Front matter
Reading edition
Transcriber’s Notes: Archaic and variable spelling, as well as punctuation, has been preserved as printed except as indicated in the text by a dotted line under the change. Hover the mouse over the word and the original text will appear. A list of these changes can be found here. The following words were found in both hyphenated and unhyphenated forms in the original text and both forms have been retained: hunting party (hunting-party) lifetime (life-time); also, the obsolete spelling of Shakespeare (Shakspeare) was retained. Illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are not in the middle of a paragraph. There is one footnote and it has been placed at the end of the chapter in which it appears.
Copyright 1904 by The Penn Publishing Company
In Doublet and Hose
“METHINKS THE MAID WILL SERVE OUR PURPOSE WELL”
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
I A Question of Skill 7
II The Soldier Guest 17
III The Page’s Dress 27
IV Anthony Babington 37
V On the Road to Stafford 48
VI A Glimpse of Mary 56
VII Francis to the Front 66
VIII The Delivery of the Letters 75
IX The Coming of Elizabeth 90
X The Queen Takes Offense 101
XI At the Queen’s Command 111
XII The Favor of Princes 121
XIII A Familiar Face and a Challenge 137
XIV A Strange Duel 149
XV The Strange Weakness of Francis Stafford 160
XVI What Came of an Offer of Friendship 171
XVII What Francis Overheard 182
XVIII An Adventure 192
XIX A Shelter from the Storm 203
XX Francis Finds a Helper 213
XXI An Unlooked for Reception 223
XXII As It Fell Out 229
XXIII In the Tower of London 238
XXIV A Friend in Need 250
XXV A Great Sorrow Befalls Francis 260
XXVI A Fellow Prisoner 272
XXVII The Escape 284
XXVIII The Three Volunteers 297
XXIX A Britomarte of the Armada 304
XXX Pardon And Happiness 321
Illustrations
PAGE
“Methinks the Maid will Serve our Purpose Well!” frontispiece
Queen Mary’s Wit Grasped the Situation 77
Elizabeth Extended her Hand Graciously 107
The Two were Deep in the Mysteries of Fencing 156
She Gave a Faint Gasp 190
“I Will Not Tell, Sir Francis” 248
“Pull, Pull for Your Life!” 318
IN DOUBLET AND HOSE