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a rage against him: then Sir Robert, should you, a prudent politician (look you) have stood like a notable skinker, drawing off the clear liquor of my Lord's achievements with what froth you pleased, and making the most of the lees of his evil doings."

"Indeed, Sir Walter, it had been better fo."

"Beware, I say, of too fast treading! Either you shall trip (being unsteady o' feet yourfelf), or he you chase fhall, by a short cut, give you leave to go bye."

"Would you not have the Council fit upon the cafe?” "I've naught with your Council! But this: the lefs you ftir the more fure is that end to come you most defire; • verbum fapienti fat est.”

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"Well! The Earl is already committed ".

"How?"

"Yes! to close keeping in his chamber; and, believe me, if he escape you by your too fudden grasping of him, he'll have his gripe o' your neck fooner that ye lift."

"In his chamber-close keeping, did'st fay, Sir Walter ?” Ay, marry, myself brought him her Grace's pleasure for't!

"On-on!"

"At first he would not fee me.

He's as proud as Ajax,

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Cecyl! Then I fent him word the Captain o' the Guard would be admitted. Angrily, for I heard him, he cried, 'Bid him begone!' and a furly fellow, heavily armed, held his partizan near enough, I promise ye. 'Tis o' the Queen's affairs,' faid I. 'Tis falfe!' he answered. My blood could brook no more. Straightway I entered past his Cerberus. 'Zounds, how he stormed! His hand on the pommel of his tuck. 'Begone, Sir Knave, or I fhall thrust your unhappy carrion out o' window!' Be fure I let him wag: lofers have fome privilege; and, while he fanned his fury by upbraiding me, I cooled my indignation, thinking what a poor thing is an angry man."

"Oh—on, Sir Walter !"

"Well, he drew breath at last. I doffed my hat. Sir Earl,' quoth I, making a leg— Sir Earl, an you like not the messenger, belike you'll not love the message.' 'Spare your compliments, firrah!' he shouted-an he had not been over-wrought with over-riding, half asleep, and, as I take it, pursued by a diarrhoea, believe me, but he'd ha' broken the

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statute and have drawn on me. I never faw man fo ex

quifitely enraged."

"You gave her Grace's word?"

Ay, marry,

truft me for that!

"Twas not worth wor

rying him farther; and in few I told him her Grace was pleased to order his ftrict confinement to his lodgings."

"How was that borne-eh?”

"Patiently enow. He was perplexed and calmed o' the instant, like a hot iron caft into cold water. I fpake not. He waved me forth filently, and cast himself within."

" "Tis well-all well, Sir Walter ! "

"In my conceit, Sir Robert, 'tis on more ticklish ground than ever! 'Twas not 'long o' your whining her Grace

clapped him up. You would have toiled in't in vain.” "How know'st that?"

"Oh, no matter!"

"I thought, Sir Walter, we were at one in this "

"Well?"

"Then let me know how this came about-'tis only fair."

"You have not told me yet what paffed in Council." "That I may not by my oath ".

"Oath me no oaths! An two faw together, one must needs be o' top: yet both have hold o' the tool."

"Well, would you, Sir Walter, wrench the inftrument hands?"

from my

"Nay-nay! But thus it stands, either we shall work at cross-purposes, and fo undermine and explode each other's plots, or we must undertake together; your motives and your acts and mine must be in consent. The Earl's a knot we must cut through, or give over our trade; and, for my part, I care not who guides the weapon, so "

"Stay, good Sir Walter !"

"I am not the man to halt. With

you, or without

you,

Cecyl, my brain is capable: I have, and can hold her Grace's favour. I am as fit, or fitter for the highest offices as you, or any. None but Effex is in my way. I am ill content to juftle under the wheels of Fortune when I fhould ride in her car."

"Good Sir Walter, I am your

friend

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"I know't not-I know't not! I'll not dwell i' the pur

lieus of any man's good-will. Hand and glove, fay I."

"Then hand and glove, Sir Walter !"

CHAPTER XV.

"There's a flag for you, Sir!"

THE HUMOROUS LIEUTENANT, act III. fc. vI.

O Sir William Cheney gat him home, for his heart yearned towards his parents and his

little ones; and the fenfe that he had left dear

Helen fighing till his return, had made the Irish`war as irksome to his feelings as it was wanting in those chivalrous exploits which were wont to excite his adventurous fpirit. He came, having paffed dangers many and great in that campaign; nay, more and fiercer than he had met on the Spanish Main, or yet in Portingale. He came, having gained his fpurs honourably on a well-foughten field—having, at his life's peril, ferved his friend at dearest need; and he would now hang up in the Old Church of Chenies his

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