Betty Goes To Court

Hampton Court Palace, that is, not the Old Bailey.

Dearest friends, what a delightful tale I have to tell of my visit to Court this day! Prithee, sit and rest whilst I recount it.

My hosts did take me by road some leagues past London to the Court of Hampton and its splendid Tudor Palace wherein our great King Henry VIII doth reside with his wife, the Queen Anne of Cleves. How long she shall be his wife it is not known, as the King is most displeased with her appearance, having married her on the strength of a very flattering portrait brought to him by courtiers.

Here are Master and Lady Stewart in the Clock Court. King Henry doth love this marvelous astronomical clock. I know not what the pink maid doeth.
Oh, forsooth who placed me here upon this pillar? I am beneath some great horned creature. Please assist me down! Mark ye, the Tudor Rose above me, the symbol of our gracious monarch.
Ah and here is our guide, one Catherine Howard. She is a newcomer to Court and, 'tis whispered, a favourite of the King. Some would call her strumpet but not I. I value my head upon my shoulders. If thou knowest my meaning.

We toured the expansive kitchens and...what is that my young knave? What dost thou mean to ask of thy father, 'Dost thou like spit-roasted duck?'

Oh I see, twas but a merry jape.

Lady Grace tries out a broom. I told her she must needs exert herself not. We have servants to accomplish such deeds.
What a pretty doorway! I do like gold decoration on houses, do you not? I must ask Sir Bobby to fashion such a doorway upon my return to New Hampshire.

Ah, here is Madam Stewart looking pensive. Indeed, she is much in need of thought about the straggliness of her hair. She should most certainly have tied it up and attempted to make herself look more pretty for these images.

And so to lunch, in this lavishly furnished dining hall which we had all to ourselves. It seems that our 'home Education Group' had a school lunch room allocated to our little party alone! I enjoyed my salad. But I do believe Master Jack is partaking too much of that flagon of beer!

After our noonday rest we perambulated through the gardens. There is a wondrous maze through which we spent many a long hour attempting to find the exit. I was much needed to peer over the top of the bushes and I did, at last, espy the way to escape.

Lord Stewart enjoyed his tour of the Court with me and was not at all embarrassed to be seen with a small yellow duck! I shall reward him handsomely. Sadly, we did not meet Great King Henry. But it was a grand day nonetheless!