bestowed, with the title of _her
scholar_, on a pretty young man of the name of Preston, whose graceful
performance in a public disputation and in the Latin play of Dido had
particularly caught her fancy, appears to have been the only solid
benefit bestowed by her majesty in return for all the cost and all the
learned incense lavished on her reception by this loyal and splendid
university[53].

[Note 53: A seeming contradiction to the assertions in the text may
be discovered in the circumstance that Elizabeth is the nominal
foundress of Jesus College Oxford. But it was at the expense, as well as
at the suggestion, of Dr. Price, a patriotic Welshman, that this
seminary of learning, designed for the reception of his
fellow-countrymen, was instituted. Her name, a charter of incorporation
dated June 27th 1571, and some timber from her forests of Stow and
Shotover, were the only contributions of her majesty towards an object
so laudable, and of which the inadequate funds of the real founder long
delayed the accomplishment.]

Soon after her return from her progress, the queen determined to gratify
her feelings by conferring on her beloved Dudley some signal testimonies
of her royal regard; and she invested him with the dignities of baron of
Denbigh and earl of Leicester, accompanying these honors with the
splendid gift of Kennelworth Castle, park and manor:--for in behalf of
Dudley, and afterwards of Essex, she could even forget for a time her
darling virtue,--frugality. The chronicles of the time describe with
extraordinary care and minuteness the whole pompous ceremonial of this
creation; but a much more lively and interesting description of this
scene, as well as of several others of which he was an eye-witness in
the court of Elizabeth, has been handed down to us in the entertaining
memoirs of sir James Melvil; a Scotch gentleman noted among the
political agents, or diplomatists of second rank, whom that age of
intrigue brought forth so abundantly.

A few particulars of the history of this person, curious in themselves,
will also form a proper introduction to his narrative.

Melvil was born in Fifeshire in the year 1530, of a family patronized by
the queen regent, Mary of Guise, who having taken into her own service
his brothers Robert and Andrew, both afterwards noted in public life,
determined to send James to France to be brought up as page to the queen
her daughter, then dauphiness. He was accordingly placed under