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