, more poisonous than a wyvern, and more cruel than +a lion rampant." + +"Yet I doubt much," said the curate, "whether we can with +propriety ask from Sir Hugh Robsart, being in his present +condition, any deed deputing his paternal right in Mistress Amy +to whomsoever--" + +"Your reverence need not doubt that," said Will Badger, who +entered as he spoke, "for I will lay my life he is another man +when he wakes than he has been these thirty days past." + +"Ay, Will," said the curate, "hast thou then so much confidence +in Doctor Diddleum's draught?" + +"Not a whit," said Will, "because master ne'er tasted a drop +on't, seeing it was emptied out by the housemaid. But here's a +gentleman, who came attending on Master Tressilian, has given Sir +Hugh a draught that is worth twenty of yon un. I have spoken +cunningly with him, and a better farrier or one who hath a more +just notion of horse and dog ailment I have never seen; and such +a one would never be unjust to a Christian man." + +"A farrier! you saucy groom--and by whose authority, pray?" +said the curate, rising in surprise and indignation; "or who will +be warrant for this new physician?" + +"For authority, an it like your reverence, he had mine; and for +warrant, I trust I have not been five-and-twenty years in this +house without having right to warrant the giving of a draught to +beast or body--I who can gie a drench, and a ball, and bleed, or +blister, if need, to my very self." + +The counsellors of the house of Robsart thought it meet to carry +this information instantly to Tressilian, who as speedily +summoned before him Wayland Smith, and demanded of him (in +private, however) by what authority he had ventured to administer +any medicine to Sir Hugh Robsart? + +"Why," replied the artist, "your worship cannot but remember that +I told you I had made more progress into my master's--I mean the +learned Doctor Doboobie's--mystery than he was willing to own; +and indeed half of his quarrel and malice against me was that, +besides that I got something too deep into his secrets, several +discerning persons, and particularly a buxom young widow of +Abingdon, preferred my prescriptions to his." + +"None of thy buffoonery, sir," said Tressilian sternly. "If thou +hast trifled with us--much more, if thou hast done aught that may +prejudice Sir Hugh Robsart's health, thou shalt find thy grave at +the bottom of a tin-mine." + +"I know too little of the great ARCANUM to convert the ore to +gold," said Wayland firmly. "But truce to your apprehensions, +Master Tressilian. I understood the good knight's case from what +Master William Badger told me; and I hope I am able enough to +administer a poor dose of mandragora, which, with the sleep that +must needs follow, is all that Sir Hugh Robsart requires to +settle his distraught brains." + +"I trust thou dealest fairly with me, Wayland?" said Tressilian. + +"Most fairly and honestly, as the event shall show," replied the +artist. "What would it avail me to harm the poor old man for +whom you are interested?--you, to whom I owe it that Gaffer +Pinniewinks is not even now rending my flesh and sinews with his +accursed pincers, and probing every mole in my body with his +sharpened awl (a murrain on the hands which forged it!) in order +to find out the witch's mark?--I trust to yoke myself as a humble +follower to your worship's train, and I only wish to have my +faith judged of by the result of the good knight's slumbers." + +Wayland Smith was right in his prognostication. The sedative +draught which his skill had prepared, and Will Badger's +confidence had administered, was attended with the most +beneficial effects. The patient's sleep was long and healthful, +and the poor old knight awoke, humbled indeed in thought and weak +in frame, yet a much better judge of whatever was subjected to +his intellect than he had been for some time past. He resisted +for a while the proposal made by his friends that Tressilian +should undertake a journey to court, to attempt the recovery of +his daughter, and the redress of her wrongs, in so far as they +might yet be repaired. "Let her go," he said; "she is but a hawk +that goes down the wind; I would not bestow even a whistle to +reclaim her." But though he for some time maintained this +argument, he was at length convinced it was his duty to take the +part to which natural affection inclined him, and consent that +such efforts as could yet be made should be used by Tressilian in +behalf of his daughter. He subscribed, therefore, a warrant of +attorney, such as the curate's skill enabled him to draw up; for +in those simple days the clergy were often the advisers of their +flock in law as well as in gospel. + +All matters were prepared for Tressilian's second departure, +within twenty-four hours after he had returned to Lidcote Hall; +but one material circumstance had been forgotten, which was first +called to the remembrance of Tressilian by Master Mumblazen. +"You are going to court, Master Tressilian," said he; "you will +please remember that your blazonry must be ARGENT and OR--no +other tinctures will pass current." The remark was equally just +and embarrassing. To prosecute a suit at court, ready money was +as indispensable even in the golden days of Elizabeth as at any +succeeding period; and it was a commodity little at the command +of the inhabitants of Lidcote Hall. Tressilian was himself poor; +the revenues of good Sir Hugh Robsart were consumed, and even +anticipated, in his hospitable mode of living; and it was finally +necessary that the herald who started the doubt should himself +solve it. Master Michael Mumblazen did so by producing a bag of +money, containing nearly three hundred pounds in gold and silver +of various coinage, the savings of twenty years, which he now, +without speaking a syllable upon the subject, dedicated to the +service of the patron whose shelter and protection had given him +the means of making this little hoard. Tressilian accepted it +without affecting a moment's hesitation, and a mutual grasp of +the hand was all that passed betwixt them, to express the +pleasure which the one felt in dedicating his all to such a +purpose, and that which the other received from finding so +material an obstacle to the success of his journey so suddenly +removed, and in a manner so unexpected. + +While Tressilian was making preparations for his departure early +the ensuing morning, Wayland Smith desired to speak with him, +and, expressing his hope that he had been pleased with the +operation of his medicine in behalf of Sir Hugh Robsart, added +his desire to accompany him to court. This was indeed what +Tressilian himself had several times thought of; for the +shrewdness, alertness of understanding, and variety of resource +which this fellow had exhibited during the time they had +travelled together, had made him sensible that his assistance +might be of importance. But then Wayland was in danger from the +grasp of law; and of this Tressilian reminded him, mentioning +something, at the same time, of the pincers of Pinniewinks and +the warrant of Master Justice Blindas. Wayland Smith laughed +both to scorn. + +"See you, sir!" said he, "I have changed my garb from that of a +farrier to a serving-man; but were it still as it was, look at my +moustaches. They now hang down; I will but turn them up, and dye +them with a tincture that I know of, and the devil would scarce +know me again." + +He accompanied these words with the appropriate action, and in +less than a minute, by setting up, his moustaches and his hair, +he seemed a different person from him that had but now entered +the room. Still, however, Tressilian hesitated to accept his +services, and the artist became proportionably urgent. + +"I owe you life and limb," he said, "and I would fain pay a part +of the debt, especially as I know from Will Badger on what +dangerous service your worship is bound. I do not, indeed, +pretend to be what is called a man of mettle, one of those +ruffling tear-cats who maintain their master's quarrel with sword +and buckler. Nay, I am even one of those who hold the end of a +feast better than the beginning of a fray. But I know that I can +serve your worship better, in such quest as yours, than any of +these sword-and-dagger men, and that my head will be worth an +hundred of their hands." + +Tressilian still hesitated. He knew not much of this strange +fellow, and was doubtful how far he could repose in him the +confidence necessary to render him a useful attendant upon the +present emergency. Ere he had come to a determination, the +trampling of a horse was heard in the courtyard, and Master +Mumblazen and Will Badger both entered hastily into Tressilian's +chamber, speaking almost at the same moment. + +"Here is a serving-man on the bonniest grey tit I ever see'd in +my life," said Will Badger, who got the start--"having on his +arm a silver cognizance, being a fire-drake holding in his mouth +a brickbat, under a coronet of an Earl's degree," said Master +Mumblazen, "and bearing a letter sealed of the same." + +Tressilian took the letter, which was addressed "To the +worshipful Master Edmund Tressilian, our loving kinsman--These-- +ride, ride, ride--for thy life, for thy life, for thy life. "He +then opened it, and found the following contents:-- + +"MASTER TRESSILIAN, OUR GOOD FRIEND AND COUSIN, + +"We are at present so ill at ease, and otherwise so unhappily +circumstanced, that we are desirous to have around us those of +our friends on whose loving-kindness we can most especially +repose confidence; amongst whom we hold our good Master +Tressilian one of the foremost and nearest, both in good will and +good ability. We therefore pray you, with your most convenient +speed, to repair to our poor lodging, at Sayes Court, near +Deptford, where we will treat further with you of matters which +we deem it not fit to commit unto writing. And so we bid you +heartily farewell, being your loving kinsman to command, + "RATCLIFFE, EARL OF SUSSEX." + +"Send up the messenger instantly, Will Badger," said Tressilian; +and as the man entered the room, he exclaimed, "Ah, Stevens, is +it you? how does my good lord?" + +"Ill, Master Tressilian," was the messenger's reply, "and having +therefore the more need of good friends around him." + +"But what is my lord's malady?" said Tressilian anxiously; I +heard nothing of his being ill." + +"I know not, sir," replied the man; "he is very ill at ease. The +leeches are at a stand, and many of his household suspect foul +practice-witchcraft, or worse." + +"What are the symptoms?" said Wayland Smith, stepping forward +hastily. + +"Anan?" said the messenger, not comprehending his meaning. + +"What does he ail?" said Wayland; "where lies his disease?" + +The man looked at Tressilian, as if to know whether he should +answer these inquiries from a stranger, and receiving a sign in +the affirmative, he hastily enumerated gradual loss of strength, +nocturnal perspiration, and loss of appetite, faintness, etc. + +"Joined," said Wayland, "to a gnawing pain in the stomach, and a +low fever?" + +"Even so," said the messenger, somewhat surprised. + +"I know how the disease is caused," said the artist, "and I know +the cause. Your master has eaten of the manna of Saint Nicholas. +I know the cure too--my master shall not say I studied in his +laboratory for nothing." + +"How mean you?" said Tressilian, frowning; "we speak of one of +the first nobles of England. Bethink you, this is no subject for +buffoonery." + +"God forbid!" said Wayland Smith. "I say that I know this +disease, and can cure him. Remember what I did for Sir Hugh +Robsart," + +"We will set forth instantly," said Tressilian. "God calls us." + +Accordingly, hastily mentioning this new motive for his instant +departure, though without alluding to either the suspicions of +Stevens, or the assurances of Wayland Smith, he took the kindest +leave of Sir Hugh and the family at Lidcote Hall, who accompanied +him with prayers and blessings, and, attended by Wayland and the +Earl of Sussex's domestic, travelled with the utmost speed +towards London. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Ay, I know you have arsenic, + Vitriol, sal-tartre, argaile, alkaly, + Cinoper: I know all.--This fellow, Captain, + Will come in time to be a great distiller, + And give a say (I will not say directly, + But very near) at the philosopher's stone. THE ALCHEMIST. + +Tressilian and his attendants pressed their route with all +dispatch. He had asked the smith, indeed, when their departure +was resolved on, whether he would not rather choose to avoid +Berkshire, in which he had played a part so conspicuous? But +Wayland returned a confident answer. He had employed the short +interval they passed at Lidcote Hall in transforming himself in a +wonderful manner. His wild and overgrown thicket of beard was +now restrained to two small moustaches on the upper lip, turned +up in a military fashion. A tailor from the village of Lidcote +(well paid) had exerted his skill, under his customer's +directions, so as completely to alter Wayland's outward man, and +take off from his appearance almost twenty years of age. +Formerly, besmeared with soot and charcoal, overgrown with hair, +and bent double with the nature of his labour, disfigured too by +his odd and fantastic dress, he seemed a man of fifty years old. +But now, in a handsome suit of Tressilian's livery, with a sword +by his side and a buckler on his shoulder, he looked like a gay +ruffling serving-man, whose age might be betwixt thirty and +thirty-five, the very prime of human life. His loutish, savage- +looking demeanour seemed equally changed, into a forward, sharp, +and impudent alertness of look and action. + +When challenged by Tressilian, who desired to know the cause of a +metamorphosis so singular and so absolute, Wayland only answered +by singing a stave from a comedy, which was then new, and was +supposed, among the more favourable judges, to augur some genius +on the part of the author. We are happy to preserve the couplet, +which ran exactly thus,-- + + "Ban, ban, ca Caliban-- + Get a new master--Be a new man." + +Although Tressilian did not recollect the verses, yet they +reminded him that Wayland had once been a stage player, a +circumstance which, of itself, accounted indifferently well for +the readiness with which he could assume so total a change of +personal appearance. The artist himself was so confident of his +disguise being completely changed, or of his having completely +changed his disguise, which may be the more correct mode of +speaking, that he regretted they were not to pass near his old +place of retreat. + +"I could venture," he said, "in my present dress, and with your +worship's backing, to face Master Justice Blindas, even on a day +of Quarter Sessions; and I would like to know what is become of +Hobgoblin, who is like to play the devil in the world, if he can +once slip the string, and leave his granny and his dominie.--Ay, +and the scathed vault!" he said; "I would willingly have seen +what havoc the explosion of so much gunpowder has made among +Doctor Demetrius Doboobie's retorts and phials. I warrant me, my +fame haunts the Vale of the Whitehorse long after my body is +rotten; and that many a lout ties up his horse, lays down his +silver groat, and pipes like a sailor whistling in a calm for +Wayland Smith to come and shoe his tit for him. But the horse +will catch the founders ere the smith answers the call." + +In this particular, indeed, Wayland proved a true prophet; and so +easily do fables rise, that an obscure tradition of his +extraordinary practice in farriery prevails in the Vale of +Whitehorse even unto this day; and neither the tradition of +Alfred's Victory, nor of the celebrated Pusey Horn, are better +preserved in Berkshire than the wild legend of Wayland Smith. +[See Note 2, Legend of Wayland Smith.] + +The haste of the travellers admitted their making no stay upon +their journey, save what the refreshment of the horses required; +and as many of the places through which they passed were under +the influence of the Earl of Leicester, or persons immediately +dependent on him, they thought it prudent to disguise their names +and the purpose of their journey. On such occasions the agency +of Wayland Smith (by which name we shall continue to distinguish +the artist, though his real name was Lancelot Wayland) was +extremely serviceable. He seemed, indeed, to have a pleasure in +displaying the alertness with which he could baffle +investigation, and amuse himself by putting the curiosity of +tapsters and inn-keepers on a false scent. During the course of +their brief journey, three different and inconsistent reports +were circulated by him on their account--namely, first, that +Tressilian was the Lord Deputy of Ireland, come over in disguise +to take the Queen's pleasure concerning the great rebel Rory Oge +MacCarthy MacMahon; secondly, that the said Tressilian was an +agent of Monsieur, coming to urge his suit to the hand of +Elizabeth; thirdly, that he was the Duke of Medina, come over, +incognito, to adjust the quarrel betwixt Philip and that +princess. + +Tressilian was angry, and expostulated with the artist on the +various inconveniences, and, in particular, the unnecessary +degree of attention to which they were subjected by the figments +he thus circulated; but he was pacified (for who could be proof +against such an argument?) by Wayland's assuring him that a +general importance was attached to his own (Tressilian's) +striking presence, which rendered it necessary to give an +extraordinary reason for the rapidity and secrecy of his journey. + +At length they approached the metropolis, where, owing to the +more general recourse of strangers, their appearance excited +neither observation nor inquiry, and finally they entered London +itself. + +It was Tressilian's purpose to go down directly to Deptford, +where Lord Sussex resided, in order to be near the court, then +held at Greenwich, the favourite residence of Elizabeth, and +honoured as her birthplace. Still a brief halt in London was +necessary; and it was somewhat prolonged by the earnest +entreaties of Wayland Smith, who desired permission to take a +walk through the city. + +"Take thy sword and buckler, and follow me, then," said +Tressilian; "I am about to walk myself, and we will go in +company." + +This he said, because he was not altogether so secure of the +fidelity of his new retainer as to lose sight of him at this +interesting moment, when rival factions at the court of Elizabeth +were running so high. Wayland Smith willingly acquiesced in the +precaution, of which he probably conjectured the motive, but only +stipulated that his master should enter the shops of such +chemists or apothecaries as he should point out, in walking +through Fleet Street, and permit him to make some necessary +purchases. Tressilian agreed, and obeying the signal of his +attendant, walked successively into more than four or five shops, +where he observed that Wayland purchased in each only one single +drug, in various quantities. The medicines which he first asked +for were readily furnished, each in succession, but those which +he afterwards required were less easily supplied; and Tressilian +observed that Wayland more than once, to the surprise of the +shopkeeper, returned the gum or herb that was offered to him, and +compelled him to exchange it for the right sort, or else went on +to seek it elsewhere. But one ingredient, in particular, seemed +almost impossible to be found. Some chemists plainly admitted +they had never seen it; others denied that such a drug existed, +excepting in the imagination of crazy alchemists; and most of +them attempted to satisfy their customer, by producing some +substitute, which, when rejected by Wayland, as not being what he +had asked for, they maintained possessed, in a superior degree, +the self-same qualities. In general they all displayed some +curiosity concerning the purpose for which he wanted it. One +old, meagre chemist, to whom the artist put the usual question, +in terms which Tressilian neither understood nor could recollect, +answered frankly, there was none of that drug in London, unless +Yoglan the Jew chanced to have some of it upon hand. + +"I thought as much," said Wayland. And as soon as they left the +shop, he said to Tressilian, "I crave your pardon, sir, but no +artist can work without his tools. I must needs go to this +Yoglan's; and I promise you, that if this detains you longer than +your leisure seems to permit, you shall, nevertheless, be well +repaid by the use I will make of this rare drug. Permit me," he +added, "to walk before you, for we are now to quit the broad +street and we will make double speed if I lead the way." + +Tressilian acquiesced, and, following the smith down a lane which +turned to the left hand towards the river, he found that his +guide walked on with great speed, and apparently perfect +knowledge of the town, through a labyrinth of by-streets, courts, +and blind alleys, until at length Wayland paused in the midst of +a very narrow lane, the termination of which showed a peep of the +Thames looking misty and muddy, which background was crossed +saltierwise, as Mr. Mumblazen might have said, by the masts of +two lighters that lay waiting for the tide. The shop under which +he halted had not, as in modern days, a glazed window, but a +paltry canvas screen surrounded such a stall as a cobbler now +occupies, having the front open, much in the manner of a +fishmonger's booth of the present day. A little old smock-faced +man, the very reverse of a Jew in complexion, for he was very +soft-haired as well as beardless, appeared, and with many +courtesies asked Wayland what he pleased to want. He had no +sooner named the drug, than the Jew started and looked surprised. +"And vat might your vorship vant vith that drug, which is not +named, mein God, in forty years as I have been chemist here?" + +"These questions it is no part of my commission to answer," said +Wayland; "I only wish to know if you have what I want, and having +it, are willing to sell it?" + +"Ay, mein God, for having it, that I have, and for selling it, I +am a chemist, and sell every drug." So saying, he exhibited a +powder, and then continued, "But it will cost much moneys. Vat I +ave cost its weight in gold--ay, gold well-refined--I vilI say +six times. It comes from Mount Sinai, where we had our blessed +Law given forth, and the plant blossoms but once in one hundred +year." + +"I do not know how often it is gathered on Mount Sinai," said +Wayland, after looking at the drug offered him with great +disdain, "but I will wager my sword and buckler against your +gaberdine, that this trash you offer me, instead of what I asked +for, may be had for gathering any day of the week in the castle +ditch of Aleppo." + +"You are a rude man," said the Jew; "and, besides, I ave no +better than that--or if I ave, I will not sell it without order +of a physician, or without you tell me vat you make of it." + +The artist made brief answer in a language of which Tressilian +could not understand a word, and which seemed to strike the Jew +with the utmost astonishment. He stared upon Wayland like one +who has suddenly recognized some mighty hero or dreaded +potentate, in the person of an unknown and unmarked stranger. +"Holy Elias!" he exclaimed, when he had recovered the first +stunning effects of his surprise; and then passing from his +former suspicious and surly manner to the very extremity of +obsequiousness, he cringed low to the artist, and besought him to +enter his poor house, to bless his miserable threshold by +crossing it. + +"Vill you not taste a cup vith the poor Jew, Zacharias Yoglan? +--Vill you Tokay ave?--vill you Lachrymae taste?--vill you--" + +"You offend in your proffers," said Wayland; "minister to me in +what I require of you, and forbear further discourse." + +The rebuked Israelite took his bunch of keys, and opening with +circumspection a cabinet which seemed more strongly secured than +the other cases of drugs and medicines amongst which it stood, he +drew out a little secret drawer, having a glass lid, and +containing a small portion of a black powder. This he offered to +Wayland, his manner conveying the deepest devotion towards him, +though an avaricious and jealous expression, which seemed to +grudge every grain of what his customer was about to possess +himself, disputed ground in his countenance with the obsequious +deference which he desired it should exhibit. + +"Have you scales?" said Wayland. + +The Jew pointed to those which lay ready for common use in the +shop, but he did so with a puzzled expression of doubt and fear, +which did not escape the artist. + +"They must be other than these," said Wayland sternly. "Know you +not that holy things lose their virtue if weighed in an unjust +balance?" + +The Jew hung his head, took from a steel-plated casket a pair of +scales beautifully mounted, and said, as he adjusted them for the +artist's use, "With these I do mine own experiment--one hair of +the high-priest's beard would turn them." + +"It suffices," said the artist, and weighed out two drachms for +himself of the black powder, which he very carefully folded up, +and put into his pouch with the other drugs. He then demanded +the price of the Jew, who answered, shaking his head and bowing, +-- + +"No price--no, nothing at all from such as you. But you will see +the poor Jew again? you will look into his laboratory, where, +God help him, he hath dried himself to the substance of the +withered gourd of Jonah, the holy prophet. You will ave pity on +him, and show him one little step on the great road?" + +"Hush!" said Wayland, laying his finger mysteriously on his +mouth; "it may be we shall meet again. Thou hast already the +SCHAHMAJM, as thine own Rabbis call it--the general creation; +watch, therefore, and pray, for thou must attain the knowledge of +Alchahest Elixir Samech ere I may commune further with thee." +Then returning with a slight nod the reverential congees of the +Jew, he walked gravely up the lane, followed by his master, whose +first observation on the scene he had just witnessed was, that +Wayland ought to have paid the man for his drug, whatever it was. + +"I pay him?" said the artist. "May the foul fiend pay me if I +do! Had it not been that I thought it might displease your +worship, I would have had an ounce or two of gold out of him, in +exchange of the same just weight of brick dust." + +"I advise you to practise no such knavery while waiting upon me," +said Tressilian. + +"Did I not say," answered the artist, "that for that reason alone +I forbore him for the present?--Knavery, call you it? Why, +yonder wretched skeleton hath wealth sufficient to pave the whole +lane he lives in with dollars, and scarce miss them out of his +own iron chest; yet he goes mad after the philosopher's stone. +And besides, he would have cheated a poor serving-man, as he +thought me at first, with trash that was not worth a penny. +Match for match, quoth the devil to the collier; if his false +medicine was worth my good crowns, my true brick dust is as well +worth his good gold." + +"It may be so, for aught I know," said Tressilian, "in dealing +amongst Jews and apothecaries; but understand that to have such +tricks of legerdemain practised by one attending on me diminishes +my honour, and that I will not permit them. I trust thou hast +made up thy purchases?" + +"I have, sir," replied Wayland; "and with these drugs will I, +this very day, compound the true orvietan, that noble medicine +which is so seldom found genuine and effective within these +realms of Europe, for want of that most rare and precious drug +which I got but now from Yoglan." [Orvietan, or Venice treacle, +as it was sometimes called, was understood to be a sovereign +remedy against poison; and the reader must be contented, for the +time he peruses these pages, to hold the same opinion, which was +once universally received by the learned as well as the vulgar.] + +"But why not have made all your purchases at one shop?" said his +master; "we have lost nearly an hour in running from one pounder +of simples to another." + +"Content you, sir," said Wayland. "No man shall learn my secret; +and it would not be mine long, were I to buy all my materials +from one chemist." + +They now returned to their inn (the famous Bell-Savage); and +while the Lord Sussex's servant prepared the horses for their +journey, Wayland, obtaining from the cook the service of a +mortar, shut himself up in a private chamber, where he mixed, +pounded, and amalgamated the drugs which he had bought, each in +its due proportion, with a readiness and address that plainly +showed him well practised in all the manual operations of +pharmacy. + +By the time Wayland's electuary was prepared the horses were +ready, and a short hour's riding brought them to the present +habitation of Lord Sussex, an ancient house, called Sayes Court, +near Deptford, which had long pertained to a family of that name, +but had for upwards of a century been possessed by the ancient +and honourable family of Evelyn. The present representative of +that ancient house took a deep interest in the Earl of Sussex, +and had willingly accommodated both him and his numerous retinue +in his hospitable mansion. Sayes Court was afterwards the +residence of the celebrated Mr. Evelyn, whose "Silva" is still +the manual of British planters; and whose life, manners, and +principles, as illustrated in his Memoirs, ought equally to be +the manual of English gentlemen. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + This is rare news thou tell'st me, my good fellow; + There are two bulls fierce battling on the green + For one fair heifer--if the one goes down, + The dale will be more peaceful, and the herd, + Which have small interest in their brulziement, + May pasture there in peace.--OLD PLAY. + +Sayes Court was watched like a beleaguered fort; and so high rose +the suspicions of the time, that Tressilian and his attendants +were stopped and questioned repeatedly by sentinels, both on foot +and horseback, as they approached the abode of the sick Earl. In +truth, the high rank which Sussex held in Queen Elizabeth's +favour, and his known and avowed rivalry of the Earl of +Leicester, caused the utmost importance to be attached to his +welfare; for, at the period we treat of, all men doubted whether +he or the Earl of Leicester might ultimately have the higher rank +in her regard. + +Elizabeth, like many of her sex, was fond of governing by +factions, so as to balance two opposing interests, and reserve in +her own hand the power of making either predominate, as the +interest of the state, or perhaps as her own female caprice (for +to that foible even she was not superior), might finally +determine. To finesse--to hold the cards--to oppose one interest +to another--to bridle him who thought himself highest in her +esteem, by the fears he must entertain of another equally +trusted, if not equally beloved, were arts which she used +throughout her reign, and which enabled her, though frequently +giving way to the weakness of favouritism, to prevent most of its +evil effects on her kingdom and government. + +The two nobles who at present stood as rivals in her favour +possessed very different pretensions to share it; yet it might be +in general said that the Earl of Sussex had been most serviceable +to the Queen, while Leicester was most dear to the woman. Sussex +was, according to the phrase of the times, a martialist--had done +good service in Ireland and in Scotland, and especially in the +great northern rebellion, in 1569, which was quelled, in a great +measure, by his military talents. He was, therefore, naturally +surrounded and looked up to by those who wished to make arms +their road to distinction. The Earl of Sussex, moreover, was of +more ancient and honourable descent than his rival, uniting in +his person the representation of the Fitz-Walters, as well as of +the Ratcliffes; while the scutcheon of Leicester was stained by +the degradation of his grandfather, the oppressive minister of +Henry VII., and scarce improved by that of his father, the +unhappy Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, executed on Tower Hill, +August 22, 1553. But in person, features, and address, weapons +so formidable in the court of a female sovereign, Leicester had +advantages more than sufficient to counterbalance the military +services, high blood, and frank bearing of the Earl of Sussex; +and he bore, in the eye of the court and kingdom, the higher +share in Elizabeth's favour, though (for such was her uniform +policy) by no means so decidedly expressed as to warrant him +against the final preponderance of his rival's pretensions. The +illness of Sussex therefore happened so opportunely for +Leicester, as to give rise to strange surmises among the public; +while the followers of the one Earl were filled with the deepest +apprehensions, and those of the other with the highest hopes of +its probable issue. Meanwhile--for in that old time men never +forgot the probability that the matter might be determined by +length of sword--the retainers of each noble flocked around their +patron, appeared well armed in the vicinity of the court itself, +and disturbed the ear of the sovereign by their frequent and +alarming debates, held even within the precincts of her palace. +This preliminary statement is necessary, to render what follows +intelligible to the reader. [See Note 3. Leicester and Sussex.] + +On Tressilian's arrival at Sayes Court, he found the place filled +with the retainers of the Earl of Sussex, and of the gentlemen +who came to attend their patron in his illness. Arms were in +every hand, and a deep gloom on every countenance, as if they had +apprehended an immediate and violent assault from the opposite +faction. In the hall, however, to which Tressilian was ushered +by one of the Earl's attendants, while another went to inform +Sussex of his arrival, he found only two gentlemen in waiting. +There was a remarkable contrast in their dress, appearance, and +manners. The attire of the elder gentleman, a person as it +seemed of quality and in the prime of life, was very plain and +soldierlike, his stature low, his limbs stout, his bearing +ungraceful, and his features of that kind which express sound +common sense, without a grain of vivacity or imagination. The +younger, who seemed about twenty, or upwards, was clad in the +gayest habit used by persons of quality at the period, wearing a +crimson velvet cloak richly ornamented with lace and embroidery, +with a bonnet of the same, encircled with a gold chain turned +three times round it, and secured by a medal. His hair was +adjusted very nearly like that of some fine gentlemen of our own +time--that is, it was combed upwards, and made to stand as it +were on end; and in his ears he wore a pair of silver earrings, +having each a pearl of considerable size. The countenance of +this youth, besides being regularly handsome and accompanied by a +fine person, was animated and striking in a degree that seemed to +speak at once the firmness of a decided and the fire of an +enterprising character, the power of reflection, and the +promptitude of determination. + +Both these gentlemen reclined nearly in the same posture on +benches near each other; but each seeming engaged in his own +meditations, looked straight upon the wall which was opposite to +them, without speaking to his companion. The looks of the elder +were of that sort which convinced the beholder that, in looking +on the wall, he saw no more than the side of an old hall hung +around with cloaks, antlers, bucklers, old pieces of armour, +partisans, and the similar articles which were usually the +furniture of such a place. The look of the younger gallant had +in it something imaginative; he was sunk in reverie, and it +seemed as if the empty space of air betwixt him and the wall were +the stage of a theatre on which his fancy was mustering his own +DRAMATIS PERSONAE, and treating him with sights far different +from those which his awakened and earthly vision could have +offered. + +At the entrance of Tressilian both started from their musing, and +made him welcome--the younger, in particular, with great +appearance of animation and cordiality. + +"Thou art welcome, Tressilian," said the youth. "Thy philosophy +stole thee from us when this household had objects of ambition to +offer; it is an honest philosophy, since it returns thee to us +when there are only dangers to be shared." + +"Is my lord, then, so greatly indisposed?" said Tressilian. + +"We fear the very worst," answered the elder gentleman, "and by +the worst practice." + +"Fie," replied Tressilian, "my Lord of Leicester is honourable." + +"What doth he with such attendants, then, as he hath about him?" +said the younger gallant. "The man who raises the devil may be +honest, but he is answerable for the mischief which the fiend +does, for all that." + +"And is this all of you, my mates," inquired Tressilian, "that +are about my lord in his utmost straits?" + +"No, no," replied the elder gentleman, "there are Tracy, Markham, +and several more; but we keep watch here by two at once, and some +are weary and are sleeping in the gallery above." + +"And some," said the young man," are gone down to the Dock yonder +at Deptford, to look out such a hull; as they may purchase by +clubbing their broken fortunes; and as soon as all is over, we +will lay our noble lord in a noble green grave, have a blow at +those who have hurried him thither, if opportunity suits, and +then sail for the Indies with heavy hearts and light purses." + +"It may be," said Tressilian, "that I will embrace the same +purpose, so soon as I have settled some business at court." + +"Thou business at court!" they both exclaimed at once, "and thou +make the Indian voyage!" + +"Why, Tressilian," said the younger man, "art thou not wedded, +and beyond these flaws of fortune, that drive folks out to sea +when their bark bears fairest for the haven?-- What has become of +the lovely Indamira that was to match my Amoret for truth and +beauty?" + +"Speak not of her!" said Tressilian, averting his face. + +"Ay, stands it so with you?" said the youth, taking his hand +very affectionately; "then, fear not I will again touch the green +wound. But it is strange as well as sad news. Are none of our +fair and merry fellowship to escape shipwreck of fortune and +happiness in this sudden tempest? I had hoped thou wert in +harbour, at least, my dear Edmund. But truly says another dear +friend of thy name, + + 'What man that sees the ever whirling wheel + Of Chance, the which all mortal things doth sway, + But that thereby doth find and plainly feel, + How Mutability in them doth play + Her cruel sports to many men's decay.'" + +The elder gentleman had risen from his bench, and was pacing the +hall with some impatience, while the youth, with much earnestness +and feeling, recited these lines. When he had done, the other +wrapped himself in his cloak, and again stretched himself down, +saying, "I marvel, Tressilian, you will feed the lad in this +silly humour. If there were ought to draw a judgment upon a +virtuous and honourable household like my lord's, renounce me if +I think not it were this piping, whining, childish trick of +poetry, that came among us with Master Walter Wittypate here and +his comrades, twisting into all manner of uncouth and +incomprehensible forms of speech, the honest plain English phrase +which God gave us to express our meaning withal." + +"Blount believes," said his comrade, laughing, "the devil woo'd +Eve in rhyme, and that the mystic meaning of the Tree of +Knowledge refers solely to the art of clashing rhymes and meting +out hexameters." [See Note 4. Sir Walter Raleigh.] + +At this moment the Earl's chamberlain entered, and informed +Tressilian that his lord required to speak with him. + +He found Lord Sussex dressed, but unbraced, and lying on his +couch, and was shocked at the alteration disease had made in his +person. The Earl received him with the most friendly cordiality, +and inquired into the state of his courtship. Tressilian evaded +his inquiries for a moment, and turning his discourse on the +Earl's own health, he discovered, to his surprise, that the +symptoms of his disorder corresponded minutely with those which +Wayland had predicated concerning it. He hesitated not, +therefore, to communicate to Sussex the whole history of his +attendant, and the pretensions he set up to cure the disorder +under which he laboured. The Earl listened with incredulous +attention until the name of Demetrius was mentioned, and then +suddenly called to his secretary to bring him a certain casket +which contained papers of importance. "Take out from thence," he +said, "the declaration of the rascal cook whom we had under +examination, and look heedfully if the name of Demetrius be not +there mentioned." + +The secretary turned to the passage at once, and read, "And said +declarant, being examined, saith, That he remembers having made +the sauce to the said sturgeon-fish, after eating of which the +said noble Lord was taken ill; "and he put the usual ingredients +and condiments therein, namely--" + +"Pass over his trash," said the Earl, "and see whether he had not +been supplied with his materials by a herbalist called +Demetrius." + +"It is even so," answered the secretary. "And he adds, he has +not since seen the said Demetrius." + +"This accords with thy fellow's story, Tressilian," said the +Earl; "call him hither." + +On being summoned to the Earl's presence, Wayland Smith told his +former tale with firmness and consistency. + +"It may be," said the Earl, "thou art sent by those who have +begun this work, to end it for them; but bethink, if I miscarry +under thy medicine, it may go hard with thee." + +"That were severe measure," said Wayland, "since the issue of +medicine, and the end of life, are in God's disposal. But I will +stand the risk. I have not lived so long under ground to be +afraid of a grave." + +"Nay, if thou be'st so confident," said the Earl of Sussex, "I +will take the risk too, for the learned can do nothing for me. +Tell me how this medicine is to be taken." + +"That will I do presently," said Wayland; "but allow me to +condition that, since I incur all the risk of this treatment, no +other physician shall be permitted to interfere with it." + +"That is but fair," replied the Earl; "and now prepare your +drug." + +While Wayland obeyed the Earl's commands, his servants, by the +artist's direction, undressed their master, and placed him in +bed. + +"I warn you," he said, "that the first operation of this medicine +will be to produce a heavy sleep, during which time the chamber +must be kept undisturbed, as the consequences may otherwise he +fatal. I myself will watch by the Earl with any of the gentlemen +of his chamber." + +"Let all leave the room, save Stanley and this good fellow," said +the Earl. + +"And saving me also," said Tressilian. "I too am deeply +interested in the effects of this potion." + +"Be it so, good friend," said the Earl. "And now for our +experiment; but first call my secretary and chamberlain." + +"Bear witness," he continued, when these officers arrived--"bear +witness for me, gentlemen, that our honourable friend Tressilian +is in no way responsible for the effects which this medicine may +produce upon me, the taking it being my own free action and +choice, in regard I believe it to be a remedy which God has +furnished me by unexpected means to recover me of my present +malady. Commend me to my noble and princely Mistress; and say +that I live and die her true servant, and wish to all about her +throne the same singleness of heart and will to serve her, with +more ability to do so than hath been assigned to poor Thomas +Ratcliffe." + +He then folded his hands, and seemed for a second or two absorbed +in mental devotion, then took the potion in his hand, and, +pausing, regarded Wayland with a look that seemed designed to +penetrate his very soul, but which caused no anxiety or +hesitation in the countenance or manner of the artist. + +"Here is nothing to be feared," said Sussex to Tressilian, and +swallowed the medicine without further hesitation + +"I am now to pray your lordship," said Wayland, "to dispose +yourself to rest as commodiously as you can; and of you, +gentlemen, to remain as still and mute as if you waited at your +mother's deathbed." + +The chamberlain and secretary then withdrew, giving orders that +all doors should be bolted, and all noise in the house strictly +prohibited. Several gentlemen were voluntary watchers in the +hall, but none remained in the chamber of the sick Earl, save his +groom of the chamber, the artist, and Tressilian.--Wayland +Smith's predictions were speedily accomplished, and a sleep fell +upon the Earl, so deep and sound that they who watched his +bedside began to fear that, in his weakened state, he might pass +away without awakening from his lethargy. Wayland Smith himself +appeared anxious, and felt the temples of the Earl slightly, from +time to time, attending particularly to the state of his +respiration, which was full and deep, but at the same time easy +and uninterrupted. + + + +CHAPTER XV, + + You loggerheaded and unpolish'd grooms, + What, no attendance, no regard, no duty? + Where is the foolish knave I sent before? TAMING OF THE SHREW. + +There is no period at which men look worse in the eyes of each +other, or feel more uncomfortable, than when the first dawn of +daylight finds them watchers. Even a beauty of the first order, +after the vigils of a ball are interrupted by the dawn, would do +wisely to withdraw herself from the gaze of her fondest and most +partial admirers. Such was the pale, inauspicious, and +ungrateful light which began to beam upon those who kept watch +all night in the hall at Sayes Court, and which mingled its cold, +pale, blue diffusion with the red, yellow, and smoky beams of +expiring lamps and torches. The young gallant, whom we noticed +in our last chapter, had left the room for a few minutes, to +learn the cause of a knocking at the outward gate, and on his +return was so struck with the forlorn and ghastly aspects of his +companions of the watch that he exclaimed, "Pity of my heart, my +masters, how like owls you look! Methinks, when the sun rises, I +shall see you flutter off with your eyes dazzled, to stick +yourselves into the next ivy-tod or ruined steeple." + +"Hold thy peace, thou gibing fool," said Blount; "hold thy peace. + +Is this a time for jeering, when the manhood of England is +perchance dying within a wall's breadth of thee?" + +"There thou liest," replied the gallant. + +"How, lie!" exclaimed Blount, starting up, "lie! and to me?" + +"Why, so thou didst, thou peevish fool," answered the youth; +"thou didst lie on that bench even now, didst thou not? But art +thou not a hasty coxcomb to pick up a wry word so wrathfully? +Nevertheless, loving and, honouring my lord as truly as thou, or +any one, I do say that, should Heaven take him from us, all +England's manhood dies not with him." + +"Ay," replied Blount, "a good portion will survive with thee, +doubtless." + +"And a good portion with thyself, Blount, and with stout Markham +here, and Tracy, and all of us. But I am he will best employ the +talent Heaven has given to us all." + +"As how, I prithee?" said Blount; "tell us your mystery of +multiplying." + +"Why, sirs," answered the youth, "ye are like goodly land, which +bears no crop because it is not quickened by manure; but I have +that rising spirit in me which will make my poor faculties labour +to keep pace with it. My ambition will keep my brain at work, I +warrant thee." + +"I pray to God it does not drive thee mad," said Blount; "for my +part, if we lose our noble lord, I bid adieu to the court and to +the camp both. I have five hundred foul acres in Norfolk, and +thither will I, and change the court pantoufle for the country +hobnail." + +"O base transmutation!" exclaimed his antagonist; "thou hast +already got the true rustic slouch--thy shoulders stoop, as if +thine hands were at the stilts of the plough; and thou hast a +kind of earthy smell about thee, instead of being perfumed with +essence, as a gallant and courtier should. On my soul, thou hast +stolen out to roll thyself on a hay mow! Thy only excuse will be +to swear by thy hilts that the farmer had a fair daughter." + +"I pray thee, Walter," said another of the company, "cease thy +raillery, which suits neither time nor place, and tell us who was +at the gate just now." + +"Doctor Masters, physician to her Grace in ordinary, sent by her +especial orders to inquire after the Earl's health," answered +Walter. + +"Ha! what?" exclaimed Tracy; "that was no slight mark of +favour. If the Earl can but come through, he will match with +Leicester yet. Is Masters with my lord at present?" + +"Nay," replied Walter, "he is half way back to Greenwich by this +time, and in high dudgeon." + +"Thou didst not refuse him admittance?" exclaimed Tracy. + +"Thou wert not, surely, so mad?" ejaculated Blount. + +"I refused him admittance as flatly, Blount, as you would refuse +a penny to a blind beggar--as obstinately, Tracy, as thou didst +ever deny access to a dun." + +"Why, in the fiend's name, didst thou trust him to go to the +gate?" said Blount to Tracy. + +"It suited his years better than mine," answered Tracy; "but he +has undone us all now thoroughly. My lord may live or die, he +will never have a look of favour from her Majesty again." + +"Nor the means of making fortunes for his followers," said the +young gallant, smiling contemptuously;--"there lies the sore +point that will brook no handling. My good sirs, I sounded my +lamentations over my lord somewhat less loudly than some of you; +but when the point comes of doing him service, I will yield to +none of you. Had this learned leech entered, think'st thou not +there had been such a coil betwixt him and Tressilian's +mediciner, that not the sleeper only, but the very dead might +have awakened? I know what larurm belongs to the discord of +doctors." + +"And who is to take the blame of opposing the Queen's orders?" +said Tracy; "for, undeniably, Doctor Masters came with her +Grace's positive commands to cure the Earl." + +"I, who have done the wrong, will bear the blame," said Walter. + +"Thus, then, off fly the dreams of court favour thou hast +nourished," said Blount, "and despite all thy boasted art and +ambition, Devonshire will see thee shine a true younger brother, +fit to sit low at the board, carve turn about with the chaplain, +look that the hounds be fed, and see the squire's girths drawn +when he goes a-hunting." + +"Not so," said the young man, colouring, "not while Ireland and +the Netherlands have wars, and not while the sea hath pathless +waves. The rich West hath lands undreamed of, and Britain +contains bold hearts to venture on the quest of them. Adieu for +a space, my masters. I go to walk in the court and look to the +sentinels." + +"The lad hath quicksilver in his veins, that is certain," said +Blount, looking at Markham. + +"He hath that both in brain and blood," said Markham, "which may +either make or mar him. But in closing the door against Masters, +he hath done a daring and loving piece of service; for +Tressilian's fellow hath ever averred that to wake the Earl were +death, and Masters would wake the Seven Sleepers themselves, if +he thought they slept not by the regular ordinance of medicine." + +Morning was well advanced when Tressilian, fatigued and over- +watched, came down to the hall with the joyful intelligence that +the Earl had awakened of himself, that he found his internal +complaints much mitigated, and spoke with a cheerfulness, and +looked round with a vivacity, which of themselves showed a +material and favourable change had taken place. Tressilian at +the same time commanded the attendance of one or two of his +followers, to report what had passed during the night, and to +relieve the watchers in the Earl's chamber. + +When the message of the Queen was communicated to the Earl of +Sussex, he at first smiled at the repulse which the physician had +received from his zealous young follower; but instantly +recollecting himself, he commanded Blount, his master of the +horse, instantly to take boat, and go down the river to the +Palace of Greenwich, taking young Walter and Tracy with him, and +make a suitable compliment, expressing his grateful thanks to his +Sovereign, and mentioning the cause why he had not been enabled +to profit by the assistance of the wise and learned Doctor +Masters. + +"A plague on it!" said Blount, as he descended the stairs; "had +he sent me with a cartel to Leicester I think I should have done +his errand indifferently well. But to go to our gracious +Sovereign, before whom all words must be lacquered over either +with gilding or with sugar, is such a confectionary matter as +clean baffles my poor old English brain.--Come with me, Tracy, +and come you too, Master Walter Wittypate, that art the cause of +our having all this ado. Let us see if thy neat brain, that +frames so many flashy fireworks, can help out a plain fellow at +need with some of thy shrewd devices." + +"Never fear, never fear," exclaimed the youth, "it is I will help +you through; let me but fetch my cloak." + +"Why, thou hast it on thy shoulders," said Blount,--"the lad is +mazed," + +"No, No, this is Tracy's old mantle," answered Walter. "I go not +with thee to court unless as a gentleman should." + +"Why," Said Blount, "thy braveries are like to dazzle the eyes of +none but some poor groom or porter." + +"I know that," said the youth; "but I am resolved I will have my +own cloak, ay, and brush my doublet to boot, ere I stir forth +with you." + +"Well, well," said Blount, "here is a coil about a doublet and a +cloak. Get thyself ready, a God's name!" + +They were soon launched on the princely bosom of the broad +Thames, upon which the sun now shone forth in all its splendour. + +"There are two things scarce matched in the universe," said +Walter to Blount--"the sun in heaven, and the Thames on the +earth." + +"The one will light us to Greenwich well enough," said Blount, +"and the other would take us there a little faster if it were +ebb-tide." + +"And this is all thou thinkest--all thou carest--all thou deemest +the use of the King of Elements and the King of Rivers--to guide +three such poor caitiffs as thyself, and me, and Tracy, upon an +idle journey of courtly ceremony!" + +"It is no errand of my seeking, faith," replied Blount, "and I +could excuse both the sun and the Thames the trouble of carrying +me where I have no great mind to go, and where I expect but dog's +wages for my trouble--and by my honour," he added, looking out +from the head of the boat, "it seems to me as if our message were +a sort of labour in vain, for, see, the Queen's barge lies at the +stairs as if her Majesty were about to take water." + +It was even so. The royal barge, manned with the Queen's +watermen richly attired in the regal liveries, and having the +Banner of England displayed, did indeed lie at the great stairs +which ascended from the river, and along with it two or three +other boats for transporting such part of her retinue as were not +in immediate attendance on the royal person. The yeomen of the +guard, the tallest and most handsome men whom England could +produce, guarded with their halberds the passage from the palace- +gate to the river side, and all seemed in readiness for the +Queen's coming forth, although the day was yet so early. + +"By my faith, this bodes us no good," said Blount; "it must be +some perilous cause puts her Grace in motion thus untimeously, By +my counsel, we were best put back again, and tell the Earl what +we have seen." + +"Tell the Earl what we have seen!" said Walter; "why what have +we seen but a boat, and men with scarlet jerkins, and halberds in +their hands? Let us do his errand, and tell him what the Queen +says in reply." + +So saying, he caused the boat to be pulled towards a landing- +place at some distance from the principal one, which it would +not, at that moment, have been thought respectful to approach, +and jumped on shore, followed, though with reluctance, by his +cautious and timid companions. As they approached the gate of +the palace, one of the sergeant porters told them they could not +at present enter, as her Majesty was in the act of coming forth. +The gentlemen used the name of the Earl of Sussex; but it proved +no charm to subdue the officer, who alleged, in reply, that it +was as much as his post was worth to disobey in the least tittle +the commands which he had received. + +"Nay, I told you as much before," said Blount; "do, I pray you, +my dear Walter, let us take boat and return." + +"Not till I see the Queen come forth," returned the youth +composedly. + +"Thou art mad, stark mad, by the Mass!" answered Blount. + +"And thou," said Walter, "art turned coward of the sudden. I +have seen thee face half a score of shag-headed Irish kerns to +thy own share of them; and now thou wouldst blink and go back to +shun the frown of a fair lady!" + +At this moment the gates opened, and ushers began to issue forth +in array, preceded and flanked by the band of Gentlemen +Pensioners. After this, amid a crowd of lords and ladies, yet so +disposed around her that she could see and be seen on all sides, +came Elizabeth herself, then in the prime of womanhood, and in +the full glow of what in a Sovereign was called beauty, and who +would in the lowest rank of life have been truly judged a noble +figure, joined to a striking and commanding physiognomy. She +leant on the arm of Lord Hunsdon, whose relation to her by her +mother's side often procured him such distinguished marks of +Elizabeth's intimacy. + +The young cavalier we have so often mentioned had probably never +yet approached so near the person of his Sovereign, and he +pressed forward as far as the line of warders permitted, in order +to avail himself of the present opportunity. His companion, on +the contrary, cursing his imprudence, kept pulling him backwards, +till Walter shook him off impatiently, and letting his rich cloak +drop carelessly from one shoulder; a natural action, which +served, however, to display to the best advantage his well- +proportioned person. Unbonneting at the same time, he fixed his +eager gaze on the Queen's approach, with a mixture of respectful +curiosity and modest yet ardent admiration, which suited so well +with his fine features that the warders, struck with his rich +attire and noble countenance, suffered him to approach the ground +over which the Queen was to pass, somewhat closer than was +permitted to ordinary spectators. Thus the adventurous youth +stood full in Elizabeth's eye--an eye never indifferent to the +admiration which she deservedly excited among her subjects, or to +the fair proportions of external form which chanced to +distinguish any of her courtiers. + +Accordingly, she fixed her keen glance on the youth, as she +approached the place where he stood, with a look in which +surprise at his boldness seemed to be unmingled with resentment, +while a trifling accident happened which attracted her attention +towards him yet more strongly. The night had been rainy, and +just where the young gentleman stood a small quantity of mud +interrupted the Queen's passage. As she hesitated to pass on, +the gallant, throwing his cloak from his shoulders, laid it on +the miry spot, so as to ensure her stepping over it dry-shod. +Elizabeth looked at the young man, who accompanied this act of +devoted courtesy with a profound reverence, and a blush that +overspread his whole countenance. The Queen was confused, and +blushed in her turn, nodded her head, hastily passed on, and +embarked in her barge without saying a word. + +"Come along, Sir Coxcomb," said Blount; "your gay cloak will need +the brush to-day, I wot. Nay, if you had meant to make a +footcloth of your mantle, better have kept Tracy's old drab-de- +bure, which despises all colours." + +"This cloak," said the youth, taking it up and folding it, "shall +never be brushed while in my possession." + +"And that will not be long, if you learn not a little more +economy; we shall have you in CUERPO soon, as the Spaniard says." + +Their discourse was here interrupted by one of the band of +Pensioners. + +"I was sent," said he, after looking at them attentively, "to a +gentleman who hath no cloak, or a muddy one.--You, sir, I think," +addressing the younger cavalier, "are the man; you will please to +follow me." + +"He is in attendance on me," said Blount--"on me, the noble Earl +of Sussex's master of horse." + +"I have nothing to say to that," answered the messenger; "my +orders are directly from her Majesty, and concern this gentleman +only." + +So saying, he walked away, followed by Walter, leaving the others +behind, Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the +excess of his astonishment. At length he gave vent to it in an +exclamation, "Who the good jere would have thought this!" And +shaking his head with a mysterious air, he walked to his own +boat, embarked, and returned to Deptford. + +The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided to the water-side +by the Pensioner, who showed him considerable respect; a +circumstance which, to persons in his situation, may be +considered as an augury of no small consequence. He ushered him +into one of the wherries which lay ready to attend the Queen's +barge, which was already proceeding; up the river, with the +advantage of that flood-tide of which, in the course of their +descent, Blount had complained to his associates. + +The two rowers used their oars with such expedition at the signal +of the Gentleman Pensioner, that they very soon brought their +little skiff under the stern of the Queen's boat, where she sat +beneath an awning, attended by two or three ladies, and the +nobles of her household. She looked more than once at the wherry +in which the young adventurer was seated, spoke to those around +her, and seemed to laugh. At length one of the attendants, by +the Queen's order apparently, made a sign for the wherry to come +alongside, and the young man was desired to step from his own +skiff into the Queen's barge, which he performed with graceful +agility at the fore part of the boat, and was brought aft to the +Queen's presence, the wherry at the same time dropping into the +rear. The youth underwent the gaze of Majesty, not the less +gracefully that his self-possession was mingled with +embarrassment. The muddled cloak still hung upon his arm, and +formed the natural topic with which the Queen introduced the +conversation. + +"You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our behalf, young man. +We thank you for your service, though the manner of offering it +was unusual, and something bold." + +"In a sovereign's need," answered the youth, "it is each liege- +man's duty to be bold." + +"God's pity! that was well said, my lord," said the Queen, +turning to a grave person who sat by her, and answered with a +grave inclination of the head, and something of a mumbled +assent.--"Well, young man, your gallantry shall not go +unrewarded. Go to the wardrobe keeper, and he shall have orders +to supply the suit which you have cast away in our service. Thou +shalt have a suit, and that of the newest cut, I promise thee, on +the word of a princess." + +"May it please your Grace," said Walter, hesitating, "it is not +for so humble a servant of your Majesty to measure out your +bounties; but if it became me to choose--" + +"Thou wouldst have gold, I warrant me," said the Queen, +interrupting him. "Fie, young man! I take shame to say that in +our capital such and so various are the means of thriftless +folly, that to give gold to youth is giving fuel to fire, and +furnishing them with the means of self-destruction. If I live +and reign, these means of unchristian excess shall be abridged. +Yet thou mayest be poor," she added, "or thy parents may be. It +shall be gold, if thou wilt, but thou shalt answer to me for the +use on't." + +Walter waited patiently until the Queen had done, and then +modestly assured her that gold was still less in his wish than +the raiment her Majesty had before offered. + +"How, boy!" said the Queen, "neither gold nor garment? What is +it thou wouldst have of me, then?" + +"Only permission, madam--if it is not asking too high an honour +--permission to wear the cloak which did you this trifling +service." + +"Permission to wear thine own cloak, thou silly boy!" said the +Queen. + +"It is no longer mine," said Walter; "when your Majesty's foot +touched it, it became a fit mantle for a prince, but far too rich +a one for its former owner." + +The Queen again blushed, and endeavoured to cover, by laughing, a +slight degree of not unpleasing surprise and confusion. + +"Heard you ever the like, my lords? The youth's head is turned +with reading romances. I must know something of him, that I may +send him safe to his friends.--What art thou?" + +"A gentleman of the household of the Earl of Sussex, so please +your Grace, sent hither with his master of horse upon message to +your Majesty." + +In a moment the gracious expression which Elizabeth's face had +hitherto maintained, gave way to an expression of haughtiness and +severity. + +"My Lord of Sussex," she said, "has taught us how to regard his +messages by the value he places upon ours. We sent but this +morning the physician in ordinary of our chamber, and that at no +usual time, understanding his lordship's illness to be more +dangerous than we had before apprehended. There is at no court +in Europe a man more skilled in this holy and most useful science +than Doctor Masters, and he came from Us to our subject. +Nevertheless, he found the gate of Sayes Court defended by men +with culverins, as if it had been on the borders of Scotland, not +in the vicinity of our court; and when he demanded admittance in +our name, it was stubbornly refused. For this slight of a +kindness, which had but too much of condescension in it, we will +receive, at present at least, no excuse; and some such we suppose +to have been the purport of my Lord of Sussex's message." + +This was uttered in a tone and with a gesture which made Lord +Sussex's friends who were within hearing tremble. He to whom the +speech was addressed, however, trembled not; but with great +deference and humility, as soon as the Queen's passion gave him +an opportunity, he replied, "So please your most gracious +Majesty, I was charged with no apology from the Earl of Sussex." + +"With what were you then charged, sir?" said the Queen, with the +impetuosity which, amid nobler qualities, strongly marked her +character. "Was it with a justification?--or, God's death! with +a defiance?" + +"Madam," said the young man, "my Lord of Sussex knew the offence +approached towards treason, and could think of nothing save of +securing the offender, and placing him in your Majesty's hands, +and at your mercy. The noble Earl was fast asleep when your most +gracious message reached him, a potion having been administered +to that purpose by his physician; and his Lordship knew not of +the ungracious repulse your Majesty's royal and most comfortable +message had received, until after he awoke this morning." + +"And which of his domestics, then, in the name of Heaven, +presumed to reject my message, without even admitting my own +physician to the presence of him whom I sent him to attend?" +said the Queen, much surprised. + +"The offender, madam, is before you," replied Walter, bowing very +low; "the full and sole blame is mine; and my lord has most +justly sent me to abye the consequences of a fault, of which he +is as innocent as a sleeping man's dreams can be of a waking +man's actions." + +"What! was it thou?--thou thyself, that repelled my messenger +and my physician from Sayes Court?" said the Queen. "What could +occasion such boldness in one who seems devoted--that is, whose +exterior bearing shows devotion--to his Sovereign?" + +"Madam," said the youth--who, notwithstanding an assumed +appearance of severity, thought that he saw something in the +Queen's face that resembled not implacability--"we say in our +country, that the physician is for the time the liege sovereign +of his patient. Now, my noble master was then under dominion of +a leech, by whose advice he hath greatly profited, who had issued +his commands that his patient should not that night be disturbed, +on the very peril of his life." + +"Thy master hath trusted some false varlet of an empiric," said +the Queen. + +"I know not, madam, but by the fact that he is now--this very +morning--awakened much refreshed and strengthened from the only +sleep he hath had for many hours." + +The nobles looked at each other, but more with the purpose to see +what each thought of this news, than to exchange any remarks on +what had happened. The Queen answered hastily, and without +affecting to disguise her satisfaction, "By my word, I am glad he +is better. But thou wert over-bold to deny the access of my +Doctor Masters. Knowest thou not the Holy Writ saith, 'In the +multitude of counsel there is safety'?" + +"Ay, madam," said Walter; "but I have heard learned men say that +the safety spoken of is for the physicians, not for the patient." + +"By my faith, child, thou hast pushed me home," said the Queen, +laughing; "for my Hebrew learning does not come quite at a call. +--How say you, my Lord of Lincoln? Hath the lad given a just +interpretation of the text?" + +"The word SAFETY, most gracious madam," said the Bishop of +Lincoln, "for so hath been translated, it may be somewhat +hastily, the Hebrew word, being--" + +"My lord," said the Queen, interrupting him, "we said we had +forgotten our Hebrew.--But for thee, young man, what is thy name +and birth?" + +"Raleigh is my name, most gracious Queen, the youngest son of a +large but honourable family of Devonshire." + +"Raleigh?" said Elizabeth, after a moment's recollection. "Have +we not heard of your service in Ireland?" + +"I have been so fortunate as to do some service there, madam," +replied Raleigh; "scarce, however, of consequence sufficient to +reach your Grace's ears." + +"They hear farther than you think of," said the Queen graciously, +"and have heard of a youth who defended a ford in Shannon against +a whole band of wild Irish rebels, until the stream ran purple +with their blood and his own." + +"Some blood I may have lost," said the youth, looking down, "but +it was where my best is due, and that is in your Majesty's +service." + +The Queen paused, and then said hastily, "You are very young to +have fought so well, and to speak so well. But you must not +escape your penance for turning back Masters. The poor man hath +caught cold on the river for our order reached him when he was +just returned from certain visits in London, and he held it +matter of loyalty and conscience instantly to set forth again. +So hark ye, Master Raleigh, see thou fail not to wear thy muddy +cloak, in token of penitence, till our pleasure be further known. +And here," she added, giving him a jewel of gold, in the form of +a chess-man, "I give thee this to wear at the collar." + +Raleigh, to whom nature had taught intuitively, as it were, those +courtly arts which many scarce acquire from long experience, +knelt, and, as he took from her hand the jewel, kissed the +fingers which gave it. He knew, perhaps, better than almost any +of the courtiers who surrounded her, how to mingle the devotion +claimed by the Queen with the gallantry due to her personal +beauty; and in this, his first attempt to unite them, he +succeeded so well as at once to gratify Elizabeth's personal +vanity and her love of power. [See Note 5. Court favour of Sir +Walter Raleigh.] + +His master, the Earl of Sussex, had the full advantage of the +satisfaction which Raleigh had afforded Elizabeth, on their first +interview. + +"My lords and ladies," said the Queen, looking around to the +retinue by whom she was attended, "methinks, since we are upon +the river, it were well to renounce our present purpose of going +to the city, and surprise this poor Earl of Sussex with a visit. +He is ill, and suffering doubtless under the fear of our +displeasure, from which he hath been honestly cleared by the +frank avowal of this malapert boy. What think ye? were it not +an act of charity to give him such consolation as the thanks of a +Queen, much bound to him for his loyal service, may perchance +best minister?" + +It may be readily supposed that none to whom this speech was +addressed ventured to oppose its purport. + +"Your Grace," said the Bishop of Lincoln, "is the breath of our +nostrils." The men of war averred that the face of the Sovereign +was a whetstone to the soldier's sword; while the men of state +were not less of opinion that the light of the Queen's +countenance was a lamp to the paths of her councillors; and the +ladies agreed, with one voice, that no noble in England so well +deserved the regard of England's Royal Mistress as the Earl of +Sussex--the Earl of Leicester's right being reserved entire, so +some of the more politic worded their assent, an exception to +which Elizabeth paid no apparent attention. The barge had, +therefore, orders to deposit its royal freight at Deptford, at +the nearest and most convenient point of communication with Sayes +Court, in order that the Queen might satisfy her royal and +maternal solicitude, by making personal inquiries after the +health of the Earl of Sussex. + +Raleigh, whose acute spirit foresaw and anticipated important +consequences from the most trifling events, hastened to ask the +Queen's permission to go in the skiff; and announce the royal +visit to his master; ingeniously suggesting that the joyful +surprise might prove prejudicial to his health, since the richest +and most generous cordials may sometimes be fatal to those who +have been long in a languishing state. + +But whether the Queen deemed it too presumptuous in so young a +courtier to interpose his opinion unasked, or whether she was +moved by a recurrence of the feeling of jealousy which had been +instilled into her by reports that the Earl kept armed men about +his person, she desired Raleigh, sharply, to reserve his counsel +till it was required of him, and repeated her former orders to be +landed at Deptford, adding, "We will ourselves see what sort of +household my Lord of Sussex keeps about him." + +"Now the Lord have pity on us!" said the young courtier to +himself. "Good hearts, the Earl hath many a one round him; but +good heads are scarce with us--and he himself is too ill to give +direction. And Blount will be at his morning meal of Yarmouth +herrings and ale, and Tracy will have his beastly black puddings +and Rhenish; those thorough-paced Welshmen, Thomas ap Rice and +Evan Evans, will be at work on their leek porridge and toasted +cheese;--and she detests, they say, all coarse meats, evil +smells, and strong wines. Could they but think of burning some +rosemary in the great hall! but VOGUE LA GALERE, all must now be +trusted to chance. Luck hath done indifferent well for me this +morning; for I trust I have spoiled a cloak, and made a court +fortune. May she do as much for my gallant patron!" + +The royal barge soon stopped at Deptford, and, amid the loud +shouts of the populace, which her presence never failed to +excite, the Queen, with a canopy borne over her head, walked, +accompanied by her retinue, towards Sayes Court, where the +distant acclamations of the people gave the first notice of her +arrival. Sussex, who was in the act of advising with Tressilian +how he should make up the supposed breach in the Queen's favour, +was infinitely surprised at learning her immediate approach. Not +that the Queen's custom of visiting her more distinguished +nobility, whether in health or sickness, could be unknown to him; +but the suddenness of the communication left no time for those +preparations with which he well knew Elizabeth loved to be +greeted, and the rudeness and confusion of his military +household, much increased by his late illness, rendered him +altogether unprepared for her reception. + +Cursing internally the chance which thus brought her gracious +visitation on him unaware, he hastened down with Tressilian, to +whose eventful and interesting story he had just given an +attentive ear. + +"My worthy friend," he said, "such support as I can give your +accusation of Varney, you have a right to expect, alike from +justice and gratitude. Chance will presently show whether I can +do aught with our Sovereign, or whether, in very deed, my +meddling in your affair may not rather prejudice than serve you." + +Thus spoke Sussex while hastily casting around him a loose robe +of sables, and adjusting his person in the best manner he could +to meet the eye of his Sovereign. But no hurried attention +bestowed on his apparel could remove the ghastly effects of long +illness on a countenance which nature had marked with features +rather strong than pleasing. Besides, he was low of stature, +and, though broad-shouldered, athletic, and fit for martial +achievements, his presence in a peaceful hall was not such as +ladies love to look upon; a personal disadvantage, which was +supposed to give Sussex, though esteemed and honoured by his +Sovereign, considerable disadvantage when compared with +Leicester, who was alike remarkable for elegance of manners and +for beauty of person. + +The Earl's utmost dispatch only enabled him to meet the Queen as +she entered the great hall, and he at once perceived there was a +cloud on her brow. Her jealous eye had noticed the martial array +of armed gentlemen and retainers with which the mansion-house was +filled, and her first words expressed her disapprobation. "Is +this a royal garrison, my Lord of Sussex, that it holds so many +pikes and calivers? or have we by accident overshot Sayes Court, +and landed at Our Tower of London?" + +Lord Sussex hastened to offer some apology. + +"It needs not," she said. "My lord, we intend speedily to take +up a certain quarrel between your lordship and another great lord +of our household, and at the same time to reprehend this +uncivilized and dangerous practice of surrounding yourselves with +armed, and even with ruffianly followers, as if, in the +neighbourhood of our capital, nay in the very verge of our royal +residence, you were preparing to wage civil war with each other. +--We are glad to see you so well recovered, my lord, though +without the assistance of the learned physician whom we sent to +you. Urge no excuse; we know how that matter fell out, and we +have corrected for it the wild slip, young Raleigh. By the way, +my lord, we will speedily relieve your household of him, and take +him into our own. Something there is about him which merits to +be better nurtured than he is like to be amongst your very +military followers." + +To this proposal Sussex, though scarce understanding how the +Queen came to make it could only bow and express his +acquiescence. He then entreated her to remain till refreshment +could be offered, but in this he could not prevail. And after a +few compliments of a much colder and more commonplace character +than might have been expected from a step so decidedly favourable +as a personal visit, the Queen took her leave of Sayes Court, +having brought confusion thither along with her, and leaving +doubt and apprehension behind. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + Then call them to our presence. Face to face, + And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear + The accuser and accused freely speak;-- + High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire, + In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. RICHARD II. + +"I am ordered to attend court to-morrow," said Leicester, +speaking to Varney, "to meet, as they surmise, my Lord of Sussex. +The Queen intends to take up matters betwixt us. This comes of +her visit to Sayes Court, of which you must needs speak so +lightly." + +"I maintain it was nothing," said Varney; "nay, I know from a +sure intelligencer, who was within earshot of much that was said, +that Sussex has lost rather than gained by that visit. The Queen +said, when she stepped into the boat, that Sayes Court looked +like a guard-house, and smelt like an hospital. 'Like a cook's +shop in Ram's Alley, rather,' said the Countess of Rutland, who +is ever your lordship's good friend. And then my Lord of Lincoln +must needs put in his holy oar, and say that my Lord of Sussex +must be excused for his rude and old-world housekeeping, since he +had as yet no wife." + +"And what said the Queen?" asked Leicester hastily. + +"She took him up roundly," said Varney, "and asked what my Lord +Sussex had to do with a wife, or my Lord Bishop to speak on such +a subject. 'If marriage is permitted,' she said, 'I nowhere read +that it is enjoined.'" + +"She likes not marriages, or speech of marriage, among +churchmen," said Leicester. + +"Nor among courtiers neither," said Varney; but, observing that +Leicester changed countenance, he instantly added, "that all the +ladies who were present had joined in ridiculing Lord Sussex's +housekeeping, and in contrasting it with the reception her Grace +would have assuredly received at my Lord of Leicester's." + +"You have gathered much tidings," said Leicester, "but you have +forgotten or omitted the most important of all. She hath added +another to those dangling satellites whom it is her pleasure to +keep revolving around her." + +"Your lordship meaneth that Raleigh, the Devonshire youth," said +Varney--"the Knight of the Cloak, as they call him at court?" + +"He may be Knight of the Garter one day, for aught I know," said +Leicester, "for he advances rapidly--she hath capped verses with +him, and such fooleries. I would gladly abandon, of my own free +will, the part--I have in her fickle favour; but I will not be +elbowed out of it by the clown Sussex, or this new upstart. I +hear Tressilian is with Sussex also, and high in his favour. I +would spare him for considerations, but he will thrust himself on +his fate. Sussex, too, is almost as well as ever in his health." + +"My lord," replied Varney, "there will be rubs in the smoothest +road, specially when it leads uphill. Sussex's illness was to us +a godsend, from which I hoped much. He has recovered, indeed, +but he is not now more formidable than ere he fell ill, when he +received more than one foil in wrestling with your lordship. Let +not your heart fail you, my lord, and all shall be well." + +"My heart never failed me, sir," replied Leicester. + +"No, my lord," said Varney; "but it has betrayed you right often. +He that would climb a tree, my lord, must grasp by the branches, +not by the blossom." + +"Well, well, well!" said Leicester impatiently; "I understand +thy meaning--my heart shall neither fail me nor seduce me. Have +my retinue in order--see that their array be so splendid as to +put down, not only the rude companions of Ratcliffe, but the +retainers of every other nobleman and courtier. Let them be well +armed withal, but without any outward display of their weapons, +wearing them as if more for fashion's sake than for use. Do thou +thyself keep close to me, I may have business for you." + +The preparations of Sussex and his party were not less anxious +than those of Leicester. + +"Thy Supplication, impeaching Varney of seduction," said the Earl +to Tressilian, "is by this time in the Queen's hand--I have sent +it through a sure channel. Methinks your suit should succeed, +being, as it is, founded in justice and honour, and Elizabeth +being the very muster of both. But--I wot not how--the gipsy" +(so Sussex was wont to call his rival on account of his dark +complexion) "hath much to say with her in these holyday times of +peace. Were war at the gates, I should be one of her white boys; +but soldiers, like their bucklers and Bilboa blades, get out of +fashion in peace time, and satin sleeves and walking rapiers bear +the bell. Well, we must be gay, since such is the fashion.-- +Blount, hast thou seen our household put into their new +braveries? "But thou knowest as little of these toys as I do; +thou wouldst be ready enow at disposing a stand of pikes." + +"My good lord," answered Blount, "Raleigh hath been here, and +taken that charge upon him--your train will glitter like a May +morning. Marry, the cost is another question. One might keep an +hospital of old soldiers at the charge of ten modern lackeys." + +"He must not count cost to-day, Nicholas," said the Earl in +reply. "I am beholden to Raleigh for his care. I trust, though, +he has remembered that I am an old soldier, and would have no +more of these follies than needs must." + +"Nay, I understand nought about it," said Blount; "but here are +your honourable lordship's brave kinsmen and friends coming in by +scores to wait upon you to court, where, methinks, we shall bear +as brave a front as Leicester, let him ruffle it as he will." + +"Give them the strictest charges," said Sussex, "that they suffer +no provocation short of actual violence to provoke them into +quarrel. They have hot bloods, and I would not give Leicester +the advantage over me by any imprudence of theirs." + +The Earl of Sussex ran so hastily through these directions, that +it was with difficulty Tressilian at length found opportunity to +express his surprise that he should have proceeded so far in the +affair of Sir Hugh Robsart as to lay his petition at once before +the Queen. "It was the opinion of the young lady's friends," he +said, "that Leicester's sense of justice should be first appealed +to, as the offence had been committed by his officer, and so he +had expressly told to Sussex." + +"This could have been done without applying to me," said Sussex, +somewhat haughtily. "I at least, ought not to have been a +counsellor when the object was a humiliating reference to +Leicester; and I am suprised that you, Tressilian, a man of +honour, and my friend, would assume such a mean course. If you +said so, I certainly understood you not in a matter which sounded +so unlike yourself." + +"My lord," said Tressilian, "the course I would prefer, for my +own sake, is that you have adopted; but the friends of this most +unhappy lady--" + +"Oh, the friends--the friends," said Sussex, interrupting him; +"they must let us manage this cause in the way which seems best. +This is the time and the hour to accumulate every charge against +Leicester and his household, and yours the Queen will hold a +heavy one. But at all events she hath the complaint before her." + +Tressilian could not help suspecting that, in his eagerness to +strengthen himself against his rival, Sussex had purposely +adopted the course most likely to throw odium on Leicester, +without considering minutely whether it were the mode of +proceeding most likely to be attended with success. But the step +was irrevocable, and Sussex escaped from further discussing it by +dismissing his company, with the command, "Let all be in order at +eleven o'clock; I must be at court and in the presence by high +noon precisely." + +While the rival statesmen were thus anxiously preparing for their +approaching meeting in the Queen's presence, even Elizabeth +herself was not without apprehension of what might chance from +the collision of two such fiery spirits, each backed by a strong +and numerous body of followers, and dividing betwixt them, either +openly or in secret, the hopes and wishes of most of her court. +The band of Gentlemen Pensioners were all under arms, and a +reinforcement of the yeomen of the guard was brought down the +Thames from London. A royal proclamation was sent forth, +strictly prohibiting nobles of whatever degree to approach the +Palace with retainers or followers armed with shot or with long +weapons; and it was even whispered that the High Sheriff of Kent +had secret instructions to have a part of the array of the county +ready on the shortest notice. + +The eventful hour, thus anxiously prepared for on all sides, at +length approached, and, each followed by his long and glittering +train of friends and followers, the rival Earls entered the +Palace Yard of Greenwich at noon precisely. + +As if by previous arrangement, or perhaps by intimation that such +was the Queen's pleasure, Sussex and his retinue came to the +Palace from Deptford by water while Leicester arrived by land; +and thus they entered the courtyard from opposite sides. This +trifling circumstance gave Leicester a ascendency in the opinion +of the vulgar, the appearance of his cavalcade of mounted +followers showing more numerous and more imposing than those of +Sussex's party, who were necessarily upon foot. No show or sign +of greeting passed between the Earls, though each looked full at +the other, both expecting perhaps an exchange of courtesies, +which neither was willing to commence. Almost in the minute of +their arrival the castle-bell tolled, the gates of the Palace +were opened, and the Earls entered, each numerously attended by +such gentlemen of their train whose rank gave them that +privilege. The yeomen and inferior attendants remained in the +courtyard, where the opposite parties eyed each other with looks +of eager hatred and scorn, as if waiting with impatience for some +cause of tumult, or some apology for mutual aggression. But they +were restrained by the strict commands of their leaders, and +overawed, perhaps, by the presence of an armed guard of unusual +strength. + +In the meanwhile, the more distinguished persons of each train +followed their patrons into the lofty halls and ante-chambers of +the royal Palace, flowing on in the same current, like two +streams which are compelled into the same channel, yet shun to +mix their waters. The parties arranged themselves, as it were +instinctively, on the different sides of the lofty apartments, +and seemed eager to escape from the transient union which the +narrowness of the crowded entrance had for an instant compelled +them to submit to. The folding doors at the upper end of the +long gallery were immediately afterwards opened, and it was +announced in a whisper that the Queen was in her presence- +chamber, to which these gave access. Both Earls moved slowly and +stately towards the entrance--Sussex followed by Tressilian, +Blount, and Raleigh, and Leicester by Varney. The pride of +Leicester was obliged to give way to court-forms, and with a +grave and formal inclination of the head, he paused until his +rival, a peer of older creation than his own, passed before him. +Sussex returned the reverence with the same formal civility, and +entered the presence-room. Tressilian and Blount offered to +follow him, but were not permitted, the Usher of the Black Rod +alleging in excuse that he had precise orders to look to all +admissions that day. To Raleigh, who stood back on the repulse +of his companions, he said, "You, sir, may enter," and he entered +accordingly. + +"Follow me close, Varney," said the Earl of Leicester, who had +stood aloof for a moment to mark the reception of Sussex; and +advancing to the entrance, he was about to pass on, when Varney, +who was close behind him, dressed out in the utmost bravery of +the day, was stopped by the usher, as Tressilian and Blount had +been before him, "How is this, Master Bowyer?" said the Earl of +Leicester. "Know you who I am, and that this is my friend and +follower?" + +"Your lordship will pardon me," replied Bowyer stoutly; "my +orders are precise, and limit me to a strict discharge of my +duty." + +"Thou art a partial knave," said Leicester, the blood mounting to +his face, "to do me this dishonour, when you but now admitted a +follower of my Lord of Sussex." + +"My lord," said Bowyer, "Master Raleigh is newly admitted a sworn +servant of her Grace, and to him my orders did not apply." + +"Thou art a knave--an ungrateful knave," said Leicester; "but he +that hath done can undo--thou shalt not prank thee in thy +authority long!" + +This threat he uttered aloud, with less than his usual policy and +discretion; and having done so, he entered the presence-chamber, +and made his reverence to the Queen, who, attired with even more +than her usual splendour, and surrounded by those nobles and +statesmen whose courage and wisdom have rendered her reign +immortal, stood ready to receive the hommage of her subjects. +She graciously returned the obeisance of the favourite Earl, and +looked alternately at him and at Sussex, as if about to speak, +when Bowyer, a man whose spirit could not brook the insult he had +so openly received from Leicester, in the discharge of his +office, advanced with his black rad in his hand, and knelt down +before her. + +"Why, how now, Bowyer?" said Elizabeth, "thy courtesy seems +strangely timed!" + +"My Liege Sovereign," he said, while every courtier around +trembled at his audacity, "I come but to ask whether, in the +discharge of mine office, I am to obey your Highness's commands, +or those of the Earl of Leicester, who has publicly menaced me +with his displeasure, and treated me with disparaging terms, +because I denied entry to one of his followers, in obedience to +your Grace's precise orders?" + +The spirit of Henry VIII. was instantly aroused in the bosom of +his daughter, and she turned on Leicester with a severity which +appalled him, as well as all his followers. + +"God's death! my lord." such was her emphatic phrase, "what +means this? We have thought well of you, and brought you near to +our person; but it was not that you might hide the sun from our +other faithful subjects. Who gave you license to contradict our +orders, or control our officers? I will have in this court, ay, +and in this realm, but one mistress, and no master. Look to it +that Master Bowyer sustains no harm for his duty to me faithfully +discharged; for, as I am Christian woman and crowned Queen, I +will hold you dearly answerable.--Go, Bowyer, you have done the +part of an honest man and a true subject. We will brook no mayor +of the palace here. + +Bowyer kissed the hand which she extended towards him, and +withdrew to his post! astonished at the success of his own +audacity. A smile of triumph pervaded the faction of Sussex; +that of Leicester seemed proportionally dismayed, and the +favourite himself, assuming an aspect of the deepest humility, +did not even attempt a word in his own esculpation. + +He acted wisely; for it was the policy of Elizabeth to humble, +not to disgrace him, and it was prudent to suffer her, without +opposition or reply, to glory in the exertion of her authority. +The dignity of the Queen was gratified, and the woman began soon +to feel for the mortification which she had imposed on her +favourite. Her keen eye also observed the secret looks of +congratulation exchanged amongst those who favoured Sussex, and +it was no part of her policy to give either party a decisive +triumph. + +"What I say to my Lord of Leicester," she said, after a moment's +pause, "I say also to you, my Lord of Sussex. You also must +needs ruffle in the court of England, at the head of a faction of +your own?" + +"My followers, gracious Princess," said Sussex, "have indeed +ruffled in your cause in Ireland, in Scotland, and against yonder +rebellious Earls in the north. I am ignorant that--" + +"Do you bandy looks and words with me, my lord?" said the Queen, +interrupting him; "methinks you might learn of my Lord of +Leicester the modesty to be silent, at least, under our censure. +I say, my lord, that my grandfather and my father, in their +wisdom, debarred the nobles of this civilized land from +travelling with such disorderly retinues; and think you, that +because I wear a coif, their sceptre has in my hand been changed +into a distaff? I tell you, no king in Christendom will less +brook his court to be cumbered, his people oppressed, and his +kingdom's peace disturbed, by the arrogance of overgrown power, +than she who now speaks with you.--My Lord of Leicester, and you, +my Lord of Sussex, I command you both to be friends with each +other; or by the crown I wear, you shall find an enemy who will +be too strong for both of you!" + +"Madam," said the Earl of Leicester, "you who are yourself the +fountain of honour know best what is due to mine. I place it at +your disposal, and only say that the terms on which I have stood +with my Lord of Sussex have not been of my seeking; nor had he +cause to think me his enemy, until he had done me gross wrong." + +"For me, madam," said the Earl of Sussex, "I cannot appeal from +your sovereign pleasure; but I were well content my Lord of +Leicester should say in what I have, as he terms it, wronged him, +since my tongue never spoke the word that I would not willingly +justify either on foot or horseback. + +"And for me," said Leicester, "always under my gracious +Sovereign's pleasure, my hand shall be as ready to make good my +words as that of any man who ever wrote himself Ratcliffe." + +"My lords," said the Queen, "these are no terms for this +presence; and if you cannot keep your temper, we will find means +to keep both that and you close enough. Let me see you join +hands, my lords, and forget your idle animosities." + +The two rivals looked at each other with reluctant eyes, each +unwilling to make the first advance to execute the Queen's will. + +"Sussex," said Elizabeth,"I entreat--Leicester, I command you." + +Yet, so were her words accented, that the entreaty sounded like +command, and the command like entreaty. They remained still and +stubborn, until she raised her voice to a height which argued at +once impatience and absolute command. + +"Sir Henry Lee," she said, to an officer in attendance, "have a +guard in present readiness, and man a barge instantly.--My Lords +of Sussex and Leicester, I bid you once more to join hands; and, +God's death! he that refuses shall taste of our Tower fare ere +he sees our face again. I will lower your proud hearts ere we +part, and that I promise, on the word of a Queen!" + +"The prison?" said Leicester, "might be borne, but to lose your +Grace's presence were to lose light and life at once.--Here, +Sussex, is my hand." + +"And here," said Sussex, "is mine in truth and honesty; but--" + +"Nay, under favour, you shall add no more," said the Queen. +"Why, this is as it should be," she added, looking on them more +favourably; "and when you the shepherds of the people, unite to +protect them, it shall be well with the flock we rule over. For, +my lords, I tell you plainly, your follies and your brawls lead +to strange disorders among your servants.--My Lord of Leicester, +you have a gentleman in your household called Varney?" + +"Yes, gracious madam," replied Leicester; "I presented him to +kiss your royal hand when you were last at Nonsuch." + +"His outside was well enough," said the Queen, "but scarce so +fair, I should have thought, as to have caused a maiden of +honourable birth and hopes to barter her fame for his good looks, +and become his paramour. Yet so it is; this fellow of yours hath +seduced the daughter of a good old Devonshire knight, Sir Hugh +Robsart of Lidcote Hall, and she hath fled with him from her +father's house like a castaway.--My Lord of Leicester, are you +ill, that you look so deadly pale?" + +"No, gracious madam," said Leicester; and it required every +effort he could make to bring forth these few words. + +"You are surely ill, my lord?" said Elizabeth, going towards him +with hasty speech and hurried step, which indicated the deepest +concern. "Call Masters--call our surgeon in ordinary.--Where be +these loitering fools?--we lose the pride of our court through +their negligence.--Or is it possible, Leicester," she continued, +looking on him with a very gentle aspect, "can fear of my +displeasure have wrought so deeply on thee? Doubt not for a +moment, noble Dudley, that we could blame THEE for the folly of +thy retainer--thee, whose thoughts we know to be far otherwise +employed. He that would climb the eagle's nest, my lord, cares +not who are catching linnets at the foot of the precipice." + +"Mark you that?" said Sussex aside to Raleigh. "The devil aids +him surely; for all that would sink another ten fathom deep seems +but to make him float the more easily. Had a follower of mine +acted thus--" + +"Peace, my good lord," said Raleigh, "for God's sake, peace! +Wait the change of the tide; it is even now on the turn." + +The acute observation of Raleigh, perhaps, did not deceive him; +for Leicester's confusion was so great, and, indeed, for the +moment, so irresistibly overwhelming, that Elizabeth, after +looking at him with a wondering eye, and receiving no +intelligible answer to the unusual expressions of grace and +affection which had escaped from her, shot her quick glance +around the circle of courtiers, and reading, perhaps, in their +faces something that accorded with her own awakened suspicions, +she said suddenly, "Or is there more in this than we see--or than +you, my lord, wish that we should see? Where is this Varney? +Who saw him?" + +"An it please your Grace," said Bowyer, "it is the same against +whom I this instant closed the door of the presence-room." + +"An it please me?" repeated Elizabeth sharply, not at that +moment in the humour of being pleased with anything.--"It does +NOT please me that he should pass saucily into my presence, or +that you should exclude from it one who came to justify himself +from an accusation." + +"May it please you," answered the perplexed usher, "if I knew, in +such case, how to bear myself, I would take heed--" + +"You should have reported the fellow's desire to us, Master +Usher, and taken our directions. You think yourself a great man, +because but now we chid a nobleman on your account; yet, after +all, we hold you but as the lead-weight that keeps the door fast. +Call this Varney hither instantly. There is one Tressilian also +mentioned in this petition. Let them both come before us." + +She was obeyed, and Tressilian and Varney appeared accordingly. +Varney's first glance was at Leicester, his second at the Queen. +In the looks of the latter there appeared an approaching storm, +and in the downcast countenance of his patron he could read no +directions in what way he was to trim his vessel for the +encounter. He then saw Tressilian, and at once perceived the +peril of the situation in which he was placed. But Varney was as +bold-faced and ready-witted as he was cunning and unscrupulous--a +skilful pilot in extremity, and fully conscious of the advantages +which he would obtain could he extricate Leicester from his +present peril, and of the ruin that yawned for himself should he +fail in doing so. + +"Is it true, sirrah," said the Queen, with one of those searching +looks which few had the audacity to resist, "that you have +seduced to infamy a young lady of birth and breeding, the +daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote Hall?" + +Varney kneeled down, and replied, with a look of the most +profound contrition, "There had been some love passages betwixt +him and Mistress Amy Robsart." + +Leicester's flesh quivered with indignation as he heard his +dependant make this avowal, and for one moment he manned himself +to step forward, and, bidding farewell to the court and the royal +favour, confess the whole mystery of the secret marriage. But he +looked at Sussex, and the idea of the triumphant smile which +would clothe his cheek upon hearing the avowal sealed his lips. +"Not now, at least," he thought, "or in this presence, will I +afford him so rich a triumph." And pressing his lips close +together, he stood firm and collected, attentive to each word +which Varney uttered, and determined to hide to the last the +secret on which his court-favour seemed to depend. Meanwhile, +the Queen proceeded in her examination of Varney. + +"Love passages!" said she, echoing his last words; "what +passages, thou knave? and why not ask the wench's hand from her +father, if thou hadst any honesty in thy love for her?" + +"An it please your Grace," said Varney, still on his knees, "I +dared not do so, for her father had promised her hand to a +gentleman of birth and honour--I will do him justice, though I +know he bears me ill-will--one Master Edmund Tressilian, whom I +now see in the presence." + +"Soh!" replied the Queen. "And what was your right to make the +simple fool break her worthy father's contract, through your love +PASSAGES, as your conceit and assurance terms them?" + +"Madam," replied Varney, "it is in vain to plead the cause of +human frailty before a judge to whom it is unknown, or that of +love to one who never yields to the passion"--he paused an +instant, and then added, in a very low and timid tone--"which she +inflicts upon all others." + +Elizabeth tried to frown, but smiled in her own despite, as she +answered, "Thou art a marvellously impudent knave. Art thou +married to the girl?" + +Leicester's feelings became so complicated and so painfully +intense, that it seemed to him as if his life was to depend on +the answer made by Varney, who, after a moment's real hesitation, +answered, "Yes." + +"Thou false villain!" said Leicester, bursting forth into rage, +yet unable to add another word to the sentence which he had begun +with such emphatic passion. + +"Nay, my lord," said the Queen, "we will, by your leave, stand +between this fellow and your anger. We have not yet done with +him.--Knew your master, my Lord of Leicester, of this fair work +of yours? Speak truth, I command thee, and I will be thy warrant +from danger on every quarter." + +"Gracious madam," said Varney, "to speak Heaven's truth, my lord +was the cause of the whole matter." + +"Thou villain, wouldst thou betray me?" said Leicester. + +"Speak on," said the Queen hastily, her cheek colouring, and her +eyes sparkling, as she addressed Varney--"speak on. Here no +commands are heard but mine." + +"They are omnipotent, gracious madam," replied Varney; "and to +you there can be no secrets.--Yet I would not," he added, looking +around him, "speak of my master's concerns to other ears." + +"Fall back, my lords," said the Queen to those who surrounded +her, "and do you speak on. What hath the Earl to do with this +guilty intrigue of thine? See, fellow, that thou beliest him +not!" + +"Far be it from me to traduce my noble patron," replied Varney; +"yet I am compelled to own that some deep, overwhelming, yet +secret feeling hath of late dwelt in my lord's mind, hath +abstracted him from the cares of the household which he was wont +to govern with such religious strictness, and hath left us +opportunities to do follies, of which the shame, as in this case, +partly falls upon our patron. Without this, I had not had means +or leisure to commit the folly which has drawn on me his +displeasure--the heaviest to endure by me which I could by any +means incur, saving always the yet more dreaded resentment of +your Grace." + +"And in this sense, and no other, hath he been accessory to thy +fault?" said Elizabeth. + +"Surely, madam, in no other," replied Varney; "but since somewhat +hath chanced to him, he can scarce be called his own man. Look +at him, madam, how pale and trembling he stands! how unlike his +usual majesty of manner!--yet what has he to fear from aught I +can say to your Highness? Ah! madam, since he received that +fatal packet!" + +"What packet, and from whence?" said the Queen eagerly. + +"From whence, madam, I cannot guess; but I am so near to his +person that I know he has ever since worn, suspended around his +neck and next to his heart, that lock of hair which sustains a +small golden jewel shaped like a heart. He speaks to it when +alone--he parts not from it when he sleeps--no heathen ever +worshipped an idol with such devotion." + +"Thou art a prying knave to watch thy master so closely," said +Elizabeth, blushing, but not with anger; "and a tattling knave to +tell over again his fooleries.--What colour might the braid of +hair be that thou pratest of?" + +Varney replied, "A poet, madam, might call it a thread from the +golden web wrought by Minerva; but to my thinking it was paler +than even the purest gold--more like the last parting sunbeam of +the softest day of spring." + +"Why, you are a poet yourself, Master Varney," said the Queen, +smiling. "But I have not genius quick enough to follow your rare +metaphors. Look round these ladies--is there"--(she hesitated, +and endeavoured to assume an air of great indifference)--"is +there here, in this presence, any lady, the colour of whose hair +reminds thee of that braid? Methinks, without prying into my +Lord of Leicester's amorous secrets, I would fain know what kind +of locks are like the thread of Minerva's web, or the--what was +it?--the last rays of the May-day sun." + +Varney looked round the presence-chamber, his eye travelling from +one lady to another, until at length it rested upon the Queen +herself, but with an aspect of the deepest veneration. "I see no +tresses," he said, "in this presence, worthy of such similies, +unless where I dare not look on them." + +"How, sir knave?" said the Queen; "dare you intimate--" + +"Nay, madam," replied Varney, shading his eyes with his hand, "it +was the beams of the May-day sun that dazzled my weak eyes." + +"Go to--go to," said the Queen; "thou art a foolish fellow"--and +turning quickly from him she walked up to Leicester. + +Intense curiosity, mingled with all the various hopes, fears, and +passions which influence court faction, had occupied the +presence-chamber during the Queen's conference with Varney, as if +with the strength of an Eastern talisman. Men suspended every, +even the slightest external motion, and would have ceased to +breathe, had Nature permitted such an intermission of her +functions. The atmosphere was contagious, and Leicester, who saw +all around wishing or fearing his advancement or his fall forgot +all that love had previously dictated, and saw nothing for the +instant but the favour or disgrace which depended on the nod of +Elizabeth and the fidelity of Varney. He summoned himself +hastily, and prepared to play his part in the scene which was +like to ensue, when, as he judged from the glances which the +Queen threw towards him, Varney's communications, be they what +they might, were operating in his favour. Elizabeth did not long +leave him in doubt; for the more than favour with which she +accosted him decided his triumph in the eyes of his rival, and of +the assembled court of England. "Thou hast a prating servant of +this same Varney, my lord," she said; "it is lucky you trust him +with nothing that can hurt you in our opinion, for believe me, he +would keep no counsel." + +"From your Highness," said Leicester, dropping gracefully on one +knee, "it were treason he should. I would that my heart itself +lay before you, barer than the tongue of any servant could strip +it." + +"What, my lord," said Elizabeth, looking kindly upon him, "is +there no one little corner over which you would wish to spread a +veil? Ah! I see you are confused at the question, and your +Queen knows she should not look too deeply into her servants' +motives for their faithful duty, lest she see what might, or at +least ought to, displease her." + +Relieved by these last words, Leicester broke out into a torrent +of expressions of deep and passionate attachment, which perhaps, +at that moment, were not altogether fictitious. The mingled +emotions which had at first overcome him had now given way to the +energetic vigour with which he had determined to support his +place in the Queen's favour; and never did he seem to Elizabeth +more eloquent, more handsome, more interesting, than while, +kneeling at her feet, he conjured her to strip him of all his +dower, but to leave him the name of her servant.--"Take from the +poor Dudley," he exclaimed, "all that your bounty has made him, +and bid him be the poor gentleman he was when your Grace first +shone on him; leave him no more than his cloak and his sword, but +let him still boast he has--what in word or deed he never +forfeited--the regard of his adored Queen and mistress!" + +"No, Dudley!" said Elizabeth, raising him with one hand, while +she extended the other that he might kiss it. "Elizabeth hath +not forgotten that, whilst you were a poor gentleman, despoiled +of your hereditary rank, she was as poor a princess, and that in +her cause you then ventured all that oppression had left you-- +your life and honour. Rise, my lord, and let my hand go--rise, +and be what you have ever been, the grace of our court and the +support of our throne! Your mistress may be forced to chide your +misdemeanours, but never without owning your merits.--And so help +me God," she added, turning to the audience, who, with various +feelings, witnessed this interesting scene--"so help me God, +gentlemen, as I think never sovereign had a truer servant than I +have in this noble Earl!" + +A murmur of assent rose from the Leicestrian faction, which the +friends of Sussex dared not oppose. They remained with their +eyes fixed on the ground, dismayed as well as mortified by the +public and absolute triumph of their opponents. Leicester's +first use of the familiarity to which the Queen had so publicly +restored him was to ask her commands concerning Varney's offence. +"although," he said, "the fellow deserves nothing from me but +displeasure, yet, might I presume to intercede--" + +"In truth, we had forgotten his matter," said the Queen; "and it +was ill done of us, who owe justice to our meanest as well as to +our highest subject. We are pleased, my lord, that you were the +first to recall the matter to our memory.--Where is Tressilian, +the accuser?--let him come before us." + +Tressilian appeared, and made a low and beseeming reference. His +person, as we have elsewhere observed, had an air of grace and +even of nobleness, which did not escape Queen Elizabeth's +critical observation. She looked at him with, attention as he +stood before her unabashed, but with an air of the deepest +dejection. + +"I cannot but grieve for this gentleman," she said to Leicester. +"I have inquired concerning him, and his presence confirms what I +heard, that he is a scholar and a soldier, well accomplished both +in arts and arms. We women, my lord, are fanciful in our choice +--I had said now, to judge by the eye, there was no comparison to +be held betwixt your follower and this gentleman. But Varney is +a well-spoken fellow, and, to say truth, that goes far with us of +the weaker sex.--look you, Master Tressilian, a bolt lost is not +a bow broken. Your true affection, as I will hold it to be, hath +been, it seems, but ill requited; but you have scholarship, and +you know there have been false Cressidas to be found, from the +Trojan war downwards. Forget, good sir, this Lady Light o' Love +--teach your affection to see with a wiser eye. This we say to +you, more from the writings of learned men than our own +knowledge, being, as we are, far removed by station and will from +the enlargement of experience in such idle toys of humorous +passion. For this dame's father, we can make his grief the less +by advancing his son-in-law to such station as may enable him to +give an honourable support to his bride. Thou shalt not be +forgotten thyself, Tressilian--follow our court, and thou shalt +see that a true Troilus hath some claim on our grace. Think of +what that arch-knave Shakespeare says--a plague on him, his toys +come into my head when I should think of other matters. Stay, +how goes it? + + 'Cressid was yours, tied with the bonds of heaven ; + These bonds of heaven are slipt, dissolved, and loosed, + And with another knot five fingers tied, + The fragments of her faith are bound to Diomed.' + +You smile, my Lord of Southampton--perchance I make your player's +verse halt through my bad memory. But let it suffice let there +be no more of this mad matter." + +And as Tressilian kept the posture of one who would willingly be +heard, though, at the same time, expressive of the deepest +reverence, the Queen added with some impatience, "What would the +man have? The wench cannot wed both of you? She has made her +election--not a wise one perchance--but she is Varney's wedded +wife." + +"My suit should sleep there, most gracious Sovereign," said +Tressilian, "and with my suit my revenge. But I hold this +Varney's word no good warrant for the truth." + +"Had that doubt been elsewhere urged," answered Varney, "my +sword--" + +"THY sword!" interrupted Tressilian scornfully; "with her +Grace's leave, my sword shall show--" + +"Peace, you knaves, both!" said the Queen; "know you where you +are?--This comes of your feuds, my lords," she added, looking +towards Leicester and Sussex; "your followers catch your own +humour, and must bandy and brawl in my court and in my very +presence, like so many Matamoros.--Look you, sirs, he that speaks +of drawing swords in any other quarrel than mine or England's, by +mine honour, I'll bracelet him with iron both on wrist and +ankle!" She then paused a minute, and resumed in a milder tone, +"I must do justice betwixt the bold and mutinous knaves +notwithstanding.--My Lord of Leicester, will you warrant with +your honour--that is, to the best of your belief--that your +servant speaks truth in saying he hath married this Amy Robsart?" + +This was a home-thrust, and had nearly staggered Leicester. But +he had now gone too far to recede, and answered, after a moment's +hesitation, "To the best of my belief--indeed on my certain +knowledge--she is a wedded wife." + +"Gracious madam," said Tressilian, "may I yet request to know, +when and under what circumstances this alleged marriage--" + +"Out, sirrah," answered the Queen; "ALLEGED marriage! Have you +not the word of this illustrious Earl to warrant the truth of +what his servant says? But thou art a loser--thinkest thyself +such at least--and thou shalt have indulgence; we will look into +the matter ourself more at leisure.--My Lord of Leicester, I +trust you remember we mean to taste the good cheer of your Castle +of Kenilworth on this week ensuing. We will pray you to bid our +good and valued friend, the Earl of Sussex, to hold company with +us there." + +"If the noble Earl of Sussex," said Leicester, bowing to his +rival with the easiest and with the most graceful courtesy, "will +so far honour my poor house, I will hold it an additional proof +of the amicable regard it is your Grace's desire we should +entertain towards each other." + +Sussex was more embarrassed. "I should," said he, "madam, be but +a clog on your gayer hours, since my late severe illness." + +"And have you been indeed so very ill?" said Elizabeth, looking +on him with more attention than before; "you are, in faith, +strangely altered, and deeply am I grieved to see it. But be of +good cheer--we will ourselves look after the health of so valued +a servant, and to whom we owe so much. Masters shall order your +diet; and that we ourselves may see that he is obeyed, you must +attend us in this progress to Kenilworth." + +This was said so peremptorily, and at the same time with so much +kindness, that Sussex, however unwilling to become the guest of +his rival, had no resource but to bow low to the Queen in +obedience to her commands, and to express to Leicester, with +blunt courtesy, though mingled with embarrassment, his acceptance +of his invitation. As the Earls exchanged compliments on the +occasion, the Queen said to her High Treasurer, "Methinks, my +lord, the countenances of these our two noble peers resemble +those of the two famed classic streams, the one so dark and sad, +the other so fair and noble. My old Master Ascham would have +chid me for forgetting the author. It is Caesar, as I think. +See what majestic calmness sits on the brow of the noble +Leicester, while Sussex seems to greet him as if he did our will +indeed, but not willingly." + +"The doubt of your Majesty's favour," answered the Lord +Treasurer, "may perchance occasion the difference, which does +not--as what does?--escape your Grace's eye." + +"Such doubt were injurious to us, my lord," replied the Queen. +"We hold both to be near and dear to us, and will with +impartiality employ both in honourable service for the weal of +our kingdom. But we will break their further conference at +present.--My Lords of Sussex and Leicester, we have a word more +with you. 'Tressilian and Varney are near your persons--you will +see that they attend you at Kenilworth. And as we shall then +have both Paris and Menelaus within our call, so we will have the +same fair Helen also, whose fickleness has caused this broil.-- +Varney, thy wife must be at Kenilworth, and forthcoming at my +order.--My Lord of Leicester, we expect you will look to this." + +The Earl and his follower bowed low and raised their heads, +without daring to look at the Queen, or at each other, for both +felt at the instant as if the nets and toils which their own +falsehood had woven were in the act of closing around them. The +Queen, however, observed not their confusion, but proceeded to +say, "My Lords of Sussex and Leicester, we require your presence +at the privy-council to be presently held, where matters of +importance are to be debated. We will then take the water for +our divertisement, and you, my lords, will attend us.--And that +reminds us of a circumstance.--Do you, Sir Squire of the Soiled +Cassock" (distinguishing Raleigh by a smile), "fail not to +observe that you are to attend us on our progress. You shall be +supplied with suitable means to reform your wardrobe." + +And so terminated this celebrated audience, in which, as +throughout her life, Elizabeth united the occasional caprice of +her sex with that sense and sound policy in which neither man nor +woman ever excelled her. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + Well, then--our course is chosen--spread the sail-- + Heave oft the lead, and mark the soundings well-- + Look to the helm, good master--many a shoal + Marks this stern coast, and rocks, where sits the Siren, + Who, like ambition, lures men to their ruin. THE SHIPWRECK. + +During the brief interval that took place betwixt the dismissal +of the audience and the sitting of the privy-council, Leicester +had time to reflect that he had that morning sealed his own fate. +"It was impossible for him now," he thought, "after having, in +the face of all that was honourable in England, pledged his truth +(though in an ambiguous phrase) for the statement of Varney, to +contradict or disavow it, without exposing himself, not merely to +the loss of court-favour, but to the highest displeasure of the +Queen, his deceived mistress, and to the scorn and contempt at +once of his rival and of all his compeers." This certainty +rushed at once on his mind, together with all the difficulties +which he would necessarily be exposed to in preserving a secret +which seemed now equally essential to his safety, to his power, +and to his honour. He was situated like one who walks upon ice +ready to give way around him, and whose only safety consists in +moving onwards, by firm and unvacillating steps. The Queen's +favour, to preserve which he had made such sacrifices, must now +be secured by all means and at all hazards; it was the only plank +which he could cling to in the tempest. He must settle himself, +therefore, to the task of not only preserving, but augmenting the +Queen's partiality--he must be the favourite of Elizabeth, or a +man utterly shipwrecked in fortune and in honour. All other +considerations must be laid aside for the moment, and he repelled +the intrusive thoughts which forced on his mind the image of, +Amy, by saying to himself there would be time to think hereafter +how he was to escape from the labyrinth ultimately, since the +pilot who sees a Scylla under his bows must not for the time +think of the more distant dangers of Charybdis. + +In this mood the Earl of Leicester that day assumed his chair at +the council table of Elizabeth; and when the hours of business +were over, in this same mood did he occupy an honoured place near +her during her pleasure excursion on the Thames. And never did +he display to more advantage his powers as a politician of the +first rank, or his parts as an accomplished courtier. + +It chanced that in that day's council matters were agitated +touching the affairs of the unfortunate Mary, the seventh year of +whose captivity in England was now in doleful currency. There +had been opinions in favour of this unhappy princess laid before +Elizabeth's council, and supported with much strength of argument +by Sussex and others, who dwelt more upon the law of nations and +the breach of hospitality than, however softened or qualified, +was agreeable to the Queen's ear. Leicester adopted the contrary +opinion with great animation and eloquence, and described the +necessity of continuing the severe restraint of the Queen of +Scots, as a measure essential to the safety of the kingdom, and +particularly of Elizabeth's sacred person, the lightest hair of +whose head, he maintained, ought, in their lordships' estimation, +to be matter of more deep and anxious concern than the life and +fortunes of a rival, who, after setting up a vain and unjust +pretence to the throne of England, was now, even while in the +bosom of her country, the constant hope and theme of +encouragement to all enemies to Elizabeth, whether at home or +abroad. He ended by craving pardon of their lordships, if in the +zeal of speech he had given any offence, but the Queen's safety +was a theme which hurried him beyond his usual moderation of +debate. + +Elizabeth chid him, but not severely, for the weight which he +attached unduly to her personal interests; yet she owned that, +since it had been the pleasure of Heaven to combine those +interests with the weal of her subjects, she did only her duty +when she adopted such measures of self-preservation as +circumstances forced upon her; and if the council in their wisdom +should be of opinion that it was needful to continue some +restraint on the person of her unhappy sister of Scotland, she +trusted they would not blame her if she requested of the Countess +of Shrewsbury to use her with as much kindness as might be +consistent with her safe keeping. And with this intimation of +her pleasure the council was dismissed. + +Never was more anxious and ready way made for "my Lord of +Leicester," than as he passed through the crowded anterooms to go +towards the river-side, in order to attend her Majesty to her +barge--never was the voice of the ushers louder, to "make room, +make room for the noble Earl"--never were these signals more +promptly and reverently obeyed--never were more anxious eyes +turned on him to obtain a glance of favour, or even of mere +recognition, while the heart of many a humble follower throbbed +betwixt the desire to offer his congratulations, and the fear of +intruding himself on the notice of one so infinitely above him. +The whole court considered the issue of this day's audience, +expected with so much doubt and anxiety, as a decisive triumph on +the part of Leicester, and felt assured that the orb of his rival +satellite, if not altogether obscured by his lustre, must revolve +hereafter in a dimmer and more distant sphere. So thought the +court and courtiers, from high to low; and they acted +accordingly. + +On the other hand, never did Leicester return the general +greeting with such ready and condescending courtesy, or endeavour +more successfully to gather (in the words of one who at that +moment stood at no great distance from him) "golden opinions from +all sorts of men." + +For all the favourite Earl had a bow a smile at least, and often +a kind word. Most of these were addressed to courtiers, whose +names have long gone down the tide of oblivion; but some, to such +as sound strangely in our ears, when connected with the ordinary +matters of human life, above which the gratitude of posterity has +long elevated them. A few of Leicester's interlocutory sentences +ran as follows:-- + +"Poynings, good morrow; and how does your wife and fair daughter? +Why come they not to court?--Adams, your suit is naught; the +Queen will grant no more monopolies. But I may serve you in +another matter.--My good Alderman Aylford, the suit of the City, +affecting Queenhithe, shall be forwarded as far as my poor +interest can serve.--Master Edmund Spenser, touching your Irish +petition, I would willingly aid you, from my love to the Muses; +but thou hast nettled the Lord Treasurer." + +"My lord, " said the poet, "were I permitted to explain--" + +"Come to my lodging, Edmund," answered the Earl "not to-morrow, +or next day, but soon.--Ha, Will Shakespeare--wild Will!--thou +hast given my nephew Philip Sidney, love-powder; he cannot sleep +without thy Venus and Adonis under his pillow! We will have thee +hanged for the veriest wizard in Europe. Hark thee, mad wag, I +have not forgotten thy matter of the patent, and of the bears." + +The PLAYER bowed, and the Earl nodded and passed on--so that age +would have told the tale; in ours, perhaps, we might say the +immortal had done homage to the mortal. The next whom the +favourite accosted was one of his own zealous dependants. + +"How now, Sir Francis Denning," he whispered, in answer to his +exulting salutation, "that smile hath made thy face shorter by +one-third than when I first saw it this morning.--What, Master +Bowyer, stand you back, and think you I bear malice? You did but +your duty this morning; and if I remember aught of the passage +betwixt us, it shall be in thy favour." + +Then the Earl was approached, with several fantastic congees, by +a person quaintly dressed in a doublet of black velvet, curiously +slashed and pinked with crimson satin. A long cock's feather in +the velvet bonnet, which he held in his hand, and an enormous +ruff; stiffened to the extremity of the absurd taste of the +times, joined with a sharp, lively, conceited expression of +countenance, seemed to body forth a vain, harebrained coxcomb, +and small wit; while the rod he held, and an assumption of formal +authority, appeared to express some sense of official +consequence, which qualified the natural pertness of his manner. +A perpetual blush, which occupied rather the sharp nose than the +thin cheek of this personage, seemed to speak more of "good +life," as it was called, than of modesty; and the manner in which +he approached to the Earl confirmed that suspicion. + +"Good even to you, Master Robert Laneham," said Leicester, and +seemed desirous to pass forward, without further speech. + +"I have a suit to your noble lordship," said the figure, boldly +following him. + +"And what is it, good master keeper of the council-chamber door?" + +"CLERK of the council-chamber door," said Master Robert Laneham, +with emphasis, by way of reply, and of correction. + +"Well, qualify thine office as thou wilt, man," replied the Earl; +"what wouldst thou have with me?" + +"Simply," answered Laneham, "that your lordship would be, as +heretofore, my good lord, and procure me license to attend the +Summer Progress unto your lordship's most beautiful and all-to- +be-unmatched Castle of Kenilworth." + +"To what purpose, good Master Laneham?" replied the Earl; +"bethink you, my guests must needs be many." + +"Not so many," replied the petitioner, "but that your nobleness +will willingly spare your old servitor his crib and his mess. +Bethink you, my lord, how necessary is this rod of mine to fright +away all those listeners, who else would play at bo-peep with the +honourable council, and be searching for keyholes and crannies in +the door of the chamber, so as to render my staff as needful as a +fly-flap in a butcher's shop." + +"Methinks you have found out a fly-blown comparison for the +honourable council, Master Laneham," said the Earl; "but seek not +about to justify it. Come to Kenilworth, if you list; there will +be store of fools there besides, and so you will be fitted." + +"Nay, an there be fools, my lord," replied Laneham, with much +glee, "I warrant I will make sport among them, for no greyhound +loves to cote a hare as I to turn and course a fool. But I have +another singular favour to beseech of your honour." + +"Speak it, and let me go," said the Earl; "I think the Queen +comes forth instantly." + +"My very good lord, I would fain bring a bed-fellow with me." + +"How, you irreverent rascal!" said Leicester. + +"Nay, my lord, my meaning is within the canons," answered his +unblushing, or rather his ever-blushing petitioner. "I have a +wife as curious as her grandmother who ate the apple. Now, take +her with me I may not, her Highness's orders being so strict +against the officers bringing with them their wives in a +progress, and so lumbering the court with womankind. But what I +would crave of your lordship is to find room for her in some +mummery, or pretty pageant, in disguise, as it were; so that, not +being known for my wife, there may be no offence." + +"The foul fiend seize ye both!" said Leicester, stung into +uncontrollable passion by the recollections which this speech +excited--"why stop you me with such follies?" + +The terrified clerk of the chamber-door, astonished at the burst +of resentment he had so unconsciously produced, dropped his staff +of office from his hand, and gazed on the incensed Earl with a +foolish face of wonder and terror, which instantly recalled +Leicester to himself. + +"I meant but to try if thou hadst the audacity which befits thine +office," said he hastily. "Come to Kenilworth, and bring the +devil with thee, if thou wilt." + +"My wife, sir, hath played the devil ere now, in a Mystery, in +Queen Mary's time; but me shall want a trifle for properties." + +"Here is a crown for thee," said the Earl,--"make me rid of thee +--the great bell rings." + +Master Robert Laneham stared a moment at the agitation which he +had excited, and then said to himself, as he stooped to pick up +his staff of office, "The noble Earl runs wild humours to-day. +But they who give crowns expect us witty fellows to wink at their +unsettled starts; and, by my faith, if they paid not for mercy, +we would finger them tightly!" [See Note 6. Robert Laneham.] + +Leicester moved hastily on, neglecting the courtesies he had +hitherto dispensed so liberally, and hurrying through the courtly +crowd, until he paused in a small withdrawing-room, into which he +plunged to draw a moment's breath unobserved, and in seclusion. + +"What am I now," he said to himself, "that am thus jaded by the +words of a mean, weather-beaten, goose-brained gull! Conscience, +thou art a bloodhound, whose growl wakes us readily at the paltry +stir of a rat or mouse as at the step of a lion. Can I not quit +myself, by one bold stroke, of a state so irksome, so unhonoured? +What if I kneel to Elizabeth, and, owning the whole, throw myself +on her mercy?" + +As he pursued this train of thought, the door of the apartment +opened, and Varney rushed in. + +"Thank God, my lord, that I have found you!" was his +exclamation. + +"Thank the devil, whose agent thou art," was the Earl's reply. + +"Thank whom you will, my lord," replied Varney; "but hasten to +the water-side. The Queen is on board, and asks for you." + +"Go, say I am taken suddenly ill," replied Leicester; "for, by +Heaven, my brain can sustain this no longer!" + +"I may well say so," said Varney, with bitterness of expression, +"for your place, ay, and mine, who, as your master of the horse, +was to have attended your lordship, is already filled up in the +Queen's barge. The new minion, Walter Raleigh, and our old +acquaintance Tressilian were called for to fill our places just +as I hastened away to seek you." + +"Thou art a devil, Varney," said Leicester hastily; "but thou +hast the mastery for the present--I follow thee." + +Varney replied not, but led the way out of the palace, and +towards the river, while his master followed him, as if +mechanically; until, looking back, he said in a tone which +savoured of familiarity at least, if not of authority, "How is +this, my lord? Your cloak hangs on one side--your hose are +unbraced--permit me--" + +"Thou art a fool, Varney, as well as a knave," said Leicester, +shaking him off, and rejecting his officious assistance. "We are +best thus, sir; when we require you to order our person, it is +well, but now we want you not." + +So saying, the Earl resumed at once his air of command, and with +it his self-possession--shook his dress into yet wilder disorder +--passed before Varney with the air of a superior and master, and +in his turn led the way to the river-side. + +The Queen's barge was on the very point of putting off, the seat +allotted to Leicester in the stern, and that to his master of the +horse on the bow of the boat, being already filled up. But on +Leicester's approach there was a pause, as if the bargemen +anticipated some alteration in their company. The angry spot +was, however, on the Queen's cheek, as, in that cold tone with +which superiors endeavour to veil their internal agitation, while +speaking to those before whom it would be derogation to express +it, she pronounced the chilling words, "We have waited, my Lord +of Leicester." + +"Madam, and most gracious Princess," said Leicester, "you, who +can pardon so many weaknesses which your own heart never knows, +can best bestow your commiseration on the agitations of the +bosom, which, for a moment, affect both head and limbs. I came +to your presence a doubting and an accused subject; your goodness +penetrated the clouds of defamation, and restored me to my +honour, and, what is yet dearer, to your favour--is it wonderful, +though for me it is most unhappy, that my master of the horse +should have found me in a state which scarce permitted me to make +the exertion necessary to follow him to this place, when one +glance of your Highness, although, alas! an angry one, has had +power to do that for me in which Esculapius might have failed?" + +"How is this?" said Elizabeth hastily, looking at Varney; "hath +your lord been ill?" + +"Something of a fainting fit," answered the ready-witted Varney, +"as your Grace may observe from his present condition. My lord's +haste would not permit me leisure even to bring his dress into +order." + +"It matters not," said Elizabeth, as she gazed on the noble face +and form of Leicester, to which even the strange mixture of +passions by which he had been so lately agitated gave additional +interest; "make room for my noble lord. Your place, Master +Varney, has been filled up; you must find a seat in another +barge." + +Varney bowed, and withdrew. + +"And you, too, our young Squire of the Cloak," added she, looking +at Raleigh, "must, for the time, go to the barge of our ladies of +honour. As for Tressilian, he hath already suffered too much by +the caprice of women that I should aggrieve him by my change of +plan, so far as he is concerned." + +Leicester seated himself in his place in the barge, and close to +the Sovereign. Raleigh rose to retire, and Tressilian would have +been so ill-timed in his courtesy as to offer to relinquish his +own place to his friend, had not the acute glance of Raleigh +himself, who seemed no in his native element, made him sensible +that so ready a disclamation of the royal favour might be +misinterpreted. He sat silent, therefore, whilst Raleigh, with a +profound bow, and a look of the deepest humiliation, was about to +quit his place. + +A noble courtier, the gallant Lord Willoughby, read, as he +thought, something in the Queen's face which seemed to pity +Raleigh's real or assumed semblance of mortification. + +"It is not for us old courtiers," he said, "to hide the sunshine +from the young ones. I will, with her Majesty's leave, +relinquish for an hour that which her subjects hold dearest, the +delight of her Highness's presence, and mortify myself by walking +in starlight, while I forsake for a brief season the glory of +Diana's own beams. I will take place in the boat which the +ladies occupy, and permit this young cavalier his hour of +promised felicity." + +The Queen replied, with an expression betwixt mirth and earnest, +"If you are so willing to leave us, my lord, we cannot help the +mortification. But, under favour, we do not trust you--old and +experienced as you may deem yourself--with the care of our young +ladies of honour. Your venerable age, my lord," she continued, +smiling, "may be better assorted with that of my Lord Treasurer, +who follows in the third boat, and by whose experience even my +Lord Willoughby's may be improved." + +Lord Willoughby hid his disappointment under a smile--laughed, +was confused, bowed, and left the Queen's barge to go on board my +Lord Burleigh's. Leicester, who endeavoured to divert his +thoughts from all internal reflection, by fixing them on what was +passing around, watched this circumstance among others. But when +the boat put off from the shore--when the music sounded from a +barge which accompanied them--when the shouts of the populace +were heard from the shore, and all reminded him of the situation +in which he was placed, he abstracted his thoughts and feelings +by a strong effort from everything but the necessity of +maintaining himself in the favour of his patroness, and exerted +his talents of pleasing captivation with such success, that the +Queen, alternately delighted with his conversation, and alarmed +for his health, at length imposed a temporary silence on him, +with playful yet anxious care, lest his flow of spirits should +exhaust him. + +"My lords," she said, "having passed for a time our edict of +silence upon our good Leicester, we will call you to counsel on a +gamesome matter, more fitted to be now treated of, amidst mirth +and music, than in the gravity of our ordinary deliberations. +Which of you, my lords," said she, smiling, "know aught of a +petition from Orson Pinnit, the keeper, as he qualifies himself, +of our royal bears? Who stands godfather to his request?" + +"Marry, with Your Grace's good permission, that do I," said the +Earl of Sussex. "Orson Pinnit was a stout soldier before he was +so mangled by the skenes of the Irish clan MacDonough; and I +trust your Grace will be, as you always have been, good mistress +to your good and trusty servants." + +"Surely," said the Queen, "it is our purpose to be so, and in +especial to our poor soldiers and sailors, who hazard their lives +for little pay. We would give," she said, with her eyes +sparkling, "yonder royal palace of ours to be an hospital for +their use, rather than they should call their mistress +ungrateful. But this is not the question," she said, her voice, +which had been awakened by her patriotic feelings, once more +subsiding into the tone of gay and easy conversation; "for this +Orson Pinnit's request goes something further. He complains +that, amidst the extreme delight with which men haunt the play- +houses, and in especial their eager desire for seeing the +exhibitions of one Will Shakespeare (whom I think, my lords, we +have all heard something of), the manly amusement of bear-baiting +is falling into comparative neglect, since men will rather throng +to see these roguish players kill each other in jest, than to see +our royal dogs and bears worry each other in bloody earnest.-- +What say you to this, my Lord of Sussex?" + +"Why, truly, gracious madam," said Sussex, "you must expect +little from an old soldier like me in favour of battles in sport, +when they are compared with battles in earnest; and yet, by my +faith, I wish Will Shakespeare no harm. He is a stout man at +quarter-staff, and single falchion, though, as I am told, a +halting fellow; and he stood, they say, a tough fight with the +rangers of old Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecot, when he broke his +deer-park and kissed his keeper's daughter." + +"I cry you mercy, my Lord of Sussex," said Queen Elizabeth, +interrupting him; "that matter was heard in council, and we will +not have this fellow's offence exaggerated--there was no kissing +in the matter, and the defendant hath put the denial on record. +But what say you to his present practice, my lord, on the stage? +for there lies the point, and not in any ways touching his former +errors, in breaking parks, or the other follies you speak of." + +"Why, truly, madam," replied Sussex, "as I said before, I wish +the gamesome mad fellow no injury. Some of his whoreson poetry +(I crave your Grace's pardon for such a phrase) has rung in mine +ears as if the lines sounded to boot and saddle. But then it is +all froth and folly--no substance or seriousness in it, as your +Grace has already well touched. What are half a dozen knaves, +with rusty foils and tattered targets, making but a mere mockery +of a stout fight, to compare to the royal game of bear-baiting, +which hath been graced by your Highness's countenance, and that +of your royal predecessors, in this your princely kingdom, famous +for matchless mastiffs and bold bearwards over all Christendom? +Greatly is it to be doubted that the race of both will decay, if +men should throng to hear the lungs of an idle player belch forth +nonsensical bombast, instead of bestowing their pence in +encouraging the bravest image of war that can be shown in peace, +and that is the sports of the Bear-garden. There you may see the +bear lying at guard, with his red, pinky eyes watching the onset +of the mastiff, like a wily captain who maintains his defence +that an assailant may be tempted to venture within his danger. +And then comes Sir Mastiff, like a worthy champion, in full +career at the throat of his adversary; and then shall Sir Bruin +teach him the reward for those who, in their over-courage, +neglect the policies of war, and, catching him in his arms, +strain him to his breast like a lusty wrestler, until rib after +rib crack like the shot of a pistolet. And then another mastiff; +as bold, but with better aim and sounder judgment, catches Sir +Bruin by the nether lip, and hangs fast, while he tosses about +his blood and slaver, and tries in vain to shake Sir Talbot from +his hold. And then--" + +"Nay, by my honour, my lord," said the Queen, laughing, "you have +described the whole so admirably that, had we never seen a bear- +baiting, as we have beheld many, and hope, with Heaven's +allowance, to see many more, your words were sufficient to put +the whole Bear-garden before our eyes.--But come, who speaks next +in this case?--My Lord of Leicester, what say you?" + +"Am I then to consider myself as unmuzzled, please your Grace?" +replied Leicester. + +"Surely, my lord--that is, if you feel hearty enough to take part +in our game," answered Elizabeth; "and yet, when I think of your +cognizance of the bear and ragged staff, methinks we had better +hear some less partial orator." + +"Nay, on my word, gracious Princess," said the Earl, "though my +brother Ambrose of Warwick and I do carry the ancient cognizance +your Highness deigns to remember, I nevertheless desire nothing +but fair play on all sides; or, as they say, 'fight dog, fight +bear.' And in behalf of the players, I must needs say that they +are witty knaves, whose rants and jests keep the minds of the +commons from busying themselves with state affairs, and listening +to traitorous speeches, idle rumours, and disloyal insinuations. +When men are agape to see how Marlow, Shakespeare, and other play +artificers work out their fanciful plots, as they call them, the +mind of the spectators is withdrawn from the conduct of their +rulers." + +"We would not have the mind of our subjects withdrawn from the +consideration of our own conduct, my lord," answered Elizabeth; +"because the more closely it is examined, the true motives by +which we are guided will appear the more manifest." + +"I have heard, however, madam," said the Dean of St. Asaph's, an +eminent Puritan, "that these players are wont, in their plays, +not only to introduce profane and lewd expressions, tending to +foster sin and harlotry; but even to bellow out such reflections +on government, its origin and its object, as tend to render the +subject discontented, and shake the solid foundations of civil +society. And it seems to be, under your Grace's favour, far less +than safe to permit these naughty foul-mouthed knaves to ridicule +the godly for their decent gravity, and, in blaspheming heaven +and slandering its earthly rulers, to set at defiance the laws +both of God and man." + +"If we could think this were true, my lord," said Elizabeth, "we +should give sharp correction for such offences. But it is ill +arguing against the use of anything from its abuse. And touching +this Shakespeare, we think there is that in his plays that is +worth twenty Bear-gardens; and that this new undertaking of his +Chronicles, as he calls them, may entertain, with honest mirth, +mingled with useful instruction, not only our subjects, but even +the generation which may succeed to us." + +"Your Majesty's reign will need no such feeble aid to make it +remembered to the latest posterity," said Leicester. "And yet, +in his way, Shakespeare hath so touched some incidents of your +Majesty's happy government as may countervail what has been +spoken by his reverence the Dean of St. Asaph's. There are some +lines, for example--I would my nephew, Philip Sidney, were here; +they are scarce ever out of his mouth--they are spoken in a mad +tale of fairies, love-charms, and I wot not what besides; but +beautiful they are, however short they may and must fall of the +subject to which they bear a bold relation--and Philip murmurs +them, I think, even in his dreams." + +"You tantalize us, my lord," said the Queen--"Master Philip +Sidney is, we know, a minion of the Muses, and we are pleased it +should be so. Valour never shines to more advantage than when +united with the true taste and love of letters. But surely there +are some others among our young courtiers who can recollect what +your lordship has forgotten amid weightier affairs.--Master +Tressilian, you are described to me as a worshipper of Minerva-- +remember you aught of these lines?" + +Tressilian's heart was too heavy, his prospects in life too +fatally blighted, to profit by the opportunity which the Queen +thus offered to him of attracting her attention; but he +determined to transfer the advantage to his more ambitious young +friend, and excusing himself on the score of want of +recollection, he added that he believed the beautiful verses of +which my Lord of Leicester had spoken were in the remembrance of +Master Walter Raleigh. + +At the command of the Queen, that cavalier repeated, with accent +and manner which even added to their exquisite delicacy of tact +and beauty of description, the celebrated vision of Oberon:-- + + "That very time I saw (but thou couldst not), + Flying between the cold moon and the earth, + Cupid, allarm'd: a certain aim he took + At a fair vestal, throned by the west; + And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow, + As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts: + But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft + Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery moon; + And the imperial vot'ress passed on, + In maiden meditation, fancy free." + +The voice of Raleigh, as he repeated the last lines, became a +little tremulous, as if diffident how the Sovereign to whom the +homage was addressed might receive it, exquisite as it was. If +this diffidence was affected, it was good policy; but if real, +there was little occasion for it. The verses were not probably +new to the Queen, for when was ever such elegant flattery long in +reaching the royal ear to which it was addressed? But they were +not the less welcome when repeated by such a speaker as Raleigh. +Alike delighted with the matter, the manner, and the graceful +form and animated countenance of the gallant young reciter, +Elizabeth kept time to every cadence with look and with finger. +When the speaker had ceased, she murmured over the last lines as +if scarce conscious that she was overheard, and as she uttered +the words, + +"In maiden meditation, fancy free," she dropped into the Thames +the supplication of Orson Pinnit, keeper of the royal bears, to +find more favourable acceptance at Sheerness, or wherever the +tide might waft it. + +Leicester was spurred to emulation by the success of the young +courtier's exhibition, as the veteran racer is roused when a +high-mettled colt passes him on the way. He turned the discourse +on shows, banquets, pageants, and on the character of those by +whom these gay scenes were then frequented. He mixed acute +observation with light satire, in that just proportion which was +free alike from malignant slander and insipid praise. He +mimicked with ready accent the manners of the affected or the +clownish, and made his own graceful tone and manner seem doubly +such when he resumed it. Foreign countries--their customs, their +manners, the rules of their courts---the fashions, and even the +dress of their ladies-were equally his theme; and seldom did he +conclude without conveying some compliment, always couched in +delicacy, and expressed with propriety, to the Virgin Queen, her +court, and her government. Thus passed the conversation during +this pleasure voyage, seconded by the rest of the attendants upon +the royal person, in gay discourse, varied by remarks upon +ancient classics and modern authors, and enriched by maxims of +deep policy and sound morality, by the statesmen and sages who +sat around and mixed wisdom with the lighter talk of a female +court. + +When they returned to the Palace, Elizabeth accepted, or rather +selected, the arm of Leicester to support her from the stairs +where they landed to the great gate. It even seemed to him +(though that might arise from the flattery of his own +imagination) that during this short passage she leaned on him +somewhat more than the slippiness of the way necessarily +demanded. Certainly her actions and words combined to express a +degree of favour which, even in his proudest day he had not till +then attained. His rival, indeed, was repeatedly graced by the +Queen's notice; but it was in manner that seemed to flow less +from spontaneous inclination than as extorted by a sense of his +merit. And in the opinion of many experienced courtiers, all the +favour she showed him was overbalanced by her whispering in the +ear of the Lady Derby that "now she saw sickness was a better +alchemist than she before wotted of, seeing it had changed my +Lord of Sussex's copper nose into a golden one." + +The jest transpired, and the Earl of Leicester enjoyed his +triumph, as one to whom court-favour had been both the primary +and the ultimate motive of life, while he forgot, in the +intoxication of the moment, the perplexities and dangers of his +own situation. Indeed, strange as it may appear, he thought less +at that moment of the perils arising from his secret union, than +of the marks of grace which Elizabeth from time to time showed to +young Raleigh. They were indeed transient, but they were +conferred on one accomplished in mind and body, with grace, +gallantry, literature, and valour. An accident occurred in the +course of the evening which riveted Leicester's attention to this +object. + +The nobles and courtiers who had attended the Queen on her +pleasure expedition were invited, with royal hospitality, to a +splendid banquet in the hall of the Palace. The table was not, +indeed, graced by the presence of the Sovereign; for, agreeable +to her idea of what was at once modest and dignified, the Maiden +Queen on such occasions was wont to take in private, or with one +or two favourite ladies, her light and temperate meal. After a +moderate interval, the court again met in the splendid gardens of +the Palace; and it was while thus engaged that the Queen suddenly +asked a lady, who was near to her both in place and favour, what +had become of the young Squire Lack-Cloak. + +The Lady Paget answered, "She had seen Master Raleigh but two or +three minutes since standing at the window of a small pavilion or +pleasure-house, which looked out on the Thames, and writing on +the glass with a diamond ring." + +"That ring," said the Queen, "was a small token I gave him to +make amends for his spoiled mantle. Come, Paget, let us see what +use he has made of it, for I can see through him already. He is +a marvellously sharp-witted spirit." They went to the spot, +within sight of which, but at some distance, the young cavalier +still lingered, as the fowler watches the net which he has set. +The Queen approached the window, on which Raleigh had used her +gift, to inscribe the following line:-- + + "Fain would I climb, but that I fear to fall." + +The Queen smiled, read it twice over, once with deliberation to +Lady Paget, and once again to herself. "It is a pretty +beginning," she said, after the consideration of a moment or two; +"but methinks the muse hath deserted the young wit at the very +outset of his task. It were good-natured--were it not, Lady +Paget?--to complete it for him. Try your rhyming faculties." + +Lady Paget, prosaic from her cradle upwards as ever any lady of +the bedchamber before or after her, disclaimed all possibility of +assisting the young poet. + +"Nay, then, we must sacrifice to the Muses ourselves," said +Elizabeth. + +"The incense of no one can be more acceptable," said Lady Paget; +"and your Highness will impose such obligation on the ladies of +Parnassus--" + +"Hush, Paget," said the Queen, "you speak sacrilege against the +immortal Nine--yet, virgins themselves, they should be exorable +to a Virgin Queen--and therefore--let me see how runs his verse-- + + 'Fain would I climb, but that I fear to fall.' + +Might not the answer (for fault of a better) run thus?-- + + 'If thy mind fail thee, do not climb at all.'" + +The dame of honour uttered an exclamation of joy and surprise at +so happy a termination; and certainly a worse has been applauded, +even when coming from a less distinguished author. + +The Queen, thus encouraged, took off a diamond ring, and saying, +"We will give this gallant some cause of marvel when he finds his +couplet perfected without his own interference," she wrote her +own line beneath that of Raleigh. + +The Queen left the pavilion; but retiring slowly, and often +looking back, she could see the young cavalier steal, with the +flight of a lapwing, towards the place where he had seen her make +a pause. "She stayed but to observe," as she said, "that her +train had taken;" and then, laughing at the circumstance with the +Lady Paget, she took the way slowly towards the Palace. +Elizabeth, as they returned, cautioned her companion not to +mention to any one the aid which she had given to the young poet, +and Lady Paget promised scrupulous secrecy. It is to be supposed +that she made a mental reservation in favour of Leicester, to +whom her ladyship transmitted without delay an anecdote so little +calculated to give him pleasure. + +Raleigh, in the meanwhile, stole back to the window, and read, +with a feeling of intoxication, the encouragement thus given him +by the Queen in person to follow out his ambitious career, and +returned to Sussex and his retinue, then on the point of +embarking to go up the river, his heart beating high with +gratified pride, and with hope of future distinction. + +The reverence due to the person of the Earl prevented any notice +being taken of the reception he had met with at court, until they +had landed, and the household were assembled in the great hall at +Sayes Court; while that lord, exhausted by his late illness and +the fatigues of the day, had retired to his chamber, demanding +the attendance of Wayland, his successful physician. Wayland, +however, was nowhere to be found; and while some of the party +were, with military impatience, seeking him and cursing his +absence, the rest flocked around Raleigh to congratulate him on +his prospects of court-favour. + +He had the good taste and judgment to conceal the decisive +circumstance of the couplet to which Elizabeth had deigned to +find a rhyme; but other indications had transpired, which plainly +intimated that he had made some progress in the Queen's favour. +All hastened to wish him joy on the mended appearance of his +fortune--some from real regard, some, perhaps, from hopes that +his preferment might hasten their own, and most from a mixture of +these motives, and a sense that the countenance shown to any one +of Sussex's household was, in fact, a triumph to the whole. +Raleigh returned the kindest thanks to them all, disowning, with +becoming modesty, that one day's fair reception made a favourite, +any more than one swallow a summer. But he observed that Blount +did not join in the general congratulation, and, somewhat hurt at +his apparent unkindness, he plainly asked him the reason. + +Blount replied with equal sincerity--"My good Walter, I wish thee +as well as do any of these chattering gulls, who are whistling +and whooping gratulations in thine ear because it seems fair +weather with thee. But I fear for thee, "Walter" (and he wiped +his honest eye), "I fear for thee with all my heart. These +court-tricks, and gambols, and flashes of fine women's favour are +the tricks and trinkets that bring fair fortunes to farthings, +and fine faces and witty coxcombs to the acquaintance of dull +block and sharp axes." + +So saying, Blount arose and left the hall, while Raleigh looked +after him with an expression that blanked for a moment his bold +and animated countenance. + +Stanley just then entered the hall, and said to Tressilian, "My +lord is calling for your fellow Wayland, and your fellow Wayland +is just come hither in a sculler, and is calling for you, nor +will he go to my lord till he sees you. The fellow looks as he +were mazed, methinks; I would you would see him immediately." + +Tressilian instantly left the hall, and causing Wayland Smith to +be shown into a withdrawing apartment, and lights placed, he +conducted the artist thither, and was surprised when he observed +the emotion of his countenance. + +"What is the matter with you, Smith?" said Tressilian; "have you +seen the devil?" + +"Worse, sir, worse," replied Wayland; "I have seen a basilisk. +Thank God, I saw him first; for being so seen, and seeing not me, +he will do the less harm." + +"In God's name, speak sense," said Tressilian, "and say what you +mean." + +"I have seen my old master," said the artist. "Last night a +friend whom I had acquired took me to see the Palace clock, +judging me to be curious in such works of art. At the window of +a turret next to the clock-house I saw my old master." + +"Thou must needs have been mistaken," said Tressilian. + +"I was not mistaken," said Wayland; "he that once hath his +features by heart would know him amongst a million. He was +anticly habited; but he cannot disguise himself from me, God be +praised! as I can from him. I will not, however, tempt +Providence by remaining within his ken. Tarleton the player +himself could not so disguise himself but that, sooner or later, +Doboobie would find him out. I must away to-morrow; for, as we +stand together, it were death to me to remain within reach of +him." + +"But the Earl of Sussex?" said Tressilian. + +"He is in little danger from what he has hitherto taken, provided +he swallow the matter of a bean's size of the orvietan every +morning fasting; but let him beware of a relapse." + +"And how is that to be guarded against?" said Tressilian. + +"Only by such caution as you would use against the devil," +answered Wayland. "Let my lord's clerk of the kitchen kill his +lord's meat himself, and dress it himself, using no spice but +what he procures from the surest hands. Let the sewer serve it +up himself, and let the master of my lord's household see that +both clerk and sewer taste the dishes which the one dresses and +the other serves. Let my lord use no perfumes which come not +from well accredited persons; no unguents--no pomades. Let him, +on no account, drink with strangers, or eat fruit with them, +either in the way of nooning or otherwise. Especially, let him +observe such caution if he goes to Kenilworth--the excuse of his +illness, and his being under diet, will, and must, cover the +strangeness of such practice." + +"And thou," said Tressilian, "what dost thou think to make of +thyself?" + +"France, Spain, either India, East or West, shall be my refuge," +said Wayland, "ere I venture my life by residing within ken of +Doboobie, Demetrius, or whatever else he calls himself for the +time." + +"Well," said Tressilian, "this happens not inopportunely. I had +business for you in Berkshire, but in the opposite extremity to +the place where thou art known; and ere thou hadst found out this +new reason for living private, I had settled to send thee thither +upon a secret embassage." + +The artist expressed himself willing to receive his commands, and +Tressilian, knowing he was well acquainted with the outline of +his business at court, frankly explained to him the whole, +mentioned the agreement which subsisted betwixt Giles Gosling and +him, and told what had that day been averred in the presence- +chamber by Varney, and supported by Leicester. + +"Thou seest," he added, "that, in the circumstances in which I am +placed, it behoves me to keep a narrow watch on the motions of +these unprincipled men, Varney and his complices, Foster and +Lambourne, as well as on those of my Lord Leicester himself, who, +I suspect, is partly a deceiver, and not altogether the deceived +in that matter. Here is my ring, as a pledge to Giles Gosling. +Here is besides gold, which shall be trebled if thou serve me +faithfully. Away down to Cumnor, and see what happens there." + +"I go with double good-will," said the artist, "first, because I +serve your honour, who has been so kind to me; and then, that I +may escape my old master, who, if not an absolute incarnation of +the devil, has, at least, as much of the demon about him, in +will, word, and action; as ever polluted humanity. And yet let +him take care of me. I fly him now, as heretofore; but if, like +the Scottish wild cattle, I am vexed by frequent pursuit, I may +turn on him in hate and desperation. [A remnant of the wild +cattle of Scotland are preserved at Chillingham Castle, near +Wooler, in Northumberland, the seat of Lord Tankerville. They +fly before strangers; but if disturbed and followed, they turn +with fury on those who persist in annoying them.] Will your +honour command my nag to be saddled? I will but give the +medicine to my lord, divided in its proper proportions, with a +few instructions. His safety will then depend on the care of his +friends and domestics; for the past he is guarded, but let him +beware of the future." + +Wayland Smith accordingly made his farewell visit to the Earl of +Sussex, dictated instructions as to his regimen, and precautions +concerning his diet, and left Sayes Court without waiting for +morning. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + The moment comes-- + It is already come--when thou must write + The absolute total of thy life's vast sum. + The constellations stand victorious o'er thee, + The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions, + And tell thee, "Now's the time." + SCHILLER'S WALLENSTEIN, BY COLERIDGE. + +When Leicester returned to his lodging, alter a day so important +and so harassing, in which, after riding out more than one gale, +and touching on more than one shoal, his bark had finally gained +the harbour with banner displayed, he seemed to experience as +much fatigue as a mariner after a perilous storm. He spoke not a +word while his chamberlain exchanged his rich court-mantle for a +furred night-robe, and when this officer signified that Master +Varney desired to speak with his lordship, he replied only by a +sullen nod. Varney, however, entered, accepting this signal as a +permission, and the chamberlain withdrew. + +The Earl remained silent and almost motionless in his chair, his +head reclined on his hand, and his elbow resting upon the table +which stood beside him, without seeming to be conscious of the +entrance or of the presence of his confidant. Varney waited for +some minutes until he should speak, desirous to know what was the +finally predominant mood of a mind through which so many powerful +emotions had that day taken their course. But he waited in vain, +for Leicester continued still silent, and the confidant saw +himself under the necessity of being the first to speak. "May I +congratulate your lordship," he said, "on the deserved +superiority you have this day attained over your most formidable +rival?" + +Leicester raised his head, and answered sadly, but without anger, +"Thou, Varney, whose ready invention has involved me in a web of +most mean and perilous falsehood, knowest best what small reason +there is for gratulation on the subject." + +"Do you blame me, my lord," said Varney, "for not betraying, on +the first push, the secret on which your fortunes depended, and +which you have so oft and so earnestly recommended to my safe +keeping? Your lordship was present in person, and might have +contradicted me and ruined yourself by an avowal of the truth; +but surely it was no part of a faithful servant to have done so +without your commands." + +"I cannot deny it, Varney," said the Earl, rising and walking +across the room; "my own ambition has been traitor to my love." + +"Say rather, my lord, that your love has been traitor to your +greatness, and barred you from such a prospect of honour and +power as the world cannot offer to any other. To make my +honoured lady a countess, you have missed the chance of being +yourself--" + +He paused, and seemed unwilling to complete the sentence. + +"Of being myself what?" demanded Leicester; "speak out thy +meaning, Varney." + +"Of being yourself a KING, my lord," replied Varney; "and King of +England to boot! It is no treason to our Queen to say so. It +would have chanced by her obtaining that which all true subjects +wish her--a lusty, noble, and gallant husband." + +"Thou ravest, Varney," answered Leicester. "Besides, our times +have seen enough to make men loathe the Crown Matrimonial which +men take from their wives' lap. There was Darnley of Scotland." + +"He!" said Varney; "a, gull, a fool, a thrice-sodden ass, who +suffered himself to be fired off into the air like a rocket on a +rejoicing day. Had Mary had the hap to have wedded the noble +Earl ONCE destined to share her throne, she had experienced a +husband of different metal; and her husband had found in her a +wife as complying and loving as the mate of the meanest squire +who follows the hounds a-horseback, and holds her husband's +bridle as he mounts." + +"It might have been as thou sayest, Varney," said Leicester, a +brief smile of self-satisfaction passing over his anxious +countenance. "Henry Darnley knew little of women--with Mary, a +man who knew her sex might have had some chance of holding his +own. But not with Elizabeth, Varney for I thank God, when he +gave her the heart of a woman, gave her the head of a man to +control its follies. No, I know her. She will accept love- +tokens, ay, and requite them with the like--put sugared sonnets +in her bosom, ay, and answer them too--push gallantry to the very +verge where it becomes exchange of affection; but she writes NIL +ULTRA to all which is to follow, and would not barter one iota of +her own supreme power for all the alphabet of both Cupid and +Hymen." + +"The better for you, my lord," said Varney--"that is, in the case +supposed, if such be her disposition; since you think you cannot +aspire to become her husband. Her favourite you are, and may +remain, if the lady at Cumnor place continues in her present +obscurity." + +"Poor Amy!" said Leicester, with a deep sigh; "she desires so +earnestly to be acknowledged in presence of God and man!" + +"Ay, but, my lord," said Varney, "is her desire reasonable? That +is the question. Her religious scruples are solved; she is an +honoured and beloved wife, enjoying the society of her husband at +such times as his weightier duties permit him to afford her his +company. What would she more? I am right sure that a lady so +gentle and so loving would consent to live her life through in a +certain obscurity--which is, after all, not dimmer than when she +was at Lidcote Hall--rather than diminish the least jot of her +lord's honours and greatness by a premature attempt to share +them." + +"There is something in what thou sayest," said Leicester, "and +her appearance here were fatal. Yet she must be seen at +Kenilworth; Elizabeth will not forget that she has so appointed." + +"Let me sleep on that hard point," said Varney; "I cannot else +perfect the device I have on the stithy, which I trust will +satisfy the Queen and please my honoured lady, yet leave this +fatal secret where it is now buried. Has your lordship further +commands for the night?" + +"I would be alone," said Leicester. "Leave me, and place my +steel casket on the table. Be within summons." + +Varney retired, and the Earl, opening the window of his +apartment, looked out long and anxiously upon the brilliant host +of stars which glimmered in the splendour of a summer firmament. +The words burst from him as at unawares, "I had never more need +that the heavenly bodies should befriend me, for my earthly path +is darkened and confused." + +It is well known that the age reposed a deep confidence in the +vain predictions of judicial astrology, and Leicester, though +exempt from the general control of superstition, was not in this +respect superior to his time, but, on the contrary, was +remarkable for the encouragement which he gave to the professors +of this pretended science. Indeed, the wish to pry into +futurity, so general among the human race, is peculiarly to be +found amongst those who trade in state mysteries and the +dangerous intrigues and cabals of courts. With heedful +precaution to see that it had not been opened, or its locks +tampered with, Leicester applied a key to the steel casket, and +drew from it, first, a parcel of gold pieces, which he put into a +silk purse; then a parchment inscribed with planetary signs, and +the lines and calculations used in framing horoscopes, on which +he gazed intently for a few moments; and, lastly, took forth a +large key, which, lifting aside the tapestry, he applied to a +little, concealed door in the corner of the apartment, and +opening it, disclosed a stair constructed in the thickness of the +wall. + +"Alasco," said the Earl, with a voice raised, yet no higher +raised than to be heard by the inhabitant of the small turret to +which the stair conducted--"Alasco, I say, descend." + +"I come, my lord," answered a voice from above. The foot of an +aged man was heard slowly descending the narrow stair, and Alasco +entered the Earl's apartment. The astrologer was a little man, +and seemed much advanced in age, for his heard was long and +white, and reached over his black doublet down to his silken +girdle. His hair was of the same venerable hue. But his +eyebrows were as dark as the keen and piercing black eyes which +they shaded, and this peculiarity gave a wild and singular cast +to the physiognomy of the old man. His cheek was still fresh and +ruddy, and the eyes we have mentioned resembled those of a rat in +acuteness and even fierceness of expression. His manner was not +without a sort of dignity; and the interpreter of the stars, +though respectful, seemed altogether at his ease, and even +assumed a tone of instruction and command in conversing with the +prime favourite of Elizabeth. + +"Your prognostications have failed, Alasco," said the Earl, when +they had exchanged salutations--"he is recovering." + +"My son," replied the astrologer, "let me remind you I warranted +not his death; nor is there any prognostication that can be +derived from the heavenly bodies, their aspects and their +conjunctions, which is not liable to be controlled by the will of +Heaven. ASTRA REGUNT HOMINES, SED REGIT ASTRA DEUS." + +"Of what avail, then, is your mystery?" inquired the Earl. + +"Of much, my son," replied the old man, "since it can show the +natural and probable course of events, although that course moves +in subordination to an Higher Power. Thus, in reviewing the +horoscope which your Lordship subjected to my skill, you will +observe that Saturn, being in the sixth House in opposition to +Mars, retrograde in the House of Life, cannot but denote long and +dangerous sickness, the issue whereof is in the will of Heaven, +though death may probably be inferred. Yet if I knew the name of +the party I would erect another scheme." + +"His name is a secret," said the Earl; "yet, I must own, thy +prognostication hath not been unfaithful. He has been sick, and +dangerously so, not, however, to death. But hast thou again cast +my horoscope as Varney directed thee, and art thou prepared to +say what the stars tell of my present fortune?" + +"My art stands at your command," said the old man; "and here, my +son, is the map of thy fortunes, brilliant in aspect as ever +beamed from those blessed signs whereby our life is influenced, +yet not unchequered with fears, difficulties, and dangers." + +"My lot were more than mortal were it otherwise," said the Earl. +"Proceed, father, and believe you speak with one ready to undergo +his destiny in action and in passion as may beseem a noble of +England." + +"Thy courage to do and to suffer must be wound up yet a strain +higher," said the old man. "The stars intimate yet a prouder +title, yet an higher rank. It is for thee to guess their +meaning, not for me to name it." + +"Name it, I conjure you--name it, I command you!" said the Earl, +his eyes brightening as he spoke. + +"I may not, and I will not," replied the old man. "The ire of +princes Is as the wrath of the lion. But mark, and judge for +thyself. Here Venus, ascendant in the House of Life, and +conjoined with Sol, showers down that flood of silver light, +blent with gold, which promises power, wealth, dignity, all that +the proud heart of man desires, and in such abundance that never +the future Augustus of that old and mighty Rome heard from his +HARUSPICES such a tale of glory, as from this rich text my lore +might read to my favourite son." + +"Thou dost but jest with me, father," said the Earl, astonished +at the strain of enthusiasm in which the astrologer delivered his +prediction. + +"Is it for him to jest who hath his eye on heaven, who hath his +foot in the grave?" returned the old man solemnly. + +The Earl made two or three strides through the apartment, with +his hand outstretched, as one who follows the beckoning signal of +some phantom, waving him on to deeds of high import. As he +turned, however, he caught the eye of the astrologer fixed on +him, while an observing glance of the most shrewd penetration +shot from under the penthouse of his shaggy, dark eyebrows. +Leicester's haughty and suspicious soul at once caught fire. He +darted towards the old man from the farther end of the lofty +apartment, only standing still when his extended hand was within +a foot of the astrologer's body. + +"Wretch!" he said, "if you dare to palter with me, I will have +your skin stripped from your living flesh! Confess thou hast +been hired to deceive and to betray me--that thou art a cheat, +and I thy silly prey and booty!" + +The old man exhibited some symptoms of emotion, but not more than +the furious deportment of his patron might have extorted from +innocence itself. + +"What means this violence, my lord?" he answered, "or in what +can I have deserved it at your hand?" + +"Give me proof," said the Earl vehemently, "that you have not +tampered with mine enemies." + +"My lord," replied the old man, with dignity, "you can have no +better proof than that which you yourself elected. In that +turret I have spent the last twenty-four hours under the key +which has been in your own custody. The hours of darkness I have +spent in gazing on the heavenly bodies with these dim eyes, and +during those of light I have toiled this aged brain to complete +the calculation arising from their combinations. Earthly food I +have not tasted--earthly voice I have not heard. You are +yourself aware I had no means of doing so; and yet I tell you--I +who have been thus shut up in solitude and study--that within +these twenty-four hours your star has become predominant in the +horizon, and either the bright book of heaven speaks false, or +there must have been a proportionate revolution in your fortunes +upon earth. If nothing has happened within that space to secure +your power, or advance your favour, then am I indeed a cheat, and +the divine art, which was first devised in the plains of Chaldea, +is a foul imposture." + +"It is true," said Leicester, after a moment's reflection, "thou +wert closely immured; and it is also true that the change has +taken place in my situation which thou sayest the horoscope +indicates." + +"Wherefore this distrust then, my son?" said the astrologer, +assuming a tone of admonition; "the celestial intelligences brook +not diffidence, even in their favourites." + +"Peace, father," answered Leicester, "I have erred in doubting +thee. Not to mortal man, nor to celestial intelligence--under +that which is supreme--will Dudley's lips say more in +condescension or apology. Speak rather to the present purpose. +Amid these bright promises thou hast said there was a threatening +aspect. Can thy skill tell whence, or by whose means, such +danger seems to impend?" + +"Thus far only," answered the astrologer, "does my art enable me +to answer your query. The infortune is threatened by the +malignant and adverse aspect, through means of a youth, and, as I +think, a rival; but whether in love or in prince's favour, I know +not nor can I give further indication respecting him, save that +he comes from the western quarter." + +"The western--ha!" replied Leicester, "it is enough--the tempest +does indeed brew in that quarter! Cornwall and Devon--Raleigh +and Tressilian--one of them is indicated-I must beware of both. +Father, if I have done thy skill injustice, I will make thee a +lordly recompense." + +He took a purse of gold from the strong casket which stood before +him. "Have thou double the recompense which Varney promised. Be +faithful--be secret--obey the directions thou shalt receive from +my master of the horse, and grudge not a little seclusion or +restraint in my cause--it shall be richly considered.--Here, +Varney--conduct this venerable man to thine own lodging; tend him +heedfully in all things, but see that he holds communication with +no one. + +Varney bowed, and the astrologer kissed the Earl's hand in token +of adieu, and followed the master of the horse to another +apartment, in which were placed wine and refreshments for his +use. + +The astrologer sat down to his repast, while Varney shut two +doors with great precaution, examined the tapestry, lest any +listener lurked behind it, and then sitting down opposite to the +sage, began to question him. + +"Saw you my signal from the court beneath?" + +"I did," said Alasco, for by such name he was at present called, +"and shaped the horoscope accordingly." + +"And it passed upon the patron without challenge?" continued +Varney. + +"Not without challenge," replied the old man, "but it did pass; +and I added, as before agreed, danger from a discovered secret, +and a western youth." + +"My lord's fear will stand sponsor to the one, and his conscience +to the other, of these prognostications," replied Varney. "Sure +never man chose to run such a race as his, yet continued to +retain those silly scruples! I am fain to cheat him to his own +profit. But touching your matters, sage interpreter of the +stars, I can tell you more of your own fortune than plan or +figure can show. You must be gone from hence forthwith." + +"I will not," said Alasco peevishly. "I have been too much +hurried up and down of late--immured for day and night in a +desolate turret-chamber. I must enjoy my liberty, and pursue my +studies, which are of more import than the fate of fifty +statesmen and favourites that rise and burst like bubbles in the +atmosphere of a court." + +"At your pleasure," said Varney, with a sneer that habit had +rendered familiar to his features, and which forms the principal +characteristic which painters have assigned to that of Satan--"at +your pleasure," he said; "you may enjoy your liberty and your +studies until the daggers of Sussex's followers are clashing +within your doublet and against your ribs." The old man turned +pale, and Varney proceeded. "Wot you not he hath offered a +reward for the arch-quack and poison-vender, Demetrius, who sold +certain precious spices to his lordship's cook? What! turn you +pale, old friend? Does Hali already see an infortune in the +House of Life? Why, hark thee, we will have thee down to an old +house of mine in the country, where thou shalt live with a +hobnailed slave, whom thy alchemy may convert into ducats, for to +such conversion alone is thy art serviceable." + +"It is false, thou foul-mouthed railer," said Alasco, shaking +with impotent anger; "it is well known that I have approached +more nearly to projection than any hermetic artist who now lives. +There are not six chemists in the world who possess so near an +approximation to the grand arcanum--" + +"Come, come," said Varney, interrupting him, "what means this, in +the name of Heaven? Do we not know one another? I believe thee +to be so perfect--so very perfect--in the mystery of cheating, +that, having imposed upon all mankind, thou hast at length in +some measure imposed upon thyself, and without ceasing to dupe +others, hast become a species of dupe to thine own imagination. +Blush not for it, man--thou art learned, and shalt have classical +comfort: + + 'Ne quisquam Ajacem possit superare nisi Ajax.' + +No one but thyself could have gulled thee; and thou hast gulled +the whole brotherhood of the Rosy Cross besides--none so deep in +the mystery as thou. But hark thee in thine ear: had the +seasoning which spiced Sussex's broth wrought more surely, I +would have thought better of the chemical science thou dost boast +so highly." + +"Thou art an hardened villain, Varney," replied Alasco; "many +will do those things who dare not speak of them." + +"And many speak of them who dare not do them," answered Varney. +"But be not wroth--I will not quarrel with thee. If I did, I +were fain to live on eggs for a month, that I might feed without +fear. Tell me at once, how came thine art to fail thee at this +great emergency?" + +"The Earl of Sussex's horoscope intimates," replied the +astrologer, "that the sign of the ascendant being in combustion +--" + +"Away with your gibberish," replied Varney; "thinkest thou it is +the patron thou speakest with?" + +"I crave your pardon," replied the old man, "and swear to you I +know but one medicine that could have saved the Earl's life; and +as no man living in England knows that antidote save myself-- +moreover, as the ingredients, one of them in particular, are +scarce possible to be come by, I must needs suppose his escape +was owing to such a constitution of lungs and vital parts as was +never before bound up in a body of clay." + +"There was some talk of a quack who waited on him," said Varney, +after a moment's reflection. "Are you sure there is no one in +England who has this secret of thine?" + +"One man there was," said the doctor, "once my servant, who might +have stolen this of me, with one or two other secrets of art. +But content you, Master Varney, it is no part of my policy to +suffer such interlopers to interfere in my trade. He pries into +no mysteries more, I warrant you, for, as I well believe, he hath +been wafted to heaven on the wing of a fiery dragon--peace be +with him! But in this retreat of mine shall I have the use of +mine elaboratory?" + +"Of a whole workshop, man," said Varney; "for a reverend father +abbot, who was fain to give place to bluff King Hal and some of +his courtiers, a score of years since, had a chemist's complete +apparatus, which he was obliged to leave behind him to his +successors. Thou shalt there occupy, and melt, and puff, and +blaze, and multiply, until the Green Dragon become a golden +goose, or whatever the newer phrase of the brotherhood may +testify." + +"Thou art right, Master Varney," said the alchemist setting his +teeth close and grinding them together--"thou art right even in +thy very contempt of right and reason. For what thou sayest in +mockery may in sober verity chance to happen ere we meet again. +If the most venerable sages of ancient days have spoken the +truth--if the most learned of our own have rightly received it; +if I have been accepted wherever I travelled in Germany, in +Poland, in Italy, and in the farther Tartary, as one to whom +nature has unveiled her darkest secrets; if I have acquired the +most secret signs and passwords of the Jewish Cabala, so that the +greyest beard in the synagogue would brush the steps to make them +clean for me;--if all this is so, and if there remains but one +step--one little step--betwixt my long, deep, and dark, and +subterranean progress, and that blaze of light which shall show +Nature watching her richest and her most glorious productions in +the very cradle--one step betwixt dependence and the power of +sovereignty--one step betwixt poverty and such a sum of wealth as +earth, without that noble secret, cannot minister from all her +mines in the old or the new-found world; if this be all so, is it +not reasonable that to this I dedicate my future life, secure, +for a brief period of studious patience, to rise above the mean +dependence upon favourites, and THEIR favourites, by which I am +now enthralled!" + +"Now, bravo! bravo! my good father," said Varney, with the +usual sardonic expression of ridicule on his countenance; "yet +all this approximation to the philosopher's stone wringeth not +one single crown out of my Lord Leicester's pouch, and far less +out of Richard Varney's. WE must have earthly and substantial +services, man, and care not whom else thou canst delude with thy +philosophical charlatanry." + +"My son Varney," said the alchemist, "the unbelief, gathered +around thee like a frost-fog, hath dimmed thine acute perception +to that which is a stumbling-block to the wise, and which yet, to +him who seeketh knowledge with humility, extends a lesson so +clear that he who runs may read. Hath not Art, thinkest thou, +the means of completing Nature's imperfect concoctions in her +attempts to form the precious metals, even as by art we can +perfect those other operations of incubation, distillation, +fermentation, and similar processes of an ordinary description, +by which we extract life itself out of a senseless egg, summon +purity and vitality out of muddy dregs, or call into vivacity the +inert substance of a sluggish liquid?" + +"I have heard all this before," said Varney, "and my heart is +proof against such cant ever since I sent twenty good gold pieces +(marry, it was in the nonage of my wit) to advance the grand +magisterium, all which, God help the while, vanished IN FUMO. +Since that moment, when I paid for my freedom, I defy chemistry, +astrology, palmistry, and every other occult art, were it as +secret as hell itself, to unloose the stricture of my purse- +strings. Marry, I neither defy the manna of Saint Nicholas, nor +can I dispense with it. The first task must be to prepare some +when thou gett'st down to my little sequestered retreat yonder, +and then make as much gold as thou wilt." + +"I will make no more of that dose," said the alchemist, +resolutely. + +"Then," said the master of the horse, "thou shalt be hanged for +what thou hast made already, and so were the great secret for +ever lost to mankind. Do not humanity this injustice, good +father, but e'en bend to thy destiny, and make us an ounce or two +of this same stuff; which cannot prejudice above one or two +individuals, in order to gain lifetime to discover the universal +medicine, which shall clear away all mortal diseases at once. +But cheer up, thou grave, learned, and most melancholy jackanape! +Hast thou not told me that a moderate portion of thy drug hath +mild effects, no ways ultimately dangerous to the human frame, +but which produces depression of spirits, nausea, headache, an +unwillingness to change of place--even such a state of temper as +would keep a bird from flying out of a cage were the door left +open?" + +"I have said so, and it is true," said the alchemist. "This +effect will it produce, and the bird who partakes of it in such +proportion shall sit for a season drooping on her perch, without +thinking either of the free blue sky, or of the fair greenwood, +though the one be lighted by the rays of the rising sun, and the +other ringing with the newly-awakened song of all the feathered +inhabitants of the forest." + +"And this without danger to life?" said Varney, somewhat +anxiously. + +"Ay, so that proportion and measure be not exceeded; and so that +one who knows the nature of the manna be ever near to watch the +symptoms, and succour in case of need." + +"Thou shalt regulate the whole," said Varney. "Thy reward shall +be princely, if thou keepest time and touch, and exceedest not +the due proportion, to the prejudice of her health; otherwise thy +punishment shall be as signal." + +"The prejudice of HER health!" repeated Alasco; "it is, then, a +woman I am to use my skill upon?" + +"No, thou fool," replied Varney, "said I not it was a bird--a +reclaimed linnet, whose pipe might soothe a hawk when in mid +stoop? I see thine eye sparkle, and I know thy beard is not +altogether so white as art has made it--THAT, at least, thou hast +been able to transmute to silver. But mark me, this is no mate +for thee. This caged bird is dear to one who brooks no rivalry, +and far less such rivalry as thine, and her health must over all +things be cared for. But she is in the case of being commanded +down to yonder Kenilworth revels, and it is most expedient--most +needful--most necessary that she fly not thither. Of these +necessities and their causes, it is not needful that she should +know aught; and it is to be thought that her own wish may lead +her to combat all ordinary reasons which can be urged for her +remaining a housekeeper." + +"That is but natural," said the alchemist with a strange smile, +which yet bore a greater reference to the human character than +the uninterested and abstracted gaze which his physiognomy had +hitherto expressed, where all seemed to refer to some world +distant from that which was existing around him. + +"It is so," answered Varney; "you understand women well, though +it may have been long since you were conversant amongst them. +Well, then, she is not to be contradicted; yet she is not to be +humoured. Understand me--a slight illness, sufficient to take +away the desire of removing from thence, and to make such of your +wise fraternity as may be called in to aid, recommend a quiet +residence at home, will, in one word, be esteemed good service, +and remunerated as such." + +"I am not to be asked to affect the House of Life?" said the +chemist. + +"On the contrary, we will have thee hanged if thou dost," replied +Varney. + +"And I must," added Alasco, "have opportunity to do my turn, and +all facilities for concealment or escape, should there be +detection?" + +"All, all, and everything, thou infidel in all but the +impossibilities of alchemy. Why, man, for what dost thou take +me?" + +The old man rose, and taking a light walked towards the end of +the apartment, where was a door that led to the small sleeping- +room destined for his reception during the night. At the door he +turned round, and slowly repeated Varney's question ere he +answered it. "For what do I take thee, Richard Varney? Why, for +a worse devil than I have been myself. But I am in your toils, +and I must serve you till my term be out." + +"Well, well," answered Varney hastily, "be stirring with grey +light. It may be we shall not need thy medicine--do nought till +I myself come down. Michael Lambourne shall guide you to the +place of your destination." [See Note 7. Dr. Julio.] + +When Varney heard the adept's door shut and carefully bolted +within, he stepped towards it, and with similar precaution +carefully locked it on the outside, and took the key from the +lock, muttering to himself, "Worse than THEE, thou poisoning +quacksalver and witch-monger, who, if thou art not a bounden +slave to the devil, it is only because he disdains such an +apprentice! I am a mortal man, and seek by mortal means the +gratification of my passions and advancement of my prospects; +thou art a vassal of hell itself--So ho, Lambourne!" he called +at another door, and Michael made his appearance with a flushed +cheek and an unsteady step. + +"Thou art drunk, thou villain!" said Varney to him. + +"Doubtless, noble sir," replied the unabashed Michael; "We have +been drinking all even to the glories of the day, and to my noble +Lord of Leicester and his valiant master of the horse. Drunk! +odds blades and poniards, he that would refuse to swallow a dozen +healths on such an evening is a base besognio, and a puckfoist, +and shall swallow six inches of my dagger!" + +"Hark ye, scoundrel," said Varney, "be sober on the instant--I +command thee. I know thou canst throw off thy drunken folly, +like a fool's coat, at pleasure; and if not, it were the worse +for thee." + +Lambourne drooped his head, left the apartment, and returned in +two or three minutes with his face composed, his hair adjusted, +his dress in order, and exhibiting as great a difference from his +former self as if the whole man had been changed. + +"Art thou sober now, and dost thou comprehend me?" said Varney +sternly. + +Lambourne bowed in acquiescence. + +"Thou must presently down to Cumnor Place with the reverend man +of art who sleeps yonder in the little vaulted chamber. Here is +the key, that thou mayest call him by times. Take another trusty +fellow with you. Use him well on the journey, but let him not +escape you--pistol him if he attempt it, and I will be your +warrant. I will give thee letters to Foster. The doctor is to +occupy the lower apartments of the eastern quadrangle, with +freedom to use the old elaboratory and its implements. He is to +have no access to the lady, but such as I shall point out--only +she may be amused to see his philosophical jugglery. Thou wilt +await at Cumnor Place my further orders; and, as thou livest, +beware of the ale-bench and the aqua vitae flask. Each breath +drawn in Cumnor Place must be kept severed from common air." + +"Enough, my lord--I mean my worshipful master, soon, I trust, to +be my worshipful knightly master. You have given me my lesson +and my license; I will execute the one, and not abuse the other. +I will be in the saddle by daybreak." + +"Do so, and deserve favour. Stay--ere thou goest fill me a cup +of wine--not out of that flask, sirrah," as Lambourne was pouring +out from that which Alasco had left half finished, "fetch me a +fresh one." + +Lambourne obeyed, and Varney, after rinsing his mouth with the +liquor, drank a full cup, and said, as he took up a lamp to +retreat to his sleeping apartment, "It is strange--I am as little +the slave of fancy as any one, yet I never speak for a few +minutes with this fellow Alasco, but my mouth and lungs feel as +if soiled with the fumes of calcined arsenic--pah!" + +So saying, he left the apartment. Lambourne lingered, to drink a +cup of the freshly-opened flask. "It is from Saint John's-Berg," +he said, as he paused on the draught to enjoy its flavour, "and +has the true relish of the violet. But I must forbear it now, +that I may one day drink it at my own pleasure." And he quaffed +a goblet of water to quench the fumes of the Rhenish wine, +retired slowly towards the door, made a pause, and then, finding +the temptation irresistible, walked hastily back, and took +another long pull at the wine flask, without the formality of a +cup. + +"Were it not for this accursed custom," he said, "I might climb +as high as Varney himself. But who can climb when the room turns +round with him like a parish-top? I would the distance were +greater, or the road rougher, betwixt my hand and mouth! But I +will drink nothing to-morrow save water--nothing save fair +water." + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + PISTOL. And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys, + And happy news of price. + FALSTAFF. I prithee now deliver them like to men of this world. + PISTOL. A foutra for the world, and worldlings base! + I speak of Africa, and golden joys. HENRY IV. PART II. + +The public room of the Black Bear at Cumnor, to which the scene +of our story now returns, boasted, on the evening which we treat +of, no ordinary assemblage of guests. There had been a fair in +the neighbourhood, and the cutting mercer of Abingdon, with some +of the other personages whom the reader has already been made +acquainted with, as friends and customers of Giles Gosling, had +already formed their wonted circle around the evening fire, and +were talking over the news of the day. + +A lively, bustling, arch fellow, whose pack, and oaken ellwand +studded duly with brass points, denoted him to be of Autolycus's +profession, occupied a good deal of the attention, and furnished +much of the amusement, of the evening. The pedlars of those +days, it must be remembered, were men of far greater importance +than the degenerate and degraded hawkers of our modern times. It +was by means of these peripatetic venders that the country trade, +in the finer manufactures used in female dress particularly, was +almost entirely carried on; and if a merchant of this description +arrived at the dignity of travelling with a pack-horse, he was a +person of no small consequence, and company for the most +substantial yeoman or franklin whom he might meet in his +wanderings. + +The pedlar of whom we speak bore, accordingly, an active and +unrebuked share in the merriment to which the rafters of the +bonny Black Bear of Cumnor resounded. He had his smile with +pretty Mistress Cicely, his broad laugh with mine host, and his +jest upon dashing Master Goldthred, who, though indeed without +any such benevolent intention on his own part, was the general +butt of the evening. The pedlar and he were closely engaged in a +dispute upon the preference due to the Spanish nether-stock over +the black Gascoigne hose, and mine host had just winked to the +guests around him, as who should say, "You will have mirth +presently, my masters," when the trampling of horses was heard in +the courtyard, and the hostler was loudly summoned, with a few of +the newest oaths then in vogue to add force to the invocation. +Out tumbled Will Hostler, John Tapster, and all the militia of +the inn, who had slunk from their posts in order to collect some +scattered crumbs of the mirth which was flying about among the +customers. Out into the yard sallied mine host himself also, to +do fitting salutation to his new guests; and presently returned, +ushering into the apartment his own worthy nephew, Michael +Lambourne, pretty tolerably drunk, and having under his escort +the astrologer. Alasco, though still a little old man, had, by +altering his gown to a riding-dress, trimming his beard and +eyebrows, and so forth, struck at least a score of years from his +apparent age, and might now seem an active man of sixty, or +little upwards. He appeared at present exceedingly anxious, and +had insisted much with Lambourne that they should not enter the +inn, but go straight forward to the place of their destination. +But Lambourne would not be controlled. "By Cancer and +Capricorn," he vociferated, "and the whole heavenly host, besides +all the stars that these blessed eyes of mine have seen sparkle +in the southern heavens, to which these northern blinkers are but +farthing candles, I will be unkindly for no one's humour--I will +stay and salute my worthy uncle here. Chesu! that good blood +should ever be forgotten betwixt friends!--A gallon of your best, +uncle, and let it go round to the health of the noble Earl of +Leicester! What! shall we not collogue together, and warm the +cockles of our ancient kindness?--shall we not collogue, I say?" + +"With all my heart, kinsman," said mine host, who obviously +wished to be rid of him; "but are you to stand shot to all this +good liquor?" + +This is a question has quelled many a jovial toper, but it moved +not the purpose of Lambourne's soul, "Question my means, nuncle?" +he said, producing a handful of mixed gold and silver pieces; +"question Mexico and Peru--question the Queen's exchequer--God +save her Majesty!--she is my good Lord's good mistress." + +"Well, kinsman," said mine host, "it is my business to sell wine +to those who can buy it--so, Jack Tapster, do me thine office. +But I would I knew how to come by money as lightly as thou dost, +Mike." + +"Why, uncle," said Lambourne, "I will tell thee a secret. Dost +see this little old fellow here? as old and withered a chip as +ever the devil put into his porridge--and yet, uncle, between you +and me--he hath Potosi in that brain of his--'sblood! he can +coin ducats faster than I can vent oaths." + +"I will have none of his coinage in my purse, though, Michael," +said mine host; "I know what belongs to falsifying the Queen's +coin." + +"Thou art an ass, uncle, for as old as thou art.--Pull me not by +the skirts, doctor, thou art an ass thyself to boot--so, being +both asses, I tell ye I spoke but metaphorically." + +"Are you mad?' said the old man; "is the devil in you? Can you +not let us begone without drawing all men's eyes on us?" + +"Sayest thou?" said Lambourne. "Thou art deceived now--no man +shall see you, an I give the word.--By heavens, masters, an any +one dare to look on this old gentleman, I will slash the eyes out +of his head with my poniard!--So sit down, old friend, and be +merry; these are mine ingles--mine ancient inmates, and will +betray no man." + +"Had you not better withdraw to a private apartment, nephew?" +said Giles Gosling. "You speak strange matter," he added, "and +there be intelligencers everywhere." + +"I care not for them," said the magnanimous Michael-- +"intelligencers? pshaw! I serve the noble Earl of Leicester. +--Here comes the wine.--Fill round, Master Skinker, a carouse to +the health of the flower of England, the noble Earl of Leicester! +I say, the noble Earl of Leicester! He that does me not reason +is a swine of Sussex, and I'll make him kneel to the pledge, if I +should cut his hams and smoke them for bacon." + +None disputed a pledge given under such formidable penalties; and +Michael Lambourne, whose drunken humour was not of course +diminished by this new potation, went on in the same wild way, +renewing his acquaintance with such of the guests as he had +formerly known, and experiencing a reception in which there was +now something of deference mingled with a good deal of fear; for +the least servitor of the favourite Earl, especially such a man +as Lambourne, was, for very sufficient reasons, an object both of +the one and of the other. + +In the meanwhile, the old man, seeing his guide in this +uncontrollable humour, ceased to remonstrate with him, and +sitting down in the most obscure corner of the room, called for a +small measure of sack, over which he seemed, as it were, to +slumber, withdrawing himself as much as possible from general +observation, and doing nothing which could recall his existence +to the recollection of his fellow-traveller, who by this time had +got into close intimacy with his ancient comrade, Goldthred of +Abingdon. + +"Never believe me, bully Mike," said the mercer, "if I am not as +glad to see thee as ever I was to see a customer's money! Why, +thou canst give a friend a sly place at a mask or a revel now, +Mike; ay, or, I warrant thee, thou canst say in my lord's ear, +when my honourable lord is down in these parts, and wants a +Spanish ruff or the like--thou canst say in his ear, There is +mine old friend, young Lawrence Goldthred of Abingdon, has as +good wares, lawn, tiffany, cambric, and so forth--ay, and is as +pretty a piece of man's flesh, too, as is in Berkshire, and will +ruffle it for your lordship with any man of his inches; and thou +mayest say--" + +"I can say a hundred d--d lies besides, mercer," answered +Lambourne; "what, one must not stand upon a good word for a +friend!" + +"Here is to thee, Mike, with all my heart," said the mercer; "and +thou canst tell one the reality of the new fashions too. Here +was a rogue pedlar but now was crying up the old-fashioned +Spanish nether-stock over the Gascoigne hose, although thou seest +how well the French hose set off the leg and knee, being adorned +with parti-coloured garters and garniture in conformity." + +"Excellent, excellent," replied Lambourne; "why, thy limber bit +of a thigh, thrust through that bunch of slashed buckram and +tiffany, shows like a housewife's distaff when the flax is half +spun off!" + +"Said I not so?" said the mercer, whose shallow brain was now +overflowed in his turn; "where, then, where be this rascal +pedlar?--there was a pedlar here but now, methinks.--Mine host, +where the foul fiend is this pedlar?" + +"Where wise men should be, Master Goldthred," replied Giles +Gosling; "even shut up in his private chamber, telling over the +sales of to-day, and preparing for the custom of to-morrow." + +"Hang him, a mechanical chuff!" said the mercer; "but for shame, +it were a good deed to ease him of his wares--a set of peddling +knaves, who stroll through the land, and hurt the established +trader. There are good fellows in Berkshire yet, mine host--your +pedlar may be met withal on Maiden Castle." + +"Ay," replied mine host, laughing, "and he who meets him may meet +his match--the pedlar is a tall man." + +"Is he?" said Goldthred. + +"Is he?" replied the host; "ay, by cock and pie is he--the very +pedlar he who raddled Robin Hood so tightly, as the song says,-- + +'Now Robin Hood drew his sword so good, + The pedlar drew his brand, +And he hath raddled him, Robin Hood, + Till he neither could see nor stand.'" + +"Hang him, foul scroyle, let him pass," said the mercer; "if he +be such a one, there were small worship to be won upon him.--And +now tell me, Mike--my honest Mike, how wears the Hollands you won +of me?" + +"Why, well, as you may see, Master Goldthred," answered Mike; "I +will bestow a pot on thee for the handsel.--Fill the flagon, +Master Tapster." + +"Thou wilt win no more Hollands, think, on such wager, friend +Mike," said the mercer; "for the sulky swain, Tony Foster, rails +at thee all to nought, and swears you shall ne'er darken his +doors again, for that your oaths are enough to blow the roof off +a Christian man's dwelling." + +"Doth he say so, the mincing, hypocritical miser?" vociferated +Lambourne. "Why, then, he shall come down and receive my +commands here, this blessed night, under my uncle's roof! And I +will ring him such a black sanctus, that he shall think the devil +hath him by the skirts for a month to come, for barely hearing +me." + +"Nay, now the pottle-pot is uppermost, with a witness!" said the +mercer. "Tony Foster obey thy whistle! Alas! good Mike, go +sleep--go sleep." + +"I tell thee what, thou thin-faced gull," said Michael Lambourne, +in high chafe, "I will wager thee fifty angels against the first +five shelves of thy shop, numbering upward from the false light, +with all that is on them, that I make Tony Foster come down to +this public-house before we have finished three rounds." + +"I will lay no bet to that amount," said the mercer, something +sobered by an offer which intimated rather too private a +knowledge on Lambourne's part of the secret recesses of his shop. +"I will lay no such wager," he said; "but I will stake five +angels against thy five, if thou wilt, that Tony Foster will not +leave his own roof, or come to ale-house after prayer time, for +thee, or any man." + +"Content," said Lambourne.--"Here, uncle, hold stakes, and let +one of your young bleed-barrels there--one of your infant +tapsters--trip presently up to The Place, and give this letter to +Master Foster, and say that I, his ingle, Michael Lambourne, pray +to speak with him at mine uncle's castle here, upon business of +grave import.--Away with thee, child, for it is now sundown, and +the wretch goeth to bed with the birds to save mutton-suet-- +faugh!" + +Shortly after this messenger was dispatched--an interval which +was spent in drinking and buffoonery--he returned with the answer +that Master Foster was coming presently. + +"Won, won!" said Lambourne, darting on the stakes. + +"Not till he comes, if you please," said the mercer, interfering. + +"Why, 'sblood, he is at the threshold," replied Michael.--"What +said he, boy?" + +"If it please your worship," answered the messenger, "he looked +out of window, with a musquetoon in his hand, and when I +delivered your errand, which I did with fear and trembling, he +said, with a vinegar aspect, that your worship might be gone to +the infernal regions." + +"Or to hell, I suppose," said Lambourne--"it is there he disposes +of all that are not of the congregation." + +"Even so," said the boy; "I used the other phrase as being the +more poetical." + +"An ingenious youth," said Michael; "shalt have a drop to whet +thy poetical whistle. And what said Foster next?" + +"He called me back," answered the boy, "and bid me say you might +come to him if you had aught to say to him." + +"And what next?" said Lambourne. + +"He read the letter, and seemed in a fluster, and asked if your +worship was in drink; and I said you were speaking a little +Spanish, as one who had been in the Canaries." + +"Out, you diminutive pint-pot, whelped of an overgrown +reckoning!" replied Lambourne--"out! But what said he then?" + +"Why," said the boy, "he muttered that if he came not your +worship would bolt out what were better kept in; and so he took +his old flat cap, and threadbare blue cloak, and, as I said +before, he will be here incontinent." + +"There is truth in what he said," replied Lambourne, as if +speaking to himself--"my brain has played me its old dog's trick. +But corragio--let him approach!--I have not rolled about in the +world for many a day to fear Tony Foster, be I drunk or sober.-- +Bring me a flagon of cold water to christen my sack withal." + +While Lambourne, whom the approach of Foster seemed to have +recalled to a sense of his own condition, was busied in preparing +to receive him, Giles Gosling stole up to the apartment of the +pedlar, whom he found traversing the room in much agitation. + +"You withdrew yourself suddenly from the company," said the +landlord to the guest. + +"It was time, when the devil became one among you," replied the +pedlar. + +"It is not courteous in you to term my nephew by such a name," +said Gosling, "nor is it kindly in me to reply to it; and yet, in +some sort, Mike may be considered as a limb of Satan." + +"Pooh--I talk not of the swaggering ruffian," replied the pedlar; +"it is of the other, who, for aught I know--But when go they? or +wherefore come they?" + +"Marry, these are questions I cannot answer," replied the host. +"But look you, sir, you have brought me a token from worthy +Master Tressilian--a pretty stone it is." He took out the ring, +and looked at it, adding, as he put it into his purse again, that +it was too rich a guerdon for anything he could do for the worthy +donor. He was, he said, in the public line, and it ill became +him to be too inquisitive into other folk's concerns. He had +already said that he could hear nothing but that the lady lived +still at Cumnor Place in the closest seclusion, and, to such as +by chance had a view of her, seemed pensive and discontented with +her solitude. "But here," he said, "if you are desirous to +gratify your master, is the rarest chance that hath occurred for +this many a day. Tony Foster is coming down hither, and it is +but letting Mike Lambourne smell another wine-flask, and the +Queen's command would not move him from the ale-bench. So they +are fast for an hour or so. Now, if you will don your pack, +which will be your best excuse, you may, perchance, win the ear +of the old servant, being assured of the master's absence, to let +you try to get some custom of the lady; and then you may learn +more of her condition than I or any other can tell you." + +"True--very true," answered Wayland, for he it was; "an excellent +device, but methinks something dangerous--for, say Foster should +return?" + +"Very possible indeed," replied the host. + +"Or say," continued Way]and, "the lady should render me cold +thanks for my exertions?" + +"As is not unlikely," replied Giles Gosling. "I marvel Master +Tressilian will take such heed of her that cares not for him." + +"In either case I were foully sped," said Wayland, "and therefore +I do not, on the whole, much relish your device." + +"Nay, but take me with you, good master serving-man," replied +mine host. "This is your master's business, and not mine:, you +best know the risk to be encountered, or how far you are willing +to brave it. But that which you will not yourself hazard, you +cannot expect others to risk." + +"Hold, hold," said Wayland; "tell me but one thing--goes yonder +old man up to Cumnor?" + +"Surely, I think so?" said the landlord; "their servant said he +was to take their baggage thither. But the ale-tap has been as +potent for him as the sack-spigot has been for Michael." + +"It is enough," said Wayland, assuming an air of resolution. "I +will thwart that old villain's projects; my affright at his +baleful aspect begins to abate, and my hatred to arise. Help me +on with my pack, good mine host.--And look to thyself, old +Albumazar; there is a malignant influence in thy horoscope, and +it gleams from the constellation Ursa Major." + +So saying, he assumed his burden, and, guided by the landlord +through the postern gate of the Black Bear, took the most private +way from thence up to Cumnor Place. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + CLOWN. You have of these pedlars, that have more in'em than + you'd think, sister.--WINTER'S TALE, ACT IV., SCENE 3. + +In his anxiety to obey the Earl's repeated charges of secrecy, as +well as from his own unsocial and miserly habits, Anthony Foster +was more desirous, by his mode of housekeeping, to escape +observation than to resist intrusive curiosity. Thus, instead of +a numerous household, to secure his charge, and defend his house, +he studied as much as possible to elude notice by diminishing his +attendants; so that, unless when there were followers of the +Earl, or of Varney, in the mansion, one old male domestic, and +two aged crones, who assisted in keeping the Countess's +apartments in order, were the only servants of the family. + +It was one of these old women who opened the door when Wayland +knocked, and answered his petition, to be admitted to exhibit his +wares to the ladies of the family, with a volley of vituperation, +couched in what is there called the JOWRING dialect. The pedlar +found the means of checking this vociferation by slipping a +silver groat into her hand, and intimating the present of some +stuff for a coif, if the lady would buy of his wares. + +"God ield thee, for mine is aw in littocks. Slocket with thy +pack into gharn, mon--her walks in gharn." Into the garden she +ushered the pedlar accordingly, and pointing to an old, ruinous +garden house, said, "Yonder be's her, mon--yonder be's her. Zhe +will buy changes an zhe loikes stuffs." + +"She has left me to come off as I may," thought Wayland, as he +heard the hag shut the garden-door behind him. "But they shall +not beat me, and they dare not murder me, for so little trespass, +and by this fair twilight. Hang it, I will on--a brave general +never thought of his retreat till he was defeated. I see two +females in the old garden-house yonder--but how to address them? +Stay--Will Shakespeare, be my friend in need. I will give them a +taste of Autolycus." He then sung, with a good voice, and +becoming audacity, the popular playhouse ditty,-- + + "Lawn as white as driven snow, + Cyprus black as e'er was crow, + Gloves as sweet as damask roses, + Masks for faces and for noses." + +"What hath fortune sent us here for an unwonted sight, Janet?" +said the lady. + +"One of those merchants of vanity, called pedlars," answered +Janet, demurely, "who utters his light wares in lighter measures. +I marvel old Dorcas let him pass." + +"It is a lucky chance, girl," said the Countess; "we lead a heavy +life here, and this may while off a weary hour." + +"Ay, my gracious lady," said Janet; "but my father?" + +"He is not my father, Janet, nor I hope my master," answered the +lady. "I say, call the man hither--I want some things." + +"Nay," replied Janet, "your ladyship has but to say so in the +next packet, and if England can furnish them they will be sent. +There will come mischief on't--pray, dearest lady, let me bid the +man begone!" + +"I will have thee bid him come hither," said the Countess;--"or +stay, thou terrified fool, I will bid him myself, and spare thee +a chiding." + +"Ah! well-a-day, dearest lady, if that were the worst," said +Janet sadly; while the lady called to the pedlar, "Good fellow, +step forward--undo thy pack; if thou hast good wares, chance has +sent thee hither for my convenience and thy profit." + +"What may your ladyship please to lack?" said Wayland, +unstrapping his pack, and displaying its contents with as much +dexterity as if he had been bred to the trade. Indeed he had +occasionally pursued it in the course of his roving life, and now +commended his wares with all the volubility of a trader, and +showed some skill in the main art of placing prices upon them. + +"What do I please to lack?" said the lady, "why, considering I +have not for six long months bought one yard of lawn or cambric, +or one trinket, the most inconsiderable, for my own use, and at +my own choice, the better question is, What hast thou got to +sell? Lay aside for me that cambric partlet and pair of sleeves +--and those roundells of gold fringe, drawn out with cyprus--and +that short cloak of cherry-coloured fine cloth, garnished with +gold buttons and loops;--is it not of an absolute fancy, Janet?" + +"Nay, my lady," replied Janet, "if you consult my poor judgment, +it is, methinks, over-gaudy for a graceful habit." + +"Now, out upon thy judgment, if it be no brighter, wench," said +the Countess. "Thou shalt wear it thyself for penance' sake; and +I promise thee the gold buttons, being somewhat massive, will +comfort thy father, and reconcile him to the cherry-coloured +body. See that he snap them not away, Janet, and send them to +bear company with the imprisoned angels which he keeps captive in +his strong-box." + +"May I pray your ladyship to spare my poor father?" said Janet. + +"Nay, but why should any one spare him that is so sparing of his +own nature?" replied the lady.--"Well, but to our gear. That +head garniture for myself, and that silver bodkin mounted with +pearl; and take off two gowns of that russet cloth for Dorcas and +Alison, Janet, to keep the old wretches warm against winter +comes.--And stay--hast thou no perfumes and sweet bags, or any +handsome casting bottles of the newest mode?" + +"Were I a pedlar in earnest, I were a made merchant," thought +Wayland, as he busied himself to answer the demands which she +thronged one on another, with the eagerness of a young lady who +has been long secluded from such a pleasing occupation. "But how +to bring her to a moment's serious reflection?" Then as he +exhibited his choicest collection of essences and perfumes, he at +once arrested her attention by observing that these articles had +almost risen to double value since the magnificent preparations +made by the Earl of Leicester to entertain the Queen and court at +his princely Castle of Kenilworth. + +"Ha!" said the Countess hastily; "that rumour, then, is true, +Janet." + +"Surely, madam," answered Wayland; "and I marvel it hath not +reached your noble ladyship's ears. The Queen of England feasts +with the noble Earl for a week during the Summer's Progress; and +there are many who will tell you England will have a king, and +England's Elizabeth--God save her!--a husband, ere the Progress +be over." + +"They lie like villains!" said the Countess, bursting forth +impatiently. + +"For God's sake, madam, consider," said Janet, trembling with +apprehension; "who would cumber themselves about pedlar's +tidings?" + +"Yes, Janet!" exclaimed the Countess; "right, thou hast +corrected me justly. Such reports, blighting the reputation of +England's brightest and noblest peer, can only find currency +amongst the mean, the abject, and the infamous!" + +"May I perish, lady," said Wayland Smith, observing that her +violence directed itself towards him, "if I have done anything to +merit this strange passion! I have said but what many men say." + +By this time the Countess had recovered her composure, and +endeavoured, alarmed by the anxious hints of Janet, to suppress +all appearance of displeasure. "I were loath," she said, "good +fellow, that our Queen should change the virgin style so dear to +us her people--think not of it." And then, as if desirous to +change the subject, she added, "And what is this paste, so +carefully put up in the silver box?" as she examined the +contents of a casket in which drugs and perfumes were contained +in separate drawers. + +"It is a remedy, Madam, for a disorder of which I trust your +ladyship will never have reason to complain. The amount of a +small turkey-bean, swallowed daily for a week, fortifies the +heart against those black vapours which arise from solitude, +melancholy, unrequited affection, disappointed hope--" + +"Are you a fool, friend?" said the Countess sharply; "or do you +think, because I have good-naturedly purchased your trumpery +goods at your roguish prices, that you may put any gullery you +will on me? Who ever heard that affections of the heart were +cured by medicines given to the body?" + +"Under your honourable favour," said Wayland, "I am an honest +man, and I have sold my goods at an honest price. As to this +most precious medicine, when I told its qualities, I asked you +not to purchase it, so why should I lie to you? I say not it +will cure a rooted affection of the mind, which only God and time +can do; but I say that this restorative relieves the black +vapours which are engendered in the body of that melancholy which +broodeth on the mind. I have relieved many with it, both in +court and city, and of late one Master Edmund Tressilian, a +worshipful gentleman in Cornwall, who, on some slight received, +it was told me, where he had set his affections, was brought into +that state of melancholy which made his friends alarmed for his +life." + +He paused, and the lady remained silent for some time, and then +asked, with a voice which she strove in vain to render firm and +indifferent in its tone, "Is the gentleman you have mentioned +perfectly recovered?" + +"Passably, madam," answered Wayland; "he hath at least no bodily +complaint." + +"I will take some of the medicine, Janet," said the Countess. "I +too have sometimes that dark melancholy which overclouds the +brain." + +"You shall not do so, madam," said Janet; "who shall answer that +this fellow vends what is wholesome?" + +"I will myself warrant my good faith," said Wayland; and taking a +part of the medicine, he swallowed it before them. The Countess +now bought what remained, a step to which Janet, by further +objections, only determined her the more obstinately. She even +took the first dose upon the instant, and professed to feel her +heart lightened and her spirits augmented--a consequence which, +in all probability, existed only in her own imagination. The +lady then piled the purchases she had made together, flung her +purse to Janet, and desired her to compute the amount, and to pay +the pedlar; while she herself, as if tired of the amusement she +at first found in conversing with him, wished him good evening, +and walked carelessly into the house, thus depriving Wayland of +every opportunity to speak with her in private. He hastened, +however, to attempt an explanation with Janet. + +"Maiden," he said, "thou hast the face of one who should love her +mistress. She hath much need of faithful service." + +"And well deserves it at my hands," replied Janet; "but +what of that?" + +"Maiden, I am not altogether what I seem," said the pedlar, +lowering his voice. + +"The less like to be an honest man," said Janet. + +"The more so," answered Wayland, "since I am no pedlar." + +"Get thee gone then instantly, or I will call for assistance," +said Janet; "my father must ere this be returned." + +"Do not be so rash," said Wayland; "you will do what you may +repent of. I am one of your mistress's friends; and she had need +of more, not that thou shouldst ruin those she hath." + +"How shall I know that?" said Janet. + +"Look me in the face," said Wayland Smith, "and see if thou dost +not read honesty in my looks." + +And in truth, though by no means handsome, there was in his +physiognomy the sharp, keen expression of inventive genius and +prompt intellect, which, joined to quick and brilliant eyes, a +well-formed mouth, and an intelligent smile, often gives grace +and interest to features which are both homely and irregular. +Janet looked at him with the sly simplicity of her sect, and +replied, "Notwithstanding thy boasted honesty, friend, and +although I am not accustomed to read and pass judgment on such +volumes as thou hast submitted to my perusal, I think I see in +thy countenance something of the pedlar-something of the +picaroon." + +"On a small scale, perhaps," said Wayland Smith, laughing. "But +this evening, or to-morrow, will an old man come hither with thy +father, who has the stealthy step of the cat, the shrewd and +vindictive eye of the rat, the fawning wile of the spaniel, the +determined snatch of the mastiff--of him beware, for your own +sake and that of your distress. See you, fair Janet, he brings +the venom of the aspic under the assumed innocence of the dove. +What precise mischief he meditates towards you I cannot guess, +but death and disease have ever dogged his footsteps. Say nought +of this to thy mistress; my art suggests to me that in her state +the fear of evil may be as dangerous as its operation. But see +that she take my specific, for" (he lowered his voice, and spoke +low but impressively in her ear) "it is an antidote against +poison.--Hark, they enter the garden!" + +In effect, a sound of noisy mirth and loud talking approached the +garden door, alarmed by which Wayland Smith sprung into the midst +of a thicket of overgrown shrubs, while Janet withdrew to the +garden-house that she might not incur observation, and that she +might at the same time conceal, at least for the present, the +purchases made from the supposed pedlar, which lay scattered on +the floor of the summer-house. + +Janet, however, had no occasion for anxiety. Her father, his old +attendant, Lord Leicester's domestic, and the astrologer, entered +the garden in tumult and in extreme perplexity, endeavouring to +quiet Lambourne, whose brain had now become completely fired with +liquor, and who was one of those unfortunate persons who, being +once stirred with the vinous stimulus, do not fall asleep like +other drunkards, but remain partially influenced by it for many +hours, until at length, by successive draughts, they are elevated +into a state of uncontrollable frenzy. Like many men in this +state also, Lambourne neither lost the power of motion, speech, +or expression; but, on the contrary, spoke with unwonted emphasis +and readiness, and told all that at another time he would have +been most desirous to keep secret. + +"What!" ejaculated Michael, at the full extent of his voice, "am +I to have no welcome, no carouse, when I have brought fortune to +your old, ruinous dog-house in the shape of a devil's ally, that +can change slate-shivers into Spanish dollars?--Here, you, Tony +Fire-the-Fagot, Papist, Puritan, hypocrite, miser, profligate, +devil, compounded of all men's sins, bow down and reverence him +who has brought into thy house the very mammon thou worshippest." + +"For God's sake," said Foster, "speak low--come into the house-- +thou shalt have wine, or whatever thou wilt." + +"No, old puckfoist, I will have it here," thundered the +inebriated ruffian--"here, AL FRESCO, as the Italian hath it. No, +no, I will not drink with that poisoning devil within doors, to +be choked with the fumes of arsenic and quick-silver; I learned +from villain Varney to beware of that." + +"Fetch him wine, in the name of all the fiends!" said the +alchemist. + +"Aha! and thou wouldst spice it for me, old Truepenny, wouldst +thou not? Ay, I should have copperas, and hellebore, and +vitriol, and aqua fortis, and twenty devilish materials bubbling +in my brain-pan like a charm to raise the devil in a witch's +cauldron. Hand me the flask thyself, old Tony Fire-the-Fagot--and +let it be cool--I will have no wine mulled at the pile of the old +burnt bishops. Or stay, let Leicester be king if he will--good-- +and Varney, villain Varney, grand vizier--why, excellent!--and +what shall I be, then?--why, emperor--Emperor Lambourne! I will +see this choice piece of beauty that they have walled up here for +their private pleasures; I will have her this very night to serve +my wine-cup and put on my nightcap. What should a fellow do with +two wives, were he twenty times an Earl? Answer me that, Tony +boy, you old reprobate, hypocritical dog, whom God struck out of +the book of life, but tormented with the constant wish to be +restored to it--you old bishop-burning, blasphemous fanatic, +answer me that." + +"I will stick my knife to the haft in him," said Foster, in a low +tone, which trembled with passion. + +"For the love of Heaven, no violence!" said the astrologer. "It +cannot but be looked closely into.--Here, honest Lambourne, wilt +thou pledge me to the health of the noble Earl of Leicester and +Master Richard Varney?" + +"I will, mine old Albumazar--I will, my trusty vender of +ratsbane. I would kiss thee, mine honest infractor of the Lex +Julia (as they said at Leyden), didst thou not flavour so +damnably of sulphur, and such fiendish apothecary's stuff.--Here +goes it, up seyes--to Varney and Leicester two more noble +mounting spirits--and more dark-seeking, deep-diving, high- +flying, malicious, ambitious miscreants--well, I say no more, but +I will whet my dagger on his heart-spone that refuses to pledge +me! And so, my masters--" + +Thus speaking, Lambourne exhausted the cup which the astrologer +had handed to him, and which contained not wine, but distilled +spirits. He swore half an oath, dropped the empty cup from his +grasp, laid his hand on his sword without being able to draw it, +reeled, and fell without sense or motion into the arms of the +domestic, who dragged him off to his chamber, and put him to bed. + +In the general confusion, Janet regained her lady's chamber +unobserved, trembling like an aspen leaf, but determined to keep +secret from the Countess the dreadful surmises which she could +not help entertaining from the drunken ravings of Lambourne. Her +fears, however, though they assumed no certain shape, kept pace +with the advice of the pedlar; and she confirmed her mistress in +her purpose of taking the medicine which he had recommended, from +which it is probable she would otherwise have dissuaded her. +Neither had these intimations escaped the ears of Wayland, who +knew much better how to interpret them. He felt much compassion +at beholding so lovely a creature as the Countess, and whom he +had first seen in the bosom of domestic happiness, exposed to the +machinations of such a gang of villains. His indignation, too, +had been highly excited by hearing the voice of his old master, +against whom he felt, in equal degree, the passions of hatred and +fear. He nourished also a pride in his own art and resources; +and, dangerous as the task was, he that night formed a +determination to attain the bottom of the mystery, and to aid the +distressed lady, if it were yet possible. From some words which +Lambourne had dropped among his ravings, Wayland now, for the +first time, felt inclined to doubt that Varney had acted entirely +on his own account in wooing and winning the affections of this +beautiful creature. Fame asserted of this zealous retainer that +he had accommodated his lord in former love intrigues; and it +occurred to Wayland Smith that Leicester himself might be the +party chiefly interested. Her marriage with the Earl he could +not suspect; but even the discovery of such a passing intrigue +with a lady of Mistress Amy Robsart's rank was a secret of the +deepest importance to the stability of the favourite's power over +Elizabeth. "If Leicester himself should hesitate to stifle such +a rumour by very strange means," said he to himself, "he has +those about him who would do him that favour without waiting for +his consent. If I would meddle in this business, it must be in +such guise as my old master uses when he compounds his manna of +Satan, and that is with a close mask on my face. So I will quit +Giles Gosling to-morrow, and change my course and place of +residence as often as a hunted fox. I should like to see this +little Puritan, too, once more. She looks both pretty and +intelligent to have come of such a caitiff as Anthony Fire-the- +Fagot." + +Giles Gosling received the adieus of Wayland rather joyfully than +otherwise. The honest publican saw so much peril in crossing the +course of the Earl of Leicester's favourite that his virtue was +scarce able to support him in the task, and he was well pleased +when it was likely to be removed from his shoulders still, +however, professing his good-will, and readiness, in case of +need, to do Mr. Tressilian or his emissary any service, in so far +as consisted with his character of a publican. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + Vaulting ambition, that o'erleaps itself, + And falls on t'other side. MACBETH. + +The splendour of the approaching revels at Kenilworth was now the +conversation through all England; and everything was collected at +home, or from abroad, which could add to the gaiety or glory of +the prepared reception of Elizabeth at the house of her most +distinguished favourite, Meantime Leicester appeared daily to +advance in the Queen's favour. He was perpetually by her side in +council--willingly listened to in the moments of courtly +recreation--favoured with approaches even to familiar intimacy-- +looked up to by all who had aught to hope at court--courted by +foreign ministers with the most flattering testimonies of respect +from their sovereigns,--the ALTER EGO, as it seemed, of the +stately Elizabeth, who was now very generally supposed to be +studying the time and opportunity for associating him, by +marriage, into her sovereign power. + +Amid such a tide of prosperity, this minion of fortune and of the +Queen's favour was probably the most unhappy man in the realm +which seemed at his devotion. He had the Fairy King's +superiority over his friends and dependants, and saw much which +they could not. The character of his mistress was intimately +known to him. It was his minute and studied acquaintance with +her humours, as well as her noble faculties, which, joined to his +powerful mental qualities, and his eminent external +accomplishments, had raised him so high in her favour; and it was +that very knowledge of her disposition which led him to apprehend +at every turn some sudden and overwhelming disgrace. Leicester +was like a pilot possessed of a chart which points out to him all +the peculiarities of his navigation, but which exhibits so many +shoals, breakers, and reefs of rocks, that his anxious eye reaps +little more from observing them than to be convinced that his +final escape can be little else than miraculous. + +In fact, Queen Elizabeth had a character strangely compounded of +the strongest masculine sense, with those foibles which are +chiefly supposed proper to the female sex. Her subjects had the +full benefit of her virtues, which far predominated over her +weaknesses; but her courtiers, and those about her person, had +often to sustain sudden and embarrassing turns of caprice, and +the sallies of a temper which was both jealous and despotic. She +was the nursing-mother of her people, but she was also the true +daughter of Henry VIII.; and though early sufferings and an +excellent education had repressed and modified, they had not +altogether destroyed, the hereditary temper of that "hard-ruled +king." "Her mind," says her witty godson, Sir John Harrington, +who had experienced both the smiles and the frowns which he +describes, "was ofttime like the gentle air that cometh from the +western point in a summer's morn--'twas sweet and refreshing to +all around her. Her speech did win all affections. And again, +she could put forth such alterations, when obedience was lacking, +as left no doubting WHOSE daughter she was. When she smiled, it +was a pure sunshine, that every one did choose to bask in, if +they could; but anon came a storm from a sudden gathering of +clouds, and the thunder fell in a wondrous manner on all alike." +[Nugae Antiquae, vol.i., pp.355, 356-362.] + +This variability of disposition, as Leicester well knew, was +chiefly formidable to those who had a share in the Queen's +affections, and who depended rather on her personal regard than +on the indispensable services which they could render to her +councils and her crown. The favour of Burleigh or of Walsingham, +of a description far less striking than that by which he was +himself upheld, was founded, as Leicester was well aware, on +Elizabeth's solid judgment, not on her partiality, and was, +therefore, free from all those principles of change and decay +necessarily incident to that which chiefly arose from personal +accomplishments and female predilection. These great and sage +statesmen were judged of by the Queen only with reference to the +measures they suggested, and the reasons by which they supported +their opinions in council; whereas the success of Leicester's +course depended on all those light and changeable gales of +caprice and humour which thwart or favour the progress of a lover +in the favour of his mistress, and she, too, a mistress who was +ever and anon becoming fearful lest she should forget the +dignity, or compromise the authority, of the Queen, while she +indulged the affections of the woman. Of the difficulties which +surrounded his power, "too great to keep or to resign," Leicester +was fully sensible; and as he looked anxiously round for the +means of maintaining himself in his precarious situation, and +sometimes contemplated those of descending from it in safety, he +saw but little hope of either. At such moments his thoughts +turned to dwell upon his secret marriage and its consequences; +and it was in bitterness against himself, if not against his +unfortunate Countess, that he ascribed to that hasty measure, +adopted in the ardour of what he now called inconsiderate +passion, at once the impossibility of placing his power on a +solid basis, and the immediate prospect of its precipitate +downfall. + +"Men say," thus ran his thoughts, in these anxious and repentant +moments, "that I might marry Elizabeth, and become King of +England. All things suggest this. The match is carolled in +ballads, while the rabble throw their caps up. It has been +touched upon in the schools--whispered in the presence-chamber-- +recommended from the pulpit--prayed for in the Calvinistic +churches abroad--touched on by statists in the very council at +home. These bold insinuations have been rebutted by no rebuke, +no resentment, no chiding, scarce even by the usual female +protestation that she would live and die a virgin princess. Her +words have been more courteous than ever, though she knows such +rumours are abroad--her actions more gracious, her looks more +kind--nought seems wanting to make me King of England, and place +me beyond the storms of court-favour, excepting the putting forth +of mine own hand to take that crown imperial which is the glory +of the universe! And when I might stretch that hand out most +boldly, it is fettered down by a secret and inextricable bond! +And here I have letters from Amy," he would say, catching them up +with a movement of peevishness, "persecuting me to acknowledge +her openly--to do justice to her and to myself--and I wot not +what. Methinks I have done less than justice to myself already. +And she speaks as if Elizabeth were to receive the knowledge of +this matter with the glee of a mother hearing of the happy +marriage of a hopeful son! She, the daughter of Henry, who +spared neither man in his anger nor woman in his desire--she to +find herself tricked, drawn on with toys of passion to the verge +of acknowledging her love to a subject, and he discovered to be a +married man!--Elizabeth to learn that she had been dallied with +in such fashion, as a gay courtier might trifle with a country +wench--we should then see, to our ruin, FURENS QUID FAEMINA!" + +He would then pause, and call for Varney, whose advice was now +more frequently resorted to than ever, because the Earl +remembered the remonstrances which he had made against his secret +contract. And their consultation usually terminated in anxious +deliberation how, or in what manner, the Countess was to be +produced at Kenilworth. These communings had for some time ended +always in a resolution to delay the Progress from day to day. +But at length a peremptory decision became necessary. + +"Elizabeth will not be satisfied without her presence," said the +Earl. "Whether any suspicion hath entered her mind, as my own +apprehensions suggest, or whether the petition of Tressilian is +kept in her memory by Sussex or some other secret enemy, I know +not; but amongst all the favourable expressions which she uses to +me, she often recurs to the story of Amy Robsart. I think that +Amy is the slave in the chariot, who is placed there by my evil +fortune to dash and to confound my triumph, even when at the +highest. Show me thy device, Varney, for solving the +inextricable difficulty. I have thrown every such impediment in +the way of these accursed revels as I could propound even with a +shade of decency, but to-day's interview has put all to a hazard. +She said to me kindly, but peremptorily, 'We will give you no +further time for preparations, my lord, lest you should +altogether ruin yourself. On Saturday, the 9th of July, we will +be with you at Kenilworth. We pray you to forget none of our +appointed guests and suitors, and in especial this light-o'-love, +Amy Robsart. We would wish to see the woman who could postpone +yonder poetical gentleman, Master Tressilian, to your man, +Richard Varney.'--Now, Varney, ply thine invention, whose forge +hath availed us so often for sure as my name is Dudley, the +danger menaced by my horoscope is now darkening around me." + +"Can my lady be by no means persuaded to bear for a brief space +the obscure character which circumstances impose on her?" Said +Varney after some hesitation. + +"How, sirrah? my Countess term herself thy wife!--that may +neither stand with my honour nor with hers." + +"Alas! my lord," answered Varney, "and yet such is the quality +in which Elizabeth now holds her; and to contradict this opinion +is to discover all." + +"Think of something else, Varney," said the Earl, in great +agitation; "this invention is nought. If I could give way to it, +she would not; for I tell thee, Varney, if thou knowest it not, +that not Elizabeth on the throne has more pride than the daughter +of this obscure gentleman of Devon. She is flexible in many +things, but where she holds her honour brought in question she +hath a spirit and temper as apprehensive as lightning, and as +swift in execution." + +"We have experienced that, my lord, else had we not been thus +circumstanced," said Varney. "But what else to suggest I know +not. Methinks she whose good fortune in becoming your lordship's +bride, and who gives rise to the danger, should do somewhat +towards parrying it." + +"It is impossible," said the Earl, waving his hand; "I know +neither authority nor entreaties would make her endure thy name +for an hour. + +"It is somewhat hard, though," said Varney, in a dry tone; and, +without pausing on that topic, he added, "Suppose some one were +found to represent her? Such feats have been performed in the +courts of as sharp-eyed monarchs as Queen Elizabeth." + +"Utter madness, Varney," answered the Earl; "the counterfeit +would be confronted with Tressilian, and discovery become +inevitable," + +"Tressilian might be removed from court," said the unhesitating +Varney. + +"And by what means?" + +"There are many," said Varney, "by which a statesman in your +situation, my lord, may remove from the scene one who pries into +your affairs, and places himself in perilous opposition to you." + +"Speak not to me of such policy, Varney," said the Earl hastily, +"which, besides, would avail nothing in the present case. Many +others there be at court to whom Amy may be known; and besides, +on the absence of Tressilian, her father or some of her friends +would be instantly summoned hither. Urge thine invention once +more." + +"My lord, I know not what to say," answered Varney; "but were I +myself in such perplexity, I would ride post down to Cumnor +Place, and compel my wife to give her consent to such measures as +her safety and mine required." + +"Varney," said Leicester, "I cannot urge her to aught so +repugnant to her noble nature as a share in this stratagem; it +would be a base requital to the love she bears me." + +"Well, my lord," said Varney, "your lordship is a wise and an +honourable man, and skilled in those high points of romantic +scruple which are current in Arcadia perhaps, as your nephew, +Philip Sidney, writes. I am your humble servitor--a man of this +world, and only happy that my knowledge of it, and its ways, is +such as your lordship has not scorned to avail yourself of. Now +I would fain know whether the obligation lies on my lady or on +you in this fortunate union, and which has most reason to show +complaisance to the other, and to consider that other's wishes, +conveniences, and safety?" + +"I tell thee, Varney," said the Earl, "that all it was in my +power to bestow upon her was not merely deserved, but a thousand +times overpaid, by her own virtue and beauty; for never did +greatness descend upon a creature so formed by nature to grace +and adorn it." + +"It is well, my lord, you are so satisfied," answered Varney, +with his usual sardonic smile, which even respect to his patron +could not at all times subdue; "you will have time enough to +enjoy undisturbed the society of one so gracious and beautiful-- +that is, so soon as such confinement in the Tower be over as may +correspond to the crime of deceiving the affections of Elizabeth +Tudor. A cheaper penalty, I presume, you do not expect." + +"Malicious fiend!" answered Leicester, "do you mock me in my +misfortune?--Manage it as thou wilt." + +"If you are serious, my lord," said Varney, "you must set forth +instantly and post for Cumnor Place." + +"Do thou go thyself, Varney; the devil has given thee that sort +of eloquence which is most powerful in the worst cause. I should +stand self-convicted of villainy, were I to urge such a deceit. +Begone, I tell thee; must I entreat thee to mine own dishonour?" + +"No, my lord," said Varney; "but if you are serious in entrusting +me with the task of urging this most necessary measure, you must +give me a letter to my lady, as my credentials, and trust to me +for backing the advice it contains with all the force in my +power. And such is my opinion of my lady's love for your +lordship, and of her willingness to do that which is at once to +contribute to your pleasure and your safety, that I am sure she +will condescend to bear for a few brief days the name of so +humble a man as myself, especially since it is not inferior in +antiquity to that of her own paternal house." + +Leicester seized on writing materials, and twice or thrice +commenced a letter to the Countess, which he afterwards tore into +fragments. At length he finished a few distracted lines, in +which he conjured her, for reasons nearly concerning his life and +honour, to consent to bear the name of Varney for a few days, +during the revels at Kenilworth. He added that Varney would +communicate all the reasons which rendered this deception +indispensable; and having signed and sealed these credentials, he +flung them over the table to Varney with a motion that he should +depart, which his adviser was not slow to comprehend and to obey. + +Leicester remained like one stupefied, till he heard the +trampling of the horses, as Varney, who took no time even to +change his dress, threw himself into the saddle, and, followed by +a single servant, set off for Berkshire. At the sound the Earl +started from his seat, and ran to the window, with the momentary +purpose of recalling the unworthy commission with which he had +entrusted one of whom he used to say he knew no virtuous property +save affection to his patron. But Varney was already beyond +call; and the bright, starry firmament, which the age considered +as the Book of Fate, lying spread before Leicester when he opened +the casement, diverted him from his better and more manly +purpose. + +"There they roll, on their silent but potential course," said the +Earl, looking around him, "without a voice which speaks to our +ear, but not without influences which affect, at every change, +the indwellers of this vile, earthly planet. This, if +astrologers fable not, is the very crisis of my fate! The hour +approaches of which I was taught to beware--the hour, too, which +I was encouraged to hope for. A King was the word--but how?--the +crown matrimonial. All hopes of that are gone--let them go. The +rich Netherlands have demanded me for their leader, and, would +Elizabeth consent, would yield to me THEIR crown. And have I not +such a claim even in this kingdom? That of York, descending from +George of Clarence to the House of Huntingdon, which, this lady +failing, may have a fair chance--Huntingdon is of my house.--But +I will plunge no deeper in these high mysteries. Let me hold my +course in silence for a while, and in obscurity, like a +subterranean river; the time shall come that I will burst forth +in my strength, and bear all opposition before me." + +While Leicester was thus stupefying the remonstrances of his own +conscience, by appealing to political necessity for his apology, +or losing himself amidst the wild dreams of ambition, his agent +left town and tower behind him on his hasty journey to Berkshire. +HE also nourished high hope. He had brought Lord Leicester to +the point which he had desired, of committing to him the most +intimate recesses of his breast, and of using him as the channel +of his most confidential intercourse with his lady. Henceforward +it would, he foresaw, be difficult for his patron either to +dispense with his services, or refuse his requests, however +unreasonable. And if this disdainful dame, as he termed the +Countess, should comply with the request of her husband, Varney, +her pretended husband, must needs become so situated with respect +to her, that there was no knowing where his audacity might be +bounded perhaps not till circumstances enabled him to obtain a +triumph, which he thought of with a mixture of fiendish feelings, +in which revenge for her previous scorn was foremost and +predominant. Again he contemplated the possibility of her being +totally intractable, and refusing obstinately to play the part +assigned to her in the drama at Kenilworth. + +"Alasco must then do his part," he said. "Sickness must serve +her Majesty as an excuse for not receiving the homage of Mrs. +Varney--ay, and a sore and wasting sickness it may prove, should +Elizabeth continue to cast so favourable an eye on my Lord of +Leicester. I will not forego the chance of being favourite of a +monarch for want of determined measures, should these be +necessary. Forward, good horse, forward--ambition and haughty +hope of power, pleasure, and revenge strike their stings as deep +through my bosom as I plunge the rowels in thy flanks. On, good +horse, on--the devil urges us both forward!" + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + Say that my beauty was but small, + Among court ladies all despised, + Why didst thou rend it from that hall + Where, scornful Earl, 'twas dearly prized? + + No more thou com'st with wonted speed, + Thy once beloved bride to see; + But be she alive, or be she dead, + I fear, stern Earl, 's the same to thee. + CUMNOR HALL, by WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE. + +The ladies of fashion of the present, or of any other period, +must have allowed that the young and lovely Countess of Leicester +had, besides her youth and beauty, two qualities which entitled +her to a place amongst women of rank and distinction. She +displayed, as we have seen in her interview with the pedlar, a +liberal promptitude to make unnecessary purchases, solely for the +pleasure of acquiring useless and showy trifles which ceased to +please as soon as they were possessed; and she was, besides, apt +to spend a considerable space of time every day in adorning her +person, although the varied splendour of her attire could only +attract the half satirical praise of the precise Janet, or an +approving glance from the bright eyes which witnessed their own +beams of triumph reflected from the mirror. + +The Countess Amy had, indeed, to plead for indulgence in those +frivolous tastes, that the education of the times had done little +or nothing for a mind naturally gay and averse to study. If she +had not loved to collect finery and to wear it, she might have +woven tapestry or sewed embroidery, till her labours spread in +gay profusion all over the walls and seats at Lidcote Hall; or +she might have varied Minerva's labours with the task of +preparing a mighty pudding against the time that Sir Hugh Robsart +returned from the greenwood. But Amy had no natural genius +either for the loom, the needle, or the receipt-book. Her mother +had died in infancy; her father contradicted her in nothing; and +Tressilian, the only one that approached her who was able or +desirous to attend to the cultivation of her mind, had much hurt +his interest with her by assuming too eagerly the task of a +preceptor, so that he was regarded by the lively, indulged, and +idle girl with some fear and much respect, but with little or +nothing of that softer emotion which it had been his hope and his +ambition to inspire. And thus her heart lay readily open, and +her fancy became easily captivated by the noble exterior and +graceful deportment and complacent flattery of Leicester, even +before he was known to her as the dazzling minion of wealth and +power. + +The frequent visits of Leicester at Cumnor, during the earlier +part of their union, had reconciled the Countess to the solitude +and privacy to which she was condemned; but when these visits +became rarer and more rare, and when the void was filled up with +letters of excuse, not always very warmly expressed, and +generally extremely brief, discontent and suspicion began to +haunt those splendid apartments which love had fitted up for +beauty. Her answers to Leicester conveyed these feelings too +bluntly, and pressed more naturally than prudently that she might +be relieved from this obscure and secluded residence, by the +Earl's acknowledgment of their marriage; and in arranging her +arguments with all the skill she was mistress of, she trusted +chiefly to the warmth of the entreaties with which she urged +them. Sometimes she even ventured to mingle reproaches, of which +Leicester conceived he had good reason to complain. + +"I have made her Countess," he said to Varney; "surely she might +wait till it consisted with my pleasure that she should put on +the coronet?" + +The Countess Amy viewed the subject in directly an opposite +light. + +"What signifies," she said, "that I have rank and honour in +reality, if I am to live an obscure prisoner, without either +society or observance, and suffering in my character, as one of +dubious or disgraced reputation? I care not for all those +strings of pearl, which you fret me by warping into my tresses, +Janet. I tell you that at Lidcote Hall, if I put but a fresh +rosebud among my hair, my good father would call me to him, that +he might see it more closely; and the kind old curate would +smile, and Master Mumblazen would say something about roses +gules. And now I sit here, decked out like an image with gold +and gems, and no one to see my finery but you, Janet. There was +the poor Tressilian, too--but it avails not speaking of him." + +"It doth not indeed, madam," said her prudent attendant; "and +verily you make me sometimes wish you would not speak of him so +often, or so rashly." + +"It signifies nothing to warn me, Janet," said the impatient and +incorrigible Countess; "I was born free, though I am now mewed up +like some fine foreign slave, rather than the wife of an English +noble. I bore it all with pleasure while I was sure he loved me; +but now my tongue and heart shall be free, let them fetter these +limbs as they will. I tell thee, Janet, I love my husband--I +will love him till my latest breath--I cannot cease to love him, +even if I would, or if he--which, God knows, may chance--should +cease to love me. But I will say, and loudly, I would have been +happier than I now am to have remained in Lidcote Hall, even +although I must have married poor Tressilian, with his melancholy +look and his head full of learning, which I cared not for. He +said, if I would read his favourite volumes, there would come a +time that I should be glad of having done so. I think it is come +now." + +"I bought you some books, madam," said Janet, "from a lame fellow +who sold them in the Market-place--and who stared something +boldly, at me, I promise you." + +"Let me see them, Janet," said the Countess; "but let them not be +of your own precise cast,--How is this, most righteous damsel?-- +'A PAIR OF SNUFFERS FOR THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK'--'HANDFULL OF +MYRRH AND HYSSOP TO PUT A SICK SOUL TO PURGATION'--'A DRAUGHT OF +WATER FROM THE VALLEY OF BACA'--'FOXES AND FIREBRANDS'--what gear +call you this, maiden?" + +"Nay, madam," said Janet, "it was but fitting and seemly to put +grace in your ladyship's way; but an you will none of it, there +are play-books, and poet-books, I trow." + +The Countess proceeded carelessly in her examination, turning +over such rare volumes as would now make the fortune of twenty +retail booksellers. Here was a "BOKE OF COOKERY, IMPRINTED BY +RICHARD LANT," and "SKELTON'S BOOKS"--"THE PASSTIME OF THE +PEOPLE"--"THE CASTLE OF KNOWLEDGE," etc. But neither to this +lore did the Countess's heart incline, and joyfully did she start +up from the listless task of turning over the leaves of the +pamphlets, and hastily did she scatter them through the floor, +when the hasty clatter of horses' feet, heard in the courtyard, +called her to the window, exclaiming, "It is Leicester!--it is my +noble Earl!--it is my Dudley!--every stroke of his horse's hoof +sounds like a note of lordly music!" + +There was a brief bustle in the mansion, and Foster, with his +downward look and sullen manner, entered the apartment to say, +"That Master Richard Varney was arrived from my lord, having +ridden all night, and craved to speak with her ladyship +instantly." + +"Varney?" said the disappointed Countess; "and to speak with me? +--pshaw! But he comes with news from Leicester, so admit him +instantly." + +Varney entered her dressing apartment, where she sat arrayed in +her native loveliness, adorned with all that Janet's art and a +rich and tasteful undress could bestow. But the most beautiful +part of her attire was her profuse and luxuriant light-brown +locks, which floated in such rich abundance around a neck that +resembled a swan's, and over a bosom heaving with anxious +expectation, which communicated a hurried tinge of red to her +whole countenance. + +Varney entered the room in the dress in which he had waited on +his master that morning to court, the splendour of which made a +strange contrast with the disorder arising from hasty riding +during a dark night and foul ways. His brow bore an anxious and +hurried expression, as one who has that to say of which he doubts +the reception, and who hath yet posted on from the necessity of +communicating his tidings. The Countess's anxious eye at once +caught the alarm, as she exclaimed, "You bring news from my lord, +Master Varney--Gracious Heaven! is he ill?" + +"No, madam, thank Heaven!" said Varney. "Compose yourself, and +permit me to take breath ere I communicate my tidings." + +"No breath, sir," replied the lady impatiently; "I know your +theatrical arts. Since your breath hath sufficed to bring you +hither, it may suffice to tell your tale--at least briefly, and +in the gross." + +"Madam," answered Varney, "we are not alone, and my lord's +message was for your ear only." + +"Leave us, Janet, and Master Foster," said the lady; "but remain +in the next apartment, and within call." + +Foster and his daughter retired, agreeably to the Lady +Leicester's commands, into the next apartment, which was the +withdrawing-room. The door which led from the sleeping-chamber +was then carefully shut and bolted, and the father and daughter +remained both in a posture of anxious attention, the first with a +stern, suspicious, anxious cast of countenance, and Janet with +folded hands, and looks which seemed divided betwixt her desire +to know the fortunes of her mistress, and her prayers to Heaven +for her safety. Anthony Foster seemed himself to have some idea +of what was passing through his daughter's mind, for he crossed +the apartment and took her anxiously by the hand, saying, "That +is right--pray, Janet, pray; we have all need of prayers, and +some of us more than others. Pray, Janet--I would pray myself, +but I must listen to what goes on within--evil has been brewing, +love--evil has been brewing. God forgive our sins, but Varney's +sudden and strange arrival bodes us no good." + +Janet had never before heard her father excite or even permit her +attention to anything which passed in their mysterious family; +and now that he did so, his voice sounded in her ear--she knew +not why--like that of a screech-owl denouncing some deed of +terror and of woe. She turned her eyes fearfully towards the +door, almost as if she expected some sounds of horror to be +heard, or some sight of fear to display itself. + +All, however, was as still as death, and the voices of those who +spoke in the inner chamber were, if they spoke at all, carefully +subdued to a tone which could not be heard in the next. At once, +however, they were heard to speak fast, thick, and hastily; and +presently after the voice of the Countess was heard exclaiming, +at the highest pitch to which indignation could raise it, "Undo +the door, sir, I command you!--undo the door!--I will have no +other reply!" she continued, drowning with her vehement accents +the low and muttered sounds which Varney was heard to utter +betwixt whiles. "What ho! without there!" she persisted, +accompanying her words with shrieks, "Janet, alarm the house!-- +Foster, break open the door--I am detained here by a traitor! +Use axe and lever, Master Foster--I will be your warrant!" + +"It shall not need, madam," Varney was at length distinctly heard +to say. "If you please to expose my lord's important concerns +and your own to the general ear, I will not be your hindrance." + +The door was unlocked and thrown open, and Janet and her father +rushed in, anxious to learn the cause of these reiterated +exclamations. + +When they entered the apartment Varney stood by the door grinding +his teeth, with an expression in which rage, and shame, and fear +had each their share. The Countess stood in the midst of her +apartment like a juvenile Pythoness under the influence of the +prophetic fury. The veins in her beautiful forehead started into +swoln blue lines through the hurried impulse of her articulation +--her cheek and neck glowed like scarlet--her eyes were like +those of an imprisoned eagle, flashing red lightning on the foes +which it cannot reach with its talons. Were it possible for one +of the Graces to have been animated by a Fury, the countenance +could not have united such beauty with so much hatred, scorn, +defiance, and resentment. The gesture and attitude corresponded +with the voice and looks, and altogether presented a spectacle +which was at once beautiful and fearful; so much of the sublime +had the energy of passion united with the Countess Amy's natural +loveliness. Janet, as soon as the door was open, ran to her +mistress; and more slowly, yet with more haste than he was wont, +Anthony Foster went to Richard Varney. + +"In the Truth's name, what ails your ladyship?" said the former. + +"What, in the name of Satan, have you done to her?" said Foster +to his friend. + +"Who, I?--nothing," answered Varney, but with sunken head and +sullen voice; "nothing but communicated to her her lord's +commands, which, if the lady list not to obey, she knows better +how to answer it than I may pretend to do." + +"Now, by Heaven, Janet!" said the Countess, "the false traitor +lies in his throat! He must needs lie, for he speaks to the +dishonour of my noble lord; he must needs lie doubly, for he +speaks to gain ends of his own, equally execrable and +unattainable." + +"You have misapprehended me, lady," said Varney, with a sulky +species of submission and apology; "let this matter rest till +your passion be abated, and I will explain all." + +"Thou shalt never have an opportunity to do so," said the +Countess.--"Look at him, Janet. He is fairly dressed, hath the +outside of a gentleman, and hither he came to persuade me it was +my lord's pleasure--nay, more, my wedded lord's commands--that I +should go with him to Kenilworth, and before the Queen and +nobles, and in presence of my own wedded lord, that I should +acknowledge him--HIM there--that very cloak-brushing, shoe- +cleaning fellow--HIM there, my lord's lackey, for my liege lord +and husband; furnishing against myself, Great God! whenever I +was to vindicate my right and my rank, such weapons as would hew +my just claim from the root, and destroy my character to be +regarded as an honourable matron of the English nobility!" + +"You hear her, Foster, and you, young maiden, hear this lady," +answered Varney, taking advantage of the pause which the Countess +had made in her charge, more for lack of breath than for lack of +matter--"you hear that her heat only objects to me the course +which our good lord, for the purpose to keep certain matters +secret, suggests in the very letter which she holds in her +hands." + +Foster here attempted to interfere with a face of authority, +which he thought became the charge entrusted to him, "Nay, lady, +I must needs say you are over-hasty in this. Such deceit is not +utterly to be condemned when practised for a righteous end I and +thus even the patriarch Abraham feigned Sarah to be his sister +when they went down to Egypt." + +"Ay, sir," answered the Countess; "but God rebuked that deceit +even in the father of His chosen people, by the mouth of the +heathen Pharaoh. Out upon you, that will read Scripture only to +copy those things which are held out to us as warnings, not as +examples!" + +"But Sarah disputed not the will of her husband, an it be your +pleasure," said Foster, in reply, "but did as Abraham commanded, +calling herself his sister, that it might be well with her +husband for her sake, and that his soul might live because of her +beauty." + +"Now, so Heaven pardon me my useless anger," answered the +Countess, "thou art as daring a hypocrite as yonder fellow is an +impudent deceiver! Never will I believe that the noble Dudley +gave countenance to so dastardly, so dishonourable a plan. Thus +I tread on his infamy, if indeed it be, and thus destroy its +remembrance for ever!" + +So saying, she tore in pieces Leicester's letter, and stamped, in +the extremity of impatience, as if she would have annihilated the +minute fragments into which she had rent it. + +"Bear witness," said Varney, collecting himself, "she hath torn +my lord's letter, in order to burden me with the scheme of his +devising; and although it promises nought but danger and trouble +to me, she would lay it to my charge, as if I had any purpose of +mine own in it." + +"Thou liest, thou treacherous slave!" said the Countess in spite +of Janet's attempts to keep her silent, in the sad foresight that +her vehemence might only furnish arms against herself--"thou +liest," she continued.--"Let me go, Janet--were it the last word +I have to speak, he lies. He had his own foul ends to seek; and +broader he would have displayed them had my passion permitted me +to preserve the silence which at first encouraged him to unfold +his vile projects." + +"Madam," said Varney, overwhelmed in spite of his effrontery, "I +entreat you to believe yourself mistaken." + +"As soon will I believe light darkness," said the enraged +Countess. "Have I drunk of oblivion? Do I not remember former +passages, which, known to Leicester, had given thee the +preferment of a gallows, instead of the honour of his intimacy. +I would I were a man but for five minutes! It were space enough +to make a craven like thee confess his villainy. But go--begone! +Tell thy master that when I take the foul course to which such +scandalous deceits as thou hast recommended on his behalf must +necessarily lead me, I will give him a rival something worthy of +the name. He shall not be supplanted by an ignominious lackey, +whose best fortune is to catch a gift of his master's last suit +of clothes ere it is threadbare, and who is only fit to seduce a +suburb-wench by the bravery of new roses in his master's old +pantoufles. Go, begone, sir! I scorn thee so much that I am +ashamed to have been angry with thee." + +Varney left the room with a mute expression of rage, and was +followed by Foster, whose apprehension, naturally slow, was +overpowered by the eager and abundant discharge of indignation +which, for the first time, he had heard burst from the lips of a +being who had seemed, till that moment, too languid and too +gentle to nurse an angry thought or utter an intemperate +expression. Foster, therefore, pursued Varney from place to +place, persecuting him with interrogatories, to which the other +replied not, until they were in the opposite side of the +quadrangle, and in the old library, with which the reader has +already been made acquainted. Here he turned round on his +persevering follower, and thus addressed him, in a tone tolerably +equal, that brief walk having been sufficient to give one so +habituated to command his temper time to rally and recover his +presence of mind. + +"Tony," he said, with his usual sneering laugh, "it avails not to +deny it. The Woman and the Devil, who, as thine oracle Holdforth +will confirm to thee, cheated man at the beginning, have this day +proved more powerful than my discretion. Yon termagant looked so +tempting, and had the art to preserve her countenance so +naturally, while I communicated my lord's message, that, by my +faith, I thought I might say some little thing for myself. She +thinks she hath my head under her girdle now, but she is +deceived. Where is Doctor Alasco?" + +"In his laboratory," answered Foster. "It is the hour he is +spoken not withal. We must wait till noon is past, or spoil his +important--what said I? important!--I would say interrupt his +divine studies." + +"Ay, he studies the devil's divinity," said Varney; "but when I +want him, one hour must suffice as well as another. Lead the way +to his pandemonium." + +So spoke Varney, and with hasty and perturbed steps followed +Foster, who conducted him through private passages, many of which +were well-nigh ruinous, to the opposite side of the quadrangle, +where, in a subterranean apartment, now occupied by the chemist +Alasco, one of the Abbots of Abingdon, who had a turn for the +occult sciences, had, much to the scandal of his convent, +established a laboratory, in which, like other fools of the +period, he spent much precious time, and money besides, in the +pursuit of the grand arcanum. + +Anthony Foster paused before the door, which was scrupulously +secured within, and again showed a marked hesitation to disturb +the sage in his operations. But Varney, less scrupulous, roused +him by knocking and voice, until at length, slowly and +reluctantly, the inmate of the apartment undid the door. The +chemist appeared, with his eyes bleared with the heat and vapours +of the stove or alembic over which he brooded and the interior of +his cell displayed the confused assemblage of heterogeneous +substances and extraordinary implements belonging to his +profession. The old man was muttering, with spiteful impatience, +"Am I for ever to be recalled to the affairs of earth from those +of heaven?" + +"To the affairs of hell," answered Varney, "for that is thy +proper element.--Foster, we need thee at our conference." + +"Foster slowly entered the room. Varney, following, barred the +door, and they betook themselves to secret council. + +In the meanwhile, the Countess traversed the apartment, with +shame and anger contending on her lovely cheek. + +"The villain," she said--"the cold-blooded, calculating slave!-- +But I unmasked him, Janet--I made the snake uncoil all his folds +before me, and crawl abroad in his naked deformity; I suspended +my resentment, at the danger of suffocating under the effort, +until he had let me see the very bottom of a heart more foul than +hell's darkest corner.--And thou, Leicester, is it possible thou +couldst bid me for a moment deny my wedded right in thee, or +thyself yield it to another?--But it is impossible--the villain +has lied in all.--Janet, I will not remain here longer--I fear +him--I fear thy father. I grieve to say it, Janet--but I fear +thy father, and, worst of all, this odious Varney, I will escape +from Cumnor." + +"Alas! madam, whither would you fly, or by what means will you +escape from these walls?" + +"I know not, Janet," said the unfortunate young lady, looking +upwards! and clasping her hands together, "I know not where I +shall fly, or by what means; but I am certain the God I have +served will not abandon me in this dreadful crisis, for I am in +the hands of wicked men." + +"Do not think so, dear lady," said Janet; "my father is stern and +strict in his temper, and severely true to his trust--but yet--" + +At this moment Anthony Foster entered the apartment, bearing in +his hand a glass cup and a small flask. His manner was singular; +for, while approaching the Countess with the respect due to her +rank, he had till this time suffered to become visible, or had +been unable to suppress, the obdurate sulkiness of his natural +disposition, which, as is usual with those of his unhappy temper, +was chiefly exerted towards those over whom circumstances gave +him control. But at present he showed nothing of that sullen +consciousness of authority which he was wont to conceal under a +clumsy affectation of civility and deference, as a ruffian hides +his pistols and bludgeon under his ill-fashioned gaberdine. And +yet it seemed as if his smile was more in fear than courtesy, and +as if, while he pressed the Countess to taste of the choice +cordial, which should refresh her spirits after her late alarm, +he was conscious of meditating some further injury. His hand +trembled also, his voice faltered, and his whole outward +behaviour exhibited so much that was suspicious, that his +daughter Janet, after she had stood looking at him in +astonishment for some seconds, seemed at once to collect herself +to execute some hardy resolution, raised her head, assumed an +attitude and gait of determination and authority, and walking +slowly betwixt her father and her mistress, took the salver from +the hand of the former, and said in a low but marked and decided +tone, "Father, I will fill for my noble mistress, when such is +her pleasure." + +"Thou, my child?" said Foster, eagerly and apprehensively; "no, +my child--it is not THOU shalt render the lady this service." + +"And why, I pray you," said Janet, "if it be fitting that the +noble lady should partake of the cup at all?" + +"Why--why?" said the seneschal, hesitating, and then bursting +into passion as the readiest mode of supplying the lack of all +other reason--"why, because it is my pleasure, minion, that you +should not! Get you gone to the evening lecture." + +"Now, as I hope to hear lecture again," replied Janet, "I will +not go thither this night, unless I am better assured of my +mistress's safety. Give me that flask, father"--and she took it +from his reluctant hand, while he resigned it as if conscience- +struck. "And now," she said, "father, that which shall benefit +my mistress, cannot do ME prejudice. Father, I drink to you." + +Foster, without speaking a word, rushed on his daughter and +wrested the flask from her hand; then, as if embarrassed by what +he had done, and totally unable to resolve what he should do +next, he stood with it in his hand, one foot advanced and the +other drawn back, glaring on his daughter with a countenance in +which rage, fear, and convicted villainy formed a hideous +combination. + +"This is strange, my father," said Janet, keeping her eye fixed +on his, in the manner in which those who have the charge of +lunatics are said to overawe their unhappy patients; "will you +neither let me serve my lady, nor drink to her myself?" + +The courage of the Countess sustained her through this dreadful +scene, of which the import was not the less obvious that it was +not even hinted at. She preserved even the rash carelessness of +her temper, and though her cheek had grown pale at the first +alarm, her eye was calm and almost scornful. "Will YOU taste +this rare cordial, Master Foster? Perhaps you will not yourself +refuse to pledge us, though you permit not Janet to do so. +Drink, sir, I pray you." + +"I will not," answered Foster. + +"And for whom, then, is the precious beverage reserved, sir?" +said the Countess. + +"For the devil, who brewed it!" answered Foster; and, turning on +his heel, he left the chamber. + +Janet looked at her mistress with a countenance expressive in the +highest degree of shame, dismay, and sorrow. + +"Do not weep for me, Janet," said the Countess kindly. + +"No, madam," replied her attendant, in a voice broken by sobs, +"it is not for you I weep; it is for myself--it is for that +unhappy man. Those who are dishonoured before man--those who are +condemned by God--have cause to mourn; not those who are +innocent! Farewell, madam!" she said hastily assuming the +mantle in which she was wont to go abroad. + +"Do you leave me, Janet?" said her mistress--"desert me in such +an evil strait?" + +"Desert you, madam!" exclaimed Janet; and running back to her +mistress, she imprinted a thousand kisses on her hand--"desert +you I--may the Hope of my trust desert me when I do so! No, +madam; well you said the God you serve will open you a path for +deliverance. There is a way of escape. I have prayed night and +day for light, that I might see how to act betwixt my duty to +yonder unhappy man and that which I owe to you. Sternly and +fearfully that light has now dawned, and I must not shut the door +which God opens. Ask me no more. I will return in brief space." + +So speaking, she wrapped herself in her mantle, and saying to the +old woman whom she passed in the outer room that she was going to +evening prayer, she left the house. + +Meanwhile her father had reached once more the laboratory, where +he found the accomplices of his intended guilt. "Has the sweet +bird sipped?" said Varney, with half a smile; while the +astrologer put the same question with his eyes, but spoke not a +word. + +"She has not, nor she shall not from my hands," replied Foster; +"would you have me do murder in my daughter's presence?" + +"Wert thou not told, thou sullen and yet faint-hearted slave," +answered Varney, with bitterness, "that no MURDER as thou callest +it, with that staring look and stammering tone, is designed in +the matter? Wert thou not told that a brief illness, such as +woman puts on in very wantonness, that she may wear her night- +gear at noon, and lie on a settle when she should mind her +domestic business, is all here aimed at? Here is a learned man +will swear it to thee by the key of the Castle of Wisdom." + +"I swear it," said Alasco, "that the elixir thou hast there in +the flask will not prejudice life! I swear it by that immortal +and indestructible quintessence of gold, which pervades every +substance in nature, though its secret existence can be traced by +him only to whom Trismegistus renders the key of the Cabala." + +"An oath of force," said Varney. "Foster, thou wert worse than a +pagan to disbelieve it. Believe me, moreover, who swear by +nothing but by my own word, that if you be not conformable, there +is no hope, no, not a glimpse of hope, that this thy leasehold +may be transmuted into a copyhold. Thus, Alasco will leave your +pewter artillery untransmigrated, and I, honest Anthony, will +still have thee for my tenant." + +"I know not, gentlemen," said Foster, "where your designs tend +to; but in one thing I am bound up,--that, fall back fall edge, I +will have one in this place that may pray for me, and that one +shall be my daughter. I have lived ill, and the world has been +too weighty with me; but she is as innocent as ever she was when +on her mother's lap, and she, at least, shall have her portion in +that happy City, whose walls are of pure gold, and the +foundations garnished with all manner of precious stones." + +"Ay, Tony," said Varney, "that were a paradise to thy heart's +content.--Debate the matter with him, Doctor Alasco; I will be +with you anon." + +So speaking, Varney arose, and taking the flask from the table, +he left the room. + +"I tell thee, my son," said Alasco to Foster, as soon as Varney +had left them, "that whatever this bold and profligate railer may +say of the mighty science, in which, by Heaven's blessing, I have +advanced so far that I would not call the wisest of living +artists my better or my teacher--I say, howsoever yonder +reprobate may scoff at things too holy to be apprehended by men +merely of carnal and evil thoughts, yet believe that the city +beheld by St. John, in that bright vision of the Christian +Apocalypse, that new Jerusalem, of which all Christian men hope +to partake, sets forth typically the discovery of the GRAND +SECRET, whereby the most precious and perfect of nature's works +are elicited out of her basest and most crude productions; just +as the light and gaudy butterfly, the most beautiful child of the +summer's breeze, breaks forth from the dungeon of a sordid +chrysalis." + +"Master Holdforth said nought of this exposition," said Foster +doubtfully; "and moreover, Doctor Alasco, the Holy Writ says that +the gold and precious stones of the Holy City are in no sort for +those who work abomination, or who frame lies." + +"Well, my son," said the Doctor, "and what is your inference from +thence?" + +"That those," said Foster, "who distil poisons, and administer +them in secrecy, can have no portion in those unspeakable +riches." + +"You are to distinguish, my son," replied the alchemist, "betwixt +that which is necessarily evil in its progress and in its end +also, and that which, being evil, is, nevertheless, capable of +working forth good. If, by the death of one person, the happy +period shall be brought nearer to us, in which all that is good +shall be attained, by wishing its presence--all that is evil +escaped, by desiring its absence--in which sickness, and pain, +and sorrow shall be the obedient servants of human wisdom, and +made to fly at the slightest signal of a sage--in which that +which is now richest and rarest shall be within the compass of +every one who shall be obedient to the voice of wisdom--when the +art of healing shall be lost and absorbed in the one universal +medicine when sages shall become monarchs of the earth, and death +itself retreat before their frown,--if this blessed consummation +of all things can be hastened by the slight circumstance that a +frail, earthly body, which must needs partake corruption, shall +be consigned to the grave a short space earlier than in the +course of nature, what is such a sacrifice to the advancement of +the holy Millennium?" + +"Millennium is the reign of the Saints," said Foster, somewhat +doubtfully. + +"Say it is the reign of the Sages, my son," answered Alasco; "or +rather the reign of Wisdom itself." + +"I touched on the question with Master Holdforth last exercising +night," said Foster; "but he says your doctrine is heterodox, and +a damnable and false exposition." + +"He is in the bonds of ignorance, my son," answered Alasco, "and +as yet burning bricks in Egypt; or, at best, wandering in the dry +desert of Sinai. Thou didst ill to speak to such a man of such +matters. I will, however, give thee proof, and that shortly, +which I will defy that peevish divine to confute, though he +should strive with me as the magicians strove with Moses before +King Pharaoh. I will do projection in thy presence, my son,--in +thy very presence--and thine eyes shall witness the truth." + +"Stick to that, learned sage," said Varney, who at this moment +entered the apartment; "if he refuse the testimony of thy tongue, +yet how shall he deny that of his own eyes?" + +"Varney!" said the adept--"Varney already returned! Hast thou +--" he stopped short. + +"Have I done mine errand, thou wouldst say?" replied Varney. "I +have! And thou," he added, showing more symptoms of interest +than he had hitherto exhibited, "art thou sure thou hast poured +forth neither more nor less than the just measure?" + +"Ay," replied the alchemist, "as sure as men can be in these nice +proportions, for there is diversity of constitutions." + +"Nay, then," said Varney, "I fear nothing. I know thou wilt not +go a step farther to the devil than thou art justly considered +for--thou wert paid to create illness, and wouldst esteem it +thriftless prodigality to do murder at the same price. Come, let +us each to our chamber we shall see the event to-morrow." + +"What didst thou do to make her swallow it?" said Foster, +shuddering. + +"Nothing," answered Varney, "but looked on her with that aspect +which governs madmen, women, and children. They told me in St. +Luke's Hospital that I have the right look for overpowering a +refractory patient. The keepers made me their compliments on't; +so I know how to win my bread when my court-favour fails me." + +"And art thou not afraid," said Foster, "lest the dose be +disproportioned?" + +"If so," replied Varney, "she will but sleep the sounder, and the +fear of that shall not break my rest. Good night, my masters." + +Anthony Foster groaned heavily, and lifted up his hands and eyes. +The alchemist intimated his purpose to continue some experiment +of high import during the greater part of the night, and the +others separated to their places of repose. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + Now God be good to me in this wild pilgrimage! + All hope in human aid I cast behind me. + Oh, who would be a woman?--who that fool, + A weeping, pining, faithful, loving woman? + She hath hard measure still where she hopes kindest, + And all her bounties only make ingrates. LOVE'S PILGRIMAGE. + +The summer evening was closed, and Janet, just when her longer +stay might have occasioned suspicion and inquiry in that zealous +household, returned to Cumnor Place, and hastened to the +apartment in which she had left her lady. She found her with her +head resting on her arms, and these crossed upon a table which +stood before her. As Janet came in, she neither looked up nor +stirred. + +Her faithful attendant ran to her mistress with the speed of +lightning, and rousing her at the same time with her hand, +conjured the Countess, in the most earnest manner, to look up and +say what thus affected her. The unhappy lady raised her head +accordingly, and looking on her attendant with a ghastly eye, and +cheek as pale as clay--"Janet," she said, "I have drunk it." + +"God be praised!" said Janet hastily--"I mean, God be praised +that it is no worse; the potion will not harm you. Rise, shake +this lethargy from your limbs, and this despair from your mind." + +"Janet," repeated the Countess again, "disturb me not--leave me +at peace--let life pass quietly. I am poisoned." + +"You are not, my dearest lady," answered the maiden eagerly. +"What you have swallowed cannot injure you, for the antidote has +been taken before it, and I hastened hither to tell you that the +means of escape are open to you." + +"Escape!" exclaimed the lady, as she raised herself hastily in +her chair, while light returned to her eye and life to her cheek; +"but ah! Janet, it comes too late." + +"Not so, dearest lady. Rise, take mine arm, walk through the +apartment; let not fancy do the work of poison! So; feel you not +now that you are possessed of the full use of your limbs?" + +"The torpor seems to diminish," said the Countess, as, supported +by Janet, she walked to and fro in the apartment; "but is it then +so, and have I not swallowed a deadly draught? Varney was here +since thou wert gone, and commanded me, with eyes in which I read +my fate, to swallow yon horrible drug. O Janet! it must be +fatal; never was harmless draught served by such a cup-bearer!" + +"He did not deem it harmless, I fear," replied the maiden; "but +God confounds the devices of the wicked. Believe me, as I swear +by the dear Gospel in which we trust, your life is safe from his +practice. Did you not debate with him?" + +"The house was silent," answered the lady--"thou gone--no other +but he in the chamber--and he capable of every crime. I did but +stipulate he would remove his hateful presence, and I drank +whatever he offered.--But you spoke of escape, Janet; can I be so +happy?" + +"Are you strong enough to bear the tidings, and make the effort?" +said the maiden. + +"Strong!" answered the Countess. "Ask the hind, when the fangs +of the deerhound are stretched to gripe her, if she is strong +enough to spring over a chasm. I am equal to every effort that +may relieve me from this place." + +"Hear me, then," said Janet. "One whom I deem an assured friend +of yours has shown himself to me in various disguises, and sought +speech of me, which--for my mind was not clear on the matter +until this evening--I have ever declined. He was the pedlar who +brought you goods--the itinerant hawker who sold me books; +whenever I stirred abroad I was sure to see him. The event of +this night determined me to speak with him. He awaits even now +at the postern gate of the park with means for your flight.--But +have you strength of body?--have you courage of mind?--can you +undertake the enterprise?" + +"She that flies from death," said the lady, "finds strength of +body--she that would escape from shame lacks no strength of mind. +The thoughts of leaving behind me the villain who menaces both my +life and honour would give me strength to rise from my deathbed." + +"In God's name, then, lady," said Janet, "I must bid you adieu, +and to God's charge I must commit you!" + +"Will you not fly with me, then, Janet?" said the Countess, +anxiously. "Am I to lose thee? Is this thy faithful service?" + +"Lady, I would fly with you as willingly as bird ever fled from +cage, but my doing so would occasion instant discovery and +pursuit. I must remain, and use means to disguise the truth for +some time. May Heaven pardon the falsehood, because of the +necessity!" + +"And am I then to travel alone with this stranger?" said the +lady. "Bethink thee, Janet, may not this prove some deeper and +darker scheme to separate me perhaps from you, who are my only +friend?" + +"No, madam, do not suppose it," answered Janet readily; "the +youth is an honest youth in his purpose to you, and a friend to +Master Tressilian, under whose direction he is come hither." + +"If he be a friend of Tressilian," said the Countess, "I will +commit myself to his charge as to that of an angel sent from +heaven; for than Tressilian never breathed mortal man more free +of whatever was base, false, or selfish. He forgot himself +whenever he could be of use to others. Alas! and how was he +requited?" + +With eager haste they collected the few necessaries which it was +thought proper the Countess should take with her, and which +Janet, with speed and dexterity, formed into a small bundle, not +forgetting to add such ornaments of intrinsic value as came most +readily in her way, and particularly a casket of jewels, which +she wisely judged might prove of service in some future +emergency. The Countess of Leicester next changed her dress for +one which Janet usually wore upon any brief journey, for they +judged it necessary to avoid every external distinction which +might attract attention. Ere these preparations were fully made, +the moon had arisen in the summer heaven, and all in the mansion +had betaken themselves to rest, or at least to the silence and +retirement of their chambers. + +There was no difficulty anticipated in escaping, whether from the +house or garden, provided only they could elude observation. +Anthony Foster had accustomed himself to consider his daughter as +a conscious sinner might regard a visible guardian angel, which, +notwithstanding his guilt, continued to hover around him; and +therefore his trust in her knew no bounds. Janet commanded her +own motions during the daytime, and had a master-key which opened +the postern door of the park, so that she could go to the village +at pleasure, either upon the household affairs, which were +entirely confided to her management, or to attend her devotions +at the meeting-house of her sect. It is true the daughter of +Foster was thus liberally entrusted under the solemn condition +that she should not avail herself of these privileges to do +anything inconsistent with the safe-keeping of the Countess; for +so her residence at Cumnor Place had been termed, since she began +of late to exhibit impatience of the restrictions to which she +was subjected. Nor is there reason to suppose that anything +short of the dreadful suspicions which the scene of that evening +had excited could have induced Janet to violate her word or +deceive her father's confidence. But from what she had +witnessed, she now conceived herself not only justified, but +imperatively called upon, to make her lady's safety the principal +object of her care, setting all other considerations aside. + +The fugitive Countess with her guide traversed with hasty steps +the broken and interrupted path, which had once been an avenue, +now totally darkened by the boughs of spreading trees which met +above their head, and now receiving a doubtful and deceiving +light from the beams of the moon, which penetrated where the axe +had made openings in the wood. Their path was repeatedly +interrupted by felled trees, or the large boughs which had been +left on the ground till time served to make them into fagots and +billets. The inconvenience and difficulty attending these +interruptions, the breathless haste of the first part of their +route, the exhausting sensations of hope and fear, so much +affected the Countess's strength, that Janet was forced to +propose that they should pause for a few minutes to recover +breath and spirits. Both therefore stood still beneath the +shadow of a huge old gnarled oak-tree, and both naturally looked +back to the mansion which they had left behind them, whose long, +dark front was seen in the gloomy distance, with its huge stacks +of chimneys, turrets, and clock-house, rising above the line of +the roof, and definedly visible against the pure azure blue of +the summer sky. One light only twinkled from the extended and +shadowy mass, and it was placed so low that it rather seemed to +glimmer from the ground in front of the mansion than from one of +the windows. The Countess's terror was awakened. "They follow +us!" she said, pointing out to Janet the light which thus +alarmed her. + +Less agitated than her mistress, Janet perceived that the gleam +was stationary, and informed the Countess, in a whisper, that the +light proceeded from the solitary cell in which the alchemist +pursued his occult experiments. "He is of those," she added, +"who sit up and watch by night that they may commit iniquity. +Evil was the chance which sent hither a man whose mixed speech of +earthly wealth and unearthly or superhuman knowledge hath in it +what does so especially captivate my poor father. Well spoke the +good Master Holdforth--and, methought, not without meaning that +those of our household should find therein a practical use. +'There be those,' he said, 'and their number is legion, who will +rather, like the wicked Ahab, listen to the dreams of the false +prophet Zedekiah, than to the words of him by whom the Lord has +spoken.' And he further insisted--'Ah, my brethren, there be many +Zedekiahs among you--men that promise you the light of their +carnal knowledge, so you will surrender to them that of your +heavenly understanding. What are they better than the tyrant +Naas, who demanded the right eye of those who were subjected to +him?' And further he insisted--" + +It is uncertain how long the fair Puritan's memory might have +supported her in the recapitulation of Master Holdforth's +discourse; but the Countess now interrupted her, and assured her +she was so much recovered that she could now reach the postern +without the necessity of a second delay. + +They set out accordingly, and performed the second part of their +journey with more deliberation, and of course more easily, than +the first hasty commencement. This gave them leisure for +reflection; and Janet now, for the first time, ventured to ask +her lady which way she proposed to direct her flight. Receiving +no immediate answer--for, perhaps, in the confusion of her mind +this very obvious subject of deliberation had not occurred to the +Countess---Janet ventured to add, "Probably to your father's +house, where you are sure of safety and protection?" + +"No, Janet," said the lady mournfully; "I left Lidcote Hall while +my heart was light and my name was honourable, and I will not +return thither till my lord's permission and public +acknowledgment of our marriage restore me to my native home with +all the rank and honour which he has bestowed on me." + +"And whither will you, then, madam?" said Janet. + +"To Kenilworth, girl," said the Countess, boldly and freely. "I +will see these revels--these princely revels--the preparation for +which makes the land ring from side to side. Methinks, when the +Queen of England feasts within my husband's halls, the Countess +of Leicester should be no unbeseeming guest." + +"I pray God you may be a welcome one!" said Janet hastily. + +"You abuse my situation, Janet," said the Countess, angrily, "and +you forget your own." + +"I do neither, dearest madam," said the sorrowful maiden; "but +have you forgotten that the noble Earl has given such strict +charges to keep your marriage secret, that he may preserve his +court-favour? and can you think that your sudden appearance at +his castle, at such a juncture, and in such a presence, will be +acceptable to him?" + +"Thou thinkest I would disgrace him," said the Countess; "nay, +let go my arm, I can walk without aid and work without counsel." + +"Be not angry with me, lady," said Janet meekly, "and let me +still support you; the road is rough, and you are little +accustomed to walk in darkness." + +"If you deem me not so mean as may disgrace my husband," said the +Countess, in the same resentful tone, "you suppose my Lord of +Leicester capable of abetting, perhaps of giving aim and +authority to, the base proceedings of your father and Varney, +whose errand I will do to the good Earl." + +"For God's sake, madam, spare my father in your report," said +Janet; "let my services, however poor, be some atonement for his +errors!" + +"I were most unjust, dearest Janet, were it otherwise," said the +Countess, resuming at once the fondness and confidence of her +manner towards her faithful attendant, "No, Janet, not a word of +mine shall do your father prejudice. But thou seest, my love, I +have no desire but to throw my self on my husband's protection. +I have left the abode he assigned for me, because of the villainy +of the persons by whom I was surrounded; but I will disobey his +commands in no other particular. I will appeal to him alone--I +will be protected by him alone; to no other, than at his +pleasure, have I or will I communicate the secret union which +combines our hearts and our destinies. I will see him, and +receive from his own lips the directions for my future conduct. +Do not argue against my resolution, Janet; you will only confirm +me in it. And to own the truth, I am resolved to know my fate at +once, and from my husband's own mouth; and to seek him at +Kenilworth is the surest way to attain my purpose." + +While Janet hastily revolved in her mind the difficulties and +uncertainties attendant on the unfortunate lady's situation, she +was inclined to alter her first opinion, and to think, upon the +whole, that since the Countess had withdrawn herself from the +retreat in which she had been placed by her husband, it was her +first duty to repair to his presence, and possess him with the +reasons for such conduct. She knew what importance the Earl +attached to the concealment of their marriage, and could not but +own, that by taking any step to make it public without his +permission, the Countess would incur, in a high degree, the +indignation of her husband. If she retired to her father's house +without an explicit avowal of her rank, her situation was likely +greatly to prejudice her character; and if she made such an +avowal, it might occasion an irreconcilable breach with her +husband. At Kenilworth, again, she might plead her cause with +her husband himself, whom Janet, though distrusting him more than +the Countess did, believed incapable of being accessory to the +base and desperate means which his dependants, from whose power +the lady was now escaping, might resort to, in order to stifle +her complaints of the treatment she had received at their hands. +But at the worst, and were the Earl himself to deny her justice +and protection, still at Kenilworth, if she chose to make her +wrongs public, the Countess might have Tressilian for her +advocate, and the Queen for her judge; for so much Janet had +learned in her short conference with Wayland. She was, +therefore, on the whole, reconciled to her lady's proposal of +going towards Kenilworth, and so expressed herself; recommending, +however, to the Countess the utmost caution in making her arrival +known to her husband, + +"Hast thou thyself been cautious, Janet?" said the Countess; +"this guide, in whom I must put my confidence, hast thou not +entrusted to him the secret of my condition?" + +"From me he has learned nothing," said Janet; "nor do I think +that he knows more than what the public in general believe of +your situation." + +"And what is that?" said the lady. + +"That you left your father's house--but I shall offend you again +if I go on," said Janet, interrupting herself. + +"Nay, go on," said the Countess; "I must learn to endure the evil +report which my folly has brought upon me. They think, I +suppose, that I have left my father's house to follow lawless +pleasure. It is an error which will soon be removed--indeed it +shall, for I will live with spotless fame, or I shall cease to +live.--I am accounted, then, the paramour of my Leicester?" + +"Most men say of Varney," said Janet; "yet some call him only the +convenient cloak of his master's pleasures; for reports of the +profuse expense in garnishing yonder apartments have secretly +gone abroad, and such doings far surpass the means of Varney. +But this latter opinion is little prevalent; for men dare hardly +even hint suspicion when so high a name is concerned, lest the +Star Chamber should punish them for scandal of the nobility." + +"They do well to speak low," said the Countess, "who would +mention the illustrious Dudley as the accomplice of such a wretch +as Varney.--We have reached the postern. Ah! Janet, I must bid +thee farewell! Weep not, my good girl," said she, endeavouring +to cover her own reluctance to part with her faithful attendant +under an attempt at playfulness; "and against we meet again, +reform me, Janet, that precise ruff of thine for an open rabatine +of lace and cut work, that will let men see thou hast a fair +neck; and that kirtle of Philippine chency, with that bugle lace +which befits only a chambermaid, into three-piled velvet and +cloth of gold--thou wilt find plenty of stuffs in my chamber, and +I freely bestow them on you. Thou must be brave, Janet; for +though thou art now but the attendant of a distressed and errant +lady, who is both nameless and fameless, yet, when we meet again, +thou must be dressed as becomes the gentlewoman nearest in love +and in service to the first Countess in England." + +"Now, may God grant it, dear lady!" said Janet--"not that I may +go with gayer apparel, but that we may both wear our kirtles over +lighter hearts." + +By this time the lock of the postern door had, after some hard +wrenching, yielded to the master-key; and the Countess, not +without internal shuddering, saw herself beyond the walls which +her husband's strict commands had assigned to her as the boundary +of her walks. Waiting with much anxiety for their appearance, +Wayland Smith stood at some distance, shrouding himself behind a +hedge which bordered the high-road. + +"Is all safe?" said Janet to him anxiously, as he approached +them with caution. + +"All," he replied; "but I have been unable to procure a horse for +the lady. Giles Gosling, the cowardly hilding, refused me one on +any terms whatever, lest, forsooth, he should suffer. But no +matter; she must ride on my palfrey, and I must walk by her side +until I come by another horse. There will be no pursuit, if you, +pretty Mistress Janet, forget not thy lesson." + +"No more than the wise widow of Tekoa forgot the words which Joab +put into her mouth," answered Janet. "Tomorrow, I say that my +lady is unable to rise." + +"Ay; and that she hath aching and heaviness of the head a +throbbing at the heart, and lists not to be disturbed. Fear not; +they will take the hint, and trouble thee with few questions-- +they understand the disease," + +"But," said the lady, "My absence must be soon discovered, and +they will murder her in revenge. I will rather return than +expose her to such danger." + +"Be at ease on my account, madam," said Janet; "I would you were +as sure of receiving the favour you desire from those to whom you +must make appeal, as I am that my father, however angry, will +suffer no harm to befall me." + +The Countess was now placed by Wayland upon his horse, around the +saddle of which he had placed his cloak, so folded as to make her +a commodious seat. + +"Adieu, and may the blessing of God wend with you!" said Janet, +again kissing her mistress's hand, who returned her benediction +with a mute caress. They then tore themselves asunder, and +Janet, addressing Wayland, exclaimed, "May Heaven deal with you +at your need, as you are true or false to this most injured and +most helpless lady!" + +"Amen! dearest Janet," replied Way]and; "and believe me, I will +so acquit myself of my trust as may tempt even your pretty eyes, +saintlike as they are, to look less scornfully on me when we next +meet." + +The latter part of this adieu was whispered into Janet's ear and +although she made no reply to it directly, yet her manner, +influenced, no doubt, by her desire to leave every motive in +force which could operate towards her mistress's safety, did not +discourage the hope which Wayland's words expressed. She +re-entered the postern door, and locked it behind her; while, +Wayland taking the horse's bridle in his hand, and walking close +by its head, they began in silence their dubious and moonlight +journey. + +Although Wayland Smith used the utmost dispatch which he could +make, yet this mode of travelling was so slow, that when morning +began to dawn through the eastern mist, he found himself no +farther than about ten miles distant from Cumnor. "Now, a plague +upon all smooth-spoken hosts!" said Wayland, unable longer to +suppress his mortification and uneasiness. "Had the false loon, +Giles Gosling, but told me plainly two days since that I was to +reckon nought upon him, I had shifted better for myself. But +your hosts have such a custom of promising whatever is called for +that it is not till the steed is to be shod you find they are out +of iron. Had I but known, I could have made twenty shifts; nay, +for that matter, and in so good a cause, I would have thought +little to have prigged a prancer from the next common--it had but +been sending back the brute to the headborough. The farcy and +the founders confound every horse in the stables of the Black +Bear!" + +The lady endeavoured to comfort her guide, observing that the +dawn would enable him to make more speed. + +"True, madam," he replied; "but then it will enable other folk to +take note of us, and that may prove an ill beginning of our +journey. I had not cared a spark from anvil about the matter had +we been further advanced on our way. But this Berkshire has been +notoriously haunted, ever since I knew the country, with that +sort of malicious elves who sit up late and rise early for no +other purpose than to pry into other folk's affairs. I have been +endangered by them ere now. But do not fear," he added, "good +madam; for wit, meeting with opportunity, will not miss to find a +salve for every sore." + +The alarms of her guide made more impression on the Countess's +mind than the comfort which he judged fit to administer along +with it. She looked anxiously around her. and as the shadows +withdrew from the landscape, and the heightening glow of the +eastern sky promised the speedy rise of the sun, expected at +every turn that the increasing light would expose them to the +view of the vengeful pursuers, or present some dangerous and +insurmountable obstacle to the prosecution of their journey. +Wayland Smith perceived her uneasiness, and, displeased with +himself for having given her cause of alarm, strode on with +affected alacrity, now talking to the horse as one expert in the +language of the stable, now whistling to himself low and +interrupted snatches of tunes, and now assuring the lady there +was no danger, while at the same time he looked sharply around to +see that there was nothing in sight which might give the lie to +his words while they were issuing from his mouth. Thus did they +journey on, until an unexpected incident gave them the means of +continuing their pilgrimage with more speed and convenience. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + RICHARD. A horse!--A horse!--my kingdom for a horse! + CATESBY. .....My lord, I'll help you to a horse. RICHARD III. + + +Our travellers were in the act of passing a small thicket of +trees close by the roadside, when the first living being +presented himself whom they had seen since their departure from +Cumnor Place. This was a stupid lout, seemingly a farmer's boy, +in a grey jerkin, with his head bare, his hose about his heels, +and huge startups upon his feet. He held by the bridle what of +all things they most wanted--a palfrey, namely, with a side- +saddle, and all other garniture for a woman's mounting; and he +hailed Wayland Smith with, "Zur, be ye zure the party?" + +"Ay, that I be, my lad," answered Wayland, without an instant's +hesitation; and it must be owned that consciences trained in a +stricter school of morality might have given way to an occasion +so tempting. While he spoke, he caught the rein out of the boy's +hand, and almost at the same time helped down the Countess from +his own horse, and aided her to mount on that which chance had +thus presented for her acceptance. Indeed, so naturally did the +whole take place, that the Countess, as it afterwards appeared, +never suspected but that the horse had been placed there to meet +them by the precaution of the guide or some of his friends. + +The lad, however, who was thus hastily dispossessed of his +charge, began to stare hard, and scratch his head, as if seized +with some qualms of conscience for delivering up the animal on +such brief explanation. "I be right zure thou be'st the party," +said he, muttering to himself, "but thou shouldst ha zaid BEANS, +thou knawest." + +"Ay, ay," said Wayland, speaking at a venture; "and thou BACON, +thou knowest." + +"Noa, noa," said the lad; "bide ye--bide ye--it was PEAS a should +ha said." + +"Well, well," answered Wayland, "Peas be it, a God's name! +though Bacon were the better password." + +And being by this time mounted on his own horse, he caught the +rein of the palfrey from the uncertain hold of the hesitating +young boor, flung him a small piece of money, and made amends for +lost time by riding briskly off without further parley. The lad +was still visible from the hill up which they were riding, and +Wayland, as he looked back, beheld him standing with his fingers +in his hair as immovable as a guide-post, and his head turned in +the direction in which they were escaping from him. At length, +just as they topped the hill, he saw the clown stoop to lift up +the silver groat which his benevolence had imparted. "Now this +is what I call a Godsend," said Wayland; "this is a bonny, well- +ridden bit of a going thing, and it will carry us so far till we +get you as well mounted, and then we will send it back time +enough to satisfy the Hue and Cry." + +But he was deceived in his expectations; and fate, which seemed +at first to promise so fairly, soon threatened to turn the +incident which he thus gloried in into the cause of their utter +ruin. + +They had not ridden a short mile from the place where they left +the lad before they heard a man's voice shouting on the wind +behind them, "Robbery! robbery!--Stop thief!" and similar +exclamations, which Wayland's conscience readily assured him must +arise out of the transaction to which he had been just accessory. + +"I had better have gone barefoot all my life," he said; "it is +the Hue and Cry, and I am a lost man. Ah! Wayland, Wayland, +many a time thy father said horse-flesh would be the death of +thee. Were I once safe among the horse-coursers in Smithfield, or +Turnbull Street, they should have leave to hang me as high as St. +Paul's if I e'er meddled more with nobles, knights, or +gentlewomen." + +Amidst these dismal reflections, he turned his head repeatedly to +see by whom he was chased, and was much comforted when he could +only discover a single rider, who was, however, well mounted, and +came after them at a speed which left them no chance of escaping, +even had the lady's strength permitted her to ride as fast as her +palfrey might have been able to gallop. + +"There may be fair play betwixt us, sure," thought Wayland, +"where there is but one man on each side, and yonder fellow sits +on his horse more like a monkey than a cavalier. Pshaw! if it +come to the worse, it will be easy unhorsing him. Nay, 'snails! +I think his horse will take the matter in his own hand, for he +has the bridle betwixt his teeth. Oons, what care I for him?" +said he, as the pursuer drew yet nearer; "it is but the little +animal of a mercer from Abingdon, when all is over." + +Even so it was, as the experienced eye of Wayland had descried at +a distance. For the valiant mercer's horse, which was a beast of +mettle, feeling himself put to his speed, and discerning a couple +of horses riding fast at some hundred yards' distance before him, +betook himself to the road with such alacrity as totally deranged +the seat of his rider, who not only came up with, but passed at +full gallop, those whom he had been pursuing, pulling the reins +with all his might, and ejaculating, "Stop! stop!" an +interjection which seemed rather to regard his own palfrey than +what seamen call "the chase." With the same involuntary speed, +he shot ahead (to use another nautical phrase) about a furlong +ere he was able to stop and turn his horse, and then rode back +towards our travellers, adjusting, as well as he could, his +disordered dress, resettling himself in the saddle, and +endeavouring to substitute a bold and martial frown for the +confusion and dismay which sat upon his visage during his +involuntary career. + +Wayland had just time to caution the lady not to be alarmed, +adding, "This fellow is a gull, and I will use him as such." + +When the mercer had recovered breath and audacity enough to +confront them, he ordered Wayland, in a menacing tone, to deliver +up his palfrey. + +"How?" said the smith, in King Cambyses' vein, "are we commanded +to stand and deliver on the king's highway? Then out, Excalibur, +and tell this knight of prowess that dire blows must decide +between us!" + +"Haro and help, and hue and cry, every true man!" said the +mercer. "I am withstood in seeking to recover mine own." + +"Thou swearest thy gods in vain, foul paynim," said Wayland, "for +I will through with mine purpose were death at the end on't. +Nevertheless, know, thou false man of frail cambric and +ferrateen, that I am he, even the pedlar, whom thou didst boast +to meet on Maiden Castle moor, and despoil of his pack; +wherefore betake thee to thy weapons presently." + +"I spoke but in jest, man," said Goldthred; "I am an honest +shopkeeper and citizen, who scorns to leap forth on any man from +behind a hedge." + +"Then, by my faith, most puissant mercer," answered Wayland, "I +am sorry for my vow, which was, that wherever I met thee I would +despoil thee of thy palfrey, and bestow it upon my leman, unless +thou couldst defend it by blows of force. But the vow is passed +and registered, and all I can do for thee is to leave the horse +at Donnington, in the nearest hostelry." + +"But I tell thee, friend," said the mercer, "it is the very horse +on which I was this day to carry Jane Thackham, of Shottesbrok, +as far as the parish church yonder, to become Dame Goldthred. +She hath jumped out of the shot-window of old Gaffer Thackham's +grange; and lo ye, yonder she stands at the place where she +should have met the palfrey, with her camlet riding-cloak and +ivory-handled whip, like a picture of Lot's wife. I pray you, in +good terms, let me have back the palfrey." + +"Grieved am I," said Wayland, "as much for the fair damsel as for +thee, most noble imp of muslin. But vows must have their course; +thou wilt find the palfrey at the Angel yonder at Donnington. It +is all I may do for thee with a safe conscience." + +"To the devil with thy conscience!" said the dismayed mercer. +"Wouldst thou have a bride walk to church on foot?" + +"Thou mayest take her on thy crupper, Sir Goldthred," answered +Wayland; "it will take down thy steed's mettle." + +"And how if you--if you forget to leave my horse, as you +propose?" said Goldthred, not without hesitation, for his soul +was afraid within him. + +"My pack shall be pledged for it--yonder it lies with Giles +Gosling, in his chamber with the damasked leathern hangings, +stuffed full with velvet, single, double, treble-piled--rash- +taffeta, and parapa--shag, damask, and mocado, plush, and +grogram--" + +"Hold! hold!" exclaimed the mercer; "nay, if there be, in truth +and sincerity, but the half of these wares--but if ever I trust +bumpkin with bonny Bayard again!" + +"As you list for that, good Master Goldthred, and so good morrow +to you--and well parted," he added, riding on cheerfully with the +lady, while the discountenanced mercer rode back much slower than +he came, pondering what excuse he should make to the disappointed +bride, who stood waiting for her gallant groom in the midst of +the king's highway. + +"Methought," said the lady, as they rode on, "yonder fool stared +at me as if he had some remembrance of me; yet I kept my muffler +as high as I might." + +"If I thought so," said Wayland, "I would ride back and cut him +over the pate; there would be no fear of harming his brains, for +he never had so much as would make pap to a sucking gosling. We +must now push on, however, and at Donnington we will leave the +oaf's horse, that he may have no further temptation to pursue us, +and endeavour to assume such a change of shape as may baffle his +pursuit if he should persevere in it." + +The travellers reached Donnington without further alarm, where it +became matter of necessity that the Countess should enjoy two or +three hours' repose, during which Wayland disposed himself, with +equal address and alacrity, to carry through those measures on +which the safety of their future journey seemed to depend. + +Exchanging his pedlar's gaberdine for a smock-frock, he carried +the palfrey of Goldthred to the Angel Inn, which was at the other +end of the village from that where our travellers had taken up +their quarters. In the progress of the morning, as he travelled +about his other business, he saw the steed brought forth and +delivered to the cutting mercer himself, who, at the head of a +valorous posse of the Hue and Cry, came to rescue, by force of +arms, what was delivered to him without any other ransom than the +price of a huge quantity of ale, drunk out by his assistants, +thirsty, it would seem, with their walk, and concerning the price +of which Master Goldthred had a fierce dispute with the +headborough, whom he had summoned to aid him in raising the +country. + +Having made this act of prudent as well as just restitution, +Wayland procured such change of apparel for the lady, as well as +himself, as gave them both the appearance of country people of +the better class; it being further resolved, that in order to +attract the less observation, she should pass upon the road for +the sister of her guide. A good but not a gay horse, fit to keep +pace with his own, and gentle enough for a lady's use, completed +the preparations for the journey; for making which, and for other +expenses, he had been furnished with sufficient funds by +Tressilian. And thus, about noon, after the Countess had been +refreshed by the sound repose of several hours, they resumed +their journey, with the purpose of making the best of their way +to Kenilworth, by Coventry and Warwick. They were not, however, +destined to travel far without meeting some cause of +apprehension. + +It is necessary to premise that the landlord of the inn had +informed them that a jovial party, intended, as he understood, to +present some of the masques or mummeries which made a part of the +entertainment with which the Queen was usually welcomed on the +royal Progresses, had left the village of Donnington an hour or +two before them in order to proceed to Kenilworth. Now it had +occurred to Wayland that, by attaching themselves in some sort to +this group as soon as they should overtake them on the road, they +would be less likely to attract notice than if they continued to +travel entirely by themselves. He communicated his idea to the +Countess, who, only anxious to arrive at Kenilworth without +interruption, left him free to choose the manner in which this +was to be accomplished. They pressed forward their horses, +therefore, with the purpose of overtaking the party of intended +revellers, and making the journey in their company; and had just +seen the little party, consisting partly of riders, partly of +people on foot, crossing the summit of a gentle hill, at about +half a mile's distance, and disappearing on the other side, when +Wayland, who maintained the most circumspect observation of all +that met his eye in every direction, was aware that a rider was +coming up behind them on a horse of uncommon action, accompanied +by a serving-man, whose utmost efforts were unable to keep up +with his master's trotting hackney, and who, therefore, was fain +to follow him at a hand gallop. Wayland looked anxiously back at +these horsemen, became considerably disturbed in his manner, +looked back again, and became pale, as he said to the lady, "That +is Richard Varney's trotting gelding; I would know him among a +thousand nags. This is a worse business than meeting the +mercer." + +"Draw your sword," answered the lady, "and pierce my bosom with +it, rather than I should fall into his hands!" + +"I would rather by a thousand times," answered Wayland, "pass it +through his body, or even mine own. But to say truth, fighting +is not my best point, though I can look on cold iron like another +when needs must be. And indeed, as for my sword--(put on, I pray +you)--it is a poor Provant rapier, and I warrant you he has a +special Toledo. He has a serving-man, too, and I think it is the +drunken ruffian Lambourne! upon the horse on which men say--(I +pray you heartily to put on)--he did the great robbery of the +west country grazier. It is not that I fear either Varney or +Lambourne in a good cause--(your palfrey will go yet faster if +you urge him)--but yet--(nay, I pray you let him not break off +into a gallop, lest they should see we fear them, and give chase +--keep him only at the full trot)--but yet, though I fear them +not, I would we were well rid of them, and that rather by policy +than by violence. Could we once reach the party before us, we +may herd among them, and pass unobserved, unless Varney be really +come in express pursuit of us, and then, happy man be his dole!" + +While he thus spoke, he alternately urged and restrained his +horse, desirous to maintain the fleetest pace that was consistent +with the idea of an ordinary journey on the road, but to avoid +such rapidity of movement as might give rise to suspicion that +they were flying. + +At such a pace they ascended the gentle hill we have mentioned, +and looking from the top, had the pleasure to see that the party +which had left Donnington before them were in the little valley +or bottom on the other side, where the road was traversed by a +rivulet, beside which was a cottage or two. In this place they +seemed to have made a pause, which gave Wayland the hope of +joining them, and becoming a part of their company, ere Varney +should overtake them. He was the more anxious, as his companion, +though she made no complaints, and expressed no fear, began to +look so deadly pale that he was afraid she might drop from her +horse. Notwithstanding this symptom of decaying strength, she +pushed on her palfrey so briskly that they joined the party in +the bottom of the valley ere Varney appeared on the top of the +gentle eminence which they had descended. + +They found the company to which they meant to associate +themselves in great disorder. The women with dishevelled locks, +and looks of great importance, ran in and out of one of the +cottages, and the men stood around holding the horses, and +looking silly enough, as is usual in cases where their assistance +is not wanted. + +Wayland and his charge paused, as if out of curiosity, and then +gradually, without making any inquiries, or being asked any +questions, they mingled with the group, as if they had always +made part of it. + +They had not stood there above five minutes, anxiously keeping as +much to the side of the road as possible, so as to place the +other travellers betwixt them and Varney, when Lord Leicester's +master of the horse, followed by Lambourne, came riding fiercely +down the hill, their horses' flanks and the rowels of their spurs +showing bloody tokens of the rate at which they travelled. The +appearance of the stationary group around the cottages, wearing +their buckram suits in order to protect their masking dresses, +having their light cart for transporting their scenery, and +carrying various fantastic properties in their hands for the more +easy conveyance, let the riders at once into the character and +purpose of the company. + +"You are revelIers," said Varney, "designing for Kenilworth?" + +"RECTE QUIDEM, DOMINE SPECTATISSIME," answered one of the party. + +"And why the devil stand you here?" said Varney, "when your +utmost dispatch will but bring you to Kenilworth in time? The +Queen dines at Warwick to-morrow, and you loiter here, ye +knaves." + +"I very truth, sir," said a little, diminutive urchin, wearing a +vizard with a couple of sprouting horns of an elegant scarlet +hue, having, moreover, a black serge jerkin drawn close to his +body by lacing, garnished with red stockings, and shoes so shaped +as to resemble cloven feet--"in very truth, sir, and you are in +the right on't. It is my father the Devil, who, being taken in +labour, has delayed our present purpose, by increasing our +company with an imp too many," + +"The devil he has!" answered Varney, whose laugh, however, never +exceeded a sarcastic smile. + +"It is even as the juvenal hath said," added the masker who spoke +first; "Our major devil--for this is but our minor one--is even +now at LUCINA, FER OPEM, within that very TUGURIUM." + +"By Saint George, or rather by the Dragon, who may be a kinsman +of the fiend in the straw, a most comical chance!" said Varney. +"How sayest thou, Lambourne, wilt thou stand godfather for the +nonce? If the devil were to choose a gossip, I know no one more +fit for the office." + +"Saving always when my betters are in presence," said Lambourne, +with the civil impudence of a servant who knows his services to +be so indispensable that his jest will be permitted to pass +muster. + +"And what is the name of this devil, or devil's dam, who has +timed her turns so strangely?" said Varney. "We can ill afford +to spare any of our actors." + +"GAUDET NOMINE SIBYLLAE," said the first speaker; "she is called +Sibyl Laneham, wife of Master Robert Laneham--" + +"Clerk to the Council-chamber door," said Varney; "why, she is +inexcusable, having had experience how to have ordered her +matters better. But who were those, a man and a woman, I think, +who rode so hastily up the hill before me even now? Do they +belong to your company?" + +Wayland was about to hazard a reply to this alarming inquiry, +when the little diablotin again thrust in his oar. + +"So please you," he said, coming close up to Varney, and speaking +so as not to be overheard by his companions, "the man was our +devil major, who has tricks enough to supply the lack of a +hundred such as Dame Laneham; and the woman, if you please, is +the sage person whose assistance is most particularly necessary +to our distressed comrade." + +"Oh, what! you have got the wise woman, then?" said Varney. +"Why, truly, she rode like one bound to a place where she was +needed. And you have a spare limb of Satan, besides, to supply +the place of Mistress Laneham?" + +"Ay, sir," said the boy; "they are not so scarce in this world as +your honour's virtuous eminence would suppose. This master-fiend +shall spit a few flashes of fire, and eruct a volume or two of +smoke on the spot, if it will do you pleasure--you would think he +had AEtna in his abdomen." + +"I lack time just now, most hopeful imp of darkness, to witness +his performance," said Varney; "but here is something for you all +to drink the lucky hour--and so, as the play says, 'God be with +Your labour!'" + +Thus speaking, he struck his horse with the spurs, and rode on +his way. + +Lambourne tarried a moment or two behind his master, and rummaged +his pouch for a piece of silver, which he bestowed on the +communicative imp, as he said, for his encouragement on his path +to the infernal regions, some sparks of whose fire, he said, he +could discover flashing from him already. Then having received +the boy's thanks for his generosity he also spurred his horse, +and rode after his master as fast as the fire flashes from flint. + +"And now," said the wily imp, sidling close up to Wayland's +horse, and cutting a gambol in the air which seemed to vindicate +his title to relationship with the prince of that element, "I +have told them who YOU are, do you in return tell me who I am?" + +"Either Flibbertigibbet," answered Wayland Smith, "or else an imp +of the devil in good earnest." + +"Thou hast hit it," answered Dickie Sludge. "I am thine own +Flibbertigibbet, man; and I have broken forth of bounds, along +with my learned preceptor, as I told thee I would do, whether he +would or not. But what lady hast thou got with thee? I saw thou +wert at fault the first question was asked, and so I drew up for +thy assistance. But I must know all who she is, dear Wayland." + +"Thou shalt know fifty finer things, my dear ingle," said +Wayland; "but a truce to thine inquiries just now. And since you +are bound for Kenilworth, thither will I too, even for the love +of thy sweet face and waggish company." + +"Thou shouldst have said my waggish face and sweet company," said +Dickie;" but how wilt thou travel with us--I mean in what +character?" + +"E'en in that thou hast assigned me, to be sure--as a juggler; +thou knowest I am used to the craft," answered Wayland. + +"Ay, but the lady?" answered Flibbertigibbet. "Credit me, I +think she IS one and thou art in a sea of troubles about her at +this moment, as I can perceive by thy fidgeting." + +"Oh, she, man!--she is a poor sister of mine," said Wayland; "she +can sing and play o' the lute would win the fish out o' the +stream." + +"Let me hear her instantly," said the boy, "I love the lute +rarely; I love it of all things, though I never heard it." + +"Then how canst thou love it, Flibbertigibbet?" said Wayland. + +"As knights love ladies in old tales," answered Dickie--"on +hearsay." + +"Then love it on hearsay a little longer, till my sister is +recovered from the fatigue of her journey," said Wayland; +muttering afterwards betwixt his teeth, "The devil take the imp's +curiosity! I must keep fair weather with him, or we shall fare +the worse." + +He then proceeded to state to Master Holiday his own talents as a +juggler, with those of his sister as a musician. Some proof of +his dexterity was demanded, which he gave in such a style of +excellence, that, delighted at obtaining such an accession to +their party, they readily acquiesced in the apology which he +offered when a display of his sister's talents was required. The +new-comers were invited to partake of the refreshments with which +the party were provided; and it was with some difficulty that +Wayland Smith obtained an opportunity of being apart with his +supposed sister during the meal, of which interval he availed +himself to entreat her to forget for the present both her rank +and her sorrows, and condescend, as the most probable chance of +remaining concealed, to mix in the society of those with whom she +was to travel. + +The Countess allowed the necessity of the case, and when they +resumed their journey, endeavoured to comply with her guide's +advice, by addressing herself to a female near her, and +expressing her concern for the woman whom they were thus obliged +to leave behind them. + +"Oh, she is well attended, madam," replied the dame whom she +addressed, who, from her jolly and laughter-loving demeanour, +might have been the very emblem of the Wife of Bath; "and my +gossip Laneham thinks as little of these matters as any one. By +the ninth day, an the revels last so long, we shall have her with +us at Kenilworth, even if she should travel with her bantling on +her back." + +There was something in this speech which took away all desire on +the Countess of Leicester's part to continue the conversation. +But having broken the charm by speaking to her fellow-traveller +first, the good dame, who was to play Rare Gillian of Croydon in +one of the interludes, took care that silence did not again +settle on the journey, but entertained her mute companion with a +thousand anecdotes of revels, from the days of King Harry +downwards, with the reception given them by the great folk, and +all the names of those who played the principal characters; but +ever concluding with "they would be nothing to the princely +pleasures of Kenilworth." + +"And when shall we reach Kenilworth? said the Countess, with an +agitation which she in vain attempted to conceal. + +"We that have horses may, with late riding, get to Warwick to- +night, and Kenilworth may be distant some four or five miles. +But then we must wait till the foot-people come up; although it +is like my good Lord of Leicester will have horses or light +carriages to meet them, and bring them up without being travel- +toiled, which last is no good preparation, as you may suppose, +for dancing before your betters. And yet, Lord help me, I have +seen the day I would have tramped five leagues of lea-land, and +turned an my toe the whole evening after, as a juggler spins a +pewter platter on the point of a needle. But age has clawed me +somewhat in his clutch, as the song says; though, if I like the +tune and like my partner, I'll dance the hays yet with any merry +lass in Warwickshire that writes that unhappy figure four with a +round O after it." + +If the Countess was overwhelmed with the garrulity of this good +dame, Wayland Smith, on his part, had enough to do to sustain and +parry,the constant attacks made upon him by the indefatigable +curiosity of his old acquaintance Richard Sludge. Nature had +given that arch youngster a prying cast of disposition, which +matched admirably with his sharp wit; the former inducing him to +plant himself as a spy on other people's affairs, and the latter +quality leading him perpetually to interfere, after he had made +himself master of that which concerned him not. He spent the +livelong day in attempting to peer under the Countess's muffler, +and apparently what he could there discern greatly sharpened his +curiosity. + +"That sister of thine, Wayland," he said, "has a fair neck to +have been born in a smithy, and a pretty taper hand to have been +used for twirling a spindle--faith, I'll believe in your +relationship when the crow's egg is hatched into a cygnet." + +"Go to," said Wayland, "thou art a prating boy, and should be +breeched for thine assurance." + +"Well," said the imp, drawing off, "all I say is--remember you +have kept a secret from me, and if I give thee not a Roland for +thine Oliver, my name is not Dickon Sludge!" + +This threat, and the distance at which Hobgoblin kept from him +for the rest of the way, alarmed Wayland very much, and he +suggested to his pretended sister that, on pretext of weariness, +she should express a desire to stop two or three miles short of +the fair town of Warwick, promising to rejoin the troop in the +morning. A small village inn afforded them a resting-place, and +it was with secret pleasure that Wayland saw the whole party, +including Dickon, pass on, after a courteous farewell, and leave +them behind. + +"To-morrow, madam," he said to his charge, "we will, with your +leave, again start early, and reach Kenilworth before the rout +which are to assemble there." + +The Countess gave assent to the proposal of her faithful guide; +but, somewhat to his surprise, said nothing further on the +subject, which left Wayland under the disagreeable uncertainty +whether or no she had formed any plan for her own future +proceedings, as he knew her situation demanded circumspection, +although he was but imperfectly acquainted with all its +peculiarities. Concluding, however, that she must have friends +within the castle, whose advice and assistance she could safely +trust, he supposed his task would be best accomplished by +conducting her thither in safety, agreeably to her repeated +commands. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + Hark, the bells summon, and the bugle calls, + But she the fairest answers not--the tide + Of nobles and of ladies throngs the halls, + But she the loveliest must in secret hide. + What eyes were thine, proud Prince, which in the gleam + Of yon gay meteors lost that better sense, + That o'er the glow-worm doth the star esteem, + And merit's modest blush o'er courtly insolence? + THE GLASS SLIPPER. + +The unfortunate Countess of Leicester had, from her infancy +upwards, been treated by those around her with indulgence as +unbounded as injudicious. The natural sweetness of her +disposition had saved her from becoming insolent and ill- +humoured; but the caprice which preferred the handsome and +insinuating Leicester before Tressilian, of whose high honour and +unalterable affection she herself entertained so firm an opinion +--that fatal error, which ruined the happiness of her life, had +its origin in the mistaken kindness; that had spared her +childhood the painful but most necessary lesson of submission and +self-command. From the same indulgence it followed that she had +only been accustomed to form and to express her wishes, leaving +to others the task of fulfilling them; and thus, at the most +momentous period of her life, she was alike destitute of presence +of mind, and of ability to form for herself any reasonable or +prudent plan of conduct. + +These difficulties pressed on the unfortunate lady with +overwhelming force on the morning which seemed to be the crisis +of her fate. Overlooking every intermediate consideration, she +had only desired to be at Kenilworth, and to approach her +husband's presence; and now, when she was in the vicinity of +both, a thousand considerations arose at once upon her mind, +startling her with accumulated doubts and dangers, some real, +some imaginary, and all exalted and exaggerated by a situation +alike helpless and destitute of aid and counsel. + +A sleepless night rendered her so weak in the morning that she +was altogether unable to attend Wayland's early summons. The +trusty guide became extremely distressed on the lady's account, +and somewhat alarmed on his own, and was on the point of going +alone to Kenilworth, in the hope of discovering Tressilian, and +intimating to him the lady's approach, when about nine in the +morning he was summoned to attend her. He found her dressed, and +ready for resuming her journey, but with a paleness of +countenance which alarmed him for her health. She intimated her +desire that the horses might be got instantly ready, and resisted +with impatience her guide's request that she would take some +refreshment before setting forward. "I have had," she said, "a +cup of water--the wretch who is dragged to execution needs no +stronger cordial, and that may serve me which suffices for him. +Do as I command you." Wayland Smith still hesitated. "What +would you have?" said she. "Have I not spoken plainly?" + +"Yes, madam," answered Wayland; "but may I ask what is your +further purpose? I only wish to know, that I may guide myself by +your wishes. The whole country is afloat, and streaming towards +the Castle of Kenilworth. It will be difficult travelling +thither, even if we had the necessary passports for safe-conduct +and free admittance; unknown and unfriended, we may come by +mishap. Your ladyship will forgive my speaking my poor mind-- +were we not better try to find out the maskers, and again join +ourselves with them?" The Countess shook her head, and her guide +proceeded, "Then I see but one other remedy." + +"Speak out, then," said the lady, not displeased, perhaps, that +he should thus offer the advice which she was ashamed to ask; "I +believe thee faithful--what wouldst thou counsel?" + +"That I should warn Master Tressilian," said Wayland, "that you +are in this place. I am right certain he would get to horse with +a few of Lord Sussex's followers, and ensure your personal +safety." + +"And is it to ME you advise," said the Countess, "to put myself +under the protection of Sussex, the unworthy rival of the noble +Leicester?" Then, seeing the surprise with which Wayland stared +upon her, and afraid of having too strongly intimated her +interest in Leicester, she added, "And for Tressilian, it must +not be--mention not to him, I charge you, my unhappy name; it +would but double MY misfortunes, and involve HIM in dangers +beyond the power of rescue." She paused; but when she observed +that Wayland continued to look on her with that anxious and +uncertain gaze which indicated a doubt whether her brain was +settled, she assumed an air of composure, and added, "Do thou but +guide me to Kenilworth Castle, good fellow, and thy task is +ended, since I will then judge what further is to be done. Thou +hast yet been true to me--here is something that will make thee +rich amends." + +She offered the artist a ring containing a valuable stone. +Wayland looked at it, hesitated a moment, and then returned it. +"Not," he said, "that I am above your kindness, madam, being but +a poor fellow, who have been forced, God help me! to live by +worse shifts than the bounty of such a person as you. But, as my +old master the farrier used to say to his customers, 'No cure, no +pay.' We are not yet in Kenilworth Castle, and it is time enough +to discharge your guide, as they say, when you take your boots +off. I trust in God your ladyship is as well assured of fitting +reception when you arrive, as you may hold yourself certain of my +best endeavours to conduct you thither safely. I go to get the +horses; meantime, let me pray you once more, as your poor +physician as well as guide, to take some sustenance." + +"I will--I will," said the lady hastily. "Begone, begone +instantly!--It is in vain I assume audacity," said she, when he +left the room; "even this poor groom sees through my affectation +of courage, and fathoms the very ground of my fears." + +She then attempted to follow her guide's advice by taking some +food, but was compelled to desist, as the effort to swallow even +a single morsel gave her so much uneasiness as amounted well-nigh +to suffocation. A moment afterwards the horses appeared at the +latticed window. The lady mounted, and found that relief from +the free air and change of place which is frequently experienced +in similar circumstances. + +It chanced well for the Countess's purpose that Wayland Smith, +whose previous wandering and unsettled life had made him +acquainted with almost all England, was intimate with all the by- +roads, as well as direct communications, through the beautiful +county of Warwick. For such and so great was the throng which +flocked in all directions towards Kenilworth, to see the entry of +Elizabeth into that splendid mansion of her prime favourite, that +the principal roads were actually blocked up and interrupted, and +it was only by circuitous by-paths that the travellers could +proceed on their journey. + +The Queen's purveyors had been abroad, sweeping the farms and +villages of those articles usually exacted during a royal +Progress, and for which the owners were afterwards to obtain a +tardy payment from the Board of Green Cloth. The Earl of +Leicester's household officers had been scouring the country for +the same purpose; and many of his friends and allies, both near +and remote, took this opportunity of ingratiating themselves by +sending large quantities of provisions and delicacies of all +kinds, with game in huge numbers, and whole tuns of the best +liquors, foreign and domestic. Thus the highroads were filled +with droves of bullocks, sheep, calves, and hogs, and choked with +loaded wains, whose axle-trees cracked under their burdens of +wine-casks and hogsheads of ale, and huge hampers of grocery +goods, and slaughtered game, and salted provisions, and sacks of +flour. Perpetual stoppages took place as these wains became +entangled; and their rude drivers, swearing and brawling till +their wild passions were fully raised, began to debate precedence +with their wagon-whips and quarterstaves, which occasional riots +were usually quieted by a purveyor, deputy-marshal's man, or some +other person in authority, breaking the heads of both parties. + +Here were, besides, players and mummers, jugglers and showmen, of +every description, traversing in joyous bands the paths which led +to the Palace of Princely Pleasure; for so the travelling +minstrels had termed Kenilworth in the songs which already had +come forth in anticipation of the revels which were there +expected. In the midst of this motley show, mendicants were +exhibiting their real or pretended miseries, forming a strange +though common contrast betwixt the vanities and the sorrows of +human existence. All these floated along with the immense tide +of population whom mere curiosity had drawn together; and where +the mechanic, in his leathern apron, elbowed the dink and dainty +dame, his city mistress; where clowns, with hobnailed shoes, were +treading on the kibes of substantial burghers and gentlemen of +worship; and where Joan of the dairy, with robust pace, and red, +sturdy arms, rowed her way unward, amongst those prim and pretty +moppets whose sires were knights and squires. + +The throng and confusion was, however, of a gay and cheerful +character. All came forth to see and to enjoy, and all laughed +at the trifling inconveniences which at another time might have +chafed their temper. Excepting the occasional brawls which we +have mentioned among that irritable race the carmen, the mingled +sounds which arose from the multitude were those of light-hearted +mirth and tiptoe jollity. The musicians preluded on their +instruments--the minstrels hummed their songs--the licensed +jester whooped betwixt mirth and madness, as he brandished his +bauble--the morrice-dancers jangled their bells--the rustics +hallooed and whistled-men laughed loud, and maidens giggled +shrill; while many a broad jest flew like a shuttlecock from one +party, to be caught in the air and returned from the opposite +side of the road by another, at which it was aimed. + +No infliction can be so distressing to a mind absorbed in +melancholy, as being plunged into a scene of mirth and revelry, +forming an accompaniment so dissonant from its own feelings. +Yet, in the case of the Countess of Leicester, the noise and +tumult of this giddy scene distracted her thoughts, and rendered +her this sad service, that it became impossible for her to brood +on her own misery, or to form terrible anticipations of her +approaching fate. She travelled on like one in a dream, +following implicitly the guidance of Wayland, who, with great +address, now threaded his way through the general throng of +passengers, now stood still until a favourable opportunity +occurred of again moving forward, and frequently turning +altogether out of the direct road, followed some circuitous by- +path, which brought them into the highway again, after having +given them the opportunity of traversing a considerable way with +greater ease and rapidity. + +It was thus he avoided Warwick, within whose Castle (that fairest +monument of ancient and chivalrous splendour which yet remains +uninjured by time) Elizabeth had passed the previous night, and +where she was to tarry until past noon, at that time the general +hour of dinner throughout England, after which repast she was to +proceed to Kenilworth, In the meanwhile, each passing group had +something to say in the Sovereign's praise, though not absolutely +without the usual mixture of satire which qualifies more or less +our estimate of our neighbours, especially if they chance to be +also our betters. + +"Heard you," said. one, "how graciously she spoke to Master +Bailiff and the Recorder, and to good Master Griffin the +preacher, as they kneeled down at her coach-window?" + +"Ay, and how she said to little Aglionby, 'Master Recorder, men +would have persuaded me that you were afraid of me, but truly I +think, so well did you reckon up to me the virtues of a +sovereign, that I have more reason to be afraid of you.' and then +with what grace she took the fair-wrought purse with the twenty +gold sovereigns, seeming as though she would not willingly handle +it, and yet taking it withal." + +"Ay, ay," said another, "her fingers closed on it pretty +willingly methought, when all was done; and methought, too, she +weighed them for a second in her hand, as she would say, I hope +they be avoirdupois." + +"She needed not, neighbour," said a third; "it is only when the +corporation pay the accounts of a poor handicraft like me, that +they put him off with clipped coin. Well, there is a God above +all--little Master Recorder, since that is the word, will be +greater now than ever." + +"Come, good neighbour," said the first speaker "be not envious. +She is a good Queen, and a generous; she gave the purse to the +Earl of Leicester." + +"I envious?--beshrew thy heart for the word!" replied the +handicraft. "But she will give all to the Earl of Leicester +anon, methinks." + +"You are turning ill, lady," said Wayland Smith to the Countess +of Leicester, and proposed that she should draw off from the +road, and halt till she recovered. But, subduing her feelings at +this and different speeches to the same purpose, which caught her +ear as they passed on, she insisted that her guide should proceed +to Kenilworth with all the haste which the numerous impediments +of their journey permitted. Meanwhile, Wayland's anxiety at her +repeated fits of indisposition, and her obvious distraction of +mind, was hourly increasing, and he became extremely desirous +that, according to her reiterated requests, she should be safely +introduced into the Castle, where, he doubted not, she was secure +of a kind reception, though she seemed unwilling to reveal on +whom she reposed her hopes. + +"An I were once rid of this peril," thought he, "and if any man +shall find me playing squire of the body to a damosel-errant, he +shall have leave to beat my brains out with my own sledge- +hammer!" + +At length the princely Castle appeared, upon improving which, and +the domains around, the Earl of Leicester had, it is said, +expended sixty thousand pounds sterling, a sum equal to half a +million of our present money. + +The outer wall of this splendid and gigantic structure enclosed +seven acres, a part of which was occupied by extensive stables, +and by a pleasure garden, with its trim arbours and parterres, +and the rest formed the large base-court or outer yard of the +noble Castle. The lordly structure itself, which rose near the +centre of this spacious enclosure, was composed of a huge pile of +magnificent castellated buildings, apparently of different ages, +surrounding an inner court, and bearing in the names attached to +each portion of the magnificent mass, and in the armorial +bearings which were there blazoned, the emblems of mighty chiefs +who had long passed away, and whose history, could Ambition have +lent ear to it, might have read a lesson to the haughty favourite +who had now acquired and was augmenting the fair domain. A large +and massive Keep, which formed the citadel of the Castle, was of +uncertain though great antiquity. It bore the name of Caesar, +perhaps from its resemblance to that in the Tower of London so +called. Some antiquaries ascribe its foundation to the time of +Kenelph, from whom the Castle had its name, a Saxon King of +Mercia, and others to an early era after the Norman Conquest. On +the exterior walls frowned the scutcheon of the Clintons, by whom +they were founded in the reign of Henry I.; and of the yet more +redoubted Simon de Montfort, by whom, during the Barons' wars, +Kenilworth was long held out against Henry III. Here Mortimer, +Earl of March, famous alike for his rise and his fall, had once +gaily revelled in Kenilworth, while his dethroned sovereign, +Edward II., languished in its dungeons. Old John of Gaunt, +"time-honoured Lancaster," had widely extended the Castle, +erecting that noble and massive pile which yet bears the name of +Lancaster's Buildings; and Leicester himself had outdone the +former possessors, princely and powerful as they were, by +erecting another immense structure, which now lies crushed under +its own ruins, the monument of its owner's ambition. The +external wall of this royal Castle was, on the south and west +sides, adorned and defended by a lake partly artificial, across +which Leicester had constructed a stately bridge, that Elizabeth +might enter the Castle by a path hitherto untrodden, instead of +the usual entrance to the northward, over which he had erected a +gatehouse or barbican, which still exists, and is equal in +extent, and superior in architecture, to the baronial castle of +many a northern chief. + +Beyond the lake lay an extensive chase, full of red deer, fallow +deer, roes, and every species of game, and abounding with lofty +trees, from amongst which the extended front and massive towers +of the Castle were seen to rise in majesty and beauty. We cannot +but add, that of this lordly palace, where princes feasted and +heroes fought, now in the bloody earnest of storm and siege, and +now in the games of chivalry, where beauty dealt the prize which +valour won, all is now desolate. The bed of the lake is but a +rushy swamp; and the massive ruins of the Castle only serve to +show what their splendour once was, and to impress on the musing +visitor the transitory value of human possessions, and the +happiness of those who enjoy a humble lot in virtuous +contentment. + +It was with far different feelings that the unfortunate Countess +of Leicester viewed those grey and massive towers, when she first +beheld them rise above the embowering and richly-shaded woods, +over which they seemed to preside. She, the undoubted wife of +the great Earl, of Elizabeth's minion, and England's mighty +favourite, was approaching the presence of her husband, and that +husband's sovereign, under the protection, rather than the +guidance, of a poor juggler; and though unquestioned Mistress of +that proud Castle, whose lightest word ought to have had force +sufficient to make its gates leap from their massive hinges to +receive her, yet she could not conceal from herself the +difficulty and peril which she must experience in gaining +admission into her own halls. + +The risk and difficulty, indeed, seemed to increase every moment, +and at length threatened altogether to put a stop to her further +progress at the great gate leading to a broad and fair road, +which, traversing the breadth of the chase for the space of two +miles, and commanding several most beautiful views of the Castle +and lake, terminated at the newly constructed bridge, to which it +was an appendage, and which was destined to form the Queen's +approach to the Castle on that memorable occasion. + +Here the Countess and Wayland found the gate at the end of this +avenue, which opened on the Warwick road, guarded by a body of +the Queen's mounted yeomen of the guard, armed in corselets +richly carved and gilded, and wearing morions instead of bonnets, +having their carabines resting with the butt-end on their thighs. +These guards, distinguished for strength and stature, who did +duty wherever the Queen went in person, were here stationed under +the direction of a pursuivant, graced with the Bear and Ragged +Staff on his arm, as belonging to the Earl of Leicester, and +peremptorily refused all admittance, excepting to such as were +guests invited to the festival, or persons who were to perform +some part in the mirthful exhibitions which were proposed. + +The press was of consequence great around the entrance, and +persons of all kinds presented every sort of plea for admittance; +to which the guards turned an inexorable ear, pleading, in return +to fair words, and even to fair offers, the strictness of their +orders, founded on the Queen's well-known dislike to the rude +pressing of a multitude. With those whom such reasons did not +serve,they dealt more rudely, repelling them without ceremony by +the pressure of their powerful, barbed horses, and good round +blows from the stock of their carabines. These last manoeuvres +produced undulations amongst the crowd, which rendered Wayland +much afraid that he might perforce be separated from his charge +in the throng. Neither did he know what excuse to make in order +to obtain admittance, and he was debating the matter in his head +with great uncertainty, when the Earl's pursuivant, having cast +an eye upon him, exclaimed, to his no small surprise, "Yeomen, +make room for the fellow in the orange-tawny cloak.--Come +forward, Sir Coxcomb, and make haste. What, in the fiend's name, +has kept you waiting? Come forward with your bale of woman's +gear." + +While the pursuivant gave Wayland this pressing yet uncourteous +invitation, which, for a minute or two, he could not imagine was +applied to him, the yeomen speedily made a free passage for him, +while, only cautioning his companion to keep the muffler close +around her face, he entered the gate leading her palfrey, but +with such a drooping crest, and such a look of conscious fear and +anxiety, that the crowd, not greatly pleased at any rate with the +preference bestowed upon them, accompanied their admission with +hooting and a loud laugh of derision. + +Admitted thus within the chase, though with no very flattering +notice or distinction, Wayland and his charge rode forward, +musing what difficulties it would be next their lot to encounter, +through the broad avenue, which was sentinelled on either side by +a long line of retainers, armed with swords, and partisans richly +dressed in the Earl of Leicester's liveries, and bearing his +cognizance of the Bear and Ragged Staff, each placed within three +paces of each other, so as to line the whole road from the +entrance into the park to the bridge. And, indeed, when the lady +obtained the first commanding view of the Castle, with its +stately towers rising from within a long, sweeping line of +outward walls, ornamented with battlements and turrets and +platforms at every point of defence, with many a banner streaming +from its walls, and such a bustle of gay crests and waving plumes +disposed on the terraces and battlements, and all the gay and +gorgeous scene, her heart, unaccustomed to such splendour, sank +as if it died within her, and for a moment she asked herself what +she had offered up to Leicester to deserve to become the partner +of this princely splendour. But her pride and generous spirit +resisted the whisper which bade her despair. + +"I have given him," she said, "all that woman has to give. Name +and fame, heart and hand, have I given the lord of all this +magnificence at the altar, and England's Queen could give him no +more. He is my husband--I am his wife--whom God hath joined, man +cannot sunder. I will be bold in claiming my right; even the +bolder, that I come thus unexpected, and thus forlorn. I know my +noble Dudley well! He will be something impatient at my +disobeying him, but Amy will weep, and Dudley will forgive her." + +These meditations were interrupted by a cry of surprise from her +guide Wayland, who suddenly felt himself grasped firmly round the +body by a pair of long, thin black arms, belonging to some one +who had dropped himself out of an oak tree upon the croup of his +horse, amidst the shouts of laughter which burst from the +sentinels. + +"This must be the devil, or Flibbertigibbet again!" said +Wayland, after a vain struggle to disengage himself, and unhorse +the urchin who clung to him; "do Kenilworth oaks bear such +acorns?" + +"In sooth do they, Master Wayland," said his unexpected adjunct, +"and many others, too hard for you to crack, for as old as you +are, without my teaching you. How would you have passed the +pursuivant at the upper gate yonder, had not I warned him our +principal juggler was to follow us? And here have I waited for +you, having clambered up into the tree from the top of the wain; +and I suppose they are all mad for want of me by this time," + +"Nay, then, thou art a limb of the devil in good earnest," said +Wayland. "I give thee way, good imp, and will walk by thy +counsel; only, as thou art powerful be merciful." + +As he spoke, they approached a strong tower, at the south +extremity of the long bridge we have mentioned, which served to +protect the outer gateway of the Castle of Kenilworth. + +Under such disastrous circumstances, and in such singular +company, did the unfortunate Countess of Leicester approach, for +the first time, the magnificent abode of her almost princely +husband. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +SNUG. Have you the lion's part written? pray, if it be, give + it me, for I am slow of study. +QUINCE. You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring. + MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. + +When the Countess of Leicester arrived at the outer gate of the +Castle of Kenilworth, she found the tower, beneath which its +ample portal arch opened, guarded in a singular manner. Upon the +battlements were placed gigantic warders, with clubs, battle- +axes, and other implements of ancient warfare, designed to +represent the soldiers of King Arthur; those primitive Britons, +by whom, according to romantic tradition, the Castle had been +first tenanted, though history carried back its antiquity only to +the times of the Heptarchy. + +Some of these tremendous figures were real men, dressed up with +vizards and buskins; others were mere pageants composed of +pasteboard and buckram, which, viewed from beneath, and mingled +with those that were real, formed a sufficiently striking +representation of what was intended. But the gigantic porter who +waited at the gate beneath, and actually discharged the duties of +warder, owed none of his terrors to fictitious means. We was a +man whose huge stature, thews, sinews, and bulk in proportion, +would have enabled him to enact Colbrand, Ascapart, or any other +giant of romance, without raising himself nearer to heaven even +by the altitude of a chopin. The legs and knees of this son of +Anak were bare, as were his arms from a span below the shoulder; +but his feet were defended with sandals, fastened with cross +straps of scarlet leather studded with brazen knobs. A close +jerkin of scarlet velvet looped with gold, with short breeches of +the same, covered his body and a part of his limbs; and he wore +on his shoulders, instead of a cloak, the skin of a black bear. +The head of this formidable person was uncovered, except by his +shaggy, black hair, which descended on either side around +features of that huge, lumpish, and heavy cast which are often +annexed to men of very uncommon size, and which, notwithstanding +some distinguished exceptions, have created a general prejudice +against giants, as being a dull and sullen kind of persons. This +tremendous warder was appropriately armed with a heavy club +spiked with steel. In fine, he represented excellently one of +those giants of popular romance, who figure in every fairy tale +or legend of knight-errantry. + +The demeanour of this modern Titan, when Wayland Smith bent his +attention to him, had in it something arguing much mental +embarrassment and vexation; for sometimes he sat down for an +instant on a massive stone bench, which seemed placed for his +accommodation beside the gateway, and then ever and anon he +started up, scratching his huge head, and striding to and fro on +his post, like one under a fit of impatience and anxiety. It was +while the porter was pacing before the gate in this agitated +manner, that Wayland, modestly, yet as a matter of course (not, +however, without some mental misgiving), was about to pass him, +and enter the portal arch. The porter, however, stopped his +progress, bidding him, in a thundering voice, "Stand back!" and +enforcing his injunction by heaving up his steel-shod mace, and +dashing it on the ground before Wayland's horse's nose with such +vehemence that the pavement flashed fire, and the archway rang to +the clamour. Wayland, availing himself of Dickie's hints, began +to state that he belonged to a band of performers to which his +presence was indispensable, that he had been accidentally +detained behind, and much to the same purpose. But the warder +was inexorable, and kept muttering and murmuring something +betwixt his teeth, which Wayland could make little of; and +addressing betwixt whiles a refusal of admittance, couched in +language which was but too intelligible. A specimen of his +speech might run thus:--"What, how now, my masters?" (to +himself)--"Here's a stir--here's a coil."--(Then to Wayland)-- +"You are a loitering knave, and shall have no entrance."--(Again +to himself)--"Here's a throng--here's a thrusting.--I shall ne'er +get through with it--Here's a--humph--ha."--(To Wayland)--"Back +from the gate, or I'll break the pate of thee."--(Once more to +himself)--"Here's a--no--I shall never get through it." + +"Stand still," whispered Flibbertigibbet into Wayland's ear, "I +know where the shoe pinches, and will tame him in an instant." + +He dropped down from the horse, and skipping up to the porter, +plucked him by the tail of the bearskin, so as to induce him to +decline his huge head, and whispered something in his ear. Not +at the command of the lord of some Eastern talisman did ever +Afrite change his horrid frown into a look of smooth submission +more suddenly than the gigantic porter of Kenilworth relaxed the +terrors of his looks at the instant Flibbertigibbet's whisper +reached his ears. He flung his club upon the ground, and caught +up Dickie Sludge, raising him to such a distance from the earth +as might have proved perilous had he chanced to let him slip. + +"It is even so," he said, with a thundering sound of exultation +--"it is even so, my little dandieprat. But who the devil could +teach it thee?" + +"Do not thou care about that," said Flibbertigibbet--"but--" he +looked at Wayland and the lady, and then sunk what he had to say +in a whisper, which needed not be a loud one, as the giant held +him for his convenience close to his ear. The porter then gave +Dickie a warm caress, and set him on the ground with the same +care which a careful housewife uses in replacing a cracked china +cup upon her mantelpiece, calling out at the same time to Wayland +and the lady, "In with you--in with you! and take heed how you +come too late another day when I chance to be porter." + +"Ay, ay, in with you," added Flibbertigibbet; "I must stay a +short space with mine honest Philistine, my Goliath of Gath here; +but I will be with you anon, and at the bottom of all your +secrets, were they as deep and dark as the Castle dungeon." + +"I do believe thou wouldst," said Wayland; "but I trust the +secret will be soon out of my keeping, and then I shall care the +less whether thou or any one knows it." + +They now crossed the entrance tower, which obtained the name of +the Gallery-tower, from the following circumstance: The whole +bridge, extending from the entrance to another tower on the +opposite side of the lake, called Mortimer's Tower, was so +disposed as to make a spacious tilt-yard, about one hundred and +thirty yards in length, and ten in breadth, strewed with the +finest sand, and defended on either side by strong and high +palisades. The broad and fair gallery, destined for the ladies +who were to witness the feats of chivalry presented on this area, +was erected on the northern side of the outer tower, to which it +gave name. Our travellers passed slowly along the bridge or +tilt-yard, and arrived at Mortimer's Tower, at its farthest +extremity, through which the approach led into the outer or base- +court of the Castle. Mortimer's Tower bore on its front the +scutcheon of the Earl of March, whose daring ambition overthrew +the throne of Edward II., and aspired to share his power with the +"She-wolf of France," to whom the unhappy monarch was wedded. +The gate, which opened under this ominous memorial, was guarded +by many warders in rich liveries; but they offered no opposition +to the entrance of the Countess and her guide, who, having passed +by license of the principal porter at the Gallery-tower, were +not, it may be supposed, liable to interruption from his +deputies. They entered accordingly, in silence, the great +outward court of the Castle, having then full before them that +vast and lordly pile, with all its stately towers, each gate +open, as if in sign of unlimited hospitality, and the apartments +filled with noble guests of every degree, besides dependants, +retainers, domestics of every description, and all the appendages +and promoters of mirth and revelry. + +Amid this stately and busy scene Wayland halted his horse, and +looked upon the lady, as if waiting her commands what was next to +be done, since they had safely reached the place of destination. +As she remained silent, Wayland, after waiting a minute or two, +ventured to ask her, in direct terms, what were her next +commands. She raised her hand to her forehead, as if in the act +of collecting her thoughts and resolution, while she answered him +in a low and suppressed voice, like the murmurs of one who speaks +in a dream--"Commands? I may indeed claim right to command, but +who is there will obey me!" + +Then suddenly raising her head, like one who has formed a +decisive resolution, she addressed a gaily-dressed domestic, who +was crossing the court with importance and bustle in his +countenance, "Stop, sir," she said; "I desire to speak with, the +Earl of Leicester." + +"With whom, an it please you?" said the man, surprised at the +demand; and then looking upon the mean equipage of her who used +towards him such a tone of authority, he added, with insolence, +"Why, what Bess of Bedlam is this would ask to see my lord on +such a day as the present?" + +"Friend," said the Countess, "be not insolent--my business with +the Earl is most urgent." + +"You must get some one else to do it, were it thrice as urgent," +said the fellow. "I should summon my lord from the Queen's royal +presence to do YOUR business, should I?--I were like to be +thanked with a horse-whip. I marvel our old porter took not +measure of such ware with his club, instead of giving them +passage; but his brain is addled with getting his speech by +heart." + +Two or three persons stopped, attracted by the fleering way in +which the serving-man expressed himself; and Wayland, alarmed +both for himself and the lady, hastily addressed himself to one +who appeared the most civil, and thrusting a piece of money into +his hand, held a moment's counsel with him on the subject of +finding a place of temporary retreat for the lady. The person to +whom he spoke, being one in some authority, rebuked the others +for their incivility, and commanding one fellow to take care of +the strangers' horses, he desired them to follow him. The +Countess retained presence of mind sufficient to see that it was +absolutely necessary she should comply with his request; and +leaving the rude lackeys and grooms to crack their brutal jests +about light heads, light heels, and so forth, Wayland and she +followed in silence the deputy-usher, who undertook to be their +conductor. + +They entered the inner court of the Castle by the great gateway, +which extended betwixt the principal Keep, or Donjon, called +Caesar's Tower, and a stately building which passed by the name +of King Henry's Lodging, and were thus placed in the centre of +the noble pile, which presented on its different fronts +magnificent specimens of every species of castellated +architecture, from the Conquest to the reign of Elizabeth, with +the appropriate style and ornaments of each. + +Across this inner court also they were conducted by their guide +to a small but strong tower, occupying the north-east angle of +the building, adjacent to the great hall, and filling up a space +betwixt the immense range of kitchens and the end of the great +hall itself. The lower part of this tower was occupied by some +of the household officers of Leicester, owing to its convenient +vicinity to the places where their duty lay; but in the upper +story, which was reached by a narrow, winding stair, was a small +octangular chamber, which, in the great demand for lodgings, had +been on the present occasion fitted up for the reception of +guests, though generally said to have been used as a place of +confinement for some unhappy person who had been there murdered. +Tradition called this prisoner Mervyn, and transferred his name +to the tower. That it had been used as a prison was not +improbable; for the floor of each story was arched, the walls of +tremendous thickness, while the space of the chamber did not +exceed fifteen feet in diameter. The window, however, was +pleasant, though narrow, and commanded a delightful view of what +was called the Pleasance; a space of ground enclosed and +decorated with arches, trophies, statues, fountains, and other +architectural monuments, which formed one access from the Castle +itself into the garden. There was a bed in the apartment, and +other preparations for the reception of a guest, to which the +Countess paid but slight attention, her notice being instantly +arrested by the sight of writing materials placed on the table +(not very commonly to be found in the bedrooms of those days), +which instantly suggested the idea of writing to Leicester, and +remaining private until she had received his answer. + +The deputy-usher having introduced them into this commodious +apartment, courteously asked Wayland, whose generosity he had +experienced, whether he could do anything further for his +service. Upon receiving a gentle hint that some refreshment +would not be unacceptable, he presently conveyed the smith to the +buttery-hatch, where dressed provisions of all sorts were +distributed, with hospitable profusion, to all who asked for +them. Wayland was readily supplied with some light provisions, +such as he thought would best suit the faded appetite of the +lady, and did not omit the opportunity of himself making a hasty +but hearty meal on more substantial fare. He then returned to +the apartment in the turret, where he found the Countess, who had +finished her letter to Leicester, and in lieu of a seal and +silken thread, had secured it with a braid of her own beautiful +tresses, fastened by what is called a true-love knot. + +"Good friend," said she to Wayland, "whom God hath sent to aid me +at my utmost need, I do beseech thee, as the last trouble you +shall take for an unfortunate lady, to deliver this letter to the +noble Earl of Leicester. Be it received as it may," she said, +with features agitated betwixt hope and fear, "thou, good fellow, +shalt have no more cumber with me. But I hope the best; and if +ever lady made a poor man rich, thou hast surely deserved it at +my hand, should my happy days ever come round again. Give it, I +pray you, into Lord Leicester's own hand, and mark how he looks +on receiving it." + +Wayland, on his part, readily undertook the commission, but +anxiously prayed the lady, in his turn, to partake of some +refreshment; in which he at length prevailed, more through +importunity and her desire to see him begone on his errand than +from any inclination the Countess felt to comply with his +request. He then left her, advising her to lock her door on the +inside, and not to stir from her little apartment; and went to +seek an opportunity of discharging her errand, as well as of +carrying into effect a purpose of his own, which circumstances +had induced him to form. + +In fact, from the conduct of the lady during the journey--her +long fits of profound silence, the irresolution and uncertainty +which seemed to pervade all her movements, and the obvious +incapacity of thinking and acting for herself under which she +seemed to labour--Wayland had formed the not improbable opinion +that the difficulties of her situation had in some degree +affected her understanding. + +When she had escaped from the seclusion of Cumnor Place, and the +dangers to which she was there exposed, it would have seemed her +most rational course to retire to her father's, or elsewhere at a +distance from the power of those by whom these dangers had been +created. When, instead of doing so, she demanded to be conveyed +to Kenilworth, Wayland had been only able to account for her +conduct by supposing that she meant to put herself under the +tutelage of Tressilian, and to appeal to the protection of the +Queen. But now, instead of following this natural course, she +entrusted him with a letter to Leicester, the patron of Varney, +and within whose jurisdiction at least, if not under his express +authority, all the evils she had already suffered were inflicted +upon her. This seemed an unsafe and even a desperate measure, +and Wayland felt anxiety for his own safety, as well as that of +the lady, should he execute her commission before he had secured +the advice and countenance of a protector. + +He therefore resolved, before delivering the letter to Leicester, +that he would seek out Tressilian, and communicate to him the +arrival of the lady at Kenilworth, and thus at once rid himself +of all further responsibility, and devolve the task of guiding +and protecting this unfortunate lady upon the patron who had at +first employed him in her service. + +"He will be a better judge than I am," said Wayland, "whether she +is to be gratified in this humour of appeal to my Lord of +Leicester, which seems like an act of insanity; and, therefore, I +will turn the matter over on his hands, deliver him the letter, +receive what they list to give me by way of guerdon, and then +show the Castle of Kenilworth a pair of light heels; for, after +the work I have been engaged in, it will be, I fear, neither a +safe nor wholesome place of residence, and I would rather shoe +colts an the coldest common in England than share in their gayest +revels." + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +In my time I have seen a boy do wonders. +Robin, the red tinker, had a boy +Would ha run through a cat-hole. THE COXCOMB. + +Amid the universal bustle which filled the Castle and its +environs, it was no easy matter to find out any individual; and +Wayland was still less likely to light upon Tressilian, whom he +sought so anxiously, because, sensible of the danger of +attracting attention in the circumstances in which he was placed, +he dared not make general inquiries among the retainers or +domestics of Leicester. He learned, however, by indirect +questions, that in all probability Tressilian must have been one +of a large party of gentlemen in attendance on the Earl of +Sussex, who had accompanied their patron that morning to +Kenilworth, when Leicester had received them with marks of the +most formal respect and distinction. He further learned that +both Earls, with their followers, and many other nobles, knights, +and gentlemen, had taken horse, and gone towards Warwick several +hours since, for the purpose of escorting the Queen to +Kenilworth. + +Her Majesty's arrival, like other great events, was delayed from +hour to hour; and it was now announced by a breathless post that +her Majesty, being detained by her gracious desire to receive the +homage of her lieges who had thronged to wait upon her at +Warwick, it would be the hour of twilight ere she entered the +Castle. The intelligence released for a time those who were upon +duty, in the immediate expectation of the Queen's appearance, and +ready to play their part in the solemnities with which it was to +be accompanied; and Wayland, seeing several horsemen enter the +Castle, was not without hopes that Tressilian might be of the +number. That he might not lose an opportunity of meeting his +patron in the event of this being the case, Wayland placed +himself in the base-court of the Castle, near Mortimer's Tower, +and watched every one who went or came by the bridge, the +extremity of which was protected by that building. Thus +stationed, nobody could enter or leave the Castle without his +observation, and most anxiously did he study the garb and +countenance of every horseman, as, passing from under the +opposite Gallery-tower, they paced slowly, or curveted, along the +tilt-yard, and approached the entrance of the base-court. + +But while Wayland gazed thus eagerly to discover him whom he saw +not, he was pulled by the sleeve by one by whom he himself would +not willingly have been seen. + +This was Dickie Sludge, or Flibbertigibbet, who, like the imp +whose name he bore, and whom he had been accoutred in order to +resemble, seemed to be ever at the ear of those who thought least +of him. Whatever were Wayland's internal feelings, he judged it +necessary to express pleasure at their unexpected meeting. + +"Ha! is it thou, my minikin--my miller's thumb--my prince of +cacodemons--my little mouse?" + +"Ay," said Dickie, "the mouse which gnawed asunder the toils, +just when the lion who was caught in them began to look +wonderfully like an ass." + +"Thy, thou little hop-the-gutter, thou art as sharp as vinegar +this afternoon! But tell me, how didst thou come off with yonder +jolterheaded giant whom I left thee with? I was afraid he would +have stripped thy clothes, and so swallowed thee, as men peel and +eat a roasted chestnut." + +"Had he done so," replied the boy, "he would have had more brains +in his guts than ever he had in his noddle. But the giant is a +courteous monster, and more grateful than many other folk whom I +have helped at a pinch, Master Wayland Smith." + +"Beshrew me, Flibbertigibbet," replied Wayland, "but thou art +sharper than a Sheffield whittle! I would I knew by what charm +you muzzled yonder old bear." + +"Ay, that is in your own manner," answered Dickie; "you think +fine speeches will pass muster instead of good-will. However, as +to this honest porter, you must know that when we presented +ourselves at the gate yonder, his brain was over-burdened with a +speech that had been penned for him, and which proved rather an +overmatch for his gigantic faculties. Now this same pithy +oration had been indited, like sundry others, by my learned +magister, Erasmus Holiday, so I had heard it often enough to +remember every line. As soon as I heard him blundering and +floundering like a fish upon dry land, through the first verse, +and perceived him at a stand, I knew where the shoe pinched, and +helped him to the next word, when he caught me up in an ecstasy, +even as you saw but now. I promised, as the price of your +admission, to hide me under his bearish gaberdine, and prompt him +in the hour of need. I have just now been getting some food in +the Castle, and am about to return to him." + +"That's right--that's right, my dear Dickie," replied Wayland; +"haste thee, for Heaven's sake! else the poor giant will be +utterly disconsolate for want of his dwarfish auxiliary. Away +with thee, Dickie!" + +"Ay, ay!" answered the boy--"away with Dickie, when we have got +what good of him we can. You will not let me know the story of +this lady, then, who is as much sister of thine as I am?" + +"Why, what good would it do thee, thou silly elf?" said Wayland. + +"Oh, stand ye on these terms?" said the boy. "Well, I care not +greatly about the matter--only, I never smell out a secret but I +try to be either at the right or the wrong end of it, and so good +evening to ye." + +"Nay, but, Dickie," said Wayland, who knew the boy's restless and +intriguing disposition too well not to fear his enmity--"stay, my +dear Dickie--part not with old friends so shortly! Thou shalt +know all I know of the lady one day." + +"Ay!" said Dickie; "and that day may prove a nigh one. Fare +thee well, Wayland--I will to my large-limbed friend, who, if he +have not so sharp a wit as some folk, is at least more grateful +for the service which other folk render him. And so again, good +evening to ye." + +So saying, he cast a somerset through the gateway, and lighting +on the bridge, ran with the extraordinary agility which was one +of his distinguishing attributes towards the Gallery-tower, and +was out of sight in an instant. + +"I would to God I were safe out of this Castle again!" prayed +Wayland internally; "for now that this mischievous imp has put +his finger in the pie, it cannot but prove a mess fit for the +devil's eating. I would to Heaven Master Tressilian would +appear!" + +Tressilian, whom he was thus anxiously expecting in one +direction, had returned to Kenilworth by another access. It was +indeed true, as Wayland had conjectured, that in the earlier part +of the day he had accompanied the Earls on their cavalcade +towards Warwick, not without hope that he might in that town hear +some tidings of his emissary. Being disappointed in this +expectation, and observing Varney amongst Leicester's attendants, +seeming as if he had some purpose of advancing to and addressing +him, he conceived, in the present circumstances, it was wisest to +avoid the interview. He, therefore, left the presence-chamber +when the High-Sheriff of the county was in the very midst of his +dutiful address to her Majesty; and mounting his horse, rode back +to Kenilworth by a remote and circuitous road, and entered the +Castle by a small sallyport in the western wall, at which he was +readily admitted as one of the followers of the Earl of Sussex, +towards whom Leicester had commanded the utmost courtesy to be +exercised. It was thus that he met not Wayland, who was +impatiently watching his arrival, and whom he himself would have +been at least equally desirous to see. + +Having delivered his horse to the charge of his attendant, he +walked for a space in the Pleasance and in the garden, rather to +indulge in comparative solitude his own reflections, than to +admire those singular beauties of nature and art which the +magnificence of Leicester had there assembled. The greater part +of the persons of condition had left the Castle for the present, +to form part of the Earl's cavalcade; others, who remained +behind, were on the battlements, outer walls, and towers, eager +to view the splendid spectacle of the royal entry. The garden, +therefore, while every other part of the Castle resounded with +the human voice, was silent but for the whispering of the leaves, +the emulous warbling of the tenants of a large aviary with their +happier companions who remained denizens of the free air, and the +plashing of the fountains, which, forced into the air from +sculptures of fatastic and grotesque forms, fell down with +ceaseless sound into the great basins of Italian marble. + +The melancholy thoughts of Tressilian cast a gloomy shade on all +the objects with which he was surrounded. He compared the +magnificent scenes which he here traversed with the deep woodland +and wild moorland which surrounded Lidcote Hall, and the image of +Amy Robsart glided like a phantom through every landscape which +his imagination summoned up. Nothing is perhaps more dangerous +to the future happiness of men of deep thought and retired habits +than the entertaining an early, long, and unfortunate attachment. +It frequently sinks so deep into the mind that it becomes their +dream by night and their vision by day--mixes itself with every +source of interest and enjoyment; and when blighted and withered +by final disappointment, it seems as if the springs of the heart +were dried up along with it. This aching of the heart, this +languishing after a shadow which has lost all the gaiety of its +colouring, this dwelling on the remembrance of a dream from which +we have been long roughly awakened, is the weakness of a gentle +and generous heart, and it was that of Tressilian. + +He himself at length became sensible of the necessity of forcing +other objects upon his mind; and for this purpose he left the +Pleasance, in order to mingle with the noisy crowd upon the +walls, and view the preparation for the pageants. But as he left +the garden, and heard the busy hum, mixed with music and +laughter, which floated around him, he felt an uncontrollable +reluctance to mix with society whose feelings were in a tone so +different from his own, and resolved, instead of doing so, to +retire to the chamber assigned him, and employ himself in study +until the tolling of the great Castle bell should announce the +arrival of Elizabeth. + +Tressilian crossed accordingly by the passage betwixt the immense +range of kitchens and the great hall, and ascended to the third +story of Mervyn's Tower, and applying himself to the door of the +small apartment which had been allotted to him, was surprised to +find it was locked. He then recollected that the deputy- +chamberlain had given him a master-key, advising him, in the +present confused state of the Castle, to keep his door as much +shut as possible. He applied this key to the lock, the bolt +revolved, he entered, and in the same instant saw a female form +seated in the apartment, and recognized that form to be, Amy +Robsart. His first idea was that a heated imagination had raised +the image on which it doted into visible existence; his second, +that he beheld an apparition; the third and abiding conviction, +that it was Amy herself, paler, indeed, and thinner, than in the +days of heedless happiness, when she possessed the form and hue +of a wood-nymph, with the beauty of a sylph--but still Amy, +unequalled in loveliness by aught which had ever visited his +eyes. + +The astonishment of the Countess was scarce less than that of +Tressilian, although it was of shorter duration, because she had +heard from Wayland that he was in the Castle. She had started up +at his first entrance, and now stood facing him, the paleness of +her cheeks having given way to a deep blush. + +"Tressilian," she said, at length, "why come you here?" + +"Nay, why come you here, Amy," returned Tressilian, "unless it be +at length to claim that aid, which, as far as one man's heart and +arm can extend, shall instantly be rendered to you?" + +She was silent a moment, and then answered in a sorrowful rather +than an angry tone, "I require no aid, Tressilian, and would +rather be injured than benefited by any which your kindness can +offer me. Believe me, I am near one whom law and love oblige to +protect me." + +"The villain, then, hath done you the poor justice which remained +in his power," said Tressilian, "and I behold before me the wife +of Varney!" + +"The wife of Varney!" she replied, with all the emphasis of +scorn. "With what base name, sir, does your boldness stigmatize +the--the--the--" She hesitated, dropped her tone of scorn, looked +down, and was confused and silent; for she recollected what fatal +consequences might attend her completing the sentence with "the +Countess of Leicester," which were the words that had naturally +suggested themselves. It would have been a betrayal of the +secret, on which her husband had assured her that his fortunes +depended, to Tressilian, to Sussex, to the Queen, and to the +whole assembled court. "Never," she thought, "will I break my +promised silence. I will submit to every suspicion rather than +that." + +The tears rose to her eyes, as she stood silent before +Tressilian; while, looking on her with mingled grief and pity, he +said, "Alas! Amy, your eyes contradict your tongue. That +speaks of a protector, willing and able to watch over you; but +these tell me you are ruined, and deserted by the wretch to whom +you have attached yourself." + +She looked on him with eyes in which anger sparkled through her +tears, but only repeated the word "wretch!" with a scornful +emphasis. + +"Yes, WRETCH!" said Tressilian; "for were he aught better, why +are you here, and alone, in my apartment? why was not fitting +provision made for your honourable reception?" + +"In your apartment?" repeated Amy--"in YOUR apartment? It shall +instantly be relieved of my presence." She hastened towards the +door; but the sad recollection of her deserted state at once +pressed on her mind, and pausing on the threshold, she added, in +a tone unutterably pathetic, "Alas! I had forgot--I know not +where to go--" + +"I see--I see it all," said Tressilian, springing to her side, +and leading her back to the seat, on which she sunk down. "You +DO need aid--you do need protection, though you will not own it; +and you shall not need it long. Leaning on my arm, as the +representative of your excellent and broken-hearted father, on +the very threshold of the Castle gate, you shall meet Elizabeth; +and the first deed she shall do in the halls of Kenilworth shall +be an act of justice to her sex and her subjects. Strong in my +good cause, and in the Queen's justice, the power of her minion +shall not shake my resolution. I will instantly seek Sussex." + +"Not for all that is under heaven!" said the Countess, much +alarmed, and feeling the absolute necessity of obtaining time, at +least, for consideration. "Tressilian, you were wont to be +generous. Grant me one request, and believe, if it be your wish +to save me from misery and from madness, you will do more by +making me the promise I ask of you, than Elizabeth can do for me +with all her power." + +"Ask me anything for which you can allege reason," said +Tressilian; "but demand not of me--" + +"Oh, limit not your boon, dear Edmund!" exclaimed the Countess +--"you once loved that I should call you so--limit not your boon +to reason; for my case is all madness, and frenzy must guide the +counsels which alone can aid me." + +"If you speak thus wildly," said Tressilian, astonishment again +overpowering both his grief and his resolution, "I must believe +you indeed incapable of thinking or acting for yourself." + +"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, sinking on one knee before him, "I am +not mad--I am but a creature unutterably miserable, and, from +circumstances the most singular, dragged on to a precipice by the +arm of him who thinks he is keeping me from it--even by yours, +Tressilian--by yours, whom I have honoured, respected--all but +loved--and yet loved, too--loved, too, Tressilian--though not as +you wished to be." + +There was an energy, a self-possession, an abandonment in her +voice and manner, a total resignation of herself to his +generosity, which, together with the kindness of her expressions +to himself, moved him deeply. He raised her, and, in broken +accents, entreated her to be comforted. + +"I cannot," she said, "I will not be comforted, till you grant me +my request! I will speak as plainly as I dare. I am now +awaiting the commands of one who has a right to issue them. The +interference of a third person--of you in especial, Tressilian-- +will be ruin--utter ruin to me. Wait but four-and-twenty hours, +and it may be that the poor Amy may have the means to show that +she values, and can reward, your disinterested friendship--that +she is happy herself, and has the means to make you so. It is +surely worth your patience, for so short a space?" + +Tressilian paused, and weighing in his mind the various +probabilities which might render a violent interference on his +part more prejudicial than advantageous, both to the happiness +and reputation of Amy; considering also that she was within the +walls of Kenilworth, and could suffer no injury in a castle +honoured with the Queen's residence, and filled with her guards +and attendants--he conceived, upon the whole, that he might +render her more evil than good service by intruding upon her his +appeal to Elizabeth in her behalf. He expressed his resolution +cautiously, however, doubting naturally whether Amy's hopes of +extricating herself from her difficulties rested on anything +stronger than a blinded attachment to Varney, whom he supposed to +be her seducer. + +"Amy," he said, while he fixed his sad and expressive eyes on +hers, which, in her ecstasy of doubt, terror, and perplexity, she +cast up towards him, "I have ever remarked that when others +called thee girlish and wilful, there lay under that external +semblance of youthful and self-willed folly deep feeling and +strong sense. In this I will confide, trusting your own fate in +your own hands for the space of twenty-four hours, without my +interference by word or act." + +"Do you promise me this, Tressilian?" said the Countess. "Is it +possible you can yet repose so much confidence in me? Do you +promise, as you are a gentleman and a man of honour, to intrude +in my matters neither by speech nor action, whatever you may see +or hear that seems to you to demand your interference? Will you +so far trust me?" + +"I will upon my honour," said Tressilian; "but when that space is +expired--" + +"Then that space is expired," she said, interrupting him, "you +are free to act as your judgment shall determine." + +"Is there nought besides which I can do for you, Amy?" said +Tressilian. + +"Nothing," said she, "save to leave me,--that is, if--I blush to +acknowledge my helplessness by asking it--if you can spare me the +use of this apartment for the next twenty-four hours." + +"This is most wonderful!" said Tressilian; "what hope or +interest can you have in a Castle where you cannot command even +an apartment?" + +"Argue not, but leave me," she said; and added, as he slowly and +unwillingly retired, "Generous Edmund! the time may come when +Amy may show she deserved thy noble attachment." + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + What, man, ne'er lack a draught, when the full can + Stands at thine elbow, and craves emptying!-- + Nay, fear not me, for I have no delight + To watch men's vices, since I have myself + Of virtue nought to boast of--I'm a striker, + Would have the world strike with me, pell-mell, all. + PANDEMONIUM. + +Tressilian, in strange agitation of mind, had hardly stepped down +the first two or three steps of the winding staircase, when, +greatly to his surprise and displeasure, he met Michael +Lambourne, wearing an impudent familiarity of visage, for which +Tressilian felt much disposed to throw him down-stairs; until he +remembered the prejudice which Amy, the only object of his +solicitude, was likely to receive from his engaging in any act of +violence at that time and in that place. + +He therefore contented himself with looking sternly upon +Lambourne, as upon one whom he deemed unworthy of notice, and +attempted to pass him in his way downstairs, without any symptom +of recognition. But Lambourne, who, amidst the profusion of that +day's hospitality, had not failed to take a deep though not an +overpowering cup of sack, was not in the humour of humbling +himself before any man's looks. He stopped Tressilian upon the +staircase without the least bashfulness or embarrassment, and +addressed him as if he had been on kind and intimate terms:-- +"What, no grudge between us, I hope, upon old scores, Master +Tressilian?--nay, I am one who remembers former kindness rather +than latter feud. I'll convince you that I meant honestly and +kindly, ay, and comfortably by you." + +"I desire none of your intimacy," said Tressilian--"keep company +with your mates." + +"Now, see how hasty he is!" said Lambourne; "and how these +gentles, that are made questionless out of the porcelain clay of +the earth, look down upon poor Michael Lambourne! You would take +Master Tressilian now for the most maid-like, modest, simpering +squire of dames that ever made love when candles were long i' the +stuff--snuff; call you it? Why, you would play the saint on us, +Master Tressilian, and forget that even now thou hast a commodity +in thy very bedchamber, to the shame of my lord's castle, ha! +ha! ha! Have I touched you, Master Tressilian?" + +"I know not what you mean," said Tressilian, inferring, however, +too surely, that this licentious ruffian must have been sensible +of Amy's presence in his apartment; 'i but if," he continued, +"thou art varlet of the chambers, and lackest a fee, there is one +to leave mine unmolested." + +Lambourne looked at the piece of gold, and put it in his pocket +saying, "Now, I know not but you might have done more with me by +a kind word than by this chiming rogue. But after all he pays +well that pays with gold; and Mike Lambourne was never a +makebate, or a spoil-sport, or the like. E'en live, and let +others live, that is my motto-only, I would not let some folks +cock their beaver at me neither, as if they were made of silver +ore, and I of Dutch pewter. So if I keep your secret, Master +Tressilian, you may look sweet on me at least; and were I to want +a little backing or countenance, being caught, as you see the +best of us may be, in a sort of peccadillo--why, you owe it me-- +and so e'en make your chamber serve you and that same bird in +bower beside--it's all one to Mike Lambourne." + +"Make way, sir," said Tressilian, unable to bridle his +indignation, "you have had your fee." + +"Um!" said Lambourne, giving place, however, while he sulkily +muttered between his teeth, repeating Tressilian's words, "Make +way--and you have had your fee; but it matters not, I will spoil +no sport, as I said before. I am no dog in the manger--mind +that." + +He spoke louder and louder, as Tressilian, by whom he felt +himself overawed, got farther and farther out of hearing. + +"I am no dog in the manger; but I will not carry coals neither-- +mind that, Master Tressilian; and I will have a peep at this +wench whom you have quartered so commodiously in your old haunted +room--afraid of ghosts, belike, and not too willing to sleep +alone. If I had done this now in a strange lord's castle, the +word had been, The porter's lodge for the knave! and, have him +flogged--trundle him downstairs like a turnip! Ay, but your +virtuous gentlemen take strange privileges over us, who are +downright servants of our senses. Well--I have my Master +Tressilian's head under my belt by this lucky discovery, that is +one thing certain; and I will try to get a sight of this +Lindabrides of his, that is another." + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + Now fare thee well, my master--if true service + Be guerdon'd with hard looks, e'en cut the tow-line, + And let our barks across the pathless flood + Hold different courses-- THE SHIPWRECK. + +Tressilian walked into the outer yard of the Castle scarce +knowing what to think of his late strange and most unexpected +interview with Amy Robsart, and dubious if he had done well, +being entrusted with the delegated authority of her father, to +pass his word so solemnly to leave her to her own guidance for so +many hours. Yet how could he have denied her request--dependent +as she had too probably rendered herself upon Varney? Such was +his natural reasoning. The happiness of her future life might +depend upon his not driving her to extremities; and since no +authority of Tressilian's could extricate her from the power of +Varney, supposing he was to acknowledge Amy to be his wife, what +title had he to destroy the hope of domestic peace, which might +yet remain to her, by setting enmity betwixt them? Tressilian +resolved, therefore, scrupulously to observe his word pledged to +Amy, both because it had been given, and because, as he still +thought, while he considered and reconsidered that extraordinary +interview, it could not with justice or propriety have been +refused. + +In one respect, he had gained much towards securing effectual +protection for this unhappy and still beloved object of his early +affection. Amy was no longer mewed up in a distant and solitary +retreat under the charge of persons of doubtful reputation. She +was in the Castle of Kenilworth, within the verge of the Royal +Court for the time, free from all risk of violence, and liable to +be produced before Elizabeth on the first summons. These were +circumstances which could not but assist greatly the efforts +which he might have occasion to use in her behalf. + +While he was thus balancing the advantages and perils which +attended her unexpected presence in Kenilworth, Tressilian was +hastily and anxiously accosted by Wayland, who, after +ejaculating, "Thank God, your worship is found at last!" +proceeded with breathless caution to pour into his ear the +intelligence that the lady had escaped from Cumnor Place. + +"And is at present in this Castle," said Tressilian. "I know it, +and I have seen her. Was it by her own choice she found refuge +in my apartment?" + +"No," answered Wayland; "but I could think of no other way of +safely bestowing her, and was but too happy to find a deputy- +usher who knew where you were quartered--in jolly society truly, +the hall on the one hand, and the kitchen on the other!" + +"Peace, this is no time for jesting," answered Tressilian +sternly. + +"I wot that but too well," said the artist, "for I have felt +these three days as if I had a halter round my neck. This lady +knows not her own mind--she will have none of your aid--commands +you not to be named to her--and is about to put herself into the +hands of my Lord Leicester. I had never got her safe into your +chamber, had she known the owner of it." + +"Is it possible"" said Tressilian. "But she may have hopes the +Earl will exert his influence in her favour over his villainous +dependant." + +"I know nothing of that," said Wayland; "but I believe, if she is +to reconcile herself with either Leicester or Varney, the side of +the Castle of Kenilworth which will be safest for us will be the +outside, from which we can fastest fly away. It is not my +purpose to abide an instant after delivery of the letter to +Leicester, which waits but your commands to find its way to him. +See, here it is--but no--a plague on it--I must have left it in +my dog-hole, in the hay-loft yonder, where I am to sleep." + +"Death and fury!" said Tressilian, transported beyond his usual +patience; "thou hast not lost that on which may depend a stake +more important than a thousand such lives as thine?" + +"Lost it!" answered Wayland readily; "that were a jest indeed! +No, sir, I have it carefully put up with my night-sack, and some +matters I have occasion to use; I will fetch it in an instant." + +"Do so," said Tressilian; "be faithful, and thou shalt be well +rewarded. But if I have reason to suspect thee, a dead dog were +in better case than thou!" + +Wayland bowed, and took his leave with seeming confidence and +alacrity, but, in fact, filled with the utmost dread and +confusion. The letter was lost, that was certain, +notwithstanding the apology which he had made to appease the +impatient displeasure of Tressilian. It was lost--it might fall +into wrong hands--it would then certainly occasion a discovery of +the whole intrigue in which he had been engaged; nor, indeed, did +Wayland see much prospect of its remaining concealed, in any +event. He felt much hurt, besides, at Tressilian's burst of +impatience. + +"Nay, if I am to be paid in this coin for services where my neck +is concerned, it is time I should look to myself. Here have I +offended, for aught I know, to the death, the lord of this +stately castle, whose word were as powerful to take away my life +as the breath which speaks it to blow out a farthing candle. And +all this for a mad lady, and a melancholy gallant, who, on the +loss of a four-nooked bit of paper, has his hand on his poignado, +and swears death and fury!--Then there is the Doctor and Varney. +--I will save myself from the whole mess of them. Life is dearer +than gold. I will fly this instant, though I leave my reward +behind me." + +These reflections naturally enough occurred to a mind like +Wayland's, who found himself engaged far deeper than he had +expected in a train of mysterious and unintelligible intrigues, +in which the actors seemed hardly to know their own course. And +yet, to do him justice, his personal fears were, in some degree, +counterbalanced by his compassion for the deserted state of the +lady. + +"I care not a groat for Master Tressilian," he said; "I have done +more than bargain by him, and I have brought his errant-damosel +within his reach, so that he may look after her himself. But I +fear the poor thing is in much danger amongst these stormy +spirits. I will to her chamber, and tell her the fate which has +befallen her letter, that she may write another if she list. She +cannot lack a messenger, I trow, where there are so many lackeys +that can carry a letter to their lord. And I will tell her also +that I leave the Castle, trusting her to God, her own guidance, +and Master Tressilian's care and looking after. Perhaps she may +remember the ring she offered me--it was well earned, I trow; but +she is a lovely creature, and--marry hang the ring! I will not +bear a base spirit for the matter. If I fare ill in this world +for my good-nature, I shall have better chance in the next. So +now for the lady, and then for the road." + +With the stealthy step and jealous eye of the cat that steals on +her prey, Wayland resumed the way to the Countess's chamber, +sliding along by the side of the courts and passages, alike +observant of all around him, and studious himself to escape +observation. In this manner he crossed the outward and inward +Castle yard, and the great arched passage, which, running betwixt +the range of kitchen offices and the hall, led to the bottom of +the little winding-stair that gave access to the chambers of +Mervyn's Tower. + +The artist congratulated himself on having escaped the various +perils of his journey, and was in the act of ascending by two +steps at once, when he observed that the shadow of a man, thrown +from a door which stood ajar, darkened the opposite wall of the +staircase. Wayland drew back cautiously, went down to the inner +courtyard, spent about a quarter of an hour, which seemed at +least quadruple its usual duration, in walking from place to +place, and then returned to the tower, in hopes to find that the +lurker had disappeared. He ascended as high as the suspicious +spot--there was no shadow on the wall; he ascended a few yards +farther--the door was still ajar, and he was doubtful whether to +advance or retreat, when it was suddenly thrown wide open, and +Michael Lambourne bolted out upon the astonished Wayland. "Who +the devil art thou? and what seekest thou in this part of the +Castle? march into that chamber, and be hanged to thee!" + +"I am no dog, to go at every man's whistle," said the artist, +affecting a confidence which was belied by a timid shake in his +voice. + +"Sayest thou me so?--Come hither, Lawrence Staples." + +A huge, ill-made and ill-looked fellow, upwards of six feet high, +appeared at the door, and Lambourne proceeded: "If thou be'st so +fond of this tower, my friend, thou shalt see its foundations, +good twelve feet below the bed of the lake, and tenanted by +certain jolly toads, snakes, and so forth, which thou wilt find +mighty good company. Therefore, once more I ask you in fair +play, who thou art, and what thou seekest here?" + +"If the dungeon-grate once clashes behind me," thought Wayland, +"I am a gone man." He therefore answered submissively, "He was +the poor juggler whom his honour had met yesterday in Weatherly +Bottom." + +"And what juggling trick art thou playing in this tower? Thy +gang," said Lambourne, "lie over against Clinton's buildings." + +"I came here to see my sister," said the juggler, "who is in +Master Tressilian's chamber, just above." + +"Aha!" said Lambourne, smiling, "here be truths! Upon my +honour, for a stranger, this same Master Tressilian makes himself +at home among us, and furnishes out his cell handsomely, with all +sorts of commodities. This will be a precious tale of the +sainted Master Tressilian, and will be welcome to some folks, as +a purse of broad pieces to me.--Hark ye, fellow," he continued, +addressing Wayland, "thou shalt not give Puss a hint to steal +away we must catch her in her form. So, back with that pitiful +sheep-biting visage of thine, or I will fling thee from the +window of the tower, and try if your juggling skill can save your +bones." + +"Your worship will not be so hardhearted, I trust," said Wayland; +"poor folk must live. I trust your honour will allow me to speak +with my sister?" + +"Sister on Adam's side, I warrant," said Lambourne; "or, if +otherwise, the more knave thou. But sister or no sister. thou +diest on point of fox, if thou comest a-prying to this tower once +more. And now I think of it--uds daggers and death!--I will see +thee out of the Castle, for this is a more main concern than thy +jugglery." + +"But, please your worship," said Wayland, "I am to enact Arion in +the pageant upon the lake this very evening." + +"I will act it myself by Saint Christopher!" said Lambourne. +"Orion, callest thou him?--I will act Orion, his belt and his +seven stars to boot. Come along, for a rascal knave as thou art +--follow me! Or stay--Lawrence, do thou bring him along." + +Lawrence seized by the collar of the cloak the unresisting +juggler; while Lambourne, with hasty steps, led the way to that +same sallyport, or secret postern, by which Tressilian had +returned to the Castle, and which opened in the western wall at +no great distance from Mervyn's Tower. + +While traversing with a rapid foot the space betwixt the tower +and the sallyport, Wayland in vain racked his brain for some +device which might avail the poor lady, for whom, notwithstanding +his own imminent danger, he felt deep interest. But when he was +thrust out of the Castle, and informed by Lambourne, with a +tremendous oath, that instant death would be the consequence of +his again approaching it, he cast up his hands and eyes to +heaven, as if to call God to witness he had stood to the +uttermost in defence of the oppressed; then turned his back on +the proud towers of Kenilworth, and went his way to seek a +humbler and safer place of refuge. + +Lawrence and Lambourne gazed a little while after Wayland, and +then turned to go back to their tower, when the former thus +addressed his companion: "Never credit me, Master Lambourne, if +I can guess why thou hast driven this poor caitiff from the +Castle, just when he was to bear a part in the show that was +beginning, and all this about a wench," + +"Ah, Lawrence," replied Lambourne, "thou art thinking of Black +Joan Jugges of Slingdon, and hast sympathy with human frailty. +But, corragio, most noble Duke of the Dungeon and Lord of Limbo, +for thou art as dark in this matter as thine own dominions of +Little-ease. My most reverend Signior of the Low Countries of +Kenilworth, know that our most notable master, Richard Varney, +would give as much to have a hole in this same Tressilian's coat, +as would make us some fifty midnight carousals, with the full +leave of bidding the steward go snick up, if he came to startle +us too soon from our goblets." + +"Nay, an that be the case, thou hast right," said Lawrence +Staples, the upper-warder, or, in common phrase, the first +jailer, of Kenilworth Castle, and of the Liberty and Honour +belonging thereto. "But how will you manage when you are absent +at the Queen's entrance, Master Lambourne; for methinks thou must +attend thy master there?" + +"Why thou, mine honest prince of prisons, must keep ward in my +absence. Let Tressilian enter if he will, but see thou let no +one come out. If the damsel herself would make a break, as 'tis +not unlike she may, scare her back with rough words; she is but a +paltry player's wench after all." + +"Nay for that matter," said Lawrence, "I might shut the iron +wicket upon her that stands without the double door, and so force +per force she will be bound to her answer without more trouble." + +"Then Tressilian will not get access to her," said Lambourne, +reflecting a moment. "But 'tis no matter; she will be detected +in his chamber, and that is all one. But confess, thou old +bat's-eyed dungeon-keeper, that you fear to keep awake by +yourself in that Mervyn's Tower of thine?" + +"Why, as to fear, Master Lambourne," said the fellow, "I mind it +not the turning of a key; but strange things have been heard and +seen in that tower. You must have heard, for as short time as +you have been in Kenilworth, that it is haunted by the spirit of +Arthur ap Mervyn, a wild chief taken by fierce Lord Mortimer when +he was one of the Lords Marchers of Wales, and murdered, as they +say, in that same tower which bears his name." + +"Oh, I have heard the tale five hundred times," said Lambourne, +"and how the ghost is always most vociferous when they boil leeks +and stirabout, or fry toasted cheese, in the culinary regions. +Santo Diavolo, man, hold thy tongue, I know all about it!" + +"Ay, but thou dost not, though," said the turnkey, " for as wise +as thou wouldst make thyself. Ah, it is an awful thing to murder +a prisoner in his ward!--you that may have given a man a stab in +a dark street know nothing of it. To give a mutinous fellow a +knock on the head with the keys, and bid him be quiet, that's +what I call keeping order in the ward; but to draw weapon and +slay him, as was done to this Welsh lord, THAT raises you a ghost +that will render your prison-house untenantable by any decent +captive for some hundred years. And I have that regard for my +prisoners, poor things, that I have put good squires and men of +worship, that have taken a ride on the highway, or slandered my +Lord of Leicester, or the like, fifty feet under ground, rather +than I would put them into that upper chamber yonder that they +call Mervyn's Bower. Indeed, by good Saint Peter of the Fetters, +I marvel my noble lord, or Master Varney, could think of lodging +guests there; and if this Master Tressilian could get any one to +keep him company, and in especial a pretty wench, why, truly, I +think he was in the right on't." + +"I tell thee," said Lambourne, leading the way into the turnkey's +apartment, "thou art an ass. Go bolt the wicket on the stair, +and trouble not thy noddle about ghosts. Give me the wine stoup, +man; I am somewhat heated with chafing with yonder rascal." + +While Lambourne drew a long draught from a pitcher of claret, +which he made use of without any cup, the warder went on, +vindicating his own belief in the supernatural. + +"Thou hast been few hours in this Castle, and hast been for the +whole space so drunk, Lambourne, that thou art deaf, dumb, and +blind. But we should hear less of your bragging were you to pass +a night with us at full moon; for then the ghost is busiest, and +more especially when a rattling wind sets in from the north-west, +with some sprinkling of rain, and now and then a growl of +thunder. Body o' me, what crackings and clashings, what +groanings and what howlings, will there be at such times in +Mervyn's Bower, right as it were over our heads, till the matter +of two quarts of distilled waters has not been enough to keep my +lads and me in some heart!" + +"Pshaw, man!" replied Lambourne, on whom his last draught, +joined to repeated visitations of the pitcher upon former +occasions, began to make some innovation, "thou speakest thou +knowest not what about spirits. No one knows justly what to say +about them; and, in short, least said may in that matter be +soonest amended. Some men believe in one thing, some in another +--it is all matter of fancy. I have known them of all sorts, my +dear Lawrence Lock-the-door, and sensible men too. There's a +great lord--we'll pass his name, Lawrence--he believes in the +stars and the moon, the planets and their courses, and so forth, +and that they twinkle exclusively for his benefit, when in sober, +or rather in drunken truth, Lawrence, they are only shining to +keep honest fellows like me out of the kennel. Well, sir, let +his humour pass; he is great enough to indulge it. Then, look +ye, there is another--a very learned man, I promise you, and can +vent Greek and Hebrew as fast as I can Thieves' Latin he has an +humour of sympathies and antipathies--of changing lead into gold, +and the like; why, via, let that pass too, and let him pay those +in transmigrated coin who are fools enough to let it be current +with them. Then here comest thou thyself, another great man, +though neither learned nor noble, yet full six feet high, and +thou, like a purblind mole, must needs believe in ghosts and +goblins, and such like. Now, there is, besides, a great man-- +that is, a great little man, or a little great man, my dear +Lawrence--and his name begins with V, and what believes he? Why, +nothing, honest Lawrence--nothing in earth, heaven, or hell; and +for my part, if I believe there is a devil, it is only because I +think there must be some one to catch our aforesaid friend by the +back 'when soul and body sever,' as the ballad says; for your +antecedent will have a consequent--RARO ANTECEDENTEM, as Doctor +Bircham was wont to say. But this is Greek to you now, honest +Lawrence, and in sooth learning is dry work. Hand me the pitcher +once more." + +"In faith, if you drink more, Michael," said the warder, "you +will be in sorry case either to play Arion or to wait on your +master on such a solemn night; and I expect each moment to hear +the great bell toll for the muster at Mortimer's Tower, to +receive the Queen." + +While Staples remonstrated, Lambourne drank; and then setting +down the pitcher, which was nearly emptied, with a deep sigh, he +said, in an undertone, which soon rose to a high one as his +speech proceeded, "Never mind, Lawrence; if I be drunk, I know +that shall make Varney uphold me sober. But, as I said, never +mind; I can carry my drink discreetly. Moreover, I am to go on +the water as Orion, and shall take cold unless I take something +comfortable beforehand. Not play Orion? Let us see the best +roarer that ever strained his lungs for twelve pence out-mouth +me! What if they see me a little disguised? Wherefore should +any man be sober to-night? answer me that. It is matter of +loyalty to be merry; and I tell thee there are those in the +Castle who, if they are not merry when drunk, have little chance +to be merry when sober--I name no names, Lawrence. But your +pottle of sack is a fine shoeing-horn to pull on a loyal humour, +and a merry one. Huzza for Queen Elizabeth!--for the noble +Leicester!--for the worshipful Master Varney!--and for Michael +Lambourne, that can turn them all round his finger!" + +So saying, he walked downstairs, and across the inner court. + +The warder looked after him, shook his head, and while he drew +close and locked a wicket, which, crossing the staircase, +rendered it impossible for any one to ascend higher than the +story immediately beneath Mervyn's Bower, as Tressilian's chamber +was named, he thus soliloquized with himself--"It's a good thing +to be a favourite. I well-nigh lost mine office, because one +frosty morning Master Varney thought I smelled of aqua vitae; and +this fellow can appear before him drunk as a wineskin, and yet +meet no rebuke. But then he is a pestilent clever fellow withal, +and no one can understand above one half of what he says." + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + Now bid the steeple rock--she comes, she comes!-- + Speak for us, bells--speak for us, shrill-tongued tuckets. + Stand to thy linstock, gunner; let thy cannon + Play such a peal, as if a paynim foe + Came stretch'd in turban'd ranks to storm the ramparts. + We will have pageants too--but that craves wit, + And I'm a rough-hewn soldier. THE VIRGIN QUEEN--A TRAGI-COMEDY. + +Tressilian, when Wayland had left him, as mentioned in the last +chapter, remained uncertain what he ought next to do, when +Raleigh and Blount came up to him arm in arm, yet, according to +their wont, very eagerly disputing together. Tressilian had no +great desire for their society in the present state of his +feelings, but there was no possibility of avoiding them; and +indeed he felt that, bound by his promise not to approach Amy, or +take any step in her behalf, it would be his best course at once +to mix with general society, and to exhibit on his brow as little +as he could of the anguish and uncertainty which sat heavy at his +heart. He therefore made a virtue of necessity, and hailed his +comrades with, "All mirth to you, gentlemen! Whence come ye?" + +"From Warwick, to be sure," said Blount; "we must needs home to +change our habits, like poor players, who are fain to multiply +their persons to outward appearance by change of suits; and you +had better do the like, Tressilian." + +"Blount is right," said Raleigh; "the Queen loves such marks of +deference, and notices, as wanting in respect, those who, not +arriving in her immediate attendance, may appear in their soiled +and ruffled riding-dress. But look at Blount himself, +Tressilian, for the love of laughter, and see how his villainous +tailor hath apparelled him--in blue, green, and crimson, with +carnation ribbons, and yellow roses in his shoes!" + +"Why, what wouldst thou have?" said Blount. "I told the cross- +legged thief to do his best, and spare no cost; and methinks +these things are gay enough--gayer than thine own. I'll be +judged by Tressilian." + +"I agree--I agree," said Walter Raleigh. "Judge betwixt us, +Tressilian, for the love of heaven!" + +Tressilian, thus appealed to, looked at them both, and was +immediately sensible at a single glance that honest Blount had +taken upon the tailor's warrant the pied garments which he had +chosen to make, and was as much embarrassed by the quantity of +points and ribbons which garnished his dress, as a clown is in +his holiday clothes; while the dress of Raleigh was a well- +fancied and rich suit, which the wearer bore as a garb too well +adapted to his elegant person to attract particular attention. +Tressilian said, therefore, "That Blount's dress was finest, but +Raleigh's the best fancied." + +Blount was satisfied with his decision. "I knew mine was +finest," he said; "if that knave Doublestitch had brought me home +such a simple doublet as that of Raleigh's, I would have beat his +brains out with his own pressing-iron. Nay, if we must be fools, +ever let us be fools of the first head, say I." + +"But why gettest thou not on thy braveries, Tressilian?" said +Raleigh. + +"I am excluded from my apartment by a silly mistake," said +Tressilian, "and separated for the time from my baggage. I was +about to seek thee, to beseech a share of thy lodging." + +"And welcome," said Raleigh; "it is a noble one. My Lord of +Leicester has done us that kindness, and lodged us in princely +fashion. If his courtesy be extorted reluctantly, it is at least +extended far. I would advise you to tell your strait to the +Earl's chamberlain--you will have instant redress." + +"Nay, it is not worth while, since you can spare me room," +replied Tressilian--"I would not be troublesome. Has any one +come hither with you?" + +"Oh, ay," said Blount; "Varney and a whole tribe of Leicestrians, +besides about a score of us honest Sussex folk. We are all, it +seems, to receive the Queen at what they call the Gallery-tower, +and witness some fooleries there; and then we're to remain in +attendance upon the Queen in the Great Hall--God bless the mark! +--while those who are now waiting upon her Grace get rid of their +slough, and doff their riding-suits. Heaven help me, if her +Grace should speak to me, I shall never know what to answer!" + +"And what has detained them so long at Warwick?" said +Tressilian, unwilling that their conversation should return to +his own affairs. + +"Such a succession of fooleries," said Blount, "as were never +seen at Bartholomew-fair. We have had speeches and players, and +dogs and bears, and men making monkeys and women moppets of +themselves--I marvel the Queen could endure it. But ever and +anon came in something of 'the lovely light of her gracious +countenance,' or some such trash. Ah! vanity makes a fool of +the wisest. But come, let us on to this same Gallery-tower-- +though I see not what thou Tressilian, canst do with thy riding- +dress and boots." + +"I will take my station behind thee, Blount," said Tressilian, +who saw that his friend's unusual finery had taken a strong hold +of his imagination; "thy goodly size and gay dress will cover my +defects." + +"And so thou shalt, Edmund," said Blount. "In faith I am glad +thou thinkest my garb well-fancied, for all Mr. Wittypate here; +for when one does a foolish thing, it is right to do it +handsomely." + +So saying, Blount cocked his beaver, threw out his leg, and +marched manfully forward, as if at the head of his brigade of +pikemen, ever and anon looking with complaisance on his crimson +stockings, and the huge yellow roses which blossomed on his +shoes. Tressilian followed, wrapt in his own sad thoughts, and +scarce minding Raleigh, whose quick fancy, amused by the awkward +vanity of his respectable friend, vented itself in jests, which +he whispered into Tressilian's ear. + +In this manner they crossed the long bridge, or tilt-yard, and +took their station, with other gentlemen of quality, before the +outer gate of the Gallery, or Entrance-tower. The whole amounted +to about forty persons, all selected as of the first rank under +that of knighthood, and were disposed in double rows on either +side of the gate, like a guard of honour, within the close hedge +of pikes and partisans which was formed by Leicester's retainers, +wearing his liveries. The gentlemen carried no arms save their +swords and daggers. These gallants were as gaily dressed as +imagination could devise; and as the garb of the time permitted a +great display of expensive magnificence, nought was to be seen +but velvet and cloth of gold and silver, ribbons, leathers, gems, +and golden chains. In spite of his more serious subjects of +distress, Tressilian could not help feeling that he, with his +riding-suit, however handsome it might be, made rather an +unworthy figure among these "fierce vanities," and the rather +because he saw that his deshabille was the subject of wonder +among his own friends, and of scorn among the partisans of +Leicester. + +We could not suppress this fact, though it may seem something at +variance with the gravity of Tressilian's character; but the +truth is, that a regard for personal appearance is a species of +self-love, from which the wisest are not exempt, and to which the +mind clings so instinctively that not only the soldier advancing +to almost inevitable death, but even the doomed criminal who goes +to certain execution, shows an anxiety to array his person to the +best advantage. But this is a digression. + +It was the twilight of a summer night (9th July, 1575), the sun +having for some time set, and all were in anxious expectation of +the Queen's immediate approach. The multitude had remained +assembled for many hours, and their numbers were still rather on +the increase. A profuse distribution of refreshments, together +with roasted oxen, and barrels of ale set a-broach in different +places of the road, had kept the populace in perfect love and +loyalty towards the Queen and her favourite, which might have +somewhat abated had fasting been added to watching. They passed +away the time, therefore, with the usual popular amusements of +whooping, hallooing, shrieking, and playing rude tricks upon each +other, forming the chorus of discordant sounds usual on such +occasions. These prevailed all through the crowded roads and +fields, and especially beyond the gate of the Chase, where the +greater number of the common sort were stationed; when, all of a +sudden, a single rocket was seen to shoot into the atmosphere, +and, at the instant, far heard over flood and field, the great +bell of the Castle tolled. + +Immediately there was a pause of dead silence, succeeded by a +deep hum of expectation, the united voice of many thousands, none +of whom spoke above their breath--or, to use a singular +expression, the whisper of an immense multitude. + +"They come now, for certain," said Raleigh. "Tressilian, that +sound is grand. We hear it from this distance as mariners, after +a long voyage, hear, upon their night-watch, the tide rush upon +some distant and unknown shore." + +"Mass!" answered Blount, "I hear it rather as I used to hear +mine own kine lowing from the close of Wittenswestlowe." + +"He will assuredly graze presently," said Raleigh to Tressilian; +"his thought is all of fat oxen and fertile meadows. He grows +little better than one of his own beeves, and only becomes grand +when he is provoked to pushing and goring." + +"We shall have him at that presently," said Tressilian, "if you +spare not your wit." + +"Tush, I care not," answered Raleigh; "but thou too, Tressilian, +hast turned a kind of owl, that flies only by night--hast +exchanged thy songs for screechings, and good company for an ivy- +tod." + +"But what manner of animal art thou thyself, Raleigh," said +Tressilian, "that thou holdest us all so lightly?" + +"Who--I?" replied Raleigh. "An eagle am I, that never will +think of dull earth while there is a heaven to soar in, and a sun +to gaze upon." + +"Well bragged, by Saint Barnaby!" said Blount; "but, good Master +Eagle, beware the cage, and beware the fowler. Many birds have +flown as high that I have seen stuffed with straw and hung up to +scare kites.--But hark, what a dead silence hath fallen on them +at once!" + +"The procession pauses," said Raleigh, "at the gate of the Chase, +where a sibyl, one of the FATIDICAE, meets the Queen, to tell her +fortune. I saw the verses; there is little savour in them, and +her Grace has been already crammed full with such poetical +compliments. She whispered to me, during the Recorder's speech +yonder, at Ford-mill, as she entered the liberties of Warwick, +how she was 'PERTAESA BARBARAE LOQUELAE.'" + +"The Queen whispered to HIM!" said Blount, in a kind of +soliloquy; "Good God, to what will this world come!" + +His further meditations were interrupted by a shout of applause +from the multitude, so tremendously vociferous that the country +echoed for miles round. The guards, thickly stationed upon the +road by which the Queen was to advance, caught up the +acclamation, which ran like wildfire to the Castle, and announced +to all within that Queen Elizabeth had entered the Royal Chase of +Kenilworth. The whole music of the Castle sounded at once, and a +round of artillery, with a salvo of small arms, was discharged +from the battlements; but the noise of drums and trumpets, and +even of the cannon themselves, was but faintly heard amidst the +roaring and reiterated welcomes of the multitude. + +As the noise began to abate, a broad glare of light was seen to +appear from the gate of the Park, and broadening and brightening +as it came nearer, advanced along the open and fair avenue that +led towards the Gallery-tower; and which, as we have already +noticed, was lined on either hand by the retainers of the Earl of +Leicester. The word was passed along the line, "The Queen! The +Queen! Silence, and stand fast!" Onward came the cavalcade, +illuminated by two hundred thick waxen torches, in the hands of +as many horsemen, which cast a light like that of broad day all +around the procession, but especially on the principal group, of +which the Queen herself, arrayed in the most splendid manner, and +blazing with jewels, formed the central figure. She was mounted +on a milk-white horse, which she reined with peculiar grace and +dignity; and in the whole of her stately and noble carriage you +saw the daughter of an hundred kings. + +The ladies of the court, who rode beside her Majesty, had taken +especial care that their own external appearance should not be +more glorious than their rank and the occasion altogether +demanded, so that no inferior luminary might appear to approach +the orbit of royalty. But their personal charms, and the +magnificence by which, under every prudential restraint, they +were necessarily distinguished, exhibited them as the very flower +of a realm so far famed for splendour and beauty. The +magnificence of the courtiers, free from such restraints as +prudence imposed on the ladies, was yet more unbounded. + +Leicester, who glittered like a golden image with jewels and +cloth of gold, rode on her Majesty's right hand, as well in +quality of her host as of her master of the horse. The black +steed which he mounted had not a single white hair on his body, +and was one of the most renowned chargers in Europe, having been +purchased by the Earl at large expense for this royal occasion. +As the noble animal chafed at the slow pace of the procession, +and, arching his stately neck, champed on the silver bits which +restrained him, the foam flew from his mouth, and speckled his +well-formed limbs as if with spots of snow. The rider well +became the high place which he held, and the proud steed which he +bestrode; for no man in England, or perhaps in Europe, was more +perfect than Dudley in horsemanship, and all other exercises +belonging to his quality. He was bareheaded as were all the +courtiers in the train; and the red torchlight shone upon his +long, curled tresses of dark hair, and on his noble features, to +the beauty of which even the severest criticism could only object +the lordly fault, as it may be termed, of a forehead somewhat too +high. On that proud evening those features wore all the grateful +solicitude of a subject, to show himself sensible of the high +honour which the Queen was conferring on him, and all the pride +and satisfaction which became so glorious a moment. Yet, though +neither eye nor feature betrayed aught but feelings which suited +the occasion, some of the Earl's personal attendants remarked +that he was unusually pale, and they expressed to each other +their fear that he was taking more fatigue than consisted with +his health. + +Varney followed close behind his master, as the principal esquire +in waiting, and had charge of his lordship's black velvet bonnet, +garnished with a clasp of diamonds and surmounted by a white +plume. He kept his eye constantly on his master, and, for +reasons with which the reader is not unacquainted, was, among +Leicester's numerous dependants, the one who was most anxious +that his lord's strength and resolution should carry him +successfully through a day so agitating. For although Varney was +one of the few, the very few moral monsters who contrive to lull +to sleep the remorse of their own bosoms, and are drugged into +moral insensibility by atheism, as men in extreme agony are +lulled by opium, yet he knew that in the breast of his patron +there was already awakened the fire that is never quenched, and +that his lord felt, amid all the pomp and magnificence we have +described, the gnawing of the worm that dieth not. Still, +however, assured as Lord Leicester stood, by Varney's own +intelligence, that his Countess laboured under an indisposition +which formed an unanswerable apology to the Queen for her not +appearing at Kenilworth, there was little danger, his wily +retainer thought, that a man so ambitious would betray himself by +giving way to any external weakness. + +The train, male and female, who attended immediately upon the +Queen's person, were, of course, of the bravest and the fairest +--the highest born nobles, and the wisest counsellors, of that +distinguished reign, to repeat whose names were but to weary the +reader. Behind came a long crowd of knights and gentlemen, whose +rank and birth, however distinguished, were thrown into shade, as +their persons into the rear of a procession whose front was of +such august majesty. + +Thus marshalled, the cavalcade approached the Gallery-tower, +which formed, as we have often observed, the extreme barrier of +the Castle. + +It was now the part of the huge porter to step forward; but the +lubbard was so overwhelmed with confusion of spirit--the contents +of one immense black jack of double ale, which he had just drunk +to quicken his memory, having treacherously confused the brain it +was intended to clear--that he only groaned piteously, and +remained sitting on his stone seat; and the Queen would have +passed on without greeting, had not the gigantic warder's secret +ally, Flibbertigibbet, who lay perdue behind him, thrust a pin +into the rear of the short femoral garment which we elsewhere +described. + +The porter uttered a sort of yell, which came not amiss into his +part, started up with his club, and dealt a sound douse or two on +each side of him; and then, like a coach-horse pricked by the +spur, started off at once into the full career of his address, +and by dint of active prompting on the part of Dickie Sludge, +delivered, in sounds of gigantic intonation, a speech which may +be thus abridged--the reader being to suppose that the first +lines were addressed to the throng who approached the gateway; +the conclusion, at the approach of the Queen, upon sight of whom, +as struck by some heavenly vision, the gigantic warder dropped +his club, resigned his keys, and gave open way to the Goddess of +the night, and all her magnificent train. + + "What stir, what turmoil, have we for the nones? + Stand back, my masters, or beware your bones! + Sirs, I'm a warder, and no man of straw, + My voice keeps order, and my club gives law. + + Yet soft--nay, stay--what vision have we here? + What dainty darling's this--what peerless peer? + What loveliest face, that loving ranks unfold, + Like brightest diamond chased in purest gold? + Dazzled and blind, mine office I forsake, + My club, my key, my knee, my homage take. + Bright paragon, pass on in joy and bliss;-- + Beshrew the gate that opes not wide at such a sight as this!" + +[This is an imitation of Gascoigne's verses spoken by the +Herculean porter, as mentioned in the text. The original may be +found in the republication of the Princely Pleasures of +Kenilworth, by the same author, in the History of Kenilworth +already quoted. Chiswick, 1821.] + +Elizabeth received most graciously the homage of the Herculean +porter, and, bending her head to him in requital, passed through +his guarded tower, from the top of which was poured a clamorous +blast of warlike music, which was replied to by other bands of +minstrelsy placed at different points on the Castle walls, and by +others again stationed in the Chase; while the tones of the one, +as they yet vibrated on the echoes, were caught up and answered +by new harmony from different quarters. + +Amidst these bursts of music, which, as if the work of +enchantment, seemed now close at hand, now softened by distant +space, now wailing so low and sweet as if that distance were +gradually prolonged until only the last lingering strains could +reach the ear, Queen Elizabeth crossed the Gallery-tower, and +came upon the long bridge, which extended from thence to +Mortimer's Tower, and which was already as light as day, so many +torches had been fastened to the palisades on either side. Most +of the nobles here alighted, and sent their horses to the +neighbouring village of Kenilworth, following the Queen on foot, +as did the gentlemen who had stood in array to receive her at the +Gallery-tower. + +On this occasion, as at different times during the evening, +Raleigh addressed himself to Tressilian, and was not a little +surprised at his vague and unsatisfactory answers; which, joined +to his leaving his apartment without any assigned reason, +appearing in an undress when it was likely to be offensive to the +Queen, and some other symptoms of irregularity which he thought +he discovered, led him to doubt whether his friend did not labour +under some temporary derangement. + +Meanwhile, the Queen had no sooner stepped on the bridge than a +new spectacle was provided; for as soon as the music gave signal +that she was so far advanced, a raft, so disposed as to resemble +a small floating island, illuminated by a great variety of +torches, and surrounded by floating pageants formed to represent +sea-horses, on which sat Tritons, Nereids, and other fabulous +deities of the seas and rivers, made its appearance upon the +lake, and issuing from behind a small heronry where it had been +concealed, floated gently towards the farther end of the bridge. + +On the islet appeared a beautiful woman, clad in a watchet- +coloured silken mantle, bound with a broad girdle inscribed with +characters like the phylacteries of the Hebrews. Her feet and +arms were bare, but her wrists and ankles were adorned with gold +bracelets of uncommon size. Amidst her long, silky black hair +she wore a crown or chaplet of artificial mistletoe, and bore in +her hand a rod of ebony tipped with silver. Two Nymphs attended +on her, dressed in the same antique and mystical guise. + +The pageant was so well managed that this Lady of the Floating +Island, having performed her voyage with much picturesque effect, +landed at Mortimer's Tower with her two attendants just as +Elizabeth presented herself before that outwork. The stranger +then, in a well-penned speech, announced herself as that famous +Lady of the Lake renowned in the stories of King Arthur, who had +nursed the youth of the redoubted Sir Lancelot, and whose beauty +'had proved too powerful both for the wisdom and the spells of +the mighty Merlin. Since that early period she had remained +possessed of her crystal dominions, she said, despite the various +men of fame and might by whom Kenilworth had been successively +tenanted. 'The Saxons, the Danes, the Normans, the Saintlowes, +the Clintons, the Montforts, the Mortimers, the Plantagenets, +great though they were in arms and magnificence, had never, she +said, caused her to raise her head from the waters which hid her +crystal palace. But a greater than all these great names had now +appeared, and she came in homage and duty to welcome the peerless +Elizabeth to all sport which the Castle and its environs, which +lake or land, could afford. + +The Queen received this address also with great courtesy, and +made answer in raillery, "We thought this lake had belonged to +our own dominions, fair dame; but since so famed a lady claims it +for hers, we will be glad at some other time to have further +communing with you touching our joint interests." + +With this gracious answer the Lady of the Lake vanished, and +Arion, who was amongst the maritime deities, appeared upon his +dolphin. But Lambourne, who had taken upon him the part in the +absence of Wayland, being chilled with remaining immersed in an +element to which he was not friendly, having never got his speech +by heart, and not having, like the porter, the advantage of a +prompter, paid it off with impudence, tearing off his vizard, and +swearing, "Cogs bones! he was none of Arion or Orion either, but +honest Mike Lambourne, that had been drinking her Majesty's +health from morning till midnight, and was come to bid her +heartily welcome to Kenilworth Castle." + +This unpremeditated buffoonery answered the purpose probably +better than the set speech would have done. The Queen laughed +heartily, and swore (in her turn) that he had made the best +speech she had heard that day. Lambourne, who instantly saw his +jest had saved his bones, jumped on shore, gave his dolphin a +kick, and declared he would never meddle with fish again, except +at dinner. + +At the same time that the Queen was about to enter the Castle, +that memorable discharge of fireworks by water and land took +place, which Master Laneham, formerly introduced to the reader, +has strained all his eloquence to describe. + +"Such," says the Clerk of the Council-chamber door "was the blaze +of burning darts, the gleams of stars coruscant, the streams and +hail of fiery sparks, lightnings of wildfire, and flight-shot of +thunderbolts, with continuance, terror, and vehemency, that the +heavens thundered, the waters surged, and the earth shook; and +for my part, hardy as I am, it made me very vengeably afraid." + +[See Laneham's Account of the Queen's Entertainment at +Killingworth Castle, in 1575, a very diverting tract, written by +as great a coxcomb as ever blotted paper. [See Note 6] The +original is extremely rare, but it has been twice reprinted; once +in Mr. Nichols's very curious and interesting collection of the +Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth, vol.i. and +more lately in a beautiful antiquarian publication, termed +KENILWORTH ILLUSTRATED, printed at Chiswick, for Meridew of +Coventry and Radcliffe of Birmingham. It contains reprints of +Laneham's Letter, Gascoigne's PrinceIy Progress, and other scarce +pieces, annotated with accuracy and ability. The author takes +the liberty to refer to this work as his authority for the +account of the festivities. + +I am indebted for a curious ground-plan of the Castle of +Kenilworth, as it existed in Queen Elizabeth's time, to the +voluntary kindness of Richard Badnall Esq. of Olivebank, near +Liverpool. From his obliging communication, I learn that the +original sketch was found among the manuscripts of the celebrated +J. J. Rousseau, when he left England. These were entrusted by +the philosopher to the care of his friend Mr. Davenport, and +passed from his legatee into the possession of Mr. Badnall.] + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + Nay, this is matter for the month of March, + When hares are maddest. Either speak in reason, + Giving cold argument the wall of passion, + Or I break up the court. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER. + +It is by no means our purpose to detail minutely all the princely +festivities of Kenilworth, after the fashion of Master Robert +Laneham, whom we quoted in the conclusion of the last chapter. +It is sufficient to say that under discharge of the splendid +fireworks, which we have borrowed Laneham's eloquence to +describe, the Queen entered the base-court of Kenilworth, through +Mortimer's Tower, and moving on through pageants of heathen gods +and heroes of antiquity, who offered gifts and compliments on the +bended knee, at length found her way to the Great Hall of the +Castle, gorgeously hung for her reception with the richest silken +tapestry, misty with perfumes, and sounding to strains of soft +and delicious music. From the highly-carved oaken roof hung a +superb chandelier of gilt bronze, formed like a spread eagle, +whose outstretched wings supported three male and three female +figures, grasping a pair of branches in each hand. The Hall was +thus illuminated by twenty-four torches of wax. At the upper end +of the splendid apartment was a state canopy, overshadowing a +royal throne, and beside it was a door, which opened to a long +suite of apartments, decorated with the utmost magnificence for +the Queen and her ladies, whenever it should be her pleasure to +be private. + +The Earl of Leicester having handed the Queen up to her throne, +and seated her there, knelt down before her, and kissing the hand +which she held out, with an air in which romantic and respectful +gallantry was happily mingled with the air of loyal devotion, he +thanked her, in terms of the deepest gratitude, for the highest +honour which a sovereign could render to a subject. So handsome +did he look when kneeling before her, that Elizabeth was tempted +to prolong the scene a little longer than there was, strictly +speaking, necessity for; and ere she raised him, she passed her +hand over his head, so near as almost to touch his long, curled, +and perfumed hair, and with a movement of fondness that seemed to +intimate she would, if she dared, have made the motion a slight +caress. + +[To justify what may be considered as a high-coloured picture, +the author quotes the original of the courtly and shrewd Sir +James Melville, being then Queen Mary's envoy at the court of +London. + +"I was required," says Sir James, "to stay till I had seen him +made Earle of Leicester, and Baron of Denbigh, with great +solemnity; herself (Elizabeth) helping to put on his ceremonial, +he sitting on his knees before her, keeping a great gravity and a +discreet behaviour; but she could not refrain from putting her +hand to his neck to kittle (i.e., tickle) him, smilingly, the +French Ambassador and I standing beside her."--MELVILLE'S +MEMOIRS, BANNATYNE EDITION, p. 120.] + +She at length raised him, and standing beside the throne, he +explained to her the various preparations which had been made for +her amusement and accommodation, all of which received her prompt +and gracious approbation. The Earl then prayed her Majesty for +permission that he himself, and the nobles who had been in +attendance upon her during the journey, might retire for a few +minutes, and put themselves into a guise more fitting for dutiful +attendance, during which space those gentlemen of worship +(pointing to Varney, Blount, Tressilian, and others), who had +already put themselves into fresh attire, would have the honour +of keeping her presence-chamber. + +"Be it so, my lord," answered the Queen; "you could manage a +theatre well, who can thus command a double set of actors. For +ourselves, we will receive your courtesies this evening but +clownishly, since it is not our purpose to change our riding +attire, being in effect something fatigued with a journey which +the concourse of our good people hath rendered slow, though the +love they have shown our person hath, at the same time, made it +delightful." + +Leicester, having received this permission, retired accordingly, +and was followed by those nobles who had attended the Queen to +Kenilworth in person. The gentlemen who had preceded them, and +were, of course, dressed for the solemnity, remained in +attendance. But being most of them of rather inferior rank, they +remained at an awful distance from the throne which Elizabeth +occupied. The Queen's sharp eye soon distinguished Raleigh +amongst them, with one or two others who were personally known to +her, and she instantly made them a sign to approach, and accosted +them very graciously. Raleigh, in particular, the adventure of +whose cloak, as well as the incident of the verses, remained on +her mind, was very graciously received; and to him she most +frequently applied for information concerning the names and rank +of those who were in presence. These he communicated concisely, +and not without some traits of humorous satire, by which +Elizabeth seemed much amused. "And who is yonder clownish +fellow?" she said, looking at Tressilian, whose soiled dress on +this occasion greatly obscured his good mien. + +"A poet, if it please your Grace," replied Raleigh. + +"I might have guessed that from his careless garb," said +Elizabeth. "I have known some poets so thoughtless as to throw +their cloaks into gutters." + +"It must have been when the sun dazzled both their eyes and their +judgment," answered Raleigh. + +Elizabeth smiled, and proceeded, "I asked that slovenly fellow's +name, and you only told me his profession." + +"Tressilian is his name," said Raleigh, with internal reluctance, +for he foresaw nothing favourable to his friend from the manner +in which she took notice of him. + +"Tressilian!" answered Elizabeth. "Oh, the Menelaus of our +romance. Why, he has dressed himself in a guise that will go far +to exculpate his fair and false Helen. And where is Farnham, or +whatever his name is--my Lord of Leicester's man, I mean--the +Paris of this Devonshire tale?" + +With still greater reluctance Raleigh named and pointed out to +her Varney, for whom the tailor had done all that art could +perform in making his exterior agreeable; and who, if he had not +grace, had a sort of tact and habitual knowledge of breeding, +which came in place of it. + +The Queen turned her eyes from the one to the other. "I doubt," +she said, "this same poetical Master Tressilian, who is too +learned, I warrant me, to remember whose presence he was to +appear in, may be one of those of whom Geoffrey Chaucer says +wittily, the wisest clerks are not the wisest men. I remember +that Varney is a smooth-tongued varlet. I doubt this fair +runaway hath had reasons for breaking her faith." + +To this Raleigh durst make no answer, aware how little he should +benefit Tressilian by contradicting the Queen's sentiments, and +not at all certain, on the whole, whether the best thing that +could befall him would not be that she should put an end at once +by her authority to this affair, upon which it seemed to him +Tressilian's thoughts were fixed with unavailing and distressing +pertinacity. As these reflections passed through his active +brain, the lower door of the hall opened, and Leicester, +accompanied by several of his kinsmen, and of the nobles who had +embraced his faction, re-entered the Castle Hall. + +The favourite Earl was now apparelled all in white, his shoes +being of white velvet; his under-stocks (or stockings) of knit +silk; his upper stocks of white velvet, lined with cloth of +silver, which was shown at the slashed part of the middle thigh; +his doublet of cloth of silver, the close jerkin of white velvet, +embroidered with silver and seed-pearl, his girdle and the +scabbard of his sword of white velvet with golden buckles; his +poniard and sword hilted and mounted with gold; and over all a +rich, loose robe of white satin, with a border of golden +embroidery a foot in breadth. The collar of the Garter, and the +azure garter itself around his knee, completed the appointments +of the Earl of Leicester; which were so well matched by his fair +stature, graceful gesture, fine proportion of body, and handsome +countenance, that at that moment he was admitted by all who saw +him as the goodliest person whom they had ever looked upon. +Sussex and the other nobles were also richly attired, but in +point of splendour and gracefulness of mien Leicester far +exceeded them all. + +Elizabeth received him with great complacency. "We have one +piece of royal justice," she said, "to attend to. It is a piece +of justice, too, which interests us as a woman, as well as in the +character of mother and guardian of the English people." + +An involuntary shudder came over Leicester as he bowed low, +expressive of his readiness to receive her royal commands; and a +similar cold fit came over Varney, whose eyes (seldom during that +evening removed from his patron) instantly perceived from the +change in his looks, slight as that was, of what the Queen was +speaking. But Leicester had wrought his resolution up to the +point which, in his crooked policy, he judged necessary; and when +Elizabeth added, "it is of the matter of Varney and Tressilian we +speak--is the lady here, my lord?" his answer was ready-- +"Gracious madam, she is not." + +Elizabeth bent her brews and compressed her lips. "Our orders +were strict and positive, my lord," was her answer-- + +"And should have been obeyed, good my liege," replied Leicester, +"had they been expressed in the form of the lightest wish. But +--Varney, step forward--this gentleman will inform your Grace of +the cause why the lady" (he could not force his rebellious tongue +to utter the words--HIS WIFE) "cannot attend on your royal +presence." + +Varney advanced, and pleaded with readiness, what indeed he +firmly believed, the absolute incapacity of the party (for +neither did he dare, in Leicester's presence, term her his wife) +to wait on her Grace. + +"Here," said he, "are attestations from a most learned physician, +whose skill and honour are well known to my good Lord of +Leicester, and from an honest and devout Protestant, a man of +credit and substance, one Anthony Foster, the gentleman in whose +house she is at present bestowed, that she now labours under an +illness which altogether unfits her for such a journey as betwixt +this Castle and the neighbourhood of Oxford." + +"This alters the matter," said the Queen, taking the certificates +in her hand, and glancing at their contents.--"Let Tressilian +come forward.--Master Tressilian, we have much sympathy for your +situation, the rather that you seem to have set your heart deeply +on this Amy Robsart, or Varney. Our power, thanks to God, and +the willing obedience of a loving people, is worth much, but +there are some things which it cannot compass. We cannot, for +example, command the affections of a giddy young girl, or make +her love sense and learning better than a courtier's fine +doublet; and we cannot control sickness, with which it seems this +lady is afflicted, who may not, by reason of such infirmity, +attend our court here, as we had required her to do. Here are +the testimonials of the physician who hath her under his charge, +and the gentleman in whose house she resides, so setting forth." + +"Under your Majesty's favour," said Tressilian hastily, and in +his alarm for the consequence of the imposition practised on the +Queen forgetting in part at least his own promise to Amy, "these +certificates speak not the truth." + +"How, sir!" said the Queen--"impeach my Lord of Leicester's +veracity! But you shall have a fair hearing. In our presence +the meanest of our subjects shall be heard against the proudest, +and the least known against the most favoured; therefore you +shall be heard fairly, but beware you speak not without a +warrant! Take these certificates in your own hand, look at them +carefully, and say manfully if you impugn the truth of them, and +upon what evidence." + +As the Queen spoke, his promise and all its consequences rushed +on the mind of the unfortunate Tressilian, and while it +controlled his natural inclination to pronounce that a falsehood +which he knew from the evidence of his senses to be untrue, gave +an indecision and irresolution to his appearance and utterance +which made strongly against him in the mind of Elizabeth, as well +as of all who beheld him. He turned the papers over and over, as +if he had been an idiot, incapable of comprehending their +contents. The Queen's impatience began to become visible. "You +are a scholar, sir," she said, "and of some note, as I have +heard; yet you seem wondrous slow in reading text hand. How say +you, are these certificates true or no?" + +"Madam," said Tressilian, with obvious embarrassment and +hesitation, anxious to avoid admitting evidence which he might +afterwards have reason to confute, yet equally desirous to keep +his word to Amy, and to give her, as he had promised, space to +plead her own cause in her own way--"Madam--Madam, your Grace +calls on me to admit evidence which ought to be proved valid by +those who found their defence upon them." + +"Why, Tressilian, thou art critical as well as poetical," said +the Queen, bending on him a brow of displeasure; "methinks these +writings, being produced in the presence of the noble Earl to +whom this Castle pertains, and his honour being appealed to as +the guarantee of their authenticity, might be evidence enough for +thee. But since thou listest to be so formal--Varney, or rather +my Lord of Leicester, for the affair becomes yours" (these words, +though spoken at random, thrilled through the Earl's marrow and +bones), "what evidence have you as touching these certificates?" + +Varney hastened to reply, preventing Leicester--"So please your +Majesty, my young Lord of Oxford, who is here in presence, knows +Master Anthony Foster's hand and his character." + +The Earl of Oxford, a young unthrift, whom Foster had more than +once accommodated with loans on usurious interest, acknowledged, +on this appeal, that he knew him as a wealthy and independent +franklin, supposed to be worth much money, and verified the +certificate produced to be his handwriting. + +"And who speaks to the Doctor's certificate?" said the Queen. +"Alasco, methinks, is his name." + +Masters, her Majesty's physician (not the less willingly that he +remembered his repulse from Sayes Court, and thought that his +present testimony might gratify Leicester, and mortify the Earl +of Sussex and his faction), acknowledged he had more than once +consulted with Doctor Alasco, and spoke of him as a man of +extraordinary learning and hidden acquirements, though not +altogether in the regular course of practice. The Earl of +Huntingdon, Lord Leicester's brother-in-law, and the old Countess +of Rutland, next sang his praises, and both remembered the thin, +beautiful Italian hand in which he was wont to write his +receipts, and which corresponded to the certificate produced as +his. + +"And now, I trust, Master Tressilian, this matter is ended," said +the Queen. "We will do something ere the night is older to +reconcile old Sir Hugh Robsart to the match. You have done your +duty something more than boldly; but we were no woman had we not +compassion for the wounds which true love deals, so we forgive +your audacity, and your uncleansed boots withal, which have well- +nigh overpowered my Lord of Leicester's perfumes." + +So spoke Elizabeth, whose nicety of scent was one of the +characteristics of her organization, as appeared long afterwards +when she expelled Essex from her presence, on a charge against +his boots similar to that which she now expressed against those +of Tressilian + +But Tressilian had by this time collected himself, astonished as +he had at first been by the audacity of the falsehood so feasibly +supported, and placed in array against the evidence of his own +eyes. He rushed forward, kneeled down, and caught the Queen by +the skirt of her robe. "As you are Christian woman," he said, +"madam, as you are crowned Queen, to do equal justice among your +subjects--as you hope yourself to have fair hearing (which God +grant you) at that last bar at which we must all plead, grant me +one small request! Decide not this matter so hastily. Give me +but twenty-four hours' interval, and I will, at the end of that +brief space, produce evidence which will show to demonstration +that these certificates, which state this unhappy lady to be now +ill at ease in Oxfordshire, are false as hell!" + +"Let go my train, sir!" said Elizabeth, who was startled at his +vehemence, though she had too much of the lion in her to fear; +"the fellow must be distraught. That witty knave, my godson +Harrington, must have him into his rhymes of Orlando Furioso! +And yet, by this light, there is something strange in the +vehemence of his demand.--Speak, Tressilian, what wilt thou do +if, at the end of these four-and-twenty hours, thou canst not +confute a fact so solemnly proved as this lady's illness?" + +"I will lay down my head on the block," answered Tressilian. + +"Pshaw!" replied the Queen, "God's light! thou speakest like a +fool. What head falls in England but by just sentence of English +law? I ask thee, man--if thou hast sense to understand me--wilt +thou, if thou shalt fail in this improbable attempt of thine, +render me a good and sufficient reason why thou dost undertake +it?" + +Tressilian paused, and again hesitated; because he felt convinced +that if, within the interval demanded, Amy should become +reconciled to her husband, he would in that case do her the worst +of offices by again ripping up the whole circumstances before +Elizabeth, and showing how that wise and jealous princess had +been imposed upon by false testimonials. The consciousness of +this dilemma renewed his extreme embarrassment of look, voice, +and manner; he hesitated, looked down, and on the Queen repeating +her question with a stern voice and flashing eye, he admitted +with faltering words, "That it might be--he could not positively +--that is, in certain events--explain the reasons and grounds on +which he acted." + +"Now, by the soul of King Henry," said the Queen, "this is either +moonstruck madness or very knavery!--Seest thou, Raleigh, thy +friend is far too Pindaric for this presence. Have him away, and +make us quit of him, or it shall be the worse for him; for his +flights are too unbridled for any place but Parnassus, or Saint +Luke's Hospital. But come back instantly thyself, when he is +placed under fitting restraint.--We wish we had seen the beauty +which could make such havoc in a wise man's brain." + +Tressilian was again endeavouring to address the Queen, when +Raleigh, in obedience to the orders he had received, interfered, +and with Blount's assistance, half led, half forced him out of +the presence-chamber, where he himself indeed began to think his +appearance did his cause more harm than good. + +When they had attained the antechamber, Raleigh entreated Blount +to see Tressilian safely conducted into the apartments allotted +to the Earl of Sussex's followers, and, if necessary, recommended +that a guard should be mounted on him. + +"This extravagant passion," he said, "and, as it would seem, the +news of the lady's illness, has utterly wrecked his excellent +judgment. But it will pass away if he be kept quiet. Only let +him break forth again at no rate; for he is already far in her +Highness's displeasure, and should she be again provoked, she +will find for him a worse place of confinement, and sterner +keepers." + +"I judged as much as that he was mad," said Nicholas Blount, +looking down upon his own crimson stockings and yellow roses, +"whenever I saw him wearing yonder damned boots, which stunk so +in her nostrils. I will but see him stowed, and be back with you +presently. But, Walter, did the Queen ask who I was?--methought +she glanced an eye at me." + +"Twenty--twenty eye-glances she sent! and I told her all--how +thou wert a brave soldier, and a-- But for God's sake, get off +Tressilian!" + +"I will--I will," said Blount; "but methinks this court-haunting +is no such bad pastime, after all. We shall rise by it, Walter, +my brave lad. Thou saidst I was a good soldier, and a-- what +besides, dearest Walter?" + +"An all unutterable-codshead. For God's sake, begone!" + +Tressilian, without further resistance or expostulation followed, +or rather suffered himself to be conducted by Blount to Raleigh's +lodging, where he was formally installed into a small truckle-bed +placed in a wardrobe, and designed for a domestic. He saw but +too plainly that no remonstrances would avail to procure the help +or sympathy of his friends, until the lapse of the time for which +he had pledged himself to remain inactive should enable him +either to explain the whole circumstances to them, or remove from +him every pretext or desire of further interference with the +fortunes of Amy, by her having found means to place herself in a +state of reconciliation with her husband. + +With great difficulty, and only by the most patient and mild +remonstrances with Blount, he escaped the disgrace and +mortification of having two of Sussex's stoutest yeomen quartered +in his apartment. At last, however, when Nicholas had seen him +fairly deposited in his truckle-bed, and had bestowed one or two +hearty kicks, and as hearty curses, on the boots, which, in his +lately acquired spirit of foppery, he considered as a strong +symptom, if not the cause, of his friend's malady, he contented +himself with the modified measure of locking the door on the +unfortunate Tressilian, whose gallant and disinterested efforts +to save a female who had treated him with ingratitude thus +terminated for the present in the displeasure of his Sovereign +and the conviction of his friends that he was little better than +a madman. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + The wisest Sovereigns err like private men, + And royal hand has sometimes laid the sword + Of chivalry upon a worthless shoulder, + Which better had been branded by the hangman. + What then?--Kings do their best; and they and we + Must answer for the intent, and not the event. OLD PLAY. + +"It is a melancholy matter," said the Queen, when Tressilian was +withdrawn, "to see a wise and learned man's wit thus pitifully +unsettled. Yet this public display of his imperfection of brain +plainly shows us that his supposed injury and accusation were +fruitless; and therefore, my Lord of Leicester, we remember your +suit formerly made to us in behalf of your faithful servant +Varney, whose good gifts and fidelity, as they are useful to you, +ought to have due reward from us, knowing well that your +lordship, and all you have, are so earnestly devoted to our +service. And we render Varney the honour more especially that we +are a guest, and, we fear, a chargeable and troublesome one, +under your lordship's roof; and also for the satisfaction of the +good old Knight of Devon, Sir Hugh Robsart, whose daughter he +hath married, and we trust the especial mark of grace which we +are about to confer may reconcile him to his son-in-law.--Your +sword, my Lord of Leicester." + +The Earl unbuckled his sword, and taking it by the point, +presented on bended knee the hilt to Elizabeth. + +She took it slowly drew it from the scabbard, and while the +ladies who stood around turned away their eyes with real or +affected shuddering, she noted with a curious eye the high polish +and rich, damasked ornaments upon the glittering blade. + +"Had I been a man," she said, "methinks none of my ancestors +would have loved a good sword better. As it is with me, I like +to look on one, and could, like the Fairy of whom I have read in +some Italian rhymes--were my godson Harrington here, he could +tell me the passage--even trim my hair, and arrange my head-gear, +in such a steel mirror as this is.--Richard Varney, come forth, +and kneel down. In the name of God and Saint George, we dub thee +knight! Be Faithful, Brave, and Fortunate. Arise, Sir Richard +Varney." + +[The incident alluded to occurs in the poem of Orlando Innamorato +of Boiardo, libro ii. canto 4, stanza 25. + + "Non era per ventura," etc. + +It may be rendered thus:-- + + As then, perchance, unguarded was the tower, + So enter'd free Anglante's dauntless knight. + No monster and no giant guard the bower + In whose recess reclined the fairy light, + Robed in a loose cymar of lily white, + And on her lap a sword of breadth and might, + In whose broad blade, as in a mirror bright, + Like maid that trims her for a festal night, + The fairy deck'd her hair, and placed her coronet aright. + +Elizabeth's attachment to the Italian school of poetry was +singularly manifested on a well-known occasion. Her godson, Sir +John Harrington, having offended her delicacy by translating some +of the licentious passages of the Orlando Furioso, she imposed on +him, as a penance, the task of rendering the WHOLE poem into +English.] + +Varney arose and retired, making a deep obeisance to the +Sovereign who had done him so much honour. + +"The buckling of the spur, and what other rites remain," said the +Queen, "may be finished to-morrow in the chapel; for we intend +Sir Richard Varney a companion in his honours. And as we must +not be partial in conferring such distinction, we mean on this +matter to confer with our cousin of Sussex." + +That noble Earl, who since his arrival at Kenilworth, and indeed +since the commencement of this Progress, had found himself in a +subordinate situation to Leicester, was now wearing a heavy cloud +on his brow; a circumstance which had not escaped the Queen, who +hoped to appease his discontent, and to follow out her system of +balancing policy by a mark of peculiar favour, the more +gratifying as it was tendered at a moment when his rival's +triumph appeared to be complete. + +At the summons of Queen Elizabeth, Sussex hastily approached her +person; and being asked on which of his followers, being a +gentleman and of merit, he would wish the honour of knighthood to +be conferred, he answered, with more sincerity than policy, that +he would have ventured to speak for Tressilian, to whom he +conceived he owed his own life, and who was a distinguished +soldier and scholar, besides a man of unstained lineage, "only," +he said, "he feared the events of that night--" And then he +stopped. + +"I am glad your lordship is thus considerate," said Elizabeth. +"The events of this night would make us, in the eyes of our +subjects, as mad as this poor brain-sick gentleman himself--for +we ascribe his conduct to no malice--should we choose this moment +to do him grace." + +"In that case," said the Earl of Sussex, somewhat +discountenanced, your Majesty will allow me to name my master of +the horse, Master Nicholas Blount, a gentleman of fair estate and +ancient name, who has served your Majesty both in Scotland and +Ireland, and brought away bloody marks on his person, all +honourably taken and requited." + +The Queen could not help shrugging her shoulders slightly even at +this second suggestion; and the Duchess of Rutland, who read in +the Queen's manner that she had expected that Sussex would have +named Raleigh, and thus would have enabled her to gratify her own +wish while she honoured his recommendation, only waited the +Queen's assent to what he had proposed, and then said that she +hoped, since these two high nobles had been each permitted to +suggest a candidate for the honours of chivalry, she, in behalf +of the ladies in presence, might have a similar indulgence. + +"I were no woman to refuse you such a boon," said the Queen, +smiling. + +"Then," pursued the Duchess, "in the name of these fair ladies +present, I request your Majesty to confer the rank of knighthood +on Walter Raleigh, whose birth, deeds of arms, and promptitude to +serve our sex with sword or pen, deserve such distinction from us +all." + +"Gramercy, fair ladies," said Elizabeth, smiling, "your boon is +granted, and the gentle squire Lack-Cloak shall become the good +knight Lack-Cloak, at your desire. Let the two aspirants for the +honour of chivalry step forward." + +Blount was not as yet returned from seeing Tressilian, as he +conceived, safely disposed of; but Raleigh came forth, and +kneeling down, received at the hand of the Virgin Queen that +title of honour, which was never conferred on a more +distinguished or more illustrious object. + +Shortly afterwards Nicholas Blount entered, and hastily apprised +by Sussex, who met him at the door of the hall, of the Queen's +gracious purpose regarding him, he was desired to advance towards +the throne. It is a sight sometimes seen, and it is both +ludicrous and pitiable; when an honest man of plain common sense +is surprised, by the coquetry of a pretty woman, or any other +cause, into those frivolous fopperies which only sit well upon +the youthful, the gay, and those to whom long practice has +rendered them a second nature. Poor Blount was in this +situation. His head was already giddy from a consciousness of +unusual finery, and the supposed necessity of suiting his manners +to the gaiety of his dress; and now this sudden view of promotion +altogether completed the conquest of the newly inhaled spirit of +foppery over his natural disposition, and converted a plain, +honest, awkward man into a coxcomb of a new and most ridiculous +kind. + +The knight-expectant advanced up the hall, the whole length of +which he had unfortunately to traverse, turning out his toes with +so much zeal that he presented his leg at every step with its +broadside foremost, so that it greatly resembled an old-fashioned +table-knife with a curved point, when seen sideways. The rest of +his gait was in proportion to this unhappy amble; and the implied +mixture of bashful rear and self-satisfaction was so unutterably +ridiculous that Leicester's friends did not suppress a titter, in +which many of Sussex's partisans were unable to resist joining, +though ready to eat their nails with mortification. Sussex +himself lost all patience, and could not forbear whispering into +the ear of his friend, "Curse thee! canst thou not walk like a +man and a soldier?" an interjection which only made honest +Blount start and stop, until a glance at his yellow roses and +crimson stockings restored his self-confidence, when on he went +at the same pace as before. + +The Queen conferred on poor Blount the honour of knighthood with +a marked sense of reluctance. That wise Princess was fully aware +of the propriety of using great circumspection and economy in +bestowing those titles of honour, which the Stewarts, who +succeeded to her throne, distributed with an imprudent liberality +which greatly diminished their value. Blount had no sooner +arisen and retired than she turned to the Duchess of Rutland. +"Our woman wit," she said, "dear Rutland, is sharper than that of +those proud things in doublet and hose. Seest thou, out of these +three knights, thine is the only true metal to stamp chivalry's +imprint upon?" + +"Sir Richard Varney, surely--the friend of my Lord of Leicester +--surely he has merit," replied the Duchess. + +"Varney has a sly countenance and a smooth tongue," replied the +Queen; "I fear me he will prove a knave. But the promise was of +ancient standing. My Lord of Sussex must have lost his own wits, +I think, to recommend to us first a madman like Tressilian, and +then a clownish fool like this other fellow. I protest, Rutland, +that while he sat on his knees before me, mopping and mowing as +if he had scalding porridge in his mouth, I had much ado to +forbear cutting him over the pate, instead of striking his +shoulder." + +"Your Majesty gave him a smart ACCOLADE," said the Duchess; "we +who stood behind heard the blade clatter on his collar-bone, and +the poor man fidgeted too as if he felt it." + +"I could not help it, wench," said the Queen, laughing. "But we +will have this same Sir Nicholas sent to Ireland or Scotland, or +somewhere, to rid our court of so antic a chevalier; he may be a +good soldier in the field, though a preposterous ass in a +banqueting-hall." + +The discourse became then more general, and soon after there was +a summons to the banquet. + +In order to obey this signal, the company were under the +necessity of crossing the inner court of the Castle, that they +might reach the new buildings containing the large banqueting- +room, in which preparations for supper were made upon a scale of +profuse magnificence, corresponding to the occasion. + +The livery cupboards were loaded with plate of the richest +description, and the most varied--some articles tasteful, some +perhaps grotesque, in the invention and decoration, but all +gorgeously magnificent, both from the richness of the work and +value of the materials. Thus the chief table was adorned by a +salt, ship-fashion, made of mother-of-pearl, garnished with +silver and divers warlike ensigns and other ornaments, anchors, +sails, and sixteen pieces of ordnance. It bore a figure of +Fortune, placed on a globe, with a flag in her hand. Another +salt was fashioned of silver, in form of a swan in full sail. +That chivalry might not be omitted amid this splendour, a silver +Saint George was presented, mounted and equipped in the usual +fashion in which he bestrides the dragon. The figures were +moulded to be in some sort useful. The horse's tail was managed +to hold a case of knives, while the breast of the dragon +presented a similar accommodation for oyster knives, + +In the course of the passage from the hall of reception to the +banqueting-room, and especially in the courtyard, the new-made +knights were assailed by the heralds, pursuivants, minstrels, +etc., with the usual cry of LARGESSE, LARGESSE, CHEVALIERS TRES +HARDIS! an ancient invocation, intended to awaken the bounty of +the acolytes of chivalry towards those whose business it was to +register their armorial bearings, and celebrate the deeds by +which they were illustrated. The call was, of course, liberally +and courteously answered by those to whom it was addressed. +Varney gave his largesse with an affectation of complaisance and +humility. Raleigh bestowed his with the graceful ease peculiar +to one who has attained his own place, and is familiar with its +dignity. Honest Blount gave what his tailor had left him of his +half-year's rent, dropping some pieces in his hurry, then +stooping down to look for them, and then distributing them +amongst the various claimants, with the anxious face and mien of +the parish beadle dividing a dole among paupers. + +The donations were accepted with the usual clamour and VIVATS of +applause common on such occasions; but as the parties gratified +were chiefly dependants of Lord Leicester, it was Varney whose +name was repeated with the loudest acclamations. Lambourne, +especially, distinguished himself by his vociferations of "Long +life to Sir Richard Varney!--Health and honour to Sir Richard!-- +Never was a more worthy knight dubbed!"--then, suddenly sinking +his voice, he added--"since the valiant Sir Pandarus of Troy,"--a +winding-up of his clamorous applause which set all men a-laughing +who were within hearing of it. + +It is unnecessary to say anything further of the festivities of +the evening, which were so brilliant in themselves, and received +with such obvious and willing satisfaction by the Queen, that +Leicester retired to his own apartment with all the giddy +raptures of successful ambition. Varney, who had changed his +splendid attire, and now waited on his patron in a very modest +and plain undress, attended to do the honours of the Earl's +COUCHER. + +"How! Sir Richard," said Leicester, smiling, "your new rank +scarce suits the humility of this attendance." + +"I would disown that rank, my Lord," said Varney, "could I think +it was to remove me to a distance from your lordship's person." + +"Thou art a grateful fellow," said Leicester; "but I must not +allow you to do what would abate you in the opinion of others." + +While thus speaking, he still accepted without hesitation the +offices about his person, which the new-made knight seemed to +render as eagerly as if he had really felt, in discharging the +task, that pleasure which his words expressed. + +"I am not afraid of men's misconstruction," he said, in answer to +Leicester's remark, "since there is not--(permit me to undo the +collar)--a man within the Castle who does not expect very soon to +see persons of a rank far superior to that which, by your +goodness, I now hold, rendering the duties of the bedchamber to +you, and accounting it an honour." + +"It might, indeed, so have been"--said the Earl, with an +involuntary sigh; and then presently added, "My gown, Varney; I +will look out on the night. Is not the moon near to the full?" + +"I think so, my lord, according to the calendar," answered +Varney. + +There was an abutting window, which opened on a small projecting +balcony of stone, battlemented as is usual in Gothic castles. +The Earl undid the lattice, and stepped out into the open air. +The station he had chosen commanded an extensive view of the lake +and woodlands beyond, where the bright moonlight rested on the +clear blue waters and the distant masses of oak and elm trees. +The moon rode high in the heavens, attended by thousands and +thousands of inferior luminaries. All seemed already to be +hushed in the nether world, excepting occasionally the voice of +the watch (for the yeomen of the guard performed that duty +wherever the Queen was present in person) and the distant baying +of the hounds, disturbed by the preparations amongst the grooms +and prickers for a magnificent hunt, which was to be the +amusement of the next day. + +Leicester looked out on the blue arch of heaven, with gestures +and a countenance expressive of anxious exultation, while Varney, +who remained within the darkened apartment, could (himself +unnoticed), with a secret satisfaction, see his patron stretch +his hands with earnest gesticulation towards the heavenly bodies. + +"Ye distant orbs of living fire," so ran the muttered invocation +of the ambitious Earl, "ye are silent while you wheel your mystic +rounds; but Wisdom has given to you a voice. Tell me, then, to +what end is my high course destined? Shall the greatness to +which I have aspired be bright, pre-eminent, and stable as your +own; or am I but doomed to draw a brief and glittering train +along the nightly darkness, and then to sink down to earth, like +the base refuse of those artificial fires with which men emulate +your rays?" + +He looked on the heavens in profound silence for a minute or two +longer, and then again stepped into the apartment, where Varney +seemed to have been engaged in putting the Earl's jewels into a +casket. + +"What said Alasco of my horoscope?" demanded Leicester. "You +already told me; but it has escaped me, for I think but lightly +of that art." + +"Many learned and great men have thought otherwise," said Varney; +"and, not to flatter your lordship, my own opinion leans that +way." + +"Ay, Saul among the prophets?" said Leicester. "I thought thou +wert sceptical in all such matters as thou couldst neither see, +hear, smell, taste, or touch, and that thy belief was limited by +thy senses." + +"Perhaps, my lord," said Varney, "I may be misled on the present +occasion by my wish to find the predictions of astrology true. +Alasco says that your favourite planet is culminating, and that +the adverse influence--he would not use a plainer term--though +not overcome, was evidently combust, I think he said, or +retrograde." + +"It is even so," said Leicester, looking at an abstract of +astrological calculations which he had in his hand; "the stronger +influence will prevail, and, as I think, the evil hour pass away. +Lend me your hand, Sir Richard, to doff my gown; and remain an +instant, if it is not too burdensome to your knighthood, while I +compose myself to sleep. I believe the bustle of this day has +fevered my blood, for it streams through my veins like a current +of molten lead. Remain an instant, I pray you--I would fain feel +my eyes heavy ere I closed them." + +Varney officiously assisted his lord to bed, and placed a massive +silver night-lamp, with a short sword, on a marble table which +stood close by the head of the couch. Either in order to avoid +the light of the lamp, or to hide his countenance from Varney, +Leicester drew the curtain, heavy with entwined silk and gold, so +as completely to shade his face. Varney took a seat near the +bed, but with his back towards his master, as if to intimate that +he was not watching him, and quietly waited till Leicester +himself led the way to the topic by which his mind was engrossed. + +"And so, Varney," said the Earl, after waiting in vain till his +dependant should commence the conversation, "men talk of the +Queen's favour towards me?" + +"Ay, my good lord," said Varney; "of what can they else, since it +is so strongly manifested?" + +"She is indeed my good and gracious mistress," said Leicester, +after another pause; "but it is written, 'Put not thy trust in +princes.'" + +"A good sentence and a true," said Varney, "unless you can unite +their interest with yours so absolutely that they must needs sit +on your wrist like hooded hawks." + +"I know what thou meanest," said Leicester impatiently, "though +thou art to-night so prudentially careful of what thou sayest to +me. Thou wouldst intimate I might marry the Queen if I would?" + +"It is your speech, my lord, not mine," answered Varney; "but +whosesoever be the speech, it is the thought of ninety-nine out +of an hundred men throughout broad England." + +"Ay, but," said Leicester, turning himself in his bed, "the +hundredth man knows better. Thou, for example, knowest the +obstacle that cannot be overleaped." + +"It must, my lord, if the stars speak true," said Varney +composedly. + +"What, talkest thou of them," said Leicester, "that believest not +in them or in aught else?" + +"You mistake, my lord, under your gracious pardon," said Varney; +"I believe in many things that predict the future. I believe, if +showers fall in April, that we shall have flowers in May; that if +the sun shines, grain will ripen; and I believe in much natural +philosophy to the same effect, which, if the stars swear to me, I +will say the stars speak the truth. And in like manner, I will +not disbelieve that which I see wished for and expected on earth, +solely because the astrologers have read it in the heavens." + +"Thou art right," said Leicester, again tossing himself on his +couch "Earth does wish for it. I have had advices from the +reformed churches of Germany--from the Low Countries--from +Switzerland--urging this as a point on which Europe's safety +depends. France will not oppose it. The ruling party in +Scotland look to it as their best security. Spain fears it, but +cannot prevent it. And yet thou knowest it is impossible." + +"I know not that, my lord," said Varney; "the Countess is +indisposed." + +"Villain!" said Leicester, starting up on his couch, and seizing +the sword which lay on the table beside him, "go thy thoughts +that way?--thou wouldst not do murder?" + +"For whom, or what, do you hold me, my lord?" said Varney, +assuming the superiority of an innocent man subjected to unjust +suspicion. "I said nothing to deserve such a horrid imputation +as your violence infers. I said but that the Countess was ill. +And Countess though she be--lovely and beloved as she is--surely +your lordship must hold her to be mortal? She may die, and your +lordship's hand become once more your own." + +"Away! away!" said Leicester; "let me have no more of this." + +"Good night, my lord," said Varney, seeming to understand this as +a command to depart; but Leicester's voice interrupted his +purpose. + +"Thou 'scapest me not thus, Sir Fool," said he; "I think thy +knighthood has addled thy brains. Confess thou hast talked of +impossibilities as of things which may come to pass." + +"My lord, long live your fair Countess," said Varney; "but +neither your love nor my good wishes can make her immortal. But +God grant she live long to be happy herself, and to render you +so! I see not but you may be King of England notwithstanding." + +"Nay, now, Varney, thou art stark mad," said Leicester. + +"I would I were myself within the same nearness to a good estate +of freehold," said Varney. "Have we not known in other countries +how a left-handed marriage might subsist betwixt persons of +differing degree?--ay, and be no hindrance to prevent the husband +from conjoining himself afterwards with a more suitable partner?" + +"I have heard of such things in Germany," said Leicester. + +"Ay, and the most learned doctors in foreign universities justify +the practice from the Old Testament," said Varney. "And after +all, where is the harm? The beautiful partner whom you have +chosen for true love has your secret hours of relaxation and +affection. Her fame is safe her conscience may slumber securely. +You have wealth to provide royally for your issue, should Heaven +bless you with offspring. Meanwhile you may give to Elizabeth +ten times the leisure, and ten thousand times the affection, that +ever Don Philip of Spain spared to her sister Mary; yet you know +how she doted on him though so cold and neglectful. It requires +but a close mouth and an open brow, and you keep your Eleanor and +your fair Rosamond far enough separate. Leave me to build you a +bower to which no jealous Queen shall find a clew." + +Leicester was silent for a moment, then sighed, and said, "It is +impossible. Good night, Sir Richard Varney--yet stay. Can you +guess what meant Tressilian by showing himself in such careless +guise before the Queen to-day?--to strike her tender heart, I +should guess, with all the sympathies due to a lover abandoned by +his mistress and abandoning himself." + +Varney, smothering a sneering laugh, answered, "He believed +Master Tressilian had no such matter in his head." + +"How!" said Leicester; "what meanest thou? There is ever +knavery in that laugh of thine, Varney." + +"I only meant, my lord," said Varney, "that Tressilian has taken +the sure way to avoid heart-breaking. He hath had a companion--a +female companion--a mistress--a sort of player's wife or sister, +as I believe--with him in Mervyn's Bower, where I quartered him +for certain reasons of my own." + +"A mistress!--meanest thou a paramour?" + +"Ay, my lord; what female else waits for hours in a gentleman's +chamber?" + +"By my faith, time and space fitting, this were a good tale to +tell," said Leicester. "I ever distrusted those bookish, +hypocritical, seeming-virtuous scholars. Well--Master Tressilian +makes somewhat familiar with my house; if I look it over, he is +indebted to it for certain recollections. I would not harm him +more than I can help. Keep eye on him, however, Varney." + +"I lodged him for that reason," said Varney, "in Mervyn's Tower, +where he is under the eye of my very vigilant, if he were not +also my very drunken, servant, Michael Lambourne, whom I have +told your Grace of." + +"Grace!" said Leicester; "what meanest thou by that epithet?" + +"It came unawares, my lord; and yet it sounds so very natural +that I cannot recall it." + +"It is thine own preferment that hath turned thy brain," said +Leicester, laughing; "new honours are as heady as new wine." + +"May your lordship soon have cause to say so from experience," +said Varney; and wishing his patron good night, he withdrew." +[See Note 8. Furniture of Kenilworth.] + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + Here stands the victim--there the proud betrayer, + E'en as the hind pull'd down by strangling dogs + Lies at the hunter's feet--who courteous proffers + To some high dame, the Dian of the chase, + To whom he looks for guerdon, his sharp blade, + To gash the sobbing throat. THE WOODSMAN. + +We are now to return to Mervyn's Bower, the apartment, or rather +the prison, of the unfortunate Countess of Leicester, who for +some time kept within bounds her uncertainty and her impatience. +She was aware that, in the tumult of the day, there might be some +delay ere her letter could be safely conveyed to the hands of +Leicester, and that some time more might elapse ere he could +extricate himself from the necessary attendance on Elizabeth, to +come and visit her in her secret bower. "I will not expect him," +she said, "till night; he cannot be absent from his royal guest, +even to see me. He will, I know, come earlier if it be possible, +but I will not expect him before night." And yet all the while +she did expect him; and while she tried to argue herself into a +contrary belief, each hasty noise of the hundred which she heard +sounded like the hurried step of Leicester on the staircase, +hasting to fold her in his arms. + +The fatigue of body which Amy had lately undergone, with the +agitation of mind natural to so cruel a state of uncertainty, +began by degrees strongly to affect her nerves, and she almost +feared her total inability to maintain the necessary self-command +through the scenes which might lie before her. But although +spoiled by an over-indulgent system of education, Amy had +naturally a mind of great power, united with a frame which her +share in her father's woodland exercises had rendered uncommonly +healthy. She summoned to her aid such mental and bodily +resources; and not unconscious how much the issue of her fate +might depend on her own self-possession, she prayed internally +for strength of body and for mental fortitude, and resolved at +the same time to yield to no nervous impulse which might weaken +either. + +Yet when the great bell of the Castle, which was placed in +Caesar's Tower, at no great distance from that called Mervyn's, +began to send its pealing clamour abroad, in signal of the +arrival of the royal procession, the din was so painfully acute +to ears rendered nervously sensitive by anxiety, that she could +hardly forbear shrieking with anguish, in answer to every +stunning clash of the relentless peal. + +Shortly afterwards, when the small apartment was at once +enlightened by the shower of artificial fires with which the air +was suddenly filled, and which crossed each other like fiery +spirits, each bent on his own separate mission, or like +salamanders executing a frolic dance in the region of the Sylphs, +the Countess felt at first as if each rocket shot close by her +eyes, and discharged its sparks and flashes so nigh that she +could feel a sense of the heat. But she struggled against these +fantastic terrors, and compelled herself to arise, stand by the +window, look out, and gaze upon a sight which at another time +would have appeared to her at once captivating and fearful. The +magnificent towers of the Castle were enveloped in garlands of +artificial fire, or shrouded with tiaras of pale smoke. The +surface of the lake glowed like molten iron, while many fireworks +(then thought extremely wonderful, though now common), whose +flame continued to exist in the opposing element, dived and rose, +hissed and roared, and spouted fire, like so many dragons of +enchantment sporting upon a burning lake. + +Even Amy was for a moment interested by what was to her so new a +scene. "I had thought it magical art," she said, "but poor +Tressilian taught me to judge of such things as they are. Great +God! and may not these idle splendours resemble my own hoped-for +happiness--a single spark, which is instantly swallowed up by +surrounding darkness--a precarious glow, which rises but for a +brief space into the air, that its fall may be the lower? O +Leicester! after all--all that thou hast said--hast sworn--that +Amy was thy love, thy life, can it be that thou art the magician +at whose nod these enchantments arise, and that she sees them as +an outcast, if not a captive?" + +The sustained, prolonged, and repeated bursts of music, from so +many different quarters, and at so many varying points of +distance, which sounded as if not the Castle of Kenilworth only, +but the whole country around, had been at once the scene of +solemnizing some high national festival, carried the same +oppressive thought still closer to her heart, while some notes +would melt in distant and falling tones, as if in compassion for +her sorrows, and some burst close and near upon her, as if +mocking her misery, with all the insolence of unlimited mirth. +"These sounds," she said, "are mine--mine, because they are HIS; +but I cannot say, Be still, these loud strains suit me not; and +the voice of the meanest peasant that mingles in the dance would +have more power to modulate the music than the command of her who +is mistress of all." + +By degrees the sounds of revelry died away, and the Countess +withdrew from the window at which she had sat listening to them. +It was night, but the moon afforded considerable light in the +room, so that Amy was able to make the arrangement which she +judged necessary. There was hope that Leicester might come to +her apartment as soon as the revel in the Castle had subsided; +but there was also risk she might be disturbed by some +unauthorized intruder. She had lost confidence in the key since +Tressilian had entered so easily, though the door was locked on +the inside; yet all the additional security she could think of +was to place the table across the door, that she might be warned +by the noise should any one attempt to enter. Having taken these +necessary precautions, the unfortunate lady withdrew to her +couch, stretched herself down on it, mused in anxious +expectation, and counted more than one hour after midnight, till +exhausted nature proved too strong for love, for grief, for fear, +nay, even for uncertainty, and she slept. + +Yes, she slept. The Indian sleeps at the stake in the intervals +between his tortures; and mental torments, in like manner, +exhaust by long continuance the sensibility of the sufferer, so +that an interval of lethargic repose must necessarily ensue, ere +the pangs which they inflict can again be renewed. + +The Countess slept, then, for several hours, and dreamed that she +was in the ancient house at Cumnor Place, listening for the low +whistle with which Leicester often used to announce his presence +in the courtyard when arriving suddenly on one of his stolen +visits. But on this occasion, instead of a whistle, she heard +the peculiar blast of a bugle-horn, such as her father used to +wind on the fall of the stag, and which huntsmen then called a +MORT. She ran, as she thought, to a window that looked into the +courtyard, which she saw filled with men in mourning garments. +The old Curate seemed about to read the funeral service. +Mumblazen, tricked out in an antique dress, like an ancient +herald, held aloft a scutcheon, with its usual decorations of +skulls, cross-bones, and hour-glasses, surrounding a coat-of- +arms, of which she could only distinguish that it was surmounted +with an Earl's coronet. The old man looked at her with a ghastly +smile, and said, "Amy, are they not rightly quartered?" Just as +he spoke, the horns again poured on her ear the melancholy yet +wild strain of the MORT, or death-note, and she awoke. + +The Countess awoke to hear a real bugle-note, or rather the +combined breath of many bugles, sounding not the MORT. but the +jolly REVEILLE, to remind the inmates of the Castle of Kenilworth +that the pleasures of the day were to commence with a magnificent +stag-hunting in the neighbouring Chase. Amy started up from her +couch, listened to the sound, saw the first beams of the summer +morning already twinkle through the lattice of her window, and +recollected, with feelings of giddy agony, where she was, and how +circumstanced. + +"He thinks not of me," she said; "he will not come nigh me! A +Queen is his guest, and what cares he in what corner of his huge +Castle a wretch like me pines in doubt, which is fast fading into +despair?" At once a sound at the door, as of some one attempting +to open it softly, filled her with an ineffable mixture of joy +and fear; and hastening to remove the obstacle she had placed +against the door, and to unlock it, she had the precaution to +ask! "Is it thou, my love?" + +"Yes, my Countess," murmured a whisper in reply. + +She threw open the door, and exclaiming, "Leicester!" flung her +arms around the neck of the man who stood without, muffled in his +cloak. + +"No--not quite Leicester," answered Michael Lambourne, for he it +was, returning the caress with vehemence--"not quite Leicester, +my lovely and most loving duchess, but as good a man." + +With an exertion of force, of which she would at another time +have thought herself incapable, the Countess freed herself from +the profane and profaning grasp of the drunken debauchee, and +retreated into the midst of her apartment. where despair gave +her courage to make a stand. + +As Lambourne, on entering, dropped the lap of his cloak from his +face, she knew Varney's profligate servant, the very last person, +excepting his detested master, by whom she would have wished to +be discovered. But she was still closely muffled in her +travelling dress, and as Lambourne had scarce ever been admitted +to her presence at Cumnor Place, her person, she hoped, might not +be so well known to him as his was to her, owing to Janet's +pointing him frequently out as he crossed the court, and telling +stories of his wickedness. She might have had still greater +confidence in her disguise had her experience enabled her to +discover that he was much intoxicated; but this could scarce have +consoled her for the risk which she might incur from such a +character in such a time, place, and circumstances. + +Lambourne flung the door behind him as he entered, and folding +his arms, as if in mockery of the attitude of distraction into +which Amy had thrown herself, he proceeded thus: "Hark ye, most +fair Calipolis--or most lovely Countess of clouts, and divine +Duchess of dark corners--if thou takest all that trouble of +skewering thyself together, like a trussed fowl, that there may +be more pleasure in the carving, even save thyself the labour. I +love thy first frank manner the best---like thy present as +little"--(he made a step towards her, and staggered)--"as little +as--such a damned uneven floor as this, where a gentleman may +break his neck if he does not walk as upright as a posture-master +on the tight-rope." + +"Stand back!" said the Countess; "do not approach nearer to me +on thy peril!" + +"My peril!--and stand back! Why, how now, madam? Must you have +a better mate than honest Mike Lambourne? I have been in +America, girl, where the gold grows, and have brought off such a +load on't--" + +"Good friend," said the Countess, in great terror at the +ruffian's determined and audacious manner, "I prithee begone, and +leave me." + +"And so I will, pretty one, when we are tired of each other's +company--not a jot sooner." He seized her by the arm, while, +incapable of further defence, she uttered shriek upon shriek. +"Nay, scream away if you like it," said he, still holding her +fast; "I have heard the sea at the loudest, and I mind a +squalling woman no more than a miauling kitten. Damn me! I have +heard fifty or a hundred screaming at once, when there was a town +stormed." + +The cries of the Countess, however, brought unexpected aid in the +person of Lawrence Staples, who had heard her exclamations from +his apartment below, and entered in good time to save her from +being discovered, if not from more atrocious violence. Lawrence +was drunk also from the debauch of the preceding night, but +fortunately his intoxication had taken a different turn from that +of Lambourne. + +"What the devil's noise is this in the ward?" he said. "What! +man and woman together in the same cell?--that is against rule. +I will have decency under my rule, by Saint Peter of the +Fetters!" + +"Get thee downstairs, thou drunken beast," said Lambourne; "seest +thou not the lady and I would be private?" + +"Good sir, worthy sir!" said the Countess, addressing the +jailer, "do but save me from him, for the sake of mercy!" + +"She speaks fairly," said the jailer, "and I will take her part. +I love my prisoners; and I have had as good prisoners under my +key as they have had in Newgate or the Compter. And so, being +one of my lambkins, as I say, no one shall disturb her in her +pen-fold. So let go the woman: or I'll knock your brains out +with my keys." + +"I'll make a blood-pudding of thy midriff first," answered +Lambourne, laying his left hand on his dagger, but still +detaining the Countess by the arm with his right. "So have at +thee, thou old ostrich, whose only living is upon a bunch of iron +keys." + +Lawrence raised the arm of Michael, and prevented him from +drawing his dagger; and as Lambourne struggled and strove to +shake him off; the Countess made a sudden exertion on her side, +and slipping her hand out of the glove on which the ruffian still +kept hold, she gained her liberty, and escaping from the +apartment, ran downstairs; while at the same moment she heard the +two combatants fall on the floor with a noise which increased her +terror. The outer wicket offered no impediment to her flight, +having been opened for Lambourne's admittance; so that she +succeeded in escaping down the stair, and fled into the +Pleasance, which seemed to her hasty glance the direction in +which she was most likely to avoid pursuit. + +Meanwhile, Lawrence and Lambourne rolled on the floor of the +apartment, closely grappled together. Neither had, happily, +opportunity to draw their daggers; but Lawrence found space +enough to clash his heavy keys across Michael's face, and Michael +in return grasped the turnkey so felly by the throat that the +blood gushed from nose and mouth, so that they were both gory and +filthy spectacles when one of the other officers of the +household, attracted by the noise of the fray, entered the room, +and with some difficulty effected the separation of the +combatants. + +"A murrain on you both," said the charitable mediator, "and +especially on you, Master Lambourne! What the fiend lie you here +for, fighting on the floor like two butchers' curs in the kennel +of the shambles?" + +Lambourne arose, and somewhat sobered by the interposition of a +third party, looked with something less than his usual brazen +impudence of visage. "We fought for a wench, an thou must know," +was his reply. + +"A wench! Where is she?" said the officer. + +"Why, vanished, I think," said Lambourne, looking around him, +"unless Lawrence hath swallowed her, That filthy paunch of his +devours as many distressed damsels and oppressed orphans as e'er +a giant in King Arthur's history. They are his prime food; he +worries them body, soul, and substance." + +"Ay, ay! It's no matter," said Lawrence, gathering up his huge, +ungainly form from the floor; "but I have had your betters, +Master Michael Lambourne, under the little turn of my forefinger +and thumb, and I shall have thee, before all's done, under my +hatches. The impudence of thy brow will not always save thy +shin-bones from iron, and thy foul, thirsty gullet from a hempen +cord." The words were no sooner out of his mouth, when Lambourne +again made at him. + +"Nay, go not to it again," said the sewer, "or I will call for +him shall tame you both, and that is Master Varney--Sir Richard, +I mean. He is stirring, I promise you; I saw him cross the court +just now." + +"Didst thou, by G--!" said Lambourne, seizing on the basin and +ewer which stood in the apartment. "Nay, then, element, do thy +work. I thought I had enough of thee last night, when I floated +about for Orion, like a cork on a fermenting cask of ale." + +So saying, he fell to work to cleanse from his face and hands the +signs of the fray, and get his apparel into some order. + +"What hast thou done to him?" said the sewer, speaking aside to +the jailer; "his face is fearfully swelled." + +"It is but the imprint of the key of my cabinet--too good a mark +for his gallows-face. No man shall abuse or insult my prisoners; +they are my jewels, and I lock them in safe casket accordingly. +--And so, mistress, leave off your wailing.--Why! why, surely, +there was a woman here!" + +"I think you are all mad this morning," said the sewer. "I saw +no woman here, nor no man neither in a proper sense, but only two +beasts rolling on the floor." + +"Nay, then I am undone," said the jailer; "the prison's broken, +that is all. Kenilworth prison is broken," he continued, in a +tone of maudlin lamentation, "which was the strongest jail +betwixt this and the Welsh Marches--ay, and a house that has had +knights, and earls, and kings sleeping in it, as secure as if +they had been in the Tower of London. It is broken, the +prisoners fled, and the jailer in much danger of being hanged!" + +So saying, he retreated down to his own den to conclude his +lamentations, or to sleep himself sober. Lambourne and the sewer +followed him close; and it was well for them, since the jailer, +out of mere habit, was about to lock the wicket after him, and +had they not been within the reach of interfering, they would +have had the pleasure of being shut up in the turret-chamber, +from which the Countess had been just delivered. + +That unhappy lady, as soon as she found herself at liberty, fled, +as we have already mentioned, into the Pleasance. She had seen +this richly-ornamented space of ground from the window of +Mervyn's Tower; and it occurred to her, at the moment of her +escape, that among its numerous arbours, bowers, fountains, +statues, and grottoes, she might find some recess in which she +could lie concealed until she had an opportunity of addressing +herself to a protector, to whom she might communicate as much as +she dared of her forlorn situation, and through whose means she +might supplicate an interview with her husband. + +"If I could see my guide," she thought, "I would learn if he had +delivered my letter. Even did I but see Tressilian, it were +better to risk Dudley's anger, by confiding my whole situation to +one who is the very soul of honour, than to run the hazard of +further insult among the insolent menials of this ill-ruled +place. I will not again venture into an enclosed apartment. I +will wait, I will watch; amidst so many human beings there must +be some kind heart which can judge and compassionate what mine +endures." + +In truth, more than one party entered and traversed the +Pleasance. But they were in joyous groups of four or five +persons together, laughing and jesting in their own fullness of +mirth and lightness of heart. + +The retreat which she had chosen gave her the easy alternative of +avoiding observation. It was but stepping back to the farthest +recess of a grotto, ornamented with rustic work and moss-seats, +and terminated by a fountain, and she might easily remain +concealed, or at her pleasure discover herself to any solitary +wanderer whose curiosity might lead him to that romantic +retirement. Anticipating such an opportunity, she looked into +the clear basin which the silent fountain held up to her like a +mirror, and felt shocked at her own appearance, and doubtful at; +the same time, muffled and disfigured as her disguise made her +seem to herself, whether any female (and it was from the +compassion of her own sex that she chiefly expected sympathy) +would engage in conference with so suspicious an object. +Reasoning thus like a woman, to whom external appearance is +scarcely in any circumstances a matter of unimportance, and like +a beauty, who had some confidence in the power of her own charms, +she laid aside her travelling cloak and capotaine hat, and placed +them beside her, so that she could assume them in an instant, ere +one could penetrate from the entrance of the grotto to its +extremity, in case the intrusion of Varney or of Lambourne should +render such disguise necessary. The dress which she wore under +these vestments was somewhat of a theatrical cast, so as to suit +the assumed personage of one of the females who was to act in the +pageant, Wayland had found the means of arranging it thus upon +the second day of their journey, having experienced the service +arising from the assumption of such a character on the preceding +day. The fountain, acting both as a mirror and ewer, afforded +Amy the means of a brief toilette, of which she availed herself +as hastily as possible; then took in her hand her small casket of +jewels, in case she might find them useful intercessors, and +retiring to the darkest and most sequestered nook, sat down on a +seat of moss, and awaited till fate should give her some chance +of rescue, or of propitiating an intercessor. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + Have you not seen the partridge quake, + Viewing the hawk approaching nigh? + She cuddles close beneath the brake, + Afraid to sit, afraid to fly, PRIOR. + +It chanced, upon that memorable morning, that one of the earliest +of the huntress train, who appeared from her chamber in full +array for the chase, was the Princess for whom all these +pleasures were instituted, England's Maiden Queen. I know not if +it were by chance, or out of the befitting courtesy due to a +mistress by whom he was so much honoured, that she had scarcely +made one step beyond the threshold of her chamber ere Leicester +was by her side, and proposed to her, until the preparations for +the chase had been completed, to view the Pleasance, and the +gardens which it connected with the Castle yard. + +To this new scene of pleasures they walked, the Earl's arm +affording his Sovereign the occasional support which she +required, where flights of steps, then a favourite ornament in a +garden, conducted them from terrace to terrace, and from parterre +to parterre. The ladies in attendance, gifted with prudence, or +endowed perhaps with the amiable desire of acting as they would +be done by, did not conceive their duty to the Queen's person +required them, though they lost not sight of her, to approach so +near as to share, or perhaps disturb, the conversation betwixt +the Queen and the Earl, who was not only her host, but also her +most trusted, esteemed, and favoured servant. They contented +themselves with admiring the grace of this illustrious couple, +whose robes of state were now exchanged for hunting suits, almost +equally magnificent. + +Elizabeth's silvan dress, which was of a pale blue silk, with +silver lace and AIGUILLETTES, approached in form to that of the +ancient Amazons, and was therefore well suited at once to her +height and to the dignity of her mien, which her conscious rank +and long habits of authority had rendered in some degree too +masculine to be seen to the best advantage in ordinary female +weeds. Leicester's hunting suit of Lincoln green, richly +embroidered with gold, and crossed by the gay baldric which +sustained a bugle-horn, and a wood-knife instead of a sword, +became its master, as did his other vestments of court or of war. +For such were the perfections of his form and mien, that +Leicester was always supposed to be seen to the greatest +advantage in the character and dress which for the time he +represented or wore. + +The conversation of Elizabeth and the favourite Earl has not +reached us in detail. But those who watched at some distance +(and the eyes of courtiers and court ladies are right sharp) were +of opinion that on no occasion did the dignity of Elizabeth, in +gesture and motion, seem so decidedly to soften away into a mien +expressive of indecision and tenderness. Her step was not only +slow, but even unequal, a thing most unwonted in her carriage; +her looks seemed bent on the ground; and there was a timid +disposition to withdraw from her companion, which external +gesture in females often indicates exactly the opposite tendency +in the secret mind. The Duchess of Rutland, who ventured +nearest, was even heard to aver that she discerned a tear in +Elizabeth's eye and a blush on her cheek; and still further, "She +bent her looks on the ground to avoid mine," said the Duchess, +"she who, in her ordinary mood, could look down a lion." To what +conclusion these symptoms led is sufficiently evident; nor were +they probably entirely groundless. The progress of a private +conversation betwixt two persons of different sexes is often +decisive of their fate, and gives it a turn very different +perhaps from what they themselves anticipated. Gallantry becomes +mingled with conversation, and affection and passion come +gradually to mix with gallantry. Nobles, as well as shepherd +swains, will, in such a trying moment, say more than they +intended; and Queens, like village maidens, will listen longer +than they should. + +Horses in the meanwhile neighed and champed the bits with +impatience in the base-court; hounds yelled in their couples; and +yeomen, rangers, and prickers lamented the exhaling of the dew, +which would prevent the scent from lying. But Leicester had +another chase in view--or, to speak more justly towards him, had +become engaged in it without premeditation, as the high-spirited +hunter which follows the cry of the hounds that have crossed his +path by accident. The Queen, an accomplished and handsome woman, +the pride of England, the hope of France and Holland, and the +dread of Spain, had probably listened with more than usual favour +to that mixture of romantic gallantry with which she always loved +to be addressed; and the Earl had, in vanity, in ambition, or in +both, thrown in more and more of that delicious ingredient, until +his importunity became the language of love itself. + +"No, Dudley," said Elizabeth, yet it was with broken accents-- +"no, I must be the mother of my people. Other ties, that make +the lowly maiden happy, are denied to her Sovereign. No, +Leicester, urge it no more. Were I as others, free to seek my +own happiness, then, indeed--but it cannot--cannot be. Delay the +chase--delay it for half an hour--and leave me, my lord." + +"How! leave you, madam?" said Leicester,--"has my madness +offended you?" + +"No, Leicester, not so!" answered the Queen hastily; "but it is +madness, and must not be repeated. Go--but go not far from +hence; and meantime let no one intrude on my privacy." + +While she spoke thus, Dudley bowed deeply, and retired with a +slow and melancholy air. The Queen stood gazing after him, and +murmured to herself, "Were it possible--were it BUT possible!-- +but no--no; Elizabeth must be the wife and mother of England +alone." + +As she spoke thus, and in order to avoid some one whose step she +heard approaching, the Queen turned into the grotto in which her +hapless, and yet but too successful, rival lay concealed. + +The mind of England's Elizabeth, if somewhat shaken by the +agitating interview to which she had just put a period, was of +that firm and decided character which soon recovers its natural +tone. It was like one of those ancient Druidical monuments +called Rocking-stones. The finger of Cupid, boy as he is +painted, could put her feelings in motion; but the power of +Hercules could not have destroyed their equilibrium. As she +advanced with a slow pace towards the inmost extremity of the +grotto, her countenance, ere she had proceeded half the length, +had recovered its dignity of look, and her mien its air of +command. + +It was then the Queen became aware that a female figure was +placed beside, or rather partly behind, an alabaster column, at +the foot of which arose the pellucid fountain which occupied the +inmost recess of the twilight grotto. The classical mind of +Elizabeth suggested the story of Numa and Egeria, and she doubted +not that some Italian sculptor had here represented the Naiad +whose inspirations gave laws to Rome. As she advanced, she +became doubtful whether she beheld a statue, or a form of flesh +and blood. The unfortunate Amy, indeed, remained motionless, +betwixt the desire which she had to make her condition known to +one of her own sex, and her awe for the stately form which +approached her, and which, though her eyes had never before +beheld, her fears instantly suspected to be the personage she +really was. Amy had arisen from her seat with the purpose of +addressing the lady who entered the grotto alone, and, as she at +first thought, so opportunely. But when she recollected the +alarm which Leicester had expressed at the Queen's knowing aught +of their union, and became more and more satisfied that the +person whom she now beheld was Elizabeth herself, she stood with +one foot advanced and one withdrawn, her arms, head, and hands +perfectly motionless, and her cheek as pallid as the alabaster +pedestal against which she leaned. Her dress was of pale sea- +green silk, little distinguished in that imperfect light, and +somewhat resembled the drapery of a Grecian Nymph, such an +antique disguise having been thought the most secure, where so +many maskers and revellers were assembled; so that the Queen's +doubt of her being a living form was well justified by all +contingent circumstances, as well as by the bloodless cheek and +the fixed eye. + +Elizabeth remained in doubt, even after she had approached within +a few paces, whether she did not gaze on a statue so cunningly +fashioned that by the doubtful light it could not be +distinguished from reality. She stopped, therefore, and fixed +upon this interesting object her princely look with so much +keenness that the astonishment which had kept Amy immovable gave +way to awe, and she gradually cast down her eyes, and drooped her +head under the commanding gaze of the Sovereign. Still, however, +she remained in all respects, saving this slow and profound +inclination of the head, motionless and silent. + +From her dress, and the casket which she instinctively held in +her hand, Elizabeth naturally conjectured that the beautiful but +mute figure which she beheld was a performer in one of the +various theatrical pageants which had been placed in different +situations to surprise her with their homage; and that the poor +player, overcome with awe at her presence, had either forgot the +part assigned her, or lacked courage to go through it. It was +natural and courteous to give her some encouragement; and +Elizabeth accordingly said, in a, tone of condescending kindness, +"How now, fair Nymph of this lovely grotto, art thou spell-bound +and struck with dumbness by the charms of the wicked enchanter +whom men term Fear? We are his sworn enemy, maiden, and can +reverse his charm. Speak, we command thee." + +Instead of answering her by speech, the unfortunate Countess +dropped on her knee before the Queen, let her casket fall from +her hand, and clasping her palms together, looked up in the +Queen's face with such a mixed agony of fear and supplication, +that Elizabeth was considerably affected. + +"What may this mean?" she said; "this is a stronger passion than +befits the occasion. Stand up, damsel--what wouldst thou have +with us?" + +"Your protection, madam," faltered forth the unhappy petitioner. + +"Each daughter of England has it while she is worthy of it," +replied the Queen; "but your distress seems to have a deeper root +than a forgotten task. Why, and in what, do you crave our +protection?" + +Amy hastily endeavoured to recall what she were best to say, +which might secure herself from the imminent dangers that +surrounded her, without endangering her husband; and plunging +from one thought to another, amidst the chaos which filled her +mind, she could at length, in answer to the Queen's repeated +inquiries in what she sought protection, only falter out, "Alas! +I know not." + +"This is folly, maiden," said Elizabeth impatiently; for there +was something in the extreme confusion of the suppliant which +irritated her curiosity, as well as interested her feelings. +"The sick man must tell his malady to the physician; nor are WE +accustomed to ask questions so oft without receiving an answer." + +"I request--I implore," stammered forth the unfortunate Countess +--"I beseech your gracious protection--against--against one +Varney." She choked well-nigh as she uttered the fatal word, +which was instantly caught up by the Queen. + +"What, Varney--Sir Richard Varney--the servant of Lord Leicester! +what, damsel, are you to him, or he to you?" + +"I--I--was his prisoner--and he practised on my life--and I broke +forth to--to--" + +"To throw thyself on my protection, doubtless," said Elizabeth. +"Thou shalt have it--that is, if thou art worthy; for we will +sift this matter to the uttermost. Thou art," she said, bending +on the Countess an eye which seemed designed to pierce her very +inmost soul--"thou art Amy, daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart of +Lidcote Hall?" + +"Forgive me--forgive me, most gracious Princess!" said Amy, +dropping once more on her knee, from which she had arisen. + +"For what should I forgive thee, silly wench?" said Elizabeth; +"for being the daughter of thine own father? Thou art brain- +sick, surely. Well I see I must wring the story from thee by +inches. Thou didst deceive thine old and honoured father--thy +look confesses it--cheated Master Tressilian--thy blush avouches +it--and married this same Varney." + +Amy sprung on her feet, and interrupted the Queen eagerly with, +"No, madam, no! as there is a God above us, I am not the sordid +wretch you would make me! I am not the wife of that contemptible +slave--of that most deliberate villain! I am not the wife of +Varney! I would rather be the bride of Destruction!" + +The Queen, overwhelmed in her turn by Amy's vehemence, stood +silent for an instant, and then replied, "Why, God ha' mercy, +woman! I see thou canst talk fast enough when the theme likes +thee. Nay, tell me, woman," she continued, for to the impulse of +curiosity was now added that of an undefined jealousy that some +deception had been practised on her--"tell me, woman--for, by +God's day, I WILL know--whose wife, or whose paramour, art thou! +Speak out, and be speedy. Thou wert better daily with a lioness +than with Elizabeth." + +Urged to this extremity, dragged as it were by irresistible force +to the verge of the precipice which she saw, but could not avoid +--permitted not a moment's respite by the eager words and +menacing gestures of the offended Queen, Amy at length uttered in +despair, "The Earl of Leicester knows it all." + +"The Earl of Leicester!" said Elizabeth, in utter astonishment. +"The Earl of Leicester!" she repeated with kindling anger. +"Woman, thou art set on to this--thou dost belie him--he takes no +keep of such things as thou art. Thou art suborned to slander +the noblest lord and the truest-hearted gentleman in England! +But were he the right hand of our trust, or something yet dearer +to us, thou shalt have thy hearing, and that in his presence. +Come with me--come with me instantly!" + +As Amy shrunk back with terror, which the incensed Queen +interpreted as that of conscious guilt, Elizabeth rapidly +advanced, seized on her arm, and hastened with swift and long +steps out of the grotto, and along the principal alley of the +Pleasance, dragging with her the terrified Countess, whom she +still held by the arm, and whose utmost exertions could but just +keep pace with those of the indignant Queen. + +Leicester was at this moment the centre of a splendid group of +lords and ladies, assembled together under an arcade, or portico, +which closed the alley. The company had drawn together in that +place, to attend the commands of her Majesty when the hunting- +party should go forward, and their astonishment may be imagined +when, instead of seeing Elizabeth advance towards them with her +usual measured dignity of motion, they beheld her walking so +rapidly that she was in the midst of them ere they were aware; +and then observed, with fear and surprise, that her features were +flushed betwixt anger and agitation, that her hair was loosened +by her haste of motion, and that her eyes sparkled as they were +wont when the spirit of Henry VIII. mounted highest in his +daughter. Nor were they less astonished at the appearance of the +pale, attenuated, half-dead, yet still lovely female, whom the +Queen upheld by main strength with one hand, while with the other +she waved aside the ladies and nobles who pressed towards her, +under the idea that she was taken suddenly ill. "Where is my +Lord of Leicester?" she said, in a tone that thrilled with +astonishment all the courtiers who stood around. "Stand forth, +my Lord of Leicester!" + +If, in the midst of the most serene day of summer, when all is +light and laughing around, a thunderbolt were to fall from the +clear blue vault of heaven, and rend the earth at the very feet +of some careless traveller, he could not gaze upon the +smouldering chasm, which so unexpectedly yawned before him, with +half the astonishment and fear which Leicester felt at the sight +that so suddenly presented itself. He had that instant been +receiving, with a political affectation of disavowing and +misunderstanding their meaning, the half-uttered, half-intimated +congratulations of the courtiers upon the favour of the Queen, +carried apparently to its highest pitch during the interview of +that morning, from which most of them seemed to augur that he +might soon arise from their equal in rank to become their master. +And now, while the subdued yet proud smile with which he +disclaimed those inferences was yet curling his cheek, the Queen +shot into the circle, her passions excited to the uttermost; and +supporting with one hand, and apparently without an effort, the +pale and sinking form of his almost expiring wife, and pointing +with the finger of the other to her half-dead features, demanded +in a voice that sounded to the ears of the astounded statesman +like the last dread trumpet-call that is to summon body and +spirit to the judgment-seat, "Knowest thou this woman?" + +As, at the blast of that last trumpet, the guilty shall call upon +the mountains to cover them, Leicester's inward thoughts invoked +the stately arch which he had built in his pride to burst its +strong conjunction, and overwhelm them in its ruins. But the +cemented stones, architrave and battlement, stood fast; and it +was the proud master himself who, as if some actual pressure had +bent him to the earth, kneeled down before Elizabeth, and +prostrated his brow to the marble flag-stones on which she stood. + +"Leicester," said Elizabeth, in a voice which trembled with +passion, "could I think thou hast practised on me--on me thy +Sovereign--on me thy confiding, thy too partial mistress, the +base and ungrateful deception which thy present confusion +surmises--by all that is holy, false lord, that head of thine +were in as great peril as ever was thy father's!" + +Leicester had not conscious innocence, but he had pride to +support him. He raised slowly his brow and features, which were +black and swoln with contending emotions, and only replied, "My +head cannot fall but by the sentence of my peers. To them I will +plead, and not to a princess who thus requites my faithful +service." + +"What! my lords," said Elizabeth, looking around, "we are +defied, I think--defied in the Castle we have ourselves bestowed +on this proud man!--My Lord Shrewsbury, you are Marshal of +England, attach him of high treason." + +"Whom does your Grace mean?" said Shrewsbury, much surprised, +for he had that instant joined the astonished circle. + +"Whom should I mean, but that traitor Dudley, Earl of Leicester! +--Cousin of Hunsdon, order out your band of gentlemen pensioners, +and take him into instant custody. I say, villain, make haste!" + +Hunsdon, a rough old noble, who, from his relationship to the +Boleyns, was accustomed to use more freedom with the Queen than +almost any other dared to do, replied bluntly, "And it is like +your Grace might order me to the Tower to-morrow for making too +much haste. I do beseech you to be patient." + +"Patient--God's life!" exclaimed the Queen--"name not the word +to me; thou knowest not of what he is guilty!" + +Amy, who had by this time in some degree recovered herself, and +who saw her husband, as she conceived, in the utmost danger from +the rage of an offended Sovereign, instantly (and alas! how +many women have done the same) forgot her own wrongs and her own +danger in her apprehensions for him, and throwing herself before +the Queen, embraced her knees, while she exclaimed, "He is +guiltless, madam--he is guiltless; no one can lay aught to the +charge of the noble Leicester!" + +"Why, minion," answered the Queen, "didst not thou thyself say +that the Earl of Leicester was privy to thy whole history?" + +"Did I say so?" repeated the unhappy Amy, laying aside every +consideration of consistency and of self-interest. "Oh, if I +did, I foully belied him. May God so judge me, as I believe he +was never privy to a thought that would harm me!" + +"Woman!" said Elizabeth, "I will know who has moved thee to +this; or my wrath--and the wrath of kings is a flaming fire-- +shall wither and consume thee like a weed in the furnace!" + +As the Queen uttered this threat, Leicester's better angel called +his pride to his aid, and reproached him with the utter extremity +of meanness which would overwhelm him for ever if he stooped to +take shelter under the generous interposition of his wife, and +abandoned her, in return for her kindness, to the resentment of +the Queen. He had already raised his head with the dignity of a +man of honour to avow his marriage, and proclaim himself the +protector of his Countess, when Varney, born, as it appeared, to +be his master's evil genius, rushed into the presence with every +mark of disorder on his face and apparel. + +"What means this saucy intrusion?" said Elizabeth. + +Varney, with the air of a man altogether overwhelmed with grief +and confusion, prostrated himself before her feet, exclaiming, +"Pardon, my Liege, pardon!--or at least let your justice avenge +itself on me, where it is due; but spare my noble, my generous, +my innocent patron and master!" + +Amy, who was yet kneeling, started up as she saw the man whom she +deemed most odious place himself so near her, and was about to +fly towards Leicester, when, checked at once by the uncertainty +and even timidity which his looks had reassumed as soon as the +appearance of his confidant seemed to open a new scene, she hung +back, and uttering a faint scream, besought of her Majesty to +cause her to be imprisoned in the lowest dungeon of the Castle-- +to deal with her as the worst of criminals--"but spare," she +exclaimed, "my sight and hearing what will destroy the little +judgment I have left--the sight of that unutterable and most +shameless villain!" + +"And why, sweetheart?" said the Queen, moved by a new impulse; +"what hath he, this false knight, since such thou accountest him, +done to thee?" + +"Oh, worse than sorrow, madam, and worse than injury--he has sown +dissension where most there should be peace. I shall go mad if I +look longer on him!" + +"Beshrew me, but I think thou art distraught already," answered +the Queen.--"My Lord Hunsdon, look to this poor distressed young +woman, and let her be safely bestowed, and in honest keeping, +till we require her to be forthcoming." + +Two or three of the ladies in attendance, either moved by +compassion for a creature so interesting, or by some other +motive, offered their services to look after her; but the Queen +briefly answered, "Ladies, under favour, no. You have all (give +God thanks) sharp ears and nimble tongues; our kinsman Hunsdon +has ears of the dullest, and a tongue somewhat rough, but yet of +the slowest.--Hunsdon, look to it that none have speech of her." + +"By Our Lady," said Hunsdon, taking in his strong, sinewy arms +the fading and almost swooning form of Amy, "she is a lovely +child! and though a rough nurse, your Grace hath given her a +kind one. She is safe with me as one of my own ladybirds of +daughters." + +So saying, he carried her off; unresistingly and almost +unconsciously, his war-worn locks and long, grey beard mingling +with her light-brown tresses, as her head reclined on his strong, +square shoulder. The Queen followed him with her eye. She had +already, with that self-command which forms so necessary a part +of a Sovereign's accomplishments, suppressed every appearance of +agitation, and seemed as if she desired to banish all traces of +her burst of passion from the recollection of those who had +witnessed it. "My Lord of Hunsdon says well," she observed, "he +is indeed but a rough nurse for so tender a babe." + +"My Lord of Hunsdon," said the Dean of St. Asaph--"I speak it not +in defamation of his more noble qualities--hath a broad license +in speech, and garnishes his discourse somewhat too freely with +the cruel and superstitious oaths which savour both of +profaneness and of old Papistrie." + +"It is the fault of his blood, Mr. Dean," said the Queen, turning +sharply round upon the reverend dignitary as she spoke; "and you +may blame mine for the same distemperature. The Boleyns were +ever a hot and plain-spoken race, more hasty to speak their mind +than careful to choose their expressions. And by my word--I hope +there is no sin in that affirmation--I question if it were much +cooled by mixing with that of Tudor." + +As she made this last observation she smiled graciously, and +stole her eyes almost insensibly round to seek those of the Earl +of Leicester, to whom she now began to think she had spoken with +hasty harshness upon the unfounded suspicion of a moment. + +The Queen's eye found the Earl in no mood to accept the implied +offer of conciliation. His own looks had followed, with late and +rueful repentance, the faded form which Hunsdon had just borne +from the presence. They now reposed gloomily on the ground, but +more--so at least it seemed to Elizabeth--with the expression of +one who has received an unjust affront, than of him who is +conscious of guilt. She turned her face angrily from him, and +said to Varney, "Speak, Sir Richard, and explain these riddles-- +thou hast sense and the use of speech, at least, which elsewhere +we look for in vain." + +As she said this, she darted another resentful glance towards +Leicester, while the wily Varney hastened to tell his own story. + +"Your Majesty's piercing eye," he said, "has already detected the +cruel malady of my beloved lady, which, unhappy that I am, I +would not suffer to be expressed in the certificate of her +physician, seeking to conceal what has now broken out with so +much the more scandal." + +"She is then distraught?" said the Queen. "Indeed we doubted +not of it; her whole demeanour bears it out. I found her moping +in a corner of yonder grotto; and every word she spoke--which +indeed I dragged from her as by the rack--she instantly recalled +and forswore. But how came she hither? Why had you her not in +safe-keeping?" + +"My gracious Liege," said Varney, "the worthy gentleman under +whose charge I left her, Master Anthony Foster, has come hither +but now, as fast as man and horse can travel, to show me of her +escape, which she managed with the art peculiar to many who are +afflicted with this malady. He is at hand for examination." + +"Let it be for another time," said the Queen. "But, Sir Richard, +we envy you not your domestic felicity; your lady railed on you +bitterly, and seemed ready to swoon at beholding you." + +"It is the nature of persons in her disorder, so please your +Grace," answered Varney, "to be ever most inveterate in their +spleen against those whom, in their better moments, they hold +nearest and dearest." + +"We have heard so, indeed," said Elizabeth, "and give faith to +the saying." + +"May your Grace then be pleased," said Varney, " to command my +unfortunate wife to be delivered into the custody of her +friends?" + +Leicester partly started; but making a strong effort, he subdued +his emotion, while Elizabeth answered sharply, "You are something +too hasty, Master Varney. We will have first a report of the +lady's health and state of mind from Masters, our own physician, +and then determine what shall be thought just. You shall have +license, however, to see her, that if there be any matrimonial +quarrel betwixt you--such things we have heard do occur, even +betwixt a loving couple--you may make it up, without further +scandal to our court or trouble to ourselves." + +Varney bowed low, and made no other answer. + +Elizabeth again looked towards Leicester, and said, with a degree +of condescension which could only arise out of the most heartfelt +interest, "Discord, as the Italian poet says, will find her way +into peaceful convents, as well as into the privacy of families; +and we fear our own guards and ushers will hardly exclude her +from courts. My Lord of Leicester, you are offended with us, and +we have right to be offended with you. We will take the lion's +part upon us, and be the first to forgive." + +Leicester smoothed his brow, as by an effort; but the trouble was +too deep-seated that its placidity should at once return. He +said, however, that which fitted the occasion, "That he could not +have the happiness of forgiving, because she who commanded him to +do so could commit no injury towards him." + +Elizabeth seemed content with this reply, and intimated her +pleasure that the sports of the morning should proceed. The +bugles sounded, the hounds bayed, the horses pranced --but the +courtiers and ladies sought the amusement to which they were +summoned with hearts very different from those which had leaped +to the morning's REVIELLE. There was doubt, and fear, and +expectation on every brow, and surmise and intrigue in every +whisper. + +Blount took an opportunity to whisper into Raleigh's ear, "This +storm came like a levanter in the Mediterranean." + +"VARIUM ET MUTABILE," answered Raleigh, in a similar tone. + +"Nay, I know nought of your Latin," said Blount; "but I thank God +Tressilian took not the sea during that hurricane. He could +scarce have missed shipwreck, knowing as he does so little how to +trim his sails to a court gale." + +"Thou wouldst have instructed him!" said Raleigh. + +"Why, I have profited by my time as well as thou, Sir Walter," +replied honest Blount. "I am knight as well as thou, and of the +earlier creation." + +"Now, God further thy wit," said Raleigh. "But for Tressilian, I +would I knew what were the matter with him. He told me this +morning he would not leave his chamber for the space of twelve +hours or thereby, being bound by a promise. This lady's madness, +when he shall learn it, will not, I fear, cure his infirmity. +The moon is at the fullest, and men's brains are working like +yeast. But hark! they sound to mount. Let us to horse, Blount; +we young knights must deserve our spurs." + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + Sincerity, + Thou first of virtues! let no mortal leave + Thy onward path, although the earth should gape, + And from the gulf of hell destruction cry, + To take dissimulation's winding way. DOUGLAS. + +It was not till after a long and successful morning's sport, and +a prolonged repast which followed the return of the Queen to the +Castle, that Leicester at length found himself alone with Varney, +from whom he now learned the whole particulars of the Countess's +escape, as they had been brought to Kenilworth by Foster, who, in +his terror for the consequences, had himself posted thither with +the tidings. As Varney, in his narrative, took especial care to +be silent concerning those practices on the Countess's health +which had driven her to so desperate a resolution, Leicester, who +could only suppose that she had adopted it out of jealous +impatience to attain the avowed state and appearance belonging to +her rank, was not a little offended at the levity with which his +wife had broken his strict commands, and exposed him to the +resentment of Elizabeth. + +"I have given," he said, "to this daughter of an obscure +Devonshire gentleman the proudest name in England. I have made +her sharer of my bed and of my fortunes. I ask but of her a +little patience, ere she launches forth upon the full current of +her grandeur; and the infatuated woman will rather hazard her own +shipwreck and mine--will rather involve me in a thousand +whirlpools, shoals, and quicksands, and compel me to a thousand +devices which shame me in mine own eyes--than tarry for a little +space longer in the obscurity to which she was born. So lovely, +so delicate, so fond, so faithful, yet to lack in so grave a +matter the prudence which one might hope from the veriest fool-- +it puts me beyond my patience." + +"We may post it over yet well enough," said Varney, "if my lady +will be but ruled, and take on her the character which the time +commands." + +"It is but too true, Sir Richard," said Leicester; "there is +indeed no other remedy. I have heard her termed thy wife in my +presence, without contradiction. She must bear the title until +she is far from Kenilworth." + +"And long afterwards, I trust," said Varney; then instantly +added, "For I cannot but hope it will be long after ere she bear +the title of Lady Leicester--I fear me it may scarce be with +safety during the life of this Queen. But your lordship is best +judge, you alone knowing what passages have taken place betwixt +Elizabeth and you." + +"You are right, Varney," said Leicester. "I have this morning +been both fool and villain; and when Elizabeth hears of my +unhappy marriage, she cannot but think herself treated with that +premeditated slight which women never forgive. We have once this +day stood upon terms little short of defiance; and to those, I +fear, we must again return." + +"Is her resentment, then, so implacable?" said Varney. + +"Far from it," replied the Earl; "for, being what she is in +spirit and in station, she has even this day been but too +condescending, in giving me opportunities to repair what she +thinks my faulty heat of temper." + +"Ay," answered Varney; "the Italians say right--in lovers' +quarrels, the party that loves most is always most willing to +acknowledge the greater fault. So then, my lord, if this union +with the lady could be concealed, you stand with Elizabeth as you +did?" + +Leicester sighed, and was silent for a moment, ere he replied. + +"Varney, I think thou art true to me, and I will tell thee all. +I do NOT stand where I did. I have spoken to Elizabeth--under +what mad impulse I know not--on a theme which cannot be abandoned +without touching every female feeling to the quick, and which yet +I dare not and cannot prosecute. She can never, never forgive me +for having caused and witnessed those yieldings to human +passion." + +"We must do something, my lord," said Varney, "and that +speedily." + +"There is nought to be done," answered Leicester, despondingly. +"I am like one that has long toiled up a dangerous precipice, and +when he is within one perilous stride of the top, finds his +progress arrested when retreat has become impossible. I see +above me the pinnacle which I cannot reach--beneath me the abyss +into which I must fall, as soon as my relaxing grasp and dizzy +brain join to hurl me from my present precarious stance." + +"Think better of your situation, my lord," said Varney; "let us +try the experiment in which you have but now acquiesced. Keep we +your marriage from Elizabeth's knowledge, and all may yet be +well. I will instantly go to the lady myself. She hates me, +because I have been earnest with your lordship, as she truly +suspects, in opposition to what she terms her rights. I care not +for her prejudices--she SHALL listen to me; and I will show her +such reasons for yielding to the pressure of the times that I +doubt not to bring back her consent to whatever measures these +exigencies may require." + +"No, Varney," said Leicester; "I have thought upon what is to be +done, and I will myself speak with Amy." + +It was now Varney's turn to feel upon his own account the terrors +which he affected to participate solely on account of his patron. +"Your lordship will not yourself speak with the lady?" + +"It is my fixed purpose," said Leicester. "Fetch me one of the +livery-cloaks; I will pass the sentinel as thy servant. Thou art +to have free access to her." + +"But, my lord--" + +"I will have no BUTS," replied Leicester; "it shall be even thus, +and not otherwise. Hunsdon sleeps, I think, in Saintlowe's +Tower. We can go thither from these apartments by the private +passage, without risk of meeting any one. Or what if I do meet +Hunsdon? he is more my friend than enemy, and thick-witted +enough to adopt any belief that is thrust on him. Fetch me the +cloak instantly." + +Varney had no alternative save obedience. In a few minutes +Leicester was muffled in the mantle, pulled his bonnet over his +brows, and followed Varney along the secret passage of the Castle +which communicated with Hunsdon's apartments, in which there was +scarce a chance of meeting any inquisitive person, and hardly +light enough for any such to have satisfied their curiosity. +They emerged at a door where Lord Hunsdon had, with military +precaution, placed a sentinel, one of his own northern retainers +as it fortuned, who readily admitted Sir Richard Varney and his +attendant, saying only, in his northern dialect, "I would, man, +thou couldst make the mad lady be still yonder; for her moans do +sae dirl through my head that I would rather keep watch on a +snowdrift, in the wastes of Catlowdie." + +They hastily entered, and shut the door behind them. + +"Now, good devil, if there be one," said Varney, within himself, +"for once help a votary at a dead pinch, for my boat is amongst +the breakers!" + +The Countess Amy, with her hair and her garments dishevelled, was +seated upon a sort of couch, in an attitude of the deepest +affliction, out of which she was startled by the opening of the +door. Size turned hastily round, and fixing her eye on Varney, +exclaimed, "Wretch! art thou come to frame some new plan of +villainy?" + +Leicester cut short her reproaches by stepping forward and +dropping his cloak, while he said, in a voice rather of authority +than of affection, "It is with me, madam, you have to commune, +not with Sir Richard Varney." + +The change effected on the Countess's look and manner was like +magic. "Dudley!" she exclaimed, "Dudley! and art thou come at +last?" And with the speed of lightning she flew to her husband, +clung round his neck, and unheeding the presence of Varney, +overwhelmed him with caresses, while she bathed his face in a +flood of tears, muttering, at the same time, but in broken and +disjointed monosyllables, the fondest expressions which Love +teaches his votaries. + +Leicester, as it seemed to him, had reason to be angry with his +lady for transgressing his commands, and thus placing him in the +perilous situation in which he had that morning stood. But what +displeasure could keep its ground before these testimonies of +affection from a being so lovely, that even the negligence of +dress, and the withering effects of fear, grief, and fatigue, +which would have impaired the beauty of others, rendered hers but +the more interesting. He received and repaid her caresses with +fondness mingled with melancholy, the last of which she seemed +scarcely to observe, until the first transport of her own joy was +over, when, looking anxiously in his face, she asked if he was +ill. + +"Not in my body, Amy," was his answer. + +"Then I will be well too. O Dudley! I have been ill!--very ill, +since we last met!--for I call not this morning's horrible vision +a meeting. I have been in sickness, in grief, and in danger. +But thou art come, and all is joy, and health, and safety!" + +"Alas, Amy," said Leicester, "thou hast undone me!" + +"I, my lord?" said Amy, her cheek at once losing its transient +flush of joy--"how could I injure that which I love better than +myself?" + +"I would not upbraid you, Amy," replied the Earl; "but are you +not here contrary to my express commands--and does not your +presence here endanger both yourself and me?" + +"Does it, does it indeed?" she exclaimed eagerly; "then why am I +here a moment longer? Oh, if you knew by what fears I was urged +to quit Cumnor Place! But I will say nothing of myself--only +that if it might be otherwise, I would not willingly return +THITHER; yet if it concern your safety--" + +"We will think, Amy, of some other retreat," said Leicester; "and +you shall go to one of my northern castles, under the personage-- +it will be but needful, I trust, for a very few days--of Varney's +wife." + +"How, my Lord of Leicester!" said the lady, disengaging herself +from his embraces; "is it to your wife you give the dishonourable +counsel to acknowledge herself the bride of another--and of all +men, the bride of that Varney?" + +"Madam, I speak it in earnest--Varney is my true and faithful +servant, trusted in my deepest secrets. I had better lose my +right hand than his service at this moment. You have no cause to +scorn him as you do." + +"I could assign one, my lord," replied the Countess; "and I see +he shakes even under that assured look of his. But he that is +necessary as your right hand to your safety is free from any +accusation of mine. May he be true to you; and that he may be +true, trust him not too much or too far. But it is enough to say +that I will not go with him unless by violence, nor would I +acknowledge him as my husband were all--" + +"It is a temporary deception, madam," said Leicester, irritated +by her opposition, "necessary for both our safeties, endangered +by you through female caprice, or the premature desire to seize +on a rank to which I gave you title only under condition that our +marriage, for a time, should continue secret. If my proposal +disgust you, it is yourself has brought it on both of us. There +is no other remedy--you must do what your own impatient folly +hath rendered necessary--I command you." + +"I cannot put your commands, my lord," said Amy, "in balance with +those of honour and conscience. I will NOT, in this instance, +obey you. You may achieve your own dishonour, to which these +crooked policies naturally tend, but I will do nought that can +blemish mine. How could you again, my lord, acknowledge me as a +pure and chaste matron, worthy to share your fortunes, when, +holding that high character, I had strolled the country the +acknowledged wife of such a profligate fellow as your servant +Varney?" + +"My lord," said Varney interposing, "my lady is too much +prejudiced against me, unhappily, to listen to what I can offer, +yet it may please her better than what she proposes. She has +good interest with Master Edmund Tressilian, and could doubtless +prevail on him to consent to be her companion to Lidcote Hall, +and there she might remain in safety until time permitted the +development of this mystery." + +Leicester was silent, but stood looking eagerly on Amy, with eyes +which seemed suddenly to glow as much with suspicion as +displeasure. + +The Countess only said, "Would to God I were in my father's +house! When I left it, I little thought I was leaving peace of +mind and honour behind me." + +Varney proceeded with a tone of deliberation. "Doubtless this +will make it necessary to take strangers into my lord's counsels; +but surely the Countess will be warrant for the honour of Master +Tressilian, and such of her father's family--" + +"Peace, Varney," said Leicester; "by Heaven I will strike my +dagger into thee if again thou namest Tressilian as a partner of +my counsels!" + +"And wherefore not!" said the Countess; "unless they be counsels +fitter for such as Varney, than for a man of stainless honour and +integrity. My lord, my lord, bend no angry brows on me; it is +the truth, and it is I who speak it. I once did Tressilian wrong +for your sake; I will not do him the further injustice of being +silent when his honour is brought in question. I can forbear," +she said, looking at Varney, "to pull the mask off hypocrisy, but +I will not permit virtue to be slandered in my hearing." + +There was a dead pause. Leicester stood displeased, yet +undetermined, and too conscious of the weakness of his cause; +while Varney, with a deep and hypocritical affectation of sorrow, +mingled with humility, bent his eyes on the ground. + +It was then that the Countess Amy displayed, in the midst of +distress and difficulty, the natural energy of character which +would have rendered her, had fate allowed, a distinguished +ornament of the rank which she held. She walked up to Leicester +with a composed step, a dignified air, and looks in which strong +affection essayed in vain to shake the firmness of conscious, +truth and rectitude of principle. "You have spoken your mind, my +lord," she said, "in these difficulties, with which, unhappily, I +have found myself unable to comply. This gentleman--this person +I would say--has hinted at another scheme, to which I object not +but as it displeases you. Will your lordship be pleased to hear +what a young and timid woman, but your most affectionate wife, +can suggest in the present extremity?" + +Leicester was silent, but bent his head towards the Countess, as +an intimation that she was at liberty to proceed. + +"There hath been but one cause for all these evils, my lord," she +proceeded, "and it resolves itself into the mysterious duplicity +with which you, have been induced to surround yourself. +Extricate yourself at once, my lord, from the tyranny of these +disgraceful trammels. Be like a true English gentleman, knight, +and earl, who holds that truth is the foundation of honour, and +that honour is dear to him as the breath of his nostrils. Take +your ill-fated wife by the hand, lead her to the footstool of +Elizabeth's throne--say that in a moment of infatuation, moved by +supposed beauty, of which none perhaps can now trace even the +remains, I gave my hand to this Amy Robsart. You will then have +done justice to me, my lord, and to your own honour and should +law or power require you to part from me, I will oppose no +objection, since I may then with honour hide a grieved and broken +heart in those shades from which your love withdrew me. Then-- +have but a little patience, and Amy's life will not long darken +your brighter prospects." + +There was so much of dignity, so much of tenderness, in the +Countess's remonstrance, that it moved all that was noble and +generous in the soul of her husband. The scales seemed to fall +from his eyes, and the duplicity and tergiversation of which he +had been guilty stung him at once with remorse and shame. + +"I am not worthy of you, Amy," he said, "that could weigh aught +which ambition has to give against such a heart as thine. I have +a bitter penance to perform, in disentangling, before sneering +foes and astounded friends, all the meshes of my own deceitful +policy. And the Queen--but let her take my head, as she has +threatened." + +"Take your head, my lord!" said the Countess, "because you used +the freedom and liberty of an English subject in choosing a wife? +For shame! it is this distrust of the Queen's justice, this +apprehension of danger, which cannot but be imaginary, that, like +scarecrows, have induced you to forsake the straightforward path, +which, as it is the best, is also the safest." + +"Ah, Amy, thou little knowest!" said Dudley but instantly +checking himself, he added, "Yet she shall not find in me a safe +or easy victim of arbitrary vengeance. I have friends--I have +allies--I will not, like Norfolk, be dragged to the block as a +victim to sacrifice. Fear not, Amy; thou shalt see Dudley bear +himself worthy of his name. I must instantly communicate with +some of those friends on whom I can best rely; for, as things +stand, I may be made prisoner in my own Castle." + +"Oh, my good lord," said Amy, "make no faction in a peaceful +state! There is no friend can help us so well as our own candid +truth and honour. Bring but these to our assistance, and you are +safe amidst a whole army of the envious and malignant. Leave +these behind you, and all other defence will be fruitless. +Truth, my noble lord, is well painted unarmed." + +"But Wisdom, Amy," answered Leicester, is arrayed in panoply of +proof. Argue not with me on the means I shall use to render my +confession--since it must be called so--as safe as may be; it +will be fraught with enough of danger, do what we will.--Varney, +we must hence.--Farewell, Amy, whom I am to vindicate as mine +own, at an expense and risk of which thou alone couldst be +worthy. You shall soon hear further from me." + +He embraced her fervently, muffled himself as before, and +accompanied Varney from the apartment. The latter, as he left +the room, bowed low, and as he raised his body, regarded Amy with +a peculiar expression, as if he desired to know how far his own +pardon was included in the reconciliation which had taken place +betwixt her and her lord. The Countess looked upon him with a +fixed eye, but seemed no more conscious of his presence than if +there had been nothing but vacant air on the spot where he stood. + +"She has brought me to the crisis," he muttered--"she or I am +lost. There was something--I wot not if it was fear or pity-- +that prompted me to avoid this fatal crisis. It is now decided +--she or I must PERISH." + +While he thus spoke, he observed, with surprise, that a boy, +repulsed by the sentinel, made up to Leicester, and spoke with +him. Varney was one of those politicians whom not the slightest +appearances escape without inquiry. He asked the sentinel what +the lad wanted with him, and received for answer that the boy had +wished him to transmit a parcel to the mad lady; but that he +cared not to take charge of it, such communication being beyond +his commission, His curiosity satisfied in that particular, he +approached his patron, and heard him say, "Well, boy, the packet +shall be delivered." + +"Thanks, good Master Serving-man," said the boy, and was out of +sight in an instant. + +Leicester and Varney returned with hasty steps to the Earl's +private apartment, by the same passage which had conducted them +to Saintlowe's Tower. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + I have said + This is an adulteress--I have said with whom: + More, she's a traitor, and Camillo is + A federary with her, and one that knows + What she should shame to know herself. WINTER'S TALE. + +They were no sooner in the Earl's cabinet than, taking his +tablets from his pocket, he began to write, speaking partly to +Varney, and partly to himself--"There are many of them close +bounden to me, and especially those in good estate and high +office--many who, if they look back towards my benefits, or +forward towards the perils which may befall themselves, will not, +I think, be disposed to see me stagger unsupported. Let me see +--Knollis is sure, and through his means Guernsey and Jersey. +Horsey commands in the Isle of Wight. My brother-in-law, +Huntingdon, and Pembroke, have authority in Wales. Through +Bedford I lead the Puritans, with their interest, so powerful in +all the boroughs. My brother of Warwick is equal, well-nigh, to +myself, in wealth, followers, and dependencies. Sir Owen Hopton +is at my devotion; he commands the Tower of London, and the +national treasure deposited there. My father and grand-father +needed never to have stooped their heads to the block had they +thus forecast their enterprises.--Why look you so sad, Varney? I +tell thee, a tree so deep-rooted is not so easily to be torn up +by the tempest." + +"Alas! my lord," said Varney, with well-acted passion, and then +resumed the same look of despondency which Leicester had before +noted. + +"Alas!" repeated Leicester; "and wherefore alas, Sir Richard? +Doth your new spirit of chivalry supply no more vigorous +ejaculation when a noble struggle is impending? Or, if ALAS +means thou wilt flinch from the conflict, thou mayest leave the +Castle, or go join mine enemies, whichever thou thinkest best." + +"Not so, my lord," answered his confidant; "Varney will be found +fighting or dying by your side. Forgive me, if, in love to you, +I see more fully than your noble heart permits you to do, the +inextricable difficulties with which you are surrounded. You are +strong, my lord, and powerful; yet, let me say it without +offence, you are so only by the reflected light of the Queen's +favour. While you are Elizabeth's favourite, you are all, save +in name, like an actual sovereign. But let her call back the +honours she has bestowed, and the prophet's gourd did not wither +more suddenly. Declare against the Queen, and I do not say that +in the wide nation, or in this province alone, you would find +yourself instantly deserted and outnumbered; but I will say, that +even in this very Castle, and in the midst of your vassals, +kinsmen, and dependants, you would be a captive, nay, a sentenced +captive, should she please to say the word. Think upon Norfolk, +my lord--upon the powerful Northumberland--the splendid +Westmoreland;--think on all who have made head against this sage +Princess. They are dead, captive, or fugitive. This is not like +other thrones, which can be overturned by a combination of +powerful nobles; the broad foundations which support it are in +the extended love and affections of the people. You might share +it with Elizabeth if you would; but neither yours, nor any other +power, foreign or domestic, will avail to overthrow, or even to +shake it." + +He paused, and Leicester threw his tablets from him with an air +of reckless despite. "It may be as thou sayest," he said? "and, +in sooth, I care not whether truth or cowardice dictate thy +forebodings. But it shall not be said I fell without a struggle. + +Give orders that those of my retainers who served under me in +Ireland be gradually drawn into the main Keep, and let our +gentlemen and friends stand on their guard, and go armed, as if +they expected arm onset from the followers of Sussex. Possess +the townspeople with some apprehension; let them take arms, and +be ready, at a given signal, to overpower the Pensioners and +Yeomen of the Guard." + +"Let me remind you, my lord," said Varney, with the same +appearance of deep and melancholy interest, "that you have given +me orders to prepare for disarming the Queen's guard. It is an +act of high treason, but you shall nevertheless be obeyed." + +"I care not," said Leicester desperately--"I care not. Shame is +behind me, ruin before me; I must on." + +Here there was another pause, which Varney at length broke with +the following words: "It is come to the point I have long +dreaded. I must either witness, like an ungrateful beast, the +downfall of the best and kindest of masters, or I must speak what +I would have buried in the deepest oblivion, or told by any other +mouth than mine." + +"What is that thou sayest, or wouldst say?" replied the Earl; +"we have no time to waste on words when the times call us to +action." + +"My speech is soon made, my lord-would to God it were as soon +answered! Your marriage is the sole cause of the threatened +breach with your Sovereign, my lord, is it not?" + +"Thou knowest it is!" replied Leicester. "What needs so +fruitless a question?" + +"Pardon me, my lord," said Varney; "the use lies here. Men will +wager their lands and lives in defence of a rich diamond, my +lord; but were it not first prudent to look if there is no flaw +in it?" + +"What means this?" said Leicester, with eyes sternly fixed on +his dependant; "of whom dost thou dare to speak?" + +"It is--of the Countess Amy, my lord, of whom I am unhappily +bound to speak; and of whom I WILL speak, were your lordship to +kill me for my zeal." + +"Thou mayest happen to deserve it at my hand," said the Earl; +"but speak on, I will hear thee." + +"Nay, then, my lord, I will be bold. I speak for my own life as +well as for your lordship's. I like not this lady's tampering +and trickstering with this same Edmund Tressilian. You know him, +my lord. You know he had formerly an interest in her, which it +cost your lordship some pains to supersede. You know the +eagerness with which he has pressed on the suit against me in +behalf of this lady, the open object of which is to drive your +lordship to an avowal of what I must ever call your most unhappy +marriage, the point to which my lady also is willing, at any +risk, to urge you." + +Leicester smiled constrainedly. "Thou meanest well, good Sir +Richard, and wouldst, I think, sacrifice thine own honour, as +well as that of any other person, to save me from what thou +thinkest a step so terrible. But remember"--he spoke these words +with the most stern decision--"you speak of the Countess of +Leicester." + +"I do, my lord," said Varney; "but it is for the welfare of the +Earl of Leicester. My tale is but begun. I do most strongly +believe that this Tressilian has, from the beginning of his +moving in her cause, been in connivance with her ladyship the +Countess." + +"Thou speakest wild madness, Varney, with the sober face of a +preacher. Where, or how, could they communicate together?" + +"My lord," said Varney, "unfortunately I can show that but too +well. It was just before the supplication was presented to the +Queen, in Tressilian's name, that I met him, to my utter +astonishment, at the postern gate which leads from the demesne at +Cumnor Place." + +"Thou met'st him, villain! and why didst thou not strike him +dead?" exclaimed Leicester. + +"I drew on him, my lord, and he on me; and had not my foot +slipped, he would not, perhaps, have been again a stumbling-block +in your lordship's path." + +Leicester seemed struck dumb with surprise. At length he +answered, "What other evidence hast thou of this, Varney, save +thine own assertion?--for, as I will punish deeply, I will +examine coolly and warily. Sacred Heaven!--but no--I will +examine coldly and warily-coldly and warily." He repeated these +words more than once to himself, as if in the very sound there +was a sedative quality; and again compressing his lips, as if he +feared some violent expression might escape from them, he asked +again, "What further proof?" + +"Enough, my lord," said Varney, "and to spare. I would it rested +with me alone, for with me it might have been silenced for ever. +But my servant, Michael Lambourne, witnessed the whole, and was, +indeed, the means of first introducing Tressilian into Cumnor +Place; and therefore I took him into my service, and retained him +in it, though something of a debauched fellow, that I might have +his tongue always under my own command." He then acquainted Lord +Leicester how easy it was to prove the circumstance of their +interview true, by evidence of Anthony Foster, with the +corroborative testimonies of the various persons at Cumnor, who +had heard the wager laid, and had seen Lambourne and Tressilian +set off together. In the whole narrative, Varney hazarded +nothing fabulous, excepting that, not indeed by direct assertion, +but by inference, he led his patron to suppose that the interview +betwixt Amy and Tressilian at Cumnor Place had been longer than +the few minutes to which it was in reality limited. + +"And wherefore was I not told of all this?" said Leicester +sternly. "Why did all of ye--and in particular thou, Varney-- +keep back from me such material information?" + +"Because, my lord," replied Varney, "the Countess pretended to +Foster and to me that Tressilian had intruded himself upon her; +and I concluded their interview had been in all honour, and that +she would at her own time tell it to your lordship. Your +lordship knows with what unwilling ears we listen to evil +surmises against those whom we love; and I thank Heaven I am no +makebate or informer, to be the first to sow them." + +"You are but too ready to receive them, however, Sir Richard," +replied his patron. "How knowest thou that this interview was +not in all honour, as thou hast said? Methinks the wife of the +Earl of Leicester might speak for a short time with such a person +as Tressilian without injury to me or suspicion to herself." + +"Questionless, my lord," answered Varney, "Had I thought +otherwise, I had been no keeper of the secret. But here lies the +rub--Tressilian leaves not the place without establishing a +correspondence with a poor man, the landlord of an inn in Cumnor, +for the purpose of carrying off the lady. He sent down an +emissary of his, whom I trust soon to have in right sure keeping +under Mervyn's Tower--Killigrew and Lambsbey are scouring the +country in quest of him. The host is rewarded with a ring for +keeping counsel--your lordship may have noted it on Tressilian's +hand--here it is. This fellow, this agent, makes his way to the +place as a pedlar; holds conferences with the lady, and they make +their escape together by night; rob a poor fellow of a horse by +the way, such was their guilty haste, and at length reach this +Castle, where the Countess of Leicester finds refuge--I dare not +say in what place." + +"Speak, I command thee," said Leicester--"speak, while I retain +sense enough to hear thee." + +"Since it must be so," answered Varney, "the lady resorted +immediately to the apartment of Tressilian, where she remained +many hours, partly in company with him, and partly alone. I told +you Tressilian had a paramour in his chamber; I little dreamed +that paramour was--" + +"Amy, thou wouldst say," answered Leicester; "but it is false, +false as the smoke of hell! Ambitious she may be--fickle and +impatient--'tis a woman's fault; but false to me!--never, never. +The proof--the proof of this!" he exclaimed hastily. + +"Carrol, the Deputy Marshal, ushered her thither by her own +desire, on yesterday afternoon; Lambourne and the Warder both +found her there at an early hour this morning," + +"Was Tressilian there with her?" said Leicester, in the same +hurried tone. + +"No, my lord. You may remember," answered Varney, "that he was +that night placed with Sir Nicholas Blount, under a species of +arrest." + +"Did Carrol, or the other fellows, know who she was?" demanded +Leicester. + +"No, my lord," replied Varney; "Carrol and the Warder had never +seen the Countess, and Lambourne knew her not in her disguise. +But in seeking to prevent her leaving the cell, he obtained +possession of one of her gloves, which, I think, your lordship +may know." + +He gave the glove, which had the Bear and Ragged Staff, the +Earl's impress, embroidered upon it in seed-pearls. + +"I do--I do recognize it," said Leicester. "They were my own +gift. The fellow of it was on the arm which she threw this very +day around my neck!" He spoke this with violent agitation. + +"Your lordship," said Varney, "might yet further inquire of the +lady herself respecting the truth of these passages." + +"It needs not--it needs not," said the tortured Earl; "it is +written in characters of burning light, as if they were branded +on my very eyeballs! I see her infamy-I can see nought else; +and--gracious Heaven!--for this vile woman was I about to commit +to danger the lives of so many noble friends, shake the +foundation of a lawful throne, carry the sword and torch through +the bosom of a peaceful land, wrong the kind mistress who made me +what I am, and would, but for that hell-framed marriage, have +made me all that man can be! All this I was ready to do for a +woman who trinkets and traffics with my worst foes!--And thou, +villain, why didst thou not speak sooner?" + +"My lord," said Varney, "a tear from my lady would have blotted +out all I could have said. Besides, I had not these proofs until +this very morning, when Anthony Foster's sudden arrival with the +examinations and declarations, which he had extorted from the +innkeeper Gosling and others, explained the manner of her flight +from Cumnor Place, and my own researches discovered the steps +which she had taken here." + +"Now, may God be praised for the light He has given! so full, so +satisfactory, that there breathes not a man in England who shall +call my proceeding rash, or my revenge unjust.--And yet, Varney, +so young, so fair, so fawning, and so false! Hence, then, her +hatred to thee, my trusty, my well-beloved servant, because you +withstood her plots, and endangered her paramour's life!" + +"I never gave her any other cause of dislike, my lord," replied +Varney. "But she knew that my counsels went directly to diminish +her influence with your lordship; and that I was, and have been, +ever ready to peril my life against your enemies." + +"It is too, too apparent," replied Leicester "yet with what an +air of magnanimity she exhorted me to commit my head to the +Queen's mercy, rather than wear the veil of falsehood a moment +longer! Methinks the angel of truth himself can have no such +tones of high-souled impulse. Can it be so, Varney?--can +falsehood use thus boldly the language of truth?--can infamy thus +assume the guise of purity? Varney, thou hast been my servant +from a child. I have raised thee high--can raise thee higher. +Think, think for me!--thy brain was ever shrewd and piercing-- +may she not be innocent? Prove her so, and all I have yet done +for thee shall be as nothing--nothing, in comparison of thy +recompense!" + +The agony with which his master spoke had some effect even on the +hardened Varney, who, in the midst of his own wicked and +ambitious designs, really loved his patron as well as such a +wretch was capable of loving anything. But he comforted himself, +and subdued his self-reproaches, with the reflection that if he +inflicted upon the Earl some immediate and transitory pain, it +was in order to pave his way to the throne, which, were this +marriage dissolved by death or otherwise, he deemed Elizabeth +would willingly share with his benefactor. He therefore +persevered in his diabolical policy; and after a moment's +consideration, answered the anxious queries of the Earl with a +melancholy look, as if he had in vain sought some exculpation for +the Countess; then suddenly raising his head, he said, with an +expression of hope, which instantly communicated itself to the +countenance of his patron--"Yet wherefore, if guilty, should she +have perilled herself by coming hither? Why not rather have fled +to her father's, or elsewhere?--though that, indeed, might have +interfered with her desire to be acknowledged as Countess of +Leicester." + +"True, true, true!" exclaimed Leicester, his transient gleam of +hope giving way to the utmost bitterness of feeling and +expression; "thou art not fit to fathom a woman's depth of wit, +Varney. I see it all. She would not quit the estate and title +of the wittol who had wedded her. Ay, and if in my madness I had +started into rebellion, or if the angry Queen had taken my head, +as she this morning threatened, the wealthy dower which law would +have assigned to the Countess Dowager of Leicester had been no +bad windfall to the beggarly Tressilian. Well might she goad me +on to danger, which could not end otherwise than profitably to +her,--Speak not for her, Varney! I will have her blood!" + +"My lord," replied Varney, "the wildness of your distress breaks +forth in the wildness of your language," + +"I say, speak not for her!" replied Leicester; "she has +dishonoured me--she would have murdered me--all ties are burst +between us. She shall die the death of a traitress and +adulteress, well merited both by the laws of God and man! And-- +what is this casket," he said, "which was even now thrust into my +hand by a boy, with the desire I would convey it to Tressilian, +as he could not give it to the Countess? By Heaven! the words +surprised me as he spoke them, though other matters chased them +from my brain; but now they return with double force. It is her +casket of jewels!--Force it open, Varney--force the hinges open +with thy poniard!" + +"She refused the aid of my dagger once," thought Varney, as he +unsheathed the weapon, "to cut the string which bound a letter, +but now it shall work a mightier ministry in her fortunes." + +With this reflection, by using the three-cornered stiletto-blade +as a wedge, he forced open the slender silver hinges of the +casket. The Earl no sooner saw them give way than he snatched +the casket from Sir Richard's hand, wrenched off the cover, and +tearing out the splendid contents, flung them on the floor in a +transport of rage, while he eagerly searched for some letter or +billet which should make the fancied guilt of his innocent +Countess yet more apparent. Then stamping furiously on the gems, +he exclaimed, "Thus I annihilate the miserable toys for which +thou hast sold thyself, body and soul--consigned thyself to an +early and timeless death, and me to misery and remorse for ever! +--Tell me not of forgiveness, Varney--she is doomed!" + +So saying, he left the room, and rushed into an adjacent closet, +the door of which he locked and bolted. + +Varney looked after him, while something of a more human feeling +seemed to contend with his habitual sneer. "I am sorry for his +weakness," he said, "but love has made him a child. He throws +down and treads on these costly toys-with the same vehemence +would he dash to pieces this frailest toy of all, of which he +used to rave so fondly. But that taste also will be forgotten +when its object is no more. Well, he has no eye to value things +as they deserve, and that nature has given to Varney. When +Leicester shall be a sovereign, he will think as little of the +gales of passion through which he gained that royal port, as ever +did sailor in harbour of the perils of a voyage. But these tell- +tale articles must not remain here--they are rather too rich +vails for the drudges who dress the chamber." + +While Varney was employed in gathering together and putting them +into a secret drawer of a cabinet that chanced to be open, he saw +the door of Leicester's closet open, the tapestry pushed aside, +and the Earl's face thrust out, but with eyes so dead, and lips +and cheeks so bloodless and pale, that he started at the sudden +change. No sooner did his eyes encounter the Earl's, than the +latter withdrew his head and shut the door of the closet. This +manoeuvre Leicester repeated twice, without speaking a word, so +that Varney began to doubt whether his brain was not actually +affected by his mental agony. The third time, however, he +beckoned, and Varney obeyed the signal. When he entered, he soon +found his patron's perturbation was not caused by insanity, but +by the fullness of purpose which he entertained contending with +various contrary passions. They passed a full hour in close +consultation; after which the Earl of Leicester, with an +incredible exertion, dressed himself, and went to attend his +royal guest. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting + With most admired disorder. MACBETH. + +It was afterwards remembered that during the banquets and revels +which occupied the remainder of this eventful day the bearing of +Leicester and of Varney were totally different from their usual +demeanour. Sir Richard Varney had been held rather a man of +counsel and of action than a votary of pleasure. Business, +whether civil or military, seemed always to be his proper sphere; +and while in festivals and revels, although he well understood +how to trick them up and present them, his own part was that of a +mere spectator; or if he exercised his wit, it was in a rough, +caustic, and severe manner, rather as if he scoffed at the +exhibition and the guests than shared the common pleasure. + +But upon the present day his character seemed changed. He mixed +among the younger courtiers and ladies, and appeared for the +moment to be actuated by a spirit of light-hearted gaiety, which +rendered him a match for the liveliest. Those who had looked +upon him as a man given up to graver and more ambitious pursuits, +a bitter sneerer and passer of sarcasms at the expense of those +who, taking life as they find it, were disposed to snatch at +each pastime it presents, now perceived with astonishment that +his wit could carry as smooth an edge as their own, his laugh be +as lively, and his brow as unclouded. By what art of damnable +hypocrisy he could draw this veil of gaiety over the black +thoughts of one of the worst of human bosoms must remain +unintelligible to all but his compeers, if any such ever existed; +but he was a man of extraordinary powers, and those powers were +unhappily dedicated in all their energy to the very worst of +purposes. + +It was entirely different with Leicester. However habituated his +mind usually was to play the part of a good courtier, and appear +gay, assiduous, and free from all care but that of enhancing the +pleasure of the moment, while his bosom internally throbbed with +the pangs of unsatisfied ambition, jealousy, or resentment, his +heart had now a yet more dreadful guest, whose workings could not +be overshadowed or suppressed; and you might read in his vacant +eye and troubled brow that his thoughts were far absent from the +scenes in which he was compelling himself to play a part. He +looked, moved, and spoke as if by a succession of continued +efforts; and it seemed as if his will had in some degree lost the +promptitude of command over the acute mind and goodly form of +which it was the regent. His actions and gestures, instead of +appearing the consequence of simple volition, seemed, like those +of an automaton, to wait the revolution of some internal +machinery ere they could be performed; and his words fell from +him piecemeal, interrupted, as if he had first to think what he +was to say, then how it was to be said, and as if, after all, it +was only by an effort of continued attention that he completed a +sentence without forgetting both the one and the other. + +The singular effects which these distractions of mind produced +upon the behaviour and conversation of the most accomplished +courtier of England, as they were visible to the lowest and +dullest menial who approached his person, could not escape the +notice of the most intelligent Princess of the age. Nor is there +the least doubt that the alternate negligence and irregularity of +his manner would have called down Elizabeth's severe displeasure +on the Earl of Leicester, had it not occurred to her to account +for it by supposing that the apprehension of that displeasure +which she had expressed towards him with such vivacity that very +morning was dwelling upon the spirits of her favourite, and, +spite of his efforts to the contrary, distracted the usual +graceful tenor of his mien and the charms of his conversation. +When this idea, so flattering to female vanity, had once obtained +possession of her mind, it proved a full and satisfactory apology +for the numerous errors and mistakes of the Earl of Leicester; +and the watchful circle around observed with astonishment, that, +instead of resenting his repeated negligence, and want of even +ordinary attention (although these were points on which she was +usually extremely punctilious), the Queen sought, on the +contrary, to afford him time and means to recollect himself, and +deigned to assist him in doing so, with an indulgence which +seemed altogether inconsistent with her usual character. It was +clear, however, that this could not last much longer, and that +Elizabeth must finally put another and more severe construction +on Leicester's uncourteous conduct, when the Earl was summoned by +Varney to speak with him in a different apartment. + +After having had the message twice delivered to him, he rose, and +was about to withdraw, as it were, by instinct; then stopped, and +turning round, entreated permission of the Queen to absent +himself for a brief space upon matters of pressing importance. + +"Go, my lord," said the Queen. "We are aware our presence must +occasion sudden and unexpected occurrences, which require to be +provided for on the instant. Yet, my lord, as you would have us +believe ourself your welcome and honoured guest, we entreat you +to think less of our good cheer, and favour us with more of your +good countenance than we have this day enjoyed; for whether +prince or peasant be the guest, the welcome of the host will +always be the better part of the entertainment. Go, my lord; and +we trust to see you return with an unwrinkled brow, and those +free thoughts which you are wont to have at the disposal of your +friends." + +Leicester only bowed low in answer to this rebuke, and retired. +At the door of the apartment he was met by Varney, who eagerly +drew him apart, and whispered in his ear, "All is well!" + +"Has Masters seen her?" said the Earl. + +"He has, my lord; and as she would neither answer his queries, +nor allege any reason for her refusal, he will give full +testimony that she labours under a mental disorder, and may be +best committed to the charge of her friends. The opportunity is +therefore free to remove her as we proposed." + +"But Tressilian?" said Leicester. + +"He will not know of her departure for some time," replied +Varney; "it shall take place this very evening, and to-morrow he +shall be cared for." + +"No, by my soul," answered Leicester; "I will take vengeance on +him with mine own hand!" + +"You, my lord, and on so inconsiderable a man as Tressilian! No, +my lord, he hath long wished to visit foreign parts. Trust him +to me--I will take care he returns not hither to tell tales." + +"Not so, by Heaven, Varney!" exclaimed Leicester. +"Inconsiderable do you call an enemy that hath had power to wound +me so deeply that my whole after-life must be one scene of +remorse and misery?--No; rather than forego the right of doing +myself justice with my own hand on that accursed villain, I will +unfold the whole truth at Elizabeth's footstool, and let her +vengeance descend at once on them and on myself." + +Varney saw with great alarm that his lord was wrought up to such +a pitch of agitation, that if he gave not way to him he was +perfectly capable of adopting the desperate resolution which he +had announced, and which was instant ruin to all the schemes of +ambition which Varney had formed for his patron and for himself. +But the Earl's rage seemed at once uncontrollable and deeply +concentrated, and while he spoke his eyes shot fire, his voice +trembled with excess of passion, and the light foam stood on his +lip. + +His confidant made a bold and successful effort to obtain the +mastery of him even in this hour of emotion. "My lord," he said, +leading him to a mirror, "behold your reflection in that glass, +and think if these agitated features belong to one who, in a +condition so extreme, is capable of forming a resolution for +himself" + +"What, then, wouldst thou make me?" said Leicester, struck at +the change in his own physiognomy, though offended at the freedom +with which Varney made the appeal. "Am I to be thy ward, thy +vassal,--the property and subject of my servant?" + +"No, my lord," said Varney firmly, "but be master of yourself, +and of your own passion. My lord, I, your born servant, am +ashamed to see how poorly you bear yourself in the storm of fury. +Go to Elizabeth's feet, confess your marriage--impeach your wife +and her paramour of adultery--and avow yourself, amongst all your +peers, the wittol who married a country girl, and was cozened by +her and her book-learned gallant. Go, my lord--but first take +farewell of Richard Varney, with all the benefits you ever +conferred on him. He served the noble, the lofty, the high- +minded Leicester, and was more proud of depending on him than he +would be of commanding thousands. But the abject lord who stoops +to every adverse circumstance, whose judicious resolves are +scattered like chaff before every wind of passion, him Richard +Varney serves not. He is as much above him in constancy of mind +as beneath him in rank and fortune." + +Varney spoke thus without hypocrisy, for though the firmness of +mind which he boasted was hardness and impenetrability, yet he +really felt the ascendency which he vaunted; while the interest +which he actually felt in the fortunes of Leicester gave unusual +emotion to his voice and manner. + +Leicester was overpowered by his assumed superiority it seemed to +the unfortunate Earl as if his last friend was about to abandon +him. He stretched his hand towards Varney as he uttered the +words, "Do not leave me. What wouldst thou have me do?" + +"Be thyself, my noble master," said Varney, touching the Earl's +hand with his lips, after having respectfully grasped it in his +own; "be yourself, superior to those storms of passion which +wreck inferior minds. Are you the first who has been cozened in +love--the first whom a vain and licentious woman has cheated into +an affection, which she has afterwards scorned and misused? And +will you suffer yourself to be driven frantic because you have +not been wiser than the wisest men whom the world has seen? Let +her be as if she had not been--let her pass from your memory, as +unworthy of ever having held a place there. Let your strong +resolve of this morning, which I have both courage, zeal, and +means enough to execute, be like the fiat of a superior being, a +passionless act of justice. She hath deserved death--let her +die!" + +While he was speaking, the Earl held his hand fast, compressed +his lips hard, and frowned, as if he laboured to catch from +Varney a portion of the cold, ruthless, and dispassionate +firmness which he recommended. When he was silent, the Earl +still continued to rasp his hand, until, with an effort at calm +decision, he was able to articulate, "Be it so--she dies! But +one tear might be permitted." + +"Not one, my lord," interrupted Varney, who saw by the quivering +eye and convulsed cheek of his patron that he was about to give +way to a burst of emotion--"not a tear--the time permits it not. +Tressilian must be thought of--" + +"That indeed is a name," said the Earl, "to convert tears into +blood. Varney, I have thought on this, and I have determined-- +neither entreaty nor argument shall move me--Tressilian shall be +my own victim." + +"It is madness, my lord; but you are too mighty for me to bar +your way to your revenge. Yet resolve at least to choose fitting +time and opportunity, and to forbear him until these shall be +found." + +"Thou shalt order me in what thou wilt," said Leicester, "only +thwart me not in this." + +"Then, my lord," said Varney, "I first request of you to lay +aside the wild, suspected, and half-frenzied demeanour which hath +this day drawn the eyes of all the court upon you, and which, but +for the Queen's partial indulgence, which she hath extended +towards you in a degree far beyond her nature, she had never +given you the opportunity to atone for." + +"Have I indeed been so negligent?" said Leicester, as one who +awakes from a dream. "I thought I had coloured it well. But +fear nothing, my mind is now eased--I am calm. My horoscope +shall be fulfilled; and that it may be fulfilled, I will tax to +the highest every faculty of my mind. Fear me not, I say. I +will to the Queen instantly--not thine own looks and language +shall be more impenetrable than mine. Hast thou aught else to +say?" + +"I must crave your signet-ring," said Varney gravely, "in token +to those of your servants whom I must employ, that I possess your +full authority in commanding their aid." + +Leicester drew off the signet-ring which he commonly used, and +gave it to Varney, with a haggard and stern expression of +countenance, adding only, in a low, half-whispered tone, but with +terrific emphasis, the words, "What thou dost, do quickly." + +Some anxiety and wonder took place, meanwhile, in the presence- +hall, at the prolonged absence of the noble Lord of the Castle, +and great was the delight of his friends when they saw him enter +as a man from whose bosom, to all human seeming, a weight of care +had been just removed. Amply did Leicester that day redeem the +pledge he had given to Varney, who soon saw himself no longer +under the necessity of maintaining a character so different from +his own as that which he had assumed in the earlier part of the +day, and gradually relapsed into the same grave, shrewd, caustic +observer of conversation and incident which constituted his usual +part in society. + +With Elizabeth, Leicester played his game as one to whom her +natural strength of talent and her weakness in one or two +particular points were well known. He was too wary to exchange +on a sudden the sullen personage which he had played before he +retired with Varney; but on approaching her it seemed softened +into a melancholy, which had a touch of tenderness in it, and +which, in the course of conversing with Elizabeth, and as she +dropped in compassion one mark of favour after another to console +him, passed into a flow of affectionate gallantry, the most +assiduous, the most delicate, the most insinuating, yet at the +same time the most respectful, with which a Queen was ever +addressed by a subject. Elizabeth listened as in a sort of +enchantment. Her jealousy of power was lulled asleep; her +resolution to forsake all social or domestic ties, and dedicate +herself exclusively to the care of her people, began to be +shaken; and once more the star of Dudley culminated in the court +horizon. + +But Leicester did not enjoy this triumph over nature, and over +conscience, without its being embittered to him, not only by the +internal rebellion of his feelings against the violence which he +exercised over them, but by many accidental circumstances, which, +in the course of the banquet, and during the subsequent +amusements of the evening, jarred upon that nerve, the least +vibration of which was agony. + +The courtiers were, for example, in the Great Hall, after having +left the banqueting-room, awaiting the appearance of a splendid +masque, which was the expected entertainment of this evening, +when the Queen interrupted a wild career of wit which the Earl of +Leicester was running against Lord Willoughby, Raleigh, and some +other courtiers, by saying, "We will impeach you of high treason, +my lord, if you proceed in this attempt to slay us with laughter. +And here comes a thing may make us all grave at his pleasure, our +learned physician Masters, with news belike of our poor +suppliant, Lady Varney;--nay, my lord, we will not have you leave +us, for this being a dispute betwixt married persons, we do not +hold our own experience deep enough to decide thereon without +good counsel.--How now, Masters, what thinkest thou of the +runaway bride?" + +The smile with which Leicester had been speaking, when the Queen +interrupted him, remained arrested on his lips, as if it had been +carved there by the chisel of Michael Angelo or of Chantrey; and +he listened to the speech of the physician with the same +immovable cast of countenance. + +"The Lady Varney, gracious Sovereign," said the court physician +Masters, "is sullen, and would hold little conference with me +touching the state of her health, talking wildly of being soon to +plead her own cause before your own presence, and of answering no +meaner person's inquiries." + +"Now the heavens forfend!" said the Queen; "we have already +suffered from the misconstructions and broils which seem to +follow this poor brain-sick lady wherever she comes.--Think you +not so, my lord?" she added, appealing to Leicester with +something in her look that indicated regret, even tenderly +expressed, for their disagreement of that morning. Leicester +compelled himself to bow low. The utmost force he could exert +was inadequate to the further effort of expressing in words his +acquiescence in the Queen's sentiment. + +"You are vindictive," she said, "my lord; but we will find time +and place to punish you. But once more to this same trouble- +mirth, this Lady Varney. What of her health, Masters?" + +"She is sullen, madam, as I already said," replied Masters, "and +refuses to answer interrogatories, or be amenable to the +authority of the mediciner. I conceive her to be possessed with +a delirium, which I incline to term rather HYPOCHONDRIA than +PHRENESIS; and I think she were best cared for by her husband in +his own house, and removed from all this bustle of pageants, +which disturbs her weak brain with the most fantastic phantoms. +She drops hints as if she were some great person in disguise-- +some Countess or Princess perchance. God help them, such are +often the hallucinations of these infirm persons!" + +"Nay, then," said the Queen, "away with her with all speed. Let +Varney care for her with fitting humanity; but let them rid the +Castle of her forthwith she will think herself lady of all, I +warrant you. It is pity so fair a form, however, should have an +infirm understanding.--What think you, my lord?" + +"It is pity indeed," said the Earl, repeating the words like a +task which was set him. + +"But, perhaps," said Elizabeth, "you do not join with us in our +opinion of her beauty; and indeed we have known men prefer a +statelier and more Juno-like form to that drooping fragile one +that hung its head like a broken lily. Ay, men are tyrants, my +lord, who esteem the animation of the strife above the triumph of +an unresisting conquest, and, like sturdy champions, love best +those women who can wage contest with them.--I could think with +you, Rutland, that give my Lord of Leicester such a piece of +painted wax for a bride, he would have wished her dead ere the +end of the honeymoon." + +As she said this, she looked on Leicester so expressively that, +while his heart revolted against the egregious falsehood, he did +himself so much violence as to reply in a whisper that +Leicester's love was more lowly than her Majesty deemed, since it +was settled where he could never command, but must ever obey. + +The Queen blushed, and bid him be silent; yet looked as of she +expected that he would not obey her commands. But at that moment +the flourish of trumpets and kettle-drums from a high balcony +which overlooked the hall announced the entrance of the maskers, +and relieved Leicester from the horrible state of constraint and +dissimulation in which the result of his own duplicity had placed +him. + +The masque which entered consisted of four separate bands, which +followed each other at brief intervals, each consisting of six +principal persons and as many torch-bearers, and each +representing one of the various nations by which England had at +different times been occupied. + +The aboriginal Britons, who first entered, were ushered in by two +ancient Druids, whose hoary hair was crowned with a chaplet of +oak, and who bore in their hands branches of mistletoe. The +maskers who followed these venerable figures were succeeded by +two Bards, arrayed in white, and bearing harps, which they +occasionally touched, singing at the same time certain stanzas of +an ancient hymn to Belus, or the Sun. The aboriginal Britons had +been selected from amongst the tallest and most robust young +gentlemen in attendance on the court. Their masks were +accommodated with long, shaggy beards and hair; their vestments +were of the hides of wolves and bears; while their legs, arms, +and the upper parts of their bodies, being sheathed in flesh- +coloured silk, on which were traced in grotesque lines +representations of the heavenly bodies, and of animals and other +terrestrial objects, gave them the lively appearance of our +painted ancestors, whose freedom was first trenched upon by the +Romans. + +The sons of Rome, who came to civilize as well as to conquer, +were next produced before the princely assembly; and the manager +of the revels had correctly imitated the high crest and military +habits of that celebrated people, accommodating them with the +light yet strong buckler and the short two-edged sword, the use +of which had made them victors of the world. The Roman eagles +were borne before them by two standard-bearers, who recited a +hymn to Mars, and the classical warriors followed with the grave +and haughty step of men who aspired at universal conquest. + +The third quadrille represented the Saxons, clad in the bearskins +which they had brought with them from the German forests, and +bearing in their hands the redoubtable battle-axes which made +such havoc among the natives of Britain. They were preceded by +two Scalds, who chanted the praises of Odin. + +Last came the knightly Normans, in their mail-shirts and hoods of +steel, with all the panoply of chivalry, and marshalled by two +Minstrels, who sang of war and ladies' love. + +These four bands entered the spacious hall with the utmost order, +a short pause being made, that the spectators might satisfy their +curiosity as to each quadrille before the appearance of the next. +They then marched completely round the hall, in order the more +fully to display themselves, regulating their steps to organs, +shalms, hautboys, and virginals, the music of the Lord +Leicester's household. At length the four quadrilles of maskers, +ranging their torch-bearers behind them, drew up in their several +ranks on the two opposite sides of the hall, so that the Romans +confronting the Britons, and the Saxons the Normans, seemed to +look on each other with eyes of wonder, which presently appeared +to kindle into anger, expressed by menacing gestures. At the +burst of a strain of martial music from the gallery the maskers +drew their swords on all sides, and advanced against each other +in the measured steps of a sort of Pyrrhic or military dance, +clashing their swords against their adversaries' shields, and +clattering them against their blades as they passed each other in +the progress of the dance. It was a very pleasant spectacle to +see how the various bands, preserving regularity amid motions +which seemed to be totally irregular, mixed together, and then +disengaging themselves, resumed each their own original rank as +the music varied. + +In this symbolical dance were represented the conflicts which had +taken place among the various nations which had anciently +inhabited Britain. + +At length, after many mazy evolutions, which afforded great +pleasure to the spectators, the sound of a loud-voiced trumpet +was heard, as if it blew for instant battle, or for victory won. +The maskers instantly ceased their mimic strife, and collecting +themselves under their original leaders, or presenters, for such +was the appropriate phrase, seemed to share the anxious +expectation which the spectators experienced concerning what was +next to appear. + +The doors of the hall were thrown wide, and no less a person +entered than the fiend-born Merlin, dressed in a strange and +mystical attire, suited to his ambiguous birth and magical power. + +About him and behind him fluttered or gambolled many +extraordinary forms, intended to represent the spirits who waited +to do his powerful bidding; and so much did this part of the +pageant interest the menials and others of the lower class then +in the Castle, that many of them forgot even the reverence due to +the Queen's presence, so far as to thrust themselves into the +lower part of the hall. + +The Earl of Leicester, seeing his officers had some difficulty to +repel these intruders, without more disturbance than was fitting +where the Queen was in presence, arose and went himself to the +bottom of the hall; Elizabeth, at the same time, with her usual +feeling for the common people, requesting that they might be +permitted to remain undisturbed to witness the pageant. +Leicester went under this pretext; but his real motive was to +gain a moment to himself, and to relieve his mind, were it but +for one instant, from the dreadful task of hiding, under the +guise of gaiety and gallantry, the lacerating pangs of shame, +anger, remorse, and thirst for vengeance. He imposed silence by +his look and sign upon the vulgar crowd at the lower end of the +apartment; but instead of instantly returning to wait on her +Majesty, he wrapped his cloak around him, and mixing with the +crowd, stood in some degree an undistinguished spectator of the +progress of the masque. + +Merlin having entered, and advanced into the midst of the hall, +summoned the presenters of the contending bands around him by a +wave of his magical rod, and announced to them, in a poetical +speech, that the isle of Britain was now commanded by a Royal +Maiden, to whom it was the will of fate that they should all do +homage, and request of her to pronounce on the various +pretensions which each set forth to be esteemed the pre-eminent +stock, from which the present natives, the happy subjects of that +angelical Princess, derived their lineage. + +In obedience to this mandate, the bands, each moving to solemn +music, passed in succession before Elizabeth, doing her, as they +passed, each after the fashion of the people whom they +represented, the lowest and most devotional homage, which she +returned with the same gracious courtesy that had marked her +whole conduct since she came to Kenilworth. + +The presenters of the several masques or quadrilles then alleged, +each in behalf of his own troop, the reasons which they had for +claiming pre-eminence over the rest; and when they had been all +heard in turn, she returned them this gracious answer: "That she +was sorry she was not better qualified to decide upon the +doubtful question which had been propounded to her by the +direction of the famous Merlin, but that it seemed to her that no +single one of these celebrated nations could claim pre-eminence +over the others, as having most contributed to form the +Englishman of her own time, who unquestionably derived from each +of them some worthy attribute of his character. Thus," she said, +"the Englishman had from the ancient Briton his bold and tameless +spirit of freedom; from the Roman his disciplined courage in war, +with his love of letters and civilization in time of peace; from +the Saxon his wise and equitable laws; and from the chivalrous +Norman his love of honour and courtesy, with his generous desire +for glory." + +Merlin answered with readiness that it did indeed require that so +many choice qualities should meet in the English, as might render +them in some measure the muster of the perfections of other +nations, since that alone could render them in some degree +deserving of the blessings they enjoyed under the reign of +England's Elizabeth. + +The music then sounded, and the quadrilles, together with Merlin +and his assistants, had begun to remove from the crowded hall, +when Leicester, who was, as we have mentioned, stationed for the +moment near the bottom of the hall, and consequently engaged in +some degree in the crowd, felt himself pulled by the cloak, while +a voice whispered in his ear, "My Lord, I do desire some instant +conference with you." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + How is't with me, when every noise appals me? MACBETH. + +"I desire some conference with you." The words were simple in +themselves, but Lord Leicester was in that alarmed and feverish +state of mind when the most ordinary occurrences seem fraught +with alarming import; and he turned hastily round to survey the +person by whom they had been spoken. There was nothing +remarkable in the speaker's appearance, which consisted of a +black silk doublet and short mantle, with a black vizard on his +face; for it appeared he had been among the crowd of masks who +had thronged into the hall in the retinue of Merlin, though he +did not wear any of the extravagant disguises by which most of +them were distinguished. + +"Who are you, or what do you want with me?" said Leicester, not +without betraying, by his accents, the hurried state of his +spirits. + +"No evil, my lord," answered the mask, "but much good and honour, +if you will rightly understand my purpose. But I must speak with +you more privately." + +"I can speak with no nameless stranger," answered Leicester, +dreading he knew not precisely what from the request of the +stranger; "and those who are known to me must seek another and a +fitter time to ask an interview." + +He would have hurried away, but the mask still detained him. + +"Those who talk to your lordship of what your own honour demands +have a right over your time, whatever occupations you may lay +aside in order to indulge them." + +"How! my honour? Who dare impeach it?" said Leicester. + +"Your own conduct alone can furnish grounds for accusing it, my +lord, and it is that topic on which I would speak with you." + +"You are insolent," said Leicester, "and abuse the hospitable +license of the time, which prevents me from having you punished. +I demand your name!" + +"Edmund Tressilian of Cornwall," answered the mask. "My tongue +has been bound by a promise for four-and-twenty hours. The space +is passed,--I now speak, and do your lordship the justice to +address myself first to you." + +The thrill of astonishment which had penetrated to Leicester's +very heart at hearing that name pronounced by the voice of the +man he most detested, and by whom he conceived himself so deeply +injured, at first rendered him immovable, but instantly gave way +to such a thirst for revenge as the pilgrim in the desert feels +for the water-brooks. He had but sense and self-government +enough left to prevent his stabbing to the heart the audacious +villain, who, after the ruin he had brought upon him, dared, with +such unmoved assurance, thus to practise upon him further. +Determined to suppress for the moment every symptom of agitation, +in order to perceive the full scope of Tressilian's purpose, as +well as to secure his own vengeance, he answered in a tone so +altered by restrained passion as scarce to be intelligible, "And +what does Master Edmund Tressilian require at my hand?" + +"Justice, my lord," answered Tressilian, calmly but firmly. + +"Justice," said Leicester, "all men are entitled to. YOU, Master +Tressilian, are peculiarly so, and be assured you shall have it." + +"I expect nothing less from your nobleness," answered Tressilian; +"but time presses, and I must speak with you to-night. May I +wait on you in your chamber?" + +"No," answered Leicester sternly, "not under a roof, and that +roof mine own. We will meet under the free cope of heaven." + +"You are discomposed or displeased, my lord," replied Tressilian; +"yet there is no occasion for distemperature. The place is equal +to me, so you allow me one half-hour of your time uninterrupted." + +"A shorter time will, I trust, suffice," answered Leicester. +"Meet me in the Pleasance when the Queen has retired to her +chamber." + +"Enough," said Tressilian, and withdrew; while a sort of rapture +seemed for the moment to occupy the mind of Leicester. + +"Heaven," he said, "is at last favourable to me, and has put +within my reach the wretch who has branded me with this deep +ignominy--who has inflicted on me this cruel agony. I will blame +fate no more, since I am afforded the means of tracing the wiles +by which he means still further to practise on me, and then of at +once convicting and punishing his villainy. To my task--to my +task! I will not sink under it now, since midnight, at farthest, +will bring me vengeance." + +While these reflections thronged through Leicester's mind, he +again made his way amid the obsequious crowd, which divided to +give him passage, and resumed his place, envied and admired, +beside the person of his Sovereign. But could the bosom of him +thus admired and envied have been laid open before the +inhabitants of that crowded hall, with all its dark thoughts of +guilty ambition, blighted affection, deep vengeance, and +conscious sense of meditated cruelty, crossing each other like +spectres in the circle of some foul enchantress, which of them, +from the most ambitious noble in the courtly circle down to the +most wretched menial who lived by shifting of trenchers, would +have desired to change characters with the favourite of +Elizabeth, and the Lord of Kenilworth? + +New tortures awaited him as soon as he had rejoined Elizabeth. + +"You come in time, my lord," she said, "to decide a dispute +between us ladies. Here has Sir Richard Varney asked our +permission to depart from the Castle with his infirm lady, +having, as he tells us, your lordship's consent to his absence, +so he can obtain ours. Certes, we have no will to withhold him +from the affectionate charge of this poor young person; but you +are to know that Sir Richard Varney hath this day shown himself +so much captivated with these ladies of ours, that here is our +Duchess of Rutland says he will carry his poor insane wife no +farther than the lake, plunge her in to tenant the crystal +palaces that the enchanted nymph told us of, and return a jolly +widower, to dry his tears and to make up the loss among our +train. How say you, my lord? We have seen Varney under two or +three different guises--you know what are his proper attributes +--think you he is capable of playing his lady such a knave's +trick?" + +Leicester was confounded, but the danger was urgent, and a reply +absolutely necessary. "The ladies," he said, "think too lightly +of one of their own sex, in supposing she could deserve such a +fate; or too ill of ours, to think it could be inflicted upon an +innocent female." + +"Hear him, my ladies," said Elizabeth; "like all his sex, he +would excuse their cruelty by imputing fickleness to us." + +"Say not US, madam," replied the Earl. "We say that meaner +women, like the lesser lights of heaven, have revolutions and +phases; but who shall impute mutability to the sun, or to +Elizabeth?" + +The discourse presently afterwards assumed a less perilous +tendency, and Leicester continued to support his part in it with +spirit, at whatever expense of mental agony. So pleasing did it +seem to Elizabeth, that the Castle bell had sounded midnight ere +she retired from the company, a circumstance unusual in her quiet +and regular habits of disposing of time. Her departure was, of +course, the signal for breaking up the company, who dispersed to +their several places of repose, to dream over the pastimes of the +day, or to anticipate those of the morrow. + +The unfortunate Lord of the Castle, and founder of the proud +festival, retired to far different thoughts. His direction to +the valet who attended him was to send Varney instantly to his +apartment. The messenger returned after some delay, and informed +him that an hour had elapsed since Sir Richard Varney had left +the Castle by the postern gate with three other persons, one of +whom was transported in a horse-litter. + +"How came he to leave the Castle after the watch was set?" said +Leicester. "I thought he went not till daybreak." + +"He gave satisfactory reasons, as I understand," said the +domestic, "to the guard, and, as I hear, showed your lordship's +signet--" + +"True--true," said the Earl; "yet he has been hasty. Do any of +his attendants remain behind?" + +"Michael Lambourne, my lord," said the valet, "was not to be +found when Sir Richard Varney departed, and his master was much +incensed at his absence. I saw him but now saddling his horse to +gallop after his master." + +"Bid him come hither instantly," said Leicester; "I have a +message to his master." + +The servant left the apartment, and Leicester traversed it for +some time in deep meditation. "Varney is over-zealous," he said, +"over-pressing. He loves me, I think; but he hath his own ends +to serve, and he is inexorable in pursuit of them. If I rise, he +rises; and he hath shown himself already but too, eager to rid me +of this obstacle which seems to stand betwixt me and sovereignty. +Yet I will not stoop to bear this disgrace. She shall be +punished, but it shall be more advisedly. I already feel, even +in anticipation, that over-haste would light the flames of hell +in my bosom. No--one victim is enough at once, and that victim +already waits me." + +He seized upon writing materials, and hastily traced these +words:-- +"Sir Richard Varney, we have resolved to defer the matter +entrusted to your care, and strictly command you to proceed no +further in relation to our Countess until our further order. We +also command your instant return to Kenilworth as soon as you +have safely bestowed that with which you are entrusted. But if +the safe-placing of your present charge shall detain you longer +than we think for, we command you in that case to send back our +signet-ring by a trusty and speedy messenger, we having present +need of the same. And requiring your strict obedience in these +things, and commending you to God's keeping, we rest your assured +good friend and master, R. LEICESTER. + +"Given at our Castle of Kenilworth, the tenth of July, in the +year of Salvation one thousand five hundred and seventy-five." + +As Leicester had finished and sealed this mandate, Michael +Lambourne, booted up to mid-thigh, having his riding-cloak +girthed around him with a broad belt, and a felt cap on his head, +like that of a courier, entered his apartment, ushered in by the +valet. + +"What is thy capacity of service?" said the Earl. + +"Equerry to your lordship's master of the horse," answered +Lambourne, with his customary assurance. + +"Tie up thy saucy tongue, sir," said Leicester; "the jests that +may suit Sir Richard Varney's presence suit not mine. How soon +wilt thou overtake thy master?" + +"In one hour's riding, my lord, if man and horse hold good," said +Lambourne, with an instant alteration of demeanour, from an +approach to familiarity to the deepest respect. The Earl +measured him with his eye from top to toe. + +"I have heard of thee," he said "men say thou art a prompt fellow +in thy service, but too much given to brawling and to wassail to +be trusted with things of moment." + +"My lord," said Lambourne, "I have been soldier, sailor, +traveller, and adventurer; and these are all trades in which men +enjoy to-day, because they have no surety of to-morrow. But +though I may misuse mine own leisure, I have never neglected the +duty I owe my master." + +"See that it be so in this instance," said Leicester, "and it +shall do thee good. Deliver this letter speedily and carefully +into Sir Richard Varney's hands." + +"Does my commission reach no further?" said Lambourne. + +"No," answered Leicester; "but it deeply concerns me that it be +carefully as well as hastily executed." + +"I will spare neither care nor horse-flesh," answered Lambourne, +and immediately took his leave. + +"So, this is the end of my private audience, from which I hoped +so much!" he muttered to himself, as he went through the long +gallery, and down the back staircase. Cogs bones! I thought the +Earl had wanted a cast of mine office in some secret intrigue, +and it all ends in carrying a letter! Well, his pleasure shall +be done, however; and as his lordship well says, it may do me +good another time. The child must creep ere he walk, and so must +your infant courtier. I will have a look into this letter, +however, which he hath sealed so sloven-like." Having +accomplished this, he clapped his hands together in ecstasy, +exclaiming, "The Countess the Countess! I have the secret that +shall make or mar me.--But come forth, Bayard," he added, leading +his horse into the courtyard, "for your flanks and my spurs must +be presently acquainted." + +Lambourne mounted, accordingly, and left the Castle by the +postern gate, where his free passage was permitted, in +consequence of a message to that effect left by Sir Richard +Varney. + +As soon as Lambourne and the valet had left the apartment, +Leicester proceeded to change his dress for a very plain one, +threw his mantle around him, and taking a lamp in his hand, went +by the private passage of communication to a small secret postern +door which opened into the courtyard, near to the entrance of the +Pleasance. His reflections were of a more calm and determined +character than they had been at any late period, and he +endeavoured to claim, even in his own eyes, the character of a +man more sinned against than sinning. + +"I have suffered the deepest injury," such was the tenor of his +meditations, "yet I have restricted the instant revenge which was +in my power, and have limited it to that which is manly and +noble. But shall the union which this false woman has this day +disgraced remain an abiding fetter on me, to check me in the +noble career to which my destinies invite me? No; there are +other means of disengaging such ties, without unloosing the cords +of life. In the sight of God, I am no longer bound by the union +she has broken. Kingdoms shall divide us, oceans roll betwixt +us, and their waves, whose abysses have swallowed whole navies, +shall be the sole depositories of the deadly mystery." + +By such a train of argument did Leicester labour to reconcile his +conscience to the prosecution of plans of vengeance, so hastily +adopted, and of schemes of ambition, which had become so woven in +with every purpose and action of his life that he was incapable +of the effort of relinquishing them, until his revenge appeared +to him to wear a face of justice, and even of generous +moderation. + +In this mood the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superb +precincts of the Pleasance, then illumined by the full moon. The +broad, yellow light was reflected on all sides from the white +freestone, of which the pavement, balustrades, and architectural +ornaments of the place were constructed; and not a single fleecy +cloud was visible in the azure sky, so that the scene was nearly +as light as if the sun had but just left the horizon. The +numerous statues of white marble glimmered in the pale light like +so many sheeted ghosts just arisen from their sepulchres, and the +fountains threw their jets into the air as if they sought that +their waters should be brightened by the moonbeams ere they fell +down again upon their basins in showers of sparkling silver. The +day had been sultry, and the gentle night-breeze which sighed +along the terrace of the Pleasance raised not a deeper breath +than the fan in the hand of youthful beauty. The bird of summer +night had built many a nest in the bowers of the adjacent garden, +and the tenants now indemnified themselves for silence during the +day by a full chorus of their own unrivalled warblings, now +joyous, now pathetic, now united, now responsive to each other, +as if to express their delight in the placid and delicious scene +to which they poured their melody. + +Musing on matters far different from the fall of waters, the +gleam of moonlight, or the song of the nightingale, the stately +Leicester walked slowly from the one end of the terrace to the +other, his cloak wrapped around him, and his sword under his arm, +without seeing anything resembling the human form. + +"I have been fooled by my own generosity," he said, "if I have +suffered the villain to escape me--ay, and perhaps to go to the +rescue of the adulteress, who is so poorly guarded." + +These were his thoughts, which were instantly dispelled when, +turning to look back towards the entrance, he saw a human form +advancing slowly from the portico, and darkening the various +objects with its shadow, as passing them successively, in its +approach towards him. + +"Shall I strike ere I again hear his detested voice?" was +Leicester's thought, as he grasped the hilt of the sword. "But +no! I will see which way his vile practice tends. I will watch, +disgusting as it is, the coils and mazes of the loathsome snake, +ere I put forth my strength and crush him." + +His hand quitted the sword-hilt, and he advanced slowly towards +Tressilian, collecting, for their meeting, all the self- +possession he could command, until they came front to front with +each other. + +Tressilian made a profound reverence, to which the Earl replied +with a haughty inclination of the head, and the words, "You +sought secret conference with me, sir; I am here, and attentive." + +"My lord," said Tressilian, "I am so earnest in that which I have +to say, and so desirous to find a patient, nay, a favourable +hearing, that I will stoop to exculpate myself from whatever +might prejudice your lordship against me. You think me your +enemy?" + +"Have I not some apparent cause?" answered Leicester, perceiving +that Tressilian paused for a reply. + +"You do me wrong, my lord. I am a friend, but neither a +dependant nor partisan, of the Earl of Sussex, whom courtiers +call your rival; and it is some considerable time since I ceased +to consider either courts or court intrigues as suited to my +temper or genius." + +"No doubt, sir," answered Leicester "there are other occupations +more worthy a scholar, and for such the world holds Master +Tressilian. Love has his intrigues as well as ambition." + +"I perceive, my lord," replied Tressilian, "you give much weight +to my early attachment for the unfortunate young person of whom I +am about to speak, and perhaps think I am prosecuting her cause +out of rivalry, more than a sense of justice." + +"No matter for my thoughts, sir," said the Earl; "proceed. You +have as yet spoken of yourself only--an important and worthy +subject doubtless, but which, perhaps, does not altogether so +deeply concern me that I should postpone my repose to hear it. +Spare me further prelude, sir, and speak to the purpose if indeed +you have aught to say that concerns me. When you have done, I, +in my turn, have something to communicate." + +"I will speak, then, without further prelude, my lord," answered +Tressilian, "having to say that which, as it concerns your +lordship's honour, I am confident you will not think your time +wasted in listening to. I have to request an account from your +lordship of the unhappy Amy Robsart, whose history is too well +known to you. I regret deeply that I did not at once take this +course, and make yourself judge between me and the villain by +whom she is injured. My lord, she extricated herself from an +unlawful and most perilous state of confinement, trusting to the +effects of her own remonstrance upon her unworthy husband, and +extorted from me a promise that I would not interfere in her +behalf until she had used her own efforts to have her rights +acknowledged by him." + +"Ha," said Leicester, "remember you to whom you speak?" + +"I speak of her unworthy husband, my lord," repeated Tressilian, +"and my respect can find no softer language. The unhappy young +woman is withdrawn from my knowledge, and sequestered in some +secret place of this Castle--if she be not transferred to some +place of seclusion better fitted for bad designs. This must be +reformed, my lord--I speak it as authorized by her father--and +this ill-fated marriage must be avouched and proved in the +Queen's presence, and the lady placed without restraint and at +her own free disposal. And permit me to say it concerns no one's +honour that these most just demands of mine should be complied +with so much as it does that of your lordship." + +The Earl stood as if he had been petrified at the extreme +coolness with which the man, whom he considered as having injured +him so deeply, pleaded the cause of his criminal paramour, as if +she had been an innocent woman and he a disinterested advocate; +nor was his wonder lessened by the warmth with which Tressilian +seemed to demand for her the rank and situation which she had +disgraced, and the advantages of which she was doubtless to share +with the lover who advocated her cause with such effrontery. +Tressilian had been silent for more than a minute ere the Earl +recovered from the excess of his astonishment; and considering +the prepossessions with which his mind was occupied, there is +little wonder that his passion gained the mastery of every other +consideration. "I have heard you, Master Tressilian," said he, +"without interruption, and I bless God that my ears were never +before made to tingle by the words of so frontless a villain. +The task of chastising you is fitter for the hangman's scourge +than the sword of a nobleman, but yet--Villain, draw and defend +thyself!" + +As he spoke the last words, he dropped his mantle on the ground, +struck Tressilian smartly with his sheathed sword, and instantly +drawing his rapier, put himself into a posture of assault. The +vehement fury of his language at first filled Tressilian, in his +turn, with surprise equal to what Leicester had felt when he +addressed him. But astonishment gave place to resentment when +the unmerited insults of his language were followed by a blow +which immediately put to flight every thought save that of +instant combat. Tressilian's sword was instantly drawn; and +though perhaps somewhat inferior to Leicester in the use of the +weapon, he understood it well enough to maintain the contest with +great spirit, the rather that of the two he was for the time the +more cool, since he could not help imputing Leicester's conduct +either to actual frenzy or to the influence of some strong +delusion. + +The rencontre had continued for several minutes, without either +party receiving a wound, when of a sudden voices were heard +beneath the portico which formed the entrance of the terrace, +mingled with the steps of men advancing hastily. "We are +interrupted," said Leicester to his antagonist; "follow me." + +At the same time a voice from the portico said, "The jackanape is +right--they are tilting here." + +Leicester, meanwhile, drew off Tressilian into a sort of recess +behind one of the fountains, which served to conceal them, while +six of the yeomen of the Queen's guard passed along the middle +walk of the Pleasance, and they could hear one say to the rest, +"We shall never find them to-night among all these squirting +funnels, squirrel cages, and rabbit-holes; but if we light not on +them before we reach the farther end, we will return, and mount a +guard at the entrance, and so secure them till morning." + +"A proper matter," said another, "the drawing of swords so near +the Queen's presence, ay, and in her very palace as 'twere! Hang +it, they must be some poor drunken game-cocks fallen to sparring +--'twere pity almost we should find them--the penalty is chopping +off a hand, is it not?--'twere hard to lose hand for handling a +bit of steel, that comes so natural to one's gripe." + +"Thou art a brawler thyself, George," said another; "but take +heed, for the law stands as thou sayest." + +"Ay," said the first, "an the act be not mildly construed; for +thou knowest 'tis not the Queen's palace, but my Lord of +Leicester's." + +"Why, for that matter, the penalty may be as severe," said +another "for an our gracious Mistress be Queen, as she is, God +save her, my Lord of Leicester is as good as King." + +"Hush, thou knave!" said a third; "how knowest thou who may be +within hearing?" + +They passed on, making a kind of careless search, but seemingly +more intent on their own conversation than bent on discovering +the persons who had created the nocturnal disturbance. + +They had no sooner passed forward along the terrace, than +Leicester, making a sign to Tressilian to follow him, glided away +in an opposite direction, and escaped through the portico +undiscovered. He conducted Tressilian to Mervyn's Tower, in +which he was now again lodged; and then, ere parting with him, +said these words, "If thou hast courage to continue and bring to +an end what is thus broken off, be near me when the court goes +forth to-morrow; we shall find a time, and I will give you a +signal when it is fitting." + +"My lord," said Tressilian, "at another time I might have +inquired the meaning of this strange and furious inveteracy +against me. But you have laid that on my shoulder which only +blood can wash away; and were you as high as your proudest wishes +ever carried you, I would have from you satisfaction for my +wounded honour." + +On these terms they parted, but the adventures of the night were +not yet ended with Leicester. He was compelled to pass by +Saintlowe's Tower, in order to gain the private passage which led +to his own chamber; and in the entrance thereof he met Lord +Hunsdon half clothed, and with a naked sword under his arm. + +"Are you awakened, too, with this 'larum, my Lord of Leicester?" +said the old soldier. "'Tis well. By gog's nails, the nights +are as noisy as the day in this Castle of yours. Some two hours +since I was waked by the screams of that poor brain-sick Lady +Varney, whom her husband was forcing away. I promise you it +required both your warrant and the Queen's to keep me from +entering into the game, and cutting that Varney of yours over the +head. And now there is a brawl down in the Pleasance, or what +call you the stone terrace-walk where all yonder gimcracks +stand?" + +The first part of the old man's speech went through the Earl's +heart like a knife; to the last he answered that he himself had +heard the clash of swords, and had come down to take order with +those who had been so insolent so near the Queen's presence. + +"Nay, then," said Hunsdon, "I will be glad of your lordship's +company." + +Leicester was thus compelled to turn back with the rough old Lord +to the Pleasance, where Hunsdon heard from the yeomen of the +guard, who were under his immediate command, the unsuccessful +search they had made for the authors of the disturbance; and +bestowed for their pains some round dozen of curses on them, as +lazy knaves and blind whoresons. Leicester also thought it +necessary to seem angry that no discovery had been effected; but +at length suggested to Lord Hunsdon, that after all it could only +be some foolish young men who had been drinking healths pottle- +deep, and who should be sufficiently scared by the search which +had taken place after them. Hunsdon, who was himself attached to +his cup, allowed that a pint-flagon might cover many of the +follies which it had caused, "But," added he, "unless your +lordship will be less liberal in your housekeeping, and restrain +the overflow of ale, and wine, and wassail, I foresee it will end +in my having some of these good fellows into the guard-house, and +treating them to a dose of the strappado. And with this warning, +good night to you." + +Joyful at being rid of his company, Leicester took leave of him +at the entrance of his lodging, where they had first met, and +entering the private passage, took up the lamp which he had left +there, and by its expiring light found the way to his own +apartment. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + Room! room! for my horse will wince + If he comes within so many yards of a prince; + For to tell you true, and in rhyme, + He was foal'd in Queen Elizabeth's time; + When the great Earl of Lester + In his castle did feast her. + BEN JONSON, MASQUE OF OWLS. + +The amusement with which Elizabeth and her court were next day to +be regaled was an exhibition by the true-hearted men of Coventry, +who were to represent the strife between the English and the +Danes, agreeably to a custom long preserved in their ancient +borough, and warranted for truth by old histories and chronicles. +In this pageant one party of the townsfolk presented the Saxons +and the other the Danes, and set forth, both in rude rhymes and +with hard blows, the contentions of these two fierce nations, and +the Amazonian courage of the English women, who, according to the +story, were the principal agents in the general massacre of the +Danes, which took place at Hocktide, in the year of God 1012. +This sport, which had been long a favourite pastime with the men +of Coventry, had, it seems, been put down by the influence of +some zealous clergymen of the more precise cast, who chanced to +have considerable influence with the magistrates. But the +generality of the inhabitants had petitioned the Queen that they +might have their play again, and be honoured with permission to +represent it before her Highness. And when the matter was +canvassed in the little council which usually attended the Queen +for dispatch of business, the proposal, although opposed by some +of the stricter sort, found favour in the eyes of Elizabeth, who +said that such toys occupied, without offence, the minds of many +who, lacking them, might find worse subjects of pastime; and that +their pastors, however commendable for learning and godliness, +were somewhat too sour in preaching against the pastimes of their +flocks and so the pageant was permitted to proceed. + +Accordingly, after a morning repast, which Master Laneham calls +an ambrosial breakfast, the principal persons of the court in +attendance upon her Majesty pressed to the Gallery-tower, to +witness the approach of the two contending parties of English and +Danes; and after a signal had been given, the gate which opened +in the circuit of the Chase was thrown wide to admit them. On +they came, foot and horse; for some of the more ambitious +burghers and yeomen had put themselves into fantastic dresses, +imitating knights, in order to resemble the chivalry of the two +different nations. However, to prevent fatal accidents, they +were not permitted to appear on real horses, but had only license +to accoutre themselves with those hobby-horses, as they are +called, which anciently formed the chief delight of a morrice- +dance, and which still are exhibited on the stage, in the grand +battle fought at the conclusion of Mr. Bayes's tragedy. The +infantry followed in similar disguises. The whole exhibition was +to be considered as a sort of anti-masque, or burlesque of the +more stately pageants in which the nobility and gentry bore part +in the show, and, to the best of their knowledge, imitated with +accuracy the personages whom they represented. The Hocktide play +was of a different character, the actors being persons of +inferior degree, and their habits the better fitted for the +occasion, the more incongruous and ridiculous that they were in +themselves. Accordingly their array, which the progress of our +tale allows us no time to describe, was ludicrous enough; and +their weapons, though sufficiently formidable to deal sound +blows, were long alder-poles instead of lances, and sound cudgels +for swords; and for fence, both cavalry and infantry were well +equipped with stout headpieces and targets, both made of thick +leather. + +Captain Coxe, that celebrated humorist of Coventry, whose library +of ballads, almanacs, and penny histories, fairly wrapped up in +parchment, and tied round for security with a piece of whipcord, +remains still the envy of antiquaries, being himself the +ingenious person under whose direction the pageant had been set +forth, rode valiantly on his hobby-horse before the bands of +English, high-trussed, saith Laneham, and brandishing his long +sword, as became an experienced man of war, who had fought under +the Queen's father, bluff King Henry, at the siege of Boulogne. +This chieftain was, as right and reason craved, the first to +enter the lists, and passing the Gallery at the head of his +myrmidons, kissed the hilt of his sword to the Queen, and +executed at the same time a gambade, the like whereof had never +been practised by two-legged hobby-horse. Then passing on with +all his followers of cavaliers and infantry, he drew them up with +martial skill at the opposite extremity of the bridge, or tilt- +yard, until his antagonist should be fairly prepared for the +onset. + +This was no long interval; for the Danish cavalry and infantry, +no way inferior to the English in number, valour, and equipment, +instantly arrived, with the northern bagpipe blowing before them +in token of their country, and headed by a cunning master of +defence, only inferior to the renowned Captain Coxe, if to him, +in the discipline of war. The Danes, as invaders, took their +station under the Gallery-tower, and opposite to that of +Mortimer; and when their arrangements were completely made, a +signal was given for the encounter. + +Their first charge upon each other was rather moderate, for +either party had some dread of being forced into the lake. But +as reinforcements came up on either side, the encounter grew from +a skirmish into a blazing battle. They rushed upon one another, +as Master Laneham testifies, like rams inflamed by jealousy, with +such furious encounter that both parties were often overthrown, +and the clubs and targets made a most horrible clatter. In many +instances that happened which had been dreaded by the more +experienced warriors who began the day of strife. The rails +which defended the ledges of the bridge had been, perhaps on +purpose, left but slightly fastened, and gave way under the +pressure of those who thronged to the combat, so that the hot +courage of many of the combatants received a sufficient cooling. +These incidents might have occasioned more serious damage than +became such an affray, for many of the champions who met with +this mischance could not swim, and those who could were +encumbered with their suits of leathern and of paper armour; but +the case had been provided for, and there were several boats in +readiness to pick up the unfortunate warriors and convey them to +the dry land, where, dripping and dejected, they comforted +themselves with the hot ale and strong waters which were +liberally allowed to them, without showing any desire to re-enter +so desperate a conflict. + +Captain Coxe alone, that paragon of Black-Letter antiquaries, +after twice experiencing, horse and man, the perilous leap from +the bridge into the lake, equal to any extremity to which the +favourite heroes of chivalry, whose exploits he studied in an +abridged form, whether Amadis, Belianis, Bevis, or his own Guy of +Warwick, had ever been subjected to--Captain Coxe, we repeat, did +alone, after two such mischances, rush again into the heat of +conflict, his bases and the footcloth of his hobby-horse dropping +water, and twice reanimated by voice and example the drooping +spirits of the English; so that at last their victory over the +Danish invaders became, as was just and reasonable, complete and +decisive. Worthy he was to be rendered immortal by the pen of +Ben Jonson, who, fifty years afterwards, deemed that a masque, +exhibited at Kenilworth, could be ushered in by none with so much +propriety as by the ghost of Captain Coxe, mounted upon his +redoubted hobby-horse. + +These rough, rural gambols may not altogether agree with the +reader's preconceived idea of an entertainment presented before +Elizabeth, in whose reign letters revived with such brilliancy, +and whose court, governed by a female whose sense of propriety +was equal to her strength of mind, was no less distinguished for +delicacy and refinement than her councils for wisdom and +fortitude. But whether from the political wish to seem +interested in popular sports, or whether from a spark of old +Henry's rough, masculine spirit, which Elizabeth sometimes +displayed, it is certain the Queen laughed heartily at the +imitation, or rather burlesque, of chivalry which was presented +in the Coventry play. She called near her person the Earl of +Sussex and Lord Hunsdon, partly perhaps to make amends to the +former for the long and private audiences with which she had +indulged the Earl of Leicester, by engaging him in conversation +upon a pastime which better suited his taste than those pageants +that were furnished forth from the stores of antiquity. The +disposition which the Queen showed to laugh and jest with her +military leaders gave the Earl of Leicester the opportunity he +had been watching for withdrawing from the royal presence, which +to the court around, so well had he chosen his time, had the +graceful appearance of leaving his rival free access to the +Queen's person, instead of availing himself of his right as her +landlord to stand perpetually betwixt others and the light of her +countenance. + +Leicester's thoughts, however, had a far different object from +mere courtesy; for no sooner did he see the Queen fairly engaged +in conversation with Sussex and Hunsdon, behind whose back stood +Sir Nicholas Blount, grinning from ear to ear at each word which +was spoken, than, making a sign to Tressilian, who, according to +appointment, watched his motions at a little distance, he +extricated himself from the press, and walking towards the Chase, +made his way through the crowds of ordinary spectators, who, with +open mouth, stood gazing on the battle of the English and the +Danes. When he had accomplished this, which was a work of some +difficulty, he shot another glance behind him to see that +Tressilian had been equally successful; and as soon as he saw him +also free from the crowd, he led the way to a small thicket, +behind which stood a lackey, with two horses ready saddled. He +flung himself on the one, and made signs to Tressilian to mount +the other, who obeyed without speaking a single word. + +Leicester then spurred his horse, and galloped without stopping +until he reached a sequestered spot, environed by lofty oaks, +about a mile's distance from the Castle, and in an opposite +direction from the scene to which curiosity was drawing every +spectator. He there dismounted, bound his horse to a tree, and +only pronouncing the words, "Here there is no risk of +interruption," laid his cloak across his saddle, and drew his +sword. + +Tressilian imitated his example punctually, yet could not forbear +saying, as he drew his weapon, "My lord, as I have been known to +many as one who does not fear death when placed in balance with +honour, methinks I may, without derogation, ask wherefore, in the +name of all that is honourable, your lordship has dared to offer +me such a mark of disgrace as places us on these terms with +respect to each other?" + +"If you like not such marks of my scorn," replied the Earl, +"betake yourself instantly to your weapon, lest I repeat the +usage you complain of." + +"It shall not need, my lord," said Tressilian. "God judge +betwixt us! and your blood, if you fall, be on your own head." + +He had scarce completed the sentence when they instantly closed +in combat. + +But Leicester, who was a perfect master of defence among all +other exterior accomplishments of the time, had seen on the +preceding night enough of Tressilian's strength and skill to make +him fight with more caution than heretofore, and prefer a secure +revenge to a hasty one. For some minutes they fought with equal +skill and fortune, till, in a desperate lunge which Leicester +successfully put aside, Tressilian exposed himself at +disadvantage; and in a subsequent attempt to close, the Earl +forced his sword from his hand, and stretched him on the ground. +With a grim smile he held the point of his rapier within two +inches of the throat of his fallen adversary, and placing his +foot at the same time upon his breast, bid him confess his +villainous wrongs towards him, and prepare for death. + +"I have no villainy nor wrong towards thee to confess," answered +Tressilian, "and am better prepared for death than thou. Use +thine advantage as thou wilt, and may God forgive you! I have +given you no cause for this." + +"No cause!" exclaimed the Earl, "no cause!--but why parley with +such a slave? Die a liar, as thou hast lived!" + +He had withdrawn his arm for the purpose of striking the fatal +blow, when it was suddenly seized from behind. + +The Earl turned in wrath to shake off the unexpected obstacle, +but was surprised to find that a strange-looking boy had hold of +his sword-arm, and clung to it with such tenacity of grasp that +he could not shake him of without a considerable struggle, in the +course of which Tressilian had opportunity to rise and possess +himself once more of his weapon. Leicester again turned towards +him with looks of unabated ferocity, and the combat would have +recommenced with still more desperation on both sides, had not +the boy clung to Lord Leicester's knees, and in a shrill tone +implored him to listen one moment ere he prosecuted this quarrel. + +"Stand up, and let me go," said Leicester, "or, by Heaven, I will +pierce thee with my rapier! What hast thou to do to bar my way +to revenge?" + +"Much--much!" exclaimed the undaunted boy, "since my folly has +been the cause of these bloody quarrels between you, and +perchance of worse evils. Oh, if you would ever again enjoy the +peace of an innocent mind, if you hope again to sleep in peace +and unhaunted by remorse, take so much leisure as to peruse this +letter, and then do as you list." + +While he spoke in this eager and earnest manner, to which his +singular features and voice gave a goblin-like effect, he held up +to Leicester a packet, secured with a long tress of woman's hair +of a beautiful light-brown colour. Enraged as he was, nay, +almost blinded with fury to see his destined revenge so strangely +frustrated, the Earl of Leicester could not resist this +extraordinary supplicant. He snatched the letter from his hand-- +changed colour as he looked on the superscription--undid with +faltering hand the knot which secured it--glanced over the +contents, and staggering back, would have fallen, had he not +rested against the trunk of a tree, where he stood for an +instant, his eyes bent on the letter, and his sword-point turned +to the ground, without seeming to be conscious of the presence of +an antagonist towards whom he had shown little mercy, and who +might in turn have taken him at advantage. But for such revenge +Tressilian was too noble-minded. He also stood still in +surprise, waiting the issue of this strange fit of passion, but +holding his weapon ready to defend himself in case of need +against some new and sudden attack on the part of Leicester, whom +he again suspected to be under the influence of actual frenzy. +The boy, indeed, he easily recognized as his old acquaintance +Dickon, whose face, once seen, was scarcely to be forgotten; but +how he came hither at so critical a moment, why his interference +was so energetic, and, above all, how it came to produce so +powerful an effect upon Leicester, were questions which he could +not solve. + +But the letter was of itself powerful enough to work effects yet +more wonderful. It was that which the unfortunate Amy had +written to her husband, in which she alleged the reasons and +manner of her flight from Cumnor Place, informed him of her +having made her way to Kenilworth to enjoy his protection, and +mentioned the circumstances which had compelled her to take +refuge in Tressilian's apartment, earnestly requesting he would, +without delay, assign her a more suitable asylum. The letter +concluded with the most earnest expressions of devoted attachment +and submission to his will in all things, and particularly +respecting her situation and place of residence, conjuring him +only that she might not be placed under the guardianship or +restraint of Varney. The letter dropped from Leicester's hand +when he had perused it. "Take my sword," he said, "Tressilian, +and pierce my heart, as I would but now have pierced yours!" + +"My lord," said Tressilian, "you have done me great wrong, but +something within my breast ever whispered that it was by +egregious error." + +"Error, indeed!" said Leicester, and handed him the letter; "I +have been made to believe a man of honour a villain, and the best +and purest of creatures a false profligate.--Wretched boy, why +comes this letter now, and where has the bearer lingered?" + +"I dare not tell you, my lord," said the boy, withdrawing, as if +to keep beyond his reach; "but here comes one who was the +messenger." + +Wayland at the same moment came up; and interrogated by +Leicester, hastily detailed all the circumstances of his escape +with Amy, the fatal practices which had driven her to flight, and +her anxious desire to throw herself under the instant protection +of her husband--pointing out the evidence of the domestics of +Kenilworth, "who could not," he observed, "but remember her eager +inquiries after the Earl of Leicester on her first arrival." + +"The villains!" exclaimed Leicester; "but oh, that worst of +villains, Varney!--and she is even now in his power!" + +"But not, I trust in God," said Tressilian, "with any commands of +fatal import?" + +"No, no, no!" exclaimed the Earl hastily. "I said something in +madness; but it was recalled, fully recalled, by a hasty +messenger, and she is now--she must now be safe." + +"Yes," said Tressilian," she MUST be safe, and I MUST be assured +of her safety. My own quarrel with you is ended, my lord; but +there is another to begin with the seducer of Amy Robsart, who +has screened his guilt under the cloak of the infamous Varney." + +"The SEDUCER of Amy!" replied Leicester, with a voice like +thunder; "say her husband!--her misguided, blinded, most unworthy +husband! She is as surely Countess of Leicester as I am belted +Earl. Nor can you, sir, point out that manner of justice which I +will not render her at my own free will. I need scarce say I +fear not your compulsion." + +The generous nature of Tressilian was instantly turned from +consideration of anything personal to himself, and centred at +once upon Amy's welfare. He had by no means undoubting +confidence in the fluctuating resolutions of Leicester, whose +mind seemed to him agitated beyond the government of calm reason; +neither did he, notwithstanding the assurances he had received, +think Amy safe in the hands of his dependants. "My lord," he +said calmly, "I mean you no offence, and am far from seeking a +quarrel. But my duty to Sir Hugh Robsart compels me to carry +this matter instantly to the Queen, that the Countess's rank may +be acknowledged in her person." + +"You shall not need, sir," replied the Earl haughtily; "do not +dare to interfere. No voice but Dudley's shall proclaim Dudley's +infamy. To Elizabeth herself will I tell it; and then for Cumnor +Place with the speed of life and death!" + +So saying, he unbound his horse from the tree, threw himself into +the saddle, and rode at full gallop towards the Castle. + +"Take me before you, Master Tressilian," said the boy, seeing +Tressilian mount in the same haste; "my tale is not all told out, +and I need your protection." + +Tressilian complied, and followed the Earl, though at a less +furious rate. By the way the boy confessed, with much +contrition, that in resentment at Wayland's evading all his +inquiries concerning the lady, after Dickon conceived he had in +various ways merited his confidence, he had purloined from him in +revenge the letter with which Amy had entrusted him for the Earl +of Leicester. His purpose was to have restored it to him that +evening, as he reckoned himself sure of meeting with him, in +consequence of Wayland's having to perform the part of Arion in +the pageant. He was indeed something alarmed when he saw to whom +the letter was addressed; but he argued that, as Leicester did +not return to Kenilworth until that evening, it would be again in +the possession of the proper messenger as soon as, in the nature +of things, it could possibly be delivered. But Wayland came not +to the pageant, having been in the interim expelled by Lambourne +from the Castle; and the boy, not being able to find him, or to +get speech of Tressilian, and finding himself in possession of a +letter addressed to no less a person than the Earl of Leicester, +became much afraid of the consequences of his frolic. The +caution, and indeed the alarm, which Wayland had expressed +respecting Varney and Lambourne, led him to judge that the letter +must be designed for the Earl's own hand, and that he might +prejudice the lady by giving it to any of the domestics. He made +an attempt or two to obtain an audience of Leicester; but the +singularity of his features and the meanness of his appearance +occasioned his being always repulsed by the insolent menials whom +he applied to for that purpose. Once, indeed, he had nearly +succeeded, when, in prowling about, he found in the grotto the +casket, which he knew to belong to the unlucky Countess, having +seen it on her journey; for nothing escaped his prying eye. +Having striven in vain to restore it either to Tressilian or the +Countess, he put it into the hands, as we have seen, of Leicester +himself, but unfortunately he did not recognize him in his +disguise. + +At length the boy thought he was on the point of succeeding when +the Earl came down to the lower part of the hall; but just as he +was about to accost him, he was prevented by Tressilian. As +sharp in ear as in wit, the boy heard the appointment settled +betwixt them, to take place in the Pleasance, and resolved to add +a third to the party, in hope that, either in coming or +returning, he might find an opportunity of delivering the letter +to Leicester; for strange stories began to flit among the +domestics, which alarmed him for the lady's safety. Accident, +however, detained Dickon a little behind the Earl, and as he +reached the arcade he saw them engaged in combat; in consequence +of which he hastened to alarm the guard, having little doubt that +what bloodshed took place betwixt them might arise out of his own +frolic. Continuing to lurk in the portico, he heard the second +appointment which Leicester at parting assigned to Tressilian; +and was keeping them in view during the encounter of the Coventry +men, when, to his surprise, he recognized Wayland in the crowd, +much disguised, indeed, but not sufficiently so to escape the +prying glance of his old comrade. They drew aside out of the +crowd to explain their situation to each other. The boy +confessed to Wayland what we have above told; and the artist, in +return, informed him that his deep anxiety for the fate of the +unfortunate lady had brought him back to the neighbourhood of the +Castle, upon his learning that morning, at a village about ten +miles distant, that Varney and Lambourne, whose violence he +dreaded, had both left Kenilworth over-night. + +While they spoke, they saw Leicester and Tressilian separate +themselves from the crowd, dogged them until they mounted their +horses, when the boy, whose speed of foot has been before +mentioned, though he could not possibly keep up with them, yet +arrived, as we have seen, soon enough to save Tressilian's life. +The boy had just finished his tale when they arrived at the +Gallery-tower. + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + High o'er the eastern steep the sun is beaming, + And darkness flies with her deceitful shadows;-- + So truth prevails o'er falsehood. OLD PLAY. + +As Tressilian rode along the bridge, lately the scene of so much +riotous sport, he could not but observe that men's countenances +had singularly changed during the space of his brief absence. +The mock fight was over, but the men, still habited in their +masking suits, stood together in groups, like the inhabitants of +a city who have been just startled by some strange and alarming +news. + +When he reached the base-court, appearances were the same-- +domestics, retainers, and under-officers stood together and +whispered, bending their eyes towards the windows of the Great +Hall, with looks which seemed at once alarmed and mysterious. + +Sir Nicholas Blount was the first person of his own particular +acquaintance Tressilian saw, who left him no time to make +inquiries, but greeted him with, "God help thy heart, Tressilian! +thou art fitter for a clown than a courtier thou canst not +attend, as becomes one who follows her Majesty. Here you are +called for, wished for, waited for--no man but you will serve the +turn; and hither you come with a misbegotten brat on thy horse's +neck, as if thou wert dry nurse to some sucking devil, and wert +just returned from airing." + +"Why, what is the matter?" said Tressilian, letting go the boy, +who sprung to ground like a feather, and himself dismounting at +the same time. + +"Why, no one knows the matter," replied Blount; "I cannot smell +it out myself, though I have a nose like other courtiers. Only, +my Lord of Leicester has galloped along the bridge as if he would +have rode over all in his passage, demanded an audience of the +Queen, and is closeted even now with her, and Burleigh and +Walsingham--and you are called for; but whether the matter be +treason or worse, no one knows." + +"He speaks true, by Heaven!" said Raleigh, who that instant +appeared; "you must immediately to the Queen's presence." + +"Be not rash, Raleigh," said Blount, "remember his boots.--For +Heaven's sake, go to my chamber, dear Tressilian, and don my new +bloom-coloured silken hose; I have worn them but twice." + +"Pshaw!" answered Tressilian; "do thou take care of this boy, +Blount; be kind to him, and look he escapes you not--much depends +on him." + +So saying, he followed Raleigh hastily, leaving honest Blount +with the bridle of his horse in one hand, and the boy in the +other. Blount gave a long look after him. + +"Nobody," he said, "calls me to these mysteries--and he leaves me +here to play horse-keeper and child-keeper at once. I could +excuse the one, for I love a good horse naturally; but to be +plagued with a bratchet whelp.--Whence come ye, my fair-favoured +little gossip?" + +"From the Fens," answered the boy. + +"And what didst thou learn there, forward imp?" + +"To catch gulls, with their webbed feet and yellow stockings," +said the boy. + +"Umph!" said Blount, looking down on his own immense roses. +"Nay, then, the devil take him asks thee more questions." + +Meantime Tressilian traversed the full length of the Great Hall, +in which the astonished courtiers formed various groups, and were +whispering mysteriously together, while all kept their eyes fixed +on the door which led from the upper end of the hall into the +Queen's withdrawing apartment. Raleigh pointed to the door. +Tressilian knocked, and was instantly admitted. Many a neck was +stretched to gain a view into the interior of the apartment; but +the tapestry which covered the door on the inside was dropped too +suddenly to admit the slightest gratification of curiosity. + +Upon entrance, Tressilian found himself, not without a strong +palpitation of heart, in the presence of Elizabeth, who was +walking to and fro in a violent agitation, which she seemed to +scorn to conceal, while two or three of her most sage and +confidential counsellors exchanged anxious looks with each other, +but delayed speaking till her wrath abated. Before the empty +chair of state in which she had been seated, and which was half +pushed aside by the violence with which she had started from it, +knelt Leicester, his arms crossed, and his brows bent on the +ground, still and motionless as the effigies upon a sepulchre. +Beside him stood the Lord Shrewsbury, then Earl Marshal of +England, holding his baton of office. The Earl's sword was +unbuckled, and lay before him on the floor. + +"Ho, sir!" said the Queen, coming close up to Tressilian, and +stamping on the floor with the action and manner of Henry +himself; "you knew of this fair work--you are an accomplice in +this deception which has been practised on us--you have been a +main cause of our doing injustice?" Tressilian dropped on his +knee before the Queen, his good sense showing him the risk of +attempting any defence at that moment of irritation. "Art dumb, +sirrah?" she continued; "thou knowest of this affair dost thou +not?" + +"Not, gracious madam, that this poor lady was Countess of +Leicester." + +"Nor shall any one know her for such," said Elizabeth. "Death of +my life! Countess of Leicester!--I say Dame Amy Dudley; and well +if she have not cause to write herself widow of the traitor +Robert Dudley." + +"Madam," said Leicester, "do with me what it may be your will to +do, but work no injury on this gentleman; he hath in no way +deserved it." + +"And will he be the better for thy intercession," said the Queen, +leaving Tressilian, who slowly arose, and rushing to Leicester, +who continued kneeling--"the better for thy intercession, thou +doubly false--thou doubly forsworn;--of thy intercession, whose +villainy hath made me ridiculous to my subjects and odious to +myself? I could tear out mine eyes for their blindness!" + +Burleigh here ventured to interpose. + +"Madam," he said, "remember that you are a Queen--Queen of +England--mother of your people. Give not way to this wild storm +of passion." + +Elizabeth turned round to him, while a tear actually twinkled in +her proud and angry eye. "Burleigh," she said, "thou art a +statesman--thou dost not, thou canst not, comprehend half the +scorn, half the misery, that man has poured on me!" + +With the utmost caution--with the deepest reverence--Burleigh +took her hand at the moment he saw her heart was at the fullest, +and led her aside to an oriel window, apart from the others. + +"Madam," he said, "I am a statesman, but I am also a man--a man +already grown old in your councils--who have not and cannot have +a wish on earth but your glory and happiness; I pray you to be +composed." + +"Ah! Burleigh," said Elizabeth, "thou little knowest--" here her +tears fell over her cheeks in despite of her. + +"I do--I do know, my honoured sovereign. Oh, beware that you +lead not others to guess that which they know not!" + +"Ha!" said Elizabeth, pausing as if a new train of thought had +suddenly shot across her brain. "Burleigh, thou art right--thou +art right--anything but disgrace--anything but a confession of +weakness--anything rather than seem the cheated, slighted-- +'sdeath! to think on it is distraction!" + +"Be but yourself, my Queen," said Burleigh; "and soar far above a +weakness which no Englishman will ever believe his Elizabeth +could have entertained, unless the violence of her disappointment +carries a sad conviction to his bosom." + +"What weakness, my lord?" said Elizabeth haughtily; "would you +too insinuate that the favour in which I held yonder proud +traitor derived its source from aught--" But here she could no +longer sustain the proud tone which she had assumed, and again +softened as she said, "But why should I strive to deceive even +thee, my good and wise servant?" + +Burleigh stooped to kiss her hand with affection, and--rare in +the annals of courts--a tear of true sympathy dropped from the +eye of the minister on the hand of his Sovereign. + +It is probable that the consciousness of possessing this sympathy +aided Elizabeth in supporting her mortification, and suppressing +her extreme resentment; but she was still more moved by fear that +her passion should betray to the public the affront and the +disappointment, which, alike as a woman and a Queen, she was so +anxious to conceal. She turned from Burleigh, and sternly paced +the hall till her features had recovered their usual dignity, and +her mien its wonted stateliness of regular motion. + +"Our Sovereign is her noble self once more," whispered Burleigh +to Walsingham; "mark what she does, and take heed you thwart her +not." + +She then approached Leicester, and said with calmness, "My Lord +Shrewsbury, we discharge you of your prisoner.--My Lord of +Leicester, rise and take up your sword; a quarter of an hour's +restraint under the custody of our Marshal, my lord, is, we +think, no high penance for months of falsehood practised upon us. +We will now hear the progress of this affair." She then seated +herself in her chair, and said, "You, Tressilian, step forward, +and say what you know." + +Tressilian told his story generously, suppressing as much as he +could what affected Leicester, and saying nothing of their having +twice actually fought together. It is very probable that, in +doing so, he did the Earl good service; for had the Queen at that +instant found anything on account of which she could vent her +wrath upon him, without laying open sentiments of which she was +ashamed, it might have fared hard with him. She paused when +Tressilian had finished his tale. + +"We will take that Wayland," she said, "into our own service, and +place the boy in our Secretary office for instruction, that he +may in future use discretion towards letters. For you, +Tressilian, you did wrong in not communicating the whole truth to +us, and your promise not to do so was both imprudent and +undutiful. Yet, having given your word to this unhappy lady, it +was the part of a man and a gentleman to keep it; and on the +whole, we esteem you for the character you have sustained in this +matter.--My Lord of Leicester, it is now your turn to tell us the +truth, an exercise to which you seem of late to have been too +much a stranger." + +Accordingly, she extorted, by successive questions, the whole +history of his first acquaintance with Amy Robsart--their +marriage--his jealousy--the causes on which it was founded, and +many particulars besides. Leicester's confession, for such it +might be called, was wrenched from him piecemeal, yet was upon +the whole accurate, excepting that he totally omitted to mention +that he had, by implication or otherwise, assented to Varney's +designs upon the life of his Countess. Yet the consciousness of +this was what at that moment lay nearest to his heart; and +although he trusted in great measure to the very positive +counter-orders which he had sent by Lambourne, it was his purpose +to set out for Cumnor Place in person as soon as he should be +dismissed from the presence of the Queen, who, he concluded, +would presently leave Kenilworth. + +But the Earl reckoned without his host. It is true his presence +and his communications were gall and wormwood to his once partial +mistress. But barred from every other and more direct mode of +revenge, the Queen perceived that she gave her false suitor +torture by these inquiries, and dwelt on them for that reason, no +more regarding the pain which she herself experienced, than the +savage cares for the searing of his own hands by grasping the hot +pincers with which he tears the flesh of his captive enemy. + +At length, however, the haughty lord, like a deer that turns to +bay, gave intimation that his patience was failing. "Madam," he +said, "I have been much to blame--more than even your just +resentment has expressed. Yet, madam, let me say that my guilt, +if it be unpardonable, was not unprovoked, and that if beauty and +condescending dignity could seduce the frail heart of a human +being, I might plead both as the causes of my concealing this +secret from your Majesty." + +The Queen was so much struck with this reply, which Leicester +took care should be heard by no one but herself, that she was for +the moment silenced, and the Earl had the temerity to pursue his +advantage. "Your Grace, who has pardoned so much, will excuse my +throwing myself on your royal mercy for those expressions which +were yester-morning accounted but a light offence." + +The Queen fixed her eyes on him while she replied, "Now, by +Heaven, my lord, thy effrontery passes the bounds of belief, as +well as patience! But it shall avail thee nothing.--What ho! my +lords, come all and hear the news-my Lord of Leicester's stolen +marriage has cost me a husband, and England a king. His lordship +is patriarchal in his tastes--one wife at a time was +insufficient, and he designed US the honour of his left hand. +Now, is not this too insolent--that I could not grace him with a +few marks of court-favour, but he must presume to think my hand +and crown at his disposal? You, however, think better of me; and +I can pity this ambitious man, as I could a child, whose bubble +of soap has burst between his hands. We go to the presence- +chamber.--My Lord of Leicester, we command your close attendance +on us." + +All was eager expectation in the hall, and what was the universal +astonishment when the Queen said to those next her, "The revels +of Kenilworth are not yet exhausted, my lords and ladies--we are +to solemnize the noble owner's marriage." + +There was an universal expression of surprise. + +"It is true, on our royal word," said the Queen; "he hath kept +this a secret even from us, that he might surprise us with it at +this very place and time. I see you are dying of curiosity to +know the happy bride. It is Amy Robsart, the same who, to make +up the May-game yesterday, figured in the pageant as the wife of +his servant Varney." + +"For God's sake, madam," said the Earl, approaching her with a +mixture of humility, vexation, and shame in his countenance, and +speaking so low as to be heard by no one else, "take my head, as +you threatened in your anger, and spare me these taunts! Urge +not a falling man--tread not on a crushed worm." + +"A worm, my lord?" said the Queen, in the same tone; "nay, a +snake is the nobler reptile, and the more exact similitude--the +frozen snake you wot of, which was warmed in a certain bosom--" + +"For your own sake--for mine, madam," said the Earl--"while there +is yet some reason left in me--" + +"Speak aloud, my lord," said Elizabeth, "and at farther distance, +so please you--your breath thaws our ruff. What have you to ask +of us?" + +"Permission," said the unfortunate Earl humbly, "to travel to +Cumnor Place." + +"To fetch home your bride belike?--Why, ay--that is but right, +for, as we have heard, she is indifferently cared for there. +But, my lord, you go not in person; we have counted upon passing +certain days in this Castle of Kenilworth, and it were slight +courtesy to leave us without a landlord during our residence +here. Under your favour, we cannot think to incur such disgrace +in the eyes of our subjects. Tressilian shall go to Cumnor Place +instead of you, and with him some gentleman who hath been sworn +of our chamber, lest my Lord of Leicester should be again jealous +of his old rival.--Whom wouldst thou have to be in commission +with thee, Tressilian?" + +Tressilian, with humble deference, suggested the name of Raleigh. + +"Why, ay," said the Queen; "so God ha' me, thou hast made a good +choice. He is a young knight besides, and to deliver a lady from +prison is an appropriate first adventure.--Cumnor Place is little +better than a prison, you are to know, my lords and ladies. +Besides, there are certain faitours there whom we would willingly +have in safe keeping. You will furnish them, Master Secretary, +with the warrant necessary to secure the bodies of Richard Varney +and the foreign Alasco, dead or alive. Take a sufficient force +with you, gentlemen--bring the lady here in all honour--lose no +time, and God be with you!" + +They bowed, and left the presence, + +Who shall describe how the rest of that day was spent at +Kenilworth? The Queen, who seemed to have remained there for the +sole purpose of mortifying and taunting the Earl of Leicester, +showed herself as skilful in that female art of vengeance, as she +was in the science of wisely governing her people. The train of +state soon caught the signal, and as he walked among his own +splendid preparations, the Lord of Kenilworth, in his own Castle, +already experienced the lot of a disgraced courtier, in the +slight regard and cold manners of alienated friends, and the ill- +concealed triumph of avowed and open enemies. Sussex, from his +natural military frankness of disposition, Burleigh and +Walsingham, from their penetrating and prospective sagacity, and +some of the ladies, from the compassion of their sex, were the +only persons in the crowded court who retained towards him the +countenance they had borne in the morning. + +So much had Leicester been accustomed to consider court favour as +the principal object of his life, that all other sensations were, +for the time, lost in the agony which his haughty spirit felt at +the succession of petty insults and studied neglects to which he +had been subjected; but when he retired to his own chamber for +the night, that long, fair tress of hair which had once secured +Amy's letter fell under his observation, and, with the influence +of a counter-charm, awakened his heart to nobler and more natural +feelings. He kissed it a thousand times; and while he +recollected that he had it always in his power to shun the +mortifications which he had that day undergone, by retiring into +a dignified and even prince-like seclusion with the beautiful and +beloved partner of his future life, he felt that he could rise +above the revenge which Elizabeth had condescended to take. + +Accordingly, on the following day the whole conduct of the Earl +displayed so much dignified equanimity--he seemed so solicitous +about the accommodations and amusements of his guests, yet so +indifferent to their personal demeanour towards him--so +respectfully distant to the Queen, yet so patient of her +harassing displeasure--that Elizabeth changed her manner to him, +and, though cold and distant, ceased to offer him any direct +affront. She intimated also with some sharpness to others around +her, who thought they were consulting her pleasure in showing a +neglectful conduct to the Earl, that while they remained at +Kenilworth they ought to show the civility due from guests to the +Lord of the Castle. In short, matters were so far changed in +twenty-four hours that some of the more experienced and sagacious +courtiers foresaw a strong possibility of Leicester's restoration +to favour, and regulated their demeanour towards him, as those +who might one day claim merit for not having deserted him in +adversity. It is time, however, to leave these intrigues, and +follow Tressilian and Raleigh on their journey. + +The troop consisted of six persons; for, besides Wayland, they +had in company a royal pursuivant and two stout serving-men. All +were well-armed, and travelled as fast as it was possible with +justice to their horses, which had a long journey before them. +They endeavoured to procure some tidings as they rode along of +Varney and his party, but could hear none, as they had travelled +in the dark. At a small village about twelve miles from +Kenilworth, where they gave some refreshment to their horses, a +poor clergyman, the curate of the place, came out of a small +cottage, and entreated any of the company who might know aught of +surgery to look in for an instant on a dying man. + +The empiric Wayland undertook to do his best, and as the curate +conducted him to the spot, he learned that the man had been found +on the highroad, about a mile from the village, by labourers, as +they were going to their work on the preceding morning, and the +curate had given him shelter in his house. He had received a +gun-shot wound, which seemed to be obviously mortal; but whether +in a brawl or from robbers they could not learn, as he was in a +fever, and spoke nothing connectedly. Wayland entered the dark +and lowly apartment, and no sooner had the curate drawn aside the +curtain than he knew, in the distorted features of the patient, +the countenance of Michael Lambourne. Under pretence of seeking +something which he wanted, Wayland hastily apprised his fellow- +travellers of this extraordinary circumstance; and both +Tressilian and Raleigh, full of boding apprehensions, hastened to +the curate's house to see the dying man. + +The wretch was by this time in the agonies of death, from which a +much better surgeon than Wayland could not have rescued him, for +the bullet had passed clear through his body. He was sensible, +however, at least in part, for he knew Tressilian, and made signs +that he wished him to stoop over his bed. Tressilian did so, and +after some inarticulate murmurs, in which the names of Varney and +Lady Leicester were alone distinguishable, Lambourne bade him +"make haste, or he would come too late." It was in vain +Tressilian urged the patient for further information; he seemed +to become in some degree delirious, and when he again made a +signal to attract Tressilian's attention, it was only for the +purpose of desiring him to inform his uncle, Giles Gosling of the +Black Bear, that "he had died without his shoes after all." A +convulsion verified his words a few minutes after, and the +travellers derived nothing from having met with him, saving the +obscure fears concerning the fate of the Countess, which his +dying words were calculated to convey, and which induced them to +urge their journey with the utmost speed, pressing horses in the +Queen's name when those which they rode became unfit for service. + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + The death-bell thrice was heard to ring, + An aerial voice was heard to call, + And thrice the raven flapp'd its wing + Around the towers of Cumnor Hall. MICKLE. + +We are now to return to that part of our story where we intimated +that Varney, possessed of the authority of the Earl of Leicester, +and of the Queen's permission to the same effect, hastened to +secure himself against discovery of his perfidy by removing the +Countess from Kenilworth Castle. He had proposed to set forth +early in the morning; but reflecting that the Earl might relent +in the interim, and seek another interview with the Countess, he +resolved to prevent, by immediate departure, all chance of what +would probably have ended in his detection and ruin. For this +purpose he called for Lambourne, and was exceedingly incensed to +find that his trusty attendant was abroad on some ramble in the +neighbouring village, or elsewhere. As his return was expected, +Sir Richard commanded that he should prepare himself for +attending him on an immediate journey, and follow him in case he +returned after his departure. + +In the meanwhile, Varney used the ministry of a servant called +Robin Tider, one to whom the mysteries of Cumnor Place were +already in some degree known, as he had been there more than once +in attendance on the Earl. To this man, whose character +resembled that of Lambourne, though he was neither quite so +prompt nor altogether so profligate, Varney gave command to have +three horses saddled, and to prepare a horse-litter, and have +them in readiness at the postern gate. The natural enough excuse +of his lady's insanity, which was now universally believed, +accounted for the secrecy with which she was to be removed from +the Castle, and he reckoned on the same apology in case the +unfortunate Amy's resistance or screams should render such +necessary. The agency of Anthony Foster was indispensable, and +that Varney now went to secure. + +This person, naturally of a sour, unsocial disposition, and +somewhat tired, besides, with his journey from Cumnor to +Warwickshire, in order to bring the news of the Countess's +escape, had early extricated himself from the crowd of +wassailers, and betaken himself to his chamber, where he lay +asleep, when Varney, completely equipped for travelling, and with +a dark lantern in his hand, entered his apartment. He paused an +instant to listen to what his associate was murmuring in his +sleep, and could plainly distinguish the words, "AVE MARIA--ORA +PRO NOBIS. No, it runs not so--deliver us from evil--ay, so it +goes." + +"Praying in his sleep," said Varney, "and confounding his old and +new devotions. He must have more need of prayer ere I am done +with him.--What ho! holy man, most blessed penitent!--awake-- +awake! The devil has not discharged you from service yet." + +As Varney at the same time shook the sleeper by the arm, it +changed the current of his ideas, and he roared out, "Thieves!-- +thieves! I will die in defence of my gold--my hard-won gold-- +that has cost me so dear. Where is Janet?--Is Janet safe?" + +"Safe enough, thou bellowing fool!" said Varney; "art thou not +ashamed of thy clamour?" + +Foster by this time was broad awake, and sitting up in his bed, +asked Varney the meaning of so untimely a visit. "It augurs +nothing good," he added. + +"A false prophecy, most sainted Anthony," returned Varney; "it +augurs that the hour is come for converting thy leasehold into +copyhold. What sayest thou to that?" + +"Hadst thou told me this in broad day," said Foster, "I had +rejoiced; but at this dead hour, and by this dim light, and +looking on thy pale face, which is a ghastly contradiction to thy +light words, I cannot but rather think of the work that is to be +done, than the guerdon to be gained by it." + +"Why, thou fool, it is but to escort thy charge back to Cumnor +Place." + +"Is that indeed all?" said Foster; "thou lookest deadly pale, +and thou art not moved by trifles--is that indeed all?" + +"Ay, that--and maybe a trifle more," said Varney. + +"Ah, that trifle more!" said Foster; "still thou lookest paler +and paler." + +"Heed not my countenance," said Varney; "you see it by this +wretched light. Up and be doing, man. Think of Cumnor Place-- +thine own proper copyhold. Why, thou mayest found a weekly +lectureship, besides endowing Janet like a baron's daughter. +Seventy pounds and odd." + +"Seventy-nine pounds, five shillings and fivepence half-penny, +besides the value of the wood," said Foster; "and I am to have it +all as copyhold?" + +"All, man--squirrels and all. No gipsy shall cut the value of a +broom--no boy so much as take a bird's nest--without paying thee +a quittance.--Ay, that is right--don thy matters as fast as +possible; horses and everything are ready, all save that accursed +villain Lambourne, who is out on some infernal gambol." + +"Ay, Sir Richard," said Foster, "you would take no advice. I +ever told you that drunken profligate would fail you at need. +Now I could have helped you to a sober young man." + +"What, some slow-spoken, long-breathed brother of the +congregation? Why, we shall have use for such also, man. Heaven +be praised, we shall lack labourers of every kind.--Ay, that is +right--forget not your pistols. Come now, and let us away." + +"Whither?" said Anthony. + +"To my lady's chamber; and, mind, she MUST along with us. Thou +art not a fellow to be startled by a shriek?" + +"Not if Scripture reason can be rendered for it; and it is +written, 'Wives obey your husbands.' But will my lord's commands +bear us out if we use violence?" + +"Tush, man! here is his signet," answered Varney; and having +thus silenced the objections of his associate, they went together +to Lord Hunsdon's apartments, and acquainting the sentinel with +their purpose, as a matter sanctioned by the Queen and the Earl +of Leicester, they entered the chamber of the unfortunate +Countess. + +The horror of Amy may be conceived when, starting from a broken +slumber, she saw at her bedside Varney, the man on earth she most +feared and hated. It was even a consolation to see that he was +not alone, though she had so much reason to dread his sullen +companion. + +"Madam," said Varney, "there is no time for ceremony. My Lord of +Leicester, having fully considered the exigencies of the time, +sends you his orders immediately to accompany us on our return to +Cumnor Place. See, here is his signet, in token of his instant +and pressing commands." + +"It is false!" said the Countess; "thou hast stolen the warrant +--thou, who art capable of every villainy, from the blackest to +the basest!" + +"It is TRUE, madam," replied Varney; "so true, that if you do not +instantly arise, and prepare to attend us, we must compel you to +obey our orders." + +"Compel! Thou darest not put it to that issue, base as thou +art!" exclaimed the unhappy Countess. + +"That remains to be proved, madam," said Varney, who had +determined on intimidation as the only means of subduing her high +spirit; "if you put me to it, you will find me a rough groom of +the chambers." + +It was at this threat that Amy screamed so fearfully that, had it +not been for the received opinion of her insanity, she would +quickly have had Lord Hunsdon and others to her aid. Perceiving, +however, that her cries were vain, she appealed to Foster in the +most affecting terms, conjuring him, as his daughter Janet's +honour and purity were dear to him, not to permit her to be +treated with unwomanly violence. + +"Why, madam, wives must obey their husbands---there's Scripture +warrant for it," said Foster; "and if you will dress yourself, +and come with us patiently, there's no one shall lay finger on +you while I can draw a pistol-trigger." + +Seeing no help arrive, and comforted even by the dogged language +of Foster, the Countess promised to arise and dress herself, if +they would agree to retire from the room. Varney at the same +time assured her of all safety and honour while in their hands, +and promised that he himself would not approach her, since his +presence was so displeasing. Her husband, he added, would be at +Cumnor Place within twenty-four hours after they had reached it. + +Somewhat comforted by this assurance, upon which, however, she +saw little reason to rely, the unhappy Amy made her toilette by +the assistance of the lantern, which they left with her when they +quitted the apartment. + +Weeping, trembling, and praying, the unfortunate lady dressed +herself with sensations how different from the days in which she +was wont to decorate herself in all the pride of conscious +beauty! She endeavoured to delay the completing her dress as +long as she could, until, terrified by the impatience of Varney, +she was obliged to declare herself ready to attend them. + +When they were about to move, the Countess clung to Foster with +such an appearance of terror at Varney's approach that the latter +protested to her, with a deep oath, that he had no intention +whatever of even coming near her. "If you do but consent to +execute your husband's will in quietness, you shall," he said, +"see but little of me. I will leave you undisturbed to the care +of the usher whom your good taste prefers." + +"My husband's will!" she exclaimed. "But it is the will of God, +and let that be sufficient to me. I will go with Master Foster +as unresistingly as ever did a literal sacrifice. He is a father +at least; and will have decency, if not humanity. For thee, +Varney, were it my latest word, thou art an equal stranger to +both." + +Varney replied only she was at liberty to choose, and walked some +paces before them to show the way; while, half leaning on Foster, +and half carried by him, the Countess was transported from +Saintlowe's Tower to the postern gate, where Tider waited with +the litter and horses. + +The Countess was placed in the former without resistance. She +saw with some satisfaction that, while Foster and Tider rode +close by the litter, which the latter conducted, the dreaded +Varney lingered behind, and was soon lost in darkness. A little +while she strove, as the road winded round the verge of the lake, +to keep sight of those stately towers which called her husband +lord, and which still, in some places, sparkled with lights, +where wassailers were yet revelling. But when the direction of +the road rendered this no longer possible, she drew back her +head, and sinking down in the litter, recommended herself to the +care of Providence. + +Besides the desire of inducing the Countess to proceed quietly on +her journey, Varney had it also in view to have an interview with +Lambourne, by whom he every moment expected to be joined, without +the presence of any witnesses. He knew the character of this +man, prompt, bloody, resolute, and greedy, and judged him the +most fit agent he could employ in his further designs. But ten +miles of their journey had been measured ere he heard the hasty +clatter of horse's hoofs behind him, and was overtaken by Michael +Lambourne. + +Fretted as he was with his absence, Varney received his +profligate servant with a rebuke of unusual bitterness. "Drunken +villain," he said, "thy idleness and debauched folly will stretch +a halter ere it be long, and, for me, I care not how soon!" + +This style of objurgation Lambourne, who was elated to an unusual +degree, not only by an extraordinary cup of wine, but by the sort +of confidential interview he had just had with the Earl, and the +secret of which he had made himself master, did not receive with +his wonted humility. "He would take no insolence of language," +he said, "from the best knight that ever wore spurs. Lord +Leicester had detained him on some business of import, and that +was enough for Varney, who was but a servant like himself." + +Varney was not a little surprised at his unusual tone of +insolence; but ascribing it to liquor, suffered it to pass as if +unnoticed, and then began to tamper with Lambourne touching his +willingness to aid in removing out of the Earl of Leicester's way +an obstacle to a rise, which would put it in his power to reward +his trusty followers to their utmost wish. And upon Michael +Lambourne's seeming ignorant what was meant, he plainly indicated +"the litter-load, yonder," as the impediment which he desired +should be removed. + +"Look you, Sir Richard, and so forth," said Michael, "some are +wiser than some, that is one thing, and some are worse than some, +that's another. I know my lord's mind on this matter better than +thou, for he hath trusted me fully in the matter. Here are his +mandates, and his last words were, Michael Lambourne--for his +lordship speaks to me as a gentleman of the sword, and useth not +the words drunken villain, or such like phrase, of those who know +not how to bear new dignities--Varney, says he, must pay the +utmost respect to my Countess. I trust to you for looking to it, +Lambourne, says his lordship, and you must bring back my signet +from him peremptorily." + +"Ay," replied Varney, "said he so, indeed? You know all, then?" + +"All--all; and you were as wise to make a friend of me while the +weather is fair betwixt us." + +"And was there no one present," said Varney, "when my lord so +spoke?" + +"Not a breathing creature," replied Lambourne. "Think you my +lord would trust any one with such matters, save an approved man +of action like myself?" + +"Most true," said Varney; and making a pause, he looked forward +on the moonlight road. They were traversing a wide and open +heath. The litter being at least a mile before them, was both +out of sight and hearing. He looked behind, and there was an +expanse, lighted by the moonbeams, without one human being in +sight. He resumed his speech to Lambourne: "And will you turn +upon your master, who has introduced you to this career of court- +like favour--whose apprentice you have been, Michael--who has +taught you the depths and shallows of court intrigue?" + +"Michael not me!" said Lambourne; "I have a name will brook a +MASTER before it as well as another; and as to the rest, if I +have been an apprentice, my indenture is out, and I am resolute +to set up for myself." + +"Take thy quittance first, thou fool!" said Varney; and with a +pistol, which he had for some time held in his hand, shot +Lambourne through the body. + +The wretch fell from his horse without a single groan; and +Varney, dismounting, rifled his pockets, turning out the lining, +that it might appear he had fallen by robbers. He secured the +Earl's packet, which was his chief object; but he also took +Lambourne"s purse, containing some gold pieces, the relics of +what his debauchery had left him, and from a singular combination +of feelings, carried it in his hand only the length of a small +river, which crossed the road, into which he threw it as far as +he could fling. Such are the strange remnants of conscience +which remain after she seems totally subdued, that this cruel and +remorseless man would have felt himself degraded had he pocketed +the few pieces belonging to the wretch whom he had thus +ruthlessly slain. + +The murderer reloaded his pistol after cleansing the lock and +barrel from the appearances of late explosion, and rode calmly +after the litter, satisfying himself that he had so adroitly +removed a troublesome witness to many of his intrigues, and the +bearer of mandates which he had no intentions to obey, and which, +therefore, he was desirous it should be thought had never reached +his hand. + +The remainder of the journey was made with a degree of speed +which showed the little care they had for the health of the +unhappy Countess. They paused only at places where all was under +their command, and where the tale they were prepared to tell of +the insane Lady Varney would have obtained ready credit had she +made an attempt to appeal to the compassion of the few persons +admitted to see her. But Amy saw no chance of obtaining a +hearing from any to whom she had an opportunity of addressing +herself; and besides, was too terrified for the presence of +Varney to violate the implied condition under which she was to +travel free from his company. The authority of Varney, often so +used during the Earl's private journeys to Cumnor, readily +procured relays of horses where wanted, so that they approached +Cumnor Place upon the night after they left Kenilworth. + +At this period of the journey Varney came up to the rear of the +litter, as he had done before repeatedly during their progress, +and asked, "How does she?" + +"She sleeps," said Foster. "I would we were home--her strength +is exhausted." + +"Rest will restore her," answered Varney. "She shall soon sleep +sound and long. We must consider how to lodge her in safety." + +"In her own apartments, to be sure," said Foster. "I have sent +Janet to her aunt's with a proper rebuke, and the old women are +truth itself--for they hate this lady cordially." + +"We will not trust them, however, friend Anthony," said Varney; +"We must secure her in that stronghold where you keep your gold." + +"My gold!" said Anthony, much alarmed; "why, what gold have I? +God help me, I have no gold--I would I had!" + +"Now, marry hang thee, thou stupid brute, who thinks of or cares +for thy gold? If I did, could I not find an hundred better ways +to come at it? In one word, thy bedchamber, which thou hast +fenced so curiously, must be her place of seclusion; and thou, +thou hind, shalt press her pillows of down. I dare to say the +Earl will never ask after the rich furniture of these four +rooms." + +This last consideration rendered Foster tractable; he only asked +permission to ride before, to make matters ready, and spurring +his horse, he posted before the litter, while Varney falling +about threescore paces behind it, it remained only attended by +Tider. + +When they had arrived at Cumnor Place, the Countess asked eagerly +for Janet, and showed much alarm when informed that she was no +longer to have the attendance of that amiable girl. + +"My daughter is dear to me, madam," said Foster gruffly; "and I +desire not that she should get the court-tricks of lying and +'scaping--somewhat too much of that has she learned already, an +it please your ladyship." + +The Countess, much fatigued and greatly terrified by the +circumstances of her journey, made no answer to this insolence, +but mildly expressed a wish to retire to her chamber, + +"Ay, ay," muttered Foster, "'tis but reasonable; but, under +favour, you go not to your gew-gaw toy-house yonder--you will +sleep to-night in better security." + +"I would it were in my grave," said the Countess; "but that +mortal feelings shiver at the idea of soul and body parting." + +"You, I guess, have no chance to shiver at that," replied Foster. +"My lord comes hither to-morrow, and doubtless you will make your +own ways good with him." + +"But does he come hither?--does he indeed, good Foster?" + +"Oh, ay, good Foster!" replied the other. "But what Foster +shall I be to-morrow when you speak of me to my lord--though all +I have done was to obey his own orders?" + +"You shall be my protector--a rough one indeed--but still a +protector," answered the Countess. "Oh that Janet were but +here!" + +"She is better where she is," answered Foster--"one of you is +enough to perplex a plain head. But will you taste any +refreshment?" + +"Oh no, no--my chamber--my chamber! I trust," she said +apprehensively, "I may secure it on the inside?" + +"With all my heart," answered Foster, "so I may secure it on the +outside;" and taking a light, he led the way to a part of the +building where Amy had never been, and conducted her up a stair +of great height, preceded by one of the old women with a lamp. +At the head of the stair, which seemed of almost immeasurable +height, they crossed a short wooden gallery, formed of black oak, +and very narrow, at the farther end of which was a strong oaken +door, which opened and admitted them into the miser's apartment, +homely in its accommodations in the very last degree, and, except +in name, little different from a prison-room. + +Foster stopped at the door, and gave the lamp to the Countess, +without either offering or permitting the attendance of the old +woman who had carried it. The lady stood not on ceremony, but +taking it hastily, barred the door, and secured it with the ample +means provided on the inside for that purpose. + +Varney, meanwhile, had lurked behind on the stairs; but hearing +the door barred, he now came up on tiptoe, and Foster, winking to +him, pointed with self-complacence to a piece of concealed +machinery in the wall, which, playing with much ease and little +noise, dropped a part of the wooden gallery, after the manner of +a drawbridge, so as to cut off all communication between the door +of the bedroom, which he usually inhabited, and the landing-place +of the high, winding stair which ascended to it. The rope by +which this machinery was wrought was generally carried within the +bedchamber, it being Foster's object to provide against invasion +from without; but now that it was intended to secure the prisoner +within, the cord had been brought over to the landing-place, and +was there made fast, when Foster with much complacency had +dropped the unsuspected trap-door. + +Varney looked with great attention at the machinery, and peeped +more than once down the abyss which was opened by the fall of the +trap-door. It was dark as pitch, and seemed profoundly deep, +going, as Foster informed his confederate in a whisper, nigh to +the lowest vault of the Castle. Varney cast once more a fixed +and long look down into this sable gulf, and then followed Foster +to the part of the manor-house most usually inhabited. + +When they arrived in the parlour which we have mentioned, Varney +requested Foster to get them supper, and some of the choicest +wine. "I will seek Alasco," he added; "we have work for him to +do, and we must put him in good heart." + +Foster groaned at this intimation, but made no remonstrance. The +old woman assured Varney that Alasco had scarce eaten or drunken +since her master's departure, living perpetually shut up in the +laboratory, and talking as if the world's continuance depended on +what he was doing there. + +"I will teach him that the world hath other claims on him," said +Varney, seizing a light, and going in quest of the alchemist. He +returned, after a considerable absence, very pale, but yet with +his habitual sneer on his cheek and nostril. "Our friend," he +said, "has exhaled." + +"How!--what mean you?" said Foster--"run away--fled with my +forty pounds, that should have been multiplied a thousand-fold? +I will have Hue and Cry!" + +"I will tell thee a surer way," said Varney. + +"How!--which way?" exclaimed Foster; "I will have back my forty +pounds--I deemed them as surely a thousand times multiplied--I +will have back my in-put, at the least." + +"Go hang thyself, then, and sue Alasco in the Devil's Court of +Chancery, for thither he has carried the cause." + +"How!--what dost thou mean is he dead?" + +"Ay, truly is he," said Varney; "and properly swollen already in +the face and body. He had been mixing some of his devil's +medicines, and the glass mask which he used constantly had fallen +from his face, so that the subtle poison entered the brain, and +did its work." + +"SANCTA MARIA!" said Foster--"I mean, God in His mercy preserve +us from covetousness and deadly sin!--Had he not had projection, +think you? Saw you no ingots in the crucibles?" + +"Nay, I looked not but at the dead carrion," answered Varney; "an +ugly spectacle--he was swollen like a corpse three days exposed +on the wheel. Pah! give me a cup of wine." + +"I will go," said Foster, "I will examine myself--" He took the +lamp, and hastened to the door, but there hesitated and paused. +"Will you not go with me?" said he to Varney. + +"To what purpose?" said Varney; "I have seen and smelled enough +to spoil my appetite. I broke the window, however, and let in +the air; it reeked of sulphur, and such like suffocating steams, +as if the very devil had been there." + +"And might it not be the act of the demon himself?" said Foster, +still hesitating; "I have heard he is powerful at such times, and +with such people." + +"Still, if it were that Satan of thine," answered Varney, "who +thus jades thy imagination, thou art in perfect safety, unless he +is a most unconscionable devil indeed. He hath had two good sops +of late." + +"How TWO sops--what mean you?" said Foster--"what mean you?" + +"You will know in time," said Varney;--"and then this other +banquet--but thou wilt esteem Her too choice a morsel for the +fiend's tooth--she must have her psalms, and harps, and seraphs." + +Anthony Foster heard, and came slowly back to the table. "God! +Sir Richard, and must that then be done?" + +"Ay, in very truth, Anthony, or there comes no copyhold in thy +way," replied his inflexible associate. + +"I always foresaw it would land there!" said Foster. "But how, +Sir Richard, how?--for not to win the world would I put hands on +her." + +"I cannot blame thee," said Varney; "I should be reluctant to do +that myself. We miss Alasco and his manna sorely--ay, and the +dog Lambourne." + +"Why, where tarries Lambourne?" said Anthony. + +"Ask no questions," said Varney, "thou wilt see him one day if +thy creed is true. But to our graver matter. I will teach thee +a spring, Tony, to catch a pewit. Yonder trap-door--yonder +gimcrack of thine, will remain secure in appearance, will it not, +though the supports are withdrawn beneath?" + +"Ay, marry, will it," said Foster; "so long as it is not trodden +on." + +"But were the lady to attempt an escape over it," replied Varney, +"her weight would carry it down?" + +"A mouse's weight would do it," said Foster. + +"Why, then, she dies in attempting her escape, and what could you +or I help it, honest Tony? Let us to bed, we will adjust our +project to-morrow." + +On the next day, when evening approached, Varney summoned Foster +to the execution of their plan. Tider and Foster's old man- +servant were sent on a feigned errand down to the village, and +Anthony himself, as if anxious to see that the Countess suffered +no want of accommodation, visited her place of confinement. He +was so much staggered at the mildness and patience with which she +seemed to endure her confinement, that he could not help +earnestly recommending to her not to cross the threshold of her +room on any account whatever, until Lord Leicester should come, +"which," he added, "I trust in God, will be very soon." Amy +patiently promised that she would resign herself to her fate. +and Foster returned to his hardened companion with his conscience +half-eased of the perilous load that weighed on it. "I have +warned her," he said; "surely in vain is the snare set in the +sight of any bird!" + +He left, therefore, the Countess's door unsecured on the outside, +and, under the eye of Varney, withdrew the supports which +sustained the falling trap, which, therefore, kept its level +position merely by a slight adhesion. They withdrew to wait the +issue on the ground-floor adjoining; but they waited long in +vain. At length Varney, after walking long to and fro, with his +face muffled in his cloak, threw it suddenly back and exclaimed, +"Surely never was a woman fool enough to neglect so fair an +opportunity of escape!" + +"Perhaps she is resolved," said Foster, "to await her husband's +return," + +"True!--most true!" said Varney, rushing out; "I had not thought +of that before." + +In less than two minutes, Foster, who remained behind, heard the +tread of a horse in the courtyard, and then a whistle similar to +that which was the Earl's usual signal. The instant after the +door of the Countess's chamber opened, and in the same moment the +trap-door gave way. There was a rushing sound--a heavy fall--a +faint groan--and all was over. + +At the same instant, Varney called in at the window, in an accent +and tone which was an indescribable mixture betwixt horror and +raillery, "Is the bird caught?--is the deed done?" + +"O God, forgive us!" replied Anthony Foster. + +"Why, thou fool," said Varney, "thy toil is ended, and thy reward +secure. Look down into the vault--what seest thou?" + +"I see only a heap of white clothes, like a snowdrift," said +Foster. "O God, she moves her arm!" + +"Hurl something down on her--thy gold chest, Tony--it is an heavy +one." + +"Varney, thou art an incarnate fiend!" replied Foster. + +"There needs nothing more--she is gone!" + +"So pass our troubles," said Varney, entering the room; "I +dreamed not I could have mimicked the Earl's call so well." + +"Oh, if there be judgment in heaven, thou hast deserved it," said +Foster, "and wilt meet it! Thou hast destroyed her by means of +her best affections--it is a seething of the kid in the mother's +milk!" + +"Thou art a fanatical ass," replied Varney; "let us now think how +the alarm should be given--the body is to remain where it is." + +But their wickedness was to be permitted no longer; for even +while they were at this consultation, Tressilian and Raleigh +broke in upon them, having obtained admittance by means of Tider +and Foster's servant, whom they had secured at the village. + +Anthony Foster fled on their entrance, and knowing each corner +and pass of the intricate old house, escaped all search. But +Varney was taken on the spot; and instead of expressing +compunction for what he had done, seemed to take a fiendish +pleasure in pointing out to them the remains of the murdered +Countess, while at the same time he defied them to show that he +had any share in her death. The despairing grief of Tressilian, +on viewing the mangled and yet warm remains of what had lately +been so lovely and so beloved, was such that Raleigh was +compelled to have him removed from the place by force, while he +himself assumed the direction of what was to be done. + +Varney, upon a second examination, made very little mystery +either of the crime or of its motives---alleging, as a reason for +his frankness, that though much of what he confessed could only +have attached to him by suspicion, yet such suspicion would have +been sufficient to deprive him of Leicester's confidence, and to +destroy all his towering plans of ambition. "I was not born," he +said, "to drag on the remainder of life a degraded outcast; nor +will I so die that my fate shall make a holiday to the vulgar +herd." + +From these words it was apprehended he had some design upon +himself, and he was carefully deprived of all means by which such +could be carried into execution. But like some of the heroes of +antiquity, he carried about his person a small quantity of strong +poison, prepared probably by the celebrated Demetrius Alasco. +Having swallowed this potion over-night, he was found next +morning dead in his cell; nor did he appear to have suffered much +agony, his countenance presenting, even in death, the habitual +expression of sneering sarcasm which was predominant while he +lived. "The wicked man," saith Scripture, "hath no bands in his +death." + +The fate of his colleague in wickedness was long unknown. Cumnor +Place was deserted immediately after the murder; for in the +vicinity of what was called the Lady Dudley's Chamber, the +domestics pretended to hear groans, and screams, and other +supernatural noises. After a certain length of time, Janet, +hearing no tidings of her father, became the uncontrolled +mistress of his property, and conferred it with her hand upon +Wayland, now a man of settled character, and holding a place in +Elizabeth's household. But it was after they had been both dead +for some years that their eldest son and heir, in making some +researches about Cumnor Hall, discovered a secret passage, closed +by an iron door, which, opening from behind the bed in the Lady +Dudley's Chamber, descended to a sort of cell, in which they +found an iron chest containing a quantity of gold, and a human +skeleton stretched above it. The fate of Anthony Foster was now +manifest. He had fled to this place of concealment, forgetting +the key of the spring-lock; and being barred from escape by the +means he had used for preservation of that gold, for which he had +sold his salvation, he had there perished miserably. +Unquestionably the groans and screams heard by the domestics were +not entirely imaginary, but were those of this wretch, who, in +his agony, was crying for relief and succour. + +The news of the Countess's dreadful fate put a sudden period to +the pleasures of Kenilworth. Leicester retired from court, and +for a considerable time abandoned himself to his remorse. But as +Varney in his last declaration had been studious to spare the +character of his patron, the Earl was the object rather of +compassion than resentment. The Queen at length recalled him to +court; he was once more distinguished as a statesman and +favourite; and the rest of his career is well known to history. +But there was something retributive in his death, if, according +to an account very generally received, it took place from his +swallowing a draught of poison which was designed by him for +another person. [See Note 9. Death of the Earl of Leicester.] + +Sir Hugh Robsart died very soon after his daughter, having +settled his estate on Tressilian. But neither the prospect of +rural independence, nor the promises of favour which Elizabeth +held out to induce him to follow the court, could remove his +profound melancholy. Wherever he went he seemed to see before +him the disfigured corpse of the early and only object of his +affection. At length, having made provision for the maintenance +of the old friends and old servants who formed Sir Hugh's family +at Lidcote Hall, he himself embarked with his friend Raleigh for +the Virginia expedition, and, young in years but old in grief, +died before his day in that foreign land. + +Of inferior persons it is only necessary to say that Blount's wit +grew brighter as his yellow roses faded; that, doing his part as +a brave commander in the wars, he was much more in his element +than during the short period of his following the court; and that +Flibbertigibbet's acute genius raised him to favour and +distinction in the employment both of Burleigh and Walsingham. + + + + +NOTES. + + +Note 1. Ch. III.--FOSTER, LAMBOURNE, AND THE BLACK BEAR. + +If faith is to be put in epitaphs, Anthony Foster was something +the very reverse of the character represented in the novel. +Ashmole gives this description of his tomb. I copy from the +ANTIQUITIES OF BERKSHIRE, vol.i., p.143. + +"In the north wall of the chancel at Cumnor church is a monument +of grey marble, whereon, in brass plates, are engraved a man in +armour, and his wife in the habit of her times, both kneeling +before a fald-stoole, together with the figures of three sons +kneeling behind their mother. Under the figure of the man is +this inscription:-- + + "ANTONIUS FORSTER, generis generosa propago, + Cumnerae Dominus, Bercheriensis erat. + Armiger, Armigero prognatus patre Ricardo, + Qui quondam Iphlethae Salopiensis erat. + Quatuor ex isto fluxerunt stemmate nati, + Ex isto Antonius stemmate quartus erat. + Mente sagax, animo precellens, corpore promptus, + Eloquii dulcis, ore disertus erat. + In factis probitas; fuit in sermone venustas, + In vultu gravitas, relligione fides, + In patriam pietas, in egenos grata voluntas, + Accedunt reliquis annumeranda bonis. + Si quod cuncta rapit, rapuit non omnia Lethum, + Si quod Mors rapuit, vivida fama dedit. + +"These verses following are writ at length, two by two, in praise +of him:-- + + "Argute resonas Cithare pretendere chordas + Novit, et Aonia concrepuisse Lyra. + Gaudebat terre teneras defigere plantas; + Et mira pulchras construere arte domos + Composita varias lingua formare loquelas + Doctus, et edocta scribere multa manu. + +"The arms over it thus:-- + +Quart. I. 3 HUNTER'S HORNS stringed. + II. 3 PINIONS with their points upwards. + +"The crest is a STAG couchant, vulnerated through the neck by a +broad arrow; on his side is a MARTLETT for a difference." + +From this monumental inscription it appears that Anthony Foster, +instead of being a vulgar, low-bred, puritanical churl, was, in +fact, a gentleman of birth and consideration, distinguished for +his skill in the arts of music and horticulture, as also in +languages. In so far, therefore, the Anthony Foster of the +romance has nothing but the name in common with the real +individual. But notwithstanding the charity, benevolence, and +religious faith imputed by the monument of grey marble to its +tenant, tradition, as well as secret history, names him as the +active agent in the death of the Countess; and it is added that, +from being a jovial and convivial gallant, as we may infer from +some expressions in the epitaph, he sunk, after the fatal deed, +into a man of gloomy and retired habits, whose looks and manners +indicated that he suffered under the pressure of some atrocious +secret. + +The name of Lambourne is still known in the vicinity, and it is +said some of the clan partake the habits, as well as name, of the +Michael Lambourne of the romance. A man of this name lately +murdered his wife, outdoing Michael in this respect, who only was +concerned in the murder of the wife of another man. + +I have only to add that the jolly Black Bear has been restored to +his predominance over bowl and bottle in the village of Cumnor. + +* + +Note 2. Ch. XIII.--LEGEND OF WAYLAND SMITH. + +The great defeat given by Alfred to the Danish invaders is said +by Mr. Gough to have taken place near Ashdown, in Berkshire. "The +burial place of Baereg, the Danish chief, who was slain in this +fight, is distinguished by a parcel of stones, less than a mile +from the hill, set on edge, enclosing a piece of ground somewhat +raised. On the east side of the southern extremity stand three +squarish flat stones, of about four or five feet over either way, +supporting a fourth, and now called by the vulgar WAYLAND SMITH, +from an idle tradition about an invisible smith replacing lost +horse-shoes there."--GOUGH'S edition of CAMDEN'S BRITANNIA, +vol.i., p. 221. + +The popular belief still retains memory of this wild legend, +which, connected as it is with the site of a Danish sepulchre, +may have arisen from some legend concerning the northern Duergar, +who resided in the rocks, and were cunning workers in steel and +iron. It was believed that Wayland Smith's fee was sixpence, and +that, unlike other workmen, he was offended if more was offered. +Of late his offices have been again called to memory; but fiction +has in this, as in other cases, taken the liberty to pillage the +stores of oral tradition. This monument must be very ancient, +for it has been kindly pointed out to me that it is referred to +in an ancient Saxon charter as a landmark. The monument has been +of late cleared out, and made considerably more conspicuous. + +* + +Note 3. Ch. XIV.--LEICESTER AND SUSSEX. + +Naunton gives us numerous and curious particulars of the jealous +struggle which took place between Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex, and +the rising favourite Leicester. The former, when on his +deathbed, predicted to his followers that after his death the +gipsy (so he called Leicester, from his dark complexion) would +prove too many for them. + +* + +Note 4. Ch. XIV.--SIR WALTER RALEIGH. + +Among the attendants and adherents of Sussex, we have ventured to +introduce the celebrated Raleigh, in the dawn of his court +favour. + +In Aubrey's Correspondence there are some curious particulars of +Sir Walter Raleigh. "He was a tall, handsome, bold man; but his +naeve was that he was damnably proud. Old Sir Robert Harley of +Brampton Brian Castle, who knew him, would say it was a great +question who was the proudest, Sir Walter or Sir Thomas Overbury; +but the difference that was, was judged in Sir Thomas's side. In +the great parlour at Downton, at Mr. Raleigh's, is a good piece, +an original of Sir Walter, in a white satin doublet, all +embroidered with rich pearls, and a mighty rich chain of great +pearls about his neck. The old servants have told me that the +real pearls were near as big as the painted ones. He had a most +remarkable aspect, an exceeding high forehead, long-faced, and +sour-eyelidded. "A rebus is added to this purpose:-- + + The enemy to the stomach, and the word of disgrace, + Is the name of the gentleman with the bold face. + +Sir Walter Raleigh's beard turned up naturally, which gave him an +advantage over the gallants of the time, whose moustaches +received a touch of the barber's art to give them the air then +most admired.--See AUBREY'S CORRESPONDENCE, vol.ii., part ii., +p.500. + +* + +Note 5. Ch. XV.--COURT FAVOUR OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH. + +The gallant incident of the cloak is the traditional account of +this celebrated statesman's rise at court. None of Elizabeth's +courtiers knew better than he how to make his court to her +personal vanity, or could more justly estimate the quantity of +flattery which she could condescend to swallow. Being confined +in the Tower for some offence, and understanding the Queen was +about to pass to Greenwich in her barge, he insisted on +approaching the window, that he might see, at whatever distance, +the Queen of his Affections, the most beautiful object which the +earth bore on its surface. The Lieutenant of the Tower (his own +particular friend) threw himself between his prisoner and the +window; while Sir Waiter, apparently influenced by a fit of +unrestrainable passion, swore he would not be debarred from +seeing his light, his life, his goddess! A scuffle ensued, got +up for effect's sake, in which the Lieutenant and his captive +grappled and struggled with fury, tore each other's hair, and at +length drew daggers, and were only separated by force. The Queen +being informed of this scene exhibited by her frantic adorer, it +wrought, as was to be expected, much in favour of the captive +Paladin. There is little doubt that his quarrel with the +Lieutenant was entirely contrived for the purpose which it +produced. + +* + +Note 6. Ch. XVII.--ROBERT LANEHAM. + +Little is known of Robert Laneham, save in his curious letter to +a friend in London, giving an account of Queen Elizabeth's +entertainments at Kenilworth, written in a style of the most +intolerable affectation, both in point of composition and +orthography. He describes himself as a BON VIVANT, who was wont +to be jolly and dry in the morning, and by his good-will would be +chiefly in the company of the ladies. He was, by the interest of +Lord Leicester, Clerk of the Council Chamber door, and also +keeper of the same. "When Council sits," says he, "I am at hand. +If any makes a babbling, PEACE, say I. If I see a listener or a +pryer in at the chinks or lockhole, I am presently on the bones +of him. If a friend comes, I make him sit down by me on a form +or chest. The rest may walk, a God's name!" There has been +seldom a better portrait of the pragmatic conceit and self- +importance of a small man in office. + +* + +Note 7. Ch. XVIII.--DR. JULIO. + +The Earl of Leicester's Italian physician, Julio, was affirmed by +his contemporaries to be a skilful compounder of poisons, which +he applied with such frequency, that the Jesuit Parsons extols +ironically the marvellous good luck of this great favourite in +the opportune deaths of those who stood in the way of his wishes. +There is a curious passage on the subject:-- + +"Long after this, he fell in love with the Lady Sheffield, whom I +signified before, and then also had he the same fortune to have +her husband dye quickly, with an extreame rheume in his head (as +it was given out), but as others say, of an artificiall catarre +that stopped his breath. + +"The like good chance had he in the death of my Lord of Essex (as +I have said before), and that at a time most fortunate for his +purpose; for when he was coming home from Ireland, with intent to +revenge himselfe upon my Lord of Leicester for begetting his wife +with childe in his absence (the childe was a daughter, and +brought up by the Lady Shandoes, W. Knooles, his wife), my Lord +of Leicester hearing thereof, wanted not a friend or two to +accompany the deputy, as among other a couple of the Earles own +servants, Crompton (if I misse not his name), yeoman of his +bottles, and Lloid his secretary, entertained afterward by my +Lord of Leicester, and so he dyed in the way of an extreame flux, +caused by an Italian receipe, as all his friends are well +assured, the maker whereof was a chyrurgeon (as it is beleeved) +that then was newly come to my Lord from Italy---a cunning man +and sure in operation, with whom, if the good Lady had been +sooner acquainted, and used his help, she should not have needed +to sitten so pensive at home, and fearefull of her husband's +former returne out of the same country......Neither must you +marvaile though all these died in divers manners of outward +diseases, for this is the excellency of the Italian art, for +which this chyrurgeon and Dr. Julio were entertained so +carefully, who can make a man dye in what manner or show of +sickness you will--by whose instructions, no doubt; but his +lordship is now cunning, especially adding also to these the +counsell of his Doctor Bayly, a man also not a little studied (as +he seemeth) in his art; for I heard him once myselfe, in a +publique act in Oxford, and that in presence of my Lord of +Leicester (if I be not deceived), maintain that poyson might be +so tempered and given as it should not appear presently, and yet +should kill the party afterward, at what time should be +appointed; which argument belike pleased well his lordship, and +therefore was chosen to be discussed in his audience, if I be not +deceived of his being that day present. So, though one dye of a +flux, and another of a catarre, yet this importeth little to the +matter, but showeth rather the great cunning and skill of the +artificer."--PARSONS' LEICESTER'S COMMONWEALTH, p.23. + +It is unnecessary to state the numerous reasons why the Earl is +stated in the tale to be rather the dupe of villains than the +unprincipled author of their atrocities. In the latter capacity, +which a part at least of his contemporaries imputed to him, he +would have made a character too disgustingly wicked to be useful +for the purposes of fiction. + +I have only to add that the union of the poisoner, the +quacksalver, the alchemist, and the astrologer in the same person +was familiar to the pretenders to the mystic sciences. + +* + +Note 8. Ch. XXXII.--FURNITURE OF KENILWORTH. + +In revising this work, I have had the means of making some +accurate additions to my attempt to describe the princely +pleasures of Kenilworth, by the kindness of my friend William +Hamper, Esq., who had the goodness to communicate to me an +inventory of the furniture of Kenilworth in the days of the +magnificent Earl of Leicester. I have adorned the text with some +of the splendid articles mentioned in the inventory, but +antiquaries especially will be desirous to see a more full +specimen than the story leaves room for. + +EXTRACTS FROM KENILWORTH INVENTORY, A.D. 1584. + +A Salte, ship-fashion, of the mother of perle, garnished with +silver and divers workes, warlike ensignes, and ornaments, with +xvj peeces of ordinance whereof ij on wheles, two anckers on the +foreparte, and on the stearne the image of Dame Fortune standing +on a globe with a flag in her hand. Pois xxxij oz. + +A gilte salte like a swann, mother of perle. Pois xxx oz. iij +quarters. + +A George on horseback, of wood, painted and gilt, with a case for +knives in the tayle of the horse, and a case for oyster knives in +the brest of the Dragon. + +A green barge-cloth, embrother'd with white lions and beares. + +A perfuming pann, of silver. Pois xix oz. + +In the halle. Tabells, long and short, vj. Formes, long and +short, xiiij. + +HANGINGS. +(These are minutely specified, and consisted of the following +subjects, in tapestry, and gilt, and red leather.) + +Flowers, beasts, and pillars arched. Forest worke. Historie. +Storie of Susanna, the Prodigall Childe, Saule, Tobie, Hercules, +Lady Fame, Hawking and Hunting, Jezabell, Judith and Holofernes, +David, Abraham, Sampson, Hippolitus, Alexander the Great, Naaman +the Assyrian, Jacob, etc. + +BEDSTEADS, WITH THEIR FURNITURE. +(These are magnificent and numerous. I shall copy VERBATIM the +description of what appears to have been one of the best.) + +A bedsted of wallnut-tree, toppe fashion, the pillers redd and +varnished, the ceelor, tester, and single vallance of crimson +sattin, paned with a broad border of bone lace of golde and +silver. The tester richlie embrothered with my Lo. armes in a +garland of hoppes, roses, and pomegranetts, and lyned with +buckerom. Fyve curteins of crimson sattin to the same bedsted, +striped downe with a bone lace of gold and silver, garnished with +buttons and loops of crimson silk and golde, containing xiiij +bredths of sattin, and one yarde iij quarters deepe. The ceelor, +vallance, and curteins lyned with crymson taffata sarsenet. + +A crymson sattin counterpointe, quilted and embr. with a golde +twiste, and lyned with redd sarsenet, being in length iij yards +good, and in breadth iij scant. + +A chaise of crymson sattin, suteable. + +A fayre quilte of crymson sattin, vj breadths, iij yardes 3 +quarters naile deepe, all lozenged over with silver twiste, in +the midst a cinquefoile within a garland of ragged staves, +fringed rounde aboute with a small fringe of crymson silke, lyned +throughe with white fustian. + +Fyve plumes of coolered feathers, garnished with bone lace and +spangells of goulde and silver, standing in cups knitt all over +with goulde, silver, and crymson silk. [Probably on the centre +and four corners of the bedstead. Four bears and ragged staves +occupied a similar position on another of these sumptuous pieces +of furniture.] + +A carpett for a cupboarde of crymson sattin, embrothered with a +border of goulde twiste, about iij parts of it fringed with silk +and goulde, lyned with bridges [That is, Bruges.] sattin, in +length ij yards, and ij bredths of sattin. + +(There were eleven down beds and ninety feather beds, besides +thirty-seven mattresses.) + +CHYRES, STOOLES, AND CUSHENS. +(These were equally splendid with the beds, etc. I shall here +copy that which stands at the head of the list.) + +A chaier of crimson velvet, the seate and backe partlie +embrothered, with R. L. in cloth of goulde, the beare and ragged +staffe in clothe of silver, garnished with lace and fringe of +goulde, silver, and crimson silck. The frame covered with +velvet, bounde aboute the edge with goulde lace, and studded with +gilte nailes. + +A square stoole and a foote stoole, of crimson velvet, fringed +and garnished suteable. + +A long cushen of crimson velvet, embr. with the ragged staffe in +a wreathe of goulde, with my Lo. posie "DROYTE ET LOYALL" written +in the same, and the letters R. L. in clothe of goulde, being +garnished with lace, fringe, buttons, and tassels of gold, +silver, and crimson silck, lyned with crimson taff., being in +length 1 yard quarter. + +A square cushen, of the like velvet, embr. suteable to the long +cushen. + +CARPETS. +(There were 10 velvet carpets for tables and windows, 49 Turkey +carpets for floors, and 32 cloth carpets. One of each I will now +specify.) + +A carpett of crimson velvet, richlie embr. with my Lo. posie, +beares and ragged staves, etc., of clothe of goulde and silver, +garnished upon the seames and aboute with golde lace, fringed +accordinglie, lyned with crimson taffata sarsenett, being 3 +breadths of velvet, one yard 3 quarters long. + +A great Turquoy carpett, the grounde blew, with a list of yelloe +at each end, being in length x yards, in bredthe iiij yards and +quarter + +A long carpett of blew clothe, lyned with bridges sattin, fringed +with blew silck and goulde, in length vj yards lack a quarter, +the whole bredth of the clothe. + +PICTURES. +(Chiefly described as having curtains.) + +The Queene's Majestie (2 great tables). 3 of my Lord. St. +Jerome. Lo. of Arundell. Lord Mathevers. Lord of Pembroke. +Counte Egmondt. The Queene of Scotts. King Philip. The Baker's +Daughters. The Duke of Feria. Alexander Magnus. Two Yonge +Ladies. Pompaea Sabina. Fred. D. of Saxony. Emp. Charles. +K. Philip's Wife. Prince of Orange and his Wife. Marq. of +Berges and his Wife. Counte de Home. Count Holstrate. Monsr. +Brederode. Duke Alva. Cardinal Grandville. Duches of Parma. +Henrie E. of Pembrooke and his young Countess. Countis of Essex. +Occacion and Repentance. Lord Mowntacute. Sir Jas. Crofts. Sir +Wr. Mildmay. Sr. Wm. Pickering. Edwin Abp. of York. + +A tabell of an historie of men, women, and children, moulden in +wax. + +A little foulding table of ebanie, garnished with white bone, +wherein are written verses with lres. of goulde. + +A table of my Lord's armes. + +Fyve of the plannetts, painted in frames. + +Twentie-three cardes, [That is charts.] or maps of countries. + +INSTRUMENTS. +(I shall give two specimens.) + +An instrument of organs, regall, and virginalls, covered with +crimson velvet, and garnished with goulde lace. + +A fair pair of double virginalls. + +CABONETTS. + +A cabonett of crimson sattin, richlie embr. with a device of +hunting the stagg, in goulde, silver, and silck, with iiij +glasses in the topp thereof, xvj cupps of flowers made of goulde, +silver, and silck, in a case of leather, lyned with greene sattin +of bridges. + +(Another of purple velvet. A desk of red leather.) + +A CHESS BOARDE of ebanie, with checkars of christall and other +stones, layed with silver, garnished with beares and ragged +staves, and cinquefoiles of silver. The xxxij men likewyse of +christall and other stones sett, the one sort in silver white, +the other gilte, in a case gilded and lyned with green cotton. + +(Another of bone and ebanie. A pair of tabells of bone.) + +A great BRASON CANDLESTICK to hang in the roofe of the howse, +verie fayer and curiouslye wrought, with xxiiij branches, xij +greate and xij of lesser size, 6 rowlers and ij wings for the +spreade eagle, xxiiij socketts for candells, xij greater and xij +of a lesser sorte, xxiiij sawcers, or candlecups, of like +proporcion to put under the socketts, iij images of men and iij +of weomen, of brass, verie finely and artificiallie done. + +These specimens of Leicester's magnificence may serve to assure +the reader that it scarce lay in the power of a modern author to +exaggerate the lavish style of expense displayed in the princely +pleasures of Kenilworth. + +* + +Note to Ch. XLI.--DEATH OF THE EARL OF LEICESTER. + +In a curious manuscript copy of the information given by Ben +Jonson to Drummond of Hawthornden, as transcribed by Sir Robert +Sibbald, Leicester's death is ascribed to poison administered as +a cordial by his countess, to whom he had given it, representing +it to be a restorative in any faintness, in the hope that she +herself might be cut off by using it. We have already quoted +Jonson's account of this merited stroke of retribution in a note +of the Introduction to this volume. It may be here added that +the following satirical epitaph on Leicester occurs in Drummond's +Collection, but is evidently not of his composition:-- + +EPITAPH ON THE ERLE OF LEISTER. + + Here lies a valiant warriour, + Who never drew a sword; + Here lies a noble courtier, + Who never kept his word; + Here lies the Erle of Leister, + Who governed the Estates, + Whom the earth could never living love, + And the just Heaven now hates. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Kenilworth, by Walter Scott + |