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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 royal and younger
sister；nay； start' not my lady's grace！〃 exclaimed the dragon
quickly； as Elizabeth turned upon him a look of sudden and
haughty surprise。 〃All is known！ And this is the ending of my
wondrous tale。 My Lord Seymour of Sudleye is this day taken for
high treason and haled＇1＇ to the Tower。 They of your own
household are held as accomplice to the Lord Admiral's wicked
intent； and you； Lady Elizabeth Tudor； are by order of the
council to be restrained in prison wards in this your manor of
Hatfield until such time as the king's Majesty and the honorable
council shall decide。 This on your allegiance！〃
＇1＇ Haleddragged； forcibly conveyed。
The cry of terror that the dragon's words awoke； died into
silence as the Lady Elizabeth rose to her feet； flushed with
anger。
〃Is this a fable or the posy of a ring； Sir Dragon？〃 she said；
sharply。 〃Do you come to try or tempt me； or is this perchance
but some part of my Lord of Misrule's Yule…tide mumming？ 'Sblood；
sir； only cravens sneak behind masks to strike and threaten。 Have
off your disguise； if you be a true man； or； by my word as
Princess of England； he shall bitterly rue the day who dares to
befool the daughter of Henry Tudor！〃
〃As you will； then； my lady；〃 said the dragon。 〃Do you doubt me
now？〃 and； tearing off his pasteboard wrapping； he stood
disclosed before them all as the grim Sir Robert Trywhitt； chief
examiner of the Lord Protector's council。 〃Move not at your
peril；〃 he said； as a stir in the throng seemed to indicate the
presence of some brave spirits who would have shielded their
young princess。 〃Master Feodary； bid your varlets stand to their
arms。〃
And at a word from Master Avery Mitchell； late Lord of Misrule；
there flashed from beneath the cloaks of certain tall figures on
the circle's edge the halberds of the guard。 The surprise was
complete。 The Lady Elizabeth was a prisoner in her own
manor…house； and the Yule…tide revels had reached a sudden and
sorry ending。
And yet； once again； under this false accusation； did the hot
spirit of the Tudors flame in the face and speech of the Princess
Elizabeth。
〃Sir Robert Trywhitt；〃 cried the brave young girl； 〃these be but
lying rumors that do go against my honor and my fealty。 God
knoweth they be shameful slanders； sir； for the which； besides
the desire I have to see the King's Majesty； I pray you let me
also be brought straight before the court that I may disprove
these perjured tongues。〃
But her appeal was not granted。 For months she was kept close
prisoner at Hatfield House； subject daily to most rigid
cross…examination by Sir Robert Trywhitt for the purpose of
implicating her if possible in the Lord Admiral's plot。 But all
in vain； and at last even Sir Robert gave up the attempt； and
wrote to the council that 〃the Lady Elizabeth hath a good wit；
and nothing is gotten of her but by great policy。〃
Lord Seymour of Sudleye； was beheaded for treason on Tower Hill；
and others； implicated in his plots； were variously punished； but
even 〃great policy〃 cannot squeeze a lie out of the truth； and
Elizabeth was finally declared free of the stain of treason。
Experience； which is a hard teacher； often brings to light the
best that is in us。 It was so in this case。 For； as one writer
says： 〃The long and harassing ordeal disclosed the splendid
courage； the reticence； the rare discretion； which were to carry
the Princess through many an awful peril in the years to come。
Probably no event of her early girlhood went so far toward making
a woman of Elizabeth as did this miserable affair。〃
Within ten years thereafter the Lady Elizabeth ascended the
throne of England。 Those ten years covered many strange events；
many varying fortunesthe death of her brother； the boy King
Edward； the sad tragedy of Lady Jane Grey； Wyatt's rebellion； the
tanner's revolt； and all the long horror of the reign of 〃Bloody
Mary。〃 You may read of all this in history； and may see how；
through it all； the young princess grew still more firm of will；
more self…reliant； wise； and strong； developing all those
peculiar qualities that helped to make her England's greatest
queen； and one of the most wonderful women in history。 But
through all her long and most historic life；a life of over
seventy years； forty…five of which were passed as England's
queen；scarce any incident made so lasting an impression upon
her as when； in Hatfield House； the first shock of the false
charge of treason fell upon the thoughtless girl of fifteen in
the midst of the Christmas revels。
CHRISTINA OF SWEDEN：
THE GIRL OF THE NORTHERN FIORDS。
A。D。 1636。
There were tears and trouble in Stockholm； there was sorrow in
every house and hamlet in Sweden； there was consternation
throughout Protestant Europe。 Gustavus Adolphus was dead！ The
〃Lion of t