the best policy was forthwith to re-embark the remnant of the troops. The fleet was then divided; a certain number to go with the Earl, and the rest to follow the orders of Sir John Berkley. They met at Flores, after both having suffered much in a violent gale of wind. They thence proceeded for England, where they arrived in the month of October. This grand expedition must have been a very serious expense to the Earl, and a loss to all employed on it; but it so far served the nation as to the damage done to the Spaniards, by obstructing their carracks and plate-ships both in going to and returning from the Indies. For himself the loss must have been great enough to deter him from any further crusades.

Whatever may have been the leading motive that induced the Earl of Cumberland to pursue, with so much steadiness and vigour, his numerous voyageswhether with the view of serving his country, of gratifying the Queen, or of repairing his shattered fortune, or, it is fair to add, from the love of honourable fame-it must be granted, at least, that his unremitting zeal and indefatigable perseverance are deserving of admiration, and that his numerous expeditions were favourable to the increase and employment of seamen, and advantageous to the shipping interests. Perhaps, however, his personal share in them was not exactly such as to have stamped on his memory the character of a hero.

Other pursuits, however, of a different character were intermixed with his sea-voyages, and occupied the time and attention of the Earl of Cumberland. In the year 1590 (when certain jousts and tournaments were exhibited before the Queen at the tiltyard, under the name of Exercises in Arms, which were solemnized annually on the 17th of November) the Earl was invited to be present. These exhibitions were the invention of "the right virtuous and honourable Sir Henry Lee, Master of Her Highness' Armorie, who of his great zeale and earnest desire to eternize the glory of her Majesty's court, in the beginning of her happy reigne, voluntarily vowed (unless infirmity, age, or other accident, did impeach him) during his life to present himself at the tilt, armed, the day aforesaide, yearly, there to perform, in honour of Her Sacred Majestie, the promise he formerly made. However, the author of that custom, being now by age overtaken, in the thirtythird year of her Majesty's reigne, resigned, and recommended that office unto the Right Noble George Earl of Cumberland."*

"On the day in question the author, with the Earl, having first performed their service in armes, presented themselves unto her Highness, at the foot of the stairs under her gallery windows, in the tiltyard at Westminster; where her Majesty did sit, accompanied with the ambassador of France, many *Nicholls's Progresses.

ladies, and the chiefest nobility. As the armed knights approached her Majesty, musick so sweet and secret was heard, that every one greatly marvelled."

We have then a long description, during that excellent melody, of the earth opening, and a pavilion rising up "like unto the sacred temple of the Virgins Vestall;" resembling a church with pillars of porphyry, and within it many lamps burning. There were also various crowned pillars and other devices, with complimentary songs and verses, while "Vestal Maydens" presented various gifts unto her Majesty. While these presents, with prayer, were with great reverence delivered unto her Majesty's own hands, the venerable champion, disarmed, offered up his armour at the foot of her Majesty's crowned pillar; and, kneeling, presented the Earle of Cumberland, humbly beseeching she would be pleased to accept him as her knight, to continue the yearly exercises aforesaid. Her Majestie generously accepting of that offer, this aged knight armed the Earle, and mounted him upon his horse.*

There is something touching amidst these frivolities, as they appear to us, in a song sung in the character of the aged knight, of which the following are two verses :

*Nicholls's Progresses.

My helmet now shall make a hive for bees,
And lovers' songs shall turn to holy psalmes;
A man at armes must now sit on his knees,

And feed on prayers 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 swaines this carol for a song:
Blest be the hearts that think my Sovereign well ;
Curs'd be the soules that think to do her wrong.
Goddess, vouchsafe this aged man his right,
To be your beadsman now, that was your knight.

On May-day, 1600, we find An Ode to Cynthia,' sung before Her Sacred Majestie, at a shewe on Horsebacke, wherewith the Right Honorable the Earle of Cumberland presented Her Highness with a most doleful speech, which Dr. Whitaker gives at full length; and observes, upon the overstrained compliments paid to her beauty, &c., that his Cynthia was then in her sixty-seventh year.*

In early life the Earl had formed an attachment to the beautiful daughter of Sir William Hollis ; but this independent gentleman rejected his proposals, observing that his daughter should marry a good gentleman, with whom he might enjoy society and friendship, and not a son-in-law before whom he would have to stand cap-in-hand. He next paid his addresses to Frances Russell, daughter of Francis Earl of Bedford, and was accepted; an

* Whitaker's Antiquities of Craven.

amiable woman, whom, as a husband, he cruelly neglected.

The character of the Earl, as given by Dr. Whitaker, in his‘History and Antiquities of Craven,' is far from favourable :-"The Earl of Cumberland," he says, "was a great but unamiable man. His story admirably illustrates the difference between greatness and contentment, between fame and virtue. If we trace him in the public history of his times, we see nothing but the accomplished courtier, the skilful navigator, the intrepid commander, the disinterested patriot. If we follow him into his family, we are instantly struck with the indifferent and unfaithful husband, the negligent and thoughtless parent. If we enter his muniment-room, we are surrounded by memorials of his prodigality, mortgages and sales, inquietude and approaching want. He set out with a larger estate than any of his ancestors, and in little more than twenty years he made it one of the least. Fortunately for his family à constitution, originally vigorous, gave way at forty-seven to hardships, anxiety, and wounds. His separation from his virtuous lady was occasioned by a court intrigue."*

He was, to say the least of him, careless of his family; lived on ill terms with his Countess, Margaret, a woman of extraordinary merit, but perhaps too high spirited for such a husband. She was certainly

* Whitaker's History of Craven.