Show li- li I Ili L Queens Queen L s 5 or of England A. A t SKETCH OP OF Till THE LIFT LIFE OF MATILDA or OP SCOTLAND J Matilda Malilda of or Scotland queen o of Henry s I I. I of or England was a dc descendant ofa o of a Alfred the Great She was born about 1 the tho year car lO 1079 1073 9 but the exact date is ft r. r not nol recorded No other Scottish prIncess princess prin prIn- cess mess has ever shared the throne of at a akIng aking king of or England Ingland She was known as y Matilda the Good Inheriting her noble noble as as well as royal royal mothers mothers mother's pious and charitable nature r. r While q quite young oung tho the Princess Mai Matilda Ma Ma- i tIl tilda a and her noble sister and brothers 1 p r were left orphans An uncle tools took them at it his own expense The two princesses were ero placed in the nunnery of or Romsey where their aunt Christina Chris Chrle- tina Ins was the abbess Here they re remained remained re- re many many years becoming well educated and trained In the gentlest and highest manners as became princesses grin prin messes of their thell blood For a time It r was thought they would 1 become nuns nunN f l- l for tho they had no homo home to go to on leaving leav Ica J J ing lug the convent t t But nut the thought of becoming a a. tot re- re e was most distasteful to 10 Ma- Ma Once when she was a little girl her who mother who secretly hoped her hel daughters might become cloistered r r nuns put nuns put upon her h head a black veil after tt the lC fashion fashion of or a nun Matilda father the king became an angered d at atHie atthe time the sight of lIi his dau laughter daughter In such garb and ands snatching the veil eIl from CrOIX her ber lead head tore It II Into shreds vehemently relic ehe I declaring that he ho Intended to bestow her hand in marriage and anal not Hol helto her hel herlo to lo a cloister 1 y This act of her het father made a decu 1 I and lasting Impression on urn Matilda's l young oung mind and ancI years afterward when every vcr Influence was brou brought ht to 1 bear bearIn ear g. g l. l In an an endeavor to induce her to lo enter ente r the sh she emphatically refused and repeated her hel fathers father's v r rJ J re- re garding g her hel destiny esth But Bul while in the convent of Korn- Korn JOY scy Matilda was forced d to wear weal time the thel th 1 l black veil ell of or a t to lo protect her her- against the too ardent ad advance of the lawless Norman orman nobles greatly admired her beautiful face am charming manner But Matilda's l owr ow n account of or wearing this thick 1 i veil Is IR on rl record She says that she sh j wore it ii with sighs and tears tear wh when n i Ir 1 1 1 I 1 s i I I Ii i Matilda of or Scotland t i the tho presence of oC her stern aunt the abbess abbess ab ab- bess but hut the tho moment she was alone she tore it from roil her head and stamped stamp stamp- ed her feet upon it Doubtless it was during durin Matilda's stay In iii the convent that the young youn Prince Henry saw her hel and fell desperately desperately des des- In love with her for only a afew afew afew few months after his hb acce accession slon to the tin throne he asked the hand hantl of Princess s s Matilda a of or her hel brother Edgar then king o of Scotland The union pro proved to be he a happy happ one and Matilda Matlida was not only beloved by her royal husband but adored by her s subjects who called her Matilda I the Good The rhe portrait which accompanies this sketch is Cr from m a copy of a miniature that Is s still to tu be e seen In the tote British Museum |