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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 f