For ourselves, we will receive your courtesies this evening but clownishly, since it is not our purpose to change our riding attire, being in effect something fatigued with a journey which the concourse of our good people hath rendered slow, though the love they have shown our person hath, at the same time, made it delightful." Leicester, having received this permission, retired accordingly, and was followed by those nobles who had attended the Queen to Kenilworth in person.

The gentlemen who had preceded them, and were, of course, dressed for the solemnity, remained in attendance.

But being most of them of rather inferior rank, they remained at an awful distance from the throne which Elizabeth occupied.

The Queen's sharp eye soon distinguished Raleigh amongst them, with one or two others who were personally known to her, and she instantly made them a sign to approach, and accosted them very graciously.

Raleigh, in particular, the adventure of whose cloak, as well as the incident of the verses, remained on her mind, was very graciously received; and to him she most frequently applied for information concerning the names and rank of those who were in presence.