\"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。