244 Qty <&uccn'j$ afe, 



night is dark and gloomy, by reason of the heavy clouds 

 that are rolling past, and he who looks narrowly on the 

 deep dark waters of the river may discern a small boat 

 gliding on, with the coffin of the queen on board, and 

 four attendants, but when the moon shines out you can 

 distinguish the prior of the Charterhouse by his robes, 

 with two others in deep mourning, yet without insignia, 

 by which to designate them, and one female figure. Now 

 the rowers stop, and the coffin is being carried through 

 the little park into Windsor Castle, a few torches serving to 

 guide the bearers, which appear and disappear among 

 the trees, like the twinkling lights of glow-wonns in the 

 grass. 



Stately figures are kneeling round the coffin, where it 

 remains for a while, ready to be borne to its last resting- 

 place, and among the mourners one is discerned in the 

 dress of anun. Again the coffin is upborne, and the queen's 

 daughters fall behind, with a train of shadowy forms, 

 ladies, and earls, and viscounts, moving onward to St. 

 George's chapel. Strange it seems, that neither plumes 

 nor scutcheons are to be seen ; that when the dirge 

 is being sung, the twelve old men, whose office it is 

 to chant the requiem for the dead, are not even clad in 

 sable vestments : appearing rather like a dozen old men 

 indiscriminately and hastily brought together for the 

 purpose, and permitted to retain the garments of poverty, 

 in which they were found, and, instead of flambeaux, they 

 light on the funeral with old torches and torches 



