With his flaming hat, one might say in a heathen figure, fanning up Hymen's torch! What should this bode? More Armado? Oh, for Mafter Knox now! Had he lived to our day, would he not have founded a blast of his Proteftant trumpet against the monftrous regiment of Babylon and scarlet stockings!

Well, Sir Robert hath the care of State affairs. To fee him bring bills to the Queen! 'Twas a fine thing obferving his eye; how it waited on that royal lady; how, through the transparency of her Grace's countenance, he fought to spy the fecrets of her politic heart. Yet how, when she frowned, with a demure abafing of his glances he would seem to retire from fo fublime an afpect. And again, when her Highnefs fmiled, how he would rally and encourage his quelled fpirit; leading the difcourfe off into fome utter bufineffes of the Commonwealth, moft contrary to that in hand; toying and playing with the Majesty of England as a fond Angler practifeth on a feely trout! And Sir Walter Ralegh watched him. There be yet rats behind the Arras! "Go to," quoth he; "Sir Robert hath the fhuffling o' the pack, but a hasn't the trump card yet !” A while agone, when her Grace willed all her courtiers to

be friendly, the Captain o' the Guard did entertain the Secretary with a fine banquet and a choice new play. Then was there no lack of comfits and fubtleties, nor no bad acting in "Every Man in his Humour," for "Totus mundus agit hiftrionem!" and, with much proteftation of a mutual regard, these two went down to Dover what time that miffion to France was afoot. Sir Walter (look you) needed some steps to his ladder ere he could rise to the level of his hopes. And out of that conjected coalition, here was a rung or round turned for his climbing. Cecyl and my Lord making refpective conceffion, Ralegh and Sir Robert Sydney should be brought into the Privy Council. But her Grace would have her nayword to that too. She made Sydney her Vice-Chamberlain, and kept Sir Walter -in his place.

Master Secretary was well pleased, defiring nothing less than such a jangling Jack-o'-the-Clock as Ralegh in the Council. For the statesman quailed under the ingenious adventurer. But fmall folk muft ftand on tall men's fhoulders an they would reach the apples: and big bodies ufe little hands for light thefts. So these two swing i̇' the balance! Known unto all is the packing of these and the

Lord Cobham.

"Here," faid Tarleton, "is a philofopher,

a knave, and a fool, with a vengeance! A picture of 'We

three complete,' and I not in't."

Now Ralegh had gone again to the Indies: and he came from Guiana rich beyond all precedent. Realms and islands were as plates dropped from his pockets. Every one fees how bravely he lavifheth; none gueffing the value of his fpoil. In luxury, in equipage, above all in drefs, he would vie with the beft; and that with an oftent of glory not a little infolent in one of his condition. You have seen his Diamond doublet, fo they call it? His Emerald hat, then? His exceeding fair Jewel? 'Tis faid what precious stones fall from him o' Court days would furnish forth an expedition. Sir Walter infinitely defireth to be a Baron, and carrieth it thus beforehand; as who should say, “What a fine Lord this Knight shall make!”

"Her Grace cannot chufe but raise him to the style and dignity of a Peer!"

'Tis enough for a favoured courtier to afk fome little patent or monopoly from her Grace. Some one must occupy in these things. Whofo putteth it lowly enow shall have her Highness' pleasure, as Master Horner in the

late King Henry's time got many pickings, none else afk

ing for them. So Sir Walter now-a-days.

"We three" broach this matter.

Cobham objects.

""Tis not her Grace's use to make peers of fuch!"

"Such what?" faith the Knight.

"Of your order," faith the other, disquietly.

"Whom elfe but the next in degree?"

"I care not! "Tis a courtier treading on the heels of the nobility-no precedent for't, nor will it ftand!" "Go to, with your precedent!-am I not fit? Eh?"

Ralegh spoke as one either of gentle birth or high defert would to the taunt from him whofe inherited star

paled on his breast. But Cecyl taketh another way,

"Let's find a precedent-or make one!"

"Ay! there spake”

"Her Grace will fay the Parliament is prorogued." "Well?"

"Then there's no need of Peers, Sir Walter !"

"Go to! she shall be fatisfied. I've purpose to be called

anon, whether or no! I can be a Peer without a Parliament,

for the Council of State carrieth on fans my help.”

"Her Grace shall scarcely hearken”.

VOL. III.

E

H

"Ay! marry, shall she.”

"Shall I move her Highness to 't?—prepare—eh ?”

""Twould be a comfortable kindness, for which I'm infinitely bound."

"You entrust me, then ?”

"Art not with me?"

"Her Grace allows it fo."

So the Secretary on fome foreign occafion leads the talk to the empty feats i' the Peers: in a general way shewing how the dignity of a Sovereign stands upon a numerous nobility. "A nobility of worth, Sir Robert.”

"True, gracious Madam: and who fo worthy as those who ferve your Highness faithfully?"

"You are i'the right, our Secretary! Wherefore we, being fo advised, did raise thy venerable father-a poor yeoman's fon-to those honours which, to our content, he illustrated.”

"Ever gracious Madam! Deign to believe my father's fon not ill-meriting your royal favour!"

"We will! we have therefore made you Secretary and Knight, one of our Privy Council alfo.”

"If it might be, as a farther ".

"What?-doft fweat for pay and not for duty-eh?