The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-21

| Few, IL any, readers OF English history have
1 doubted that Queen Elizabeth, "the maiden
| queen" loved the chivalric Earl Of Essex. Hers
/ was wild, infatuated love, such as the glori.
GUS sorceress of the Nile" bore for Marx Antony.
| She, queen upon whose head the crown Of Eng
land sat noby, made love to one of her courtiers-
favorite.
One night Elizabeth sat In her royal chamber
her head bowed upon the finely carved table, and
the folds Of her gorgeous night drapery hanging
loosely around her. light rap startled the queen
back her silver threaded hair, and asked who
wished admttance at such an hour.
Annette" was the reply.
"Ah my chambermsid," said the queen, as she
opened the door, and q buxom lass, with bright
eyes rosy cheeks and raven tresses entered and
courtesed most gracefully. " Thou art welcome,
good Annette. but methinks thou CONTEST late"
There is man ct the wicket, my LADY," re.
piled the girl.
Eyes, my lady"
"'Tis an unreasonable hour for q visit, but did
he state his business?"
Is He said he wished to see the gHssp;,,,
knSxest ta9q a MAIDS face rather sear che
"Yss, my lady; it ia Essex
Then admit him at once"
INTO the reception room, mistress,"
man entered the private chamber OF her
queen.
Elizabeth looked at the wondering girl amo
ment, when, seeming to guess the cause FOR won.
dermeni, said
Thou needs't not, wonder. Annette: he comes
him." AN"A'
The maid courtesied and withdrew.
Ihe queen now dressed herself hastily, and sat
deWn to await her visitor.
soon the door was pushed open, and handsome.
gallant Essex entered. He approached the oueen
ana srasped her extended hands.
annette now prudenty Withdrew, and Eng.
lsnds mighty sovereign and her lover were
They talked for q long time. aud words which
nresthed OF love we're spoken. An little thought
Essex, then, that the hand he was covering with
krsss, would, ere many months, sign his death |
As the tower clock toled the hour of pianjrb.
the courtier rose to depart. The queen drew a
costly ring from her finger and placed il in his /
hand, saying: "Noble Essex. il troubles OF state
snvelop thee return this ring, and thou shalt not
be forgotten"
The earl sgain raised her hand to his lips and /
TOOK his departure. Annette appearing TO conduct
hun TO the street. AZ the door closed upon Es- |
'exs stately form, Elizabeth threw hersef upon |
me rich couch snd sobbed aloud: 4" On, what q |
owe have for thee noble Essex, but can never !
al thee nine;" and while she yes lay there sob |
ping, the lover earl was travelling the moonlit |
ueet, gazing upon the ring-the queens tails. |
nan. /
Reader, is il not great 10 be the favor;,a n, |
lusen?
Adiiierent scene was not long afterward enacted |
the same room. dozen courtiers stood |
ronnd tee same queen-Essex's lover-ss abe |
81 before liable to sfdx her royal signature to a
comment that lay before her. Her eyes wan. |
ered unessily over IL, and her bosom rose and |
Oil Wild emotion. The document before her was
he death warrant Of Essex. He had been drawn
lto plot BY some mobiles. and his own rsshpsss |
nd nov lay IN prison. Why did not she sign The
cath warrant
She hoaght Of the ring abe had given Essex. |
az every moment she expected TO see the ROYAL |
lismsn brought to her. The mobiles grew inpa.
ent. and one asked:
Why does not the queen sign?n
That broke the stiffness. aroused the queen. aud
TN an unstesdy hand she signed the death war. |
'nt. The deed was done-her lover must die.
Alse1 me execution OF Essex the queen grew |
sevish and retiring, and was often heard sobbiny |
her apartments The missing ring was a mys. | Z
~ She had dispatched a trusty person 20 ex.
nine the body OF Essex, but the ring was not |
und thereon.
But At last ID came to light One day q mas. g
nger arrived In great haste at the palace with 1
Q uoings that the countess of nottingham was |
mig ano desired 20 see the queen. The queen |
stened 10 her, and as abe approached the death l
s . ~ he countess drew ring from her bosou
q held u up. The queen sprsng forward, tore
g venknovn bsuble from she trembling hand.
O IN loud voice demanded how IL came into | Y
: possession Of the countess.
inen inc oylng woman told her. Poor Essex |
len arrested, remembering the Injunction Of 1
royal lover, gave the ring TO the countess.
gsing her 70 convey 1t 10 the queen. But her l a,
aoand, q bitter enemy Of the esrl's, persuaded
: TO Keep Is. Had she obeyed the Imprisoned | q,
y, 70 All PROBABILITY he would have been saved
The countess implored the queen 10 forgive
!, out with the rury Of an enraged ugress the
Sen sprsng forvsrd, violently grssped The
ng woman, saying Nay COD forgive YOU.
ler can p" and immediately left the room.
rnOmQnt h. L
~ Kehmond in l603, just two years after The