Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1879 — A Male Cleopatra. [ARTICLE]

A Male Cleopatra.

It is gravely related, in a work called Lawson’s “History of Banking,” that the Spanish Ambassador to the English Court, having extolled the great riches of his King, the master of the Indies, and of the grandees of Spain before Queen Elizabeth, Sir Thomas Gresham, who was present, told him that the Queen had subjects who at one meal expended not only as much as the daily revenues of the King, but also of all grandees, and added, “This I will prove any day and lay you a heavy wager on it.” So Gresham ontbragged the Spaniard in his own line. The Ambassador, biding his time, came unawares to the mansion of Sir Thomas in Bishopsgate, and dined with him, when, finding only an ordinary meal, he said: “Well, sir, you have lost your stake!” “Not at all,” answered Sir Thomas; “and this you shall presently see.” He then pulled a box from his pocket, and, taking out one of the largest and finest Eastern pearls, showed it to the Ambassador, after which he ground it down and drank the dust in a glass of wine, to the health of the Queen, his mistress. “My Lord Ambassador,” said Sir Thomas, “you know I have often refused £15,000 for this pearl. Have I lost or won ?” “I yield the wager as lost,” said the Ambassador; “and Ido not think there are four subjects in the world that would do as much for the sovereign ciety,