LX.-RALEIGH'S FIRST INTERVIEW WITH THE THE QUEEN. PART FIRST. HE royal barge, manned with Queen Elizabeth's watermen, richly attired in the regal liveries, and having the banner of England displayed, lay at the great stairs which ascended from the river Thames, and along with it two or three other boats for transporting such part of her etinue as were not in immediate attendance on the royal person. The yeomen of the guard, the tallest and most handsome men whom England could produce, guarded with their halberds the passage from the palace-gate to the river-side, and all seemed in readiness for the queen's coming forth, although the day was yet so early. 2. Walter Raleigh caused his boat to be pulled towards a landing-place at some distance from the principal one, which it would not, at that moment, have been thought respectful to approach, and jumped on shore, followed by his cautious and timid companions. As they approached the gate of the palace, one of the sergeant-porters told them they could not at present enter, as her Majesty was in the act of coming forth. 3. "Nay, I told you as much before," said Blount; "do, I pray you, my dear Walter, let us take boat and return.” 4. "Not till I see the queen come forth," returned the youth, composedly. 5. "Thou art mad, stark mad, by the mass!" answered Blount. 6. "And thou," said Walter, "art turned coward of the sudden. I have seen thee face half a score of shag-headed Irish kernes to thy own share of them, and now thou wouldst blink and go back to shun the frown of a fair lady!" 7. At this moment the gates opened, and ushers began to issue forth in array, headed and flanked by the band of Gentlemen Pensioners. After this, amid a crowd of lords and ladies, yet so disposed around her that she could see and be seen on all sides, came Elizabeth herself, then in the prime of womanhood, and in the full glow of what in a sovereign was called beauty, and who would in the lowest rank of life have been truly judged a noble figure joined to a striking and commanding physiognomy. She leant on the arm of Lord Hunsdon, whose relation to her by her mother's side often procured him such distinguished marks of Elizabeth's intimacy. 8. Walter had probably never yet approached so near the person of his sovereign, and he pressed forward as far as the line of warders permitted, in order to avail himself of the present opportunity. His companion, on the contrary, cursing his imprudence, kept pulling him backward, tili Walter shook him off impatiently, and letting his rich cloak drop carelessly from one shoulder; a natural action, which served, however, to display to the best advantage his wellproportioned person. 9. Unbonneting at the same time, he fixed his eager gaze on the queen's approach, with a mixture of respectful curiosity, and modest yet ardent admiration, which suited so well with his fine features, that the warders, struck with his rich attire and noble countenance, suffered him to approach the ground over which the queen was to pass, somewhat closer than was permitted to ordinary spectators. 10. Thus the adventurous youth stood full in Elizabeth's eye-an eye never indifferent to the admiration which she deservedly excited among her subjects, or to the fair proportions of external form which chanced to distinguish any of her courtiers. Accordingly, she fixed her glance on the youth, as she approached the place where he stood, with a look in which surprise at his boldness seemed to be mingled with resentment, while a trifling accident happened which attracted her attention towards him yet more. strongly. 11. The night had been rainy, and just where the young gentleman stood, a small quantity of mud interrupted the queen's passage. As she hesitated to pass on, the gallant, throwing his cloak from his shoulders, laid it on the miry spot, so as to insure her stepping over it dry shod. Elizabeth looked at the young man, who accompanied this act of devoted courtesy with a profound reverence and a blush that overspread his whole countenance. The queen was confused, and blushed in return, nodded her head, hastily passed on, and embarked in her barge without saying a word. 12. "Come along, Sir Coxcomb," said Blount; “your gay cloak will need the brush to-day, I wot." 13. "This cloak,” said the youth, taking it up and folding it, "shall never be brushed while in my possession." 14. "And that will not be long, if you learn not a little more economy." 15. Their discourse was here interrupted by one of the band of Pensioners. "I was sent," said he, after looking at them attentively, "to a gentleman who hath no cloak, or a muddy one. You, sir, I think," addressing the younger cavalier, "are the man; you will please to follow me." 16. "He is in attendance on me," said Blount—“ on me, the noble Earl of Sussex's master of horse." 17. "I have nothing to say to that," answered the messenger; "my orders are directly from her Majesty, and concern this gentleman only." At 18. So saying, he walked away, followed by Walter, leaving the others behind, Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the excess of his astonishment. length he gave vent to it in an exclamation-"Who in wonder would have thought this?" And shaking his head with a mysterious air, he walked to his own boat, embarked, and returned to Deptford. 19. The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided to the water-side by the Pensioner, who showed him considerable respect-a circumstance which, to persons in his |