The Irish standard., 1898-10-15
HOW THE "VIRGIN QUEEN" PASSED
10 TIL: HEREAFTER.
an OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF Her DEMISE
WOULD GIVE HER KINGDOM FOR ONE
MOMENT OF TIME.
A LEADING LIGHT OF THE REFORMATION
LAST DAYS OF "GOOD QUEEN uESS'
FAR FROM HAPPY.

Your readers have read so much of the
prominent part taken by Elizabeth,
yclept the Virgin Queen. in the unholy
work of the so-called Reformation, that
an official account of her unhappy death
cannot but prove interesting and in
structive, says a writer in the Canadian
Freeman. l7nfounded charges of all
manner Of superstitious practices arc
constantly Ibid to the door of Catholics,
but for superstition in it's naked defor-
nifty commend lis to this leading light
of the Reformation who, after her long
reign of hypocrisy and tyranny. died
with the despairing cry on her lips: My
Kingdom for one more moment Of time"
The following account of her death
which happened on March "a, 1903, was
drawn up by one of her ladics-in- waiting
the Lady southwell, the original of
which is still preserved in the Stoney-
hurst collection of manuscripts.
The last days of Queen Elizabeth were
rendered almost unbearable by heavens
just punishment of her many crimes and
her hypocritical conduct, and she became
even an object of loathing to herself
and veritable mink to those who had
to wait upon her. No doubt her barbar-
ous murder Of Mary, Queen oascots-the
execution of her favoritc, the earl of
Esscx-and her inability to bring the
Spaniards and the Irish to her feet. had
much to do in making her unhappy and
morose; but one cannot help but attrib-
ute it to the just vengeance of heaven
upon her, who. during her long reign,
had caused so much scandal to religion
and so much grief to thousands of her
inoffending victims. This, then, is the
official account of the so-ca1lcd Virgin
Queens death, as recorded by Lady
southwell, who was present at it, and
whose testimony thereof is above s,,spi-
cion. Our readers will notice this record
up III that quaint old style of English in
vogue some 200 years ago.
Her majesty being in very good health,
one day Sir John Stanhope, being the
vice-chamberain and Secretary, Cccil's
dependent and familiar, came and pre-
sented her majesty with a piece of gold
Of the bigness of an angel, full of char
acters, which he said IAN old woman i'm
| VN o1o 1,<,<,, 1,o1 I.
and therenpOn he discovered how said
old woman, by virtue of the same, lived
to the age of 1870 years: and in that age,
having all her body withered and con-
sumed and wanting nature to nourish.
she died. commanding the said piece of
gold to be carefully sent to her majesty,
alleging further, that as long as the said
old woman wore it upon her body, she
could not die. The queen. upon the con-
fidence she had thereof. took the said
gold and wore it about her neck Now.
though she fell not suddenly sick, yet
daily decreased of her rest and feeding,
and within Is days fell downright sick;
and the cause being wondered at by my
private and confidant, being her near
kinswoman, her majesty told her (com-
mending her to conceal the same), that
she saw one night in her bed her body
exceedingly lean and fearful in IL light of
fire. Afterwards, in the melancholy of
her sickness. she desired to sec true
looking glass, which in 20 years before
she had not seen, but only such one,
which Of purpose was made to deceive
her sight; which glass being brought to
her, she fell presently exclaiming at all
those which had so much commended her
and took it so Extensively, that all those
which had before flattered her, burst not
come in her sight. Now falling into cx-
tremity, she sat two days and three
nights upon her stool, ready dressed, and
} could never be brought by any of her
council to go to bed, or eat, or drink
! only my lord admiral one time persuaded
her to drink some broth. For any of the
rest, she would not answer them to any
question, but said softly to my lord ad-
! mirals earnest persuasiOns, that if nc
knew what she had seen in her bed. he
; would not persuade her as he did. And
; Secretary Cecil overhearing her, asked il
her majesty had seen any spirits,to which
she said she scorned to answer him to 50
idle a question. Then he told her how
to content the people, her majesty must
go to bed; to which she smiled, wonder
fully contemning him, saying that the
word must was not to be used to princes
} and thcreupon said: Little man, littlt
J man. if your father had lived yc durst
: not have said so much; but thou knowcs
] must die, and that maketh thee SO pre-
| sumptuous." And presently command
/. ing him and the rest to depart her cham
ber, (she) willed my lord admiral to stay
to whom she shook her head and with +;