...He acted wisely; for it was the policy of Elizabeth to humble, not to disgrace him, and it was prudent to suffer her, without opposition or reply, to glory in the exertion of her authority. The dignity of the queen was gratified, and the woman began soon to feel for the mortification which she had imposed on her favourite. Her keen eye also observed the secret looks of congratulation exchanged amongst those who favoured Sussex, and it was no part of her policy to give either party a decisive triumph.

"What I say to my Lord of Leicester," she said, after a moment's pause," I say also to you, "my Lord of Sussex. You also must needs ruffle in the court of England, at the head of a faction of your own ?"

"My followers, gracious Princess," said Sussex," have indeed ruffled in your cause, in Ireland, in Scotland, and against yonder rebellious Earls in the north. I am ignorant that"

"Do you bandy looks and words with me, my lord ?" said the Queen, interrupting him; "methinks you might learn of my Lord of Leicester the modesty to be silent, at least, under our cen

sure. I say, my lord, that my grandfather and my father, in their wisdom, debarred the nobles of this civilized land from travelling with such disorderly retinues; and think you, that because I wear a coif, their sceptre has in my hand been changed into a distaff? I tell you, no king in Christendom will less brook his court to be cumbered, his people oppressed, and his kingdom's peace disturbed by the arrogance of overgrown power, than she who now speaks with you.-My Lord of Leicester, and you, my Lord of Sussex, I command you both to be friends with each other; or by the crown I wear, you shall find an enemy who will be too strong for both of you."

Madam," said the Earl of Leicester," you who are yourself the fountain of honour, know best what is due to mine. I place it at your dissposal, and only say, that the terms on which I have stood with my Lord of Sussex have not been of my seeking; nor had he cause to think me his Venemy, until he had done me gross wrong." -91 * For me, Madam," said the Earl of Sussex, 19 I cannot appeal from your sovereign pleasure; -but I were well content my Lord of Leicester

should say in what I have, as he terms it, wronged him, since my tongue never spoke the word that I would not willingly justify either on foot or horseback."

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And for me," said Leicester, " always under my gracious Sovereign's pleasure, my hand shall be as ready to make good my words, as that of any man who ever wrote himself Ratcliffe."

,s,

My lords," said the Queen," these are no terms for this presence; and if you cannot keep your temper, we will find means to keep both that and you close enough. Let me see you join hands, my lords, and forget your idle animosities."

The two rivals looked at each other with reluctant eyes, each unwilling to make the first advance to execute the Queen's will.

Sussex," said Elizabeth, "I entreat-Lei

cester, I command you."

Yet, so were her words accented, that the entreaty sounded like command, and the command like entreaty. They remained still and stubborn, until she raised her voice to a height which argued at once impatience and absolute command.

"Sir Henry Lee," she said, to an officer in at

.

tendance," have a guard in present readiness, and man a barge instantly.-My Lords of Sussex and Leicester, I bid you once more to join hands -and, God's death! he that refuses shall taste of our Tower fare ere he see our face again. I will lower your proud hearts ere we part, and that I promise, on the word of a Queen."

"The prison," said Leicester, "might be borne, but to lose your Grace's presence, were to lose light and life at once.-Here, Sussex, is my hand." “And here," said Sussex, "is mine, in truth and honesty; but".

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Nay, under favour, you shall add no more," said the Queen. "Why, this is as it should be," she added, looking on them more favourably,“and when you, the shepherds of the people, unite to protect them, it shall be well with the flock we rule over. For, my lords, I tell you plainly, your follies and your brawls lead to strange disorders among your servants.-My Lord of Leicester, you have a gentleman in your household, called Varney?"

"Yes, gracious Madam," replied Leicester, "I presented him to kiss your royal hand when you were last at Nonsuch."

"His outside was well enough," said the Queen, "but scarce so fair, I should have thought, as to have caused a maiden of honourable birth and hopes to barter her fame for his good looks, and become his paramour. Yet so it is this fellow of yours hath seduced the daughter of a good old Devonshire knight, Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote-hall, and she hath fled with him from her father's house like a cast-away.-My Lord of Leicester, are you ill, that you look so deadly pale ?"

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"No, gracious Madam," said Leicester; and it required every effort he could make to bring forth these few words.

"You are surely ill, my lord ?" said Elizabeth, going towards him with hasty speech and hurried step, which indicated the deepest concern. "Call Masters-call our surgeon in ordinary-Where be these loitering fools?—We lose the pride of our court through their negligence.-Or is it possible, Leicester," she continued, looking on him with a very gentle aspect, " can fear of my displeasure have wrought so deeply on thee? Doubt not for a moment, noble Dudley, that we could blame thee for the folly of thy retainer-thee,