The eventful hour, thus anxiously prepared for on all sides, at length

approached, and, each followed by his long and glittering train of

friends and followers, the rival Earls entered the Palace Yard of

Greenwich at noon precisely.

As if by previous arrangement, or perhaps by intimation that such was

the Queen's pleasure, Sussex and his retinue came to the Palace from

Deptford by water while Leicester arrived by land; and thus they entered

the courtyard from opposite sides. This trifling circumstance gave

Leicester a ascendency in the opinion of the vulgar, the appearance

of his cavalcade of mounted followers showing more numerous and more

imposing than those of Sussex's party, who were necessarily upon foot.

No show or sign of greeting passed between the Earls, though each looked

full at the other, both expecting perhaps an exchange of courtesies,

which neither was willing to commence. Almost in the minute of their

arrival the castle-bell tolled, the gates of the Palace were opened, and

the Earls entered, each numerously attended by such gentlemen of their

train whose rank gave them that privilege. The yeomen and inferior

attendants remained in the courtyard, where the opposite parties eyed

each other with looks of eager hatred and scorn, as if waiting with

impatience for some cause of tumult, or some apology for mutual

aggression. But they were restrained by the strict commands of their

leaders, and overawed, perhaps, by the presence of an armed guard of

unusual strength.

In the meanwhile, the more distinguished persons of each train followed

their patrons into the lofty halls and ante-chambers of the royal

Palace, flowing on in the same current, like two streams which are

compelled into the same channel, yet shun to mix their waters. The

parties arranged themselves, as it were instinctively, on the different

sides of the lofty apartments, and seemed eager to escape from the

transient union which the narrowness of the crowded entrance had for an

instant compelled them to submit to. The folding doors at the upper

end of the long gallery were immediately afterwards opened, and it was

announced in a whisper that the Queen was in her presence-chamber, to

which these gave access. Both Earls moved slowly and stately towards

the entrance--Sussex followed by Tressilian, Blount, and Raleigh, and

Leicester by Varney. The pride of Leicester was obliged to give way to

court-forms, and with a grave and formal inclination of the head, he

paused until his rival, a peer of older creation than his own, passed

before him. Sussex returned the reverence with the same formal civility,

and entered the presence-room. Tressilian and Blount offered to follow

him, but were not permitted, the Usher of the Black Rod alleging in

excuse that he had precise orders to look to all admissions that day. To

Raleigh, who stood back on the repulse of his companions, he said, "You,

sir, may enter," and he entered accordingly.




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