"
Dame Nelly here hit by chance on a more available topic of consolation
than those she had hitherto touched upon; for the youthful lord had
himself some vague hopes that his messenger might have been delayed at
Court until a fitting and favourable answer should be dispatched back
to him. Inexperienced, however, in public affairs as he certainly was,
it required only a moment's consideration to convince him of the
improbability of an expectation so contrary to all he had heard of
etiquette, as well as the dilatory proceedings in a
court suit, and he answered the good-natured hostess with a sigh,
that he doubted whether the king would even look on the paper
addressed to him, far less take it into his immediate consideration.
"Now, out upon you for a faint-hearted gentleman!" said the good dame;
"and why should he not do as much for us as our gracious Queen
Elizabeth? Many people say this and that about a queen and a king, but
I think a king comes more natural to us English folks; and this good
gentleman goes as often down by water to Greenwich, and employs as
many of the barge-men and water-men of all kinds; and maintains, in
his royal grace, John Taylor, the water-poet, who keeps both a sculler
and a pair of oars. And he has made a comely Court at Whitehall, just
by the river; and since the king is so good a friend to the Thames, I
cannot see, if it please your honour, why all his subjects, and your
honour in specialty, should not have satisfaction by his hands.
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