Page:The Queens of England.djvu/426

 384 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. along. The conduits of the city overflowed with wine ; but. perhaps the most acceptable of the homages offered to her was the' gift presented by the aldermen of a thousand marks in a handsome purse, a timely addition to her finances, which were then in a very unflourishing state. The coronation was as splendid as jewels, velvet, minever, and cloth of gold and of silver could make it. No ceremonial usual on such occasions was omitted, and Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, attended by ten other bishops, performed the re- ligious offices of the crowning. It was remarked with satisfaction that the Princess Eliza- beth was treated with due distinction by the queen, at whose side she sat at the banquet, at which also Anne of Cleves had a seat. One of the earliest acts of parliament after the accession of Mary was the annulling of the sentences of divorce of Kath- erine of Arragon, and of the illegitimacy of her daughter. This was an unnecessary measure, but it would have been well if the illegitimacy of Elizabeth had likewise been annulled at the same time. It would have gratified the nation, and have removed from the princess herself all excuse for discontent. Mary, however, was then so absorbed by her approaching marriage, and entertained such hopes of it giving an heir to the throne that she probably thought not of establishing her sister's right to the succession, or if she did, might have felt delicate in recalling the sentence against Anne Boleyn to the recollection of her daughter and the people. Where a favor- able interpretation can be given to any part of the conduct of a queen who rendered herself so unpopular, we are disposed to give her the benefit of it. A bill of attainder was now passed on Lady Jane Grey and her husband, and here was an opportunity afforded to Mary of displaying at once magna- nimity and mercy, two attributes which reflect a brighter lus- ter on a crown than all the jewels that encircle it. It appears like a destiny that Mary and her successor, Elizabeth, should consent to, if not cause, the deaths of two of the most interest- ing women to be found in the pages of English history — women who, though unlike in their lives, one being as spotless as the other was suspected, nevertheless, by their violent Jeaths, have created a pity that time has not deprived them of. The father of Lady Jane Grey compromised again the life of his daughter; for, pardoned by Mary for the part he had