238 



much sophistry, to convince the privy council that his 

 designs are just and honourable. 



The queen seeins unwilling to receive their message ; 

 her just apprehensions are not to be removed by the 

 hopes which they endeavour to excite. The good arch- 

 bishop seeks to comfort her by saying that he trusts the 

 matter is none so sore as she takes it for, and that he is 

 in good hope, and relieved from fear by the message sent 

 from the Lord Chamberlain Hastings. " Ah, woe worth 

 him," replies the queen, " for he is one of them that 

 labours to destroy me and my children." " Madam," 

 rejoins the bishop, " be of good cheer : I do assure you, 

 if they crown any other king than your son, whom thev 

 now have with them, we shall, on the morrow, crown his 

 brother, whom you have with you. And here is the 

 great seal, which, in likewise, as that noble prince, your 

 husband, delivered unto me, so here I deliver it unto 

 you, to the use and behoof of your son.* 



This sad scene, like others of joy and sorrow in the 

 life of poor Elizabeth, is fading from before the view, 

 but, while it lingers, look well at the spacious hall wherein 

 the queen has taken refuge, with its circular hearthstone 

 in the centre, and an opening in the roof above, through 

 which the smoke escapes in winter. The further end is 

 nobly screened with oak panelling, laticed at the top, and 

 having several doors of ancient workmanship, that open 

 on winding,stairs, leading to numerous small stone cham- 

 * Sir Thomas More. 



