Around his neck was the golden collar of the garter, and around his knee the azure garter."[1] Truly was the costume executed, and raised admiration warm and long sustained.
[Footnote 1: Leicester's description taken from Sir Walter Scott.] Mr.Stanley, the son of an influential citizen, personated Sussex, who wore a purple velvet doublet, lined with golden cloth, and a richly embroidered jerkin of the same color with broad golden collar, black silk stockings and shoes of purple velvet.

A richly ornamented girdle and gold mounted sword completed the costume, being rich and elegant and next in splendour to that of Leicester.

The remaining nobles were dressed in courtly apparel and becoming the scene.

Mary Douglas was, it is needless to add, in the capacity of the favorite Duchess of Rutland, the friend and confidante of Her Majesty.

The whole had a beautiful effect and gave additional eclat to the evening's series of entertainments.
When Lady Rosamond again joined the dance, she was playfully advised to act well the policy of the character, by preserving towards the rival earls a well balanced line of judgment, and concealing any strong attachment toward the knight of the cloak, to Squire Lack-Cloak, as Raleigh was termed by the attendants at court.
Throughout the whole evening there was one who entered with heart and hand into the spirit of such gaiety--one foremost in the dance, foremost at the whist table, and foremost in gay and animating conversation.
Notwithstanding those demands, there was another subject foremost in the mind of His Excellency's private secretary.