Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-03-09
OLE storg GeIIsr.
A Story Of Good Queen Bess,

Queen Elizabeth. The halls are hung with
rich tapestry, while the floor is strewed with
fresh hay AT the door leading to the queen s
apartments; stands an usher dressed in velvet
with gold chain around his neck, the badge
of his Office. In the chamber, may be seen,
Besides great number of councillors, officers
Of the crown, clergymen Of high rank-for the
queen, after giving passing audience 10 those
present, proceeds to chapel, the day being a
holiday of the church.
The mid-doors are thrown open, and the
coming of the Queen is announced Gentle
men, barons, earls, and knights Of the garter,
all richly dressed, and bareheaded, are the first
to enter the presence chamber from her apart
men,s. They are followed by the lord-chan-
cellOr, bearing the seals in silk purse and
on each side of him walks nobIeman-one
bearing the royal sceptre, and the other the
sword of state in crimson scabbard Queen
Elizabeth follows. small golden crown is
upon her head, and rests upon a ptofuson of
thick curled hair, of color too deeply san
guine TO countenance her early fatterers when
they called the hue golden. The locks now
worn by Elizabeth are, however, but close
resemblance Of what her natural tresses were
IN her earlier days. Rich pearls hang from
her ears, and necklace of fine Jewels is
thrown over her shoulders. A white silk
robe bordered with large pearls, adorn her per-
son, and the long train is borne BY a mar
chioness Of the realm. Elizabeth is now, as
has been hlnted, past the meridian of her days.
yet is her gait erect and majestic, and her
small dark eye retains its clear and vivid ex-
preston. A sharpening of the lines of her
naturally acute Iiueaments is all that speak of
the advance of years.
On the occasion when this scene, here de-
scrlbed IN the present tense, was TO be wit
messed, foreign ministers were in the presence
chamber, and 10 each Elizabeth spoke ia his
own language, whether that were Spanish or
Italian, French or Dutch Whiihersoever she
turned her eye, all knelt down before her
WhOsOeVer had the honor Of a word from her
remained knee!ing, unless the greal queen
raised him. She passed along slowly through
the large chamber, coaversng with those on
one side and another, and sometimes receiving
strangers presented by the usher. She came,
at length, 10 gentleman advanced in years,
who knelt at her look. He was richly dressed
but not in the robes Of office or nobility 'Ha .
said the queen, stretching out her hand, aad
raising this parsonage 'our good citizen, Sir
formed Of our wish to converse with thee
i had The honor, answered the citizen, 'lo.
receive your majesty'S commands to that ef
feet
Thou hast ever, indeed, good Sir John, re-
carded our slightest wish as a command CON
tinued Elizabeth; 'and we'll thy loyalty be-
seems thee. Thou hast paid dearly, too, for
thy affectionate regard for our person. The
old citizen sighed, as if invoIuntarily, showing
well that he understood the queens allusion
She went on, however, TO refer more plainly
10 the subject, while all around fell respectful
ly hack, marking her low tones. 1t was
while an auendant on our train that my young
Lord Compton first saw thy daughter and
the issue was the rash marriage thou deplorest.
Sir John, we would remedy the evil thou hast
sustained. The face of the citizen knight
grew suddenly flushed, and then left him paler
than before. He kHel; down, after a moment
of apparently agitated thought, and said, in
low and hurried voice, 4 hope-l trust your
majesty does not mean TO lay your commands
on me TO pardon'-The Queen interrupted him
Listen to US, Sir John Spencer. Your
paternaI resentment will be respected by US
Ii is favor which we have now 10 require Of
thee, and the granting of which may partly
remedy the misfortune which you have suf-
fered. An Infant boy has somewhat strangely
fallen to our particular guardianship. He is
Of such rank and birth that we conceive thee to
be filter person to act as his sponsor than
any of the mobiles Of our court. Thy civic po-
sitlon suits thee much more for serving the
future fortunes Of this boy and Gods bread,
Sir John, thou shalt have queen for rart-
ner in the Office
Doubt had gradually disappeared ffom the
citizens brow during this speech, and had been
spppianied by feeling Of the highest gratii-
cation. as was clear and apparent in his looks.
- Your majesty does me an honor which
kings might be proud of. And by Inv life,
madam, | shall prove, BY my conduct 10 the
boy, that your majecty has not SO honored one
who is ungraieful for it. | have no child ;
continued the citizen more slowly-'I have no
child now, and my godson shall supply the
place which has been wilfuly vacated. The
queen was obviously pleased with what had
passed. AS she looked on Sir John who had
cast down his eyes in closing his speech, there
was sparkle of passing pleasure in her quick
dark eye.
Farewell for the present, SIR John Spen-
cer, said she due iidings shall reach thee
when it becomes necessary TO assume thy new
duties The knight stopped TO kiss the hand
extended to him, and the queen passed on,
leaving the citizen to follow, and finally wend
his way hOmeward.
sH John Spencer, commonly called 'Rlch
Spencer was in his day the wealthiest and
most influential citizen Of London. The NAV
orally and shreyealty had been both served by