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； by my faith； if they paid not for mercy；
we would finger them tightly！〃 ＇See Note 6。 Robert Laneham。＇
Leicester moved hastily on； neglecting the courtesies he had
hitherto dispensed so liberally； and hurrying through the courtly
crowd； until he paused in a small withdrawing…room； into which he
plunged to draw a moment's breath unobserved； and in seclusion。
〃What am I now；〃 he said to himself； 〃that am thus jaded by the
words of a mean； weather…beaten； goose…brained gull！ Conscience；
thou art a bloodhound； whose growl wakes us readily at the paltry
stir of a rat or mouse as at the step of a lion。 Can I not quit
myself； by one bold stroke； of a state so irksome； so unhonoured？
What if I kneel to Elizabeth； and； owning the whole； throw myself
on her mercy？〃
As he pursued this train of thought； the door of the apartment
opened； and Varney rushed in。
〃Thank God； my lord； that I have found you！〃 was his
exclamation。
〃Thank the devil； whose agent thou art；〃 was the Earl's reply。
〃Thank whom you will； my lord；〃 replied Varney； 〃but hasten to
the water…side。 The Queen is on board； and asks for you。〃
〃Go； say I am taken suddenly ill；〃 replied Leicester； 〃for； by
Heaven； my brain can sustain this no longer！〃
〃I may well say so；〃 said Varney； with bitterness of expression；
〃for your place； ay； and mine； who； as your master of the horse；
was to have attended your lordship； is already filled up in the
Queen's barge。 The new minion； Walter Raleigh； and our old
acquaintance Tressilian were called for to fill our places just
as I hastened away to seek you。〃
〃Thou art a devil； Varney；〃 said Leicester hastily； 〃but thou
hast the mastery for the presentI follow thee。〃
Varney replied not； but led the way out of the palace； and
towards the river； while his master followed him； as if
mechanically； until； looking back； he said in a tone which
savoured of familiarity at least； if not of authority； 〃How is
this； my lord？ Your cloak hangs on one sideyour hose are
unbracedpermit me〃
〃Thou art a fool； Varney； as well as a knave；〃 said Leicester；
shaking him off； and rejecting his officious assistance。 〃We are
best thus； sir； when we require you to order our person； it is
well； but now we want you not。〃
So saying； the Earl resumed at once his air of command； and with
it his self…possessionshook his dress into yet wilder disorder
passed before Varney with the air of a superior and master； and
in his turn led the way to the river…side。
The Queen's barge was on the very point of putting off； the seat
allotted to Leicester in the stern； and that to his master of the
horse on the bow of the boat； being already filled up。 But on
Leicester's approach there was a pause； as if the bargemen
anticipated some alteration in their company。 The angry spot
was； however； on the Queen's cheek； as； in that cold tone with
which superiors endeavour to veil their internal agitation； while
speaking to those before whom it would be derogation to express
it； she pronounced the chilling words； 〃We have waited； my Lord
of Leicester。〃
〃Madam； and most gracious Princess；〃 said Leicester； 〃you； who
can pardon so many weaknesses which your own heart never knows；
can best bestow your commiseration on the agitations of the
bosom； which； for a moment； affect both head and limbs。 I came
to your presence a doubting and an accused subject； your goodness
penetrated the clouds of defamation； and restored me to my
honour； and； what is yet dearer； to your favouris it wonderful；
though for me it is most unhappy； that my master of the horse
should have found me in a state which scarce permitted me to make
the exertion necessary to follow him to this place； when one
glance of your Highness； although； alas！ an angry one； has had
power to do that for me in which Esculapius might have failed？〃
〃How is this？〃 said Elizabeth hastily； looking at Varney； 〃hath
your lord been ill？〃
〃Something of a fainting fit；〃 answered the ready…witted Varney；
〃as your Grace may observe from his present condition。 My lord's
haste would not permit me leisure even to bring his dress into
order。〃
〃It matters not；〃 said Elizabeth； as she gazed on the noble face
and form of Leicester； to which even the strange mixture of
passions by which he had been so lately agitated gave additional
interest； 〃make room for my noble lord。 Your place； Master
Varney； has been filled up； you must find a seat in another
barge。〃
Varney bowed； and withdrew。
〃And you； too； our young Squire of the Cloak；〃 added she； looking
at Raleigh； 〃must； for the time； go to the barge of our ladies of
honour。 As for Tressilian； he hath already suffered too much by
the caprice of women that I should aggrieve him by my change of
plan； so far as he is concerned。〃
Leicester seated himself in his place in the barge； and close to
the Sovereign。 Raleigh rose to retire； and Tressilian would have
been so ill…timed in his courtesy as to offer to relinquish his
own place to his friend； had not the acute glance of Raleigh
himself； who seemed no in his native element； made him sensible
that so ready a disclamation of the royal favour might be
misinterpreted。 He sat silent； therefore； whilst Raleigh； with a
profound bow； and a look of the deepest humiliation； was about to
quit his place。
A noble courtier； the gallant Lord Willoughby； read； as he
thought； something in the Queen's face which seemed to pity
Raleigh's real or assumed semblance of mortification。
〃It is not for us old courtiers；〃 he said； 〃to hide the sunshine
from the young ones。 I will； with her Majesty's leave；
relinquish for an hour that which her subjects hold dearest； the
delight of her Highness's presence； and mortify myself by walking
in starlight； while I forsake for a brief season the glory of
Diana's own beams。 I will take place in the boat which the
ladies occupy； and permit this young cavalier his hour of
promised felicity。〃
The Queen replied； with an expression betwixt mirth and earnest；
〃If you are so willing to leave us； my lord； we cannot help the
mortification。 But； under favour； we do not trust youold and
experienced as you may deem yourselfwith the care of our young
ladies of honour。 Your venerable age； my lord；〃 she continued；
smiling； 〃may be better assorted with that of my Lord Treasurer；
who follows in the third boat； and by whose experience even my
Lord Willoughby's may be improved。〃
Lord Willoughby hid his disappointment under a smilelaughed；
was confused； bowed； and left the Queen's barge to go on board my
Lord Burleigh's。 Leicester； who endeavoured to divert his
thoughts from all internal reflection； by fixing them on what was
passing around； watched this circumstance among others。 But when
the boat put off from the shorewhen the music sounded from a
barge which accompanied themwhen the shouts of the populace
were heard from the shore； and all reminded him of the situation
in which he was placed； he abstracted his thoughts and feelings
by a strong effort from everything but the necessity of
maintaining himself in the favour of his patroness； and exerted
his talents of pleasing captivation with such success； that the
Queen； alternately delighted with his conversation； and alarmed
for his health； at length imposed a temporary silence on him；
with playful yet anxious care； lest his flow of spirits should
exhaust him。
〃My lords；〃 she said； 〃having passed for a time our edict of
silence upon our good Leicester； we will call you to counsel on a
gamesome matter； more fitted to be now treated of； amidst mirth
and music； than in the gravity of our ordinary deliberations。
Which of you； my lords；〃 said she； smiling； 〃know aught of a
petition from Orson Pinnit； the keeper； as he qualifies himself；
of our royal bears？ Who stands godfather to his request？〃
〃Marry； with Your Grace's good permission； that do I；〃 said the
Earl of Sussex。 〃Orson Pinnit was a stout soldier before he was
so mangled by the skenes of the Irish clan MacDonough； and I
trust your Grace will be； as you always have been； good mistress
to your good and trusty servants。〃
〃Surely；〃 said the Queen； 〃it is our purpose to be so； and in
especial to our poor soldiers and sailors； who hazard their lives
for little pay。 We would give；〃 she said； with her eyes
sparkling； 〃yonder royal palace of ours to be an hospital for
their use； rather than they should call their mistress
ungrateful。 But this is not the question；〃 she said； her voice；
which had been awakened by her patriotic feelings； once more
subsiding into the tone of gay and easy conversation； 〃for this
Orson Pinnit's request goes something further。 He complains
that； amidst the extreme delight with which men haunt the play…
houses； and in especial their eager desire for seeing the
exhibitions of one Will Shakespeare （whom I think； my lords； we
have all heard something of）； the manly amusement of bear…baiting
is falling into comparative neglect； since men will rather throng
to see these roguish players kill each