n wig and robes, carrying the Great Seal of England in a
red silk bag. On his right walked a gentleman carrying the golden
sceptre, jewelled and quaintly worked, while he on the left carried the
sword of state, point up, in a red scabbard, studded with golden
fleur-de-lis.

A few steps behind this imposing escort came the Queen, with a small but
richly covered prayer-book in her hand. She looked very majestic on this
occasion, being dressed in white silk bordered with pearls of the size
of beans, over which was thrown a mantle of black silk shot with silver
threads. An oblong collar of jewelled gold lay upon her otherwise bare
bosom.

The Queen's train was very long and was carried by a marchioness, whose
plain attire set off the magnificence of royalty.

As Elizabeth proceeded across the yard, she spoke to one by-stander or
another, and Droop, looking on, made up his mind that the rule was that
anyone to whom she addressed a word, or even a look, should drop
forthwith to his knees and so remain until she had passed, unless she
pleased to extend her hand to raise him up.

On each side of this main procession there was a single file of five
and twenty gentlemen pensioners, each carrying a gilt battle-axe.

The remainder of the procession consisted of a train of court ladies all
dressed in white and nearly destitute of ornaments. Evidently the Royal
Virgin would suffer no rivalry in dress from those of her own sex.

Just behind Elizabeth and to one side, in such a position as to be
within easy reach for consultation, walked the Lord High Treasurer,
William Cecil, Baron of Burleigh. It was to this nobleman that his
nephew, Francis Bacon, had addressed the letter which he had given to
Copernicus Droop.

By dint of much squeezing and pushing, Sir Percevall made his way to the
front of the waiting line, and, as Elizabeth approached, he dropped
painfully to his knees, and, with hat in hand, gazed earnestly into the
Queen's face, not daring to speak first, but with a petition writ large
in every feature.

Now, Elizabeth was most jealous of her dignity, and valued her own
favors very highly. In her eyes it was downright impertinence at a time
like this for anyone to solicit the honor of her attention by kneeling
before he was noticed.

Knowing this, Burleigh, who recognized the knight and wished him well,
motioned to him earnestly to rise. Alarmed, Sir Percevall made a
desperate effort to obey the hint, and, despite h