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"It liketh me not: yet fhall you have your way. Precedent and Council, eh? Forsooth, much! You shall not go to't bitterly, Sir Robert, nor with prejudice. Hear'ft? What's the gift o' your charge?"

"Please your Highnefs, I would enquire of the Earl wherefore he returned from Ireland unbidden?"

"Good! 'tis answered, and we know't."

"Then why his Lordship did exceed his powers i' the treaty with Tyr Oen?"

"Well?- —we are informed.”

"Venturing to leave that tottering ftate i' the government of the Lords Juftices?"

""Twas not well done: yet not much amiss, seeing they held that power many months ere Effex went there."

"Cruelly executing Sir H. Harrington's men ?"

"No doubt he'll answer it! Effex is no tyrant! What more?"

"Is your Majesty content the Earl brave your Highness' prerogative i' the matter of so many Knights?"

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Body o' me! 'Tis well he built his Almfhouses ere

he made his Knights: fo fhall he have houfe-room for

them!"

""Twas irrespective of the Royal prerogative."

"Nay, We allowed of fome!"

"True, gracious! But, in the excess, 'twill bring the

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"Then, by the wounds-We'll hack their laquered fpurs from off their peasant heels! "

“Madam, that may not be!"

"Not be, firrah-not be! Is there no precedent? "Tis not for the Council that! "Tis our prerogative, as you

call it-eh?"

"True, Royal madam!

world".

Yet, i' the opinion of the

"Marry, that! Are we amenable to the opinion of the

world? Go to, firrah-your world!"

"Your Majesty!"

"Answer me that, Sir Robert.

Answer me that!"

"Your most gracious and most mighty Majesty is

advised in the matter more better than your poor Secretary and humble fervant!

"Go to! A fig for your opinion o' the world! A fig, I fay!"

"Yet, gracious Madam "—

"We are not fo lewdly given as care for the opinion of the world! Ha!"

"Yet, Madam, fuffer me to fay your Council will be judged i' the matter. "Twill be faid the Earl's enemies moved it in fpleen. 'Twas never known that Sovereigns took those honours off they or their fubftitutes put on -but on attainder."

"By God's paffion, you are i' th' right, Sir Robert! We will have this dubbing limited to ourselves, or foon 'twill become tag, rag, cut, and bobtail; and in the interval will foundly rate the gracious Earl. Body o' me, but he is right Royal as ourselves, with his Thomas of Woodstock blood-much! We must take order on't left he grow too high, and overtop the monarch of the woods. Ha!"

""Tis my constant fear, most Royal lady."

"You you fear it! Doft fear it, Cecyl? Ha!"

"In all fincerity, and in much grief, most gracious Queen!"

Her Grace Mindeth.

199

"What inftance, fir? Quick! Quick! Speak, and at

once !"

"Madam, those things I have rehearsed."

"What else? Come; no refervation, fir!"

"His peremptorinefs in the Council-his faction amongst the Lords his favour with the people-his often courting military men-his covetoufnefs of armies".

"Ha!"

"Your Highnefs fhall call to mind when York from Ireland".

"Leave us now, Sir Robert. Begone, I fay !"

"Hereford from banishment"

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"Let us condemn him, tread him down in water
While he doth lie upon the bank."

SEJANUS HIS FALL, act v. fc. x.

HE Archangel's feaft and commemoration of the Armado being on the morrow, Tarleton, now old and motley-minded, conceiveth that my Lord cometh as the Goofe, to be plucked by their Lordships of the Council. One emulous of his place faith with a gleek, "Thou shalt be Lord Envoy for thy favoury jeft," and with that tears the poor fool's calf-fkin, and had gone well nigh to pull his cap and bells over his head.

"Prythee, vent thy folly farther off, and be naught awhile," quoth a pantler; for 'twas befide the Master of the Horfe's table this chanced. My Lord, it coming to his ear, comforteth Richard with a Cup o' Sack, and a "How

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