Essex, the accomplished and impetuous, generous and ill-judging favourite of the aged and still susceptible Queen Elizabeth, who struggled in vain against her fondness for her handsome and presuming subject, had a sister, too like him in all respects: violent in her attachments, imprudent in her resentments, and unfortunate in all the most important actions of her life, Penelope was most affectionately attached to her brother, who warmly returned her tenderness as he did that of all his family. If it had rested with him, his beautiful sister would not, probably, have been sacrificed to expediency, and forced to become the wife of a man whom she detested; her heart being, at the same time, given to another.

when the young and undistinguished Charles Blount, the penniless son of a noble house, first made his appearance at the court of the virgin Queen! Proud, modest and retiring, feeling himself unequal in fortune to any around him, yet sensibly alive to his dignity, and the honour of his ancient family, he would willingly have concealed himself in retirement; and, after completing his studies at Oxford and the Inner Temple, would have been content to exist upon his little patrimony, and never have trusted his frail bark on the uncertain sea of Court favour. But his friends judged otherwise; and it was deemed expedient, by those who reckoned upon the discriminating observation of their royal mistress, that the handsome and accomplished young nobleman should be seen by her whose smile dispensed favours and rewards.