1897.] My lord, Percy’s father, came soon after as Wolsey had inti mated, and after a long secret communication with his grace he called his son to him and in the presence of the servants soundly rated him and informed him that he should marry the lady Grace or be disinherited. Poor, weak Percy. Plis love could not with stand that and he gave in. Oh, faithless one, thy Anne feared thy constancy with reason. Hadst thou but had the firmness to remain true to thy beloved Anne thou might have pleased thyself. Unhappily for thee thou wert weak, and could not see far enough into the future to know that in three short years thou mightest have pleased thyself. But happily for England the future was veiled and thou wert weak. Else Britannia were not queen of the waters, the glorious Elizabeth had never reigned and Eng land were to-day a papal fief. And now the tale of these sixteenth century lovers is nearly ended. Percy died a broken-hearted man after a heartless mar riage and a miserable life. v Of Anne we need say little. How at last overcome by the defection of her lover, Percy, and opportuned by her father and brothers, she finally became Queen of England and the mother of the great Elizabeth. One scene'only is needed to complete the picture. It is a Friday morning in early May. Spring has just come to refresh the earth. The birds are singing gaily, the grass is springing up, the trees are budding, and .all nature seems bursting into new life and gladness. A strange day for a strange deed. A tall frown ing scaffold has been erected on the green in front of the church of St. Peter ad Vincula. Few people are about, for few know the hour of the tragedy. Soon the doors through which she is to pass are thrown open, and the royal victim comes forth. Never had she looked so beautiful before. She was dressed in a robe of black damask with a deep white cape falling over her neck. She wore a small hat with ornamented coifs under it. Slowly and with dignity she mounted the steps of the scaffold. When she had looked round she turned to the lieutenant of the tower and asked permission to address the witnesses, which being accorded, she spoke: ‘ 1 Good Christian people, I am come hither to die according to law, for by the law I am adjudged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. lam come hither to accuse no man nor to speak anything of that whereof I am accused, as I know full Down Hie Vista of Years.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers