A Scene i th' Clofet.

her hands, covering them with kiffes.

171

Happy moment!

The fair hands were not withdrawn! nay, to his imagination did they return the preffure. He looked up into that royal face, which had fo often whilolm beamed kindness on him. There feemed pleasure, almost affection, in its fmile. Was it a tear of gladness stood in that calm grey eye?

Was it with a motion of love that the remembered voice seemed to hesitate, saying

"How now, Robin ?”

"My most gracious, most dearest lady!"

Again the Earl buried his face in the Queen's hands.

"How now? How now?"

"God be praised! after all the storms I have fuffered abroad, I find a sweet calm at home!"

"We trust thou haft laid those Irish storms we sent thee for, or the bruit of them will give us little calm at home," quoth Elizabeth, collecting herself, and arranging her dishrevelled person with a lofty gait.

"Madam, I trust I have!" said Effex, timidly.

"Go' to!" cried the Queen vehemently, "Go to! haft caught Tyr Oen?”

"Nay, gracious lady! yet he's bound."

"Bound and not caught! Ha! We marvel at your riddles! Go to! How is't?"

"Most royal! he is bound by oath and pledge."

By God's body!" quoth the Queen starting upright, and stamping across the closet. "To trust this traitor upon oath is to trust a devil on his religion. To trust him upon pledges is a mere illufory. For what piety is there in him, or in any of his fort? Will they be tied to rule of honesty for itself? Nay, for they are but bound to their own fenfualities, respecting only their private vantage.",

"If there be either faith in Tyr Oen, or truth in them of his council, he desireth nothing more than peace, which at this time had been concluded; but that he resteth bound to the Spaniard"—

"Ha! Bound to Spain?"

"He was fo chary of that oath "

"Oath! Spain ! By the wounds of Christ are we not his Queen? the fovereign lady of these realms?"

"Most royal lady! dearest madam! vouchsafe me patience".

"Patience, marry! Go to! Go to !-well, Sir Earl?" "Most humbly he befought your Highness's favourable

judgment. He was bound, he said, that if the Spaniard, landing in England, held "

"Ay! Ay!"

"Which not fucceeding, by May next would he faithfully fubmit himself to your Grace's clemency."

"Marry, we thank him! 'Zounds! When he's beaten he will yield! He is a traitor: and with fuch we indent not, Effex!”

""Tis only for awhile, and that in winter!"

And then Effex recapitulated the terms; the Queen carefully attentive. He still upon his knees: she fitting on the bedfoot, her clothes wrapped about her limbs orderly.

“Ha! this is treaty, not submission!

"Yes, gracious lady! And in my poor opinion safest. Your Majesty bade me, on Tyr Oen's yielding, to garrison his country to require him give up Shane's heirs, and bring his person to your Highness's feet.”

"And were not these most fit directions, we would learn? In the forfaking them, after your use, methinks, you have made us right contemptible, and yourself”.

"Oh pardon, dearest princess! 'Twas beyond all impoffible to obey, or at my life's peril your smallest will should

have been punctually paid. All my forces would not have garrifoned half his country: nor had he power over the young O'Nials, who were in Scotland with the outlaw Sorleboy. For his own filthy carcafe, flatly he would not truft it."

""Tis fitting for the kennel only! He hath abused our mercy villainously; and his life is a due forfeit he shall one day pay !"

"Had I had the means, dear Madam, I fhould have compelled him; and at hazard of my life, which I did wager, fo he would come between the armies to put the quarrel on that caft. Nor would he fo, nor meet me at the head of his power, which the Council blamed my venturing; for, in truth, 'twas dangersome and desperate.”

"Ha! How's that, fayest!"

"He had ten thousand foot and one thousand horfe at leaft"

"And you? fome nineteen thoufand. Fie, fie, my Lord! Fie, fie! You trifle with our favour: bring our fovereignty into ill repute

"Madam, your Highnefs doth overlook that I had garrisoned the South. That".

Her Grace Enquireth.

"God's grace! how many had'ft ?”

175

"At the last mufter little over three thousand." Her Grace, who had grown restless, now rouseth herself with a start and a stamp, and what not.

"By my foul I had provided, paid for, nearly twenty thoufand."

"There was no fuch number ever: nor were we well fupplied for them we had. From my own purse I found my troops."

"There is fome roguery fomewhere! Our treasurer".

"Dearest Lady, 'tis for that I venture to your feet! Your Highness is not ferved honestly, nor with truth, at home."

"Bring me the traitor, Effex, on your life! Bring me the traitor who fhall come between our will and the obedience

due their Queen!”

"Dearest Lady!"

"Ha! are we not Queen !—Thus to be flouted! What mean you, Effex ?-of whom dost complain ?-fpeak, man!" Royal Madam! you will not yet believe that those who have your Grace's favours in my abfence feek to keep me ever from you."