"Whose wits would not be perturbed at the mere sight of such
exquisite beauty?"

"Come and sit at our feet, and we will try to restore them," said the
stage queen; but here little Diccon, the youngest of the party, eager
for more action, called out, "Show us how she treats her lords and
ladies together."

On which young Babington, as the lady, and Humfrey, made
demonstrations of love-making and betrothal, upon which their
sovereign lady descended on them with furious tokens of indignation,
abusing them right and left, until in the midst the great castle bell
pealed forth, and caused a flight general, being, in fact, the
summons to the school kept in one of the castle chambers by one
Master Snigg, or Sniggius, for the children of the numerous colony
who peopled the castle. Girls, as well as boys, were taught there,
and thus Cis accompanied Humfrey and Diccon, and consorted with their
companions.

Queen Mary was allowed to hunt and take out-of-door exercise in the
park whenever she pleased, but Lord Shrewsbury, or one of his sons,
Gilbert and Francis, never was absent from her for a moment when she
went beyond the door of the lesser lodge, which the Earl had erected
for her, with a flat, leaded, and parapeted roof, where she could
take the air, and with only one entrance, where was stationed a
"gentleman porter," with two subordinates, whose business it was to
keep a close watch over every person or thing that went in or out.
If she had any purpose of losing herself in the thickets of fern, or
copsewood, in the park, or holding unperceived conference under
shelter of the chase, these plans were rendered impossible by the