the ship. So that now a man was allowed but half a pint at a meal, and that many times cold water, and scarce sweet. Notwithstanding, this was an happy estate in comparison of that which followed: for from half a pint we came to a quarter, and that lasted not long neither; so that by reason of this great scarcity of drink, and contrariety of wind, we thought to put into Ireland, there to relieve our wants. But when we came near thither, we were driven so far to lee-ward, that we could fetch no part of Ireland. In the meantime we were allowed every man three or four spoons full of vinegar to drink at a meal: for other drink we had none, saving only at two or three meals, when we had instead hereof as much wine, which was wringed out of wine-lees that remained. With this hard fare (for by reason of our great want of drink we durst eat but very little), we continued for the space of a fortnight or thereabouts: saving that now and then we feasted for it in the meantime; and that was when there fell any hail or rain: the hail-stones we gathered up and did eat them more pleasantly than if they had been the sweetest comfits in the world. The rain drops were so carefully saved, that so near as we could, not one was lost in

all our ship. Some hanged up sheets tied with cords by the four corners, and a weight in the midst, that the water might run down thither, and so be received into some vessel set or hanged underneath: some that wanted sheets hanged up napkins and clouts, and watched them till they were thorough wet, then wringing and sucking out the water. And that water which fell down and washed away the filth and soiling of the ship, trod under foot, as bad as running down the kennel many times when it raineth, was not lost, but watched and attended carefully, yea sometimes with strife and contention, at every scupper-hole, and other place where it ran down, with dishes, pots, cans, and jars, whereof some drank hearty draughts even as it was, mud and all, without tarrying to cleanse or settle it: others cleansed it first, but not often, for it was so thick, and went so slowly through, that they might ill endure to tarry so long, and were loath to lose too much of such precious stuff: some licked with their tongues, like dogs, the boards under feet, the sides, rails, and masts of the ship: others that were more ingenious fastened girdles or ropes about the masts, daubing tallow betwixt them and the mast, that the rain might not run down between; in such sort, that these ropes or girdles hanging lower on the

one side than on the other, a spout of leather was fastened to the lowest part of them, that all the rain-drops that came running down the mast might meet together at that place, and there be received. -Some also put bullets of lead into their mouths to slake their thirst. Now in every corner of the ship were heard the lamentable cries of sick and wounded men sounding woefully in our ears, crying out and pitifully complaining for want of drink, being ready to die, yea many dying for lack thereof, so as by reason of this great extremity we lost many more men than we had done all the voyage

before*."

At length, however, they reached Bantry Bay on the 2d of December, 1589, and Falmouth, after a tedious passage of nine days from Ireland, on the 29th of the same month.

The queen received our enterprising navigator with peculiar distinction and encouragement; and at an audience which she gave him very shortly afterwards, and whilst he was close to her person, she, intentionally no doubt, dropped her glove, which on the earl presenting to her, he was most graciously desired to retain as an especial proof of

Hackluyt, vol ii. part 2, pp. 163, 164.

her favour. This was a mark of distinction which called forth all the romantic enthusiasm of his lordship, and, encircling the glove with diamonds, he ever after, on days of tilt and tournament, wore it in the front of his high-crowned hat; and in one of his pictures, and in the beautiful engraving from it by Robert White, this proud trophy makes a conspicuous figure.

So acknowledged, indeed, was his superiority in the listed fields of combat, that when, in 1590, on the anniversary of her majesty's accession, the gallant old knight, sir Henry Leigh, formally resigned his office of queen's champion, on account of his advancing years, the earl of Cumberland was immediately appointed his successor; and the investiture took place on the spot, with the following curious ceremonial.

As soon as the tournament was over, sir Henry and the earl, who had been engaged in its performance, advanced to the part of the gallery where the queen, encircled by her nobility and the beauties of her court, had placed herself to view the tilters. Music, soft and slow, stole upon the air as they approached, whilst a voice full of sweetness, but

1

whose source was unperceived, sung to its notes these pleasing words:

My golden locks time hath to silver turn'd,

(Oh time too swift, and swiftness never ceasing)

My youth 'gainst age, and age at youth hath spurn'd:
But spurn'd in vain, youth waneth by increasing;
Beauty, strength, and youth, flowers fading been,
Duty, faith, and love, are roots and evergreen.

My helmet now shall make a hive for bees,
And lover's songs shall turn to holy psalms;
A man at arms must now sit on his knees,
And feed on pray'rs that are old age's alms.
And so from court to cottage I depart :
My saint is sure of mine unspotted heart.

And when I sadly sit in homely cell,

I'll teach my swains this carrol for a song :

"Blest be the hearts that think my sovereign well, Curs'd be the souls that think to do her wrong." Goddess, vouchsafe this aged man his right,

To be your beadsman now, that was your knight.

Whilst this was going forward, a white pavilion, supported apparently on pillars of porphyry, and resembling the temple of the vestal virgins, was seen to arise out of the earth, exhibiting in its centre an altar of beautiful workmanship, on which were deposited several splendid presents for the queen.