have been long in a languishing state。
But whether the Queen deemed it too presumptuous in so young a
courtier to interpose his opinion unasked； or whether she was
moved by a recurrence of the feeling of jealousy which had been
instilled into her by reports that the Earl kept armed men about
his person； she desired Raleigh； sharply； to reserve his counsel
till it was required of him； and repeated her former orders to be
landed at Deptford； adding； 〃We will ourselves see what sort of
household my Lord of Sussex keeps about him。〃
〃Now the Lord have pity on us！〃 said the young courtier to
himself。 〃Good hearts； the Earl hath many a one round him； but
good heads are scarce with usand he himself is too ill to give
direction。 And Blount will be at his morning meal of Yarmouth
herrings and ale； and Tracy will have his beastly black puddings
and Rhenish； those thorough…paced Welshmen； Thomas ap Rice and
Evan Evans； will be at work on their leek porridge and toasted
cheese；and she detests； they say； all coarse meats； evil
smells； and strong wines。 Could they but think of burning some
rosemary in the great hall！ but VOGUE LA GALERE； all must now be
trusted to chance。 Luck hath done indifferent well for me this
morning； for I trust I have spoiled a cloak； and made a court
fortune。 May she do as much for my gallant patron！〃
The royal barge soon stopped at Deptford； and； amid the loud
shouts of the populace； which her presence never failed to
excite； the Queen； with a canopy borne over her head； walked；
accompanied by her retinue； towards Sayes Court； where the
distant acclamations of the people gave the first notice of her
arrival。 Sussex； who was in the act of advising with Tressilian
how he should make up the supposed breach in the Queen's favour；
was infinitely surprised at learning her immediate approach。 Not
that the Queen's custom of visiting her more distinguished
nobility； whether in health or sickness； could be unknown to him；
but the suddenness of the communication left no time for those
preparations with which he well knew Elizabeth loved to be
greeted； and the rudeness and confusion of his military
household； much increased by his late illness； rendered him
altogether unprepared for her reception。
Cursing internally the chance which thus brought her gracious
visitation on him unaware； he hastened down with Tressilian； to
whose eventful and interesting story he had just given an
attentive ear。
〃My worthy friend；〃 he said； 〃such support as I can give your
accusation of Varney； you have a right to expect； alike from
justice and gratitude。 Chance will presently show whether I can
do aught with our Sovereign； or whether； in very deed； my
meddling in your affair may not rather prejudice than serve you。〃
Thus spoke Sussex while hastily casting around him a loose robe
of sables； and adjusting his person in the best manner he could
to meet the eye of his Sovereign。 But no hurried attention
bestowed on his apparel could remove the ghastly effects of long
illness on a countenance which nature had marked with features
rather strong than pleasing。 Besides； he was low of stature；
and； though broad…shouldered； athletic； and fit for martial
achievements； his presence in a peaceful hall was not such as
ladies love to look upon； a personal disadvantage； which was
supposed to give Sussex； though esteemed and honoured by his
Sovereign； considerable disadvantage when compared with
Leicester； who was alike remarkable for elegance of manners and
for beauty of person。
The Earl's utmost dispatch only enabled him to meet the Queen as
she entered the great hall； and he at once perceived there was a
cloud on her brow。 Her jealous eye had noticed the martial array
of armed gentlemen and retainers with which the mansion…house was
filled； and her first words expressed her disapprobation。 〃Is
this a royal garrison； my Lord of Sussex； that it holds so many
pikes and calivers？ or have we by accident overshot Sayes Court；
and landed at Our Tower of London？〃
Lord Sussex hastened to offer some apology。
〃It needs not；〃 she said。 〃My lord； we intend speedily to take
up a certain quarrel between your lordship and another great lord
of our household； and at the same time to reprehend this
uncivilized and dangerous practice of surrounding yourselves with
armed； and even with ruffianly followers； as if； in the
neighbourhood of our capital； nay in the very verge of our royal
residence； you were preparing to wage civil war with each other。
We are glad to see you so well recovered； my lord； though
without the assistance of the learned physician whom we sent to
you。 Urge no excuse； we know how that matter fell out； and we
have corrected for it the wild slip； young Raleigh。 By the way；
my lord； we will speedily relieve your household of him； and take
him into our own。 Something there is about him which merits to
be better nurtured than he is like to be amongst your very
military followers。〃
To this proposal Sussex； though scarce understanding how the
Queen came to make it could only bow and express his
acquiescence。 He then entreated her to remain till refreshment
could be offered； but in this he could not prevail。 And after a
few compliments of a much colder and more commonplace character
than might have been expected from a step so decidedly favourable
as a personal visit； the Queen took her leave of Sayes Court；
having brought confusion thither along with her； and leaving
doubt and apprehension behind。
CHAPTER XVI。
Then call them to our presence。 Face to face；
And frowning brow to brow； ourselves will hear
The accuser and accused freely speak；
High…stomach'd are they both； and full of ire；
In rage deaf as the sea； hasty as fire。 RICHARD II。
〃I am ordered to attend court to…morrow；〃 said Leicester；
speaking to Varney； 〃to meet； as they surmise； my Lord of Sussex。
The Queen intends to take up matters betwixt us。 This comes of
her visit to Sayes Court； of which you must needs speak so
lightly。〃
〃I maintain it was nothing；〃 said Varney； 〃nay； I know from a
sure intelligencer； who was within earshot of much that was said；
that Sussex has lost rather than gained by that visit。 The Queen
said； when she stepped into the boat； that Sayes Court looked
like a guard…house； and smelt like an hospital。 'Like a cook's
shop in Ram's Alley； rather；' said the Countess of Rutland； who
is ever your lordship's good friend。 And then my Lord of Lincoln
must needs put in his holy oar； and say that my Lord of Sussex
must be excused for his rude and old…world housekeeping； since he
had as yet no wife。〃
〃And what said the Queen？〃 asked Leicester hastily。
〃She took him up roundly；〃 said Varney； 〃and asked what my Lord
Sussex had to do with a wife； or my Lord Bishop to speak on such
a subject。 'If marriage is permitted；' she said； 'I nowhere read
that it is enjoined。'〃
〃She likes not marriages； or speech of marriage； among
churchmen；〃 said Leicester。
〃Nor among courtiers neither；〃 said Varney； but； observing that
Leicester changed countenance； he instantly added； 〃that all the
ladies who were present had joined in ridiculing Lord Sussex's
housekeeping； and in contrasting it with the reception her Grace
would have assuredly received at my Lord of Leicester's。〃
〃You have gathered much tidings；〃 said Leicester； 〃but you have
forgotten or omitted the most important of all。 She hath added
another to those dangling satellites whom it is her pleasure to
keep revolving around her。〃
〃Your lordship meaneth that Raleigh； the Devonshire youth；〃 said
Varney〃the Knight of the Cloak； as they call him at court？〃
〃He may be Knight of the Garter one day； for aught I know；〃 said
Leicester； 〃for he advances rapidlyshe hath capped verses with
him； and such fooleries。 I would gladly abandon； of my own free
will； the partI have in her fickle favour； but I will not be
elbowed out of it by the clown Sussex； or this new upstart。 I
hear Tressilian is with Sussex also； and high in his favour。 I
would spare him for considerations； but he will thrust himself on
his fate。 Sussex； too； is almost as well as ever in his health。〃
〃My lord；〃 replied Varney； 〃there will be rubs in the smoothest
road； specially when it leads uphill。 Sussex's illness was to us
a godsend； from which I hoped much。 He has recovered； indeed；
but he is not now more formidable than ere he fell ill； when he
received more than one foil in wrestling with your lordship。 Let
not your heart fail you； my lord； and all shall be well。〃
〃My heart never failed me； sir；〃 replied Leicester。
〃No； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃but it has betrayed you right often。
He that would climb a tree； my lord； must grasp by the branches；
not by the blossom。〃
〃Well； well； well！〃 said Leicester impatiently； 〃I understand
thy meaningmy heart shall neither fail me nor seduce me。 Have
my retinue in ordersee that their array be so splendid as to
put down； not only the rude companions of Ratcliffe； but the
retainers of every other nobleman and courtier。 Let them be well
armed withal； but without any outward display of their weapons；
wearing them as if more for fashion's sake than for use。 Do thou
thyself keep close to me； I may have business for you。〃
The preparations of Sussex and his party were not less anxious
than those of Leicester。
〃Thy Supplication； impeaching Varney of seduction；〃 said the Earl
to Tressilian； 〃is by this time in the Queen's handI have sent
it through a sure channel。 Methinks your suit should succeed；
being； as it is； founded in justice and honour； and Elizabeth
being the very muster of both。 ButI wot not howthe gipsy〃
（so Sussex was wont to call his rival on account of his dark
complexion） 〃hath much to say with her in these holyday times of
peace。 Were war at the gates； I should be one of her white boys；
but soldiers； like their bucklers and Bilboa blades； get out of
fashion in peace time； and satin sleeves and walking rapiers bear
the bell。 Well； we must be gay； since such is the fashion。
Blount； hast thou seen our household put into their new
braveries？ 〃But thou knowest as little of these toys as I