TRAGEDY OF ELIZABETH STUART.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1931, Page 23 (Supplement)

TRAGEDY OF ELIZABETH STUART.

LITTLE DAUGHTER OF CHARLES I

(By <

C. Romanne-James.)

I have been interested in a Princess Elizabeth of long ago ever since I found a small and cheerless room leading out of the great hall at Carisbrooke. Jhe room bears the name “Elizabeth Stuart and the date 1650. She was but 15 years old when she died—this small and fragile daughter of Charles I. Iler gentle nature gained for her, even from her enemies, the fanciful name of “Temperance.” She was a lady of parts, “the quickness of her mind making recompense for the weakness of her body.” Before she had reached the age of eight years she could read and write five languages besides her own. To the study of Hebrew and Greek her earnest and devout mind had led her to apply herself with such singular enthusiasm that she could read tho Scriptures in their original tongue. On the outbreak of war, the Princess and her infant brother James were left under- the care of Parliament. It was then that Elizabeth sent a letter to the

House of Lords, begging that her old attendants might remain with her. Evidently this request was granted, for she went to Carisbrooke‘ accompanied by Judith Briott, her gentle-woman, Elizabeth Jones, her “laundrie’ mayde,” and .John Clarke, groom of the chamber. On the day before the execution of King Charles, Elizabeth was admitted to see her father. The interview was a terrible ordeal, and, with quill pen and ink-horn, the Princess afterward; wrote a touching account of the episode. This document still exists. Taking hi., young daughter upon his knee, and calling her “sweetheart,” Charles entrusted _ her with a seal he had worn and with a last message to the Queen —an assurance that his loving thoughts had alt ways been hers and would be to the last. The Princess herself received certain instructions: she was not to grieve or torment herself for his sake, “For that ■ would be a glorious death he should die,” the King said, ,v it being for the Laws and Liberties of the Land and for maintaining the true Protestant religion.” After the execution of King diaries the Commons intended to apprentice the -Princess Elizabeth to. a button-maxer. Meanwhile, she was sent to Carisbrooke for safety. -Sick with sorrow, for Carisbrooke brought back all the memories of the King and his imprisonment there, she became consumed by a feverish distemper. She died alone, in that bare little chamber in the north-west angle of the great hall, her fair cheek resting on a Bible, the last giJt of her father and her only consolation after his death. Elizabeth Stuart was buried in St. •Thomas’ Church, Newport. Her grave merely bore the initials “E.S. P until 1856,' when Queen Victoria erected a striking monument ovqr the last resting place of the Princess who vas “so strong of spirit, so frail of body,” as a token of respect for her virtues and of sympathy for her great misfortunes.