Beauty of Woodland Scenery, superior to all others--Purity and freshness of the Breezes that sport over wild thyme and short herbage--The Duke's Walking-stick, and the Seven Sisters--Trees in Welbeck Park.--_Page 213._ The Queen's Oak. Tradition respecting the Queen's Oak--Sketch of the surrounding Scenery--Inhabitants of Grafton Castle--Marriage of Elizabeth Woodville to John Gray--Abbey of St. Alban's--Battle fought beside its walls--John Gray wounded--Visit of Henry VI. to the dying Youth--Confiscation of his Estates--Return of Elizabeth to her Father's house--Hunting Visit of Edward IV. to Whitlebury Chase--Elizabeth intercedes for the restoration of her Husband's Estates--Frequent meeting of Elizabeth and Edward beneath the old Oak--Poetry--Marriage at Grafton--Scene in the old Palace of Reading--Dress of the Queen--Fêtes and Tournaments--Coronation of Elizabeth--Count James, of St. Pol, invited to attend--Meeting of Cicely of York and the Duchess of Bedford, beside the cradle of their Grandchild--Flight of Edward--Retirement of his Queen to Sanctuary--Birth of a Prince--Return of the King, with the Lord Grauthuse--Great Entertainments--Betrothing of the young Duke of York with Anne Mowbray, infant heiress of the Duchy of Norfolk, in St. Stephen's Chapel--Scene in the Sanctuary of Westminster--Desolate condition of Elizabeth--Her Conversation with Archbishop Rotherham--Sophistry of Richard III.--Visit from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Queen--Her unwillingness to part with her Son--Fearful Tragedies succeed--Aged Woman in the Abbey of Bermondsey--Her venerable appearance, beautiful in its decrepitude--Tolling of the Convent Bell--A small Boat with the Queen Dowager's Coffin on board, seen on the River--The Queen's Daughters accompany it to St. George's Chapel--A few old Men, meanly dressed, light on the Funeral--Closing Observations.--_Page 217._ [Illustration: MELKSHAM COURT] Melksham Court. "I stood in the ruined hall where my ancestors once dwelt. I asked for the noble owners. Where are they?--and the echo replied, Where are they?" In the midst of the lone forest which shadowed in ancient times a large portion of the country of the Dobuni,[1] and which extended over hill and dale, far as the distant mountains of the Silures,[2] and on either side the river that waters this part of Britain, stood a solitary yew. On the verge of the forest, and in places cleared of timber for the purpose, rose the conically-shaped huts of the natives; the dwelling of the chieftain was somewhat larger than the rest, and around it stood the wattled cabins of his dependents. Their arts were few and simple, and their habits those of men who were scarcely advanced beyond a savage state: corn was occasionally cultivated, but in general they lived by hunting, or fed upon the flocks which they pastured in the open country.