Tower or Throne; A Romance of the Girlhood of Elizabeth

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER TWENTY A CAPTIVE PRINCESS NOW, Nan, it looks to me as if my stay in bed was to be a lengthy one. My lady spoke from the pillows, as she watched her deft little gentlewoman moving about the room. The weather is so fine, too, and the hunting most excellent. Remember, I am ill, very ill, does the queen send again; and call upon all your lately acquired saints to bear you out in this lie, I command you! My lady! little Nan blushed rosily; her religion, while not deep, was important, and her royal mistress dealt none too gently with it. A rebellion, you say, Nan? questioned Elizabeth. 'T is so hinted, your Grace. And my sister thinks I would be safer at court? The queen and I disagree. Belike I will take my chances here. Wyatt is a good fighter, when his blood is up; the queen will soon have her hands full, without burdening her sisterly mind with me. What is the queen's temper, Nan? Oh, my lady, very bad indeed. They do say that gallows are set up at every gate, and bonfires are kindled all over the kingdom. Heretics burning like chaff, and--and-- There, there! cried my lady, and her Grace, the good queen, desires me to come up to court and view this illumination and swinging! As God lives, Nan, my soul sickens in real earnest. No need for lies, little one; the Princess Elizabeth is ill, ill with loathing. Do you hear? Oh, what was that? Little Nan's face blanched, and she ran to the casement; peering forth into the night, she gasped: Oh, my lady! the courtyard is full of men. They are hammering upon the door. There are hundreds of them. Elizabeth sprang from the bed. Loathing was not an illness which had weakened her ability for action to any great extent. She pressed against Nan, and listened to the uproar...