"Gramercy!" spoke Francis overhearing the tutor"s speech. "Hath he not a daughter? I will give thy harangue, Master Greville."
"Nay;" and the old man shook his head positively. ""Twill not do, Francis. The Queen"s Majesty would relish it more if "twere spoken by a lad. Her heart inclineth to them. A pretty lad, for she loves beauty.
Marry! "tis pity thou art a girl!"
"Father," Francis spoke quickly, a roguish light coming into her eyes, "I could put on the page"s dress again, and who would be the wiser? Not the queen, I trow, for she doth not know whether or no thou hast a son."
"If it might be," said Greville eagerly. "The girl is brighter than most lads, and could quickly con the speech. What say you, my lord?"
"Let the child have her way in this, my lord," spoke Lady Stafford joining them. "Did she not don the garb to please thee? Now that it be for her pleasure deny her not, I entreat."
"When thou pleadest for her, madam, I cannot deny," said her husband slowly. "I thought never to see thee in such dress again, Francis. There seemed necessity for it before. Now----"
"Now there is necessity also," broke in Francis. "Shall the queen go without her welcome for the want of a boy? I trow not, when Francis Stafford makes so good an one. Fear not, my father. I have become so accustomed to the dress that each day do I don it. And "tis but sport."
"Have thine own way," said Lord Stafford resignedly. "Do but honor the queen, and I will not inquire too closely concerning the manner."
Pleased at receiving the permission, Francis applied herself to memorizing the speech prepared by the tutor while the other preparations went on royally. Elizabeth was to arrive in the afternoon, and on the morning of that day her master of horse, the Earl of Leicester, with his stepson, the Earl of Ess.e.x, came to see that everything was in readiness.
Then in company with Lord Stafford they went forth to escort the queen to the Hall.
A great concourse of people stood without the gates. Lord Stafford"s retainers were drawn up on either side of the base court ready to shout a welcome so soon as the queen appeared. At the top of the stairs leading to the terrace stood Francis arrayed in doublet and hose of purple velvet. A short cloak of the material hung gracefully from her shoulders.
A purple velvet bonnet with a long white feather crowned her head. Her curls were blown about her cheeks by the breeze; her color was coming and going for she was somewhat dismayed at the magnitude of the task she had set herself. Stories that she had heard of the great queen"s anger at those who failed to perform well their parts rushed to her mind and almost overwhelmed her with confusion.
"Courage," whispered Greville who stood near her. "Courage, girl.
Remember who thou art, and whom thou art to welcome. Do thy father credit, else I will repent me of having intrusted so important a duty to thee."
"I will, good cousin," returned Francis her spirit rising at his words.
"Not even the presence of the queen shall make me forget what is due my father. But hark!"
A blare of trumpets sounded without the gates. The bell in the tower, used only upon great occasions, pealed forth merrily. The musicians stationed in court, terrace, and hall struck up, and viols, sackbuts, cornets and recorders sounded, while from the retainers and people who thronged the roads and the court there went up a great shout of acclamation as a glittering cavalcade appeared.
The dresses of the courtiers were a blaze of splendor remarkable even in that imaginative age. First rode the Earl of Leicester, magnificent in black satin, his horse richly caparisoned with embroidered furnishings.
On the right of the queen was the Earl of Ess.e.x resplendent in cloth of silver. Upon her left, rode Sir Walter Raleigh gorgeous in white satin raiment. Back of them came the ladies of the court, maids of honor, and the gentlemen. In the midst of all these was the one upon whom all eyes were bent--Elizabeth. She was attired in white silk bordered with pearls the size of beans, and over it a mantle of black silk shot with silver threads. Instead of a chain she had an oblong collar of gold and jewels.
Her air was stately, and as she pa.s.sed along in great state and magnificence, she bowed graciously first to one side and then to the other. Wherever she turned her face the people fell upon their knees, crying,--"G.o.d save the queen, Elizabeth!" To which she replied,--"I thank you, my good people."
At the foot of the terrace she alighted from her chariot, and, escorted by Lord Stafford, ascended the steps and approached the place where Francis stood. The girl gazed at her earnestly, mentally contrasting her with Mary of Scotland.
Elizabeth was very stately though her stature was not great; her face, oblong, fair but wrinkled; her eyes small, yet black and pleasant; her nose a little hooked; her lips narrow and compressed; her teeth black as were most of the ladies" teeth at that period from the excessive use of sugar. She wore a wig of false red hair; and upon her head sat a small crown of gold reported to be made of some of the celebrated Lunebourg table. When she reached the terrace two cannons were shot off; the one filled with a sweet powder; the other with sweet water, odoriferous and pleasant; the firing being imitated by a crash of instruments. When the noise of these had died away Francis stepped forward, and began timidly, gaining self-possession as she proceeded:
"Oh Excellent Queen! true adamant of hearts, Out of that sacred garland ever grew Garlands of virtues, beauties, and perfections, That crowns your crown, and dims your fortune"s beams, Welcome, and thrice welcome!
"O lady, that doth enn.o.ble the t.i.tle you possess, with the honor of your worthiness, rather crowning the great crown that derives fame from having so excellent an owner, than you receiving to yourself any ornament therefrom; vouchsafe with patient attention to hear the words which I, by commandment, am here to deliver unto you. Disdain not to smile upon our feeble efforts to entertain you, yet do I dare warrant myself so far upon the show of rare beauty, as that malice cannot fall from so fair a mind.
Welcome! This hall and all it contains are yours. Do with them as you list, fair queen, but oh, disdain not to breathe your favor upon us.
Welcome and thrice welcome to these portals! Loving hearts greet you, and declare you queen of them as well as of Love and Beauty."
Elizabeth listened smilingly, and as the girl concluded she pa.s.sed her hand over her auburn curls saying affably:
"Well done, thou pretty lad! I like well the spirit as well as the delivery of it. Thy Latinity holds much to be commended. And what may be thy name?"
"Francis Stafford, may it please Your Grace."
"It does please me. Francis? Ah, well do I ken that was the name of thy father, my lord," and she turned to Lord Stafford.
"You speak aright, Your Highness," answered he.
"Thou shalt come to me anon, thou pretty lad, for I would speak with thee further," said the queen as she moved away. "Hast thou other children, my lord?"
"This is mine only one," replied Lord Stafford.
"And was the welcome of your composing?" queried she.
"Nay; I am not so ready with the pen," laughed Stafford. "I am not a Sidney, my liege. Greville did it. Dost remember him?"
"a.s.suredly. Where is he? Ah, Greville," as the tutor overwhelmed with rapture at her notice, threw himself on his knees before her, and seizing the hand which she graciously extended to him, covered it with kisses.
"Art well?"
"Ah, madam, madam," murmured the old man, "can you ask that when it hath been so long since I have been in your presence? As well expect the flower to flourish without the rays of the sun."
"There, flatterer," said the queen tapping him lightly on the shoulder to Francis" amazement for she expected her to take no notice of such adulation. "Thou must come to the court oftener, Greville."
Greville arose as she pa.s.sed on, his face aglow with gratification.
"Child, is she not the most gracious, the most lovely of sovereigns?" he whispered to Francis.
"Gracious, I grant thee, cousin; but lovely, no. My mother is fairer by far than she."
"Hark ye, lad," said a courtier who had overheard the girl"s words, "a hint in thine ear: repeat not that speech. Nay; think it not even. It behooves thee, and me, and all of us to believe that the queen is the loveliest, the fairest, and the most learned of all women, bar none; which she is. G.o.d bless her!"
"G.o.d bless Elizabeth," echoed Greville fervently, but Francis, with a haughty look at the speaker, turned upon her heel, and entered the hall.
CHAPTER X
THE QUEEN TAKES OFFENSE
The queen at length reached the great hall of the castle, gorgeously hung with tapestries for her reception, and resounding to the strains of soft and delicious music. At the upper end of the chamber was a throne and beside it a door which opened into a suite of apartments for the queen whenever it should be her pleasure to be private. The hall was thronged with spectators, for a masque was to be given, and menials as well as courtiers were interested in the pageant.
Francis mingled with the crowd purposing to retire very soon to her bower to don habit more befitting her s.e.x, but enjoying for the nonce the freedom which her garb gave her. Presently she felt her cloak twitched as some one said:
"Where is your sister, sir? I see her not among those who attend the queen."
"My sister?" The girl wheeled about, and uttered an exclamation of amazement as she recognized the speaker. "What dost thou here?" she demanded sternly. "And why art thou in that attire?"
The boy, for it was the lad who had shot the deer in the chase, gave vent to a low laugh.
"I came to see the queen. Why should I not? I am her leal and true subject, which is more than thou canst say even if thou didst rattle off her welcome so glibly in Latin. As for my dress, it is my own. Why should I not wear it, Master Stafford?"