The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-02-01
HE SAVED THE QUEEN.

England were burned at the stake, there
lived king who had beautiful queen,
as good as she was lovely. All men adj
mired her, but for her part she thought
Of no one but her husband, the king.
There was, however, in the kings SER
vice a steward called Sir Aldingar, who
thought himself irresistible, and who did
ell he could to cause the queen to smile
upon him. She. however, knowing what
true wife should be, not only showed
herself unmoved by his smiles and sighs
and tender glances, but was brave
enough to rebuko him for them, and tell
him that II he repeated his insolence she
would inform the king.
This not only made Sir Aldingar furi-
Gus, but caused him to fear that he
might lose that place at court which
was 80 valuable TO him.
He had good wages, and the favor Of
the king. Moreover, no doubt, being
dishonorable in one direction, he was so
in all, and robbed his master of his
money as he wished to rob him Of his
wife's love. Therefore, he resolved to
bring the queen into disgrace, to make
the king believe her false to him. and
to compass her death If possible. The
queen who was untrue to her husband
In those days was burned at the stake,
and the steward was fend enough to en-
deavor to bring this about, for, once
burned, the beautiful queen could never
harm him more.
She, for her part, thought that she had
asserted her dignity, and had no fear of
any harm coming to her.
Perhaps she should have denounced
tho steward to the king, but she was
pitiful, and justice was prompt in those
days. The steward would have met
some fearful death. So she prayed to
heaven to keep her heart and her life
pure, and sat among her maidens teach
ing them to spin, and weave, and en-
broider, and giving them, one may be
sure, good counsel
But Aldingar did not soften. On the
contrary, his wrath grew greater, and
his determination to do the queen to
death stronger with every hour.
Now, the queen had beautiful sum-
mer bower, In which she sat alone at
times. 1t was hung with tapestry, and
rich rugs from the orient were spread
upon the stone floor. Without the deep
windows were blooming vines, swayed
by every breeze that blew, and the birds
perched on the carven sills and pecked
the crumbs that the queen cast them;
and here not even the maidens entered.
No one ever came there but the king,
and as the August days grew warm the
| fN,,l -, k,,l
dishabille, reclined upon her couch and
read her missal or sang to her lutte until
the king came to rest there also.
Sir Aldingar knew this, and planned
accordingly.
There were minstrels in those days
men who travelled along the road with
lutes in their hands or harps on theil
shoulders, and were fed and housed by
those for whom they played. There wai
one who was handsome, young anG
blind, who played the lutte divinely.
This man Aldingar met upon the roaG
one day and spoke kindly to him.
"Come with me-" he said, land you
shall meet a lady who will give yor
large aims and good entertainment, fol
she is fond Of music like yours"
And then he led the blind man, who
could not see where he was going, anC
had no thought of treachery, into the
good queens summer bower, W here it wa
a crime for any man to set foot, save a
the royal bidding, and led him also t
the queens couch, where he bade hin
rest himself until some one came.
After this he sought the king and tolC
him that he had sad tidings, which h
was loath to utter. However, the KIM
bads him speak boldly, and Aldingar
with great show of sorrow, declared tina
the queen had lover; that she invited
. handsome blind minstrel to her sum
mer bower and there listened to his mu
sic. In fact, he made very bad stor,
Of it, and added that the minstrel wa
now in the queens bower.
The king, lashed to fury, swore ven
geance II the tale proved true. but addet
that, If 1t were not, Aldingar should b.
hanged upon a agallows, and rushed away
followed by the steward, to find hi
queen.
Meanwhile the beautiful lady had gon
innocently to her bower and, entering
saw a man seated on her couch. Sh
knew him to be blind, and saw that h
was wandering minstrel, and her In
quiry as to how he came there was les
stern than it would have been TO on
who could see.
The minstrel, hearing ths lady's voice
arose and answered that a most kindl,
and courteous knight, or gentleman, ha'
brought him thither, saying that a lad,
who loved the lutte would listen to hin
and recompenss him.
1T could be no other than the king
my husband, said the queen. "Ant
since it is his command, play for me-"
Then, with her own hand, she led hin
70 seat near by, that he might res
there while he played; and as she di,
20. the door Of the bower burst open ant
in entered the king. followed by Aldin
gar.
The beautiful wife told the truth, tn
minstrel swore to his tale, but the KIM
was jealous; and, thinking himself de
ceived, III used and insulted, doomed tn
innocent queen and the poor minstrel t
be burned to death, and thanked Sir AL
dingar for telling him Of her i'll doing.
So the queen was locked up In he
bower until the fatal day on which sh
was to be burned, with two trusty wait
ing women for company. and the ruin
strel was cast into dungeon TO bids hi
time.
Now In those days there were knights
and the knights were under VOWS to pro
tect the fair fame Of innocent ladies. /
, one were accused Of evil. knight NIGH
offer 70 fight her accuser; and, il he con
quered him, the people Of those days be
, lieved that God had declared the lad,
} innocent by giving her knight the vic
, tory, and no one dared to think he
guilty after that; and the waiting maids
who knew their mistress chaste as 10
and pure as snow, said 70 each othe
that surely knight could be found 4
prove her innocent. One Of them offere,