The Political Allegory in ''The Faerie Queeiie" 19 



1578. and it might have been done earlier as well. He also was 

 married to Elizabeth Wriothesley, daughter of the Earl of 

 Southampton. ^- 



In Canto viii, after his return from the journey through Mam- 

 mon's realm, Guyon fainted. He is, in this state of weakness, 

 set upon by both Cymocles and Pyrocles, but Arthur fortunately 

 appears and the brothers are killed, first Cymocles and then 

 Pyrocles, the latter being beheaded at his own request. Sussex 

 was saved by the arrival of troops under the Earl of Warwick 

 and Lord Hunsdon. In the sonnet addressed to Lord Hunsdon, 

 Spenser directly says : 



" When that tumultuous rage and fearful deene 

 Of Northerne rebels ye did pacify . . . 

 Live, Lord, forever in this lasting verse, 

 That all posteritie thy honor may reherse." 



It is not impossible to regard Lord Hunsdon or the Earl of 

 Warwick, the brother of Leicester, as here acting in the place of 

 Leicester in the character of Arthur, especially as Leicester was 

 one of Elizabeth's closest advisers at this time. 



Pyrocles had received from Archimago the sword of Arthur 

 which was meant for Braggadocchio. Leicester had previously 

 been suggested even by Elizabeth as a possible husband for 

 Mary ; and during this rebellion it was natural that his loyalty 

 should be suspected. It is also curious that Pyrocles was be- 

 headed by Arthur after the fight when he had been overcome. 

 Northumberland was executed at York in 1572 for participation 

 in the rebellion."' 



After the death of Pyrocles, Archimago flees and for a time 

 at least is absent from the story. When Elizabeth had put down 

 the X'orthern Rebellion, there was at least the semblance of peace 

 in the kingdom. 



Guyon and Arthur together go now in Cantos ix-x to the home 

 of Alma (Temperance), and there are refreshed after the battle. 



^ See article on Sussex in Diet, of Nat. Biography. 



^It may be objected that Spenser applies the term paynim knights to 

 these brothers. But it is possible that by paynim Spenser means not 

 pagan but Catholic. 



177 



