The Republican., 1932-11-24

WIFI Ffencn. OncS, IN order to give
her practice in speaking the language
she was induced to take part in a
masque to be given on the kings
birthday. For the occasion Walter
Montague wrote a piece called the
Shepherds Pastoral, which took eight
hours to enact. 1t so happened that
about this time Prynne wrote his
famous attack on women acting on
the stage, and because the queen had
taken part in a play, she voiced her
disapproval. Although the masoue
had been private one, given only
for few friends, Charles became
furious and ordered the authors
ears cut off.
AS long as Henrietta was perform
ing the duties of wife to Charles, she
Jared quite well, for as a husband the
monarch was extremely happy. But
when the queen started to dabble in
politics, she was less fortunate, and
may well be regarded as one of the
causes for the loss of her husbands
head.
Lack of money and expensive wars
had forced Charles to call Parlia-
ment after a period Of eleven years
in which he ruled alone. But when
this Parliament, known as the Short
Parliament, instead of giving Charles
his money, began to recite the needs
OF the country, the king fiared up and
dissolved it. But a second attempt
to invade Scotland, in what was called
the Second Bishops War, failed more
miserably than the first, and Charles
had to call another governing body in
November, 1640. This group, known
as the Long Parliament, had Charles
at its mercy. He was forced to ac
cept drastic changes in the laws, and
his power was reduced greatly by the
country gentlemen who made Parlia-
ment.
This opposition alarmed the king
and he tried at the first opportunity
to stem the advancing tide by arrest
ing the ring leaders of the rebellion.
On January 4, 1642, Charles marched
at the head of his guard to West
minister Hall, the meeting place of
Parliament, and entering the House
of Commons, attempted to seize the
five leaders, Pym, Hampden, Hazel
ridd, Holes, and Stroder, in order to
bring them to trial on the charge o.
treason.
Charles made one serious mistake
in planning his entry to the Commons
he told Henrietta about it. Over
sixteen years of married life had evil
IDENTIFY not taught him that the queen
had great difficulty in keeping a Sec
ret. For Charles in his usual blunder-
ing manner embraced his wife as he
left, saying, eff you find one hour
elapse without hearing i'll news from
me, you will see me, when I return,
the master of my kingdom"
The next sixty minutes seemed
eternity to Henrietta and, not hearing
anything from the king after they
had gone by, she could not restrain
herself longer. Off she flew to Lady
Carlisle, telling her fair companion
everything. The listener, unfortunate
ly, happened to be a relative and a
spy of one of the members. She i'm
mediately sent word to the Commons
and her message reached there be-
fore the kings arrival. Charles car
ried out his planned entry, but fore
warned, the intended victims had fled
and the king was baked.
When Henrietta learned what her
tattling had done, she begged her
husband for forgiveness, which was
granted as usual. But London rose
clamorously to express it's indigna-
tion over the attempt to intimidate
Parliament and, fearful of their
safety, the king and the royal family
withdrew into the country.
This break with Parliament meant
civil war. On August %, 1912,
Charles unfurled the royal banner at
Nottingham, and babe all loyal Eng
lishmen to rally to their king. The
Parliament in its turn gathered an
army and prepared to take the field.
Henrietta, whose weakness had
caused the failure of the kings at
tempt to thwart rebellion before it
started, used her charm to bring into
the slack royal purse enough money
to muster soldiers to battle the round
heads. Frightened at the way the
Puritans were acting, the Queen had
left the shores of England early in
February, 1912, taking with her the
royal jewels. Though the Dutch
burgomasters were little impressed
by her title of Queen of England, her
jewels won for her the necessary
funds, and she departed for England
with annroyinateIv 9 O0O OOO mounds