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a rich purple tinge； while from beneath the latter just peeped a
heavy coil of sunny； golden hair。 Her face was fresh and fair； as
should be that of any young girl of fifteen； but its expression
was rather that of high spirits and of heedless and impetuous
moods than of simple maidenly beauty。
〃Tilly…vally； my lord；〃 she cried； dropping her bridle…rein into
the hands of a waiting groom； 〃 't was my race to…day； was it
not？ Odds fish； man！〃 she cried out sharply to the attendant
groom； 〃be ye easier with Roland's bridle there。 One beast of his
gentle mettle were worth a score of clumsy varlets like to you！
Well； said I not right； my Lord Admiral； is not the race fairly
mine； I ask？〃 and； careless in act as in speech； she gave the
Lord Admiral's horse； as she spoke； so sharp a cut with her
riding whip as to make the big brute rear in sudden surprise； and
almost unhorse its rider； while an unchecked laugh came from its
fair tormentor。
〃Good faith； Mistress；〃 answered Sir Thomas Seymour； the Lord
High Admiral； gracefully swallowing his exclamation of surprise；
〃your ladyship hath fairly won； and； sure； hath no call to punish
both myself and my good Selim here by such unwarranted
chastisement。 Will your grace dismount？〃
And； vaulting from his seat； he gallantly extended his hand to
help the young girl from her horse； while； on the same instant；
another in her train； a handsome young fellow of the girl's own
age； knelt on the frozen ground and held her stirrup。
But this independent young maid would have none of their
courtesies。 Ignoring the outstretched hands of both the man and
boy； she sprang lightly from her horse； and； as she did so； with
a sly and sudden push of her dainty foot； she sent the kneeling
lad sprawling backward； while her merry peal of laughter rang out
as an accompaniment to his downfall。
〃Without your help； my lordswithout your help； so please you
both；〃 she cried。 〃Why； Dudley；〃 she exclaimed； in mock surprise；
as she threw a look over her shoulder at the prostrate boy； 〃are
you there？ Beshrew me； though； you do look like one； of goodman
Roger's Dorking cocks in the poultry yonder； so red and ruffled
of feather do you seem。 There； see now； I do repent me of my
discourtesy。 You； Sir Robert； shall squire me to the hall； and
Lord Seymour must even content himself with playing the gallant
to good Mistress Ashley〃； and； leaning on the arm of the now
pacified Dudley； the self…willed girl tripped lightly up the
entrance…steps。
Self…willed and thoughtlesseven rude and hoydenishwe may
think her in these days of gentler manners and more guarded
speech。 But those were less refined and cultured times than these
in which we live； and the rough； uncurbed nature of 〃Kinge Henrye
the viii。 of Most Famous Memorye；〃 as the old chronicles term the
〃bluff King Hal；〃 reappeared to a noticeable extent in the person
of his second child； the daughter of ill…fated Anne Boleyn 〃my
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 C