DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67419#0309
THE DAYS OF “ GOOD QUEEN BESS.” 287
with all care and regard to please her, and to behave
myselfe to everye one else as it shall become me.
Mr. Harrisone was with me upone Fridaye; he heard
me playe, and brought me a dusson of trebles; I
had some of him when I came to London. Thus
desiring pardone for my rude writinge, I leave you
to the Almightie, desiringe him to increase in you
all health and happines.
“ Your obedient daughter,
“ Rebecca Pare.”
Could any thing afford a stronger contrast to the
grave and certainly severe study to which Elizabeth
had habituated herself, than the vain and fantastic
puerility of many of her recreations and habits,—the
unintellectual brutality of the bearbaits which she
admired, or the gaudy and glittering pageants in
which she delighted ? She built a gallery at White-
hall at immense expense, and so superficially, that it
was in ruins in her successor’s time; but it was
raised, in order to afford a magnificent reception to
the ambassadors who, in 1581, came to treat of an
alliance with the Duke of Anjou. It was framed of
timber, covered with painted canvas, and decorated
with the utmost gaudiness. Pendants of fruit of
various kinds (amongst which cucumbers and even
carrots are enumerated) were hung from festoons
of flowers intermixed with evergreens, and the whole
was powdered with gold spangles; the ceiling was
painted like a sky with stars, sunbeams, and clouds,
intermixed with scutcheons of the royal arms; and
glass lustres and ornaments were scattered all
around. Here were enacted masques and pageants
with all care and regard to please her, and to behave
myselfe to everye one else as it shall become me.
Mr. Harrisone was with me upone Fridaye; he heard
me playe, and brought me a dusson of trebles; I
had some of him when I came to London. Thus
desiring pardone for my rude writinge, I leave you
to the Almightie, desiringe him to increase in you
all health and happines.
“ Your obedient daughter,
“ Rebecca Pare.”
Could any thing afford a stronger contrast to the
grave and certainly severe study to which Elizabeth
had habituated herself, than the vain and fantastic
puerility of many of her recreations and habits,—the
unintellectual brutality of the bearbaits which she
admired, or the gaudy and glittering pageants in
which she delighted ? She built a gallery at White-
hall at immense expense, and so superficially, that it
was in ruins in her successor’s time; but it was
raised, in order to afford a magnificent reception to
the ambassadors who, in 1581, came to treat of an
alliance with the Duke of Anjou. It was framed of
timber, covered with painted canvas, and decorated
with the utmost gaudiness. Pendants of fruit of
various kinds (amongst which cucumbers and even
carrots are enumerated) were hung from festoons
of flowers intermixed with evergreens, and the whole
was powdered with gold spangles; the ceiling was
painted like a sky with stars, sunbeams, and clouds,
intermixed with scutcheons of the royal arms; and
glass lustres and ornaments were scattered all
around. Here were enacted masques and pageants