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feech you (my Peers hitherto), that, though you have condemned me in a court of judgment, yet in the court of your confcience ye would abfolve me, who have intended no harm against my Prince."

Then was proclamation made for filence. And a heartoppreffing filence came on the whole Court. In a grave fpeech the Lord High Steward pronounced the common fentence of the law.

"This body," faid the attainted—" this body might have done the Queen better service, if it had so pleased her. I fhall be glad if it may be useful unto her any way.”

And now the Lord High Steward of England brake his staff, Sir Walter Ralegh drew a long breath, Shakspeare wept, and the Pursuivant declared that the Court had risen. So the Peers departed, and the people began to disperse, and the Guards drew themselves into marching order. And that halberdier, who before had held the Axe turned from them, now turned the edge thereof towards Henry Wriothesley and Robert Devereux, no longer Noblemen, but Traytours both.

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"Out of thefe Convertites

There is much matter to be heard and learned."

AS YOU LIKE IT, act v. fc. IV.

HE fifteenth of this month, haunters of Taverns,

vagabonds, and fuch kind of men, which lurked

and flocked many of them daily into the city,

greedily hearkening after rumours, gaping after tumults and pillage, were commanded forthwith to depart upon pain of death.

Na'th❜lefs Englishmen will exercife their ears and tongues on national affairs; albeit (as her Grace faith) fuch do not concern private perfons, but only Princes. And in the "Great Harry" were now convened many who were fain ease their confciences a little by venting fome indignation.

'Tis well nigh fifteen years fince we were firft at this

pleasant ordinary. Here have met, once and again, Essex and Southampton, Sir Thomas and William Cheney, Drake, Shakspeare, the two Bacons, Camden, Cuffe, and many others more or lefs known. Time and circumstance had fcratched fome off the lift, and writ fome new names down but there was ever the fame free spirit here. Patriotifm

fat i' the chair o' top, and Charity on the stool a' bottom. To-night Clarencieux and poor pained Antony came; forrowful enough, God wotteth!

;

Here had been held fage counfels while the recent troubles were afoot; and there were dark countenances now round the board, and fome impetuous geftures too, when they came prefently to speak of that act which had been ruled High Treafon.

Some called it a "fear only :" others "an error:" they which cenfured it more hardly, termed it " an obftinate impatience and defire of (private) revenge ;" and fuch as moft heavily condemned it, would call it but "an inconfiderate rafhnefs." There were none here-and very few without-which thought it a capital crime.

When one or two mooted hope of her Grace's clemency, fome of the elders remembering Norfolk, Arundel,

Public Opinion on her Grace.

299

Babington and his fort, and the Scots' Queen herself, faid they could lay fmall account on mercy. The Queen would be content enow to rid herself of that fhame the world laid on her familiarities: That, as fhe plumed herself on being "Semper Eadem," fo would fhe let fall the Axe on one as lief as on another, having, truly, no heart-affections to warp her judgement: That the Tudor Sovereigns were wont to cut away the nobles, great ones and those of old descent, seeking their own security in the favour of the people, over whom, in effect, they greatly tyrannised: That, feeing the Devereux had some Plantagenet strain, Elizabeth, though nearly seventy years of age, was jealous of his fo remote claim-though only to fucceffion; and that, having fmeared her royal reputation in the blood of a Sister Queen, her near kinfwoman and next heir, fhe would hold no fcruple of drabbling her hands in a drop still farther off.

"The Scots embaffadours," quoth one, "will they not pray her Grace forbearance ?"

"Marry that, fir! they did gratulate her Majesty on the prompt fuppreffion of fo vile and wide-spread a rebellion!" ""Twas rumoured they bare fecret despatches from the King to the company at Drury-house?"

"And did, fir!

another colour."

Had the Plot fucceeded, they had ta'en

Then fome afked what would the Secretary do? Whether was his fpleen engaged? One anfwereth that rather was his honour touched; the accufations at the Barre that he favoured Spain having aftonied him.

"Will he not relent?"

""Tis more hoped than expected-more expected than believed."

"Nay! the poor Countess did befeech him in her letters ".

"And he would not?"

"Neither despair nor hope. Simply, he would not move." "E'en that is well!"

"So humbly eloquent, fhe prayed him, as he defired of God that his own fon never be made orphan by the untimely and unnatural death of his dear father, vouchsafe a relenting, to the not urging, if you may not to the hindering, of that fatal warrant for execution; which, if it once be figned, I fhall never wish to breathe an hour after!""

"Cecyl doth bear no love to Ralegh now, fo Harrington told the Bishop; and on this account."

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