The Washington herald., 1911-10-17
MAGNIFICENT FORMER
ROYAL ABODE IN RUINS


it was among the most favored of Brit
ish royal residences. There are still pre-
served some drawings of the old palace,
made in 1852, and the towers and NINA
rets suggest a dwelling of Oriental mag
nifcence. Probably a royal mansion OF
some kind existed there as far back as
the early part OF the twelfth century.
Later. at any rate a palace was built
and in it Edward II died in 1877.
His grandson and successor, Richard II,
may be supposed to have passed much
of his time at the palace during the
life of his first Queen, Anna of Bohemia,
for 1t is recorded that at her death, in
1894 he was so violently affected that
besides cursing the place. he did also
for anger throwe downe the buildings,
into WHICH former kings, being wearied
of the citie, were wont for pleasure to
resort" But the effects Of this connu-
bal tribute were not allowed to be per-
manent. Henry restored the palace
to its former magnificence and Edward
Nv used it as a hunting lodge In THE
Last Of the Barons," Lytton describes
the scene presented by the court as
sembled in the park where driven game
was shot by the bow.
The palace was much enlarged by
Henry VII, who gave splendid enter
tainments there, including tournaments,
which were doubtless held on the level
space which faces the archway still in
existence, probably the oldest relic of
the ancient palace. Here Henry died in
April, 1909, and his dead body was
brought out of the privy chamber into
the great chamber. and thence into the
hall, and finally into the chapel. in each
OF which places ii remained for three
days. while solemn dirges and masses
were said preparatory to its final jour
ney to Westminster Abbey. The King
left unparalleled treasure in money, jew
els, and plate, locked up in its cellars
and vaults. Indeed, the hoard amassed
by Henry and concealed in secret places
at Richmond is said to have amounted
to near G1SO0,OOO. a sum equivalent to
about Els. 900, 600 of the present-day coinage.
Whether any considerable part of this
treasure is still concealed in the pre-
cincts of the palace is matter for Conjec-
ture. 1t is quite certain, however. that
If Henry VIII was aware of it's hiding
place, those who came after him would
search in vain for jewels or coin. The
King was much attached to Richmond,
at any rate in the early years OF his
reign. Here his eldest Son. Henry, was
born and died in 1911. The Emperor
Charles V. when he visited England in
1922 was lodged at the palace and Law
ishly entertained. 1t was here, in a
room which still stands, that Anne of
Cleves was waited on by the royal COM
missioners and informed that her divorce
from Henry had been confirmed by Par
lament.
Anne continued to reside at the palace,
devoting her time to rural sports and
recreations and living a quiet life. free
from the cares Of politics and courts
After the divorce had been settled salts
factorily, Henry paid her a visit and
was 50 delighted by her pleasant and re-
spectful reception. that he supped with
her merrily and often went to see her
again. These visits Of the amorous mon
arch appear to have provoked scandal
lous gossip in Richmond. and two OF the
sCandalmOngers were executed as a warn
ing to others
In 1854, Queen Mary, with her newly
welded consort. Philip OF Spain. removed
from Windsor to the palace at Richmond.
and during the summer of 1857 she gave
an entertainment there to her sister
Elizabeth. The princess was brought
from Somerset House in the Queens
barge. and was received in a sumptuous
an occasion OF less honor that the prin-
cess was brought thither from the Tower.
in charge Of Sir Henry Beddingfleld, to
receive the offer of her freedom on con-
dition Of exiling herself-from England
by marrying the Duke of Savoy
When she assembled the British throne
Elizabeth lived n good deal at Richmond,
where she received at least one offer Of
marriage. This from Eric ", King Of
Sweden, who visited England for the
purpose. At Richmond the long life and
splendid reign of Elizabeth came to
close. At the end of January l603 Eliz-
abeth began to feel the first attacks Of
a distemper which proved her death at
last; and this no sooner was supposed
to be mortal than her courtiers hastened
from her palace to make their court to
the King OF Scots, her presumptive heir.
This threw her into a deep melancholy.
and in the beginning OF March not only
her limbs but her speech failed her very
much, which made her so peevish that
she could bear nobody near her but the
Archbishop of Canterbury. who gave
her due attendance in prayer and eXhor-
tations. When death seemed to draw very
near. her council deputed the lord ad-
miral to pray hcr to name her successor
to whom she family answered that she
had already said her throne was the
throne of kings, and she would have no
mean person to succeed her." But, being
further desired by the secretary to de-
clare her pleasure more plainly. Il will, ."
said She that a king succeeded me. And
who should that be but my nearest kins-
man. the King of Scots?"
There is a tradition that the room over
the remaining gateway is that in which
Queen Elizabeth died. This is too small
to have been her chamber, but II may
well be that the Queen did not die in her
bed. A woman of the most resolute
temper, she may have faced death on
the couch on which she was accustomed
to sit to receive her ministers in private
audience. Almost certainly II was from
the window of this room that the Essex
ring was dropped into the hands Of a
waiting horseman as a signal that Eliza
beth was dead and that James should
make haste to assume the crown.
Concerning this ring a romantic anec-
dote is told in THE Traditionary Me-
moirs of Queen Elizabeth" 1t is to the
effect that the Countess of Nottingham.
who was a relation, but no friend, Of
the Earl of Essex, being on her death
bed entreated to see the Queen, declar-
ing that she had something to confess
before she could die in peace. When
Queen Elizabeth appeared the dying
countess gave her a ring which, she
said, the Earl of Essex had sent her
after his condemnation, with an earnest
request that she would deliver 1t to the
Queen as the token by which he I'M
plored her mercy hut that in obedience