The heroines of history Author:John Stilwell Jenkins Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: grandparents—Elizabeth of York in the midst of a gigantic, artificial white rose; at her side was Henry VII., peeping from a mammoth red rose, and holding his co... more »nsort by the hand. From these roses, a stem reached to the next higher stage where the queen's father was represented in the centre of a grand red and white rose, and holding Anne Boleyn by the hand. Another branch proceeded from this to the highest platform, where Elizabeth herself was counterfeited on a throne. Thus was her genealogy, embracing the houses of York and Lancaster, very ingeniously set forth; and thus was Anne Boleyn at length honored. Many other devices, such as Father Time, the Beatitudes, Deborah, etc., were to be seen. Through all this remarkable display, the maiden queen acted her partrwith consummate address, according to the taste of the period. In later times it would have been regarded as ludicrously theatrical when she held up hands and eyes to heaven, while certain speeches and songs were recited to her. At her coronation, the next day, she was duly attired with crimson velvet, ermine, and buttons, cords and tassels of gold. The usual elaborate ceremonies were observed, much to the edification of all concerned, if we except the anointing with oil which her majesty so much disliked that she retired to change her dress, remarking to her maids that " the oil was grease and smelled ill." At the banquet in Westminster hall, which concluded the drama, the customary champion rode into the room, in complete armor, and offered to defend against all gainsayers the "most high andmighty princess, our dread sovereign, Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France, Ireland, Defender of the true, ancient and catholic faith, most worthy empress from the Orcade Isles to the Mountains Pyre'ne'e."...« less