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countenance was a lamp to the paths of her councillors； and the
ladies agreed； with one voice； that no noble in England so well
deserved the regard of England's Royal Mistress as the Earl of
Sussexthe Earl of Leicester's right being reserved entire； so
some of the more politic worded their assent； an exception to
which Elizabeth paid no apparent attention。 The barge had；
therefore； orders to deposit its royal freight at Deptford； at
the nearest and most convenient point of communication with Sayes
Court； in order that the Queen might satisfy her royal and
maternal solicitude； by making personal inquiries after the
health of the Earl of Sussex。
Raleigh； whose acute spirit foresaw and anticipated important
consequences from the most trifling events； hastened to ask the
Queen's permission to go in the skiff； and announce the royal
visit to his master； ingeniously suggesting that the joyful
surprise might prove prejudicial to his health； since the richest
and most generous cordials may sometimes be fatal to those who
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；