historic girls- 第22部分

ladye's　grace〃　the　Princess　Elizabeth　of　England。



And　yet　we　should　be　readier　to　excuse　this　impetuous　young

princess　of　three　hundred　years　ago　than　were　even　her　associates

and　enemies。　For　enemies　she　had；　poor　child；　envious　and

vindictive　ones；　who　sought　to　work　her　harm。　Varied　and　unhappy

had　her　young　life　already　been。　Born　amid　splendid　hopes；　in　the

royal　palace　of　Greenwich；　called　Elizabeth　after　that

grandmother；　the　fair　heiress　of　the　House　of　York；　whose

marriage　to　a　prince　of　the　House　of　Lancaster　had　ended　the　long

and　cruel　War　or　the　Roses；　she　had　been　welcomed　with　the　peal

of　bells　and　the　boom　of　cannon；　and　christened　with　all　the

regal　ceremonial　of　King　Henry's　regal　court。　Then；　when　scarcely

three　years　old；　disgraced　by　the　wicked　murder　of　her　mother；

cast　off　and　repudiated　by　her　brutal　father；　and　only　received

again　to　favor　at　the　christening　of　her　baby　brother；　passing

her　childish　days　in　grim　old　castles　and　a　wicked　court；　she

found　herself；　at　thirteen；　fatherless　as　well　as　motherless；　and

at　fifteen　cast　on　her　own　resources；　the　sport　of　men's

ambitions　and　of　conspirators'　schemes。　To…day　the　girl　of

fifteen；　tenderly　reared；　shielded　from　trouble　by　a　mother's

watchful　love　and　a　father's　loving　care；　can　know　but　little　of

the　dangers　that　compassed　this　princess　of　England；　the　Lady

Elizabeth。　Deliberately　separated　from　her　younger　brother；　the

king；　by　his　unwise　and　selfish　counsellors；　hated　by　her　elder

sister；　the　Lady　Mary；　as　the　daughter　of　the　woman　who　had　made

HER　mother's　life　so　miserable；　she　was；　even　in　her　manor…home

of　Hatfield；　where　she　should　have　been　most　secure；　in　still

greater　jeopardy。　For　this　same　Lord　Seymour　of　Sudleye；　who　was

at　once　Lord　High　Admiral　of　England；　uncle　to　the　king；　and

brother　of　Somerset　the　Lord　Protector；　had　by　fair　promises　and

lavish　gifts　bound　to　his　purpose　this　defenceless　girl's　only

protectors；　Master　Parry；　her　cofferer；　or　steward；　and　Mistress

Katherine　Ashley；　her　governess。　And　that　purpose　was　to　force

the　young　princess　into　a　marriage　with　himself；　so　as　to　help

his　schemes　of　treason　against　the　Lord　Protector；　and　get　into

his　own　hands　the　care　of　the　boy　king　and　the　government　of　the

realm。　It　was　a　bold　plot；　and；　if　unsuccessful；　meant　attainder

and　death　for　high　treason；　but　Seymour；　ambitious；　reckless；　and

unprincipled；　thought　only　of　his　own　desires；　and　cared　little

for　the　possible　ruin　into　which　he　was　dragging　the　unsuspecting

and　orphaned　daughter　of　the　king　who　had　been　his　ready　friend

and　patron。



So　matters　stood　at　the　period　of　our　store；　on　the　eve　of　the

Christmas　festivities　of　1548；　as；　on；　the　arm　of　her　boy　escort；

Sir　Robert　Dudley；　gentleman　usher　at　King　Edward's　court；　and；

years　after；　the　famous　Earl　of　Leicester　of　Queen　Elizabeth's

day；　the　royal　maiden　entered　the　hall　of　Hatfield　House。　And；

within　the　great　hall；　she　was　greeted　by　Master　Parry；　her

cofferer；　Master　Runyon；　her　yeoman　of　the　robes；　and　Master

Mitchell；　the　feodary。　Then；　with　a　low　obeisance；　the　feodary

presented　her　the　scroll　which　had　been　brought　him；　post…haste；

by　Launcelot　Crue；　the　courser…man。



〃What；　good　Master　Avery；〃　exclaimed　Elizabeth；　as　she　ran　her

eye　over　the　scroll；　〃you　to　be　Lord　of　Misrule　and　Master　of　the

Revels！　And　by　my　Lord　of　Somerset's　own　appointing？　I　am　right

glad　to　learn　it。〃



And　this　is　what　she　read：



Imprimis＇1＇：　I　give　leave　to　Avery　Mitchell；　feodary；　gentleman；

to　be　Lord　of　Misrule　of　all　good　orders；　at　the　Manor　of

Hatfield；　during　the　twelve　days　of　Yule…tide。　And；　also；　I　give

free　leave　to　the　said　Avery　Mitchell　to　command　all　and　every

person　or　persons　whatsoever；　as　well　servants　as　others；　to　be

at　his　command　whensoever　be　shall　sound　his　trumpet　or　music；

and　to　do　him　good　service；　as　though　I　were　present　myself；　at

their　perils。　I　give　full　power　and　authority　to　his　lordship　to

break　all　locks；　bolts；　bars；　doors；　and　latches　to　come　at　all

those　who　presume　to　disobey　his　lordship's　commands。　God　save

the　King。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SOMERSET。〃





＇1＇　A　Latin　term　signifying　〃in　the　first　place；〃　or　〃to　commence

with；〃　and　used　as　the　opening　of　legal　or　official　directions。





It　was　Christmas　Eve。　The　great　hall　of　Hatfield　House　gleamed

with　the　light　of　many　candles　that　flashed　upon　the　sconce　and

armor　and　polished　floor。　Holly　and　mistletoe；　rosemary　and　bay；

and　all　the　decorations　of　an　old…time　English　Christmas　were

tastefully　arranged。　A　burst　of　laughter　ran　through　the　hall；　as

through　the　ample　doorway；　and　down　the　broad　stair；　trooped　the

Motley　train　of　the　Lord　of　Misrule　to　open　the　Christmas　revels。

A　fierce　and　ferocious…looking　fellow　was　he；　with　his　great

green　mustache　and　his　ogre…like　face。　His　dress　was　a　gorgeous

parti…colored　jerkin　and　half…hose；　trunks；　ruff；　slouch…boots　of

Cordova　leather；　and　high　befeathered　steeple　hat。　His　long

staff；　topped　with　a　fool's　head；　cap；　and　bells；　rang　loudly　on

the　floor；　as；　preceded　by　his　diminutive　but　pompous　page；　he

led　his　train　around　and　around　the　great　hall；　lustily　singing

the　chorus：



　〃Like　prince　and　king　he　leads　the　ring；

　　Right　merrily　we　go。　Sing　hey…trix；　trim…go…trix；

　　　　　　Under　the　mistletoe！〃





A　menagerie　let　loose；　or　the　most　dyspeptic　of　after…dinner

dreams；　could　not　be　more　bewildering　than　was　this　motley　train

of　the　Lord　of　Misrule。　Giants　and　dwarfs；　dragons　and　griffins；

hobby…horses　and　goblins；　Robin　Hood　and　the　Grand　Turk；　bears

and　boars　and　fantastic　animals　that　never　had　a　name；　boys　and

girls；　men　and　women；　in　every　imaginable　costume　and

devicearound　and　around　the　hall　they　went；　still　ringing　out

the　chorus：



　〃Sing　hey…trix；　trim…go…trix；

　　Under　the　mistletoe！〃





Then；　standing　in　the　centre　of　his　court；　the　Lord　of　Misrule

bade　his　herald　declare　that　from　Christmas　Eve　to　Twelfth　Night

he　was　Lord　Supreme；　that；　with　his　magic　art；　he　transformed　all

there　into　children；　and　charged　them；　on　their　fealty　to　act

only　as　such。　〃I　absolve　them　all　from　wisdom；〃　he　said；　〃I　bid

them　be　just　wise　enough　to　make　fools　of　themselves；　and　do

decree　that　none　shall　sit　apart　in　pride　and　eke　in

self…sufficiency　to　laugh　at　others〃；　and　then　the　fun　commenced。



Off　in　stately　Whitehall；　in　the　palace　of　the　boy　king；　her

brother；　the　revels　were　grander　and　showier；　but　to　the　young

Elizabeth；　not　yet　skilled　in　all　the　stiffness　of　the　royal

court；　the　Yule…tide　feast　at　Hatfield　House　brought　pleasure

enough；　and　so；　seated　at　her　holly…trimmed　virginalthat

great…great…grandfather　of　the　piano　of　to…day；she；　whose　rare

skill　as　a　musician　has　come　down　to　us；　wouldwhen　wearied　with

her　〃prankes　and　japes〃〃tap　through〃　some　fitting　Christmas

carol；　or　that　older　lay　of　the　Yule…tide　〃Mumming〃：



　To　shorten　winter's　sadness　see　where　the　folks　with　gladness　

Disguised；　are　all　a…coming；　right　wantonly　a…mumming；　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Fa…la！

　　〃Whilst　youthful　sports　are　lasting；　to　feasting　turn　our

fasting：

　　With　revels　and　with　wassails　make　grief　and　care　our　vassals；　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Fa…la！〃



The　Yule…log　had　been　noisily　dragged　in　〃to　the　firing；〃　and　as

the　big　sparks　raced　up　the　wide　chimney；　the　boar's　head　and　the

tankard　of　sack；　the　great　Christmas　candle　and　the　Christmas

pie；　were　escorted　around　the　room　to　the　flourish　of　trumpets

and　welcoming　shouts；　the　Lord　of　Misrule；　with　a　wave　of　his

staff；　was　about　to　give　the　order　for　all　to　unmask；　when

suddenly　there　appeared　in　the　circle　a　new　charactera　great

green　dragon；　as　fierce　and　ferocious　as　well　could　be；　from　his

pasteboard　jaws　to　his　curling　canvas　tail。　The　green　dragon　of

Wantley！　Terrified　urchins　backed　hastily　away　from　his　horrible

jaws；　and　the　Lord　of　Misrule　gave　a　sudden　and　visible　start。

The　dragon　himself；　scarce　waiting　for　the　surprise　to　subside；

waved　his　paw　for　silence；　and　said；　in　a　hollow；　pasteboardy

voice：



〃Most　noble　Lord　of　Misrule；　before　your　feast　commences　and　the

masks　are　doff'd；　may　we　not　as　that　which　should　give　good

appetite　to　all；with　your　lordship's　permit　and　that　of　my

lady's　grace；tell　each　some　wonder…filling　tale　as　suits　the

goodly　time　of　Yule？　Here　be　stout　maskers　can　tell　us　strange

tales　of　fairies　and　goblins；　or；　perchance；　of　the　foreign　folk

with　whom　they　have　trafficked　in　Calicute　and　Affrica；　Barbaria；

Perew；　and　other　diverse　lands　and　countries　over…sea。　And　after

they　have　ended；　then　will　I　essay　a　tale　that　shall　cap　them

all；　so　past　belief　shall　it　appear。〃



The　close　of　the　dragon's　speech；　of　course；　made　them　all　the

more　curious；　and　the　Lady　Elizabeth　did　but　speak　for　all　when

she　said：　〃I　pray　you；　good　Sir　Dragon；　let　us　have　your　tale

first。　We　have　had　enow　of　Barbaria　and　Perew。　If　that　yours　may

be　so　wondrous；　let　us　hear　it　even　now；　and　then　may　we　decide。〃



〃As　your　lady's　grace　wishes；〃　said　the　dragon。　〃But　methinks

when　you　have　heard　me　through；　you　would　that　it　had　been　the

last　or　else　not　told　at　all。〃



〃Your　lordship　of　Misrule　and　my　lady's　grace　must　know；〃　began

the　dragon；　〃that　my　story；　though　a　short；　is　a　startling　one。

Once　on　a　time　there　lived　a　king；　who；　though　but　a　boy；　did；　by

God's　grace；　in　talent；　industry；　perseverance；　and　knowledge；

surpass　both　his　own　years　and　the　belief　of　men。　And　because　he

was　good　and　gentle　alike　and　conditioned　beyond　the　measure　of

his　years；　he　was　the　greater　prey　to　the　wicked　wiles　of

traitorous　men。　And　one　such；　high　in　the　king's　court；　thought

to　work　him　ill；　and　to　carry　out　his　ends　did　wantonly　awaken

seditious　and　rebellious　intent　even　among　the　king's　kith　and

kin；　whom　lie　traitorously　sought　to　wed；his　roya