been； it seems； but ill requited； but you have scholarship； and
you know there have been false Cressidas to be found； from the
Trojan war downwards。 Forget； good sir； this Lady Light o' Love
teach your affection to see with a wiser eye。 This we say to
you； more from the writings of learned men than our own
knowledge； being； as we are； far removed by station and will from
the enlargement of experience in such idle toys of humorous
passion。 For this dame's father； we can make his grief the less
by advancing his son…in…law to such station as may enable him to
give an honourable support to his bride。 Thou shalt not be
forgotten thyself； Tressilianfollow our court； and thou shalt
see that a true Troilus hath some claim on our grace。 Think of
what that arch…knave Shakespeare saysa plague on him； his toys
come into my head when I should think of other matters。 Stay；
how goes it？
'Cressid was yours； tied with the bonds of heaven ；
These bonds of heaven are slipt； dissolved； and loosed；
And with another knot five fingers tied；
The fragments of her faith are bound to Diomed。'
You smile； my Lord of Southamptonperchance I make your player's
verse halt through my bad memory。 But let it suffice let there
be no more of this mad matter。〃
And as Tressilian kept the posture of one who would willingly be
heard； though； at the same time； expressive of the deepest
reverence； the Queen added with some impatience； 〃What would the
man have？ The wench cannot wed both of you？ She has made her
electionnot a wise one perchancebut she is Varney's wedded
wife。〃
〃My suit should sleep there； most gracious Sovereign；〃 said
Tressilian； 〃and with my suit my revenge。 But I hold this
Varney's word no good warrant for the truth。〃
〃Had that doubt been elsewhere urged；〃 answered Varney； 〃my
sword〃
〃THY sword！〃 interrupted Tressilian scornfully； 〃with her
Grace's leave； my sword shall show〃
〃Peace； you knaves； both！〃 said the Queen； 〃know you where you
are？This comes of your feuds； my lords；〃 she added； looking
towards Leicester and Sussex； 〃your followers catch your own
humour； and must bandy and brawl in my court and in my very
presence； like so many Matamoros。Look you； sirs； he that speaks
of drawing swords in any other quarrel than mine or England's； by
mine honour； I'll bracelet him with iron both on wrist and
ankle！〃 She then paused a minute； and resumed in a milder tone；
〃I must do justice betwixt the bold and mutinous knaves
notwithstanding。My Lord of Leicester； will you warrant with
your honourthat is； to the best of your beliefthat your
servant speaks truth in saying he hath married this Amy Robsart？〃
This was a home…thrust； and had nearly staggered Leicester。 But
he had now gone too far to recede； and answered； after a moment's
hesitation； 〃To the best of my beliefindeed on my certain
knowledgeshe is a wedded wife。〃
〃Gracious madam；〃 said Tressilian； 〃may I yet request to know；
when and under what circumstances this alleged marriage〃
〃Out； sirrah；〃 answered the Queen； 〃ALLEGED marriage！ Have you
not the word of this illustrious Earl to warrant the truth of
what his servant says？ But thou art a loserthinkest thyself
such at leastand thou shalt have indulgence； we will look into
the matter ourself more at leisure。My Lord of Leicester； I
trust you remember we mean to taste the good cheer of your Castle
of Kenilworth on this week ensuing。 We will pray you to bid our
good and valued friend； the Earl of Sussex； to hold company with
us there。〃
〃If the noble Earl of Sussex；〃 said Leicester； bowing to his
rival with the easiest and with the most graceful courtesy； 〃will
so far honour my poor house； I will hold it an additional proof
of the amicable regard it is your Grace's desire we should
entertain towards each other。〃
Sussex was more embarrassed。 〃I should；〃 said he； 〃madam； be but
a clog on your gayer hours； since my late severe illness。〃
〃And have you been indeed so very ill？〃 said Elizabeth； looking
on him with more attention than before； 〃you are； in faith；
strangely altered； and deeply am I grieved to see it。 But be of
good cheerwe will ourselves look after the health of so valued
a servant； and to whom we owe so much。 Masters shall order your
diet； and that we ourselves may see that he is obeyed； you must
attend us in this progress to Kenilworth。〃
This was said so peremptorily； and at the same time with so much
kindness； that Sussex； however unwilling to become the guest of
his rival； had no resource but to bow low to the Queen in
obedience to her commands； and to express to Leicester； with
blunt courtesy； though mingled with embarrassment； his acceptance
of his invitation。 As the Earls exchanged compliments on the
occasion； the Queen said to her High Treasurer； 〃Methinks； my
lord； the countenances of these our two noble peers resemble
those of the two famed classic streams； the one so dark and sad；
the other so fair and noble。 My old Master Ascham would have
chid me for forgetting the author。 It is Caesar； as I think。
See what majestic calmness sits on the brow of the noble
Leicester； while Sussex seems to greet him as if he did our will
indeed； but not willingly。〃
〃The doubt of your Majesty's favour；〃 answered the Lord
Treasurer； 〃may perchance occasion the difference； which does
notas what does？escape your Grace's eye。〃
〃Such doubt were injurious to us； my lord；〃 replied the Queen。
〃We hold both to be near and dear to us； and will with
impartiality employ both in honourable service for the weal of
our kingdom。 But we will break their further conference at
present。My Lords of Sussex and Leicester； we have a word more
with you。 'Tressilian and Varney are near your personsyou will
see that they attend you at Kenilworth。 And as we shall then
have both Paris and Menelaus within our call； so we will have the
same fair Helen also； whose fickleness has caused this broil。
Varney； thy wife must be at Kenilworth； and forthcoming at my
order。My Lord of Leicester； we expect you will look to this。〃
The Earl and his follower bowed low and raised their heads；
without daring to look at the Queen； or at each other； for both
felt at the instant as if the nets and toils which their own
falsehood had woven were in the act of closing around them。 The
Queen； however； observed not their confusion； but proceeded to
say； 〃My Lords of Sussex and Leicester； we require your presence
at the privy…council to be presently held； where matters of
importance are to be debated。 We will then take the water for
our divertisement； and you； my lords； will attend us。And that
reminds us of a circumstance。Do you； Sir Squire of the Soiled
Cassock〃 （distinguishing Raleigh by a smile）； 〃fail not to
observe that you are to attend us on our progress。 You shall be
supplied with suitable means to reform your wardrobe。〃
And so terminated this celebrated audience； in which； as
throughout her life； Elizabeth united the occasional caprice of
her sex with that sense and sound policy in which neither man nor
woman ever excelled her。
CHAPTER XVII。
Well； thenour course is chosenspread the sail
Heave oft the lead； and mark the soundings well
Look to the helm； good mastermany a shoal
Marks this stern coast； and rocks； where sits the Siren；
Who； like ambition； lures men to their ruin。 THE SHIPWRECK。
During the brief interval that took place betwixt the dismissal
of the audience and the sitting of the privy…council； Leicester
had time to reflect that he had that morning sealed his own fate。
〃It was impossible for him now；〃 he thought； 〃after having； in
the face of all that was honourable in England； pledged his truth
（though in an ambiguous phrase） for the statement of Varney； to
contradict or disavow it； without exposing himself； not merely to
the loss of court…favour； but to the highest displeasure of the
Queen； his deceived mistress； and to the scorn and contempt at
once of his rival and of all his compeers。〃 This certainty
rushed at once on his mind； together with all the difficulties
which he would necessarily be exposed to in preserving a secret
which seemed now equally essential to his safety； to his power；
and to his honour。 He was situated like one who walks upon ice
ready to give way around him； and whose only safety consists in
moving onwards； by firm and unvacillating steps。 The Queen's
favour； to preserve which he had made such sacrifices； must now
be secured by all means and at all hazards； it was the only plank
which he could cling to in the tempest。 He must settle himself；
therefore； to the task of not only preserving； but augmenting the
Queen's partialityhe must be the favourite of Elizabeth； or a
man utterly shipwrecked in fortune and in honour。 All other
considerations must be laid aside for the moment； and he repelled
the intrusive thoughts which forced on his mind the image of；
Amy； by saying to himself there would be time to think hereafter
how he was to escape from the labyrinth ultimately； since the
pilot who sees a Scylla under his bows must not for the time
think of the more distant dangers of Charybdis。
In this mood the Earl of Leicester that day assumed his chair at
the council table of Elizabeth； and when the hours of business
were over； in this same mood did he occupy an honoured place near
her during her pleasure excursion on the Thames。 And never did
he display to more advantage his powers as a politician of the
first rank； or his parts as an accomplished courtier。
It chanced that in that day's council matters were agitated
touching the affairs of the unfortunate Mary； the seventh year of
whose captivity in England was now in doleful currency。 There
had been opinions in favour of this unhappy princess laid before
Elizabeth's council； and supported with much strength of argument
by Sussex and others； who dwelt more upon the law of nations and
the breach of hospitality than； however softened or qualified；
was agreeable to the Queen's ear。 Leicester adopted the contrary
opinion with great animation and eloquence； and described the
necessity of continuing the severe restraint of the Queen of
Scots； as a measure essential to the