“We will with thee, then,” cried the other two Earls together.
“Thanks, thanks!” returned Essex. “I volunteer with Drake. Who serve you with?”
“Oh, Drake!” answered Rutland. “And if we fight bravely, he hath promised us, by way of guerdon, a jorum of liquor anon, at the sign of the ’Three Jolly Mariners.’”
This announcement drew from his auditors a loud laugh, but the speaker himself, with a happy craft, looked quite grave, as though he considered the promised guerdon a matter of moment. While the laughter was yet in progress, the chamber-door, which was right behind Rutland, was again opened, and another cavalier entered.
“All hail, lag-behind!” cried Rutland, glancing at the new comer.
“Lag-behind in thy teeth, slanderous peer!” answered the person addressed. “I should have been here an hour agone, only that that gossiping wight, Squire Harrington, met me on the way; and who could ever break from him?”
“None, none, I’ll warrant thee, good Cromwell!” said the Earl of Bedford. “But, prithee, tell us Master Harrington’s news. How many fair ladies hath he given over for lost?”
“As thou art courteous, I will even tell thee,” answered Lord Cromwell. “He hath advised me, first, that fair Mistress Throckmorton hath a mortal passion for Sir Walter Raleigh”——
“Oh! oh!” cried Rutland.
“Peace, brawler!” resumed Cromwell. “Second, that my Lady Nottingham, for some hidden reason, is affronted with my Lord Essex. Third, that my Lady Warwick hath given her lord”——