The throng and confusion was, however, of a gay and cheerful character.

All came forth to see and to enjoy, and all laughed at the trifling

inconveniences which at another time might have chafed their temper.

Excepting the occasional brawls which we have mentioned among that

irritable race the carmen, the mingled sounds which arose from the

multitude were those of light-hearted mirth and tiptoe jollity. The

musicians preluded on their instruments--the minstrels hummed their

songs--the licensed jester whooped betwixt mirth and madness, as he

brandished his bauble--the morrice-dancers jangled their bells--the

rustics hallooed and whistled-men laughed loud, and maidens giggled

shrill; while many a broad jest flew like a shuttlecock from one party,

to be caught in the air and returned from the opposite side of the road

by another, at which it was aimed.

No infliction can be so distressing to a mind absorbed in melancholy,

as being plunged into a scene of mirth and revelry, forming an

accompaniment so dissonant from its own feelings. Yet, in the case of

the Countess of Leicester, the noise and tumult of this giddy scene

distracted her thoughts, and rendered her this sad service, that

it became impossible for her to brood on her own misery, or to form

terrible anticipations of her approaching fate. She travelled on like

one in a dream, following implicitly the guidance of Wayland, who,

with great address, now threaded his way through the general throng of

passengers, now stood still until a favourable opportunity occurred

of again moving forward, and frequently turning altogether out of the

direct road, followed some circuitous bypath, which brought them into

the highway again, after having given them the opportunity of traversing

a considerable way with greater ease and rapidity.

It was thus he avoided Warwick, within whose Castle (that fairest

monument of ancient and chivalrous splendour which yet remains uninjured

by time) Elizabeth had passed the previous night, and where she was

to tarry until past noon, at that time the general hour of dinner

throughout England, after which repast she was to proceed to Kenilworth,

In the meanwhile, each passing group had something to say in the

Sovereign's praise, though not absolutely without the usual mixture

of satire which qualifies more or less our estimate of our neighbours,

especially if they chance to be also our betters.

"Heard you," said one, "how graciously she spoke to Master Bailiff and

the Recorder, and to good Master Griffin the preacher, as they kneeled

down at her coach-window?"

"Ay, and how she said to little Aglionby, 'Master Recorder, men would

have persuaded me that you were afraid of me, but truly I think, so well

did you reckon up to me the virtues of a sovereign, that I have more

reason to be afraid of you.' and then with what grace she took the

fair-wrought purse with the twenty gold sovereigns, seeming as though

she would not willingly handle it, and yet taking it withal."




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