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Agnes Strickland's Queens Of England

Agnes Strickland

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PREFACE.

PREFACE.

U p to Queen Anne, this work is based upon Agnes Strickland's "Queens of England;" but subsequent to that period many authorities have been consulted, and only such matter used as would seem appropriate. My first care was to prepare a narrative which should interest young people, but I have endeavored also to produce a result that would prove a source, not only of pleasure, but of profit. The limits of the design make it evident that some eminent names and noteworthy events could receive slight

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CHAPTER I. MATILDA OF FLANDERS, WIFE OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

CHAPTER I. MATILDA OF FLANDERS, WIFE OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

M atilda, wife of the great William, the Conqueror, was an exceedingly handsome woman, and as she had received the best education that was possible in her times, she was as celebrated for her learning as for her beauty. She was, besides, generous and religious, and had all the qualities necessary for the position she was called upon to fill. She was famed for her fancy-work, which was looked upon as one of the most important and desirable occupations for ladies of rank; and any woman who could s

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CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.

O n the Monday following the battle of Hastings, William rode into the city of London, on horseback, followed by a long train of the nobility of England and Normandy. He proceeded to Westminster Abbey, where he was crowned King of England. Grand preparations had been made for this event, and such a brilliant coronation had never been seen. Crowds of people gathered in the streets, and the duke's fine presence and noble bearing won all hearts. Holding the crown aloft the archbishop asked the nobl

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CHAPTER III. MATILDA OF SCOTLAND, QUEEN OF HENRY I.

CHAPTER III. MATILDA OF SCOTLAND, QUEEN OF HENRY I.

T his princess is called "The Good Queen," a title that shows how dear she must have been to her subjects, and how much she must have done to promote their happiness. She is the only princess of Scotland who ever shared the throne of an English king. Her aunt, Christina Atheling, was Abbess of Rumsey, and did all she could to influence Matilda to take the veil and enter a convent. But this was very displeasing to her father, the King of Scotland, and one day when she entered his presence with a

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CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER IV.

T he royal couple lived at Westminster, in the palace of Edward the Confessor, and Matilda devoted much of her time to the care of the sick and the needy. She was so strict concerning her religious duties, that every day in Lent she went to Westminster Abbey barefooted and clothed in a garment of haircloth. Then she would wash and kiss the feet of the poorest people. One day a courtier reproved her for it, but she replied, as the following curious dialogue, taken from a rhyming chronicle of the

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CHAPTER V. MATILDA OF BOULOGNE, QUEEN OF STEPHEN

CHAPTER V. MATILDA OF BOULOGNE, QUEEN OF STEPHEN

M atilda of Boulogne was the last of the Anglo-Norman queens, and the only child of the Count and Countess of Boulogne. She was educated at the Convent of Bermondsey, which was founded by her mother, but it was never intended that she should spend her life there, because, at a very early age, she was married to Stephen de Blois, a nephew of Henry I. Stephen was a handsome, bright, intellectual boy when he went to seek his fortune at the court of England, and Henry Beauclerc was pleased to have a

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CHAPTER VI. ELEANORA OF AQUITAINE, QUEEN OF HENRY II.

CHAPTER VI. ELEANORA OF AQUITAINE, QUEEN OF HENRY II.

E leanora was born in the beautiful province of Aquitaine, a name that Julius Caesar gave to the south of Gaul on account of its numerous rivers and fine ports. The people liked the name and adopted it; but it was really the ancient kingdom of Provence. Eleanora and her sister Petronilla were daughters of William, Count of Poitou, such a good, pious man,'that as he happened to be in the Holy Land at the time of his death, he was forever after called St. William. The grandfather of these girls wa

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CHAPTER VII. BERENGARIA OF NAVARRE, QUEEN OF RICHARD I.

CHAPTER VII. BERENGARIA OF NAVARRE, QUEEN OF RICHARD I.

R ichard Cour de Lion first met the beautiful, accomplished Berengaria at a tournament, and fell desperately in love with her; but, unfortunately, he was at that time engaged to Alice of France, so could not offer his hand to the Provençal princess. Both Sancho the Wise, King of Navarre, Berengaria's father, and Sancho the Strong, her brother, were poets of considerable merit, and early came under the notice of Richard, who was not only a troubadour poet, but as sovereign of Aquitaine, he was, b

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CHAPTER VIII. ISABELLA OF ANGOULEME, QUEEN OF KING JOHN.

CHAPTER VIII. ISABELLA OF ANGOULEME, QUEEN OF KING JOHN.

J ohn ascended the throne of England on the death of his brother, Richard Cour de Lion, and it was at a festival given to him at Angouleme that he first made the acquaintance of Isabella, who afterwards became queen. A.D. 1200. She was just fifteen years old and so beautiful that King John fell madly in love with her. She was engaged to Hugh de Lusignan at the time, but her parents were so ambitious for her to be raised to the lofty position of Queen of England, that they kept her with them afte

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CHAPTER IX. ELEANOR OF PROVENCE, QUEEN OF HENRY III.

CHAPTER IX. ELEANOR OF PROVENCE, QUEEN OF HENRY III.

E leanor of Provence was married when she was only fourteen years old, and became the most unpopular queen that ever reigned over the English court. She was so beautiful as to be called La Belle , but her judgment was too immature tor her to stand all the adulation she received without being spoiled by it. Before she entered her teens, Eleanor had written a poem in the Provençal dialect, which is remembered in her native country to this day. Born in that land of poetry and song, of parents who w

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CHAPTER X. ELEANORA OF CASTILE, FIRST QUEEN OF EDWARD I.

CHAPTER X. ELEANORA OF CASTILE, FIRST QUEEN OF EDWARD I.

E dward I. was only fifteen years old when he accompanied his mother across the Pyrenees from Bordeaux, to claim the hand of Eleanora, sister to King Alphonso of Castile, to whom he had been betrothed several months before. A.D. 1256. The marriage was solemnized a few days, after his arrival, feasts and tournaments in honor of the event followed, and then the little bride of ten years proceeded with her lord to Paris. She was present at the feast of kings, given by King Henry to celebrate his so

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CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.

K ing Edward I. was so grieved at the death of his " chère reine ," that he gave himself up to the deepest melancholy, which lasted several months. He was growing old, and felt the loss of his companion of many years most keenly. However, he learned in time to submit to the inevitable, and roused himself to attend to the affairs of his kingdom. No sooner did his ministers observe this favorable change in the mind of their monarch than they set to work to effect further improvement by seeking a s

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CHAPTER XII. ISABELLA OF FRANCE, QUEEN OF EDWARD II.

CHAPTER XII. ISABELLA OF FRANCE, QUEEN OF EDWARD II.

I sabella of France was a princess of the very highest rank, her father being Philip IV. of France, and her mother Queen of Navarre. But she was likewise one of the worst women that ever occupied the throne of England. She was born in 1295, and when only nine years of age was betrothed to Edward, Prince of Wales. At that time her father agreed to settle on her the sum of £18,000 for her marriage portion. He was not rich enough to give her so much money, but he got possession of it by murdering a

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CHAPTER XIII. PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT, QUEEN OF EDWARD III.

CHAPTER XIII. PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT, QUEEN OF EDWARD III.

W hen Edward, Prince of Wales, was, with his mother, compelled to seek refuge at the house of the Count of Hainault (of which we have given an account in the story of Isabella of France), he fell violently in love with the count's second daughter, Philippa, and she returned his affection. She was only fifteen years of age, and he a few months older, but they formed an attachment that lasted throughout their lives. Philippa was a brilliant Flemish beauty, whose excellent heart and lovable disposi

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CHAPTER XIV. ANNE OF BOHEMIA, SURNAMED THE GOOD, FIRST QUEEN OF RICHARD

CHAPTER XIV. ANNE OF BOHEMIA, SURNAMED THE GOOD, FIRST QUEEN OF RICHARD

T he marriage of King Richard II. with Anne of Bohemia gave general satisfaction in England, and proved a happy one in every respect. At the coronation, which followed a few days after, the young bride received the title of "the good Queen Anne." It pained her to see the distress of the unhappy peasantry caused by the bloodshed and barbarous executions that had been the result of Wat Tyler's insurrection. She compared their miserable lot with her own bright and joyous one, and was thus prompted

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CHAPTER XV. ISABELLA OF VALOIS, SURNAMED THE LITTLE QUEEN, SECOND WIFE

CHAPTER XV. ISABELLA OF VALOIS, SURNAMED THE LITTLE QUEEN, SECOND WIFE

I t seems strange that when Richard II. reached the age of thirty he should have had a fancy to share his throne with a child of nine, yet that was the age of Isabella of Valois, when he married her. She was the eldest daughter of Charles VI. of France and the wicked Isabeau of Bavaria; but fortunately she inherited nothing from her mother but her beautiful dark eyes and clear olive complexion; her goodness and lovely character she got from her father. When Richard was told that Isabella was too

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CHAPTER XVI. JOANNA OF NAVARRE, QUEEN OF HENRY IV.

CHAPTER XVI. JOANNA OF NAVARRE, QUEEN OF HENRY IV.

I t was to the Duke of Bretagne, Joanna of Navarre's first husband, that Henry IV. was partly indebted for his elevation to the throne of England. Henry was an exile when Richard II. was obliged to go to Ireland, and finding that a clear field was thus left for his return, he applied to the Duke of Bretagne for advice and assistance, and was unhesitatingly provided by him with vessels, soldiers, and arms. The use he made of them is recounted in the last reign. Joanna, the duke's wife, met Henry

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CHAPTER XVII. KATHERINE OF VALOIS, SURNAMED THE FAIR, WIFE OF HENRY V.

CHAPTER XVII. KATHERINE OF VALOIS, SURNAMED THE FAIR, WIFE OF HENRY V.

C harles VI., King of France, and his wife, Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, had eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom Katherine was the youngest. The boys became in turn Dauphins of France; Isabella, the eldest of the family, was married to Richard II. when she was only eight years of age, and had an experience throughout her short life such as has never been recorded of so young a girl. But she proved herself a devoted wife, and bore her sufferings with true heroism. She died when Ka

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CHAPTER XVIII. MARGARET OF ANJOU, QUEEN OF HENRY VI.

CHAPTER XVIII. MARGARET OF ANJOU, QUEEN OF HENRY VI.

M argaret was the last of the Provençal Queens of England, and she filled a most important position for more than a quarter of a century. Through her mother she was a direct descendant of the great Emperor Charlemagne, and her father, René of Anjou, was the son of the King of Sicily and Jerusalem. A.D. 1431. When she was about two years old her father fought a battle against Anthony of Vaudemonte, and was taken prisoner. This battle was to decide who was to rule over Lorraine, and as René was ca

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CHAPTER XIX. ELIZABETH WOODVILLE, QUEEN OF EDWARD IV.

CHAPTER XIX. ELIZABETH WOODVILLE, QUEEN OF EDWARD IV.

W hen Elizabeth Woodville was maid of honor to Queen Margaret of Anjou she little supposed that she would ever ascend the throne of England, yet that was her destiny not many years later. But, first, she became the wife of John Grey, son and heir of the wealthy Lord Ferrers, who owned the domain of Bradgate, where she lived until her husband's death. John Grey was a brave, handsome man of twenty-five when he married Elizabeth, and occupied the important position of leader of Queen Margaret's cav

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CHAPTER XX. ANNE OF WARWICK, QUEEN OF RICHARD III.

CHAPTER XX. ANNE OF WARWICK, QUEEN OF RICHARD III.

F ew women living only to the age of thirty-one, have known as much suffering and sorrow as came to the lot of Anne of Warwick in that limited space of time. The greater part of her childhood was passed at Calais, but she was in England with her father, the Earl of Warwick, at intervals during the struggles between the houses of York and Lancaster, in which he took such a prominent part, and fled with him in terror after Edward IV. escaped from his clutches. The misery and danger of that flight

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CHAPTER XXI. ELIZABETH OF YORK, QUEEN OF HENRY VII.

CHAPTER XXI. ELIZABETH OF YORK, QUEEN OF HENRY VII.

T his princess was the daughter of Edward IV. and Elizabeth Woodville, whose secret marriage caused so much trouble. She was shut up in the sanctuary while her father's throne was in jeopardy, and danced at the balls given to celebrate his restoration. She was at that time only six years old, and when she reached the advanced age of nine her hand had been promised in marriage four times as a peace-offering from her father to other monarchs. Elizabeth was well educated, for at a very early age sh

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CHAPTER XXII. KATHARINE OF ARRAGON, FIRST QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

CHAPTER XXII. KATHARINE OF ARRAGON, FIRST QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

K atharine of Arragon was born when her native land was at the very height of its prosperity. Her parents were Ferdinand and Isabella, the powerful and popular sovereigns, who had conquered nearly the whole of Spain. Katharine's early infancy was passed in a camp where Queen Isabella resided with her young family while her army besieged the town of Granada. This siege lasted for several years, but the town was taken at last; and when Katharine was four years old she accompanied her parents in th

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CHAPTER XXIII. ANNE BOLEYN, SECOND QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

CHAPTER XXIII. ANNE BOLEYN, SECOND QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

A nne Boleyn was one of the beauties of the court of Katharine of Arragon, and was particularly attractive to the king on account of her wit and her fondness for pageants and masquerades, in which she took a leading part. Henry performed at these entertainments, also; thus these two were often thrown together, and the lady's vanity and ambition were flattered by the attentions he paid her. She was an Englishwoman by birth, though of French descent on her father's side. Her mother died when she w

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CHAPTER XXIV. JANE SEYMOUR, THIRD QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

CHAPTER XXIV. JANE SEYMOUR, THIRD QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

J ane Seymour has always been pronounced the most beautiful of all the wives of Henry VIII. But she has also been presented to the world as a meritorious, discreet, young woman. We cannot consider her so when we remember that within twenty-four hours after Anne Boleyn's head was cut off she became the king's wife. For it must have been while acting as maid of honor for that unhappy lady that she not only received the attentions of her fickle, heartless husband, but even made all the necessary ar

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CHAPTER XXV. ANNE OF CLEVES, FOURTH QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

CHAPTER XXV. ANNE OF CLEVES, FOURTH QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

A nne of Cleves was a most unfortunate, ill-treated princess, but she possessed so many virtues that she surely deserved a better fate than to become the wife of a king so devoid of the feelings of a gentleman as Henry' VIII. After the death of his third queen, this capricious monarch did not find it so easy to get another as he probably expected it would be. Certainly it must have been a woman of rare courage who would willingly subject herself to such a yoke, knowing the experience of his othe

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CHAPTER XXVI. KATHARINE HOWARD, FIFTH QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

CHAPTER XXVI. KATHARINE HOWARD, FIFTH QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

T here is not a family in England whose name has appeared so often in its history, whether for good or for bad, as that of the Howards, nor one whose members filled such varied and important positions, as every attentive reader will admit. Katharine Howard was nearly related to Anne Boleyn; she became the fifth wife of Henry VIII., and is by no means one of the nobler specimens of the family to which she belonged. She was born in 1521, and had the misfortune to lose her mother while she was stil

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CHAPTER XXVII. KATHARINE PARR, SIXTH QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

CHAPTER XXVII. KATHARINE PARR, SIXTH QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

K atharine Parr was the first Protestant Queen of England, and the only one of the wives of Henry VIII. who supported the doctrine of the Reformation with sincerity. She was an Englishwoman, but not of royal birth, being the only daughter of Sir Thomas Parr, a knight. She was gifted by nature with a fine mind, which was carefully cultivated by her excellent mother, as some of her writings that still exist certainly prove. She read and wrote Latin well, and had some knowledge of Greek. When a lit

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Fully Illustrated

Fully Illustrated

CONTENTS PREFACE. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER I. MARY, FIRST QUEEN-REGNANT OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. ELIZABETH, SECOND QUEEN-REGNANT OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VI. HENRIETTA MARIA, QUEEN-CONSORT OF CHARLES I., KING OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND CHAPTER VII. CATHARINE OF BRAGANZA, QUEEN OF CHARLES II., KING OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER IX. MARY BEATRICE OF MODENA, QUEEN-CONSORT OF JAMES II. CHAPTER

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(A.D. 1516-1558).

(A.D. 1516-1558).

M ary was the only child of Henry VIII. and Katherine of Arragon who lived to maturity. She was born at Greenwich Palace in 1516, and was placed under the care of her mother's beloved friend, Margaret Plantagenet, Countess of Salisbury. A.D. 1516. She was baptized the third day after her birth, and named for the king's favorite sister. Mary's mother began her education as soon as she could speak, and when she was only three years old she sat up in state to receive some foreign visitors, and amus

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CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.

A.D. 1553. T The royal standard of England had not floated many hours over the towers of Framlingham Castle before the knights and gentlemen of Suffolk flocked around Queen Mary, bringing their tenants with them, all completely armed. About five days later six ships-of-war sailed along the Suffolk coast towards Yarmouth Roads, with the intention of besieging Mary's castle. Sir Henry Jerningham, one of the gentlemen who had attended her from Norfolk, happened to be at Yarmouth when the fleet ente

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(A.D. 1533-1603.)

(A.D. 1533-1603.)

E lizabeth was one of the most learned and distinguished queens that ever lived, and there is no other about whom so many celebrated authors have written. A.D. 1533. She was the daughter of Henry VIII. and Anne Boleyn, who were living at Greenwich Palace at the time of her birth. When she was four days old her christening was conducted with great pomp and ceremony,—the lord mayor, all the aldermen and council of the city of London, besides a great number of knights and lords, being present. Cran

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A.D. 1562.

A.D. 1562.

Q ueen Elizabeth either forgot her promise to the pope, that she would not interfere with the religion of her subjects, or she was unmindful of it, for many were persecuted on account of their adherence to Catholicism. All emblems and pictures of the Catholic church were abolished; and as the English artists were not permitted to copy the sacred subjects selected by the Spanish, Italian, and Flemish masters, pictorial art came to a standstill in England. It was not on account of religion that th

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ANNE OF DENMARK, QUEEN-CONSORT OF JAMES THE FIRST. (A.D. 1575-1618.)

ANNE OF DENMARK, QUEEN-CONSORT OF JAMES THE FIRST. (A.D. 1575-1618.)

A nne of Denmark was certainly less intellectual than some of her predecessors, and on many occasions showed herself wanting in judgment and common sense; but her political position was of immense importance, because she was the wife of the first monarch who ruled over the whole of the British isles. The Orkney and Shetland islands had fallen into the hands of the Danish King during the preceding century, and were yielded to James VI. of Scotland on condition of his marrying the Princess Anne. T

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(A.D 1609-1669.)

(A.D 1609-1669.)

H enrietta Maria, wife of Charles I., was the youngest child of Henry IV. of France, and his second wife, Marie de Medicis. A.D. 1609. She was born at Louvre in 1609, and Madame de Monglat, the royal governess, took charge of her, as she had done of all her brothers and sisters from the time of their births. This princess had a grand baptism, no less a person than the pope's nuncio acting as sponsor. The name given to her was Henrietta Marie, but it became anglicized when she was so young that w

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(A.D. 1638-1705.)

(A.D. 1638-1705.)

I t was on St. Catharine's day that this princess was born, in the year 1638, and it was in honor of that saint that she was named. When she came into the world, Portugal was under the rule of Spain, and had been so for sixty years, not because the Portuguese were contented with the despotic laws that governed them, but because they did not feel strong enough to fight for liberty. When a nation considers itself oppressed by tyrannical laws, secret organizations are sure to be formed for the purp

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CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.

A.D. 1662. T he New Year opened with a series of balls, receptions, and feasts; but poor Catharine felt little pleasure in them, for her husband neglected her and spent his time in dissipation of the worst character. His associates in vice endeavored to justify his treatment of the queen by ridiculing and depreciating her in every possible way. They could not appreciate her honesty or her piety, so they termed the one lack of brains and the other bigotry. Even her personal appearance was caricat

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(A.D. 1659-1718.)

(A.D. 1659-1718.)

T he city of Modena in Italy was the birthplace of some of the greatest poets and painters of that land of artists, and it was there that the heroine of this narrative was born. Her father, the Duke of Modena, was a learned man, and would probably have made his mark in the world if he had lived long enough; but he died young, and left his Duchess Laura to rule in his stead. This lady had two little children, a boy, who later became Francis II. of Modena, and Mary Beatrice. Prince Rinaldo d'Esté,

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(A.D. 1662-1695.)

(A.D. 1662-1695.)

L ady Mary of York, as this queen was styled in her youth, was a person of small importance, so far as any prospect of her ever occupying the throne was concerned, for this reason: She was the daughter of James, Duke of York, second son of Charles I. and Henrietta Maria, whose history we have related. Charles II. succeeded his father and married Catharine of Braganza, just at the time when Lady Mary was born, and everybody supposed that his children would be next in the line of succession. So th

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CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.

J ames II. arrived in London just after the excitement caused by Anne's escape had subsided. He had been obliged to leave his army on account of illness, and when he heard of his daughter's conduct, he struck his breast and exclaimed: "God help me! my own children have forsaken me in my distress." From that moment he lost heart and ceased to struggle to retain his crown; but he never censured Anne as he might have done, nor was he aware of the extent of her treachery. Meanwhile, the Prince of Or

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(A.D. 1694-1714.)

(A.D. 1694-1714.)

W e have already heard a great deal about Anne, because up to the death of her sister, Queen Mary, their lives are so closely connected that it is impossible to understand some of the incidents without mentioning both sisters. The death of Mary brought Princess Anne more into public notice as heir presumptive to the throne, though it was many years before she became Queen of England. Heretofore, as we have seen, she lived like a private person at Berkeley House, and had not even been permitted t

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A.D. 1696.

A.D. 1696.

As the anniversary of King William's birthday approached there was a flutter of excitement at court, and all the beaux and belles of the English nobility flocked to town to attend the grand reception that was to take place. This was no pleasure to William, for he had been aided in such matters by his wife, who had known better how to conduct herself on such occasions than he did; and now that he had to undertake a ceremony which he disliked, with no one one to guide him, he felt his bereavement

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CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.

B ishop Burnet had watched at Kensington with a host of other clergymen and lords for the king's last gasp, and then hastened to St. James's Palace to be the first to prostrate himself before the new queen. But he was disappointed; for the Earl of Essex, lord of the bedchamber, whose duty it really was to communicate the news, had forestalled him. Burnet had never been popular with Anne, and on her accession he was treated with marked indifference, and turned out of his lodgings at court. A.D. 1

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CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.

W hen her majesty opened parliament in the autumn she made the usual speech containing entreaties that goodwill and friendship might continue among all ranks of her subjects, but particularly with regard to the newly-made union. King William III. had said, "That he did not desire the experiment of a union with Scotland to be made in his reign, because he had not the good fortune to know what would satisfy a Scotchman." This would seem to apply equally to Queen Anne, for the Scotch were excessive

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NOTE.

NOTE.

In presenting this last volume of Queens of England to our readers, we are glad to say that we have been permitted to carry the story through the entire history of that country, from the Conquest to the present day. We present a more complete, although less extended account than is given in any volume or series of volumes now before the public. We feel sure that the interest has been continued unabated from the beginning, and that not only pleasure but real profit will be derived from a careful

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(A.D. 1666-1726.)

(A.D. 1666-1726.)

W hen the Edict of Nantes was revoked by Louis XIV., of which mention has been made in a previous reign, persecutions that equalled the never-to-be-forgotten St. Bartholomew, followed, and being spread over a longer period, affected a larger number of victims. This Edict had permitted to Protestants the free observance of their religion so long that when it was repealed it was a cruel blow, though perhaps a triumph to Roman Catholics. Those faithful adherents to Protestantism who refused to beco

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(A.D. 1683-1737.)

(A.D. 1683-1737.)

C aroline of Anspach, whose name appears in full in the heading of this reign, was a highly accomplished young lady. This was due partly to her excellent training and careful education, and partly to her naturally quick, inquiring mind; for she learned easily, seldom forgot anything worth remembering, and was a good judge of books and people. She loved philosophical studies, yet she was not at all pedantic. She was lively, witty, an excellent conversationist, and spoke several languages fluently

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A RECEIPT AGAINST POPE-ISH POETRY.=

A RECEIPT AGAINST POPE-ISH POETRY.=

"Select a wreath of withered bays, And place it on the brow of Pope; Then, as reward for stolen lays, His neck encircle with a rope. When this is done, his look will show it, Which he's most like,—a thief or poet." Besides card-playing and court receptions, there were operas and dramas, and of these the king and his whole court were very fond. We must give an account of a funny scene that took place one night at a theatre. John James Heidegger, was a Swiss, who lived in England and superintended

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CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.

I n spite of Sir Robert Walpole's persuasions to the contrary, the king went back to Hanover a week after his son's marriage. Previous to his departure from England he appointed Queen Caroline regent, much to the dissatisfaction of the Prince of Wales; but he went further, for he sent word to the prince that wherever the queen resided there would always be apartments for himself and the princess. In other words, Frederick was to be treated as a sort of a prisoner without the privilege of a separ

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(A.D. 1744-1818.)

(A.D. 1744-1818.)

L ong before his death, George II. began to look about for a wife for his grandson, George William Frederick, whose father, Frederick, Prince of Wales, died when the young prince was only thirteen years of age. This event made young George heir to the throne of England; consequently, it was by no means an unimportant matter to decide upon a lady worthy of the honor of marrying him. Before telling how it was settled, let us take a look at the early life and education of the prince. He was such a

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CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.

A fter an illness that lasted six weeks, King George, who knew the seriousness of its nature, made a speech before the House of Peers, during which he asked that an act might be passed enabling him from time to time to appoint the queen or some other member of the royal family as guardian to the heir-apparent, and regent of the kingdom. Parliament granted this right. The Duke of Cumberland died at this time. It will be remembered that he was the favorite son of Queen Caroline, and uncle of Georg

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CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.

T here was great excitement in the palace when the king entered Queen Charlotte's apartments one day, and exclaimed quite joyously, "Well, here I am, safe and well, though I have had a very narrow escape from being stabbed." He then proceeded to tell how a woman had presented him with a paper, just as he was about to enter his carriage at the gate of St. James's Palace, and as he proceeded to open it she struck at him with a knife, which pierced his clothing, but fortunately did him no injury. S

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(A.D. 1768-1821.)

(A.D. 1768-1821.)

T hose who have read the preceding pages will remember the birth of the "Lady Augusta," because of the quarrel that event occasioned between her father, Frederick, Prince of Wales, and her grandfather, George II. She grew up a beautiful, accomplished woman,—the favorite sister of George III., whose protection she was forced to seek after she had reached middle age. We have nothing to do with that part of her life, however, nor with her childhood, which was passed quietly with scarcely any remark

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CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.

A.D. 1796. L ong before the first year of their marriage was completed the princess was living almost in solitary confinement at Brighton, while her good-for-nothing husband was leading the gayest sort of an existence in London, courted and honored at all the brilliant parties he attended, and almost ignoring the fact that he had a wife. He had abandoned his extravagant court at Carlton House for a time, because he was not entirely satisfied with the revenue that had been settled on him; so he s

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A.D. 1812.

A.D. 1812.

T he health of the king did not improve; and, as the prince-regent now held the reins of government, a separate maintenance was provided for the queen and princesses. This was quite necessary, because the prince was on bad terms with all his family; besides, he was thinking seriously of a divorce from Princess Caroline, which he felt more sure of getting because of his father's inability to protect her. But that matter had to rest for a while, because his mind was so filled with political distur

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THE TRIUMPH OF THE WHALE.=

THE TRIUMPH OF THE WHALE.=

"Io! Paean! Io! sing, To the finny people's king, Not a mightier whale than this, In the vast Atlantic is; Not a fatter fish than he Flounders round the Polar sea: See his blubber at his gills,— What a world of drink he swills!— Such a person,—next declare, Muse, who his companions are: Every fish of generous kind Stands aside or drinks behind. Name or title, what was he? Is he Regent of the sea? By his bulk and by his size, By his oily qualities, This (or else my eyesight fails), This should be

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THE IRISH AVATAR.

THE IRISH AVATAR.

"Ere the daughter of Brunswick is cold in her grave, And her ashes still float to her home o'er the tide, Lo! George the triumphant speeds over the wave, To the long-cherished isle which he loved like his bride. But he comes! the Messiah of royalty comes! Like the goodly Leviathan roll'd from the waves! Then receive him as best such an advent becomes, With a legion of cooks and an army of slaves. Is it madness or meanness that clings to thee now? Were he God—as he is but the commonest clay, With

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(A.D. 1818-1849.)

(A.D. 1818-1849.)

T here is so little to relate about this queen, that were it not for the fact that her reign develops many matters of importance and interest to the whole civilized world, we should feel tempted to pass her by with a brief notice. But this would be unsatisfactory in an historical point of view. Queen Adelaide will, therefore, receive her share of mention whenever she takes prominence as we proceed. It was on April 13, 1818, that the regent, afterwards George IV., announced to parliament through

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(A.D. 1819-1862.)

(A.D. 1819-1862.)

W illiam IV. expressed a wish that he might live until his niece was old enough to assume the reins of government herself, so that no regent might be necessary. He was gratified, for Princess Victoria had celebrated her eighteenth birthday just four weeks before messengers arrived at Kensington Palace to summon her to the throne. It was on the morning of June 20, 1837, long before daylight, that the king's illness terminated fatally. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Howley, the Lord Chamberlain

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A.D. 1843.

A.D. 1843.

P arliament opened this year with very exciting debates on the corn laws, which, of course, referred to all sorts of grain. Sir Robert Peel entered upon his office bound to maintain these laws, but five years later he repealed them. Such a change of policy brought down upon his head the most outrageous abuse, but he was probably convinced that the change was beneficial. These laws made the price of all grain that was imported so high that few could afford to purchase any but English grain. This

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A.D. 1852.

A.D. 1852.

T he year opened with considerable uneasiness regarding the probability of a French invasion; and the queen drew the attention of parliament to the necessity of increasing the number of soldiers. Without explaining the plan of the "militia bill," which was brought up for consideration, it is only necessary to say that the alterations made in it by the members of the house excited the indignation of Lord John Russell to such a degree that he sent his resignation to her majesty. Lord Derby took hi

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CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV

I n August the queen and prince consort went to Germany on a visit. They arrived at Antwerp on the eleventh, and drove at once to the railway station. At Malines they were met by King Leopold and his second son, and at Aix-la-Chapelle by the Prince of Prussia, who had come to accompany them for the rest of their journey. The weather was intensely hot, and marred much of their pleasure; but they were everywhere met with a hearty welcome. On the twelfth news reached them of the sudden death of Car

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