Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-11-26
Vol. 3.


nature. These, with one exception, which
requires more particular description, were
the sole occupants of the chamber.
Close TO the Queen, bending attentively |
over her, and increasingly regarding her
every movement, was the Lady Scroope.
Several hours had elapsed since she had
taken up this position. Indeed from the
first moment that Elizabeth had been pro-
nounced actually dying she had rarely
quilted her side. 1t was to her, that in the
course of the preceding afternoon, the
Queen, who had been for some days speech
less, had by signs, minated her desire that
the council should be summoned. Raised
in her arms, Elizabeth had, in a similar
manner, communicated to them her wish
that James of Scotland should succeed her
to the throne. 1t was the Lady Scroope
who at a later hour, dismissed the arch
bishop and chapans, with a hurried assur-
ance that her mistress's life was ebbing
fast; and it was she who now, while the
night wore on, and the storm howIed with
out, retained her position by, and stead
lastly regarded her dying sovereign, alb
sorbed in silence, with the exception Of
impatently answering the enquiries which,
at distant intervals, Lady Warwick and
the others addressed to her.
"What hour is il" she at length de-
handed of her companions.
1T is almost midnight" hastily answered
the Marchioness of Warwick. She was
listening in deep attention to the gossip Of
the old Lady Sedgely, and turning to her,
she begged her to continue. sit was fair
show, your ladyship was saying
even so-even So" half whispered the
garrulous old woman, who, though she had,
from her extreme age, a weak and inn
paired mind, yet there came across it, al
times, glimpses of memory as clear and as
powerful as sunbeam breaking in on the
long darkness of dungeon wall. 81 had
seen marvellously richer Mosques and rev.
els than that; but now she brings it to my
mind"--and she pointed with her bony
finger to Elizabeth; "what a memory is
mine. 1t seemeth but now that stood
beside her grace of Norfolk; it was she
who carried the royal babe, and methinks
it's but moment past that his majesty
loud and cheerful voice rang in my ear.
He took me by the hand, and said to
Crammer-was it Crammer the king spoke
to! was he the Archbishop of Canterbury
then? No--yet-what was speaking
6 of"
, "Of the spendor of the revel which at
, tended the birth of her majesty" answered
4 the Marchoness.
marry splendor indeed!" and Lady
Sedgely laughed pettishly and feebly as she
spoke. Il tell you, my Lady Marchoness
e not all the stately pageants, shows, anc
4 revels that my Lord of Leicester and Other
= braggarts made for the pleasure Of the
!. Queen, ever cqualled, or approached the
i gorgeousness of such as | have seen! YOU
g know not what revel is. Years--years
: ago, when quite girl. what pageants, wha
II devices of rare cunning have not these eye!
!, beheld!--There was the day, and they tel
of it still, and will for ever, when our noble
:. Harry met the royal Francis in the valley
Of Aude."
!, Lady Warwick sighed; for the Lady
:, Sedgely had wandered to a favorite anc
=, constant theme. She had been a witness
g to the meeting of the two kings on the ia
famed Field of the Cloth of Gold.
- 81 was there--yes, was there. Prin
= ces--aye, my lady. and those mightier thar
:. princes" the old woman, added, proudly
as she caught the expression of Lad
r. Warwick's face, shave been glad to hea
"a the story of that day from my poor lip.
There are few to tell it now. | remem
ri ber"--and her eyes glistened, and he
N shrunken and dry lip quivered with pride
=. Il remember, one day, at the Globe play
,e house, when her majesty having been di
W veried by the players, bade them summo
n William Shakespeare to her. | was de
a. scribing to her highness how her nobl
"a father, on the eve Of that glorious day
nc told me--she loved to hear me tell of him
and when had finished my story of tn
Cloth of Gold and all its marvels, William
Shakespeare, who had been waiting at a
humble distance, did implore me privil