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AGNES STRICKLAND'S QUEENS OF ENGLAND
Abridged
By Rosalie Kaufman
Vol. II. (of III)
Fully Illustrated
Boston
Estes & Lauriat
1882
PREFACE.
|Up 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 mention, or none at all, and that politics could be introduced
only when requisite for the comprehension of events that depended on
them. It will be a satisfaction to hope that my readers may be prompted
to independent inquiry.
R. K.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Park at Stowe............................................Frontispiece
Mary, First Queen-Regnant of England..............................014
Edward VI.........................................................025
Mary refuses to give up Mass......................................028
Lady Jane Grey....................................................033
Queen Mary plights her troth to Philip............................049
Death of Latimer and Ridley.......................................053
Queen Elizabeth...................................................057
Cranmer...........................................................059
London Street--Rainy Day in time of Elizabeth.....................065
Old Palace at Hatfield............................................070
St. James Park....................................................079
Mary Stuart.......................................................087
Sir Walter Raleigh................................................095
Mary's Chamber....................................................098
Destruction of the Armada.........................................103
Elizabeth boxing Essex on the Ear.................................107
Anne of Denmark...................................................111
Door to Holy rood.................................................115
Castle of Edinburgh...............................................123
The Piscina.......................................................131
Drawing-room at Winchester........................................136
Execution of Sir Walter Raleigh...................................141
Henrietta Maria...................................................145
Château Fontainebleau.............................................149
The Plague........................................................133
Maple-Durham Church and Mill......................................163
Catharine of Braganza.............................................179
Cathedral of Guimaraês............................................187
Queen's Bed.......................................................199
The Oratory.......................................................207
King's Apartment..................................................209
Great Fire in London..............................................215
Charles II........................................................221
Chapel in the Tower...............................................227
The Queen's Bower.................................................230
View of Oporto....................................................233
Mary Beatrice.....................................................239
Grande Monarque...................................................247
Versailles........................................................231
The Hôtel de Ville................................................259
Holyrood..........................................................267
James II..........................................................273
Duke of Monmouth..................................................281
St. Germain.......................................................297
James at the Battle of the Boyne..................................303
Queen's Drawing-room..............................................308
Louis XIV. in Old Age.............................................319
Mary..........................................................
William and Mary..................................................341
Scene in Holland..................................................347
Monument of William at the Hague..................................351
The Retreat.......................................................358
Entrance of William into London...................................369
Bentinck, Earl of Portland........................................380
Gardens of William III............................................382
Duke and Duchess of Marlborough...................................391
Anne of England...................................................401
Kensington Palace.................................................405
Hunting Lodge.....................................................414
Chapel of Henry VII...............................................427
William Thrown from his Horse.....................................433
The Avon at Bristol...............................................445
Windsor Forest....................................................470
Anger of the Duchess of Marlborough...............................481
Shrewsbury receiving the White Rod................................495
STORIES OF THE LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND
Compiled From Agnes Strickland, For Young People
By Rosalie Kaufman
{014}
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{015}
THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND.
CHAPTER I. MARY, FIRST QUEEN-REGNANT OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND.
(A.D. 1516-1558).
|Mary 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 amused them by playing on the virginals, a musical
instrument similar to a piano. It was in a box about four feet long,
with an ivory key-board of two or three octaves, and was placed on a
table when played upon.
At that time Mary was a bright, merry child, with rosy complexion and
brown eyes, and such a pet with her parents that she remained with them
at Greenwich until after her fourth birthday.
[[A.D. 1522.]] While Mary was yet in her cradle a marriage was spoken
of for her with Francis I., but her mother {016}was anxious to see her
united to her own nephew, the Emperor Charles V., who paid a visit to
the English court when he was about twenty-three years old. He was there
nearly five weeks, during which the little princess became very fond of
him, and, young as she was, learned to consider herself his empress.
He signed a solemn treaty at Windsor to marry her when she was twelve
years old, but was desirous that she should be sent to Spain for her
education. Her parents would not consent to the separation, but engaged
the best instructors for her, and had a plan of study drawn up by a
Spaniard of deep learning. His rules were rigid; he required the young
princess to read religious works night and morning, to translate
English into Latin frequently, and to converse in that language with
her teacher. He implored her never to read books of chivalry or romance,
condemned a long list of light works as injurious to morals, and
recommended instead Plato, Cicero, Seneca's Maxims, Plutarch, the works
of Erasmus, Sir Thomas More's "Utopia," some of the classic poets, and
the tragedies of Seneca. He deemed card-playing and fine dressing as
injurious as romances, and gave rules for the pronunciation of Greek and
Latin, requiring that lessons in those languages should be committed to
memory every day, and read over two or three times before the pupil went
to bed.
No wonder the poor child's health and spirits suffered, for she was only
six years old when this system of education was enforced.
The Emperor Charles still continued to desire her to spend part of
her time in Spain, but Henry VIII. promised instead that she should
be brought up in England like a Spanish lady, and should even wear the
national dress of that country. He added, that nobody in all Christendom
{017}could be found to bring her up according to the customs of Spain
better than her mother, who came of a noble house of that country, and,
besides, that the princess was too young to undertake the voyage.
[[A.D. 1525.]] During the summer of 1525 a rumor reached England that
Charles V. had engaged himself to Isabel of Portugal. This was little
Mary's first sorrow, for her maids had persuaded her that she was really
in love. But Charles had heard of the king's intention to divorce
his wife and disinherit his daughter, and was excessively angry; in
consequence, he thought best to revenge himself on Mary. He wrote a
letter filled with reproaches to Henry, and married Isabel before the
end of the year.
Then Mary, though only nine years of age, was established in a court of
her own at Ludlow Castle, in Wales. She had not been called Princess of
Wales, but received the same honors as though she had.
The Welsh were pleased to have the royal family represented in their
country, and the officers and nobles of Mary's court superintended the
newly-formed legislature.
Sir John Dudley, afterwards Earl of Warwick, was her chamberlain, and
the Countess of Salisbury resided with her, as she had done from her
birth, as head of her establishment. There were, besides, thirteen
ladies of honor, and a large number of other officers.
Few children are so lovely, bright, and well-behaved as Mary was at that
time, when she had her first lessons in playing the part of queen, which
she was so soon to unlearn. Probably Henry placed her in the position
of heir-apparent of England, hoping that she would make a grand match
before he disinherited her, otherwise there could be no reason for
it, considering the poverty and contempt she suffered later. {018}Her
education went on steadily during the eighteen months she spent at
Ludlow, and great care was taken of her exercise, diet, dress, and
everything pertaining to her health and morals.
Her father made a desperate attempt to marry her to Francis I., but he
was engaged to the widow of the King of Portugal, besides he was by no
means anxious to marry a girl eleven years of age.
Spite of the methodical course of Mary's education she took part in the
revelry at her father's court when she was not more than eleven years
old, and danced a ballet with seven other ladies and eight lords. She
also performed in one of Terence's comedies in the original Latin for
the entertainment of the French ambassadors when they were at Hampton
Court.
[[A.D. 1529.]] Her misfortunes dated from that period, for it was then
that her mother's divorce began to be publicly discussed.
Katherine was anxious to marry her daughter to Reginald Pole, son of the
Countess of Salisbury, but he had no desire to connect himself with the
English court, though he was always fond of Mary, and gave as excuse
that he had been educated for the church, though he never became either
a priest or a monk. He did not hesitate to express to the king his
entire disapproval of the pending divorce, and thus incurred the royal
displeasure to such a degree that he was obliged to leave England.
For a long time Mary had been her mother's daily companion, but when
she was about fifteen years of age she was separated from her, never to
behold her again. This was such a source of grief to the young girl that
she became seriously ill on account of it. Katherine wrote her daughter
loving letters, and tried to console her for the loss of her instruction
in Latin by assuring her that Dr. {019}Fetherstone was a much better
teacher, but she never complained of the cause of their separation in
any of her correspondence.
[[A.D. 1532.]] It was not until after the birth of Elizabeth that the
king disinherited his daughter Mary, and declared her half-sister his
heiress. Then orders were sent to her to lay aside the name and dignity
of princess and remove to Hatfield, where the nursery of her infant
sister was about to be established.
Mary was but seventeen at this time, but she showed a good deal of
courage, when she told the messenger that she should not take the
slightest notice of the order unless it were delivered to her in the
king's own hand and bore his signature.
Then she wrote a private letter to her father, asking him whether he
really meant to deprive her of her title. He did not condescend to
reply, but a couple of months later her household, consisting of no less
than three hundred and sixty persons, was suddenly broken up, and the
poor girl was separated from the Countess of Salisbury and others, to
whose society she had been accustomed during her whole life.
This was a blow far more bitter than being deprived of her title.
Another trial it was to find herself no more than a dependent in her
sister's household, which was fitted up with the magnificence she
herself had just been robbed of. The comparison that she was daily
forced to draw between the position of her infant sister and her own was
enough to make her hate the child, but, strange to say, her affection
for it was strong; and good Margaret Bryan, who had been her nurse, and
was now performing the same service for Elizabeth, did all in her power
to soothe the mind of her former charge, and encourage kindly feelings
for her little sister. {020}Mary spent two years of sorrow and suffering
at Hatfield Castle, where her stepmother treated her with extreme
unkindness, and during that time several persons were sent to the
Tower for calling her "Princess." This no doubt added greatly to her
unhappiness. Besides, she was closely watched, and although allowed
to read and study, writing was forbidden until after the death of Anne
Boleyn, when in one of her letters she apologized for her bad penmanship
on the ground that she had had no practice for two years.
[[A.D. 1535.]] Her position was so dreadful that most people pitied her,
and the king was heard to mutter such harsh threats against her that it
would not have occasioned much surprise if her head had been brought to
the block. Her dying mother begged that she might have the satisfaction
of knowing that Mary was near her, even though she were not permitted to
see her, but the tyrant Henry refused, though the poor girl's health was
suffering for want of her mother's tender care and affection. Even the
sad satisfaction of a last farewell between the dying queen and her only
child was forbidden, and Katherine of Arragon departed from this world
without laying eyes on her daughter.
Mary wrote her father a congratulatory letter when he married Jane
Seymour, but he took no notice of it, nor addressed her in any way
until she was requested through his privy councillor to sign a paper
renouncing all right to the throne. She could not have been induced to
do this while her mother lived, but she was so broken down from sorrow
and ill health that she no longer had the power to resist.
Then she was settled again in a household, with her little sister, at
Hunsdon, which, though comfortable and peaceful, was poor and humble
compared with what she had {021}enjoyed at Ludlow Castle. Mary was her
own mistress there for three years, and spent most of the time in
study, dividing off her day as she had been taught to do when under her
mother's care. She studied astronomy, geography, natural philosophy, and
mathematics, as well as Latin and Greek authors; read the church service
daily with her chaplain, did a good deal of needle-work, and practised
on three musical instruments. Latin was the universal language, so
she spoke it with ease, and could read and write French, Spanish, and
Italian besides.
[[A.D. 1537.]] She was not admitted to her father's presence until 1537,
when, strange to say, although her tastes were refined, and her life
a busy one, her journal contained items of high play at cards, and a
fondness for betting and gambling, which was one of the vices of Henry's
court, he himself being one of the greatest gamblers that ever wore a
crown.
[[A.D. 1538]] The year 1538 was filled with horrors on account of the
serious insurrections of the Catholics, who in every case of disturbance
demanded that the Princess Mary should be restored to her royal rank.
This certainly placed her in a dangerous position, and it is rather
surprising that she did not have her head chopped off in consequence,
for the most dreadful executions took place; people were burnt alive or
butchered in cold blood, and members of some of the noblest families in
England perished on the scaffold.
The aged Countess of Salisbury, Mary's beloved friend, was locked up
in the Tower, and all her property taken from her. She was not spared
sufficient means to purchase warm clothing to shelter her infirm limbs,
and the Marchioness of Exeter, with her little son, shared the same
fate, though the boy was too young to have committed any offence.
{022}The chief crime of these ladies was their friendship for Reginald
Pole, who was accused of supporting the claims of Katherine of Arragon,
Mary's mother. The existence of the young princess was rendered
miserable by the wretched fate of those she loved, yet she was powerless
to render them the slightest assistance.
Towards the close of the following year, Wriothesley, the
privy-councillor, was sent to inform her that her father desired her to
receive Duke Philip of Bavaria as a suitor. But Mary declined because
she did not desire to marry at all, and would on no account ally herself
to a Protestant.
[[A.D. 1539.]] The day after Anne of Cleves made her public entry into
England, Henry appointed Philip Knight of the Garter on account of his
defence of Vienna against the Turks, and he was the first Protestant
who ever received that honor. Before he returned to Germany he presented
Mary with a diamond cross, and expressed his intention of coming to
claim her as his bride. She was spared the hardship of a struggle in
opposing him because Henry's ill treatment of Anne of Cleves prevented
the return of the brave German, who lived and died a bachelor.
[[A.D. 1540.]] In 1540 Mary was very ill at her brother's residence; the
cause of it was probably the dreadful events that took place in England
during that and the following year; for it was then that all her early
friends, including Dr. Fetherstone and the Countess of Salisbury, were
so shamefully butchered. It must be remembered that these were people
whose lives were in every respect honorable and virtuous, but they were
firmly attached to Queen Katherine and opposed to Henry in religious
matters, and that was the head and front of their offending.
[[A.D. 1543.]] In 1543 Mary was present at the marriage of her father
with Katherine Parr, and accompanied the royal couple when they made
their summer trip through {023}several counties in England. But she
was seized with an attack of her former illness, when she was sent to
Ashbridge, where, with her brother and sister, she spent the autumn.
While there she worked a chain as a New-year's gift for her father, and
it had to be so large for that corpulent personage that the materials
for it cost twenty pounds.
By the close of the year a delightful change took place in her life; she
was restored to her rightful succession after Edward VI. by an act of
parliament, and took up her residence at court.
[[A.D. 1547.]] Having made friends with her father once more, she
continued in favor till the end of his life, and when he was dying
he said to her: "I know well, my daughter, that fortune has been most
adverse to you, that I have caused you infinite sorrow, and that I
have not given you in marriage as I intended to do; this was, however,
according to the will of God, or to the unhappy state of my affairs, or
to your own ill-luck; but I pray you to take it all in good part, and
promise me to be a kind and loving mother to your brother, whom I shall
leave a little helpless child."
In his will he bequeathed to her the sum of ten thousand pounds towards
her marriage portion, and an income of three thousand pounds a year so
long as she remained unmarried.
He requested that his son should be brought up in the Catholic faith,
which was a serious impediment to the Protestant church in England, and
proved the cause of a great deal of strife among his subjects.
Before parliament met, after King Henry's death, the Protestant
protector, Somerset, had, with Cranmer's assistance, taken decided steps
for the establishment of the Reformed faith, and Bishop Gardiner was
locked up in the Fleet Prison. {024}Mary was very anxious that her
brother should be brought up a Catholic, and had a long controversy in
writing with Somerset on that subject. It seems strange that her pen
should have done any work for the Protestant church when she always
opposed it, yet so it was, and her name appeared in the preface of the
Gospel of St. John as translator.
[[A.D. 1548.]] Though Mary seldom attended her brother's court, she
spent the following Christmas with him, and at that time they were on
the most affectionate terms. She visited him again at St. James' Palace
in 1548, and had a regular suite of reception rooms for her own use,
where she entertained a number of friends in the most sumptuous style.
Two years later she was so ill that her death was generally expected.
Had she died then how differently would her name have appeared in
history! The hatred between Catholics and Protestants would have been
less, and the horrible persecutions in Great Britain for religion's sake
would never have taken place. But it was destined otherwise.
[[A.D. 1550.]] During this severe illness Mary had a long correspondence
with Somerset, who urged her to join the Protestant faith, but she
remained firm until, by a sudden turn of events, the protector was
deposed by Dudley, Cranmer, and Northampton, who did not rest until they
had brought about his execution. But she had further struggles to
make for her religion; for when Dudley succeeded Somerset he had her
chaplains arrested, and wanted to prevent her from having church service
at all. She made an appeal to Charles V., whose ambassador espoused her
cause, and demanded that the Princess Mary should have her mass. It was
refused, whereupon the Emperor threatened war with England if Mary were
not permitted
{025}
[Illustration: 0031]
{027}to worship as she pleased. Several persons, women as well as men,
were burned to death at this period for adhering to the Catholic faith,
and the Emperor Charles V. had several ships off the east coast of
England to receive Mary and convey her to his sister, the Queen of
Hungary, for protection, if necessary. King Edward gave orders that his
sister should be carefully watched lest she might be stolen away, then
invited her to visit him, saying that the air of Essex was bad for her
health, but she refused to leave.
Throughout the winter the controversy continued with regard to the form
of worship in her chapel, the chief complaint against her being that she
permitted all her neighbors to flock there in crowds, and that she had
mass celebrated at the parish churches by her chaplains. At last she was
so persecuted that she resolved to appeal, in person, to her brother for
relief from the interruption his ministers were causing to her worship.
She mounted her horse, and attended by a train of ladies and gentlemen,
each wearing a black rosary and cross hanging at the side, rode through
Fleet street to Westminster. This display was very irritating to the
Protestant court, but Mary had a two hours' interview with her brother,
with whom she dined, and with his permission returned to Newhall in
Essex the next day, after taking a most affectionate leave of him. He
treated her very kindly, and made no objection when she assured him
"that her soul was God's, and her faith she would not change."
King Edward always felt somewhat hurt because she refused to make long
visits at his court; but even had there been no difference in religious
opinions, the forms and ceremonies imposed on everybody would have been
irksome to one in Mary's poor health.
After the princess had seen her brother she was left {028}undisturbed
for awhile, and then, without the slightest warning, Francis Mallet, her
head chaplain, was seized and confined in the Tower, with a person in
the same cell to watch what he said and did. Mallet was a learned man,
and one whom Mary esteemed so highly that when he was dragged off to
prison she wrote to her brother and his council, complaining of the
injustice; but they took no notice of her whatever, and she continued to
have her religious service celebrated by her remaining chaplains.
[Illustration: 0034]
This went on for a few months, when the king and his council summoned
the chief officers of Mary's household before them, among whom was
Rochester, her comptroller, and charged them to inform their mistress
that she must immediately stop having mass at her court. When they
delivered their message, which they did most unwillingly, the princess
forbade them to repeat it to her chaplains or to anybody else in her
service, and told them that if they failed to obey her they must cease
to consider her their mistress; moreover, she would leave the house
at once. She was so much excited during this interview that the
{029}messengers begged her to take a few days to consider the matter.
She did so, but at the end of the specified time she was firm as ever,
and wrote her brother humbly but decidedly that she would sacrifice her
life rather than what she conceived to be her religious duties.
Edward VI. sent for her officers again, and bade them to use their
influence with Mary's whole household in order that she might be
prevented by them from continuing the Catholic service. They refused
absolutely to interfere, saying that it was against their consciences,
and were locked up in the Tower forthwith.
Having failed with Mary's officers, the king now decided to try what
his own could accomplish. Accordingly three of them were sent to her,
accompanied by a gentleman who was to perform the Protestant service for
her, whether she consented or not.
When they informed Mary of their errand she said that her health
was poor and she did not wish to be troubled with a long interview,
particularly as she had already informed the king by letter of her
intention.
They wanted to read her the list of councillors who had voted that she
should not have private mass in her house, but she would not hear it,
and replied, "Rather than use any other service than that ordained
during the life of my father I will lay my head on the block; but I am
unworthy to suffer death in so good a cause. And though the good,
sweet king have more knowledge than others of his years, yet it is not
possible for him to be a judge of all things; for instance, if ships
were to be sent to sea, I am sure you would not think him able to
decide what should be done, and much less can he, at his age, judge in
questions of divinity. As for my priests, they may act as they choose,
but none of your new service shall be said in any house of mine, and if
any be said in it, I will not tarry in it an hour." {030}When they
told her how her officers had refused to return to her with the second
message, she was highly gratified, and said, "It was not the wisest of
councils that sent her own servants to control her in her own house,
for she was least likely to obey those who had always been used to obey
her." Then she added, "If they refused to do your message, they are the
honestest men I know."
These officers were kept in prison as long as Edward VI. reigned, but
Mary remembered and rewarded their fidelity afterwards.
After some more useless urging on the part of the king's councillors,
Mary gave them a ring to carry to her brother, kneeling as she did so,
and saying, "that she would die his true subject and sister, and obey
him in all things except matters of religion;" then she departed into
her bedchamber.
But the messengers were not satisfied, so they summoned the chaplains
of Mary's household and threatened them with condign punishment if they
performed any service but that contained in the Common Prayer Book.
The chaplains objected at first, but afterwards promised to obey. Mary
was not baffled yet, for she had hidden away one of them and he could
not be found. While search was made for him high and low, the king's
messengers waited in the courtyard; and the princess threw open her
window, and laughingly called out to them, "I pray you ask the lords of
the castle that Rochester may shortly return; for since his departing
I keep the accounts myself, and lo, I have learned how many loaves of
bread be made of a bushel of wheat! My father and mother never brought
me up to brewing and baking! and to be plain with you, I am a-weary of
mine office. If my lords will send my officer home again, they will do
me a pleasure; otherwise, if they will send him to prison, beshrew me,
if he go not to it merrily {031}and with a good will! And I pray God
to send you well in your souls, and in your bodies too, for some of you
have but weak ones."
The deputation did not care to hear anything more that Mary had to say,
but departed without finding the missing chaplain, who, not having made
any promise, performed the forbidden service as usual.
[[A.D. 1552.]] In 1552 King Edward had both the measles and small-pox,
which left him in such a low state of health that he died the following
year.
His true condition was kept secret, and while he was dangerously ill a
splendid bridal festival was held at Durham House, on the occasion of
a double marriage between Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley,
and between Katherine Grey, sister to Jane, and the heir of the Earl of
Pembroke.
Rather more than a month after this ceremony King Edward expired.
He left a will that disinherited his Catholic sister, Mary, and his
Protestant sister, Elizabeth, and bestowed the crown on Lady Jane Grey.
Then the guard was doubled around the royal apartments, and the late
king's council sent a message to Mary that her brother was very ill and
desired to see her. She was highly pleased that his affection should
have prompted him to send for her, and set out immediately. Before
reaching the palace, however, she was met by a mysterious messenger in
disguise, who informed her that the king was dead, and that if she fell
into the hands of his council she would be imprisoned in the Tower.
Mary was sorely perplexed, for she asked herself:
"Might not this messenger have been sent by an enemy, to draw her into
a snare, and induce her to proclaim herself queen while her brother was
still alive?" Such an act would have been treason, and would, of
course, have led {032}to her ruin. However, after mature reflection,
she resolved not to despise the warning, but turned from the London
road towards Suffolk. She spent that night at Sawston Hall, in the
neighborhood of Cambridge. Mr. Huddleston, who was living there, was
a zealous Roman Catholic, and received the princess and her train
cheerfully, though he was well aware that he was taking a risk, for all
his neighbors were opposed to Mary, and would not hesitate to attack him
for extending hospitality to her.
His fears were not without foundation, for when the princess reached
the top of the hill early next morning, as she proceeded on her way, she
beheld the whole building in which she had passed the night in flames. A
party from Cambridge, hearing of her arrival, had set the place on fire,
but had they known of her departure they might have seized her bodily.
"Let it blaze," said Mary, "I will build Huddleston a better."
She kept her word; for the present Sawston Hall was built entirely at
her expense.
She travelled all day, and reached her seat of Kenninghall, in Norfolk,
the same night. By that time Edward's death was known, and it was
necessary for her to assert her title to the throne at once.
She wrote to the council, expressing her sorrow at her brother's death,
and stating that she knew what their intention had been towards her,
but assured them that if they would proclaim her in London as their
sovereign they should be pardoned.
The following day, July 10, they proclaimed Lady Jane Grey Queen of
England.
Mary was determined to maintain her right, and displayed both courage
and prudence in the way she set to work.
She decided to leave Kenninghall, because the country
{033}
[Illustration: 0039]
{035}was too open, and the house not strong enough
to withstand a siege. Two Norfolk gentlemen brought all their
tenantry to her aid, and, mounted on horseback, she proceeded towards
Framlingham, in Suffolk, attended by her faithful knights and ladies.
They arrived at the castle before night. It was situated on a hill,
surrounded by three circles of moats, and everything was in thorough
repair for defence, which the valiant knights and armed citizens
prepared to undertake. Surrounded by the circling towers of Framlingham
Castle, Mary felt herself a sovereign, indeed, and defied her enemies
by displaying her standard over the gate tower. She assumed the title of
Queen-regnant of England and Ireland.
{036}