chafed their temper。 Excepting the occasional brawls which we
have mentioned among that irritable race the carmen； the mingled
sounds which arose from the multitude were those of light…hearted
mirth and tiptoe jollity。 The musicians preluded on their
instrumentsthe minstrels hummed their songsthe licensed
jester whooped betwixt mirth and madness； as he brandished his
baublethe morrice…dancers jangled their bellsthe rustics
hallooed and whistled…men laughed loud； and maidens giggled
shrill； while many a broad jest flew like a shuttlecock from one
party； to be caught in the air and returned from the opposite
side of the road by another； at which it was aimed。
No infliction can be so distressing to a mind absorbed in
melancholy； as being plunged into a scene of mirth and revelry；
forming an accompaniment so dissonant from its own feelings。
Yet； in the case of the Countess of Leicester； the noise and
tumult of this giddy scene distracted her thoughts； and rendered
her this sad service； that it became impossible for her to brood
on her own misery； or to form terrible anticipations of her
approaching fate。 She travelled on like one in a dream；
following implicitly the guidance of Wayland； who； with great
address； now threaded his way through the general throng of
passengers； now stood still until a favourable opportunity
occurred of again moving forward； and frequently turning
altogether out of the direct road； followed some circuitous by…
path； which brought them into the highway again； after having
given them the opportunity of traversing a considerable way with
greater ease and rapidity。
It was thus he avoided Warwick； within whose Castle （that fairest
monument of ancient and chivalrous splendour which yet remains
uninjured by time） Elizabeth had passed the previous night； and
where she was to tarry until past noon； at that time the general
hour of dinner throughout England； after which repast she was to
proceed to Kenilworth； In the meanwhile； each passing group had
something to say in the Sovereign's praise； though not absolutely
without the usual mixture of satire which qualifies more or less
our estimate of our neighbours； especially if they chance to be
also our betters。
〃Heard you；〃 said。 one； 〃how graciously she spoke to Master
Bailiff and the Recorder； and to good Master Griffin the
preacher； as they kneeled down at her coach…window？〃
〃Ay； and how she said to little Aglionby； 'Master Recorder； men
would have persuaded me that you were afraid of me； but truly I
think； so well did you reckon up to me the virtues of a
sovereign； that I have more reason to be afraid of you。' and then
with what grace she took the fair…wrought purse with the twenty
gold sovereigns； seeming as though she would not willingly handle
it； and yet taking it withal。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 said another； 〃her fingers closed on it pretty
willingly methought； when all was done； and methought； too； she
weighed them for a second in her hand； as she would say； I hope
they be avoirdupois。〃
〃She needed not； neighbour；〃 said a third； 〃it is only when the
corporation pay the accounts of a poor handicraft like me； that
they put him off with clipped coin。 Well； there is a God above
alllittle Master Recorder； since that is the word； will be
greater now than ever。〃
〃Come； good neighbour；〃 said the first speaker 〃be not envious。
She is a good Queen； and a generous； she gave the purse to the
Earl of Leicester。〃
〃I envious？beshrew thy heart for the word！〃 replied the
handicraft。 〃But she will give all to the Earl of Leicester
anon； methinks。〃
〃You are turning ill； lady；〃 said Wayland Smith to the Countess
of Leicester； and proposed that she should draw off from the
road； and halt till she recovered。 But； subduing her feelings at
this and different speeches to the same purpose； which caught her
ear as they passed on； she insisted that her guide should proceed
to Kenilworth with all the haste which the numerous impediments
of their journey permitted。 Meanwhile； Wayland's anxiety at her
repeated fits of indisposition； and her obvious distraction of
mind； was hourly increasing； and he became extremely desirous
that； according to her reiterated requests； she should be safely
introduced into the Castle； where； he doubted not； she was secure
of a kind reception； though she seemed unwilling to reveal on
whom she reposed her hopes。
〃An I were once rid of this peril；〃 thought he； 〃and if any man
shall find me playing squire of the body to a damosel…errant； he
shall have leave to beat my brains out with my own sledge…
hammer！〃
At length the princely Castle appeared； upon improving which； and
the domains around； the Earl of Leicester had； it is said；
expended sixty thousand pounds sterling； a sum equal to half a
million of our present money。
The outer wall of this splendid and gigantic structure enclosed
seven acres； a part of which was occupied by extensive stables；
and by a pleasure garden； with its trim arbours and parterres；
and the rest formed the large base…court or outer yard of the
noble Castle。 The lordly structure itself； which rose near the
centre of this spacious enclosure； was composed of a huge pile of
magnificent castellated buildings； apparently of different ages；
surrounding an inner court； and bearing in the names attached to
each portion of the magnificent mass； and in the armorial
bearings which were there blazoned； the emblems of mighty chiefs
who had long passed away； and whose history； could Ambition have
lent ear to it； might have read a lesson to the haughty favourite
who had now acquired and was augmenting the fair domain。 A large
and massive Keep； which formed the citadel of the Castle； was of
uncertain though great antiquity。 It bore the name of Caesar；
perhaps from its resemblance to that in the Tower of London so
called。 Some antiquaries ascribe its foundation to the time of
Kenelph； from whom the Castle had its name； a Saxon King of
Mercia； and others to an early era after the Norman Conquest。 On
the exterior walls frowned the scutcheon of the Clintons； by whom
they were founded in the reign of Henry I。； and of the yet more
redoubted Simon de Montfort； by whom； during the Barons' wars；
Kenilworth was long held out against Henry III。 Here Mortimer；
Earl of March； famous alike for his rise and his fall； had once
gaily revelled in Kenilworth； while his dethroned sovereign；
Edward II。； languished in its dungeons。 Old John of Gaunt；
〃time…honoured Lancaster；〃 had widely extended the Castle；
erecting that noble and massive pile which yet bears the name of
Lancaster's Buildings； and Leicester himself had outdone the
former possessors； princely and powerful as they were； by
erecting another immense structure； which now lies crushed under
its own ruins； the monument of its owner's ambition。 The
external wall of this royal Castle was； on the south and west
sides； adorned and defended by a lake partly artificial； across
which Leicester had constructed a stately bridge； that Elizabeth
might enter the Castle by a path hitherto untrodden； instead of
the usual entrance to the northward； over which he had erected a
gatehouse or barbican； which still exists； and is equal in
extent； and superior in architecture； to the baronial castle of
many a northern chief。
Beyond the lake lay an extensive chase； full of red deer； fallow
deer； roes； and every species of game； and abounding with lofty
trees； from amongst which the extended front and massive towers
of the Castle were seen to rise in majesty and beauty。 We cannot
but add； that of this lordly palace； where princes feasted and
heroes fought； now in the bloody earnest of storm and siege； and
now in the games of chivalry； where beauty dealt the prize which
valour won； all is now desolate。 The bed of the lake is but a
rushy swamp； and the massive ruins of the Castle only serve to
show what their splendour once was； and to impress on the musing
visitor the transitory value of human possessions； and the
happiness of those who enjoy a humble lot in virtuous
contentment。
It was with far different feelings that the unfortunate Countess
of Leicester viewed those grey and massive towers； when she first
beheld them rise above the embowering and richly…shaded woods；
over which they seemed to preside。 She； the undoubted wife of
the great Earl； of Elizabeth's minion； and England's mighty
favourite； was approaching the presence of her husband； and that
husband's sovereign； under the protection； rather than the
guidance； of a poor juggler； and though unquestioned Mistress of
that proud Castle； whose lightest word ought to have had force
sufficient to make its gates leap from their massive hinges to
receive her； yet she could not conceal from herself the
difficulty and peril which she must experience in gaining
admission into her own halls。
The risk and difficulty； indeed； seemed to increase every moment；
and at length threatened altogether to put a stop to her further
progress at the great gate leading to a broad and fair road；
which； traversing the breadth of the chase for the space of two
miles； and commanding several most beautiful views of the Castle
and