necessity of continuing the severe restraint of the Queen of
Scots； as a measure essential to the safety of the kingdom； and
particularly of Elizabeth's sacred person； the lightest hair of
whose head； he maintained； ought； in their lordships' estimation；
to be matter of more deep and anxious concern than the life and
fortunes of a rival； who； after setting up a vain and unjust
pretence to the throne of England； was now； even while in the
bosom of her country； the constant hope and theme of
encouragement to all enemies to Elizabeth； whether at home or
abroad。 He ended by craving pardon of their lordships； if in the
zeal of speech he had given any offence； but the Queen's safety
was a theme which hurried him beyond his usual moderation of
debate。
Elizabeth chid him； but not severely； for the weight which he
attached unduly to her personal interests； yet she owned that；
since it had been the pleasure of Heaven to combine those
interests with the weal of her subjects； she did only her duty
when she adopted such measures of self…preservation as
circumstances forced upon her； and if the council in their wisdom
should be of opinion that it was needful to continue some
restraint on the person of her unhappy sister of Scotland； she
trusted they would not blame her if she requested of the Countess
of Shrewsbury to use her with as much kindness as might be
consistent with her safe keeping。 And with this intimation of
her pleasure the council was dismissed。
Never was more anxious and ready way made for 〃my Lord of
Leicester；〃 than as he passed through the crowded anterooms to go
towards the river…side； in order to attend her Majesty to her
bargenever was the voice of the ushers louder； to 〃make room；
make room for the noble Earl〃never were these signals more
promptly and reverently obeyednever were more anxious eyes
turned on him to obtain a glance of favour； or even of mere
recognition； while the heart of many a humble follower throbbed
betwixt the desire to offer his congratulations； and the fear of
intruding himself on the notice of one so infinitely above him。
The whole court considered the issue of this day's audience；
expected with so much doubt and anxiety； as a decisive triumph on
the part of Leicester； and felt assured that the orb of his rival
satellite； if not altogether obscured by his lustre； must revolve
hereafter in a dimmer and more distant sphere。 So thought the
court and courtiers； from high to low； and they acted
accordingly。
On the other hand； never did Leicester return the general
greeting with such ready and condescending courtesy； or endeavour
more successfully to gather （in the words of one who at that
moment stood at no great distance from him） 〃golden opinions from
all sorts of men。〃
For all the favourite Earl had a bow a smile at least； and often
a kind word。 Most of these were addressed to courtiers； whose
names have long gone down the tide of oblivion； but some； to such
as sound strangely in our ears； when connected with the ordinary
matters of human life； above which the gratitude of posterity has
long elevated them。 A few of Leicester's interlocutory sentences
ran as follows：
〃Poynings； good morrow； and how does your wife and fair daughter？
Why come they not to court？Adams； your suit is naught； the
Queen will grant no more monopolies。 But I may serve you in
another matter。My good Alderman Aylford； the suit of the City；
affecting Queenhithe； shall be forwarded as far as my poor
interest can serve。Master Edmund Spenser； touching your Irish
petition； I would willingly aid you； from my love to the Muses；
but thou hast nettled the Lord Treasurer。〃
〃My lord； 〃 said the poet； 〃were I permitted to explain〃
〃Come to my lodging； Edmund；〃 answered the Earl 〃not to…morrow；
or next day； but soon。Ha； Will Shakespearewild Will！thou
hast given my nephew Philip Sidney； love…powder； he cannot sleep
without thy Venus and Adonis under his pillow！ We will have thee
hanged for the veriest wizard in Europe。 Hark thee； mad wag； I
have not forgotten thy matter of the patent； and of the bears。〃
The PLAYER bowed； and the Earl nodded and passed onso that age
would have told the tale； in ours； perhaps； we might say the
immortal had done homage to the mortal。 The next whom the
favourite accosted was one of his own zealous dependants。
〃How now； Sir Francis Denning；〃 he whispered； in answer to his
exulting salutation； 〃that smile hath made thy face shorter by
one…third than when I first saw it this morning。What； Master
Bowyer； stand you back； and think you I bear malice？ You did but
your duty this morning； and if I remember aught of the passage
betwixt us； it shall be in thy favour。〃
Then the Earl was approached； with several fantastic congees； by
a person quaintly dressed in a doublet of black velvet； curiously
slashed and pinked with crimson satin。 A long cock's feather in
the velvet bonnet； which he held in his hand； and an enormous
ruff； stiffened to the extremity of the absurd taste of the
times； joined with a sharp； lively； conceited expression of
countenance； seemed to body forth a vain； harebrained coxcomb；
and small wit； while the rod he held； and an assumption of formal
authority； appeared to express some sense of official
consequence； which qualified the natural pertness of his manner。
A perpetual blush； which occupied rather the sharp nose than the
thin cheek of this personage； seemed to speak more of 〃good
life；〃 as it was called； than of modesty； and the manner in which
he approached to the Earl confirmed that suspicion。
〃Good even to you； Master Robert Laneham；〃 said Leicester； and
seemed desirous to pass forward； without further speech。
〃I have a suit to your noble lordship；〃 said the figure； boldly
following him。
〃And what is it； good master keeper of the council…chamber door？〃
〃CLERK of the council…chamber door；〃 said Master Robert Laneham；
with emphasis； by way of reply； and of correction。
〃Well； qualify thine office as thou wilt； man；〃 replied the Earl；
〃what wouldst thou have with me？〃
〃Simply；〃 answered Laneham； 〃that your lordship would be； as
heretofore； my good lord； and procure me license to attend the
Summer Progress unto your lordship's most beautiful and all…to…
be…unmatched Castle of Kenilworth。〃
〃To what purpose； good Master Laneham？〃 replied the Earl；
〃bethink you； my guests must needs be many。〃
〃Not so many；〃 replied the petitioner； 〃but that your nobleness
will willingly spare your old servitor his crib and his mess。
Bethink you； my lord； how necessary is this rod of mine to fright
away all those listeners； who else would play at bo…peep with the
honourable council； and be searching for keyholes and crannies in
the door of the chamber； so as to render my staff as needful as a
fly…flap in a butcher's shop。〃
〃Methinks you have found out a fly…blown comparison for the
honourable council； Master Laneham；〃 said the Earl； 〃but seek not
about to justify it。 Come to Kenilworth； if you list； there will
be store of fools there besides； and so you will be fitted。〃
〃Nay； an there be fools； my lord；〃 replied Laneham； with much
glee； 〃I warrant I will make sport among them； for no greyhound
loves to cote a hare as I to turn and course a fool。 But I have
another singular favour to beseech of your honour。〃
〃Speak it； and let me go；〃 said the Earl； 〃I think the Queen
comes forth instantly。〃
〃My very good lord； I would fain bring a bed…fellow with me。〃
〃How； you irreverent rascal！〃 said Leicester。
〃Nay； my lord； my meaning is within the canons；〃 answered his
unblushing； or rather his ever…blushing petitioner。 〃I have a
wife as curious as her grandmother who ate the apple。 Now； take
her with me I may not； her Highness's orders being so strict
against the officers bringing with them their wives in a
progress； and so lumbering the court with womankind。 But what I
would crave of your lordship is to find room for her in some
mummery； or pretty pageant； in disguise； as it were； so that； not
being known for my wife； there may be no offence。〃
〃The foul fiend seize ye both！〃 said Leicester； stung into
uncontrollable passion by the recollections which this speech
excited〃why stop you me with such follies？〃
The terrified clerk of the chamber…door； astonished at the burst
of resentment he had so unconsciously produced； dropped his staff
of office from his hand； and gazed on the incensed Earl with a
foolish face of wonder and terror； which instantly recalled
Leicester to himself。
〃I meant but to try if thou hadst the audacity which befits thine
office；〃 said he hastily。 〃Come to Kenilworth； and bring the
devil with thee； if thou wilt。〃
〃My wife； sir； hath played the devil ere now； in a Mystery； in
Queen Mary's time； but me shall want a trifle for properties。〃
〃Here is a crown for thee；〃 said the Earl；〃make me rid of thee
the great bell rings。〃
Master Robert Laneham stared a moment at the agitation which he
had excited； and then said to himself； as he stooped to pick up
his staff of office； 〃The noble Earl runs wild humours to…day。
But they who give crowns expect us witty fellows to wink at their
unsettled starts； and；