Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-02-22
DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.

in London, closes with the following stri
king scene, in which the reader is intro
duced to the death-bed Of Queen Eliza
beth. Her Majesty had summoned Luc,
Fenton TO wait upon her. The scene i,
powerful and melo-dramatic.
The Queen lay in her bed she had or.
dered her attendants not to draw the cur.
tains over her windows, and she watched
the leaaess trees waving TO and fro before
them, and the rudy fame Of her fire, dan.
cling upon the tapestry. Elizabeth hac
sunk into that partial torpor in which
though the mind has not altogether yielded
10 the influence ofsleep, the memories, the
visions that pass over it, have the indistinct.
ness of dream. A long train of shad-
dows fitted before the mental eve of Eliz-
abeth there was the fair face of Gertrude
Harding, and another face as fair; the fea.
lures too ofthe Inflated Essex rose to blight
her in her Sleep but ever were those fe-
male faces present, even when the others
had passed away. Suddenly Elizabeth
started up-she was wide awake, but an
unutterable horror had seized upon her
soul-any thing to escape from that bed !
and when her dismal shrek had summon
ed her attendants to her apartment, they
found her standing in her night-dress on
the floor, her hands clenched, her eyes fix
ed as in a convulsion, and specks Of foam
upon her parted lips. II was frightful
spectacle, the strongly marked but wither-
ed features and stony blue eyes of the mis-
cradle Queen.
But what needs it to prolong the descrip-
ton of scenes SO horrible; the struggles of
a soul which had used its greatness only
to destroy and which, summoned to quit
that world it had too much loved, shrunk
from the contemplation Of its past career.
No entreaties could prevail upon the
wretched Queen to return to her bed she
raved, screamed, and wept at the proposal.
Cushions were brought, and upon them
she was extended; bitterly bemoaning'h
miserable fate, and refusing all refreshment
and consolation.
Who does not know that for ten DAYS
the unhappy Quee. thus remained, still
refusing to enter her bed. The bishops,
and the Lords of the Council, alike in vain
entreated her TO alter this resolution. To
Lucy Willoughton, whom she still detain-
ed in attendance. she expressed strong in
d'gnation against Secretary Cecil, the son
OF her old favorite Burlegh.
"He telleth the people, Mistress Will
loughton, said Elizabeth, ''that am mad
but am not mad; oh, would TO God that
were"
Gracious madam, be comforted! /" said
Lucy, who was moved by the pitiable con-
dition Of the Queen.
do not thou mock me, fair dame, with
much empty words" replied Elizabeth:
had thy poor cousin seen me thus, she
had known me better than to talk of COM
fort. Alas, alas, why does her face still
pursue me9 God knows how bitterly
mourned her fate; but it cometh, il COM
eth forever, and still accompanied by ano-
Their. which my soul sickeneth to behold"
While Elizabeth spoke, entered Sir Robert
Cecil, with the Lord Admiral, relation of
the Queen: they came to entreat that she
would suffer herself to be conveyed to bed.
Elizabeth looked round. shuddering at
her costly couch. "Oh, never, never !"
she exclaimed. "Oh, Cecil, If thou hadst
seen there what have seen, thou wouldst
not drive thy mistress TO that couch Of hor.
rors!"
What has your Grace there beheldi"
said Cecil; "have you seen the dwellers Of
another world p
"Nay" answered Elizabeth, assured.
ly that is aa idle question, and beneath our
notice"
''ln sooth your Grace must retire 10
bed. y persisted Cecil, ''if il be bat to salts
fy the affiict'on of your peoplei"
Al these words the embers of an almost
extinguished fire blazed in the heart of
Elizabeth, and lighted up her worn fea-
lures with something of the dignity Of old:
she raised herself Ga her cushions.
"Must" she exclaimed; "is mast a
word to be addressed to pinces' Little
man, little man, thy father il he had been
alive, burst not have used that word. But,
alas alas!" continued the Queen, wiring
ing her hands, and speaking in a tone Of
deep detection. 'thou art grown presump-
tuous, because thou knowest that shall
die !"
Good madam, be comforted," said the
Lord Admiral. again approaching the
Queen.
She again raised herself with Lucy's
assistance, and grssping him by the hand,
she looked him pitiousiy in the face then
bursting into tears, she said-"My Lord,
my Lord, am tied with an iron collar
about my neck; am tied fast, and the
case is altered with mel"
From this time the Queen gradually
sunk, falling into lethargy which releas-
ed her from those mental torrents which
il had wrung the compassionate heart Of
Lucy to behold, during this lethargy, she
was placed IN her bed. AS her end was now
evidently fast approaching, the Lord Keep
er,the Admiral, & the Secretary Cecil, we're
dePuted by the Council to learn Elizabeth's
will with regard to her successor. Lucy
Willoughton, whom the Queen during her
intervals OF consciousness had commanded
to remain near her, stood by the side Of the
royal couch. The Queen took no notice
when the Kings of Scotland and France
were mentioned by these lords; then they
spoke ofthe heir ofthe house of Suffolk, the
Lord Beauchamp, the SOC of Lady Catha-