The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-27
TOPICS OF THE WEEK.
| Something About Windsor CastIe-Elizabeth
and the Countess of Nottingham.

/ ana the countess OF Nottingham.
When in England, one of the most inter
| esting OF many red letter days was the
| visit to Windsor Castle where King John
was prisoner when he was besieged by the
| English BarOnS until he had confirmed
| their rights to the Magma Charta. 1t is the
| Queens favorite country seat and there
she spends great deal Of her time. II is
| a noble succession of historic buildings
surrounded by massive walls. There is a
| tower in the center OF the grounds; at one
| end are the ancient buildings, including
| St Georges Chapel and the beautiful
| Albert Memorial Chapel, with floors, walls
| and ceilings richly studded with rare
mosaics and precious stones. At the
| other end of the grounds is the Queens
| private palace, in which is tine grand din
! ing room where Gen. Grant was enter
tanned by her Majesty with special honor
when he visited Great Britain
Windsor Castle is the depository OF rare
ecclesiastical books, antique royal portraits
and magnificent collections of works Of
art from every part OF the world. In one Of
the great halls of the Queens apartments
are preserved the royal jubilee presents
and the gifts OF the Goth anniversary of the
Queens coronation. Every chapel, clois-
ter, corridor and hall is adorned with fine
freScoeS, carvings and memorial tablets
Inc stained glass windows in the several
chapeis are Of elaborate historic designs,
many OF them on Biblical subjects
In the royal vault of St Georges Chanel
rest the remains OF Henry VII. and one Of
his wives, Lady Jane Seymour
The view from the tower OF Windsor
Castle is one Of the most beautiful in the
world I5efore one lies the beautiful valley
OF the Thames, with the slopng English
meadows. where sheep are grazing: the
classic towers of Eton College. with the
fields beyond; the picturesque outlying
villages; Windsor Forest and its celebrated
oaks.
N oct, &c
to have been favorite tree of William the
Conqueror nearly a thousand years ago
III Is 70 feet IN circumference three feet
iron, the ground, and is quite hollow, the
space within being from seven to eight
feet in diameter. There also. are the
queens trees, selected respectively by
Queen Anne, Queen Charlotte, Queen AIDE
lalde and Queen Victoria. The latter bears
a brass plate inscribed, Queen Victoria's
Tree "--Editor Loyal Home Workers
Whoever is familiar with history will re-
call the fact that it was Elizabeth who
signed the death warrant OF the Earl of
Essex lie was a traitor, and under the
circumstances death only could expi-
ate his crime. Andyet, he was the Queens
iaVofite. ring had been given to Essex
by the Queen when highest in her favor
with the promise that let his fault he
what it might, forgiveness would follow it's
presentation to her
lie sent the ring a few days prior TO his
execution, by the Countess OF Nottingham.
who withheld it, and by this treacherv
Elizabeth became the executioner of one
whom she loved
When the Countess of Nottingham was
dying she dispatched a messenger at mid
night to the palace beseeching an inter
view with the Queen.
Darkness lay upon the River Thames.
clouds, heavy and black, were heaped over
the sky, The yeoman of the guard who
aumltted the messenger and LADY Ara
bella, who remained in attendance on the
Queen at night, wondered that Elizabeth
received the messenger from Nottinohan
house. The Queen had been i'll and was
becoming daily more iniirm; it could not
be expected that she would arise from her
couch at midnight and risk her sacred
person on the water at the behest of a
dying Countess.
But Elizabeth seized the folded parch
ment fiercely and broke the black seal
with shaking hands. She cast her keen
eyes over ITS contents, Sprang to the floor.
and ordered Arabella to robe her and lead
the way to the water, where the barge was
i'll waiting.
Arriving at the mansion house. Eliza
beth with a firm step mounted the stairs.
anu found herself in the chamber of death.
upon a huge bed canopled with masses of
purple velvet, lay the Countess of Noting
ham.
~ - tiO NSdCSH. CFieU the dying Count
ess, lifting her thin hand. God has had
mercy and can now die'
Elizabeth's eyes fell upon the ring.
which encircled one of the fingers as the
Countess held her hands imploringly to-
ward the Queen
Woman" she said chow came you
possessed of this ringr' When all was
told, when the dying woman with a look of
entreaty besought mercy for the treachery.
then the volcano that her words had
lighted in the old Queens heart blazed |
forth.
"Mercy!' she cried; God may forgive
you, but | never willi''
When Elizabeth entered the dwelling |
she wore no Jewel; but as the light fell |
upon her hand in going forth ArabeIla saw |
that ruby blazed upon one of her fingers. |
1t was still night when the Queen en- |
tered her own palace again. She sat until |
morning, gazing upon the ring, which to |
her was a blood spot
The haughtiest woman, the most i'm
perious Queen that ever trod the soil of
England was utterly desolate Was it |
strange that the old Queen never smiled |
again; or that, in few weeks, she lay
upon the cushions weary heartsick-
afraid to die and yet dylng?-H Genevieve
Seymour.