"Youcomeintime，mylord，"shesaid，"todecideadisputebetweenusladies。HerehasSirRichardVarneyaskedourpermissiontodepartfromtheCastlewithhisinfirmlady，having，ashetellsus，yourlordship'sconsenttohisabsence，sohecanobtainours。Certes，wehavenowilltowithholdhimfromtheaffectionatechargeofthispooryoungperson;butyouaretoknowthatSirRichardVarneyhaththisdayshownhimselfsomuchcaptivatedwiththeseladiesofours，thathereisourDuchessofRutlandsayshewillcarryhispoorinsanewifenofartherthanthelake，plungeherintotenantthecrystalpalacesthattheenchantednymphtoldusof，andreturnajollywidower，todryhistearsandtomakeupthelossamongourtrain。Howsayyou，mylord？WehaveseenVarneyundertwoorthreedifferentguises——youknowwhatarehisproperattributes——thinkyouheiscapableofplayinghisladysuchaknave'strick？"
　　Leicesterwasconfounded，butthedangerwasurgent，andareplyabsolutelynecessary。"Theladies，"hesaid，"thinktoolightlyofoneoftheirownsex，insupposingshecoulddeservesuchafate;ortooillofours，tothinkitcouldbeinflicteduponaninnocentfemale。"
　　"Hearhim，myladies，"saidElizabeth;"likeallhissex，hewouldexcusetheircrueltybyimputingficklenesstous。"
　　"SaynotUS，madam，"repliedtheEarl。"Wesaythatmeanerwomen，likethelesserlightsofheaven，haverevolutionsandphases;butwhoshallimputemutabilitytothesun，ortoElizabeth？"
　　Thediscoursepresentlyafterwardsassumedalessperiloustendency，andLeicestercontinuedtosupporthispartinitwithspirit，atwhateverexpenseofmentalagony。SopleasingdiditseemtoElizabeth，thattheCastlebellhadsoundedmidnighteresheretiredfromthecompany，acircumstanceunusualinherquietandregularhabitsofdisposingoftime。Herdeparturewas，ofcourse，thesignalforbreakingupthecompany，whodispersedtotheirseveralplacesofrepose，todreamoverthepastimesoftheday，ortoanticipatethoseofthemorrow。
　　TheunfortunateLordoftheCastle，andfounderoftheproudfestival，retiredtofardifferentthoughts。HisdirectiontothevaletwhoattendedhimwastosendVarneyinstantlytohisapartment。Themessengerreturnedaftersomedelay，andinformedhimthatanhourhadelapsedsinceSirRichardVarneyhadlefttheCastlebytheposterngatewiththreeotherpersons，oneofwhomwastransportedinahorse—litter。
　　"HowcamehetoleavetheCastleafterthewatchwasset？"saidLeicester。"Ithoughthewentnottilldaybreak。"
　　"Hegavesatisfactoryreasons，asIunderstand，"saidthedomestic，"totheguard，and，asIhear，showedyourlordship'ssignet——"
　　"True——true，"saidtheEarl;"yethehasbeenhasty。Doanyofhisattendantsremainbehind？"
　　"MichaelLambourne，mylord，"saidthevalet，"wasnottobefoundwhenSirRichardVarneydeparted，andhismasterwasmuchincensedathisabsence。Isawhimbutnowsaddlinghishorsetogallopafterhismaster。"
　　"Bidhimcomehitherinstantly，"saidLeicester;"Ihaveamessagetohismaster。"
　　Theservantlefttheapartment，andLeicestertraverseditforsometimeindeepmeditation。"Varneyisover—zealous，"hesaid，"over—pressing。Helovesme，Ithink;buthehathhisownendstoserve，andheisinexorableinpursuitofthem。IfIrise，herises;andhehathshownhimselfalreadybuttoo，eagertoridmeofthisobstaclewhichseemstostandbetwixtmeandsovereignty。
　　YetIwillnotstooptobearthisdisgrace。Sheshallbepunished，butitshallbemoreadvisedly。Ialreadyfeel，eveninanticipation，thatover—hastewouldlighttheflamesofhellinmybosom。No——onevictimisenoughatonce，andthatvictimalreadywaitsme。"
　　Heseizeduponwritingmaterials，andhastilytracedthesewords:——
　　"SirRichardVarney，wehaveresolvedtodeferthematterentrustedtoyourcare，andstrictlycommandyoutoproceednofurtherinrelationtoourCountessuntilourfurtherorder。WealsocommandyourinstantreturntoKenilworthassoonasyouhavesafelybestowedthatwithwhichyouareentrusted。Butifthesafe—placingofyourpresentchargeshalldetainyoulongerthanwethinkfor，wecommandyouinthatcasetosendbackoursignet—ringbyatrustyandspeedymessenger，wehavingpresentneedofthesame。Andrequiringyourstrictobedienceinthesethings，andcommendingyoutoGod'skeeping，werestyourassuredgoodfriendandmaster，R。LEICESTER。
　　"GivenatourCastleofKenilworth，thetenthofJuly，intheyearofSalvationonethousandfivehundredandseventy—five。"
　　AsLeicesterhadfinishedandsealedthismandate，MichaelLambourne，booteduptomid—thigh，havinghisriding—cloakgirthedaroundhimwithabroadbelt，andafeltcaponhishead，likethatofacourier，enteredhisapartment，usheredinbythevalet。
　　"Whatisthycapacityofservice？"saidtheEarl。
　　"Equerrytoyourlordship'smasterofthehorse，"answeredLambourne，withhiscustomaryassurance。
　　"Tieupthysaucytongue，sir，"saidLeicester;"thejeststhatmaysuitSirRichardVarney'spresencesuitnotmine。Howsoonwiltthouovertakethymaster？"
　　"Inonehour'sriding，mylord，ifmanandhorseholdgood，"saidLambourne，withaninstantalterationofdemeanour，fromanapproachtofamiliaritytothedeepestrespect。TheEarlmeasuredhimwithhiseyefromtoptotoe。
　　"Ihaveheardofthee，"hesaid"mensaythouartapromptfellowinthyservice，buttoomuchgiventobrawlingandtowassailtobetrustedwiththingsofmoment。"
　　"Mylord，"saidLambourne，"Ihavebeensoldier，sailor，traveller，andadventurer;andthesearealltradesinwhichmenenjoyto—day，becausetheyhavenosuretyofto—morrow。ButthoughImaymisusemineownleisure，IhaveneverneglectedthedutyIowemymaster。"
　　"Seethatitbesointhisinstance，"saidLeicester，"anditshalldotheegood。DeliverthisletterspeedilyandcarefullyintoSirRichardVarney'shands。"
　　"Doesmycommissionreachnofurther？"saidLambourne。
　　"No，"answeredLeicester;"butitdeeplyconcernsmethatitbecarefullyaswellashastilyexecuted。"
　　"Iwillspareneithercarenorhorse—flesh，"answeredLambourne，andimmediatelytookhisleave。
　　"So，thisistheendofmyprivateaudience，fromwhichIhopedsomuch！"hemutteredtohimself，ashewentthroughthelonggallery，anddownthebackstaircase。Cogsbones！IthoughttheEarlhadwantedacastofmineofficeinsomesecretintrigue，anditallendsincarryingaletter！Well，hispleasureshallbedone，however;andashislordshipwellsays，itmaydomegoodanothertime。Thechildmustcreeperehewalk，andsomustyourinfantcourtier。Iwillhavealookintothisletter，however，whichhehathsealedsosloven—like。"Havingaccomplishedthis，heclappedhishandstogetherinecstasy，exclaiming，"TheCountesstheCountess！Ihavethesecretthatshallmakeormarme。——Butcomeforth，Bayard，"headded，leadinghishorseintothecourtyard，"foryourflanksandmyspursmustbepresentlyacquainted。"
　　Lambournemounted，accordingly，andlefttheCastlebytheposterngate，wherehisfreepassagewaspermitted，inconsequenceofamessagetothateffectleftbySirRichardVarney。
　　AssoonasLambourneandthevalethadlefttheapartment，Leicesterproceededtochangehisdressforaveryplainone，threwhismantlearoundhim，andtakingalampinhishand，wentbytheprivatepassageofcommunicationtoasmallsecretposterndoorwhichopenedintothecourtyard，neartotheentranceofthePleasance。Hisreflectionswereofamorecalmanddeterminedcharacterthantheyhadbeenatanylateperiod，andheendeavouredtoclaim，eveninhisowneyes，thecharacterofamanmoresinnedagainstthansinning。
　　"Ihavesufferedthedeepestinjury，"suchwasthetenorofhismeditations，"yetIhaverestrictedtheinstantrevengewhichwasinmypower，andhavelimitedittothatwhichismanlyandnoble。Butshalltheunionwhichthisfalsewomanhasthisdaydisgracedremainanabidingfetteronme，tocheckmeinthenoblecareertowhichmydestiniesinviteme？No;thereareothermeansofdisengagingsuchties，withoutunloosingthecordsoflife。InthesightofGod，Iamnolongerboundbytheunionshehasbroken。Kingdomsshalldivideus，oceansrollbetwixtus，andtheirwaves，whoseabysseshaveswallowedwholenavies，shallbethesoledepositoriesofthedeadlymystery。"
　　BysuchatrainofargumentdidLeicesterlabourtoreconcilehisconsciencetotheprosecutionofplansofvengeance，sohastilyadopted，andofschemesofambition，whichhadbecomesowoveninwitheverypurposeandactionofhislifethathewasincapableoftheeffortofrelinquishingthem，untilhisrevengeappearedtohimtowearafaceofjustice，andevenofgenerousmoderation。
　　InthismoodthevindictiveandambitiousEarlenteredthesuperbprecinctsofthePleasance，thenilluminedbythefullmoon。Thebroad，yellowlightwasreflectedonallsidesfromthewhitefreestone，ofwhichthepavement，balustrades，andarchitecturalornamentsoftheplacewereconstructed;andnotasinglefleecycloudwasvisibleintheazuresky，sothatthescenewasnearlyaslightasifthesunhadbutjustleftthehorizon。Thenumerousstatuesofwhitemarbleglimmeredinthepalelightlikesomanysheetedghostsjustarisenfromtheirsepulchres，andthefountainsthrewtheirjetsintotheairasiftheysoughtthattheirwatersshouldbebrightenedbythemoonbeamseretheyfelldownagainupontheirbasinsinshowersofsparklingsilver。Thedayhadbeensultry，andthegentlenight—breezewhichsighedalongtheterraceofthePleasanceraisednotadeeperbreaththanthefaninthehandofyouthfulbeauty。Thebirdofsummernighthadbuiltmanyanestinthebowersoftheadjacentgarden，andthetenantsnowindemnifiedthemselvesforsilenceduringthedaybyafullchorusoftheirownunrivalledwarblings，nowjoyous，nowpathetic，nowunited，nowresponsivetoeachother，asiftoexpresstheirdelightintheplacidanddeliciousscenetowhichtheypouredtheirmelody。
　　Musingonmattersfardifferentfromthefallofwaters，thegleamofmoonlight，orthesongofthenightingale，thestatelyLeicesterwalkedslowlyfromtheoneendoftheterracetotheother，hiscloakwrappedaroundhim，andhisswordunderhisarm，withoutseeinganythingresemblingthehumanform。
　　"Ihavebeenfooledbymyowngenerosity，"hesaid，"ifIhavesufferedthevillaintoescapeme——ay，andperhapstogototherescueoftheadulteress，whoissopoorlyguarded。"
　　Thesewerehisthoughts，whichwereinstantlydispelledwhen，turningtolookbacktowardstheentrance，hesawahumanformadvancingslowlyfromtheportico，anddarkeningthevariousobjectswithitsshadow，aspassingthemsuccessively，initsapproachtowardshim。
　　"ShallIstrikeereIagainhearhisdetestedvoice？"wasLeicester'sthought，ashegraspedthehiltofthesword。"Butno！Iwillseewhichwayhisvilepracticetends。Iwillwatch，disgustingasitis，thecoilsandmazesoftheloathsomesnake，ereIputforthmystrengthandcrushhim。"
　　Hishandquittedthesword—hilt，andheadvancedslowlytowardsTressilian，collecting，fortheirmeeting，alltheself—
　　possessionhecouldcommand，untiltheycamefronttofrontwitheachother。
　　Tressilianmadeaprofoundreverence，towhichtheEarlrepliedwithahaughtyinclinationofthehead，andthewords，"Yousoughtsecretconferencewithme，sir;Iamhere，andattentive。"
　　"Mylord，"saidTressilian，"IamsoearnestinthatwhichIhavetosay，andsodesiroustofindapatient，nay，afavourablehearing，thatIwillstooptoexculpatemyselffromwhatevermightprejudiceyourlordshipagainstme。Youthinkmeyourenemy？"
　　"HaveInotsomeapparentcause？"answeredLeicester，perceivingthatTressilianpausedforareply。
　　"Youdomewrong，mylord。Iamafriend，butneitheradependantnorpartisan，oftheEarlofSussex，whomcourtierscallyourrival;anditissomeconsiderabletimesinceIceasedtoconsidereithercourtsorcourtintriguesassuitedtomytemperorgenius。"
　　"Nodoubt，sir，"answeredLeicester"thereareotheroccupationsmoreworthyascholar，andforsuchtheworldholdsMasterTressilian。Lovehashisintriguesaswellasambition。"
　　"Iperceive，mylord，"repliedTressilian，"yougivemuchweighttomyearlyattachmentfortheunfortunateyoungpersonofwhomI
　　amabouttospeak，andperhapsthinkIamprosecutinghercauseoutofrivalry，morethanasenseofjustice。"
　　"Nomatterformythoughts，sir，"saidtheEarl;"proceed。Youhaveasyetspokenofyourselfonly——animportantandworthysubjectdoubtless，butwhich，perhaps，doesnotaltogethersodeeplyconcernmethatIshouldpostponemyreposetohearit。
　　Sparemefurtherprelude，sir，andspeaktothepurposeifindeedyouhaveaughttosaythatconcernsme。Whenyouhavedone，I，inmyturn，havesomethingtocommunicate。"
　　"Iwillspeak，then，withoutfurtherprelude，mylord，"answeredTressilian，"havingtosaythatwhich，asitconcernsyourlordship'shonour，Iamconfidentyouwillnotthinkyourtimewastedinlisteningto。IhavetorequestanaccountfromyourlordshipoftheunhappyAmyRobsart，whosehistoryistoowellknowntoyou。IregretdeeplythatIdidnotatoncetakethiscourse，andmakeyourselfjudgebetweenmeandthevillainbywhomsheisinjured。Mylord，sheextricatedherselffromanunlawfulandmostperilousstateofconfinement，trustingtotheeffectsofherownremonstranceuponherunworthyhusband，andextortedfrommeapromisethatIwouldnotinterfereinherbehalfuntilshehadusedherowneffortstohaveherrightsacknowledgedbyhim。"
　　"Ha，"saidLeicester，"rememberyoutowhomyouspeak？"
　　"Ispeakofherunworthyhusband，mylord，"repeatedTressilian，"andmyrespectcanfindnosofterlanguage。Theunhappyyoungwomaniswithdrawnfrommyknowledge，andsequesteredinsomesecretplaceofthisCastle——ifshebenottransferredtosomeplaceofseclusionbetterfittedforbaddesigns。Thismustbereformed，mylord——Ispeakitasauthorizedbyherfather——andthisill—fatedmarriagemustbeavouchedandprovedintheQueen'spresence，andtheladyplacedwithoutrestraintandatherownfreedisposal。Andpermitmetosayitconcernsnoone'shonourthatthesemostjustdemandsofmineshouldbecompliedwithsomuchasitdoesthatofyourlordship。"
　　TheEarlstoodasifhehadbeenpetrifiedattheextremecoolnesswithwhichtheman，whomheconsideredashavinginjuredhimsodeeply，pleadedthecauseofhiscriminalparamour，asifshehadbeenaninnocentwomanandheadisinterestedadvocate;
　　norwashiswonderlessenedbythewarmthwithwhichTressilianseemedtodemandforhertherankandsituationwhichshehaddisgraced，andtheadvantagesofwhichshewasdoubtlesstosharewiththeloverwhoadvocatedhercausewithsucheffrontery。
　　TressilianhadbeensilentformorethanaminuteeretheEarlrecoveredfromtheexcessofhisastonishment;andconsideringtheprepossessionswithwhichhismindwasoccupied，thereislittlewonderthathispassiongainedthemasteryofeveryotherconsideration。"Ihaveheardyou，MasterTressilian，"saidhe，"withoutinterruption，andIblessGodthatmyearswereneverbeforemadetotinglebythewordsofsofrontlessavillain。
　　Thetaskofchastisingyouisfitterforthehangman'sscourgethantheswordofanobleman，butyet——Villain，drawanddefendthyself！"
　　Ashespokethelastwords，hedroppedhismantleontheground，struckTressiliansmartlywithhissheathedsword，andinstantlydrawinghisrapier，puthimselfintoapostureofassault。ThevehementfuryofhislanguageatfirstfilledTressilian，inhisturn，withsurpriseequaltowhatLeicesterhadfeltwhenheaddressedhim。Butastonishmentgaveplacetoresentmentwhentheunmeritedinsultsofhislanguagewerefollowedbyablowwhichimmediatelyputtoflighteverythoughtsavethatofinstantcombat。Tressilian'sswordwasinstantlydrawn;andthoughperhapssomewhatinferiortoLeicesterintheuseoftheweapon，heunderstooditwellenoughtomaintainthecontestwithgreatspirit，theratherthatofthetwohewasforthetimethemorecool，sincehecouldnothelpimputingLeicester'sconducteithertoactualfrenzyortotheinfluenceofsomestrongdelusion。
　　Therencontrehadcontinuedforseveralminutes，withouteitherpartyreceivingawound，whenofasuddenvoiceswereheardbeneaththeporticowhichformedtheentranceoftheterrace，mingledwiththestepsofmenadvancinghastily。"Weareinterrupted，"saidLeicestertohisantagonist;"followme。"
　　Atthesametimeavoicefromtheporticosaid，"Thejackanapeisright——theyaretiltinghere。"
　　Leicester，meanwhile，drewoffTressilianintoasortofrecessbehindoneofthefountains，whichservedtoconcealthem，whilesixoftheyeomenoftheQueen'sguardpassedalongthemiddlewalkofthePleasance，andtheycouldhearonesaytotherest，"Weshallneverfindthemto—nightamongallthesesquirtingfunnels，squirrelcages，andrabbit—holes;butifwelightnotonthembeforewereachthefartherend，wewillreturn，andmountaguardattheentrance，andsosecurethemtillmorning。"
　　"Apropermatter，"saidanother，"thedrawingofswordssoneartheQueen'spresence，ay，andinherverypalaceas'twere！Hangit，theymustbesomepoordrunkengame—cocksfallentosparring——'twerepityalmostweshouldfindthem——thepenaltyischoppingoffahand，isitnot？——'twerehardtolosehandforhandlingabitofsteel，thatcomessonaturaltoone'sgripe。"
　　"Thouartabrawlerthyself，George，"saidanother;"buttakeheed，forthelawstandsasthousayest。"
　　"Ay，"saidthefirst，"antheactbenotmildlyconstrued;forthouknowest'tisnottheQueen'spalace，butmyLordofLeicester's。"
　　"Why，forthatmatter，thepenaltymaybeassevere，"saidanother"foranourgraciousMistressbeQueen，assheis，Godsaveher，myLordofLeicesterisasgoodasKing。"
　　"Hush，thouknave！"saidathird;"howknowestthouwhomaybewithinhearing？"
　　Theypassedon，makingakindofcarelesssearch，butseeminglymoreintentontheirownconversationthanbentondiscoveringthepersonswhohadcreatedthenocturnaldisturbance。
　　Theyhadnosoonerpassedforwardalongtheterrace，thanLeicester，makingasigntoTressiliantofollowhim，glidedawayinanoppositedirection，andescapedthroughtheporticoundiscovered。HeconductedTressiliantoMervyn'sTower，inwhichhewasnowagainlodged;andthen，erepartingwithhim，saidthesewords，"Ifthouhastcouragetocontinueandbringtoanendwhatisthusbrokenoff，benearmewhenthecourtgoesforthto—morrow;weshallfindatime，andIwillgiveyouasignalwhenitisfitting。"
　　"Mylord，"saidTressilian，"atanothertimeImighthaveinquiredthemeaningofthisstrangeandfuriousinveteracyagainstme。Butyouhavelaidthatonmyshoulderwhichonlybloodcanwashaway;andwereyouashighasyourproudestwishesevercarriedyou，Iwouldhavefromyousatisfactionformywoundedhonour。"
　　Onthesetermstheyparted，buttheadventuresofthenightwerenotyetendedwithLeicester。HewascompelledtopassbySaintlowe'sTower，inordertogaintheprivatepassagewhichledtohisownchamber;andintheentrancethereofhemetLordHunsdonhalfclothed，andwithanakedswordunderhisarm。
　　"Areyouawakened，too，withthis'larum，myLordofLeicester？"
　　saidtheoldsoldier。"'Tiswell。Bygog'snails，thenightsareasnoisyasthedayinthisCastleofyours。SometwohourssinceIwaswakedbythescreamsofthatpoorbrain—sickLadyVarney，whomherhusbandwasforcingaway。IpromiseyouitrequiredbothyourwarrantandtheQueen'stokeepmefromenteringintothegame，andcuttingthatVarneyofyoursoverthehead。AndnowthereisabrawldowninthePleasance，orwhatcallyouthestoneterrace—walkwhereallyondergimcracksstand？"
　　Thefirstpartoftheoldman'sspeechwentthroughtheEarl'sheartlikeaknife;tothelastheansweredthathehimselfhadheardtheclashofswords，andhadcomedowntotakeorderwiththosewhohadbeensoinsolentsoneartheQueen'spresence。
　　"Nay，then，"saidHunsdon，"Iwillbegladofyourlordship'scompany。"
　　LeicesterwasthuscompelledtoturnbackwiththerougholdLordtothePleasance，whereHunsdonheardfromtheyeomenoftheguard，whowereunderhisimmediatecommand，theunsuccessfulsearchtheyhadmadefortheauthorsofthedisturbance;andbestowedfortheirpainssomerounddozenofcursesonthem，aslazyknavesandblindwhoresons。Leicesteralsothoughtitnecessarytoseemangrythatnodiscoveryhadbeeneffected;butatlengthsuggestedtoLordHunsdon，thatafterallitcouldonlybesomefoolishyoungmenwhohadbeendrinkinghealthspottle—
　　deep，andwhoshouldbesufficientlyscaredbythesearchwhichhadtakenplaceafterthem。Hunsdon，whowashimselfattachedtohiscup，allowedthatapint—flagonmightcovermanyofthefollieswhichithadcaused，"But，"addedhe，"unlessyourlordshipwillbelessliberalinyourhousekeeping，andrestraintheoverflowofale，andwine，andwassail，Iforeseeitwillendinmyhavingsomeofthesegoodfellowsintotheguard—house，andtreatingthemtoadoseofthestrappado。Andwiththiswarning，goodnighttoyou。"
　　Joyfulatbeingridofhiscompany，Leicestertookleaveofhimattheentranceofhislodging，wheretheyhadfirstmet，andenteringtheprivatepassage，tookupthelampwhichhehadleftthere，andbyitsexpiringlightfoundthewaytohisownapartment。
　　CHAPTERXXXIX。
　　Room！room！formyhorsewillwinceIfhecomeswithinsomanyyardsofaprince;
　　Fortotellyoutrue，andinrhyme，Hewasfoal'dinQueenElizabeth'stime;
　　WhenthegreatEarlofLesterInhiscastledidfeasther。
　　BENJONSON，MASQUEOFOWLS。
　　TheamusementwithwhichElizabethandhercourtwerenextdaytoberegaledwasanexhibitionbythetrue—heartedmenofCoventry，whoweretorepresentthestrifebetweentheEnglishandtheDanes，agreeablytoacustomlongpreservedintheirancientborough，andwarrantedfortruthbyoldhistoriesandchronicles。
　　InthispageantonepartyofthetownsfolkpresentedtheSaxonsandtheothertheDanes，andsetforth，bothinruderhymesandwithhardblows，thecontentionsofthesetwofiercenations，andtheAmazoniancourageoftheEnglishwomen，who，accordingtothestory，weretheprincipalagentsinthegeneralmassacreoftheDanes，whichtookplaceatHocktide，intheyearofGod1012。
　　Thissport，whichhadbeenlongafavouritepastimewiththemenofCoventry，had，itseems，beenputdownbytheinfluenceofsomezealousclergymenofthemoreprecisecast，whochancedtohaveconsiderableinfluencewiththemagistrates。ButthegeneralityoftheinhabitantshadpetitionedtheQueenthattheymighthavetheirplayagain，andbehonouredwithpermissiontorepresentitbeforeherHighness。AndwhenthematterwascanvassedinthelittlecouncilwhichusuallyattendedtheQueenfordispatchofbusiness，theproposal，althoughopposedbysomeofthestrictersort，foundfavourintheeyesofElizabeth，whosaidthatsuchtoysoccupied，withoutoffence，themindsofmanywho，lackingthem，mightfindworsesubjectsofpastime;andthattheirpastors，howevercommendableforlearningandgodliness，weresomewhattoosourinpreachingagainstthepastimesoftheirflocksandsothepageantwaspermittedtoproceed。
　　Accordingly，afteramorningrepast，whichMasterLanehamcallsanambrosialbreakfast，theprincipalpersonsofthecourtinattendanceuponherMajestypressedtotheGallery—tower，towitnesstheapproachofthetwocontendingpartiesofEnglishandDanes;andafterasignalhadbeengiven，thegatewhichopenedinthecircuitoftheChasewasthrownwidetoadmitthem。Ontheycame，footandhorse;forsomeofthemoreambitiousburghersandyeomenhadputthemselvesintofantasticdresses，imitatingknights，inordertoresemblethechivalryofthetwodifferentnations。However，topreventfatalaccidents，theywerenotpermittedtoappearonrealhorses，buthadonlylicensetoaccoutrethemselveswiththosehobby—horses，astheyarecalled，whichancientlyformedthechiefdelightofamorrice—
　　dance，andwhichstillareexhibitedonthestage，inthegrandbattlefoughtattheconclusionofMr。Bayes'stragedy。Theinfantryfollowedinsimilardisguises。Thewholeexhibitionwastobeconsideredasasortofanti—masque，orburlesqueofthemorestatelypageantsinwhichthenobilityandgentryborepartintheshow，and，tothebestoftheirknowledge，imitatedwithaccuracythepersonageswhomtheyrepresented。TheHocktideplaywasofadifferentcharacter，theactorsbeingpersonsofinferiordegree，andtheirhabitsthebetterfittedfortheoccasion，themoreincongruousandridiculousthattheywereinthemselves。Accordinglytheirarray，whichtheprogressofourtaleallowsusnotimetodescribe，wasludicrousenough;andtheirweapons，thoughsufficientlyformidabletodealsoundblows，werelongalder—polesinsteadoflances，andsoundcudgelsforswords;andforfence，bothcavalryandinfantrywerewellequippedwithstoutheadpiecesandtargets，bothmadeofthickleather。
　　CaptainCoxe，thatcelebratedhumoristofCoventry，whoselibraryofballads，almanacs，andpennyhistories，fairlywrappedupinparchment，andtiedroundforsecuritywithapieceofwhipcord，remainsstilltheenvyofantiquaries，beinghimselftheingeniouspersonunderwhosedirectionthepageanthadbeensetforth，rodevaliantlyonhishobby—horsebeforethebandsofEnglish，high—trussed，saithLaneham，andbrandishinghislongsword，asbecameanexperiencedmanofwar，whohadfoughtundertheQueen'sfather，bluffKingHenry，atthesiegeofBoulogne。
　　Thischieftainwas，asrightandreasoncraved，thefirsttoenterthelists，andpassingtheGalleryattheheadofhismyrmidons，kissedthehiltofhisswordtotheQueen，andexecutedatthesametimeagambade，thelikewhereofhadneverbeenpractisedbytwo—leggedhobby—horse。Thenpassingonwithallhisfollowersofcavaliersandinfantry，hedrewthemupwithmartialskillattheoppositeextremityofthebridge，ortilt—
　　yard，untilhisantagonistshouldbefairlypreparedfortheonset。
　　Thiswasnolonginterval;fortheDanishcavalryandinfantry，nowayinferiortotheEnglishinnumber，valour，andequipment，instantlyarrived，withthenorthernbagpipeblowingbeforethemintokenoftheircountry，andheadedbyacunningmasterofdefence，onlyinferiortotherenownedCaptainCoxe，iftohim，inthedisciplineofwar。TheDanes，asinvaders，tooktheirstationundertheGallery—tower，andoppositetothatofMortimer;andwhentheirarrangementswerecompletelymade，asignalwasgivenfortheencounter。
　　Theirfirstchargeuponeachotherwasrathermoderate，foreitherpartyhadsomedreadofbeingforcedintothelake。Butasreinforcementscameuponeitherside，theencountergrewfromaskirmishintoablazingbattle。Theyrushedupononeanother，asMasterLanehamtestifies，likeramsinflamedbyjealousy，withsuchfuriousencounterthatbothpartieswereoftenoverthrown，andtheclubsandtargetsmadeamosthorribleclatter。Inmanyinstancesthathappenedwhichhadbeendreadedbythemoreexperiencedwarriorswhobeganthedayofstrife。Therailswhichdefendedtheledgesofthebridgehadbeen，perhapsonpurpose，leftbutslightlyfastened，andgavewayunderthepressureofthosewhothrongedtothecombat，sothatthehotcourageofmanyofthecombatantsreceivedasufficientcooling。
　　Theseincidentsmighthaveoccasionedmoreseriousdamagethanbecamesuchanaffray，formanyofthechampionswhometwiththismischancecouldnotswim，andthosewhocouldwereencumberedwiththeirsuitsofleathernandofpaperarmour;butthecasehadbeenprovidedfor，andtherewereseveralboatsinreadinesstopickuptheunfortunatewarriorsandconveythemtothedryland，where，drippinganddejected，theycomfortedthemselveswiththehotaleandstrongwaterswhichwereliberallyallowedtothem，withoutshowinganydesiretore—entersodesperateaconflict。
　　CaptainCoxealone，thatparagonofBlack—Letterantiquaries，aftertwiceexperiencing，horseandman，theperilousleapfromthebridgeintothelake，equaltoanyextremitytowhichthefavouriteheroesofchivalry，whoseexploitshestudiedinanabridgedform，whetherAmadis，Belianis，Bevis，orhisownGuyofWarwick，hadeverbeensubjectedto——CaptainCoxe，werepeat，didalone，aftertwosuchmischances，rushagainintotheheatofconflict，hisbasesandthefootclothofhishobby—horsedroppingwater，andtwicereanimatedbyvoiceandexamplethedroopingspiritsoftheEnglish;sothatatlasttheirvictoryovertheDanishinvadersbecame，aswasjustandreasonable，completeanddecisive。WorthyhewastoberenderedimmortalbythepenofBenJonson，who，fiftyyearsafterwards，deemedthatamasque，exhibitedatKenilworth，couldbeusheredinbynonewithsomuchproprietyasbytheghostofCaptainCoxe，mounteduponhisredoubtedhobby—horse。