CHAPTER XIII.

"And all the ruins of distressful times

Repaired with double riches of content."

K. RICHARD III. act Iv.

fc. III.

ND now the Link fpluttereth a little and is

At

out! The bells jangle a while and are still! Sir Francis Walfingham is no more. Barne Elmes, as the tide was returning, he departed; his daughter (none other) beside him, lamenting.

The tiny grandchild, half frightened, half pleased, toddles round the old man's coffin; which his people, carrying by night, bury without state in Paul's.

'Tis a dreadful thing to imagine that honeft folk may have their funerals disturbed by mortified creditors! Yet,

if

you wish to go to the Grave with the pomp due to your rank, and so great an event in your career as the ending of

Effex returneth in good time.

161

it, you should (as all teftaments testify) make some provision for your debts. The fexton, though the important man there, should last of all be fatisfied; "for a great statesman to leave a small estate, and for a public man to be buried privately, is a wiser paradox than I can wonder at," quoth Mafter Tarleton.

Now the Portingale expedition of my Lord of Essex, being cut short by her Grace's care of her young playfellow, he returned just to hear of the again defolate state of poor Frances: fo, going speedily into Surrey, he commendeth his former fuit unto her as an immediate and happy end to her prefent care.

She, on her part, modeftly requiring fome delay, that her fpirit might recover from fo fad a lofs, fheweth him how her late father had left a letter for him touching the matter in that packet.

You may believe Effex was right joyous when he learned how the business had fared. He kiffed his fweetheart and toffed the child; laughing and making merry more than had been used in that fober and demure abode. He wrote letters, too, to Sir Thomas, now at Llanfrey, letting him know what had come to pass. And he fent 'Zekiel down with

VOL. II.

M

that post, who for his part now began to have fome faith in policy, feeing it had worked fo great an advantage to the loved and honoured family; though in truth it had been by a villainous policy that the Knight came to trouble at all. To Gray's Inn, alfo, my Lord went, personally upbraiding Master Francis; who, heartily ashamed, again prayed forgiveness, declaring he would do fo no more! Now the bruit of this affair, which could not be muffled from the ears of the Attorneys, had hurt Master Francis as it ought; fo, in confideration of the opinion he had of his wisdom and great parts, and of the love he bore to poor lame Anthony, his brother, and indeed, most of all, out of his own generosity of disposition and true nobility, Effex at a later time conveyed to the faid Master Francis a small Estate in land; to the end that neither should he come to want, nor hereafter be tempted, by hope of gain and filthy lucre, into base and unhonest practices. Alas! that a man of genius and learning should entertain a mean spirit of covetiseness and grudging!

And when Sir Thomas got Effex's letter, he, being replenished with a fudden joy, fell fick; and Dame Elizabeth feared every day he would die. He'd fay, " God be

Meetings and Greetings.

163

praised!" over and over again; crying like a child, or going on his knees to give thanks for fo great and unlooked for a bleffing. Yet, if the fpirit be without burden, the physician's cure shall be easy! Thus Sir Thomas got hale and hearty again about the time that William was returning with Captain Drake. And Dame Elizabeth had written to fair Helen, telling the good tidings; bidding her prepare to be a bride when her true love should come from beyond fea, and promising her a mother's welcome at Chenies when she would.

So the day William landed from the Fleet at Portsmouth and rode on to Swarwooton he learned all these matters. And he had not fo been trained that he forgat to give glory to the Authour and Giver of all good things: embracing his dear Helen also very often, and calling her tenderly his Love and his Bride.

And it was a matter appointed between them that all should meet in London, at Essex-house, by a certain day.

If

you have not known forrow you can scarce tell what joy is. So if you have never left thofe you love, you will hardly believe the pleasure of meeting them again. Here were Effex and William, Sir Thomas and Dame Elizabeth,

Squire Beronfaw, his kind aunt, Mistress Helen, and the Hants Esquire (her cousin) himself, after a long while and fome fore diftreffes, brought happily together.

And, at my Lord his request, Sir Thomas and Dame Elizabeth went in a covered barge up to Barne Elmes,

.

bringing thence Dame Frances and her little one.

They were met by my Lord, gorgeously dressed as you could wish and he, helping Frances out of the barge, led her into the Hall where William Cheney stood, decked as the fun coming out of his chamber. And Helen the fair, the joyous, who scattered rays of love from her like pomander perfume through a cenfer, fhe stood there to run that course with him as his bride. And you might go far and near without finding fo well-favoured men and fuch beauteous women met together, or couples fo happily and well matched. For it is a spite of nature that the blithe be often tied to the dolt, and the foft-hearted to the cruel; not to speak of the union of short with long, and fo forth. All being ready, Master Richard Hooker (Sir Thomas' friend), blessed them according to the form prescribed, proclaiming Effex and Frances man and wife, and William and Helen man and wife alfo. And Sir Thomas he gave