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 thinkestall thou carestall thou deemest
the use of the King of Elements and the King of Riversto 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 troubleand 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 eyean 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 Majest