it never called me to go from my
book, but it made both wit the lustier, and will the readier, to run to
it again, and perchance going back sometimes from learning may serve
even as well as it doth at leaping, to pass some of those which keep
always their standing at their book.

FOOTNOTES:

[80] The allusions to the writer's own _Toxophilus_ at the end require,
it is to be hoped, no annotation.

LADY MARY SIDNEY (?[81]-1586)

This "old Molly," as she so agreeably calls herself, was
very unfortunate in her father (that intrusive holder for a
short time of the title of Northumberland, who was offensive
in success and abject in adversity) and not too lucky in her
brother, Leicester. But she must have been far too good for
her own breed; she had an excellent husband, Sir Henry
Sidney, Deputy of Ireland and President of Wales, one of
Elizabeth's best deserving and worst treated servants, and
she was the mother of "Astrophel" and Astrophel's sister.
"One has known persons more unfortunate," as a famous phrase
of a French poem not very long after her own time has it.
And she must have thoroughly deserved good fortune: for her
letters show her as one of the best of wives and mothers (if
not of spellers): though it is quite possible that she might
not have made a good jurywoman or a good member of
parliament. As her husband was not merely governor
(repeatedly and with such success as was possible) of
Ireland, but "President of Wales," they usually, when in
England but not at Court or at Penshurst, lived at Ludlow
Castle and so enjoyed two of the most beautiful homes in the
country. But Sir Henry in these and other functions had seas
of trouble, great expenses, and according to "Gloriana's"
wont, very small thanks for it all. He is said, indeed, to
have had his life shortened by weariness and worry. But his
son and daughter[82] may have been a comfort to him: and his
wife must have been so. The letter itself, as will be seen,
is not to himself but to his secretary: and there was more
correspondence on the subject of their lodging and its
difficulties. Lady Mary was not well, and there must be a
place to see friends, and the Queen might come in! The
original letter[83] is better spelt than others of hers, the
principal curiosity being the form "hit" for "it