In several passages he reprehends the new luxuries of the time, among which coaches are not forgotten.

It appears that the increasing conveniences and pleasures of a London life had already begun to occasion the desertion of rural mansions and the decay of that boundless hospitality which the former possessors had made their boast; and thus feelingly and beautifully does the poet describe the desolation of one of these seats of antiquated magnificence:

"Beat the broad gates, a goodly hollow sound
With double echoes doth again rebound;
But not a dog doth bark to welcome thee,
Nor churlish porter canst thou chafing see;
All dumb and silent like the dead of night,
Or dwelling of some sleepy Sybarite!
The marble pavement hid with desert weed,
With houseleek, thistle, dock, and hemlock-seed.
Look to the towered chimneys, which should be
The windpipes of good hospitality :

Lo there the unthankful swallow takes her rest,
And fills the tunnel with her circled nest."

The translation of the Orlando Furioso through which that singular work of genius had just become known to the English reader, was executed by sir John Harrington; the same who afterwards composed for Henry prince of Wales, the Brief View of the English Church; the godson of Elizabeth, and the child of her faithful servants James Harrington and Isabella Markham.

After the usual course of school and college education, young Harrington, who was born in 1561, presented himself at court, where his wit and

learning soon procured him a kind of distinction which was not, however, unattended with danger. A satirical piece was traced to him as its author, containing certain allusions to living characters which gave so much offence to the courtiers, that he was threatened with the animadversions of the Star-chamber; but the secret favor of Elizabeth towards a godson whom she loved and who amused her, saved him from this very serious kind of retaliation. A tale which he some time after translated out of Ariosto proved very entertaining to the court-ladies, and soon met the eyes of the queen; who, in affected displeasure at certain indelicate passages, ordered him to appear no more at court, till he had translated the whole poem. The command was obeyed with alacrity; and he speedily committed his Orlando to the press, with a dedication to her majesty. Before this time our sprightly poet had found means to dissipate a considerable portion of the large estate to which he was born; and being well inclined to listen to the friendly counsels of Essex, who bade him " lay good hold on her majesty's bounty and ask freely ;” he dexterously opened his case by the following lines slipped behind her cushion :

"For ever dear, for ever dreaded prince,
You read a verse of mine a little since;
And so pronounced each word and every letter,
Your gracious reading graced my verse the better:
Sith then your highness doth by gift exceeding
Make what you read the better for your reading;
Let my poor muse your pains thus far importune,
Like as you read my verse, so read my fortune.
"From your Highness' saucy Godson."

Of the further progress of his suit and the various little arts of pleasing to which Harrington now applied himself, some amusing hints may be gathered out of the following extracts taken from a note-book kept by himself:

...." I am to send good store of news from the country for her highness' entertainment.... Her highness loveth merry tales."

"The queen stood up and bade me reach forth my arm to rest her thereon. O! what sweet burden to my next song. Petrarch shall eke out good matter for this business."

"The queen loveth to see me in my new frize jerkin; and saith, 'tis well enough cut. I will have another made liken to it. I do remember she spit on sir Matthew's fringed cloth; and said the fool's wit was gone to rags.-Heaven spare me from such jibing!"

"I must turn my poor wits towards my suit for the lands in the north..... I must go in an early hour, before her highness hath special matters brought up to counsel on.-I must go before the breakfast covers are placed, and stand uncovered as her highness cometh forth her chamber; then kneel and say, God save your majesty! I crave your ear at what hour may suit for your servant to meet your blessed countenance. Thus will I gain her favor to follow to the auditory.*

"Trust not a friend to do or say,

In that yourself can sue or pray."

The lands alluded to in the last extract formed a large estate in the north of England, which an ancestor of Harrington had forfeited by his adherence to the house of York during the civil wars, and which he was now endeavouring to recover. This further mention of the business occurs in one of his letters.

"Yet I will adventure to give her majesty five hundred pounds in money and some pretty jewel or garment, as you shall advise; only praying her majesty to further my suit with some of her learned counsel; which I pray you to find some proper time to move in; this some hold as a dangerous adventure, but five-and-twenty manors do well justify my trying it,"

How notorious must have been the avarice and venality of a sovereign, before such a mode of ensuring success in a lawsuit could have entered into the imagination of a courtier!

But the fortunes of Harrington, as of persons of more importance, now become involved in the state of Irish affairs, to which the attention of the reader must immediately be directed.

CHAPTER XXVII,

1599 TO 1603.

Irish affairs.- Essex appointed lord-deputy. His letter to the queen.-Letter of Markham to Harrington. - Departure of Essex and proceedings in Ireland. His letter to the privy council,—conferences with Tyrone,-unexpected arrival at court. Behaviour of the queen. State of parties.- Letters of sir J. Harrington.— Further particulars respecting Essex.-His letter of submission. Relentlessness of the queen, Sir John Hayward's history.-Second letter of Essex.-Censure passed upon him in council.Anecdote of the queen.- Essex liberated.— Reception of a Flemish ambassador.-Discontent of Raleigh.-Traits of the queen.-Letter of sir Robert Sidney to sir John Harrington.-Crisis of the fortune of Essex.-Conduct of lord Montjoy.-Proceedings at Essex-house.-Revolt of Essex. He defends his house. Is taken and committed to the Tower.-His trial and that of lord Southampton. Conduct of Bacon.-Confessions of Essex.- Behaviour of the Death of Essex,- Fate of his adherents.

queen. Reception of the Scotch ambassadors. Interview of the queen and Sully.-Irish affairs. Letter of sir John Harrington. — A parliament summoned.-Affair of monopolies.— Quarrel between the Jesuits and secular priests.- Conversation of the queen respecting Essex.— Letter of sir J. Harrington.-Submission of Tyrone. - Melancholy of Elizabeth.-Story of the ring. Her death.-Additional traits of her character. Her eulogy by bishop Hall.

THE death of Philip II. in September 1598, and the succession of the feeble Philip III., under whom