48 SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



thus describes the entrance to the Council of the terrible 

 " Protector," from whom nothing good or sacred could be 

 protected. He came " fyrste about IX of the clocke, salut- 

 ing them curtesly, and excusing himself that he had been 

 from them so long, saieing merily that he had been a slepe 

 that day. And after a little talking with them he said unto 

 the bishop of Elye, my lord. You have very good straw- 

 berries at your gardayne in Holberne, I require you let us 

 have a messe of them." He who has raised fine fruit will 

 know how eagerly the flattered bishop obeyed. Accord- 

 ing to the poet, the dissembler also leaves the apartment, 

 with his unscrupulous ally, Buckingham. 



" Where is my lord protector ? I have sent 

 For these strawberries," 



said the Bishop of Ely, re-entering. 



Lord Hastings looks around with an air of general con- 

 gratulation, and remarks : — 



" His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning ; 

 There 's some conceit or other likes him well." 



The serpent is hidden, but very near. A moment later, 

 Gloster enters, black as night, hisses his monstrous charge, 

 and before noon of that same day poor Hastings is a head- 

 less corpse. 



Far more sad and pitiful are the scenes recalled by the 

 words of the fiendish lago, — type for all time of those who 

 transmute love into jealousy : — 



" Tell me but this — 

 Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief, 

 Spotted with strawberries, in your wife's hand ? " 



*' I gave her such a one ; *t was my first gift." 



was the answer of a man whom the world will never forgive, 

 in spite of his immeasurable remorse. 



