As she hesitated to pass on, the gallant, throwing his cloak from his shoulders, laid it on the miry spot, so as to ensure her stepping over it dry-shod.
Elizabeth looked at the young man, who accompanied this act of devoted courtesy with a profound reverence, and a blush that overspread his whole countenance.

The Queen was confused, and blushed in her turn, nodded her head, hastily passed on, and embarked in her barge without saying a word.
"Come along, Sir Coxcomb," said Blount; "your gay cloak will need the brush to-day, I wot.

Nay, if you had meant to make a footcloth of your mantle, better have kept Tracy's old drab-debure, which despises all colours." "This cloak," said the youth, taking it up and folding it, "shall never be brushed while in my possession." "And that will not be long, if you learn not a little more economy; we shall have you in CUERPO soon, as the Spaniard says." Their discourse was here interrupted by one of the band of Pensioners.
"I was sent," said he, after looking at them attentively, "to a gentleman who hath no cloak, or a muddy one .-- You, sir, I think," addressing the younger cavalier, "are the man; you will please to follow me." "He is in attendance on me," said Blount--"on me, the noble Earl of Sussex's master of horse." "I have nothing to say to that," answered the messenger; "my orders are directly from her Majesty, and concern this gentleman only." So saying, he walked away, followed by Walter, leaving the others behind, Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the excess of his astonishment.

At length he gave vent to it in an exclamation, "Who the good jere would have thought this!" And shaking his head with a mysterious air, he walked to his own boat, embarked, and returned to Deptford.
The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided to the water-side by the Pensioner, who showed him considerable respect; a circumstance which, to persons in his situation, may be considered as an augury of no small consequence.

He ushered him into one of the wherries which lay ready to attend the Queen's barge, which was already proceeding; up the river, with the advantage of that flood-tide of which, in the course of their descent, Blount had complained to his associates.
The two rowers used their oars with such expedition at the signal of the Gentleman Pensioner, that they very soon brought their little skiff under the stern of the Queen's boat, where she sat beneath an awning, attended by two or three ladies, and the nobles of her household.