New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-16
HISTORICAL BY WAYS.
A FASCINATING COLLECTION OF EARLY
DOCUMENTS.

SIDE LIGHTS ON ENGLISH HISTORY; Being
Extracts from Letters, Papers ana plar1es OF
ranged by Ernest F. Henderson, Phi u. I'M
perial octave PIP XXI 800 Henry Holt co.
This is the kind Of book that is not adapted to
consecutive reading. One prefers TO dip into II
here and there at odd moments. But, on the
other hand, II is not unlikely that he who has
dipped into 1t in the early afternoon viii find
himself still reading when night comes. 1t -
book of fragments. but the fragments are from
the great body of English history and from the
byyxays Of that history. It is based on all man
ner of old documents, some Of them more useful
than amusing but most Of them immense
~ dicerting TO those who care for dis
cursive reading in early annals. The record be-
gins with the reign of Elizabeth and is brought
down to Waterloo. 1t is drawn from contem-
porary sources. from letters and Journals from
old books and memoirs 1t is, in short, an his
torical scrapbook put together with the skill OF
a wise enthusiast. Mr.. Henderson fully succeeds
in his aim which he describes as being to give
color and. above all. life" If" he adds. IT can
make these people seem as real 10 others as they
do TO myself I shall have achieved something
worth the effort. 1t is TO this personal element
in history that have largely confined myself"
He calls his work Elementary Perhaps it is;
but it IS none the less worthy Of high praise.
when It means the bringing together IN perfect
order OF fragments like the following, from a
pamphlet of 1864. entitled The Triumph Of the
Muses. OF the Grand Reception and Entertain
Inent OF Queen Elizabeth at Cambridge:
Then came the Trumpetters. and, by solemn
blast, declaring her Majestic to Approach. Then
followed the Lords in their order and degree.
Her Amoner the Bishop or Rochester' pare
headed, with the Bishop of Ely. Then the Garter
King at Arms in his royal cote, with divers ser
geants at Arms. Then the Lord Hunsden with
the sword in a royal scabbard of goldsmith's
work And, after him. the Queens Majestic
with q great companie OF ladies and maids or
q1onor) And 50 she was brought among
the Doctors; when all the Lords and Ladies did
forsake their horses: and her Majestic only re-
manned horseback.
She was dressed in a gown Of black velvet
pinked; call upon her head. set with pearles
and pretious stones: a hat that was spangled
with gold and q bush Of feathers.
When the Queens Majestic came to the west
doore Of the church. Sir William Cecyl kneeled
down and welcomed her Grace. showing unto
her the order OF the doctors. And the Bedells.
lpneeling, kissed their slaves; and so delivered
them 10 Mr.. Secretary; who likewise kissed the
hand; who could not well hold them all. And
her Grace gently and merrily re-deliveTed them.
willing him and other magistrates Of the Univer-
sity to minister Justice uprightly, as she trusted
they did. Or she would take them into her own
hands, and see to It Adding that, although the
Chancellor did hault (for his leg was sore, as IS
before mentsoned). yet she trusted that Justice
did not hault.
There IS more, from which We learn how the
Queens Majestic could not endure the batteries
of the orator of the day. that she sometimes
broke forth into passion" biting her lips and
fingers, too but we have cited enough to show
the quality Of the material out of which Mr.
Henderson has made his portly volume It is a
stouty made book, adorned with sundry fine re-
productions from portraits and prints. A
better book TO put in the hands Of the lover OF
history. whether he be a beginner or an old
atHJ5ent ne do not know.