ISLAND 14? 



envy, and he was a mere vegitable of the Court 

 that sprang up at night and sunke againe at his 

 noone." In 1561 the members of the Inner Temple 

 celebrated Christmas by representing a splendid 

 Masque in which Hatton played the part of " Master 

 of the Games " ; the notice of the Queen, who was 

 present, was immediately attracted by his appear- 

 ance. As Camden says : " Being young and a 

 comely talleness of body and countenance he got 

 into such favour with the Queen, that she took him 

 into her band of fifty Gentlemen pensioners." 

 Unlike most Royal favourites, Hatton made more 

 friends than enemies. But he roused the jealousy 

 of Leicester, who, on account of the Queen's admira- 

 tion for Hatton's dancing, suggested to his royal 

 mistress the introduction of a dancing-master, who 

 excelled her favourite in every way. " But Eliza- 

 beth drew a proper distinction between the merit 

 of an artist and the skill of an amateur." " Pish," 

 she said contemptuously, " I will not see your man 

 it is his trade." 



The Queen's partiality caused " much envy, and 

 some scandal " ; perhaps calling her favourite such 

 nicknames as "Lydds" (Lids) and "sheep" was un- 

 dignified in so great a sovereign. It was in 1 574 that 

 Sir Christopher Hatton, with the Queen's consent, 

 applied to Dr. Cox, the Bishop of Ely, for the lease 

 of the episcopal house in Ely Place, Holborn 

 afterwards Hatton Garden. The Bishop made a 



