The next day my Lady Suffolk desired I would write her a patent for appointing Lady Temple poet laureate to the fairies.  I was excessively out of order with a pain in my stomach, which I had had for ten days, and was fitter to write verses like a poet laureate, than for making one:  however, I was going home to dinner alone, and at six I sent her some lines, which you ought to have seen how sick I was, to excuse; but first, I must tell you my tale methodically.  The next morning by nine o’clock Miss Hotham (she must forgive me twenty years hence for saying she was eleven, for I recollect she is but ten,) arrived at Lady Temple’s, her face and neck all spotted with saffron, and limping.  “Oh, Madam!” said she, “I am undone for ever if you do not assist me!” “Lord, child,” cried my Lady Temple, “what is the matter?” thinking she had hurt herself, or lost the ring, and that she was stolen out before her aunt was up.  “Oh, Madam,” said the girl. “nobody but you can assist me!” My Lady Temple protests the ’child acted her part so well as to deceive her.  “What can I do for you?” “Dear Madam, take this load from my back; nobody but you can.”  Lady Temple turned her round, and upon her back was tied a child’s waggon.  In it were three tiny purses of blue velvet; in one of them a silver cup, in another a crown of laurel, and in the third four new silver pennies, with the patent, signed at top, Oberon Imperator; and two sheets of warrants strung together with blue silk according to form; and at top an office seal of wax and a chaplet of cut paper on it.  The warrants were these:—­

>From the Royal Mews:  A waggon with the draught horses, delivered by command without fee.

>From the Lord Chamberlain’s Office:  A warrant with the royal sign manual, delivered by command without fee, being first entered in the office books.

>From the Lord Steward’s Office:  A butt of sack, delivered without fee or gratuity, with an order for returning the cask for the use of the office, by command.

>From the Great Wardrobe:  Three velvet bags, delivered without fee, by command.

>From the Treasurer of the Household’s Office:  A year’s salary paid free from land-tax, poundage, or any other deduction whatever, by command.

>From the Jewel Office:  A silver butt, a silver cup, a wreath of bays, by command without fee.

Then came the patent: 

By these presents be it known,
To all who bend before your throne,
Fays and fairies, elves and sprites,
Beauteous dames and gallant knights,
That we, Oberon the grand,
Emperor of fairy land,
King of moonshine, prince of dreams,
Lord of Aganippe’s streams,
Baron of the dimpled isles
That lie in pretty maidans’ smiles,
Arch-treasurer of all the graces
Dispersed through fifty lovely faces,
Sovereign of the slipper’s order,
With all the rites thereon that border,
Defender of the sylphic faith,