, 1876-04-07
Queen Elizabeth.
A LEGEND OF WENTWORTH CASTLE.

"
1t was the evening of the day set for
Queen Elizabeth's visit to Kenilworth
Great muItitudes of people had been for
many hours assembled on the walls in
chase, and park and gardens, to witness
the splendid sight. But her majesty had
been detained till twilight at Warwick,
to receive the homage of her subjects,
and now it was announced that the grand
entrance would be made by torchlight.
At length the great bell of the castle
tolled, and single rocket shot up in the
air. Then all held their breath and list
ened. At first they could only hear a
dull, sealike sound, in the direction of
Warwick Castle-but it came nearer aid
grew louder, till they could distinguish
the tramp Of horses, music, and shouting
and the clang of armor.
When the Queen entered the royal
chase, hundreds of great rockets were
sent Kissing and blazing into the sky,
and such a mighty shout was set up by
the multitude that it was almost won
der it didn't jostle the stars out of their
places. Yet they did noFseem at all dis
turbed by the tumult, but staid quietly
in their orbits, and winked at one an
other as though making fun of the Earl's
fireworks. The whole music of the castle
burst forth-then there was a round OF ar
tillery and a tremendous discharge OF
blunderbusses.
The procession moved slowly and state
ly from the gate to the park !luE,inated
by two hundred great wax toreESe, borne
by armed horsemen.
The Queen-who was young at that time,
and though not handsome, was noble and
grand-looking-came mounted on beau
tiful milk-wbite horse, which she man
aged finely, for she was an admirable
rider. She was dressed in the richest
hilks, velvet and lace-and from head to
bot she seemed almost blazing with
Dstly Jewels. Beside the Queen rode the
Earl of Leicester, on a jet-black steed,
one of the handsomest in the world, with
trappings of velvet and gold, and silver
bits. The Earl was gorgeously dressed,
and glittered all over with gold and
gems. He sat on his horse so elegantly,
and was so proud in his bearing, that he
might have been mistaken for q King,
had he not rode bare-headed like the rest
of the courtiers. After the Queen and
the Earl followed a train of noblemen
and ladies, guards, pages, knights, gen.
tlemen and soldiers long and splendid
cavalcade. On either side stood line OF
people, closely packed together, all bow
ing and shouting their loyal welcomes.
As the Queen was approaching the
outer tower, she checked her horse to
speak to one of her ladies, when suddenly
there broke, or rather slid through the
line Of soldiers, little girl, who flung
herself at her majesty's feet, and grasped
her robe, crying
"a boon, great Queen, boonf'
A rude soldier strobe forward and
lifted his broadsword over the head of the
child, when quick as a fash, boy
scarcely larger than the girl, leaped oui
Of the crowd and snatched the sword from
the soldiers hand, saying boldly
"Thou art cowardly knaveir
The man turned upon him in rage
caught back the sword and might have
killed him with it, had not the Queer
cried
"Hold, villainl By my faith 1 thinl
the lad is rightl Would'st butcher babe
like these9 Then art thou one of KIM
Herod's men and none of ours. StanC
backi"
Then, turning her eye on the little girl
who stood trembling at her side, sh'
looked at her moment in silent surprise
And well she might, for the child was a
beautiful as an angel. She could scarce
iy have been more than ten years of agl
she was very fair and delicate, with
tender, appealing face, and voice swee
but mournful, like the sound of wind
harp. She had large, dark eyes, will
long, heavy lashes, but her eyebrow
were a shade lighter, and her hair, which
was soft and wavy, was of a rich colder
nue.. Now tears were flashing in he
eyes-her red lips were quivering
cheeks were brightly fiushed-her hal
gently lifted from her forehead by tn
evening wind; and in her simple whit
iIock, she looked there under the torch
nght so like radiant little seraph, tina
the stern Queen spoke softly to her, al
most as though in fear, saying
who art thouG and what would'st thol
with meG''
Ny name is Rosamond Vere.n an
sSered the child; ''and came to put thi
peutlon in your own hands, and to be
.secn your majesty to grant the prayer 0