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encounter the glance of such sunny…day courtiers as my noble
guest。〃
〃Well； peace be with her； my good host；〃 answered Varney； 〃our
horses are impatientwe bid you good day。〃
〃Does my nephew go with you； so please you？〃 said Gosling。
〃Ay； such is his purpose；〃 answered Richard Varney。
〃You are rightfully right；〃 replied mine host〃you are； I say；
fully right； my kinsman。 Thou hast got a gay horse； see thou
light not unaware upon a halteror； if thou wilt needs be made
immortal by means of a rope； which thy purpose of following this
gentleman renders not unlikely； I charge thee to find a gallows
as far from Cumnor as thou conveniently mayest。 And so I commend
you to your saddle。〃
The master of the horse and his new retainer mounted accordingly；
leaving the landlord to conclude his ill…omened farewell； to
himself and at leisure； and set off together at a rapid pace；
which prevented conversation until the ascent of a steep sandy
hill permitted them to resume it。
〃You are contented； then；〃 said Varney to his companion； 〃to take
court service？〃
〃Ay； worshipful sir； if you like my terms as well as I like
yours。〃
〃And what are your terms？〃 demanded Varney。
〃If I am to have a quick eye for my patron's interest； he must
have a dull one towards my faults；〃 said Lambourne。
〃Ay；〃 said Varney； 〃so they lie not so grossly open that he must
needs break his shins over them。〃
〃Agreed；〃 said Lambourne。 〃Next； if I run down game； I must have
the picking of the bones。〃
〃That is but reason；〃 replied Varney； 〃so that your betters are
served before you。〃
〃Good；〃 said Lambourne； 〃and it only remains to be said； that if
the law and I quarrel； my patron must bear me out； for that is a
chief point。〃
〃Reason again；〃 said Varney； 〃if the quarrel hath happened in
your master's service。〃
〃For the wage and so forth； I say nothing；〃 proceeded Lambourne；
〃it is the secret guerdon that I must live by。〃
〃Never fear；〃 said Varney； 〃thou shalt have clothes and spending
money to ruffle it with the best of thy degree； for thou goest to
a household where you have gold； as they say； by the eye。〃
〃That jumps all with my humour；〃 replied Michael Lambourne； 〃and
it only remains that you tell me my master's name。〃
〃My name is Master Richard Varney；〃 answered his companion。
〃But I mean；〃 said Lambourne； 〃the name of the noble lord to
whose service you are to prefer me。〃
〃How； knave； art thou too good to call me master？〃 said Varney
hastily； 〃I would have thee bold to others； but not saucy to me。〃
〃I crave your worship's pardon；〃 said Lambourne； 〃but you seemed
familiar with Anthony Foster； now I am familiar with Anthony
myself。〃
〃Thou art a shrewd knave； I see；〃 replied Varney。 〃Mark meI do
indeed propose to introduce thee into a nobleman's household； but
it is upon my person thou wilt chiefly wait； and upon my
countenance that thou wilt depend。 I am his master of horse。
Thou wilt soon know his nameit is one that shakes the council
and wields the state。〃
〃By this light； a brave spell to conjure with；〃 said Lambourne；
〃if a man would discover hidden treasures！〃
〃Used with discretion； it may prove so；〃 replied Varney； 〃but
markif thou conjure with it at thine own hand； it may raise a
devil who will tear thee in fragments。〃
〃Enough said；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃I will not exceed my limits。〃
The travellers then resumed the rapid rate of travelling which
their discourse had interrupted； and soon arrived at the Royal
Park of Woodstock。 This ancient possession of the crown of
England was then very different from what it had been when it was
the residence of the fair Rosamond； and the scene of Henry the
Second's secret and illicit amours； and yet more unlike to the
scene which it exhibits in the present day； when Blenheim House
commemorates the victory of Marlborough； and no less the genius
of Vanbrugh； though decried in his own time by persons of taste
far inferior to his own。 It was； in Elizabeth's time； an ancient
mansion in bad repair； which had long ceased to be honoured with
the royal residence； to the great impoverishment of the adjacent
village。 The inhabitants； however； had made several petitions to
the Queen to have the favour of the sovereign's countenance
occasionally bestowed upon them； and upon this very business；
ostensibly at least； was the noble lord； whom we have already
introduced to our readers； a visitor at Woodstock。
Varney and Lambourne galloped without ceremony into the courtyard
of the ancient and dilapidated mansion； which presented on that
morning a scene of bustle which it had not exhibited for two
reigns。 Officers of the Earl's household； liverymen and
retainers； went and came with all the insolent fracas which
attaches to their profession。 The neigh of horses and the baying
of hounds were heard； for my lord； in his occupation of
inspecting and surveying the manor and demesne； was of course
provided with the means of following his pleasure in the chase or
park； said to have been the earliest that was enclosed in
England； and which was well stocked with deer that had long
roamed there unmolested。 Several of the inhabitants of the
village； in anxious hope of a favourable result from this
unwonted visit； loitered about the courtyard； and awaited the
great man's coming forth。 Their attention was excited by the
hasty arrival of Varney； and a murmur ran amongst them； 〃The
Earl's master of the horse！〃 while they hurried to bespeak
favour by hastily unbonneting； and proffering to hold the bridle
and stirrup of the favoured retainer and his attendant。
〃Stand somewhat aloof； my masters！〃 said Varney haughtily； 〃and
let the domestics do their office。〃
The mortified citizens and peasants fell back at the signal；
while Lambourne； who had his eye upon his superior's deportment；
repelled the services of those who offered to assist him； with
yet more discourtesy〃Stand back； Jack peasant； with a murrain
to you； and let these knave footmen do their duty！〃
While they gave their nags to the attendants of the household；
and walked into the mansion with an air of superiority which long
practice and consciousness of birth rendered natural to Varney；
and which Lambourne endeavoured to imitate as well as he could；
the poor inhabitants of Woodstock whispered to each other； 〃Well…
a…day！ God save us from all such misproud princoxes！ An the
master be like the men； why； the fiend may take all； and yet have
no more than his due。〃
〃Silence； good neighbours！〃 said the bailiff； 〃keep tongue
betwixt teeth； we shall know more by…and…by。 But never will a
lord come to Woodstock so welcome as bluff old King Harry！ He
would horsewhip a fellow one day with his own royal hand； and
then fling him an handful of silver groats； with his own broad
face on them； to 'noint the sore withal。〃
〃Ay； rest be with him！〃 echoed the auditors； 〃it will be long
ere this Lady Elizabeth horsewhip any of us。〃
〃There is no saying；〃 answered the bailiff。 〃Meanwhile；
patience； good neighbours； and let us comfort ourselves by
thinking that we deserve such notice at her Grace's hands。〃
Meanwhile； Varney； closely f