DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

Ce) unconscious of his admiring eyes. Even in the midst of an important political conference with the French Ambassador she interrupted the discussion by displaying, as if by accident, the elegant propor- tions of her ankle. The ambassador retained his self-possession, and dropping on one knee he saluted the graceful limb so coquettishly revealed, laid his hand on his heart and exclaimed with a deep sigh, ‘Ah! Madame, if the King my master had but been in my place!’ upon which he resumed the diplomatic discussion. Her vanity showed itself strikingly in her love of dress. When she died, at the age of seventy, no less than 3000 gowns, some of the costliest description, were found in her wardrobe, as well as sixty wigs. Her avarice equalled her vanity. She was avaricious as well as vain, and stingy as well as avaricious. One day on visiting in state the town of Norwich, the Mayor, after a long-winded oration, presented her with a silver cup full of gold pieces. The Queen eagerly took off the cover and looked inside, then with a pleased face she handed it to a servant, saying, ‘Look to it care- fully, there is 100J.’ Another time Sir Roger Williams, a valiant Welsh commander, obtained an interview in order to present her with a petition. He knelt before her with the petition in his hand. She was determined not to