Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-02-08

DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.

DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. i
A historical romance. lately Published in London
closes with the following striking scene In which
the reader is introduced to the deahbed Of Queen
Elizabeth. Her Majesty has summoned Lucy Fem
ton to wal, upon her. The scene is powerful and
me 10 dramatic -
The Queen Law in her bed /; she had ordered her
attendants not TO draw the curtains over her win.
dows, and she watched the leshess tress waving to
and fro before them, and the rudy flame Of her fire
dancing upon the tapestry. Elizabeth had sunk in
TO tina, partial ,orpor in which, although tue mind
has not altogether yielded TO the influence Of Sleep
the memories, she visions that pass over 1t have the
indistinctness OF a dream. A long tain of shadows
| fitted before the mental eye of Elizabeth there
was the fair face OF Gertrude Harding, and another
face as fair; the features too Of The iiated Essex
rose fright her in her sleep but ever were those
female faces present, even when the others had
passed away. Suddenly Elizabeth started up--she
was wide awake, but an unuiterabe horror had
seized upon her sou-any thing to escape from that
bed and when her dismal shrek had summoned
her attendants 10 her apartment, they found her
standing in her nigh. dress the floor, her hands
cleuched, her eyes fixed as in a convulsion, and
specks Of foam upon her parted lips. II was
frighiful spectacle the strongly marked but wilher-
ed features and stony blue eyes of the miserable
Queen.
Blu. wha, needs it to prolong the description Of
scenes horrible the struggles Of soul which
had used It's greatness 10 destroy and which sum-
moned TO quit that world it hath too much loved,
shrunk from the contemplation Of its past career.
No entrcaIies could prevail upon the wretched
Queen to return to her bed she raved, screamed,
| and wept al the proposal. Cushions were brought
and upon them she extended, bitterly bemoan-
ing her miserable fate, and refusing all reireshmenl
and consolation.
Who does not know that for ten days the unfap-
py Queen thus remained, still refusing ID enter her
bed The Bishops and the Lords Of the Council,
alike in vain enlreaed her 10 alter this resolution.
To Lucy Willoughion, whom she still sustained IN
attendance she expressed strong indignation against
Secretary Cecil, the son Of her ole iavoritc Bur
leigh.
e He ,elleh the people, Mistress Willouehton;
l. said Elizabeth that am mad but am not mad
4 oh, would 10 God that we're!
!, Gracious madam. be comforted said Lucy wht
u was moved by the pi,iabe condition ofthe Queen.
/ DO not thus mock me- fair dame. with such emp
ty words, replied Elizabeth, had thy poor cousin
!, seen me thus, she had known me better than tf
= talk Of comfort. Alas alas, why does her TACT
g still pursue me God knows how bitterly moui
C ned her fate; but 1t cometh, it cometh forever ant
% still accompanied by another, which my soul sick
= eneth to behold While Elizabeth spoke, entered
l. Sir Robert Cecil, with the Lord Admiral, rela
IF ton ofthc Queen; they came to entreat that sh'
l., would suffer herself to he conveyed to Iud.
Elizabeth looked round, shuddering, at her cost
d " couch, 'Oh, never, never y she exclaimed. %
u
n thou woulds not drive thy misr oss to that couch
horrors y
D. What has your Grace there beheldl' asked CO
l. Gill; have you there behel the dweles Of anothe
I world =
! 'Nayn answered Elizabeth, surely this is an i'd
- question; and beneath our notice.
Is In soolh your Grace must retire to bed,' persis
b. ed Cecil, If be but to satisfy the affection
h your people
At these words, the embers of an almost extir
.ahl Erna a.ol
al beth, and lighting up her features with som,
thing of the dignity ofold, she raised herself hi
cushions
q Must she exclaimed is must word to be al
c. dressed 80 peinces Little man, little man, tn
u father fhe hal been alive, burst not have use
:. that word. But alas, alas continued the Queer
- wring,ng her hands and speaking in tone of dee
n detection, thou art grown presumptuous, becau
8. thou knowest that shall de-
= Good madam, be comfcred,' said the Lord Az
- miral, again approaching the Queen.
IT. She again raised herself, with Lucy's assistance
to and graspng him by the hand, she looked him pit
70 ously in the lace, then bursting into ears she
=, claimed, MY Lord, my Lord, am tied with ire
o' collar about my neck am tied fast, and the ca:
DIS is altered with me =
ut From This time the Queen gradually sunk, fallir
be into lehargy which released her from those me
:" tai tormens which il had wrung the compassiona
ng heart of Lucy to behold Outing this letharey 81
ur was placed in bed. AS Ter end was evident
oI last approaching, me LORD Keeper the Admiral al
the Secretary Cecil, were deputed by the coun'
hs to learn Ezabe,h's will with regard her succe
oil sor. Lucy Willoughton whom the Queen duri
en-, her intervals of consciousness had commanded
remain her, stood by the side OF the royal
W The Queen took no notice when the Kings Of SCI
MS land and France were mentioned by those lord
it, then they spoke Of the heir OF the house of Sniff
-. the Lord Beauchamp, the son Of the Lady Call
" crime Grey, and the Earl Of HEREFORD, TO whom s.
had always borne strong aniipahy. At this mar
he sue started, and the dizziness Of death seemed
ing VANISH lo5 monen. rom ner ~a o'ua eyes, wn
TO- in my seit; nlls but king shall sit upon
ra- throne of Elizabeth and who should that be |
tlv our cousin, the King Of Scots
-. She never spoke again.
Ramblcs among the Cottages