seems founded on the grievance just now mentioned,
and is related by some as a matter of fact [3] commonly reported at
that time. It is said, that upon his presenting some poems to the
Queen, she ordered him a gratuity of one hundred pounds, but the Lord
Treasurer Burleigh objecting to it, said with some scorn of the poet,
of whose merit he was totally ignorant, "What, all this for a song?"
The queen replied, "Then give him what is reason." Spenser for some
time waited, but had the mortification to find himself disappointed
of her Majesty's bounty. Upon this he took a proper opportunity to
present a paper to Queen Elizabeth in the manner of a petition, in
which he reminded her of the order she had given, in the following
lines.

I was promised on a time
To have reason for my rhime,
From that time, unto this season
I received nor rhime, nor reason.

This paper produced the intended effect, and the Queen, after sharply
reproving the treasurer, immediately directed the payment of the
hundred pounds the had first ordered. In the year 1579 he was sent
abroad by the Earl of Leicester, as appears by a copy of Latin verses
dated from Leicester-house, and addressed to his friend Mr. Harvey;
but Mr. Hughes has not been able to determine in what service we was
employed. When the Lord Grey of Wilton was chosen Deputy of Ireland,
Spenser was recommended to him as secretary. This drew him over to
another kingdom, and settled him in a scene of life very different
from what he had formerly known; but, that he understood, and
discharged his employment with skill and capacity, appears
sufficiently by his discourse on the state of Ireland, in which there
are many solid and judicious remarks, that shew him no less qualified
for the business of the state, than for the entertainment of the
muses. His life was now freed from the difficulties under which it had
hitherto struggled, and his services to the Crown received a reward of
a grant from Queen Elizabeth of 3000 Acres of land in the county of
Cork. His house was in Kilcolman, and the river Mulla, which he has
more than once so finely introduced in his poems, ran through his
grounds. Much about this time, he contracted an intimate friendship
with the great and learned Sir Walter Raleigh, who was then a captain
under the lord Grey. The poem of Spenser's, called Colin Clouts come
home again, in which Sir Walter Raleigh is described under the name of
the Shepherd of the Ocean, is