n of your mind and
judgement, even in the opinion of those that love you, and are best
acquainted with your disposition and discretion.

"Interpret this our plainness, we pray you, to an extraordinary
estimation of you, for it is not common with us to deal so freely with
many; and believe that you shall ever find us both ready and willing, on
all occasions, to yield you the fruits of that interest which your
endeavours have purchased for you in our opinion and estimation. Not
doubting but when you have with moderation made trial of the successes
of these your sundry peregrinations, you will find as great comfort to
spend your days at home as heretofore you have done; of which we do wish
you full measure, howsoever you shall have cause of abode or return.
Given under our signet at our manor of Nonesuch, the 7th of October
1594, in the 37th year of our reign.

"Your most loving sovereign

"E. R."

* * * * *

We do not perceive the effects of this letter in the employment of lord
Willoughby in any of the expeditions against Spain which ensued; but he
was afterwards appointed governor of Berwick, and held that situation
till his death in 1601.

Sir Walter Raleigh, that splendid genius with a sordid soul, whom a
romantic spirit of adventure and a devouring thirst of gain equally
stimulated to activity, had unexpectedly found his advancement at court
impeded, after the first steps, usually accounted the most difficult,
had been speedily and fortunately surmounted. Several conspiring causes
might however be assigned for this check in his career of fortune. His
high pretensions to the favor of the queen, joined to his open adherence
to the party of sir Robert Cecil, had provoked the hostility of Essex;
who, in defiance of him, at one of the ostentatious tournaments of the
day, is said to have "filled the tilt-yard with two thousand
orange-tawny feathers," the distinction doubtless of his followers and
retainers. He had incurred the resentment of more than one of the order
of bishops, by his ceaseless and shameless solicitations of grants and
leases out of the property of the Church. In Ireland, he had rendered
sir William Russell the lord deputy his enemy by various demonstrations
of opposition and rivalry; at court, his abilities and his first rapid
successes with her majesty had stirred up against him the envy of a
whole host of competitors. Elizabeth, who for the best reasons had an
ext