himself naked to his adverfaries. For before them lay his plans, his disappointments, his hopes, his loffes: happy accidents, unexpected failures: all he had prepared, all he had carried out, feemed to fome nothing to what he had failed in. And you would not blame the general who on the field, in the face of an enemy, should have some schemes and plots other than he had before communicated home or been directed thence? You would not rate that Governour who, under fhifting circumstances, varied thofe rules he had himself laid down, or had authority to change? Yet here was the cafe. From the whole of my Lord's Tables and his Anfwers, Master Secretary had little ado to frame fuch reprefentation of the facts as, on a farther interview, convinced the Queen that the Earl had not only paffed his warrant, but contravened her pofitive injunctions. That he had not only not accomplished the object of his miffion, but left matters in a worse state than he had found them. Then (as a fine ftroke) that the Lord General had caufed her Majefty great and unneedful outlay of money and ammunition, and much lofs of men: that while impoverishing the Exchequer he had left it (and by his own fhewing) on the minds of the Irish people, that,

notwithstanding fuch excefs of blood and treasure spent, her Highness's armies were incapable of subdueing even the one province of Ulfter; and that the rebels had discovered, by my Lord's mifconduct, how eafy was it to spend and eat out her troops by delays, or cajole her commanders by hollow and unmeaning treaties. Then (as a spur or goad to her Grace's jealousy) he artfully shewed that Effex, both as General and Deputy of the Kingdom, had exercised himself in vain pomp and fhewy progreffes, feaftings and vifitings. among the nobles; that he had been as exceffive in punishing the foldiers as he had been lavish in rewarding the officers. Recapitulating, and with emphasis, the fums of money fent to him, the numbers of men on the muster rolls: noting the brief period of the Campaign and the utter failure of its object. "Your Majesty," he concluded, may thank Heaven, who hath in this present and I trust ever will protect you, that the Connaught army was overthrown, and that the hot Earl was inapt to cope withal with Tyr Oen; for, had he fucceeded in't, I folemnly protest before God and his holy angels and your Highness, I do believe it was his motion to have returned hither with more men at his heels than came with him this morning; and

for that matter with more than went out with him in the

Spring!"

"Sir Robert!"

"Upon my falvation, gracious Madam, I do take it."

"We do mifdoubt it much!"

"Praise be to Heaven 'tis not in iffue: nor now in poffibility! Yet 'twas a spice of his presumption so to thrust himself unbidden into your Highness' closet."

"Enough! Enough! 'Twas rude and unmannerly: yet of that we are the judge, Sir Secretary!"

"The form o' the thing".

"Out, man! We were speaking! Begone!"

Humbled not a little, and put out by this abrupt ending to a path on which he had believed himself to be gaining step by step on the Queen's humour, Cecyl hurried to his lodging, and remained a-brooding over the past scenes of the day, and this unfeemly check to his plans. For there were plans in his mind now. Plans of a decided form, and with a definite object. Once was it only that jealous ftriving for office which all ministers of state experience : then it became a thwarting for thwarting fake, and because he, a poor Secretary, could vex and countervail a great Earl.

Now had he an end. Clear and fharp did the outline rife before his imagination as he fat alone in the twylight. Oh, for the morrow's Council! His own party would be there in ftrength. The weakness (as he held it) of Effex's character would eke on the matter. Would he not make more disclosures? His depofitions of to-day could they not be so put on paper as (getting his allowance through his oversight) to strain him farther presently?

Then could he not make out a stronger cafe than he now had? Could he not reprefent matters in a more pofitive and tangible form than they yet affumed?

The Clerks had all gone: the offices were clofed. A stray sentinel paced the corridor. The drowsy hum of the guard below came ever anon to break the filence.

A known knock at the ring. The Secretary himself letteth in Sir Walter Ralegh.

"The Queen's in dudgeon," quoth he.

"Heaven forefend!"

"What faid'st that angered her?"

"I?"

"Ay.” "Naught."

VOL. III.

P

"Naught! fo fhe faid. Naught! Sir Secretary's naught;

thefe were her words!"

"Sooth? good Sir Walter !"

"Sooth! Ay, footh and be hanged! what faid'st to anger her?"

"I did but fpeak whilft her Highnefs paufed, thinking she had made an end: when, lo! fhe ftamped, crying on my ill manners, and bade me begone."

"That all?"

"On my falvation all !"

"What i' the name of all the devils brought you there again ?”

""Twas a matter o' the Council."

"By my troth, I'd as lief not be among the number of the wife, as of your honourable Privy Council! The Earl being fo received: her Grace pleasured with the toy of his return, and you to dash it with your meddlesomeness! Out, out, for a politician! Fie, fie! You fhould have let it work a while ferment-rife; not stir it o' the fudden-wort, fcum and all! After a while her Grace would have faved your care-got tired of her bauble, queftioned his mifconduct, flouted him, rated him; roused her, nay, chafed herself into