CHAPTER XXIV. HER Majesty rose late the next day, the sun was high in the heavens as she made her difficult and elaborate toilet. The distressing malady in her tooth, or teeth, still rankled and tormented her; all which was felt and participated in, not only by her more immediate attendants, but by all whom duty and service brought near her; she rated one, railed at another, tore up the aglets of gold enamelled with blue, which were set upon a gown of purple velvet, and destroyed several tassels of gold; she also tore off and threw several buttons, knotted with pearls, at the head of her principle dresser, and kicked the hat she was to have worn on that day, and which was ornamented with a band of gold with knots set in garnets, clean into the fire. Queens are but mortals after all. Her Majesty had a most terrible spirit, she could sink, burn, and destroy, she could unfrock a bishop, behead a duke, burn a traitor, and many other Tudor like and regal acts could she do. But she could not bear the toothache; and what is more, high and mighty, as was her spirit, she could not make up her mind or screw her courage to the sticking place to have it out. 'Twas singular, but no less true; she who could sign a warrant which severed life at a blow, she upon whose forehead sat "A bare ribbed death," could not find courage to have out the offending agony that marred all her delight, and made her feel envious of the beggar at her gate, and no wonder, "For there was never yet a philosopher That could endure the tooth-ache patiently." So said Shakspere, and so said Her Majesty. Nay, in her extremity, she resolved to ask the advice of a living philosopher, and accordingly announced to her immediate attendants, to Burleigh, and her other ministers, her intention of paying a visit to Dr. Dee of Mortlake. CHAPTER XXV. AT so stirring a period of so eventful a reign, it must not be imagined that even the visit of royalty at the mansion of a country gentleman could be entirely dedicated to silken dalliance, feasting, and revelry. Perhaps the very words which Shakspere wrote at that very time were suggested by that times abuse. "Happy he whose cloak and cincture can Hold out this tempest. A thousand businesses are brief in hand, Dalliance and diversion there certainly was, and not a little of it; but dark intrigue, and state matters, all took their turn, and the headsman might be said to stalk about amidst the pleasures of the hour. Wherever that dark Earl (as he was called) Leicester walked and talked, men might easily imagine as much; his footstep crushed all that stood in his path; yet, secret, sly, cruel, and revengeful as he was, still, perhaps, he was not the worst subject by many assembled at that period, and under that roof. Glittering as they did in gorgeous array, beruffed and bewhiskered; even their rapiers and daggers set with precious stones "apparalled as became the brave;" even thus, handsome and noble looking as most of these high-born men were, there lurked in the heart of two or three the meanest passions, the most subtle and sordid feelings it was possible for human hearts to conceive. To counterbalance this black-hearted set, this company of vile, self-seeking sycophants, there were also mixed up in the throng men whose dispositions, and high and chivalrous feelings would have done honour to any court in any age-Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh, my Lord Southampton, the Earl of Sussex, &c., were the foils to their more |