Penshurst Castle

only failing

happy as the rest

s-of-arms, masques, and other entertainments organised by the noblemen chiefly,

ould be wanting on their part to please her. Indeed, the courtiers vied with each other in their efforts to

e with the Duke of Anjou, whose cause these Frenchmen had been commissioned by their Sovereign to plead. They were also to have a careful eye to his interests in the treaty they were to m

reville undertook to impress the visitors with a magnificent

windows, a 'Fortress of Perfect Beauty' was erected,

devices, and wreathed about with evergreens and garlands, which were suspended from the roof. It was erected on an artificial mound; and, as the day drew near, those who ha

Sidney and her youngest son, Thomas, were also present. Robert was in his brother's train. Lady Rich, blazing with diamonds, was the admired of many eyes-upon whose young, fair face might be seen the trace of that unsatisfied longing and

t throbbed with triumph as she saw Mistress Ratcliffe and Dorothy vainly struggling to gain admittance at one of the entrances, and at last, hustled and jostled, only allow

find easy to please at any time, and who, seeing Lucy was in favour with the Countess o

ould take a back bench in the booth, where it was difficult to se

YARD, W

ront row, good Crawley. Suffer

tress, and found herself placed exactly opposite the window at

of that grand lady whose jewels

t squeeze her hoop, and take care not to lean over the edge of the booth so as

you must not speak in a loud voice.

idney, who came across the yard to exchange a word with his sist

t recognition, and her comp

bent forward to speak to him. Only a few words passed, but when Philip had moved away there was a change in Lady Rich's face, and the lines of discon

will never look with favour on anyone besides. The pity

t would anger my lady, who has no cause to love my Lady Rich, and wo

th the ale of the morning meal, swaying from side to side, and endangering the stiff folds of the ruffs, which made a sort of cradle for their cheeks and chins. Lucy, however, knew nothi

' greeted Elizabeth, who, gorgeously arrayed, smiled and bowed graciously to the assembled people. Behind her was the Earl of Leicester, and Lord Burleigh and the French Ambassador at either

ty and charms so many sonnets and verses had been written by every rhymester in the land, as well as by the chief poets of the day. It was a generally accepted fact th

red to her

young and fair Queen

harply. 'You are a little fool to dare to

ed the coming of the four knights who were to carry the Fortress of Beauty by their prowess against those

ease as it curveted and pranced, perfectly controlled by the skill of its rider. Four spare horses, richly caparisoned, were led behind him by pages, and thirty gentlemen and yeomen, amongst whom were Humphrey and George Ratcliffe, with four trumpeters dressed in cassock coats and caps, Venetian hose of yellow ve

d at last proceeded to 'run tilt,' each in his turn, against an opponent, each running six ti

es and confessions of weariness, the four knights fell to work with such renewed energy that, we are told, what with shivering swords and lusty blows, it was as if the Gr

she called up Philip Sidney for especial thanks, and, tapping him on the shoulder, bid him repair to the banqueting-hall and discourse som

f many foreign tongues, and there are few to match him in Latin and Gree

can produce. Need I name that one, gentlemen,' he said, with a courtly bow and kneeling as he kissed the Queen's hand, 'for she it is who has

l pleased that it should be offered in the hearing of those ambassado

the soft-spoken

are pleased to call him; nor will we for a moment dispute his assertion

ght have noticed that there was a touch of irony, even of distrust,

d also reached it, with the report that he had been, a few years before, bold enough to remonstrate with the Queen when the proposal of h

ere resting their tired, and, in many cases, their bruised limbs, in profound repose, when the porter of the quarters

urbed, and looking out at the small iron g

goes

ech with Master Hu

at in a recess of the entrance, and composed himself to sleep again. But the man who sought admittance was

was with the strong potations of the previous night, he rose once more, and, going to the grating, poured out

ntinued, roused Humphrey Ratcliffe from his dreams, on the upper floor, and he presently appear

bout? Who demands admission?

ough reply, 'and let in a parcel of murderer

id; 'you are half-drunk now, I warrant,' a

ssion at this ho

answer, 'and day is breaking. I have ill news for Master H

s went first to his mother, and then he remembered t

orrester. I've trudged many a mile at the biddin

heavy bolts, and turned the huge, rusty key in

aid, 'and deliv

nd worn, pulled the lock of red hair which shadowed his f

ore and wear

would be glad to rest, for

oating in a small pan of oil, and bid Ned seat himself, while he drew a mugful of ale from the barrel, which

gerly, and

to yourself. Mistress Gifford could scarce write it, for she is sick, and no wonde

y! You speak

air fell in more than one stray lo

esdroppers at

g sleep, or had really resumed his broken slumber. He therefore bid the boy follo

ding stone stairs, Ned stumbling after him, he struck a light with a f

low; but give me the letter first. When I h

was scarcely legible, blotted, as it was, with

have stolen him from me. Can you find him for me? He is in the hands of Jesuits-it may be at Douay-I dare say no more. I cannot say more. Good Ned

.

as a hundred years to me. Tears are

etter, and again and again pres

s, God helping me, I will t

turned

ll you know of

e. Mistress Gifford had gone out early to look after the shepherd, who was seeking a lost lamb, and the black man had come out of a hollow. Then Mistress Gifford had run wi

warrant, but-' and Ned drew his sleeve across his eyes, and his low guttural voice faltered, as he said,-'Folks must be made of stone if t

'Now, take off those heavy boots and rest, while I

his ungainly figure on the settle, and before Humphrey could have believed it possible, he was snoring loudly, his arm thrown

ing for action, to be able to do something to relieve Mary's distress-to scour the

aim; but to do this he must

dney's attendance at Hampton Court Palace, whither it was rumoured she wa

courtyard and the voices of the grooms, who were rubbing down the tired horses after the conflicts of

lock of the palace struck five, Humphrey went down into the porter's

for he hasn't been a

all gain a

the reply, with

ed, whether a-bed or up. Yesterday's show

orter saith if harm comes of it he won't take the blame. Most li

an came on urgent business, in which none here but myself have concern,' and then he cr

ot to wait for admittanc

ey found him seated before a table covered with papers, the morn

m, and how often, in the years that were to come, did Philip Sidney's figure, as he saw i

up with a sm

Humphrey, you a

have been ast

t be caught by any wiles till she comes of her own sweet will. But is aught amiss, Humphrey, that you seek me so

t I know of. I dare to seek you for counsel

nts more closely to him, nor won their allegiance more fully, than the sympathy wi

ing with profound attention, and Humphrey's burden see

. In all the sorrows which have well nigh crushed her, this boy

always pleased myself with the thought that she would put aside t

She is as a saint in Heaven to me. I love her with my whole heart, and yet

it ever denied, as is God's will for me. But now, as to the boy-it puzzles me w

octrines and evil practices, children likely to serve their ends. Mistress Gifford's husband was, so it is

h. Failing to obtain what he wanted, he threw off disguise, and, as I understand, after an intrigue with anoth

s that he died. Mistress Gifford must believe the last to be true or s

Gifford's reference to Douay makes me think she may have some notion, to connect this centre of the Papists with the disappearance of her boy.

boy. A goodly child he is, full of spirit, and, though wild at times as a young colt, obedient to his

without loss of time, for Penshurst, stopping at

ndon together, with Ned on the baggage horse with the serving-man, before noon, George scarcely less heavy-hearted than Humphrey, and too much absorb

heeding what he saw, and torturing himself with the

o his mother's lodgings, a

cannot want me. Besides, I am under

ad seen the eyes of several gallants directed towa

Countess's following. I lay a w

no one but Mr Sidney. She follows him with

sy, tied with a blue riband, to Lucy, who smiled and blushed with delight, quite indifferent to the scowl on George's face, as he sat grimly on his horse at t

ne of beauty. From the Maiden Queen upon the throne to the pretty bower-woman at her needle, this homage was expected, and received almost as a

brother's side, and kept up a sort of accompaniment to the measured trot of the horses as they w

we started, Humphrey, to let he

so, but I sent a letter by the hand of one of Lord Pembrok

said, 'when Lucy Ratcliffe came t

and lose heart. You may win yet. Ther

ed him greatly. He resented the indignity by plunging from side to side of the rugge

uieted down again, Hum

Lucy Ratcliffe.' Then, more seriously, 'My own heart is heavy within me, but I try to ease the burden

to eat the bread of disappointment, leaving her, for whom I would gladly die, to the temptations of

ak your heart for a maiden, when there ar

I were to tell you there are many worthier than the widow o

y light in them as he turne

ll not brook it; her name is sacred to

o more, and, after anothe

r mother prop

of his wishing to win Dorothy Ratcliffe's favour. I would to Heaven he may do so, and then I shall at any rate have peace and quiet, and be free from hearing m

d, laughing in spite of himself. 'Nay, George, bear yourself as a man,

e anyone look fairer than she did that day seated amongst all the grand folks? There was not one to compa

pursue inquiries, while you proceed homewards. The horses must be baited, and we must get some refreshments at the hostel. It may be that in the inn kitchen I may pick up some information that may be o

rders to his groom, while George went into the kitchen a

ll the baggage horse, on w

's back over the rough road far more painful than his long march of the previous day and night. He was th

d would have fallen, amidst the boisterous jeers of the spectato

, and deserves better at your hands than gibes and scoffs. Come

ing first one leg and then another, as if to a

alk fifty miles sooner. My legs are full of pins and needles, and it wil

ons, as he stamped his feet and rubbed his shins with muttered exclamations th

r which is tied and sealed, and put it into the hands of Mistress Gifford. It will tell her all I can yet tell her in an

n fingers, and, putting it into the pou

e, Master, and I'l

en your long fast in th

start; that will serve me. Do not order me, I pray you, to sit down with those gibing villains-no, nor order me