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 experimentone 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 priceno； 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 itthe 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 heiferif 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 finesseto hold the cardsto oppose one interest
to anotherto 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 martialisthad 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。 Meanwhilefor in that old time men never
forgot the probability that the matter might be determined by
length of swordthe 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 rea