If indeed he is not out of favor, the Company
may find in him a powerful friend; of powerful enemies, God
knows, there is no lack!"
Thus the worthy Master Ferrar. And at the bottom of the letter,
among other news of city and court, mention was made of the
disappearance of a ward of the King's, the Lady Jocelyn Leigh.
Strict search had been made, but the unfortunate lady had not been
found. " 'T is whispered that she hath killed herself; also, that his
Majesty had meant to give her in marriage to my Lord Carnal. But
that all true love and virtue and constancy have gone from the age,
one might conceive that the said lord had but fled the court for a
while, to indulge his grief in some solitude of hill and stream and
shady vale, - the lost lady being right worthy of such dole."
In sooth she was, but my lord was not given to such fashion of
mourning.
The summer passed, and I did nothing. What was there I could do?
I had written by the Due Return to Sir Edwyn, and to my cousin,
the Earl of Northumberland. The King hated Sir Edwyn as he
hated tobacco and witchcraft. "Choose the devil, but not Sir
Edwyn Sandys!" had been his passionate words to the Company
the year before. A certain fifth of November had despoiled my
Lord of Northumberland of wealth, fame, and influence. Small
hope there was in those two. That the Governor and Council,
remembering old dangers shared, wished me well I did not doubt,
but that was all.
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