Page images
PDF
EPUB

that she was advanced to the throne from a private fortune. For it is implanted in the nature of men, to esteem unexpected success an additional felicity. But what I mean is, that princes educated in courts, as the undoubted heirs of a crown, are corrupted by indulgence; and thence generally rendered less capable, and less moderate in the management of affairs. And therefore we find those the best rulers, who are disciplined by both fortunes. Such was, with us, King Henry VII. and with the French, Louis XII. who both of them came to the crown almost at the same time; not only from a private, but also from an adverse and rugged fortune: and the former proved famous for his prudence; the other for his justice. In the same manner this princess also had the dawn of her fortune chequered; but in her reign it proved unusually constant and steady. From her birth she was entitled to the succession; but afterwards disinherited, and then postponed. In the reign of her brother, her fortune was more favourable and serene; but in the reign of her sister, more hazardous and tempestuous. Nor was she advanced, on a sudden, from a prison to the throne; which might have made her haughty and vindictive; but, being restored to her liberty, and still growing in hopes, at last in a happy calm she obtained the crown without opposition or competitor. And this I mention to show, that divine Providence, intending an excellent princess, prepared and advanced her by such degrees of discipline.

Nor ought the misfortunes of her mother to

[blocks in formation]

sully the glory of her birth; especially because it is evident that King Henry VIII. was engaged in a new amour before his rage kindled against Queen Anne; and because the temper of that king is censured by posterity, as exceedingly prone both to amours and jealousies, and violent in both, even to the effusion of blood. Add to

this, that she was cut off through an accusation manifestly improbable, and built upon slight conjectures, as was then secretly whispered; and Queen Anne herself protested her innocence, with an undaunted greatness of mind, at the time of her death. For, by a faithful and generous messenger, as she supposed, she, just before her execution, sent this message to the king: "That his majesty constantly held on in his purpose of heaping new honours upon her; for that first he raised her from a private gentlewoman, to the honour of a marchioness; next advanced her into a partnership of his bed and kingdom; and when now there remained no higher earthly honour, he designed to promote her, an innocent, to the crown of martyrdom." But the messenger durst not carry this to the king, now plunged in a new amour; though fame, the asserter of truth, has transmitted it to posterity.

Again, it is no inconsiderable part of Queen Elizabeth's felicity, that the course of her reign was not only long, but fell within that season of her life which is fittest for governing. Thus she began her reign at twenty-five; and continued it to the seventieth year of her age. So that she neither felt the harshness of a minority, the checks of a governor's power, nor the inconveniences of

extreme old age; which is attended with miseries enough in private men; but in crowned heads, besides the ordinary miseries, it usually occasions a decay of the government, and ends with an inglorious exit. For scarce any king has lived to extreme old age, without suffering some diminution in empire and esteem. Of this we have an eminent instance in Philip the Second, king of Spain, a potent prince, and admirably versed in the arts of government, who, in the decline of life, was thoroughly sensible of this misfortune and therefore wisely submitted to the necessity of things; voluntarily quitted his acquisitions in France, established a firm peace with that kingdom, and attempted the like with others; that so he might leave all quiet and composed to his successor. Queen Elizabeth's fortune, on the contrary, was so constant and fixed, that no declension of affairs followed her lively, though declining age: nay, for an assured monument of her felicity, she died not till the rebellion of Ireland ended in a victory, lest her glory should otherwise have appeared any way ruffled or incomplete.

It should likewise be considered over what kind of people she reigned. For had her empire fallen among the Palmyrenians, or in soft unwarlike Asia, it had been a less wonder: since a female in the throne would have suited an effeminate people: but in England, a hardy military nation, for all things to be directed and governed by a woman, is a matter of the highest admiration. Yet this temper of her people, eager for war, and impatient of peace, did not prevent her

from maintaining it all her reign. And this peaceable disposition of hers, joined with success, I reckon one of her chiefest praises: as being happy for her people, becoming her sex, and a satisfaction to her conscience. Indeed, about the tenth year of her reign, there rose a small commotion in the north of her kingdom; but it was presently suppressed. The rest of her reign passed in a secure and profound peace. And I judge it a glorious peace, for two reasons; which, though they make nothing to its merit, yet contribute much to its honour. The one, that it was rendered more conspicuous and illustrious by the calamities of our neighbours, as by so many flames about us. The other, that the blessings of peace were not unattended with the glory of arms; since she not only preserved, but advanced the honour of the English name for martial greatness. For what by the supplies she sent into the Netherlands, France, and Scotland; the expeditions by sea to the Indies; and some of them round the world; the fleets sent to infest Portugal, and the coasts of Spain; and what by the frequent conquests and reductions of the Irish rebels; we suffered no decay in the ancient military fame and virtue of our nation.

It is likewise a just addition to her glory, that neighbouring princes were supported in their thrones by her timely aids; and that suppliant states, which, through the misconduct of their kings, were abandoned, devoted to the cruelty of their ministers, the fury of the multitude, and all manner of desolation, were relieved by her.

Nor were her counsels less beneficent than her

supplies; as having so often interceded with the king of Spain to reconcile him to his subjects in the Netherlands, and reduce them to obedience, upon some tolerable conditions. And she with sincerity importuned the kings of France, by repeated admonitions, to observe their own edicts, that promised peace to their subjects. It is true her advice proved ineffectual: for the common interest of Europe would not allow the first; lest the ambition of Spain, being uncurbed, should fly out, as affairs then stood, to the prejudice of the kingdoms and states of Christendom; and the latter was prevented by the massacre of so many innocent men, who, with their wives and children, were butchered in their own houses, by the scum of the people, armed and let loose, like so many beasts of prey, upon them, by public authority. This bloodshed cried aloud for vengeance, that the kingdom stained by so horrible an impiety might be expiated by intestine slaughter. However, by interposing, she per formed the part of a faithful, prudent, and generous ally.

There is also another reason for admiring this peaceful reign, so much endeavoured and maintained by the queen; viz. that it did not proceed from any disposition of the times, but from her own prudent and discreet conduct. For as she struggled with faction at home, upon account of religion, and as the strength and protection of this kingdom was a kind of bulwark to all Europe, against the extravagant ambition and formidable power of Spain, there wanted no occasions of war: yet, with her force and policy, she sur

« PreviousContinue »