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 themthe 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