Sir Francis amendeth.

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his fore, and dieting himself accordingly. They fpake of the business in hand: and the Secretary was not a man to object that the youth was an Earl, nor was he base to look for richer matches. He was cautious, however, and farfeeing; fo he spake of the Queen, how fhe liked not married men about her, and how fhe would furely take offence at fuch an alliance as with his humble house. To this effect they talked.

And Effex told him of the letters which were in the Earl of Leicester's fecret place, fhewing him that there was fome mystery about them. Then Sir Francis Walfingham was himself again, feeing that there was fomewhat to unravel, and twift, and tie, and pick. And fo his fpirit revived!

Marfbal, demand of yonder champion
The caufe of his arrival here in arms."

K. RICHARD II., act. I. fc. III.

ON ANTONIO, pretending to be King of
Portingale, of which he hath been diffeized by

the rapacious Philip, comes to Court for help.

Queen Elizabeth denyeth to enter that quarrel: for 'tis a contemptible thing to meddle in the affairs of fmall States who cannot right themselves! However, fince it will harry the Spaniard (her brother-in-law), fhe fubfcribes fome money; giving leave alfo (as having no occafion at home for them) to all fpirituous cavaliers fo lifting to risk themfelves in that adventure.

It was a scheme, this, most notable; for, befide that the

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faid Don was base-born and a Prior, he had leagued with him Muley Hamet, King of Morocco, a Turke and Barbarian. And one Lazarus Melchefio, coming (with falfe passports) out of Danemark on a pilgrimage to Compoftella.

But you shall not find our great captain, whom the boys call "Fire Drake," and Sir John Norreys, and such men, caring for Jew, Turk, nor yet Pagan! And, the armies being disbanded, there be brave men for any piece of daring, as well as wandering rogues fit for every robbery and mifchief.

A fleet was rigged, manned, and armed presently: for no time is wafted when men be at their own coft and charges, however they delay in the Queen's affair and in truth these gallant fellows were impatient to strike another blow at the old enemy. Others thought of revenge, perhaps: many of plunder only: furely fome of fuccouring a diftreffed Prince, who had been elected by a popular acclamation (after the manner of the free nations of old).

It was fo congenial with Philip Sidney's idea of liberty and what was right, and fo fraught with the spirit of mantic chivalry which Essex had imbibed, through the ex

ro

ample of Sir Thomas and the teaching of poetry, that he would fain be off with them to fea.

But when she would not license him to go with my Lord Effingham what time great glory was to be gotten, 'twas vain to hope her Grace's folicitude would fuffer her dear favourite to embark in fuch peril as a piratical and desperate descent on a foreign and hostile shore.

So my Lord, defiring his brother-in-law, Rich, to stay in his lodging and he would come to fupper (intending nothing less): with one Reynolds a gentleman of his chamber, and 'Zekiel, and another that kept his hunting nags, took horfe (Walter Devereux and three Knights being with him). It was on Thursday eve they fecretly started: and, riding night and day, they reached Plymouth, fome two hundred and twenty miles, ere daylight on Saturday. The posts had been previously laid, and the horses were ready and serviceable, or it could not have been done so hastily. And the horse-keeper returning (after the first stage of that journey, which was not less than eighty-eight miles) with my Lord's own beasts, brought my Lord Rich a post and the keys of his desk, wherein were letters above forty : to wit, to the Queen, the Council, and others; fhewing his

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valiant refolution not to be stayed by any commandment excepting death: "nor would he stop two hours afhore," faid he, "howfoever the wind: for if it were contrary he would drag out the pinnace that was left for him.”

You may be fure her Grace waxed wroth at this escape of her loved Effex. For fhe fent old Knollys and my Lord Huntingdon after him, writing letters to the Admirals requiring their inftant capture of the fugitive. Captain Drake, though he avowed that 'twould be more available to him to have the Earl, his friend, at Court, than fo hot and inexperienced a youth in fo perilous and nice an expedition, did furely compass the embarkment of my Lord, as did another her Grace knew not of: for Effex made his

way, fome how or other, down to Falmouth, and had gotten himself aboard one of the fineft fhips in the Navy, which had (fomehow) anchored off that haven. And who, think you, but William Cheney, fent thofe posts to my Lord, of which good Antony fpake? And who elfe

ordered the horses on the road?

Still her Majefty would not rest. "If Effex be now come into the company of the fleet," fhe wrote, we straightly charge you that, all dilatory excuse set apart, you

VOL. II.

K