The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-02-18


Il which Royalty Heated.
A curious precsution was observed
during the middle ages with regard to
queens to be confined, and probably to
all ladies of rank. They were secluded
in bedrooms of which the bed curtains,
tester, tapestry, or wall hangings were
carefully chosen. so that there might
be nothing in them to dazzle the eyes
or awake gloomy thoughts in the mind.
Figure subjects were not allowed on
the tapestry. Elizabeth, Queen OF
Henry VII, retired on Allhallow's eve,
1889, to her chamber in Westminster.
After mass and communion, for which
the Earl OF Salisbury held the towes
the corners of which were embroidered
with gold, she was led to an ante-room,
where she waited under her cloth of
estate Chrome canopy and partook OF q
void (refreshments). Her chamber was
hung and ceiled with blue arras cloth,
with golden fieurs de lis on it. The
pallet had canopy of velvet of many
colors, striped with gold and garnished
with red roses. An altar was made,
furnished with relics; cupboard, the
top shelf furnished with gold plate.
She commended herself to the prayers
of the lords, the chamberlain drew the
curtains of the traverse" which parted
off that portion of the room, and after
that no manner of officer came within
the Queens chamber, but only ladies
and gentlewomen after the old GUS
tom.
The cradle of King Henry V. is pre-
M4,,Do(rth g -
unlike the old cradle in South Ken
sington. 1t is a crib, paneled, swing
ing on two posts, one at each end,
rudely carved into falcons. There is
no half-tester over the head.
The Elizabethan bed is still to be
seen in many varieties. 1t stood under
canopy or tester, on four stout col
umns, two of which formed the frame
work of the bed-head. Sometimes the
actual bedstead was within the paneled
inclosure, and could be drawn out and
pushed back without disturbing so large
structure. 1t was derived from the
paneled bed of the middle ages, to
which reference has been made. On the
columns of the older bed were figures
or half-fgures of the four evangelists.
A medieval ballad mentions "the four
gospellorus (gospelers or evangelists
on the four pillorous (pillars), and
heads of angels, all of one mold" The
tradition of these old beds survives in
the invocation still used in some
country places. Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John, bless the bed that 1 SLEEP
on. Two angels at my head, four angels
round my bed; two to watch and two
to pray, and two to carry my SOU
away" etc. After the Reformation this
old usage died out. The columns Of
the Tudor bed have square dado bases
and in general character resemble
balustcrs on large scale. The bed
mead is supported by caryatides, OF
terminal figures, and paneled with
arched or square recesses, sometimes
containing figure-carving of some merit
The tester is paneled, and all frame
pieces, wherever set, are carved with
decorative holdings of many kinds
Many beds made OF oak for the English
market were imported from Flanders
the bed-heads and feet composed o.
many tiny open arches. Bed-testers
finished with details representing
ing fringes and decorative detail
borrowed from drapery, may gen
orally be set down as of Flemish
origin. English beds of this date ar,
more massive and ruder in execution
Shaw's Ancient Furniture" contains
an engraving of the great bed of Ware
! in Herefordshire. 1t is in the Tudo
style, twelve feet square, and bears
date (but not authentic) of l460.-
Magazine OF ART. N).