Theserough，ruralgambolsmaynotaltogetheragreewiththereader\'spreconceivedideaofanentertainmentpresentedbeforeElizabeth，inwhosereignlettersrevivedwithsuchbrilliancy，andwhosecourt，governedbyafemalewhosesenseofproprietywasequaltoherstrengthofmind，wasnolessdistinguishedfordelicacyandrefinementthanhercouncilsforwisdomandfortitude。Butwhetherfromthepoliticalwishtoseeminterestedinpopularsports，orwhetherfromasparkofoldHenry\'srough，masculinespirit，whichElizabethsometimesdisplayed，itiscertaintheQueenlaughedheartilyattheimitation，orratherburlesque，ofchivalrywhichwaspresentedintheCoventryplay。ShecallednearherpersontheEarlofSussexandLordHunsdon，partlyperhapstomakeamendstotheformerforthelongandprivateaudienceswithwhichshehadindulgedtheEarlofLeicester，byengaginghiminconversationuponapastimewhichbettersuitedhistastethanthosepageantsthatwerefurnishedforthfromthestoresofantiquity。ThedispositionwhichtheQueenshowedtolaughandjestwithhermilitaryleadersgavetheEarlofLeicestertheopportunityhehadbeenwatchingforwithdrawingfromtheroyalpresence，whichtothecourtaround，sowellhadhechosenhistime，hadthegracefulappearanceofleavinghisrivalfreeaccesstotheQueen\'sperson，insteadofavailinghimselfofhisrightasherlandlordtostandperpetuallybetwixtothersandthelightofhercountenance。
Leicester\'sthoughts，however，hadafardifferentobjectfrommerecourtesy;fornosoonerdidheseetheQueenfairlyengagedinconversationwithSussexandHunsdon，behindwhosebackstoodSirNicholasBlount，grinningfromeartoearateachwordwhichwasspoken，than，makingasigntoTressilian，who，accordingtoappointment，watchedhismotionsatalittledistance，heextricatedhimselffromthepress，andwalkingtowardstheChase，madehiswaythroughthecrowdsofordinaryspectators，who，withopenmouth，stoodgazingonthebattleoftheEnglishandtheDanes。Whenhehadaccomplishedthis，whichwasaworkofsomedifficulty，heshotanotherglancebehindhimtoseethatTressilianhadbeenequallysuccessful;andassoonashesawhimalsofreefromthecrowd，heledthewaytoasmallthicket，behindwhichstoodalackey，withtwohorsesreadysaddled。Heflunghimselfontheone，andmadesignstoTressiliantomounttheother，whoobeyedwithoutspeakingasingleword。
Leicesterthenspurredhishorse，andgallopedwithoutstoppinguntilhereachedasequesteredspot，environedbyloftyoaks，aboutamile\'sdistancefromtheCastle，andinanoppositedirectionfromthescenetowhichcuriositywasdrawingeveryspectator。Hetheredismounted，boundhishorsetoatree，andonlypronouncingthewords，\"Herethereisnoriskofinterruption，\"laidhiscloakacrosshissaddle，anddrewhissword。
Tressilianimitatedhisexamplepunctually，yetcouldnotforbearsaying，ashedrewhisweapon，\"Mylord，asIhavebeenknowntomanyasonewhodoesnotfeardeathwhenplacedinbalancewithhonour，methinksImay，withoutderogation，askwherefore，inthenameofallthatishonourable，yourlordshiphasdaredtooffermesuchamarkofdisgraceasplacesusonthesetermswithrespecttoeachother？\"
\"Ifyoulikenotsuchmarksofmyscorn，\"repliedtheEarl，\"betakeyourselfinstantlytoyourweapon，lestIrepeattheusageyoucomplainof。\"