The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-07-23

endless plotting and contemplating, tht
kings love carried the project to triumph. IN
the year l444 a treaty OF peace was concluded
between England and France, having as it:
basis the marriage Of Henry and Margaret
All the arrangements having been made, the
Earl of Suffolk WAS commissioned by the
king to cross the Channel and espouse the
Princess Margaret in his (Henry's) name, At
tended by a numerous company of high born
lords and ladies, he proceeded on his errand
and SO on one of the closing days of 1444 the
venerable cathedral Of Nancy overlooked with
the rank and beauty OF France, and solemn
hush fell alike on mailed warrior aud proud
beauty, as Margaret laid her hand in Suffolk
hand, and pronounced the sacred marriage
VOW which bound her forever to her distant
bridegroom. We will not linger over the pub
lie rejoicing, or that gay, grand bridal process
sion, but pause, AS the French king holds his
beloved niece in his arms, telling her, with
tear. filled eyes. that even such throne is
scarcely worthy of you, my darling child VI
and the queen, unable to speak, kisses her
again and again. Two days later Rene and
Isabella parted from their darling in sorrow
too deep for any words. Various causes de-
lsyed the return of the bridal party to Eng
land, anu it was not until three months later
that Margaret lifted her head from q sick pll.
low, to bId farewell To the fading shores of her
dear France. Did she dream that with those
recedlng lines vanished the unclouded JOY OF
her grlhood? After wearsome voyage of
many days, they reached the shores OF Eng.
land. Through fierce storm Suffolk carried
the sick princess in his arms to the shore
Were not the blackcurtained sky, drenchlng
rain, and binding lightning, the emblems OF
her future years?
The wind, rain and lowering skies had no
effect upon the enthusiastic multitude which
welcomed her to her new home. The streets
were filled with happy people, strewing her
trlumphal path with green PUSHES and mailing
with glad VACCINATIONS the young and lovely
lady who was to be their future queen. Mar,
garct's indispositiOn proved to be the precu'
sor of serious illness. This illness, however,
was but brief, and in April, 1445, at the Abbey
of Litchiield, the final ceremony was perform
ed, the bride beng sixteen years and one
month old. A stately company gathered to the
marriage and seldom has earth witnessed a
more splendid scene than the moment when
Henry called Margaret by the holy name OF
wife, and that when, two days later, mt West
minister, the dadem of England was placed
upon her brow.
Over the first two years of her married life
charming and she used her fascinating talents
so wisely, that not only the king, but all the
nation, was ready To bow at her feet. 1t was
said, that no woman equallcd her in Beauty,
and few men surpassed her IN courage and encr-
gy;" and the world is ever ready to obey the
heroic, when it can at once command and win
the way to the heart. But the shadows began
to gather. Margaret, born to rule, could not
tamely brook the indlgnlty of submitting to
her husbands minister, the Dlke of Glouces-
ter She urged her husband to throw off his
shackles, ana be in fact, as he was in name,
king. At last the queens party grew strong
enough to seize Gloucester and confine him IN
prison. Hcinous charges were preferred
against him, but nothing proved, when one
morning the nation was startled by the report
that Gloucester's keeper had entered his cell
to find a cold, fixed face, never more to be ruff
fled by passion The calm features told no
tale, but it was whispered that the queen had
allowed her fayorite, the Duke OF Somerset, to
destroy their common enemy. II Margaret
did indeed, SO terribly SIN, she was bitterly
punished for the people loved Gloucester, and
only waited to avenge his death.
BY Gloucester's death, Margaret became, in
her husbands name, supreme ruler. Her first
act was TO make her old and trusted friend,
the Earl of Suffolk, prime minister She
then recalled the Duke of York from France,
and sent HIM to govern Ireland, placing the
Duke OF Somerset in command OF the French
provinces. Somerset was poor general and
unsuccessful in his military operations. That
banner which the fifth Henry and his son
planted over so large portion OF France
dragged IN the dust. One by one, Anjou, Nor
mandy, and lastly Guenne, returned to their
motherland.
England was chagrined, angry and, OF
course unreasonable. All this shame and dis
aster sprang sald the people, from the evil
minded, pretty Frcnchwoman and her false
ministers and, as Margaret stood within the
sacred shadow of The throne, all their fury fell
upon Suffolk Summoned to appear before
parliament, Suffolk proudly pleaded innocence,
daring his enemies to prove his guilt. They
were only too willing to do this, and Suffolk,
soon realizing the hopelessness of his cause,
threw himself on the kings mercy, and was
exiled. Aided by the queen, he attempted to
escape to France, but the vessel was intercept
ed before it reached the French shore. Let me
crashed through the barred neck, and the noble
head and mutilated body were thrown upon
the sand, though they were afterwards rever-
emily buried by friends. Who shall paint
Margaret's dismay and despair, as before her
mental vision the venerable face OF her friend
rose CHASTITY pale from those far-off bloody
sandsY Only eight years had passed away
since the heavy golden band, the symbol OF
welded union, had first encircled her slender
finger, yet, even In that brief time, her life
had strangely and ominousy darkened. AL
ready the fearful cloud of war was sweeping
over the horizon, and although as yet 1t had
not overshadowed the zenith, dazzling CLEANS
of lightning might be seen playing around It's
edges. There was 'silent sense of thunder"
ia its lnky depths, and none could doubt that
very soon the fair, green English plains were
to drink up Its desolating, scarlet rain.
Richard of York had not forgotten, and
was not likely to forget, that the blood OF the
glorious Edward ILL., ran in his veins, nor had
he condoned the grievous wrong which had
been done to his branch of the royal house,
when Henry Tvs son so cody took possess