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62 of luxury, nowhere so rich as there, seemed designed to cover the plots which were always rife. The astute woman, with her mind seemingly full of hunting, the masks and revels, music, or the gallantry of her servants, was never more astute or more relentless than in those schemes which were there elaborated in council or in secret.

The Palace was the resort of all foreign travellers. A description of the Queen's public appearance there on a Sunday in October 1584 is full of interest. It is written by Leopold von Wedel, a Pomeranian noble who visited England in 1584.

"As it was Sunday, we went to the church or chapel which is in the Palace. This chapel is well decorated with a beautiful organ, silver gilt, with large and small silver pipes. Before the Queen marched her lifeguard, all chosen men, strong and tall, two hundred in number, we were told, though not all of them were present. They bore gilt halberts, red coats faced with black velvet; in front and on the back they bore the Queen's arms, silver gilt. Then came gentlemen of rank and of the council, two of them bearing a royal sceptre each, a third with the royal sword in a red velvet scabbard, embroidered with gold and set with precious stones and large pearls. Now came the Queen, dressed in black on account of the death of the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alençon; on each side of her curly