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welfare； for； at the period we treat of； all men doubted whether
he or the Earl of Leicester might ultimately have the higher rank
in her regard。
Elizabeth； like many of her sex； was fond of governing by
factions； so as to balance two opposing interests； and reserve in
her own hand the power of making either predominate； as the
interest of the state； or perhaps as her own female caprice （for
to that foible even she was not superior）； might finally
determine。 To finesseto hold the cardsto oppose one interest
to anotherto bridle him who thought himself highest in her
esteem； by the fears he must entertain of another equally
trusted； if not equally beloved； were arts which she used
throughout her reign； and which enabled her； though frequently
giving way to the weakness of favouritism； to prevent most of its
evil effects on her kingdom and government。
The two nobles who at present stood as rivals in her favour
possessed very different pretensions to share it； yet it might be
in general said that the Earl of Sussex had been most serviceable
to the Queen； while Leicester was most dear to the woman。 Sussex
was； according to the phrase of the times； a martialisthad done
good service in Ireland and in Scotland； and especially in the
great northern rebellion； in 1569； which was quelled； in a great
measure； by his military talents。 He was； therefore； naturally
surrounded and looked up to by those who wished to make arms
their road to distinction。 The Earl of Sussex； moreover； was of
more ancient and honourable descent than his rival； uniting in
his person the representation of the Fitz…Walters； as well as of
the Ratcliffes； while the scutcheon of Leicester was stained by
the degradation of his grandfather； the oppressive minister of
Henry VII。； and scarce improved by that of his father； the
unhappy Dudley； Duke of Northumberland； executed on Tower Hill；
August 22； 1553。 But in person； features； and address； weapons
so formidable in the court of a female sovereign； Leicester had
advantages more than sufficient to counterbalance the military
services； high blood； and frank bearing of the Earl of Sussex；
and he bore； in the eye of the court and kingdom； the higher
share in Elizabeth's favour； though （for such was her uniform
policy） by no means so decidedly expressed as to warrant him
against the final preponderance of his rival's pretensions。 The
illness of Sussex therefore happened so opportunely for
Leicester； as to give rise to strange surmises among the public；
while the followers of the one Earl were filled with the deepest
apprehensions； and those of the other with the highest hopes of
its probable issue。 Meanwhilefor in that old time men never
forgot the probability that the matter might be determined by
length of swordthe retainers of each noble flocked around their
patron； appeared well armed in the vicinity of the court itself；
and disturbed the ear of the sovereign by their frequent and
alarming debates； held even within the precincts of her palace。
This preliminary statement is necessary； to render what follows
intelligible to the reader。 ＇See Note 3。 Leicester and Sussex。＇
On Tressilian's arrival at Sayes Court； he found the place filled
with the retainers of the Earl of Sussex； and of the gentlemen
who came to attend their patron in his illness。 Arms were in
every hand； and a deep gloom on every countenance； as if they had
apprehended an immediate and violent assault from the opposite
faction。 In the hall； however； to which Tressilian was ushered
by one of the Earl's attendants； while another went to inform
Sussex of his arrival； he found only two gentlemen in waiting。
There was a remarkable contrast in their dress； appearance； and
manners。 The attire of the elder gentleman； a person as it
seemed of quality and in the prime of life； was very plain and
soldierlike； his stature low； his limbs stout； his bearing
ungraceful； and his features of that kind which express sound
common sense； without a grain of vivacity or imagination。 The
younger； who seemed about twenty； or upwards； was clad in the
gayest habit used by persons of quality at the period； wearing a
crimson velvet cloak richly ornamented with lace and embroidery；
with a bonnet of the same； encircled with a gold chain turned
three times round it； and secured by a medal。 His hair was
adjusted very nearly like that of some fine gentlemen of our own
timethat is； it was combed upwards； and made to stand as it
were on end； and in his ears he wore a pair of silver earrings；
having each a pearl of considerable size。 The countenance of
this youth； besides being regularly handsome and accompanied by a
fine person； was animated and striking in a degree that seemed to
speak at once the firmness of a decided and the fire of an
enterprising character； the power of reflection； and the
promptitude of determination。
Both these gentlemen reclined nearly in the same posture on
benches near each other； but each seeming engaged in his own
meditations； looked straight upon the wall which was opposite to
them； without speaking to his companion。 The looks of the elder
were of that sort which convinced the beholder that； in looking
on the wall； he saw no more than the side of an old hall hung
around with cloaks； antlers； bucklers； old pieces of armour；
partisans； and the similar articles which were usually the
furniture of such a place。 The look of the younger gallant had
in it something imaginative； he was sunk in reverie； and it
seemed as if the empty space of air betwixt him and the wall were
the stage of a theatre on which his fancy was mustering his own
DRAMATIS PERSONAE； and treating him with sights far different
from those which his awakened and earthly vision could have
offered。
At the entrance of Tressilian both started from their musing； and
made him welcomethe younger； in particular； with great
appearance of animation and cordiality。
〃Thou art welcome； Tressilian；〃 said the youth。 〃Thy philosophy
stole thee from us when this household had objects of ambition to
offer； it is an honest philosophy； since it returns thee to us
when there are only dangers to be shared。〃
〃Is my lord； then； so greatly indisposed？〃 said Tressilian。
〃We fear the very worst；〃 answered the elder gentleman； 〃and by
the worst practice。〃
〃Fie；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃my Lord of Leicester is honourable。〃
〃What doth he with such attendants； then； as he hath about him？〃
said the younger gallant。 〃The man who raises the devil may be
honest； but he is answerable for the mischief which the fiend
does； for all that。〃
〃And is this all of you； my mates；〃 inquired Tressilian； 〃that
are about my lord in his utmost straits？〃
〃No； no；〃 replied the elder gentleman； 〃there are Tracy； Markham；
and several more； but we keep watch here by two at once； and some
are weary and are sleeping in the gallery above。〃
〃And some；〃 said the young man；〃 are gone down to the Dock yonder
at Deptford； to look out such a hull； as they may purchase by
clubbing their broken fortunes； and as soon as all is over； we
will lay our noble lord in a noble green grave； have a blow at
those who have hur