Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/420

 356 THE OBSEQUIES OF QUEEN KATHARINE OF AERAGON to compromise tlioso rights she head hitherto, with so mucli iiuIepeiKlencc. fruitlessly vindicated. There was equal, in reality, much stronger objection to be urged against it on account of its unhcalthiness. For even in our own days, after all the exertions that have been made (exertions in which I may be permitted to say I have taken no incon- siderable part), the malarious vapours of the Nene spread contagious disease through the long and treacherously verdant valley wdiere David of Scotland erected this fortress. The sluggish waters of the district still vainly endeavour to escape from it to the sea, and in unfavourable seasons they swell into a wide and stagnant expanse that destroys all the hopes of the agriculturist, and leaves, after their subsidence, the seeds of ague, fever, and death. Shut within the humid walls of a gloomy Norman keep, which was surrounded wdtli double ditches, and stood islanded amongst the perpetually recurring floods, when it was not begirt by a pestilent morass. Queen Katharine must sorrow- fully have turned her thoughts to the dry plains and sunny vineyards of her native land. One illustrious captive, who succeeded her in this dreary abode, only exchanged it for a (piicker termination of her sorrows ; and it is singular that the two royal personages who were confined at Fothcringhay should both have received interment within the walls of the same sacred edifice. The prayer of Katharine to be removed was listened to, and she was carried to Ivimbolton Castle ; but her sickness was now drawing to a close, and death released her from further misery. She had besought tlio King to let her bid a last farewell to her daughter, but with consistent inhumanity the prayer was denied. Sir Edmund l)L'<lyngfcld wrote to Crumwell i'rom " Kym- baltun," on the last day of December, to inform him of the Queen's condition. " Syr," said he, " for the state that she ys yn now, at tliys })rescnt tyme, as by the i-eporte of tlio Doctour of Fesyck, yn theys wordys, ' Non nuiltum pejus quam crat, ne(|ue loiige melius.' Syr, she dothe con- tvncw yn payn yn lier stoniakc, and can take lytell ]"oste. Il[' Icsvck ; wlicicunto she