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permitted to ordinary spectators。 Thus the adventurous youth
stood full in Elizabeth's eyean eye never indifferent to the
admiration which she deservedly excited among her subjects； or to
the fair proportions of external form which chanced to
distinguish any of her courtiers。
Accordingly； she fixed her keen glance on the youth； as she
approached the place where he stood； with a look in which
surprise at his boldness seemed to be unmingled with resentment；
while a trifling accident happened which attracted her attention
towards him yet more strongly。 The night had been rainy； and
just where the young gentleman stood a small quantity of mud
interrupted the Queen's passage。 As she hesitated to pass on；
the gallant； throwing his cloak from his shoulders； laid it on
the miry spot； so as to ensure her stepping over it dry…shod。
Elizabeth looked at the young man； who accompanied this act of
devoted courtesy with a profound reverence； and a blush that
overspread his whole countenance。 The Queen was confused； and
blushed in her turn； nodded her head； hastily passed on； and
embarked in her barge without saying a word。
〃Come along； Sir Coxcomb；〃 said Blount； 〃your gay cloak will need
the brush to…day； I wot。 Nay； if you had meant to make a
footcloth of your mantle； better have kept Tracy's old drab…de…
bure； which despises all colours。〃
〃This cloak；〃 said the youth； taking it up and folding it； 〃shall
never be brushed while in my possession。〃
〃And that will not be long； if you learn not a little more
economy； we shall have you in CUERPO soon； as the Spaniard says。〃
Their discourse was here interrupted by one of the band of
Pensioners。
〃I was sent；〃 said he； after looking at them attentively； 〃to a
gentleman who hath no cloak； or a muddy one。You； sir； I think；〃
addressing the younger cavalier； 〃are the man； you will please to
follow me。〃
〃He is in attendance on me；〃 said Blount〃on me； the noble Earl
of Sussex's master of horse。〃
〃I have nothing to say to that；〃 answered the messenger； 〃my
orders are directly from her Majesty； and concern this gentleman
only。〃
So saying； he walked away； followed by Walter； leaving the others
behind； Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the
excess of his astonishment。 At length he gave vent to it in an
exclamation； 〃Who the good jere would have thought this！〃 And
shaking his head with a mysterious air； he walked to his own
boat； embarked； and returned to Deptford。
The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided to the water…side
by the Pensioner； who showed him considerable respect； a
circumstance which； to persons in his situation； may be
considered as an augury of no small consequence。 He ushered him
into one of the wherries which lay ready to attend the Queen's
barge； which was already proceeding； up the river； with the
advantage of that flood…tide of which； in the course of their
descent； Blount had complained to his associates。
The two rowers used their oars with such expedition at the signal
of the Gentleman Pensioner； that they very soon brought their
little skiff under the stern of the Queen's boat； where she sat
beneath an awning； attended by two or three ladies； and the
nobles of her household。 She looked more than once at the wherry
in which the young adventurer was seated； spoke to those around
her； and seemed to laugh。 At length one of the attendants； by
the Queen's order apparently； made a sign for the wherry to come
alongside； and the young man was desired to step from his own
skiff into the Queen's barge； which he performed with graceful
agility at the fore part of the boat； and was brought aft to the
Queen's presence； the wherry at the same time dropping into the
rear。 The youth underwent the gaze of Majesty； not the less
gracefully that his self…possession was mingled with
embarrassment。 The muddled cloak still hung upon his arm； and
formed the natural topic with which the Queen introduced the
conversation。
〃You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our behalf； young man。
We thank you for your service； though the manner of offering it
was unusual； and something bold。〃
〃In a sovereign's need；〃 answered the youth； 〃it is each liege…
man's duty to be bold。〃
〃God's pity！ that was well said； my lord；〃 said the Queen；
turning to a grave person who sat by her； and answered with a
grave inclination of the head； and something of a mumbled
assent。〃Well； young man； your gallantry shall not go
unrewarded。 Go to the wardrobe keeper； and he shall have orders
to supply the suit which you have cast away in our service。 Thou
shalt have a suit； and that of the newest cut； I promise thee； on
the word of a princess。〃
〃May it please your Grace；〃 said Walter； hesitating； 〃it is not
for so humble a servant of your Majesty to measure out your
bounties； but if it became me to choose〃
〃Thou wouldst have gold； I warrant me；〃 said the Queen；
interrupting him。 〃Fie； young man！ I take shame to say that in
our capital such and so various are the means of thriftless
folly； that to give gold to youth is giving fuel to fire； and
furnishing them with the means of self…destruction。 If I live
and reign； these means of unchristian excess shall be abridged。
Yet thou mayest be poor；〃 she added； 〃or thy parents may be。 It
shall be gold； if thou wilt； but thou shalt answer to me for the
use on't。〃
Walter waited patiently until the Queen had done； and then
modestly assured her that gold was still less in his wish than
the raiment her Majesty had before offered。
〃How； boy！〃 said the Queen； 〃neither gold nor garment？ What is
it thou wouldst have of me； then？〃
〃Only permission； madamif it is not asking too high an honour
permission to wear the cloak which did you this trifling
service。〃
〃Permission to wear thine own cloak； thou silly boy！〃 said the
Queen。
〃It is no longer mine；〃 said Walter； 〃when your Majesty's foot
touched it； it became a fit mantle for a prince； but far too rich
a one for its former owner。〃
The Queen again blushed； and endeavoured to cover； by laughing； a
slight degree of not unpleasing surprise and confusion。
〃Heard you ever the like； my lords？ The youth's head is turned
with reading romances。 I must know something of him； that I may
send him safe to his friends。What art thou？〃
〃A gentleman of the household of the Earl of Sussex； so please
your Grace； sent hither with his master of horse upon message to
your Majesty。〃
In a moment the gracious expression which Elizabeth's face had
hitherto maintained； gave way to an expression of haughtiness and
severity。
〃My Lord of Sussex；〃 she said； 〃has taught us how to regard his
messages by the value he places upon ours。 We sent but this
morning the physician in ordinary of our chamber； and that at no
usual time； understanding his lordship's illness to be more
dangerous than we had before apprehended。 There is at no court
in Europe a man more skilled in this holy and most useful science
than Doctor Masters； and he came from Us to our subject。
Nevertheless； he found the gate of Sayes Court defended by men
with culverins； as if it had been on the borders of Scotland； not