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 entranceSussex 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 knavean ungrateful knave；〃 said Leicester； 〃but he
that hath done can undothou 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 Eliza