Constance Sherwood: An Autobiography of the Sixteenth Century

mind more than Polly's efforts toward the same end. Shetold us Lord Arundel had died that morning; which tidings turned mythoughts awhile to Lady Surrey, with many cogitations as to the issueof this event in her regard.

  After a short space of time, a step neared the door, and Lady Sydneysmiled and said, "Here is my father." I had two or three times seenSir Francis Walsingham in public assemblies, but his features werenevertheless not familiar to me. Now, after he had saluted Polly andme, and made inquiry touching our relatives, while he conversed withher on indifferent topics, I scanned his face with such carefulindustry as if in it I should read the issue of my dear father's fate.Methinks I never beheld so unreadable a countenance, or one which borethe impress of so refined a penetration, so piercing aninquisitiveness, so keen a research into others' thoughts, with soclose a concealment of his own. I have since heard what his son-in-lawdid write of him, that he impoverished himself by the purchase of dearintelligence; that, as if master of some invisible spring, all thesecrets of Christendom met in his closet, and he had even a key tounlock the Pope's cabinet. His mottoes are said to be _video ettaceo_, and that knowledge can never be bought at too high a price.And verily methinks they were writ in his face, in his quick-turningeyes, his thin, compressed lips, and his soft but resolved accents,minding one of steel cased in velvet. 'Tis reported he can read anyletter without breaking the seal. For mine own part, I am of opinionhe can see through parchment, yea, peradventure, through stone walls,when bent on some discovery. After a few minutes he turned to me witha gracious smile, and said he was very glad to hear that I was a younggentlewoman of great prudence, and well disposed in all respects, andthat he doubted not that, if her majesty should by his means show meany favor, I should requite it with such gratitude as should appear inall my future conduct.

  "God knoweth," I stammered, mine eyes filling with tears, "I would begrateful to you, sir, if it should please you to move her majesty togrant my prayer, and to her highness for the doing of it."

  "And how would you show such gratitude, fair Mistress Constance?" hesaid, smiling in an encouraging manner.

  "By such humble duty," I answered, "as a poor obscure creature can payto her betters."

  "And I hope, also," he said, "that such dutifulness will involve nounpleasing effort, no painful constraint on your inclinations; for Iam assured her majesty will never desire from you anything but whatwill well accord with your advantage in this world and in the next."

  These words caused me some kind of uneasiness; but as they called forno answer, I took refuge in silence; only methinks my face, which hedid seem carefully to study, betrayed anxiety.

  "Providence," Sir Francis then said, "doth oftentimes marvellouslydispose events. What a rare instance of its gracious workings shouldbe seen in your case, Mistress Constance, if what your heart dothsecretly incline to should become a part of that dutifulness which youdo intend to practice in future!"

  Before I had clearly apprehended the sense of his words, Lady Sydneysaid to Polly:

  "My father hath greatly commended to Sir Philip and me a younggentleman which I understand. Lady Ingoldsby, to be a friend of yours,Mr. Hubert Rookwood, of Euston. He says the gracefulness of hisperson, his excellent parts, his strong and subtle capacity, doexcellently fit him to learn the discipline and garb of the times andcourt."

  "Ay," then quoth Sir Francis, "he hath as large a portion of gifts andendowments as I have ever noticed in one of his age, and I'll warranthe proves no mere vegetable of the court, springing up at night andsinking at noon."

  Polly did warmly assent to these praises of Hubert, for whom she hadalways entertained a great liking; but she merrily said he was not gayenough for her, which abhorred melancholy as cats do water.

  "Oh, fair lady," quoth Sir Francis, "God defend we should bemelancholy; verily 'tis fitting we should be sometimes serious, forwhile we laugh all things are serious round about us. The wholecreation is serious in serving God and us. The holy Scriptures bringto our ears the most serious things in the world. All that are inheaven and hell are serious. Then how should we be always gay?"

  Polly said--for when had she not, I pray you, somewhat to say?--thatcertain things in nature had a propensity to gaiety which naught couldquell, and instanced birds and streamlets, which never cease to singand babble as long as they do live or flow. And to be serious, shethought, would kill her. The while this talk was ministered betweenthem, my Lady Sydney, on a sign from her father, I ween, took my handin hers, and offered to show me the garden; for the heat of the room,she said, was like to give me the headache. Upon which I rose, andfollowed her into a court planted with trees, and then on to an alleyof planes strewed with gravel. As we entered it I perceived severalpersons walking toward us. When the first thought came into my mindwho should be the tall personage in the centre, of hair and complexionfair, and of so stately and majestic deportment, I marvel my limbsgave not way, but my head swam and a mist obscured mine eyes.Methinks, as one dreaming, I heard Lady Sydney say, "The queen,Mistress Sherwood; kneel down, and kiss her majesty's hand." Oh, inthe brief moment of time when my lips pressed that thin, white,jewelled hand, what multiplied thoughts, resentful memories, tremblingawe, and instinctive, homage to royal greatness, met in my soul, andworked confusion in my brain!

  "Ah, mine own good Sydney," I heard her majesty exclaim; "is this theyoung gentlewoman your wise father did speak of at Greenwichyesterday? The daughter of one Sherwood now in prison for popishcontumacy?"

  "Even so," said Lady Sydney; "and your sacred majesty hath it now inher power to show

  "The quality of mercy is not strained--'"

  "'But droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath,'"

  interrupted the queen, taking the words out of her mouth. "We be notignorant of those lines. Will Shakespeare hath it,

  'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown.'

  And i' faith we differ not from him, for verily mercy is our habit andthe propension of our soul; but, by God, the malice and ingratitude ofrecusant traitors doth so increase, with manifold dangers to ourperson and state, that mercy to them doth turn into treason againstourselves, injury to religion, and an offence to God. Rise," hermajesty then said to me; and as I stood before her, the color, I ween,deepening in my cheeks, "Thou hast a fair face, wench," she cried;"and if I remember aright good Mr. Secretary's words, hast used it tosuch purpose that a young gentleman we have of late taken into ourfavor is somewhat excessive in his doting on it. Go to, go to; thoucouldst go further and fare worse. We ourselves are averse tomarriage; but if a woman must needs have a husband (and that deepblushing betokeneth methinks thy bent thereon), she should set herheart wisely, and govern it discreetly."

  "Alas, madam!" I cried, "'tis not of marriage I now do think; but, onmy knees" (and falling again at her feet, I clasped them, with tears),"of my father's release; I do crave your majesty's mercy."

  "Content thee, wench; content thee. Mr. Secretary hath obtained fromus the order for that foolish man's banishment from our realm."

  "Oh, madam!" I cried, "God bless you!"

  Then my heart did smite me I should with so great vehemency bless herwho, albeit in this nearest instance pitiful to me, did sorelentlessly deal with others; and I bethought me of Mistress Ward,and the ill-usage she was like to meet with. And her words touchingHubert, and silence concerning Basil, weighed like lead on my soul;yet I taxed myself with folly therein, for verily at this time theless he was thought of the greater should be his safety. Sir Francishad now approached the queen, and I did hear her commend to him hisgarden, which she said was very neat and trim, and the pattern of itmost quaint and fanciful. Polly did also kiss her hand, and Sir WalterRaleigh and Sir Christopher Hatton, which accompanied her majesty,whilst she talked with Sir Francis, conversed with Lady Sydney. I weenmy Lord Leicester and many other noblemen and gentlemen were also inher train, but mine eyes took scant note of what passed before them;the queen herself was the only object I
could contemplate, somarvellous did it seem I should thus have approached her, and had somuch of her notice as she did bestow on me that day. And here I cannotchoose but marvel how strangely our hearts are made. How favors toourselves do alter the current of our feelings; how a near approach tothose which at a distance we do think of with unmitigated enmity, dothsoften even just resentments; and what a singular fascination doth liein royalty for to win unto itself a reverence which doth obliteratememories which in common instances should never lose their sting.

  The queen's barge, which had moored at the river-side of Sir Francis'sgarden, was soon filled again with the goodly party it had set down;and as it went