CHAPTER XX

THE ALARM My Lord Northampton did not overrate the King's delight at the prospect opened out before him by the Essex petition. His majesty sent for his Robin, and, closeted with him alone, showed him the document, the preparation of which his lordship had witnessed, and entertained him at great length with the theological, legal, and physiological intricacies which its contents aroused. His majesty was almost tearful on the subject of the poor Howard lassie, and the harshness of Fate to have sent so dour a visitati…