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〃I have nothing to say to that;〃 answered the messenger; 〃my
orders are directly from her Majesty; and concern this gentleman
only。〃
So saying; he walked away; followed by Walter; leaving the others
behind; Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the
excess of his astonishment。 At length he gave vent to it in an
exclamation; 〃Who the good jere would have thought this!〃 And
shaking his head with a mysterious air; he walked to his own
boat; embarked; and returned to Deptford。
The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided to the water…side
by the Pensioner; who showed him considerable respect; a
circumstance which; to persons in his situation; may be
considered as an augury of no small consequence。 He ushered him
into one of the wherries which lay ready to attend the Queen's
barge; which was already proceeding; up the river; with the
advantage of that flood…tide of which; in the course of their
descent; Blount had complained to his associates。
The two rowers used their oars with such expedition at the signal
of the Gentleman Pensioner; that they very soon brought their
little skiff under the stern of the Queen's boat; where she sat
beneath an awning; attended by two or three ladies; and the
nobles of her household。 She looked more than once at the wherry
in which the young adventurer was seated; spoke to those around
her; and seemed to laugh。 At length one of the attendants; by
the Queen's order apparently; made a sign for the wherry to come
alongside; and the young man was desired to step from his own
skiff into the Queen's barge; which he performed with graceful
agility at the fore part of the boat; and was brought aft to the
Queen's presence; the wherry at the same time dropping into the
rear。 The youth underwent the gaze of Majesty; not the less
gracefully that his self…possession was mingled with
embarrassment。 The muddled cloak still hung upon his arm; and
formed the natural topic with which the Queen introduced the
conversation。
〃You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our behalf; young man。
We thank you for your service; though the manner of offering it
was unusual; and something bold。〃
〃In a sovereign's need;〃 answered the youth; 〃it is each liege…
man's duty to be bold。〃
〃God's pity! that was well said; my lord;〃 said the Queen;
turning to a grave person who sat by her; and answered with a
grave inclination of the head; and something of a mumbled
assent。〃Well; young man; your gallantry shall not go
unrewarded。 Go to the wardrobe keeper; and he shall have orders
to supply the suit which you have cast away in our service。 Thou
shalt have a suit; and that of the newest cut; I promise thee; on
the word of a princess。〃
〃May it please your Grace;〃 said Walter; hesitating; 〃it is not
for so humble a servant of your Majesty to measure out your
bounties; but if it became me to choose〃
〃Thou wouldst have gold; I warrant me;〃 said the Queen;
interrupting him。 〃Fie; young man! I take shame to say that in
our capital such and so various are the means of thriftless
folly; that to give gold to youth is giving fuel to fire; and
furnishing them with the means of self…destruction。 If I live
and reign; these means of unchristian excess shall be abridged。
Yet thou mayest be poor;〃 she added; 〃or thy parents may be。 It
shall be gold; if thou wilt; but thou shalt answer to me for the
use on't。〃
Walter waited patiently until the Queen had done; and then
modestly assured her that gold was still less in his wish than
the raiment her Majesty had before offered。
〃How; boy!〃 said the Queen; 〃neither gold nor garment? What is
it thou wouldst have of me; then?〃
〃Only permission; madamif it is not asking too high an honour
permission to wear the cloak which did you this trifling
service。〃
〃Permission to wear thine own cloak; thou silly boy!〃 said the
Queen。
〃It is no longer mine;〃 said Walter; 〃when your Majesty's foot
touched it; it became a fit mantle for a prince; but far too rich
a one for its former owner。〃
The Queen again blushed; and endeavoured to cover; by laughing; a
slight degree of not unpleasing surprise and confusion。
〃Heard you ever the like; my lords? The youth's head is turned
with reading romances。 I must know something of him; that I may
send him safe to his friends。What art thou?〃
〃A gentleman of the household of the Earl of Sussex; so please
your Grace; sent hither with his master of horse upon message to
your Majesty。〃
In a moment the gracious expression which Elizabeth's face had
hitherto maintained; gave way to an expression of haughtiness and
severity。
〃My Lord of Sussex;〃 she said; 〃has taught us how to regard his
messages by the value he places upon ours。 We sent but this
morning the physician in ordinary of our chamber; and that at no
usual time; understanding his lordship's illness to be more
dangerous than we had before apprehended。 There is at no court
in Europe a man more skilled in this holy and most useful science
than Doctor Masters; and he came from Us to our subject。
Nevertheless; he found the gate of Sayes Court defended by men
with culverins; as if it had been on the borders of Scotland; not
in the vicinity of our court; and when he demanded admittance in
our name; it was stubbornly refused。 For this slight of a
kindness; which had but too much of condescension in it; we will
receive; at present at least; no excuse; and some such we suppose
to have been the purport of my Lord of Sussex's message。〃
This was uttered in a tone and with a gesture which made Lord
Sussex's friends who were within hearing tremble。 He to whom the
speech was addressed; however; trembled not; but with great
deference and humility; as soon as the Queen's passion gave him
an opportunity; he replied; 〃So please your most gracious
Majesty; I was charged with no apology from the Earl of Sussex。〃
〃With what were you then charged; sir?〃 said the Queen; with the
impetuosity which; amid nobler qualities; strongly marked her
character。 〃Was it with a justification?or; God's death! with
a defiance?〃
〃Madam;〃 said the young man; 〃my Lord of Sussex knew the offence
approached towards treason; and could think of nothing save of
securing the offender; and placing him in your Majesty's hands;
and at your mercy。 The noble Earl was fast asleep when your most
gracious message reached him; a potion having been administered
to that purpose by his physician; and his Lordship knew not of
the ungracious repulse your Majesty's royal and most comfortable
message had received; until after he awoke this morning。〃
〃And which of his domestics; then; in the name of Heaven;
presumed to reject my message; without even admitting my own
physician to the presence of him whom I sent him to attend?〃
said the Queen; much surprised。
〃The offender; madam; is before you;〃 replied Walter; bowing very
low; 〃the full and sole blame is mine; and my lord has most
justly sent me to abye the consequences of a fault; of which he
is as innocent as a sleeping man's dreams can be of a waking
man's actions。〃
〃What! was it thou?thou thyself; that repelled my messenger
and my physician from Sayes Court?〃 said the Queen。 〃What could
occasion such boldness in one who seems devotedthat is; whose
exterior bearing shows devotionto his Sovereign?〃
〃Madam;〃 said the youthwho; notwithstanding an assumed
appearance of severity; thought that he saw something in the
Queen's face that resembled not implacability〃we say in our
country; that the physician is for the time the liege sovereign
of his patient。 Now; my noble master was then under dominion of
a leech; by whose advice he hath greatly profited; who had issued
his commands that his patient should not that night be disturbed;
on the very peril of his life。〃
〃Thy master hath trusted some false varlet of an empiric;〃 said
the Queen。
〃I know not; madam; but by the fact that he is nowthis very
morningawakened much refreshed and strengthened from the only
sleep he hath had for many hours。〃
The nobles looked at each other; but more with the purpose to see
what each thought of this news; than to exchange any remarks on
what had happened。 The Queen answered hastily; and without
affecting to disguise her satisfaction; 〃By my word; I am glad he
is better。 But thou wert over…bold to deny the access of my
Doctor Masters。 Knowest thou not the Holy Writ saith; 'In the
multitude of counsel there is safety'?〃
〃Ay; madam;〃 said Walter; 〃but I have heard learned men say that
the safety spoken of is for the physicians; not for the patient。〃
〃By my faith; child; thou hast pushed me home;〃 said the Queen;
laughing; 〃for my Hebrew learning does not come quite at a call。
How say you; my Lord of Lincoln? Hath the lad given a just
interpretation of the text?〃
〃The word SAFETY; most gracious madam;〃 said the Bishop of
Lincoln; 〃for so hath been translated; it may be somewhat
hastily; the Hebrew word; being〃
〃My lord;〃 said the Queen; interrupting him; 〃we said we had
forgotten our Hebrew。But for thee; young man; what is thy name
and birth?〃
〃Raleigh is my name; most gracious Queen; the youngest son of a
large but hon