The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-03-10
England in Queen Elizabeth's Day.

So rapidly were the English growing in
tho luxurious and vices Of other lands
while they retained their native vigor and
coarse habits. that the playwrghis con.
slanily allnded 10 the incongruiiy Of the
fashions displayed in the dress Of dandies.
TO their language mixed ofall the dialects
in Europe. TO their aptitude for every kind
Of dissipation. 10 their skill in the sports
Of all nations. and TO the decay Of antique
severity. We have robbed Greece OF
gluttony." says stephen Gasson, Spain Of
pride. France of deceit. Duichland Of quai.
ting.' But these ailectations were only
kind Of varnish on the surface Of society
The incidents Of court gossip show how
savage was the life beneath. Queen Eliza
beth spat one day in the midst of her no.
blcs at u gentleman who dspleased her
She struck Lord Essex on the cheek
Burlcigh often cried at her ill.trealmcnt.-
The Lords wrangled. and even drew. swords
in her presence. Once Leicester took her
handkerchief from her lap 10 wipe his face
at tennis. Lady Jane Grey was starved
and beaten by her parents, and exposed 10
such indignities that she wcaried OF life
yet they made her one OF the best Greek
scholars OF the day. IIeretics were burned
in every town. Sir Henry Sidney, as W.
ttaNu tNOUi u VaVCN NNNtuAlN HhoIrutN NN
Mr.. Froude, when sent 10 quell the Irish
rebels, first proclaimed the Queens sovcr-
eighty, aud then allowed no mercy 10 the
recusants. lie put man. woman. and
child to the sword" While his sergeant.
majors balanced the advantages OF pillag.
ing or having some killing" with q pref.
ercncc for the latter when they felt ihcmscl.
yes in humor for the chase.
The belief in witches every where pre-.
vailed, nor was il an uncommon village
sport TO drown old women in the ponds. and
TO rack suspected wizards till for very an.
guish they confessed Fictitious crimes
Country. folks conducted their revels with
license that would shock our modern ears.
The Lord OF Misrule led out his motley
train. the ladies went a.Maying with their
lovers 10 the woods. The Feasts OF Asses
aud Of Fools profancd the sanctuarics nor
were the sports OF Christmas so well suited
| TO celebrate Christian festival as TO recall
the rites OF Wooden and Frcya. Men aud
women who read Plato and discussed the
beauties OF Petrarch's poetry. allowed the
coarsest' practical Jokes aud used the gros.
sest language. They sold farms and forests
and wore their acres in the form OF gems
aud gold lace on their backs. But their
splendid clothes aud jewels did not prevent
them from indulgingin the most untidy hab.
its. They would lie upon the rushcs which
concealed the fragments Of old feasts and
they burned perfumes 10 sweeten cham.
bcrs musty with bad air. The church il.
self was not respected, The nave OF ST.
J Paul's became rendezvous OF thieves and
prostitutes. Fine gentleman paid sums Of
money for the privilege OF clankng up and
down lis aisles In service time dancers
aud maskera. crowding from the square
outside iu all their ilnery, often took the
sacrament and then ran out TO rccOmmonee
their sports. A6n were papist and Pro.
tcsiants according 10 tho timc o. pay
hearing mass iufthe morning and sermon In
tho AFTERNOON. There was no end TO the ex.
travagance aud incongruity OF elements
which thenNprevailed in England. Vet in
the midst OF this confusion rose cavaliers
like Sidney. philosophers like Bacon poets
like Spencer; 10 whom al that Is pure, ele.
waited, subtle, tender, wise. delicate. and
learned 10 urmodern civilization. display.
od itself. Cbrnhm Magazine.
|