“The speeches being ended, probably to the relief of the hearers, the tilting commenced, and continued till night, with some fresh circumstances of magnificence, and a few more harangues. At length the challengers presented to their sovereign an olive bough, in token of their humble submission; and both parties were dismissed by her, with thanks and commendations. “I told you I would give you some account of Sir Henry Leigh, whose formal resignation of the office of queen’s champion, so long his glory and delight, and which took place four years preceding this last pageant, forms one of those romantic ceremonies which mark so well the age of Elizabeth. The gallant earl of Cumberland was his destined successor, and the momentous transfer was effected after the following fashion. “Having first performed their respective parts in the chivalrous exercises of the band of knight-tilters, Sir Henry and the earl presented themselves to her majesty, at the foot of the gallery where she was seated, surrounded by her ladies and nobles, to view the games. “They advanced to slow music, and a concealed performer accompanied the strain with the following song: “My golden locks time hath to silver turn’d, (Oh, time! too swift, and swiftness never ceasing,) My youth ’gainst age, and age at youth hath spurn’d; But spurn’d in vain, youth waneth by increasing: Beauty, strength, and youth, flowers fading been; Duty, faith, and love, are roots and evergreen. “My helmet now shall make a hive for bees, And lover’s songs shall turn to holy psalms; A man at arms must now sit on his knees, And feed on prayers that are old age’s alms; And so, from court to cottage I depart, My saint is sure of mine unspotted heart. “And when I sadly sit in homely cell, I’ll teach my swains this carol for a song: ‘Bless’d be the hearts that think my sovereign well, Curs’d be the souls that think to do her wrong.’ Goddess, vouchsafe this aged man his right To be your beads-man now, that was your knight.”