The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-08

gend and ballad The great castle, rising in the center of long lines of sweeping walls, with it's stately towers ornamented with turrets and platforms at every point of defense, with banners streaming from all it's walls and forest of gay crests and waving plumes disposed on terraces and battlements, formed of itself won derful picture that was only a hint Of the princely and splendid hospitality within.
 In the evening the Queen held her court in the great hall, her throne surrounded by such famous gentlemen as the grave Burleigh, the gay and aspiring Raleigh and those others who filled the spacious time of great Elizabeth with sounds that echo still" The favorite Earl Leicester, appeared the most magnificent and court ly of that glitterng throng. His naughty bearing and manly person set off his splendid costume to advantage. He looked the great prince--worthy indeed to be what none doubted he was about to be- come, the sharer of the throne. The Queen gazed on him with an ex- pression not to be misunderstood and beekoned him close to her side.
 Among the shining court was one in sober, dull garb--Tressilian, still dressed in his travelling c'othes, distraught and gloomy. Who is, wonder clownish fel- low?" asked the Queen, whose quick eye nau netecteu tHe uniortuhdte Norilish- man.
 "A poet. may it please Your Grace,' said Raleigh.
 q judged so, from his slovenly attire. And pray what is his name? But I re- member; it is Master Tressilian. the Men claus of our Devonshire romance. Which reminds us that we have duty to per form which concerns both woman and Queenl Pray where is the Paris of
 4n1a I .,..1 nF A{a fa,fp Farnham or whatever his name is?"
 Raleigh, who disliked Varney and loved Tressilian, pointed out Leicesters master of the horse. The Queen turned keen eye on Leicester, and though an involun- tary tremor came over him. he bowed low In token of his readiness to receive her commands. Tt Is the matter of Varney and Tressilan of which we speak: is the lady in presence. my 1ord?'
 His answer was ready: Gracious, madam, she is not
 Elizabeth bent her brows. "Our orders were strict and imperative. Here Var ney stepped forward and fell on one knee. Your Majesty" said he, 'here are at testations from a learned physician who is well known to my Lord of Leicester and from devout Protestant, one Anthony Foster, the gentleman in whose house the lady is now residing, which will show that only severe Illness has caused her to disobey the commands of Your Grace
 Under Your Majesty's favor" cried Tressilian, forgetting in part his promise to Amy, these certificates speak not the truth,'
 "How!' exclaimed the Queen. Do you impeach my Lord Leicesters veracity? He stands guarantee for his man. But you shall have fair hearing
 Tressilian became confused and stam- mered some incoherent fragments of sen- tences which were.cut short by Elizabeth with, Well, well, Master Tress1ian, this matter Is ended. We will do something to reconcile old Sir Hugh Robsart to this marriage; and peremptorily she dis missed the Cornishman from the pres enoe. Ats
 Meantime, Amy in her tower waited in vain for any result from her letter to Leicester. Night came and still there was no answer and no Leicester. It was an hour after midnight when physical ex- haustion proved too strong. for love, for grief, even for uncertainty and she sank into lethargic repose.
 The summer sun was streaming through the lattice when she awoke and recollect- ed with sense of giddy agony where she was and now circumstanced. There came a sound at her door. She threw it open to see standing there, not Leicester or Wayland. but Michael Lambqurne, Var neys follower, who had carried his de- bauchery over into the morning, and hear ing from the domestics that ans unknown lady was concealed in Tressiian's apart ment had taken it into his befuddled brain to investigate.
 The warder who had charge of the tower came running at Arnys cry of fear struggle began between him and the drunken man during which Amy, ter rified slipped from the room and ran out into the courtyard of the castle, which had been fitted up as pleasance with fountains, grottos and tricks of landscape gardening.
 The people of the castle were just be- ginning to stir in preparation for the hunt which was to b. held that day, and Amy, to avoid observation entered one of the grottoes and retired to it's further end
 It chanced that one of the earliest of the huntress train who appeared from her chamber in full array for the chase was England's virgin Queen. Scarce had sne crossed the threshold of her room when the Earl of Leicester was by her side and proposed that she should view the pleas ance To this new scene they walked, the ladies in attendance following at a discreet distance, while the noble Dudley pressed his suit as forwardly as was fit- ting when subject sought the hand of his sovereign. NO, Dudley" said Elizabeth. T must be the mother of my people-the bride of Enaland Were it otherwise-oh, my lord, delay the chase--delay 1t for an hour and give me time to think And-leave