"Thyself," said Cramboy. "Ah, ah! a very pretty piece of soldiership we should have in thee."
"Thou hast said it, not I, neighbour," returned Teazle. "But, an I had said myself, I had at least named one quite as equal to the emergency of the case as the man of rings and carcanets, of broaches and feathers, thou hast just named."
"Methinks 'twere wise not to pursue such comparison further," said Master Lambe; "'twere best for those to speak civily of the bear who are such near neighbours to his hold, lest the ragged staff reach our coxcombs."
"What gentlemen of note are engaged in this expedition?" inquired Cramboy.
"I hear," said John Shakespeare, "that he carries with him a glorious retinue, being accompanied by the young Earl of Essex, Lords Audley and North, Sir William Russell, Sir Thomas Shirly, Sir Arthur Basset, Sir Walter Waller, and Sir Gervase Clifton, added to which five hundred gentlemen ride in his select troop."
"Still do I maintain," said Teazle, "that the selection of my Lord of Leicester is not a good one; he possesses neither courage nor capacity equal to the task, and were I in presence of the Queen, with the Earl leaning at the back of her chair, I would say the same."
"And how would you speak of those in commission with him?" inquired Cramboy, "To begin with Essex, what think you of him?"
"As of one better to be led than to lead. Essex is a brave boy doubtless, and a clever, but then he is rash, headstrong, and unweighing. Curb him never so little and he flings up in your teeth. Give him his head and he knocks out his own brains."
"What of Lords Audley and North?"
"Put into the scale against the other one and their weight will about weigh against his lightness. Ergo, the three together are as naught."