A QUEEN'S TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 336, 24 June 1911, Page 10

A QUEEN'S TRAGEDY

Many a schoolgirl ha» wept over the poignant story ol Queen Elizabeth and Uie Karl of Essex, and of cue non-deliv-ery of the ring that would have saved him from a cruel death. Eor over 800 year* tin* fatal ring has been preserved, passing from Devereaux to Carteret, anu irom Carteret to Thynne. And the end of the story is to be at Christie's where a relic that caused the death 01 a Queen and her favorite will be ottered for public sale. Romance now dwells in the auction-room, and every legend invites a bid. let even the Phillistme will feci a' pang that the cause of one of the saddest tragedies in history should have this end. iiiu ring itself 1-. o! gold, with a back of arabesque foiiage enamelled blue. The bebel is s.-t wim a saruonyx cameo, carved with a purtiait of Queen Elizabetn in profile to Uie rtglu, wearing head-dress and large rull'. The gemcutter wlio executed it is recognised by his craft as the anonymous Italian wlio carved the lamous portrait of Henry Vlll., in the Royal collection at Windsor.

As for the story, let it be told as Sir Dudley Carleton—afterwards Lord Dorciicstc—toid it to Prince jlaurice when lie was English Ambassador in Holland: "In the height of her passion lor him, Queen Elizaboth gave the Earl of Essex ,a ring, ordering him to keep it, and stating that whatever he should commit she would pardon him when he returned that pledge. Since that time, the earl's enemies, having prevailed with the Queen, caused him to be impeached. She, besides, was exasperated against him for the contempt he had sliown for her beauty, now through age upon the de-a-.y." (It was brought to her that he had said her mind was as crooked as her .body). "When lie was condemned she expected to receive from him the ring, and would have granted him his pardon, according to her promise. The ear], finding himself in the last extremity, applied to Admiral Howard's lady (the Countess of Nottingham), who was his relation, and desired her. by a person whom she could trust, to deliver the ring into the Queen's own hands. But her husband, who was one of the carl's greatest enemies, and to whom she- told this imprudently, would not suffer her to acquit herself of the commission. So the Queen consented to the earl's death, being fidl of indignation against so proud and haughty a spirit, who chose rather to die than implore her mercy.

"Some time after the admiral's lady fell sick, and, be.ng given over by her physicians, sent word to the Queen that sue had something of great consequence to tell her before she died. The Queen came to her bedside, and, having ordered Iter attendants to withdraw, the countess returned to her, but too late, the rim? from the Karl of Essex, desirimr to be excused for'not having returned it sinee her husband had prevented her. The astounded Queen burst into a furious passion. Shaking the dying countess in her lied, she cried out' vehemently that God might pardon her, but she never could. The Queen flung herself out of the chamber overwhelmed with the utmost grief. She sighed continually for a fortnight, witnout taking any nourishment. lying in bed entirelydressed and getting lyi a hundred time's a night. At la*t she died with hunger and with grief, because she had consented to the death of a lover who had applied to her for mercv."

Such is the story, which some historians have embellished and others have denied. Vet a contemporary letter is extant from the English to the Scottish court, stating: "Our Queen is troubled with a rheum in her arm, which vexelh her very much, nesides the grief she hath conceived for my lord of Essex's death. She slecpeth not so much by day as s he used, neither taketh rest by night. Her delight is to sit in the dark, and sometimes, with shedding tears, to bewail Essex." Originally belonging to Lady i-ranees Devereux, the daughter of Essex, the ring eventually was inheriteu by the late Lord John Thynne. [The ring, we learn by cable, was sold for 3250 guineas.]