CHAPTER VI.

"The web of our life is of a mingled yarn ;

Good and ill together."

ALL'S WELL, act Iv. fc. III.

OOR 'Zekiel used to be fad these times: com

plaining to Sir Thomas (who still waited in the

hope of William's return), how his young Lord

was going (as he feared) the way of all Lords; namely— to the Court. "He'd stay out o' nights," the man faid, "coming not home to his lodging till birds were a-finging. He'd tell of how he walked private with the Queen; playing her Grace (i' th' privy chamber) Cards and other games. By my holidame, your honour, Sir Thomas," ended he, "there be Policy in't! My Lord ha' told me how he should be Master o' the Horse, with fifteen hundred

pounds a-year, and other matters.

And 'tis too great pay

ment for no service, I trow!"

"Well, 'Zekiel," faid the Knight, kindly, "'tis a Court office, and of fome credit. Some one must fill it: and who fo fit as the Earl of Effex ?"

"My Lord hath injured his estate i' th' wars. Her Grace made him General o' th' Horfe for thatgood!"

"Well, 'Zekiel ?"

"She maketh him Master o' the Horfe now, 'cause he playeth well o' the cards-a carves to her belike! "Tis policy—damn it!”

Being no politician, Sir Thomas had not till of late fo nicely thought on this matter; going (as his fathers before him) to war as a duty to country and fovereign, and regarding both as one. "Twas a perfonal trial of arms, courage, and fo forth, furely and to gain a canton or other augmentation to his Coat would have been enough of glory for a Cheney, and with the 'unhacked reputations' of courtiers he had nothing to do. He faw no honour in tilting at ladies' lips. "Wear your maunches and your flanges, for me, gentlemen, and deck yourselves bravely in women's

Sir Thomas advifedly rebuketh Effex.

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favours but be your bloods red? Sirs, dare ye ftand i' th' breach ?"

The rough old henchman was in the right; and fo Sir Thomas told him.

And you may be sure the Knight fpake to Effex often and more on this head; fearing left the youth should be led astray i' the primrose paths of dalliance, and find himfelf all too late shut into a fool's paradife, as the faying is: for, despite the opinions he had uttered at the "Great Harry," my Lord was, as 'Zekiel faid, villainously engrossed with the Court. And the Knight chode him, moreover, for a weak and vain habit of jealoufy and rivalry against the Captain o' the Guard, whom all elfe thought one of extraordinary pith and fubftance: advifing the Earl to achieve honour for himself, rather than refting on what his father left him, carp at new men. And not to envy one who, born more humbly, was yet Gentle, as he shewed by his untiring efforts after greatnefs. You fhall thank God for your nobility, should you pride yourself on your own gainings. "The glory of ancestors," quoth he, "is as a flaming torch. He is well feen who beareth it. Therefore, fince it is in your part to hold forth that light to

others, take care your own deeds bear the looking into." And he took him to task alfo for his humours with the

:

Queen for it had been told Sir Thomas by one Master Edward Dyer how furiously Effex had-in my Lady of Warwick's home at North Hall-abufed her Grace's patience—disdaining of Ralegh to her very face (he at door listening): and, in his paffion, thrusting away his own fifter, Lady Dorothy (against whom there had been offence taken.)

My Lord, vexed hereat-for one in the wrong is apt to be tetchy-set off for Slys in Holland: but the Queen, fending specially, brought him back; and his temper, being fubdued a little under fo great an authority (a spoilt child to a stern nurfe)-his confcience reproved him that he had not more kindly hearkened to an old friend.

Sir Thomas hath, more than once this fummer, ridden poft to Margate; for every day brought its own rumour, and he grew impatient for his fon.

As it had been a while agone when the Hue and Cry was out that the Scots Queen had efcaped, or that the Pope had landed—that a confpiracy was a hatching, or that the traitors had fled: fo now were there scattered rags of

Expectation upon Tiptoe.

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news that none but one very needy would stoop to pick up. A father, whofe only child is at fea, is one of these ! "Tis Sir Thomas Cheney whom you watch on the jetty there, day after day, questioning the mariners. Veffels pass up and down the Channel and across to the Dutch coast; but there are no tidings of the fleet her Majefty fent to the Indies, now two years fince: and there is talk of the Spaniard fitting out, and that the Frenchmen hath hired small craft; and people are beginning to ask where is Captain Drake; for men are apt to look about for help ere they beftir themselves, though 'twould be better they should experience there own calibre first.

They fire the beacons on the Cornish coaft, and fo on through Devon, Somerset, Wilts, Berks. The Londoners rife up in their beds. Some fall on their knees: fome buckle on their armour: fome hide themselves incontinently. You hear shoutings and yellings, threats, boastings, deprecations, oaths! Scarcely one afks his neighbour what 'tis disturbs him. The women shriek and hug their infants— their husbands fometimes-wakening up these-hindering thofe. As day breaks, people look out o' window, stealthily; or, with martial courage, venture out o' door.]