smiles of royalty, and bright was the dawn of
fortune and of favor which already broke upon him. He was of a decayed
family of Northamptonshire gentry, and had just commenced the study of
the law at one of the inns of court, when hope or curiosity stimulated
him to gain admittance at some court-festival, where he had an
opportunity of dancing before the queen in a mask. His figure and his
performance so captivated her fancy, that she immediately bestowed upon
him some flattering marks of attention, which encouraged him to quit his
profession and turn courtier.

This showy outside and these gay accomplishments were unexpectedly found
in union with a moderate and cautious temper, enlightened views, and a
solid understanding; and after due deliberation, Elizabeth, that
penetrating judge of men, decided, in spite of ridicule, that she could
not do better than make this superlatively-excellent dancer of galliards
her lord-chancellor.

The enemies of Hatton are said to have promoted this appointment in
expectation of his disgracing himself by ignorance and incapacity; but
their malice was disappointed; whatever he did not know, he was able to
learn and willing to be taught; he discharged the duties of his high
office with prudence first and afterwards with ability, and died in 1591
in possession of it and of the public esteem. It is remarkable,
considering the general predilection of the queen in favor of celibacy,
that Hatton was the only one of her ministers who lived and died a
bachelor.

Early in this year the king of France married a daughter of the emperor
Maximilian; and Elizabeth, desirous at this time of being on the best
terms both with the French and Imperial courts, sent lord Buckhurst to
Paris on a splendid embassy of congratulation.

Catherine de' Medici took this opportunity of renewing proposals of
marriage to the queen of England on the part of her son the duke of
Anjou, and they were listened to with an apparent complacency which
perplexed the politicians. It is certainly to this negotiation, and to
the intrigues of the duke of Norfolk and other nobles with the queen of
Scots, that Shakespear alludes in the following ingenious and exquisite
passage.

..."Once I sat upon a promontory,
And heard a _Mermaid_ on a _Dolphin_'s back
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath,
That the rude sea grew civil at her song;
And _certain stars shot madly from their spheres_,
To hear the sea