pered with modefty, together with the fympathy that little incident of the Pelican and Swan had evoked in his feelings, fired William's imagination to the utmost, and he became impatient for the voyage.

At length the day came. All were aboard. The Mate's trumpet and the Boatswayne's whistle had been busy all the morning. Davy, who had left none behind to weep for him (his mother being just dead), was neverthelefs crying like a child-out of fheer wantonness, they faid. But perhaps from a fort of instinct which people going on long journeys are apt to have. 'Tis often mere cowardice-want of faith. More times, to be hoped, through fome vague memories of homes left defolate, feats empty! Or, better still-some unkind word spoken to him whom we may never see again; some loving promise not made to her who will wait for our return!

'Twas a forrowful parting between Essex and William. Each, however, thought so much of the other's future, fo hopefully, that there were no unmanly regrets at the temporary feparation. Both looked forward to and talked of 'the happy meeting when they should be fixed firmly in the

feat. Having hearts for any fate,' as the faying is, it was

VOL. I.

T

not for them to blench at the first charge of fortune—not

they, either of them!

And fo William gave Effex fome letters he had juft written to his Father and Mother by the first post: to Mistress Helen it shall be delivered by hand.

And the friends faid "God fpeed!" "God fpeed!" grafping each other's hands tightly.

Then the fleet let loofe from her moorings at Deptford, and floated down with tide and a gentle breeze.

And, as they were paffing Greenwich, the Admiral standing on the Poop, one faid her Grace was on the terrace, walking retiredly. So there was fignal made for a falute, and after a while the Chambers were let off, making a great noise; and frightening not a little those who had not heard fuch great ordnance before.

And the Queen's Majesty bowed her head to that royal compliment, waving a fair 'kerchief to and fro.

And as the wind freshened from the weftward, and the evening came on with lowering clouds, the vessels steered down the river. William could ftill fee, as the ship rofe on the flood, that fair 'kerchief still waving to and fro, mutely wishing God speed! For Elizabeth knew-and it lay in

her politic heart below all other policies, religion not excepted -that the glory of her reign was in her Navy; and that, in aftertimes, England would bless her memory for that beginning of it.

And many a rude fea-boy, too, watching in the Tops, when the boisterous billows would fcare him from his homedreams, thought of that fair 'kerchief, and the fair hand that waved it to and fro, as an emblem of the "God speed !" his poor loved ones had uttered, and an earnest of the welcome that awaited his return.

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CHAPTER XX.

"Have you feen but a bright lily grow
Before rude bands have touch'd it?
Have you mark'd but the fall of the fnow
Before the foil hath fmutch'd it?

Have you felt the wool of the beaver?

Or fwan's down ever?

Or have fmelt o' the bud o' the brier?

Or the nard in the fire?

Or have tafted the bag of the bee?

O fo white! O fo foft! O fo fweet is fhe!"

THE DEVIL IS AN Ass, act II. fc. II.

IS all one, my Lord-all one!" quoth

Mafter Camden. "All one! Baronfaw,'

Beronfaw,' 'Beronfhore,' Beronfore,' nay,

Bronfaw and Bronfall! 'Tis written each way in the

Vifitation and in the Pedigrees, wherever I have seen them.

The Antiquary at Home.

277

'Tis a gentle family, and beareth, like Sir Thomas himself, the Cross-flory argent, but in a fable field: an escallop or, i' th' Sinifter chief:-for fome deed i' th' Third Crufade, I trow."

"If the family be gentle, how is't the name be fo unknowingly spelt, trow'ft?" faid Essex.

"'Tis naught! I' th' provinces, there, Names be used, haply for generations, none knowing or caring how they should write them-ufing, for the most part, marks and feals in their teftaments, warrants, and fuch like. When one cometh to clap down a name with letters, he is apt to catch the found only as 'tis fpoken, mayhap by one as little learned as himself; or by fome fellow rude in speech, after the manner of country parts-fo you have here Bronfaw' and 'Bronfall,' manifeft errors of ignorance."

"So! and what, think you, is the name ?-Sir Thomas will be critical."

"Why, I hold it to be Berenfhawe;' that is, the Bear's wood.' Such an one, Name or Mark, of the Bear's wood. 'Shawe,' 'tis certainly: the queftion can only lie 'twixt 'Baron' or 'Beren,' and ' Becon,' as I take it. • Becon' is out o' th' question, for there could be no Becon in the