bert.

Cobham.

masquera.

married Mrs Anne Russel, on which occasion there were CHAP. IV great rejoicings, the queen honouring the solemnity with Marriage of her presence. Of these the Sidney Letters give an account Lord Herwhich, in its own antique language, will present a better picture of the times than if diluted into a more modern style. "Her majesty is in very good health, and purposes to honour Mrs Anne Russel's marriage with her presence. My Lord Cobham prepares his house for her majesty to lie in, because it is near the bride house. There is to be a memorable masque of eight ladies, and they have a strange dance newly invented. Masque s Their attire is this:-Each hath a skirt of cloth of silver, a rich waistcoat wrought with silks, and gold and silver, a mantle of carnation-taffeta cast under the arm, and their hair loose about their shoulders, curiously knotted and interlaced. These are the masquers:-My Lady Doritye, Mrs Fitton, Mrs Carey, Mrs Onslow, Mrs The Southwell, Mrs Bess Russel, Mrs Darcy, and my Lady Blanche Somersett. Those eight dance to the music Apollo brings; and there is a fine speech that makes mention of a ninth, much to her honour and praise. The preparation for this feast is sumptuous and great; but it is feared that the house in Blackfriars will be too little for such a company." The apprehensions which distracted the hospitable heart of Lady Russel, and no doubt shook the nerves of the fair masquers, were destined to vanish; and the entertainment, as we learn from a subsequent Success of letter, passed off admirably. "This day se'ennight [June the enter 16th] her majesty was at Blackfriars to grace the marriage of the Lord Herbert and his wife. The bride met the queen at the water side, where my Lord Cobham had provided a lectica, made like half a litter, wherein she was carried to my Lady Russel's by six knights. Her majesty dined there, and at night went through Dr Puddin's house (who gave the queen a fan), to my Lord Cobham's, where she supped. After supper the masque came in, as I writ in my last; and delicate it was, to see eight ladies so prettily and richly attired. Mrs Fitton led; and after they had done all their own ceremonies,

tainment.

Queen.

CHAP. IV. these eight lady masquers chose eight ladies more te dance the measures. Mrs Fitton went to the queen, Complaisance of the and wooed her to dance. Her majesty asked what she was. 'Affection,' she said. 'Affection!' said the queen, 'Affection is false.' Yet her majesty rose and danced; so did my Lady Marquis of Winchester. The bride was led to the church by the Lord Herbert of Cardiff and my Lord Cobham, and from the church by the Earls of Rutland and Cumberland. The gifts given that day were valued at £1000 in plate and jewels at least.” After the marriage Elizabeth returned to court, and thence, attended by a splendid retinue, proceeded on her progress.

Attendance

Hunting.

On this occasion Sir Walter accompanied the queen. of Raleigh. During August and September her majesty was at Oatlands. "The court," says Rowland Whyte, "is now given to hunting and sports. Upon Thursday her majesty dines and hunts at Hanworth Park; upon Tuesday she dines at Mr Drake's, and this day she hunts in the New Lodge in the Forest." In September, the same minute recorder of manners declares that his mistress is "excellently disposed to hunting, for every second day she is on horseback, and continues the sport long. * * Mrs Mary, upon St Stephen's day in the afternoon, danced before the queen two gullards, with one Mr Palmer, the admirablest dancer of this time." The exhibition was attended with a remarkable display of Elizabeth's ruling passion. She was then in her sixtyRoyal vanity. ninth year; yet the sight of Mrs Mary executing a gullard with the inimitable Palmer wounded her vanity, and awoke her desire of admiration. "Both were much commended by her majesty; then she danced with him a coranto." The gullard probably required considerable agility, whilst the other, a slower movement like the modern minuet, was better adapted to the subdued saltatory powers of the royal performer.

French embassy

In September 1600, the Duke de Biron, marshal of France, with a splendid retinue of twenty noblemen and nearly 400 attendants, arrived on an embassy from Henry

Duke de

Enter

at Basing.

IV., when the queen was still continuing her progress. CHAP. IV. When he disembarked, her majesty was in Hampshire, at Basing, a seat of the Marquis of Hertford, where she "took Biron. such great content” that she staid thirteen days. In the mean time the Sheriff of the shire was commanded to conduct the French duke with his train to the Vine, 66 a fair and large house of the Lord Sandys," which had been tainments furnished with hangings and plate from the Tower, and provided with seven score beds and furniture, contributed by the gentry of the county of Southampton. Here he abode four or five days, being entertained at the public expense; and during this time her majesty went to visit him at the Vine, and he paid his respects to her at Basing.

the Duke.

The first interview presents a trait in which the pride Characteris and dignity of the sovereign is amusingly mingled with tic trait of the Queen. the coquetry of the woman. The scene took place in the open air, in the park where Biron had gone to attend the queen in her hunting. "When she came to the place where the duke staid," says the faithful historian of her progress, "the sheriff, being barcheaded and riding next before her, stayed his horse, thinking the queen would then have saluted the duke; whereat the queen being much offended, commanded the sheriff to go on. The duke followed her very humbly, bowing low towards Courtesy of his horse's mane, with his cap off, about twenty yards; her majesty on the sudden took off her mask, looked back upon him, and most graciously and courteously saluted him; as holding it not beseeming so mighty a prince as she was, and who so well knew all kingly majesty, to make her stay directly against a subject, before he had showed his obedience in following after her.”* A French historian, in his account of this celebrated embassy, indulges a taste for a singular species of embellishment by informing us that Elizabeth favoured the duke with a sight of the skull of Essex, which she kept in her closet;-a story as false as it is ridiculous, and

* Nichol's Progresses, vol. ii. Queen's Progress in 1601.

Ridiculous story of a French historian.

*

CHAP. IV confuted by the fact that the earl's head was buried with his body. So much was she delighted with her stay at Basing, that at her departure she made ten knights,the greatest number ever created at one time during her reign, and amongst these Sir Walter had the pleasure to see included his brother Carew Raleigh.

FROM ELIZABETH'S LAST PARLIAMENT, &c. 209

CHAPTER V.

From Elizabeth's last Parliament to the Trial of Raleigh.

Elizabeth opens her last Parliament-Raleigh returned a Member-His Conduct in Parliament-Opposes the Bill making it compulsory to sow Hemp-Debate on voting a SubsidySubserviency of Cecil and Bacon-Raleigh's Reply to their Speeches-Great Debate on Monopolies-Singular Speech of Secretary Cecil-His Condemnation of all Discussion without the Walls of Parliament-Pirates of Dunkirk-Debate on the Transport of Ordnance without the Kingdom-Raleigh's excellent Observations upon this Subject-Debates on the Statute of Tillage-Raleigh argues for the Removal of all Restrictions on Agriculture-Evident Decay of the Intimacy between Cecil and Raleigh-Amusing Parliamentary Anecdote-A "No" pulled out by the Sleeve-Style of Parliamentary Speaking-Elizabeth's last Speech to the Deputation of the House of Commons-Raleigh sells his Irish Estate to the Earl of Cork-Character of this remarkable Man-Last Illness of Elizabeth-Her Death-Accession of James-Raleigh treated with Coldness and Neglect-Contrast between the Character of the King and that of Raleigh-Cecil's secret Correspondence with James-He is appointed his Secretary and Prime Minister-Raleigh deprived of his Office of Captain of the King's Guard, and of his Patent of Wines-Involved in an Accusation of Treason-History of this mysterious Transaction-Raleigh's Trial-Observations upon it-The whole Conspiracy regarding Arabella Stewart a FictionThe Plot against Raleigh to be traced to Secretary Cecil.

SOME time after returning from her progress, Elizabeth, CHAP. V. who began to feel the approaches of that disease which Elizabeth's put a period to her long and glorious reign, opened, on last parliathe 27th October, her last parliament, in which Raleigh

ment