 took a deep interest in the Earl of Sussex, and had willingly
accommodated both him and his numerous retinue in his hospitable mansion. Say's
Court was afterwards the residence of the celebrated Mr. Evelyn, whose Silva is
still the manual of British planters, and whose life, manners, and principles,
as illustrated in his Memoirs, ought equally to be the manual of English
gentlemen.
 

                               Chapter Fourteenth

 This is rare news thou tell'st me, my good fellow;
 There are two bulls fierce battling on the green
 For one fair heifer - if the one goes down,
 The dale will be more peaceful, and the herd,
 Which have small interest in their brulziement,
 May pasture there in peace.
                                                                       Old Play.
 
Say's Court was watched like a beleaguered fort; and so high rose the suspicions
of the time, that Tressilian and his attendants were stopped and questioned
repeatedly by sentinels, both on foot and horseback, as they approached the
abode of the sick Earl. In truth, the high rank which Sussex held in Queen
Elizabeth's favour, and his known and avowed rivalry of the Earl of Leicester,
caused the utmost importance to be attached to his welfare; for, at the period
we treat of, all men doubted whether he or the Earl of Leicester might
ultimately have the higher rank in her regard.
    Elizabeth, like many of her sex, was fond of governing by factions, so as to
balance two opposing interests, and reserve in her own hand the power of making
either predominate, as the interest of the state, or perhaps as her own female
caprice (for to that foible even she was not superior), might finally determine.
To finesse - to hold the cards - to oppose one interest to another - to bridle
him who thought himself highest in her esteem, by the fears he must entertain of
another equally trusted, if not equally beloved, were arts which she used
throughout her reign, and which enabled her, though frequently giving way to the
weakness of favouritism, to prevent most of its evil effects on her kingdom and
government.
    The two nobles who at present stood as rivals in her favour, possessed very
different pretensions to share it; yet it might be in general said, that the
Earl of Sussex had been most serviceable to the Queen, while Leicester was most
dear to the woman. Sussex was, according to the phrase of the times, a
martialist; had done good service in Ireland and in Scotland, and especially in
the great northern rebellion in 1569, which was quelled, in a great measure, by
his military talents
