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A Tilt in Honour of her Majesty.

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jousts i' the Park, and lists set out, and a very gay company assembled over and above the Court: for her Majesty prefided as the Queen of beauty, having a raised throne in the very centre of the barriers.

There were many nobles and knights who ran their courses, but none came with more display than Sir Walter Ralegh. With his whole meiny, he and they clade in Tawny, and at the flourish of clarions, he galloped into the lifts. But lo! my Lord the Earl of Effex enters the other end, himself and a large retinue, all in Tawny too. And his pursuivant, bearing his fhield, cried with a loud voice"Here standeth Robert Devereux, Earl of Effex, Viscount Hereford, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, Bourchier, and Louvaine, Lord Marshal of England, Master of the Ordnance, Master of the Horse, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, prepared to break a launce in honour of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, of these realms Queen, Defender of the Faith, and fo forth!" Anon my Lord trotteth round the lifts, the trumpets clanging fharply; thus joining his men with Sir Walter's. Folk thought 'twas but one cavalcade, all wearing orange-tawny plumes. But my Lord ran foully: and, had the Lady's beauty hung on the

point of his pike, 'twould have been a forry thing; for he brake many staves, and was well nigh unhorfed more than

once.

And on the morrow 'twas the fame; for though Sir Walter and his men were clade in Kendal green, my Lord's tailors being aware, had like coats for the Earl's meiny. Yet Effex to-day ran worse than yesterday. So that witty fellow Harrington faid, "My Lord changeth his colours to prove that one in green can tilt worse than one in tawny, which aforetime was difcredited." But Ralegh carried it ftill; for, presently doffing his clothes, he came in alone, mounted on a black Barbary horfe, and in a complete fuit of filver armour, beautifully chafed in damafk work, and splendidly bright. And his fword hilt and belt were studded with diamonds, his helmet, with a magnificent plume, was crested with an escarboncle. And, as his beaver was up, all faw his handsome manly face wearing a most felf-fatisfied favour. On his left arm hung his shield. Azure in Bend, five fuzils Argent. And on his shoulder a short blue velvet cloke, fuzils in plate let in panewise

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thereupon. Such a Such a knight fo caparisoned had not been feen in Tournay in the memory of man!

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There were those who hoped to fee the Earl of Effex challenge Sir Walter in her Grace's name: but whether the Queen forbade, or other respects prevented, certain it is there was no emulation of that fort between them. If two mastiffs meet on the road, haply they shall not fight, yet it is not cowardice in either.

And that night, being her Majesty's Birthday, there were Revels fuch as had not been had a long while. And my Lord was in high spirits, and the Countess of Leicester was there and his own Countess, and the Queen spake to both of them. And all old griefs feemed to have been forgotten. Sir Robert Cecyl was wonderfully courteous and obfequious, and the Lord Cobham tried to fay fome civil things. Then did the Earl of Nottingham fpeak of Effex's prowess, and Lord Thomas Howard gave hope that no enemy could stand against the hero of Gadez. My Lord Mountjoye saying, he would fain ferve under the gallant Earl ; there were many Nobles and Knights and Gentles who volunteered to go with Essex to Ireland or whitherfoever. And there was high Feasting that night, and Brawls, and a Masque, and Sir Walter Ralegh's dress paffed; for he ware the Earl of Effex's colours now: a crimfon

fatin fuit, trimmed with Flanders' lace and needlework, and

powdered with pearls, as they said, to the present value of fixty thousand pounds. Nay, his very fhoes were like stars, for they gliftered with diamonds throughout.

And the courtiers offered their gifts to her Majefty, profeffing wishes for a long and happy reign: and her Grace fent round a loving cup of Ypocras with her royal favour. And there was great merriment, with joy and gladness; and the Queen, very richly and freshly attired, danced with the Earl of Effex; and you would think all were dear friends and kind lovers of each other, as in truth they fhould have been to match fuch protestations.

On the 27th of March, in the afternoon, my Lord ViceRegent of Ireland took horfe in Sidon Lane; and from thence, accompanied with divers noblemen and many others, himself very plainly habited, rode through Grace-street, Cornhill, Cheapfide, and other high streets. In all which places, and in the fields beyond, the people pressed exceedingly to behold him. And in the highways, for more than four miles, they cried out amain, "God bless your Lordship!" "God preserve your honour!" And fome, with thefe and the like falutations, followed him till evening.

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Now, when the Earl and his company came forth of London, the sky was very calm and clear. But ere he gat past Iflington there arofe a portentous cloud in the N. E., whence fuddenly came lightnings and thunderings, with a great shower of hail and rain, which fome held to be an ominous prodigy.

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And on the second day at sunset my Lord reached Chenies and the gentles and their bodymen were lodged in the house, but the troops went into quarters along the road from Aylesbury to Buckingham.

Now, Adam Bell, Sir Thomas' ranger, had fhot down a Hart of Grace, and two fat Bucks; Beeves had been slaughtered, and Sheep and Pigs; and Hares and Conies had been trapped. Two tuns of Sack were fet abroach; and an unconscionable deal of ale. Right noble was the company came with the Earl Marshal, and right hofpitably did Sir Thomas Cheney entertain them.

There were the Earls of Derby, Rutland, and Southampton; the Lords Windfor, Grey, Audley, and Cromwell; Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Sir Henry and Sir Charles Danvers, Sir Charles and Sir Christopher Blount, Sir Thomas Egerton, Sir Thomas Germaine, Sir Alexander Ratcliffe, and

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