CHAPTER IX
THE COMING OF ELIZABETH
The days that followed were full of bustle and activity. The officers ofthe household scoured the country far and near to secure provisions anddelicacies sufficient for the queen and her retinue. Game, droves ofbullocks, sheep, hogs and great hampers of groceries filled the lardersto overflowing. Near and remote neighbors and kinsmen embraced theopportunity to send contributions. No man knew when his own time mightcome and sympathized accordingly. The queen was not tolerant of any but aroyal reception, and a visit, while an honor, was not always an unmixedblessing; as many an impoverished nobleman could testify.
Hugh Greville, the tutor, was overjoyed at her coming, and, as master ofthe pageants preparing for the amusement of the queen, assumed a pompousimportance greatly at variance with his usual manner.
"We must have a play, my lord," he said to Lord Stafford who was for themoment idle. "Her Majesty doth take delight in a play. This to bepreceded by an address in Latin. Latin, my lord, because the queen islearned, and deference should be paid to her knowledge. The welcome to bespoken by a boy."
"Have what thou wilt, Greville, so that it will please the queen,"returned the nobleman. "I had word from my Lord of Leicester this morningthat his mummers accompanied Elizabeth in her progress. They will givethe play with more of satisfaction, I trow, than any of the strollingplayers who have come hither. The address of welcome could be managed,but what boy couldst thou get to deliver it? Boys there be in plenty, butboys with Latinity----" and he shrugged his shoulders.
"Had your lordship only a son," sighed Greville regretfully, "it would beright fitting for him to give the speech. I myself would write it.'Twould only need to be conned well. Ah, would that thou hadst a son!"
"Gramercy!" spoke Francis overhearing the tutor's speech. "Hath he not adaughter? 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 alad. 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, "Icould put on the page's dress again, and who would be the wiser? Not thequeen, 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 mostlads, and could quickly con the speech. What say you, my lord?"
"Let the child have her way in this, my lord," spoke Lady Staffordjoining them. "Did she not don the garb to please thee? Now that it befor her pleasure deny her not, I entreat."
"When thou pleadest for her, madam, I cannot deny," said her husbandslowly. "I thought never to see thee in such dress again, Francis. Thereseemed necessity for it before. Now----"
"Now there is necessity also," broke in Francis. "Shall the queen gowithout her welcome for the want of a boy? I trow not, when FrancisStafford makes so good an one. Fear not, my father. I have become soaccustomed 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 thequeen, and I will not inquire too closely concerning the manner."
Pleased at receiving the permission, Francis applied herself tomemorizing the speech prepared by the tutor while the other preparationswent on royally. Elizabeth was to arrive in the afternoon, and on themorning of that day her master of horse, the Earl of Leicester, with hisstepson, the Earl of Essex, came to see that everything was in readiness.Then in company with Lord Stafford they went forth to escort the queen tothe Hall.
A great concourse of people stood without the gates. Lord Stafford'sretainers were drawn up on either side of the base court ready to shouta welcome so soon as the queen appeared. At the top of the stairs leadingto the terrace stood Francis arrayed in doublet and hose of purplevelvet. A short cloak of the material hung gracefully from her shoulders.A purple velvet bonnet with a long white feather crowned her head. Hercurls were blown about her cheeks by the breeze; her color was coming andgoing for she was somewhat dismayed at the magnitude of the task she hadset herself. Stories that she had heard of the great queen's anger atthose who failed to perform well their parts rushed to her mind andalmost 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 fathercredit, else I will repent me of having intrusted so important a duty tothee."
"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 myfather. But hark!"
A blare of trumpets sounded without the gates. The bell in the tower,used only upon great occasions, pealed forth merrily. The musiciansstationed in court, terrace, and hall struck up, and viols, sackbuts,cornets and recorders sounded, while from the retainers and people whothronged the roads and the court there went up a great shout ofacclamation as a glittering cavalcade appeared.
The dresses of the courtiers were a blaze of splendor remarkable even inthat imaginative age. First rode the Earl of Leicester, magnificent inblack satin, his horse richly caparisoned with embroidered furnishings.On the right of the queen was the Earl of Essex resplendent in cloth ofsilver. Upon her left, rode Sir Walter Raleigh gorgeous in white satinraiment. Back of them came the ladies of the court, maids of honor, andthe gentlemen. In the midst of all these was the one upon whom all eyeswere bent--Elizabeth. She was attired in white silk bordered with pearlsthe size of beans, and over it a mantle of black silk shot with silverthreads. Instead of a chain she had an oblong collar of gold and jewels.Her air was stately, and as she passed along in great state andmagnificence, she bowed graciously first to one side and then to theother. Wherever she turned her face the people fell upon their knees,crying,--"God save the queen, Elizabeth!" To which she replied,--"I thankyou, my good people."
At the foot of the terrace she alighted from her chariot, and, escortedby Lord Stafford, ascended the steps and approached the place whereFrancis stood. The girl gazed at her earnestly, mentally contrasting herwith 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; hernose a little hooked; her lips narrow and compressed; her teeth black aswere most of the ladies' teeth at that period from the excessive use ofsugar. She wore a wig of false red hair; and upon her head sat a smallcrown of gold reported to be made of some of the celebrated Lunebourgtable. When she reached the terrace two cannons were shot off; the onefilled with a sweet powder; the other with sweet water, odoriferous andpleasant; the firing being imitated by a crash of instruments. When thenoise 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 ennoble the title you possess, with the honor of yourworthiness, rather crowning the great crown that derives fame from havingso excellent an owner, than you receiving to yourself any ornamenttherefrom; vouchsafe with patient attention to hear the words which I, bycommandment, am here to deliver unto you. Disdain not to smile upon ourfeeble efforts to entertain you, yet do I dare warrant myself so far uponthe 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 youlist, 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 passed herhand over her auburn curls saying affably:
"Well done, thou pretty lad! I like well the spirit as well as thedelivery of it. Thy Latinity holds much to be comm
ended. And what may bethy name?"
"Francis Stafford, may it please Your Grace."
"It does please me. Francis? Ah, well do I ken that was the name of thyfather, 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 theefurther," said the queen as she moved away. "Hast thou other children, mylord?"
"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 aSidney, my liege. Greville did it. Dost remember him?"
"Assuredly. Where is he? Ah, Greville," as the tutor overwhelmed withrapture at her notice, threw himself on his knees before her, and seizingthe 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 hathbeen so long since I have been in your presence? As well expect theflower to flourish without the rays of the sun."
"There, flatterer," said the queen tapping him lightly on the shoulder toFrancis' amazement for she expected her to take no notice of suchadulation. "Thou must come to the court oftener, Greville."
Greville arose as she passed on, his face aglow with gratification.
"Child, is she not the most gracious, the most lovely of sovereigns?" hewhispered to Francis.
"Gracious, I grant thee, cousin; but lovely, no. My mother is fairer byfar than she."
"Hark ye, lad," said a courtier who had overheard the girl's words, "ahint in thine ear: repeat not that speech. Nay; think it not even. Itbehooves thee, and me, and all of us to believe that the queen is theloveliest, the fairest, and the most learned of all women, bar none;which she is. God bless her!"
"God bless Elizabeth," echoed Greville fervently, but Francis, with ahaughty look at the speaker, turned upon her heel, and entered the hall.
In Doublet and Hose: A Story for Girls Page 9