"Your intercession with Sir Walter Raleigh that
a certain Roger Covert, of his guards, be detailed as
my attendant."



CHAPTER VI
My Lady's Garter

One bright and balmy morning, a fortnight after
Shakespeare's advent at court, Philip II, King of
Spain, was taking the air on a secluded terrace which
formed one of the many private gardens that dotted
the confines of the palace walls. This particular en-
closure not only opened out from his own apart-
ments, but also communicated with the portion of
the castle occupied by the Queen's personal suite.
The King paced solemnly up and down the walk,
his hands clasped behind him, his lips twitching ner-
vously, and giving little heed to the bright flowers
or green grass that robed the terrace in a brilliant
mantle of variegated colors.
He occasionally stamped his foot and muttered to
himself. At last he stopped and spoke aloud :

"Was ever a monarch between two such fires?
The Queen or Mary ? Mary or the Queen ? By my
faith, if the Virgin will not have me I'll take the
other by force or stratagem. Mary Stuart was ever
an advocate of my faith, and with our combined
forces allied against this Protestant vixen we may
yet conquer the world. Hello! What have we
here?" he continued, as two ladies-in-waiting
stepped forth from an embrasure of the Queen's
apartment and strolled to a bench at the lower part
of the terrace, where they seated themselves.
My Lady's Garter 79

The King stood in silent contemplation of them
for a moment, then he cleared his throat loudly, and,
as they looked up quickly at the noise, he raised
his arm and crooked his finger for them to approach.
