The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-08-10
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Elizabeth was not slow to remark every delin-
quency. She had once prohibited Lady Mary
from wearing costly velvet kirtle, and perhaps
the affront was treasured deeply in the young
beauty heart; for, as recorded by William Fen
ton, she had refused to bear her mantle at the
hour her majesty is wonted to air in the garden,
and on small rebuke, did vent such unseemly
answer as did breed great choler in her MISTRESS,
so that "she swore she would no more show her
any countenance, but out with such ungracious,
fOuting wenches."
But at the bottom of all the anger for the
young lady's shortcomings, there lay the bitter
root of that jealousy which was engrafted deep
in the nature of Elizabeth, and which the young
and fair were perpetually in danger of disturb
ing. So cruelty did she often reproach her ladies
for slight faults that Elizabeth Fenton told her
brother they would often cry aloud at her sting
ing words
If Lady Mary Howard had indeed lain her
young heart unasked, at the feet of Robert
Devereux, it availed her nothing. His own heart
worshiped at another shrine. The young and
lovely daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham-the
widow of the gallant Philip Sidney-loved and
was beloved most truly by Essex. While the
queen herself was harborng intentions towards
him of nature but little equivocal, and which
did not stop short of elevation to the highest
honors, Essex had already put it out of her pow
er to fulfill them. Loyal to her as his queen
respectful, nay, almost affectionate to her
relation, and remembering her exceeding kind
ness to his boyhood, still nothing was further
from his mind than the alliance she meditated.
His whole soul would have revolted from it, nor
could he have suffered himself to be bought, as
the two French Princes, Anjou and Alencon had
submitted to be, by the tide of king-consort.-
Afterwards, it is true, when the snares of the
IL.
erous youth, he was not so scrupulous; but now
every thought was merged in the fair woman
who, by giving him her hand, brought dis
honor upon the memory of her brave husband.
When the queen heard of the marriage, her
rage exceeded all bounds. She refused Essex
the command of the troops which she sent to
Henry of Navarro, although, according to Eyer
ton, he remained kreeling before her for hours,
pleading to receive it. 1t was not until Henry
himself desired her to send him with the addi-
tiona force which she raised for his service, that
she consented. In letter to Henry, she begs
him to see that the youth commits no rashness
to peril his life-showing that she still regarded
him with affection.
When Walter Devereux was killed in battle,
she sent for his brother to return but afterwards
yielded to his strong petitions to remain and sus
tain his reputation for bravery. When he re-
turned he had lost that beautiful resemblance
to the dead husband of Lady Essex which had
won her affection; ard his heart was divided
between her and court honors which only q SEM
blance of devotion TO the queen could obtain for
him. And Elizabeth, grsteful for not being an
noyed by the praises of the neglected wife from
her husbands lips, gave herself to the pleasing
delusion that, notwithstanding her threescore
vaara ha had made an iu1DressiOC the vO1np