ELIZABETH WOODVILLE.

QUEEN OF EDWARD IV.

THE fifteenth century is, above all other eras, remarkable for unequal marriages made by persons of royal station. Then, for the first time since the reigns of our Plantagenets commenced, was broken that high and stately etiquette of the middle ages, which forbade king or kaiser to mate with partners below the rank of princesses. In that century, the marriage of the handsome Edward IV. with an English gentlewoman caused as much astonishment at the wondrous archery of Dan Cupid, as was fabled of old

"When he shot so true

That king Cophetua wed the beggar maid."

But the mother of Elizabeth Woodville had occasioned scarcely less wonder in her day, when, following the example of her sister-in-law, queen Katherine, she, a princess of Luxemburgh by birth, and, as the widow of the warlike duke of Bedford, the third lady of the realm, chose for her second helpmate, another squire of Henry V., Richard Woodville, who was considered the handsomest man in England.

The duchess's dower was forfeited in consequence of her marriage with Woodville, but restored on her humble supplication to parliament, through the influence of her husband's patron, cardinal Beaufort. Grafton Castle was the principal residence of the duchess. Probably Eliza

beth Woodville was born there, about 1431, some years before the dis covery of her parent's marriage. Her father, sir Richard Woodville, was one of the English commanders at Rouen, under the duke of York, during that prince's regency.

After the death of the unfortunate queen-mother Katherine, and that of the queen dowager Joanna, the duchess of Bedford became for some time, in rank, the first lady in England, and always possessed a certain degree of influence in consequence. Her husband was in the retinue sent to escort Margaret of Anjou to England; he was afterwards rapidly advanced at court, made baron, and finally earl of Rivers; and the duchess of Bedford became a great favorite of the young queen. The duchess was still second lady in England, yet her rank was many degrees more exalted than her fortune; therefore, as her children grew up, she was glad to provide for them at the court of her friend, queen Margaret. Her eldest daughter, the beautiful Elizabeth Woodville, was appointed maid of honor to that queen, little deeming that she was one day to fill her place on the English throne. While yet in attendance on her royal mistress, she captured the heart of a brave knight, sir Hugh Johns, a great favorite of Richard duke of York. Sir Hugh had nothing in the world wherewithal to endow the fair Woodville but a sword, whose temper had been proved in many a battle in France; he was, moreover, a timid wooer, and very impolitically, deputed others to make to the beautiful maid of honor the declaration of love which he wanted courage to speak himself.

Richard duke of York was protector of England when he thus, in regal style, recommended his landless vassal to the love of her who was one day to share the diadem of his heir.

Even if Elizabeth's heart had responded to this earnest appeal of her lover's princely master, yet she was too slenderly gifted by fortune to venture on a mere love-match. She probably demurred on this point, and avoided returning a decisive answer.

The time is not distinctly specified of the marriage of Elizabeth Woodville with John Gray; it probably took place soon after her rejec tion of the Yorkist champion. This wedlock was certainly a great match for the penniless maid of honor; for it was equal to several of the alliances of the Plantagenet princesses.